GB2239814A

GB2239814A - Toy figure and book

Info

Publication number: GB2239814A
Application number: GB9000558A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sarah Anne Gilbertson; Susan Kay Quatro; Gaynor Wild
Original assignee: SUZICUTE Ltd
Current assignee: SUZICUTE Ltd
Priority date: 1990-01-10
Filing date: 1990-01-10
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Also published as: GB9000558D0

Abstract

A toy figure 11 comprises a facial area 18 devoid of any features but which is arranged and constructed of a flexible material so that facial features may be drawn on its surface and subsequently erased leaving the surface essentially the same as before. In a particular aspect the figure may be combined in a play pack with a book (22) having blank pages (24) constructed of a material corresponding to that of the figure's face. <IMAGE>

Description

TOY FIGURE The present invention relates to a toy figure, in particular a doll and especially a rag doll.

According to the invention there is provided a toy figure, which figure comprises a body having limbs extendin therefrom and a head, the head including a facial area devoid of any features whether shaped therein or applied thereto, the facial area being arranged and constructed of a flexible material so that facial features may be drawn on its surface and subsequently erased leaving the surface essentially the same as before.

As indicated above, the toy figure of the invention is preferably a rag doll, However, the figure may take other forms such as are generally known as soft toys.

In the toy figure of the invention the facial area of the figure is preferably provided in a wipe-clean flexible plastics material. More preferably, the plastics material may be a vinyl plastics material and the plastics material may be pigmented with various colours to give various desired effects. Still more preferably, however, the plastics material is a white pigmented plastics material, especially a vinyl material.

In one preferred embodiment of the toy figure of the invention the head may comprise a panel of flexible plastics material joined at or adjacent its peripheral edge to a panel of fabric material, the inner space between the panels being filled with stuffing and the outer surface of the panel of plastics material providing a surface on which facial features may be drawn with a crayon, typically a wax crayon, and then wiped clean as desired. Preferably, the panel of fabric material may include a multiplicity of fibrous attachments to represent hair. For example, the fibrous attachments may be wool loops of a suitable length to give the impression of hair.

The toy figure of the invention is particularly useful in combination with a corresponding story book.

Accordingly, the invention includes a book, which book comprises a plurality of pages presenting a text of a story and a plurality of corresponding blank pages, the blank pages alternating with pages presenting text so that when the book is open at a text bearing page it is also open at a blank page, each blank page of the book being arranged and constructed of a flexible sheet material so that its surface may be drawn on and any drawing subsequently erased leaving the surface essentially the same as before.

Preferably, as with the toy figure of the invention each blank page may be provided with a surface comprising a wipe-clean flexible plastics material.

Furthermore, the plastics material is preferably a vinyl plastics material and may be pigmented, typically as a white pigmented plastics material. Preferably, also the text bearing pages are lefthand pages and the blank pages are righthand pages.

The book and the toy figure of the invention may be used in play together. In use a child may draw, for example, with a crayon on the face of the figure-and may make corresponding drawings in the book. Thus, the invention includes a child's play pack, which pack comprises a toy figure ha.ing a blank face, preferably one according to the invention, and a book according to the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a toy figure in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a book in accordance with the invention.

Referring te Figure 1, that shows a rag doll 11 comprising a body 12, arms 13 and4, and legs 15 and 16, each of which comprises a stuffed fabric casing and all of which include outer clothing as shown. In addition, the doll 11 includes a head 17 comprising a stuffed casing shaped as shown and made up of a rear fabric portion (not shown) and a front face portion 18 of a flexible plastics sheet material such as a white vinyl plastics material chosen to enable the face portion to accept markings thereon with say a wax crayon and thereafter to be wiped clean when the markings are no longer required. The fabric portion of the head 17 includes sewn to or into it a mass of woolen loops 1 9 to represent hair. Also, the hair can include a ribbon 21.

Referring to Figure 2, that shows a book 22 comprising a multiplicity of pages 23, 24. The pages 23, 24 are so arranged that each lefthand page 23 carries a printed (and if desired illustrated) story, whereas each righthand page 24 is blank. Furthermore, each page 24 is formed of a material such as a flexible plastics sheet material e.g. vinyl plastics material, again to enable the page to accept markings thereon with say a wax crayon and thereafter to be wiped clean when the markings are no longer required.

In use the child may play with the doll and book separately. Preferably, however, they are used together and the child is encouraged to mark the face portion 18 and the pages 24 in constructive play involving the doll 11 and the printed story on pages 23. Then, after play is over, the pages 24 and the face portion 18 are wiped clean to enable further constructive play to take place at a later time.

As will be appreciated the invention is not limited to the details described specifically above.

Thus, numerous variations may be made to the toy figure and the book provided they are within the spirit and scope of the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A toy figure, which figure comprises a body having limbs extending therefrom and a head, the head including a facial area devoid of any features whether shaped therein or applied thereto, the facial area being arranged and constructed of a flexible material so that facial features may be drawn on its surface and subsequently erased leaving the surface essentially the same as before.

2. A toy figure according to claim 1, which is a soft toy or a doll.

3. A toy figure according to claim 2, which is a rag doll.

4. A toy figure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the facial area of the figure is provided in a wipe-clean flexible plastics material.

5. A toy figure according to claim 4, wherein the plastics material is a vinyl plastics material.

6. A toy figure according to claim 5, wherein the plastics material is a white pigmented vinyl plastics material.,

7. A toy figure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head comprises a panel of flexible plastics material joined at or adjacent its peripheral edge to a panel of fabric material, the inner space between the panels being filled with stuffing and the outer surface of the panel of plastics material providing a surface on which facial features may be drawn with a crayon and then wiped clean.

8. A toy figure according to claim 7, wherein the panel of fabric material includes a multiplicity of fibrous attachments to represent hair.

9. A toy figure according to claim 8, wherein the fibrous attachments are wool loops.

10. A toy figure according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A toy figure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A book, which book comprises a plurality of pages presenting a text of a story and a plurality of corresponding blank pages, the blank pages alternating with pages presenting text so that when the book is open at a text bearing page it is also open at a blank page, each blank page of the book being arranged and constructed of flexible sheet material so that its surface may be drawn on and any drawing subsequently erased leaving the surface essentially the same as before.

13. A book according to claim 12, wherein each blank page is provided with a surface comprising a wipe-clean flexible plastics material.

14. A book according to claim 13, wherein the plastics material is a vinyl plastics material.

15. A book according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the plastics material is a white pigmented plastics material.

16. A book according to claim 12 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

17 A book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A child's play pack, which pack comprises a toy figure having a blank face and a book according to any one of claims 12 to 17.

19. A child's play pack according to claim 18, wherein the toy figure is one according to any one of claims 1 to 11.