Patent Application
20110259900
The invention relates to game and toy boxes and more specifically to a device for repairing the broken corners of these boxes.
A consistent problem that has existed in almost every household is the fact that game boxes and toy boxes often have their corners broken which allows the pieces to be lost or misplaced. Also the broken corners often result in the pieces or other items in the box being crushed due to the lack of structural strength in the box to support other boxes on its top surface. Once the corners become broken, it is not long before the edges become broken. Small children are often the culprits in destroying the game boxes by stepping on them or pulling them apart causing the corners to split.
It is an object of the invention to provide a game box protector and repair device that can be used to restore damaged game or toy boxes.
The game box protector and repair device is used to reinforce the corners of preferably paper and plastic boxes such as those used by toy and game manufacturers such as “Monopoly”, “Clue”, “Sorry”, “Strategy”, etc. Most families have bought numerous of boxed games and have had the corners and other edges stepped on or pulled apart by children causing the corners and other edges to break. The game box protector and repair device in accordance with certain illustrated embodiments is designed to repair these game boxes and give them structural integrity.
A certain embodiment of the invention relates to a game box protector and repair device configurable to conform to different shape and sized game boxes. The game box protector and repair device including four bracket members, each bracket member has a first portion oriented at an angle relative to a second portion configured to conform to a corner portion of a game box. An elongated cord member is provided that is expandable and is movably coupled to each bracket member. The elongated cord member is configured to adhere each bracket member to a respective corner portion of a box so as to bind each corner portion enabling the device to conform to different shape and sized game boxes.
The objects and features of the invention can be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention taken together in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention is now described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown. The present invention is not limited in any way to the illustrated embodiment as the illustrated embodiment described below is merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. It is also to be appreciated that like reference numerals identify like elements.
Referring to
With reference now to
As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
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Each bracket 12, 14, 16 and 18 is also preferably movably positioned on cord member 50 such that they may be repositioned relative to one on cord member 50 so as to accommodate various configurations of a box 100 it is to be applied thereto. For instance, when applied to a box 100 having a square configuration, each bracket 12, 14, 16 and 18 is preferably spaced equidistant from one another on cord member 50. And when applied to a box 100 having a rectangular configuration, brackets 12 and 14 are spaced equidistant from one another as are brackets 16 and 18 wherein brackets 12 and 18, and 14 and 16 are spaced equidistant from one another at a spacing greater than the spacing between brackets 12 and 14, and 16 and 18 so as to conform to a rectangular configured box.
In use, and with continuing reference to
While the invention described above in accordance with certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be appreciated the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. Optional embodiments of the present invention may also be said to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
Although illustrated embodiments of the present invention has been described, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
