Patent Publication Number: US-2003224691-A1

Title: Toy doll to give the appearance of a used, worn out doll

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention may be described as a new toy doll having the appearance of an old worn out doll.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002] Most people can remember a time growing up when they received a brand new doll or stuffed animal. Quite possibly the doll attended tea parties with its young partner, was involved in numerous activities such as being part of a battle, being thrown about as though it were an item of sporting goods, and/or kept someone close company at night to provide serenity. Before long, the doll or stuffed animal would loose it&#39;s “fresh from the store” look and become worn, possibly even having to face surgical repair at a variety of locations over the dolls body by way of needle and thread. As the doll or stuffed animal grew old, it became more cherished by it&#39;s owner, and increasingly desheveled.  
       [0003] Unfortunately, dolls and stuffed animals are not created with a worn out, loved look. This requires owners of dolls or stuffed animals to purchase brand new dolls or stuffed animals and wait for them to become worn out. It may take years for a doll or stuffed animal to obtain a worn out and loved look.  
       [0004] Because individuals tend to have more affection for an old and worn out doll or stuffed animal, the present unique and novel idea is to create a new doll or stuffed animal with body features constructed in such a manner as to provide a used, worn out, loved appearance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention comprises a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features, including facial features, constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed toy or animal. The illustrated embodiment of the invention is a stuffed toy doll or animal that includes an exterior mesh shell comprising first outer portions having matte material unevenly attached thereto, thus simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy doll or animal. The exterior mesh shell further comprises second outer portions which are free of the matte material. The mesh shell may be fabric, plastic or any other suitable material to provide the outer shell of a toy doll or stuffed animal.  
       [0006] The present invention further comprises a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed animal, with an exterior mesh shell extending over internal stuffing material. The mesh exterior shell is loosely secured to the internal stuffing material at random locations, imparting a used appearance and feeling to the stuffed toy doll or animal. The random loose locations can be provided in the arms, legs and/or head of the stuffed toy doll or animal. The mesh exterior is preferably formed into a unitary piece using nylon or other suitable thread, or a heat seal.  
       [0007] The disclosed invention further consists of a stuffed toy doll or animal having body features including facial features constructed to provide the appearance of a used, worn out stuffed doll or animal, where the matte material is unevenly distributed over a surface of the exterior mesh shell, simulating hairy portions of the outer body of the toy animal. Elements are also attached to the matte material representing the facial features of the toy doll or animal. The attached elements are asymmetrically applied to the stuffed toy doll or animal, providing the appearance of a tattered expression on the face. The elements may be buttons or other materials known by those skilled in the art to form the facial features on toy dolls or animals.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] The present invention is described in greater detail in the following description of examples embodying the best mode of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mesh shell of the toy doll or animal constructed according to the invention;  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of two portions of the mesh shell being secured together by thread according to the invention;  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the uneven, random distribution of matte material upon the mesh shell according to the invention; and  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of facial elements of the toy doll or animal according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0013] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to the one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
     [0014] One embodiment of the worn out toy doll or animal  10  comprises an exterior mesh shell  12  (as shown in FIG. 1). The conventional mesh shell  12  is formed into a unitary piece by binding loose sections of the mesh shell  12  together, such as with threads  18 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The conventional binding  18  may be nylon thread, heat seal, or any other suitable material or process known in the art. The mesh shell  12  can be fabric, plastic, or any other suitable material.  
     [0015] With reference to FIG. 3, the mesh shell  12  includes first outer portions  14  and second outer portions  16 . The first outer portions  14  have matte material applied in a manner that simulates hair. The matte material is either fiberous or non-fiberous material, and is randomly dispersed over the body of the toy doll or animal at portions  14 . The second randomly located outer portions  16  of the mesh shell  12  are void of the matte, hair or fur like material that is applied to randomly located first outer portions  14 . The application of matte material in a random manner, where certain portions of the toy doll or animal  10  are covered with the matte material and other portions of the doll  10  are void of matte material, creates a used and worn out, but loved look for the toy doll or animal  10 .  
     [0016] The mesh shell  12  is filled with a stuffing material that provides the toy doll or animal  10  with its shape. The stuffing is inserted in the mesh shell  12  via a suitable opening in the mesh shell as is known in the art. The toy doll or animal  10  is stuffed with varying, non-uniform amounts of stuffing at random locations to further create a worn out look and feel.  
     [0017] Referring to FIG. 5, the doll  10  has facial elements  20  placed in locations to further provide the appearance of a worn out look and feel to the toy  10 . The facial elements  20  are asymmetrically applied to the facial area  21  of the toy doll or animal  10 . The facial elements  20  may be attached to the facial area  21  with thread or any other suitable method of attachment. The facial elements  20  may also be loosely attached to the facial area  21  to further emphasize the worn out appearance. The facial elements  20  may be buttons, fabric, or any other suitable material, and emulate the eyes, nose, mouth and ears of the toy  10 .  
     [0018] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention. However, it must be understood that these particular products, and their method of manufacture, do not limit but merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.