Novelty apparatus

Abstract

Novelty apparatus including a creature assembly having appendage portions.

1 . A novelty apparatus comprising:
 a handle member extending along an axis from a lower end to an upper end; and   a creature assembly located proximate the upper end of the handle member, wherein the creature assembly comprises:
 a body portion coupled to the upper end of the handle member; and 
 three or more appendage portions, wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the handle member, wherein the three or more appendage portions are pivotally movable between at least a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is located proximate the axis of the handle when in the stowed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends radially from the axis of the handle member when in the deployed position, and wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions defines an appendage of the creature assembly, and wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions comprises a strut encased in covering material over at least a major portion of the length of the appendage portion. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening between each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each opening occupies at least 50% of the area defined between each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the openings between the appendage portions prevent the novelty apparatus from functioning to protect a user from precipitation as would a conventional umbrella. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions further comprises fill material encased in the covering material proximate the strut. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a stimulation system, wherein the stimulation system comprises:
 one or more output devices for delivering stimulation, wherein the one or more output devices comprises one or more visual stimulation devices for delivering visual stimulation;   a power source operably coupled to the one or more output devices; and   one or more actuators for activating the one or more output devices to deliver stimulation, wherein the one or more actuators are operably coupled to the power source and the one or more output devices.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more visual stimulation devices are located proximate the body portion of the creature assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more output devices comprises one or more auditory stimulation devices for delivering auditory stimulation. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more auditory stimulation devices are located within the body portion of the creature assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the creature assembly has the appearance of a spider. 
   
   
       11 . A novelty apparatus comprising:
 a handle member extending along an axis from a lower end to an upper end; and   a creature assembly located proximate the upper end of the handle member, wherein the creature assembly comprises:
 a body portion coupled to the upper end of the handle member; 
 three or more appendage portions, wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the handle member, wherein the three or more appendage portions are pivotally movable between at least a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is located proximate the axis of the handle when in the stowed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends radially from the axis of the handle member when in the deployed position; and 
 material extending between at least two or more appendage portions of the three or more appendage portions, and wherein the space between at least one pair of adjacent appendage portions is open. 
   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the open space between the at least one pair of adjacent appendage portions prevents the novelty apparatus from functioning to protect a user from precipitation as would a conventional umbrella. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each appendage portion comprises a strut encased in covering material over at least a major portion of the length of the appendage portion. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions further comprises fill material encased in the covering material proximate the strut. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the material defines a plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       16 . A novelty apparatus comprising:
 a handle member extending along an axis from a lower end to an upper end; and   a creature assembly located proximate the upper end of the handle member, wherein the creature assembly comprises:
 a body portion coupled to the upper end of the handle member; 
 three or more appendage portions, wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the proximal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the handle member, wherein the three or more appendage portions are pivotally movable between at least a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions is located proximate the axis of the handle when in the stowed position, wherein the distal end of each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions extends radially from the axis of the handle member when in the deployed position; and 
 open mesh material extending between at least two or more appendage portions of the three or more appendage portions, wherein the open mesh material comprises a plurality of apertures are defined within the material extending between the at least two or more appendage portions of the three or more appendage portions. 
   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each appendage portion comprises a strut encased in covering material over at least a major portion of the length of the appendage portion. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each appendage portion of the three or more appendage portions further comprises fill material encased in the covering material proximate the strut. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of apertures in the mesh material prevent the novelty apparatus from functioning to protect a user from precipitation as would a conventional umbrella. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a stimulation system, wherein the stimulation system comprises:
 one or more output devices for delivering stimulation, wherein the one or more output devices comprises one or more visual stimulation devices for delivering visual stimulation;   a power source operably coupled to the one or more output devices; and   one or more actuators for activating the one or more output devices to deliver stimulation, wherein the one or more actuators are operably coupled to the power source and the one or more output devices.