CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/277,632, filed on November 10, 2021, the entire content of which being incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a toy, and more specifically, to a plush toy figure or animal including eyes that are snow globes.

[0003] Children use their senses to develop motor skills and gain knowledge of their surroundings. Therefore, toys that stimulate a child’s senses may improve neurological development. Moreover, toys that encourage the child to move that toy can offer a stimulating playtime experience.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a plush toy including a body and a face. The face is connected to the body and includes an eye assembly having a snow globe and a gasket. The snow globe includes a dome, a socket, and a heterogenous mixture. The dome is affixed to the socket. The heterogenous mixture includes transparent oil and is disposed within a cavity defined by the dome. The gasket affixed to the face. The snow globe is configured to removably engage the gasket.

[0005] In disclosed embodiments, the transparent oil includes a viscosity of between about 8 cSt and about 12 cSt, or equal to about 10 cSt.

[0006] In disclosed embodiments, the heterogenous mixture includes glitter.

[0007] In disclosed embodiments, the socket includes a finger having a flange. In embodiments, the finger of the socket is configured to extend partially through an aperture of the gasket when the snow globe is engaged with the gasket. In embodiments, a diameter of the finger of the socket is larger than a diameter of the aperture of the gasket.

[0008] In disclosed embodiments, the socket includes art imprinted thereon, and the art depicts a feature of an eye.

[0009] In disclosed embodiments, the socket includes a groove configured to receive a lip of the dome.

[0010] The present disclosure also relates to a plush toy including a face having an eye assembly which includes a snow globe and a gasket. The snow globe includes a dome, a socket, and a heterogenous mixture. The dome is affixed to the socket. The heterogenous mixture is disposed within a cavity defined by the dome and includes a liquid having a viscosity of between about 8 cSt and about 12 cSt. The gasket is affixed to the face. The snow glove is configured to engage the gasket.

[0011] In disclosed embodiments, the viscosity of the liquid is about 10 cSt.

[0012] In disclosed embodiments, the heterogenous mixture includes oil, such as a transparent oil.

[0013] In disclosed embodiments, the heterogenous mixture includes glitter.

[0014] In disclosed embodiments, the socket includes a body portion and two fingers extending from the body portion. In embodiments, the gasket defines two apertures, and each finger of the socket is configured to extend partially through one of the apertures of the gasket when the snow globe is engaged with the gasket.

[0015] In disclosed embodiments, the socket includes art depicting a feature of an eye imprinted thereon. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1A is a front view of a plush toy in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. IB is a right-side view of the plush toy of FIG. 1A, the left side is a mirror image or a substantial mirror image of the right side;

[0019] FIG. 1C is a rear view of the plush toy of FIGS. 1 A and IB

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of eye assemblies of the plush toy of FIGS.

1A-1C;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an eye assembly taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the eye assembly of FIG. 3;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the eye assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective, assembly view of the eye assembly of FIGS. 3-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Embodiments of the presently disclosed plush toy having snow globe eyes are described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding elements in each of the several views.

[0026] A plush toy of the present disclosure is indicated as reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1A-1C. Generally, and with reference to FIGS. 1A and IB, the plush toy 100 includes a body 110, a face 120, and a pair of eye assemblies 200a, 200b, collectively referred to herein as eye assembly 200. While the plush toy 100 is depicted as a dog in the accompanying figures, the plush toy 100 of the present disclosure is not limited to a dog or even to an animal. For instance, the plush toy 100 may be in the form of a bear, rabbit, cat, koala, unicorn, etc. without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0027] The body 110 of the plush toy 100 may include a plurality of appendages (e.g., arms, legs, ears, tails, wings, etc.), and may be made from one or more of a variety of materials including faux fur, silk, velour, long pile faux fur, or any combination thereof. Further, the materials can be one or more color and may include at least one pattern. Additionally, the body 110 of the plush toy 100 may include slip-resistant features (e.g., on the bottom of feet) to facilitate self-standing of the plush toy 100, or to help a child use the plush toy 100 to mimic a walking motion.

[0028] The face 120 of the plush toy 100 includes the eye assembly 200, and may also include eyelids 125, eyelashes 130, a nose 140 (e.g., heart-shaped), a mouth 150, and ears 160. While these facial features are shown in particular shapes and sizes in the accompanying figures, facial features having other shapes and sizes are contemplated by the present disclosure.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, further details of the eye assembly 200 are shown. In general, each eye assembly 200 includes a transparent or translucent dome 220, a socket 240, and a gasket 260. The dome 220 is affixed to the socket 240, the gasket 260 is affixed to the plush toy 100 (e.g., at least partially within the face 120 of the plush toy 100), and the socket 240 is configured and dimensioned to selectively engage the gasket 260. In embodiments, each of the dome 220, the socket 240, and the gasket 260 is made from plastic.

[0030] The dome 220 of the eye assembly is generally oval-shaped or egg-shaped, and may also be or resemble another three-dimensional shape such as spherical, triangular, cubical, etc. Further, the size of the dome 220 may vary, but an example of one particular size is shown with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, where the length “1” is between about 50mm and about 70mm (e.g., equal to about 61mm), the width “w” is between about 35mm and about 55mm (e.g., equal to about 46mm), and the height “h” is between about 10mm and about 20mm (e.g., equal to about 15.5mm). Additionally, and with particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, the dome 220 includes a lip 222 extending along its perimeter for engagement with the socket 240, as discussed below. The lip 222 may be one continuous lip or may include more than one non-continuous lip. [0031] With particular reference to FIGS. 3-6, details of the socket 240 are shown. The socket 240 includes a body portion 242, a first finger 244a extending from the body portion 242, and a second finger 244b extending from the body portion 242. Collectively, the first finger 244a and the second finger 244b are referred to as fingers 244. The body portion 242 is shaped and sized the same or similarly to a perimeter of the dome 220 (e.g., generally oval-shaped or egg-shaped).

[0032] The body portion 242 defines a first, upper surface 246 and a second, lower surface 247. The upper surface 246 includes a groove 248 defined therein and disposed adjacent an outer edge 249 of the body portion 242. The groove 248 is configured and dimensioned to receive the lip 222 of the dome 220. While a continuous groove 248 is shown, it is contemplated that the groove 248 is made up of more than one non-continuous groove. In embodiments, the dome 220 and the socket 240 are configured to be permanently affixed to each other (e.g., via ultrasonic welding).

[0033] In embodiments, the upper surface 246 of the body portion 242 of the socket 240 includes indicia, art and/or an artistic design 250 included or imprinted thereon (see FIGS. 1A and IB). The art 250 may include circles, ovals, etc. such that the art 250 helps the eye assembly 200 appear to include features (e.g., pupils, reflections, etc.) of an actual human eye, an actual animal eye, and/or an artistic representation of an eye, for example.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a heterogenous mixture 280 is shown encapsulated between the dome 220 and the socket 240 (i.e., in a cavity 221 (FIG. 6) defined by the dome 220). The heterogenous mixture 280 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid mixture, glitter, gems, charms, sand, metallic foil, flakes, dyes, or the like. The liquid mixture may include oil, transparent oil, glycerol, distilled water, salt water, or any combination thereof, for instance. The liquid mixture is transparent or translucent, thereby allowing the art 250 to be seen through the dome 220 and through the liquid mixture.

[0035] In embodiments, the viscosity of the liquid mixture is between about 8 cSt (centistokes) and about 12 cSt, and may be equal to about 10 cSt. Such a viscosity enables the items (e.g., glitter) in the liquid mixture to appear to be floating or slowly falling, which may help keep the attention of children. [0036] In embodiments where the plush toy 100 includes relatively small eye assemblies 200, the amount of liquid mixture may be about 1.5 grams, and in embodiments where the plush toy 100 includes relatively large eye assemblies 200, the amount of liquid mixture may be about 15 grams.

[0037] The assembled unit of the dome 220, the socket 240, and the heterogenous mixture 280 therein is referred to herein as a snow globe 300.

[0038] With reference to FIG. 3, further details of the fingers 244 of the socket 240 are shown. The fingers 244 extend from the second, lower surface 247 of the body portion 242, and are configured to releasably engage a portion of the gasket 260, as discussed below. While two fingers 244 are shown, it is envisioned that the socket 240 includes more or fewer fingers 244. Each finger 244 includes at least one flange 245 extending therefrom, which is configured to engage a portion of the gasket 260, as discussed in further detail below. The flange 245 includes a ramped or angled portion 245a and a wall 245b, which form an acute angle therebetween. In embodiments, the angled portion 245a forms an angle of between about 15° and about 30° relative to a finger axis “F-F” defined by the finger 244, and the wall 245b forms an angle of between about 90° and about 105° relative to the finger axis “F-F.” The flange 245 is configured to allow the finger 244 to engage the gasket 260 is a ratchet-type manner. While two flanges 245 are shown, it is envisioned that each finger 244 includes more or fewer than two flanges 245.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, details of the gasket 260 are shown. The gasket 260 includes a body portion 262, and an annular lip 266 extending along a periphery of the body portion 262. Additionally, apertures 270 (FIG. 6) are defined within the body portion 262, and a lip 272 surrounds each aperture 270. Each aperture 270 is configured to releasably accept one finger 244 of the socket 240. The engagement between the flanges 245 on the fingers 244 and the lips 272 enable or facilitate the releasable engagement therebetween, for example. Additionally, it is envisioned that the lips 272 have a sufficient amount of flexibility relative to the body portion 262 to provide a more robust engagement between the fingers 244 of the socket 240 and the apertures 270 of the gasket 260. More particularly, as the fingers 244 are entering the apertures 270 in the general direction of arrow “A” (FIG. 6), it is envisioned that the lips 272 flex in the general direction of arrow “A” to accommodate the flanges 245 on the fingers 244. After the widest part of the flange 245 passes the lip 272, the lip 272 flexes back in the general direction of arrow “B” (FIG. 6) toward its original position. That is, in such an embodiment, a diameter “da” of the aperture 270 is smaller than the largest diameter “Df” of the finger 244 (FIG. 6). This engagement between the flanges 245 on the fingers 244 and the lips 272 adjacent the apertures 270 helps ensure the snow globe 300 remains engaged with the gasket 260.

[0040] While two apertures 270 are shown, it is contemplated that the gasket 260 includes more or fewer apertures 270. Additionally, eye assembly 200 may include the same amount of fingers 244 and apertures 270, or may include more apertures 270 than fingers 244 (e.g., to allow for the snow globe 300 to be inserted into the gasket 260 in various orientations).

[0041] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular lip 266 of the gasket 260 extends beyond the upper surface 246 of the body portion 242 of the socket 240

[0042] While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but merely as illustrations of various embodiments thereof. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.