A plush toy having an internal framework and a rotatable head

Abstract

A plush toy with an internal skeleton attached by various coupling mechanisms and a PVC head. The plush toy includes a movable internal skeleton that enables it to pose, which is attached to a neck connector to allow the use of the PVC head together with the plush body. Further, the present invention includes a unique shoulder design that aids in holding the plush material within the body of the plush toy. Additionally, four unique head coupling forms are disclosed that enable the PVC toy head to be connected to the plush body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Specification Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stuffed toy, specifically, a toy comprising a soft outer material covering either a soft stuffing material or a hard stuffing material. Stuffed toys are made of various outer materials such as soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet fabric, thick soft boa, polar fleece, velboa, dyed polyester, polyester plush (pile) material, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, simulated fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, terry woven fabric, and any other fabric well known in the art. These outer materials are formed of synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, plastic, and / or natural materials such as cotton, wool or real fur. Common stuffing materials can include polyester fibers, polyethylene pellets, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fibers, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets and beans.

Background Art

[0002] Both children and adults enjoy stuffed toys in the same way. A child or an adult may simply use a stuffed toy for fun, but many adults may collect stuffed toys for enjoyment or financial gain. Stuffed toys are often based on characters ranging from zoo animals / domestic animals to characters invented by stuffed toy manufacturers, to licensed characters such as famous cartoon characters or superheroes. Stuffed toys are a fairly large market enjoyed by people of all ages and occupations.

[0003] Soft toys well-known in the industry have a body and a head formed of the same plush material. However, depending on the situation, it may be desirable to combine a plush body with a PVC or plastic head for the soft toy. In the past, this combination has been troublesome due to the method of attaching the plush head to the PVC head. The present invention addresses these issues to provide a toy comprising a plush body and a PVC head. Summary of the Invention Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Summary of the Invention The present invention is a novel soft toy comprising an internal skeleton attached by various coupling mechanisms and a PVC head. The novel soft toy includes an internal skeleton that is movable and allows for posing, which is attached to a neck connector to enable the use of a PVC head together with a plush body. Further, the present invention includes a unique shoulder design that aids in holding the plush material within the body of the soft toy.

[0005] Furthermore, four unique head coupling forms are disclosed that enable the connection of a PVC toy head to a plush body. Each of these coupling forms allows for the movement of the PVC head as well as its removal and reattachment. These coupling forms include a prong connector with tabs, a ball socket type connector, a connector with slots, and a threaded connector. These novel additions enable a unique soft toy with a PVC head. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Description of Preferred Embodiments In the following detailed description, reference is made to preferred embodiments of the invention of the present disclosure as shown in the accompanying drawings and the following description. This detailed description is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, but is intended to disclose the preferred embodiments / optimal aspects of the present invention at the time of filing of this application.

[0008] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the stuffed toy 100, which comprises an internal skeleton and a rotatable head. The head 101 is the head of the stuffed toy and, in a preferred embodiment, is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a type of plastic used for dolls. Generally, stuffed toys are manufactured with heads made of flush-sky material, but in this case, PVC is used. The use of a PVC head for the stuffed toy is an improvement made possible by the novel head connection device disclosed in this specification. This improvement enables the use of a molded head, which is significantly more detailed than a flush-sky head, but creates a head model that can be connected to a soft and enjoyable flush-sky body. Although PVC is used in the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not so limited, and any suitable material, such as plastic, rubber, wood, flush-sky material, or any other material well known in the art for use in the manufacture of dolls, may be used.

[0009] The flush-sky material holding shoulder 102 is located at the spot where the stuffed toy's neck connector 108 contacts the stuffed toy's skeleton 107. The flush-sky material holding shoulder 102 is designed to assist in holding the flush-sky material within the body 106 of the stuffed toy 100. The skeleton 107 is composed of legs 105, arms 103, and a backbone 104. Each part of the skeleton 107 is made up of skeleton pieces 117, which, in a preferred embodiment, are made of plastic and have both female and male coupling ends. The male coupling end fits into the female end of another skeleton piece 117, not only enabling them to be attached but also allowing them to move rotationally within the coupling ends. This movement can enable the skeleton 107 to be movable and pose for the enjoyment of the user. The arms, legs, and body can be moved to various positions and held there by the skeleton 107.

[0010] The body 106 is composed of a skeleton 107, stuffing 120, and a plush top cover 119. The stuffing 120 is adapted to cover around the skeleton 107 and provides the soft touch desired for the stuffed toy. The stuffing 120 is polyester fiber in a preferred embodiment, but other suitable materials well known in the art such as polyethylene pellets, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets, and beans can also be used. The plush top cover 119 forms the outer surface of the stuffed toy and includes the preferred exterior design of the stuffed toy. The plush top cover 119 can be manufactured using any of a number of methods well known in the art, but in a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the fabric (plush top) is sewn together using a sewing machine. Various pieces of the outer surface of the stuffed toy are cut into suitable pieces and sewn together to form the outer surface. This can be done by hand or by using an automatic sewing apparatus well known in the art. The exterior material of the stuffed toy can be made from any material well known in the art, for example, but not limited to, soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet cloth, thick soft boa, polar fleece, bellboa, printed polyester, polyester plush (pile) material, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, fake fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, terry woven cloth, and any other fabric well known in the art. The plush top cover 119 also includes a neck hole 118, where the neck connector 108 fits through the plush top cover 119.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the neck connector 108 is formed as part of the flash sky material retaining shoulder 102. The flash sky material retaining shoulder 102 is connected to the frame 107 by a frame connector 110. The flash sky material retaining shoulder 102 is also shaped to prevent the filler 120 from exiting through the neck hole 118. This is accomplished by the shoulder portion of the flash sky material retaining shoulder 102 that forms a barrier to push the filler 120 into the flash sky body and prevent the filler 120 from exiting the neck hole 118. The neck connector 108 and the flash sky material retaining shoulder 102 are formed of plastic in the preferred embodiment, although any suitable material known in the art may be utilized.

[0012] The head connector 108 is designed to couple to the head 101 by the various coupling types shown in the present disclosure. These unique coupling types enable the attachment of the PVC head to the plush body to be improved. In this embodiment, the head connector 108 is a tabbed connector that couples to a similarly shaped receptacle connector incorporated within the base of the head 101. In this embodiment, the head 101 snaps onto the head connector 108 (the connection will be shown in more detail in later drawings). When snapped onto the head connector 108, the head 101 can rotate in a circular motion about its vertical axis. Further, the head can be easily removed and replaced with another head for the user's enjoyment. With the plush material retaining shoulder 102 attached to the skeletal connector 110, the body 106 can be filled with stuffing 120, which is held by the plush cover 119. Further, the plush material retaining shoulder 102 serves to prevent the stuffing 120 from exiting through the neck hole 118 in the plush cover 119. The easy connection of the head 101 to the head connector 108 allows for the use of different unique materials for the head 101, including PVC and other plastics. When the head 101 is snapped onto the head connector 108, a complete plush toy including the plush body 106 and the PVC head 101 is formed. The head 101 is rotatable and removable about its vertical axis. The body is not only capable of assuming poses but also retains the desired characteristics of the plush body. The characteristics of this plush toy with a PVC head are unique and provide enjoyment for the user to play with.

[0013] Figure 2 shows a view of the head 101 with a neck connector 108 coupled to the neck receptacle 111. In this figure, the flush sky material retaining shoulder 102 is also shown connected to the neck connector 108. The neck connector 108 is, in this embodiment, a male connector with four individual tabbed prongs. This neck connector 108 has a base where it is attached to the flush sky material retaining shoulder 102. The tabbed prongs of this connector start at the base and are arranged substantially circularly. Each prong is separated by a small gap, thereby allowing the prong to be strongly pushed apart so that the circumference formed by the prongs can be increased and the prongs can be pressed against the edge of the receptacle. Each prong has a tab from the base to the opposing end.

[0014] The neck receptacle 111 is a substantially circular post-type connector with an edge 121 at one end designed to mate with the neck connector 108. When the prongs of the neck connector 108 expand, the prongs fit snugly into the neck receptacle 111. As it is pushed along the length of the neck receptacle 111, the tab of each prong is pressed against the edge 121 of the neck receptacle. Once pressed against the edge 121, the tab of the prong aligns and fits firmly with the edge 121 of the neck receptacle 111, causing the neck connector 108 and the neck receptacle 111 to be firmly coupled and attached to each other. In this way, the head 101 can be attached to the flush sky body 106. Although the attachment is secure, the neck connector 108 may still be removed from the neck receptacle 111. Also, due to the circular nature of both the connector and the receptacle, the head 101 may rotate about its vertical axis.

[0015] Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 102 and the neck connector 108. In this figure, the prong 121, the gap 116, and the tab 109 of the neck connector 108 can be clearly seen. The prong 121 is the prong described above in relation to FIG. 2 and the neck connector 108. Similarly, the tab 109 and the gap 116 are also related to the above. In this figure, the upper shoulder 113 shows the upper part of the flash sky material holding shoulder 102. The side shoulder 114 is in the side view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 102. Finally, the bottom shoulder 115 is in the bottom view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 102. In a preferred embodiment, the neck connector 108 and the flash sky material holding shoulder 102 are made of molded plastic, but can be made of any other suitable material well known in the art.

[0016] Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a plush toy 200 that includes an internal skeleton and a rotatable head and includes a ball socket type neck connector 208 for the head 201. The head 201 is the head of the plush toy and, in this embodiment, is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a type of plastic used for dolls. Generally, plush toys are manufactured with heads made of similar plush materials as well, but in this case, PVC is utilized. Although PVC is used in the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not so limited, and any suitable material, such as plastic, rubber, wood, plush, or any other material well known in the art for use in the manufacture of dolls, may be used. A plush material retaining shoulder 202 is located at the spot where the neck connector 208 of the plush toy contacts the skeleton 207 of the plush toy. The plush material retaining shoulder 202 is designed to assist in holding the plush material within the body 206 of the plush toy 200. The skeleton 207 is composed of legs 205, arms 203, and a backbone 204. Each part of the skeleton 207 is made from a skeleton piece 217, which, in the preferred embodiment, is made of plastic and includes both a female end portion and a male coupling end portion. The male coupling end portion fits into the female end portion of another skeleton piece 217, allowing them to be attached and also enabling them to move rotationally within the coupling end portion. This movement can enable the skeleton 207 to be movable and pose for the enjoyment of the user. The arms, legs, and body can be moved to various positions and held there by the skeleton 207.

[0017] The body 206 is composed of a skeleton 207, stuffing 220, and a plush top cover 219. The stuffing 220 is adapted to cover around the skeleton 207 and provides the soft touch desired for the stuffed toy. As in the preferred embodiment, the stuffing 220 is polyester fiber in this embodiment, but other suitable materials well known in the art such as polyethylene pellets, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets, and beans can also be used. The plush top cover 219 forms the outer surface of the stuffed toy and includes the preferred exterior design of the stuffed toy. The plush top cover 219 can be manufactured using any of a number of methods well known in the art, but in this embodiment as in the preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the fabric (plush top) is sewn together using a sewing machine. Various pieces of the outer surface of the stuffed toy are cut into suitable pieces and sewn together to form the outer surface. This can be done by hand or by using an automatic sewing device well known in the art. The exterior material of the stuffed toy can be made from any material well known in the art, for example, but not limited to, soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet cloth, soft boa of thick fields, polar fleece, bellboa, printed polyester, polyester plush (pile) material, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, fake fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, terry woven cloth, and any other fabric well known in the art. The plush top cover 219 also includes a neck hole 218, where the neck connector 208 fits through the plush top cover 219.

[0018] In this embodiment, the neck connector 208 is formed as part of the flush top material retaining shoulder 202. The flush top material retaining shoulder 202 is connected to the skeleton 207 by the skeleton connector 210. The flush top material retaining shoulder 202 is also shaped to prevent the stuffing 220 from exiting through the neck hole 218. This is achieved by the shoulder portion of the flush top material retaining shoulder 202 that presses the stuffing 220 into the body of the flush top, forming a barrier to prevent the stuffing 220 from emerging from the neck hole 218. The neck connector 208 and the flush top material retaining shoulder 202 are formed of plastic in this embodiment, although any suitable material known in the art may be utilized.

[0019] The neck connector 208 is designed to couple to the head 201 by various coupling types shown in the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the neck connector 208 is a ball connector, which couples to a similarly shaped socket connector incorporated within the base of the head 201. In this embodiment, the head 201 snaps onto the neck connector 208 (the connection is shown in more detail in later drawings). When snapped onto the neck connector 208, the head 201 can rotate in a circular motion about its vertical axis. Further, the head is easily removable and can be replaced with another head for the enjoyment of its user. With the flush top material retaining shoulder 202 attached to the skeleton connector 210, the body 206 can be filled with the stuffing 220, which is held by the flush top cover 219. Further, the flush top material retaining shoulder 202 is configured to prevent the stuffing 220 from exiting through the neck hole 218 in the flush top cover 219. The easy connection of the head 201 to the neck connector 208 allows for the use of different specific materials, including PVC and other plastics, for the head 201. When the head 201 is snapped onto the neck connector 208, a complete plush toy including the body 206 of the flush top and the PVC head 201 is formed. The head 201 is rotatable about its vertical axis and removable. The body is not only capable of assuming poses but also retains the desired characteristics of the body of the flush top. The characteristics of this plush toy with a PVC head are unique and provide enjoyment for the user to play with.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a view of the head 201 with the neck connector 208 inserted into the neck receptacle 211. In this figure, the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202 is also shown connected to the neck connector 208. The neck connector 208 is a ball-shaped connector in this embodiment. This neck connector 208 has a base where it is attached to the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202. The ball connector of the connector 208 is substantially ball-shaped and is designed to engage with the neck receptacle 111, and the internal shape of the neck receptacle is a mirror image of the neck connector 208.

[0021] The interior of the neck receptacle 211 is a mirror image of the substantially ball-shaped neck connector 208 and is designed to engage with the neck connector 208. The neck receptacle 211 is formed of a soft plastic and has an opening provided at the lower end of the receptacle and has an interior that is the reverse of a ball shape. The interior is shaped to engage with the ball of the neck connector 208. The receptacle can be expanded to fit the ball of the neck connector 208 through the opening of the receptacle. Once pushed through the opening, the neck receptacle 211 forms a strong connection with the neck connector 208, thereby holding the head 201 to the body. This strong connection is free to move around its x-axis and y-axis due to the ball shape of the neck connector 208 and the neck receptacle 211.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202 and the neck connector 208. In this figure, the ball 221 of the neck connector 208 can be clearly seen. The ball 221 has been described in detail in relation to FIG. 5 above. Also in this figure, the upper shoulder 213 shows the upper portion of the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202. The side shoulder 214 is in the side view of the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202. Finally, the bottom shoulder 215 is in the bottom view of the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202. In a preferred embodiment, the neck connector 208 and the flush sky material retaining shoulder 202 are made of molded plastic, but can be made of any other suitable material well known in the art.

[0023] Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the plush toy 300 that includes an internal skeleton and a rotatable head, and includes a slotted neck connector 308 for the head 301. The head 301 is the head of the plush toy and, in this embodiment, is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), as in the other embodiments described herein. The flush sky material retaining shoulder 302 is located at the spot where the neck connector 308 of the plush toy contacts the skeleton 307 of the plush toy. The flush sky material retaining shoulder 302 is designed to assist in retaining the flush sky material within the body 306 of the plush toy 300. The skeleton 307 is composed of legs 305, arms 303, and a backbone 304. Each part of the skeleton 307 is made from a skeleton piece 317, which, in this embodiment, is made of plastic and includes both a female end and a male coupling end. The male coupling end fits into the female end of another skeleton piece 317, not only allowing them to be attached, but also allowing them to move rotationally within the coupling end. This movement can enable the skeleton 307 to be movable and pose for the enjoyment of the user. The arms, legs, and body can be moved to various positions and held in place by the skeleton 307.

[0024] The body 306 is composed of a skeleton 307, a stuffing 320, and a plush top cover 319. The stuffing 320 is adapted to cover around the skeleton 307 and provides the soft touch desired for the stuffed toy. As in the preferred embodiment, the stuffing 320 is polyester fiber, but other suitable materials well known in the art such as polyethylene pellets, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets, and beans can be used. The plush top cover 319 forms the outer surface of the stuffed toy and includes the preferred exterior design of the stuffed toy. The plush top cover 319 can be manufactured using any of a number of methods well known in the art, but in this embodiment as in the preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the fabric (the plush top) is sewn together using a sewing machine. Various pieces of the outer surface of the stuffed toy are cut into suitable pieces and sewn together to form the outer surface. This can be done by hand or by using an automatic sewing device well known in the art. The exterior material of the stuffed toy can be made from any material well known in the art, for example, but not limited to, soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet fabric, soft boa of thick acres, polar fleece, bellboa, dyed polyester, polyester plush (pile) material, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, fake fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, terry woven fabric, and any other fabric well known in the art. The plush top cover 319 also includes a neck hole 318, where the neck connector 308 fits through the plush top cover 319.

[0025] In this embodiment, the neck connector 308 is formed as part of the flash top material retaining shoulder 302. The flash top material retaining shoulder 302 is connected to the skeleton 307 by the skeleton connector 310. The flash top material retaining shoulder 302 is also shaped to prevent the packing 320 from exiting through the neck hole 318. This is accomplished by the shoulder portion of the flash top material retaining shoulder 302 that forms a barrier to push the packing 320 into the flash top body and prevent the packing 320 from exiting the neck hole 318. The neck connector 308 and the flash top material retaining shoulder 302 are formed of plastic in this embodiment, although any suitable material known in the art may be utilized.

[0026] The head connector 308 is designed to be coupled to the head 301 by various coupling types shown in the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the head connector 308 is a round connector and includes two rectangular tabs extending outwardly from the round connector. The round head connector with tabs couples with a round slotted connector sized to fit the head connector 308. In this embodiment, when the tabs of the head connector 308 align precisely with slots in a round socket located in the head 301 (the connection will be shown in more detail in later drawings), the head 301 slides onto the head connector 308. When the tabs of the head connector 308 are aligned with the slots of the socket, the head 301 slides on the head connector 308 and is attached to the body 306. In this configuration, the head 301 can rotate in a circular motion about its vertical axis. Further, the head is easily removable and can be replaced with another head for the user's enjoyment. With the flosser head material retaining shoulder 302 attached to the skeletal connector 310, the body 306 can be filled with stuffing 320, which is held by the flosser head cover 319. Further, the flosser head material retaining shoulder 302 prevents the stuffing 320 from exiting through the head hole 318 in the flosser head cover 319. The easy connection of the head 301 to the head connector 308 allows different specific materials, including PVC and other plastics, to be used for the head 301. When the head 301 fits onto the head connector 308, a complete plush toy including the flosser head body 306 and the PVC head 301 is formed. The head 301 is rotatable about its vertical axis and removable. The body can not only assume poses but also retain the desired characteristics of the flosser head body. The characteristics of this plush toy with a PVC head are unique and provide enjoyment for the user to play with.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows a view of the head 301 with the neck connector 308 inserted into the neck receptacle 311. In this figure, the flush sky material retaining shoulder 302 is also shown connected to the neck connector 308. In this embodiment, the neck connector 308 has an overall round post shape, and two rectangular tabs 321 are located at the top of the post. The neck connector 308 has a base where it is attached to the flush sky material retaining shoulder 302. The post of the neck connector 308 is generally cylindrical in shape, and similarly has an overall cylindrical internal shape and is designed to mate with a neck receptacle 311 that is designed to fit the neck connector 308. The neck receptacle 311 fits into the base of the head 301 and is a means for attaching the head 301 to the body 306.

[0028] The interior of the neck receptacle 311 is generally formed as a cylindrical socket, and its size is slightly larger than the size of the neck receptacle 311. Further, the neck receptacle 311 includes two slots 322 formed from the base of the neck receptacle to a channel within the neck receptacle 311. The slots 322 are shaped to mate with the tabs 321 of the neck connector 308, and when the tabs 321 of the neck connector 308 are aligned with the slots 322 of the neck receptacle 311, the neck connector 308 slides into the neck receptacle 311. Once the neck connector 308 is fully inserted into the neck receptacle 311, the tabs 321 of the neck connector 308 align with the channels at the top of the neck receptacle 311. The tabs 321 can move in a circular motion around the x-axis of the neck receptacle 311. The neck connector 308 and the neck receptacle 311 are locked except when the tabs 321 of the neck connector 308 are aligned with the slots of the neck connector 311. When the tabs 321 of the neck connector 308 are aligned with the slots of the neck connector 311, the head 301 can be removed from the body 306.

[0029] Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 302 and the neck connector 308. In this figure, the tab 321 of the neck connector 308 can be clearly seen. The tab 321 has been described in detail in relation to FIG. 8 above. Also in this figure, the upper shoulder 313 shows the upper part of the flash sky material holding shoulder 302. The side shoulder 314 is in the side view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 302. Finally, the bottom shoulder 315 is in the bottom view of the flash sky material holding shoulder 302. In a preferred embodiment, the neck connector 308 and the flash sky material holding shoulder 302 are made of molded plastic, but can be made of any other suitable material well known in the art.

[0030] Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a stuffed toy 400 having an internal skeleton and a rotatable head, and a threaded screw-type neck connector 408 for the head 401. The head 401 is the head of the stuffed toy and, in this embodiment, is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) as in the other embodiments described herein. The flash sky material holding shoulder 402 is located at the spot where the neck connector 408 of the stuffed toy contacts the skeleton 407 of the stuffed toy. The flash sky material holding shoulder 402 is designed to assist in holding the flash sky material within the body 406 of the stuffed toy 400. The skeleton 407 is composed of legs 405, arms 403, and a backbone 404. Each part of the skeleton 407 is made up of skeleton pieces 417, which, in this embodiment, are made of plastic and have both female-type ends and male-type coupling ends. The male-type coupling ends fit into the female-type ends of another skeleton piece 417, allowing them not only to be attached but also to move rotationally within the coupling ends. This movement can enable the skeleton 407 to be movable and pose for the enjoyment of the user. The arms, legs, and body can be moved to various positions and held in place by the skeleton 407.

[0031] The body 406 is composed of a skeleton 407, a stuffing 420, and a plush top cover 419. The stuffing 420 is adapted to cover around the skeleton 407 and provides the soft feel desired for the stuffed toy. As in the preferred embodiment, the stuffing 420 is polyester fiber, but other suitable materials well known in the art such as polyethylene pellets, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellets, and beans can be used. The plush top cover 419 forms the outer surface of the stuffed toy and includes the preferred exterior design of the stuffed toy. The plush top cover 419 can be manufactured using any of a number of methods well known in the art, but in this embodiment as in the preferred embodiment, the outer surface (plush top) of the fabric is sewn together using a sewing machine. Various pieces of the outer surface of the stuffed toy are cut into suitable pieces and sewn together to form the outer surface. This can be done by hand or by using an automatic sewing device well known in the art. The exterior material of the stuffed toy can be made from any material well known in the art, for example, but not limited to, soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet cloth, soft boa of thick fields, polar fleece, velboa, dyed polyester, polyester plush top (pile) material, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, fake fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, terry woven cloth, and any other fabric well known in the art. The plush top cover 419 also includes a neck hole 418, where the neck connector 408 fits through the plush top cover 419.

[0032] In this embodiment, the neck connector 408 is formed as part of the flash material retaining shoulder 402. The flash material retaining shoulder 402 is connected to the skeleton 407 by the skeleton connector 410. The flash material retaining shoulder 402 is also shaped to prevent the stuffing 420 from exiting through the neck hole 418. This is achieved by the shoulder portion of the flash material retaining shoulder 402 that forms a barrier to push the stuffing 420 into the flash body and prevent the stuffing 420 from exiting the neck hole 318. The neck connector 408 and the flash material retaining shoulder 402 are formed of plastic in this embodiment, although any suitable material known in the art may be utilized.

[0033] The head connector 408 is designed to couple to the head 401 by various coupling types shown in this disclosure. In this embodiment, the head connector 408 is a threaded screw-type connector, which is attached to complementary threads in a neck receptacle included in the head 401. In this embodiment, the head 401 rotates on the head connector 408 by a screwing motion. The complementary threads in the head connector 408 and the neck receptacle are such that the head 401 is attached to the body 406 as it moves along its path. In this configuration, the head 401 can rotate in a circular motion about its vertical axis. Further, the head is easily removable and replaceable with another head for the user's enjoyment. With the flush sky material retaining shoulder 402 attached to the skeletal connector 410, the body 406 can be filled with stuffing 420, which is retained by the flush sky cover 419. Further, the flush sky material retaining shoulder 402 serves to prevent the stuffing 420 from exiting through the neck hole 418 in the flush sky cover 419. The easy connection of the head 401 to the head connector 408 allows for the use of different specific materials, including PVC and other plastics, for the head 401. When the head 401 is fitted onto the head connector 408, a complete plush toy including the flush sky body 406 and the PVC head 401 is formed. The head 401 is rotatable and removable about its vertical axis. The body is not only capable of assuming poses, but also retains the desired characteristics of the flush sky body. The characteristics of this plush toy with a PVC head are unique and provide enjoyment for the user to play with.

[0034] Figure 11 shows a view of the head 401 with the neck connector 308 inserted into the neck receptacle 411. In this figure, the flush sky material holding shoulder 402 is also shown connected to the neck connector 408. In this embodiment, the neck connector 408 has an overall round post shape with a screw-type thread on the outer surface. The neck connector 408 has a base where it is attached to the flush sky material holding shoulder 402. The threaded post of the neck connector 308 is designed to engage with a complementary thread located in the neck receptacle 411. The neck receptacle 411 fits into the base of the head 401 and is a means for attaching the head 401 to the body 406.

[0035] The interior of the neck receptacle 411 is generally formed as a cylindrical socket that is slightly larger in size than the neck receptacle 411, and a female thread engages with the male thread of the neck connector 408. Once the neck connector 408 is inserted into the neck receptacle 411, the neck connector 408 is rotated so that the male thread of the neck connector 408 engages with the female thread of the neck receptacle 411. These engaged threads move along their path until the neck connector 408 is firmly seated within the neck receptacle 411.

[0036] Figure 12 shows a detailed view of the flush sky material holding shoulder 402 and the neck connector 408. In this figure, the thread 421 of the neck connector 408 is clearly visible. The thread 421 has been described in detail in relation to Figure 11 above. Also in this figure, the upper shoulder 413 shows the upper portion of the flush sky material holding shoulder 402. The side shoulder 414 is in the side view of the flush sky material holding shoulder 402. Finally, the bottom shoulder 415 is in the bottom view of the flush sky material holding shoulder 402. In a preferred embodiment, the neck connector 408 and the flush sky material holding shoulder 402 are made of molded plastic, but can be made of any other suitable material well known in the art.

[0037] The present invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments disclosed above, but many modifications are possible in design, implementation examples, systems, and implementations while still maintaining the novel features and advantages of the present invention. The preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this patent in any way, and the broadest interpretation possible that is consistent with the entire language of this disclosure should be given.

Claims

1. A plush toy having a head and a body, comprising: An internal skeleton, said skeleton being flexible and including one or more individual skeleton pieces each having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of one skeleton piece connects to said second end of a second skeleton piece; an internal skeleton; A cover for the body of the plush toy formed of a first material, said cover for the body of the plush toy includes said body of the plush toy, has at least one opening for attaching a head for said plush toy, and said plush toy cover is further configured to cover said skeleton and hold a stuffing material for said plush toy; a cover for the body of the plush toy; A plush toy material retaining shoulder connected to said skeleton, said plush toy material retaining shoulder being configured to prevent said stuffing material from exiting said cover for the body of the plush toy through said opening for attaching a head for said plush toy; a plush toy material retaining shoulder; A neck connector attached to said skeleton, said neck connector being configured to engage and disengage from a neck receptacle, said neck receptacle being connected to said head of said plush toy, enabling attachment and detachment of said head to / from said body of said plush toy; a neck connector Including; Said head of said plush toy is formed of a second material, a plush toy.

2. Said first material is selected from the group consisting of plush toy material, soft boa fabric, tricot fabric, pearl velvet fabric, thick soft boa, polar fleece, velboa, dyed polyester, pile textile, cotton, mohair, wool, carded yarn, fake fur, real fur, silk lined with cotton, and terry woven fabric. The plush toy according to Claim 1.

3. Said second material is selected from the group consisting of PVC, plastic, rubber, and metal. The plush toy according to Claim 1.

4. Said neck connector is a tabbed connector, and said neck receptacle is a post with a flange. The plush toy according to Claim 1.

5. Said neck connector is a ball, and said neck receptacle is a socket. The plush toy according to Claim 1.

6. The head connector is a round connector having at least one tab, and the head receptacle is a round socket provided with at least one slot for coupling with the at least one tab of the head connector. The stuffed toy according to claim 1.

7. The head connector is a threaded post, and the head receptacle is a threaded socket. The stuffed toy according to claim 1.

8. The stuffing material is selected from the group consisting of polyester fiber, polyethylene pellet, foamed polyethylene, polyurethane foam, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, plastic-coated wire, polyurethane, synthetic fiber, batting, cotton, wool, straw, wood wool, plastic pellet, and beans. The stuffed toy according to claim 1.

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