US20080032594A1

US20080032594A1 - Toy with concealed storage pouch

Info

Publication number: US20080032594A1
Application number: US11/725,217
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael L. Magener
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-07
Filing date: 2007-03-19
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: WO2008020898A2; WO2008020898A3; US20080032595A1

Abstract

A stuffed animal having front and backsides, a cover at the backside, and a recess/cavity covered by the cover, the recess/cavity having an entrance, and an insert received in the recess/cavity via the entrance, and retrievable via the entrance, the insert usable after such retrieval.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/499,448, filed Aug. 7, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to decorative carriers, and more particularly to a carrier in the form of a stuffed animal, such as a Teddy Bear, and a retrievable insert/cavity in the carrier with an external orifice.
There is need for unusual and decorative carriers or housings for useful articles; and in particular there is need for the decorative device of the present invention, wherein access to a useful massager or other insert concealed in the carrier is enabled by partial removal of clothing from the carrier such as a stuffed animal. As will appear, the article may comprise a Teddy Bear. In addition to reception, there is need for inconspicuous concealment of the massager, allowing the user easy and immediate access within a person's private domain (e.g. bedroom) where its use is typically employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide a device or unusual combination which meets the describe need. Basically, it concerns:
a) a) a stuffed animal having front and back sides,
b) a cover at said backside, and a recess/cavity covered by said cover, the recess/cavity having an entrance,
c) and an insert received in the recess/cavity via said entrance, and retrievable via said entrance, the insert usable after such retrieval.
Another object is to provide a fur surface on the cover to correspond to a fur surface on the animal, to enhance concealment of the cavity despite its location at the outside of the animal.
A further object is to provide an insert end portion that is finger graspable via said entrance, and said entrance has a width that substantially exceeds the width of said insert end portion.
An additional object is to provide clothing on the stuffed animal and extending over the cover and its entrance to enhance their concealment. The clothing may have arm sections tightly fitting the animal arms to frictionally resist removal of the cover from its position extending over the cavity entrance.
Also, the cover may have curvature generally matching that of the animal rear side, to enhance concealment of the cavity; and the animal backside may be flexible to be deflected by the insert toward the animal interior, or front side, to enhance concealment of the cavity and insert. In this regard, the insert is typically sized to be accessible in the cavity upon entry of the user's thumb and forefinger into the cavity via said entrance. The insert itself may comprise a massager/vibrator, or a lipstick housing.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a Teddy Bear showing a cavity containing an insert;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 Teddy Bear, and showing the cavity interior and insert;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section showing the relative position of the cavity, insert, cover, and other elements;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a Teddy Bear with clothing fitted on anatomy and over the rear cavity position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1-4, a stuffed Teddy Bear 113 has front and backsides 114 and 115. A cavity 116 a is located rearwardly of backside 115, and a cover 116 extends over the cavity 116 a, and is attached, as by sewing at 116′ to backside 115. The cavity has an upper entrance 117, and an insert 118 is received downwardly in the recess/cavity 116 a and is retrievable via the entrance as via user's forefinger and thumb insertion into the entrance. Note that the entrance is substantially wider, between its lateral limits 117 a and 117 b, than the width of the insert, as for example its diameter in the case of a cylindrical insert, to facilitate forefinger and thumb reception into cavity spaces 117 c and 117 d between the insert and entrance lateral limits 117 a and 117 b, for grasping the insert and removing it upwardly from the cavity. Entrance width between limits 117 a and 117 b is typically at least about twice the width of the insert.
Cover 116 extends over the cavity and is typically flexible. It is downwardly elongated, as is the cavity, and is retained or attached to the backside 115 except at the entrance. The cover may have a fur surface, as at 116 b, which blends with the fur surface 120 of the stuffed animal, as at the locations 121 of cover connection to the surface 120, whereby the cavity is well concealed, along with the insert 118 in the cavity. Rear wall 121 of the stuffed animal, at its backside 115 is typically flexible, to be deflected inwardly toward body front side 114, by the insert. See deflected wall extent 121 a, indicated in FIG. 4, which deflection may vary. This assists in maintaining the push-in flexibility of the backside 115, despite presence of the insert in the cavity, adding to concealment.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show clothing 130 on the animal, and extending at 130 a over the cavity and its entrance to further conceal the insert in the cavity, and its entrance. Such clothing may have arm sections 130 b and 130 c tightly fitting over the animal stuffed arms 113 a and 113 b, to frictionally resist removal of the clothing extent 130 a from its position extending over the cover 116 and over the cavity entrance, assuring retention of the insert in the cavity.
The insert may comprise a metallic or plastic tube 141 containing a massager 140 and an electric current storage battery 142. Alternatively, the tube may contain a lipstick, or other personal device.

Claims

1. In combination

a) a stuffed animal having front and back sides,

b) a cover at said backside, and a recess/cavity covered by said cover, the recess/cavity having an entrance,

c) and an insert received in the recess/cavity via said entrance, and retrievable via said entrance, the insert usable after such retrieval.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said animal has a fur surface, and said cover also has a fur surface.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said insert has an end portion that is finger graspable via said entrance, the entrance having width that substantially exceeds the width of the insert end portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said entrance width is at least twice the width of said insert end portion.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cover is flexible.

6. The combination of claim 1 including clothing on said stuffed animal and extending over said cover and over said entrance.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said clothing is retained on the stuffed animal at its front and back sides.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the clothing defines a robe.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the insert and cavity are both elongated.

10. The combination of claim 1 that includes an insert housing, and an electric battery in the housing for driving a massager/vibrating device.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said insert is sized to be accessible in the cavity upon entry of the user's thumb and forefinger into the cavity via said entrance.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the insert includes a housing, and lipstick in the housing.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein the animal backside is flexibly deflected by the insert toward the animal front side.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein the stuffed animal is a Teddy Bear.

15. The combination of claim 6 wherein the clothing has arm sections tightly fitting the animal arms to frictionally resist removal of the clothing from its position extending over the cavity entrance.