Patent Publication Number: US-2023157425-A1

Title: Wrist Flag and Autograph Band

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority to provisional patent application entitled “Hey Wave Rally Flag” filed on Nov. 19, 2021, having application number 63/281,400, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally hand-held banners, and more particularly, to banners and autograph materials that can attach to a wrist 
     Description of Related Art 
     Sports stadiums provide fans the opportunity to cheer on their teams with promotional items and souvenirs such as rally towels, foam fingers, pom poms, and inflatable noise makers. These items are large and cumbersome to store or carry, especially since bags are no longer permitted in many stadiums. Cheap promotional items are often left behind littering the stands and streets. Fans desire flags and banners to cheer on their team and even be able to get autographs of their favorite athletes 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a promotional products for fans to cheer on their sports teams that are easy to carry, compact, highly visible, and not overly expensive. It also would be desirable for the same promotional products to provide a surface to receive autographs of athletes. 
     ASPECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that can be easily transported. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that is highly visible but compact when stored. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that can be easily transported on the wrist and easily deployed for display when in use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a flag or banner that can be attached and waved on a person’s wrist. 
     An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a banner for sporting events that provides a writing surface for autographs. 
     In order to provide these aspects and others, the present invention includes a flag or tape banner with an inner end, an outer end, a first side, and a second side. A first connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate to the inner end of the tape banner. A second connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate to the first connector strip so as to provide an open space on the first side of the tape banner between the first connector strip and the second connector strip. A flexible loop is located and sized to go around the tape banner within the open space, wherein the first connector strip and the second connector strip are to be connected together so as to enclose the flexible loop within the open space. A third connector strip is located on the first side of the tape banner proximate the outer end of the tape banner. A fourth connector strip is located on the second side of the tape banner proximate a middle location of the tape banner between the inner end and the outer end of the tape banner, wherein the fourth connector strip is configured to connector to the third connector strip when the tape banner is rolled up. 
     The tape banner is a high quality, comfortable, customizable, preferably 2 inches wide by 26 inches long that conveniently wraps around a wrist forming a stylish one size fits all wristband or wrist tape banner or wrist flag. The tape banner or tape banner flag is reusable, durable, and preferably constructed strong, smooth polyester with dye sublimation printing providing a surface for graphic logo designs and customizable team colors. The tape banner surface also can be used for collecting autographs at sporting events, concerts, and theme parks. The wrist tape banner also can be used at political rallies and other causes, not just athletic arenas or autographs from athletes. The tape banner can even be used to display pins, such as Disney. 
     The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed invention and specific embodiments as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention, and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view of the first side of the tape banner configured in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of the second side of the tape banner shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    wherein a open area of the tape banner is enclosing the flexible loop; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the second side of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  3    where the tape banner is in the extended configuration; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the first side of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  4    when the tape banner is in the extended configuration; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  5    being waved and is attached to a person’s wrist in the extended configuration; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  6    attached to a person’s wrist in the rolled up configuration; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  7    in the rolled up configuration; and 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the tape banner shown in  FIGS.  1  -  8    attached to a person’s head. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG.  1    is a plan view of the first side  12  of the wrist tape banner  10  configured in accordance with the present invention. The wrist tape banner  10  includes a tape banner  15  having an inner end  14 , an outer end  16 , a first side  12 , and a second side  18  ( FIG.  2   ). A first connector strip  20  is connected to the first side  12  of the tape banner  15  proximate to the inner end  14  of the tape banner  15 . A second connector strip  22  is connected to the first side  12  of the tape banner  15  proximate to the first connector strip  20 . The second connector strip  22  is on the side of the first connector strip  20  opposing the inner end  14  of the tape banner  15 . An open space  24  on the tape banner  15  is located between the first connector strip  20  and the second connector strip  22 . An open space  26  also is located between the inner end  14  and the first connector strip  20 . A third connector strip  28  is located on the first side  12  proximate the outer end  16  of the tape banner  15 . 
     The first, second, and third connector strips  20 ,  22 ,  28  preferably are constructed of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®. The first, second, and third connector strips  20 ,  22 ,  28  construction materials preferably include cloth that is securely sewn or glued onto the taper banner  15 . The first and second connector strips  20 ,  22  preferably extend perpendicular to the tape banner  15 . The third connector strip  28  preferably extends parallel to the tape banner  15 . 
     A flexible loop  30  is sized to go over  31  and around the tape banner  15  around the open space  24  between the first connector strip  20  and the second connector strip  22 . In accordance with the present invention, the connector strips  20 ,  22  are configured to be connected together to enclose the flexible loop  30  within the open area  24  of the tape banner  15 . (See  FIG.  3   ). The outer end  16  of the tape banner  15  can then be inserted though the flexible loop  30  to form a loop  25  ( FIG.  3   ) that is to go around the wrist of a person to hold the tape banner  15 . The flexible loop  30  preferably is constructed of expandable and contractible material, similar to a rubber band. While the loop  30  may be rigid, it is preferable to be constructed of flexible material. 
     It should be noted that in another embodiment, the first connect strip  20  and the second connector strip  22  can be stitching that are permanently sewn together to enclose open area  24  around the flexible loop  30 . 
     A team logo, promotional statement, or other text or design  17  can be included of the first side  12  of the tape banner  15  to be highly visible to observers. The tape banner  15  preferable is constructed of a highly visible color to be seen by observers. Additionally, the tape banner  15  preferably is constructed of a flexible material that is suitable for being written upon with an ink marker. This enables the tape banner  15  to provide a surface area for receiving autographs or other written texts. 
       FIG.  2    is a plan view of the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  shown in  FIG.  1   . Promotional text or a design  19  is included on the second side  18 , similar to the text or design  17  on the first side  12  of the tape banner  15 . A fourth connector strip  32  is located on the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  approximately in the middle of the tape banner  15  between the inner end  14  and the outer end  16 . Similar to the first, second, and third connector strips  20 ,  22 ,  28 , the fourth connector strip  32  preferably is constructed of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®. The fourth connector strip  32  construction material preferably includes cloth that is securely sewn or glued onto the second side  18  of the taper banner  15 . The fourth connector strip  32  preferably extends parallel to the tape banner  15 . In accordance with the present invention, the third connector strip  28  is configured to be connected to the fourth connector strip  32  when the tape banner  15  is rolled up, as shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   . A loop area  23  is indicated on  FIG.  2    to illustrate approximately where the flexible loop  30  goes around when the outer end  16  of the tape banner  15  is formed into a loop as shown in  FIG.  3   . 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the wrist tape banner  10  shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . The tape banner  15  is shown with the flexible loop  30  around the open area  24  and the loop area  23  of the tape banner  15  to form a loop  25  that is designed to go around the wrist of a person.  FIG.  3    illustrates the outer end  16  having been inserted through the flexible loop  30  to form the loop  25 . In accordance with the present invention, the first connector strip  20  and the second connector strip  22  are shown to be enclosing the flexible loop  30  within the open area  24  of the tape banner  15 , and wherein the first connector strip  20  and the second connector strip  22  are about to be connected together to enclose the flexible loop  30 . Both the first side  12  and the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  are visible in the perspective view of  FIG.  3   . The open space  26  adjacent to the inner end  14  of the tape banner  15  also is illustrated. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the wrist tape banner  10  wherein the tape banner  15  is in the extended or unrolled configuration. The fourth connector strip  32  on the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  is clearly shown, and well as the text or promotional design  19 . An edge of the third connector strip  28  can just be seen on the outer end  16  of the tape banner  15 . The flexible loop  30  is shown surrounding the open area  24  and the loop area  23  of the tape banner  15 . A loop  25  is formed by passing the outer end  16  through the flexible loop  30 . The first side  18  of the tape banner  15  also can be seen in this perspective view. 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the wrist tape banner  10  shown in  FIGS.  1  -  4    in the extended or unrolled configuration. The first side  12  of the tape banner  15  is clearly visible as well as the third strip connector  28  proximate to the outer end  16 . Promotional text or design  17  is also illustrated. A portion of the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  on the loop  25  is shown in this perspective view. The flexible loop  30  also can be seen around the open area  24  and the portion of the loop area  23  of the tape banner  15 . 
     After the flexible loop  30  is enclosed within the open space  24  by connecting the first connector strip  20  and the second connector strip  22  together, the loop  25  is formed by pulling the outer end  16  with the third connector strip  28  of the tape banner  15  through the elastic or flexible loop  30  on the opposite end of the tape banner  15  and continuing to pull until the outer end  16  until the tape banner  15  makes a loop  25  that is configured to fit around a person’s wrist. A user pulls the loose or outer end  16  of the tape banner  15  until the loop  25  is secure or tight around the user’s wrist, thus securing the tape banner  15  to the user’s wrist. The user can then wrap the loose part  27  including the outer end  16  of the tape banner  15  around the user’s wrist, preferably about two rotations, and then connecting the third connector strip  28  to the fourth connector strip  32  to secure the loose part  27  of the tape banner  15  around the user’s wrist. The user creates a wristband by securing the third connector strip  28  to the fourth connector strip  32 . The wrist tape connector  10  can be configured to fit all possible wrist sizes by the using the adjustable third and fourth strip connectors  28  and  32 . 
     When the user wants to deploy and wave the tape banner  15 , the user can detach the third connector strip  28  from the fourth connector strip  32  to unwrap and extend the tape banner  15 . The loop  25  around a user’s wrist remains in tension from the interference fit of the flexible loop  30 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates the wrist tape banner  10  shown in  FIGS.  1  -  5    in the extended configuration. This perspective view of the wrist tape banner  10  shows the second side  18  of the tape banner  15  and a portion of the first side  12  in the loop  25  around the wrist  36  of a user. The fourth connector strip  32  is shown. The flexible loop  30  around the portion of the loop area  23  of the tape banner  15  is shown to form a loop  25  around the wrist  36  of a user. 
       FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a user wearing the wrist tape banner  10  on the wrist  36  is accordance with the present invention. The tape banner  15  is illustrated in the rolled up configuration around a user’s wrist  36 . The second side  18  of the tape banner  15  is shown, and a portion of the first side  12  of the tape banner  15  is shown within the loop  25  formed by the tape banner  15 . A portion of the third connector strip  32  is shown as well as the outer end  16  of the tape banner  15 . 
       FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the wrist tape banner  10  in the rolled up configuration. The first side  12  within the loop  25  and the second side  18  on the outside of the loop  25  of the tape banner  15  are illustrated. The outer end  16  and the third connector strip  32  are shown, as well as the flexible loop  30  around the portion of the loop area  23  of the tape banner  15 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates another configuration of the present invention wherein a user can create a larger noose or loop  25  to secure the tape banner  15  around their head to be fashioned as a headband. In this configuration the tension from the interference fit of the flexible loop  30  is sufficient to hold the headband in place. In other configurations, the user may create a noose to secure on a belt loop, car rear view mirror, car luggage rack, car antennae, or other items where the tape banner  15  can be displayed. The wrist tape banner  10  also can be hung as a decorative pennant on a wall or on a door knob. In all configurations, wrist tape banner  10  can be used to collect autographs as a keepsake souvenir. 
     While specific embodiments have been shown and described to point out fundamental and novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the invention illustrated and in the operation may be done by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.