US20070238387A1

US20070238387A1 - Teddy bear having sleeves for inserting human arms for hugging

Info

Publication number: US20070238387A1
Application number: US11/398,323
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Sutton
Original assignee: Jay Franco and Sons Inc
Current assignee: Jay Franco and Sons Inc
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2006-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-11

Abstract

A teddy bear having pliable and movable arms for hugging, including a teddy bear having a head, a torso, a pair of arms with paws and a pair of legs. Each of the arms are pliable and movable, and are connected to each side of the torso of the teddy bear. Each of the arms have a sleeve section thereon with a sleeve opening therethrough. Each of the sleeve sections are attached to each of the arms, respectively, by stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding. Also, each of the sleeve openings are used for inserting and receiving a human arm into each of the sleeve sections for hugging the teddy bear; and the torso of the teddy bear is used as a pillow for receiving the user's head thereon.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a teddy bear having pliable arms with sleeves and sleeve openings for inserting and receiving human arms therethrough for hugging. More particularly, the teddy bear is able to hug the user by the self-actuating movement of the user's arms in cooperation with a sleeve on each of the arms of the teddy bear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hugging mechanisms of a mechanical nature are well-known in the prior art and have been devised with a variety of structures and configurations for the purpose of providing mechanical hugging or squeezing on a human being, pet or object. These aforementioned mechanical hugging mechanisms have been adapted to be used with various types of toys such as dolls, plush toys, teddy bears, robots, and androids. These mechanical hugging structures are used as an internal structural mechanism being positioned within the chest and arms of the toy thereby providing a hugging motion and movement to a pair of arms extending outwardly from each side of a body member of the toy. Such mechanical hugging mechanisms are costly, are subject to mechanical breakdown or failure and are not easily repaired.
There remains a need for a toy (such as a teddy bear) capable of hugging a user without the use of a mechanical device within the torso of the toy. Additionally, the toy would include a pair of pliable arms each having a sleeve section thereon with a sleeve opening therethrough for inserting and receiving human arms for hugging by the toy. Further, the toy would be able to hug the user by the self-activating movement of the user's arms in cooperation with the arms of the toy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Toys such as dolls, teddy bears, stuffed animals, androids and the like having mechanical hugging mechanisms or pliable structures for hugging having various structures, designs, configurations and materials of construction have been generally disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,188, 5,651,717 and 6,200,190 to CLARK, HAMILTON et al. and REYNOLDS, respectively, all disclose a mechanical mechanism adaptable for-a toy (i.e., a teddy bear) that provides a hugging motion to a pair of arms extending outward from each side of a body member. The mechanical hugging device is an internal structure being positioned within the chest and arms of the toy. These prior art patents do not disclose or teach the concept of a teddy bear having pliable arms with sleeve openings for inserting and receiving human arms for hugging, as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,271 to PIETRAFESA discloses a soft baby doll having flexible arms, legs, torso and head. The baby doll can have its arms flexed in a hugging position but cannot hug the user. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the concept of a teddy bear having pliable arms with sleeve openings for inserting and receiving human arms for hugging, as in the present invention.
None of the prior art discloses or teaches a non-mechanical device/structure capable of performing a hugging motion, such as the toy teddy bear of the present invention, having pliable arms with a sleeve section having sleeve openings for each arm being used to receive a human arm therein for hugging.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hugging toy having pliable arms with sleeve sections thereon each having sleeve openings therethrough for inserting and receiving human arms for hugging by a user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hugging toy that is able to hug the user by the self-actuating movement of the user's arms in cooperation with each of the arms of the toy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hugging and dancing toy that is able to hug and dance with the user by the self-activating movement of the user's arms and legs in cooperation with each of the arms and feet of the toy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hugging toy where the toy is selected from a group consisting of stuffed toy/plush animals such as teddy bears, monkeys, gorillas, and the like, or dolls such as Raggedy-Anne or Andy dolls, and the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hugging toy that has its sleeve sections connected to the hand or lower arm of the toy by stitching, staples, laser welding, glueing or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hugging toy that is easy to use and play with by a child, and is durable and cleanable for repeated use by the child.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a hugging toy that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a teddy bear having pliable and movable arms for hugging, including a teddy bear having a head, a torso, a pair of arms with paws and a pair of legs. Each of the arms are pliable and movable, and are connected to each side of the torso of the teddy bear. Each of the arms have a sleeve section thereon with a sleeve opening therethrough. Each of the sleeve sections are attached to each of the arms, respectively, by stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding. Also, each of the sleeve openings are used for inserting and receiving a human arm into each of the sleeve sections for hugging the teddy bear, and the torso of the teddy bear is used as a pillow for receiving the user's head thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a teddy bear having a pair of pliable arms each with a sleeve section having sleeve openings therethrough, in an assembled state and ready for operational use thereof;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of the present invention showing each of the sleeve openings on each sleeve section of the arms of the teddy bear having received therethrough human arms (of a child) for hugging by the teddy bear and the user;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the hugging toy of the present invention showing each of the sleeve openings on each sleeve section of the arms of the teddy bear having received therethrough human arms (of a child) for hugging by the teddy bear and the user;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged front perspective view of the hugging toy of the present invention showing a pair of paws of the teddy bear having a sleeve sections on each paw with sleeve openings for inserting and receiving the arms of the user;
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of an alternate design of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a doll having a pair of pliable arms each with a sleeve section having sleeve openings therethrough, in an assembled state and ready for operational use thereof; and
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of the present invention showing a torso section of a stuffed toy being used as a pillow for a head of a child during napping or sleeping thereon;
FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of the present invention showing a plush toy having a pair of glove members having glove openings each for receiving the hands of the user;
FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the hugging toy of the alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a monkey having a pair of pliable arms each with a sleeve section having sleeve openings therethrough, and having a pair of movable legs each with a foot sleeve section having foot sleeve openings therethrough, in an assembled state and ready for operational use thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10

The hugging toy 10 and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIGS. 1 through 7 of the patent drawings. The hugging toy 10 in the form of a huggable teddy bear 20 is used for entertaining a small child with the hugging teddy bear and child hugging each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the hugging toy 10 includes a head 22, a torso 24, a pair of arms 26 a and 26 b with paws 28 a and 28 b, and a pair of legs 30 a and 30 b attached thereto. Each of the arms 26 a and 26 b include a wrist 32 a and 32 b and an elbow 34 a and 34 b. Also, each of the legs 30 a and 30 b include a foot element 36 a and 36 b.
The hugging toy 10 of the present invention is defined to include stuffed animals, stuffed toys, toy-figures, dolls and other hugging devices. It is understood that the hugging toy 10 may be in any animal form such as lions, tigers, pigs, monkeys, gorillas, dinosaurs, ponies, sheep and the like, or in doll forms 10′ (see FIG. 5) such as Raggedy-Anne 20′ and Andy dolls, and the like, or toy figures such as Superman™, Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, or an insect form such as a butterfly or bumble bee (See FIG. 7) and the like. Teddy bear 20 includes a fur-like outer layer 38 which represents the outer “fur” of the teddy bear 20. It is understood that the torso 24 of hugging toy 10 can also be used as a pillow for napping and/or sleeping purposes on a bed 18 by the child 12, as shown in FIG. 6.
Each of the arms 26 a and 26 b are pliable and movable, and are connected to each side 40 a and 40 b of the torso 24 of the teddy bear. Each of the arms 26 a and 26 b of teddy bear 20 include thereon a sleeve section 42 a and 42 b having a sleeve opening 44 a and 44 b, respectively, therethrough. Each of the sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b are connected to each of the arms 26 a and 26 b, respectively, by stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding. The sleeve section 42 a and 42 b on each of the arms 26 a and 26 b extends from the wrist 32 a and 32 b to the elbow 34 a and 34 b of each of the arms 26 a and 26 b, respectively, of the teddy bear 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the patent drawings.
The sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b can be made from elastic material M_Efor holding the arms 14 of a user 12 securely, or made from non-elastic material MNE for holding the arms 14 of a user 12 in a loose fashion. Each of the sleeve openings 44 a and 44 b are used for inserting and receiving a human arm 14 of a child 12 into each sleeve section 42 a and 42 b, respectively, for hugging and holding the teddy bear 20 in the arms 14 of the child 12 playing with teddy bear 20.
It is also understood that each of the sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b can be attached to either the upper side 25 a and 25 b or the under side 27 a and 27 b of arms 26 a and 26 b of teddy bear 20 for the convenience of use by child 12. Further, the sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b can be connected to both sides 25 a, 27 a and 25 b, 27 b of arms 26 a and 26 b, respectively, of teddy bear 20 for the convenience of use by child 12.
In an alternate design, as shown in FIG. 4, the teddy bear 20 includes a sleeve section 46 a and 46 b being positioned on each of the paws 28 a and 28 b, respectively, of teddy bear 20. Each of the sleeve sections 46 a and 46 b include sleeve openings 48 a and 48 b, respectively, for inserting and receiving human arms 14 of the child into each of the sleeve sections 46 a and 46 b for hugging and holding the teddy bear 20 by the child 12. It is understood that the sleeve sections 46 a and 46 b can be connected to either the upper side 50 a and 50 b or the under side 52 a and 52 b of each paw 28 a and 28 b of teddy bear 20 for the convenience of use by child 12.
In another alternate design, as shown in FIG. 7, a plush toy bumble bee 20″ includes pliable and movable arms 26 a and 26 b each having a glove member 70 a and 70 b attached thereto. Each glove member 70 a and 70 b includes a glove opening 72 a and 72 b for receiving a child's hand 13 therein, allowing the child 12 to hug the plush toy bumble bee 20″ from the rear (See FIG. 7).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT 100

The hugging toy 100 and its component parts of the alternate embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIG. 8 of the patent drawings. Elements illustrated in FIG. 8 which correspond to the elements described above with references to FIGS. 1 through 5 have been designated by corresponding reference numbers increased by one hundred. The alternate embodiment 100 is similarly constructed and operates in the same manner as the preferred embodiment 10, unless it is otherwise stated.
All aspects of the alternate embodiment of the hugging toy 100 are the same as the preferred embodiment of the hugging toy 10 except for a pair of foot sleeve sections 160 a and 160 b attached to each of the undersides 162 a and 162 b of each of the feet 136 a and 136 b of the monkey 120. Each of the sleeve sections 160 a and 160 b include sleeve openings 164 a and 164 b on each of the feet 136 a and 136 b, respectively, on monkey 120. Each of the foot sleeve openings 164 a and 164 b are used for inserting and receiving a human foot 16 of the child 12 therein, allowing the user to hold, hug and dance with the hugging and dancing toy 100, as depicted in FIG. 7 of the drawings.
In all other respects, the hugging and dancing toy 100 of the alternate embodiment is exactly the same as the hugging toy of the preferred embodiment 10 except for the feet 136 a and 136 b having foot sleeve openings 164 a and 164 b within the foot sleeve sections 160 a and 160 b, respectively, of the moneky 120, for inserting and receiving the feet 16 of the child 12 therein, allowing the child 12 to dance with the hugging and dancing toy 100.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, the hugging toy 10 and the hugging and dancing toy 100 operate in the following manner. The child 12 would initially open with his/her hands 13 each of the arm sleeve openings 44 a and 44 b of arm sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b of arms 26 a and 26 b of teddy bear 20. Then the child 12 inserts each of his/her arms 14 within the arm sleeve openings 44 a and 44 b of the arm sleeve sections 42 a and 42 b of teddy bear 20. In this manner the user's arms 14 are adjacent to and in contact with the arms 26 a and 26 b of teddy bear 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, allowing the child 12 to hug teddy bear 20 and allowing the teddy bear 20 using the teddy bear's arms 26 a and 26 b to hug the child 12.
In the alternate design of hugging toy 10, the child 12 inserts each of his/her hands 13 and arms 14 through the paw sleeve openings 48 a and 48 b of paw sleeve sections 46 a and 46 b of teddy bear 20, such that the user's arms 14 and hands 13 are adjacent to and in contact with the arms 26 a and 26 b and torso 24 of teddy bear 20, as depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
In using the hugging and dancing toy 100 of the alternate embodiment, the child 12 would initially place and insert the user's feet 16 within each of the foot sleeve openings 164 a and 164 b of foot sleeve sections 160 a and 160 b on the undersides 162 a and 162 b of each foot 136 a and 136 b of monkey 120, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Then the child 12 places and inserts each of his/her arms 14 within the arm sleeve openings 144 a and 144 b of the arm sleeve sections 142 a and 142 b on each arm 126 a and 126 b of monkey 120, thus, allowing the child 12 and moneky 120 to hug and dance with each other, as shown in FIG. 8 of the patent drawings.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy having pliable arms with sleeve sections thereon each having sleeve openings therethrough for inserting and receiving human arms for hugging by a user.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy that is able to hug the user by the self-actuating movement of the user's arms in cooperation with each of the arms of the toy.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a hugging and dancing toy that is able to hug and dance with the user by the self-activating movement of the user's arms and legs in cooperation with each of the arms and feet of the toy.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy where the toy is selected from a group consisting of stuffed toy/plush animals such as teddy bears, monkeys, gorillas and the like, or dolls such as Raggedy-Anne or Andy dolls and the like.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy that has its sleeve sections connected to the hand or lower arm of the toy by stitching, staples, laser welding, glueing or the like.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy that is easy to use and play with by a child, and is durable and cleanable for repeated use by the child.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a hugging toy that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.
A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

1. A teddy bear having pliable and movable arms for hugging, comprising:

a) a teddy bear having a head, a torso, a pair of arms with paws and a pair of legs;

b) each of said arms being pliable and movable and being connected to each side of said torso of said teddy bear;

c) each of said arms having a sleeve section thereon with a sleeve opening therethrough;

d) means for connecting each of said sleeve sections to each of said arms, respectively;

e) each of said sleeve openings for inserting and receiving a human arm into each of said sleeve sections for hugging said teddy bear; and

f) said torso-of said teddy bear being used as a pillow for receiving the user's head thereon.

2. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 1, wherein said connecting means include stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding of said sleeve section to each of said arms of said teddy bear.

3. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve section on each of said arms extends from the wrist to the elbow of each of said arms of said teddy bear.

4. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve section is on each of said paws of said arms of said teddy bear.

5. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to upper sides of said arms of said teddy bear.

6. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said arms of said teddy bear.

7. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said arm of said teddy bear.

8. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to upper sides of said paws of said teddy bear.

9. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said paws of said teddy bear.

10. A teddy bear for hugging in accordance with claim 4, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said paw of said teddy bear.

11. A toy having pliable and movable arms for hugging, comprising:

a) a toy having a head, a torso, a pair of arms with hands and a pair of legs;

b) each of said arms being pliable and movable and being connected to each side of said torso of said toy;

e) each of said sleeve openings for inserting and receiving a human arm into each of said sleeve sections for hugging said toy; and

f) said torso of said toy being used as a pillow for receiving the user's head thereon.

12. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 11, wherein said connecting means include stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding of said sleeve section to each of said arms of said toy.

13. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 11, wherein said sleeve section on each of said arms extends from the wrist to the elbow of each of said arms of said toy.

14. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 11, wherein said sleeve section is on each of said hands of said arms of said toy.

15. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the upper sides of said arms of said toy.

16. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said arms of said toy.

17. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said arm of said toy.

18. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the upper sides of said hands of said toy.

19. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said hands of said toy.

20. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said hands of said toy.

21. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 14, wherein said of each sleeve sections are connected to a glove member having a glove opening for receiving the hands of the user therein.

22. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 11, wherein said toy is selected from a group of stuffed animals consisting of teddy bears, lions, tigers, ponies, pigs, cows, sheep, dinosaurs, monkeys, gorillas and other animal forms.

23. A toy for hugging in accordance with claim 11, wherein said toy is selected from a group of dolls consisting of stuffed dolls, character-type dolls, plastic dolls, and toy figures.

24. A toy having pliable and movable arms and legs for hugging and dancing, comprising:

a) a toy having a head, a torso, a pair of arms with hands and a pair of legs with feet;

e) each of said sleeve openings for inserting and receiving a human arm into each of said sleeve sections for hugging said toy;

f) each of said legs being pliable and movable and being connected to a bottom side of said torso of said toy;

g) each of said feet on said legs having a foot sleeve section thereon with a foot sleeve opening therethrough;

h) means for connecting each of said foot sleeve sections to each of said feet respectively;

i) each of said foot sleeve openings for inserting and receiving a human foot into each of said foot sleeve sections for dancing with said toy; and

j) said torso of said toy being used as a pillow for receiving the user's head thereon.

25. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said connecting means include stitching, stapling, glueing or laser welding of said sleeve section to each of said arms of said toy.

26. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said sleeve section on each of said arms extends from the wrist to the elbow of each of said arms of said toy.

27. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said sleeve section is on each of said hands of said arms of said toy.

28. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 26, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the upper sides of said arms of said toy.

29. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 26, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said arms of said toy.

30. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 26, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said arm of said toy.

31. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 27, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the upper sides of said hands of said toy.

32. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 27, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said hands of said toy.

33. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 27, wherein each of said sleeve sections are connected to both sides of said hands of said toy.

34. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said foot sleeve section is on each of said feet of said legs of said toy.

35. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 34, wherein each of said foot sleeve sections are connected to the under sides of said feet of said legs of said toy.

36. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said toy is selected from a group of stuffed animals consisting of teddy bears, lions, tigers, ponies, pigs, cows, sheep, dinosaurs, monkeys, gorillas and other animal forms.

37. A toy for hugging and dancing in accordance with claim 24, wherein said toy is selected from a group of dolls consisting of stuffed dolls, character-type dolls, plastic dolls, and toy figures.