Convertible Stuffed Toy

Abstract

A stuffed toy 11 convertible to another stuffed toy, or a cushion 13. The stuffed toy 11 has a first shape formed by a first shell 35 and a second shape formed by a second shell 41, the shells being joined by a zip fastener 47 to form a contiguous hollow structure when unzipped. The structure contains a flowable stuffing that may be manipulated between the first shell 35 and the second shell 41. The stuffing can be entirely contained with the second shell 41, within the first shell 35 and the zip fastener 47 is done up to form the stuffed toy 11. By undoing the zip fastener, the stuffing can be manipulated to be entirely contained within the second shell 41 with the first shell 35, within the second shell 41, and the zip fastener 47 done up to form the other stuffed toy or cushion 13.

1 . A stuffed toy having a particular shape or caricature, that may be interconverted between another shape, caricature or expression, the stuffed toy having a first shape formed from a first shell and the other shape caricature or expression is provided by a second shape formed from a second shell, wherein the first shell and the second shell are joined by a zip fastener, the first shell and the second shell forming a contiguous hollow structure when the zip fastener is undone, the structure containing a stuffing which is flowable, and may be manually manipulated between the first shell and the second shell while the zip fastener is undone; wherein, in a first configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the first shell and the second shell is also contained within the first shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffing and second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and in a second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the second shell and the first shell is also contained within the second shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a second side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the second shell, forming the other shape caricature or expression. 
     
     
         2 . A stuffed toy as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the stuffing is selected from plastic beads or polystyrene foam beads or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A stuffed toy as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the stuffed toy of the first shape may be a caricature and the other shape caricature or expression may be a pillow or a neck cushion. 
     
     
         4 . A stuffed toy as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the volume of the first and second shells is such that the sum of the volume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the second shell when emptied is substantially equal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled less the volume of the first shell when emptied 
     
     
         5 . A stuffed toy as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that the sum of the volume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the second shell when emptied is less than the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled less the volume of the first shell when emptied. 
     
     
         6 . A cushion, that may be interconverted between said cushion and a stuffed toy having a particular shape or caricature, said stuffed toy having a first shape formed by a first shell and the cushion shape is provided by a second shape formed by a second shell, wherein the first shell and the second shell are joined by a double sided zip fastener either with a pull on each side or more preferably a pull that can be located to the required side in use, prior to fastening the zip fastener, wherein the first shell and the second shell form a contiguous hollow structure when the zip fastener is undone, the structure containing a stuffing which is flowable, and may be manually manipulated between the first shell and the second shell, where in a first configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the first shell and the second shell is also contained within the first shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffing and second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and in a second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the second shell and the first shell is also contained within the second shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a second side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the second shell, forming the cushion. 
     
     
         7 . A cushion as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the stuffing is selected from plastic beads or polystyrene foam beads or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A cushion as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that the sum of the volume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the second shell when emptied is less than or equal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled less the volume of the first shell when emptied. 
     
     
         9 . A stuffed toy having a particular shape or caricature, that may be interconverted between said stuffed toy and a cushion, said stuffed toy having a first shape formed by a first shell and the cushion shape is provided by a second shape formed by a second shell, wherein the first shell and the second shell are joined by a double sided zip fastener either with a pull on each side or more preferably a pull that can be located to the required side in use, prior to fastening the zip fastener, wherein the first shell and the second shell form a contiguous hollow structure when the zip fastener is undone, the structure containing a stuffing which is flowable, and may be manually manipulated between the first shell and the second shell, where in a first configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the first shell and the second shell is also contained within the first shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffing and second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and in a second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained within the second shell and the first shell is also contained within the second shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a second side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the second shell, forming the cushion. 
     
     
         10 . A stuffed toy as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the stuffing is selected from plastic beads or polystyrene foam beads or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A cushion as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that the sum of the volume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the second shell when emptied is less than or equal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled less the volume of the first shell when emptied.