TOY ANIMAL FORMED OF RIGID PLASTIC CONTAINER BODY AND PLUSH HEAD AND LIMBS

Abstract

The toy animal of the present invention is formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbs attached to and extending from the plastic container body. The container body is made of two hollow rigid plastic parts, each having an edge. A zipper is situated between the edges of the plastic parts to connect the parts to form a container for small objects and the like. A zipper connects the plastic parts. The zipper parts are each fixed to the edge of a different one of the plastic parts such that the container can be opened and closed. Each of the zipper parts has an engaging portion mounted to a fabric base which is fastened to the edge of the plastic part by stitching.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy, and more particularly, to a toy animal formed of a rigid plastic container body and push head and limbs.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Toys in the shape of animals made of plush material are well-known. Toys made of rigid plastic are known. Containers made of rigid plastic are known. However, there are no toys that combine those elements together to form a children's play toy that is also a container for small objects.

To be useful, a container must be able to be opened and closed to allow entrance and removal of objects. Containers often made of rigid parts which can be joined and separated as needed. Various common devices and methods have been employed rigid plastic container parts. One common joinder device not used for this purpose is the zipper. That is because of the difficulty of securely fixing the zipper parts to the edges of the rigid plastic container parts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toy of the present invention is formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbs which are attached to and extend from the plastic container body. The container body is made of two hollow rigid plastic parts, each having an edge. A zipper is situated between the plastic parts to connect the parts to form a container for small objects and the like. The zipper parts are each fixed to the edge of a different one of the plastic parts such that the container can be opened and closed. Each of the zipper parts has an engaging portion mounted to a fabric base which is fastened to the edge of the plastic part. At least one of the rigid plastic body parts has an opening configured to receive the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a toy animal formed of rigid plastic container body and plush head and limbs as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showing the front, right side and top thereof;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the toy of FIG. 1 showing the front, left side and bottom thereof;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showing the rear, left side and bottom thereof;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showing the rear, right side and top thereof, with the container body open;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the toy:

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the toy:

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the toy showing the left side thereof:

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the toy showing the right side thereof:

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the toy showing the top thereof:

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the toy showing the bottom thereof:

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper parts prior to being engaged;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged image of the exterior of the toy showing the zipper parts engaged and the stitching which attaches the zipper parts to the rigid container body parts; and

FIG. 13 is an isometric exploded view of the rigid plastic body parts showing the opening for the head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1-10, which depict a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a monkey, the toy of the present invention includes a rigid plastic container body 10, and a plush head 12 and limbs 14 attached to and extending from body 10.

The container body is made up of first and second rigid plastic parts 16, 18. Parts 16, 18 are each hollow and when connected form an enclosure for small objects and the like. Parts 16, 18 are preferably transparent such that the contents of the container can be viewed.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 11, each of the parts 16, 18 has an edge, 16a, 18a. A zipper 20 is situated between edges 16a and 18a of the plastic parts, such that the plastic parts can be separated to access the contents of the container body and join to close the container.

Zipper 20 is formed of first and second engaging zipper parts, 22, 24. Each of the zipper parts 22, 24 is fixed to the edge of a different one of the first and second rigid plastic parts 16, 18 such that the parts can be connected to form the container.

Zipper part 22 includes an engaging portion 22a. Zipper part 24 includes an engaging portion 24a. Zipper parts 22a and 24a are designed to mate with each other to attach the container parts 16 and 18 together.

Each of the zipper parts 22 and 24 also includes a fabric base. The engaging portion is mounted to the fabric base. The fabric base of each zipper part has a generally “U” shape. The fabric base of each zipper part is attached to a different one of the container body parts 16, 18, proximate the edge thereof, to secure the zipper parts to the container body parts, respectively.

More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 11, the engaging portion 22a of zipper part 22 is mounted to fabric base 22b. The engaging portion 24a of zipper part 24 is mounted to fabric base 24b.

Fabric base 22b has first and second sides 26 and a middle portion 28. Engaging portion 22a is mounted to middle portion 28 of the fabric base 22b.

Fabric base 24b has first and second sides 30 and a middle portion 32. Engaging portion 24a is mounted to the middle portion 32 of fabric base 24b.

The surfaces of sides 26 of fabric base 22b are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the rigid plastic container part 16, proximate the edge 16a thereof. The surfaces 30 of fabric base 24b are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the rigid plastic container part 18, proximate the edge 16a thereof.

Each zipper part 22, 24 is secured to the edge of a different one of the container body parts 16, 18 by a series of spaced stitches formed of strong thread 34. Thread 32 penetrates fabric base sides and the rigid plastic container part to which the zipper part is attached.

The exterior of the zipper 20 is illustrated in FIG. 12. That figure shows that thread 34 forms a seam along each if the fabric base 22b and fabric base 24b of zipper parts 22, 24, thereby securing the zipper parts to the respective container body parts.

The plush head 12 and plush limbs 14 are also attached to the rigid container body part 16 at spaced locations around the container body part 16 by the seam formed by thread 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

A shoulder strap 36 may be attached to the toy as illustrated. Preferably, strap 34 is size adjustable and detachable from the toy body.

FIG. 13 shows an isometric exploded view of the rigid plastic body parts 16 and 18. The opening 15 for head 12 in plastic body part 16 is clearly shown.

It will now be understood that the toy of the present invention is formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbs which are attached to and extend from the plastic container body. The container body is made of two hollow rigid plastic parts, each having an edge. A zipper situated between the plastic parts connects the parts to form a container for small objects and the like. The zipper parts are each fixed to the edge of a different one of the container body parts such that the container can be opened and closed. Each of the zipper parts has an engaging portion mounted to a fabric base. The fabric base is attached to the edge of the container body part by stitching. One of the rigid plastic body parts includes an opening for attaching the head to the body.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. The toy of claim 8 wherein each of said zipper parts comprises an engaging portion and a fabric base, said fabric base comprising first and second sides and a middle portion, wherein said engaging portion is connected to said middle portion and said first and second sides of said fabric base are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the rigid plastic container part proximate said edge thereof.

3. The toy of claim 8 comprising a fabric base, said base comprising first and second sides, wherein said fabric base sides are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the rigid plastic container part by stitches which penetrate said fabric base sides and said rigid plastic container part.

4. The toy of claim 8 wherein at least one of said rigid plastic body parts comprises an opening configured to receive said head.

5. (canceled)

6. A toy animal formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbs, said container body comprising first and second rigid plastic parts, each of said rigid plastic container parts comprises an edge, a zipper, said zipper comprising first and second engaging zipper parts, each of said zipper parts being fixed to said edge of a different one of said first and second rigid plastic parts such that said rigid plastic container parts can be joined to enclose an object, wherein each of said zipper parts comprises an engaging portion and a fabric base, said fabric base comprising first and second sides and a middle portion, wherein said engaging portion is connected to said middle portion and said first and second sides of said fabric base are fixed to the opposite surfaces of the rigid, plastic container part proximate said edge thereof, by stitches which penetrate said fabric base sides and said rigid plastic container part, wherein at least one of said plush head and limbs are attached to said container by said stitches.

7. The toy of claim 6 wherein at least one of said rigid plastic body parts comprises an opening configured to receive said head.

8. A toy animal comprising a body, head and limbs, said body comprising first and second plastic parts forming a container enclosing an interior space, each of said plastic container parts comprising an edge and sides proximate said edge, at least one of said head and limbs being attached to and extending from at least one of said plastic parts proximate said edge thereof, a zipper, said zipper comprising first and second engaging zipper parts, each of said zipper parts being fixed to said sides of a different one of said first and second plastic parts by stitching which extends through said plastic container part such that said plastic container parts can be attached to enclose said interior container space and separated to provide access to said interior container space.

9. A toy comprising a hollow rigid plastic container and flexible extremities, said container comprising first and second rigid plastic parts enclosing an interior space, said extremities being attached to and extending from at least one of said rigid plastic container parts, a zipper, said rigid plastic container parts being attached to each other by said zipper, wherein said zipper and at least one of said extremities are attached to at least one of said rigid plastic container parts by stitching which extends through said rigid plastic container part such that said rigid plastic container parts can be attached to enclose said interior container space and separated to provide access to said interior container space.