Hand manipulatable figure toy

Abstract

A hand manipulatable figure toy made of flexible material formed in a generally dome-like configuration having a bottom opening large enough to receive a hand extended into the interior of the dome. The material has two sides wherein one of the sides can define an observable exterior surface of the dome and the other of the sides can define a nonobservable interior surface of the dome. One side of the material has a design thereon, along with appendages depicting an animal habitat and the other side has the animal whose habitat is on the one side. The interior surface can be transformed into the exterior surface by turning the dome inside out.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to hand manipulatable figure toys or dolls.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Reversible dolls and puppets have enjoyed a great deal of popularity. Children enjoy transforming reversible dolls as well as manipulating hand puppets. There have been few, if any, animal figured toys which offer the advantages of both reversible dolls and hand puppets. Moreover, such dolls usually are capable of only changing the features or dress of the doll, and have nothing to do with the habitat, abode or surroundings of the doll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a hand manipulatable figure toy that can be readily and easily transformed from one form to another form.

These and other objects are accomplished in one embodiment of the invention currently contemplated by forming flexible material into a generally dome-like configuration having a bottom opening large enough to receive a hand into the interior of the dome. The material has two sides, one of which defines an observable exterior surface of the dome having a design thereon depicting an animal habitat. The other side defines a nonobservable interior surface of the dome having a design thereon depicting an animal complementary to the habitat on the other side. The dome can be reversed so that the interior surface becomes the exterior surface when the dome is turned inside out. Thus, the habitat can be transformed into the animal by turning the figure toy inside out and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the figure toy of the present invention with the exterior thereof depicting an animal habitat;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the figure toy shown in FIG. 1 but viewed from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the figure toy of the present invention "inside-out" with the exterior thereof depicting an animal;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the figure toy shown in FIG. 3 but viewed from a different angle; and

FIG. 5 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figure toy, generally designated 10, of the present invention is seen to be formed of flexible sheet-like material sewn together, as at 11, to form a dome-like configuration. The dome has a bottom opening 12 (see FIG. 5) which is large enough to receive a hand therethrough into the interior of the dome.

Turning to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 in greater detail, the exterior surface of the dome (as viewed in those figures) is defined by one side 14 of the flexible material. Printed on side 14 is a design depicting an animal habitat or abode, for instance that of a doghouse having a roof portion 14a and a door 14b. This design covers approximately one-half of the dome formed by the figure toy 10, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The interior of the dome when the toy is oriented as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 has another side 16 of the material which has a design and appendages depicting an animal whose habitat is on the opposite or outer side 14, for instance that of a dog (see FIGS. 3 and 4). As can be seen, when side 14 defines the exterior surface of the dome, side 16 is unobservable since it comprises the interior of the dome.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the figure toy 10 reversed from FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 whereby side 16 defines the exterior surface of the dome and side 14 the interior thereof. A dog is printed on side 16 with a face, generally designated 17. A pair of ears 18 and a tail 20 are formed of material flops appended to the dome at appropriate disposition. The ears 18 and tail 20 can be connected by means of sewing the fabric of these appendages onto the material comprising the figure toy 10, as at 21 (FIG. 5).

Figure toy 10 can be transformed from the doghouse as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 into a dog as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 by placing a hand in the opening 12 and turning the dome inside out. In addition, the toy can be used in puppet-type fashion by manipulating one's hands and fingers when disposed on the inside of the dome.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. A hand manipulatable figure toy comprising: flexible material having two sides and being formed in a generally dome-like reversible configuration having an opening large enough to receive a hand into the interior of the dome, wherein one side of said dome has a design thereon depicting an animal and including appendages attached to said one side whereby the toy with said one side out can be used as a puppet, and the other side of said dome has indicia thereon defining another form of the toy which can be exposed to view by turning the dome with said other side out to change the form of the toy.

2. The figure toy of claim 1 wherein the indicia on said other side of the dome depicts an animal habitat corresponding to the particular animal depicted on said one side.

3. The figure toy of claim 2 wherein said animal design and appendages depict a dog or the like and said habitat design depicts a doghouse.

4. The figure toy of claim 3 wherein said appendages include dog's ears and a tail.