FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to children's playstations, and more particularly to kits for building playstations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Playstations for children are available in ready-to-assemble kits including all of the materials required to build the playstations. Such playstation kits often include, among other things, a plurality of “pre-cut” beams or boards packaged in a box. “Pre-cut” beams or boards are cut to length by the manufacturer of the playstation kit according to the specifications of the design of the playstation. As such, the purchaser of the kit is not required to perform any additional cutting to the pre-cut beams or boards during assembly of the playstation. The size of the box of a playstation kit is often dictated by the pre-cut beams or boards in the kit having the largest dimension (e.g., the length dimension).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Boxes of commonly available playstation kits are often large due to the long pre-cut beams or boards that comprise the uprights of the playstation. Particularly, some prior art boxes of playstation kits can be as long as 93.5 inches to accommodate pre-cut boards that are 93 inches in length. These large boxes do not fit inside the passenger compartments or the trunks of average size sedans, minivans, vans, or sport-utility vehicles. As a result, purchasers of the playstation kits often cannot bring them home from the store, and delivery of the playstation kits, usually at an additional cost, is often required. Including long, pre-cut boards in the boxes of playstation kits may increase packaging costs, shipping costs, and storage costs of the kits for the manufacturer, while also increasing the difficulty to purchasers of the kits of getting them home from the store.
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a playstation kit including at least one container defining an interior space. In one embodiment, the interior space has a length dimension of no more than about 61 inches. The kit also includes a plurality of pre-cut boards positioned in the interior space of the at least one container. Each of the boards has a length dimension of no more than the length dimension of the interior space. In another embodiment, the interior space has a length dimension of no more than about 48 inches.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a playstation kit including a plurality of pre-cut boards having no more than 18 different length dimensions. At least a portion of the pre-cut boards are positioned in the at least one container. In one embodiment, the pre-cut boards have no more than 12 different length dimensions.
The present invention provides, in yet another aspect, at least one playstation accessory positioned in the interior space of the at least one container. The at least one playstation accessory has a length dimension of no more than the length dimension of the interior space.
The present invention provides, in a further aspect, a method of selling a playstation kit to a consumer. The method includes providing at least one container defining an interior space. The method also includes providing a plurality of pre-cut boards in the interior space of the at least one container. The method further includes instructing the consumer to provide a plurality of boards not included in the at least one container.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a playstation.
FIGS. 2
a-2c are perspective views of a playstation kit of the present invention that is used to build the playstation of FIG. 1, illustrating pre-cut boards and playstation accessories included in containers.
FIG. 2
d is a perspective view of separately-provided pre-cut boards not included in the containers of the playstation kit of FIGS. 2a-2c.
FIG. 3
a is a perspective view of one of the containers of the playstation kit of FIGS. 2a-2c, illustrating playstation accessories exploded from the container.
FIG. 3
b is a perspective view of another of the containers of the playstation kit of FIGS. 2a-2c, illustrating both pre-cut boards and playstation accessories exploded from the container.
FIG. 3
c is a perspective view of yet another of the containers of the playstation kit of FIGS. 2a-2c, illustrating pre-cut boards exploded from the container.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second playstation made from a second playstation kit.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third playstation made from a third playstation kit.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth playstation made from a fourth playstation kit.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a playstation 10 of the type typically used by children for recreational play. The playstation 10 includes a plurality of uprights or legs 14 that support an elevated support structure or platform 18 above a lower support surface, such as the ground. The playstation 10 includes a slide 22 coupled to the platform 18 to allow children to slide from the platform 18 down to the ground. The playstation 10 also includes a ladder or a climbing wall panel 26 coupled to the platform 18 to provide a way for children to climb from the ground up to the platform 18. Of course, other configurations of ladders, steps, or climbing panels can also be used.
A support member 30 in the form of one or more beams is coupled to one of the legs 14 and extends away from the platform 18 substantially parallel to the ground. In the illustrated construction, a first support leg 34 is coupled to the end of the support member 30 adjacent the platform 18. Second and third support legs 38, 42, respectively, are coupled to the end of the support member 30 that is spaced from the platform 18. The support legs 34, 38, 42 can be coupled to the support member 30 in any suitable manner.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, the support member 30 supports a two-person swing ride 46 configured to be ridden by two children. The swing ride 46 includes a plastic seat portion 50 and two plastic hand rest/foot rest portions 54 coupled to opposite ends of the seat portion 50. The swing ride 46 is suspended from the support member 30 by four elongated supports 58 coupled to the hand rest/foot rest portions 54. In the illustrated construction, the elongated supports 58 are configured as chains. Alternatively, ropes, cables, and other elongated supports 58 can be substituted for the chains as desired. In addition to the slide 22, the climbing wall panel 26, and the swing ride 46, the playstation 10 includes additional rides and climbing features (i.e., accessories), such as a one-person swing 62, rings 66, climbing rocks 70, a steering wheel 74, a viewing device 78, climbing handles 82, sandbox seats 86, and monkey bars 90.
FIGS. 2
a-2c and 3a-3c illustrate a playstation kit 94 including components to build the playstation 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. Specifically, the playstation kit 94 includes three containers in the form of cardboard boxes 98a-98c, housing a plurality of pre-cut boards 102, all of the playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, and 62-90, various hardware 106 (e.g., screws, bolts, washers, nuts, brackets, anchors) for assembling the pre-cut boards 102 and playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 62-90, and remaining components (e.g., elongated supports 58, tarp roof 108, drill bits, etc.). Alternatively, the playstation kit 94 may include more or less than three boxes 98a-98c, and may not include any or all of the playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, and 62-90. The “pre-cut” boards 102 included in the playstation kit 94 are cut to length by the manufacturer of the playstation kit 94.
The playstation kit 94 also includes an instruction manual (not shown) instructing the purchaser of the playstation kit 94 to provide pre-cut boards 110 (see FIG. 2d) in addition to the pre-cut boards 102 included in the boxes 98a-98c. Such additional “pre-cut” boards 110 are cut to standardized lengths (e.g., 8 feet/96 inches) by lumber suppliers, and are commonly available for separate purchase in lumber yards or home improvement stores. As such, the purchaser of the playstation kit 94 is not required to perform any additional cutting of the pre-cut boards 102, 110 during assembly of the playstation 10. Unlike prior art playstation kits that include all of the boards necessary to build the playstation, the kit 94 does not include the longer boards that contribute to the problematic larger box sizes associated with prior art kits. Instead, the kit 94 includes all of the shorter-length pre-cut boards needed to build the playstation 10, but allows the purchaser to separately provide the longer pre-cut boards, thereby minimizing the size of the containers 98a-98c of the kit 94.
As shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, each of the boxes 98a-98c defines an interior space 112a-112c having a length dimension “L1,” a width dimension “W,” and a height dimension “H.” The following chart provides information on the boxes shown in FIG. 2:
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PackedDensity
LengthWidthHeightWeight(lb./cu.
Box#(in.)(in.)(in.)Cu. in.Cu. ft.(lb.)ft.)
|
|
1482417.520165011.67716.09
24817.58.7573504.259321.86
34817.5975604.3810724.46
|
The present invention provides that each of the boxes 98a-98c has a length dimension L1 no more than about 61 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the length dimension L1 of each of the boxes 98a-98c is no more than about 48 inches. Sizing the length dimension L1 of the boxes 98a-98c to be no more than about 48 inches allows the boxes 98a-98c to fit inside the passenger compartments or the trunks of average size sedans, minivans, vans, and sport-utility vehicles. As a result, purchasers of the playstation kits 94 without pick-up trucks or trailers can bring them home from the store, as opposed to prior art playstation kits, which often are packaged in large boxes (i.e., boxes longer than about 93.5 inches) and require delivery to the purchaser's home or pick-up using a truck or trailer. In addition, sizing the length dimension L1 of the boxes 98a-98c to be no more than about 48 inches reduces the difficulty of handling the boxes 98a-98c by the purchaser during transportation and assembly of the playstation 10. Furthermore, sizing the length dimension L1 of the boxes 98a-98c to be no more than about 48 inches facilitates shipping by the manufacturer as the boxes 98a-98c fit on standard 40 inch by 48 inch pallets. The approximately 48 inch L1 dimension also provides advantages at the retail level, as the boxes 98a-98c fit nicely on retail shelving, allowing more product on the shelves and better use of shelf space than prior art kits packaged in larger, and specifically longer boxes.
With reference to FIGS. 2a and 3a, the box 98a houses playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 74, 78 having a length dimension less than the length dimension L1 of the box 98a. Particularly, in the illustrated playstation kit 94, the slide 22 is a two-piece slide 22, with each piece of the slide 22 having a length dimension less than the length dimension L1 of the box 98a. Likewise, the seat portion 50 and the hand rest/foot rest portions 54 of the two-person swing ride 46 have length dimensions less than the length dimension L1 of the box 98a. With reference to FIGS. 2b and 3b, the box 98b houses both pre-cut boards 102 and playstation accessories 70, 86, 90 having length dimensions less than the length dimension L1 of the box 98b. With reference to FIGS. 2c and 3c, the box 98c houses pre-cut boards 102 having length dimensions less than the length dimension L1 of the box 98c. Although the illustrated construction of the playstation kit 94 as shown in FIGS. 3a-3c includes most of the playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 70, 74, 78, 86, 90 positioned in one box 98a, alternate constructions of the playstation kit 94 may include a more even distribution of pre-cut boards 102 and playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 70, 74, 78, 86, 90 positioned in the boxes 98a-98c.
While the illustrated platform 18 of the playstation 10 is positioned about four feet (about 48 inches) above the ground, other embodiments of the playstation 10 might include a platform 18 that is positioned about five feet (about 60 inches) above the ground. In that case, a longer slide 22 and a longer climbing wall panel 26 may be used to provide access to and from the higher platform 18. Typically, an approximately ten foot long slide 22 and a five foot tall climbing wall panel 26 can be used to access a platform 18 positioned about five feet above the ground. In this instance the length dimension L1 of the box 98a could be about 61 inches to contain a ten foot long slide 22 split into two or more separate pieces (as shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a) and a five foot tall climbing wall panel 26. It can thus be seen that the length dimension L1 of the box 98a substantially corresponds to the height of the platform 18 of the playstation 10 (i.e., a 48 inch high platform 18 yields a length dimension L1 of about 48 inches for the box 98a, and a 60 inch high platform 18 yields a length dimension L1 of about 61 inches for the box 98a). This relationship between platform height and length dimension L1 can also apply to the other playstation kits to be described below. Note also that the length dimensions of the pre-cut boards 102 can remain the same regardless of whether the platform 18 is four feet or five feet high.
With reference to FIG. 2d, the pre-cut boards 110 not included in the boxes 98a-98c have a length dimension L2 greater than the length dimension L1 of the interior space 112a-112c of the boxes 98a-98c. In the illustrated construction, the pre-cut boards 110 comprise the legs 14, the support member 30, and the support legs 34, 38, 42, and each has a length dimension L2 of about 96 inches (i.e., 8 feet). Such pre-cut boards 110 are separately provided by the purchaser of the kit 94, and are commonly available in the lumber yards or home improvement stores that sell the kits 94.
With reference to FIGS. 3b and 3c, the pre-cut boards 102 included in the boxes 98a-98c are sized having nine different lengths. Specifically, the kit 94 includes: (2) pre-cut boards 114 having a length dimension of about 15 inches, (11) pre-cut boards 118 having a length dimension of about 18.5 inches, (2) pre-cut boards 122 having a length dimension of about 32.25 inches, (1) pre-cut board 126 having a length dimension of about 33.75 inches, (11) pre-cut boards 130 having a length dimension of about 38 inches, (24) pre-cut boards 134 having a length dimension of about 21.4375 inches, (6) pre-cut boards 138 having a length dimension of about 43.5 inches, (10) pre-cut boards 142 having a length dimension of about 46.25 inches, and (4) pre-cut boards 146 having a length dimension of about 47 inches. In addition, the instruction manual of the playstation kit 94 (and perhaps also the label on the outside of one or more of the boxes 98a-c) instructs the purchaser of the kit 94 to provide (16) of the separately-provided pre-cut boards 110 having a length dimension of about 96 inches. As shown in FIGS. 3b-3c, the pre-cut boards 102 have width and height dimensions corresponding to standard sizes of commonly available lumber (e.g., 2 ×4's, 1×4's, and 1×6's). Furthermore, some or all of the pre-cut boards 102 could alternatively be made of a composite or other materials instead of wood.
The playstation 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be constructed using the pre-cut boards 102 illustrated in FIGS. 3b-3c. Typical prior art playstation kits include and require as many as 21 different lengths of pre-cut boards in the containers. By designing the playstation 10 of the present invention to utilize substantially fewer different length pre-cut boards 102 than commonly available prior art playstation kits (e.g., less than half the number of different length pre-cut boards), the manufacturer of the playstation kit 94 may reduce production and lumber inventory costs associated with the playstation kits 94, while making the assembly of the playstation 10 easier due to the presence of fewer components. Specifically, the smaller number of different length boards reduces the chances that the purchaser will mistakenly use a wrong-size board during assembly of the playstation 10. Ultimately, the smaller number of different length boards will save the purchaser time in assembling the playstation 10.
FIG. 4 illustrates a second playstation 150 that is built from a second playstation kit (not shown). The second playstation 150 is configured with similar playstation accessories 22, 46, 62-70, 86, 90 and components 58, 108 as those illustrated in the first playstation 10 of FIG. 1. As such, like components are labeled with like reference numerals. The second playstation kit includes only one box (not shown) having the following characteristics:
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|
PackagedDensity
LengthWidthHeightCu.Cu.Weight(lb./cu.
Box #(in.)(in.)(in.)in.ft.(lb.)ft.)
|
14817.510.7590305.2314828.32
|
Unlike the playstation kit 94 of FIGS. 2a-2c, the second playstation kit does not include all of the accessories needed to build the second playstation 150. Rather, the illustrated climbing wall panel 26, slide 22, two-person swing ride 46, and viewing device 78 are purchased separately from the store that sells the playstation kit. Of course, the second playstation 150 can also be configured to include different and/or additional accessories.
The single box of the second playstation kit includes pre-cut boards having seven different length dimensions. Specifically, the single box includes: (2) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 15 inches, (8) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 24.5 inches, (9) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 28.5 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 33.75 inches, (25) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 21.4375 inches, (4) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 47 inches, and (3) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 38 inches. The single box also houses playstation accessories (e.g., swing seat 62, handles 82, rings 66, and bars 90), hardware 108 (e.g., screws, bolts, washers, nuts, brackets, anchors), and remaining components (e.g., elongated supports 58, tarp roof 108, drill bits, etc.) required to build the second playstation 150. In addition, the second playstation kit includes an instruction manual instructing the purchaser of the second playstation kit to provide (12) of the separately-provided pre-cut boards 110 having a length dimension of about 96 inches (see FIG. 2d).
FIG. 5 illustrates a third playstation 154 that is built from a third playstation kit (not shown). The third playstation 154 is configured with similar playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 62-70, 82-90 and components 58, 108 as those illustrated in the first playstation 10 of FIG. 1. As such, like components are labeled with like reference numerals. The third playstation kit includes two boxes (not shown) having the following characteristics:
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|
PackagedDensity
LengthWidthHeightCu.Cu.Weight(lb./cu.
Box #(in.)(in.)(in.)in.ft.(lb.)ft.)
|
|
14817.59.7581904.7411624.47
24817.58.571404.1310725.90
|
Unlike the playstation kit 94 of FIGS. 2a-2c, the third playstation kit does not include all of the accessories needed to build the third playstation 154. Rather, the illustrated slide 22, two-person swing ride 46, and six rings 66 are purchased separately from the store that sells the third playstation kit. Of course, the third playstation 154 can also be configured to include different and/or additional accessories.
The two boxes of the third playstation kit include pre-cut boards having eleven different length dimensions. Specifically, the two boxes include: (2) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 15 inches, (3) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 18.5 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 24.5 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 28.5 inches, (2) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 33.25 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 33.75 inches, (11) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 38 inches, (24) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 21.4375 inches, (10) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 46.25 inches, (7) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 43.50 inches, and (4) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 47 inches. The two boxes also house playstation accessories (e.g., swing seat 62, handles 82, rings 66, and bars 90), hardware 108 (e.g., screws, bolts, washers, nuts, brackets, anchors), and remaining components (e.g., elongated supports 58, tarp roof 108, drill bits, etc.) required to build the third playstation 154. In addition, the third playstation kit includes an instruction manual (not shown) instructing the purchaser of the third playstation kit to provide (16) of the separately-provided pre-cut boards 110 having a length dimension of about 96 inches (see FIG. 2c).
FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth playstation 158 that is built from a fourth playstation kit (not shown). The fourth playstation 158 is configured with similar playstation accessories 22, 26, 46, 62-70, 78 as those illustrated in the first playstation 10 of FIG. 1. As such, like components are labeled with like reference numerals. The fourth playstation kit includes three boxes having the following characteristics:
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|
PackagedDensity
LengthWidthHeightCu.Cu.Weight(lb./cu.
Box #(in.)(in.)(in.)in.ft.(lb.)ft.)
|
|
14817.59.7581904.7412426.16
24817.51192405.3513925.99
34817.58.571404.1310725.90
|
Unlike the playstation kit 94 of FIGS. 2a-2c, the fourth playstation kit does not include all of the accessories needed to build the fourth playstation 158. Rather, the illustrated slide 22, two-person swing ride 46, and climbing wall panel 26 are purchased separately from the store that sells the fourth playstation kit. Of course, the fourth playstation 158 can also be configured to include different and/or additional accessories.
The three boxes of the fourth playstation kit include pre-cut boards having twelve different length dimensions. Specifically, the three boxes include: (3) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 15 inches, (7) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 18.5 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 24.5 inches, (1) pre-cut board having a length dimension of about 28.5 inches, (10) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 33.25 inches, (2) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 33.75 inches, (18) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 38 inches, (25) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 21.4375 inches, (31) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 36.375 inches, (10) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 46.25 inches, (7) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 43.50 inches, and (4) pre-cut boards having a length dimension of about 47 inches. The three boxes also house playstation accessories (e.g., swing seat 62 and rings 66), hardware 108 (e.g., screws, bolts, washers, nuts, brackets, anchors), and remaining components (e.g., elongated supports 58, tarp roof 108, drill bits, etc.) required to build the fourth playstation 158. In addition, the fourth playstation kit includes an instruction manual (not shown) instructing the purchaser of the fourth playstation kit to provide (18) of the separately-provided pre-cut boards 110 having a length dimension of about 96 inches (see FIG. 2d).
While each of the four illustrated playstations 10, 150, 154, 158 have somewhat different constructions incorporating different accessories, there are common components and hardware for building each playstation that can be packaged in one or more common component packages 162 (see FIGS. 3b and 3c) and used in each of the four kits. Furthermore, common lumber packs can be pre-bundled and used for each of the four kits (see banded boards 146 and 134 in FIG. 3b). Additionally, it can be seen that all four of the illustrated playstations 10, 150, 154, 158 can be constructed using pre-cut boards selected from only twelve pre-cut lengths (not including the separately-provided 96-inch pre-cut boards 110). This greatly reduces the inventory of different length lumber necessary for the playstation kit manufacturer, and greatly facilitates the packaging and assembling of the playstation kits.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.