WO2018231417A1

WO2018231417A1 - Play food toys

Info

Publication number: WO2018231417A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/033040
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Kangaroo Manufacturing Inc
Current assignee: Kangaroo Manufacturing Inc
Priority date: 2017-06-17
Filing date: 2018-05-16
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-17

Abstract

A set of toys is described having a plurality of toys. At least two toys within the set of toys include a shaped covering containing a stuffing material. The stuffing material includes a mixture of fabric and sand that is entirely enclosed within the covering.

Description

PLAY FOOD TOYS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S. Provisional

Application Serial Number 62/507,627, filed on May 17, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is related to toys, in particular shaped toys, such as a set of toys shaped as various food items.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Children enjoy playing with kitchen sets. They pretend to prepare and cook food, eat food, and/or buy food in a store. The more realistic the play toys, the better. Typical filling materials include: cotton, Kapok, wool, polyester, Polyflock (more dense than normal polyester stuffing), or pellets such as plastic, glass, or rubber, or steel shots or steel balls, bamboo, wood wool, fabric scraps, acrylic yarn, saw dust and dried lavender. All are stiff, do not sufficiently retain shape, feel bumpy and/or hard, feel too soft, and/or have other drawbacks. These result in unrealistic stuffed toys.

[0004] There currently exists a need for more realistic play food toys.

SUMMARY

[0005] An exemplary embodiment of the invention may be found in a set of shaped toys comprising a plurality of toys. The toys have a covering with a shape and stuffing material. The covering includes at least one piece of cloth that is configured to hold the stuffing material within. For at least two toys within the set of toys, the stuffing material includes a mixture of fabric and sand, and is entirely enclosed within the covering.

[0006] Other features of the invention should become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment(s) taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0008] Fig. 1 is a view of a finished play food toy in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0009] Fig. 2 is a view of the covering of the play food toy of Fig. 1 before assembly;

[0010] Fig. 3 is a view of the covering of the play food toy of Fig. 1 partially assembled, i.e., outer covering partly folded over and partly stitched;

[0011] Fig. 4 is a view of the covering of the play food toy of Fig. 1 during assembly with sand therein;

[0012] Fig. 5 is a view of the covering of a play food toy in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention during assembly with sand and strips of material mixed together therein;

[0013] Fig. 6 is a table showing relative amounts of sand and fleece for various play food toys according to embodiments of the invention;

[0014] Fig. 7 is a flowchart for a method of manufacture in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] Fig. 8 is a view of exemplary apple and orange play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0016] Fig. 9 is a view of exemplary bagel, ham, donut, and peanut butter and jelly sandwich play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; [0017] Fig. 10 is a view of an exemplary banana play food toy in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0018] Fig. 11 is a view of exemplary bread and toast play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0019] Fig. 12 is a view of exemplary butter, lettuce, mushroom, waffle, and cheese play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0020] Fig. 13 is a view of an exemplary carrot play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0021] Fig. 14 is a view of exemplary cheesecake and chicken play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0022] Fig. 15 is a view of exemplary cookie and cream cheese play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0023] Fig. 16 is a view of exemplary hotdog and hotdog bun play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0024] Fig. 17 is a view of exemplary milk container and salt and pepper shaker play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0025] Fig. 18 is a view of exemplary bacon and onion play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0026] Fig. 19 is a view of exemplary pear and lemon play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0027] Fig. 20 is a view of exemplary soap dispenser and yogurt cup play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] Fig. 21 is a view of exemplary cheese triangle, bologna slice, tomato slice, egg, leaf, and brownie play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and [0029] Fig. 22 is a view of exemplary celery, strawberry, orange slice, green apple, and tomato play food toys in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise indicated, the illustrations in the above figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] An exemplary embodiment of the invention may be found in a set of shaped toys comprising a plurality of toys. As used herein, plurality means more than one. The toys have a covering with a shape and stuffing material. The covering includes at least one piece of cloth that is configured to hold the stuffing material within. For at least two toys within the set of toys, the stuffing material includes a mixture of fabric and sand, and is entirely enclosed within the covering.

[0032] In one embodiment, the shape of the covering is the general shape of a food item for a plurality of toys.

[0033] In one embodiment, the density of a first toy is different than the density of a second toy within the set of toys. By having different densities for one or more different shapes, the toys imitate differences between various types of food items and provide a sensation of being more real.

[0034] In one embodiment, the set of toys includes a toy that may be separated into at least two parts. In another embodiment, one of the at least two parts is unstuffed.

[0035] In embodiment, the fabric may be selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

[0036] In another embodiment, the sand may be polymer-coated sand. In another embodiment, the sand may be silicone sand and the fabric is selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

[0037] In one embodiment, an impervious layer is between the stuffing material and the covering. In yet other, more detailed features of the invention, the stuffing material occupies at least 80% of the volume of the toy. In more detailed features of the invention, the stuffing material ranges from about 1 to about 33% by weight fabric and from about 67 to about 99% sand.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 1, a play food toy according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 100. The play food toy includes a covering 102 and a stuffing material 104 that is held within the covering. The play food toy may also include

embellishments 106 to make the play food toy appear more realistic.

[0039] Covering 102 may be a fabric 108 and may vary depending on the item the play food toy 100 represents. The fabric may be woven or non- woven materials. The fabric may be plain cloth or pile fabric. Non-limiting examples of the covering include fleece, felt, canvas, corduroy, plush, cotton, terrycloth, wool, polyester, and other fabrics.

[0040] Covering 102 may be formed of a single piece of fabric 108 as shown in Fig. 2 or of several pieces of fabric. The single piece or multiple pieces of fabric may be formed into the shape desired and sewn using thread, twine, cord, or other thread-like material 110. Any seams that are formed should be tight enough that stuffing material 104 does not escape from within the sewn covering.

[0041] Additionally, covering 102 may include textural elements 112 that are inherent in the fabric 108 or a result of stitching. The textural elements may add realism to the play food toy 100 to enhance a child's enjoyment. For example, a play sandwich toy may be made of woven material to better resemble a sandwich or a play carrot toy may include ribbing from the use of corduroy material with the wales on the outside of the toy. In some embodiments, textural elements may be added through the use of beads, buttons, sequins, or other similar materials attached to the outer surface. In other embodiments, textural elements may be inside the play food toy, for example, a stiff plastic rod may simulate a bone in a play chicken leg toy.

[0042] Various embellishments 106 may be added to the play food toy 100 for added realism. Embellishments may be an integral portion of covering 102, as shown in Fig. 2, or may be attached to the covering by sewing or gluing fabric, string, yarn, or other materials to the covering. Embellishments may be used to represent leaves, stems, roots, or other portions of the play food toy. In general, embellishments are not filled with stuffing material 104, however, in some embodiments, embellishments may be filled.

[0043] Stuffing material 104, shown in Fig. 4, may be made from various inert materials. Some examples of these materials include various types of sand, shells, beans, rice, corn, pebbles, fibers, cloth, strips of cloth, husks of various nuts, feathers, down, and other similar materials. The individual pieces of these materials should be small enough to fit within covering 102, yet large enough to remain within the covering. Stuffing material is chosen based on the desired feel of the play food toy, for example, a light-weight item such as a toy slice of cake might use fibers or feathers as stuffing material, while a heavier item, such as a toy steak might use sand, shells, or pebbles as stuffing material.

[0044] Referring to Fig. 5, a play food toy according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 200. Play food toy 200 is similar in many respects to play food toy 100. Play food toy 200 includes a covering 102 and stuffing material 204. Play food toy 200 may also include embellishments 106 to make the paly food toy appear more realistic.

[0045] Stuffing material 204 of play food toy 200 is a mixture of two or more types of materials. Examples of these types of materials include sand, shells, beans, rice, corn, pebbles, fibers, cloth, strips of cloth, husks of various nuts, feathers, down, and other similar materials.

[0046] In one exemplary embodiment stuffing material includes a mixture of sand

214 and strips of cloth 216. Sand 214 includes a polymer-coated sand, for example, silicone sand. One particular type of silicone sand is KINETIC SAND (Spin Master Corporation, Ontario, Canada). Dry sand, or uncoated sand, flows easily, while in contrast, silicone sand is treated with silicone (other polymer-coated sands are treated with other polymers) and is somewhat sticky. Strips of cloth 216 are strips of fleece, and may be, for example, strips of polyester fleece, polypropylene fleece, or other natural or synthetic fleeces. In some embodiments, the strips of cloth may be approximately 14mm in width.

[0047] It was surprisingly found that the sand 214 and fleece 216 are compatible so that the sand adheres to the fleece. The adhesion provides sufficient resistance to movement under handling to allow a realistic feeling to the food toy 200. Additionally, the food items do not flatten out on the bottom because the sand granules adhere to the fleece. Together, the mixture has some resiliency and a realistic weight for the food item the food toy represents.

[0048] The sand 214 and fleece strips 216 mixture 204 gives the items a feel of food so that the food toy 200 has some firmness in response to squishing such as from a child grasping the items. Simply using a single ingredient filling, such as merely using polyester, fleece, or sand filling, may not afford the correct firmness and weight to the food toy.

Additionally, sand may help provide a more realistic weight as well. In contrast to, for example, bean filling, food toys having a mixture of two or more types of materials as stuffing have some resiliency and shape retention.

[0049] In some embodiments, food toy 200 includes stuffing mixture 204 being filled directly into covering 102 and in direct contact. In other embodiments, the stuffing mixture is contained within a plastic bag, or the like, to contain the sand and/or fleece. Use of a bag to hold the stuffing mixture may be needed if the covering is loosely woven or otherwise has gaps that may allow the stuffing to escape. However, use of a bag may reduce the realistic feeling of the food toy.

[0050] The food toys 100, 200 are filled, or loosely filled, with stuffing 104, 204. In one embodiment, food toy 100, 200 is filled at least 80 percent full (by volume). In one embodiment, food toy 200 is filled at least 80 percent full (by volume) of a sand 214 and polyester fill 216 material 204. In some embodiments, food toy 100, 200 is filled within a range of 90 to 95 percent full (by volume). In other embodiments, food toy 100, 200 is filled at least 90 percent full (by volume). In yet other embodiments, food toy 100, 200 is filled at least 95 percent full (by volume). In further embodiments, it might be desirable to fill to 100% of the available volume of the outer covering.

[0051] While filling food toy 100, 200 with stuffing 104, 204 to the proper volume is important, it is also important to use the proper ratio of sand 214 and fleece 216 when filling food toy 200. Depending on the food item the food toy 200 represents, the amount of cloth 216 ranges from 1% and 33%, inclusive, of the total weight of stuffing 204, and the amount of sand 214 ranges from 67% to 99%, inclusive, of the total weight of stuffing 204. In other embodiments, the amount of cloth 216 ranges from 2.2% and 32.9%, inclusive, of the total weight of stuffing 204, and the amount of sand 214 ranges from 67.1% to 97.8%, inclusive, of the total weight of stuffing 204. Representative amounts of silicone sand 214 and fleece 216 are shown for several food toy embodiments in Fig. 6.

[0052] As mentioned previously, food toys 100, 200 according to the invention include materials such as cloth and various embellishments for covering 102, and cloth, strips of cloth, sand, polymer-coated sand, and other materials for stuffing 104, 204. Materials used to make food toy 100, 200, including such elements as dyes, inks, heat transfers, and other materials useful for making the food toy realistic, should also be non-toxic. [0053] It should be understood that embodiments of the invention may include parts that are not stuffed. For example, leaves of a play onion might simply be strips of cloth attached to a stuffed play onion bulb. The parts may also be detachable from the play food item. The detachable parts may be stuffed or may be unstuffed. An example of a detachable part may include a banana in which the stuffed banana fruit is placed within an unstuffed banana peel such that the banana may be removed from the peel.

[0054] A method for manufacture of food toys 100, 200 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown the flowchart 700 of Fig. 7. In step 702, the chosen covering material 102 is cut into the appropriate shape. In some embodiments, the chosen covering material may be cut into several shapes to better assume the overall dimensions of the food item being made. In step 704, stuffing material 104, 204 is chosen. If the stuffing material is a blend, such as stuffing material 204, it may be mixed together prior to being placed inside the food toy 200, however, in some embodiments, the stuffing material components, for example silicone-coated sand 214 and fleece strips 216, may be added separately in later steps.

[0055] In step 706, covering 102 may be partially stitched together to begin to form the shape of the food toy 100, 200. In one embodiment, the food toy is more than 50% stitched together. In other embodiments, simple food toys, such as carrots, might not be stitched at all prior to addition of the stuffing material 104, 204. At step 708, stuffing material is added. For partially stitched covers, the stuffing may be added to the pocket formed by the cover. As the pocket fills, additional stitching may be added to make the pocket larger, thus more evenly filling the food toy. In some embodiments, stuffing material that is a mixture may be added sequentially, for example, the appropriate amount to silicone-coated sand 214 may be added followed by the appropriate amount of fleece strips 216. After sealing the food toy, the stuffing may be mixed by kneading. In other embodiments, premixed stuffing may be added. [0056] At step 710, the food toy 100, 200 is stitched to close the toy and prevent stuffing 104, 204 from escaping. As mentioned above, although not required, in some embodiments, additional working of the sand 214 and fleece 216 mixture 204 may occur once the covering 102 is closed, by squeezing, pushing, and kneading into shape.

[0057] It should be appreciated that some steps or sequences within a step may occur in a different order than presented. For example, a stuffing mixture 204 may be prepared prior to partially stitching cover 102, or fleece strips 216 may be added to the partially stitched cover before addition of silicone-coated sand 214.

[0058] The combination of sand 214 and fleece 216 as a stuffing material 204 results in a synergy believed to be due to creation of static electricity/static cling from the fleece. The fleece strips, or cloth pieces, hold the silicone sand more or less in place so the food toy 200 retains its shape fairly well. Also of benefit is that the fleece, due to its uneven surface, may hold some sand in it. It should be understood that other types of cloth strips may have uneven surfaces, for example, corduroy, and also hold sand in it. The silicone sand (or other sand with plastic material on it) and the synthetic (plastic/polymer) fleece material, work well together to achieve shape retention of the "clump" of sand inside the food toy and providing good shape retention to the food toy.

[0059] Some embodiments of the invention include a kit of food toys 100, 200. The kit may include food toys 100, food toys 200, or a combination of food toys 100 and 200. Additional items may also be included in addition to food toys 100, 200.

[0060] Some illustrative food toys that may be included in the kit are shown in Figs. 8

- 22. The kit may include any or all of red apples, oranges, potatoes, bagels, donuts, ham and ham slices, sandwiches (such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches), bananas, bread, toast, butter, lettuce, mushrooms, waffles, cheese, carrots, slices of cake or pie (for example, cheesecake), pieces of chicken (such as a chicken leg), cookies, hot dogs and buns, jug containers, salt and pepper shakers, bacon, onions, pears, lemons, soap dispensers, and yogurt cups, cheese triangles, bologna slices, tomato slices, fried or poached eggs, leaves, brownies, celery, strawberries, orange slices, red apples, and tomatoes in addition to other items.

[0061] Fig. 8 shows food toys shaped like a green apple 802, an orange 804, and a potato 806. Potato 806 includes embellishments 808 as eyes. Fig. 9 illustrates food toys shaped like top 902 and bottom 904 halves of bagels, a slice of ham 906, top 908 and bottom 910 halves of a donut, the jelly half 912 and peanut butter half 914 of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Figure 10 shows food toys shaped like a banana peel 1002, a banana 1004, and the assembled banana and peel 1006.

[0062] Shown in Fig. 11 are food toys shaped like slices of bread 1102 and a slice of toast 1104. Fig. 12 illustrates food toys shaped like a pat of butter 1202, lettuce leaves 1204, mushrooms 1206, a waffle 1208, and a slice of cheese 1210. A food toy shaped like a carrot 1302 is shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 shows food toys shaped like a top view 1402 and a bottom view 1404 of a slice of cheesecake, and a chicken leg 1406. In Fig. 15, food toys shaped like the frosted side 1502 and unfrosted side 1504 of a cookie, cream cheese 1506 for use with bagel halves 902, 904, a chocolate chip cookie 1508, and a gingerbread cookie 1510 are shown. Chocolate chip cookie 1506 may include embellishments 1512 that resemble chocolate chips.

[0063] In Fig. 16, food toys shaped like a hotdog bun 1602, a hotdog 1604, and an assembled hotdog in a bun 1606 are shown. Fig. 17 illustrates food toys shaped like a milk container 1702 and salt and pepper shakers 1704. The two items shown in Fig. 18 are food toys shaped like a strip of bacon 1802 and a green onion 1804. Fig. 19 shows food toys shaped like a pear 1902 and a lemon 1904, while Fig. 20 shows food toys shaped like a soap container 2002 and three components 2004 to form a yogurt cup. [0064] Fig. 21 illustrates food toys shaped like a cheese triangle 2102, a slice of bologna 2104, a slice of tomato 2106, a fried or poached egg 2108, a leaf 2110, and a brownie 2112. In Fig. 22, food toys shaped like a celery stalk 2202, a strawberry 2204, an orange slice 2206, a red apple 2208, and a tomato 2210 are shown.

[0065] Example 1 - Baking Food Set

[0066] A baking food set is assembled from the following items and sold as a set, comprising one or more of each of the following items: chocolate chip cookie, slice of cheesecake, plain donut, gingerbread man, heart cookie, brownie square, pink frosting, and chocolate frosting. Items are made as described above, apart from the frosting items, which are made with the cover material.

[0067] Example 2 - Fruits and Vegetables Food Set

[0068] A fruits and vegetable food set is assembled from the following items and sold as a set, comprising one or more of each of the following items: red apple, green apple, mushroom, strawberry, onion, carrots, banana, celery, and tomato.

[0069] Example 3 - Picnic Food Set

[0070] A picnic food set is assembled from the following items and sold as a set, comprising one or more of each of the following items: bread, bologna, hot dog and bun, tomato slice, cheese slice, orange, lettuce leaf, slice of bacon, egg, chicken leg.

[0071] Example 4 - Baking, Fruit and Vegetable Food Set

[0072] A baking food set and a fruit and vegetable food set are assembled as described above. These are packaged together and sold as a combined set.

[0073] Example 5 - Baking & Picnic Food Set

[0074] A baking food set and a picnic food set are assembled as described above.

These are packaged together and sold as a combined set. [0075] Example 6 - Fruit, Vegetable & Picnic Food Set

[0076] A fruit and vegetable food set and a picnic food set are assembled as described above. These are packaged together and sold as a combined set.

[0077] Example 6 - Complete Food Set

[0078] A baking food set, a fruit and vegetable food set, and a picnic food set are assembled as described above. These are packaged together and sold as a combined set.

[0079] It should be understood that the term "food toy" is illustrative only and that the invention may be embodied in items other than food toys, such as yogurt cups, soap dispensers, and other non-food items, in which the properties of the invention are desired. As such, the invention may be embodied in other toys in which the realistic feel the invention provides are desired.

[0080] All of the features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all of the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each embodiment disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each embodiment disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0081] The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided for purposes of illustration, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments may provide different capabilities and benefits, depending on the configuration used to implement the key features of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A set of toys, comprising:

a plurality of toys, each toy including a covering having a shape and a stuffing material;

wherein:

the shape of the covering is a shape of a food item;

the covering includes at least one piece of cloth configured to hold the stuffing material within,

the stuffing material includes a mixture of fabric and sand, and the stuffing material is entirely enclosed within the covering.

2. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein the density of a first toy is different than the density of second toy.

3. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein the at least one toy is configured to be separated into at least two parts.

4. The set of toys of claim 3, wherein one of the at least two parts is unstuffed.

5. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

6. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein the sand is polymer-coated sand.

7. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein the sand is silicone sand and the fabric is selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

8. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein an impervious layer is between the stuffing material and the covering.

9. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein: the covering defines a volume;

the stuffing material occupies at least 80% of the volume.

10. The set of toys of claim 1, wherein:

the stuffing material is from about 1 to about 33% by weight fabric and from about 67 to about 99% sand.

11. A stuffed toy comprising:

a covering including a shape; and

a stuffing material;

wherein:

12. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

13. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein the sand is polymer-coated sand.

14. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein the sand is silicone sand and the fabric is selected from the group consisting of fleece, fleece strips, synthetic polymer fleece, synthetic polymer fleece strips, polyester fleece, polyester fleece strips, wool fleece, and wool fleece strips.

15. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein the shape of the covering is a shape of a food item.

16. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein an impervious layer is between the stuffing material and the covering.

17. The stuffed toy of claim 11, wherein:

the covering defines a volume;

the stuffing material occupies at least 80% of the volume.

18. The stuffed toy of claim 11 , wherein: