Abstract:
A line of plush and collectible animals that have heads, arms, legs, tails, ears and other accessories that connect to their bodies with magnets. The pieces can be interchanged with others to make unique creatures with poseable parts. Children will want to spend hours playing with the creatures they have created.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of plush toy devices and more specifically relates to a line of plush and collectible animals that have heads, arms, legs, tails, ears and other accessories that connect to their bodies with magnets. The pieces can be interchanged with others to make unique creatures with poseable parts. Children will want to spend hours playing with the creatures they have created. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Parents and teachers are always searching for new ways to stimulate children&#39;s imaginations. Play is an essential and special part of childhood. It allows children at all ages to experiment with the world around them and to engage in the mental and emotional world inside them. Construction toys, of all toy categories, offer the most open-end opportunities for children to design and create imaginative play. Using abstract, modular forms, construction toys present a ‘what if’ question and allow children to construct and continually modify their own representations. Construction toys provide the opportunity for imaginative play and an important creative and learning experience for boys and girls, with benefits that can last a lifetime. 
         [0005]    Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in plush toy devices art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0130950 to Martin Deutschman; U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,271 to Sandra L. Butt; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,793 to Pillai et al. This prior art is representative of plush toy devices. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known art, the present invention provides a novel Connectimals. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a line of plush and collectible animals that have heads, arms, legs, tails, ears and other accessories that connect to their bodies with magnets. The pieces can be interchanged with others to make unique creatures with poseable parts. Children will want to spend hours playing with the creatures they have created. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, Connectimals, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in a detached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in a detached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in a detached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view illustrating a Connectimals in an attached configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a plush toy device and more particularly to a Connectimals. 
         [0019]    Generally speaking, Connectimals may be a unique toy with interchangeable components and attachable toy accessories. The present invention maybe capable of converting into a plurality of different looking animals and creatures. The limbs and head of the present invention may realeasably attach to a main torso in a manner in which a child may be able to remove and replace the realeasably attach components. The present invention may be useful to stimulate creative play for children and users of all ages. 
         [0020]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a primary embodiment of the present invention showing a toy apparatus  100 . The toy apparatus  100  may comprise a main body member  104 , a head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116 . The detached configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 , shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  removed from the main body member  104 . 
         [0021]    The two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  may comprise three curved protrusions creating small finger/toe appendages as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, in other embodiments of the present invention the two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  may comprise a semispherical end portion, as further shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  may each comprise a magnet  120  disposed at an end portion thereof. The three curved protrusions and semispherical end portion may be disposed on opposing sides of the two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  relative to a magnet  120 . 
         [0022]    The two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  may also comprise attachment members (not shown) useful for attaching toy accessories. The attachment members may comprise 1 and ¼-inch magnets  120  useful for releasbly attaching small toy accessories. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other attachment arrangements such as, for example, hook and loop fastener systems, snaps, buttons, clasps, metal discs, etc., may be suitably used instead of magnets. 
         [0023]    The toy accessories may include items such as balls, sticks, mice, phones, and umbrellas. A wide variety of other items, such hearts for Valentine&#39;s Day, Christmas presents, Easter eggs, flowers, fireworks, note cards, messages, pens, and pencils may also be available as toy accessories. Other toy accessories such as mittens/gloves, and shoes may attach to the two arm members  112  and two leg members  116 . 
         [0024]    In the primary embodiment of the present invention the head member  108  of the toy apparatus  100  may comprise two eye members, a nose member, a mouth member, and a single magnet  120 . The magnet  120  may be disposed at a bottom portion of the head member  108  and may be useful for releasably connecting to a magnet  120  of the main body member  104 . 
         [0025]    In a secondary embodiment of the present invention, the head member  108  includes six magnets  120  thereon. In a secondary embodiment of the present invention the head member  108  may comprise two eye members and a nose member each having a magnet  120  connected thereto. A first magnet  120  of the head member  108  may be adapted to connect with the magnet  120  on a top portion of the main body member  104 . 
         [0026]    A second and third magnet  120  may be connected to opposite sides of the head member  108  and adapted to releasably connect with a respective magnet  120  of the two ear members. A fourth and fifth magnet  120  are connected to spaced front portions of the head member  108  and may be adapted to releasably connect with a respective magnet  120  of the two eye members. A sixth magnet is connected to a front portion of the head member  108  below the spaced eye portions and adapted to releasably connect with a magnet  120  on the nose member. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments of the present invention the head member  108  may comprise three magnets  120 , as further shown and described in  FIGS. 3-7 . 
         [0028]    The head member  108  of the toy apparatus  100  may also comprise attachment members (not shown) useful for attaching toy accessories, such as hats, eyeglasses, masks, and food. The toy food accessories may include but are not limited to carrots, bones, fish, nuts, corn, cheese, steak, and hotdogs. The attachment members may comprise ¼-inch magnets useful for releasbly attaching small toy accessories. 
         [0029]    The main body member  104  of the toy apparatus  100  may comprise a spherical form having five magnets  120  attached thereto. A first magnet  120  may connect to a top portion of the main body member  104 , and is adapted to releasably connect with a magnet  120  of the head member  108 . A second and third magnet of the main body member  104  may connect to opposite side portions of the main body member  104 . The second and third magnet may be adapted to releasably connect with a magnet  120  of each of the two arm members  112 . A fourth and fifth magnet  120  of the main body member  104  may be connected to opposite side portions of the main body member  104  below the second and third magnet of the main body member  104 . The fourth and fifth magnet  120  may be adapted to releasably connect with a magnet  120  of each of the two leg members  116 . 
         [0030]    In secondary embodiments of the present invention, the main body member  104  of the toy apparatus  100  may comprise a sixth magnet  120  (not shown). The sixth magnet  120  may be disposed on a back portion of the main body member  104  and may be useful for attaching toy accessories such as bird wings, backpacks, and other toy accessories. 
         [0031]    Toy accessories may be provided for the main body member  104  of the toy apparatus  100 . The toy accessories may include clothing apparel that may be adorn upon the main body member  104 . The arm clothing apparel may include Halloween costumes, and holiday-themed clothing. The two arm members  112  and two leg members  116  may be detached from the main body member  104  prior to placing clothing apparel onto the main body member  104 . 
         [0032]    The main body member  104 , head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  may be covered with a fabric material adapted to represent fur or skin of an animal. The fur or skin in combination with the other features of the present invention may create a plush toy in the form of a frog, a turtle, a rabbit, a pig, a bear or a rodent. The spherical form of the main body member  104  may be manufactured of dimensions approximately four inches in diameter. 
         [0033]    The magnets  120  of the main body member  104  may comprise opposite magnetic polarity in comparison to the magnets  120  of the head member  108 , the two arm members  112 , and the two leg members  116 . In this manner the magnets  120  may be useful for relasably attaching the head member  108 , the two arm members  112 , and the two leg members to the main body member  104 . The magnets  120  of the main body member  104 , head member  108 , the two arm members  112 , and the two leg members  116  may be embedded into the fabric material, such that they may not be removed. In this manner the magnets  120  may not pose a choking hazard to a child. 
         [0034]    The inventor imagines future embodiments having components to create mascots for favorite NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and college teams. Birds with detachable wings, tails, and feet, and insects like lady bugs, butterflies, house flies, beetles, and bees may also be created in future embodiments. The limbs of future embodiments may be semi rigid, so the creatures may stand on all four legs as well as sit without assistance of a user. 
         [0035]    The main body member  104 , the head member  108 , the two arm members  112 , and the two leg members  116  may be formed having a hollow interior that is filled with a stuffing material (not shown). The stuffing material may consist of cotton and nylon. The stuffing material may be highly pliable and deformable in order to create a plush toy in which a child may squeeze and safely play with. Alternatively, the main body member  104 , the head member  108 , the two arm members  112 , and the two leg members  116  may be formed of plastic materials. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 ., showing a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . The main body member  104  with the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  attached thereto may resemble a frog. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 ., showing a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . A detached configuration shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  removed from the main body member  104 . The secondary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3 , comprises two ear members each having a magnet  120  connected thereto. 
         [0038]    The head member  108  may comprise three magnets  120  thereon, such that the first magnet  120  is adapted to connect with the magnet  120  on the top portion of the main body member  104 . A second and third magnet  120  are connected to opposite sides of the head member  108  and may be adapted to releasably connect with a respective magnet  120  of the two ear members. The two ear members may be covered with a fabric material adapted to represent fur or skin of an animal. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 . showing a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , two leg members  116 , and two ears attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . The main body member  104  with the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , two leg members  116 , and two ears attached thereto may resemble a rabbit. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 ., showing a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . A detached configuration shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  removed from the main body member  104 . The secondary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , comprises two ear members each having a magnet  120  connected thereto. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 ., showing a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . The main body member  104  with the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , two leg members  116 , and two ears attached thereto may resemble a pig. 
         [0042]    The secondary embodiment of  FIG. 6  may comprise a tail member (not shown). The tail member may include a magnet  120  on a distal end thereof. The main body member  104  further comprises a sixth magnet  120  connected on a back portion thereof. The magnet  120  may be disposed in between the magnets  120  for the two leg members  116  such that the tail member may be adapted to releasably connect to the sixth magnet  120  on the main body member  104 . The tail member may be covered with a fabric material adapted to represent fur or skin of an animal. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 ., shows a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration of this embodiment shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , two leg members  116 , and two ears attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 ., shows a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration of this embodiment shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , and two leg members  116  attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 ., shows a secondary embodiment of the toy apparatus  100 . An attached configuration of this embodiment shows the head member  108 , two arm members  112 , two leg members  116 , and two ears attached to the main body member  104  via magnets  120 . 
         [0046]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.