US3730518A

US3730518A - Children{40 s toy with resilient ball supporting resilient obstacles

Info

Publication number: US3730518A
Application number: US00132447A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Drapcho
Original assignee: MINNEAPOLIS SOC FINE ARTS
Current assignee: MINNEAPOLIS SOC FINE ARTS
Priority date: 1971-04-08
Filing date: 1971-04-08
Publication date: 1973-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-01

Abstract

A children''s amusement toy of a resilient base member removably supporting several resilient upstanding members is disclosed. The base member is of a length and width sufficient to permit several children to sumultaneously run and play thereon. The upstanding members, certain of which are at least twenty-four inches high, are mounted in supportive depressions in the base to provide spaced resilient obstacles and play toys for the amusement of children.

Description

ilmted States Patent 1 [111 3,73%,5ta Drapcho May 1, 1973 54] CHILDREN'S TOY WITH RESILIENT 3,242,509 3/1966 Nissen ..272/60 x BALL SUPPORTING RESILIENT 3,518,786 7/1970 Haltvoigt ..46/24 B T E 1,848,598 3/1932 Barnes ..46/l A UX 0 S ACL S 3,101,949 8/1963 Williams ...273/l95 R X [75] Inventor: Joseph E. Drapcho, Minneapolis, 7 f

Minn FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 73 Assigneez The Minneapolis Society of Fine 250,063 10/1966 Austria ..35/3l D Arts, Minneapolis, Minn.

Primary ExaminerR1chard C. Pinkham [22] Flled: 8, 1971 Assistant ExaminerR T. Stouffer [21 pp N Att0rneyWicks 8L Nemer [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. ..27 l 1 Int CL A63 1 A childrens amusement toy of a resilient base [58] Fieid i 60 i 6 /1 member removably supporting several resilient up- 35/22 A 29 F 31 161/13 standing members is disclosed. The base member is of 22 a length and width sufficient to permit several children to sumultaneously run and play thereon. The upstanding members, certain of which are at least twenty-four [56] References Cited inches high, are mounted in supportive depressions in UNITED STATES PATENTS the base to provide spaced resilient obstacles and play toys for the amusement of children. 3,078,616 2/1963 Selwyn-Smith ..l6l/2l X 3,628,790 12/1971 Gordon ..272/6O X 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HAY 1 1975 INVENTOR.

d'oseph E Drapcba M e W 477080545 CHILDREN 'S TOY WITH RESILIENT BALL SUPPORTING RESILIENT OBSTACLES BACKGROUND satile enough to allow a child full use of his imagina- 1 tion, which is easy to fabricate, and which is easy to transport and assemble. The present invention provides such a toy.

In summary, a preferred embodiment of the childrens toy of the present invention includes a foot thick vinyl-covered foam mat or base with fourteen variously sized cylindrical supportive depressions formed therein. Fourteen variously sized vinyl-covered foam cylinders are arranged to removably fit within the depressions in the mat, derive support from the mat, and present spaced resilient obstacles with which and through which a child may amuse himself. Each foam cylinder is removable from its depression for easy transportation, assembly, and play. And the mat itself may be easily rolled and unrolled for ease of transportation and assembly.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel childrens toy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel children-s toy which is versatile and allows a child to use his imagination.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel childrens toy which is easy to fabricate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel children s toy which is easy to transport.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel children s toy which is easy to assemble.

This and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer in the light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the childrens play toy of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the childrens play toy of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2 according to the section lines 33 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION In the figures, a children's play toy. generally designated 10, is shown as comprising a base 12 and several resilient upstanding members 13 to 26 which are arranged to removably fit within support apertures in the form of depressions 27 to 40, respectively, defined within base 12. Base 12 is of sufficient depth, 12 inches in the preferred embodiment shown, to support the upstanding members 13 to 26 such that each extends vertically from the top surface 42 of base 12.

Upstanding members 13 to 26 are arranged in a manner to present spaced resilient obstacles for the amusement of children. In the preferred embodiment shown, each of

upstanding members

13, 14, 15, 16, 22,

23, 24, 25, 26, and 19 are spaced 6 inches from the edges of base 12. Also, upstanding member 13 is spaced 18 inches from upstanding member 14; upstanding member 14 is spaced 6 inches from member 17 and 12 inches from member 15;

members

15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are spaced l2 inches apart; and member 19 is spaced 6 inches from

member

20, 12 inches from

member

26, and 18 inches from member 0 13. This spacing allows for children to pass between and among the resilient upstanding members 13 to 26 and to treat the array and arrangement of upstanding members 13 to 26 as resilient obstacles for their amusement.

To accomplish this spacing, the preferred embodiment of base or mat 12 is 96 inches square. This dimension allows ample room between the upstanding resilient members, as indicated above, and allows ample room for several children to simultaneously play upon the childrens play toy 10 of the present invention.

To adequately support the upstanding members 13 to 26 in the preferred embodiment, mat or base 12 is 12 inches thick to thus provide a maximum of 12 inches of vertical support for each upstanding member.

In the preferred embodiment, upstanding members 13 to 26 are variously sized to further enhance enjoyment of children playing with them. For example, member 13 in the preferred embodiment is 24 inches high;

members

14 and 19 are 39 inches high; and the remaining members are 54 inches high. Further, in the preferred embodiment member 13 is 24 inches in diameter,

members

14 and 19 are 18 inches in diameter; and the remaining members are 12 inches in diameter. Thus, by the dimensioning of the various upstanding members, each is significant with respect to the height and reach of a child.

Further, it has been found that by variously coloring the upstanding members, the childrens amusement can be further enhanced. For example, in the preferred

embodiment members

14, 16, and 22 are red; members 13, I8, 21, and 23 are blue;

members

19, 24, and 25 are green; and

members

15, 17, 20, and 26 are white. Further, the mat is in a blue coloration.

As best seen with respect to FIG. 3, the play toy 10 of the present invention is relatively easy to fabricate. Each upstanding member, such as upstanding member 13 shown in FIG. 3, is formed of an outer vinyl cover 42 such as of 14 ounce Nylo-tuff vinyl which is machine stitched with Dacron thread. Member 13 is filled with a conventional resilient foam material 44, such as number 1634 Napco foam. Each of the cylinders includes a handle such as handle 46 attached to the bottom of member 13, which handle is further made of 14 ounce Nylo-tuff vinyl machine stitched with Dacron thread.

The base 12 also includes an outer covering 48 of a vinyl material similar or identical to that covering each of the upstanding members. Further, the base 12 is filled with a foam material 50 of similar or identical type to the foam 44 used within each of the upstanding members. The outside edges of the base 12 are machine stitched with a Dacron thread, however the depressions, such as depression 27 shown in FIG. 3, are hand stitched with Dacron thread.

In playing with the childrens play toy of the present invention, several children may simultaneously run and play in and among the various upstanding members 13 to 26, lift the members out of the various depressions, hold onto the upstanding members as by handle 46, strike one another with the resilient upstanding members, sit in the depressions vacated by the various upstanding members, and otherwise use their imaginations to play and amuse themselves on this highly versatile toy. As any of the upstanding members are bumped by the children when in place within its respective depressions, the support and foundation provided by its depression within base 12 together with the resiliency of the foam filling of the upstanding member will cause it to bounce back intoan upright position.

It may now be appreciated that all of the upstanding members may be quickly removed from their respective depressions and stacked for transportation. Also, the base 12 may be quickly folded or rolled for transportation. Also, in a converse but similar sense, the childrens amusement toy 10 of the present invention may be unloaded and very quickly assembled so that it may be used by children.

Now that the basic features of the present invention have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. F orexample, many other sizes or shapes may be chosen from the preferred embodiment given. The preferred embodiment has proven quire successful in use, however.

Thus, since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appendedclaims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of the equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A childrens play toy, comprising: a resilient base of a length and width sufficient to permit several children to simultaneously run and play thereon, the base being provided with .several spaced support openings therein and several upstanding members constructed of a soft, resilient material, the members fitting into the support openings defined in the base; each opening being provided with a preformed wall portion which extends downwardly into the base sufficiently such that the opening forms a socket for receiving and holding one of the upstanding members; each of the upstanding members extending lengthwise in a substantially vertical direction upwardly from the supporting openings, certain of the members being at least 24 inches high, such that the members present spaced resilient obstacles for the amusement of children.-

2. The childrens play toy of claim 1, wherein the supporting openings within the base comprise depressions defined within the base.

3. The childrens play toy of claim 2, wherein the upstanding resilient members are arranged to removably mount within the depression in the base.

. The childrens play toy of claim 3, wherein the upstanding members are of various sizes to present a more interesting amusement toy.

5. The childrens play toy of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a substantially flat member, wherein each of the depressions defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from a boundary of the base; and wherein each of the depressions defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from each other depression with the base to allow for the movement of a child in and around each of the upstanding members and to provide adequate support for each of the upstanding members adjacent the edges of the base.

6. The children s play toy of claim 5, wherein each of the resilient base and upstanding resilient members comprise an outer covering having foam filling therein.

7. The childrens play toy of claim 1, wherein the upstanding resilient members are arranged to removably mount within the depression in the base.

8. The childrens play toy of claim 1, wherein the upstanding members are of various sizes to present a more interesting amusement toy.

9. The childrens play toy of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a substantially flat member, wherein each of the apertures defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from a boundary of the base; and wherein each of the apertures defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from each other aperture with the base to allow for the movement of a child in and around each of the upstanding members and to provide adequate support for each of the upstanding members adjacent the edges of the base.

, 10. The childrens play toy of claim 1, wherein each of the resilient base and upstanding resilient members comprise an outer covering having foam filling therein.

Claims

1. A children''s play toy, comprising: a resilient base of a length and width sufficient to permit several children to simultaneously run and play thereon, the base being provided with several spaced support openings therein and several upstanding members constructed of a soft, resilient material, the members fitting into the support openings defined in the base; each opening being provided with a preformed wall portion which extends downwardly into the base sufficiently such that the opening forms a socket for receiving and holding one of the upstanding members; each of the upstanding members extending lengthwise in a substantially vertical direction upwardly from the supporting openings, certain of the members being at least 24 inches high, such that the members present spaced resilient obstacles for the amusement of children.

2. The children''s play toy of claim 1, wherein the supporting openings within the base comprise depressions defined within the base.

3. The children''s play toy of claim 2, wherein the upstanding resilient members are arranged to removably mount within the depression in the base.

4. The children''s play toy of claim 3, wherein the upstanding members are of various sizes to present a more interesting amusement toy.

5. The children''s play toy of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a substantially flat member, wherein each of the depressions defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from a boundary of the base; and wherein each of the depressions defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from each other depression with the base to allow for the movement of a child in and around each of the upstanding members and to provide adequate support for each of the upstanding members adjacent the edges of the base.

6. The children''s play toy of claim 5, wherein each of the resilient base and upstanding resilient members comprise an outer covering having foam filling therein.

7. The children''s play toy of claim 1, wherein the upstanding resilient members are arranged to removably mount within the depression in the base.

8. The children''s play toy of claim 1, wherein the upstanding members are of various sizes to present a more interesting amusement toy.

9. The children''s play toy of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a substantially flat member, wherein each of the apertures defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from a boundary of the base; and wherein each of the apertures defined within the base is spaced at least 6 inches from each other aperture with the base to allow for the movement of a child in and around each of the upstanding members and to provide adequate support for each of the upstanding members adjacent the edges of the base.

10. The children''s play toy of claim 1, wherein each of the resilient base and upstanding resilient members comprise an outer covering having foam filling therein.