CA2431342A1

CA2431342A1 - Animated plush toy

Info

Publication number: CA2431342A1
Application number: CA002431342A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Susanna Russo-Barone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-06
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2004-12-06
Also published as: US20050014446A1

Description

" CA 02431342 2003-06-06 FIELD OF TI-IE INVENTIOle~
This invention relates to toys which simulate real or fanciful creatures and more particular-ly to a toy which when resting on a surface and when stroked by a hand moves in a way which simulates the movement of a real or fanciful creature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Soft toys in the form of creatures such as dragons, dinosaurs, farm and domestic animals are commonly composed of a soft outer layer of cotton and a stuffing of soft material such as cotton batten. Such toys may have parts which move relative to other parts but in general they do not move in a way which simulates the natural movement of such creatures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invented a soft toy which when stroked simulates the natural movement of many real or fanciful creature. Briefly the toy of my invention has oppositf:ly facitzg upper and lower walls.
The lower wall is generally flat and is adapted to frictionally cline to a surface on which the toy rests when a hand applies downward pressure to the upper wall. The toy is composed of material of sufficient flexibility such that when the hand is passed along the length of the upper wall to apply downward pressure thereto, the toy simulates the action of a wave. Such movement may be caused solely by the downward pressure or may be caused by static electricity produced when the hand moves along the toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The plush toy of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the toy;
Figure 2 is an elevation of a first embodiment of the toy;
Figure 3 is an elevation of a second embodiment of the toy; and Figure 4 is a side view of the toy showing the way in which it is activated.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the toy.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the plush toy has oppositely facing upper and lower walls 10, 12. A pair of buttons 14, 16 is stitched to the upper wall to simulate the eyes of a real or fanciful creature. Instead of buttons, the eyes can be painted or embroidered on the upper wall or they can be formed on separate material and sewn onto the upper wall.
The plush toy may be composed of shag having a long rough nap on its upper surface to simulate the fur of a real or fanciful creature. Alternatively the te~y may be composed of velvet with a shorter nap to simulate a smooth coat of a real or fanciful creature.
The lower wall of the toy is generally flat and somewhat rough so that it holds or clings by means of friction to a surface on which the toy rests when a hand applies downward pressure to the upper wall of the toy.

2 In the embodiment of Figure 3, stuffing 20 is inserted in the area of the head of the toy in order to give height to the head of the creature.
The toy is formed of material which is suf~'iciently flexible that when a hand is passed along the length of its upper wall, the toy simulates the action of a wave. Such action is illustrated in Figure 4. In that drawing, hand 20 moves away from the head 22 of the toy in the direction of arrow 24. The hand presses downward on the upper wall of the toy and causes the area 2G of the lower wall directly beneath the hand to press against area 28 of the surface on which the toy rests.
Friction between those two areas causes the toy to adhere or cling slightly to the surface at that point. At the same time, the material of the toy adjacent to those: areas flexes upwardly. As the hand moves, so too does the location of flexure with resulting wave-like movement of the material.
Static electricity may be produced as the hand moves down the toy and that may aid or indeed may be the sole cause for the v~~ave-like movement. Where static electricity is produced, little or no downward pressure need be applied to the toy. The simple movement of the hand along the upper wall of the toy will usually suffice to produce the desired wave-like movement.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the structure illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

3

Claims

I claim:

1. A plush toy simulating a real or fanciful creature, said toy having oppositely facing upper and lower walls, said lower wall being generally flat and being adapted to frictionally cling to a surface on which the toy rests when a hand applies downward pressure to said upper wall, said toy being composed of material of sufficient flexibility such that when the hand is passed along the length of said upper wall to apply downward pressure thereto, said toy simulates the action of a wave.

2. A plush toy simulating a real or fanciful creature, said toy having oppositely facing upper and lower walls, said lower wall being generally flat and being adapted to frictionally cling to a surface on which the toy rests, said toy being composed of material of sufficient flexibility such that when the hand is passed along the length of said upper wall to produce static electricity, said toy simulates the action of a wave.