Figure of an animated creature for retaining and displaying a picture

A figure of an animated creature for retaining and visually displaying a picture. The figure has a body with a front side upon which means for retaining and visually displaying the picture are disposed. The means for retaining and visually displaying has a transparent outer cover for displaying the picture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a figure of an animated creature for retaining 
and visually displaying a picture comprising a body of the figure with a 
front side and means for retaining and visually displaying the picture 
disposed on the front side of the body of the figure. As is well known and 
understood, young children like figures of animated creatures, 
particularly stuffed animals. There are different types of stuffed animals 
but they are essentially limited to functioning as objects and not as a 
picture displaying device. A figure of an animated figure can include a 
stuffed animal such as a kitten or a pony, giraffe as represented in the 
drawing, or a teddy bear, frog, lion or any other animated creature. 
The figure of the present invention encourages bonding between a child and 
an animal figure since it may retain and display a picture of the child, 
the parents, a sibling or some other subject matter which is familiar to 
the child. This combination of a figure and picture holding device 
provides an easily identifiable and familiar possession for even a young 
child. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a figure of an animated 
creature which can visually display pictures or the like. It is yet 
another object of the invention to provide a figure of an animated 
creature that has a general appearance of a stuffed animal. 
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and 
advantages of the present invention, there is provided a figure of an 
animated creature that can removably retain a picture or the like and 
visually display same. Accordingly, the present invention must provide a 
figure and a means for retaining and visually displaying a picture. 
Still other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure that follows. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a figure of an animated creature for retaining and 
visually displaying a picture. It comprises a body of the figure having a 
front side and a back side, and extremities including arms, legs, and a 
head, and means for retaining and visually displaying the picture disposed 
on the front side of the body of the figure. 
The present invention discloses that the means for retaining and visually 
displaying the picture has a outer cover with a forward face and a 
rearward face, and a bottom edge, a top edge, and spaced upstanding side 
edges connecting the respective ends of the top edge to the bottom edge. 
The outer cover may be made of a transparent material and may be contoured 
to the front side of the body upon which it is disposed. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which 
this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The preferred embodiments depicted in the drawing include a FIG. 1 of an 
animated creature for retaining and visually displaying a picture 2 or the 
like. 
Without departing from the generality of the invention disclosed herein, 
the means for retaining and visually displaying 12 the picture 2 may have 
a outer cover 14 and a back wall 32 with the picture disposed 
therebetween. 
The discussion that follows, without limiting the scope of the invention, 
will refer to the invention as depicted in the drawing, showing the FIG. 1 
of an animated creature for retaining and visually displaying a picture in 
a variety of preferred embodiments. It comprises a body 4 of the figure 
with a front side 6 and a back side 8, and extremities 10 including arms, 
legs, and a head, and means for retaining and visually displaying 12 the 
picture 2 disposed on the front side 6 of the body 4 of the figure. 
The present invention discloses that the means for retaining and visually 
displaying the picture has a outer cover 14 with forward face 16 and a 
rearward face 18, and a bottom edge 20, a top edge 22, and spaced 
upstanding side edges 24 connecting the respective ends of the top edge 22 
to the bottom edge 20. The outer cover 14 comprises a section 44 made of a 
transparent material and may be contoured to the front side 6 of the body 
4 upon which it is disposed. 
A sheet 46 and the front cover 14 are respectively attached to the body 4 
of the figure in such a way as to cause a squeezing pressure therebetween. 
In this way, the picture 2 may be squeezably maintained between the front 
cover 14 and the sheet 46. 
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the means for retaining and 
visually displaying 12 further comprises an opening 48, in which the 
picture 2 may be inserted between the outer cover 14 and the front side 6, 
partially bounded by the bottom edge 20 of the front cover 14. 
The sheet 46 of the front side 6 and the outer cover 14 may be respectively 
attached to the body 4 of the figure in such a way as to cause a squeezing 
pressure therebetween. The picture 2 in such case will be squeezably 
maintained between the outer cover 14 and the sheet 46. As best shown in 
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 the outer cover 14 may be attached to the front side 6 
of the body 4 along at least three peripheral edges. In the embodiment 
shown in the drawing the bottom edge 20 of the outer cover is not 
attached. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front cover 14 is shown made of a 
transparent material and in FIG. 1, the outer cover 14 is contoured to the 
front side 6 of the body 4, whereas, in FIG. 2 the outer cover 14 is 
generally flat. 
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown another preferred embodiment of 
the FIG. 1 in which the outer cover 14 is attached to the front side 6 of 
the body 4 along at least three peripheral edges. The outer cover 14 is 
attached to the front side 6 of the body 4 along the top edge 22 and the 
upstanding side edges 24. The outer cover 14 may be attached by stitching 
26 to the front side 6 of the body 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
Additionally, the outer cover 14 may be reversibly attached to the front 
side 6 of the body 4 with hook and loop material 28, as best seen in FIG. 
8. Furthermore, the outer cover may be attached to the front side of the 
body along each of the peripheral edges (20, 22, and 24, respectively), as 
shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-6. The outer cover 14 is attached by stitching 
26 to the front side 6 of the body 4, as shown in these figures of the 
drawing. 
In another preferred embodiment of the figure of the current invention, the 
outer cover 14 has at least one elongated opening 30 in which the picture 
2 may be inserted therein. See FIGS. 1-4 and 6-9. Furthermore, the at 
least one elongated opening 30 may be disposed proximate to the bottom 
edge 20 of the outer cover 14. Additionally, the outer cover 14 may be 
made of a transparent material. 
In another preferred embodiment of the figure of the current invention 
shown in FIG. 6, the length of the bottom edge 20 of the outer cover 14 is 
larger than the length of the top edge 22 thereof. 
As best shown in FIG. 7, the outer cover 14 may be contoured to the front 
side 6 of the body 4 upon which it is disposed. The outer cover 14 may be 
made of a semi-rigid material to prevent the picture 2 from becoming 
distorted or otherwise damaged. The outer cover 14 may be comprised of 
plexiglass or the like. 
In one preferred embodiment of the FIG. 1 of the current invention, the 
means for retaining and visually displaying 12 may further comprise a back 
wall 32 having a bottom edge 34, a top edge 36, and spaced upstanding side 
edges 38 connecting the respective ends of the top edge 36 to the bottom 
edge 34, the back wall 32 being disposed between the front side 6 of the 
body 4 and the outer cover 14. Moreover, the outer cover 14 may have 
transverse dimensions in all directions that are at least as great as the 
back wall 32. The back wall 32 could be made to have transverse dimensions 
in all directions larger that the outer cover 14. This would allow 
illustrations and the like to be accommodated. 
The FIG. 1 of the present invention comprises a back wall 32 which has an 
exposed surface 40 and a contact surface 42 with the contact surface being 
attached to the front side 6 of the body 4. 
Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the figure of the 
current invention is shown in which the back wall 32 has a hook and loop 
material 28 disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of its exposed surface 
40 and the outer cover 14 has a complementary hook and loop material 
disposed adjacent the peripheral edge of its rearward face 18 for mating 
engagement with the hook and loop material 28 of the back wall 32. 
Additionally, the back wall 32 may be contoured to the front side 6 of the 
body 4 upon which it is disposed. 
While stitching 26 is shown in the drawing, hook and loop mating material 
28, or an equivalent, could have been employed so that the means for 
retaining and visually displaying 12 could be removably attached to the 
FIG. 1. Moreover, a back wall 32 having the contours of the front side 6 
of the body 4 upon which it is disposed can be permanently attached to the 
FIG. 1, and hook and loop material 28 can be used to removably attach a 
transparent front cover 14 thereon with the picture 2 disposed between the 
back wall 32 and the front cover 14, as shown in FIG. 4. 
Alternatively, the means for retaining and visually displaying 12 can be 
permanently attached with a elongated opening 30 provided in the outer 
cover 14 for the insertion of a picture 2 or the like. Furthermore, the 
elongated opening 30 may be employed with a outer cover 14 that is 
reversibly attached giving the user the option of inserting the picture 2 
through the opening 30 or of detaching the outer cover 14 for installing 
the picture 2 in the means for retaining and visually displaying 12, as 
shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 9. 
As best shown in FIG. 6, a preferred embodiment of the instant invention 
provides for a trapezoidal shape which will allow irregularly shaped 
pictures having an expanded base to be conveniently retained and displayed 
in the figure of the current invention. 
Moreover, by employing VELCRO.RTM.-like hook and loop mating material 28 to 
some of the interface connections between the outer cover 14 and the 
remaining portions of the FIG. 1 (in FIG. 5, the bottom edge 20 of the 
outer cover 14 and the bottom edge 34 of the back wall 32). The outer 
cover 14 can be reversibly rolled, as shown in FIG. 5, to a position in 
which a picture 2 may be inserted for display behind the front cover 14. 
In another preferred embodiment of the figure of the current invention, the 
back wall 32 may comprise a semi-rigid material to prevent the picture 2 
from becoming crimped or otherwise damaged. 
In another preferred embodiment, as best shown in FIGS. 7, 11 and 12, the 
FIG. 1 of an animated creature for retaining and visually displaying a 
picture 2 comprises a body 4 of the figure with a front side 6 and a back 
side 8, and extremities 10 including arms, legs, and a head; the front 
side comprises a sheet 46 having a predetermined size and shape with a 
peripheral edge; and means for retaining and visually displaying 12 the 
picture disposed on the front side of the body of the figure. The means 
for retaining and visually displaying the picture has a outer cover 14 
with forward face 16 and a rearward face 18, and a bottom edge, a top 
edge, and spaced upstanding side edges connecting the respective ends of 
the top edge to the bottom edge. The outer cover 14 further has a size and 
shape corresponding to the predetermined size and shape of the sheet 46. 
One of the embodiment of the invention provides that the sheet and outer 
cover are respectively attached to the body of the figure in such a way as 
to cause a squeezing pressure therebetween. This causes the picture to be 
squeezably maintained between the front cover and the sheet. This may be 
accomplished by providing that at least one transverse dimension of the 
front cover measured in one of a plurality of first directions between the 
closest points of attachment does not substantially exceed a corresponding 
transverse dimension between the closest points of attachment of the 
sheet. 
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, the sheet 46 is overlaid with the outer cover 
14 so that the arrangement of the peripheral edges of the sheet correspond 
with the like-shaped peripheral edges of the outer cover. Also shown is 
the outer cover attached to the front side of the body along the top edge 
and the upstanding side edges, and an opening 48, in which the picture may 
be inserted between the outer cover and the front side, partially bounded 
by the bottom edge 20 of the front cover 14. 
At least one transverse dimension of the outer cover measured in one of a 
plurality of first directions does not substantially exceed a 
corresponding transverse dimension of the sheet, and in which the sheet 
and the outer cover are both attached to the body along at least one set 
of opposing portions 50 of their respective peripheral edges, shown best 
in FIG. 10. The at least one set of opposing portions passing through one 
of the plurality of first directions. This configuration of attachment of 
the sheet and outer cover to the body of the figure causes a squeezing 
pressure between the sheet 46 and the outer cover 14 sufficient to 
maintain the picture 2 between said outer cover and said sheet. 
Additionally, the sheet 14 may comprise an outward surface 52 (or the 
exposed surface 40 of the back wall 32, where employed) with a rough 
texture 54 providing friction between the outward surface and the picture 
disposed adjacent thereto. 
Referring to FIGS. 10-12, another preferred embodiment of the FIG. 1 of an 
animated creature for retaining and visually displaying a picture 
comprises a body 4 of the figure with a front side 6 and a back side 8, 
and extremities 10 including arms, legs, and a head, and means for 
retaining and visually displaying 12 the picture disposed on the front 
side of the body of the figure. 
The front side 6 comprises a sheet 46 having a predetermined size and shape 
with a peripheral edge. Moreover, the means for retaining and visually 
displaying 12 the picture has a outer cover 14 with forward face 16 and a 
rearward face 18, and a bottom edge 20, a top edge 22, and spaced 
upstanding side edges 24 connecting the respective ends of the top edge to 
the bottom edge. The outer cover 14 also has a size and shape 
corresponding to the predetermined size and shape of the sheet 46. 
Furthermore, the sheet 46 and outer cover 14 may be respectively attached 
to the body 4 of the figure in such a way as to cause a squeezing pressure 
therebetween, whereby, the picture 2 may be squeezably maintained between 
the outer cover 14 and the sheet 46. 
In one embodiment of the figure of this important invention, the sheet 46 
may be overlaid with a outer cover 14 of similar size so that the 
arrangement of the peripheral edges of the sheet correspond with the 
like-shaped peripheral edges of the outer cover. Stitched together and 
attached to the body of the figure will causes a squeezing pressure 
between the sheet and the outer cover sufficient to maintain the picture 
between said outer cover and said sheet. 
Additionally, the outer cover 14 may be attached to the front side 6 of the 
body 4 along the top edge 22 and the upstanding side edges 24, and further 
comprise an opening 48, in which the picture may be inserted between the 
outer cover and the front side 6, partially bounded by the bottom edge 20 
of the front cover 14. 
Functionally, at least one transverse dimension of the outer cover measured 
in one of a plurality of first directions does not substantially exceed a 
corresponding transverse dimension of the sheet, and in which the sheet 
and the outer cover are both attached to the body along at least one set 
of opposing portions 50 of their respective peripheral edges. The at least 
one set of opposing portions 50 pass through one of the plurality of first 
directions. Attachment of the sheet and outer cover to the body of the 
figure will cause a squeezing pressure between the sheet and the outer 
cover sufficient to maintain the picture between said outer cover and said 
sheet. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12, the sheet 46 
comprises an outward surface 52 with a rough texture 54 providing friction 
between said outward surface and the picture 2 disposed adjacent thereto. 
While this invention has been described in connection with the best mode 
presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention, the 
preferred embodiments described and shown are for purposes of illustration 
only, and are not to be construed as constituting any limitations of the 
invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and 
all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are 
intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. 
The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather 
in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed 
and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination 
of all of its structures for the function specified. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.