Tear-apart stress relief doll and method

• US 5,195,917 A
• Filed: 05/20/1992
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cheryle Karnikis, Mary Russell
• Original Assignee: Cheryle Karnikis, Mary Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Mary, Karnikis, Cheryle
• Primary Examiner(s): Muir, D. Neal
• Application Number:
  US07/887,409
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 446/97, 446/99, 446/100, 446/4, 446/5, 446/79, 446/268, 446/321, 446/333, 446/334, 446/335, 446/336, 446/369, 446/370, 446/371, 446/385, 446/901
• US Class Current: 446/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/16 made of parts that can be put together facial parts only A63H3/365
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 446/901 Detachably adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb

Abstract

A method for relieving tension, and a stress-relief doll figure for practicing the method. A doll is provided representing a source of stress, such as a television sports referee. The doll has a torso, legs, arms and a head each removably attached by means of Velcro such that the limbs and head can be selectively torn off in repsonse to an action of the source of stress, such as a "bad call", and subsequently replaced. A method and means for relieving tension in a satisfying manner are thus provided.

Claims

1. A method for relieving tension, comprising:

providing a stuffed doll simulating a sports referee with indicia simulating a referee uniform, the doll representing an actual sports referee whose actions can constitute a source of tension-inducing stress, the doll having

a torso portion; and

leg elements, arm elements, said arm elements mounting a releasable attachment means and terminating in a simulated hand and said leg elements comprising a fabric casing, the fabric extended into an integral flap which mounts a releasable attachment means, a flag attached to one of said hands and a head element with releasable attachments, at least some of the elements being removably attached to the torso portion by said attachment means, said elements selectively torn off the torso portion in response to an action of the actual sports referee, such as in the event of a bad call, and the removably-attached elements subsequently replaced after user tension has been relieved.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, which comprises providing a doll wherein the removably-attached elements releasable attachment means comprise hook-and-loop fastening material.

3. A tear-apart tension-relieving stuffed doll comprising:

a torso portion;

a pair of leg elements, a pair of arm elements, said arm elements mounting a releasable attachment means and terminating in a simulated hand and said leg elements comprising a fabric casing, the fabric extended into an integral flap which mounts a releasable attachment means, a flag attached to one of said hands and a head element with releasably attachment means which, when attached to said torso portion, form a sports referee figure with indicia simulating a referee uniform representing an actual sports referee whose actions can constitute a source of tension-inducing stress; and

at least some of said elements being removably attached to said torso portion by said attachment means such that said removably-attached elements can selectively be torn off said torso portion in response to an action of the actual sports referee, such as in the event of a bad call, and said removably-attached elements can be subsequently replaced.

4. A tear-apart tension-relieving doll in accordance with claim 3, said releasable attachment means comprise hook-and-loop fastening material for removably attaching said removably-attached elements to said torso portion.