BOBBLE FOR BOTTLE NECK

Abstract

A bobble for bottle neck apparatus and method providing a sleeve for a bottle neck which holds a contoured brace having a nipple which protrudes through a slit in the sleeve, whereby a spring is connected on one end to the nipple of the contoured brace and on the other end to a bobble figurine representing one of a range of symbols, persons, holidays, events, sports teams, logos, and the like, such that the bobble figurine is held extended from the bottle neck and can move about by the flexing of the spring. The bobble figurine is removable and substitutable.

Claims

1. A bobble for bottle neck apparatus, comprising: (i) a sleeve adapted to fit tightly around a bottle neck, having a generally tubular form in use, and having a slit adapted to allow protrusion through said sleeve; (ii) a contoured brace adapted to conform to the bottle neck, having a nipple adapted to protrude through said slit; (iii) a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, adapted to attach at the proximal end to said nipple protruding through said slit; and (iv) a bobbling figurine adapted to attach at the distal end of said spring, said bobbling figurine having a shape and a coloring; where at least one attachment to said spring is removable and re-attachable; where, in use, said bobbling figurine is held out from the bottle neck at the distal end of said spring, allowing movement of said bobbling figurine; and where, in use, said contoured brace is held tightly to the bottle neck by said sleeve, providing a bracing resistance to the movement of said bobbling figurine.

2. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape chosen from a variety of possible shapes representing one of a range of symbols, persons, holidays, events, sports teams, or logos.

3. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a coloring chosen from a variety of possible colorings.

4. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where one said bobbling figurine having a first shape can be substituted with another said bobbling figurine having a second shape, by removal and re-attachment.

5. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where one said bobbling figurine having a first coloring can be substituted with another said bobbling figurine having a second coloring, by removal and re-attachment.

6. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a person.

7. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a group of persons.

8. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a field of endeavor.

9. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing an event.

10. The bobble for bottle neck of claim 1, where said spring serves as a decorative element of said bobbling figurine.

11. A method for producing a bobble for bottle neck, comprising: (i) providing a sleeve adapted to fit tightly around a bottle neck, having a generally tubular form, in use, and having a slit adapted to allow protrusion through said sleeve; (ii) providing a contoured brace adapted to conform to the bottle neck, having a nipple adapted to protrude through said slit; (iii) providing a spring having a proximal end and a distal end, adapted to attach at the proximal end to said nipple protruding through said slit; and (iv) providing a bobbling figurine adapted to attach at the distal end of said spring, said bobbling figuring having a shape and a coloring; where at least one attachment to said spring is removable and re-attachable; where, in use, said bobbling figurine is held out from the bottle neck at the distal end of said spring, allowing movement of said bobbling figurine; and where, in use, said contoured brace is held tightly to the bottle neck by said sleeve, providing a bracing resistance to the movement of said bobbling figurine.

12. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape chosen from a variety of possible shapes representing one of a range of symbols, persons, holidays, events, sports teams, or logos.

13. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a coloring chosen from a variety of possible colorings.

14. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where one said bobbling figurine having a first shape can be substituted with another said bobbling figurine having a second shape, by removal and re-attachment.

15. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where one said bobbling figurine having a first coloring can be substituted with another said bobbling figurine having a second coloring, by removal and re-attachment.

16. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a person.

17. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a group of persons.

18. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing a field of endeavor.

19. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said bobbling figurine further comprises having a shape representing an event.

20. The method for producing a bobble for bottle neck of claim 11, where said spring serves as a decorative element of said bobbling figurine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of embodiments of the bobble for bottle neck invention having various bobble figurines;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of embodiments of the bobble for bottle neck invention adapted to various bottles and a can;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an assembled view of a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention prior to placement on a bottle neck;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention after placement on a bottle neck, in use;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a view of an embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention in use on a taller beverage bottle;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention in use on a wine bottle;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a view of an embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention in use on a beverage can;

[0027] FIG. 10 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck, schematically depicting the internal attachment to the sleeve of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 11 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck, schematically depicting the internal attachment to the sleeve of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 12 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck, schematically depicting the internal attachment to the sleeve of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 13 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention after placement on a bottle neck, in use; and

[0031] FIG. 14 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention after placement on a bottle neck, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Referring to all figures generally, embodiments of the bobble for bottle neck invention method and apparatus 10 are illustrated.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 & FIG. 2, the bobble for bottle neck invention provides a variety of bobble figurines 5, which can be a representation of a range of symbols, persons, holidays, events, sports teams, logos, and the like, such as the sphere and the stylized animal and human shown. The bobble for bottle neck invention also provides sleeves 1 adapted to a variety of beverage containers, including cans, wine bottles, beer bottles, and soft drink bottles, as shown.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 3 & FIG. 4, the bobble for bottle neck invention provides a sleeve 1 that fits around the neck of a bottle or corresponding parts of different beverage containers. In a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention, the sleeve is made of neoprene fabric, which stretches to conform to the shape of the bottle neck and maintains a tight fit around the bottle neck. The sleeve 1 has a slit 2 for the purpose of allowing the nipple portion of a contoured brace 3 to protrude through the sleeve 1. Depending on the material chosen for the sleeve 1, the ends or edges of the slit might need to be bound or otherwise reinforced against tearing or unravelling.

[0035] The contoured brace 3, in use, has a longer dimension in the vertical direction, in line with the bottle's neck, and a shorter dimension in the horizontal direction which is contoured or curved to fit around the bottle's neck. The contoured brace 3 is thin, and is intended to be held tightly around the bottle's neck by the sleeve 1, and is intended to resist the forces exerted by the bobble figurine 5 moving around at the end of a spring 4. In a preferred embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention, the contoured brace 3 is made of molded plastic. The contoured brace 3 has a nipple, as shown, that is intended to protrude through the slit 2 in the sleeve 1, and to provide a point of attachment for one end of a spring 4. In an embodiment of the bobble for bottle neck invention, when oriented for use, the nipple emerges from the contoured brace 3 at an upward angle and consequently holds the spring 4 at an upward angle, which compensates somewhat for the downward pull of the bobbling figurine 5. In use, most of the contoured brace 3, except for the nipple, is concealed behind the sleeve 1, as shown.

[0036] The bobbling figurine 5 is attached to the end of the spring 4 opposite the attachment to the nipple of the contoured brace 3. At least one of the attachments to the spring 4, at the contoured brace 3, at the bobbling figurine 5, or at both, is a removable and re-attachable attachment, which allows for removal and substitution of the bobbling figurine 5.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5 & FIG. 6, the bobble for bottle neck invention assembly is placed upon, and stretched around, the bottle's neck or the corresponding part of a different beverage container. The sleeve 1 conforms to the bottle's neck and holds the contoured brace 3 tightly against the bottle's neck. The longer dimension of the contoured brace 3, in use, is oriented generally vertically along the bottle's neck, providing a bracing force against the pull of the bobbling figurine 5. In use, the bobble for bottle neck invention holds a bobbling figurine 5 out from the bottle's neck on a spring 4, allowing the bobbling figurine 5 to bobble with movement of the bottle or with touching the bobbling figurine 5 itself.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 8, & FIG. 9, the bobble for bottle neck invention can be used on a variety of beverage containers, such as soft-drink bottles or wine bottles, or an embodiment having a larger sleeve 1 can be used on cans.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12, the bobble for bottle neck invention may alternatively feature a spring 4 that is part of the decorative element of the bobbling figurine 5. For example, referring to FIG. 10, if the bobbling figurine 5 represents a person, the spring 4 may be embedded within the decorative legs of the person of the bobbling figurine 5. As in the embodiments depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sleeve 1 has a slit 2 for the purpose of allowing the nipple of a contoured brace 3 to protrude through the sleeve 1. The spring 4 is attached to the nipple of the contoured brace 3, and the bobbling figurine 5 encases the spring 4 of the bobble. As depicted in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in the case of a single spring 4, the bobbling figurine 5 may be removable and re-attachable on the spring 4, such that an alternative bobbling figurine 5 may be attached to the spring 4.

[0040] Alternatively, referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14, the spring 4 may be directly connected to the bobbling figurine 5. The spring 4 may be encased within the decorative element of bobbling figurine 5, as shown schematically in FIG. 11, or may serve as a decorative element as part of the bobbling figurine 5, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.

[0041] Many changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.