Heated stuffed animal

A heated stuffed animal includes a head portion, a torso portion and a plurality of limbs. Embedded within the animal is a heater assembly including an encircling heating element extending from a battery casing that is accessible via a slit on the rear surface of the torso portion. The operating temperature and duration of the heater assembly can be selectively programmed with a pair of adjustable dials positioned on the casing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heated stuffed animal that consoles and comforts a child.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Teddy bears and similar stuffed animals have been used to comfort and console children for many years. However, nothing consoles a child more than warmth, particularly when a parent is trying to lull a child to sleep. The present invention combines the advantages of both by providing a stuffed animal having a programmable heater therein for comforting and consoling a child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heated stuffed animal. The device comprises a conventional stuffed animal design including a head, limbs and a torso portion. Embedded within the torso portion is a heater assembly having an encircling heating element attached thereto. The heater assembly includes a battery casing that is accessible via a slit formed on a rear surface of the torso portion. The heater assembly also includes a micro-controller, a digital thermal sensor and a heater driver. A timer selection dial and a temperature selection dial are positioned on the battery casing allowing a user to selectively program the heater's operating temperature and duration.

Accordingly, to use the above described device, a user preselects the operating duration and temperature using the respective selection dials. A power switch is activated whereby the stuffed animal will generate heat at the desired temperature and for the preselected duration.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a heated stuffed animal that comforts and consoles a child.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a heated stuffed animal in which the operating duration and temperature can be preselected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a heated stuffed animal. The device comprises a conventional stuffed animal design including a head1, limbs2and a torso portion3. Embedded within the torso portion is a heater assembly for heating the animal to a desired temperature and for a desired duration. The heater assembly includes a battery casing4accessible via a slit5formed on a rear surface of the torso portion. The heater assembly also includes at least one flexible, neoprene heater band10attached to the casing that encircles the torso portion interior to concentrate heat at the front30and sides31thereof. Accordingly, the animal simulates a “warm heart” to console and comfort the child. Preferably, the neoprene heater is pliable but resilient so that it conforms to the animal's configuration if a child squeezes or contorts the animal. The heater is powered with batteries40removably housed within the casing. As such, a latch22releases an access panel35allowing a user to install or replace the batteries as necessary.

A timer selection dial6and a temperature selection dial7are positioned on the battery casing that communicate with a micro-controller16allowing a user to preselect the operating temperature and duration of the heater. A digital thermal sensor13is positioned proximal the heater for providing localized temperature data to the micro-controller. As depicted inFIG. 4, a heater driver15establishes communication between the micro-controller and the heater.

Accordingly, to operate the above described device, a user preselects the operating duration and temperature of the heater using the respective selection dials. An activation button14is then depressed whereby the stuffed animal will generate heat at the selected temperature and for the preselected duration.

The above described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. For example, multiple heaters having any style or configuration can be used. Additionally, the construction and operation of the device can be simplified by eliminating the timer and temperature controls. In such event, the heater is activated by depressing the button14; the heater will remain active until the button is depressed again. Finally, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can also be varied.