TOOTH PILLOWHallie G. Redman
Patented May 30, 1978
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a novelty device of particular interest to children of
tooth losing age, and more particularly, to a tooth-pillow novelty device for receiving
and holding baby teeth and coins.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Combinations of pillows having pockets secured to their exterior surfaces for
the purpose of holding doll-like toys are shown by prior art devices such as U. S. Pat. Nos. 1,651,738 and 3,789,546. However, applicant's invention differs
structurally and functionally from such prior art devices as explained below.
Children, over 5 years old, begin to experience a maturation phenomenon wherein,
nature replaces their temporary or baby teeth with permanent ones. The loss of a tooth
and the cutting of its replacement is a painful and traumatic experience for young
children and, of course, their parents share in the pain and trauma.
To reduce such anxiety. "tooth fairy" was invented and as the myth is told, if a
child who loses one of his baby teeth places that tooth under his pillow, the tooth
fairy will appear while he is asleep to replace the tooth with coins or other valuables.
Because children toss and turn in their sleep, coins placed beneath their pillows can easily fall to the floor. The result is a search by the child who has awakened to find
his tooth gone and no reward in its place. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a
novelty item for use at the time of the tooth lost.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tooth pillow novelty device
of particular interest to children of tooth-losing age and which minimizes the problems
of coin loss.
These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A three-dimensional, tooth-shaped pillow for receiving and holding valuables which
includes an upper crown portion, a top occlusal biting surface and lower rootlike
projections. The occlusal surface is defined by a series of peripheral cusps forming a
fossa therebetween. Secured to the crown- portion, between the fossa and root-like
projections, is a pocket having an upper tooth and coin receiving opening, The pillow is
provided for- use by young children and their parents who are desirous of exchanging baby
teeth for money or other valuables.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tooth pillow of this invention and showing the tooth and coin receiving pocket attached to the
crown portion;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the -tooth pillow of Fig. 1 and showing a tooth in the tooth and coin receiving pocket and
Fig. 3
is a top plan view of the tooth-pillow of Fig. 1 and showing a coin in the tooth and coin receiving pocket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The tooth pillow of this invention illustrated generally as 10 in the drawings. It can be formed of any well-known filler material such as foam, feathers, etc. An outer cover of linen or other soft fabric encapsulates the material to outline a three
dimensional sleeping pillow.
The encapsulating cover is shaped to form a large simulated tooth. The tooth
pillow 10 so formed includes an upper crown portion 12, a top occlusal biting portion 14
and downwardly extending root projections 16. The biting surface is formed by a series of
raised cusp members 18 defining a recess or fossa 19 therebetween.
A pocket 20 is secured, by sewing other suitable means, to the upper crown portion 12
below the fossa 18 and above the root portion 16. The pocket 20 has an opening 22 for
receiving teeth and coins. Fig 2 shows the pocket 20, snugly holding a tooth 24 therein
while Fig 3 clearly depicts the same pocket snugly holding a coin 26 therein. As shown in
Fig. 1, the pocket 20 may include decorative tooth-loss related indicia such as dollars
and cents signs.
Retiring for the evening. a child, who has recently lost a baby tooth places that tooth
in the opening 22 of the pocket 20. After he falls asleep, the "tooth fairy" is able to
replace the tooth with coins or other valuables. Upon awakening the next morning the child finds the valuables safely resting in the pocket of his tooth pillow.
While one form of the invention has been described it will be understood that the
invention may be utilized in other forms and environments so that the purpose of the
appended claims is to cover all such forms of devices disclosed but which embody the
invention disclosed herein.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
1. A tooth pillow novelty device, for receiving both tooth and coins comprising filler
material, an outer cover means shaped to form a three-dimensional- pillow and encapsulating
the filler material; and pocket means secured to the outer pillow surface, the improvement
in combination:
the pillow being tooth-shaped and including an upper crown portion and at least one
lower root projection;
the crown portion having raised cusp members about the upper surface thereof, the cusp
members forming a top, occlusal biting surface and a fossa formed between the cusp members
and the occlusal surface,
the pocket means being secured to the upper crown portion below the fossa and above at
least one root projection, the pocket having an upper tooth and coin receiving opening,
at least part of the outer tooth pillow surface is covered with tooth loss related
indicia,
whereby the "tooth fairy" may replace children's baby teeth situated in the pocket
with coins or other valuable commodities.