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WO2004094017A2 - Dispositif de fermeture de jouet en peluche - Google Patents

Dispositif de fermeture de jouet en peluche Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004094017A2
WO2004094017A2 PCT/US2004/011904 US2004011904W WO2004094017A2 WO 2004094017 A2 WO2004094017 A2 WO 2004094017A2 US 2004011904 W US2004011904 W US 2004011904W WO 2004094017 A2 WO2004094017 A2 WO 2004094017A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
opening
article
drawstring
stuffing
attachment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2004/011904
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2004094017A3 (fr
Inventor
Yaling Lien
Siu Kuen Ho
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Geoffrey Inc
Original Assignee
Geoffrey Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Geoffrey Inc filed Critical Geoffrey Inc
Publication of WO2004094017A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004094017A2/fr
Publication of WO2004094017A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004094017A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/02—Dolls made of fabrics or stuffed
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/36—Details; Accessories

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for closing a plush article, such as a stuffed toy, after it has been filled with stuffing material.
  • Plush or stuffed articles such as stuffed toys are typically formed by filling a fabric skin or shell with a resilient stuffing material to create a three-dimensional soft and resilient representation of an animal or the like. Many stuffed toys are manufactured by first sewing the skin together from multiple pieces of fabric and leaving an opening through which stuffing may later be inserted. Stuffing is inserted through the stuffing opening until the inside of the skin is substantially full of the stuffing material, giving the article its three- dimensional shape. Plush articles can be stuffed in a variety of ways, using a variety of materials. For example, each article can be stuffed manually, with the stuffing material pushed into the skin, by hand, via a stuffing opening. As an alternative to manual stuffing, a stuffing injection device may be used. Such devices typically include an injection tube which is inserted into the stuffing opening in the skin of the article and through which stuffing material is propelled into the interior of the article. Once the article is sufficiently filled with stuffing material, the injection tube is withdrawn and the stuffing opening closed.
  • the stuffing opening can be closed in a variety of ways.
  • the stuffing opening can be sewn closed from the outside of the skin by hand or using a sewing machine. Because, however, the resulting seam is external to the skin, it tends to be thick and scar-like and can detract from the appearance and feel of the finished article. It is desirable therefore to eliminate such a seam to improve the appearance and feel of the article.
  • closing the stuffing opening from the outside of the skin can be a relatively time consuming procedure, especially if great care must be exercised to make it as inconspicuous as possible.
  • special equipment such as sewing materials or a sewing machine are required to close the opening. For simplicity and reduced labor costs, it is therefore desirable to eliminate the step of sewing the stuffing opening closed.
  • a pre-assembled fabric skin is provided with a stuffing opening having a first and a second lip with a filament stitched through the fabric so as to form a plurality of spaced apart loops along the length of the opening. Each loop extends from the first lip to the second lip of the opening with the filament being untensioned so as to allow the lips to be separated.
  • the toy is stuffed by inserting the injection tube of a stuffing machine into the opening between adjacent loops of the filament and injecting stuffing material into the interior of the container through the tube. The tube is then withdrawn and the filament is tensioned to draw the lips into abutment. In this way, the stuffing opening is closed and the stuffing material is retained in the interior volume of the toy.
  • a shortcoming of the arrangement of the Silber Patent and of other known arrangements is that some stuffing material can escape from the interior volume of the toy, via the opening, upon withdrawal of the stuffing tube. Until the filament is tensioned, stuffing material under pressure in the interior of the toy can readily escape through the opening.
  • Another shortcoming of the Silber arrangement is that it is not conducive to stuffing by hand. The pre-installed, loosely threaded filament loops across the stuffing opening impede the passage of stuffing material and can easily be tangled or caught by human fingers. This limits the applicability of the Silber arrangement to stuffing by a machine, and more particularly to stuffing by a machine having a stuffing tube.
  • a plush article shell or skin is provided with an opening which can be closed off with a drawstring arranged generally around the perimeter of the opening.
  • a first end of a sleeve is attached to the perimeter of the opening and extends inwards into the interior volume of the article.
  • the article is stuffed by inserting an injection tube into the opening and blowing stuffing material through the tube into the interior volume of the article. Once the interior volume has been filled with the desired amount of stuffing material, the injection tube is withdrawn from the article. The sleeve prevents the escape of stuffing material via the opening that may otherwise occur upon removal of the injection tube. The opening can then be closed by pulling the ends of the drawstring. The drawstring can then be tied off or knotted to prevent its unraveling. The closed-off opening may have the appearance of a belly button.
  • a decorative attachment Such as a button or the like can be attached to the article so as to cover the opening after it has been closed off.
  • the attachment can be attached to the article with the drawstring or by any other suitable means.
  • the attachment may also have the appearance of a belly button.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a plush toy in accordance with the present invention with a stuffing opening which is open;
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the plush toy after closure of the stuffing opening
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the plush toy after application of a button over the closed stuffing opening.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary plush article 10 formed from one or multiple panels 11.
  • the panels 11 may be made of fabric, vinyl, leather, plastic or any suitable material for the article 10 and can be attached together by any suitable means.
  • the individual panels 11 are shaped so that when attached together the article 10 formed thereby takes on a desired form.
  • the article 10 may be a stuffed animal and the panels 11 may be formed of a fabric material and attached together by stitching.
  • the assembly of panels 11, prior to stuffing may also be referred to as a shell, skin or container.
  • the panels 11 delimit an interior volume.
  • An opening 20 is provided in one of the panels 11 or between two or more panels 11, allowing access to the interior volume from the exterior of the article 10.
  • Stuffing material (not shown) can be introduced into the interior volume via the opening 20 to give the article 10 a three- dimensional shape.
  • the assembly of panels 11 thus forms a pliable container having an opening 20, which container can be filled with stuffing material to give it a three-dimensional shape defined by the shape and a ⁇ angement of panels 11.
  • a drawstring 30 is provided around the perimeter of the opening 20.
  • the drawstring 30 is partially enclosed by a hem 28 provided around the perimeter of the opening 20.
  • the hem 28 has a hollow interior through which the drawstring 30 passes.
  • An opening is provided in the hem 28 through which the ends 30a, 30b of the drawstring pass and can be accessed by a user.
  • the ends of the drawstring are preferably knotted or include suitable features 35a, 35b to prevent the drawstring from being inadvertently pulled out of the hem 28.
  • pieces of fabric 35a and 35b are attached to the respective drawstring ends 30a and 30b for this purpose.
  • the features 35a, 35b also facilitate grasping the drawstring ends.
  • the features 35a, 35b can be made of felt, plastic, or other suitable material, and can be attached to the drawstring ends 30a, 30b by any suitable means such as by sewing, gluing, tying, molding or the like.
  • one end of the drawstring can be anchored to the article 10 while the other end is left free.
  • the hem 28 can be formed in well known ways, such as by stitching a piece of fabric in a tubular shape around the perimeter of the opening.
  • the opening 20 and hem 28 should be pliant so as to allow closing the opening by pulling on the opposite ends 30a, 30b (or one free end) of the drawstring 30.
  • a sleeve 25 is attached to the opening 20 and extends into the interior volume of the article 10.
  • the length of the sleeve 25 is preferably greater than its diameter.
  • the sleeve 25 and the hem 28 can be formed from a single piece of material.
  • the sleeve 25 and hem 28 can also be formed from the panel (or panels) 11 in which the opening 20 is located. As will be described more fully below, the sleeve 25 helps prevent the escape of stuffing material from the interior volume of the article.
  • the article 10 of the present invention can be stuffed to assume a three-dimensional shape that is defined by the assembly of panels 11.
  • the article 10 can be stuffed in a variety of ways, including manually or with the use of a stuffing machine.
  • a typical stuffing machine comprises an injection tube 50 through which a stuffing material is propelled, such as by blowing or pumping.
  • the injection tube 50 is inserted into the interior volume of the article 10 via the opening 20 and stuffing material is propelled through the tube 50 into the interior volume.
  • the opening 20 should thus be large enough to receive the tube 50.
  • the injection tube 50 is removed and the opening 20 closed off by drawing the drawstring 30.
  • FIG. 2 shows the article 10 upon closure of the opening 20.
  • the sleeve 25 helps prevent the escape of stuffing material from the interior of the article 10.
  • the drawstring can be knotted or tied off to prevent the opening 20 from re-opening.
  • 35b can then be cut off.
  • the opening 20 can be left as is, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the closed opening 20 can be covered with a decorative attachment 40, such as a button or the like.
  • the attachment 40 can have the appearance of a belly button, for example.
  • the attachment 40 can be attached to the article 10 with the drawstring 30 or by a variety of other attachment means. As shown in exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the ends of the drawstring with the features 35a, 35b are cut off and threaded through openings of the attachment 40. The ends of the drawstring 30 can then be knotted together to secure the attachment 40 to the article 10.
  • FIG. 3 shows the completed article 10 with the attachment 40 secured thereto.
  • the present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and the accompanying figures. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

On rembourre un article en peluche par une ouverture qui peut être fermée avec un lacet de serrage. On peut rembourrer ledit article à la main ou à l'aide d'une machine à rembourrer qui envoie de la matière de rembourrage à l'intérieur de l'article, par un tube. L'ouverture est également dotée d'un manchon qui s'étend dans l'article et empêche que la matière de rembourrage ne s'échappe de l'intérieur de l'article par l'ouverture avant la fermeture de cette dernière au moyen du lacet de serrage. Une fois l'ouverture fermée, une fixation décorative ressemblant à un nombril peut être fixée à l'article au moyen du lacet de serrage, de manière que l'ouverture soit recouverte.
PCT/US2004/011904 2003-04-22 2004-04-14 Dispositif de fermeture de jouet en peluche Ceased WO2004094017A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/420,510 2003-04-22
US10/420,510 US20040259464A1 (en) 2003-04-22 2003-04-22 Plush toy closure arrangement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004094017A2 true WO2004094017A2 (fr) 2004-11-04
WO2004094017A3 WO2004094017A3 (fr) 2005-06-16

Family

ID=33309565

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/011904 Ceased WO2004094017A2 (fr) 2003-04-22 2004-04-14 Dispositif de fermeture de jouet en peluche

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20040259464A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004094017A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120304442A1 (en) * 2011-06-03 2012-12-06 Todd Gordon Apparatus and kit for stuffing plush toys and method thereof

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060148376A1 (en) * 2004-12-30 2006-07-06 Well Made Toy Manufacturing Corp. Closure for stuffed toy and method
USD577395S1 (en) 2007-12-04 2008-09-23 Pietramala Maria C Doll with gem stone
WO2022232759A1 (fr) 2021-04-29 2022-11-03 Jingle Bunnies Llc Procédés et appareil pour jouet en peluche pouvant être rembourré

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US4896A (en) * 1846-12-17 robertson
US1437467A (en) * 1921-04-07 1922-12-05 Dykman Howard Toy and covering therefor
US1583284A (en) * 1922-09-20 1926-05-04 Dykman Howard Convertible carrier
US1638594A (en) * 1927-05-10 1927-08-09 Myers Woolly Animals Inc Purse
US2347405A (en) * 1942-09-24 1944-04-25 Gladys C Ford Doll
US2549695A (en) * 1950-04-17 1951-04-17 Rosalie B Linder Child's doll and handbag
US4194652A (en) * 1977-07-07 1980-03-25 Super Sack Manufacturing Corporation Collapsible receptacle for flowable materials
US4204361A (en) * 1978-07-03 1980-05-27 Chaput Bertha E Bassinette toy
US4426945A (en) * 1983-04-08 1984-01-24 A Yan Kuo Method for manufacture of feather quilt
US4728313A (en) * 1985-02-26 1988-03-01 Fibre-Craft Materials Corp. Pre-sewn doll body and blank for making the same
US4763369A (en) * 1986-06-20 1988-08-16 Donald Spector Transformable pillow
US5083966A (en) * 1991-01-29 1992-01-28 Imagination Factory, Ltd. Poseable soft doll
US5182845A (en) * 1991-09-26 1993-02-02 Dcn Industries, Inc. Method of making stuffed figure with sculptured soft face
US5421761A (en) * 1994-06-09 1995-06-06 My Best Toys, Inc. Concealable toy doll
US5473858A (en) * 1994-07-18 1995-12-12 Hayes; Rosemary C. Apparatus and method for enclosing bulk product within a flexible sheet
US6109196A (en) * 1998-10-01 2000-08-29 Tonyco, Inc. Method of closing a stuffed toy after stuffing
US6547633B2 (en) * 2001-08-06 2003-04-15 Jill A. Haug Method of closing a stuffed toy
US6527617B1 (en) * 2002-09-19 2003-03-04 Dan-Dee International, Ltd. Method of making a personalized stuffed toy

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120304442A1 (en) * 2011-06-03 2012-12-06 Todd Gordon Apparatus and kit for stuffing plush toys and method thereof
US8955213B2 (en) * 2011-06-03 2015-02-17 Lionfish Development, Llc Apparatus and kit for stuffing plush toys and method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004094017A3 (fr) 2005-06-16
US20040259464A1 (en) 2004-12-23

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