GB2201349A - A toy embodying a heat storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy having a heat storage device removably arranged in the inside thereof, the heat storage device being preferably an electric warming pan having on one sidewall thereof a recessed connector plug for connection with a supply circuit via a disconnectable conductor means. The warming pan can incorporate a limiting device which is set to limit to about 5 min. a maximum charging time for the warming pan after which time it cuts off supply.

Description

A TOY EMBODYING A HEAT STORAGE DEVICE This invention relates to a toy, preferably made of a plush fabric material, having a heat storage device arranged in the inside thereof, such for example as an electric warming pan, particularly for use in warming child beds in a safe and pratical manner.

At present, child beds are warmed, if necessary, by a hot water bottle or an electric warming pan, for exemple an electric mattress, the use of which is, inter alia, not proper to be recommended for children.

All of these systems may, in fact, imply some dangers in use.

Thus, a water bottle may open with hot water being allowed to flow out. Moreover, it is a source of very unpleasant damp condition and, on cooling down, it becomes a cool body tending towards taking up heat rather than giving up it.

On the other hand, electric warming pans could unintentionally remain connected with the current supply when the child is in bed, with unsafe condition as the obvious result.

The object of this invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages by providing a toy preferably made of a plush-type fabric material, having a heat storage device arranged inside it, whose heat storage device is heated in advance and gives up slowly the stored heat so as to keep the toy in a warm state for a considerable length of time.

The heat storage device is, preferably, an electric warming pan which, in a manner known per se, has an internal refractory plate with an associated heating element provided with insulating material such as asbestos, mineral wool or the like, and which carries on its outer housing a recessed connector plug whereby it can be connected to a supply circuit via a connecting cord.

Advantageously, the charging of the warming pan may be eS- fected with the warming pan being already fitted to the puppet. At the end of the charging operation, which usually does not require more than 5 min., the connecting cord is disconnected and an opening provided for it, for example, on the back of the toy is closed by means of a zipper or any other type of quick-acting closure means.

In turn the warming pan can be charged drawing it from the toy and putting back it into the same after charging in view of the easiness by which th-ese operations can be carried out.

Thus it is eliminated any risk, even if unlikely, of a possible burning of the toy, due to a bad working of the war ming pan.

Thus, the toy remains in a warm state for a time of about 3 hours which is more than enough for a child bed to be warmed and kept warm.

Obviously, the toy of the invention may also be used to warm a child or, more generally, a person holding the child in her (his) arms while being seated or walking.

Further features of the invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description made in connection with one preferred embodiment thereof shown by way of a non-limiting example in the single figure of the accompanying drawing, wherein a puppet according to the invention is shown as viewed from the rear, with the heat storage device being removed from a puppet pocket in which the device is normally fitted.

Referring now to the drawing, there is designated by 1 a soft toy or puppet according to the invention made,for example, of a plush fabric material and viewed when looking at its back, the puppet 1 having a pocket 2 with a transverse open ing 3 being provided at the top of the puppet pocket 2 and a zipper-type closure 4 at the pocket opening 3.

The pocket 2 and opening 3 are of such sizes as to be able to arcomodate, preferably with little play being permitted, a heat storage device 5 which is shown separately in the drawing.

The heat storage device 5 is preferably an electric warming pan which is internally provided, in a manner known per se, with an electrically heated refractory plate being insulated from an external housing by means of an insulating material such as asbestos, mineral wool, or the like.

Arranged on a sidewall 6 is recessed or built-in connector plug socket 7 which is conveniently placed so as to face the opening 3 in pocket 2 when the warming pan is fit ted in this pocket 2.

The outside of pocket 2 is conveniently provided with a padding or stuffing in order to make for the warming pan 5 to be unperceivable at touch when it is contained in said pocket.

The warming pan is charged by connecting it to a supply circuit for a time of 5 min. at the most, at the end of which time a limiting device arranged inside the heat stor age device will act to cut off supply.

The operation of charging the warming pan is a very simple one and may advantageously be carried out with the warming device being already fitted in pocket 2; thereafter, the connecting cord is disconnected and the zipper 4 closed.

Obviously the warming pan 5 can also be charged drawing it from the pocket 2 and putting back in it after charging.

With a 5 min charging time, the warming pan 5 and, thus, the puppet 1, will remain in a warm state for about 3 hours, which is more than enough for warming and keeping warm a child bed.

As a matter of fact, the puppet 1 may also be used to warm an individual who desires to hold it in her (his) arms while he (she) is being seated or walking.

In addition to having the above described advantages, the puppet according to the invention is such as to make for a child to take at once a liking to it, the child being able to use it both as a toy and a warmin pan.

In connection with the above , it should be noted that the warming pan 5 is easy to remove from puppet 1 when this latter is nt used as a warming body.

In any case, the device 5 is to be removed from the puppet 1 when this latter has to be cleaned by washing.

The pocket 2 and opening 3 are shown as being provided on the back of puppet 1 in the accompanying drawing, but it is intended that different arrangements for them are possible according to the invention. Moreover, other quick-acting closure means than the zipper 4 may be utilized for closing the opening 3; for example, a Velcro-type closure could be provided to this end.

Also, the puppet 1 could not be made of a plush-type fabric and in any way, it could take any other configuration that it is desired.

The puppet 1 may be widely varied in size, bearing in mind that its size is in part related to that of the heat storage device 5.

Claims (9)

1. A toy having a heat storage device fitted thereto so that it can easily be removed and replaced.

2. The toy according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage device is fitted with little play in a pocket having an opening.

3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein said opening is closed by a zipper or any other type of like quick-acting closure.

4. The toy according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer part of the pocket is stuffed or padded.

5. The toy according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said heat storage device is an electric warming pan having on one sidewall thereof a recessed connector plug for connection with a supply circuit via disconnectable conductor means.

6. The toy according to claim 5, wherein a limiting device is provided inside the warming pan to limit the maximum charging time for the warming pan to about 5 minutes, after which time it cuts off supply.

7. The toy according to any preceding claim, wherein it is made of a plush-type fabric material.

8. The toy according to any preceding claim, wherein it is chosen so as to be of any desired shape, look and size.

9. A soft toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.