Flashlight toy

• US 5,385,500 A
• Filed: 05/14/1993
• Issued: 01/31/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Caitlyn R. Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Caitlyn R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/061,893
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 446/26, 446/71-73, 446/268, 446/278, 446/368-370, 446/373, 446/374, 446/485, 446/486, 446/365, 362/124, 362/157, 362/189, 362/198, 362/419, D26/60-62, D26/65, D26/93, D26/94, D26/98, D26/103
• US Class Current: 446/73
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/006 provided with electrical lighting electrical lighting F21
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes

Abstract

The present invention features a snake toy having an illumination apparatus in its mouth. The body of the snake toy has an inner, flexible, corrugated tube of metal or plastic. The flexible corrugation is easily twisted in order to provide different shapes or configurations for the snake body. In this fashion, the snake can be shaped to stand alone upon a table or to wrap around handlebars of a bicycle or the back of a chair, for example. Likewise, the snake can be easily carried about one'"'"'s person by wrapping it about the neck, arm, or leg. The twisting and shaping capability also serves as a means by which the illumination from the built-in flashlight can be focused or directed upon an object or a particular spot. By shaping the snake, one can direct the light emanating from the snake'"'"'s mouth onto the page of a book, for instance. The inner tube of the snake'"'"'s is covered by soft polyester batting, which is further overlaid with an outer cloth shell.

Claims

1. A flexible toy, comprising a flexible body portion having a flexible, inner core member comprising a flexible corrugated tube that can be twisted or shaped, said flexible body portion, having no memory, and maintaining its shape when it is wrapped, twisted and configured to conform said body portion to surfaces in which it is brought into contact and then released, said corrugated tube being overlaid with decorative skin, said flexible toy having means defining an opening at one end, with a flashlight apparatus being disposed within said opening and light emanating from the flashlight apparatus being caused to project from said opening, said shaping of said flexible body portion having the dual purpose of both configuring said flexible toy and directing the light emanating from said opening upon a particular spot or object.

2. The flexible toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said body portion is configured to resemble a snake.

3. The flexible toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said flexible corrugated tube is overlaid with soft batting and said decorative skin.

4. A flexible toy, comprising a flexible body portion including a hollow, tube that has no memory, and can maintain its shape when it is wrapped, twisted and configured to conform said body portion to surfaces in which it is brought into contact and then released said hollow tube being overlaid with a skin covering, said flexible toy having means defining an opening at one end, with a flashlight apparatus being disposed within said opening and light emanating from the flashlight apparatus being caused to project from said opening, said twisting of said flexible body portion having the dual purpose of both configuring said flexible toy and actuating said flashlight apparatus.

5. The flexible toy in accordance with claim 4, wherein said body portion is configured to resemble a snake.

6. The flexible toy in accordance with claim 4, wherein can be twisted or shaped so that flexible toy can be configured.

7. The flexible toy in accordance with claim 6, wherein said flexible corrugated tube is overlaid with soft batting and said skin covering.

8. A flexible, elongated toy resembling a snake, having a body portion that has no memory, and maintains its shape when it is wrapped, twisted and configured to conform to surfaces in which it is brought into contact and then released, said flexible, elongated toy having means defining an opening at one end that defines the mouth of said snake, said toy comprising:

a flashlight apparatus disposed in said opening of said body portion for providing light that is directed from said mouth;

an inner, flexible corrugated tube disposed within said body portion, said corrugated tube being twistable, wrappable and configurable so as to maintain the body portion in different desired shapes, said body portion further comprising and supporting a decorative eye, said eye disguising a switch for actuating said flashlight apparatus;

a batting that overlays said corrugated tube for the purpose of providing softness to said elongated toy; and

a covering disposed over said batting.

9. The flexible, elongated toy in accordance with claim 8, wherein said batting comprises polyester material.

10. The flexible, elongated toy in accordance with claim 8, being decoratively configured as a lamp.