Plush toy with sound-emitting container

A sound-generating toy comprising a plush toy component having a flexible body and a container for housing the plush toy component. The container is defined by a top portion, a base portion, and a side wall connecting the top portion and the base portion. The top portion includes an opening and the base portion includes a sound-emitting mechanism. Removing the plush toy component from the container through the opening on the top portion causes air to enter the container through the sound-emitting mechanism which thereby generates a sound effect. Additionally, inserting the plush toy component into the container through the opening on the top portion causes air to exit the container through the sound-emitting mechanism which thereby generates a second sound effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to toys, and in particular, containers and housings for stuffed animals and other plush toys.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stuffed animals and plush toys are widely enjoyed by children and adults alike. However, such toys may initially be packaged in boxes, wraps or bags that are soon discarded after the toy is removed from the packaging. This creates a lot of trash and waste that negatively impacts the environment. Thus, there is a need for packaging that not only protects its contents but also functions as part of the toy so that it is not immediately thrown away. Furthermore, packaging that can provide additional play value by interacting or engaging with the stuffed animal or plush toy contained within as part of the play experience is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sound-generating toy is described herein which includes a plush toy component and a container that generates a sound effect when the plush toy component is pushed into or pulled from the container. The sound-generating toy provides a child with fun and enjoyment deriving not only from the plush toy component itself but also from the interaction between the plush toy component and the container in generating one or more sound effects. By providing a container that forms part of the toy and play experience, the child is encouraged to keep and play with the container, thereby reducing packaging waste.

In one or more embodiments, the sound-generating toy comprises a plush toy component having a flexible body and a container for housing the plush toy component. The container is defined by a top portion, a base portion, and a side wall connecting the top portion and the base portion. The top portion includes an opening and the base portion includes a sound-emitting mechanism. Removing the plush toy component from the container through the opening on the top portion causes air to enter the container through the sound-emitting mechanism which thereby generates a sound effect. Additionally, inserting the plush toy component into the container through the opening on the top portion causes air to exit the container through the sound-emitting mechanism which thereby generates a second sound effect.

More specifically, the base portion of the container comprises a hollow compartment that contains the sound-emitting mechanism. The hollow compartment is in communication with both the interior and exterior of the container. The base portion also includes a first aperture providing access between the interior of the container and the sound-emitting mechanism and a second aperture providing access between the sound-emitting mechanism and the exterior of the container. In one embodiment, the sound-emitting mechanism comprises a squeaker that emits a sound when air flows through the squeaker and a hollow sound chamber for amplifying the sound emitted by the squeaker. In another embodiment, the sound-emitting mechanism comprises two squeakers positioned in opposite orientations to each other.

In one or more other embodiments, the sound-generating toy comprises a plush toy component having a flexible body and a container for housing the plush toy component that includes a sound-emitting mechanism. Pulling the plush toy component from the container creates a suctioning force that causes air to enter the container through the sound-emitting mechanism and generate a sound effect. Pushing the plush toy component into the container forces air to exit the container through the sound-emitting mechanism and generate a second sound effect.

In one or more other embodiments, a container for housing a plush toy component is disclosed. The container comprises a top portion, a base portion, and a side wall connecting the top portion and the base portion. The top portion includes an opening and the base portion includes a hollow compartment containing a sound-emitting mechanism. Movement of the plush toy component in or out of the container through the opening on the top portion creates an airflow that passes through the sound-emitting mechanism to generate a sound effect.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating some embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention includes all such modifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A sound-generating toy is disclosed that includes a plush toy component and a container for housing the plush toy component. The container not only provides a protective enclosure for the plush toy component, but also functions as part of the toy and emits an audible sound or noise when the plush toy component is inserted into or removed from the container. In contrast to conventional stuffed toys where the electronic or mechanical sound generator is located within the body of the stuffed toy, the sound-emitting mechanism for the sound generating toy described herein is positioned in the container. This allows the whole plush toy component to be completely soft and compressible, which is desirable for soft toys that are to be hugged and squeezed by children. In some implementations, the plush toy component may have a flexible body.FIGS.1A-4Bset forth illustrative examples of the sound-generating toy and its operation.

FIG.1Ashows a sound-generating toy100that includes a plush toy component102and a container104housing the plush toy component102. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, container104is a cylindrical or tubular structure. In other embodiments, the container104may be a box or other shape (e.g., egg-shaped, sphere, spheroid, pyramid, cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, triangular prism, polyhedron, and/or any other three dimensional shape) suitable for housing and interacting with the plush toy component102. A top portion106on one end of container104includes an opening107for inserting and removing the plush toy component102from container104. In some implementations, top portion106and opening107have an elliptical or oval shape (see alsoFIG.2A). On the opposite end of container104is a base portion108that contains a sound-emitting mechanism. Base portion108has an elliptical or oval shape that is similar to top portion106(see alsoFIG.2B). Between top portion106and base portion108is a side wall110. That is, the side wall110connects top portion106to base portion108. Preferably, side wall110is at least partially transparent to allow a child to see the plush toy component102when it is placed inside container104. For instance, in the embodiment shown inFIG.1A, side wall110is transparent with some decorative graphics representing an underground site with dinosaur fossils. When the plush toy component102is housed inside container104, the plush toy component102is visible through transparent side wall110, giving the appearance of being hidden or buried within the underground site depicted on container104.

FIG.1Bshows the plush toy component102in its natural or uncompressed state when outside of container104. The plush toy component102is a flexible toy doll (e.g., stuffed animal, plushie, soft toy) having a soft outer fabric and a compressible stuffing material. The plush toy component102is typically fabricated to resemble or be a fanciful depiction of an animal, creature or inanimate object. In some implementations, the plush toy component102has a generally cylindrical main body with additional members attached to the main body and/or images printed on the main body. For instance, as shown inFIG.1B, the plush toy component102is constructed to resemble a dinosaur by including a tail113, upright plates114, and printed dinosaur graphics on a main body115. In some implementations, the plush toy component102can be representative of any article such as an animal, a mythical creature, a character, and/or any other desired object. The shape of the plush toy component102may be any shape suitable to depict the desired article, while also conforming to the side wall110when the plush toy component102is the compressed into the container104. Meanwhile, the container may be designed to represent a habitat, a home, a chest, embryo, and/or other domicile corresponding to the article.

The size of the plush toy component102in its uncompressed state is larger than a volume of space inside container104. Consequently, the plush toy component102is squeezed or compressed when housed within container104. This results in an ample seal where the plush toy component102contacts side wall110of container104. Thus, when the plush toy component102is inserted into or removed from container104, air is generally prevented from traveling in and out of container104through opening107of top portion106. Instead, the air is restricted to travel in and out of container104via base portion108. In some embodiments, the diameter or width of the main body of the plush toy component in its uncompressed state is greater than the diameter or width of the container104, which also results in the formation of a relatively tight seal between the main body of the plush toy component102and side wall110of container104.

FIGS.2A-2Cshows an illustrative embodiment of a container according to another embodiment. Similar to container104shown inFIGS.1A-1B, container200has a top portion206, a base portion208, and a side wall209between top portion206and base portion208. Base portion208comprises a hollow compartment in fluid communication with both an interior and an exterior of the container. The hollow compartment receives a sound-emitting mechanism210(seeFIG.2C). An opening202on the top of base portion208provides access between an interior of container200and the sound-emitting mechanism210inside base portion208(seeFIG.2B). That is, opening202fluidly couples the interior of the container with the sound-emitting mechanism210. An opening204on the side of base portion208provides access between the sound-emitting mechanism210and the exterior of container200. That is, opening204fluidly couples the sound-emitting mechanism210to the exterior of the container200. The top and side openings202,204allow airflow in and out of container200through base portion208. As air enters and/or exits container200via base portion208, the air passes through sound-emitting mechanism210and causes an audible noise or sound to be generated.

The sound-emitting mechanism210may be one or more squeakers or other air-powered noisemakers. Generally, a squeaker comprises an opening or aperture and a thin reed secured against the aperture. When air is forced between the reed and the body of the squeaker surrounding the reed, the reed vibrates and creates a sound. That is, the squeaker emits a sound in response to air flowing through it. The tone and duration of the sound depends on various factors, such as the size and shape of the squeaker and/or reed, as well as the speed and amount of air flowing through the squeaker. In some embodiments, the reed is a single-sided reed that allows the squeaker to generate a sound only when air flows in a single direction through the squeaker. In other embodiments, the reed is a double-sided reed that allows the squeaker to generate a sound when air flows in either direction through the squeaker.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG.2C, the sound-emitting mechanism210comprises two squeakers211,212positioned in opposite orientations to each other. Each squeaker211,212has a single-sided reed that generates a sound when air flows in a specific direction. Depending on the direction of air flow in and out of container200, only one of the squeakers211,212generates a sound effect due to their respectively inverted positions. Furthermore, different shaped reeds are used in each squeaker211,212so that each squeaker211,212produces a different sound effect. Squeaker211is positioned to generate a first sound effect when air flows from the interior of container200into top opening202, through squeaker211, and out of side opening204(i.e., expulsion of air from container200). Squeaker212is positioned to generate a second sound effect when air flows from the exterior of container200into side opening204, through squeaker212, and out of top opening202(i.e., movement of air into container200).

FIGS.3A and3Bshow a base portion300and sound-emitting mechanism310according to another embodiment. Sound-emitting mechanism310is housed inside a hollow compartment306within base portion300. Sound-emitting mechanism310comprises a single squeaker311and a sound chamber312surrounding squeaker311that amplifies the sound emitted by squeaker311. Squeaker311has a double-sided reed that generates sounds when air flows in either direction through sound-emitting mechanism310. Furthermore, the sides of the reed are differently shaped to generate different sounds or tones depending on the direction of air flow. In other words, squeaker311generates a first sound effect when air flows from the interior of the container into top opening302, through sound-emitting mechanism310, and out of side opening304(i.e., expulsion of air from the container). Squeaker311further generates a second sound effect when air flows from the exterior of the container into side opening304, through sound-emitting mechanism310, and out of top opening302(i.e., movement of air into the container).

FIGS.4A and4Bshow an exemplary embodiment of the sound-generating toy100and its operation. A child is first presented with sound-generating toy100where the plush toy component102is housed within container104. As previously described, the size of the plush toy component102in its uncompressed state is larger than the volume of space inside container104. Therefore, a seal is created between the plush toy component102and side wall110of container104. When the child grabs a portion of the plush toy component102and pulls the plush toy component102through top portion106of container104in a direction A (seeFIG.4A), a suctioning force is created that draws air into container104in a direction B through side opening112of base portion108. As air moves into container104, the airflow through the sound-emitting mechanism contained within base portion108causes a first sound effect to be generated. This results in an auditory signal as the child removes the plush toy component102from container104. The auditory signal may be a pleasant sound, a surprising sound, a scary sound and/or any other desired sound.

Additionally, when the child pushes the plush toy component102back into container104in a direction C through top portion106(seeFIG.4B), air is forcibly expelled out of container104in a direction D through side opening112of base portion108. As air moves out of container104, the airflow through the sound-emitting mechanism contained within base portion108causes a second sound effect to also be generated. This second sound effect may be the same or different from the first sound effect. The child may repeatedly move the plush toy component102in and out of container104to continuously generate sounds. In certain aspects, the sound-generating toy100is similar to a toy musical instrument. Depending on the speed and duration of movement of the plush toy component102within the container, the speed and amount of air movement across the sound-emitting mechanism changes, which results in differences in the duration, tone and/or pitch of the sound effect generated. Furthermore, due to the large and soft body of the plush toy component102, both small children and adults with different hand sizes can easily grab a portion of the plush toy component102to operate the sound generating feature of the toy100.

Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

Moreover, it is to be understood that terms such as “top,” “base,” “side,” “width,” “interior,” “exterior,” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” may be used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention. Finally, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments.