Jointed Toy

Abstract

A stuffed toy with removable arms, legs, and other parts uses magnets to allow easy attachment and removal. A magnet interlocks with another piece to prevent lateral movement or slippage of the magnets against the piece. Variously colored stuffed toys can be arranged together so that the user can mix and match variously shaped and colored pieces with variously shaped and colored main bodies. The stuffed toys can mimic actual limb rotation and positioning because the magnets permit stuffed toy pieces to rotate relative to one another once the pieces are attached via magnets.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is a stuffed toy. More particularly, the present invention is a toy with removable limbs so that children can not only move the limbs to various positions while the limbs are attached to the main body of the toy, but children can actually remove and replace the limbs.BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION[0002]Toys live in the realm of childhood. One of the most common toys children play with is a stuffed toy. The stuffed toy not only can provide psychological comfort, but moreover, can become a point of interaction and creativity. Some children will dress their stuffed toys, while other children will feed them and even place a diaper on a stuffed toy. Unfortunately, stuffed toys are rather static creatures. They must be rather strong to stand up to the constant dropping, throwing, cuddling, smashing that typical children administer to stuffed toys. Because stuffed toys are so static, children can oftentimes lose interest in a stuffed t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The attachment not only attracts the magnet, but they interlock with a plug portion emanating from the magnet attracting attachment and a hole portion, to receive the plug portion, in the magnet. The hole portion and plug portion serve two purposes. First, because the attached portion of the stuffed animal is likely a limb, the plug portion can rotate in the hole portion and allow the limb to rotate about the main body of the stuffed animal as would a joint of a real animal. Second, the plug portion fits inside the hole portion to prevent the attachment from sliding off of the magnet if pressure is applied perpendicular to the angle of the connection.

[0009]As is further described in the detailed description below, the magnets are formed with additional adaptations to allow them to function properly without damaging stuffed toys or becoming dislodged there from.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, stuffed toys are rather static creatures.

Because stuffed toys are so static, children can oftentimes lose interest in a stuffed toy after a short period of overwhelming enjoyment.

Currently, there are no real solutions to allowing stuffed toys to change their appearance absent dressing them differently.

Thus, if a stuffed toy is to have magnets or some other type of fastening system, a greater problem exists: how to incorporate a reattaching system into a toy that is very flexible, that might rip apart as a child is attempting to detach parts, and that has piles which obscure and prevent the reattaching system from functioning.

Further unlike the present invention, Alonso's device does not recognize nor offer a solution for preventing connection points from serving as points for ripping a stuffed toy open.

Morita's patent notes that Morita's device can be used as a clasp or lock for bags, boxes, bands or chains and has wide application for suitcases, handbags and purses; however, unlike the present invention, Morita's patent offers no way to interface Morita's device with a stuffed toy.

Further, unlike the present invention, Morita's device does not recognize nor offer a solution for preventing connection points from serving as points for ripping a stuffed toy open.

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