Amusement devices: toys – Resilient toy or actuator
Utility Patent
1999-05-26
2001-01-02
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Resilient toy or actuator
C112S063000
Utility Patent
active
06168496
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spring toy, and more particularly to a spring toy having a fabric covering.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slinky® is the registered trademark of a helical spring toy, first patented in 1947, that is manufactured by James Industries, Inc. The toy consisted, at its inception, solely of a flat wound helical coil of stock spring steel. Since then, there have been several modifications of the original design. Some of these modifications have included its use in pull toys, such as the recent movie-made-popular Slinky® Dog pull toy.
While the essential helical structure of the Slinky® spring toy has varied little over the years, the finish has changed. For instance, brass has been used to provide a bright finish, and even precious metals such as gold have adorned Slinky® coils. Plastic Slinky® spring toys have been developed that can be produced in many colors, including bi-color and so-called “neon” plastic materials.
Due to the simple nature of the Slinky® toy product, it is desirable to provide it with an alluring appearance, especially to children. In the past, the exterior surfaces of the coils have been printed with designs, but there has been no known method for applying complex decorations to the confronting surfaces of the coils. The present invention provides a unique method for applying a fabric covering to the coils of a Slinky® spring toy to provide a novel decorative effect on both the inside and outside edges of the coils as well as to provide a means for enabling opposite ends of the coils to be sewn to other fabric structures to provide an animal-like product having a semi-soft, flexible body.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the invention is to provide a helical spring toy having a decorative fabric covering.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method for producing a decorative helical spring toy having decorations on both its outside edges and confronting coil surfaces.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple method for producing a helical spring toy having a fabric covering with a concealed seam.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple method for attaching a spring toy to plush fabric structures for providing a novel product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the present invention provides a fabric-covered spring toy particularly suited for use in forming a flexible body portion of the toy product having a head and a tail, and to a method of producing such a fabric-covered spring toy. In the method, an elongate strip of cloth is provided having longitudinal edge margins and first and second end margins. The cloth has an in-side and a decorative out-side. The cloth strip is folded lengthwise with the out-side facing inward, and the longitudinal edge margins are sewn together forming an elongate tube. The tube is everted so the cloth decorative side faces outward. The everted cloth tube is then slid over a spring toy along its full helical length. The tube is then sewn at its end margins to fully enclose the helical body. This results in a fabric covered spring which can be further sewn to simulated animal body parts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1270840 (1918-07-01), Kelly
patent: 1355799 (1920-10-01), Bradish
patent: 1551250 (1925-08-01), Henry
patent: 3410023 (1968-11-01), Anello
patent: 3448539 (1969-06-01), Hartpence
patent: 3557436 (1971-01-01), Hodes
patent: 4505687 (1985-03-01), Munro
patent: 5621935 (1997-04-01), St. Clair
Howson and Howson
James Industries Inc.
Muir D. Neal
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