Toy blanket holder

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for a soft toy blanket holder. A soft toy apparatus includes a hollow body that defines a storage cavity. The hollow body includes a soft material and an opening through which the storage cavity is accessible. The soft toy apparatus also includes an appendage movably coupled to the hollow body. The appendage and hollow body form a toy figure. The appendage is movable relative to the hollow body between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the appendage covers and conceals the opening and in the open position at least a portion of the appendage is spaced away from the opening.

1 . A soft toy apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow body defining a storage cavity, the hollow body being made from a soft material and comprising an opening through which the storage cavity is accessible; and   an appendage movably coupled to the hollow body, the appendage and hollow body forming a toy figure, wherein the appendage is movable relative to the hollow body between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the appendage covers and conceals the opening and in the open position at least a portion of the appendage is spaced away from the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting fastener pivotally coupling the appendage to the hollow body, wherein the appendage is pivotally movable relative to the hollow body between the closed position and the open position via the pivoting fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pivoting fastener permanently pivotally couples the appendage to the hollow body. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pivoting fastener comprises at least one of thread sewn between the hollow body and the appendage and glue. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the pivoting fastener removably pivotally couples the appendage to the hollow body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pivoting fastener comprises at least one of a hook and loop fastener mechanism, a snap mechanism, a button mechanism, a zipper mechanism, and an elastic loop mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retention fastener coupled to the hollow body and appendage, the at least one retention fastener being configured to removably secure the appendage in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism coupled to the opening, the closure mechanism being operable to selectively open and close the opening independently of the appendage. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein in the closed position the appendage covers and conceals the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one of a drawstring mechanism, a hook and loop fastener mechanism, a snap mechanism, a button mechanism, and a zipper mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanket removably stored in the storage cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a blanket removably attached to the toy figure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises one of a head, a back end, a tail, a leg, an arm, a wing, a fin, and an antenna. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the soft material comprises a fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises a three dimensional shape resembling a head. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the head comprises a soft filling. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises a primary appendage, the apparatus further comprising one or more secondary appendages. 
     
     
         18 . A soft toy apparatus comprising:
 a hollow body defining a storage cavity, the hollow body being made from a soft material and comprising an opening through which the storage cavity is accessible;   an appendage movably coupled to the hollow body, the appendage and hollow body forming a toy figure, the appendage comprising a head, wherein the appendage is movable relative to the hollow body between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the appendage covers and conceals the opening and in the open position at least a portion of the appendage is spaced away from the opening;   a pivoting fastener pivotally coupling the appendage to the hollow body, wherein the appendage is pivotally movable relative to the hollow body between the closed position and the open position via the pivoting fastener; and   at least one retention fastener coupled to the hollow body and appendage, the at least one retention fastener being configured to removably secure the appendage in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . A method for accessing a storage cavity defined within a hollow body of a toy figure, comprising:
 providing a soft toy apparatus, comprising
 a hollow body defining a storage cavity, the hollow body being made from a soft material and comprising an opening through which the storage cavity is accessible, 
 an appendage movably coupled to the hollow body, the appendage and hollow body forming a toy figure, wherein the appendage is movable relative to the hollow body between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the appendage covers and conceals the opening and in the open position at least a portion of the appendage is spaced away from the opening, and 
 at least one retention fastener coupled to the hollow body and appendage, the at least one retention fastener being configured to removably secure the appendage in the closed position; 
   releasing the at least one retention fastener;   moving the appendage to the open position; and   accessing the storage cavity, the accessing comprising one or both of removing an item from the storage cavity and inserting an item into the storage cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the soft toy apparatus further comprises a closure mechanism coupled to the opening, the closure mechanism being operable to selectively open and close the opening independently of the appendage, the method further comprising opening the closure mechanism prior to accessing the storage cavity and closing the closure mechanism after accessing the storage cavity.