Abstract:
A new toy for young children incorporating a coil feature is disclosed. A coil preferably an expansion spring, is covered with a sleeve. A head is then affixed to the coil, either directly or to the sleeve as an intermediary, forming the toy. The sleeve may also be extended past the end of the coil, forming a soft tail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Coils, or expansion springs, have been used in toys for many years, the most famous application being the Slinky® toy and its variants. These provided entertainment and education to the user in developing hand-eye coordination and basic principles of science and logic in anticipating the reaction of the toy to a given manipulation. For example, in its basic form, the coil toy can actually “walk” down stairs or inclined planes if operated properly. These toys are not suitable for small children, as they can overextend and break, and sometimes, in the case of metal coils, pose a hazard due to sharp edges and corners. Furthermore, they have a very unaesthetic appearance, being very angular, regular, and unappealing to the eye. 
     It would be desirable to use the appealing properties of a coil toy in a form with more aesthetic and play value, while making it more suitable for use by small children. The present invention addresses these concerns. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a coil toy for the entertainment and education of children. 
     A second object of the invention is to provide a coil toy which is entertaining and aesthetic in appearance. 
     A third object of the invention is to provide a coil toy which is safe for children to use. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following disclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a new toy for young children incorporating a coil feature. A coil, in the preferred embodiment an expansion spring, is covered with a sleeve to protect the user from being injured by contact with the coil and to allow an aesthetic appearance for the toy. A head is then affixed to the coil, either directly or to the sleeve as an intermediary, forming an entertaining and educational toy. The sleeve can also extend past the end of the coil, forming a soft tail for added effect. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The characteristic features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims. The descriptions of the preferred embodiment refer to the preceding drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative assembly with components separated. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toy showing the sleeve partially covering the coil. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toy with the head attached and the sleeve and coil visible. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toy fully assembled in the compressed position. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toy fully assembled in the extended position. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toy showing the flexibility of the coil. 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the toy. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the toy showing the joining of the coil to the head. 
     FIG. 9 is an overhead view of the toy showing the joining of the coil to the head. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment, partially-assembled 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment in the process of assembly. 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment showing the details of construction. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment, fully assembled. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the preferred embodiment, the invention is practiced as an expansion spring with a low spring coefficient, the spring covered with a fabric sleeve, and a comical head attached to the sleeve, producing a plush character which can be manipulated in an entertaining and educational way. For purposes of this application, the term “coil” is used. This may mean any helical object with suitable properties for the desired application. In the preferred embodiment, the coil is an expansion spring with a relatively low spring coefficient, which allows it to be manipulated easily and expanded by even fairly young children, and therefore change dramatically in size when manipulated and then spring back to the original configuration. If desired, the coil can have different elastic properties: for example, it might have an extremely high spring coefficient, making it hard to expand or contract, but be formed in such a way that it is always partially expanded, making a toy which is always roughly the same size but which is very bouncy when shaken. The term “coil” should always be understood to have the broadest possible meaning. Typically, the coil will be made out of plastic or metal, and the sleeve out of a fabric with some elastic properties. although this is not required. 
     By referring to FIG. 1, the basic principle of the invention can easily be understood. Head  12 , coil  14 , and sleeve  16  are the basic components of the toy. Sleeve  16  comprises fabric  18  which is held in the desired shape by stitching  19 . The fabric may also be fused, glued or formed into the sleeve by any desired means. 
     FIG. 2 shows the invention partially assembled. Sleeve  16  is being slid onto coil  14  both to cover it and to provide a means for attaching coil  14  to head  12  in a strong and aesthetic manner. 
     FIG. 3 shows the assembled toy. Toy  30  has been formed by attaching coil  14  and sleeve  16  to head  12 , as shown in detail in later drawings. 
     FIG. 4 shows the complete toy in the compressed position. Toy  30  comprises head  12 , coil  14  (not visible—see preceding drawings,) with its covering sleeve, and tail  40 . Tail  40  is an optional improvement formed by extending sleeve  16  so that it is somewhat longer than coil  14 . The tail may be sewn or otherwise sealed at the end of coil  14  so that the tail is always the same length, but this is not required. It should be noted, however, that if the tail is not sealed then the coil will expand into it when extended. If coil  14  completely returns to the position shown when no external tension is applied, coil  14  would typically be referred to as an expansion spring. 
     FIG. 5 shows the toy completely assembled in the extended position. Some external tension would be applied, perhaps by pulling on head  12  and tail  40 , and the toy would extend itself as shown. Alternatively, coil  14  could be formed in such a way that it returned to this position in the absence of external tension. The toy could then be compressed, forming the alignment shown in FIG. 4, and would bounce back when released. If this alternate embodiment were constructed, coil  14  would typically be referred to as a compression spring. 
     FIG. 6 shows another possible manipulation of toy  30 . Here, coil  14  is distended in two dimensions, forming an extended arc. Again, if desired, coil  14  could also be formed to return to this position absent any external tension, so that the toy typically has a curved shape. 
     FIG. 7 shows an alternate view of the toy, with coil  14  shown in its relationship to fabric  18  and the head  12  visible beyond them. Stitching  80  fastens head  12  to fabric  18 , holding the toy together. If desired, coil  14  can actually extend into head  12  somewhat, adding its mechanical strength to the join of stitching  80 , but this is not required. 
     FIG. 8 shows an alternate view of the attachment of the head  12  to coil  14  via stitching  80  which holds fabric  18  to the exterior of head  12 . 
     FIG. 9 shows an alternate view of the attachment of the head  12  to coil  14  via stitching  80  which holds fabric  18  to the exterior of head  12 . 
     FIG. 10 shows an alternate embodiment in which the covering, instead of being a separate fabric sleeve, is a covering comprising a plurality of filaments embedded in a permanent adhesive, or “flocking,” in general. In FIG. 10, head  12  has had the covering applied, but body  14  has not. 
     FIG. 11 shows the application of the covering  22 A. Applicator  20 A is applying a mixture of filaments and adhesive, otherwise known as “flocking,” to body  14  under pressure. Covering  22 A then adheres to body  14 . The pressure applied in applicator  20 A, and the speed at which it is moved over body  14 , controls the thickness of coverng  22 A. It should be noted that this method of applying flocking is not essential, or even preferred, as many different methods of flocking a surface are known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. The application process itself is shown for reference only and forms no part of the claimed invention. 
     FIG. 12 shows a detail of the body  14  after covering  22 A has been applied. 
     FIG. 13 shows a complete version of the alternate embodiment. Toy  30 A has been formed by attaching head  12  to body  14 , which is covered with covering  22 A. 
     The above discussion shows that the present invention provides a coil toy for the entertainment and education of children. Furthermore, the present invention provides a coil toy which is entertaining and aesthetic in appearance. Finally, the present invention provides a coil toy which is safe for children to use. Therefore, the protection of a patent is requested for the invention as set forth in the claims below.