System and Method for Character Based Power Source

Abstract

The power source of a toy is disguised as a character or other aspect of the toy itself such that the character appears to operate the toy. Batteries are wrapped in a thin material with graphical artwork disposed thereon. The graphical artwork may disguise the power source (e.g., a battery) as toy characters, a fuel tank, or the like. Corresponding battery operated toys are designed such that the location of one or more batteries used to operate the toy is where a character would naturally sit when operating the toy such as a cockpit. Batteries can be skinned individually or in groups to accommodate the needs of individual toys and various sizes of characters, teams, or toy components.

1 . An electronic device assembly, comprising:
 an electronic device having an outer body and electronic components which operate in connection with the device;   the outer body having a power source compartment which receives at least one power source which is electrically coupled to the electronic components;   at least one power source seated in the compartment;   the power source having an outer surface and an outer skin with a decorative graphical image disposed thereon which covers and conceals at least a portion of the outer surface of the power source; and   the outer body having an opening which exposes the power source compartment, whereby at least part of the decorative image on the outer skin of the power source is exposed to a user of the electronic device through the opening.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a battery having positive and negative poles, the power source compartment has contacts which engage the positive and negative poles when the battery is seated in the compartment, and the outer skin substantially covers the entire outer surface of the battery apart from the poles. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative graphical image is a representation of a toy character. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a window mounted in the opening, where in the window comprises a translucent material. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sheet of translucent material comprises a door for access to the power source compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of toys, cell phones, personal digital assistants, personal gaming devices, flashlights, remote control vehicles, radios, electric toothbrushes, electronic media players, cameras, and calculators. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source compartment has seats which receive at least two power sources, each power source having an outer skin with a decorative graphical image thereon which conceals at least a portion of the outer surface of the power source, and the opening exposes at least part of the outer skin of each power source. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the outer skins of the two power sources have graphical images representing different characters. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power source compartment has seats which receive a plurality of power sources and the outer skin having a decorative graphical image thereon is wrapped over the plurality of power sources to hold the power sources together, wherein the exposed part of the decorative graphical image extends over portions of each of the plurality of power sources. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body is designed as a toy to be operated by a toy character and having a cockpit for a toy character, the power source compartment comprising the cockpit and the decorative indicia on the outer skin representing at least one toy character which appears to operate the toy. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a battery charger. 
   
   
       12 . A battery disguising system, comprising:
 at least one battery having an outer battery case with positive and negative poles and an outer peripheral surface; and   an outer skin wrapped around a substantial portion of the outer peripheral surface of the battery case excluding the positive and negative poles, the skin having a decorative, pictorial image disposed thereon which conceals the underlying battery case surface, the image representing an object or character, whereby the wrapped battery simulates the object or character.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , comprising at least two batteries, the outer skin being wrapped around both of the batteries and holding them together. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a battery charger which has a compartment which receives the at least one battery for recharging, the compartment having an opening which exposes at least part of the image on the outer skin as the battery is charged. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a battery operated device having a compartment which receives the battery to provide power to the device, the compartment having an opening which exposes at least part of the image on the outer skin as the device is used. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the image represents at least one toy character and the battery operated device comprises a battery operated toy which appears to be operated by the toy character. 
   
   
       17 . A method of disguising a power source in an electronic device, comprising:
 wrapping at least part of the outer surface of at least one battery in an outer skin having a decorative graphical image disposed thereon which conceals the underlying surface portion of the battery; and   placing the at least one battery in a battery compartment of an electronically operated device with at least part of the outer skin exposed through an opening of the compartment when the device is used.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising wrapping a second battery in a second outer skin having a decorative graphical image thereon and placing the second battery in the battery compartment, with the opening revealing at least part of the graphical images on both outer skins, the graphical images on the two skins being different. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the battery from the compartment and placing end caps over opposite ends of the battery, the end caps having graphical images representing a continuation of the graphical image on the skin. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting a skin from a plurality of skins carrying different graphical images prior to wrapping the skin around the battery.