Beanie objects
An object has a covering that defines an internal pocket, a bendable support frame positioned inside the pocket and defining the shape of the object, and filling material provided inside the pocket and surrounding the support frame, the filling material comprised of a plurality of small particles.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to soft objects that can be conformed to any desired shape.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Beanie toys are usually filled with bean-like particles so that they have a soft feel when gripped, and can be easily conformed to any desired stance or configuration. As a result, beanie toys have become very popular among children, who enjoy having this ability to constantly change the configuration of a toy object to any desired configuration.
Unfortunately, beanie toys cannot maintain the configuration on their own because the bean-like particles are subject to external forces, such as gravity, that cause the beanie toy to often assume unnatural or different configurations.
Thus, there still remains a need for a soft object that can be easily conformed to many different configurations and stances, yet provide the ability to be maintained in a desired configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide a soft object that can be easily conformed to many different configurations and stances.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a soft object that can be maintained in a desired configuration.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an object having a covering that defines an internal pocket, a bendable support frame positioned inside the pocket and defining the shape of the object, and filling material provided inside the pocket and surrounding the support frame, the filling material comprised of a plurality of small particles.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention provides soft objects that are filled with bean-like particles so that the objects can be easily conformed to many different configurations and stances. The soft objects of the present invention are also provided with bendable skeletal frames that provide the necessary support to maintain the object in the desired configuration. The principles of the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of objects, including toys, furniture, pillows and game pads, among others.
The material for the covering 22 can be any material that is soft and flexible, and can include fabric, nylon, film, leather, and the like.
The pocket 26 is filled by a filling material 30 that is generally comprised of a plurality of small particles. These small particles should have sufficient weight to allow the resulting object 20 to have sufficient stability when in use, yet should be configured in size and shape such that they allow different portions of the object 20 to be bent or otherwise conformed to assume different stances and positions. Examples of particles that can be used for the filling material 30 include generally round beans 36 (which can be dried beans, or made of plastic or metal), as shown in
The filling material 30 can fill all or part of the entire volume (i.e., the pocket 26) of the covering 22, and this will depend on the degree of flexibility desired. For example, if the filling material 30 fills virtually all of the interior space of the covering 22, the resulting object 20 will be more difficult to bend. On the other hand, by leaving more unfilled space in the pocket 26, the various parts of the object 20 will be easier to bend. In addition, the filling material 30 can be provided inside one or more pouches 45 (see
The object 20 also includes a support frame 50 that extends through selected portions of the elongated configuration of the object 20. The support frame 50 provides the object 20 with sufficient rigidity at selected portions of the object 20 so that these selected portions of the object 20 can be maintained at desired positions. In one embodiment, the support frame 50 can extend throughout the entire elongated object 20 so that the object 20 can be bent at any location along its length, and have the bend maintained by the support frame 50. The support frame 50 is preferably made of a material that is easily bendable (i.e., can be plastically deformed) from a first shape into a second shape, yet is sufficiently rigid so that it maintains its second shape after it has been bent. Non-limiting examples of such a material can include metal and plastics, among others. In the embodiment of
In use, the user can easily conform or bend any portion of the object 20 to any desired configuration because of the following reasons. First, the covering 22 is made from a flexible material. Second, the filling material 30 is comprised of particles that are small enough so that the selected portions of the object 22 that are being bent by the user can conform easily and smoothly to such bending. Third, the material of the support frame 50 is flexible enough to allow the user to easily bend selected portions of the object 22. After selected portions of the object 22 have been bent, the rigidity of the support frame 50 maintain these selected portions in their bent configurations. For example, in
In operation, the arms 74a, 76a, legs 78a, 80a, and neck 100 of the doll 70a can be bent or conformed about the hinging joints 96. For example, the arm 74a can be raised as shown in
Filling material 166 (which can be any of the filling material 30 described above) is used to fill the covering 152, and a support frame 168 is provided inside the covering 152 to define the shape of the sofa 150, and provide structure and support to the sofa 150 when a person sits on the sofa 150. As shown in
Referring now to
Filling material 220 (which can be any of the filling material 30 described above) is used to fill the covering 202, and a support frame 222 is provided inside the covering 202 to define the shape of the vehicle 200, and to provide structure and support to the vehicle 200. As shown in
Filling material 266 (which can be any of the filling material 30 described above) is used to fill the covering 252, and a support frame 268 is provided inside the covering 252 to define the shape of the game pad 250, and to provide structure and support to the game pad 250. As shown in
The game pad 250 also includes electronic features. For example, a speaker unit 284 can be positioned among the filling material 266 and stitched to the covering 252 at about the center of the game pad 250. The speaker unit 284 can have a housing 286 that houses an actual speaker, and other associated electronics (e.g., integrated circuits, microprocessors, chips, batteries, etc.) that are well-known in the art. A strip of connective wiring 288 or the like (e.g., conductive ink) can be electronically coupled to the electronics in the speaker housing 286 and extend through the filling material 266 to be connected to one or more control buttons 264 in the bay 260. Other electronic features can be provided in addition to, or in lieu of, the speaker unit 284, including keypads, a mini-screen 290 (like a mini computer monitor), lights 292, touch pads 294, on-off switches 296, compact-disc players, etc. Each of these electronic articles can be connected to switches and control buttons via wiring similar to the wiring 288. In addition, each of these electronic articles can have housings (e.g., mini-screen 290, speaker unit 294) that are connected or attached to the covering 252 by screws or glue, or can be directly stitched (e.g., lights 292, touch pads 294, control buttons 264) to the covering 252. A battery compartment 320 can also be provided inside the covering 252 to store batteries that can be used to power the electronic components described above, or power can be provided via a socket 299.
In addition, a communication port 297 (e.g., a USB port) can be provided on the covering 252 and coupled by the wiring 288 to a microprocessor for facilitating communication between the game pad 250 and another game pad 250 or via the internet. Communication can also be facilitated via an antenna 295 that can extend from the covering 252, and which is coupled to the microprocessor.
Thus, the game pad 250 can be used by a child to play music or to play interactive games. The game pad 250 provides a soft and conformable toy which is both pleasing and comfortable for a child to hold, or to rest his or her hands on. The support frame 268 provides the necessary rigidity to maintain the configuration of the game pad 250. In addition, if desired, a user may bend any of the bays 254, 256, 258, 260 to give the game pad 250 a new configuration. For example, if all four bays 254, 256, 258, 260 were bent down, each bay 254, 256, 258, 260 would form a leg, and the game pad 250 would resemble a table. The support frame 268 is flexible enough to be bent, yet can retain the bent stance to keep the bays 254, 256, 258, 260 in a bent position until it is desired to move the bays 254, 256, 258, 260 in another direction.
In addition, the support frame 268 can be configured and structured differently, depending on the desired functions and operation of the game pad 250.
In addition to the filling material 30 described above, soft filling material can be intermixed or provided inside any of the coverings of the present invention. For example, referring to
Any of the principles from one embodiment can be applied to the other embodiments. For example, the support frame shown and described in connection with
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. An object having a shape, comprising:
- a covering that defines an internal pocket;
- a bendable support frame positioned inside the pocket and defining the shape of the object; and
- filling material provided inside the pocket and surrounding the support frame, the filling material comprised of a plurality of small particles.
2. The object of claim 1, further including an electronic component coupled to the covering.
3. The object of claim 1, wherein the filling material is a plurality of beans.
4. The object of claim 1, wherein the filling material is a plurality of blocks.
5. The object of claim 1, wherein the object is a toy.
6. The object of claim 5, further including a toy shirt worn over the covering.
7. The object of claim 1, wherein the support frame is a single piece of wire.
8. The object of claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of plates that are connected by hinged joints.
9. A chair having a shape, comprising:
- a covering that defines an internal pocket;
- a bendable support frame positioned inside the pocket and defining the shape of the chair; and
- filling material provided inside the pocket and surrounding the support frame, the filling material comprised of a plurality of small particles.
10. The chair of claim 9, further including an electronic component coupled to the covering.
11. The chair of claim 9, wherein the filling material is a plurality of beans.
12. The chair of claim 9, wherein the filling material is a plurality of blocks.
13. The chair of claim 9, wherein the support frame is a single piece of wire.
14. The chair of claim 9, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of plates that are connected by hinged joints.
15. A game pad having a shape, comprising:
- a covering that defines an internal pocket;
- a bendable support frame positioned inside the pocket and defining the shape of the chair; and
- filling material provided inside the pocket and surrounding the support frame, the filling material comprised of a plurality of small particles.
16. The game pad of claim 15, further including an electronic component coupled to the covering.
17. The game pad of claim 15, wherein the filling material is a plurality of beans.
18. The game pad of claim 15, wherein the filling material is a plurality of blocks.
19. The game pad of claim 15, wherein the support frame is a single piece of wire.
20. The game pad of claim 15, wherein the support frame comprises a plurality of plates that are connected by hinged joints.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 26, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2009
Inventor: Yu Zheng (Walnut, CA)
Application Number: 11/977,790
International Classification: A63H 3/02 (20060101);