U.S. patent application number 13/933932 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for plush toy with anatomical features containing storage compartments.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kelly Bagla. Invention is credited to Kelly Bagla.
Application Number | 20140227933 13/933932 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51297745 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140227933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bagla; Kelly |
August 14, 2014 |
Plush toy with anatomical features containing storage
compartments
Abstract
A plush toy animal figure with anatomical features configured to
provide closable storage compartments.
Inventors: |
Bagla; Kelly; (Oceanside,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bagla; Kelly |
Oceanside |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51297745 |
Appl. No.: |
13/933932 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61762911 |
Feb 10, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/02 20130101; A63H
3/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/73 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/02 20060101
A63H003/02 |
Claims
1. A plush toy figure comprised of an outer shape-defining skin and
interior stuffing, in a configuration representing an animal, at
least one anatomical feature of which is sufficiently exaggerated
to permit its use as a storage compartment, access to which is
closable by a fastening means.
2. The toy of claim 1 in the form of an elephant, with ears
exaggerated such as to provide compartments for the storage and
transport of smaller items.
3. The toy of claim 1 made to be a waterproof means for storing
small toys and similar objects, with at least one anatomical
feature exaggerated to provide useful interior space fitted with a
waterproof liner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/762911, filed 10 Feb. 2013 for Kelly
Bagla, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is generally in the field of toys.
1. Nature of Toys
[0004] It is well understood in the toy industry that success of a
product does not really depend upon a combination of appearance,
function, and the pleasure it conveys to the user. That is because
the user is rarely the person who makes the purchase decision.
Rather, the economic success of a given toy design depends upon the
perception of the parent or gift-buyer, who must judge whether the
recipient will use the item and enjoy it.
[0005] Any design features that enhance the attraction of a toy to
the real purchaser, therefore, can contribute substantially to the
market success of the product--even when the purchaser will have
little to do with the toy after it is acquired. Any design feature
that makes the toy more attractive to the actual user--typically a
child--will improve market performance only insofar as that
attraction is communicated with the buyer (usually the parent).
[0006] Truly unique toys occur mostly in the world of
high-technology. Virtually all basic dolls, construction sets, and
similar playthings have been offered to the market, with only minor
features differentiating one from another.
[0007] Toy makers, distributors, and retailers are constantly
seeking new basic toys that provide a feature that is not simply a
re-work of designs from the past. Parents and other toy-buyers are
also looking for basic and simple toys with unique features that
increase their play value, attraction, and satisfaction.
[0008] The toy industry is comprised of designers, manufacturers,
distributors, marketers, and retailers. Each link in this chain
constantly seeks innovation.
[0009] High technology products are increasingly capturing market
share at lower and lower ages, with well-designed toys that leave
little to the imagination. Realistic figures move on color
displays, controlled by joysticks, keyboards, tilted tablets, or
even voice. This may be good preparation for productivity tools in
the future, but such products do not provide a child with the
personal comfort of a doll or plush toy, nor do high technology
scenarios on a computer screen stimulate the child's imagination as
much as play with static animals and human figures, to which the
child can assign speech and behaviors. Most experts believe that a
child's mind is best stimulated by such play, not by simply
watching computer-driven action on a screen.
[0010] The toy industry is always ripe for new low-tech dolls and
plush toys that induce purchase with beauty, comfort, and personal
satisfaction, but there are finite permutations of the physical
attributes of various animal and human figures. Unique physical
features of a doll or plush toy could greatly increase its
attraction to a child, and the perception of actual utility would
stimulate a purchase decision by a parent.
2. Plush Toys
[0011] A "plush toy" is a toy product comprised of an outer skin or
covering, typically of fabric, which creates the detailed visual
features of the animal or object depicted by the concept. That skin
is stuffed with foam or a material like batting, to provide the
gross anatomical features and shape of the emulated animal or
object.
[0012] Production of plush toys is usually in three steps. The
skins are made at some cost-effective site and shipped to a second
location where the stuffing is produced or purchased, and then the
final product is assembled and packaged.
3. Prior Art
[0013] There are many design patents illustrating unique and
interesting plush toys and dolls, but none provides the physical
features and utility of the present invention.
[0014] Many utility patents also exist in the area of plush toys
and dolls, and the area of storage means for playthings, but none
provides the combination of play and functionality of the present
invention.
[0015] In the marketplace, many toys are available with storage
compartments of various sorts, but none that exploits the
anatomical features of the animal represented by the toy, and most
specifically, none that utilizes the ears of a toy elephant as
storage containers.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,577 by Peter Yanofsky, initially filed
on 19 Dec. 1997, shows a plush toy in at least two parts, with a
concealed message at the interface(s) thereof.
[0017] US application 20100197190 by Lisa Lloyd, initially filed on
5 Feb. 2009, shows a plush toy in the form of a pillow, with a
storage compartment in the form of a pull-out drawer, among other
features.
[0018] US application 20070232186 by Ronnie Shamah, initially filed
on 3 Apr. 2006, shows a plush toy with a storage compartment in the
chest or back of the animal model. This invention is intended to
apply to packaging, where a ribbon is pulled from the plush toy and
used to secure a box, while the plush toy itself is a decorative
item upon said box.
[0019] US application 20020168919 by Jeffrey Perkins, initially
filed on 8 May 2002, shows a plush toy such as a teddy bear, with a
cavity intended to conceal a prize.
[0020] US application 20110117809 by Anne Bowar, initially filed on
19 Nov. 2009, shows a plush toy that acts as an outer shell for
storage of smaller toys.
[0021] While plush toys and dolls comprising prior art have served
their purposes well for centuries, none was found in either patent
files or the marketplace that provides the combination of
amusement, comfort, satisfaction, practical utility, and enhanced
marketability of the present invention.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0022] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
the conventional comfort, satisfaction, and entertainment of a
plush toy or doll, with the added benefit of a unique utility
function.
[0023] The present invention is intended to provide the user with a
storage capability able to carry other items, with said storage
integrated in a reasonable anatomical area of the toy.
[0024] The present invention increases its value to the child, who
can store playthings and other items in one or more storage
compartments.
[0025] Another objective is to increase perceived value in the mind
of the parent or gift-giver, who will see not only a plush toy or
doll but also a utility function that is not available from
competing products.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0026] The present invention is comprised of a plush toy or doll,
typically of an animal, with exaggerated anatomical features,
typically ears, that are configured to provide storage compartments
that can be secured with a fastening means, thus increasing the
utility of the toy to the child using it, and the perceived value
of the toy to the person making purchase decisions.
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Preferred Embodiment
[0027] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a plush
toy animal that is ordinarily considered to have large ears, such
as an elephant.
[0028] At least one of the ears of the plush toy animal is made as
a useful storage compartment, with access across the top in the
form of an opening leading into the compartment.
[0029] Said storage compartment is reliably sealed to secure its
contents, using sewn-in or adhesed magnet closures.
2. Variations Upon the Present Invention
[0030] The invention can be executed in the image of any animal
with ears or other anatomical features that are sufficiently
exaggerated as to provide space for storage.
[0031] The toy can be a doll or a stuffed plush toy representing
any animal.
[0032] Physical features other than ears of the animal represented
by the plush toy or doll can be exaggerated and used for storage in
accordance with the present invention, including humps of a camel,
the tail of a platypus or beaver, wings of a bird, fins of a fish,
or any other appendage suitable to the configuration provided
herein.
[0033] The storage compartment can be secured using magnets sewn
into the top seams of the two edges of the compartment, such that
they meet and attract to seal the compartment, but the same
objective of closure can be attained using hook-and-loop ("Velcro")
fastening, buttons, zipper, a slot-and-tab fastener, or a simple
flap.
[0034] The storage compartment can be lined with a waterproof
material.
[0035] A removable inner bag can be provided, permitting all the
objects contained in the storage compartment to be removed
together. Said inner bag can then be laundered or cleaned
independently of the entire toy.
[0036] The present invention can be executed as a toy that is not a
"plush toy", but is made of other materials, yet the concept is
preserved when the design incorporates the described storage
compartments.
[0037] The primary embodiment and these variations, as well as
others that may reasonably and obviously come to mind when
considering this description, are considered to be within the scope
of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION
[0038] FIG. 1 depicts a typical plush toy in the form of an
elephant 1 with exaggerated ears 2 that have an opening at the top
3 leading to storage compartments 4 held closed by magnet sets
5.
[0039] FIG. 2 depicts the present invention in the form of a kitten
plush toy 6 showing said exaggerated ears 2 with integrated storage
compartments 4 containing playthings 7.
* * * * *