U.S. patent application number 12/550783 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for novelty storage container/display apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Idea Nuova, Inc.. Invention is credited to Benjamin S. AKKAD.
Application Number | 20110053452 12/550783 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43625584 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110053452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
AKKAD; Benjamin S. |
March 3, 2011 |
NOVELTY STORAGE CONTAINER/DISPLAY APPARATUS
Abstract
A storage container/display apparatus adapted to resemble a
character is provided as a means to differentiate a product. The
storage container/display apparatus is configured as a character in
a seated position that stores and/or displays a product in a
container.
Inventors: |
AKKAD; Benjamin S.;
(Brooklyn, NY) |
Assignee: |
Idea Nuova, Inc.
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
43625584 |
Appl. No.: |
12/550783 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/73 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/00 20060101
A63H003/00 |
Claims
1. A toy character comprising: a head; a torso; arms, legs; and a
belly in the shape of a container configured to receive an
item.
2. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the belly is configured as
an open toped container.
3. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the belly is configured
with a substantially planar bottom wall and substantially planar
side walls generally perpendicular to the bottom wall.
4. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the belly is formed
partially of fabric.
5. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the belly includes
fasteners to fasten the arms to the belly.
6. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the item is one of a
sheet, blanket throw, pillow, or combinations thereof.
7. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the belly is in an upright
position and the toy figure is configured in a seated position.
8. The toy character of claim 1, wherein the legs are attached to a
front end of the belly.
9. An apparatus comprising: a container that includes: a head,
torso, arms, and legs; wherein the container is formed partially of
fabric.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the container includes a
substantially planar bottom wall and substantially planar side
walls, the side walls being secured perpendicular to the bottom
wall.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the container is sized and
shaped to at least partially receive a product.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the product is one of a
sheet, blanket throw, pillow, or combinations thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the container is configured
as a basket.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the torso is connected to a
back end of the container and the legs are connected to a front end
of the container.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the head, torso, arms, and
legs are detachably connectable to the container.
16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the head, torso, arms, and
legs are configured to resemble a character in a seated
position.
17. A method of displaying a product comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus according to claim 9, and inserting a
portion of a product in the container.
18. A display apparatus comprising: a base that includes: a
mounting section to mount a product; legs; and a backboard that
includes: a torso; arms; and a head; wherein the base and backboard
are configured as a character in a seated position.
19. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the mounting section
is configured as an open toped container.
20. The display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the product is
mounted on the mounting section and the product is partially stored
in the open toped container and partially exposed for viewing.
21. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the base and
backboard are at least partially formed of fabric.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a novelty storage
container/display apparatus, and more particularly, to a storage
container and/or display apparatus configured as a toy figure or
character.
[0002] Numerous commercial consumer products are directed to young
consumers, such as toddlers and babies. Moreover, with the every
increasing number of providers of such consumer products, young
consumers, or purchasers of such consumer products for young
consumers, can select from any number of providers of their
choosing. As such, it has become a much more competitive
marketplace for providers to successfully market and sell consumer
products for use by young consumers, especially commodities, such
as bed sheets, blanket throws and pillows.
[0003] Attempts to differentiate such commodities to win over
purchasers have included the use of celebrity endorsements,
character prints, and/or discounts. However, such brand
differentiation means are now commonplace in the market and
therefore, in essence, no longer sufficiently differentiate such
commodity products to purchasers.
[0004] As such, there is still a need for a means to differentiate
products with purchasers of commodity products, especially for
young consumers, that provides for a market and/or advertising
advantage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, the problem of
providing a novel means to differentiate a product is solved by a
novelty storage container/display apparatus that can store or
display a product and then function as a novelty secondary storage
or display item. In this way, both packaging and product/brand
differentiation can be provided to the consumer.
[0006] In an embodiment, the present invention provides for a toy
character or figure comprising: a head; a torso; arms, legs; and a
belly in the shape of a container configured to receive an
item.
[0007] In another embodiment, the present invention provides for an
apparatus comprising: a container that includes: a head, torso,
arms, and legs; wherein the container is formed partially of
fabric.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides
for a method of displaying a product comprising the steps of
providing an apparatus comprising: a container that includes: a
head, torso, arms, and legs; wherein the container is formed
partially of fabric, and partially inserting a product in the
container.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides for
a display apparatus comprising: a base that includes: a mounting
section for mounting a product; legs; and a backboard that
includes: a torso; arms; and a head; wherein the base and backboard
are configured as a character in the seated position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a toy character having
a belly in the form of a container configured to receive a sheet
set in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toy character of FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toy character of FIG. 1
with internal fasteners and without a sheet set;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toy character of FIG. 1
with external fasteners and without a sheet set; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a display apparatus in
accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or like
reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like features. It should be noted that the drawings are
in simplified form and are not drawn to precise scale. In reference
to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity
only, directional terms such as top, bottom, above, below and
diagonal, are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such
directional terms used in conjunction with the following
description of the drawings should not be construed to limit the
scope of the invention in any manner not explicitly set forth.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides
for a toy figure, character or doll 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The toy character 10 includes a head 12, a torso 14, arms 16, legs
18, and a belly 20, configured as shown on FIG. 1.
[0018] The belly 20 is generally configured as a storage container.
While the storage container can be configured in an number of ways,
the belly 20 is preferably configured as an open toped
parallelpiped shaped storage container. More preferably, the belly
20 is configured with a substantially planar bottom wall 22 and
four substantially planar side walls 24a-d extending generally
perpendicular to the bottom wall 22. The substantially planar
bottom and side walls 22, 24a-d, form a substantially rectangular
basket. The internal volume or storage capacity of the belly or
container 20 is sufficient to store or hold an item or product 26,
such as a sheet set 26, blanket throws, pillows, or the like.
Preferably, the internal volume of the belly 20 is configured such
that the product 26 is only partially stored in the belly 20 so
that a top portion of the product 26 stands exposed and viewable by
a consumer.
[0019] The product 26 stored in the belly 20 can be any commercial
consumer product such as a sheet set, blanket throw, pillows, or
combinations thereof. Preferably, the product 26 stored in the
belly 20 is a separately packaged product. Separately packaging the
product 26 advantageously allows for the product to be sold
separately and in combination with the toy character 10.
[0020] The belly 20 can also be configured with fasteners 28 (see
FIG. 3) along the inside of any of the substantially planar side
walls 24a-d (only side wall 24c illustrated with a fastener 28 for
convenience) or the bottom wall 22 to retain the product 26 within
the belly 20 or to allow a user to open and securely close the
belly 20. Any conventional fastener readily known in the art can be
used, as such a detailed explanation of such fasteners is not
necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention.
However, such fasteners 28 can include, a button, hook and loop
fasteners, ties, zippers and the like.
[0021] The belly 20 can further be configured with fasteners 30
(see FIG. 4) along the outside of any of the substantially planar
side walls 24a-d (only side wall 24a illustrated with a fastener 30
for convenience) to allow a user to secure the arms 16 of the toy
character 10 over the belly 20, if desired. The fasteners 30 can by
any conventional fasteners, such as those described above for
fasteners 28. The fasteners 30 advantageously allows for any
product 26 retained within the belly 20 to be further secured by
the arms 16 fastened over the belly 20.
[0022] The appendages of the toy character 10 can be configured in
any of numerous ways, however, the toy character 10 is preferably
configured such that the container formed out of the belly 20 is in
the upright position when the toy character 10 is in an upright
seated position. This is accomplished by preferably positioning the
legs 18 along a front end of the belly 20 and the torso 14 along a
back end of the belly 20. That is, the toy character 10 is
preferably configured as shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] The toy character 10 can be made out of any material readily
known in the art for making toy characters, such as wood, plastics,
textiles, and metals. Preferably, the toy character 10 is formed
out of a soft textile, such as fabric or a plush fabric, and filled
with a soft material, such as cotton. The belly 20 is also
preferably formed out of a soft textile so as to be collapsible and
soft.
[0024] The toy character 10 can also be configured with an
informational hang tag 32. The hang tag 32 can be positioned and
fastened to the toy character 10 about any location, but is
preferably positioned on one of the arm(s) 16 of the toy character
10. The hang tag 32 is configured to resemble a book or other item
readily associated with or held by the character embodied by the
toy character 10. The hang tag 32 also includes information such as
a pictorial image, sizing information, UPC code, laundering
information, or any other information necessary or preferably
conveyed with the product 26.
[0025] The toy character 10 can be configured as any toy character
known in the art, such as a teddy bear, animal, person, or even an
object such as a vehicle (e.g., Lighting McQueen from the movie
Cars). Preferably, the toy character 10 is configured as a well
known character, such as Big Bird, Elmo, Bugs Bunny, a Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtle, Sportacus, Lighting McQueen, or any other well
known character.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the head 12, torso 14, arms
16, and legs 18 are all detachably connectable to the belly 20. The
head 12, torso 14, arms 16, and legs 18 can be connected to the
belly 20 via fasteners (not shown) that are readily known in the
art.
[0027] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides for
a method of displaying a product 26. The product 26 can be any
consumer product such as bed sheets, blanket throws, pillows, or
combinations thereof. The method includes the steps of providing an
apparatus that includes a container having a head 12, torso 14,
arms 16, and legs 16, wherein the container 20 is formed partially
of fabric. Thereafter, a product 26 is partially inserted into the
container 20.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the present
invention provides for a display apparatus 100. The display
apparatus 100 includes a base 102 and a backboard 104.
[0029] The base 102 includes a mounting section 106 for mounting
e.g., a product 116, and legs 108. The legs 108 are preferably
attached to a front end of the mounting section 106. The mounting
section 106 can be configured as an open toped container.
Preferably, the mounting section 106 of the base 102 is configured
to partially store a product 116 within the mounting section 106
and to leave the product 116 partially exposed for viewing by a
consumer, such as shown in FIG. 5.
[0030] The backboard 104 includes a torso 110, a head 112, and arms
114. The backboard 104 is connected to the base 102 about a back
end of the base 102 (e.g., towards the back of the torso 110).
[0031] The display 100 is preferably configured as a character,
such as a doll or other animated object, that is in a seated
position as best shown in FIG. 5. While the display can be made out
of any material, such as wood, plastic, textile, or metal, the
display is preferably formed at least partially out of a soft
fabric.
[0032] The embodiments of the present invention advantageously
provide for a novel storage container or display apparatus that can
be used to package or display a product to differentiate the
product from other similar products. With the present invention, a
consumer is provided with a novel packaging or display means for a
product and is further advantaged by being provided with a novelty
storage container or display apparatus for use after the product is
opened or excised from the storage container or display apparatus.
As such, the present invention also advantageously reduces the
overall amount of waste associated with packaging materials while
providing a reusable packaging (i.e., the storage container or
display apparatus) that can be used as a secondary novelty storage
container or display apparatus.
[0033] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover all
modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *