1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to collapsible structures, and in particular, to collapsible play structures which may be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes. The collapsible play structures may be twisted and folded to reduce the overall size of the play structures to facilitate convenient storage and use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Two important considerations for all toys or play things targeted for children are convenience and variety. Relating to convenience, a toy must be easily transportable so that the child can move it around the home, or even to other places outside of the home. A toy must also be easily stored since a child is likely to have many other toys that compete for precious storage space in the home. As for variety, a toy must offer enough variety in play so that the child will be able to enjoy it for a long period of time without getting bored.
Larger toys often pose a greater problem with regards to convenience. The larger toys tend to be bulky, which makes it difficult to move them around the home, and sometimes makes it prohibitive to move them outside the house to other locations. Bulky toys also take up much storage space.
In the past, attempts have been made to provide play structures for the entertainment of children. Such play structures have been provided in many different shapes and sizes. For example, some have been shaped as playhouses to allow children to climb into and out of the structure. However, in order to provide a structure that can temporarily house a child, such a structure must be quite large and would be difficult to transport and store.
In response to this problem, attempts have been made to provide play structures that are assembled from generic rigid panels that may be disassembled after use. The generic panels are easily stored into a small container, which makes it convenient to transport and to store. These panels may also be assembled into structures having different shapes and sizes, thereby offering the child with variety. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,105 to Daugherty provides a fabrication device comprised of differently-shaped rigid panels 10 connected by superimposing the curled locking means 16 of adjacent panels 10. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,580 to Ausnit provides a connective toy comprised of rigid bodies connected by interlocking ribs and grooves. Unfortunately, these play structures suffer from the drawback that it is very time-consuming to disassemble the structure after use for storage, and to re-assemble the structure before use. Since children tend to lack patience, such play structures will normally remain in their assembled state most of the time, which still results in the same problems discussed above.
Thus, there remains a need for a play structure which is convenient to use, to transport, and to store, and which offers play variety to the child.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the collapsible play structure according to the present invention comprises a play module comprising at least three foldable frame members, each having a folded and an unfolded orientation. A fabric material substantially covers each frame member to form a side panel for each frame member when the frame member is in the unfolded orientation, with the fabric assuming the unfolded orientation of its associated frame member. Each side panel further comprises at least a left side, a bottom side and a right side. The left side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the right side of an adjacent side panel, and the right side of each side panel is connected and hinged to the left side of another adjacent side panel. The bottom side of each side panel is adapted to rest on a supporting surface to support the play module.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the play module comprises four side panels and four corresponding frame members, each having four sides, including a top side. A fabric is connected to the top sides of the four side panels and extends therebetween, and an opening may be provided in this fabric. Openings may also be provided in one or more of the side panels to allow a child to crawl therethrough.
Each side panel comprises a frame retaining sleeve for retaining one of the frame members. The frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels are stitched together to form a hinged connection. Alternatively, the frame retaining sleeves of adjacent side panels may converge to form a singular retaining sleeve which retains the adjacent sides of the adjacent frame members of the corresponding adjacent side panels. The stitchings which connect the frame retaining sleeves act as hinges for the corresponding side panels.
When the play module is to be folded and stored, the side panels and their corresponding frame members may be folded on top of each other about the hinges to have the side panels and frame members overlaying each other. The overlying side panels and frame members are then collapsed by twisting and folding to form a plurality of concentric frame members and side panels to substantially reduce the size of the play module in the folded orientation.
A plurality of the play modules may be connected to create play structures of different shapes and sizes. The play modules may be provided as separate play modules and connected by velcro, hooks, fasteners, or other attachment mechanisms which allow for convenient attachment and detachment. These separate play structures may be provided in identical or different shapes and sizes. Alternatively, a play structure may be provided that has a plurality of play modules integrally connected to form one unitary play structure which may be folded and collapsed according to the same principles as the separate play modules.
The collapsible play structures according to the present invention are convenient for use since they are easily and quickly folded and collapsed into a smaller size for transportation and storage. A plurality of these play modules may be easily transported and stored, and provide a child with much play variety since a large number of play structures having different shapes and sizes can be created therefrom.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
As shown in
Referring to
The continuous frame members 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d may be provided as one continuous loop, or may comprise a strip of material connected at both ends to form a continuous loop. The continuous frame members 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d are preferably formed of flexible coilable steel, although other materials such as plastics may also be used. The frame members should be made of a material which is relatively strong and yet is flexible to a sufficient degree to allow it to be coiled. Thus, each frame member 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d is capable of assuming two positions or orientations, an open or expanded position such as shown in
Fabric or sheet material 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d extends across each side panel 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, respectively, and is held taut by the respective frame members 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d when in its open position. The term fabric is to be given its broadest meaning and should be made from strong, lightweight materials and may include woven fabrics, sheet fabrics or even films. The fabric should be water-resistant and durable to withstand the wear and tear associated with rough treatment by children. The frame members 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d may be merely retained within the respective frame retaining sleeves 24a, 24b, 24c and 24c without being connected thereto. Alternatively, the frame retaining sleeves 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d may be mechanically fastened, stitched, fused, or glued to the frame members 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d, respectively, to retain them in position.
At the top side 26d and the bottom side 26b of each side panel 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, where there is no hinge connection to an adjacent side panel, the frame retaining sleeve 24a, 24b, 24c or 24b may be formed by merely folding over the corresponding fabric piece and applying a stitching 35 (see
An upper panel 32 comprised of fabric 30e may also be connected to the upper edge 26d of each side panel 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. Likewise, a lower panel 36 comprised of fabric 30f may also be connected to the bottom edge 26b of each side panel 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. The upper panel 32 and the lower panel 36 are preferably made of the same type of fabric as the side panels 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. Each module 20 preferably comprises at least the four side panels 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, with the upper and lower panels 32 and 36 being optional.
Openings 38 may be provided in some or all of the panels 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 32 and 36. These openings 38 may be of any shape (e.g., triangular, circular, rectangular, square, diamond, etc.) and size and are designed to allow children to crawl through them to enter or to exit the module 20.
While the module 20 of
A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Alternatively,
To fold and collapse the play structure 50, the side panels 62a and 62b of module 52 are pushed onto side panels 58 and 62c, respectively, the side panels 64a and 64b of module 54 are pushed onto side panels 60 and 64c, respectively, and the side panels 66a and 66b of module 56 are pushed onto side panels 58 and 60, respectively. Thereafter, combined side panels 62b and 62c are folded over to be collapsed upon the combined side panels 62a and 58, and combined side panels 64b and 64c are folded over to be collapsed upon the combined side panels 64a and 60. The combined side panels 66b, 60, 64a, 64b and 64c are then folded over and collapsed upon the combined side panels 66a, 58, 62a, 62b and 62c, thereby creating a stack of ten side panels. The combined stack of ten side panels may then be twisted and folded in the manner described above in connection with
Alternatively, the three modules 52, 54 and 56 of play structure 50 may be provided as three separate modules, each having four side panels. Each such module could be identical to module 20 of
Regardless of whether the modules 52, 54 and 56 are provided separately or as an attached structure, the entire play structure 50 may be conveniently folded and collapsed, thereby making it convenient to move around the home, and requiring little storage space. If the modules 52, 54 and 56 are provided separately, the child further derives an additional variety of play since he or she can create play structures of different shapes. Additionally, the child may derive amusement by attempting to align the openings 90 and 92 in the interfacing side panels so that he or she can crawl from one module into another.
Although the play structure 50 is shown as having three modules 52, 54 and 56, each being of the same size and shape, it will be appreciated that the present invention encompasses within its scope play structures having any number of modules, each having any number of different sizes and shapes and being made from side panels having any number of different sizes and shapes.
An example is illustrated in the third preferred embodiment of
The separate modules according to the present invention may be provided or purchased on an individual basis, in different shapes and sizes, so that a child may be able to create a play structure of a desired shape and size. Alternatively, a specific number of differently shaped and sized modules may be packaged and sold together. In either case, the child will have the opportunity to create an endless variety of play structures at his or her disposal, thereby enhancing the amusement value of the modules, and stimulating creativity in the child by challenging the child to create as many different play structures as possible.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No. 08/024,050, entitled “Collapsible Shade Structure”, filed Mar. 1, 1993, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/764,784, entitled “Collapsible Shade Structure”, filed Sep. 24, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,705, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by this reference as though set forth fully herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09162086 | Sep 1998 | US |
Child | 09633947 | US | |
Parent | 08859876 | May 1997 | US |
Child | 09162086 | US | |
Parent | 08627875 | Apr 1996 | US |
Child | 08859876 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10872927 | Jun 2004 | US |
Child | 11999828 | US | |
Parent | 10438679 | May 2003 | US |
Child | 10872927 | US | |
Parent | 10150358 | May 2002 | US |
Child | 10438679 | US | |
Parent | 09847248 | May 2001 | US |
Child | 10150358 | US | |
Parent | 09633947 | Aug 2000 | US |
Child | 09847248 | US | |
Parent | 08281369 | Jul 1994 | US |
Child | 08627875 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 08024690 | Mar 1993 | US |
Child | 08281369 | US | |
Parent | 07764784 | Sep 1991 | US |
Child | 08024690 | US | |
Parent | 08024050 | Mar 1993 | US |
Child | 07764784 | US | |
Parent | 07764784 | Sep 1991 | US |
Child | 08024050 | US |