GB2284162A - Child's play device - Google Patents

Abstract

A child's play device comprises a soft doll (21) which is fastened along its spine to a sheet (22) of pliant textile or like material. In the folded out condition of the sheet, the doll can be played with or the sheet can serve as a "comforter" to a small child. The sheet can be folded in at its corners (23 - 26) to permit the doll to be cuddled. Fastening of the doll to the sheet prevents loss of the doll should a child simply hold onto one corner only of the sheet. The doll may be provided with removable wearing-apparel, and may include a "squeaker", suitably in its nose. The doll may be detach ably secured to the sheet.

Description

Title: CHILD'S PLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a child's play device and is particularly concerned with dolls and, in particular, with soft dolls.

Young children frequently like to cuddle dolls and to wrap them in a cloth or blanket. However, if a doll is not securely wrapped in a cloth or blanket, it can fall out and, since a young child's attention is easily distracted, this can often result in the doll being lost.

Other children often like to have a "comforter" in the form of a piece of cloth or small blanket which they can suck or chew.

The present invention aims to provide a child's play device which can serve both as a doll and as a comforter.

According to the invention, there is provided a child's play device which comprises a soft doll and a sheet of pliant textile or like material wherein at least part of the doll is secured to the sheet in such a manner that the sheet can be wrapped around the doll or laid out substantially flat either above or below the doll.

Preferably, the sheet is substantially square and the doll is desirably secured to the sheet along one of the diagonals of the sheet.

The doll can be secured to the sheet along its spine.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a play device according to the present invention showing the sheet laid out flat; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the device of Figs. 1 and 2 in a state in which the sheet has been folded round the doll; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a play device accordirig to the invention showing the sheet laid out flat; Fig. S is a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 4 showing the bottom and top corners of the sheet folded over; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 showing the sheet folded around the doll.

Reference will first be made to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings in which the play device according to the invention comprises a substantially square sheet 1 of pliant material such as a textile along one diagonal of which a doll 2 is secured, for example by sewing. The doll may be of any suitable configuration and may be stylized or figurative as shown in the drawings or may conform more closely to the human anatomy.

When the sheet 1 is laid out flat as shown in Fig. 1, a child can pretend that the doll is on a changing mat and play at changing a nappy or diaper. The child can also suck or chew a corner or edge of the sheet for comfort.

If the child wishes to cuddle the doll, it can simply be picked up when the sheet will hang loosely from the spine of the doll to which it is secured by sewing.

However the doll can be wrapped in the sheet by simply folding one of the corners 11 or 12 over the doll followed by folding over the other corner 12 or 11.

A neater appearance can be achieved if the bottom corner 13 is first folded up over the feet of the doll, followed by folding over one of the corners 11 or 12 and then the other corner 12 or 11 as shown in Fig. 3.

The doll shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings is rather stylised and is primarily intended for very young children. While this embodiment is cheap to produce, it is considered that slightly older children might prefer a more sophisticated looking doll and such a doll is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this case the doll 21 is formed with arms and legs but is secured by its spine only to a square sheet 22 of pliant material such as a textile. The arms and legs as well as the head are not secured to the sheet. With this embodiment, the dress cannot be removed but the doll could be clothed with removable knickers or diapers as well as socks and shoes and a hat.

The doll 21 can be wrapped in the sheet 22 by folding back the upper corner 25 and folding the bottom corner 23 over the feet of the doll as shown in Fig. 5.

The remaining corners 24 and 25 can then be folded over the doll as shown in Fig. 6. The doll can then be cuddled.

In both cases the doll preferably takes the form of a rag doll which can be stuffed with rags, cotton wool, fire resistant foam or like material. It may be provided with a "squeaker" or like device which is activated when the doll is squeezed.

As a fun item, such a squeaker may be located in the doll's nose.

The sheet does not necessarily have to be square and may, if desired, have rounded or curved corners. It may be made of any suitable material and while flannelette is preferred, other suitable materials comprise cotton sheets, muslin or blanket. The sheet should desirably be washable with the doll still attached.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the doll need not be a human figure but could be, for example, a teddy bear or other animal such as a rabbit or squirrel.

Further, the doll may be detachably secured to the sheet by suitable releasable fastening means such as, for example, "Velcro" (Registered Trade Mark).

Claims (6)

1. A child's play device which comprises a soft doll and a sheet of pliant textile or like material wherein at least part of the doll is secured to the sheet in such a manner that the sheet can be wrapped around the doll or laid substantially flat either above or below the doll.

2. A child's play device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of pliant textile or like material is substantially square.

3. A child's play device according to claim 2, wherein the doll is secured to the sheet along one of the diagonals of said sheet.

4. A child's play device according to any preceding claim, wherein the doll is secured to the sheet along its spine.

5. A child's play device according to any preceding claim, wherein the doll is detachably secured to the sheet.

6. A child's play device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings.

6. A child's play device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

7. A child's play device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A child's play device which comprises a soft stuffed doll and a sheet of pliant textile or like material wherein the doll is secured along its spine to the sheet in such a manner that the sheet can be wrapped around the doll or laid substantially flat either above or below the doll.

2. A child's play device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of pliant textile or like material is substantially square.

3. A child's play device according to claim 2, wherein the doll is secured to the sheet along one of the diagonals of said sheet.

4. A child's play device according to any preceding claim, wherein the doll is detachably secured to the sheet.

5. A child's play device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.