Abstract:
Provided is an activity toy configured to allow for a primary image, such as a photograph, to be converted into a fun and amusing secondary image in a manner that does not harm the original primary image. The toy may be used by children to decorate photographs with decorative devices, such as markers or stickers, without permanently marking the underlying photograph. Provided systems for use with both traditional and digital images.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/827,535, filed Sep. 29, 2006, titled Personalized Photo Costuming Toy, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates in general to a children&#39;s activity toy and methods by which individual adherent ornamental objects or descriptive devices can be used to decorate photos of a child and additional people, animals, characters or objects. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Colorforms, die-cut vinyl sheet images and shapes that can be applied to a slick background, have been a popular children&#39;s activity toy for many years. They are popular with toddlers and small children because of the interactive creativity used, the physical interest of the material, the variation of the shapes, and the artistic and versatile nature of the pictures and stories that can be created by the child. 
         [0004]    Another favorite activity of children is the study of faces and pictures, particularly their own and people they know or recognize. Toddlers and small children love to look at photos and name the people in the picture. The same activity is relevant when cartoon characters or familiar puppets can be identified and named. 
         [0005]    Children also enjoy coloring and drawing faces and pictures. They often like to draw pictures of themselves and their family. A child would also think that decorating an atypical pattern on a picture is hilarious and fun. For example, drawing a mustache and glasses on a picture of an uncle or sibling would be great fun indeed without the consequential discipline for ruining a photo. 
         [0006]    The combination of these three activities would be an enjoyable, developmentally positive, creative, and unique game with limitless possibilities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    It is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings and detailed description that follow are intended to be merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of one version of a personalized photo costuming sheet. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one version of a plurality of personalized photo costuming sheets arranged into an album. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a frame having a personalized photo costuming sheet inserted therein shown with associated descriptive devices in the form of stickers. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates perspective view of a digital photo display device shown with an associated descriptive device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a right side view of the digital photo display device of  FIG. 4  shown with an input for receiving digital storage medium. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one version, the personalized photo costuming sheet  10  comprises a photo or primary image  12  of an individual covered in a laminate or protective covering  14 . In one embodiment, the photo  12  is placed into a laminate sleeve  16  via an aperture  18 , surrounded by a border  19 , in the sheet  10 , where the protective covering  14  is a clear transparent pane in the front of the sheet  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plurality of sheets  10  may be combined into an album  20  for use. The sheet  10  may be rigid or flexible, transparent or partially transparent, embossed with images, and include any suitable shape, including polygonal or round. In versions of the sheet  10  having a border  19 , the border  19  may be any suitable size or configuration where, for example, the border may be used to write descriptive messages, to draw, or to provide a larger surface area than a small picture may provide to prevent accidental damage due to markers, or the like. All or a portion of the sheet, including the protective covering and the border  19 , may be erasable or permanent. For example, the border  19  may be marked indelibly, whereas the protective covering  14  may be erasable. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in use, the sheet  10  allows for a child to insert, for example, a photo of a relative into the sleeve  16  such that the photo is protected by the sleeve. After insertion, the child may use any suitable decorating device, including a magnet, a marker, a writing instrument, a sticker, paint, felt, a suction cup, make-up, hair, glitter, glue, beads, dry-erase markers, vinyl objects configured to releasably adhere to a surface, objects comprising adherent backing, or the like, to manipulate the protective coating  14  over the photo to create a secondary image from the photo or primary image  12 . For example, a picture of a child&#39;s grandfather may be made to look like a doctor when the child draws, or otherwise uses a descriptive device, on the protective covering  14  to add a stethoscope and scrubs. In this manner, a child may enjoy using treasured family members, or other familiar images, as the basis for creative and imaginative play. The protection of the sleeve may allow children to express themselves without damaging treasured family photos. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a frame  22  may be provided into which a sheet  24  containing a primary image or photo  12  is inserted for general viewing. By using such a frame  22 , a child may display a secondary image, such as a parent drawn up as a pirate, in a traditional viewing manner. The child may remove the sheet  24  and alter the photograph without, at any time, damaging the primary image of the photograph. The frame  22  may also include a protective pane  26 . When used with a sheet  24  having a secondary image, the protective pane may also be used as a surface for creating an even more complex image. For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , a photo of the tree in the backyard in winter may be used as the primary image. When inserted into a sheet  24 , the child may color fill in the foliage of the tree with a decorative device, such as a crayon, to create a vibrant secondary image. Once this image is inserted into the frame  22 , a second decorative device, such as stickers  28  shaped as fruit, may be added to the protective pane  26  of the frame  22  to create an even more vibrant image. In an alternate embodiment, the frame  22  does not have a protective plastic pane  26  and is used to display only a sheet  24 . In one version, the frame  22  includes a storage compartment  30 , which may be a hinged compartment at the back of the frame, to house multiple primary images including photos of a child, family members, pets, or favorite characters. The primary image  12  can be substituted by any of the photos in the storage compartment  30  and placed under the protective covering. It will be appreciated that the frame  22  may be a box frame without a stand and may have any suitable compartment for storing descriptive devices and/or primary images such as photos. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one version a digital frame  40  that may be associated with digital primary images, such as photos from a digital camera, is provided such that a person could plug in their digital card, or other electronic medium (not shown), into an input  42  (Shown in  FIG. 5 ) in the frame  40  and, for example, load a photo directly into the frame  40 . In this manner, in one version, the frame  40  would display the digital photo in a display  44  having a protective covering or pane  46  over the display  44  such that the primary image, or digital photo, could be modified into a secondary image with a decorative device  50 , such as a crayon, as described herein. The frame  40  may include a cover  48  which may be used to protect the display  44  and/or may be used as a compartment to store decorative devices, or the like. In a further embodiment, the frame itself could include and act as a digital camera. In this case, a person may use the frame as a camera, taking the photo, editing the photo, and then displaying the photo to decorate with various decorative devices. 
         [0017]    The entire invention, including descriptive devices such as vinyl stick-on objects, dry erase-type markers, and photo album or frame could be packaged in a carrying case (not shown). The case would be easy to carry and would help the owner to keep everything together in one place while using the toy in various locations. 
         [0018]    In one version, the activity toy is used in an interactive process, where personal photos are taken at a staffed location, such as at a photographer&#39;s studio, and are digitally stored or printed. The staffed location then presents these photos, or any other suitable primary image, to the customer with a number of associated decorative devices. For example, if a parent takes their child to get photographed as a clown, the child could be provided with their own picture and an apparatus as described herein containing decorative elements related to the circus, such as lions, tigers, and bears. Photographs may be taken with the express intent of later modifying them with a specific set of related decorative devices. Such an interactive process may be particularly applicable to theme parks and other vacation areas where additional decorative devices provided with photographs may be used as advertising. 
         [0019]    Staffed locations could be at home shows, mall kiosks, photography studios, theme parks, resorts, or other locations. The service and product could also be provided via the internet from a interactive website. The customer could e-mail or download digital pictures, or other suitable primary images, according to posted guidelines.