Patent Application
20200261821
The present teachings generally relate to playscape kit and a playscape that provides imaginative, interactive, and customizable entertainment for the user. More particularly, the playscape and kit relate to a playset, which removably adheres to vertical surfaces, and interactive clings to be used in conjunction with the playset where the playscape is 2 dimensional (2D).
Playsets offer children an interactive outlet to play out imaginative scenarios with subjects inside of the playset, which functions as the setting (e.g., a house or a castle). Such playsets usually comprise some physical structure, and inside and around the physical structure the subjects (e.g., people, animals, or objects) can be manipulated to act out pretend scenarios. The interactive characteristic of playsets provides children with virtually endless entertainment, limited only by the imagination. However, conventional playsets take up floor space, may be expensive, and typically are either pre-constructed or provided with limited arrangements of constituent parts.
It would be advantageous to provide a playset that is modular, whereby components of the playset can be arranged and rearranged in a variety of configurations. It would be advantageous to provide a playset that does not take up floor space. It would be advantageous to provide a playset that is initially low cost and whereby the individual components can be replaced or a collection added to with relatively little cost as compared to conventional playsets. It would be advantageous to provide a playset that can double in function as decoration for a room.
The present disclosure relates to a two-dimensional playscape comprising: one or more setting modules, and one or more interactive clings; wherein the one or more setting modules are configured to removably attach to a surface; and wherein the one or more interactive clings removably attach to the one or more setting modules.
The present disclosure relates to a kit for a two-dimensional playscape comprising: one or more setting modules, and one or more interactive clings; wherein the one or more setting modules are configured to removably attach to a surface; wherein the one or more interactive clings removably attach to the one or more setting modules; and wherein the kit provides for at least one theme.
The present teachings provide for a two-dimensional playscape that is modular, whereby components of the playscape can be arranged and rearranged in a variety of configurations. The present teachings provide for a two-dimensional playscape that does not take up floor space. The present teachings provide for a two-dimensional playscape that is initially low cost and whereby the individual components can be replaced or a collection added to with relatively little cost as compared to conventional playsets. The present teachings provide for a two-dimensional playscape that can double in function as decoration for a room.
The present teachings meet one or more of the above needs by providing the improved playscape and kit described herein. The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.
The playscape of the present disclosure may be employed on any substantially flat, smooth surface. The surface may be a vertical surface or a horizontal surface. For example, the playscape may be employed on a floor or a table. As another example, the playscape may be employed on a wall. The expansive surface area over which the modular aspects of the playscape may be implemented may be provided by a wall. The surface may comprise a material and texture that is suitable for an adhesive to adhere to it. The surface may comprise wood, metal, polymer, paint, wallpaper, plaster, or a combination thereof. The surface may be a structural surface of a building (e.g., painted drywall) or the surface may be an article hung on a wall (e.g., a polymer sheet or a white board). The article may be used to accept the playscape if the structural surface is not of a suitable material, texture, or both, for the implementation of the playscape. Due to the ability of the playscape to be affixed to a wall, the playscape may also function as room décor when the playscape is not being actively played with.
The playscape of the present disclosure may be enjoyed primarily by children but adults may also participate in interacting with the playscape. The playscape may comprise designs, as further described herein, that may be directed to particular genders, particular age groups, or both. For example, the playscape may comprise a dinosaur park design, which may be directed toward boys but may also be enjoyed by girls. As another example, the playscape may comprise a simple design (i.e., a plain design without embellishing details), which may be directed to children below the age of three, whereby children below the age of three may not fully appreciate embellishing details. As another example, the playscape may comprise an embellished design (i.e., shading, textures, and more complex shapes), which may be directed to children above the age of three, whereby children above the age of three may appreciate the embellished design. The playset of the playscape may be sized appropriately in accordance with the age of the subject user. For example, a playscape directed to the age group of four to six may not exceed the height range of the age group (e.g., about 0.8 m to about 1.6 m for the age group of four to six) so that the user may be able to construct the playscape and be able to reach the top of the playscape.
The present disclosure provides a kit for a playscape (e.g., 2D playscape). The kit may include one or more posters, one or more interactive clings, or both. The components of the kit may comprise one or more themes. A kit having more than one theme may be enjoyed by playing with each theme separately or in combination with each other. For example, the kit may comprise a playscape having a theme of a medieval castle and another playscape having a theme of a princess, whereby the playscapes are constructed separately according to their respective themes. As another example, the kit of the prior example may be enjoyed by mixing the individual parts of each theme (e.g., posters of a castle and posters of a princess home may be used in conjunction to form a single structure). Two discrete kits may be provided where the kits have the same theme but may provide posters, interactive clings, or both, having different designs (e.g., a first kit may provide posters with the design of a medieval castle and a second kit may provide posters with the design of a medieval farmhouse). The kit may be a booster kit, which provides components of a kit that add to or augment a first kit. The user may initially purchase a castle themed kit and thereafter may purchase booster kits as they may become available. The kit may include bridging modules which connect separate structures, as is described in more detail herein. The kit may include only posters, whereby said posters are provided to add to or enhance full kits (i.e., kits having both posters and interactive clings). Similarly, the kit may include only interactive clings, whereby the interactive clings are provided to add to or enhance full kits. Partial kits (i.e., kits having either posters or interactive clings) may be available to replace individual components of kits already owned by the user when the individual pieces of a kit may become damaged, dirty, or lost over time. The user may also obtain partial kits in order to extend the novel life of the playscape.
The playscape may function to provide a customizable object of play for the prolonged, imaginative entertainment to the user. Preferably, the playscape is two-dimensional (2D) or includes two-dimensional components. Some of the components may be three-dimensional (3D). For example, some of the interactive clings may have a three-dimensional component so that the clings extend outward away from a surface and poster. Preferably, if the components are three-dimensional the components extend from a surface a distance of about 5 mm or less, about 5 mm or less, about 3 mm or less, about 2 mm or less, or about 1 mm or less. The playscape may extend from a surface a distance that is equal to the thickness of the material. The playscape may include posters, clings, or both that are a sheet of material that is substantially planar. The playscape may enable the user to play pretend and act out scenes within playsets (i.e., single settings) with subjects (e.g., people) represented on interactive clings. The playscape may be customizable, via a removable and modular design. The playscape may be modular so that the user can customize settings by arranging and rearranging individual playsets (e.g., adding a farmhouse playset adjacent a castle playset and maintaining the ability to add to the playsets and/or rearrange the position of the playsets on a wall). The playscape may be affixed to walls, floors, or both. The playscape may be connected to any surface with a sufficient area so that the playscape may be constructed into a unit. Preferably, the playscape may be connected to a planar surface. The playscape may comprise more than one playset and the playsets may be placed on various surfaces (e.g., different walls of the same room). The playscape may comprise more than one playset and be placed on different surfaces and each of those playsets may be connected via bridging modules. For example, the user may construct a castle on one end of a wall, a village on an opposing end of the wall, and connect the two playsets via bridging modules, thereby constructing an imaginary “world” of constituent or contiguous playsets. As another example, the imaginary “world” of constituent or contiguous playsets may span an entire perimeter of a room. As another example, two playsets may be affixed on parallel, opposing walls and may be connected by bridging modules extending along a floor between them. The playscape may comprise playsets, interactive clings, or both. The playscape may include 2 or more posters, 8 or more posters, 30 or less posters, or even 20 or less posters. The playscape may include 1 or more playsets, 3 or more playsets, 5 or more playsets, 15 or less playsets, or even 13 or less playsets.
The playset may function to resemble a single setting (i.e., a fixed time, place, and surroundings/environment) and give spatial and structural context to the playscape. The playset may be formed from one or a plurality of posters. The playset may comprise posters including setting modules, bridging modules, or both. The playset may comprise posters depicting an indoor setting, an outdoor setting, or both. For example, the playset may depict both the inside of a castle and landscape adjacent the castle. The playset may depict height (i.e., the height of a depicted structure apparent from the number of setting modules stacked upon each other), depth (i.e., the depth visually extending into the surface upon which the playset is applied, along an axis normal to the surface), or both. The playset may comprise setting modules, as described herein, that may be stacked one-on-top of the other to convey a structure having multiple storeys (i.e., floors). The playset may be provided in a kit, as discussed above, which may comprise posters configured to be used together to form a predetermined setting (e.g., parts of a castle). The user may combine posters configured for discrete predetermined settings and construct a playset with the combination of settings (e.g., parts of a castle combined with parts of a contemporary house). The playset may be modified by the rearrangement of its constituent posters. For example, the user may selectively construct a castle with any number and structural arrangement of rooms, where the constituent rooms may be arranged in any spatial combination. The setting (i.e., a fixed time, place, and surroundings) of the playset may be modified with interactive clings or permanent stickers. For example, a setting depicting a field may be modified with permanent stickers depicting plants. As another example, a setting depicting a building or structure may be modified with interactive clings depicting architectural elements (e.g., windows, awnings, pillars, doors, bricks, stone, stairs, a foundation, siding, an arris, an arch, a dome, the like, or a combination thereof). The playset may comprise 1 or more posters, 4 or more posters, 16 or less posters, or even 12 or less posters. Two or more playsets may be provided with different sizes. For example, a playscape may include one playset having a castle constructed from a 4×4 arrangement of posters and a farmhouse constructed from a 2×2 arrangement of posters.
The posters may function to removably adhere to a surface so that the posters may be arranged and re-arranged on a surface to provide an environment for playing with the interactive clings. The posters may be constructed from card stock, paperboard, polymer, paper, construction paper, a laminated paper, a coated paper, a planar material, or a combination thereof. The posters may be substantially rigid or flexible. The posters may be coated, to impart additional properties on the posters, or uncoated. For example, a poster comprising card stock may be coated to impart the property of water resistance to the posters. The posters may be substantially flat, may be embossed, or both. The posters may be embossed to aesthetically modify the posters' appearance, to protect the posters, to assist in creating a static cling between the interactive clings and the posters, or a combination thereof. For example, the poster may depict hills and the hills may be embossed to different depths to impart the aesthetic or tactile feel of depth. The posters may have a thickness of between about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm. The posters may have a thickness of about 5 mm or less, about 3 mm or less, about 2 mm or less, or about 1 mm or less. Two or more posters may have substantially the same planar dimensions (i.e., length, width, thickness, diameter, major diameter, or minor diameter) or different planar dimensions. The posters may comprise a visible portion, an adhering portion, or both.
The posters may be configured to align edge-to-edge or point-to-point (e.g., corner or tangential point) with each other. The posters may have a shaped profile, an abstract profile, or both. The profile may be the shape of the posters as projected onto a plane. The shaped profile may include a circle, an oval, a triangle, a quadrilateral (e.g., square or rectangular), a pentagon, a hexagon, or a combination thereof. The profile may be abstract and may be curved, jagged, lobed (i.e., like puzzle-piece sections), or a combination thereof. For example, two or more posters may comprise curved sections that are complementary to each other and thus fit together curved edge to curved edge. Where the posters are different dimensions, two or more posters having smaller dimensions may be arranged together to match one or more dimensions of a larger poster. For example, there may be provided a poster having a length of 30 cm and two posters having lengths of 15 cm, whereby when the two 15 cm posters are abutted next to each other they have the same length as the 30 cm poster. As another example, the posters may all be provided as hexagons of the same dimensions such that the posters may be arranged in a beehive pattern. The posters having one shape may fit together to form another shape (e.g., three triangles of equal dimensions may fit together to form a rhombus). The posters when connected together may form playset that may be a geometric shape, a non-geometric shape, a square, a rectangle, circle, triangle, or a combination thereof. The posters may be arranged together so that they form a playset having clean, seamless edges. The posters may have a complementary fit so that the settings and features depicted upon the posters flow into one another. The edges of the posters may resemble partitions (e.g., walls), open space that flows into an adjacent poster, integral components of a structure (e.g., exterior walls, roofs), or a combination thereof. The complementary fit of the posters is provided to assist the user in assembling the posters in a pre-determined fashion. The shape of the posters may be such that regardless of the orientation of the posters a shape may be formed (e.g., a rectangle). The shape of the posters may be such that when the posters are all located proximate to each other or in connection with each other the visible portions of the posters are visible and create an image.
The visible portion may function to display the design of the posters, create an interactive setting, create a portion of a bigger theme, or a combination thereof. The visible portion may be oriented on a side of the poster opposite the surface upon which the poster is affixed. The visible portion may have static cling properties, whereby the interactive clings are configured to movably adhere to the visible portion. The visible portion may be the surface upon which the interactive clings are attached and moved. The visible portion may be initially free of a design but a design may be applied to the poster by the user. For example, the visible portion may be blank or may include pre-fabricated outlining and the user may free-hand draw, color, paint, or a combination thereof that a design upon the poster or color within a prefabricated outlining. Both sides of the poster may include a visible portion so that the theme or setting may be changed by flipping over the poster. Preferably, the visible portion is opposite an adhering portion.
The adhering portion may function as the substrate for the adhesive. The adhering portion may have the adhesive disposed upon the adhering portion or attached to the adhering portion, the adhering portion may itself be the adhesive by virtue of being comprised of a static cling material, the adhering portion may be magnetic, or a combination thereof. The adhering portion may be pre-fabricated integrally onto the poster (e.g., adhesive coating) or may be provided as a separate piece to be applied by the user (e.g., double-sided tape). For example, the playscape may include a strip of double-sided tape for each poster so that the user may apply the tape themselves. The tape may be a peel and stick tape. As another example, the adhering portion may include magnetic stickers that may be located thereon on the adhering portion, which may placed on the posters by the manufacturer. The adhering portion, prior to adhesion to a surface, may be provided with a removable cover configured to prevent unwanted sticking or dirtying of the adhering portion prior to use. For example, the posters may comprise a vinyl static cling material and a protective backing for the static cling material that is to be removed prior to placement of the poster on a wall. The adhering portion may include an adhesive on virtually any location. The adhering portion may be in the corners, along one or more edges, in the center, strips that run parallel to an edge, or a combination thereof.
The adhesive may function to adhere the posters to a surface (e.g., wall). The adhesive may be present on a portion of the adhering portion of the posters or the whole surface of the adhering portion of the posters. The adhesive may be pre-applied to the adhering portion of the posters or may be provided as a separate piece (e.g., double sided tape) to be applied to the posters before application to a surface. The adhesive may be disposed onto the adhering portion. The adhesive may provide for the removability of the posters (i.e., removable without damage to the surface or the posters). The adhesive may provide for the continued useful life of the adhesive after the posters are initially adhered to and subsequently removed from a surface. The adhesive may include a tacky substance (e.g., rubber or acrylic based adhesives, such as Acrylic Adhesive 1050 available from 3M™), a static cling material (e.g., vinyl), a magnetic material that may be used in conjunction with magnetic surface, such as a magnetic surface obtained by painting a wall with magnetic paint (Magnetic Primer available from Rust-Oleum®) a peel and stick material, tape, painters tape, a two-sided tape, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a combination thereof.
The posters may be setting modules, bridging modules, or both, which are described in detail below. The setting module may function to depict at least a portion of a setting (i.e., a fixed time, place, and surroundings/environment). A single setting module may depict a whole setting, a portion or a setting, or both. For example, a setting module may depict an entire house (i.e., one poster depicting one setting). As another example, the setting module may depict a room of a house (i.e., one poster depicting a portion of a setting). As another example, the setting module may depict both an entire house and also a portion of another, discrete house. The setting module may depict an indoor setting, and outdoor setting, or both. The setting module may depict any type of setting that may be enjoyed by the target user according to the user's gender and age (e.g., a castle, a contemporary home, a racetrack, a place in nature, an athletic field, a city, the like, a beehive, outer space, or any combination thereof). The setting module may include non-setting elements. For example, the setting module may also include objects or people that are integrally imprinted upon the poster. The setting module may present a foreground (i.e., the setting nearest the viewer), a background (i.e., setting extending from just beyond the foreground to the horizon or a vanishing point), or both.
The bridging module may function to connect individual playsets spaced apart from each other. The bridging module may provide a connection between playsets such that one playset may flow into the next and the playscape may span across a wider area. For example, individual playsets may be placed on two or more walls of a room and the bridging module may span between each wall and playset. The bridging module may depict any structural or natural element that may exist between two settings. Particularly, the bridging module may depict a path, a forest, a road, a bridge, a field, a body of water, grass, pavement, or a combination thereof. The design of the bridging module may or may not spatially align with a corresponding design with a setting module, another bridging module, or both. For example, the bridging module may depict a winding path that spatially corresponds (i.e., aligns) with the path leading from the drawbridge in the playset. Two or more bridging modules may be configured with designs that spatially align when the bridging modules are placed one above another (i.e., vertically), next to each other (i.e., horizontally), diagonal to each other, or offset (i.e., not aligning edge-to-edge) from one another in either a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal arrangement. The bridging module may include non-setting elements. For example, the bridging module may also include objects or people that are integrally imprinted upon the poster. The bridging module may present a foreground (i.e., the setting nearest the viewer), a background (i.e., setting extending from just beyond the foreground to the horizon or a vanishing point), or both. One or more bridging modules may be used between two connecting playsets.
The theme may function as a single, cohesive concept of the playscape. The theme may correspond to a particular time, place, activity, or a combination thereof. The theme may be of any subject matter that may be enjoyed by the target age and gender. The theme may include, but is not limited to, medieval times, a vacation destination, a conventional home, a modern home, a mid-century home, a forest, a treehouse, a construction site, a racetrack, outer space, a city, a farm, or a combination thereof. The theme may include a setting and subject, as discussed in further detail below. The theme may be visually communicated by a design.
The design may function, when employed on the individual components of the playscape as described herein, to visually convey the theme. The design may be a setting design (i.e., designs that embody a place and a time within which subjects move and interact), a subject design (i.e., designs resembling movable, physical animate life or movable, physical inanimate objects that move and interact with a setting design), or both. The setting design, subject design, or both may be imprinted (via pigmentation) upon posters, interactive clings, or both. The design may include outlines, coloring, shading, or a combination thereof. The design may be pre-fabricated upon the posters, the interactive clings, or both; or the design may be applied to the posters, the interactive clings or both by the user (e.g., drawing, painting, coloring); or both. For example, the design may comprise an outline that is pre-fabricated onto a poster and configured to be colored in by the user to provide for customization and further imaginative enjoyment. For example, an interactive cling may only comprise a subject design. As another example, a poster may comprise both a setting design and a subject design (e.g., landscaping surrounding a castle (setting) and a drawbridge for a castle (subject)).
The setting design may depict indoor settings (e.g., a room of a house), outdoor settings (e.g., landscape or a building façade), or both. The setting design may be located on a poster, an interactive cling, or both. The setting design of one poster may aesthetically flow into a setting design of another, adjacent poster. For example, two posters may comprise setting designs depicting a roof, the features of the roof of the two posters aligning with each other. The setting design of a poster may be augmented permanently or non-permanently. A permanent augmentation may involve the placement of non-removable sticker on a poster (i.e., non-removable without damage to either the poster of the sticker) so that an element is added to the setting. For example, a castle may be augmented by a sticker depicting a window.
The subject design may depict people, animals (e.g., a horse, a rabbit, a squirrel, and the like), creatures (e.g., a unicorn, a griffin, a dragon, or the like), objects (e.g., cutlery, decoration, clouds, and the like), food (e.g., apples, cheese, meat, sandwiches, soup, and the like), furniture (e.g., a table, a seat, lighting fixtures, a couch, a bed, and the like), architectural features (e.g., a window, an awning, a doorway, and the like), plants (e.g., grass patches, potted plants, trees, bushes, and the like), or a combination thereof. The subject designs may be imprinted upon posters, interactive clings, or both, but typically are included on interactive clings.
The interactive cling may function to be manipulated by the user to move within the playscape in accordance with the user's imagination. The interactive clings may comprise material (e.g., vinyl) that adheres to substantially smooth surfaces (i.e., static cling), a material that is magnetic, or a material that has adhesive dispensed upon it. Preferably, the interactive cling comprises static cling material or magnetic material in order for the interactive clings to be able to slide along the surface of the posters while still maintaining a connection with the posters. The interactive clings may be made of or include a plastic, paper, adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, vinyl, a thermoplastic, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the interactive clings are made of a material that may be removed, added, moved, a plurality of times without damaging the substrate or the interactive cling. The interactive clings may be movably manipulated by the user either by sliding the interactive clings across the playscape or placing, removing, and re-placing the interactive clings in the playscape. The interactive clings may be removed one or more times and once removed re-adhered to the playscape. The interactive clings may be provided as sets of clings on a sheet, to be removed for play with the playscape and replaced on the sheets to be neatly organized and stored. The interactive clings may include designs, as described herein.
Any numerical values recited in the above application include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints.
The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about +/−10° or less, about +/−5° or less, or even about +/−1° or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe angular measurements may mean about +/−0.01° or greater, about +/−0.1° or greater, or even about +/−0.5° or greater. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−10% or less, about +/−5% or less, or even about +/−1% or less. The terms “generally” or “substantially” to describe linear measurements, percentages, or ratios may mean about +/−0.01% or greater, about +/−0.1% or greater, or even about +/−0.5% or greater.
The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components, or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components, or steps.
Plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component, or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components, or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component, or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components, or steps.
