Plush assembly and method for stuffing same

• US 6,685,532 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bear Factory LLC
• Original Assignee: Gerald J McLean
• Inventors: McLean, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/272,190
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 446/369, 446/385, 446/370, 446/371, 446/372, 534/69, 532/58, 533/90, 534/52, 244/32, 244/29, 244/15, 244/16, 244/17, 244/18, 244/19, 2 8/2, 2 8/0, 2 8/3
• US Class Current: 446/369
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/02 made of fabrics or stuffed

Abstract

A plush assembly is stuffed with filler material to form a stuffed product. The plush assembly includes a plush defining an exterior and an aperture for receiving the filler material therein. The aperture is opened and closed or sealed with a zipper. The zipper includes a slide that is movable therealong. The slide includes a lock extendable out from the slide that engages the zipper to lock the slide in a position along the zipper. A string is used to prevent the slide from being locked until the plush is filled and the aperture is closed. Then the string is removed by cutting it, maintaining the slide in a locked state.

Claims

1. A plush assembly to be stuffed with filler material to form a stuffed toy, said plush assembly comprising:

a plush defining an exterior, said plush including an aperture for receiving the filler material therein, said aperture including two longitudinal sides, an open end and a closed end;

a strip of hooks and hollows fixedly secured to each of said longitudinal sides between said open and closed ends;

a slide movable along said strips of hooks and hollows between said open end and said closed end to engage and disengage said strips of hooks and hollows to open and close said aperture, said slide including a lock to engage said strips of hooks and hollows to lock said slide in a position along said strips of hooks and hollows; and

a pull string engaging said lock to selectively unlock said lock to allow said slide to move along said strips of hooks and hollows, wherein said pull string is removed from said slide after said plush is filled with the filler to permanently prevent said aperture from opening by keeping said slide adjacent said closed end thereof.

2. A method for stuffing a plush assembly with filler material wherein said plush assembly includes a hollow plush, an aperture defining two longitudinal sides, an open end and a closed end, and a zipper defining two strips of hooks and hollows extending along the two longitudinal sides of the aperture, a slide movable along the strips of hooks and hollows, and a lock with a releasing device, the method comprising the steps of:

moving the slide to the open end of the aperture;

filling the hollow plush with the filler material to create a stuffed plush;

moving the slide to the closed end of the aperture to close the aperture to prevent the filler material from falling through the aperture;

engaging the lock to lock the slide in a location disposed adjacent the closed end of the aperture;

cutting the releasing device; and

removing the releasing device from the plush assembly to prevent the lock from unlocking.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of covering the slide after the step of removing the releasing device to hide the slide from view.