WO2015025115A1

WO2015025115A1 - Apparatus for providing a toy and a backpack for a child

Info

Publication number: WO2015025115A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/000309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorraine Davison
Original assignee: Lorraine Davison
Priority date: 2013-08-21
Filing date: 2014-08-07
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: GB201314955D0

Abstract

Apparatus (2) providing a toy (4) and a backpack (6) for a child (8), which apparatus (2) comprises the toy (4) and the backpack (6), and which apparatus (2) is such that : (i) the toy (4) has limbs (10); (ii) the backpack (6) has fixing means (12); (iii) the limbs (10) are releasably connectable to the fixing means (12); (iv) when the limbs (10) are connected to the fixing means (12), the limbs (10) form a pair of arm-receiving members (14) which are each for receiving an arm (16) of the child (8) in order to enable the apparatus (2) to be worn as a backpack (6); and (v) when the limbs (10) are not connected to the fixing means (12), the child (8) is able to use the toy (4) on its own.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING

A TOY AND A BACKPACK FOR A CHILD

This invention relates to apparatus for use by a child and, more especially, this invention relates to apparatus for providing a toy and a backpack for a child.

Children like to play with toys. Children also like backpacks in which to contain their possessions, for example articles to be used during a day.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide combination apparatus which gives a child the facility of wearing a backpack with a toy attached, and which also gives the child the facility of playing with the toy on its own.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus providing a toy and a backpack for a child, which apparatus comprises the toy and the backpack, and which apparatus is such that:

(i) the toy has limbs;

(ii) the backpack has fixing means;

(iii) the limbs are releasably connectable to the fixing means;

(iv) when the limbs are connected to the fixing means, the limbs form a pair of arm-receiving members which are each for receiving an arm of the child in order to enable the apparatus to be worn as a backpack; and

(v) when the limbs are not connected to the fixing means, the child is able to use the toy on its own.

The apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that both a toy and a backpack are provided for the child. The toy is able to be used on its own when the child wishes to play with the toy. When the backpack is to be worn, then the toy forms the means by which the backpack is able to be worn. When the backpack is taken off, the toy is able to be disconnected from the backpack so that the toy is then readHy available for use on its own by the child.

Preferably, the apparatus is one in which, when the limbs are connected to the fixing means and the apparatus is worn as the backpack, then the toy is positioned between the backpack and the back of the child. In this position, the toy may form a comfortable interface between the backpack and the back of the child. Additionally or alternatively, the presence of the toy against the back of the child may give an added feeling of security to the child. If desired, the toy may be positioned other than between the backpack and the back of the child so that, for example, the toy could be positioned adjacent a side of the backpack, adjacent a top or bottom part of the backpack, or adjacent a part of the child other than the back of the child. Preferably, the toy is a soft toy. A soft toy is especially useful when the toy is to be positioned between the backpack and the back of the child. In this position, the toy is able to act as padding for providing comfort of use whilst the backpack is being worn.

The apparatus may be one in which each one of the arm-receiving members has two of the limbs, in which the two limbs fasten together by fastener means in order to form the arm-receiving member, in which the two limbs are separated from each other to connect the arm-receiving member to the fixing means, and in which the two limbs are connected together when the arm-receiving member is connected to the fixing means.

The apparatus may be one in which each one of the fastener means has first and second portions, in which the first portion clips into the second portion for fastening, and in which the second portion is squeezed for unfastening. Other types of fastener means may be employed.

At least one of the two limbs may be a stretchable limb for enabling the arm-receiving member to be adjustable in size as required for a child. The stretchable limb may be an elasticated limb. With a stretchable limb, the arm- receiving member automatically adjusts in size as required for the child and there is no need for separate manual adjustments. If desired however the fastener means may be an adjustable fastener means which enables the arm- receiving member to be adjustable in size as required for the child. In this case manual adjustment of the adjustable fastener means will need to be made. With arm-receiving members which are adjustable in size as required for the child, then the arm-receiving members are able to be made bigger for older children, and smaller for younger children. Also, the arm-receiving members are able to be made bigger if the child is wearing a coat, and smaller if the child is not wearing a coat and is perhaps just wearing a jumper, shirt of blouse.

The apparatus may be one in which the fastener means is configured to become undone when subjected to more than a predetermined force. This may provide an advantageous child safety feature.

Other types of adjustable fastening means may be employed, for example Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) or a plurality of press studs.

The apparatus may be one in which the fixing means are loops. The loops may be made of a fabric, or a plastics material.

The loops may be permanently closed loops. Alternatively, if desired, the loops may be openable loops for receiving the limbs, in which case the limbs could be continuous limbs and not in two or more parts which are connected together by the fastener means.

The fixing means may alternatively comprise apertures in the backpack through which the limbs pass, and fixing devices inside the backpack for attaching the limbs to the backpack inside the backpack.

The backpack may include a pouch and a pair of strap members, the strap members being housed in the pouch when not in use, and the strap members each being able to be connected to the backpack such as to receive an arm of the child, thereby to allow the backpack to be worn as a backpack when the toy is not connected to the backpack. Thus the provision of the pouch and the pair of strap members enables the backpack to be used on its own and without the toy. Alternatively, with the pouch and the pair of strap members, the child may wear the backpack, and carry the toy in their hands.

The strap members are preferably adjustable in length. With adjustable length strap members, then the strap members can be made larger or smaller for the same purposes as mentioned above with regard to the arm-receiving members which are secured together by the adjustable fastener means.

The apparatus may be one in which the strap members are configured to become undone when subjected to more than a predetermined force. This feature may provide an advantageous child safety feature.

The toy may include flexible strengthening members for providing added strength to the pair of the arm-receiving members when the apparatus is being worn as a backpack.

The flexible strengthening members may extend longitudinally through the arm-receiving members. The flexible strengthening members may be positioned elsewhere if desired.

The flexible strengthening members may be strips of material. The flexible strengthening members may be padded. The padding of the flexible strengthening members may be for providing additional comfort in ensuring that the flexible strengthening members are not uncomfortable for the child when the backpack is being worn. The padding may alternatively or additionally be effective to ensure that the flexible strengthening members do not cut into or otherwise adversely affect the toy. For example, when the flexible strengthening members extend longitudinally through the arm- receiving members, then the flexible strengthening member may be in contact with padding within the arm-receiving members, and the flexible strengthening members should not cause the padding to become lumpy.

The toy may be any suitable and appropriate toy. Thus, for example, the toy may be a representation of an animal, a fictional character or a human. The animal may be any suitable desired animal such for example as a monkey, a kangaroo or a horse. The fictional character may be a cartoon character such for example as an alien, a prince or a princess.

The toy may be one in which the limbs are arms and legs, and in which one arm and one leg form one of the pair of the arm-receiving members, and in which one arm and one leg form the other one of the pair of arm-receiving members.

Depending upon the toy, some toys may have all arms, some toys may have all legs, and some toys may have a mixture of arms and legs. Thus each one of the arm-receiving members may be formed by two or more legs only, two or more arms only, other combinations of arms and legs, or other limbs in various limb combinations. If desired, each one of the arm-receiving members may be formed of a single arm, leg or other limb.

The toy may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. Thus, for example, the toy may be made of materials currently employed for making soft toys. The toy may also be a hard toy if desired and again the toy may be made of materials currently used for making such toys. Where the toy is a soft toy, then the toy may be padded with any of the currently used padding materials for soft toys, for example fibrous materials, cotton, and plastics materials, for example in the form of chopped plastics pieces.

The backpack may be of any design and size. The backpack may be in the nature of a rucksack or other design.

Preferably, the toy is made of a water-resistant material. Thus when the backpack is being worn in the rain, then the toy will not absorb water. Also preferably, the toy is hand washable and/or machine washable. The toy is thus able to be washed if it should become dirty.

Similarly, the backpack is preferably made of a water-resistant material. Also similarly, the backpack is preferably hand washable and/or machine washable.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a child wearing first apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus providing a toy and a backpack for the child;

Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 , without the child, and with limbs of the toy being connected together to form a pair of arm-receiving members;

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 but shows the toy with its limbs not connected together, and does not show the backpack;

Figure 4 shows the backpack, the backpack being shown facing the back of the child, and the backpack also being shown having fixing means for receiving the limbs in order to enable the limbs to be connected to the fixing means; and

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 3 but shows a toy forming part of second apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 - 4, there is shown apparatus 2 providing a toy 4 and a backpack 6 for a child 8. The apparatus 2 comprises the toy 4 and the backpack 6.

The apparatus 2 is such that the toy 4 has limbs 10. The backpack 6 has fixing means 12. The limbs 10 are releasably connected to the fixing means 12.

When the limbs 10 are connected to the fixing means 12, the limbs 10 form a pair of arm-receiving members 14 which are each for receiving an arm 16 of the child 8 in order to enable the apparatus 2 to be worn as a backpack, as shown in Figure 1. When the limbs 10 are not connected to the fixing means 12, the child 8 is able to use the toy 4 on its own.

As can be appreciated from Figure 1 , when the limbs 10 are connected to the fixing means 12 and the apparatus 2 is worn as the backpack, then the toy 4 is positioned between the backpack 6 and the back 18 of the child 8. The toy 4 is a soft toy.

Each one of the arm-receiving members 14 has two of the limbs 10. The two limbs 10 fasten together by fastener means 20 in order to form the arm-receiving members 14. The two limbs 10 are separated from each other to connect the arm-receiving member 14 to its fixing means 12. More specifically, one of the two limbs 10 is inserted as appropriate through the fixing means 12. The two limbs 10 are then connected together to form an arrangement in which the arm-receiving member 14 has been passed through the fixing means 12 and thereby connected to the fixing means 12.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fastener means 20 is an adjustable fastener means 20 which enables each arm-receiving member 14 to be adjustable in size as required for the child 8. Thus the arm-receiving member 14 can be made bigger for older children, or smaller for younger children, or bigger if the child 8 is wearing a coat and smaller if the child 8 not wearing a coat and is instead just wearing a jumper, a shirt or a blouse.

Each adjustable fastener means 20 is a buckle having a first portion 22 which clips into a second portion 24 for fastening. The second portion 24 is squeezed together for unfastening. The first and second portions 22, 24 are connected to strap portions 26, 27 respectively as shown in Figure 1. The strap portion 27 is able to be adjusted in length as shown.

The fixing means 12 are loops. The loops may be made of a fabric, a metal or a plastics material. The loops are permanently closed loops. Each permanently closed loop defines an aperture 28 for receiving a part of one of arm-receiving members 14.

As shown in Figure 4, the backpack 6 includes a pouch 30 and a pair of strap members 32. The strap members 32 are housed in the pouch 30. The strap members 32 are such that they are connected at one end to the backpack 6. The strap members 32 are able to be passed through the bottom fixing means 12 and connected such as to form straps which each receive an arm 16 of the child 8 and thereby allow the backpack 6 to be worn as a backpack when the toy 4 is not connected to the backpack 6. Alternatively, if desired, the child 8 is able to wear the backpack 6, and hold the toy 4. The strap members 32 are adjustable in length, in the same way as and for the same purposes that the arm-receiving members 14 are adjustable in length.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the toy 4 includes flexible strengthening members 34 for providing added strength to the pair of arm-receiving members 14 when the apparatus 2 is worn as a backpack. The flexible strengthening members 34 extend longitudinally through the arm-receiving members 14. The flexible strengthening members 34 may be in the form of strips of material. Preferably, the flexible strengthening members 34 are padded with padding 36 which is wound around the flexible strengthening members 34. The padding 36 ensures that the flexible strengthening members 34 do not make the child uncomfortable when the backpack 6 is being worn and/or ensure that the flexible strengthening members 34 do not bunch up or otherwise disadvantageous^ affect the filling 38, for example fibrous filling 38, used to stuff the toy 4. If the toy is stuffed with filling 38, then the toy may have an outer skin 40.

The toy 4 is in the form of a representation of a monkey. The toy 4 and the backpack 6 are made of fabrics which are water resistant, and which are also hand washable and/or machine washable.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a toy 42 forming part of second apparatus of the present invention. The toy 42 is like the toy 4 as can be appreciated from a comparison of Figures 3 and 5. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The toy 42 is such that when two of the limbs 10 are connected together by the fastener means 20, then an arm-receiving member 14 is formed. However each arm-receiving member 14 is caused to be adjustable in size for the child 8 by being stretchable. More specifically, the lower limb 10 which forms a leg for the toy 12 is provided with an elasticated member 44 as shown. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the toy 42 may additionally or alternatively have the elasticated member 44 in each one of the upper limbs 10 which form arms for the toy 42. The provision of the elasticated member 44 is instead of having the fastener means 20 adjustable as in the toy 4, and thus the fastener means 20 in the toy 42 is not adjustable.

The toy 42 is shown with a tail 46. The tail 46 may be omitted if desired. The toy 42 may or may not include one or more of the parts 34, 36, 38, 40 shown in Figure 3.

The apparatus of the present invention may be sold as a series of soft cuddly toys that can be mixed and matched with a backpack design to create a personalised backpack. If desired, different toys may be matched with different backpack designs.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the toys 4, 42 may be any type of toys, for example in the representation of any animal, fictional shape or human. The backpack 6 may be of a wide variety of shapes. The flexible strengthening members 34 are optional and they may be omitted if desired. Similarly, the pouch 30 and the strap members 32 are optional and they may be omitted if desired. The strap members 32 may be completely separate from the backpack 6, in which case the strap members 32 may pass through or otherwise connect to both the top and bottom fixing means 12. If desired, various parts of the apparatus may be provided with child safety features. Thus, for example, the fastener means, for example the buckles, may be such that they are configured to disconnect if subjected to more than a predetermined pulling force. Similarly, where strap members are employed, then the strap members may also be fastened together by fastener means which are configured to disconnect if subjected to more than a predetermined pulling force. The various child safety features employed may avoid the risk of unforeseen strangulation and/or asphyxiation. Depending upon the actual construction of the toy, the toy may have arms and legs, all legs, all arms, or other limbs. The apparatus may be arranged such that the toy is positioned to the side or top of the backpack 6 or elsewhere when the backpack 6 is being worn. The child 8 may be a boy or a girl. The child 8 may be of any age so long as it wishes to use the apparatus. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.

The apparatus of the present invention may be sold under the Trade Mark MONKLINGS.

Claims

1. Apparatus providing a toy and a backpack for a child, which apparatus comprises the toy and the backpack, and which apparatus is such that:

(i) the toy has limbs;

(ii) the backpack has fixing means;

(iii) the limbs are releasably connectable to the fixing means;

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which, when the limbs are connected to the fixing means and the apparatus is worn as the backpack, then the toy is positioned between the backpack and the back of the child.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the toy is a soft toy.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which each one of the arm-receiving members has two of the limbs, in which the two limbs fasten together by fastener means in order to form the arm-receiving member, in which the two limbs are separated from each other to connect the arm-receiving member to the fixing means, and in which the two limbs are connected together when the arm-receiving member is connected to the fixing means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each one of the fastener means has first and second portions, in which the first portion clips into the second portion for fastening, and in which the second portion is squeezed for unfastening.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which at least one of the two limbs is a stretchable limb for enabling the arm-receiving member to be adjustable in size as required for the child

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the stretchable limb is an elasticated limb.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the fastener means is an adjustable fastener means which enables the arm-receiving member to be adjustable in size as required for the child.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 - 8 in which the fastener means is configured to become undone when subjected to more than a predetermined force.

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the fixing means are loops.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the loops are permanently closed loops.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 9 in which the fixing means comprise apertures in the backpack through which the limbs pass, and fixing devices inside the backpack for attaching the limbs to the backpack inside the backpack.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the backpack includes a pouch and a pair of strap members, the strap members being housed in the pouch when not in use, and the strap members each being able to be connected to the backpack such as to receive an arm of the child, thereby to allow the backpack to be worn as a backpack when the toy is not connected to the backpack.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the strap members are adjustable in length.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which the strap members are configured to become undone when subjected to more than a predetermined force.

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the toy includes flexible strengthening members for providing added strength to the pair of arm-receiving members when the apparatus is worn as the backpack.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 in which the flexible strengthening members extend longitudinally through the arm-receiving members.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17 in which the flexible strengthening members are strips of material.

19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 - 18 in which the flexible strengthening members are padded.

20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the toy is a representation of an animal, a fictional character, or a human.

Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the animal is monkey.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which the fictional character is a cartoon character.

23. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the limbs are arms and legs, and in which one arm and one leg form one of the pair of arm-receiving members, and in which one arm and one leg form the other one of the pair of arm-receiving members.

24. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the toy is made of a water-resistant material.

25. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the toy is hand washable and/or machine washable.

26. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the backpack is made of a water-resistant material.

27. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the backpack is hand washable and/or machine washable.