US20090117814A1

US20090117814A1 - Toy carrying personal article or articles

Info

Publication number: US20090117814A1
Application number: US11/974,936
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael L. Magener
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-07
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2009-05-07

Abstract

A stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides, transport structure carried by the animal at the back side thereof, the structure defining a holding zone, and an insertible personal article or device carried by the structure at the holding zone, and being easily retrievable from the zone.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/725,219, filed Mar. 19, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application serial 11/499,448, filed Aug. 7, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to concealed storage of small personal articles, in unobvious ways while enabling rapid retrieval of such articles as from stuffed animals.
There is need for such article concealed storage, as in ways that prevent loss of the small articles. There is also need for such concealed storage in unobvious ways, contributing to enablement of rapid retrieval of one or more small personal articles from storage as from decorative “friendly” and unlikely locations, such as stuffed animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide a device meeting the above article storage needs. Basically, the invention comprises:
a) a stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides,
b) transport structure carried or to be carried by the animal at said back side thereof,
c) said structure defining a holding zone,
d) and an insertible personal article or device carried by said structure at said holding zone, and being easily retrievable from said zone.
As will be seen the article holding zone may comprise a concealed pocket external to the back side of the stuffed animal, or to clothing applied to the stuffed animal, for rapid and convenient access to the stored article. The pocket may be on a carrier external to the animal back side, or external to such clothing, and a second concealed pocket may be provided interiorly of the stuffed animal, that second pocket having a concealed entrance. Such concealment may be provided by the external holding zone, as referred to, at the back side of the animal, or may be provided by animal clothing such as a robe, whereby multiple personal articles may be stored in concealed relation to or by the stuffed animal, while being readily accessible for selective rapid retrieval as needed.
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 front elevational view of a decorative stuffed animal, such as Teddy Bear, wearing a robe;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the FIG. 1 animal;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the FIG. 1 animal, and also showing a recess in the body extending downwardly and forwardly from an entrance;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing reception of an elongated insert in the animal body recess, and to be accessible after removal of clothing, as also shown;

FIG. 5 is a section showing a modification;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken through a Teddy Bear body and back region showing devices carried within the body or at the rear of the body;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section like that of FIG. 6 showing a single device carried at the rear of a robe on the body;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section like FIG. 7, showing a single device carried at the rear of the body; and

FIGS. 9-13 show modifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, showing a preferred form of the invention, a stuffed animal 10 having the form of a decorative Teddy Bear, has a body 11, arms 12, head 13 and legs 14. The animal is shown wearing a decorative robe 15, having front sections 16 a and 16 b, a rear or back 17 and sleeves 18 which closely fit the animal arms 12. Also shown is a belt 19.
In accordance with the invention, a recess 20 is formed in the body 11, and has an entrance 20 a at the upper back 11 a of the body. The recess extends downwardly and forwardly of the entrance, whereby the recess is elongated, i.e. typically has greater length than the front to back dimension X of the body to accommodate to both the finger and thumb of a person seeking to retrieve 22. This allows for reception in the recess of an elongated insert 22. The recess may instead be laterally elongated. Insert 22 may comprise a massager or lipstick or other personal device. It may have a wall 30 and end 31. The insert may have a removable battery or battery compartment. The clothing layer 15 a (such as the back of the robe) covers the entrance, whereby the insert is not accessible until the robe is removed off the upper back region of the stuffed animal. The close fit of the robe sleeves 18 to the stuffed arms 12, inhibits ready removal of the robe, whereby concealment of the entrance/orifice 20 a is doubly enhanced to the extent that the robe back layer conceals the entrance, and also removal of that layer away from entrance 15 a is inhibited by tightness of sleeve fit to the arms.
Assuming that a curious person gained access to the entrance/orifice 15 a, he or she will then be able to grasp the insert, to pull the elongated insert out from the recess, for use. The insert may comprise various devices such as a lipstick container, or an electric battery powered massager, the length of the insert providing space for dry cell reception in the insert. See battery outline 30, and massager head outline 31.
FIG. 5 shows retention of a device, such as at 22, to and at the backside of robe 17. Retention may be achieved in different ways. One way is by a pocket 40 attached to the rear side of layer 15, or robe rear panel 15.
The insert may comprise a metallic or plastic tube containing a massager and an electric current storage battery. Alternatively, the tube may contain a lipstick, or other personal device.
Referring now to FIG. 6, it shows certain elements as also seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, and bearing corresponding identifying numerals.
A clothing panel 200, such as the back of a robe, extends downwardly at the back side of the Teddy Bear (or other stuffed animal)-body 202. The upper entrance 20 a of the cavity 20 is concealed by the panel 200, or by animal fur, and may be widened to pass selected articles or devices.
Transport structure 204 is provided to be carried by the stuffed animal at the back side of its body 202, and also at the back side of clothing panel 200, such structure defining a device holding zone, as at 205. Structure 204 may for example take the form of a back pack, having a downward extending receptacle 204 a bounded by front wall 204 b, rear wall 204 c, and upright side walls 204 d. A back pack flexible cover panel 207 hangs downwardly over upper entrance 208 to the holding zone 205, and a device such as insert 209 is downwardly received via entrance 208 into zone 205. Attachment means, such as straps 210, support the back pack 204, and may extend over the Teddy Bear's shoulders.
Accordingly, FIG. 6 represents a Teddy Bear carrying and/or transporting two personal devices to which the user or Teddy Bear owner can quickly gain access, as needed. Representative such devices include massagers, lipsticks, small LED flashlights, perfume, sachet, and lingerie. At the same time, the devices are concealed in a manner which allows provision of an attractive Teddy Bear or other stuffed animal whose extended utility is surprisingly well concealed. Device 22 is concealed, whether or not back pack 204 is in place or removed.
FIG. 7 is like FIG. 6 excepting for the removal of elements of the cavity in the body of the stuffed animal. The clothing panel 200 remains, as does the device transport structure 204.
FIG. 8 is like FIG. 7, excepting for removal of the elements of the clothing panel 200. A magnet 220 may be incorporated in the body of the stuffed animal to magnetically attract and hold the device or insert 209 a in position in the back pack, the back pack itself thereby being magnetically held close to the back of the bear body. Device or insert 209 a, or its housing, may then be made in part of steel or other magnetically attracting material.
In the above, FIG. 7 is preferred.
In FIG. 9, a transport structure such as a pouch 300 is carried at the rear side of the body 305 of a stuffed animal 301, such as a Teddy Bear. The pouch retrievably contains a personal article (such as, for example, a massager or lipstick 302, or clothing) and has one upper entrance 303, which may be gathered as at 304, to be closed. The pouch may be detachably carried as at 306, and such carriage may be defined by hook and loop means. The latter may comprise interengaged, but separable VELCRO strips 307 and 308 on the rear side of the body 305 and on the panel 309 of the pouch, or other structure associated with the pouch.
The pouch 300 is representative of an external holding zone, for storage of retrievable items such as any of the following:

- X₁) a portable media player, such as an i-pod,
- X₂) lingerie,
- X₃) perfume,
- X₄) cosmetics,
- X₅) prophylactics,
- X₆) jewelry.

Optionally provided are elements 22, 20 a, 30 and 31, as are also shown in FIG. 6. The toy animal may have fur 311. Entrance 20 a is concealed by pouch 300.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show the front and rear sides 251 and 252 of a Teddy Bear 250 wearing a robe 253 having a wide collar 254. The pocket in the body 255 of the bear, or carried by the robe, is indicated by broken lines 256. The pocket entrance is designated by horizontal or lateral line 256 a. Collar 254 normally extends over line 256 a to conceal that entrance. The collar is foldable upwardly to reveal the wide entrance, allowing entry of the user's forefinger and thumb to grasp the personal article or device 258 in the pocket. Accordingly, removal of the robe is not necessary to allow retrieval of the article. The pocket may be wide enough and large enough to pass items (for storage) such as lingerie, jewelry, a sachet, mementos, contraceptives, prophylactics, massager, etc.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show the front and rear sides 261 and 262 of a Teddy Bear wearing a jacket 263 having a narrow collar 264. The pocket in the body 265 of that bear or carried by the jacket is indicated by broken lines 266. The pocket upper, wide, horizontal entrance is designated by broken line 266 a. Collar 264 normally extends over line 264 a to conceal that entrance. The collar at the back side of the bear's neck is foldable upwardly to conceal wide entrance 266 a allowing entrance of the user's forefingers and thumb to grasp the article, shown as jewelry 268, in the pocket. Removal of the jacket is therefore not necessary to permit article removal. Various articles as referred to in FIGS. 10 and 11, can be concealed in or adjacent to the body of the bear, and be easily retrieved.

Claims

1. In combination

a) a stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides,

b) transport structure carried by the animal at said back side thereof,

c) said structure defining a holding zone,

d) and an insertible personal article or device carried by said structure at said holding zone, and being easily retrievable from said zone.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said transport structure includes a pocket.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said transport structure is associated with clothing applied to the animal.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said transport structure is associated with a back pack fitted to the animal.

5. The combination of claim 1 including

e) a recess/cavity in the animal, with an entrance at said back side and forwardly of said transport structure,

f) and an insert in said recess/cavity.

6. The combination of claim 5 including clothing applied to the animal and extending over said entrance.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said device is one of the following:

X₁) a massager,

X₂) a lipstick.

8. The combination of claim 1 including said personal article is carried by said body to be concealed.

9. The combination of claim 4 including said personal article concealed by said back pack.

10. The combination of claim 9 including a clothing panel extending between said personal article and said body.

11. The combination of claim 3 wherein said clothing is retained on the animal at its front and back sides.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said clothing defines a robe.

13. The combination of claim 3 wherein said device is elongated.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the insert includes a housing and an electric battery in the housing for driving a massager/vibrating device.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the recess is elongated to extend downwardly and forwardly in said stuffed body.

16. The combination of claim 14 wherein said massager is accessible upon entry of user's thumb and forefinger into the entrance, after partial removal of said clothing.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said clothing defines a robe covering said recess entrance.

18. The combination of claim 13 wherein the insert includes a housing, and lipstick in the housing.

19. The combination of claim 17 wherein the robe has arm sections tightly fitting the animal stuffed arms to frictionally resist removal.

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

21. The combination of claim 6 wherein the stuffed animal is a Teddy Bear.

22. The combination of claim 1 including clothing on the animal body and extending at the rear of said body, said transport structure directly carried by said clothing.

23. The combination of claim 22 wherein said clothing comprises a robe, the transport structure extending at one of the following:

i) the outer side of the robe,

ii) the inner side of the robe.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein the transport structure comprises a pocket defining said holding zone.

25. For combination with a stuffed animal having a body with front and back sides,

i) transport structure configured relative to said body to be closely carried by the animal at said back side thereof,

ii) said structure defining a holding zone,

iii) and a personal article or device inserted in and carried by said structure at said holding zone, and being easily retrievable from said zone.

26. The structure of claim 25, including one of the following adjacent said transport structure,

iv) a panel to extend proximate the animal back side,

v) a clothing panel shaped to extend proximate the animal back side,

vi) a robe panel shaped to closely extend proximate the animal back side,

vii) a panel configured to extend proximate the animal back side, said panel carrying said transport structure.

27. The structure of claim 26 wherein said transport structure defines a pocket removably receiving said personal article or device.

28. The combination of claim 2 wherein the pocket has a wide generally horizontal upper entrance, there being a foldable portion of animal clothing extending over that entrance to conceal access to the pocket.

29. The combination of claim 28 wherein the upper entrance extends substantially linearly, proximate a neck region defined by the animal, said clothing portion defining a collar.

30. The combination of claim 1 wherein said article comprises one of the following:

X₁) a portable media player, such as an i-pod,

X₂) lingerie,

X₃) perfume,

X₄) cosmetics,

X₅) prophylactics,

X₆) jewelry.