Model toy combined with one or more pictures

Abstract

A picture slot (13a), picture recess (13d), or modular picture-viewing frame apparatus (13g) combined with a toy that models an inanimate object. Example inanimate objects include: model trains; airplanes; rockets; rescue vehicles; construction or farm vehicles or machines; buses; cars; buildings; and various destinations such as a circus tent or zoo exhibit. A picture (18a, 18b) may be secured behind a model window (11, 11a), model door (12), or any opening through which an object might typically be viewed by a removable enclosure (14a, 14c, 14f) or hinged enclosure (14b, 14d, 14e) closed by gravity, friction, screw (15a), clasp (15b), or other fastener. Transparent film (19) is incorporated into picture slot (13a), picture recess (13d), hinged enclosure (14b, 14d, 14e), or modular picture-viewing frame apparatus (13g) so that picture (18a, 18b) is protected and viewable.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM [0003] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of Invention [0005] This invention relates to model toys, specifically to any such three-dimensional toy that substantially models an inanimate object and that includes a window, door, or other opening through which a picture may be viewed. [0006] 2. Prior Art [0007] Manufacturers of toys and collectibles produce models of inanimate objects that are commonly used for collecting and play. Examples of inanimate objects commonly modeled as toys include: train engines; various train cars; flying crafts such as airplanes, hot-air balloons, rockets, and shuttles; rescue vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars; construction or farm vehicles or machines such as tractors and bucket loaders; vehicles such as buses, cars, and taxis; buildings such as houses, municipal building...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038] It is another object of the present invention to provide model toys that may be personalized in realistic ways so that a picture incorporated by a user is located where the image might be found in real-life, such as a person looking out a window or door.

[0040] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an alternative to model toys that promote characters of a manufacturer's choosing and instead allow a user to customize the characters depicted on or in toys, thereby encouraging greater creativity and imagination.

[0042] It is a further object of the present invention is to provide a toy in which images of a user's choosing, whether personally created or commercially manufactured, can be moved from one model toy to another or periodically changed.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, such display globes are typically considered fragile and not suitable for play.

Like the liquid-filled globe, the balloon display does not model a real-life inanimate object with windows, doors, or other openings through which another object would realistically be found.

Because a doll is a model of an animate object, it is not visually realistic to depict photographs of other animate objects on the doll's torso.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to figurines.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to dolls.

The claims of this patent limit it to figurines.

The claims of this patent limit it to toys that have a head figure.

The claims of this patent limit it to toys that have a body and head.

The above list of inventions confirms a general interest in personalizing toys yet shows that the most relevant prior art is limited to attempts to make dolls and figurines look like a real-life person or pet by placing, transferring, or molding a photographic image in the head or face location of the doll or figurine.

None of the prior art contemplates personalizing a commonly used toy other than a doll, figurine, rattle, or teether, and none of the prior art contemplates using pictures to personalize collectible sets of model toys that include modes of transportation, machines, buildings, or destinations.

All of the above-mentioned approaches to personalizing dolls or figurines suffer from disadvantages which limit their usefulness and applicability to the present need.

Another disadvantage of the prior art is the limitation of the most relevant prior art to the combination of photographic images with animate dolls and figurines, primarily three-dimensional models of a substantially human form or resemblance.

However, the prior art does not include a means by which a personalized image may be physically integrated into a model toy in such a way that the image appears part of the model toy.

For example, there are no model toys that allow a user to insert a photo of his face in a window of a train engine, or to insert drawings of family members into windows and doors of a toy house, or to insert photos of friends and a clipping of the President into different windows on a toy bus.

The prior art does not contemplate allowing a user to secure a photo of her face to the window of a train car and then move the photo to, or have an additional window in, the window of a coordinating train station.

However, there are no known model toys that provide an opportunity for a user to combine personalized pictures with toys that model inanimate objects.

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