Patent ID: 7566258

Claim:
A plush toy comprising: a flexible body portion and at least one simulated eye; at least one receptacle housing within said body portion; at least one light emitting diode located within said at least one receptacle housing; said diode enclosed at an outside surface of said at least one receptacle housing by an eye-defining external fabric panel covering having an inner and outer face, wherein the at least one diode receptacle housing is significantly larger than said diode; said eye-defining external fabric panel covering being at least in part substantially translucent and configured to limit transmission of said emitted light to a soft glow and further including at least one generally opaque portion configured in the shape of a simulated pupil/iris to substantially block soft glow emitted when said at least one diode is activated to simulate a soft glowing eye; said diode receptacle housing and said body portion configured to permit and guide emitted light from said diode through said eye-defining external fabric panel covering, thus forming said simulated eye; a power source included within said body portion of said plush toy and interconnected to said at least one diode; and a manual pressure switch within said body portion that is configured to activate said power source so as to furnish current to said at least one diode; whereby pressure on said switch activates said power source, furnishing current to said diode such that light therefrom within said receptacle housing is directed against said inner face of said substantially translucent fabric, eye-defining panel covering, resulting in at least one simulated, softly backlit translucent eye at said outer face of said eye-defining fabric panel covering.