Soft-sided top-shaped container and method of making same

Abstract

There is provided a container having a plurality of sides that define an internal hollow space. The upper portion of the container may be selectively opened to allow items to be inserted or removed from the container. The bottom portion of the container is adapted to have an inverted point that resembles the base of a toy top. In addition, the external faces of the sides of the container are decorated and, preferably, resemble a draydel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A soft-sided container comprising: 
 an effectively soft body portion defining an internal chamber, said effectively soft body portion including a plurality of side walls, a bottom section adapted to form a point extending away from said body portion, and an opening opposite said bottom section, said opening having an upper edge; and    an effectively soft lid releasably attached to said upper edge by a releasable fastening means, said effectively soft lid adapted to selectively seal said opening and,    whereby the soft-sided container substantially resembles a toy top when said effectively soft lid is positioned to seal said opening.    
     
     
         2 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to said lid for holding and carrying the soft-sided container.  
     
     
         3 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said body portion has four, approximately rectilinear, side walls and said bottom section is effectively shaped as an inverted pyramid.  
     
     
         4 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid is permanently attached along at least a portion of said upper edge.  
     
     
         5 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said releasable fastening means is selected from the group consisting of: zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, magnets, frog-closures, buckles, bows, ribbons, locks, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said body portion substantially includes at least one soft material.  
     
     
         7 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said body portion has at least one reinforcing member adapted to maintain the overall shape of said internal chamber when said internal chamber is empty.  
     
     
         8 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein said lid has at least one reinforcing member adapted to prevent said lid from collapsing into said hollow chamber when said lid is positioned to seal said opening.  
     
     
         9 . The soft-sided container of  claim 1 , wherein each side wall has a respective dintinguishing indicia.  
     
     
         10 . The soft-sided container of  claim 9 , wherein the soft-sided container effectively resembles a draydel.  
     
     
         11 . A method for making a soft-sided container comprising the steps of: 
 forming an effectively soft body portion that defines an internal chamber, said effectively soft body portion including a plurality of side walls, a bottom section adapted to form a point extending away from said body portion, and an opening opposite said bottom section and having an upper edge; and    attaching an effectively soft lid to said upper edge by a releasable fastening means, said effectively soft lid adapted to selectively seal said opening,    whereby the soft-sided container substantially resembles a toy top when said effectively soft lid is positioned to seal said opening.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of attaching a handle to said lid for holding and carrying the soft-sided container.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said body portion is formed with four side walls and said bottom section is effectively shaped as an inverted pyramid.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said lid is permanently attached along at least a portion of said upper edge.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said releasable fastening means is selected from the group consisting of: zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, magnets, frog-closures, buckles, bows, ribbons, locks, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said body portion is substantially formed with at least one soft material.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said body portion is formed with at least one reinforcing member adapted to maintain the overall shape of said internal chamber when said internal chamber is empty.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said lid is formed with at least one reinforcing member adapted to prevent said lid from collapsing into said hollow chamber when said lid is positioned to seal said opening.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of forming a decorative exterior surface on at least one side wall of said plurality of side walls.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the soft-sided container effectively resembles a draydel.