US20080125004A1

US20080125004A1 - Inflating toy

Info

Publication number: US20080125004A1
Application number: US10/685,596
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chun Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-16
Filing date: 2003-10-16
Publication date: 2008-05-29

Abstract

An inflating toy, whereby, after soaking the inflating toy in water for a period of time, the inflating toy thereupon inflates in size manyfold, and primarily comprising an inflating toy and a covering; the inflating toy is fitted within the covering. The covering is filled with an appropriate quantity of water, such that the inflating toy is completely soaked in the water, and thereupon gradually expands in size manyfold with the lapse of time. However, volume expansion of the inflating toy is limited to expansion within the covering, thereby precluding children from mistakenly eating the inflating toy, and enhancing safety thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to inflating toys, whereby after soaking the inflating toy in water for a period of time, the inflating toy thereupon inflates in size manyfold. The present invention more particularly relates to an inflating toy that is fitted inside a covering, thereby providing a safety function thereof.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Usage of conventional inflating toys requires placing the inflating toy into a retaining flask (container), whereupon, after inflating, the inflating toy cannot be removed from the retaining flask. Furthermore, the inflating toy is fabricated in the container. However, all the containers pertain to containers having a hard exterior. Conventional inflating toys may also be soaked directly in a water pail, a washbasin, or other coverless containers. After a certain period of time, original volume of the inflating toy has gradually expanded in size several fold. Referring to FIG. 1, which shows the volume of a conventional inflating toy 10 before being engulfed in water. The inflating toy is about a size of a finger. After soaking in the water for 30 minutes, the inflating toy inflates in size with the gradual lapse of time. Generally, after soaking in water, the inflating toy expands in size several fold, as FIG. 2 shows. Conventional inflating toys are produced in a great variety of adorable styles such as a whale, a shark, etc., so as to attract attention of children to play with. However, if care is not fostered on these types of inflating toys, children very easily confuse the inflating toy as a small snack and mistakenly eat the inflating toy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of aforesaid drawbacks, the present invention has perfected a design for an inflating toy having a covering that adds a safety aspect and a securing against accidents. A principal objective of the present invention is for the inflating toy to provide a toy of high safety, and precludes children from mistakenly eating the inflating toy.
A perfected structure of the inflating toy according to the present invention primarily comprises an inflating toy and a covering. The inflating toy is enclosed within a covering; further, the covering is adapted to be fillable with water, thereby facilitating soaking of the inflating toy in the water. However, after the inflating toy inflates, the inflating toy is restricted by the covering therein, thereby preventing children from mistakenly eating the inflating toy, and thus enhancing a safety aspect of the inflating toy.
In order for easy understanding of aforesaid objectives, and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention, preferred embodiments in accompaniment with enclosed drawings are described hereinafter.
To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional inflating toy before inflating.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional inflating toy after inflating.

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of the inflating toy before inflating according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an elevational view of one embodiment of the inflating toy after inflating according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an elevational view of another embodiment of the inflating toy according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, which shows an elevational view of a perfected structure of an inflating toy according to the present invention. As FIG. 3 shows, the perfected structure of the inflating toy comprises the inflating toy 10 and a covering 40. The covering 40 is manufactured from soft waterproof material such as PVC. The soft waterproof material is processed to fabricate a pocket type covering. Furthermore, the covering 40 is configured with a water refiller orifice 41. An unstop plug 42 is configured on the water refiller orifice 41. Before inflating, the volume of the inflating toy is very small, however, because the inflating toy is enclosed within the covering 40, children cannot easily confuse the inflating toy 1 for a snack and mistakenly eat thereof.
Usage of the inflating toy 10 involves filling the covering 40 with water through the water refiller orifice 41, and upon water completely filling the covering 40, a plug 42 is pushed into the water refiller orifice 41 thereof, wherewith the covering 40 filled with water completely envelops the inflating toy 10 in water within the covering 40. After allowing the inflating toy 10 to steep in the water for a period of time, the inflating toy thus begins to inflate, and thereupon expands in size. However, the inflating toy is still restricted to inflating within space constituting the covering 40. FIG. 4 shows the inflating toy after inflating in size.
Referring to FIG. 5, which shows another preferred embodiment of a perfected structure providing a safety aspect of the inflating toy according to the present invention, whereby the inflating toy is adapted for usage as a hanging ornament. As FIG. 5 shows, a ring 43 may be configured on the covering 40, and thereof threaded with fine thread or string for use as the hanging ornament. Moreover, the covering 40 may also be filled with sequins or various colored paillettes, thereby enabling the integral inflating toy to be more dazzling, and thus enhance artistic value.
From the aforementioned, structural improvement of the present invention utilizes a pocket type covering 40 that provides high safety and waterproof protection. The covering 40 is further configured with the water refiller orifice 41 and the plug 42. Furthermore, the inflating toy 10 is entirely enclosed within the covering 40. Therefore, before the inflating toy inflates, because the volume of the covering is large, children are prevented from the risk of mistakenly eating the inflating toy 10. Moreover, upon filling the covering 40 with water, even though the inflating toy 10 has inflated to a large size, the inflating toy 10 is unable to emerge from the restricting space of the covering 40, thereby preventing children from mistakenly eating the inflating toy 10. According to the embodiments as disclosed above, advantages of the present invention are outlined hereinafter:

- (1) A prior art inflating toy is placed within a retaining bottle (container) for play use, whereby, upon inflating, the inflating toy is unable to be removed from the retaining bottle. The present invention adapts a method whereby the inflating toy 10 is directly fabricated inside the container, thus preventing removal even before inflating, thereby enhancing a safety aspect when children are playing with the inflating toy.
- (2) Another prior art inflating toy is fabricated within the container, however the container pertains to one having a hard exterior such as a retaining flask. Moreover, the container having a relatively large volume results in inconvenience when packaging and shipping. The present invention utilizes soft plastic (such as: PVC, TPU, TPE, etc. . . . ), thereby allowing folding of the inflating toy to a relatively small size for packaging, and thus reducing transportation costs.
- (3) The present invention utilizes soft plastic material, enabling folding and easy carrying of the inflating toy before filling with water. Upon filling with water, the inflating toy may be used as a hanging ornament without taking up space.
- (4) European Union safety regulations stipulate that inflating toys cannot expand in size to over 50% within 24 hrs. However, adapting usage of the covering 40 as a safety measure signifies that range of inflation size of the inflating toy according to the present invention is not limited by the regulations as imposed by the European Union.

In conclusion, the perfected structure of the inflating toy according to the present invention as disclosed in the embodiments above assuredly achieves objective of providing an inflating toy of high safety, while preventing children from mistakenly eating the inflating toy thereof.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An inflating toy, inflating in size with the lapse of time, expanding in size several fold after soaking in water, and characterized in that the inflating toy is enclosed within a soft, pocket type covering; the covering is configured with a water refiller orifice, and an unstop plug is configured on the water refiller orifice; usage of the inflating toy 10 involves filling the covering with water through the water refiller orifice, and allowing the inflating toy to be completely steeped in the water for a period of time, whereupon, because of being soaked in the water, the inflating toy inflates in size, while volume of the inflating toy is restricted to within space constituting the covering.

2. The inflating toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering is transparent.

3. The inflating toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflating toy is more than one.

4. The inflating toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering is configured with a ring for hanging thereon.

5. The inflating toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering is filled with an appropriate quantity of sequins or various colored paillettes.