Packaging for toy and lithophane combinations

Abstract

Toy packaging is provided, including a toy and a lithophane panel that depicts an image. Typically the packaged toy set is configured so that at least a portion of the image depicted by the lithophane panel may be viewed by back illumination.

1 . A toy set, comprising: 
 a) a toy figure depicting a character; and    b) a lithophane panel depicting an image.    
   
   
       2 . The toy set of  claim 1 , where the lithophane panel is configured to function as a base for the toy figure.  
   
   
       3 . The toy set of  claim 1 , where the depicted image includes the depicted character.  
   
   
       4 . The toy set of  claim 1 , wherein the toy set is packaged so that both the toy figure and the lithophane panel are visible, and the depicted image may be viewed when backlit.  
   
   
       5 . A packaged toy, comprising: 
 a) a backing sheet having at least one aperture;    b) a toy associated with the backing sheet; and    c) a lithophane panel associated with the backing sheet;     wherein at least a portion of an image depicted by the lithophane panel is aligned with the aperture so that it is viewable when backlit.    
   
   
       6 . The packaged toy of  claim 1 , wherein the toy and the lithophane panel are associated with the backing sheet by a substantially transparent cover blister.  
   
   
       7 . The packaged toy of  claim 6 , wherein the cover blister at least substantially encloses the toy and the lithophane panel.  
   
   
       8 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , where the lithophane panel image relates to the toy.  
   
   
       9 . The packaged toy of  claim 8 , where the toy is a character figure, and the lithophane panel image includes a representation of the figure.  
   
   
       10 . The packaged toy of  claim 9 , where the lithophane panel is configured to function as a base for the character figure.  
   
   
       11 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , including a plurality of toys and lithophane panels associated with the backing sheet, wherein each lithophane panel includes an image, and each lithophane panel is aligned so that at least a portion of each image is viewable when backlit.  
   
   
       12 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a support blister supporting at least one of the toy and the lithophane panel.  
   
   
       13 . The packaged toy of  claim 12 , where the lithophane panel is disposed between the backing sheet and the support blister.  
   
   
       14 . The packaged toy of  claim 12 , where the lithophane panel is disposed between the support blister and a substantially transparent cover blister.  
   
   
       13 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a toy support blister and a lithophane support blister, wherein the lithophane support blister is disposed between the lithophane panel and the backing sheet such that the lithophane panel is supported by both the lithophane support blister and the toy support blister.  
   
   
       14 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a cover sheet having an aperture, wherein the lithophane panel is disposed between the cover sheet and the backing sheet so that at least a portion of the image depicted by the lithophane panel is viewable when backlit.  
   
   
       15 . The packaged toy of  claim 5 , further comprising an indication that the lithophane panel is viewable when backlit.  
   
   
       16 . A packaged toy, comprising: 
 a) a planar backing sheet having at least one aperture;    b) a toy figure;    c) a lithophane panel;    d) a substantially transparent cover blister that is attached to the backing sheet, where the cover blister at least substantially encloses the figure and the lithophane panel;    e) a support blister disposed between the cover blister and the backing sheet that is configured to support at least one of the figure and the lithophane panel;     wherein at least a portion of an image depicted by the lithophane panel is aligned with the aperture so that it is viewable when backlit.    
   
   
       17 . The packaged toy of  claim 16 , wherein the lithophane panel image includes a representation of the figure.  
   
   
       18 . The packaged toy of  claim 16 , wherein the support blister is disposed between the backing sheet and the lithophane panel.  
   
   
       19 . A method of packaging a lithophane panel and toy, comprising: 
 a) supporting the toy in association with a backing sheet;    b) supporting the lithophane panel in association with the backing sheet, wherein the supported lithophane panel is aligned with an aperture in the backing sheet; and    c) attaching a substantially transparent cover blister to the backing sheet.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , where supporting the lithophane panel includes orienting the lithophane so that an image depicted by the lithophane panel is viewable when backlit through the aperture.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , where supporting the lithophane panel includes supporting the lithophane panel with a lithophane support blister that is disposed between the lithophane panel and the backing sheet.