U.S. patent application number 14/939745 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-06 for toy with interchangeable hair components.
The applicant listed for this patent is Funosophy, Inc.. Invention is credited to Margaret E. Wray, Nancy A. Zwiers.
Application Number | 20160288003 14/939745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44545922 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160288003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zwiers; Nancy A. ; et
al. |
October 6, 2016 |
TOY WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HAIR COMPONENTS
Abstract
A toy in the form of a horse with removable and interchangeable
hair components. The mane hair component can be easily slid into
and out of a channel defined along the length of the neck of the
horse toy. A tail component is secured within a complementary
receptacle in the body of the horse.
Inventors: |
Zwiers; Nancy A.; (Long
Beach, CA) ; Wray; Margaret E.; (Murrieta,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Funosophy, Inc. |
Long Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
44545922 |
Appl. No.: |
14/939745 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14624343 |
Feb 17, 2015 |
9186592 |
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14939745 |
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14099501 |
Dec 6, 2013 |
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14624343 |
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12857069 |
Aug 16, 2010 |
8602835 |
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14099501 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/44 20130101; A63H
3/48 20130101; A63H 33/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/44 20060101
A63H003/44; A63H 3/48 20060101 A63H003/48 |
Claims
1. A toy comprising: an integral housing defining a shape of a
horse; and a groove having a length, the groove having a first
groove end at one end of the length to receive a first removable
mane component; wherein the first removable mane component includes
a base configured to secure the removable mane component within the
groove and a mane having a plurality of natural or artificial
threads, the base having a first base end and a second base end;
wherein the base includes a longitudinal axis and the first base
end and the second base end are aligned along the longitudinal axis
and on opposite ends of the base; wherein the groove includes an
opening at the first groove end through which the first base end of
the base of the mane component is inserted and the base is inserted
into the groove by sliding the base into the groove in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first groove end defines the
second opening and the second opening is a triangular opening
through which the base of the first removable mane component is
inserted and removed from the groove.
3. The toy of claim 1, further comprising: a second removable mane
component having a second base to secure the second removable mane
component within the groove and a mane having a plurality of
natural or artificial threads with at least one characteristic
distinct from the mane of the first removable mane component.
4. The toy of claim 1, where the mane is slidably disposed within
the mane hair component to enable lengthening or shortening of a
portion of the mane extending out from the mane hair component.
5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the base of the mane hair component
includes a triangular cross-section and the groove includes a
corresponding triangular cross-section.
6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the base of the mane hair component
includes a first opening at one end through which a first portion
of the mane exits the base.
7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the base of the mane hair component
includes a second opening along a length of the base through which
a second portion of the mane exits the base, the first opening
being separated from the second opening by a portion of the
base.
8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the base has a length of 1
centimeter to 3 centimeters, wherein the base is molded plastic,
and wherein the second opening has a length from 1 centimeter to 3
centimeters.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic
priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed
with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference
and made a part of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a toy with
interchangeable parts. Specifically, the embodiments of the
invention relate to a toy in the form of a horse with removable and
interchangeable mane and tail pieces.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are many toys designed for brushing, combing and
styling play activities. Typically these toys have hair pieces that
are mounted at one end within the housing or body of the toy, such
as a doll or horse. These hair pieces are fixed at one end within
the housing. This fixed mounting would require a disassembly of the
toy in order for the hair to be removed or replaced, which is
outside the design of these toys and their intended use as part of
the play activities that are appropriate for the target age group
for the toy.
[0004] Toy horses in particular tend to have both a mane and tail
that are either molded of plastic that is unitary with the overall
molding of the horse or artificial or real hair that is mounted
within the body of the horse toy. Some horse toys have a feature of
allowing a mane or tail to "grow" by enabling the child to pull on
the hair and unspool additional hair from an internal storage
within the housing. However, in these toys once the hair is
entirely unspooled the hair piece remains firmly mounted within the
body of the horse. Removing the hair entirely would require the
hair piece to either be forcefully pulled from the mounting
mechanism or for the body of the horse to be opened such that the
mounting mechanism can be removed. However, these bodies are
designed to prevent the toy from easily being opened, because
granting access to the internal components, which often include
small parts, would not be appropriate for the target demographic
for the toy. Further, opening the body of the toy would require
damaging the mechanism holding the parts of the toy together or
would require specialized tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the
accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar
elements. It should be noted that references to "an" or "one"
embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily
to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a drawing of one embodiment of a horse toy with an
interchangeable mane and tail.
[0007] FIG. 2A is a diagram of one embodiment of a horse body.
[0008] FIG. 2B is a diagram of one embodiment of a removable
mane.
[0009] FIG. 2C is a diagram of another embodiment of a removable
mane.
[0010] FIG. 2D is a diagram of one embodiment of a removable
tail.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of the body of the
horse toy with a cross-sectional view.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of a horse toy showing
a defined channel and receptacle for receiving the interchangeable
mane and tails.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of a toy with
interchangeable hair components. In one embodiment, the toy is in
the form of a toy horse 100. The embodiments described herein
relate to the example of a horse. However, one of ordinary skill in
the art would understand that the principles and structures
described herein would also apply to other types of dolls and toys
having a design for use in hair combing and braiding play.
[0014] The toy 100 includes a housing 101 that defines the shape of
the body of the toy 100. The housing 101 can be formed of any
material including soft and hard plastics, natural or artificial
resins or similar materials and any combination thereof. The
housing 101 can define a hollow interior space, a non-hollow
construction or any combination thereof. The shape, color and size
of the housing 101 can be varied to represent different types or
breeds of horses, different stances or different types of animals
entirely.
[0015] The housing 101 can define a receptacle and a channel into
which the hair components for the tail 105 and the mane 103A, 103B
are disposed, respectively. The tail receptacle is positioned
appropriately at the rear of the housing 101 such that when a tail
piece 105 is inserted into the receptacle, the horse has an overall
appearance of having a tail such that hair flows out of the
receptacle and lays or hangs in a manner similar to an actual
horses' tail. The channel holding the mane 103A, 103B is positioned
along the length of the neck, specifically the back of the neck of
the horse or in a similar position such that the hair 103A, 103B
protruding from the hair component through an opening in the
channel is positioned to fall or lay in a manner similar to that of
a real horse. The tail 105 and mane 103A, 103B can be formed from
any type of synthetic or natural fiber including polymer threads
and natural hair. The tail 105 and mane 103A, 103B can be any size,
length or density to achieve an overall desired aesthetic look for
the horse toy 100.
[0016] In one embodiment, the horse housing 101 can be four to
eight inches tall (e.g., 6.25 inches tall from hoof to ear). The
horse housing 101 can be four to ten inches long (e.g., 5.4 inches
long from nose to tail). The horse housing 101 can have a width
from one inch to six inches. One skilled in the art would
understand that these measurements are provided by way of example
and demonstrate ratios and proportions between the different
components of the horse toy. The horse toy can have any scale or
size while roughly maintaining these proportions (e.g., the horse
can have a fashion doll scale of approximately ten inches tall and
9.5 inches long).
[0017] FIG. 2A is a diagram of one embodiment of a body of the toy
100. The housing 101 is shown here without the tail and mane
accessories. The housing 101 has visible openings for the
receptacle 221 and channel 201 respectively. The receptacle opening
221 can have any shape or dimensions. In one embodiment, the
openings or apertures are roughly circular in shape with a diameter
ranging from three to twenty millimeters. The channel opening 201
through which a mane would protrude runs the length or a portion of
the length of the neck of the horse toy 100. The length can range
from 0.5 inches to three inches (e.g., 1.25 inches long) dependent
on the size and type of the horse toy and mane. The width of the
opening 201 can range from 0.01 inches to 0.5 inches leaving
sufficient space for the hair to protrude through the opening 201
along the length of the neck.
[0018] FIG. 2B is a diagram of one example embodiment of a mane
hair component. The mane hair component 203 is easily removable
from the toy horse and interchangeable with other mane hair
components by simply sliding the mane hair component 203 in and out
of the channel defined in the body. The base of the hair component
203 can have any shape, size or dimension that fits within the
channel of the horse toy. In one embodiment, the base of the mane
hair component 203 has roughly a triangular or pie-shaped
cross-section with a slit running the length of the mane hair
component 203 defining an opening through which the hair of the
mane 103A can be disposed. The slit can be defined in one of the
side walls of the mane hair component thereby directing the hair
and guiding it to fall on one side of the mane hair component 203
and horse toy.
[0019] The base can be formed from modeled plastic, resin or
similar materials. The base can have a length from 0.5 inches to
three inches (e.g., 1.25 inches) dependent on size of the toy and
mane. The opening or slit for the mane can run the length of the
base and have a length of 0.25 to three inches. In one example
embodiment, the width of the base is 0.35 inches at the widest part
of the base. In the example embodiment, the base is 0.2 inches to
0.35 inches high at the apex of the triangle. In another
embodiment, at one end of the base another portion of the mane 103B
protrudes. The two mane portions 103A, 103B can be formed from the
same set of fibers or hair or may be formed from separate sets. A
fashion doll scale horse can have a base that is three inches long
and 0.75 inches wide.
[0020] Each set of hair 103A, 103B is held in the base of the hair
component 203 by a form fit, clasp fit, clamp mechanism, adhesive
or similar securing mechanism. In one embodiment, the mane 103A,
103B is adhered to an inner surface of the base to secure it to the
base.
[0021] FIG. 2C is an alternate hair component that is
interchangeable with the first hair component. The second hair
component 213 has a base, the same cross-sectional dimensions and
roughly the same length and overall dimensions. This hair component
213 also includes the two portions of the mane 113A, 113B that
protrude from each of the hair openings of the component 213. The
hair or mane 113A, 113B can have different colorations, be formed
from different materials, have a different length, have a different
style (e.g. curly or wavy hair) or other variations in
characteristics such that exchanging the hair component 213 for the
other hair component 203, creates a different look or aesthetic for
the toy. A set of separate hair components can be interchangeably
inserted into the channel of the toy horse, with each having
different styles of hair such as braids, curls and other variations
in the characteristics of the hair in each hair component 203,213
thereby providing variety in the style and quality of play for the
toy. The styles in the mane shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are provided
by way of example. One of ordinary skill in the art would
understand that the length, style, color or similar characteristics
can be varied to provide any number of alternate play experiences
such that a horse can be combined with any number of different hair
components to provide a large number of different types of play
opportunities.
[0022] FIG. 2D is a diagram of one embodiment of a tail component
205. The tail component 205 includes the tale 105 that can have any
length, density, color, styling or similar characteristics. The
hair component 205 can have a shape and size that are complimentary
to the receptacle within the horses' housing. In other embodiments,
the tail component 205 can have inter-locking or inter-compatible
parts that engage in a locking mechanism within the horse to secure
the tail within the horse during play. Such a locking mechanism may
be engaged or disengaged by a button, pressure mechanism,
complimentary threading or similar types of inter-locking parts or
mechanisms. The tail component 205 can have any shape or size
suitable for the aesthetic purposes of the overall toy. In one
example embodiment, the tail has a base that is 0.1 inches to 0.5
inches in diameter (e.g., 0.32 inches in diameter) and that is 0.1
inches to 0.75 inches tall (e.g., 0.45 inches tall). A fashion doll
scale horse can have a tail base that is 0.55 inches in diameter
and 0.75 inches tall.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of the toy with a
cross-sectional view. This view of a cross-section of the toy shows
the disposition of the base of the hair component 203 within the
channel in the neck of the toy and the relative positioning of the
hair 103A, 103B as it extends out from the hair component 203 in
relation to the housing of the toy 100. In one embodiment, the hair
component 203 has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the
receiving channel in the horse hosing 101 to create a snug form
fit. The shape of the hair component 203 can prevent the improper
insertion or to guide the insertion of the hair component 203 by
forcing a specific orientation of the hair component 203. For
example, one of the walls of the hair component 203 can be
outwardly or convexly curved thereby requiring that it be matched
with a complementary wall of the receiving channel.
[0024] Similarly, the tail component 205 is shown disposed in the
body of the housing of the toy 100 such that the tail 105 protrudes
in an appropriate orientation and location from the horse thereby
combining with the hair component 203 to provide a simulated mane
and tail for the horse toy 100.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the toy showing
the layout of the channel 401 for receiving the inter-changeable
hair components. In one embodiment, the channel 401 runs the length
of the neck or a portion of the length of the neck of the horse toy
100. The channel 401 includes openings 201 and 409, back stop 403
and side walls 405 and 407. The hair component 203 slides into the
opening 409 and between the side walls 405, 407 until it rests
against the back stop 403.
[0026] The hair protruding from the hair component 203 also slides
through the opening 201 during the insertion process and lays over
one of the side walls 405,407. The hair component 203 may be
secured in the channel 401 with a form fit, snap fit, clasp or
similar holding mechanism. Further, the nature of the play is that
the combing of the hair 103A, 103B and similar forces exerted on
the hair 103A, 103B are roughly perpendicular to the central axis
and movement of the hair component 203 within the channel 401.
Thus, standard play with the toy is unlikely to dislodge the hair
component 203 from the channel 401.
[0027] The receptacle 411 for the tail component 205 is shown as
having a form or shape that includes one example of a locking
mechanism that secures the base of the tail component 205 within
the housing 101. In the example, the base defines a set of
protrusions or knobs that after insertion and a rotation of the
tail lock the tail component into the receptacle 411. The
receptacle 411 defines a set of opposing protrusions with spaces
between them that enable the tail component 205 to be inserted. The
locking mechanism and receptacle also provide an orientation for
the tail 105. The receptacle 411 can have any complimentary or
inter-locking mechanisms for holding and securing the tail
component 205 within the receptacle 411. The size and shape of the
receptacle 411 compliments the size and shape of the tail component
205. The receptacle 411 can have any shape or size designed to hold
or secure the tail component 205.
[0028] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with references to specific embodiments. It will,
however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be
made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope
that is set forth in the appended claims. The specification and
drawings are accordingly to be regarded in illustrative rather than
a restrictive sense.
* * * * *