Abstract:
An inflatable toy comprises an inflatable volume and an expandable figurine that is attached to the inflatable volume such that the figurine is stretched as the volume is inflated. The expandable figurine assumes a first predetermined shape when the inflatable volume is in a deflated state, and assumes a second predetermined shape representing a distortion of the first predetermined shape when the inflatable volume is substantially inflated. The figurine can be removably attached to an outer surface of the inflatable volume. The figurine can comprise a body portion having multiple limbs, such that the limbs are attached to the inflatable volume outer surface and are pulled away from the figurine body portion as the volume is inflated.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The present invention relates generally to toys for amusement and, more specifically, to inflatable toys. 
   2. Background 
   Inflatable toys are generally constructed to assume a desired shape after inflation. Balloons, for example, typically adopt a spherical shape upon inflation, or can be constructed to assume the shape of a desired character or object. Other inflatable toys are constructed to transform in shape or appearance as they expand in volume during inflation. The transformation can provide additional amusement. Some inflatable toys, for example, comprise a balloon that encloses a picture or scene. The picture is apparent only after the balloon has been inflated. Other inflatable toys provide one shape at a particular volume of balloon inflation, but might assume a second shape at a different volume of inflation. 
   Many of these transforming inflatable toys are of relatively complex construction that can require relatively sophisticated manufacturing techniques or assembly. The complex construction can increase costs. The market for most inflatable toys, generally being novelty items purchased for purposes of amusement, can be rather price sensitive. The construction cost of such toys can result in greater retail prices, which can be a hindrance to greater popularity and sales of such toys. 
   From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for an inflatable toy that is of reduced complexity and that is easier to manufacture at modest cost, while providing entertainment and amusement. The present invention fulfills this need. 
   SUMMARY 
   An inflatable toy comprises an inflatable volume and an expandable figurine that is attached to the inflatable volume such that the figurine is stretched as the volume is inflated. The expandable figurine assumes a first predetermined shape when the inflatable volume is in a deflated state, and assumes a second predetermined shape comprising a distortion of the first shape when the inflatable volume is substantially inflated. 
   In one aspect of the invention, the figurine can be removably attached to the inflatable volume. The figurine can comprise a body portion having multiple limbs, and the limbs can be attached to the inflatable volume such that the limbs are pulled away from the body portion as the volume is inflated. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inflatable toy constructed in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the  FIG. 1  inflatable toy lying on a flat surface. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the  FIG. 1  inflatable toy with the inflatable volume substantially inflated. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the inflatable toy from the perspective of  FIG. 2  showing the toy substantially inflated as in FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an inflatable toy constructed in accordance with the invention in an inflated condition. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the  FIG. 5  inflated toy. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of an inflatable toy constructed in accordance with the invention, depicted in an inflated condition. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of an inflatable toy constructed in accordance with the invention, depicted in an inflated condition. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an inflatable toy as shown in FIG.  3  and  FIG. 4  after the expandable figurine has been removed from the inflatable volume. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The inflatable toy  100  shown in  FIG. 1  includes an inflatable volume  102 , such as a balloon, to which is attached an expandable figurine  104 . The expandable figurine can comprise, for example, a molded rubber bodily shape or form. Typically, the figurine is selected to comprise a shape of interest to a target market segment, such as young children, and will therefore depict a frog, an animal, or other living creature.  FIG. 1  shows the inflatable toy  100  in a non-inflated condition laid down on a surface.  FIG. 2  is a side view of the  FIG. 1  toy  100  in the non-inflated condition, showing the toy  100  laid on a flat surface  106 .  FIG. 2  shows that the figurine  104  lies on top of the inflatable volume  102  and is attached along a figurine bottom surface  105 . 
     FIG. 3  shows the inflatable toy  100  in an inflated condition. FIG.  1  and  FIG. 3  show that the inflatable volume  102  includes a volumetric portion  108  and an inflation neck portion  110 . The inflatable volume is typically grasped by the neck portion while air or gas is introduced into the interior of the volume  102  through the neck portion  110 , causing the volumetric portion  108  to expand from the non-inflated condition in  FIG. 1  into the inflated condition depicted in FIG.  3 . If the inflatable volume  102  is a typical balloon, such as a bulbous rubber or latex balloon, then the volumetric portion  108  will typically expand in all directions upon inflation, forming a generally spherical shape. The inflatable volume can, however, be constructed so as to assume an irregular shape or other desired shape upon inflation. 
   Comparing  FIG. 1  with  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the figurine  104  is relatively stretched and expanded in  FIG. 3  as compared with the figurine shape in  FIG. 1 , comprising a distorted shape. The figurine is attached to the outer surface  112  of the inflatable volume  102  and therefore is stretched and expanded as the inflatable volume is inflated. 
   FIG.  1  and  FIG. 3  show that the figurine  104  includes a body portion  114  or torso, including a head  115 , as well as limbs  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d  extending outwardly from the body. It can be seen in  FIG. 3  that the balloon has expanded in all directions as compared to its non-inflated condition in  FIG. 1 , and the figurine  104  has similarly been stretched in all directions. The figurine illustrated in FIG.  1  through  FIG. 3  is constructed to be uniformly expandable. Thus, the size and shape of the figurine  104  as shown in  FIG. 3  is larger than the size and shape of the figurine in  FIG. 1  by a similar proportion as the enlargement of the balloon itself. As a result, the body portion  114  is larger in  FIG. 3  as compared with  FIG. 1  by a similar proportion as the balloon itself, comparing  FIG. 3  with FIG.  1 . Likewise, the area of the figurine limbs  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c ,  116   d  is greater in  FIG. 3  by a similar proportion as the increase in size of the, inflatable volume  102 . 
   The change in shape can be a source of amusement, as one observes the expansion of the figurine  104  along with the expansion of the balloon  102  during inflation. As described further below, the figurine can be constructed so that it is differentially expandable, thereby providing a distortion that is not the symmetric expansion depicted in  FIG. 3 , but rather does not fully preserve the shape of the body and limbs upon expansion. 
     FIG. 4  shows the toy in  FIG. 3  from a side elevation view, and illustrates that the figurine  104  is attached to the balloon  102  such that the entire bottom surface of the figurine is substantially in contact with the outer surface of the balloon, even as the balloon is inflated. Thus, the bottom surface of the body portion  114  and of the limbs  116   a - d  are substantially in constant contact with the outer surface  112 . 
   It should be noted that the increase in size and shape of the figurine  104  from the non-inflated condition of the volume  102  to the inflated condition is not exactly proportional. For example, the figurine  104  is generally flat in the non-inflated condition (see FIG.  2 ), whereas the balloon (and attached figurine) are shown expanded according to a spherical volume in FIG.  3  and FIG.  4 . 
   FIG.  3  and  FIG. 4  show an inflatable toy  100  constructed such that the figurine  104  is uniformly expanded as the inflatable volume  102  is inflated. The toy, however, can be constructed such that the figurine is differentially stretched as the volume is inflated. 
   One way to achieve differential stretching of the figurine can be to construct the figurine such that some figurine portions are stretched more readily than other portions, the different portions having different propensities to expand. For example, a molded creature figurine can be constructed with a body portion that expands or stretches more slowly than limb portions. Figurines of other shapes can likewise have portions that are differentially stretched during inflation. The relative proportion of expansion can be controlled by selection of materials of construction. Another way to achieve differential stretching is to attach selected portions of the figurine to the inflatable volume and not attach other portions of the figurine. In either of these two scenarios, the inflatable toy with differential stretching will resemble the toy  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  when it is in a non-inflated condition. An inflatable toy that provides differential stretching is illustrated in FIG.  5  through FIG.  7 . 
   FIG.  5  and  FIG. 6  show a perspective view and side view, respectively, of an inflatable toy  500  with an inflatable volume  502  to which is attached a differentially stretched figurine  504 . As with the previous drawings, the depicted figurine comprises a molded stretchable frog or similar creature. Comparing FIG.  5  and  FIG. 6  with FIG.  3  and  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the differentially stretched figurine  504  includes a figurine torso portion  514  and head  515  that are substantially unchanged in size and shape from that of the original condition (shown in FIG.  1 ), whereas the differentially stretched limbs  516  and have been elongated and pulled away from the torso portion and head. 
   As noted above, one way to achieve the differential figurine stretching is to construct the figurine so it expands in the desired manner. For example, the body portion and head portion can be constructed of a less expandable material as compared with the figurine limbs. Another way to achieve differential figurine stretching is to differentially attach the figurine to the inflatable volume. That is, the entire underside of the figurine can be attached or adhered to the surface of the inflatable volume, or only selected portions or edges of the figurine can be attached to the inflatable volume. Because of the possibilities with differential attachment and differential figurine construction, it is possible to achieve differential figurine stretching with either differential attachment or differential construction, or both. It should also be noted that figurine stretching that is uniform, or proportional, can be achieved even with differential attachment, depending on the construction of the figurine and its resulting properties. 
     FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of an inflatable toy  700  constructed in accordance with the present invention in which a relatively more radical stretching has been achieved, as compared with  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Thus,  FIG. 7  shows an inflatable volume  702  to which is attached a figurine  704  with body portion  706  and limbs  708   a - 708   d  such that different limbs are expanded and stretched to different extents as compared with the inflatable toy in a non-inflated condition (as shown in FIG.  1 ). Other more radical or freakish distortions of the figurine upon inflation can be provided, as desired. 
     FIG. 8  shows another alternative embodiment of an inflatable toy  800  in which the inflatable volume is constructed so as to expand in an irregular manner. More particularly,  FIG. 8  shows an elongated balloon  802  that expands into an inflated condition in which it adopts a caricature shape so as to resemble a desired character or creature. The expandable figurine  804  that is attached to the balloon is stretched and expanded accordingly. 
     FIG. 9  show another embodiment of an inflatable toy  900  in which it is possible to remove the figurine  904  from the surface of the inflatable volume  902 . In  FIG. 9 , the inflatable volume  902  is in a non-inflated condition and is lying on a surface  106 , and the figurine  904  is removably attached to the surface of the inflatable volume and has been peeled away from the inflatable volume, so that the figurine has resumed the shape it had in the non-inflated condition.  FIG. 9  shows that removing the figurine leaves behind a convex disfigurement  906  of the inflatable volume that is generally in the shape of the figurine. The disfigurement itself can be an additional source of amusement. 
   A variety of materials and constructions can be utilized for the inflatable toy described herein. For example, a suitable figurine can comprise the “Sticky Fingers” product available from Club Earth of Cumberland, R.I., USA. A suitable inflatable volume can comprise inflatable latex balloons such as widely available from numerous amusement toy companies. 
   The figurines described above can be attached to the inflatable volume by adhesives, deposited on desired areas of the figurine underside or lower surface. The figurines can then be pressed against the surface of the inflatable volume, thereby imparting the characteristics to the assemblage as described above. For differential stretching, then, the figurine limbs can be coated with adhesive and the figurine body can be left uncoated. The figurine itself can be provided with a sticky coating or can be provided with a tacky construction so as to adhere to the surface of the inflatable volume. Either construction is appropriate, so long as the stickiness or tackiness is sufficient to adhere the figurine to the inflatable volume as the volume is inflated. The figurines are generally removable from the inflatable volume, rather than permanently affixed. The shapes and colorings of the figurines can be varied for greater amusement, as can the shapes and forms depicted, as desired. 
   The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations for inflatable toys not specifically described herein but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to inflatable toys generally. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangement and implementations that are within the scope of the attached claims should therefore be considered within the scope of the invention.