Toy for conveying personalized message

• US 4,878,871 A
• Filed: 04/22/1988
• Issued: 11/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nancy C. Noto
• Original Assignee: Nancy C. Noto
• Inventors: Noto, Nancy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/184,761
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 446/302, 446/299, 446/369, 446/370, 446/371, 446/76, 446/81, 446/74, 446/72, 446/71, 446/297, 446/298, 446/300, 446/301, 446/295, 446/296, 446/321, 446/408, 446/901, 446/472, 360/90, 434/272, 434/308, 434/309, 434/311
• US Class Current: 446/302
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 446/901 Detachably adhesive

Abstract

A method of preparing and conveying a personalized message from a sender to a recipient utilizes a toy having a cavity containing a cassette player, a battery holder, a switch and circuit elements interconnecting the player, the holder and the switch. The method includes the following steps which are performed by the sender: personally taping the personalized message on a cassette; inserting the cassette in the player; and giving the toy to the recipient with the cassette therein. The toy is cuddly and may be in the general likeness of the sender or may be a stuffed animal, in either case having a flap that is movable between a closed position in which the flap covers the cavity and an open position in which the cavity is exposed. The switch is of the push button type and the push buttons produce bulges in the flap when the latter is closed, so that the switch can be operated without moving the flap to its open position.

Claims

1. A toy having a cavity containing a cassette player, a battery holder, a switch with an operative push button, electric circuit means interconnecting said player, said holder and said switch, and a flap that is movable between a closed position in which said flap covers said cavity and an open position in which said cavity is exposed, whereby a sender can tape a personal message on a cassette, insert the cassette in said player with said flap in the open position, close said flap and give the toy a recipient with the message-bearing cassette therein, wherein said switch is so positioned that, when said flap is in said closed position, said push button will engage said flap to produce a bulge therein, whereby said switch can be operated without moving said flap to said open position.

2. The toy according to claim 1 wherein said toy is cuddly, having human features.

3. The toy according to claim 1 further comprising means for releasably holding said flap in said closed position.

4. The toy according to claim 3 wherein said holding means is a hook-and-pile closure.

5. the toy according to claim 3 wherein said flap has a loop to facilitate moving said flap from said closed position to said open position.

6. The toy according to claim 1 wherein said flap is made of fabric.