Device for propelling confetti

Abstract

 A device for propelling confetti or festive streamers or the like comprises a slinging device having a rim portion defining an open area and a handle connected to said rim portion. A cup element of a size adapted to pass through said open area and capable of holding confetti is connected to the rim portion by elastic lengths. The cup element preferably has tapered wall portions whereby the cup element can be withdrawn from the rim portion against the tension of the elastic elements and released to sling the cup element through the open area to propel confetti or coiled streamers within the cup element.

Description

[0001] This application is based on provisional application no. 60/209,178 filed June 5,2000 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and priority under the Paris Convention is claimed.

[0002] The present invention relates to devices for propelling into the air confetti or other festive material such as coiled streamers.

[0003] Devices for propelling confetti made from colored paper or other festive material are known and devices such as described in United States patent nos. 825,843 and 1,663,679 include a charge of explosive material which needs to be ignited to explode confetti into the air. Such devices pose clear dangers and disadvantages, particularly when used indoors. The use of compressed air or carbon dioxide gas to propel confetti have been proposed, but such devices need to be connected to a source of compressed gas or contain a cartridge of compressed gas, and thus may be bulky or complicated in design, and may not be suited for use in man party environments by children or those inexperienced or untrained in the proper use of the devices. Such devices are disclosed in United States patents nos. 5,620,355 and 5,634,840.

[0004] Additionally, horn-shaped devices have been proposed in United States patents nos. 1,153,207 and 1,491,809 that are filled with confetti which can be forced from the horn by air pressure of the user blowing through a mouthpiece, but such devices are limited in the amount of confetti that can be dispersed and the distance the confetti or elongates streamers can be propelled. Other devices as proposed in United States patents nos. 5,403,225, 5,556,319, 5,624,295 and 5,823,850 fling confetti from a tube by centrifugal force, but, again, the distance the confetti can be propelled is somewhat limited. Another device, disclosed United States patent no. 5,531,628 discloses a cup for holding confetti that can be moved rapidly upwardly and stopped suddenly to propel confetti in a somewhat limited manner.

[0005] Such devices are often unduly complex, or cannot propel confetti or elongate coiled streamers appreciable distances or with any great accuracy.

[0006] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for propelling confetti that can propel the confetti upwards to heights such as eight or ten feet expected indoors, or to propel coiled streamers accurately an appreciable distance.

[0007] According to the present invention, a device for propelling confetti or elongate coiled streamers, comprises a slinging device having a rim portion defining an open area and a handle connected to the rim portion, and a cup element of a size adapted to pass through the open area and capable of holding confetti is provided Elastic elements connect the cup element to the rim portion of the slinging device whereby the cup element can be withdrawn from the rim portion against the tension of the elastic elements and released to sling the cup element through the open area to propel any confetti or the like within the cup element.

[0008] Preferably, the cup element has a closed bottom portion and wall portions tapering outwardly from said bottom portion and the cup element is generally rectangular in section with two parallel sidewalls and shorter end walls. In this way, the elastic elements can comprise two elastic lengths each connected to an end portion of the top portion of a respective sidewall and a third elastic length connected to the remote of the end walls.

[0009] These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the description given below of a preferred embodiment, which description is made in conjunction with the following drawing figures.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view device for propelling confetti or the like of the present invention.

[0011] As illustrated in Fig. 1, a device 10 for propelling confetti formed of small pieces of paper or other festive material, comprises a slinging device formed of a rim portion12 defining an open area 14, and a handle 16 connected to said rim portion. The rim portion can be circular in outline as shown, or the outline may take other shapes including oval, triangular or the like, or may even be an incomplete in perimeter such as the shape of a horseshoe. It is important, however, that the outline of the rim portion 12 proscribe an open area 14 of a size enabling a cup element 18 to pass through the open area.

[0012] The cup element 18 is capable of holding confetti or other festive material such as elongated streamers coiled and placed in the cup element. Elastic lengths 20, 22 and 23 which may be strips or tubes of an elastomeric material are tied at one end to tabs or, as illustrated, penings in the rim portion 12, and the other ends of the elastic lengths are similarly tied to the upper portion of the cup element 18. In this way, the cup element 18 can be withdrawn from the rim portion 12 against the tension of said elastic lengths much in the manner of a slingshot, and the cup element 18 released to sling the cup element through the open area 14 to propel any confetti, or streamers and the like within the cup element

[0013] The cup element 18 has a closed bottom portion and wall portions taper outwardly from the bottom portion towards the open top. In the form illustrated, the cup element 18 is generally rectangular in section with two parallel sidewalls and shorter end walls 24 and 25. The elastic lengths 22 and 23 are each connected to an end portion of the top portion of a respective sidewall, and the third elastic length 20 is connected to the remote end wall 24.

[0014] These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment made above; however, the present invention is not limited by any details of the above but is set forth by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for propelling confetti or the like, comprising a slinging device having a rim portion defining an open area and a handle connected to said rim portion, a cup element of a size adapted to pass through said open area and capable of holding confetti, and elastic elements connecting said cup element to said rim portion whereby said cup element can be withdrawn from said rim portion against the tension of said elastic elements and released to sling said cup element through said open area to propel any confetti or the like within said cup element.

2. A device for propelling confetti as set forth in claim 1, said cup element having a closed bottom portion and wall portions tapering outwardly from said bottom portion.

3. device for propelling confetti as set forth in claim 2, said cup element being generally rectangular in section with two parallel sidewalls and shorter end walls, said elastic elements comprising an two elastic lengths each connected to an end portion of the top portion of a respective sidewall and a third elastic length connected to the remote of said end walls.

Drawing