Systems and methods of incorporating preformed items into a molded article

Abstract

A method of forming a molded toy product is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include securing a preformed item having a first magnetic-attraction element in a desired location in a mold via magnetic attraction between the first magnetic-attraction element and the mold; adding moldable material into the mold such that the moldable material covers at least part of the preformed item; and curing the moldable material. A mold for manufacturing a molded toy product also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mold may include a mold core including a surface and at least a second magnetic-attraction element complementary with at least a first magnetic-attraction element of a preformed item; and at least one mold cavity wall spaced from the mold core, wherein an area between the mold core surface and the at least one mold cavity wall is configured to receive moldable material.

1 . A toy, comprising:
 a toy doll with a first magnetic-attraction element positioned in the toy doll; and   a formed toy clothing item with a second magnetic-attraction element incorporated with the formed toy clothing item such that no face of the second magnetic-attraction element is fully exposed and at least one face is partially exposed.   
   
   
       2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic-attraction element is elevated off an inner surface of the formed toy clothing item. 
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the formed toy clothing item includes first and second portions, the first portion including the second magnetic-attraction element and one or more connectors configured to connect the first portion with the second portion. 
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second portions include front and back portions, respectively. 
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the toy doll includes a third magnetic-attraction element positioned in the toy doll and the formed toy clothing item includes a fourth magnetic-attraction element incorporated with the formed toy clothing item such that no face of the fourth magnetic-attraction element is fully exposed and at least one face is partially exposed. 
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion includes the fourth magnetic-attraction element. 
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion includes the fourth magnetic-attraction element. 
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claim 7 , wherein the second and fourth magnetic-attraction elements include first and second magnets, respectively, each of the first and second magnets being incorporated with the formed toy clothing item such that no face of the first and second magnets is fully exposed and at least one face is partially exposed. 
   
   
       9 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one partially exposed face of the first magnet has an opposite polarity to the at least one partially exposed face of the second magnet. 
   
   
       10 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second magnets are insert molded into the formed toy clothing item. 
   
   
       11 . A toy, comprising:
 a toy doll with a first magnetic-attraction element positioned in the toy doll; and   a formed toy clothing item with a second magnetic-attraction element incorporated with the formed toy clothing item such that a thickened ring of the formed toy clothing item encases the second magnetic-attraction element while leaving a part of the second magnetic-attraction element exposed.   
   
   
       12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second magnetic-attraction elements includes first and second magnets, respectively, each of the first and second magnets being incorporated with the formed toy clothing item such that a thickened ring of the formed toy clothing item encases the first and second magnets while leaving a part of the first and second magnets exposed. 
   
   
       13 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second magnets are insert molded into the formed toy clothing item. 
   
   
       14 . Toy clothing for a toy doll, the toy doll including a first magnetic-attraction element, the toy clothing comprising:
 a base including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface configured to be adjacent a portion of a toy doll and the outer surface configured to be spaced from the portion relative to the inner surface when the toy clothing is on a toy doll; and   a second magnetic-attraction element complementary with the first magnetic attraction element and having a plurality of sides, the second magnetic-attraction element being incorporated with the base such that (i) each side of the plurality of sides of the second magnetic-attraction element is at least partially covered and (ii) at least one side of the plurality of sides of the second magnetic-attraction element is partially exposed.   
   
   
       15 . The toy clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the second magnetic-attraction element includes a magnet. 
   
   
       16 . The toy clothing of  claim 14 , where the toy doll includes a third magnetic-attraction element, further comprising a fourth magnetic-attraction element complementary with the third magnetic-attraction element and having a plurality of sides, the fourth magnetic-attraction element being incorporated with the base such that (i) each side of the plurality of sides of the fourth magnetic-attraction element is at least partially covered and (ii) at least one side of the plurality of sides of the fourth magnetic-attraction element is partially exposed. 
   
   
       17 . The toy clothing of  claim 16 , wherein the second and fourth magnetic-attraction elements include first and second magnets, respectively, each of the first and second magnets having a plurality of sides. 
   
   
       18 . The toy clothing of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second magnets is incorporated with the base such that (i) each side of the plurality of sides of the first and second magnets is at least partially covered and (ii) at least one side of the plurality of sides of the first and second magnets is partially exposed, the at least one partially exposed side of the first magnet being of opposite polarity from the at least one partially exposed side of the second magnet. 
   
   
       19 . The toy clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the base includes first and second portions, the first portion including the second magnetic-attraction element and one or more connectors configured to connect the first portion with the second portion. 
   
   
       20 . The toy clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the second magnetic-attraction element is insert molded into the base.