Amusement devices: toys – Body-carried or worn – Torso
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-08-14
Ricci, John A. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Body-carried or worn
Torso
C002S069000, C002S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273777
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a barrel toy, and more particularly, to a barrel-shaped toy having a semi-rigid shell that is sufficiently large to accommodate the body of a child inside the toy. The invention further relates to a kit comprising the combination of a barrel toy with clown makeup, preferably including a bulbous clown nose.
BACKGROUND
The use of barrels by rodeo clowns is well known. During rodeos, and particularly during the bull-riding event, trained cowboys dressed as clowns are positioned on the ground inside the arena to distract the bull away from a rider who is thrown from the bull. By distracting the bull, the rodeo clowns are usually able to keep a bull from injuring or further injuring a downed rider before the rider can exit or be removed from the arena. Rodeo clowns typically work in pairs, including a bull fighter and a barrel man. The barrel man has a decorated steel barrel into which he can jump if charged by a bull. The barrels used by rodeo clowns must have sufficient wall thickness, hoop strength and rigidity that they will not buckle when butted or stepped on by a bull.
Because of the current popularity of rodeos and bull-riding as a spectator sport, often seen on television, these events are now witnessed and enjoyed by many children. Children are naturally attracted to the rodeo clowns because of their distinctive makeup, and also because of their antics when trying to distract a bull from a fallen cowboy. Because playing children like to emulate persons and events that attract their attention, a barrel toy and barrel toy kit are needed that will enable children to safely emulate the actions, activities and look of a rodeo barrel clown.
Conventional steel rodeo barrels are too large, heavy and expensive to be safely and satisfactorily used as a children's toy. If used by children during play, with one child inside the barrel and one child outside the barrel, the child outside the barrel could be crushed or suffer a broken limb if the barrel is tipped over or rolled onto to him or her. One clown in a barrel figure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 290,727, but the barrel disclosed in that patent is not signed in such manner that the barrel will accommodate the body of a child.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A barrel toy is disclosed herein that has an interior space built to accommodate the body of a child and that is light enough to be handled by children and used safely as a children's play toy.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a barrel toy is provided that comprises a semi-rigid, generally cylindrical but slightly convex, plastic shell having open ends terminating in padded edges, a padded interior surface, and an exterior surface that is also preferably at least partially padded.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plastic shell of the subject barrel toy is ribbed to provide additional rigidity to the toy.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the exterior surface of the barrel toy is covered with a decorative covering including colored tape and optional decals.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a kit is provided that includes both the barrel toy of the invention and a makeup case containing at least two different colors of facial makeup that can be safely applied to the facial skin of a child, at least one makeup applicator device and at least one removable bulbous nose that can be temporarily applied to the nose of a child as part of the makeup.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 290727 (1987-07-01), Rylands
patent: 1373423 (1921-04-01), Gruhl
patent: 3125762 (1964-03-01), Glahe
patent: 3693283 (1972-09-01), Marcus
patent: 3972526 (1976-08-01), Cox
patent: 5101513 (1992-04-01), Bowers
patent: 5209691 (1993-05-01), Ekstein
patent: 5742939 (1998-04-01), Williams
patent: 5913405 (1999-06-01), Bordier
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
Ricci John A.
Ross Monty L.
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