COORDINATED REMOVABLE DECORATIVE PATCHES FOR DOLLS AND THEIR USERS

Abstract

A system of decorative doll patches that can be applied to both a doll's clothing/accessories and a user's clothing/accessories for coordinated play. At least one first patch is adapted to be attachable to a doll's clothing/accessories, and at least one second patch is adapted to be attachable to a user's clothing/accessories. The first and second patches are coordinated so that the second patch corresponds to the first patch. The correspondence of the first and second patches comprises at least one of that the patches i) resemble or ii) contrast with or iii) are identical to each other. The patches are easily removable from the doll's or the user's clothing/accessories. Multiple patches may be mixed and matched to form larger patterns, and multiple sizes of patches can be provided for different usages (e.g., on the doll, on the user's shoe, on the user's totebag).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to toys such as dolls, and more specifically to devices that can be used to coordinate the look of both a doll and its user.

Description of Related Art

Children (and adults) have been playing with dolls for time immemorial. In addition to having the dolls engage in various play/pretend activities, one source of much entertainment revolves around dressing the doll in different outfits. Two conventional doll lines that have excelled in the doll apparel area are the BARBIE® brand doll line and the AMERICAN GIRL® brand doll line, both made by Mattel, Inc. of El Segundo, Calif. Over the years, both of these lines have offered numerous different outfits and accessories for their dolls.

There is a long-felt need in the industry to be able to enhance a user's play experience with dolls which, unless provided with electronics or similar “gimmick”, typically just sit there. Although users can develop very strong feelings toward dolls, it would be desirable to enhance the doll-user relationship.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a system and play method of appliqués or patches (hereafter “patches”) that can be applied to both a doll's clothing/accessories and a user's clothing/accessories. At least one patch is provided for attachment to the doll's clothing/accessories, and at least a second patch is provided for attachment to the user's clothing/accessories. The patches are preferably coordinated, i.e., the user's patch will correspond to (e.g., resemble, be identical to, or contrast with) the doll's patch. The patches are also preferably easily removable from either the doll's or the user's clothing/accessories. In a preferred embodiment, the patches are provided with the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener which are easily securable to and removable from the doll's or user's fabric clothing/accessories. In another embodiment, the patch may be adherable to the target surface using static cling/adhesion and/or vacuum adhesion, reusable adhesive, or the like.

In another embodiment, at least three different sizes of patches are provided: a small-sized patch or patches to be applied to the doll; a medium-sized patch or patches to be applied to the shoes of the user; and a large-sized patch or patches to be applied to the accessories (e.g., a tote bag) of the user.

Multiple patches may be mixed and matched to form larger patterns. For example, head patches, torso patches, and leg patches can be combined to make patch versions of dolls and outfits that correspond to (e.g., match, coordinate with, contrast with, etc.) the dolls and outfits being used/worn by the user.

The invention includes a system of decorative doll patches. At least one first patch is adapted to be attachable to a doll's clothing/accessories, and at least one second patch is adapted to be attachable to a user's clothing/accessories. The first and second patches are coordinated so that the second patch corresponds to the first patch. The correspondence of the first and second patches optionally includes at least one of that the patches i) resemble or ii) contrast with or iii) are identical to each other.

Preferably, the patches are easily removable from the doll's or the user's clothing/accessories. Optionally, at least one of the first and second patches includes a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook portion being easily securable to and removable from the doll's or user's fabric clothing/accessories. As another option, at least one of the first and second patches are adherable to a surface associated with the doll or the user respectively using at least one of static cling/adhesion and/or vacuum adhesion, or reusable adhesive.

Optionally, the first and second patches are provided in at least three different sizes. The three different sizes may optionally include at least one relatively small-sized patch to be applied to the doll; at least one relatively medium-sized patch to be applied to the shoes of the user; and at least one relatively large-sized patch to be applied to an accessory of the user.

Optionally, multiple of the patches may be mixed and matched to form larger patterns. The patches may thus include at least two of head patches, torso patches, and leg patches that can be combined to make patch versions of dolls and outfits that correspond to the dolls and outfits being used/worn by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic of a pair of user shoes surrounded by various patches in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of multiple sets of patches, including head, torso, and leg patches, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic depicting several different sizes of patches in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic of one patch in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustrated flow chart showing the inventive system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic showing a user using the invention on her doll, her shoe, and her bag, in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing a user using the invention on her doll's bag and her own bag, in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

Description will now be given with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-7. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention is a system 8 of appliqués or patches 20 that are attachable to articles associated with dolls and the dolls' respective users in a coordinated manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the articles in question are the user's shoes 10. Shoes 10 are made with an outer surface to which patches 20 can readily adhere, as described below. The exemplary patches 20 of FIG. 1 are of the mix and match variety and include head patches 22, torso patches 24, leg patches 26, and accessory patches 28. In this manner, the user can put together different outfits for his/her patches. FIG. 2 depicts a set of various head patches 22, torso patches 24, and leg patches 26 that are interchangeable to create different outfits and looks for the patches. These can be made to resemble the user's doll and its clothing and other accessories.

FIG. 3 depicts patches 20 in three different sizes for their respective uses. Patch 20A is the smallest patch and is sized to be placeable onto a doll's shoe or accessory. Patch 20B is the next largest patch and is sized to be placeable onto a user's shoe. Patch 20C is the largest size patch and is sized to be placeable onto a user's accessory such as a tote bag. Of course, the smaller patches can be adhered to larger articles, i.e., patch 20A could also be adhered to the user's shoe or the user's accessory, and patch 20B could also be adhered to the user's accessory. Also, it is contemplated that patches can be a range of sizes (e.g., a patch resembling a ball may be smaller than a patch resembling a person, and a patch resembling a cat may be in between the ball and the person in size). Additionally, the respective ranges of sizes of patches 20A-C can overlap (i.e., the largest of patches 20A could be larger than the smallest of patches 20B, and the largest of patches 20B could be larger than the smallest of patches 20C). Exemplary (but by no means limiting) sizes of patches are preferably from about 0.5 inches in any given dimension for the smallest patches to up to 3.0 inches. The coordinated head/torso/legs patches may preferably be about 3 inches tall when assembled to make a person for the doll-sized patches and about 6 inches tall for the user-sized patches.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective schematic showing a generic patch 20. Patch 20 is generally substantially flat, having a decorative side 21 and an adhering side 23. Adhering side 23 is placed atop the doll, the doll's accessory, the user's shoe, or the user's accessory, thereby leaving the upward-facing decorative side 21 to be visible and enliven and otherwise enhance the appearance of the article to which patch 20 is adhered. Adhering side 23 may take one of several forms. In the preferred embodiment, adhering side 23 is covered with the hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener such as VELCRO®. The hook portion will adhere readily to a typical fabric surface. In this way, the user's shoes and/or accessories can be made of commercially available fabrics, and patches 20 will adhere thereto quite easily and firmly yet be easily removed. As another option, the adhering side 23 may be made from vinyl or similar plastic material that will adhere to an exceptionally smooth surface on the doll's or user's article. Other adhering mechanisms, such as reusable adhesive, are also contemplated, to the extent patch 20 will adhere to the article quite easily and firmly yet be easily removed and reusable on multiple surfaces.

As described, decorative side 21 is typically substantially flat, however that does not mean it need be entirely two-dimensional. Patches 20 can be embroidered and/or screen printed and can also have raised texture or elements to create a more three-dimensional appearance or nature.

FIG. 5 depicts a method of play that a user can employ in utilizing the inventive system. In step 1, the user selects an article to accessorize. As shown, such articles include shoes, a hat, or a purse and additional accessories. Other to-be-accessorized articles are contemplated. In step 2, the user selects one or more patches 20 to put together, either on a doll, on the user's accessory, or preferably both in a coordinated manner (to be discussed below). The patch is placed firmly on the accessory in step 3 to result in a decorated item. The patch can easily be removed and re-used another time on the same or a different article.

Examples of the invention in use are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, the user has placed matching patches 20 on all of her doll's shoe (patch 20A), her own shoe (patch 20B), and her bag (patch 20C). All three patches in question look substantially the same. In this way, the user can be coordinated with her doll, and the doll-user relationship can be made closer. In FIG. 7, the user has placed a number of patches 20C on her own bag and one (so far) patch 20A on her doll's matching bag. Other combinations and permutations are contemplated.

The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, although the exemplary accessory described above is a bag, other accessories, such as hats, belts, stuffed animals, eye mask, toy stroller (e.g., the outer material on the seat), apparel, sashes, socks, and the like are also contemplated as being capable of receiving and/or being a part of the inventive system.

Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and includes any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A system of decorative doll patches, comprising: at least one first patch adapted to be attachable to a doll's clothing/accessories; andat least one second patch adapted to be attachable to a user's clothing/accessories,wherein said first and second patches are coordinated so that said second patch corresponds to said first patch.

2. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 1, wherein said correspondence of said first and second patches comprises at least one of that said patches i) resemble or ii) contrast with or iii) are identical to each other.

3. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 1, wherein said patches are easily removable from the doll's or the user's clothing/accessories.

4. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second patches comprises a hook portion of a hook-and-loop fastener, said hook portion being securable to and removable from the doll's or user's fabric clothing/accessories.

5. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second patches are adherable to a surface associated with the doll or the user respectively using at least one of static cling/adhesion and/or vacuum adhesion, or reusable adhesive.

6. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 1, wherein said first and second patches are provided in at least three different sizes.

7. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 6, wherein said three different sizes further comprise: at least one relatively small-sized patch to be applied to the doll;at least one relatively medium-sized patch to be applied to the shoes of the user; andat least one relatively large-sized patch to be applied to an accessory of the user.

8. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 1, wherein multiple of said patches may be mixed and matched to form larger patterns.

9. A system of decorative doll patches according to claim 8, wherein said patches comprise at least two of head patches, torso patches, and leg patches that can be combined to make patch versions of dolls and outfits that correspond to the dolls and outfits being used/worn by the user.