Patent application title: Cup Holder Mounted Toy
Inventors:
Shannon L. Beardsley (Jacksonville, FL, US)
IPC8 Class: AA63H302FI
USPC Class:
446369
Class name: Amusement devices: toys figure toy or accessory therefor fabric-covered stuffed figure
Publication date: 2011-10-13
Patent application number: 20110250821
Abstract:
A plush toy with an end adapted to fit into a cup holder comprises a body
with a head at one end, a base at another end, and a neck between the
first and second end. The body from the base to the neck has a shape
generally corresponding to the inside of a cup holder. The body is filled
with a suitable material to provide adequate weight to anchor the plush
toy within the cup holder.Claims:
1. A toy for mounting in a cup holder having a body with a first end and
a second end, the body of the toy comprising: a) a head at the first end;
b) a torso section connected to the head; and c) a mounting section at
the second end and connected to the torso section at a neck, the mounting
section further comprising; 1) sides, and 2) a base connected to the
mounting section at the second end, wherein the neck of the mounting
section has a circular horizontal cross section with a first diameter,
and the base of the mounting section has a circular horizontal cross
section with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and the
sides of the mounting section angle from the neck to the base to form a
cone frustum, and wherein the mounting section is free from protrusions
and appendages.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein at least one of the torso section, mounting section, and head is of a soft, plush construction.
3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the body is formed from an integral mold.
4. The toy of claim 2, wherein at least one of the torso section, mounting section, and head comprises: wood, plastic, glass, cloth, or rubber.
5. The toy of claim 2, wherein at least one of the torso section, mounting section, and head section is joined by sewing.
6. The toy of claim 3, wherein the body of the toy contains a stuffing therein, and wherein the stuffing provides adequate weight to anchor the toy in an upright position.
7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a weight.
8. A plush toy for mounting in a cup holder having a body with a first and second end, the body comprising: a) a head at the first end; b) a base at the second end; c) a neck between the head and the base; d) a torso section between the head and the neck and connected thereto, and e) a mounting section between the neck and the base and connected thereto, wherein the mounting section is free from protrusions and appendages, and wherein the mounting section is adapted to removably mount within a cup holder.
9. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the body of the plush toy from a point of connection of the head to the torso section to the bottom of the base is generally in the shape of two opposing elliptical paraboloids.
10. The plush toy of claim 9, wherein the first elliptical paraboloid shape forms the torso section, is attached to the head at a first end, and is attached to the neck at a second end, wherein the first end is rounded and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and wherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a second circumference greater than the first circumference.
11. The plush toy of claim 10, wherein the second elliptical paraboloid shape forms the mounting section, is attached to the base at a first end, and is attached to the neck at a second end, wherein the first end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and wherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a second circumference greater than the first circumference.
12. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the body of the plush toy is generally in the shape of an elliptical paraboloid from a point of connection of the head to the torso section to the neck, and generally in the shape of an elliptical or conical frustum from the neck to the base.
13. The plush toy of claim 12, wherein the elliptical paraboloid shape forms the torso section is attached to the head at a first end, and is attached to the neck at a second end, wherein the first end is rounded and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and wherein the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a second circumference greater than the first circumference.
14. The plush toy of claim 13, wherein the elliptical or conical frustum forms the mounting section, is attached to the neck at a first end, and is attached to the base at a second end, wherein the first end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, wherein the second end is formed by the base, and wherein the base is in the general shape of an ellipse having a second circumference less than the first circumference.
15. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the neck, mounting section, and base of the body form the shape of a half sphere.
16. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the mounting section and base of the body generally form the shape of a cylinder.
17. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the mounting section and base of the body generally form the shape of a prism.
18. The plush toy of claim 8, wherein the greatest radius of the torso is greater than the radius of the neck.
19. A toy for mounting in a cup holder having a body, the body comprising: a) a head at a first end; b) a base at a second end; c) a neck connecting the base and the head at a juncture; and d) a torso section between the head and the neck and connected thereto; e) a mounting section between the neck and the base and connected thereto having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the interior of a cup holder, and wherein the mounting section is capable of being removably mounted within the cup holder, and wherein the mounting section is free from protrusions and appendages.
20. The toy of claim 19, wherein at least one of the torso section, mounting section, and head are of a soft, plush construction.
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority under U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/321,804, having a filing date of Apr. 7, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This invention relates to an amusement device or toy adapted to mount within a cup holder. More specifically, the present invention is a soft or plush toy with one end having a shape adapted to mount within a standard automobile cup holder or armchair cup holder.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] Parents have struggled for generations to keep young children entertained during lengthy automobile trips. Conventional toys, however, are not well-suited for use by a young child while riding in an automobile. Most toys are difficult to secure within the vehicle during travel, and typically move about the vehicle and away from the child's vicinity as the vehicle navigates rough terrain or takes sharp turns. Other toys are permanently fixed inside the vehicle, whether by a suction cup or other attachment on an automobile window or on a clip affixed to the child's car seat. Permanently affixed toys can obstruct the view of the driver, and do not accommodate convenient substitution when the child becomes bored with the toy.
[0006] Parents and other drivers of automobiles can likewise suffer from boredom during tedious drives and lengthy commutes, in spite of conventional automobile entertainment like music and radio broadcasts. These drivers may wish to display items in or on their vehicles for entertainment, or to express their interests or personality without permanently altering their vehicle.
[0007] Conventional automobile toys and amusement devices lack a design that allows them to fit securely and removably within a cup holder. Thus, there is a need for a removable, vehicle-mounted toy that can provide secure, convenient, and interchangeable entertainment to a young child during automobile travel. There is a further need for a removable, vehicle-mounted toy that can provide amusement to drivers and allow temporary personalization of an automobile. There is yet a further need for a soft or plush toy that can be mounted into a standard size automobile cup holder. There is still a further need for a soft or plush toy that is in the shape of a doll, animal, insect, fictional character or the like that is adapted to mount in a cup holder. It is to these needs and others that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is an amusement device or toy, and preferably a soft or plush toy, adapted to be removably mounted in a cup holder. In a preferred embodiment, the soft or plush toy can be mounted into a standard size automobile cup holder or armchair cup holder. The soft or plush toy is three-dimensional, and comprises a body with a head at one end, a base at another end, and a neck between the first and second end. The body from the neck to the base is tapered, and has a shape generally corresponding to the inside of a cup holder for a beverage. The portion of the toy from the neck to the base has generally smooth sides free from appendages or other protrusions. The body from the neck to the head can optionally have one or more appendages and can be either wider or narrower than the neck. The body is filled with a suitable material to provide adequate weight to anchor the plush toy within the cup holder or to anchor the plush toy in an upright position. A separate, closable compartment may be included within the body or head above the neck so that items may be securely stored within the toy (i.e. currency or candy).
[0009] The plush toy is placed into a cup holder with the base in a downward position until it is securely seated. The plush toy can then be released, and it will sit upright within the cup holder without further support. When a user wishes to remove the plush toy to exchange it with another or to replace it with a beverage, the plush toy can easily be removed by gently lifting the toy upward away from the cup holder.
[0010] The construction of the plush toy allows it to be placed within a cup holder, as would be found in an automobile or chair armrest, and the shape and weight of the plush toy allow the toy to stay securely within the cup holder and to remain in such position with the head in a natural and aesthetically pleasing pose. The shape of the plush toy further allows for easy mounting in and removal from the cup holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the plush toy in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the plush toy of the present invention in use, mounted in a cup holder of an automobile.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the plush toy in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the plush toy in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of the plush toy having multiple appendages in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0016] Illustrative embodiments of the plush toy according to the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a plush toy suitably shaped to allow the toy to be placed securely into a cup holder, such as would be found in an automobile, an airplane, a stroller, a movie theater, a child's car seat, and the like. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a plush toy 10 comprises a body 15 with a head 20 at a first end and a base 25 at a second end. A neck 30 (shown at the dotted line in FIG. 1) is at a juncture between the base 25 and the head 20. The head 20 is connected to the remainder of the body 15 of the plush toy 10 at a juncture. In one embodiment, the body 15 of the plush toy 10, from the plane of the juncture of the head 20 to the bottom of the base 25, is generally in the shape of two opposing elliptical paraboloids. The first elliptical paraboloid shape forms a torso section 40 and is attached to the head 20 at a first end, and to the neck 30 at a second end. The first end is rounded and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a greater second circumference. The second elliptical paraboloid shape forms a mounting section 35 and is attached to the base 25 at a first end, and the neck 30 at a second end. The first end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a greater second circumference.
[0017] Alternatively, the body 15 of the plush toy 10 is generally in the shape of an elliptical paraboloid from the plane of the juncture of the head 20 to the neck 30, and generally in the shape of an elliptical or conical frustum from the neck 30 to the base 25. The elliptical paraboloid shape forming the torso section 40 is attached to the head 20 at a first end, and to the neck 30 at a second end. The first end is rounded, and has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a first circumference, and the second end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a greater second circumference. The elliptical or conical frustum forms the mounting section 35 and is attached to the neck 30 at a first end, and the base 25 at a second end. The first end has an elliptical horizontal cross section of a greater first circumference, and the second end is formed by the base 25 in the general shape of an ellipse (seen in number 25 in FIG. 3 and number 225 in FIG. 5) having a lesser second circumference.
[0018] In yet another alternative embodiment, the mounting section 35 corresponds generally to the shape of the interior of the cup holder 50, or is cylindrical or globular and adapted to be received by the cup holder 50. The plush toy 10 can be seen mounted within the cup holder 50 in FIG. 2. Preferably, the mounting section 35 has no appendages 45 or other protrusions and is substantially smooth to allow the mounting section 35 to be easily mounted in and removed from the cup holder 50. In other embodiments, sides of the mounting section 35 can incorporate ridges, undulations, or other designs that do not substantially protrude or interfere with the mounting of the plush toy 10.
[0019] In general, the body 15 from the neck 30 to the head 20 forms the torso section 40, and can be either wider or narrower than the neck 30. In a one embodiment, the torso section 40 is wider than the neck 30, and is wider than the opening of the cup holder 50 such that the torso section 40 protrudes over and covers the opening of the cup holder 50 for enhanced visual appeal. The torso section 40 optionally comprises one or more appendages 45, which can be attached to the torso section 40, or can be attached at a point above the neck 30.
[0020] The head 20 can be of any shape, including the shape of the head of a doll, animal, cartoon character, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the head 20 is rounded and has a diameter that is less than the greatest diameter of the torso section 40. The head 20 can also have any desired decorations or features, like eyes, nose, ears, mouth, antennae, and hair. The head 20 or the torso section 40 can incorporate pockets (not shown) for holding coins, toys, or other small items.
[0021] The base 25 of the plush toy 10 is preferably rounded or circular and substantially flat to allow the plush toy 10 to balance and to be level when placed upon the flat interior bottom surface of the cup holder 50. Alternatively, the base 25 is curved, rounded, semi-circular, elliptical, ovoid, or of another shape to substantially correspond to the inside of the cup holder 50 in which the plush toy 10 is intended to be mounted. Optionally, a weight can be integrated into the base 25 to provide additional stability and security of the plush toy 10 when mounted in the cup holder 50.
[0022] The appendages 45 can be hands, arms and hands, tentacles, claws, hooves, or any other such appendages corresponding to the overall look and shape of the plush toy 10. The appendages 45 are attached above the neck 30 on the torso section 40 or the head 20, and can be of any length and can extend in any direction so long as the appendages 45 do not negatively affect the mounting of the plush toy 10. In one embodiment, the appendages 45 extend outward or upward, generally in the direction of the head 20. In an alternative embodiment, the appendages 45 extend downward, generally in the direction of the base 25, and preferably have a length that does not extend past the neck 30. Alternatively, the downwardly extending appendages 45 have a length extending below the neck 30, and are positioned in a manner that does not negatively affect the mounting of the plush toy 10.
[0023] In another embodiment, the body 15 of the plush toy 10 does not taper, but rather, is a substantially straight cylinder from the neck 30 to the base 25. In this embodiment, the sides of the mounting section 35 extend in substantially straight lines from the neck 30 to the base 25. The circular base 25 corresponds roughly to the circular section at the bottom of the inside of the cup holder 50. Alternatively, the neck 30 can be circular and the mounting section 35 can be spherical, such that both the neck 30 and the mounting section 35 form a half sphere. The rounded portion of the half sphere would serve as the base 25 and would be received by and make contact with the bottom of the cup holder 50 when the plush toy 10 is mounted. In these embodiments, the mounting section 35 and/or the torso section 40 are radially symmetrical, and in a preferred embodiment, the mounting section 35 and the torso section 40 are bilaterally symmetrical to enhance visual appeal and ease of manufacture.
[0024] The shape of the mounting section 35 can also be a cube or rectangular prism, with the base 25 having a flat, rounded, square, triangular, or rectangular shape. In this embodiment, the length of each side of the square or rectangular shape of the base 25 must fit within the opening of the cup holder 50. The cube or rectangular prism shaped mounting section 35 is then attached to the torso section 40 at the neck 30. Preferably, the shape of the body 15 of the plush toy 10 would allow the plush toy 10 to sit upright on a flat surface in an orientation similar to its mounted orientation with no additional support. This provides the advantage of allowing, for example, a young child to hold and play with the plush toy 10 when it is not mounted in the cup holder 50 and to display the plush toy 10 outside of a motor vehicle. In these embodiments, the mounting section 35 and/or the torso section 40 are not radially symmetrical, but optionally can each be bilaterally symmetrical as desired and needed to convey the intended shape and form of the plush toy 10.
[0025] The plush toy 10 can be constructed by any conventional means, preferably by sewing, or by applying adhesive material or other closures to a suitable fabric. In an alternative embodiment, the shape of the body 15 is integrally molded, and the component parts are joined thereby. After the plush toy 10 is sewn or formed into a satisfactory shape, it can be stuffed with any suitable material like foam beads, beans, sand, buckwheat, a mixture of beads and polyester fibers, micro beads, polyvinylchloride, polyester, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, rubber, steel, or glass pellets, and the like. Alternatively, the toy 10 can be integrally molded and solid, and formed from any suitable material like plastic, silicone, and rubber, and can form a soft, malleable "stress reliever" filled with gels of differing densities, cornstarch, closed-cell polyurethane foam rubber, and other materials known in the art. The mounting section 35 can alternatively be formed from one material, while the torso section 40 and/or head 20 are formed from another. For example, the mounting section 35 can be formed from plastic, wood, glass, or metal, and then it can be joined with the torso section 40. Further, the torso section 40 can be joined to the head 20 with screws, nails, an adhesive such as glue, by sewing, elastic, snaps, joint, or any other suitable method.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 4, in another alternative embodiment of the plush toy 110 of the present invention, a body 115, including a mounting section 135 and a torso section 140 joined at a neck 130, appendages 145, and head 120, is generally in the shape of a baby or a doll. The mounting section 135 is substantially tapered, straight, and without protrusions or appendages, and the base 125 is circular and flat.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 5, in yet another alternative embodiment of the plush toy 210 of the present invention, a body 215, including a mounting section 235 and a torso section 240 joined at a neck 230, multiple appendages 245, and a head 220, is generally in the shape of an octopus. The mounting section 235 has a smaller diameter suitable for mounting in a different sized cup holder, is substantially tapered and straight, and has no protrusions or appendages. The base 225 is circular and flat. Although a pig is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, a baby or doll is depicted in FIG. 4, and an octopus is depicted in FIG. 5, the plush toy 210 can be formed into any desired shape or creature with the features described herein in accordance with the present invention.
[0028] While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.
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