Pillow with concealed play surfaces

Abstract

A plush pillow toy in any number of shapes comprised of two fabric covered or molded cushioned members or a single fabric covered or molded folding cushioned member, that when opened or unfolded, form a play area roughly double the size of the original pillow. The interior is revealed when the two cushioned members or single folded member of the original pillow are opened, unfolded, or otherwise separated, forming a playing surface or terrain for small toys, figures, or any number of accessories. A flap or other hinge apparatus may be used to hold the two cushioned members of the pillow structure together. The hinge apparatus may be designed to disengage the two members to allow the two members to be used independently. A zipper, hook and loop, or other means of fastening is used to hold the two members or single folding member of the pillow in the closed pillow configuration. The fastening apparatus may be comprised of a single point, multiple points, or a complete perimeter fastening apparatus. When unfastened, the two members or single folding member, open to reveal the interior plush play area or terrain. The opened play environment may be roughly double the size of the original pillow, and may include small plush landscape details, buildings, hills, or other environmental or terrain attributes as part of the play area.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of:
 a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters   b) a fabric covering   c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members   d) a single point fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened   e) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         2 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , comprised of:
 a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed   b) a fabric covering   c) a fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened   d) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         3 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , comprised of:
 a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters   b) a fabric covering   c) a detachable hinge apparatus that allows the two cushioned members to be separated   d) a fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened   e) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         4 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , comprised of:
 a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters   b) a fabric covering   c) a fastening apparatus designed to retain the two cushioned members in the pillow configuration, and allows the two members to separated to reveal the play area.   d) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         5 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of:
 a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters   b) a fabric covering   c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members   d) a perimeter fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened   e) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         6 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area by way of folding, opening, or otherwise separating to reveal the play area, comprised of:
 a) two cushioned members featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters   b) a fabric covering   c) a hinge apparatus to attach the two cushioned members   d) a multi-point fastening apparatus to retain the two cushioned members in a pillow configuration when fastened   e) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         7 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , comprised of:
 a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed   b) a fabric covering   c) a perimeter fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened   d) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         8 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , comprised of:
 a) a single cushioned member featuring a surface for use as pillow, opposite a textured surface designed as, but not limited to, terrain, environmental details, structures, or characters, that is designed to fold allowing the play area to be concealed   b) a fabric covering   c) a multi-point fastening apparatus to retain the cushioned member in a pillow configuration when fastened   d) internal cushioning medium   
     
     
         9 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the cushioned member is designed to resemble an object, not limited to but including, characters, structures, alpha-numeric characters, flora, animals, or geometric shapes when in the closed pillow configuration. 
     
     
         10 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 2 , wherein the shape of the cushioned member is designed to resemble an object, not limited to but including, characters, structures, alpha-numeric characters, flora, animals, or geometric shapes when in the closed pillow configuration. 
     
     
         11 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , that when detached from the hinge or fastening apparatus, may be combined with a cushioned member from another combined pillow play area toy. 
     
     
         12 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , that when detached from the hinge or fastening apparatus, may be used as a standalone play area or cushion. 
     
     
         13 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 1 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         14 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 2 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         15 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 3 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         16 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 4 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         17 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 5 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         18 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 6 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         19 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 7 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area. 
     
     
         20 ) A combined pillow and play area that is changeable between a pillow configuration and play area defined in  claim 8 , that incorporates a cushioning material without the use of an external fabric covering, to convey the design or decorative elements of the pillow or play area.