STUFFED TOY UTILIZING REPLACEABLE HEATING PACKS

Abstract

The present invention provides a stuffed toy, such as a teddy bear, using a heating pack to produce a warmth within the toy. When a child wants their parents to hold them, the parents can not always be there. Many children have developed attractions to stuffed animals to provide comfort and reassurance. The stuffed animals are typically not warm, like when the parents hold them. When given a warm stuffed animal, the child will feel more secure and comforted.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a stuffed toy, such as a teddy bear, using a heating pack to produce a warmth within the toy. When a child wants their parents to hold them, the parents can not always be there. Many children have developed attractions to stuffed animals to provide comfort and reassurance. The stuffed animals are typically not warm, like when the parents hold them. When given a warm stuffed animal, the child will feel more secure and comforted.

Similar patents have issued for electrical heating packs or other warming means for stuffed animals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,923 to Tanaka and U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,196 to Niklibore disclose stuffed animals using battery packs for providing heating inside a stuffed animal. The batteries can be heavy and dangerous. They require charging and have some possibility of electrical shock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a stuffed animal that can be warmed without batteries or electricity. A heat pack is received inside the stuffed animal to produce a warm, soft feeling for someone holding the stuffed animal.

The warm stuffed animal maybe used for comfort or for warmth. At a fall football game, the warm stuffed animals could be sold to children to keep their hands warm while outside. Logos and names of the football teams could be printed on the animals, or on clothing on the animals.

The present invention utilizes a disposable warming pack within the stuffed animals. The packs do not get too hot, such that they would burn a child's fingers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention using a teddy bear.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention using a teddy bear.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention showing a warming pack insertion into the stuffed animal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a stuffed animal with a disposable warming pack to give a warmth to the surface of the stuffed animal. As shown in FIG. 1, the stuffed animal 1 maybe a commonly a teddy bear, but could be in the shape of other animals or designs. Bears are the most popular stuffed animals. The modification to the stuffed animal 1 is seen in FIG. 2, where the stuffed animal 1 includes a pocket storage area within the body of the stuffed animal 1. A closure 2 for the pocket storage area is used to secure a warming pack 4 inside the pocket storage area. The closure 2 is preferably a hook and loop fastener, but may be a zipper, buttons, snaps, or other means of holding the closure 2 in a closed position. The hook and loop fastener method has been found to be suitable and difficult for small children to open the closure 2. Clothing on the stuffed animal 1 can also be added to help prevent accidental or undesirable access to the warming pack 4 by small children or other users.

The clothing can also be used to provide advertising, sporting teams, or other indicia. To prevent thermal isolation of the warming pack, the clothing is preferably relatively small and thin, as it is desirable for the warmth of the warming pack to reach the surface for contact with the user.

A warming pack 4 may be inserted into the pocket storage area through the closure 2. The warming pack of the invention is a disposable warmth pack using an iron oxidation process. The disposable packs are available in varying sizes and shapes and are often sold for hand warming. One product found to be suitable is the HEAT TREAT MYCOAL MEGA WARMER distributed by GRABBER. The pack contains iron, water, cellulose, vermiculite, activated carbon and salt. When opened, the exposure to air causes a iron to oxidize and the reaction produces heat energy. When used properly, the result is a steady heat that does not get too hot that it causes burns, and has no need for electricity or other sources of heat. The warming pack may disposed of when the reaction is completed. Larger warming packs can produce heat for longer periods. New warming packs may be inserted into the stuffed animal to restart the warming feature with no loss of function.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art, that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application in warming stuffed animals. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, other than those described, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.

While the foregoing description illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction and design disclosed herein. The invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the true invention.

Claims

1. A warming stuffed animal comprising:

a stuffed animal;

a chamber located within said stuffed animal;

a disposable heating pack capable of being inserted into said chamber.

2. The warming stuffed animal of claim 1, wherein the stuffed animal further comprises a main body, a head portion, and at least two leg portions extending from the main body.

3. The warming stuffed animal of claim 2, wherein the disposable heating pack contains iron and when exposed to air, the iron oxidizes resulting in expelled heat.