Patent Application
20190247764
The present teachings generally relate to a children's activity kit, and more particularly, to an adventure kit that promotes interaction between parents and children.
Typical children's games involve the parents participating in the game with their children under a common set of rules. A common example may be a board game. Children may also make arts and crafts under the supervision of the parents; however, arts and crafts do not provide much structure (e.g., rules). Children enjoy activities in which a prize or treasure results, and the treasure positively reinforces success in completion of activities.
In order to maintain the sense of adventure, parents may keep knowledge of the background details of the adventure away from the child. In this way, the child can follow the adventure set out by the parent but will not know the outcome.
Examples of children's activity kits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,340; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0172798A1, and 2006/0172268A1, all of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. More recently, many activities are performed online; one example is U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0122066A1, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. It would be attractive to have a children's activity kit with child instructions separate from a parent's portion of the activity kit which also includes instructions for the parent such that the parent can direct the adventure and the child does not know the outcome. It would be attractive to have a children's activity kit with a treasure receptacle such that at the completion of an adventure, the child is rewarded with treasure. What is needed is a children's activity kit having both a treasure receptacle and child instructions separate from parent instructions.
The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing an adventure kit comprising (a) one or more treasure receptacles, (b) child instructions, and (c) one or more parent packages including parent instruction, which differ from the child instructions.
The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing a method comprising (a) opening an adventure kit, (b) removing one or more parent packages, and (c) reading child instructions.
The present teachings provide a children's activity kit with child instructions separate from a parent's instructions such that the parent can direct the adventure and the child does not know the outcome. The present teachings provide a children's activity kit with a treasure receptacle such that at the completion of an adventure, the child is rewarded with treasure. The present teachings provide a children's activity kit having both a treasure receptacle and child instructions separate from a parent package having instructions.
The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the teachings, its application, or uses. The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the description herein, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.
The adventure kit functions to contain all of the necessary components of one or more adventures. The one or more decoration articles, treasure receptacles, child instructions, one or more parent packages, or a combination thereof may be packaged individually or as a combination within the adventure kit. Each of the one or more treasure receptacles may be packaged with the corresponding decoration articles. Each of the one or more decoration articles may be packaged individually and bear an indication as to which of the one or more treasure receptacles the one or more decoration articles correspond. The adventure kit may contain one or more decoration articles, one or more treasure receptacles, child instructions, one or more parent packages, or a combination thereof.
The one or more treasure receptacles may function to accept treasure. The one or more treasure receptacles may conform to a theme such as fairies, unicorns, wizardry, medieval times, cars, princesses, mythological animals, boats, or any such theme enjoyed by a child. The themes may be directed to specific age-ranges such as 1 to 3, 4 to 7, 8 to 10, 10 to 13, 3 and up, 6 and up, or 10 and up. The structure of the one or more treasure receptacles may conform to said theme. For example, an adventure kit of a car theme will include the one or more treasure receptacles in the shape of a car. As another example, an adventure kit with a wizardry theme may be provided in the shape of a spell book. As yet another example, an adventure kit with a fairies theme may be provided in the shape of a fairy house. Where there are multiple of one or more treasure receptacles included in the adventure kit, the one or more treasure receptacles may have the same theme or different themes. Where there are multiple of one or more treasure receptacles included in the adventure kit, the one or more treasure receptacles may have themes for boys, themes for girls, or both. The one or more treasure receptacles may be unassembled, partially assembled, or fully assembled. An example of an unassembled treasure receptacle is one which may be provided to the user as paper sheets that may be folded and taped together to arrive at the final, intended structure of the treasure receptacle. An example of a partially assembled treasure receptacle may be provided as individual cardboard pieces that have at least partially been assembled together when it arrives to the user. The one or more treasure receptacles may be made of or include, wood, plastic, foam, metal, pipe cleaners, paper, beads, glitter, paint, paper, or a combination thereof. The one or more treasure receptacles may be undecorated, partially decorated, or fully decorated. The treasure receptacle includes one or more indicator features, as described in more detail below. A number of the one or more treasure receptacles may be included in the adventure kit so the adventure kit can accommodate multiple children or multiple adventures. A different treasure receptacle may be created for each adventure. For example, if there are seven different adventures then seven different treasure receptacles may be created. The one or more treasure receptacles may be configured to hold treasure within an interior cavity, display treasure on an outer surface, or both. For example, the one or more treasure receptacles could be a bisected box with a hinge (i.e., defining an interior cavity) or a wizard holding an outstretched hand such that treasure is placed thereon (i.e., displaying treasure on an outer surface). The one or more treasure receptacles may be an undecorated structure conforming to a theme and having an indicator feature.
The one or more indicator features may function to alert a child that the one or more treasure receptacles currently holds or displays treasure. The one or more indicator features may include a lid, a flag, a light, a lock, an audible signal, or a combination thereof. The indicator feature may include any suitable object for acting as a selective visual indicia. For example, when there is no treasure inside the one or more treasure receptacles, a flag on the one or more treasure receptacles is placed in a horizontal position and when there is treasure inside the one or more treasure receptacles, a flag is placed in the vertical position. Parents may, when appropriate, place treasure into the one or more treasure receptacles and change the one or more indicator features to communicate to the child whether the treasure receptacle is empty or full. The one or more indicator features may be located on any surface of the treasure receptacle. The one or more indicator features may be affixed to the treasure receptacle or may be detachable. For example, the one or more indicator features may be a lock integrated to the structure of the one or more treasure receptacles or the one or more indicator features may be a flag with a clip that is removable from the one or more treasure receptacles. The one or more indicator features may be a selectively rotatable flag affixed on an outwardly visible portion of the one or more treasure receptacles.
The one or more decoration articles may function to add aesthetic features to the one or more treasure receptacles or allow one or more users to customize the one or more treasure receptacles. The one or more decoration articles may or may not conform to a theme. Decoration articles that do not conform to a theme may be generic decoration (e.g., paint or glitter). The one or more decoration articles may or may not match the theme of the one or more treasure receptacles. The one or more decoration articles may include crayons, markers, pens, pencils, stickers, glitter, construction paper, glue, tissue paper, felt, foam, paint, clay, magnets, pipe cleaners, tooth picks, popsicle sticks, or any combination thereof. The decoration articles may be permanent or removable. The one or more decoration articles may be configured and assembled such that there is just one way with which to decorate the one or more treasure receptacles. For example, the one or more decoration articles may include foam shapes and glue such that the child is meant only to glue the foam shapes to the one or more treasure receptacles in a predetermined way. The one or more decoration articles may be configured and assembled such that there are multiple ways by which to decorate the one or more treasure receptacles. For example, the one or more decoration articles may include an excess of a combination of crayons, markers, pens, pencils, stickers, glitter, construction paper, glue, tissue paper, felt, foam, paint, clay such that there are many imaginative ways the child may decorate the one or more treasure receptacles. When the adventure kit is opened, the child may remove the one or more decoration articles and decorate the one or more treasure receptacles according to their preference. The one or more decoration articles may be applied as set forth in child instructions or the child instructions may have one or more and preferably two or more suggestions as to ways that the decoration articles may be used.
The child instructions may function to set forth the general description of the adventure and instruct the child on how to conduct the adventure. The child instructions may be read by or to the child upon opening the adventure kit. The child instructions may direct the child to perform an initial task to initiate the adventure, whereby additional tasks will be dictated by the adventure articles, as described in further detail below. The child instructions may be comprised of words, pictures, or a both. For example, the child instructions may verbally direct the child to first decorate the one or more treasure receptacles or the child instructions may include pictures illustrating the manner in which the child is to decorate the one or more treasure receptacles with one or more decoration articles. In another example, the child instructions may tell the child to wait for verbal instructions from the parent. In another example, the child instruction may inform the child that successful completion of an adventure results in the child receiving treasure. The child instructions may be generic to any theme or specific to one theme. The child instructions may be a single set of child instructions that apply throughout the adventure. Preferably, the child instructions are a series of instructions (e.g., a plurality of sets of instructions) that are provided as each piece of an adventure is completed. For example, if the adventure is a fairy adventure then the fairy after completing a step may provide the child with a prize and a new set of instructions for a next phase of the adventure. Each set of instructions may provide a new adventure or a new step in an adventure so that the adventure evolves as the child completes steps of the adventure. The child instructions may contain a backstory specific to the theme. The child instructions may include a backstory as to the theme and instruct the child what activities to perform, how to perform the activities, in what order to perform the activities, and that successful completion of the adventure results in a prize. The backstory conveyed by the child instructions may breathe imaginative life into the adventure kit by describing an imaginative environment and/or characters, whereby the treasure receptacle is not just an ordinary object but rather a central focus of the adventure.
The one or more parent packages may function to hold the plurality of adventure packets and parent instructions separately from the rest of the adventure kit such that the child is prevented from accessing the contents of the one or more parent packages. The separation of the parent packages separately from the rest of the adventure kit prevents the accidental access by the child upon receiving and opening the adventure kit. The one or more parent packages may include one or more and preferably a plurality of adventure packets, parent instructions, a parent code, or a combination thereof. There may be an equal number of child instructions and parent instructions. The parent code may be included in the one or more parent packages in place of the parent instructions, as will be discussed in more detail below. The one or more parent packages may comprise a single adventure theme or different adventure themes. The one or more parent packages may comprise adventures configured to last a uniform duration or require a range of durations. The one or more parent packages may comprise one or more adventure packets, one or more parent instructions, or both. The one or more parent packages may comprise a plurality of adventure packets, a plurality of parent instructions, or both.
The parent instructions may function to provide information to one or more parents the so that the one or more parents may facilitate the child in performing one or more adventures, reward the child, help direct the child through an adventure, or a combination thereof. The parent instructions may be different from the child instructions. Preferably, the parent instructions are different from the child instructions. The parent instructions may relate to the child instructions. For example, parent instructions may set forth the manner in which to facilitate the child in a task that was directed to the child through the child instructions. More particularly, the child instructions may direct the child to solve a puzzle using clues and the parent instructions may dictate to the parent what order of clues to offer, the duration of time between giving clues, specific prompts that would be appropriate to help the child solve the puzzle without merely giving the answer away, or a combination thereof. The parent instructions may provide for a plurality of different adventures that the parent may initiate with the child using the same adventure kit. The parent instructions may instruct the parent how to perform their portion of the adventure. For example, the parent instructions may instruct the parents to open the plurality of adventure packets at certain times. In another example, the parent instructions may instruct the parents to place the treasure in the one or more treasure receptacles after the child completes a task. In yet another example, the parent instructions may instruct the parent to relay a backstory to the child. The parent instructions may or may not be linked to one or more adventure packets. For instance, parent instructions not linked to one or more adventure packets may be generic instructions for use with two or more adventure packets. The parent instructions may be written instructions that are included within the kit or the parent instructions may be a link to a website (i.e., to be used in conjunction with parent codes, as described herein and in more detail below). The adventure kit may include one or more sets of written instructions, one or more sets of parent codes (associated with a link to a website), or both.
The parent instructions may include one or more of the following directions: (i) to open the plurality of adventure packets at certain times; (ii) to place the treasure in the one or more treasure receptacles after the child completes a task; (iii) to relay a backstory to the child; (iv); to reward the child at a particular time or contingent upon conditions being met; (v) to move the treasure receptacle to a new location, whereby the child is meant to search for the treasure receptacle; (vi) to visit a forum or website for adventure ideas; or a combination of (i) through (vi).
The plurality of adventure packets may function to assist a parent, child, or both in performing one or more adventures set forth in the child instructions, the parent instructions, or both. Each of the plurality of adventure kits may be a single adventure that concludes with one or more awards of treasure to the child. Preferably, each adventure kit may include a series of adventures and each of the series of adventures conclude with a prize, more instructions, or both. Each of the adventure kits may be used discretely from another adventure kit. One or more of the adventure kits may be linked to another adventure kit. For example, the adventures may be performed in series such that one adventure may build from a previous adventure or a treasure may be used in a subsequent adventure. The plurality of adventure packets may be two packets or more, five packets or more, twenty packets or more, or one hundred packets or less. The adventure packets may be an envelope, a box, a bag, wrapping, or a combination thereof. The adventure packet may be sized to hold a treasure, the contents, or both. Each of the plurality of adventure packets may contain one or more adventure articles, one or more treasures, one or more instructions, or a combination thereof.
The parent codes may function to access instructions online. The parent codes may be used to further obtain both parent instructions and child instructions. The parent codes may be present in the adventure kit instead of written parent instructions. The parent codes may provide access to additional adventures, additional steps in an adventure, or both. The parent codes may permit parents to freely access or purchase additional sets of instructions online. The parent codes may direct parents to an online retail site, to one or more forums, to interactive communities, or a combination thereof. The parent codes may direct parents to a website that assists in the patents in selecting instructions to games that are directed to different age ranges. The parent codes may be present in place of written instructions in order to reduce the number of individual pieces in the adventure kit. The parent codes may be present in addition to written instructions such that after the parent has exhausted the written instructions present in the adventure kit, the parent may seek to prolong the useful life of the adventure kit by obtaining more instructions online.
The adventure article may function to set out the specifics of an adventure to a parent, a child, or both, after the start of the adventure. The adventure article may separate parent instructions, child instructions, or other instructions that are provided at each of the different stages of the adventure (e.g., after the child completes a task). The adventure article may set forth one or more goals for a child within the game by which the child may advance to the next portion of the adventure. The adventure article may be a story or theme that add chronologically to the story advanced initially by the child instructions. The adventure article, in addition to further instruction to the child, may be a sheet of further instructions for parents specific to an adventure. The adventure articles of different stages may set forth adventures of different durations. The adventure article may be a set of instructions that are left in the treasure receptacle. For example, a first adventure article may dictate an adventure lasting an hour while a second adventure article may dictate an adventure lasting one week. The adventure article may be written instructions (e.g., a book, paper, pictures), a video, a link to a website, a DVD, a CD, a thumb drive, flash memory, or a combination thereof. The adventure article may supplement the instructions so that the adventure article provides some mystery or unknown components in the adventure. The adventure article may be placed in the treasure receptacle by the parent after the child completes a part of the adventure, in order to advance the adventure to the next part. For example, if the child was directed to finish a craft and put it in the treasure receptacle, then after the craft is placed in the treasure receptacle, the parent may take out the craft and replace it with an adventure article that is intended to be found by the child.
The treasure may function to positively reinforce the child in completion of the adventure, a step of the adventure, or both. The treasure may facilitate completion of one or more subsequent steps of the adventure. The treasure may be a letter, crafts, a toy, a game, a trinket, a puzzle, a book, a food item, money, an action figure, a doll, any item that a child might find joy in, or a combination thereof. The treasure may relate to the theme of the adventure kit. For example, where the theme of the adventure kit is wizardry, the treasure may be a wand (trinket) or perhaps a wizardry-themed food item (e.g., chocolate frogs). The treasure is sized such that the treasure may fit inside the one or more treasure receptacles. The treasure is sized such that the treasure may fit inside the plurality of adventure packets. There may be more than one treasure provided in an adventure kit, whereby either multiple treasures may be bestowed upon the child at different stages of a single adventure or each of the treasures are bestowed upon the child in different, subsequent adventures. Each phase or step of the adventure may include one or more treasures.
The adventure kits taught herein may be used in a method. The adventure kit may have the theme of wizardry and the kit may be provided with a pre-assembled treasure receptacle that resembles a book of spells. The kit may include decoration articles, which may comprise stickers that may be designed to resemble features of a book (e.g., lettering for the title, metal corner protectors, decorative embellishments such as stars, and the like). The kit may include an adventure article, which may be read by the parent to the child to describe a backstory or next steps in the adventure (e.g., that the child is now a wizard and in order to obtain a certain power, the child must go on the adventure), the ultimate purpose of the adventure kit (e.g., to follow a series of steps to obtain a grand prize), and the rules of play (e.g., the child following directions). The adventure article may further instruct the child that he or she must first decorate the treasure receptacle before starting the adventure. The adventure kit may have a step of creating one or more structures (e.g., a fairy house, wizard house). The adventure kit may have a step of decorating one or more structures such as the fairy house, wizard house, treasure receptacle, or a combination thereof. The adventure kit may include a parent code, whereby the parent may access a website having listed certain parent instructions (e.g., moving the box to certain locations at certain times) and child instructions (e.g., constructing a craft and putting it into the treasure receptacle). The parent instructions and child instructions may provide for a task to be performed every day for a week. Instructing a user (e.g., a child) at the end of each task, to place evidence of the completed tasks (e.g., a completed craft, an answer to a riddle on a sheet of paper, a collection of trinkets that were sought and found) in the treasure receptacle. Directing the parent, vial the parent instructions, to take the evidence of the completed tasks out of the treasure receptacle and place a treasure in the treasure receptacle; preferably, the parent does this while the child is absent or occupied (e.g., at school, playing outside, or sleeping). Applying an indicator feature (e.g., sticking a feather into a slot on the face of the book) to the treasure receptacle. After the completion of the game, the same adventure kit may be used again, but the parent may use the parent code to obtain new parent instructions and child instructions.
The adventure kit may have a theme of fairies and the kit may be provided with an unassembled treasure receptacle that, when assembled, forms a fairy house having a removable roof. The kit may further include decoration articles such as glitter and stickers. The kit may further include an adventure article, which may be read by the parent to the child to describe a backstory (e.g., that the child is in possession of a fairy house and that if she follows the fairy's instructions the fairy will grant the child a wish), the ultimate purpose of the adventure kit (e.g., to follow a series of steps to obtain a granted wish), and the rules of play (e.g., the child following directions). The adventure article may further instruct the child that he or she may first decorate the treasure receptacle before starting the adventure. The adventure kit may include parent instructions (e.g., providing the child a craft) and child instructions (e.g., constructing a craft, such as a flower, and adding it as a feature of the fairy house). The parent instructions and child instructions may provide that a task be performed over the course of a single weekends, providing for a task to be performed and completed every few hours. At the end of each task, the child instructions may instruct the child to place evidence of the completed tasks in or on the treasure receptacle. Thereafter, the parent instructions may direct the parent to take the evidence of the completed tasks out of the treasure receptacle and place a new piece of child instructions in the treasure receptacle; preferably, the parent does this while the child is absent or occupied. The parent may also apply an indicator feature (e.g., sprinkling glitter around the house). After the completion of the game, the same adventure kit may be used again, but to add to the novelty, another complementary (i.e., having the same or similar theme but different form) adventure kit may be used in conjunction with the original adventure kit.
Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.
Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.
The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of or even consists of the elements, ingredients, components or steps.
Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.
It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62629299 | Feb 2018 | US |
