Abstract:
A wearable toy is provided, including a figurine body defining a substantially planar bottom surface; a magnet disposed within the figurine body; and an attachment element magnetically engageable with the substantially planar bottom surface. A method of affixing a toy figurine to an article of clothing is also provided, including positioning a toy figurine adjacent a first surface of the article of clothing; positioning an attachment element in proximity to the toy figurine on a second surface opposite the first surface; and magnetically engaging the attachment element to the toy figurine with the article of clothing disposed there between.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    N/A 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to toy figurines and more particularly to toy figurines that are wearable or otherwise attachable to clothing in a desired position. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Toy figures and dolls are a mainstay as toys for young children, and come in a variety of different categories. There are figures or figurines that are electrically-powered and self-animating, figures having a plurality of moving joints allowing a child to set the figure in a particular pose, as well as figures or dolls that simply provide a child with a miniature mannequin to dress and accessorize as they please. Despite the seemingly-timeless and wide ranging dolls and figurines available, there is always a continual desire to provide improvements and novelty over existing toys to continue to entertain children and stimulate their imaginations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a toy figurine assembly that is attachable or otherwise wearable on an article of clothing. In particular, a wearable toy is provided, including a figurine body; a magnet disposed within the figurine body; and an attachment element magnetically engageable with the figurine body. The attachment element may be substantially cylindrical and may include a metallic portion substantially surrounded by a non-metallic coating, where the non-metallic coating includes one or more rubbers, polymers, thermoplastics or the like. The figurine body may define a substantially planar bottom surface, and the attachment element may be engageable with a bottom surface of the figurine such that figurine extends substantially vertically from the attachment element. 
         [0006]    A wearable toy is also provided, including a figurine body defining a substantially planar bottom surface; a magnet disposed within the figurine body, the magnet having a pull strength between approximately four pounds and eight pounds; and an attachment element magnetically engageable with the substantially planar bottom surface. The attachment element may be substantially coin-shaped and include a metallic layer enclosed in an exterior polymer layer and may define an engagement surface having at least the same size as a size of the substantially planar bottom surface. 
         [0007]    The present invention also provides a method of affixing a toy figurine to an article of clothing, including positioning a toy figurine adjacent a first surface of the article of clothing; positioning an attachment element in proximity to the toy figurine on a second surface opposite the first surface; and magnetically engaging the attachment element to the toy figurine with the article of clothing disposed therebetween. The toy figurine may define a substantially planar bottom surface, and positioning the toy figurine can include positioning the substantially planar surface to abut the first surface of the article of clothing. The article of clothing may include a hat or a shirt, and the first surface of the article of clothing may include a shoulder-covering portion of the article such that the toy figurine extends substantially vertically from the article of clothing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a toy figurine assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the toy figurine assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the toy figurine assembly shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the toy figurine shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an exemplary use of an embodiment of a toy figurine assembly in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention provides a toy figurine assembly that is attachable or otherwise wearable on an article of clothing. Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  an exemplary embodiment of a wearable or attachable toy assembly, designated generally as  10 . Of note, the assembly components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Moreover, while certain embodiments or figures described herein may illustrate features not expressly indicated on other figures or embodiments, it is understood that the features and components of the system and devices disclosed herein may be included in a variety of different combinations or configurations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0015]    Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1-4 , the toy assembly  10  generally includes a toy figurine body  12  that is engageable with an attachment element  14  to facilitate positioning or mounting of the figurine body  12  on or about an article of clothing. The toy figurine body  12  may have various shapes and appearances appealing to children for their entertainment and enjoyment. For example, the figurine body  12  may generally include a face region  16  having eyes, a nose, and other facial features configured to convey a particular expression, whether humorous or otherwise. The figurine body  12  may also include a unique and stylized hair arrangement  18  protruding from or otherwise attached to the body  12 . One or more appendages  20  may also extend from or otherwise be included on the figurine body  12 , such as rounded feet on a lower extremity or portion of the body  12  and/or one or more arms (not shown) similarly fashioned on an upper extremity or portion of the body  12 . The figurine body  12  may also define a substantially planar bottom or underside surface  22  that aids in or facilitates engagement with the attachment element  14 , as described in more detail below. The bottom surface  22  may include a center torso portion as well as a surface portion forming an underside or bottom of one or more of the appendages  20 . 
         [0016]    The figurine body  12  may also include one or more stylized indicia that illustrate or compliment a theme for a particular figurine. For example, a sports team logo or graphic may be disposed on the body  12 , as well as any number of additional representative or illustrative emblems or marks. 
         [0017]    The figurine body  12  of the toy assembly  10  may further include one or more magnets  24  disposed within or about the body  12  to attract, couple, or engage the attachment element  14 . For example, the figurine body  12  may define an interior compartment or passage dimensioned to receive the one or more magnets  24  therein. The magnet(s)  24  may be assembled or otherwise positioned within the passage or compartment and secured in place with an adhesive, a cap, or closure on the passage or compartment, or the like. In another example, the hair arrangement  18  may be adhered to the figurine body  12  to obscure the visibility and/or access to the interior compartment, thus securing the magnet(s)  24  in place. The magnet(s)  24  may include any material, object or device that produces a magnetic field, including permanent magnets such as ceramic or ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, rare earth magnets, ticonal magnets, and may also include one or more electromagnets. The magnet(s)  24  may provide a magnetic field having sufficient strength or pull to securely yet releasably engage the attachment element  14 , and may be in the range of approximately four to eight pounds of pull strength, for example. 
         [0018]    The attachment element  14  may be releasably engageable with a portion of the figurine body  12  to allow the assembly  10  to be fixed or coupled to an article of clothing, as mentioned above. The attachment element  14  may define a substantially cylindrical or coin-shaped body that is magnetically attracted by the magnets  24  sufficiently to releasably secure the attachment element  14  to the underside or surface  22  of the figurine body  12 . Towards that end, the attachment element  14  may define a substantially planar surface readily positionable adjacent to the substantially planar surface  22  of the figurine body  12 . Also, the attachment element  14  may define an engagement surface  26  having at least the same size or greater as a size of the substantially planar bottom surface  22  such that the attachment element  14  does not need to be exactly aligned with the figurine body  12  in order to achieve a desired magnetic engagement between the components. 
         [0019]    To facilitate the magnetic attachment between the figurine body  12  and the attachment element  14 , the attachment element may be constructed from a magnetically-responsive or otherwise attractable material. For example, the attachment element  14  may include a metallic core or layer  28  that is magnetically engageable with the figurine body  12  via the magnet(s)  24 . In addition, the attachment element  14  may include a non-metallic layer or coating  30  substantially surrounding or otherwise enclosing the magnetically-attractable core  28 . The exterior layer  30  may include one ore more plastics or polymers, such as rubbers, polymers, thermoplastics or the like, for example. The exterior coating or layer  30  adds to the overall safety of the device in shielding exposure to the metallic core  28  in addition to cushioning the attachment element  14  for comfort and ease of use. 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary use of the toy assembly  10  is illustrated. The figurine body  2  may be mounted or positioned on a portion of an article of clothing  32 , such as a shirt, hat, or the like. In particular, the figurine body  12  may be positioned such that its underside surface  26  abuts or is otherwise adjacent a first surface or exterior of the article of clothing  32 . The attachment element  14  may be positioned adjacent to or otherwise abutting an opposite, interior surface of the article of clothing  32 . The adjacent positioning of the figurine body  12  and the attachment elements  14  on opposite sides of the clothing article  32  allows the magnet  24  in the figurine body  12  to attract and releasably engage the attachment element  14  with the layer of the clothing article disposed in between. The engagement of the figurine body  12  to the attachment element  14  allows the assembly  10  to be mounted or otherwise worn on a portion of the body covered by the clothing article  32 , such as the shoulder area as shown in  FIG. 5 . In particular, the toy figurine  12  may be positioned on the shoulder or neck area of the clothing article such that it extends substantially vertically upward from the clothing article  32  while the attachment element  14  resides in a substantially horizontal configuration beneath the surface of the clothing article  32  and out of sight. The secured magnetic attachment between the figurine body  12  and the attachment element  14  allows the figurine to be worn as desired without damaging the clothing article, and further provides sufficient coupling force to prevent the toy figurine  12  from becoming dislodged or moved during normal movements such as walking. The toy assembly  10  thus provides a figurine  12  that can be worn about the body and taken wherever the child may go. 
         [0021]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.