U.S. patent application number 10/180248 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-02 for toy furniture carrier.
This patent application is currently assigned to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a Corporation. Invention is credited to Clark, Maxine, Hereford, Page, Ressel, Diane, Schofield, Beverly, Weiss, Adrienne.
Application Number | 20030000858 10/180248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26876124 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030000858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Clark, Maxine ; et
al. |
January 2, 2003 |
Toy furniture carrier
Abstract
A device for carrying an article of toy furniture includes a
base portion and a sling portion that is selectively and releasably
interconnectable with the base portion. The base portion and the
sling portion, when interconnnected, provide a simple and
convenient carrier for an article of toy furniture resting on the
base portion.
Inventors: |
Clark, Maxine; (St. Louis,
MO) ; Schofield, Beverly; (Alton, IL) ;
Ressel, Diane; (Florissant, MO) ; Weiss,
Adrienne; (Chicago, IL) ; Hereford, Page; (St.
Louis, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACKWELL SANDERS PEPER MARTIN LLP
720 OLIVE STREET
SUITE 2400
ST. LOUIS
MO
63101
US
|
Assignee: |
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., a
Corporation
|
Family ID: |
26876124 |
Appl. No.: |
10/180248 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60302102 |
Jun 30, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/326 ;
206/459.5; 294/137 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 71/0011
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/326 ;
206/459.5; 294/137 |
International
Class: |
A24F 027/00; B65D
085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for carrying an article of toy furniture wherein the
device comprises: a base portion and a sling portion, the sling
portion being selectively and releasably interconnectable with the
base portion, the base portion and the sling portion, when
interconnnected, providing a simple and convenient carrier for an
article of toy furniture resting on the base portion.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion
and the sling portion is usable as part of a play area when
selectively separated from the other of the base portion and the
sling portion.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sling portion includes a
handle for gripping and moving the sling portion.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the base portion is provided with
slots for receiving and selectively retaining the sling portion
therein.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion
and the sling portion is provided with graphic illustrations.
6. A device which provides the dual function of a carrier device
for carrying toys and a play set, comprising: a first piece and a
second piece, the first piece being a base for the carrier device
and a floor area for the play set and the second piece being a
sling for the carrier device and a background for the playset.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first piece is elongated,
substantially flat and bendable.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein the second piece is more
elongated than the first piece.
9. The device of claim 6, wherein the first piece is bendable along
at least one line of weakness.
10. The device of claim 6, wherein the second piece is bendable
along at least one line of weakness.
11. The device of claim 6, wherein the second piece includes a
handle for gripping and moving the second piece.
12. The device of claim 6, wherein the first piece is provided with
slots for receiving and selectively retaining the second piece
therein.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Serial No.
60/302,102 filed Jun. 30, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
toys, and, more particularly, a device for carrying toy furniture
items.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] There has become known in the venue of retail toy sales
various types of furniture, such as stuffed arm chairs, sofas,
and/or futons, which are appropriately sized for use as furniture
for toys, such as stuffed animals, "teddy bears", and the like.
These items, while being light enough for an adult to carry with
one hand, are often possessed of a non-uniform shape and are of
sufficient size as to be awkward, if not impossible, to fit into a
conventional shopping bag. Thus, there is a need for a temporary
carrying device or carrier specifically for carrying such toy
furniture items from a retail store to a vehicle or point of
use.
[0004] It is also generally considered advantageous if the product
carriers can be recycled and/or reused for other purposes before
being discarded or recycled. In this instance, because the product
which is purchased and carried from the retail store in the subject
device is a toy product, it is desirable if the carrying device is
also a source of play, especially for a child who receives the
product carried home in the new device.
[0005] A common problem for retailers in providing external
packaging for carry-out purposes is that the packages require a
significant amount of space for shipping, storage and in
store-availability. Of course, if such packaging is also heavy,
increased fees will be incurred in shipping of the carriers.
Further, it is necessary that very little time be required to ready
the package for receipt and carrying of the goods placed therein,
so as to not interfere with store operations and require customers
to wait for an extended period of time before leaving the store
with their new purchases.
[0006] Accordingly, it is among the several objects of the present
invention to provide a consumer product carrying device that
permits the facile carrying from a retail store of an article of
toy furniture, while simultaneously providing a significant amount
of visibility of the article being carried in the new device. It is
further among the objects of the present invention, having the
features mentioned, that the new carrying device be quick to
assemble by one person and be adapted for reuse, and/or alternative
use as a play area, and further that the device be sufficiently
light weight to readily permit carrying by an individual when a toy
furniture product is in the carrier. It is also desirable that the
new carrying device be formed a material which can be recycled and
that the device provide a suitable substrate for addition of
written information, such as product and source information, and/or
graphic designs, such as advertising graphics.
[0007] Accordingly, in keeping with the above objects and
advantages, the present invention is, briefly, a device for
carrying an article of toy furniture. The device includes a base
portion and a sling portion which is selectively and releasably
interconnectable with the base portion. The base portion and the
sling portion when interconnnected provide a simple and convenient
carrier for an article of toy furniture resting on the base
portion.
[0008] The invention is also, briefly, a device that provides the
dual function of a carrier device for carrying toys and a play set.
The device includes a first piece and a second piece, the first
piece being a base for the carrier device and a floor area for the
play set and the second piece being a sling for the carrier and a
background for the playset.
[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toy furniture carrier in
accordance with the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view thereof.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a right end elevational view thereof.
[0014] FIG. 5 front elevational view thereof.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a back elevational view thereof.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an upper right perspective view thereof, enlarged
for clarity.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base portion of the new toy
furniture carrier, the bottom plan view being identical prior to
addition of any graphics or decorative effects.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the base portion shown
in FIG. 8, with the end portions slightly raised.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sling portion of the new toy
furniture carrier, prior to the addition of any graphics or
decorative effects, the opposite side being identical.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a reduced, exploded view of the toy furniture
carrier of FIG. 1, shown without the graphics and end tabs, for
clarity and simplicity of the drawings, and set up as for use as a
play area.
[0021] Throughout the figures like parts are indicated by like
element numbers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] With reference to the figures, and initially, FIGS. 1-7,
reference numeral 10 generally designates a toy furniture carrier
having a base portion 12 and a sling portion 18, which preferably
can be separated from one another and optionally used, either
separably or together for purposes of play. It is to be understood
that while carrier 10 could be modified to be constructed of all
one piece, such is not preferred, in view of the various features
and advantages discussed herein regarding storage and play
functions.
[0023] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, base portions 12, 18 are
each formed from flat pieces of semi-rigid, sheet-like material,
which is preferably corrugated cardboard. Optionally, other
materials, such as plastic or paper board, for example, can be used
to form the portions of carrier 10. The material selected to form
portions 12, 18 must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of
a piece of toy furniture, such as indicated in phantom at 24 in
FIG. 6, and also sufficiently flexible to be capable of repeated
bending at the indicated places (discussed hereafter) for assembly
and disassembly of carrier 10.
[0024] Each portion 12, 18 has two sides, 14, 16 and 20, 22,
respectively, which are manufactured substantially flat for economy
and for convenience of shipping and storage, but which can be bent
at predetermined places in order to permit interconnection of
portion 12 with portion 18, as will be described further hereafter,
for purposes of forming a sling-type package for carrying a piece
of toy furniture. Each side surface 14, 16, 20, 22 provides area
for graphic designs and/or advertising. In the preferred
embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, whimsical decorations are
applied to the flat surfaces of portions 12, 18. The graphical
elements provide an eye-catching, attractive "package" for carrying
a recently purchased piece of toy furniture from the store, and at
the same time provides a method for advertising the store where the
toy furniture item was purchased. This is particularly useful as a
marketing mechanism when such stores are located within shopping
malls, so that other shoppers in the mall are indirectly urged to
frequent the same toy store.
[0025] The decorative graphic patterns on the flat surfaces of
portions 12, 18 provide a further function, which is to create the
impression of a play area, in the case of the illustrations shown
herein, a play house, when portions 12, 18 are unconnected from one
anther and disposed, for example, in the relative positions
illustrated in FIG. 11 (graphics omitted for simplicity). For
example, the graphic illustrations shown in FIGS. 1-7 provide on
side 14 of portion 12 a "hardwood" floor with a rug, and on side 16
an alternative "linoleum" floor, for use in a pretend bathroom. The
alternate sides of sling portion 18 provide other whimsical home
elements, such as a roof, bathtub, computer, lamp, bedroom
furniture, and so on. Of course the graphic features can vary
infinitely, or be omitted altogether without affecting the
functional aspects of the carrying device.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, base portion 12 is preferably generally
rectangular, although other perimeter shapes are conceived which
will suffice, an oval for example. Two slots 26 are formed
longitudinally through the depth of portion 12, one substantially
adjacent and parallel to each long side edge of base portion 12.
Slots 26 are sufficiently wide and long to receive the depth and
widest portion of the width of sling portion 18 therethrough, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, for example. However, slots 26 are not so
large in any dimension, as to permit significant "play" between
portions 12 and 18. Such construction of base portion 12 permits
quick, facile, secure interconnection of the two portions of
carrier 10 to provide a resting place for toy furniture 24 within
device 10. Thus, portions 12 and 18 can be stored separately in
neat stacks in a retail facility or warehouse, and assembled
together to form carrier 10 when needed.
[0027] FIG. 8 also clearly illustrates two substantially parallel
lines of weakness 30, disposed inwardly of the two opposed short
ends of base 12 and substantially perpendicular to slots 26. Lines
of weakness 30 provide bending lines, to permit base 12 to be
adapted for better carrying of toy furniture. When a larger piece
of toy furniture is carried in device 10, lines of weakness 30 may
not be used. Rather, in that case, the extensions 32, which extend
as selectively movable panels laterally beyond lines 30 may remain
flat. Alternatively, if base 12 is bent somewhat along lines 30,
extension panels 32 may be angled upwardly, as shown, e.g., in
FIGS. 5 and 9, in order to provide some degree of physical
blockage, thereby enhancing the prevention of slipping of the toy
furniture piece off the upwardly facing surface of base 12. For
completeness, it is to be understood, that although device 10 is
shown in the figures for consistency, with surface 14 facing
upwardly, base 12 is preferably reversible so that either side can
be used for carrying, or for play. Similarly, sling portion 18 can
be reversed and either side used facing outwardly for either play
or carrying purposes. This point is to be borne in mind as the
following description of sling portion 18 is reviewed, as such
describes the sling portion from one side, for simplicity and
clarity, but of course, the entire portion 18 can be flipped over
and the procedure for assembly applied to the opposite side of the
panel.
[0028] FIG. 10 illustrates the preferred form of sling portion 18
just as it is manufactured. The sling portion is elongated and flat
and provided with multiple transverse lines of weakness to enhance
bendability of portion 18 at preselected places along the length of
the portion. When bent at the places indicated, with the opposed
ends of portion 18 being directed generally toward one another, on
the same side 20 or 22, sling portion 18 can be interconnected with
base portion 12 and with portions of itself, so as to provide a
secure, readily assembled carrying device for toy furniture.
[0029] More specifically, for purposes of discussion, the side of
sling portion 18 facing upwardly in FIG. 10 will be referred to as
side 22. It is to be understood, that in this preferred embodiment,
all lines of weakness described are disposed transversely to the
longitude of portion 18, as indicated in FIG. 10. Beginning at the
left side of FIG. 10, sling portion 18 has a handle, generally
designated 34, which includes a preferably elongated, transversely
disposed tab portion 36 separated only by a parallel line of
weakness 38 to an area 40 which defines an opening 42. Area 40 is
preferably separated by two closely spaced parallel lines of
weakness 44 from another area 46. Area 46 is substantially the same
size and shape as area 40, and also defines an opening, 48, which
is in alignment with opening 42, preferably along the central
longitudinal axis of sling portion 18. Openings 42, 48 are
substantially identical in shape and perimeter size, but are
disposed, as illustrated, "head to head", so that when area 40 is
folded toward and over area 46, along lines of weakness 44,
openings 42, 48 are in overlapping relation to form a hand hold
within handle 34. If desired, this opening can have an overall logo
shape, can have finger cut-outs, or can simply be an oval, or some
other conventional shape.
[0030] Area 46 of handle 34 is separated by a line of weakness 52
from a short panel 54. Along the right side of panel 54, a line of
weakness 56, having a centrally disposed cut-out slot 58, separates
short panel 54 from a long panel 60. Long panel 60 is separated by
a line of weakness 62 from a short panel 64, which is further
separated by another line of weakness 66 from a substantially
central long panel 68. At the rightwardly directed end of long
panel 68 there is disposed a line of weakness 70 which forms the
left border of a short panel 72. To the right of panel 72 a line of
weakness 74 separates a long panel 76 from short panel 72. Long
panel 76 is similarly separated on the right boundary thereof by a
line of weakness 78 from a short panel 80. Short panel 80 is
separated from another, similarly sized and shaped short panel 82
by two closely spaced, parallel lines of weakness 84, which define
a slot 86. Slot 86 is sufficiently long and wide to receive
therethrough the main portions of areas 40, 46, when such areas are
folded, one over the other, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In
this manner the carrying handle is formed for use by passage of
handle 34 through slot 86 as shown and described portion 18 takes
on a sling shape for convenient transport of purchase. This is
enhanced by introduction of the body of portion 18, through the two
parallel slots 26 in base portion 12, as illustrated, for example,
in FIG. 2, so that long panel 68 is firmly and securely captured
between the upper and lower surfaces of base 12.
[0031] Further with reference to FIG. 10, to the right of slot 86
there is illustrated a short panel 82, which is separated from
short panel 80 by lines of weakness 84 and slot 86. To the fight of
short panel 82 sling portion 18 terminates in a tab 88 which
extends from the final panel, 82, and is separated by a line of
weakness 90. Tab 88 is preferably notched as illustrated in FIG.
10, or otherwise suitably shaped to interengage slot 58, as
illustrated, for example in FIG. 7. Accordingly when structured and
assembled as shown and described, carrier 10 provides and neat,
attractive and handy exterior package for transport of a piece of
toy furniture. Once the purchaser's destination has been reached,
simple disassembly of the two portions of carrier 10, and set up,
for example as shown in FIG. 11 (portions deleted for simplicity)
provides an interesting and attractive play area for a child, with
stuffed animals or other toys.
[0032] It is to be understood that some variations in the
construction described herein are conceived that will be within the
scope of the invention, although the embodiment shown and described
above is preferred. For example, the large and short panels of
sling portion 18, illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, can, if desired,
be further subdivided by more transverse lines of weakness. In this
manner, more options are available for bending sling portion to fit
around toy furniture of different sizes and shapes, and more
options are available for use of the new carrier as a play set.
[0033] In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several
objects of the invention are achieved and other advantages are
attained. Although the foregoing includes a description of the best
mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, various
modifications are conceivable.
[0034] As various modifications could be made in the constructions
herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope
of the invention it is intended that all matter contained in the
foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall
be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting.
* * * * *