Abstract:
An animal-like inflatable toy figure comprising a hollow volume of air-impervious material shaped to form the body, head, fore and hind legs, and back. The body of the animal is comprised of a rotund belly that serves as the base of the toy and a back portion for receiving a rider. The ball shaped belly facilitates a bouncing and rocking motion, which allows the child to move around while ridding on the back of the toy. The toy entertains the child while teaching balance as well as hand-eye coordination.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/562,970, filed Apr. 16, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to air-inflatable toys. Specifically, it relates to a three-dimensional, inflatable toy that is shaped like an animal having a body portion with legs, a head portion, a rotund belly as its base and a handle, such that a child can sit on the inflatable animal&#39;s back and rock back and forth, bounce up and down, or translate by means of bouncing.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Inflatable plastic toys shaped like animals exist in the prior art. Most of the prior-art inflatable toys are small, hand held toys, which children can carry around. Larger, inflatable animal toys, some as big as children, have become popular as well. The prior art inflatable three-dimensional toys were usually used for posing, fantasy play, or for display purposes. There are also some stationary prior art inflatable toys that were designed to be sat on by children but not ridden (i.e. bounced or rocked by) by children. The present invention relates generally to an inflatable toy that children can ride, which allows the rider to rock or bounce the toy.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In one embodiment of the present invention, an inflatable toy animal that bounces and rocks at the direction of a mounted user comprises: a means for bouncing and rocking the toy, the means comprising a rotund base, wherein at least a portion of the base is inflatable; a seat portion extending from atop the base; a front portion extending from at least one of the base and the seat portion, the front portion including resembling an animal head; a plurality of legs extending from the base; a user grasp, the grasp comprising a handle, rope, bridle, rein, collar, ear, mane or hair; and an air valve.  
         [0005]     In another embodiment of the present invention, an inflatable toy animal that bounces and rocks at the direction of a mounted user comprises: a means for bouncing and rocking the toy, the means comprising an animal-shaped body having a rotund base, wherein at least a portion of the base is inflatable; a means for sitting on the toy, the means comprising a seat portion of the body; a means for a mounted user to grasp the toy; and a means for inflating the toy, wherein the body includes a front portion that resembles an animal head and extends from at least one of the base and the seat portion.  
         [0006]     In still another embodiment of the present invention, an inflatable toy animal kit comprises: an inflatable toy animal that bounces at the direction of a mounted user comprising: a means for bouncing the toy, the means comprising a rotund base, wherein at least a portion of the base is inflatable; a seat portion extending from atop the base; a front portion extending from at least one of the base and the seat portion, the front portion resembling an animal head; a plurality of legs extending from the base; a user grasp, the grasp comprising a handle, rope, bridle, rein, collar, ear, mane or hair; and an air valve; and at least one accessory selected from the following list: a hair brush; a hair braid; a hair clip; a hat; a saddle; a rug; a blanket; a body cover; a leg wrap or cover; a pair of stirrups; shoes; gloves; a saddle pack; a halter; a bridle; a rein; a bit; blinders; a hat; a beret; a head band; a scarf; a collar; a rope; a costume; or armor. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the air-inflatable toy animal, depicting a horse, of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the air-inflatable toy animal, depicting a bull, of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1  showing an internal compartment;  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the inflatable toy horse of  FIG. 1  showing an air valve;  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7  showing an air valve; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the inflatable toy bull of  FIG. 7  showing an internal compartment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-16  show an inflatable toy animal  10  that has a rotund or rounded base  20 , which resembles a portion of a ball, with the remaining portions of the toy shaped to resemble an animal, such as, for example, a horse in  FIGS. 1-6 ,  13 - 14  and a bull in  FIGS. 7-12 ,  15 - 16 . At least a portion of toy  10  is inflated with pressurized air (other gases or liquid may be used), facilitating the use thereof for rocking (rotating), bouncing, or translating activities. Toy  10  may be designed to have a realistic look to aid children in imagining that they are riding a real animal. The animal may be a non-fictional animal included within the kingdom Animalia (which includes insects). For example, the toy  10  may comprise a horse, bull, dog, cat, ant, or grasshopper. The animal may also be a fictional animal, such as, for example, a dragon or unicorn. It is also contemplated that the toy  10  can be designed to resemble any other animate or inanimate object.  
         [0024]     The toy  10  generally comprises a base  20 , a seat or mounted portion  30 , a front end portion  40 , and a grasping portion  50 . The toy  10  may also comprise a rear end portion  60 , legs  70 , and an internal chamber or compartment  80 . In the present embodiment, a plug and stopper (or air valve)  12  is used to facilitate inflation and containment of the pressurized air within toy  10 . Valve  12  may be located anywhere on toy  10 , and may be tucked or collapsed into toy  10 , to deter any accidental contact or opening of valve  12 . It is contemplated that valve may comprise any commercially known inflation and containment means, including, for example, rubber, polymeric, or metal valves. Depending on the type of valve (inflation and containment means) used, valve  12  may be integral (maintained in a fixed relationship as a single unit) or monolithic (forming as a single uniform structure) with toy  10  or operably attached to toy  10 , each using any commercially known means, such as by molding, adhesive bonding, stitching and sealing, or heat bonding.  
         [0025]     Toy  10  may be integrally formed (where all parts are maintained in a fixed relationship as a single unit), monolithically formed (as a single uniform structure), or it may operably formed, each using any commercially known means, such as, for example, any molding process (including injection molding), adhesive bonding, stitching and sealing, or heat-bonding. Toy  10  should be sufficiently strong to support the weight of a user, such as a child or adult, without collapsing, bursting, or separating. This will largely be a function of: the intended user (child or adult); type of material used to manufacture the toy  10 ; whether toy  10  is integral, monolithic, or operably formed and the specific forming process used; and the size and shape of base  20 . Also, the material must be reasonably impervious to air leaks and seepage.  
         [0026]     Toy  10  can be made from any commercially known material that provides an inflatable structure that can be bounced, especially polymeric or elastic materials, such as natural rubber, latex rubber, non-latex rubber, nitrile-butadiene or acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), or an NBR/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blend. Certain materials, such as non-latex rubber, may be used to provide a hypoallergenic toy  10 . Toy  10  may be homogenous or heterogeneous (whether or not integrally, monolithically, or operably formed), where at least a portion of toy  10  is formed from the materials mentioned above; however, certain portions of toy  10  may be formed from other materials, such as, for example, wood, synthetic hair, or metal.  
         [0027]     Base  20  is the lower portion of the toy  10 , the portion that contacts the ground or water and generally forms the belly of the animal; however, it is contemplated that toy  10  may depict an animal in any position, such as, for example, on its back or on its buttocks. Therefore, in the first example, base  20  would represent the animal&#39;s back, and not its belly. Generally, at least a portion of base  20  is inflated with pressurized air. The rotund or rounded shape of base  20  contributes to the ability of toy  10  to rock back and forth. As the user shifts his or her weight forward, toy  10  rolls upon the front portion of base  20 , which then deforms. The same happens to the rear portion of base  20  when the user shifts his or her weight backward. Further, because at least a portion of base  20  is inflated and pressurized to form a tensile structure, it deforms under load and facilitates bouncing and translation of toy  10 . As base  20  deflects under load, a substantially flat contact patch forms where base  20  contacts the ground. Together, the inflated tensile structure and the contact patch provide stability to a user during rocking, bouncing, or translation activities. It is contemplated that base  20  may include a sphere-like internal chamber or compartment  80 , which is inflated with pressurized air and performs similar to base  20  as described above. Internal chamber  80  may comprise a separate structure that is operably attached to the body, such as along the base, or it may comprise a portion of base  20 , being integral or monolithic therewith. The sphere-like shape may provide more uniform or predictable rocking, bouncing, and translational movements, including spring rates, about the exterior surface of base  20 . The pressurized air returns the inflated toy animal  10  back to its original shape, as the weight of the user is shifted away from toy  10 .  
         [0028]     Seat  30  provides a place upon which a user can sit. Here the user can rock back and forth to simulate the natural gait of any animal, including a horse or bull, or can bounce upon and with toy  10 . Bouncing may occur in a purely vertical up and down manner, or bouncing may occur in a plane not perpendicular with the ground (angular) and thereby facilitate the translation of toy  10  across any surface. Seat  30  may be cupped or curved to provide a more stable place for a user to sit. Seat  30  generally represents the bare back of an animal; however, seat  30  may comprise a saddle, blanket, rug, or the like. Seat  30  may also include a hump  32 , depicting a feature of an animal&#39;s back, such as the hump on the back of a camel or bull. Further, as stated above, toy  10  may depict an animal in any position, such as, for example, depicting the animal on its back. Therefore, in the example, seat  30  would depict the animal&#39;s belly.  
         [0029]     Front end  40  extends from the rotund base  20  and/or seat  30 . Front end  40  generally represents the head  41  of any desired animal, including any included head and facial features such as, for example, eyes  42 , ears  43 , nose  44 , mouth  45  (which may include a tongue and at least one tooth), hair (or mane)  46 , forelock  47 , or horns  49 . Hair (or mane)  46  and forelock  47  may be natural or synthetic hair, which can be combed, braided, and washed, or molded material integral or monolithic with toy  10  or front end  40 . Front end  40  may also include a neck  48 . All features may not be included, such as, for example, when a molded hair  46  or forelock  47  covers an eye or eyes, the covered eye or eyes may not be included. Also, for example, if a mouth is depicted open, teeth and a tongue may be shown. Other items may be integral or monolithic with front end  40 , such as, for example, a hat, a hood, a head band, a scarf, glasses, a beret, hair clips, etc. Toy  10  may include a grasping portion (or means for grasping)  50 , which allows a user to securely grasp toy  10  and balance himself or herself upon toy  10 . Grasp  50  may comprise, for example, a handle, a bridle, reins, or a rope, which may be integral or monolithic with toy  10 . Grasp  50  may also comprise any other existing features on toy  10 , such as, for example, ears  43  or hair  46 , or a saddle, hat, scarf, etc.  
         [0030]     Toy  10  may include a rear end  60  and legs  70 . Rear end  60  generally represents the back side of an animal, and includes, for example, the animal&#39;s buttocks  62  and tail  64 . Tail  64  may be natural or synthetic hair, which can be combed, braided, and washed, or molded material integral or monolithic with toy  10  or rear end  60 . Legs  70  extend from toy  10  separately or in pairs, such as from base  20 , front end  40 , and/or tail  60 . Legs  70  may include any number of legs, such as, for example, two front legs and/or two rear legs. Legs  70  may be aesthetic or structural, meaning legs  70  may operate as safety stops and limit the rotation, rocking, or bouncing of toy  10 . Legs  70  may also include leg coverings or wraps, which may be integral or monolithic or operably attached to legs  70 . Finally, the ends of legs  70  may include hooves or feet  72 , which may resemble the natural hooves or feet of the depicted animal, or may form shoes or include horseshoes.  
         [0031]     Toy  10  may include separate accessories, which may be used in conjunction with and/or placed upon toy  10 . Accessories may include a bridle, a halter, reins, lead rope, a collar, and a pair of stirrups, which the user could use to grasp, secure, or balance himself or herself upon toy  10 . Accessories may also include any other accessory used with an animal, for example, a saddle (English or western), a blanket, a rug, armor, a costume, hats, headbands, berets, a pair of glasses, a body sheet or cover, leg covers or wraps, shoes, gloves or mittens, a sweater or coat, a pack such as a saddle pack, and grooming accessories (such as brushes, combs, and hair clips). Accessories may be separate from toy  10 , or each accessory may be incorporated into toy  10  as a portion thereof, as mentioned above, where it may be joined with toy  10  or formed integral or monolithic therewith. Toy  10  may include a separate docking station, where it can be placed in a stationary position, including, for example, in a vertical position, when not being used. Docking station may function like and resemble an egg carton, meaning it may have a concave pit-like recession for placing base  20 . Station may also be themed and may resemble, for example, a pasture, stable, barn stall, garden, dog house, bird cage, castle, etc.  
         [0032]     Although the invention has been described herein with reference to the present embodiments, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present embodiments of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.