U.S. patent application number 17/488938 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-21 for combination toy and tent.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jay At Play International Hong Kong Limited d/b/a Jay At Play, Jay At Play International Hong Kong Limited d/b/a Jay At Play. Invention is credited to Margaret Ann Brown, Alan J. Sutton.
Application Number | 20220118370 17/488938 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005930182 |
Filed Date | 2022-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220118370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Margaret Ann ; et
al. |
April 21, 2022 |
COMBINATION TOY AND TENT
Abstract
A combination toy and tent includes a toy having a body portion
defining therein a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body
portion. The head portion and the body portion together represent a
character. A tent is transformable between a folded configuration
and an unfolded configuration, the tent being positionable within
the cavity in the body portion when in the folded
configuration.
Inventors: |
Brown; Margaret Ann;
(Milwaukee, WI) ; Sutton; Alan J.; (Voorhees,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Jay At Play International Hong Kong Limited d/b/a Jay At
Play |
Kowloon |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005930182 |
Appl. No.: |
17/488938 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63092971 |
Oct 16, 2020 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/005 20130101;
E04H 15/405 20130101; E04H 15/006 20130101; A63H 3/02 20130101;
A63H 33/008 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 3/00 20060101
A63H003/00; E04H 15/00 20060101 E04H015/00; E04H 15/40 20060101
E04H015/40; A63H 3/02 20060101 A63H003/02; A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Claims
1. A combination toy and tent, the combination comprising: a toy
having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head portion
coupled to the body portion, the head portion and the body portion
together representing a character; and a tent transformable between
a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the tent
being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when in
the folded configuration.
2. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the toy is a
plush toy.
3. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the body
portion has an opening communicating with the cavity, the opening
being selectively opened or closed via a fastener.
4. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the fastener is
a zipper, or a hook and loop fastener, or a plurality of snaps.
5. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the opening is
at an end of the body portion opposite the head portion.
6. The combination toy and tent of claim 3, wherein the head
portion includes a face that faces in an opposite direction from
the opening.
7. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent is
insertable into the cavity in a direction toward the head portion
and is removable from the cavity in a direction away from the head
portion.
8. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the
unfolded configuration defines an interior space large enough to
house the entire toy.
9. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in the
unfolded configuration defines an interior space large enough to
accommodate a child therein.
10. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in
the unfolded configuration includes a wall portion having a color
that is a same color as at least a portion of the body portion of
the toy.
11. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein the tent in
the unfolded configuration includes a wall portion having indicia
corresponding to a theme of the toy.
12. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia
on the wall portion of the tent includes a hospital sign, and
wherein the theme of toy is that of a healthcare worker.
13. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia
on the wall portion of the tent includes a police sign, and wherein
the theme of toy is that of a police officer.
14. The combination toy and tent of claim 11, wherein the indicia
on the wall portion of the tent includes a fire department sign,
and wherein the theme of toy is that of a firefighter.
15. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, wherein when the tent
is positioned in the cavity in the body portion, the tent is
configured to provide rigidity to the body portion.
16. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, further comprising a
tunnel accessory configured to fit into an opening of the tent when
the tent is in the unfolded configuration.
17. The combination toy and tent of claim 1, further comprising a
tunnel accessory connected to an opening of the tent when the tent
is in the unfolded configuration.
18. A combination toy and tent, the combination comprising: a plush
toy having a body portion defining therein a cavity, and a head
portion coupled to the body portion, the head portion and the body
portion together representing a character; and a tent transformable
between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, the
tent being positionable within the cavity in the body portion when
in the folded configuration; wherein the body portion has an
opening communicating with the cavity, the opening being
selectively opened or closed via a fastener; wherein the opening is
at an end of the body portion opposite the head portion; and
wherein the tent is insertable into the cavity in a direction
toward the head portion and is removable from the cavity in a
direction away from the head portion.
19. The combination toy and tent of claim 18, further comprising a
tunnel accessory configured to communicate with an opening of the
tent when the tent is in the unfolded configuration.
20. The combination toy and tent of claim 18, wherein the fastener
is a zipper.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 63/092,971 filed Oct. 16, 2020, the entire
content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to children's toys, including
stuffed animals and tents.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a combination toy
and tent that includes a toy having a body portion defining therein
a cavity, and a head portion coupled to the body portion. The head
portion and the body portion together represent a character. A tent
is transformable between a folded configuration and an unfolded
configuration, the tent being positionable within the cavity in the
body portion when in the folded configuration.
[0004] Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front view of a combination toy and tent
according to the disclosure, with the tent housed within the
toy.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the combination toy and tent of
FIG. 1 showing the opening to a cavity in which the tent is housed,
the tent being in its folded configuration.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of the combination toy and tent of
FIG. 1 showing the tent in its unfolded configuration and the toy
placed partially within the interior space of the tent.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a front view of the combination toy and tent of
FIG. 1 showing the tent in its unfolded configuration and a child
kneeling partially within the interior space of the tent.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a front view of another combination toy and tent
with a firefighter theme.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a front view of another combination toy and tent
with a healthcare theme.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a front view of another combination toy and tent
with a police officer theme.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a front view of another combination toy and tent
with an optional tunnel accessory that can be used with the
tent.
[0013] FIG. 9 illustrates another combination toy and tent with an
optional tunnel accessory connecting two tents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
[0015] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of a combination toy
and tent 10. The combination toy and tent 10 includes a toy 14,
which in the illustrated embodiment is a plush toy in the form of a
unicorn. The materials used to form the toy 14 may be any suitable
materials including plush fabric, knit fabric, woven fabric,
plastic, rubber, or any other suitable material for use as a toy.
The illustrated toy includes a body portion 18 and a head portion
22 coupled to the body portion 18. Together, the body portion 18
and head portion 22 can define a character such as the illustrated
unicorn. Other characters can include, for example, commonly known
movie or television characters, animated characters, animals,
humans, inanimate objects, fantasy creatures or characters,
historical characters, characters from books or other sources, or
other articles, whether real or imagined.
[0016] The illustrated head portion 22 includes indicia
representing a face 26 (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth) of the character
as well as appendages 30 representing associated features of the
character, such as ears, horns, and hair. In other embodiments,
other appendages could represent hats, fins, antennae, or other
features that might be present on the head of an animal or other
creature.
[0017] The head portion 22 is coupled to one end of the body
portion 18. It can be stitched, fastened, or otherwise permanently
or removably connected to the body portion 18. The illustrated body
portion 18 has a generally oblong or oval shape (see FIG. 8) with
an underside or belly and a top side or back. The body portion 18
can include coloring or features that conform to the coloring and
features of the head portion 22. The body portion 18 can also
include appendages 34 representing features of the character, such
as arms, legs, tails, hooves, and the like. In other embodiments,
other appendages could represent feet, paws, fins, wings, or other
features that might be present on the body of an animal or other
creature.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the body portion 18 defines therein a
cavity 38 sized and configured to house or store a tent 42 when the
tent 42 is in its first or folded configuration as shown in FIG. 2.
The body portion 18 includes an opening 46 that can be selectively
opened or closed to permit or prohibit access to the cavity 38. A
fastener 50 can be used to secure the opening 46 in its closed
state. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 50 takes the
form of a zipper 54 extending along a portion of the periphery of
the body portion 18. As illustrated, the zipper 54 is positioned
along the rear periphery of the body portion 18, opposite to the
head portion 22, and essentially delineates the underside or belly
from the top side or back at the rear end of the body portion 18.
Therefore, the face 26 of the toy 14 faces in a direction away from
or opposite to the opening 46. When the zipper 54 is opened, the
opening 46 may extend substantially the entire width of the body
portion 18 to maximize the size of the opening into the cavity 38
for easy insertion or removal of the folded tent 42. The tent 42 is
therefore inserted into the cavity 38 from the rear of the toy 14
in a direction toward the head portion 22. Conversely, the tent 42
is removed from the cavity 38 in a direction away from the head
portion 22. The cavity 38 can be lined with a liner material 58
different from the plush or outer material of the body portion 18.
The liner material 58 may be a durable material that facilitates
smooth and easy sliding of the tent 42 into and out of the cavity
38. In other embodiments, different fasteners 50 can be used to
close and secure the opening 46, such as hook-and-loop fasteners,
buttons, snaps, and the like.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the combination toy and tent 10
with the tent 42 removed from the cavity 38 in the toy 14 and in
its unfolded or expanded configuration. With the tent 42 removed
from within the toy 14, the zipper 54 can be closed to close the
opening 46 into the cavity 38. Of course, a child may wish to place
other items or toys in the cavity 38 during play. The tent 42 is
configured in a known manner that is biased toward the unfolded
configuration due to the flexible and resilient frame members 62
that provide the structural support to maintain the tent 42 in this
upright configuration for play. A child need only bend or flex the
frame members 62 to collapse the tent 42 to the collapsed or folded
configuration, where it can then be inserted into the cavity 38
through the opening 46 for storage. The folded tent 42 can provide
an added level of rigidity to the body portion 18 when installed in
the cavity 38, thereby giving the body portion 18 a skeleton-type,
outwardly biased interior supporting structure. In other words,
when folded and placed inside the cavity 38 of the toy 14, the
collapsed tent 42 can facilitate maintaining the body portion 18 in
its oblong or oval shape and positioning of the body portion 18
relative to the coupled head portion 22. Conversely, when the tent
42 is removed from the cavity 38, the body portion 18 may be less
rigid and therefore more flexible for manipulation and play by a
child.
[0020] With continued reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the unfolded tent
42 includes a plurality of wall portions 66 supported by the frame
members 62. The illustrated tent 42 includes one wall portion 66
that defines a door or entrance. An opening 70 is formed in the
wall portion and a flap 74 can be opened or closed to respectively
open or close the opening 70. One or more additional wall portions
may include a translucent or transparent panel 78 to define a
window. Together the wall portions 66 define an interior space 82
of the tent 42. The interior space 82 is at least large enough to
house the entire toy 14 therein, and in the illustrated embodiment,
is at least large enough to accommodate a child 86 therein. In this
manner, the child 86 can play inside the tent 42 with the toy
14.
[0021] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the illustrated wall portions 66
can be colored and/or decorated to conform to the toy 14. For
example, the wall portions 66 are colored the same color as the toy
14 (e.g., the same color as the body portion 18), and/or can
include indicia 90 (e.g., stars) that can match indicia or themes
of the toy 14. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the
indicia 90 on the tent is indicative of a fire department and
corresponds to a toy 14 themed as a dog (e.g., a dalmatian) dressed
as a firefighter. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the
indicia 90 on the tent is indictive of a hospital and corresponds
to a toy 14 themed as a dog dressed as a healthcare worker. FIG. 7
illustrates an embodiment in which the indicia 90 on the tent is
indicative of a police department and corresponds to a toy 14
themed as a dog dressed as a police officer.
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a tunnel accessory 94 configured to be
used with the combination toy and tent 10. One end of the tunnel
accessory 94 can be positioned into or adjacent the tent opening 70
so that access into the interior space 82 of the tent 42 must be
had through the tunnel accessory 94. FIG. 9 illustrates another
option in which the tents 42 may each have another opening 98,
which optionally can be in the wall portion 66 opposite the opening
70, to which the tunnel accessory 94 can be coupled. This
arrangement keeps the opening 70 accessible for entry into or exit
from the tent 42. In some embodiments, the tunnel accessory 94 can
be collapsible so that it can be stored within the cavity 38 along
with the collapsed tent 42.
[0023] Various aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the
following claims.
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