Self-supporting puppet

Abstract

The instant invention relates to hand-manipulated puppets. In particular, the present invention relates to a self-supporting hand manipulated puppet adapted to serve as a rest or support for the forearm of the puppeteer.

1 . A hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising:
 a. a body, the body comprising:
 1. a first section composed of a first material; 
 2. a second section composed of a second material; 
 3. a cavity with a lower opening; 
   b. at least two legs coupled to the second section, the at least two legs composed of the second material;
 wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material has a greater density than the first material and the second material is of sufficient density and stiffness to support the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm. 
   
   
   
       2 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two legs are coupled to the second section such that the legs are capable of rotational movement. 
   
   
       3 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 2 , further comprising means of restricting the rotation of the legs. 
   
   
       4 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , wherein the first material and second material are thermoplastic elastomers. 
   
   
       5 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , wherein the first material and second material are polyvinyl chloride. 
   
   
       6 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , wherein the lower opening is located generally between the at least two legs. 
   
   
       7 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes more than one first section. 
   
   
       8 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one member coupled to said second section, the at least one member representing an extremity of the puppet. 
   
   
       9 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one member is composed at least in part of the second material. 
   
   
       10 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one member represents a wing of the puppet and comprises a support and a membrane. 
   
   
       11 . The hand-manipulated puppet of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one member comprises a support, the support including a hinge coupling an upper support to a lower support. 
   
   
       12 . A hand-manipulated puppet, the puppet comprising:
 a body, the body having a cavity with a lower opening, the body having at least one first section composed of a first material and a second section composed of a second material;   two spaced apart legs coupled to the second section, the legs composed of a second material and capable of rotational movement;   wherein the cavity receives the hand and forearm of a puppeteer incident to manipulating the puppet, wherein the first material is capable of being manually manipulated by the puppeteer, and wherein the second material is capable of supporting the weight of the puppet and the puppeteer's forearm.