GIFT ITEM FOR STORAGE OF MEMENTOS

Traditionally, mementos have been stored in a "safe" place which tends to mean that they are often lost or at the very least difficult to find. Even if found, their significance is often forgotten because they are not adequately labelled when stored. The need accordingly exists for a readily identifiable storage medium for mementos. Ih the preferred embodiment of the present invention, such a storage medium is provided in the form for soft toys especially adapted for receipt and safe keeping of the memento. Additionally, the soft toy itself provides an attractive and desirable item which may be used as a gift. A label which provides means for identifying the memento and/or the person who gave the gift item can conveniently be secured to the soft toy so as to serve the function of identifying the memento and/or the giver of the gift item in the future.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the gift item is in the form of a soft toy having limbs. A memento holding pouch is secured to or integral with the extremity with one of the limbs so that when the memento is placed in the pouch and the pouch is placed in a receptacle provided for the purpose on the body of the soft toy, the limb appears to be resting on the surface of the body. Preferably, the receptacle is in the chest of the soft toy so that the limb appears to be resting on the chest.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the receptacle is in the form of a pocket formed in the body of a soft toy and a cover is provided for closing the pocket. Preferably, the cover is releasably securable in a position closing the pocket, and may be released from this position to facilitate access to the pocket. IN particular, the hook and loop or similar material may be used to secure at least one side of the cover to the soft toy, or a magnetic fastener may be used as an alternative. Preferably, the cover is in the form of a heart-shaped patch so that when the pouch containing the memento is placed in the pocket and the pocket closed by the patch, the extremity of the limb of the soft toy rests on the heart-shaped patch.

The invention would be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure illustrates schematically an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention shown is in the form of a teddy bear 1 formed in conventional manner of a fabric cover and soft stuffing. The teddy bear has a head 2, body 3, arms 4A and 4B and legs 5.

A pouch 6 is secured to the extremity 10 of the arm 4B and is openable to deposit a memento within the pouch. The memento could, for example, be a child's birth wristband, a lock of hair, a first tooth, or the like. Once the memento has been placed in the pouch 6, the pouch may be closed, for example by means of a drawstring 7 which also functions to secure the pouch to the limb 4B.

The chest region 8 of the body 3 is formed with an aperture 9 which leads to a receptacle in the form of a lined pocket. The lined pocket is sized to receive the pouch 6 and its memento so that's when the pouch 6 is in the pocket 9 the extremity 10 of the arm 4B rests against the chest 8. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a cover 11 in the form of a patch of suitable fabric material is provided to close the pocket. For this purpose, the patch 11 may be secured to the body 3 by a touch-and-hold material or maybe sewn to the body at one side of the pocket and secured to the body on the other side of the pocket by touch-and-hold material. Alternatively, the cover may be secured on the other side of the pocket by provision of a magnet in the cover which is attracted to and secures to a magnet or metal plate sewn or otherwise secured to the bear 1 in the region of the pocket. It will, of course, be understood that in the event of use of a magnet and metal plate, the magnet may equally be secured to the bear and the metal plate secured to the cover. Preferably, the cover 11 is in the shape of a heart and is of a material which contrasts in colour and/or texture with the material of the body 3.

In use, the memento is first placed in the pouch 6 as described above and the pouch closed using the drawstring 7. Next, the cover 11 is open to expose the pocket 9

and the pouch 6 is pushed into the pocket 9. The cover 11 is then closed so that the drawstring passes over the upper edge 12 of the cover 11. With the various components positioned as described the extremity 10 of the arm 4B rests on or adjacent the heart-shaped cover 11.

Preferably, the limb 4 A has at the extremity 13 thereof a label 14 on which indicia may be placed to identify, for example, the nature of the memento, the date of the memento, or the identity of the person who gave the gift item.