Patent Abstract:
A magic trick device and method are set forth to provide the illusion of a performer inserting a cigarette into his nostril. The device includes a body with a slidable sleeve and a pull tether to withdraw the device into a coat sleeve, vest or shirt.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/487,045, entitled “Cigarette Up The Nose,” filed Jul. 11, 2003 by Applicant herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to magic trick devices and methods and more particularly to such tricks which use a “pull” methodology. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Magic tricks and devices have long been used to entertain audiences. In an early publication titled “Scots Discovery of Witchcraft” (1651) there is disclosed a magic trick methodology referred to herein as retraction where one portion of an object is retracted into another to produce the illusion of movement. In the Scots reference there is disclosed a “bodkin” where a blade portion is retracted into a handle to produce the illusion of the blade penetrating the body. 
   Another methodology for producing a different effect from retraction is referred to as a “pull.” In a “pull” trick, a line is attached to an object. The line is biased, such as by having a weight attached to one end to fall within the magician&#39;s coat or pant leg or by using an elastic line. The magician holds the object, e.g. a handkerchief, against the bias and at the appropriate time releases the object at which time. As a result of the bias of the line, the object is pulled into a coat sleeve or vest to produce the illusion that the object has disappeared. 
   Heretofore the methodologies of retraction and pull have been mutually exclusive. That is, a retraction trick need not employ a pull since the very illusion produced by the retraction was sufficient to produce the desired illusion. Conversely, a pull trick was thought to be sufficient in its own right without adding a retraction. To my knowledge no one has combined the retraction and pull concepts or methodologies into a single magic trick illusion. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention a magic trick device and method for a performer to perform an illusion of inserting a stick object into another object which could be a nostril, ear, mouth or other object. The device includes the stick object having a rigid body with a first end and a second end and a distinguishable sleeve member slidable along the body from a first position to a position proximate the second end. A pull including a tether is coupled to the object at the first end and is adapted to extend through the sleeve, vest pant leg or other part of the clothing component of the performer. 
   The performer holds the object exposed in one hand with the second end at the ear or nostril while moving the sleeve member along the body toward the second end to invoke the illusion of insertion of the object. The pull includes means for exerting a force by the tether on the object to pull the object into the sleeve for concealment thereof upon release of the object from the one hand. 
   The pull tether may be elastic such that the tether is elastically stretched when the object is held exposed and elastically contracts to withdraw the object into the sleeve. The bias of the pull may also be exerted by a weight, coil spring or other means for retracting the object. 
   In one embodiment the object is in the form of a filter cigarette with the sleeve configured to appear as the filter. In another embodiment the object is in the form of a pen with the sleeve configured to appear as a cap for the pen. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows an enlarged view of one embodiment of an object according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the steps  1 – 15  for practicing the method. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Turning to  FIG. 1  there is shown a device  10  according to the present invention embodied as a facsimile of a filter cigarette. While the following description is directed to the device  10  in the form of a cigarette it should be understood that the device could as well be a pencil, pen, wand or any other stick object. 
   The device  10  includes a rigid body  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16 . A sleeve  18  is moveably disposed on the body  12  for movement between the first and second ends  14 ,  16 . To retain the sleeve  18  on the body  12 , the first end  14  includes a plug  20  which may be secured to the body  12  by a press-fit, adhesive, staking or any other suitable attachment means. As can be appreciated in  FIG. 1  the plug  20  is slightly enlarged from the body  12  to define a stop for the sleeve  18 . The second end  16  may include a slight flare  22  also adapted to define a stop for the sleeve  18 . 
   In the embodiment shown, the body  12  is presented as a cigarette with the sleeve  18  having a different color to appear as the filter for the cigarette. For example, the body  12  may be white in color with the sleeve  18  being a brown or tan. As can be appreciated, when properly exhibited, the movement of the sleeve  18 , in this optional embodiment depicted as a cigarette filter, along the body  12  will produce an illusion of a retraction as more fully described herein. 
   To provide the “pull,” a line tether  22  is attached at one end to the plug  20  such as by tying, adhesive or any other suitable means. The tether  22  is adapted to exert a pulling bias on the device  10  to pull the device into a coat arm sleeve, vest, pant leg, shirt, another object or the like. The tether  22  is therefore connected at the end opposite the device  10  to a weight (where the bias is induced by gravity) and the weight position to fall into a pant leg or along the back of the performer&#39;s coat. Where the tether  22  is elastic, the end opposite the device  10  is secured, such as by a safety pin, to the inside of the performer&#39;s arm sleeve, shirt or vest. The tether  22  has a length to enable the performer, against the bias, to present and handle the device  10  before the audience. 
   To perform the trick, and with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and where an elastic pull is used, the performer pins the end of the tether to the inside armpit of the sleeve for the left or right arm as shown in inset  1  of  FIG. 2 . The performer puts on the coat as shown in inserts  2  and  3  of  FIG. 2  and ensures that (a) the device  10  is concealed within the coat sleeve and (b) that the device can be withdrawn against the bias of the pull tether  22  to extend from the cuff and into the hand for manipulation before the audience. Before the audience the performer produces the device  10 , e.g. cigarette, in a manner to conceal production of the device  10  from the coat sleeve. Using a pack of cigarettes or an actual cigarette from the audience and switching to the device  10  may be a suitable ploy to enhance the illusion. In insets  5 – 9  of  FIG. 2 , the performer has pulls the device  10  from the coat sleeve and holds the device in the right hand by the plug  20  and sleeve  18 . In inset  10 – 12  the performer positions the body  12  second end  22  proximate a nostril and slides the sleeve  18  along the body  12  to give the illusion that the device, e.g. cigarette, is being inserted into the nostril. The relative movement of the sleeve  18  embodied as a cigarette filter enhances the illusion to give the impression of relative movement. In inset  12  it is shown that the sleeve  18  has engaged the flare  22  at the second end  16 , the body  12  is concealed by the performer&#39;s hand and the elastic tether  22  is stretched to exert its bias on the device  10 . When the sleeve  18  reaches the second end  22  (and depending upon any embellishments the performer may wish to add), the performer releases the device  10  at which time the tether  22  pulls the device into the coat sleeve for concealment thereof. Inserts  13 – 15  show the final steps of the performance where the performer shows his right hand to establish that the device  10  is no longer in view. The audience is thereby convinced that the performer has inserted the cigarette into his nostril. 
   The device  10  may take a variety of forms including any stick object such as an ink pen, wand, or other object. For example, in an optional embodiment where the device  10  is a pen, the barrel could be the rigid body with the sleeve member configured as the pen cap. As illustrated in the optional embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the device  10  could be embodied as a cigarette with a rigid body made from, for example, plastic products with the filter configured as the sleeve member. 
   While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0