US20030224691A1

US20030224691A1 - Toy doll to give the appearance of a used, worn out doll

Info

Publication number: US20030224691A1
Application number: US10/156,928
Authority: US
Inventors: Jim Carey
Original assignee: NORTHWOODS TEC Inc
Current assignee: NORTHWOODS TEC Inc
Priority date: 2002-05-29
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2003-12-04

Abstract

A new toy doll or stuffed animal having the appearance of an old or worn out doll or stuffed animal. The doll comprises a mesh shell with matte material unevenly applied such that there is a presence and absence of simulated hair on random portions of the toy, which aids is creating a worn out appearance. The mesh shell is filled with loosely inserted stuffing material to provide a used, worn-out feel to the toy. The doll further comprises facial elements asymmetrically applied to the doll's face further enhancing the worn out appearance.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention may be described as a new toy doll having the appearance of an old worn out doll.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Most people can remember a time growing up when they received a brand new doll or stuffed animal. Quite possibly the doll attended tea parties with its young partner, was involved in numerous activities such as being part of a battle, being thrown about as though it were an item of sporting goods, and/or kept someone close company at night to provide serenity. Before long, the doll or stuffed animal would loose it's “fresh from the store” look and become worn, possibly even having to face surgical repair at a variety of locations over the dolls body by way of needle and thread. As the doll or stuffed animal grew old, it became more cherished by it's owner, and increasingly desheveled.

Unfortunately, dolls and stuffed animals are not created with a worn out, loved look. This requires owners of dolls or stuffed animals to purchase brand new dolls or stuffed animals and wait for them to become worn out. It may take years for a doll or stuffed animal to obtain a worn out and loved look.

Because individuals tend to have more affection for an old and worn out doll or stuffed animal, the present unique and novel idea is to create a new doll or stuffed animal with body features constructed in such a manner as to provide a used, worn out, loved appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features, including facial features, constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed toy or animal. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a stuffed toy doll or animal that includes an exterior mesh shell comprising first outer portions having matte material unevenly attached thereto, thus simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy doll or animal. The exterior mesh shell further comprises second outer portions which are free of the matte material. The mesh shell may be fabric, plastic or any other suitable material to provide the outer shell of a toy doll or stuffed animal.

The present invention further comprises a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed animal, with an exterior mesh shell extending over internal stuffing material. The mesh exterior shell is loosely secured to the internal stuffing material at random locations, imparting a used appearance and feeling to the stuffed toy doll or animal. The random loose locations can be provided in the arms, legs and/or head of the stuffed toy doll or animal. The mesh exterior is preferably formed into a unitary piece using nylon or other suitable thread, or a heat seal.

The disclosed invention further consists of a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features including facial features constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed doll or animal, where the matte material is unevenly distributed over a surface of the exterior mesh shell, simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy animal. Elements are also attached to the matte material representing the facial features of the toy doll or animal. The attached elements are asymmetrically applied to the stuffed toy doll or animal, providing the appearance of a tattered expression on the face. The elements may be buttons or other materials known by those skilled in the art to form the facial features on toy dolls or animals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in greater detail in the following description of examples embodying the best mode of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which: [0008]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mesh shell of the toy doll or animal constructed according to the invention; [0009]
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of two portions of the mesh shell being secured together by thread according to the invention; [0010]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the uneven, random distribution of matte material upon the mesh shell according to the invention; and [0011]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of facial elements of the toy doll or animal according to the invention.[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to the one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. [0013]
One embodiment of the worn out toy doll or [0014] animal 10 comprises an exterior mesh shell 12 (as shown in FIG. 1). The conventional mesh shell 12 is formed into a unitary piece by binding loose sections of the mesh shell 12 together, such as with threads 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conventional binding 18 may be nylon thread, heat seal, or any other suitable material or process known in the art. The mesh shell 12 can be fabric, plastic, or any other suitable material.
With reference to FIG. 3, the [0015] mesh shell 12 includes first outer portions 14 and second outer portions 16. The first outer portions 14 have matte material applied in a manner that simulates hair. The matte material is either fiberous or non-fiberous material, and is randomly dispersed over the body of the toy doll or animal at portions 14. The second randomly located outer portions 16 of the mesh shell 12 are void of the matte, hair or fur like material that is applied to randomly located first outer portions 14. The application of matte material in a random manner, where certain portions of the toy doll or animal 10 are covered with the matte material and other portions of the doll 10 are void of matte material, creates a used and worn out, but loved look for the toy doll or animal 10.
The [0016] mesh shell 12 is filled with a stuffing material that provides the toy doll or animal 10 with its shape. The stuffing is inserted in the mesh shell 12 via a suitable opening in the mesh shell as is known in the art. The toy doll or animal 10 is stuffed with varying, non-uniform amounts of stuffing at random locations to further create a worn out look and feel.
Referring to FIG. 5, the [0017] doll 10 has facial elements 20 placed in locations to further provide the appearance of a worn out look and feel to the toy 10. The facial elements 20 are asymmetrically applied to the facial area 21 of the toy doll or animal 10. The facial elements 20 may be attached to the facial area 21 with thread or any other suitable method of attachment. The facial elements 20 may also be loosely attached to the facial area 21 to further emphasize the worn out appearance. The facial elements 20 may be buttons, fabric, or any other suitable material, and emulate the eyes, nose, mouth and ears of the toy 10.
Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention. However, it must be understood that these particular products, and their method of manufacture, do not limit but merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims. [0018]

Claims

I claim:

1. A stuffed toy having body features including facial features constructed to provide the appearance and feel of a used, worn out stuffed toy comprising:

a. an exterior mesh shell comprising first outer portions having matte material unevenly attached thereto simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy animal;

b. the exterior mesh shell further comprising second outer portions which are free of said matte material; and

c. stuffing material disposed inside the mesh shell, the stuffing material providing a body for the toy.

2. The stuffed toy according to claim 1, in which the mesh shell is a fabric.

3. A stuffed toy having body features constructed to provide the appearance and feel of a used, worn out stuffed toy comprising:

a. an exterior mesh shell extending over internal stuffing material, said exterior mesh shell comprising first outer portions having matte material unevenly attached thereto simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy;

b. the exterior mesh shell further comprising second outer portions which are free of said matte material;

c. the mesh exterior shell being loosely secured to said internal stuffing material at random locations creating a used feel and appearance for the stuffed toy.

4. The stuffed toy according to claim 3 wherein the random locations are selected from the group consisting of the arms, the torso, the legs and the head of said stuffed toy.

5. The stuffed toy according to claim 3 wherein the mesh exterior comprises separate elements that are formed into a unitary piece with thread holding the separate elements together.

6. The stuffed toy according to claim 3 wherein the mesh exterior comprises separate elements that are formed into a unitary piece by heat seals.

7. A stuffed toy having body features including facial features constructed to provide the appearance and feel of a used, worn out stuffed toy comprising;

a. an exterior mesh shell comprising an outer portion having matte material randomly distributed over a surface of the exterior mesh shell, said matte material simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy;

b. elements attached to a facial portion of the matte material representing the facial features of the toy;

c. the attached elements asymmetrically applied to the facial portion of said stuffed toy animal providing the appearance of a tattered expression on the face of the stuffed toy.

8. The stuffed toy according to claim 7, in which certain of said attached elements represent facial features.

9. The stuffed toy according to claim 7, in which some of said attached elements are cloth.

10. The stuffed toy according to claim 8, in which the attached elements emulate the eyes of the toy, and the eyes are unevenly applied to the facial portion.

11. The stuffed toy according to claim 10, in which one attached element forms the nose of the toy, said one attached/element located disproportionate to the button emulating the eyes.

12. The stuffed toy according to claim 7, in which one attached element forms the tongue of the toy, said one attached element being slightly misshapen.