Spherical toy ball bags

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6609942
  • Patent Number
    6,609,942
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, November 2, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 26, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
The present invention is a toy for amusement. The toy has a panel having one or more spherical toy balls, commonly known as “floating eyeballs,” Jet Balls™ or Glide Balls™, affixed to the panel in a bulging manner. The panel may have graphic depictions including human, insect, animal, or creature-like facial features on both its front and back surfaces. Alternately, one or both sides of the panel can be an interactive surface, whereby the user creates his own artwork around the eyes. The panel can be hingedly connected to a base container to create a toy box, or a lunch box, or a lunch bag, or backpack such that when the panel is turned over or opened, a new panel bearing different features or the interactive surface appears. The panel and spherical toy ball(s) together make an entertaining three-dimensional representation that can be controlled by the user to create a visual effect in which the spherical toy ball(s) move about in a manner similar to human-like eye movement. Some box embodiments show creature contours coordinated with the “wiggly” eyeballs to create shapes such as an alligator.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to using known spherical toy balls, commonly known as “floating eyeballs,” Jet Balls™ or Glide Balls™ in a panel or panels to create an amusing and entertaining three-dimensional display on a lunch box, storage box, lunch bag, backpack and the like.




BACKGROUND OF INVENTION




Known in the art are “floating eyeballs” comprised of an eyeball-decorated (i.e. pupil, iris, blood vessels, etc.) inner sphere encased and floating within a larger clear outer sphere. The inner and outer spheres are separated by a clear liquid. The eyeball-decorated inner sphere is weighted such that the pupil automatically rotates upwards no matter which direction the sphere is rotated. See U.S. Pat. No. 1,981,333 incorporated herein by reference. It is not known to combine the floating eyeball with a hinged panel, thereby forming a storage container having a 3D animation panel. The present invention creates a toy that in one embodiment creates a plurality of facial expressions by combining said panels and one or more pair of floating eyeballs. It is known in the art that any floating objects including belly buttons, other body parts, floating bugs, and/or graphic designs would all be equivalent to the best mode depiction herein of floating eyeballs.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention is a toy for amusement. The toy is comprised of a panel with one or more spherical toy balls, commonly known as the above noted “floating eyeballs.” The panel can bear features resembling a human, insect, animal or other creature-like facial expression. The panel can bear facial features on both its front and back surfaces, or it may have an interactive surface such as a dry-erase board, sticker board, magnetic board, art board etc. hereafter called “interactive surface”. The panel can be hingedly connected to a container such as a lunch bag such that when the connected panel is flipped over, a rear panel surface bearing different artwork, facial features or interactive surface appears. The panel and floating eyeballs together make an entertaining three-dimensional character representation that can be controlled by the user to create an animated effect called “Eyeball Animation®.” “Eyeball Animation®” describes a visual effect in which the eyeball-decorated inner sphere moves about the clear plastic outer sphere in a manner similar to human-like eye movement. Unique to this toy is the ability to utilize both sides (front and rear) of the floating eyeballs unlike U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,570, which only uses a front side in a doll.




The primary aspect of the present invention is to affix a floating eyeball to a panel so as to create a variety of entertaining and amusing facial expressions and scenes via the combination, and affix the panel to a lunch bag, lunch box crayon box, backpack or the like.




Another aspect of the present invention is to allow the user to create additional entertaining and amusing scenes by shaking or tilting the panel causing the floating eyeballs to move in different directions thereby providing the artwork surrounding the “floating eyeballs” varied visual affects.




Another aspect of the present invention provides the user a variety of entertaining and amusing facial expressions or scenes quickly and conveniently. The present invention attaches the primary panel to the closing flap of a lunch bag with a different printed scene on one side and/or an interactive surface (dry erase board) on the reverse side of said panel. Since the floating eyeballs automatically rotate upwards, the user has quick and convenient access to additional facial expressions and scenes by turning the panel over and creating different artwork around the floating eyeballs.




Another aspect of the present invention is to permit the user to create his own entertaining three dimensional representations by introducing a blank panel around the floating eyeballs affixed to the primary panel such that the user may draw, paint or otherwise place an image of his own creation on the blank panel, such as a note from mom to remind the child to drink his milk, complete with a drawing of a cow.




The preferred embodiment Doodle Lunch Bags™ with Dry Erase Board have special features including:




The only Eyeball Animation® Lunch Bag available




Eyeball Animation® easy wipe, Dry Erase Board (8″×8″)




Dry Erase Marker




Vivid artwork on front & back of bag




20-page doodle idea book




Made from a durable nylon backed, non-staining, easy wash material




Water resistant 70 D PVC outer surface




Reinforced stress points for added strength




Rugged PVC non-abrasive bottom for everyday drops and drags




Large expanding food compartment




Quick access velcro closure on main compartment, separates and seals food




Quick cinch velcro buckle




Quick slot marker holder




Padded carry handle




Mesh accessory pocket for eraser, additional markers and knick knacks




High density close cell foam with reflective barrier




Revolutionary Freeze Tech™ Thermo Reflective insulation—keeps foods hot and cold for up to 10 hours




Eyeball Animation® and Eyeball Animated® are registered trademarks of Accord Publishing LTD.




Currently there are three styles to choose from.




UPC: 74626607-0004 (DOG)




UPC: 74626607-0011 (CAT)




UPC: 74626607-0028 (DINOSAUR)




Current Suggested Retail: $12.95




Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a top perspective view of the front panel, said panel being a book, card cover, or two-surfaced (front and back) panel showing the eyeholes and the placement of the floating eyeballs in the panel.





FIG. 2

is a top perspective of the front panel, said panel being a book or card cover, i.e., two-surfaced (front and back) panel showing the floating eyeballs embedded in the panel.





FIG. 3

is a top perspective view of the book or card with the front panel flipped open to reveal the back of the front panel and inner pages or panels of the book, card, or back side of a two-surfaced panel.





FIG. 4

is a top perspective view of the book with the inner pages or panels being flipped.





FIG. 5

is a top perspective of the back panel, said panel being a book, card cover, or two-surfaced (front and back) panel.





FIG. 6

is a side profile view of the panel being tilted by the user in order to show the floating eyeballs automatic rotation upwards no matter what angle or direction the panel is tilted.





FIG. 7

is a top profile view of the panel showing the floating eyeballs bulging out of both the front and back of the panel.





FIG. 8

is a side profile view of the panel showing the floating eyeball bulging out of both the front and back of the panel.





FIG. 9

is a top plan view showing the user shaking the panel to create a visual display of dancing eyeballs.





FIGS. 10



a


,


10




b


,


10




c


,


10




d


,


10




e


are various top perspective views showing the floating eyeballs automatically rotating upwards when panels are tilted at different angles or directions.





FIG. 11

is a variety of examples of facial expressions the user may choose to draw, paint or otherwise place around the floating eyeballs on blank panels.





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of a single eyeball embodiment.





FIG. 13

is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment, a floating eyeball calendar.





FIG. 14

is an exploded view of the calendar embodiment of FIG.


13


.





FIG. 15

is a sectional view taken along line


15





15


of

FIG. 13

showing the positioning of the support tab for the floating eyeballs.





FIG. 16

is the same view as

FIG. 15

showing the steps of adjusting the height of the floating eyeballs.





FIG. 17

is a top perspective view of a book embodiment having a spiral binder.





FIG. 18

is the same view as

FIG. 17

with the book closed.





FIG. 19

is a top perspective view of a book embodiment with a vertical format.





FIG. 20

is a top perspective view of an art box, lid open.





FIG. 21

is a top perspective view of the same art box shown in

FIG. 20

, lid closed.





FIG. 22

is a top perspective view of a lunch box, lid closed.





FIG. 23

is a top perspective view of a 3D storage box, lid closed.





FIG. 24

is a side plan view of the storage box shown in

FIG. 23

with lid partially open.





FIG. 25

is a front perspective view of a preferred lunch bag, lid partially open, rotating from front to back.





FIG. 26

is a rear perspective view of the lunch bag shown in

FIG. 25

, with the panel turned over to the interactive surface.





FIG. 27

is a side plan view of the lunch bag shown in

FIG. 25

, the storage compartment open.





FIG. 28

is a plan view of the lunch bag shown in

FIG. 27

, bag closed.











Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.




DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIGS. 1

,


2


are top perspective views of the invention and show the embedding of the floating eyeballs


1


,


2


into the panel


7


. The panel


7


can be made of varied materials including cardboard, plastic and the like. Each floating eyeball


1


,


2


is mounted onto the panel


7


either directly to the panel surface or preferably embedded into the eye holes


5


,


6


. See the dotted lines


3


and


4


between the eyeballs and the eye holes in the panel. The floating eyeballs bulge outwardly from both the front and back sides of the panel. See top and side profile views in

FIGS. 7

,


8


. This can be accomplished by cutting or punching out circular holes


5


and


6


the size of each eyeball


1


and


2


from the panel


7


and then inserting and affixing the eyeballs


1


and


2


to the panel


7


by any number of methods including a permanent lock or glue system. See

FIG. 2

for a perspective front and bottom view of the floating eyeballs embedded into the panel. Also, included in

FIG. 1

,


2


are depictions of inner pages


8


, back cover


9


and facial features


10


.





FIGS. 7

,


8


show the floating eyeballs comprised of an eyeball-decorated inner sphere


44


,


48


encased and floating in a clear plastic outer sphere


43


,


47


filled with a clear liquid


44


,


48


. The eyeball-decorated inner sphere


44


is weighted such that the pupil automatically rotates upwards no matter which direction the outer sphere


43


is rotated. The outer sphere


43


is affixed to the panel


7


by any number of methods including a permanent lock or glue system


46


.

FIG. 6

depicts the upwards rotation of the floating eyeball


1


when the outer sphere, as affixed to the panel


7


, is tilted away from horizontal. The floating eyeball


1


in this example, is an existing toy that is available in the current retail marketplace.




Referring next to

FIG. 3

the floating eyeballs.


1


,


2


are embedded and affixed to a durable book or card cover or two-surfaced (front and back) panel


7


such that the cover substitutes for the panel


7


described above. The panel or the book or card cover


7


can bear facial features on both its front and back sides. The facial features


16


,


17


,


18


can be placed around the floating eyeballs


1


,


2


(eyeholes


4


,


5


) to create human, insect, animal or other creature-like facial images.




Additional embodiments shown in

FIGS. 4

,


5


entail the introduction of numerous additional panels


24


,


25


bearing alternative facial features such as


31


,


32


,


33


over and onto a previous panel


23


containing the affixed floating eyeballs


1


,


27


. Each additional panel contains a circular eyehole


26


,


27


for each floating eyeball


1


,


2


, permitting the user to quickly and conveniently place the additional panel over and onto the previous panel in order to create a different facial expression or scene. Each additional panel may bear alternative facial features on both its front and back sides.





FIG. 9

is a top profile view of the panel


7


being shaken (represented by


51


,


52


,


53


,) by the user


50


to cause the eyeball-decorated inner spheres


1


,


2


, to move about (represented by


56


,


57


) creating an entertaining and amusing visual effect.




Referring to

FIGS. 10



a-




10




e


, a series of top panel views is shown. The panel


7


with the affixed floating eyeballs


1


,


2


may be tilted in a controlled manner in various directions and angles by the user in order to create the illusion of human-like eye movement. The eyeball-decorated inner sphere rotates about upwards automatically as the panel is tilted in any direction and angle. The panel with the affixed floating eyeballs may also be tilted in a controlled manner into fixed positions by the user in order to create the illusion that floating eyeballs are glancing in one particular direction or as if the floating eyeballs are looking at something on the panel.





FIG. 11

shows examples of user added eyebrows


620


,


621


,


622


,


623


to a blank panel


63


by the user.





FIG. 12

shows a one eyeball embodiment having a crocodile caricature


120


on a book cover


121


for a book


122


.




To summarize, the invention may be used to entertain and amuse the user in any of the following manners:




1. The primary panel with the affixed floating eyeballs may be shaken by the user, in order to cause the eyeball decorated inner sphere to move about creating an entertaining and amusing visual effect. See FIG.


9


.




2. The panel with the affixed floating eyeballs may be tilted in a controlled manner in various directions and angles by the user in order to create the illusion of human-like eye movement. The eyeball-decorated inner sphere automatically rotates upwards as the panel is tilted in any direction and angle. See

FIGS. 10



a


-


10




e.






3. The panel with the affixed floating eyeballs may be tiltedin a controlled manner into fixed positions by the user in order to create the illusion that floating eyeballs are glancing in one particular direction or as if the floating eyeballs are looking at something on the panel. See

FIGS. 10



a


-


10




e.






4. The panel with the affixed floating eyeballs may be turned over or reversed by the user to reveal the back side of the panel in order to create the illusion that the floating eyeballs have flipped to the back side of the panel when in reality, the panel and not the floating eyeballs have been flipped. See FIG.


3


.




5. Additional panels with eyeholes bearing alternative facial features can quickly and conveniently be placed by the user over the existing panel with the affixed floating eyeballs in order to create different facial expressions. See FIG.


4


.




6. The user can create their own facial features by drawing, painting, or placing removable stickers or magnets on blank “interactive” panels with eyeholes. See FIG.


11


.




7. The interactive panels can be painted or drawn to represent various facial expressions, such as happy or sad faces.




8. A single floating eyeball can be affixed to the panel in order to create a profile facial image as opposed to the frontal facial image created by the affixation of two floating eyeballs to the panel. See FIG.


12


.




9. The panels may be marked with written instructions to show the user how to direct the floating eyeballs to look in various directions, or other users instruction such as doodle ideas.




Referring next to

FIGS. 13

,


14


,


15


, and


16


a calendar


130


has a backplate


131


and a stand


132


. The calendar pages


133


are supported by ledges


134


,


135


. The floating eyeballs


136


,


137


protrude through holes


138


,


139


in the pages


133


. Each page


133


has alpha-numeric characters


140


to indicate the date. Each day a page


133


is removed as indicated by arrows “A” to provide the proper date to the user.




During use, the distance d


1


will decrease. In order to maintain the entertaining sight of eyeballs protruding through the uppermost page, the eyeballs


136


,


137


must periodically be adjusted to move back towards the backplate


131


. An embodiment not shown would size the eyeballs to protrude all the way through the pad without adjustment. To accomplish this task, a tab


145


having holes


146


,


147


is provided which removably engages the fasteners


142


,


144


of the floating eyeballs


136


,


137


. Legs


141


,


143


affix the fasteners


142


,


144


to the floating eyeballs


136


,


137


.




Referring next to

FIGS. 15

,


16


the user may place the tab


145


at position “Z”. He must first lift up the pages


133


as shown in FIG.


16


. The tab


145


has floating eyeballs


136


,


137


attached to it. Once the tab


145


is in the desired position, “X”, “Y”, or “Z”, the pages


133


are placed over the floating eyeballs. In the preferred embodiment of the calendar


130


as shown, the fasteners


142


,


144


allow the user to pull out the




floating eyeballs


136


,


137


, move the tab


145


, and re-insert the floating eyeballs down through holes


138


,


139


into the tab


145


.




Referring next to

FIG. 17

a horizontal format book


170


has a spiral binder


177


. The front panel


171


has a pair of floating eyeballs


174


,


175


. The front panel


171


also has a front page


172


preferably having a coordinated design with the floating eyeballs


174


,


175


, and an inside cover page


173


having the smiley face design


176


. The inside pages


183


include second page


185


having the grown design


180


. There is also a back panel


184


. The inner pages


183


and back panel


184


all have holes


181


,


182


which allow the floating eyeballs


174


,


175


to pass through with the front panel


171


opened in direction


178


. The smiley face design


176


coordinates with the floating eyeballs


174


,


175


as shown in FIG.


18


. All the inside pages


183


can have a coordinated design on both sides in this embodiment.




Referring next to

FIG. 19

a vertical format book


190


is shown. A top panel


193


houses the floating eyeballs


191


,


192


. The coordinated design


194


is located on the inside cover page. Preferably, another design is on the front cover page (not shown). The inside pages


197


have holes


195


,


196


. Each inside page, preferably, has a coordinated design on each underside for display with the floating eyeballs


191


,


192


as desired.




Yet another alternate embodiment not shown includes a doodle pad identical to the calendar


130


but with the deletion of the alpha-numeric characters


140


and/or the addition of illustrations.




Referring next to FIGS.


20


,


21


the activity box or drawing box


200


has a container portion


201


suitable to hold items including art and crafts supplies. The lid


202


has holes


209


,


210


in which are mounted spherical toy balls


203


,


204


which in this case are wiggly eyeballs having pupils


207


,


208


and internal weights (not shown) which cause the pupils to float up, thereby creating a different look for each angle the lid


202


is held at.





FIG. 21

shows the lid


202


closed. The top surface


211


of the lid


202


is a drawing surface as shown by child


212


using an erasable (wipe off) crayon


205


to draw face


213


. The pupils


207


,


208


are facing up to allow a changing of views of the face


213


as the box


200


is tilted and/or shaken. A second drawing surface and/or pre-printed graphic can be made on inner lid surface


214


. Thus, both surfaces of the lid are functional to coordinate with the 3D, moving, bulging spherical toy balls


203


,


204


.




Referring next to

FIG. 22

a lunch box


220


has a container portion


229


, a handle


230


and a lid


221


. Holes


222


,


223


are used to mount the spherical toy balls


224


,


225


, which in this case are floating eyeballs having a weighted inner sphere to keep the pupils


226


,


227


facing upward. Coordinated graphics, and/or drawing surface are optional on outer lid surface


228


and the inner lid surface (not shown).




Referring next to FIGS.


23


,


24


a toy box


235


has a container portion


237


and a lid


236


which has a contoured top surface


245


. The top surface


245


also has two holes


239


,


240


into which spherical toy balls


241


,


242


are mounted. The spherical toy balls in this case are floating eyeballs having pupils


243


,


244


. The container portion has a handle


238


. The top surface includes nostrils


246


which coordinate with teeth


248


and notches


247


as well as the floating eyeballs


241


,


242


to create an alligator face.





FIG. 24

shows the alligator face toy box


235


. The side profile shows the gator, jaws open with teeth


248


and notches


247


, a nostril


246


and a contoured top lid surface


245


, all coordinated with a floating eyeball


241


, the floating eyeball again mounted in a bulging manner from the top and bottom of the lid


236


. This toy box concept can be made into animal, creature, human or the like characters, wherein the bulging spherical toy ball combined with the bulging facial features is the key novel feature.




FIGS.


25


,


26


,


27


,


28


show the preferred embodiment, a spherical toy ball lunch bag


2500


. An expandable base


2501


has a triangular side profile and a back panel


2509


and a front panel


2508


. A hinged panel


2502


may have a preprinted caricature


2503


and on the opposite side an interactive surface which in this case is a dry-erase surface


2504


, wherein a child


2505


is drawing a face


2507


using a marker


2506


. Once again spherical toy balls (preferable floating eyeballs)


2510


,


2511


provide the key novel feature of the device, wherein they bulge from both sides of the hinged panel


2502


. The arrows show the hinged panel


2502


in the preprinted outward F


1


, in transition F


2


, and doodle pad outward F


3


positions.




FIGS.


27


,


28


show the base


2501


in the OPEN and CLOSED positions, wherein the hinged panel


2502


is hinged on the panel


2508


and forms a lid


3030


in the closed position F


3


. The child


2505


can insert lunch items


3026


,


3027


,


3028


when the base


2501


is in the OPEN position in FIG.


27


.




Additional optional features are shown in FIGS.


27


,


28


including a handle


2893


, a drawing utensil holder


2895


, a closure means of a hoop and loop strap


2897


with a buckle


2896


(equivalents including snaps and zippers). The insulating is layer


2894


could be Revolutionary Freeze Tech™ Thermo Reflective insulation. The device becomes a backpack with shoulder straps


2898


shown in dotted lines.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.




PARTIAL KEY






1


. Left eyeball






2


. Right eyeball






3


. Motion of embedding left eyeball into panel






4


. Motion of embedding right eyeball into panel






5


. Left eyehole






6


. Right eyehole






7


. Panel or book cover






8


. Inner pages or panels of a book or card






9


. Back cover of book or card






10


. Painted or drawn on facial features






11


. Painted or drawn on facial features






12


. Painted on or drawn facial features






13


. Arrow representing the opening or flipping of a front panel or cover of book or card






14


. Additional page or panel






15


. Left eyehole in additional panel






16


. Right eyehole in additional panel






17


. Painted or drawn on facial features






18


. Painted or drawn on facial features






19


. Painted or drawn on facial features






20


. Painted or drawn on facial features






21


. Painted or drawn on facial features






22


. Arrow representing the turning or flipping of inner pages or panels onto an inner previous page or panel






23


. Previous inner page or panel






24


. Inner Page or panel with eyeholes






25


. Inner Page or panel with eyeholes






26


. Left eyehole






27


. Right eyehole






28


. Painted or drawn on facial features






29


. Painted or drawn on facial features






30


. Painted or drawn on facial features






31


. Painted or drawn on facial features






32


. Painted or drawn on facial features






33


. Painted or drawn on facial features






34


. Arrow representing the turning or flipping of the back panel or cover of book or card onto an inner previous page or panel






35


. Painted or drawn on facial features






36


. Painted or drawn on facial features






37


. Painted or drawn on facial features






38


. Arrow representing the tilting of the panel in different directions and the automatic upwards rotation of the eyeball affixed to the panel






39


. Arrow representing the automatic upwards rotation of the eyeball during slight tilting of the panel above horizontal






40


. Arrow representing the automatic upwards rotation of the eyeball during tilting of the panel at an approximately 45 degree angle






41


. User's hand holding panel slightly tilted above horizontal






42


. User's hand holding panel tilted at approximately 45 degrees






43


. Clear plastic outer sphere of right eyeball






44


. Right eyeball-decorated inner sphere






45


. Clear liquid separating right eyeball-decorated inner sphere and clear outer shell






46


. Adhesive or other glue locking system






47


. Clear plastic outer sphere of left eyeball






48


. Left eyeball-decorated inner sphere






49


. Clear liquid separating left eyeball-decorated inner sphere and clear outer shell






50


. User's hand holding and shaking panel






51


. Dotted lines representing motion of shaking panel






52


. Dotted lines representing motion of shaking panel






53


. Dotted lines representing motion of shaking panel






54


. Dotted lines representing motion of shaking hand






55


. Lines representing visual effect of human-like eye movement






56


. Lines representing visual effect of human-like eye movement






57


. Painted or drawn on facial features






58


. Painted or drawn on facial features






59


. Painted or drawn on facial features






60


. Series of left eyeballs showing pupils rotating






61


. Series of right eyeballs showing pupils rotating






62


. User drawn eyebrows on blank panel






63


. Blank panel






120


. Caricature






121


. Book Cover






122


. Book






130


. Calendar






131


. Backplate






132


. Stand






133


. Calendar pages






134


,


135


. Ledges






136


,


137


. Floating eyeballs






138


,


139


. Holes






140


. Alpha-numeric characters






141


,


143


. Legs






142


,


144


. Fasteners






145


. Tab






146


,


147


. Holes






170


. Horizontal format book






171


. Front panel






172


. Front page






173


. Cover page






174


,


175


. Floating eyeballs






176


. Smiley face design






177


. Spiral binder






178


. Direction






179


. Direction






180


. Frown design






181


,


182


. Holes






183


. Inside pages






184


. Back panel






185


. Second page






190


. Vertical format book






191


,


192


. Floating eyeballs






193


. Top panel






194


. Coordinated design






195


,


196


. Holes






197


. Inside pages






220


Lunch box






229


Container portion






230


Handle






221


Lid






222


,


223


Holes






224


,


225


Spherical toy balls






226


,


227


Pupils






228


Outer lid surface






235


Toy box






237


Container portion






236


Lid






245


Contoured top surface






239


,


240


Contoured holes (part of 3D effect)






241


,


242


Spherical toy balls






243


,


244


Pupils






238


Handle






246


Nostrils






248


Teeth






247


Notches






2500


Spherical toy lunch bag






2501


Expandable base






2509


Back panel






2508


Front panel






2502


Hinged panel






2503


Preprinted caricature






2504


Interactive surface






2505


Child






2507


Face






2506


Marker






2510


,


2511


Spherical toy balls






3030


Lid






3026


,


3027


,


3028


Lunch items






2893


Handle






2894


Insulating layer






2895


Utensil holder






2897


Hoop and loop strap






2896


Buckle






2898


Backpack




“X”, “Y”, “Z”. Positions



Claims
  • 1. An animated lunch bag comprising:a flexible storage bag having a front and a rear planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said rear planar surface supporting a closable lid; said closable lid having a lid planar surface with a hole wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted in the hole in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof; wherein said closable lid folds over a portion of either the front or rear planar surface; and said front and back side of the closable lid each having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closable lid has two spherical toy balls each mounted in a separate hole.
  • 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spherical toy balls are floating eyeballs.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the closable lid has a side with a facial character coordinated with the floating eyeballs.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the closable lid further comprises a drawing utensil holder.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible storage bag further comprises a handle.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible storage bag further comprises an insulating layer.
  • 8. An animated storage bag comprising:a flexible bag means functioning to store contents therein, said bag means having a front and a rear planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said front planar surface supporting a closable lid means functioning to enclose said contents; said closable lid means having a lid planar surface with a hole, wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted in the hole in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof; said closable lid means functioning to fold over a portion of either the front or rear planar surface; and at least one side of said front and back side of the closable lid means having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball.
  • 9. An animated storage bag comprising:a flexible bag means functioning to store contents therein, said bag means having a front and a rear planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said rear planar surface supporting a closable lid means functioning to enclose said contents; said closable lid means having a hole, wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted therein in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof; and at least one side of said front and back side of the rear planar surface having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball.
  • 10. An animated lunch bag comprising:a flexible storage bag having a front and a rear planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said front planar surface supporting a closable lid; said closable lid having a hole wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted therein in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof; said front and back side of the closable lid each having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball; wherein the closable lid has two spherical toy balls each mounted in a separate hole; wherein the spherical toy balls are floating eyeballs; wherein the closable lid has a side with a facial character coordinated with the floating eyeballs; and wherein the closable lid further comprises a drawing utensil holder.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the closable lid further comprises a closure strap.
  • 12. An animated storage bag comprising:a flexible bag means functioning to store contents therein, said bag means having a first and a second planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said first planar surface supporting a closable lid means functioning to enclose said contents; said closable lid means having a hole, wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted therein in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof; and at least one side of said front and back side of the first planar surface having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball.
  • 13. An animated storage bag comprising:a flexible bag means functioning to store contents therein, said bag means having a first and a second planar surface adjoined by a foldable pair of sides; said second planar surface supporting a closable lid means functioning to enclose said contents; said closable lid means having a hole, wherein a spherical toy ball is mounted therein in a bulging manner from a front and a back side thereof, and at least one side of said front and back side of the second planar surface having a coordinated graphic surface, an interactive surface, or a combination of a graphic and an interactive surface, which creates a 3D depiction with the spherical toy ball.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part application claiming the benefits of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/373,162 filed Aug. 12, 1999 Now U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,201, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/902,452 filed Jul. 29, 1997 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,570 on Aug. 24, 1999 which claimed the benefits of provisional application Ser. No. 60/026,447 filed Sep. 18, 1996.

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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
Title: Eve Spy a Panda! Author: Jean Hwang 1995 Publisher: Threehouse Children's Books Limited.
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/026447 Sep 1996 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/902452 Jul 1997 US
Child 09/373162 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/373162 Aug 1999 US
Child 09/705042 US