Novelty Pop-Up Toy Having a Receptacle Head with Braided Sleeve Body and Its Associated Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A novelty pop-up toy and its associated method of operation. The pop-up toy has a head section that is supported on a spring element, such as a braided sleeve. When the pop-up toy is compressed, the spring element elastically deforms from an uncompressed state to a compressed state. While in the compressed state, the spring element stores energy. If the compression force is suddenly released, the braided sleeve body releases its stored energy and pops back into its uncompressed state. As braided sleeve body returns to its uncompressed state, it rapidly expands, therein providing enough force to propel the entire pop-up toy into the air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pop-up toy assembly comprising:
 a head having a bottom surface, wherein an internal compartment is disposed in said head that is open at said bottom surface;   a braided sleeve having a top end and a bottom end, said braided sleeve being selectively compressible between an uncompressed state and a shorter compressed state, wherein said top end of said braided sleeve attaches to said head within said internal compartment, and wherein said braided sleeve extends from said bottom surface of said head when in said uncompressed state and completely fits within said internal compartment when in said compressed state.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said braided sleeve and said internal compartment are concentric. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said braided sleeve is plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said braided sleeve stores enough spring energy when in said compressed state to propel said assembly into flight when released. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said internal compartment has an internal diameter that is no more than ten percent wider than said braided sleeve when said braided sleeve is in said compressed state. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said head is molded of plastic foam. 
     
     
         7 . A pop-up toy assembly comprising:
 a head having a bottom surface, wherein an internal compartment is disposed in said head that is open at said bottom surface;   a spring element extending out of said internal compartment in said head, said spring element being selectively compressible into a compressed state, wherein said spring element fits inside said internal compartment when in said compressed state.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said internal compartment prevents said spring element from bending laterally when said spring element is in said compressed state. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said spring element is a braided sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said braided sleeve is made from braided plastic elements. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said spring element has a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end of said braided sleeve attaches to said head within said internal compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said braided sleeve and said internal compartment are concentric. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said head is molded of a lightweight polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said spring element stores enough spring energy when in said compressed state to propel said assembly into flight when released. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said internal compartment has an internal diameter that is no more than ten percent wider than said spring element when said spring element is in said compressed state. 
     
     
         16 . a pop-up toy assembly, comprising:
 a braided sleeve made from woven strands of plastic, said braided sleeve having a top end and a bottom end, wherein said bottom end is larger than said top end, and wherein said braided sleeve can be selectively compressed into a compressed state by moving said top end and said bottom end toward each other;   a head that defines an internal compartment, said internal compartment being open on one surface of said head, wherein said top end of said braided sleeve is anchored within said internal compartment and wherein said internal compartment is large enough to completely receive said braided sleeve when said braided sleeve is in said compressed state.