Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The field of the embodiments presented herein is directed toward a container such as a pillow or plush toy including an internal storage compartment for housing special occasion or holiday items as well as tools and materials for creating and personalizing the special occasion or holiday items before placing them inside the storage compartment for safekeeping. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is commonplace to give or send notecards, letters, and handwritten notes to loved ones on special occasions or on holidays. Gifts are also given, but the personal thoughts written on the notecards and letters are often of more value to the recipient than the gift itself. However, the notecards and letters are often lost, misplaced or stored away in places that become difficult to access. Sometimes they are just forgotten. 
         [0003]    It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure herein is presented. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment disclosed herein, a kit is provided. The kit includes a container having at least one storage compartment, a writing implement, a plurality of paper sheets, and instructions with information on how the paper sheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may be included on one or more of the paper sheets. One or more users such as friends or family members utilize the writing implement to provide indicia on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets. The storage compartment of the container then receives and retains the paper sheets having indicia thereon. The container may be visually displayed with the paper sheets that have indicia thereon retained within the storage compartment. The storage compartment may be opened later such as on an anniversary of the special occasion or the holiday to retrieve and reflect upon the paper sheets that have indicia thereon. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment disclosed herein, a container assembly is provided. The container assembly includes a container having at least one storage compartment, a writing implement, a plurality of paper sheets configured to be folded wherein one or more paper sheets are sized to be received and retained within the storage compartment when folded, and instructions with information on how the plurality of paper sheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may be included on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets. The storage compartment of the container initially retains the plurality of paper sheets, the writing implement and the instructions. The paper sheets, the writing implement and the instructions are removable from the storage compartment of the container. One or more of the paper sheets when folded and include indicia created with the writing implement are returned to the storage compartment of the container after having been removed. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment disclosed herein, a method for retaining and organizing thoughts expressed in the form of indicia provided from loved ones or holidays or special occasions is provided. The method includes receiving via a first user a container having a storage compartment, providing to a plurality of other users a plurality of paper sheets, a writing implement and instructions comprising information on how the plurality of sheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may be included on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets; providing, via one or more of the plurality of other users utilizing the writing implement, indicia on one or more of the paper sheets; configuring one or more paper sheets having indicia thereon to be received and retained within the storage compartment of the container; and visually displaying the container with the one or more paper sheets having indicia thereon retained within the storage compartment of the container. 
         [0008]    The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The embodiments presented herein will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  illustrates one embodiment of a plush toy with an internal storage compartment shown in phantom for receiving and retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a back view of the plush toy of  FIG. 1A  wherein a personalized note is folded and placed though an opening in the back to be received and retained within the storage compartment of the plush toy according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a back view of a plush toy in the shape of an apple having an internal storage compartment for receiving and retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a plush toy in the shape of a heart having an internal storage compartment for receiving and retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate front and back views of a plush toy in the shape of a tooth having an internal storage compartment for receiving and retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein, 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate front and back views of a bag having an internal storage compartment for receiving and retaining notecards, letters, handwritten notes and other items according to at least one embodiment disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following detailed description is directed to a kit, container assembly and method for retaining and organizing thoughts expressed in the form of indicia provided from loved ones or holidays or special occasions. The present inventions are susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present inventions to the particular disclosed embodiments. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments or examples. Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, aspects of the present disclosure will be presented. 
         [0017]    In one or more embodiments the present invention is a kit or container assembly of components or parts used and arranged to enable reflection upon a past special occasion or holiday. For example, the kit or container may be provided as a gift for a birthday, anniversary, or for an expecting mother. Thoughts, well wishes or words of encouragement can be conveyed to someone on the special day or holiday which are then archived in a storage compartment of a container such as a pillow or plush toy. Preferably, the container is flexible, but the storage compartment is rigidly defined and configured so that any contents are not damaged while the container is being handled, displayed or stored. The pillow or plush toy may be in the form of a teddy bear or some other animal or shape. Also, the container may be themed as a result of its configuration, color, decorations and/or writing included on its exterior. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate one embodiment of a plush toy in the form of a teddy bear  10 . The teddy bear  10  includes an internal storage compartment  12  for receiving and retaining media. For example, a plurality of paper sheets such as notecards  14  may be received and retained within the storage compartment  12 . Alternatively, the media may take other forms suitable for receiving and recording indicia from a writing implement such as a pen or pencil. 
         [0019]    For example, someone can purchase the teddy bear  10  as part of a kit that includes the notecards  14 , at least one writing implement  16 , and instructions  18  which include information on how the notecards  14  are to be used. The instructions could include examples of indicia which guests may include on one or more of the notecards  14 . Preferably, more than one writing implement is included so that multiple notecards  14  may be completed at the same time. The notecards  14 , writing implement  16  and instructions  18  may be included in the storage compartment  12  when purchasing the teddy bear  10  as a gift. Alternatively, the notecards  14 , writing implement  16  and instructions  18  may be included as part of the purchase but separate from the storage compartment  12  of the teddy bear  10 . 
         [0020]    All or a portion of the plurality of notecards  14  may be blank or a portion of the plurality of notecards  14  may include a partial sentence or phrase for prompting or suggesting how to write out thoughts or to personalize the notecards  14 . During an event one or more of the notecards  14  are provided to other users such as friends and family members which are present for an event. As explained in the instructions  18 , these users can then utilize the writing implement  16  to personalize the notecards  14  by providing indicia on the notecard  14  that corresponds with their personalized thoughts or well wishes for another person that will ultimately be receiving the teddy bear  10 . Notecards  14  that already include some indicia prompt the user to complete the sentence or thought. The instructions  18  may include examples of how to complete the notecards  14 . 
         [0021]    Upon each user completing their notecard  14 , the completed notecard  14  is placed within the storage compartment  12  of the teddy bear  10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the notecard is folded and the zipper  20  is unzipped in order for the folded notecard  14  to be placed within the storage compartment  12 . Preferably, the notecards  14  are initially larger than the opening to the storage compartment  12  and therefore may be pre-folded or scored so that all the notecards  14  when completed would be the same size when received and retained within the storage compartment  12 . Other means for keeping the storage compartment  12  closed may also be used such as fasteners. 
         [0022]    Also, the completed and folded notecards  14  may first be placed inside a bag and then the bag with the notecards  14  inside may be placed inside the storage compartment  12 . Alternatively, completed and folded notecards  14  may be first placed in a box or some other secondary container which is then placed inside the storage compartment  12 . For example, the folded notecards  14  may be collected in the bag or box and then at the end of the event or afterwards the bag or box may be placed inside the storage compartment  12 . In other words, the bag or box may be nested inside the container  10 . In another embodiment, the collected notecards  14  may be removed from the bag or box at the end of the event or afterwards and then placed inside the storage compartment  12 . 
         [0023]    In one or more embodiments, the storage compartment  12  may include an indicator such as an alarm, a displayed date or blinking light that indicates or reminds someone to open the storage compartment  12  in order to provide the opportunity to recall the event by reading the notecards  14  again. Also, in one or more embodiments, a window may be provided so that it is possible to see notecards  14  inside the storage compartment  12 . 
         [0024]    Thus, a collection of completed notecards  14 , with indicia there on, are received and retained within the storage compartment  12  of the teddy bear  10 . Upon the conclusion of the event, the teddy bear  10  may then be visually displayed in a prominent manner by the user for which the notecards  14  were intended. In one or more embodiments, the container such as the teddy bear  10  is provided with internal structural members so that the teddy bear  10  remains sitting upright even when having completed notecards  14  inside the storage compartment  12 . Sometimes a plush toy with such an internal structure is referred to as having a skeleton or as “boned.” The storage compartment  12  may then be opened on an anniversary of the special occasion, holiday or event to retrieve the notecards  14 . Thus, the completed notecards  14  are retained inside the teddy bear  10  in a safe and organized manner but may then be subsequently removed from the storage compartment  12  and read in order to reflect upon the past special occasion, holiday or event. 
         [0025]    Instead of a teddy bear, the container with an internal storage compartment may take other shapes such as, but not limited to, an apple  26  for a teacher as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a heart  30  with the zipper  20  on the side for valentine&#39;s day as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a tooth  40  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , or a bag  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The tooth  40  may also include a pocket  42  for holding a tooth that has fallen out which may be exchanged for money during the night. The bag  50  may have a Christmas theme and drawstrings  52  for closing the bag  50  as shown in  FIG. 5B . The bag  50  may also include a pocket  54 . Another example may be a ball configured for a particular sport. 
         [0026]    In addition to the kit and container assembly, the present inventions also includes a method for retaining and organizing thoughts expressed in the form of indicia provided from loved ones on holidays or special occasions. The method includes the steps of receiving via a first user a container having a storage compartment; providing to a plurality of other users a plurality of paper sheets, a writing implement and instructions comprising information on how the plurality of sheets are to be used including examples of indicia which may be included on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets; providing, via one or more of the plurality of other users utilizing the writing implement, indicia on one or more of the plurality of paper sheets; configuring one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon to be received and retained within the storage compartment of the container; and visually displaying the container with the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon retained within the storage compartment of the container. 
         [0027]    The method may also include removing the one or more paper sheets having indicia. For example, the method may further include opening the storage compartment of the container on an anniversary of a special occasion, holiday or event to retrieve the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon. The step of configuring one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon may include folding each of the one or more of the plurality of paper sheets having indicia thereon. 
         [0028]    Unless otherwise indicated, more or fewer operations may be performed than shown in the figures and described herein. Additionally, unless otherwise indicated, these operations may also be performed in a different order than those described herein. 
         [0029]    The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.

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