Stuffed toy with embedded magnets and related method

Abstract

A stuffed toy and method for removably attaching appendages. The appendages are magnetically attached using permanent magnets embedded beneath the stuffed toy fabric. In some embodiments, the appendages include such parts as a head, legs, arms, trunk, tail, or other toy body parts. The magnetically attached toy appendages are removable, reattachable, and interchangeable between toys or in some embodiments, to different positions on the same toy. In other embodiments, the head attaches only to a head position on the body, and the tail attaches only to a tail position on the body. In some embodiments, the body is shaped to provide an additional support structure to help hold the head in a desired position.

1 . A toy, comprising:
 a main body that has an exterior covering material and that includes a first ferromagnetic object within a constrained cushioned region of the main body's exterior covering material; and   a first appendage that has an exterior covering material and that includes a ferromagnetic object within a constrained cushioned region of the first appendage's exterior covering material, wherein the first appendage is configured to be removably attached to the main body by magnetic attraction between the first ferromagnetic object of the body and the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage.   
   
   
       2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first appendage represents a toy head; and   at least one of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body and the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head is a permanent magnet that has a polarity oriented such that the first ferromagnetic object in the main body and the ferromagnetic object in the first appendage that represents the toy head attract one another.   
   
   
       3 . The toy of  claim 2 , further comprising a second appendage that represents a toy tail that has an exterior covering material and that includes a ferromagnetic object disposed beneath its exterior covering material; and wherein the main body further includes a second ferromagnetic object disposed beneath a predefined constrained region of its exterior covering material, and
 at least one of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body and the ferromagnetic object disposed beneath the exterior covering material of the second appendage that represents the toy tail is a permanent magnet that has a polarity oriented such that the second ferromagnetic object in the main body and the ferromagnetic object in the appendage that represents the toy tail attract one another.   
   
   
       4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the first ferromagnetic object of the main body, the second ferromagnetic object of the main body, the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head, and the ferromagnetic object of the second appendage that represents the toy tail are all permanent magnets. 
   
   
       5 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein, of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body, the second ferromagnetic object of the main body, the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head, and the ferromagnetic object of the second appendage that represents the toy tail, two are permanent magnets and two are made of material that is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnets. 
   
   
       6 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the external covering of the toy is a plush fabric, and the toy includes a plurality of magnetically detachable and re-attachable appendages including the first appendage and a second appendage each of which includes a ferromagnetic object attached inside the exterior covering material of each respective appendages, wherein the main body includes the first ferromagnetic object and a second ferromagnetic object held inside two separate constrained regions each defined by fabric pouches sewn to the main body's exterior covering material, and
 at least one of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body and the ferromagnetic object disposed beneath the exterior covering material of the first appendage is a permanent magnet that attracts its respective opposite ferromagnetic object; and   at least one of the second ferromagnetic object of the main body and the ferromagnetic object disposed beneath the exterior covering material of the second appendage is a permanent magnet that attracts its respective opposite ferromagnetic object.   
   
   
       7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first appendage represents a toy head, and the first ferromagnetic object of the main body is a first permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head is a third permanent magnet that has a polarity oriented such that the first permanent magnet in the main body and the third permanent magnet in the first appendage that represents the toy head attract one another;
 the toy further comprising a second appendage that represents a toy tail that has an exterior covering material and that includes a fourth permanent magnet disposed beneath its exterior covering material; and wherein the main body further includes a second permanent magnet disposed in a pouch sewn to an inside surface of a predefined region of the main body's exterior covering material, and wherein the fourth permanent magnet has a polarity oriented such that the second permanent magnet in the main body and the fourth permanent magnet in the appendage that represents the toy tail attract one another;   wherein the exterior covering material of the body and of the first appendage that represents the toy head includes a plush fabric that covers at least half of the toy's exterior surface, and wherein the main body is stuffed primarily with a polymer-fiber material;   wherein the first permanent magnet is positioned such that a pole surface of the first permanent magnet is at an angle sloping downward toward a front of the main body and wherein the first permanent magnet is attached to a location on the main body at least about halfway or further to a rear of the main body and such that when the first appendage that represents the toy head has its third magnet magnetically attached to the main body at the first magnet, a front portion of the first appendage that represents the toy head is supported in an upright position by a frontal portion of the main body; and   wherein the main body includes two permanently attached legs that extend to two sides of the main body such that the body and the two legs are configured to form at least three points of contact to a horizontal plane for holding the toy in an upright position.   
   
   
       8 . The toy of  claims 3 , wherein the covering material includes a short-nap plush fabric, and wherein the first ferromagnetic object is a permanent magnet that is held within a fabric pouch, and wherein the pouch is sewn to the exterior covering with an additional cushioning layer of fabric between the pouch and the external covering material, such that at least two layers of fabric are located between the permanent magnet and the external covering. 
   
   
       9 . A method comprising:
 providing an exterior covering material of a main body of a toy;   providing an exterior covering material of a first appendage of the toy;   attaching a first ferromagnetic object to the exterior covering material of the main body within a first predefined constrained region;   stuffing the main body with a squeezably compressible polymer-fiber stuffing material to firmly fill the exterior covering material to substantially maintain an angled orientation of the first ferromagnetic object relative to main body; and   attaching a third ferromagnetic object to the exterior covering material of the first appendage within a predefined constrained region;   stuffing the first appendage with a squeezably compressible polymer-fiber stuffing material to firmly fill the exterior covering material to substantially maintain an angled orientation of the second ferromagnetic object relative to first appendage;   removably magnetically attaching the first appendage to the main body by positioning their respective ferromagnetic objects adjacent one another.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first appendage represents a toy head, and at least one of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body and the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head is a permanent magnet; the method further including
 orienting a polarity of the at least one permanent magnet such that the first ferromagnetic object in the main body and the ferromagnetic object in the first appendage that represents the toy head attract one another.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 providing an exterior covering material of a second appendage that represents a toy tail;   attaching a second ferromagnetic object to the exterior covering material of the main body within a second predefined constrained region;   attaching a fourth ferromagnetic object to the exterior covering material of the second appendage that represents a toy tail;   stuffing the second appendage with a squeezably compressible polymer-fiber stuffing material to firmly fill the exterior covering material of the second appendage, wherein at least one of the second ferromagnetic object of the main body and the fourth ferromagnetic object of the second appendage that represents the toy tail is a permanent magnet; and   orienting a polarity of the at least one permanent magnet such that the second ferromagnetic object in the main body and the fourth ferromagnetic object in the second appendage that represents the toy head attract one another.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first ferromagnetic object of the main body, the second ferromagnetic object of the main body, the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head, and the ferromagnetic object of the second appendage that represents the toy tail are all permanent magnets. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein, of the first ferromagnetic object of the main body, the second ferromagnetic object of the main body, the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head, and the ferromagnetic object of the second appendage that represents the toy tail, two are permanent magnets and two are made of material that is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnets. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attaching of the respective ferromagnetic objects to their respective exterior covering material further includes
 holding each one of the respective ferromagnetic objects within a substantially closed pouch; and   sewing the pouch to an inner surface of the external covering material.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, once the toy is completed, the first appendage represents a toy head, and the first ferromagnetic object of the main body is a first permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic object of the first appendage that represents the toy head is a third permanent magnet that has a polarity oriented such that the first permanent magnet in the main body and the third permanent magnet in the first appendage that represents the toy head attract one another;
 the toy further comprising a second appendage that represents a toy tail that has an exterior covering material and that includes a fourth permanent magnet disposed beneath its exterior covering material; and wherein the main body further includes a second permanent magnet disposed in a pouch sewn to an inside surface of a predefined region of the main body's exterior covering material, and wherein the fourth permanent magnet has a polarity oriented such that the second permanent magnet in the main body and the fourth permanent magnet in the appendage that represents the toy tail attract one another;   wherein the exterior covering material of the body and of the first appendage that represents the toy head includes a plush fabric that covers at least half of the toy's exterior surface, and wherein the main body is stuffed primarily with a polymer-fiber material;   wherein the first permanent magnet is positioned such that a pole surface of the first permanent magnet is at an angle sloping downward toward a front of the main body and wherein the first permanent magnet is attached to a location on the main body at least about halfway or further to a rear of the main body and such that when the first appendage that represents the toy head has its third magnet magnetically attached to the main body at the first magnet, a front portion of the first appendage that represents the toy head is supported in an upright position by a frontal portion of the main body; and   wherein the main body includes two permanently attached legs that extend to two sides of the main body such that the body and the two legs are configured to form at least three points of contact to a horizontal plane for holding the toy in an upright position.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first stuffed toy having a main body and a plurality of appendages; and   magnetic means for removably attaching the plurality of appendages to the main body of the first stuffed toy.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first one of the plurality of appendages represents a toy head, and the magnetic means for attaching includes a plurality of permanent magnets; the apparatus further including
 means for maintaining orientation of a polarity of the magnetic means for removably attaching;   means for supporting the main body in an upright position on a surface; and   means for holding the first appendage that represents a toy head upright on the main body.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 means for cushioning the means for magnetically attaching.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein magnetic means for removably attaching of the main body, and magnetic means for removably attaching of the appendages are all permanent magnets. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a second stuffed toy having a main body and a plurality of appendages that are of a different form and color than those of the first stuffed toy; and   magnetic means for removably attaching the plurality of appendages to the main body of second stuffed toy, wherein the plurality of appendages of the second toy are configured to attach to the main body of the first toy in place of the plurality of appendages of the first toy.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein, the first appendage represents a toy head, and the magnetic means for removably attaching includes a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet in the main body and a third permanent magnet in the first appendage that represents the toy head that has a polarity oriented such that the first permanent magnet in the main body and the third permanent magnet in the first appendage that represents the toy head attract one another;
 wherein a second one of the plurality of appendages represents a toy tail that has an exterior covering material and that includes a fourth permanent magnet disposed beneath its exterior covering material, and wherein the fourth permanent magnet has a polarity oriented such that the second permanent magnet in the main body and the fourth permanent magnet in the appendage that represents the toy tail attract one another;   wherein the exterior covering material of the main body and of the first appendage that represents the toy head includes a plush fabric that covers at least half of the toy's exterior surface, and wherein the main body is stuffed primarily with a polymer-fiber material;   wherein the first permanent magnet is positioned such that a pole surface of the first permanent magnet is at an angle sloping downward toward a front of the main body and wherein the first permanent magnet is attached to a location on the main body at least about halfway or further to a rear of the main body and such that when the first appendage that represents the toy head has its third magnet magnetically attached to the main body at the first magnet, a front portion of the first appendage that represents the toy head is supported in an upright position by a frontal portion of the main body; and   wherein the main body includes two permanently attached legs that extend to two sides of the main body such that the body and the two legs are configured to form at least three points of contact to a horizontal plane for holding the toy in an upright position.