US20020102909A1

US20020102909A1 - Cloth shape with pockets for objects

Info

Publication number: US20020102909A1
Application number: US09/772,213
Authority: US
Inventors: William Derraugh; Michael Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-29
Filing date: 2001-01-29
Publication date: 2002-08-01

Abstract

A cloth shape for children comprising a core, a flexible cloth housing, at least one pocket in the housing and the core, at least one object that can be placed inside the pocket of the cloth shape, and a string connecting the at least one object with the cloth shape. A bell may be inserted within the housing of the cloth shape. The cloth shape may resemble a ball, a cube or a pyramid. The soft object may be a stuffed animal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to an apparatus for occupying the attention of young children. More specifically, this disclosure relates to amusement devices having a cloth cover or housing disposed about a core with pockets for placing objects.

BACKGROUND

A variety of apparatus have been devised to occupy the attention and/or contribute to the development of infants and preschool children. In general, such apparatus tend to place these children in contact with objects in the physical world and/or stimulate one or more of their five senses in a manner that is both safe and entertaining. For example, a pacifier accommodates an infant's desire or instinct to suck; a rattle makes noise in response to movement; and a stuffed toy is pleasant to touch. In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on devising methods to start the learning of children at a very young age with regard to recognition, self-expression, overall body coordination, and the like. There is a need for the children: 1) to touch, feel and pull; 2) to learn to pull out objects and put objects back in their place; 3) to learn about animals, numbers, letters; 4) to develop eye-hand coordination; and 5) to develop motor skills from grabbing, touching, feeling and seeing.

However, shortcomings of toy's designed to occupy the attention of young children are lack of instruction, lack of development of motor skills, costly to manufacture, and safety for the child. In any event, a need exists for amusement devices which are instructive and developmental as well as relatively inexpensive to manufacture and/or less susceptible to concerns of safety-conscious parents.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for attracting the attention and interest of a child and aiding in the development of the child.

A cloth shape comprising a core having a 3-dimension geometrical shape; a flexible cloth housing covering the 3-dimensional geometrical shape which substantially resembles the core, wherein the core is enclosed within the housing; at least one pocket inserted in the housing and the core; at least one object that can be placed inside the pocket; and a string connecting the at least one object with the cloth shape whereby the object can be placed in the at least one pocket of the cloth shape or pulled out by a child and the object is not misplaced from the cloth shape. Another embodiment further comprises the cloth shape including a bell inserted inside the housing. Another embodiment may also include the cloth shape wherein the at least one object is a stuffed animal. Other embodiments may include the cloth shape wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape is a ball; another embodiment wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape is a cube; and another embodiment wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape is a pyramid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the cloth shape with stuffed animals attached by a string.[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a cloth shape with pockets for placing objects, and may be tailored to a variety of applications. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. [0007]
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a cloth shape with pockets for placing objects. A perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the cloth shape with stuffed animals attached by a string is shown in FIG. 1. This embodiment of the [0008] cloth shape 10 comprises a core 12, a flexible cloth housing 14, at least one pocket 16, at least one object 18, and a string 20 connecting the at least one object 18 with the cloth shape 10. The core 12 may be made of lightweight foam, stuffed material, inflatable bladder or other suitable core member material. The core 12 may be shaped as a ball, a cube, or a pyramid. The flexible cloth housing 14 may be made of a cloth or cloth-type material, cut and attached to fit snuggly over a core shape and designed to maintain the core shape. At least one pocket 16 is built into the shape of the cloth shape 10. The at least one pocket 16 is a slit or opening in the core 12 and the flexible cloth housing 14 with a pocket liner attached to the flexible cloth housing 14. The at least one pocket 16 should allow room for the at least one object 18 to be placed in the at least one pocket 16. The at least one object 18 may be stuffed animals, letters, numbers, shapes, or objects desirable for teaching children. A bell may be inserted inside the flexible cloth housing 14 for attracting the attention of the child or for teaching the child to shake the cloth shape 10 in order for the child to hear the bell make noise.
The present invention is useful for attracting and maintaining the attention span of children as well as developing motor skills and coordination. Using the present invention a child has an opportunity to develop by touching, feeling and pulling on objects in a safe environment. The child may also learn to pull out objects and put the objects back in the proper place. The child may even start to memorize which objects are in which pockets. The present invention will also allow a child to learn about animals or learn the names of letters, numbers, animals or other objects. A child could even learn about cultures from a shape such as a globe with pockets located in different countries on the globe and objects in the respective pockets resembling people from the particular culture of that country. All of this would lead a child to develop eye-hand coordination as well as motor skills from grabbing, touching, feeling, and seeing. A few of the goals of the present invention include providing an interesting and amusing way for children: 1) to touch, feel and pull; 2) to learn to pull out objects and put objects back in their place; 3) to learn about animals, numbers, letters; 4) to develop eye-hand coordination; and 5) to develop motor skills from grabbing, touching, feeling and seeing. [0009]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cloth shape comprising:

a. a core having a 3-dimensional geometrical shape;

b. a flexible cloth housing covering the 3-dimensional geometrical shape which substantially resembles the core, wherein the core is enclosed within the housing;

c. at least one pocket inserted in the housing and the core;

d. at least one object that can be placed inside the pocket; and

e. a string connecting the at least one object with the cloth shape whereby the object can be placed in the at least one pocket of the cloth shape or pulled out of the at least one pocket of the cloth shape by a child and the at least one object is not misplaced from the cloth shape.

2. A cloth shape as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bell inserted inside the housing.

3. A cloth shape as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one object comprises a stuffed animal.

4. A cloth shape as set forth in claim 1, wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape comprises a ball.

5. A cloth shape as set forth in claim 1, wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape comprises a cube.

6. A cloth shape as set forth in claim 1, wherein the 3-dimensional geometrical shape comprises a pyramid.