Patent Application
20180056209
This invention generally relates to mazes for the amusement of children.
The use of a maze or labyrinth as a basis for a children's game is well known and there have been many differing types of apparatus to establish the basic maze for the enjoyment of the children. Basically, the maze is set up so that the children can proceed down a particular path and are not readily visible to other children in the same maze such that each child wends a unique path and chances an encounter with another child. With a typical maze set up, there are certainly many games that can thus be played and with certain of the maze setups, the children themselves can improvise and make up their own games for amusement.
One of the more simple games enjoyed by children with a maze arrangement is to chase each other through the maze in an effort, simultaneously, to catch and evade each other as they progress through the intricate passageways therethrough. Despite the seemingly availability of the construction materials for a maze, there are no such games or kits that can conveniently be provided to a parent and which can be easily set up, stored and moved with a minimum of difficulty. Thus, while a parent can individually purchase various equipment and materials to construct a maze, there is no convenient source of the assemblage of materials available in a form that can be used by the parent to readily set up the maze expeditiously and that is adaptable to be used indoors or outdoors. The prior art fails to provide a maze game apparatus that is light, comprised of readily transportable components by a parent, and which is adaptable to be as easily set up indoors as well as outdoors. Thus, it would be advantageous to have such a maze that is adjustable for varying imaginative configurations and can have standard component for inexpensive manufacture as well as to allow the overall apparatus to be stored by the user without having cumbersome parts.
The various embodiments of the invention relate to a play area building or construction component including a maze system for setting up and playing a children's game, and, more particularly, to a maze game and structure that can readily be set up indoors or outdoors and which is comprised of light, easy to assemble construction components. In particular, the various embodiments of this invention provide for a modular, partition-style, play structure system. There are currently no repeatable or configurable maze-like structures or systems available on the market today that allow users to construct or configure play-structures in this manner. In a related embodiment, the building panels or partitions described herein are available to build pet-oriented structures to keep pets in that is easy to assemble/disassemble for ease of portability.
In one example embodiment, a maze system is constructed that allows users to set-up a partition based structure that will be ideally used as a substitute for “cardboard box mazes” or “cardboard play-houses.” This panel partition system allows for the convenient set-up of a play structure, like a maze or multi-room play house without the use of tape or external connectors outside of the structure design. The invention will allow users to reduce the set-up time required for custom play structures. The maze system and method of forming a maze structure is based on a simple designs that fit together to form a multiple room, or partitioned structure. The individual partitions will have the ability to be opened with a simple tool allowing the set-up person to customize access to the individual partitioned sections.
In one example embodiment, there is provided a panel component-based assembly for building a child's entertainment maze or any other play structure designed by a user, the panel component-based assembly that includes a first panel partition, a second panel partition, and a third panel partition, wherein the first panel partition is coupled to a first edge of the second panel partition in a parallel position, a second edge of the second panel partition is coupled to a first edge the third panel partition in a parallel position, and a second edge of the third panel partition coupled to an unattached edge of the first panel partition in a parallel position to form a user interior portion or space. The panel component-based assembly further including a door assembly formed on surface of at least one of the first, second or third panel partitions, the door assembly including a door formed from a perforated opening and a hinge. In a related embodiment, each of the panel partitions is configured from a first and a second panel member conjoined along a longitudinal edge of each panel member, each panel partition having a longitudinal edge distal from the conjoined edge of each of the first and second panel members, each panel partition having a first vertical slot formed inset from the first panel member longitudinal edge and a second vertical slot formed inset from the second panel member longitudinal edge. In this embodiment, the door assembly formed on at least one of the first and second panel members, and the door assembly includes a door formed from a perforated opening and a perforated hinge. In this example embodiment, the first panel partition is coupled to the second panel partition such that the slot on the second panel member of the first panel partition is engaged with the slot of the first panel member of the second partition. Further, the second panel partition is coupled to the third panel partition such that the slot on the second panel member of the second panel partition is engaged with the slot of the first panel member of the third partition. Finally the third panel partition is coupled to the first panel partition such that the slot of the second panel of the third panel partition is engaged with the slot of the first panel member of the first panel partition.
In a related embodiment, a fourth panel partition coupled with the third and first panel partitions to form the interior space or area and the fourth panel partition is coupled to the third panel partition such that the slot of the first panel member of the fourth panel partition is engaged with the second panel of the third panel partition and the slot of the second panel of the fourth panel partition is engaged with the slot of the first panel member of the first panel partition. Further, the first, second, third and fourth panel partitions together form a first base structure module configured to be coupled to a second base module comprising a second set of first, second, third and fourth panel partitions. In a related embodiment, the panel component-based assembly includes a first, second, third and fourth panel partitions that comprise a first base module of a plurality of base modules configured to be coupled to each other to form multiple play area configurations.
In yet another example embodiment, there is provided a panel partition configured as a base component for assembling play structures for a child, the panel partition including a first and a second panel member conjoined along a longitudinal edge of each panel member, the panel partition having longitudinal edges distal from the conjoined edge of each of the first and second panel members, the panel partition having a first vertical slot formed inset from the first panel member longitudinal edge and a second vertical slot formed inset from the second panel member longitudinal edge. The panel partition also includes a door assembly formed on at least one of the first and second panel members, the door assembly including door formed from a perforated opening and a hinge, where any one of the first and second vertical slots is configured to engage another panel partition. In a related embodiment, there is included a third and a fourth panel member, wherein the first vertical slot is disposed on the first panel member and the second vertical slot is disposed on the fourth panel member. In any of the various embodiments described, at least one foldable portion is located between any one of the panel members.
In yet another example embodiment, there is provided a panel partition configured as a base component for assembling play structures for a child, the panel partition including a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first longitudinal edge having a first vertical slot and the second longitudinal edge having a second vertical slot, with each vertical slot formed inset from each respective longitudinal edge of the panel partition. The panel partition also includes a plurality of panel members located between the first and second longitudinal edges of the panel partition. Finally, the panel partition includes a door assembly formed on at least one of the panel members, the door including a perforated opening and a hinge. In the various embodiments described, the panel partition is formed from any one of a corrugated cardboard material, a paper-based material, a plastic material and a foam-based material.
The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.
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In one example embodiment, individual panels 100 will fold up to a two foot by four foot (2 ft.×4 ft.) section. Ten (10) folded up sections will fit inside a shipping carton that measures two feet by four feet by one foot (2 ft.×4 ft.×1 ft.) and weighs less than 20 lbs. The maze system, or any other play structure, can be broken down and stored for reuse or can be recycled.
A maze system that is configurable from foldable subsection panels as substantially described herein. A subpanel configurable to include portals and configurable to be reduced in size for portability as substantially described herein. The following patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,635,411; 5,487,690; 6,575,462; 9,163,393; 9,283,491; and 9,302,198.
While the invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/381,396, filed Aug. 30, 2016 and entitled “MAZE MODULAR PARTITION” the application of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62381396 | Aug 2016 | US |
