Inflatable toy article

Claim 1

An inflatable toy comprising: an outer protective cover having a selected shape and defining an interior balloon cavity, the selected shape of the protective cover being in the form of a softball bat and having the shape of an elongated cylinder with a handle portion having a diameter of convenient size for grasping and a ball striking portion with a somewhat larger diameter, the protective cover fabricated of a plurality of pliable members constructed to have appropriate contours, the pliable members being joined together along the edges thereof to produce the selected shape of the inflatable toy and to define an entry slot which openly communicates with the balloon cavity; plug means disposed in a portion of the balloon cavity defining the ball striking portion for imparting greater mass to the ball striking portion; a toy balloon fabricated of a thin, air tight, inflatable membrane having a body portion and a nozzle portion such that in a deflated state the body portion is disposable within the balloon cavity and the nozzle portion is extendable from the entry slot so that the body portion is inflatable to selectively fill the balloon cavity and support the outer protective cover in the selected shape; and cover means for covering the entry slot after insertion and inflation of the body portion, sealing of the nozzle portion and positioning the sealed nozzle portion into the entry slot, the cover means comprising: a first fastener member having a loop bearing area and a second fastener member having a pile bearing area, the first fastener member affixed to the protective cover around the entry slot, the second fastener member having a suitable size to cover the entry slot when supported by the first fastener member.