Mesh toy apparatus

• US 9,956,457 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Got II LLC
• Original Assignee: Got II LLC
• Inventors: Silverglate, David E., Gulassa, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US14/755,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/02 Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/1111 conjoined with soft cushions or toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/0623 facilitating gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 39/00 Hollow non-inflatable balls , i.e. having no valves rigid balls A63B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/002 with special configuration, e.g. non-spherical discs for throwing A63B65/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/006 Infant exercisers, e.g. for attachment to a crib
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 5/00 Musical or noise- producing devices for additional toy effects other than acoustical musical tops A63H1/28; sound-producing dolls A63H3/28; musical toy vehicles A63H17/268; acoustical vehicle-signalling devices A63H17/32; whistling toy locomotive arrangements A63H19/14; music, sound or noise production in general G10

Abstract

An apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of elongated strands having joinder regions uniting adjacent strands at a distance along a length of an outer perimeter of the elongated strands, the elongate strands being configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The elongated strands form a surface of a mesh when the joinder regions are coupled. The apparatus may further include a manducable protrusion coupled to the mesh and extending a distance away from an exterior surface of the mesh.

Claims

1. A toy apparatus comprising a mesh formed of a plurality of loop structures, each of the plurality of loop structures having cooperative mating surfaces disposed at least partially around an outer perimeter thereof, the cooperative mating surfaces of each of the plurality of loop structures being coupled to a cooperative mating surface of at least one adjacent loop structure to form a connected loop structure array, wherein the loop structures each define a rim bounding an open internal space;

and

at least one children'"'"'s accessory connected with the rim of a loop structure of the mesh by a belt, wherein the at least one children'"'"'s accessory comprises a character-shaped accessory; and

a rattle retained within the open internal space and engaged with the rim of one of the plurality of loop structures of the mesh.

2. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a resiliently deformable material.

3. The toy apparatus of claim 2, wherein the resiliently deformable material is selected from silicone, latex, polycarbonate, polymeric material and combinations thereof.

4. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open internal space bounded by at least one of the plurality of loop structures comprises a curved inside perimeter surface.

5. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of loop structures comprise a geometrical configuration selected from circular, oval, polygonal, and combinations thereof.

6. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh forms a closed structure enclosing a void.

7. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mesh forms an open structure that does not enclose a void.

8. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open internal space bounded by at least one of the plurality of loop structures comprises an opening size configured for gripping by an infant.

17. The toy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clip coupled to the mesh for attaching the toy apparatus to an external object.

9. A toy apparatus comprising:

a mesh formed of a plurality of loop structures, each loop structure joined to at least one adjacent loop structure at at least one point along an outer perimeter thereof; and

at least one children'"'"'s accessory attached to the mesh by a fastener, the at least one children'"'"'s accessory selected from a teething ring, a character shape, a disc comprising indicia, and combinations thereof; and

a rattle retained within one of the plurality of loop structures and engaged with the outer perimeter thereof; and

a clip coupled to the mesh for attaching the toy apparatus to an external object.

10. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mesh comprises a resiliently deformable material.

11. The toy apparatus of claim 10, wherein the resiliently deformable material is selected from silicone, latex, polycarbonate, polymeric material and combinations thereof.

12. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the loop structures comprise a geometrical configuration selected from circular, oval, polygonal, and combinations thereof.

13. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mesh forms a closed structure enclosing a void.

14. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the mesh forms an open structure that does not enclose a void.

15. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a belt.

16. The toy apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of loop structures bounds an opening having a size configured for gripping by an infant.

18. A toy apparatus comprising a mesh structure formed from a plurality of elongated strands and a plurality of joinder regions uniting adjacent strands of the mesh structure to form a plurality of closed perimeter openings having an entire perimeter surface that is smoothly looping and that forms a closed loop on the surface of the mesh, the elongated strands being resiliently deformable such that a user'"'"'s fingers may extend through the openings and grasp the smoothly looping perimeter surfaces of at least a first and second pair of the openings of the mesh in a gripping motion to flex the mesh and secure a grip on the mesh;

at least one children'"'"'s accessory connected with the mesh structure by a belt attached to one of the strands of the mesh structure, wherein the at least one children'"'"'s accessory comprises a disc on which indicia is provided;

a clip coupled to one of the strands of the mesh structure for attaching the toy apparatus to an external object; and

a rattle retained within one of the openings and engaged with the surrounding perimeter surfaces.