Patent Publication Number: US-2016228780-A1

Title: Convertible toy

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a convertible toy having an integrated bag. In particular, aspects of the present invention provide articles, systems and kits for a convertible toy with an integrated expandable bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Plush toys in the shape of animals and characters are often adored and collected by children as toys. It can be difficult to find storage for the many toys and articles that children can collect over time. In addition to toys, children require other items, such as, clothes, books and bags, which also require storage. 
     For example, when children go to school, shopping, sleepovers, camping and sporting events, they require bags to hold various items, such as textbooks, computers, lunches, writing utensils, pouches, calculators, rulers, compasses, clothing, shoes, toys, balls and other items. Many bags are made of thick heavy materials that add to the weight of the items carried in the bag. Moreover, when such bags are not in use at home, they are often stored, placed in a closet or otherwise set aside. 
     It would be desirable to have a convertible toy with an integrated expandable bag made from a strong, but lightweight material that is collapsible for storing within the toy when not in use. In addition, it would be desirable if the convertible toy were integrated with the collapsible bag so that when the bag is expanded, the toy cannot be lost and the toy is positionable so as not to interfere with user of the bag by the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the invention are directed to a convertible toy comprising a body portion having an inner cavity accessible via an opening on a back side of the body portion with the opening having a securing device and the inner cavity configured to receive or expand an integrated bag. The integrated bag comprises a front portion having an opening for accessing the inner cavity of the toy from inside of the bag, a plurality of straps for carrying the bag with each strap having an end attached to a top portion of the bag and wherein the toy is integrated with the front portion of the bag and wherein the bag is configured to collapse and be inserted into the inner cavity of the toy for storage. 
     Additional advantages and novel features in accordance with aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description, claims and drawings that follow, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a convertible toy according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of the toy. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of the toy unzipped showing an integrated expandable bag located inside the toy. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of the toy unzipped showing the bag removed and extending outward from the rear of the toy. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side view thereof. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view thereof. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view thereof. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial back view of the toy with the bag open and showing a pocket within the toy. 
         FIG. 12  is a partial back view of the toy with the bag open and showing a lining of the pocket within the toy. 
         FIG. 13  is a partial side view of the toy with the bag connected to and extending outward from the toy. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of an alternate configuration of a convertible toy according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a back view thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a front view of the toy unzipped showing an integrated expandable bag located inside the toy. 
         FIG. 17  is a back perspective view of the toy unzipped showing the bag removed and extending outward from the front of the toy. 
         FIG. 18  is a back view thereof. 
         FIG. 19  is a front view thereof. 
         FIG. 20  is a left side view thereof. 
         FIG. 21  is a right side view thereof. 
         FIG. 22  is top view thereof. 
         FIG. 23  is a bottom view thereof. 
         FIG. 24  is a partial front view of the toy with the bag open and showing a pocket within the toy. 
         FIG. 25  is a partial front view of the toy with the bag open and showing a lining of the pocket within the toy. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     These and other features and advantages in accordance with aspects of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various example aspects. 
     Aspects of the present invention are directed to a convertible storage toy configured to receive, store and expand a collapsible bag. Aspects of the invention are described with respect to the figures. These figures illustrate example variations of components that may be incorporated in many different designs of the toy as well as in methods and kits for making and using the same. 
     It is understood that the figures are not meant to be an exhaustive description of the designs and configurations for the toy with the integrated bag or methods and kits for making and using the same. Rather, these figures show some example components and illustrate some example concepts that may be used to construct any number of toys with integrated bags. 
       FIG. 1  is a representative view of an example article according to aspects of the present invention. The example article may be a toy  100  in the form of a plush toy, such as illustrated, a lion cub, having integrated therewith a collapsible and expandable integrated article, such as a bag (not shown). 
     The toy  100  may have an inner cavity (not shown) on a back side of the toy as shown in  FIG. 2 . The inner cavity may be configured to receive and store the bag when not in use. The inner cavity may be accessible by unzipping a securing device or zipper  105 , for example, or by other opening and closing means, such as buttons, snaps, Velcro tape, etc. Additionally, the opening and closing means can also be located on a front side of the toy  100  (see  FIGS. 14-25  and discussion below), for example, and is not limited to these locations set forth in the illustrations. 
     In one aspect, a tail  110  of the toy may be attached to or form a pull tab for the zipper  105  so that when the zipper  105  is opened, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the tail  110  may dangle or hang from the top of the back side of the toy  100 . Further, the tail  110  for the toy  100  may be a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the design aspects of the toy, may be separately secured to the toy and not attachable to the zipper of the toy or may not be incorporated in the overall toy design. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the zipper  105  is unzipped, the bag  115  is shown as being stowed inside the toy  100 . Particularly, the bag  115  is folded, crushed or otherwise inserted into an inner cavity  130  of the toy  100 . The inner cavity  130  is sized to receive the entire bag  115  thereby resulting in the interior cavity of the toy being filled to provide a stuffed appearance for the toy  100 . 
       FIGS. 4-10  show example aspects of the toy  100  from different angles with the integrated bag  115  expanded and extending from the inner cavity  130  of the toy  100  according to the invention. Particularly, when a user unzips the zipper  105  by pulling the tail portion  110  of the toy  100  upward, the user can then remove the bag  115  from the inner cavity  130  of the toy  100 . Upon removal of the bag  115 , a portion of the bag  115  remains secured or integrated with the inner cavity  130  of the toy  100  as shown in  FIGS. 4-10 . 
     Further as shown in  FIGS. 4-10 , the integrated bag  115  may be a backpack comprising a front panel  250 , a back panel  260 , a top portion  270 , a bottom portion  280  and first and second side portions  290 . Front and back zippers  200  and  210  having zipper pull tabs  220  are positioned and extend across the top portion  270  of the bag  115  allowing for the opening and closing of the backpack. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the backpack also comprises first and second shoulder straps  120 , each with adjustable buckles  230  and each connected to the corresponding top and bottom portions of the bag thereby allowing for a user to position the backpack on one&#39;s back or carry over one&#39;s shoulder. The bag further includes a hook  300  for hanging and storing the backpack when not in use. The material of the bag  115  is preferably a lightweight fabric, such as Nylon, polyester or cotton fabrics, but may be any type of fabric or material that can be inserted and stored in the cavity  130  of the toy  100  with relative ease. 
     Additionally as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the bag  115  is removed and expanded outward from the inner cavity  130 , the toy  100  is positioned on the front panel  250  of the backpack so that the toy  100  does not interfere with use of the backpack by the user and provides a decorative feature while the bag  115  is expanded and the toy  100  is not in use. Based on the integration of the bag  115  with the toy  100 , the toy  100  extends and is positioned centrally on the front panel and is proportioned in size to the overall size and shape of the integrated bag  115 . As can be appreciated, both the toy  100  and bag  115  can be a variety of shapes and sizes and proportioned relative to each other based on design elements as well as functionality of the toy  100  and the bag  115 . 
     In one aspect and as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 and 13 , the bag  115  is integrated with the toy  100  via material  125  secured and extending outward from and along the edges of an opening in the front panel  250  of the bag  115  and, which in turn, is secured to the perimeter of the inner cavity  130  of the toy thereby forming integration means or a material connector between the toy  100  and the bag  115 . As shown, for example in  FIG. 13 , the material connector  125  for integrating the toy  100  with the bag  115  can be extended outward from the opening of the bag  115  thereby providing stability and support for the toy  100  on the front panel  250  when the bag is expanded. In one aspect, the material connector  125  can extend approximately one inch or less so as to connect and provide stability and support between the toy  100  and the front panel  250  of the bag  115 . The perimeter of the cavity  130  may also be sewn, secured or otherwise attached directly to the opening of the bag  115  without a material connector, and still allow for the bag  115  to be stored inside as well as expandable from the cavity  130  of the toy  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the bag  115  extending from the cavity  130  of the toy  100  is shown in an open position to show an interior storage portion or pocket  135  inside the toy  100  accessible by unzipping the front zipper  200  of the bag. Particularly,  FIG. 11  shows the additional pocket  135  positioned inside the cavity  130  of the toy  100  and  FIG. 12  shows a lining  140  of the additional pocket  135  pulled outward from the cavity  130  of the toy  100 . The additional pocket  135  is configured to be secured and to extend outward from the hole in the front panel  250  of the bag  115  and into the cavity  130  of the toy  100 . This configuration of the toy  100  stitched or otherwise attached or secured to the bag  115  and the access to the additional pocket  135  through the inside of the bag  115 , provides additional storage for the user and further integration of the toy  100  with the bag  115 . 
     An alternate configuration of a convertible toy is shown in  FIGS. 14-25 . In this configuration, an inner cavity of the toy  500  is accessible by unzipping a zipper on a front side of the toy to remove an integrated expandable bag  515 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , when the zipper  505  is unzipped by pulling the tab  510 , the bag  515  being an integrated expandable backpack is shown as being stowed in the inner cavity  530  of the toy  500 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17-23 , the integrated backpack  515  comprises a front panel  550 , a back panel  560 , a top portion  570 , a bottom portion  580  and first and second side portions  590 . Front and back zippers  600  and  610  having zipper pull tabs  620  are positioned and extend across the top portion  570  of the bag  515 . The backpack  515  also comprises first and second shoulder straps  520 , each with adjustable buckles  630  and each connected to the corresponding top and bottom portions of the backpack  515 , and a hook  700 . When the backpack  515  is removed and expanded outward from the inner cavity  530 , the toy  500  is positioned on the front panel  550  of the backpack  515 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the backpack  515  is integrated with the toy  500  via a material connector  525  secured and extending outward from and along the edges of an opening in the front panel  550  of the bag  515  and, which in turn, is secured to the perimeter of the inner cavity  530  of the toy  500 . Further, the backpack  515  is shown in an open position to show an interior storage portion or pocket  535  inside the toy  500  accessible by unzipping the front zipper  600  of the backpack  515 .  FIG. 24  shows the additional pocket  535  positioned inside the cavity  530  of the toy  500  and  FIG. 25  shows a lining  540  of the additional pocket  535  pulled outward from the cavity  530  of the toy  500 . The additional pocket  535  is configured to be secured and to extend outward from the hole in the front panel  550  of the bag  515  and into the cavity  530  of the toy  500 . 
     As set forth, the integration of the bag with the toy, particularly, along the perimeter of the toy&#39;s cavity, ensures that the toy will not be lost when not in use and the bag is expanded. It also prevents the toy from dangling and causing unanticipated shifts of weight when the bag is worn by the user. It further provides secure positioning and prominent display of the toy on the bag when the bag is expanded. 
     While aspects of this invention have been described in conjunction with the example features outlined above, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example aspects of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. For example, the toy is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but may be a variety of designs and figures, such as, for example, animals, characters, and dolls. The toy and the integrated bag may be a variety of shapes and sizes and constructed from a variety of different types of materials and fabrics. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Therefore, aspects of the invention are intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.