This invention relates to the field of amusement devices and containers.
Containers of various shapes are often used to make sandcastles. Containers can be used to transport sand to build a sand castle, and/or used to mold sand to form portions of a sand castle. Such containers are usually bulky, thus having several containers to provide for different sized molds is generally not feasible for storage purposes. Furthermore, such containers are of limited use because they are of constant volume.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a container for making sand castles that can be expanded and collapsed.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a container for making sand castles that incorporates mold designs.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a detachable container for making sand castles.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a container with adjustable volume.
The present inventor has recognized the need for a container that can be stored easily.
A collapsible container comprising detachable sections. In one embodiment, the sections are tapered and coaxially disposed. Subsequent sections are proportionally smaller such that each section can be disposed or nested within a larger section when the container is in its collapsed position. In its expanded position, the lower portion of an upper section engages with the top portion of the section immediately below the upper section to mechanically lock the sections into its expanded formation, such that the container is self-supporting. The sections are detachable, and when overturned, can be used as a mold for creating parts of a sand castle. The detached sections can be joined in sequence with other detached sections to vary the volume of sand in the container. The sides of each section comprise decorative molding shapes or patterns for creating decorative patterns or designs on the side of a sand castle. The bottom section has a bottom surface which comprises mold shapes for creating part of a sand castle when overturned.
Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
As illustrated in
Each subsequent section has proportionally decreasing dimension, resulting in the decreasing volume of each subsequent section, thus allowing subsequent sections to be nested within the space defined by a preceding section. Each section may have a decorative pattern along the side walls for imprinting or molding the surface of the sand castle part. Each section may be tapered such that the transition between sections is gradual. Alternatively, each section may have straight edges, such that the transition between sections is stepped.
The collapsible container can be any suitable size for the purpose of carrying sand and for molding portions of sand castles. The container should be made of waterproof or water resistant material with sufficient rigidity to allow for molding of sand, and to allow the container to be self supporting when filled with moist sand. The material used should also provide flexibility to allow components to be snap-fitted together, or disengaged easily when detachment is desired. The sections may comprise of decorative patterns 11 along the side walls which can be imprinted on to the molded sand structure to generate ridges or impart other decorative effects onto a sand castle.
The top section 20 further comprises an inward extending lower lip 25 (
To connect the intermediate section 30 with the top section 20 and the bottom section, an interlocking mechanism 60 is used. In one embodiment, the interlocking mechanism is a cantilever snap-fit mechanism as illustrated in
To extend the collapsible container, each section is pulled out by a preceding section such that the sections are vertically aligned in order of decreasing dimensions. The sections form a self supporting container when the interlocking mechanisms 60 are engaged between sections.
To extend the collapsible container, the user pulls the outermost section upwards such that the subsequent sections are pulled from their nested position into their extended position via a telescoping motion. Subsequent sections are pulled from their nested position due to the engagement of the inward extending lip of a preceding section with the outward extending lip of a subsequent section. Each section is then locked into its extended position so that it is self sustaining.
To lock the collapsible container into an extended position, the upper extending lip of a subsequent section engages with the lower extending lip of the preceding section to keep the subsequent sections from falling through the preceding section. The interlocking mechanism, in this case, the arm 38 and extended ledge 39, locks the subsequent section in place to prevent the container from collapsing onto itself. The arm 38 is slipped through the recessed region 26 of the preceding section, such that the extended ledge 39 is in contact with the remainder of the lower extending lip outside of the recessed region. The sections are made of semi-flexible material to allow the arm 38 and extended ledge 39 to be pulled thorough the recessed region 26 and allow the extended ledge 39 to snap in place below the lower extending lip of the preceding section. Other intermediate sections and the bottom section interlock with their preceding sections in a similar fashion.
Sections can be removed from the container to create containers of varying volumes. The remaining sections can be used to mold sand into sand castle sections. For example, a container with a top section, a bottom section and two intermediate sections can be used in various manners. A user may choose to use the container in its extended position with all four sections, or the user may use each section individually to mold a portion of the sand castle. Alternatively, the user may use the bottom section with one or two intermediate sections, or the two intermediate sections may be used in connection with each other.
Once the desired volume of space is selected, the user fills the container with sand. To mold portions of a sand castle, the user inverts the container and removes the mold. Because the containers are collapsible, and thus easy to store, numerous shapes and sizes of containers can be stored in the space typically taken up by one container, thus providing more variety for the amusement of children.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61228439 | Jul 2009 | US |