U.S. patent application number 10/350377 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-29 for toy maraca.
Invention is credited to Cohen, Wayne.
Application Number | 20040147201 10/350377 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32735545 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040147201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen, Wayne |
July 29, 2004 |
Toy maraca
Abstract
A toy maraca is formed having first and second blow-molded
shells, each having a hollow interior and a bottleneck extension.
Sounding pellets are provided in at least one of the shells and the
shells are joined by a connecting member having oppositely facing
recesses each for receiving one of the bottleneck extensions of the
first and second shells.
Inventors: |
Cohen, Wayne; (Bangkok,
TH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & BOTTS
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
|
Family ID: |
32735545 |
Appl. No.: |
10/350377 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/419 |
International
Class: |
A63H 005/00 |
Claims
In the claims:
1. A toy maraca comprising: a first blow molded shell having a
hollow interior and a bottleneck extension; a second blow molded
shell having a hollow interior and a bottleneck extension; pellets
within at least one of said shells; and a connecting member having
first and second oppositely facing recesses, each receiving one of
said bottleneck extensions of said first and second shells.
2. A toy maraca as specified in claim 1 wherein there is further
provided at least one cap closing said bottleneck extension of one
of said shells.
3. A toy maraca as specified in claim 1 wherein one of said shells
is ovoid.
4. A toy maraca as specified in claim 3 wherein both of said shells
are ovoid.
5. A toy maraca as specified in claim 3 wherein the other of said
shells is toroidal.
6. A toy maraca as specified in claim 1 wherein both of said shells
are toroidal.
7. A toy maraca as specified in claim 1 wherein said connecting
member has an exterior surface that blends with exterior surfaces
of said shells.
8. A toy maraca as specified in claim 1 wherein said connecting
member is formed of resilient material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The inventor of the present invention currently makes a
maraca using a blow-molded shell as described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,808,215.
[0002] While the maraca as described in the referenced patent is
suitable for use by adults, it does not comply with regulations
issued in some countries for toys. The present invention is a
maraca designed to conform to regulations for products to be used
by small children. It is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved maraca which complies with regulations for use
by children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a toy
maraca, which includes first and second blow-molded shells; each
having a hollow interior and a bottleneck extension. Pellets are
provided in at least one of the shells. The bottleneck extensions
of the first and second shells are received in a connecting member
having oppositely facing recesses to join the shells and form the
toy maraca.
[0004] In one arrangement, a cap may be provided closing the
bottleneck extension of one of the shells. The shells may be ovoid
or one or both of the shells may be toroidal. In a preferred
arrangement the connecting member has an exterior surface which
blends with the exterior surface of the shells. The connecting
member may be formed of rigid or resilient material.
[0005] For a better understanding of the present invention,
together with other and further objects, reference is made to the
following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a toy maraca according to
the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 maraca.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a toy maraca according
to the invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 3 maraca.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side view of the FIG. 3 maraca.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a toy maraca according to
the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a first
embodiment of a toy maraca 10 according to the invention. Maraca 10
includes first and second blow-molded shells 12 and 14, which are
similar to the blow-molded shells described in the aforementioned
patent. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the shells are identical,
but it will be recognized that they may be of the same or different
sizes and possibly different shapes. A connecting member 16 is
provided to interconnect blow-molded shells 12 and 14. The shells
are preferably attached to connecting member 16 by adhesive. For
this purpose, each of the shells 12, 14 includes a bottleneck
extension 20, which is received in one of oppositely facing
recesses on connecting member 16, which may be injection molded. In
a preferred arrangement, the bottleneck extensions include a
peripheral ridge 22, which is received in a corresponding internal
groove in the recess on connecting member 16.
[0013] One or both of the shells 12, 14 may also be provided with a
plug 18 for retaining sounding beads or pellets 24 within the
shell. Pellets 24 may be provided within one or both of the shells.
The overall length of toy maraca 10 may, for example, be about 13
cm.
[0014] The exterior surface of the connecting member is designed to
form a smooth exterior surface with the mating shells. In the
example of FIGS. 1 and 2 the shells are ovoid and the connecting
member has a circular edge which has the same diameter as the
shells at the mating location.
[0015] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the
invention 30 having a first shell 32, which is ovoid, and similar
to the shells 12 and 14 of the first embodiment. A second shell 34,
is toroidal to provide an internal hole for gripping by a small
child. Shells 30 and 34 are joined by connecting member 36. The
upper rim 42 of connecting member 36 is circular to conform to the
shape of the exterior surface of ovoid shell 32. The lower rim 44
of connecting member 36 is oval in shape to conform to the exterior
surface of toroidal shell 34.
[0016] As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, shells 30
and 34 include bottleneck extensions 37, 39 which are received in
corresponding recesses in connecting member 36. In a preferred
arrangement, one or both of the bottleneck extensions 37, 39 may be
provided with a peripheral ridge 40, which is received in a
corresponding recess in connecting member 36. Pellets 46 may be
provided in one or both of the shell members 30, 32. An optional
plug 38 is shown covering the opening of bottleneck extension 37 of
shell 32. The overall length of toy maraca 30 may, for example, be
14 cm.
[0017] In a further arrangement 50 shown in FIG. 6, there are
provided two toroidal shells 52, 54.
[0018] The connecting members for each of the embodiments
illustrated may be injection molded of relatively rigid plastic.
Alternatively, the connecting member may be molded of resilient
material such as natural or artificial rubber to allow flexing of
the maraca at the center.
[0019] While there have been described what are believed to be the
preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art
will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may
be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention,
and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as
for within the true scope of the invention.
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