DISPENSING BATH TOY

Abstract

A dispensing bath toy provides a refillable dispensing container within a plush toy. An outer cloth shell in the form of a living thing and has an interior portion enclosing a liquid-wicking stuffing. A liquid container includes an inner portion disposed within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion having a cap and a spout. The outer portion extends through an opening in the outer cloth shell such that a compressive force applied to the container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates both to dispensers and to children's toys.

Beauty product bottles such as those for holding and dispensing shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath solution, etc. are not stimulating. Some manufactures print pictures of animals or characters on them to try to make them more fun, cute or appealing to people. However, these still lack the soft feel of a plush toy.

Known stuffed animals are not usable in water such as during a bath or shower because when wet they lack enough rigidity to remain erect and they take a long time to dry. Furthermore, they are not provided with dispensing bottles inside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a refillable dispensing container within a plush toy and, in one embodiment, comprises an outer cloth shell in the form of a living thing and having an interior portion; liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form of the living thing; and a liquid container having an inner portion disposed within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion extending through an opening in the outer cloth shell. The container has a spout and a removable cap hinged to the container for selective sealing of the spout. The container is compressible such that a compressive force applied to the container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: illustrates a perspective view of a bath toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a bath toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of a bath toy in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a section view of the bath toy of FIG. 2 along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a bath toy in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As may be viewed in FIGS. 1-5, in an exemplary embodiment of a bath toy dispenser is generally in the form of an animal that may be considered appealing to a user. The bath toy dispenser 10 is comprised of an outer fabric shell 20 which is generally pliable and flexible and encloses stuffing 18. Fabric shell 20 is filled by stuffing 18 throughout its interior including spaces in, for example, arms, legs or head of an animal resembled by the bath toy dispenser 10. Stuffing 18 is preferably of a wicking, quick-dry material such that water will not be held thereby within the interior of fabric shell 20.

As best viewed in the cross-sectional illustration of FIG. 5, dispensing bath toy 10 may have a cavity therein to allow receipt of an inner portion of a container 16 for containing a bathing liquid. An outer portion is comprised of a spout 26 and a cap 24 which extend to an exterior of dispensing bath toy 10 through an opening. In animal form embodiments of the present invention, the opening is preferably located in a perineal region.

Container 16 is compressible or squeezable such that when squeezed, a liquid 22 held therein is dispensed through a spout 26 when cap 24 is in an open position away from spout 26. However, container 16 provides enough support to dispensing bath toy 10 that toy 10 will maintain an erect form even when wet. Cap 24 may be attached to container 16 either directly or indirectly through spout 26. Connection may be accomplished by threads or hinges.

When a user desires to dispense shampoo or other liquid, they position cap 24 away from spout 26 and squeeze the plush toy, for example in the torso or abdominal region of the animal. By the squeezing, any contained liquid is dispensed through the spout 26 and from the bottom or perineal region of the stuffed animal.

To construct the dispensing bath toy 10, a cloth 20 material suitable for use in water, such as terry cloth, is cut or otherwise formed into a pattern of a living thing such as an animal. Some portions of the cloth material 20 are stitched together and then the water-wicking stuffing material 18 is packed in. When the proper amount of stuffing material 18 to maintain the volume of the cloth material 20 is inside the interior of the cloth material 20, remaining unstitched portions are stitched together while leaving a cavity and an opening for receiving a inner and outer portions of a liquid container 16. Finally, container 16 is placed inside the provided cavity and stitched into place.

A variety of bathing or cosmetic fluids, liquids or gels may be held within container 16 including but not limited to shampoo, lotion, soap, bubble-bath solution and scented oils. Furthermore, container 16 is capable of holding a variety of fluids, liquids or gels which may are not generally known to be used for bathing or cosmetics.

Dispensing bath toy 10 may be provided in the form of any living thing including but not limited to plants, fungi, animals, bacteria or viruses. The animal may be a monkey as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, a lion as illustrated in FIG. 6, a kangaroo as illustrated in FIG. 7 or any other animal such as an elephant, zebra, bear, giraffe, etc.

In some embodiments, the outer fabric shell 20 and stuffing material 18 may be provided having a cavity therein but without a container. In such embodiments, a user may place the fabric shell 20 and stuffing material onto a container they provide.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dispensing bath toy, comprising:

an outer cloth shell in the form of a living thing and having an interior portion;

a volume of liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form of the living thing;

a liquid container having an inner portion disposed within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion extending through an opening in the outer cloth shell and having a spout and a removable cap for selective sealing of the spout.

2. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the removable cap is attachable to the liquid container by mating threads.

3. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the removable cap is hinged to the liquid container.

4. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the liquid container is compressible such that a compressive force applied to the container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout.

5. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the living thing is an animal.

6. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

the opening in the outer cloth shell is formed in a perineal region of the animal such that squeezing of the liquid container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of any liquid in the container through the spout and the opening in the perineal region.

7. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a bathing liquid held within the liquid container.

8. The dispensing bath toy as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the bathing liquid is shampoo.

9. A dispensing bath toy, comprising: a volume of shampoo held within the liquid container.

an outer cloth shell in the form of a living thing and having an interior portion;

liquid-wicking stuffing held within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell to support the outer cloth shell and the form of an animal;

a liquid container having an inner portion disposed within the interior portion of the outer cloth shell and an outer portion extending through an opening in the outer cloth shell and having a spout and a removable cap hinged to the container for selective sealing of the spout;

wherein the opening in the outer cloth shell is formed in a perineal region of the animal such that squeezing of the liquid container with the cap separated from the spout causes a dispensing of liquid held in the container through the spout and the opening in the perineal region; and