Patent Application
20250235798
The present invention relates generally to the field of child play toys. More specifically, the present invention relates to a building system that promotes creativity, problem-solving, and physical activity among children through customizable boxes and panels that can be combined to create diverse play environments, from simple structures to thematic models like castles or vehicles. With durable, multi-shaped components featuring optional openings, textured indicia, and flexible attachment mechanisms, the system fosters imaginative play, developmental learning, and motor skill enhancement. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Children today face a significant challenge with the overuse of electronic devices, including televisions, video games, computers, and smartphones. The prevalence of screen time has reduced opportunities for physical activity and meaningful social interactions among peers. A lack of engagement in active play can impede critical and creative thinking abilities in children, which are essential for their cognitive and emotional development. Additionally, the absence of activities that involve physical exertion and coordination can delay the development of fine and gross motor skills, which are vital during early childhood. This trend not only stunts personal and physical growth but also hinders the social development that occurs during cooperative and imaginative play. While parents and educators recognize the importance of encouraging children to explore, create, and socialize, many available solutions fail to provide a dynamic and adaptable platform for these activities. The need for a multifunctional and engaging toy system that fosters creativity, physical activity, and collaborative play has become increasingly evident.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that provides children with fully customizable components for imaginative and educational play. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that promotes physical activity and enhances motor skill development through interactive assembly and play. Moreover, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that facilitates social interaction, teamwork, and creativity by allowing children to construct diverse and thematic structures collaboratively.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a modular play structure system. The system is designed to promote creativity, problem-solving, and physical activity among children through customizable and adaptable components. The system comprises at least one box and one panel, which can be combined in various configurations to construct diverse play environments, including simple structures, obstacle courses, and thematic models such as castles or vehicles. The boxes are preferably three-dimensional, durable, and available in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors, featuring optional openings, inserts, and textured or educational indicia for enhanced engagement. The panels complement the boxes and enable complex designs with flexible attachment mechanisms for stability and ease of use. This system integrates imaginative play with developmental and educational benefits, fostering exploration, creativity, and motor skills.
In this manner, the modular play structure system of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides a customizable, versatile play system comprised of modular boxes and panels. The system supports the creation of an array of structures, ranging from simple playhouses to complex themed environments, fostering imaginative and critical thinking. The system's durable, waterproof materials and child-friendly fasteners ensure safe and repeated use in both indoor and outdoor settings. By enabling children to build, customize, and explore structures, the system encourages physical activity, strengthens motor skills, and enhances social interaction. Through its flexibility and wide range of configurations, the system provides a comprehensive solution for active, creative, and developmental play.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a modular play structure system. The modular play structure system is a customizable play system designed to enhance creativity, problem-solving, and physical activity among children. The system is comprised of at least one customizable box and at least one panel, allowing various configurations to create diverse play structures suitable for children of different ages and abilities.
Each box serves as a core building block and may include connected side walls, with optional top and bottom walls for flexibility. Boxes are available in multiple shapes, sizes, and colors, such as cubes, rectangles, arches, and triangular prisms, enabling varied designs and thematic play. Constructed from waterproof materials like plastic composites or treated wood, the boxes are durable for indoor and outdoor use. The boxes may be comprised of pre-cut openings, such as windows or doors, and customizable inserts like shutters or decorative frames. Indicia with patterns, textures, or educational elements can be incorporated for personalization and enhanced engagement.
The panels provide versatility for creating walls, floors, roofs, or auxiliary features. The panels are available in various shapes, including rectangular, triangular, and curved designs, supporting the construction of complex architectural elements like domes or tunnels. Connections between panels and boxes are secured using fasteners, such as magnetic or snap-lock mechanisms, ensuring stability while maintaining ease of assembly.
The system supports a wide range of constructions, from basic playhouses and towers to themed environments like castles and pirate ships. It also enables functional play areas, such as kitchens or workshops, and dynamic structures like obstacle courses and transportation models. Multi-level designs, including skyscrapers and interconnected buildings, introduce advanced spatial and engineering concepts.
This modular system integrates imaginative, educational, and physical benefits, offering unique, customizable play experiences that promote creativity and development.
Accordingly, the modular play structure system of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a customizable, versatile play system comprised of modular boxes and panels. The system supports the creation of an array of structures, ranging from simple playhouses to complex themed environments, fostering imaginative and critical thinking. The system's durable, waterproof materials and child-friendly fasteners ensure safe and repeated use in both indoor and outdoor settings. By enabling children to build, customize, and explore structures, the system encourages physical activity, strengthens motor skills, and enhances social interaction. Through its flexibility and wide range of configurations, the system provides a comprehensive solution for active, creative, and developmental play.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that provides children with fully customizable components for imaginative and educational play. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that promotes physical activity and enhances motor skill development through interactive assembly and play. Moreover, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a modular play structure system that facilitates social interaction, teamwork, and creativity by allowing children to construct diverse and thematic structures collaboratively.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a modular play structure system designed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and physical activity among children. The system includes at least one customizable box and one panel, enabling diverse configurations to create play structures adaptable for children of various ages and abilities.
Each box functions as a core building block and may feature connected side walls, with optional top and bottom walls for added flexibility. The boxes are available in various shapes, sizes, and colors, such as cubes, rectangles, arches, and triangular prisms, facilitating diverse designs and thematic play. Made from waterproof materials like plastic composites or treated wood, the boxes are durable for indoor and outdoor use. They may include pre-cut openings, such as windows or doors, with optional inserts like shutters or decorative frames. Indicia with patterns, textures, or educational features allow for personalization and enhanced engagement.
The panels are versatile components used to create walls, floors, roofs, or auxiliary features. Available in shapes such as rectangular, triangular, and curved designs, the panels support the construction of intricate elements like domes or tunnels. Connections between panels and boxes are achieved with fasteners, including magnetic or snap-lock mechanisms, ensuring secure attachment and ease of assembly.
The system accommodates a wide variety of constructions, from simple playhouses and towers to themed environments like castles and pirate ships. It also supports functional play areas, such as kitchens or workshops, and dynamic structures like obstacle courses and transportation models. Multi-level designs, including skyscrapers and interconnected buildings, introduce advanced spatial and engineering concepts.
This modular system offers imaginative, educational, and physical benefits, providing customizable play experiences that foster creativity and development. The durable, waterproof materials and child-friendly fasteners ensure safe, repeated use in indoor and outdoor settings. Through its flexibility and extensive range of configurations, the system promotes active, creative, and developmental play, enhancing motor skills and social interaction.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Each box 102 is a three-dimensional unit that serves as a core building block of the system 100. The box 102 is preferably comprised of at least four connected side walls 106, as seen in
The box 102 is preferably comprised of a waterproof material, such as but not limited to plastic composites, treated wood, or synthetic polymers, ensuring durability and suitability for both indoor and outdoor use. These materials are engineered to withstand active play, exposure to the elements, and repeated assembly and disassembly. The material of the box 102 is preferably a material with a writing surface such that the box 102 can be written/drawn on. The box 102 may include at least one pre-cut opening 118 that can serve as a window, door, or other structural feature. In alternative embodiments, the box 102 may have no openings 118, presenting a solid design for specific architectural purposes or creative flexibility. Pre-cut openings 118 can be further customized with inserts 120, such as shutters, sliding doors, or decorative frames, to add both functionality and aesthetic value.
Additionally, the box 102 and panel 104 may be comprised of at least one indicia 122, which can include patterns, colors, simulated textures, or other visual or tactile features. The indicia 122 allows for personalization and thematic customization, enabling children to construct environments such as brick-textured castles, wood-paneled cabins, or futuristic space stations. To provide a more realistic and immersive experience, the indicia 122 may be raised or three-dimensional (3D), simulating textures such as bricks, wood grain, stone, or metal. These raised indicia 122 enhance the tactile engagement of the system 100 and make structures appear more lifelike, adding to the overall play value. Indicia 122 may also include educational or interactive elements, such as letters, numbers, shapes, or other symbols, further enhancing the developmental aspects of the system 100. The patterns, colors, and textures of indicia 122 may also be used to identify specific thematic sets or components, facilitating organization and integration of pieces into cohesive designs.
The system 100 also incorporates at least one panel 104, which is made of the same material as the box 102 to ensure consistency in durability and appearance. The panels 104 are versatile components that can be used to create walls, floors, roofs, or auxiliary features. The panels 104 may also come in various shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, curved, or arched designs, allowing for the creation of more dynamic and complex structures. These shapes enable the construction of elements like vaulted ceilings, domes, or tunnel entrances, further broadening the system's architectural capabilities. The panel 104 may be any thickness.
In various embodiments, panels 104 attach to boxes 102 or to each other using fasteners 132, such as but not limited to magnetic connections, hook-and-loop systems, or snap-lock mechanisms, as seen in
The device 100 is further comprised of a storage rack 150 (as seen in
The storage rack 150 is comprised of at least one horizontal frame member 153 and at least one vertical frame member 154. In the preferred embodiment, both the horizontal frame member 153 and the vertical frame member 154 are telescopic and can be locked at desired lengths using a locking mechanism 155. The locking mechanism 155 may be, but is not limited to, a spring-loaded pin, a twist-lock clamp, or a ratchet-based fastener. This configuration allows the storage rack 150 to adjust in width, depth, and height as needed.
In the preferred embodiment, the storage rack 150 is further comprised of a plurality of vertical frame members 154 that function as dividers, facilitating the organization of various boxes 102 and panels 104 stored on the storage rack 150. These vertical frame members 154 may be removably attached or slidably adjustable along guide rails to accommodate different storage needs. The combination of telescoping frame members 153, 154 and adjustable dividers enhances the versatility and capacity of the storage rack 150.
The system 100 supports the creation of diverse play areas and structures, ranging from simple to highly elaborate. Basic builds, such as playhouses, forts, towers, and tents, provide foundational construction opportunities for younger children and serve as an introduction to modular building concepts. Functional play areas can also be constructed, including dollhouses, kitchens, shops, garages, workshops, and even offices, fostering role-playing and imaginative interaction. Themed environments, such as castles, pirate ships, spaceships, and dragon lairs, immerse children in storytelling and fantasy-driven play.
Additionally, the system 100 enables the construction of obstacle courses with structures such as bridges, tunnels, ramps, and climbing walls, promoting physical activity and motor skill development made from the boxes 102 and panels 104. Transportation models, including cars, trains, boats, airplanes, and futuristic vehicles, can also be created from the same.
By combining imaginative play with educational and physical benefits, the modular play structure system 100 provides a dynamic, engaging, and developmental experience for children. With its wide range of box designs, panel configurations, shapes, raised indicia 122, and thematic sets, each play session offers unique and customizable opportunities for exploration and creativity.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “modular play structure system” and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the modular play structure system 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the modular play structure system 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the modular play structure system 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the modular play structure system 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the modular play structure system 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the modular play structure system 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/623,891, which was filed on Jan. 23, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63623891 | Jan 2024 | US |
