Therapeutic toy and method of using the same

Abstract

The therapeutic toy includes a main body portion and a plurality of limbs, simulating an animal, such as an octopus. The plurality of limbs are selectively and releasably attached to the main body portion through the use of hook and loop fasteners in order to provide motor skill exercise to the user. Each of the plurality of limbs has unique visual and tactile characteristics, allowing the user to perform specific therapeutic exercises associated with each limb. Further, each limb has a unique fastener, allowing the user to practice and exercise the fastening and unfastening of the specific type of fastener.

1 . A therapeutic toy, comprising: 
 a main body; and,    a plurality of limbs selectively and releasably attached to said main body, whereby a user exercises motor skills through the selective attachment and detachment of said plurality of limbs from said main body.    
   
   
       2 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic toy is a stuffed, plush toy.  
   
   
       3 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said therapeutic toy resembles an animal.  
   
   
       4 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said animal is an octopus.  
   
   
       5 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of limbs includes a distinct surface that provides a therapeutic tactile sensation to the user.  
   
   
       6 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each said limb distinct surface is different from any other limb distinct surface.  
   
   
       7 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of said limb distinct surfaces is formed as a housing for receiving filler material.  
   
   
       8 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each said housing is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: fabric, felt, cloth, fur and fur-like material.  
   
   
       9 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said filler material is selected from the group consisting of: beans, rice, plastic material, cloth, fabric and beads.  
   
   
       10 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising therapeutic training devices secured to said housing, said therapeutic training devices being selected from the group consisting of: snaps, buttons, zippers, belts, buckles, bows and laces.  
   
   
       11 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 7 , wherein at least one housing has indicia printed thereon.  
   
   
       12 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a deformable element secured to said main body, said deformable element simulating a mouth.  
   
   
       13 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said deformable element is a pipe cleaner.  
   
   
       14 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching and detaching said limbs to and from said main body.  
   
   
       15 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each said means for attaching and detaching said limbs to and from said main body includes a tab secured to and projecting downwardly from said main body, there thus being a plurality of said tab members.  
   
   
       16 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising hook and loop fasteners mounted on said plurality of limbs and said plurality of tab members, said plurality of limbs being selectively and releasably attached to said plurality of tab members by said hook and loop fasteners.  
   
   
       17 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of limbs further includes means for providing therapeutic visual sensation to the user.  
   
   
       18 . The therapeutic toy as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said therapeutic tactile and visual sensations are predetermined to correspond to a particular therapeutic need of the user.  
   
   
       19 . A therapeutic method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a therapeutic toy including a main body portion and a plurality of limbs, the plurality of limbs being selectively and releasably attached to the main body portion; and,    selectively attaching and detaching the plurality of limbs to the main body portion to exercise motor skills.    
   
   
       20 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of limbs has unique tactile and visual characteristics, distinct from any other of the limbs.  
   
   
       21 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of performing a physical task associated with the unique tactile and visual characteristics of at least one of the limbs.  
   
   
       22 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the limbs has a fastener secured thereto.  
   
   
       23 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of selectively fastening and unfastening said fastener as therapeutic exercise for the user.  
   
   
       24 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of: snaps, buttons, zippers, belts, buckles, bows and laces.  
   
   
       25 . The therapeutic method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said physical task is predetermined to correspond to a particular need of the user.