Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6233763
-
Patent Number
6,233,763
-
Date Filed
Friday, May 26, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 22, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 446 72
- 446 77
- 446 369
- 446 73
- 446 75
- 005 639
- 005 694
- 005 482
- 005 485
- 005 486
- 005 907
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An improved blanket with an attached pocket for retaining an amusement figure is disclosed. A blanket comprising a pocket attached to a surface of the blanket, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; and an amusement figure positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the amusement figure extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the amusement figure being permanently attached to the blanket, the amusement figure being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the amusement figure outside of the opening.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to blankets or quilts with pockets for retaining amusement figures and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The combination of pockets for retaining dolls or puppets is well known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,546 (the '546 patent) describes a doll and pillow combination wherein a baby doll is removably received on one side of the pillow in a pocket secured to a pillowcase. The doll and pocket are particularly configured so that a child may place a hand inside the doll and manipulate the same as a puppet. The '546 patent further describes complementary male/female snap means provided on the doll's garment and on the pillowcase within the pocket beneath a flap. Snap means removably secure the doll directly to the pillow within the pocket formed by the flap. Because the doll in the '546 patent must be configured to enable the hand of a child to occupy the interior space of the doll, the snap means in the '546 patent is particularly configured to not intrude into the interior space of the doll or the pocket.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,651,738 (the '738 patent) describes a doll and a bed with pillow or a cushion upon which the doll appears to lie, with the upper part of the body, head and arms exposed above what appear to be covers for the remainder of the body and such loose or flexible connection between the doll and the pillow or cushion as to permit movements, corresponding to an infant's movements, of the exposed members or parts, either by manipulation of the fingers thrust through the opening provided for that purpose in the bed or cushion and into contact or engagement with the head and arm members, as well as by mere shaking when grasping the bed or cushion by the hand. Thus, the '738 patent similarly describes a pillow or cushion including what appears to be a pocket in which a doll or puppet may be manipulated. Again, the apparatus described in the '738 patent is particularly adapted to enable movement of the doll or puppet through an opening provided for that purpose in the bed or cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,628,452 (the '452 patent) describes a doll and doll pocket therefore. The invention in the '452 patent is a pocket or receptacle adapted to be applied to a garment for the reception and securing of a doll or animal figure therein, with the arms, legs, and head of the doll protruding therefrom. As described in the '452 patent, the doll body is inserted through the top slot of the pocket and the legs extend outwardly through bottom slots of the pocket and the doll is secured by means of the co-action of separable fastener portions, part of which are attached to the doll to be operable with other portions attached to the outer surface of the pocket. As described in the '452 patent, the separable fastener means must be located on the exterior of the pocket to enable the doll or animal figure to move within the pocket. Thus, the '452 patent envisions a doll or animal figure which is completely removable from the pocket upon disengagement of the fastener means.
Other prior art references, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,785 (the '785 patent) describe various implementations of a blanket with pockets provided therein. However, the pocket provided in the blanket of the '785 patent is intended as a means for securely storing and carrying loose items to and from a beach or swimming pool. The pocket is not intended to retain a doll or stuffed animal.
Thus, a blanket with an attached pocket for retaining an amusement figure is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved blanket with an attached pocket for retaining an amusement figure is disclosed. A blanket comprising a pocket attached to a surface of the blanket, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; and an amusement figure positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the amusement figure extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the amusement figure being permanently attached to the blanket, the amusement figure being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the amusement figure outside of the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
illustrates one embodiment of the present invention with the amusement figure positioned within the pocket.
FIG. 2
illustrates one embodiment of the present invention with the amusement figure positioned outside of the pocket.
FIG. 3
is a cutaway view showing the buttoned amusement figure within the pocket.
FIG. 4
is a cutaway view showing the unbuttoned amusement figure within the pocket.
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B, and
5
C illustrate various alternative embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An improved blanket with an attached pocket for retaining an amusement figure is disclosed. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that these specific details need not be used to practice the present invention. In other circumstances, well known structures, materials, and processes have not been shown or described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
FIG. 1
illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a blanket or quilt
110
is shown to which a pocket
120
has been attached. It will apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the blanket or quilt
110
may be any of a wide variety of blankets, quilts, comforters, bedspreads, or the like. It will also be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that pocket
120
can be attached to blanket
110
using a variety of conventional means, such as sewing, stitching, use of zippers, or the use of Velcro or chemical bonding agents. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1
, pocket
120
is attached to blanket
110
around three sides
122
,
124
, and
126
, thereby leaving an opening along one side of the pocket indicated in
FIG. 1
by reference number
127
. Within the interior region created by this pocket
120
, a stuffed animal, doll, puppet, or other type of amusement
figure 130
may be inserted. As shown in
FIG. 1
, amusement
figure 130
is partly contained within pocket
120
with a portion of amusement
Figure 130
extending outside of opening
127
and a lower portion of amusement
figure 130
contained within the interior region of pocket
120
. As will be described in more detail below, button or fastener
140
is used to retain amusement
figure 130
within pocket
120
.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
, the embodiment of the present invention is shown with the amusement
figure 130
having been disengaged from button
140
and fully extended outside the opening
127
of pocket
120
. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the amusement
figure 130
, while able to be more fully extended outside of pocket
120
, cannot be completely removed from pocket
120
. As will be described and illustrated in more detail below, amusement
figure 130
is permanently attached to blanket
110
at a lower portion of amusement
figure 130
at the bottom side
124
of pocket
120
. Buttonholes
132
and
128
are also shown in FIG.
2
. Buttonhole
132
extends through a portion of amusement figure
130
. Buttonhole
128
extends through the outer surface of pocket
120
. Button or fastener
140
, obscured in
FIG. 2
by the lower portion of amusement
figure 130
is permanently attached to blanket
110
at a location adjacent to buttonhole
128
. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the amusement
figure 130
may be retained within pocket
120
by aligning buttonhole
132
with buttonhole
128
and manipulating button
140
through buttonholes
132
and
128
thereby producing the configuration of this embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.
1
.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, a cutaway of the pocket
120
with the amusement
figure 130
retained therein is shown. As illustrated, a portion of amusement
figure 130
is retained within an interior region of pocket
120
. In the configuration shown in
FIG. 3
, button
140
has been manipulated through buttonholes
132
and
128
to retain amusement
figure 130
within pocket
120
.
Referring now to
FIG. 4
, the embodiment of the present invention is shown with a cutaway view showing the interior region of pocket
120
. As shown, the amusement
figure 130
includes enough material to enable the extension of amusement figure out of pocket
120
for a limited range. A lower edge of amusement
figure 130
is permanently attached to blanket
110
and pocket
120
at edge
124
. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that amusement
figure 130
may be permanently attached to blanket
110
using well-known sewing, stitching, or other fabric bonding processes. Because amusement
figure 130
is permanently attached to blanket
110
, the amusement
figure 130
cannot be inadvertently separated from blanket
110
. In this manner, the amusement figure of the present invention is always available for the amusement of those using the invention. Although the amusement
figure 130
of the present invention includes enough material at its lower end to enable the extension of the amusement
figure 130
outside of pocket
120
for a limited range, the fabric from which the amusement
FIG. 130
is made nevertheless enables the compression of the fabric into pocket
120
to a degree enabling the alignment of buttonhole
132
with buttonhole
128
so that button
140
can be manipulated there between enabling the retention of amusement
figure 130
within pocket
120
.
Referring to
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B, and
5
C, various alternative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. In
FIG. 5A
, a conventional rectangular pocket
120
is illustrated. In
FIG. 5B
, a circular or oval-shaped pocket
520
is illustrated. Using the same techniques described and illustrated above, the amusement
figure 130
is similarly permanently attached to blanket
110
at a lower edge of pocket
520
. In a third alternative embodiment, a pointed or angular configuration of pocket
620
is illustrated. Similarly, the amusement figure in
FIG. 5C
is permanently attached to the blanket
110
and pocket
620
.
Thus, an improved blanket with an attached pocket for retaining an amusement figure is disclosed. Although the present invention is described herein with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, many modifications and variations therein will readily occur to those with ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, all such variations and modifications are included within the intended scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A blanket comprising:a sheet of fabric, the sheet of fabric having dimensions suitable for covering a substantial portion of a person; a pocket attached to a surface of the sheet of fabric, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; an amusement figure positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the amusement figure extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the amusement figure being permanently attached to the sheet of fabric, the amusement figure being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the amusement figure outside of the opening.
- 2. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 further including a button permanently attached to the sheet of fabric and residing within the interior region of the pocket, the button being operable through corresponding buttonholes in said amusement figure and an outer surface of said pocket to retain the amusement figure in the pocket.
- 3. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amusement figure includes at least two buttonholes.
- 4. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portion of the amusement figure positioned within the pocket is fabricated from a cloth material.
- 5. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the pocket is substantially rectangular.
- 6. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the pocket is substantially circular.
- 7. The blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the pocket is substantially triangular.
- 8. A blanket comprising:a sheet of fabric, the sheet of fabric having dimensions suitable for covering a substantial portion of a person; a pocket attached to a surface of the sheet of fabric, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; and a stuffed animal positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the stuffed animal extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the stuffed animal being permanently attached to the sheet of fabric, the stuffed animal being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the stuffed animal outside of the opening.
- 9. The blanket as claimed in claim 8, further including a button permanently attached to the sheet of fabric and residing within the interior region of the pocket, the button being operable through corresponding buttonholes in said stuffed animal and an outer surface of said pocket to retain the stuffed animal in the pocket.
- 10. The blanket of claim 8, wherein the stuffed animal includes at least one buttonhole.
- 11. A blanket comprising:a sheet of fabric, the sheet of fabric having dimensions suitable for covering a substantial portion of a person; a pocket attached to a surface of the sheet of fabric, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; and a doll positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the doll extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the doll being permanently attached to the sheet of fabric, the doll being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the doll outside of the opening.
- 12. The blanket as claimed in claim 11, further including a button permanently attached to the sheet of fabric and residing within the interior region of the pocket, the button being operable through corresponding buttonholes in said doll and an outer surface of said pocket to retain the doll in the pocket.
- 13. The blanket of claim 11, wherein the doll includes at least one buttonhole.
- 14. A blanket comprising:a pocket attached to a surface of the blanket, the pocket having an opening and an interior region; an amusement figure positioned within the interior region of the pocket and having at least a portion of the amusement figure extending beyond the opening, a lower portion of the amusement figure being permanently attached to the blanket, the amusement figure being configured with enough material to enable limited range movement of the amusement figure outside of the opening; and a button permanently attached to the blanket and residing within the interior region of the pocket, the button being operable through corresponding buttonholes in said amusement figure and an outer surface of said pocket to retain the amusement figure in the pocket.
- 15. The blanket as claimed in claim 14, wherein the portion of the amusement figure positioned within the pocket is fabricated from a cloth material.
US Referenced Citations (20)