Extendable toys

Abstract

Extendable toys comprise an extendable portion configured to be selectively manipulated between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, and a body portion coupled to the extendable portion.

1 . An extendable toy that represents a character, comprising:
 an extendable portion configured to be selectively manipulated between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, wherein the extendable portion is configured to remain in the retracted configuration absent manipulation of the extendable portion, and wherein the extendable portion is configured to remain in the extended configuration absent manipulation of the extendable portion; and   a body portion coupled to the extendable portion;   wherein the character is an animal, a creature, a person, a vehicle, a symbol, or another plaything, wherein the body portion comprises an attribute of the character, and wherein the attribute comprises a head, a body, a torso, a limb, limbs, an arm, arms, a hand, hands, a leg, legs, a foot, feet, a wing, wings, a tail, tails, a tentacle, tentacles, a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, a symbol, symbols, indicia, and/or text of the character.   
     
     
         2 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a plush element. 
     
     
         3 . The extendable toy of  claim 2 , wherein the plush element is a stuffed plush element. 
     
     
         4 . The extendable toy  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to be selectively manipulated amongst a range of partially extended configurations between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The extendable toy of  claim 4 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to remain in a partially extended configuration of the range of partially extended configurations absent manipulation of the extendable portion. 
     
     
         6 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to be selectively manipulated between a linear configuration and one or more bent configurations. 
     
     
         7 . The extendable toy of  claim 6 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to remain in the linear configuration absent manipulation of the extendable portion. 
     
     
         8 . The extendable toy of  claim 6 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to remain in a bent configuration of the one or more bent configurations absent manipulation of the extendable portion. 
     
     
         9 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion has an accordion construction. 
     
     
         10 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion is configured to emit a sound responsive to manipulation of the extendable portion between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion comprises two or more sections coupled together. 
     
     
         12 . The extendable toy of  claim 11 , wherein the two or more sections are configured to be selectively uncoupled from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable portion comprises a pop tube. 
     
     
         14 . The extendable toy of  claim 1 ;
 wherein the body portion is a first body portion;   wherein the attribute is a first attribute;   wherein the extendable toy further comprises a second body portion coupled to the extendable portion opposite the first body portion;   wherein the second body portion comprises a second attribute of the character; and   wherein the second attribute comprises a head, a body, a torso, a limb, limbs, an arm, arms, a hand, hands, a leg, legs, a foot, feet, a wing, wings, a tail, tails, a tentacle, tentacles, a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, a symbol, symbols, indicia, and/or text of the character.   
     
     
         15 . The extendable toy of  claim 14 , wherein the first body portion comprises a first plush element, and wherein the second body portion comprises a second plush element. 
     
     
         16 . The extendable toy of  claim 14 , further comprising a tether coupled to and extending between the first body portion and the second body portion;
 wherein the extendable portion defines an internal passage, and wherein the tether passes through the internal passage.   
     
     
         17 . The extendable toy of  claim 16 , wherein in the extended configuration, the extendable portion has an effective length, and wherein the tether is configured to restrict the extendable portion from being lengthened beyond the effective length. 
     
     
         18 . The extendable toy of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the extendable portion is a first extendable portion;   wherein the extendable toy further comprises a second extendable portion and a third body portion coupled to the second extendable portion opposite the first body portion;   wherein the third body portion comprises a third attribute of the character; and   wherein the third attribute comprises a head, a body, a torso, a limb, limbs, an arm, arms, a hand, hands, a leg, legs, a foot, feet, a wing, wings, a tail, tails, a tentacle, tentacles, a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, a symbol, symbols, indicia, and/or text of the character.   
     
     
         19 . The extendable toy of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the first body portion comprises a first plush element, wherein the second body portion comprises a second plush element, wherein the third body portion comprises a third plush element, wherein the first extendable portion comprises a first pop tube, and wherein the second extendable portion comprises a second pop tube;   wherein the extendable toy further comprises:
 a first tether coupled to and extending between the first body portion and the second body portion and extending through the first pop tube; and 
 a second tether coupled to and extending between the first body portion and the third body portion and extending through the second pop tube. 
   
     
     
         20 . An extendable toy that represents a character, comprising:
 two body portions, wherein each body portion represents an attribute of the character; and   means for manipulating the two body portions relative to each other.