Stuffed toy with alternating striped stretchable fabric

Abstract

A toy in the form of a stuffed toy or 3-dimensional character toy having stretchable stripes on the torso section of the stuffed toy. The stuffed toy includes a head and a torso section having arms and legs. The torso section includes a set of stripes. The torso section is made from a non-stretchable material, except for the set of stripes. The set of stripes are made from a stretchable material. The set of stretchable stripes are for expanding vertically from the torso section when the stuffed toy is compressed or squeezed by the hands of the user. The set of stretchable stripes are made from stretchable elastic material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymer elastics, polymer elastic plastics, elastomers, spandex and neoprene.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stuffed toy with a set of stretchable stripes on a torso section of the stuffed toy. More particularly, the set of stretchable stripes expand vertically along the torso section when the stuffed toy is compressed or squeezed by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stuffed toys, animals, dolls and 3-dimensional characters, as well as backrests, cushions, character pillows, and body relaxation devices are well-known in the prior art. These devices for the most part do not have sections which expand.

There remains a need for a stuffed toy that is compressible and squeezable such that a set of stripes made of stretchable elastic material expand vertically about the torso section when compressed or squeezed by a user when playing with the stuffed toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Stuffed toys used as a relaxation device having various designs, configurations, structure and materials of construction have been generally disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,932 to PANEC et al. discloses a toy containing an elastromeric and deformable bladder therein that facilitates in actuating a component of the toy such as a tail or an arm when squeezed or otherwise deformed is disclosed. The actuatable toy generally includes a deformable bladder containing a fluid substance and is deformable proximate to the actuatable component upon application of pressure thereon. In addition, the actuatable toy includes a flexible outer covering enclosing the deformable bladder, where at least a portion of the outer covering comprises a movable material disposed proximate to the actuatable component of the toy, whereupon actuating of the movable material and deformation of the bladder facilitate actuation of the actuatable component upon application of pressure on the toy. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach stretchable stripes that expand vertically about a torso section when the stuffed toy is compressed and squeezed by the hands of the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,947 to ROGERS discloses a golf bag putter holder utilizing a bean bag, plush or stuffed toy doll as the principal means of protecting the putter head from damage. A putter holder that under normal transportation and golf play, when attached to a conventional bag by a clip, will suspend a putter above the bag floor and secure a putter head firmly in place. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach stretchable stripes that expand vertically about a torso section when the stuffed toy is compressed and squeezed by the hands of the user.

None of the aforementioned prior art patents teach or disclose a stuffed toy being used as a relaxation device where a set of stretchable elastic stripes expand vertically about a torso section of a stuffed toy when the user compresses and squeezes the stuffed toy about its torso section. Also, none of the prior art references disclose or teach that the stretchable elastic stripes may be made from material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymer elastics, polymer elastic plastics, elastomers, soft neoprenes and spandexes.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stuffed toy having a set of stretchable stripes on a torso section of the stuffed toy for use as a relaxation device, such that the set of stripes are made of stretchable elastic material which expand vertically when compressed and squeezed by the hands of a user when playing with the stuffed toy, and for producing a noise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes that are made from rubber, polymer elastics, elastomers, neoprenes, spandexes and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes as a relaxation device that is easy to use, durable and easily cleanable for repeated use by the user.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a toy in the form of a stuffed toy or 3-dimensional character toy having stretchable stripes on the torso section of the stuffed toy. The stuffed toy includes a head and a torso section having arms and legs. The torso section includes a set of stripes. The torso section is made from a non-stretchable material, except for the set of stripes. The set of stripes are made from a stretchable material. The set of stretchable stripes are for expanding vertically the torso section when the stuffed toy is compressed or squeezed by the hands of the user. The set of stretchable stripes are made from stretchable elastic material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymer elastics, polymer elastic plastics, elastomers, spandex and neoprene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the stuffed toy of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a set of stretchable stripes on a torso section of the stuffed toy;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stuffed toy of the present invention showing the back area of the torso section of the stuffed toy;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stuffed toy of the present invention taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows showing an interior area having filling material therein;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stuffed toy of the present invention taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows showing an internal pocket adjacent to the stretchable stripes within the interior area; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stuffed toy of the present invention showing the stuffed toy in an operational mode where the stretchable stripes are expanding vertically from the torso section when squeezed or compressed by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10

The stuffed toy 10 and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIGS. 1 through 5 of the patent drawings. The stuffed toy 10 gives the user a pleasurable feel when compressing or squeezing a set of stretchable stripes 44a to 44d that expand vertically from a torso section 34 of the stuffed toy 10 in the operational mode C, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the stuffed toy 10 includes a toy 20 having a head 22 with eyes 24a and 24b, and a mouth 30. The toy 20 also includes a torso section 34 with a back section 36 and a front stomach section 38. The torso section 34 also includes a pair of hands 40a, 40b and a pair of feet 42a and 42b being attached thereto. The torso section 34 further includes a set of horizontal oriented stripes 44a, 44b, 44c and 44d that extend along the front stomach section 38 of torso section 34, as shown in FIG. 1 of the patent drawings. Stripes 44a to 44d are made from stretchable elastic material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, polymer elastics, polymer elastic plastics, elastomers, soft neoprenes, spandexes and the like. The stretchable stripes 44a to 44d expand vertically from the torso section 34 when the stuffed toy 10 is compressed or squeezed by the hands 14 of the user 12. These vertically expanding stripes 44a to 44d expand at least one-half (½) inch from each stripe 44a to 44d on the torso section 34 when the stuffed toy 10 is compressed and squeezed by the user. Additionally, the stretchable stripes 44a to 44d are positioned in a spaced-apart orientation (see FIG. 1) about the torso section 34 along a horizontal axis (AH). Also, the set of stretchable stripes 44a to 44d include at least two stripes on the torso section 34 of the stuffed toy 10, and as many as 4 or 5 horizontal stripes.

It is understood that the stuffed toy 10 may be a stuffed toy head H or a 3-dimensional character toy selected from the group consisting of a lion, a tiger, a bear, a pony, a dinosaur, a horse, a pig, a bird, a monkey, a gorilla, a sheep, a lamb, a cow, a calf, a dog, a puppy, a cat, a kitten, a gremlin, and a doll. Additionally, the toy 20 is made from soft, pliable material such as plush cotton, cotton-polyester blends, rayon, satin, nylon, velvet, suede and the like. Further, the stuffed toy 10 includes an interior area 50 having a filling material made of polyester fiber (F) and plastic pellets or styrene pellets (P), as depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

Optionally, the interior area 50 may include an internal squeezable pocket device 60 for producing a noise, which is adjacent to the stretchable stripes 44a to 44d for assisting the extension and expanding the stripes 44a to 44d, respectively, during the squeezing of the torso section 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The internal pocket 60 can be filled with a gas (G), a liquid (L) or a solid (S), such as air, water, or a gel. Also, the internal pocket 60 may include a noise making device 62 that makes a sound SN when the torso section 34 is squeezed or compressed by the user 12.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a stuffed toy having a set of stretchable stripes on a torso section of the stuffed toy for use as a relaxation device, such that the set of stripes are made of stretchable elastic material which expand vertically when compressed and squeezed by the hands of a user when playing with the stuffed toy.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes that are made from rubber, polymer elastics, elastomers, neoprenes, spandexes and the like.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes as a relaxation device that is easy to use, durable and easily cleanable for repeated use by the user.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a stuffed toy having stretchable stripes that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

1. A toy in the form of a stuffed toy or 3-dimensional character toy having stretchable stripes on the torso section of the stuffed toy, comprising:

a) a stuffed toy having a head and a torso section having arms and legs;

b) said torso section including a set of stripes;

c) said torso section is made from a non-stretchable material, except for said set of stripes;

d) said set of stripes are made from a stretchable material; and

e) said set of stretchable stripes for expanding vertically said torso section when said stuffed toy is compressed or squeezed.

2. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said set of stretchable stripes are made from stretchable elastic material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polymer elastics, polymer elastic plastics, elastomers, spandex and neoprene.

3. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said torso section is made from non-stretchable material selected from the group consisting of plush cotton, cotton-polyester blends, rayon, satin, velvet, nylon, suede and combinations thereof.

4. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stuffed toy is selected from the group consisting of a gremlin, a lion, a tiger, a bear, a pony, a dinosaur, a horse, a pig, a bird, a monkey, a gorilla, a sheep, a cow, a calf, a dog, a puppy, a cat, a kitten and a doll.

5. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stuffed toy includes a filling material made of polyester fiber and plastic pellets.

6. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said set of stretchable stripes are positioned in a spaced-apart orientation about said torso section along a horizontal axis.

7. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said set of stretchable stripes include at least four stripes.

8. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said stretchable stripes expand vertically from said torso section at least one-half (½) inch when said stuffed toy is compressed and squeezed by the user.

9. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 1, wherein said torso section includes an interior area having an internal squeezable pocket device for assisting the extension and expansion of said stretchable stripes when said torso section is squeezed or compressed by the user, and for producing a noise.

10. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 9, wherein said internal squeezable pocket device is adjacent to said stretchable stripes within said interior area of said torso section of said stuffed toy.

11. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 9, wherein said internal squeezable pocket device is filled with a gas, a liquid or a solid such as air, water, or a gel, respectively.

12. A stuffed toy having alternating striped stretchable fabric in accordance with claim 9, wherein said internal squeezable pocket device includes a noise-making device that produces said noise.