Method of stuffing toy and toy with electronic pocket

Abstract

A method of making a stuffed toy and a stuffed toy are disclosed. A method of making a stuffed toy requires forming a fabric skin into a body defining an interior space or cavity and an exterior surface, separated by a surface opening. A fabric sleeve or passageway connects to the surface opening on one end and is provided with a cinchable closure on its other or free end. The cinchable sleeve or passageway facilitates the environmentally-sound filling of the cavity with stuffing. After filling with stuffing, the cinchable end of the sleeve is closed off to form a pocket. The pocket can be used to hold an electronic component or sound chip in an isolated manner from the stuffing. The electronic component and stuffing in the cavity of the toy are sealed from access by a closure mechanism.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A skin for a to-be-stuffed toy comprising: 
 one or more pieces of fabric formed to define an exterior surface of said stuffed toy and an interior cavity, said skin having a surface opening into said cavity through said exterior surface; a fabric sleeve attached on one end to said surface opening, said sleeve having at its other end a cinchable opening, said sleeve being capable of being moved from a first position extending outside said cavity and into a second position within said cavity, said cinchable opening of said sleeve, when closed, transforming said sleeve into a pocket, and a closing means for said surface opening.    
     
     
         2 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cinchable opening is provided by a draw-string.  
     
     
         3 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said surface opening is defined by two opposed lip in said exterior surface of said skin.  
     
     
         4 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said closing means for said surface opening comprises mating hook and loop strips.  
     
     
         5 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said stuffed toy comprises a stuffed toy animal.  
     
     
         6 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is of sufficient size to conform to the exterior surface of a stuffing tube.  
     
     
         7 . A skin as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an electronic component located in said pocket.  
     
     
         8 . A toy formed from the skin claimed in  claim 1 , wherein stuffing is provided within said skin to provide three dimensional shape to said toy.  
     
     
         9 . A toy as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising an electronic component located in said pocket which is isolated from the stuffing within said toy.  
     
     
         10 . A toy as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said electronic component comprises a noise making device.  
     
     
         11 . A method for making a three-dimensional stuffed toy comprising: 
 a) providing a skin of one or more pieces of fabric, said skin defining an exterior surface and an interior cavity, said cavity being separated from said exterior surface by a surface opening;    b) providing a sleeve with two ends, a first end connected to said surface opening and the second end of said sleeve being cinchable;    c) providing a means for closing said surface opening;    d) inserting stuffing into said cavity by passing a stuffing tube through said free end of said sleeve;    e) removing said stuffing tube from said sleeve; and    f) closing said cinchable end of said sleeve to transform the same into a pocket.    
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising the step of: 
 g) closing off said surface opening.  
 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising the step of placing an electronic component in said pocket before closing said surface opening.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said cinchable end of said sleeve is provided with a drawstring.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further including the step of providing mating strips of hooks and loops for closing said surface opening.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein after removing said stuffing tube from said sleeve, said cinchable end of said sleeve is closed by pulling a drawstring and tying the same.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein after closing said cinchable end of said sleeve to transform the same into a pocket, an electronic component is placed into said pocket, and said surface opening is then closed.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  further including the step of cinching said sleeve around a stuffing tube prior to said step of inserting stuffing into said cavity.