US4579537A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Take-apart toy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-05-09
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2004-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A toy which can be taken apart and reassembled serves as both a soft, cuddly doll and a puzzle. It consists of six stuffed, fabric-covered components of generally uniform thickness that abut one another in a common plane. From the front and back, the assembled components create a two-dimensional view of a fanciful human or animal figure. The components are detachably joined at their abutting edges by Velcro fastening tape or the like. To keep the doll assembled during play, the components are secured in place by reinforcing supports. One end of each support is sewn to one of the components of the doll. The free end of each support is provided with a patch of male Velcro material placed to cover (and fasten to) a corresponding patch of female Velcro material on another component of the doll. The components, with their corresponding supports, are covered and decorated with various fabrics and simulated hair or fur to look like clothed, fanciful humanoid characters. The head (and any hat) is represented by three of the components; the body, arms and legs are represented by the other three. Some or all of the character's facial features may be represented by decoration on the supports for the elements representing the head. Additional components having different fabrics, shapes or facial features from that of the original doll may optionally be provided to simulate changing the doll's clothes or identity by interchanging the new component or components with the doll's corresponding original components.
Inventors
- 👤 Lynne Leahy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/16; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/12; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/16; A63F2250/60; A63F2250/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
A figure toy comprising a plurality of components, (a) each component having front and back surfaces, an exterior edge surface and one or more interior edge surfaces, (b) each of said interior edge surfaces being detachably secured, by fastening tape on at least a portion of each of said interior edge surfaces, in abutting relationship with at least a portion of an interior edge surface of one or more of the other components, whereby the front surfaces of the components together define the front surface of the figure toy and the back surfaces of the components together define the back surface of the figure toy, (c) said toy further comprising a plurality of supports, a first of said supports overlying the front surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (d) one end of said first support being detachably secured to the front surface of one of the components and another end of said first support being secured to the front surface of another of said components, and (e) a second of said supports overlying the back surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (f) one end of said second support being detachably secured to the back surface of one of the components and another end of said second support being secured to the back surface of another of said components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
A figure toy comprising a plurality of components, (a) each component having front and back surfaces, an exterior edge surface and one or more interior edge surfaces, (b) each of said interior edge surfaces being detachably secured, by fastening tape on at least a portion of each of said interior edge surfaces, in abutting relationship with at least a portion of an interior edge surface of one or more of the other components, whereby the front surfaces of the components together define the front surface of the figure toy and the back surfaces of the components together define the back surface of the figure toy, (c) said toy further comprising a plurality of supports, a first of said supports overlying the front surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (d) one end of said first support being detachably secured to the front surface of one of the components and another end of said first support being secured to the front surface of another of said components, and (e) a second of said supports overlying the back surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (f) one end of said second support being detachably secured to the back surface of one of the components and another end of said second support being secured to the back surface of another of said components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The figure toy of claim 1, wherein the figure is a representation of a fanciful humanoid character comprising a head and a body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The figure toy of claim 2, consisting of at least six components, wherein at least three of said components define the head of said character.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The figure toy of claim 2, wherein said supports are straps, said toy further comprising representations of facial features permanently secured to the straps overlying the front surface of the components defining the head of the character.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The figure toy of claim 4, wherein the character is an adult male.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The figure toy of claim 4, wherein the character is an adult female.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The figure toy of claim 4, wherein the character is a girl.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The figure toy of claim 4, wherein the character is a boy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The figure toy of claim 4, wherein one end of each strap is permanently affixed to one of the components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The firgure toy of claim 1, wherein the supports are straps that are finished to match the portions of the front and back surfaces of the components which they respectively overlie.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The figure toy of claim 1, wherein the fastening tape is hook-and-eye tape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
269 words
A component for a figure toy, which toy comprises a plurality of said components, (a) said component having front and back surfaces, a surface intended to be an exterior edge surface of said toy, and one or more surfaces intended to be interior edge surfaces of said toy, (b) each of said interior edge surfaces being adapted to be detachably secured, by fastening tape on at least a portion of each of said interior edge surfaces, in abutting relationship with at least a portion of an interior edge surface of one or more of the other components, whereby the front surfaces of the components together define the front surface of the figure toy and the back surfaces of the components together define the back surface of the figure toy, (c) said component further comprising a plurality of supports, a first of said supports being adapted to overlie the front surface of the component across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (d) one end of said first support being affixed to the front surface of the component and another end of said first support being adapted to be detachably secured to the front surface of another of said components, and (e) a second of said supports being adapted to overlie the back surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (f) one end of said second support being affixed to the back surface of the component and another end of said second support being adapted to be secured to the back surface of another of said components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
269 words
A component for a figure toy, which toy comprises a plurality of said components, (a) said component having front and back surfaces, a surface intended to be an exterior edge surface of said toy, and one or more surfaces intended to be interior edge surfaces of said toy, (b) each of said interior edge surfaces being adapted to be detachably secured, by fastening tape on at least a portion of each of said interior edge surfaces, in abutting relationship with at least a portion of an interior edge surface of one or more of the other components, whereby the front surfaces of the components together define the front surface of the figure toy and the back surfaces of the components together define the back surface of the figure toy, (c) said component further comprising a plurality of supports, a first of said supports being adapted to overlie the front surface of the component across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (d) one end of said first support being affixed to the front surface of the component and another end of said first support being adapted to be detachably secured to the front surface of another of said components, and (e) a second of said supports being adapted to overlie the back surface of the toy across the abutting interior edge surfaces of a pair of contiguous components, (f) one end of said second support being affixed to the back surface of the component and another end of said second support being adapted to be secured to the back surface of another of said components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The figure toy component of claim 12, wherein said component is adapted to interchange with a corresponding such component of a figure toy, whereby a change of design is effected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The figure toy component of claim 12, wherein said figure toy is a representation of a fanciful humanoid character and the component represents an object of clothing of the character.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The figure toy component of claim 12, wherein said figure toy is a representation of a fanciful humanoid character comprising a head and a body and the component represents an element of the body of the character.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The figure toy component of claim 12, wherein said fastening tape is hook-and-eye tape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A figure toy having a front surface and a back surface, said toy comprising a plurality of pillow-like components in a common plane, each component being detachably secured to another of the components by mating patches of fastening tape and each of a plurality of said components being reinforced in its attachment to at least one other component by a support strap secured thereto at one end and having at its other end a patch of fastening tape placed to mate with a corresponding patch of fastening tape on the other component.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
A figure toy having a front surface and a back surface, said toy comprising a plurality of pillow-like components in a common plane, each component being detachably secured to another of the components by mating patches of fastening tape and each of a plurality of said components being reinforced in its attachment to at least one other component by a support strap secured thereto at one end and having at its other end a patch of fastening tape placed to mate with a corresponding patch of fastening tape on the other component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The figure toy of claim 17, wherein the figure is a representation of a fanciful humanoid character comprising a head and a body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The figure toy of claim 18, consisting of at least six components, wherein at least three of said components define the head of said character.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The figure toy of claim 18, further comprising representations of facial features permanently secured to a support strap overlying the front surface of the components defining the head of the character.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |