U.S. patent application number 13/330658 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-05 for art box.
Invention is credited to Steven John Crnecki, Jeffrey Wingrove Dentz.
Application Number | 20120171926 13/330658 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46381144 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120171926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crnecki; Steven John ; et
al. |
July 5, 2012 |
ART BOX
Abstract
A collapsible cubicle containing a play area for children is
disclosed. The cubicle is constructed from four vertically disposed
panels configured to fold into an attache type case that is easily
transportable from one place to another. The play area features
play and educational aids displayed on the panels such as a chalk
board, a flip chart with paper for drawing or painting, a dry erase
board and a painting canvas.
Inventors: |
Crnecki; Steven John; (Green
Bay, WI) ; Dentz; Jeffrey Wingrove; (Holmes Beach,
FL) |
Family ID: |
46381144 |
Appl. No.: |
13/330658 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61428864 |
Dec 31, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/478 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/00 20060101
A63H033/00 |
Claims
1. A children play cubicle, said cubicle being adapted for an
assembled configuration and a collapsed configuration, said cubicle
in the assembled configuration comprising: (a) a rectangular floor
panel having a front edge, a rear edge, a left side edge and a
right side edge, said floor panel being disposed horizontally on a
floor; (b) a rectangular front panel, said front panel being
disposed vertically onto and being attached to an inner portion of
the front edge of the floor panel, said front panel having an
opening for entering and exiting the cubicle; (c) a rectangular
rear panel having a left side edge and a right side edge, said rear
panel being disposed vertically onto and being attached to an inner
portion of the rear edge of the floor panel; (d) a rectangular left
side panel being disposed vertically onto and being attached to an
inner portion of the left side edge of the floor panel; (e) a
rectangular right side panel being disposed vertically onto and
being attached to an inner portion of the right side edge of the
floor panel, said left side edge of the front panel being disposed
substantially flush against an inner portion of a front side edge
of the left side panel, said right side edge of the front panel
being disposed substantially flush against an inner portion of a
front side edge of the right side panel, said left side edge of the
rear panel being disposed substantially flush against an inner
portion of a rear side edge of the left side panel and said right
side edge of the rear panel being disposed substantially flush
against an inner portion of a rear side edge of the right side
panel; (f) a first internal hinge disposed at a bottom portion of
the front panel configured for folding the front panel only
inwardly in a manner as to position the front panel substantially
horizontally onto the floor panel; (g) a second internal hinge
disposed at a bottom portion of the rear panel configured for
folding the rear panel only inwardly in a manner as to position the
rear panel substantially horizontally onto a folded front panel,
said second internal hinge being vertically positioned above the
first internal hinge; (h) a third internal hinge disposed at a
bottom portion of the left side panel configured for folding the
left side panel only inwardly in a manner as to position the left
side panel substantially horizontally onto a folded rear panel,
said third internal hinge being vertically positioned above the
second internal hinge; (i) a fourth internal hinge disposed at a
bottom portion of the right side panel configured for folding the
right side panel only inwardly in a manner as to position the right
side panel substantially horizontally onto a folded left side
panel, said fourth internal hinge being vertically positioned above
the third internal hinge; (j) a first flexible strap configured for
bracing the front panel with the left side panel in the assembled
configuration to prevent the front panel and left side panel from
unintentionally folding inwardly; (k) a second flexible strap
configured for bracing the left side panel with the rear panel in
the assembled configuration to prevent the left side panel and rear
panel from unintentionally folding inwardly; (l) a third flexible
strap configured for securing the front panel to the right side
panel in the assembled configuration to prevent the front panel and
right side panel from unintentionally folding inwardly; (m) a
fourth flexible strap configured for securing the right side panel
to the rear panel in the assembled configuration to prevent the
right side panel and rear panel from unintentionally folding
inwardly; and (n) two flexible straps configured for securing the
floor panel to the right side panel of the cubicle in the collapsed
configuration.
2. The children play cubicle of claim 1 wherein the front panel
comprises a window.
3. The children play cubicle of claim 1 further comprising a handle
attached to an outer bottom portion of the right side panel.
4. The children play cubicle of claim 1 further comprising a
storage box disposed on the floor panel.
5. The children play cubicle of claim 1 wherein securing each panel
to prevent said each panel from accidentally folding inwardly is
accomplished by clasping holes located in each flexible strap onto
buttons attached onto a top end portion of each adjacent panel.
6. The children play cubicle of claim 1 further comprising at least
one educational aid adapted for hanging on an inner portion of each
of the rear panel, left side panel and right side panel.
7. The children play cubicle of claim 6 wherein the educational aid
is a chalk board.
8. The children play cubicle of claim 6 wherein the educational aid
is a paper flip chart.
9. The children play cubicle of claim 6 wherein the educational aid
is a dry erase board.
10. The children play cubicle of claim 6 wherein the educational
aid is a painting canvas.
11. A method to collapse a children play cubicle, said cubicle
being adapted for an assembled configuration and a collapsed
configuration, said cubicle in the assembled configuration
comprising: (a) a rectangular floor panel having a front edge, a
rear edge, a left side edge and a right side edge, said floor panel
being disposed horizontally on a floor; (b) a rectangular front
panel, said front panel being disposed vertically onto and being
attached to the front edge of the floor panel, said front panel
having an opening for entering and exiting the cubicle; (c) a
rectangular rear panel having a left side edge and a right side
edge, said rear panel being disposed vertically onto and being
attached to the rear edge of the floor panel; (d) a rectangular
left side panel being disposed vertically onto and being attached
to the left side edge of the floor panel; (e) a rectangular right
side panel being disposed vertically onto and being attached to the
right side edge of the floor panel, said left side edge of the
front panel being disposed substantially flush against an inner
portion of a front side edge of the left side panel, said right
side edge of the front panel being disposed substantially flush
against an inner portion of a front side edge of the right side
panel, said left side edge of the rear panel being disposed
substantially flush against an inner portion of a rear side edge of
the left side panel and said right side edge of the rear panel
being disposed substantially flush against an inner portion of a
rear side edge of the right side panel; (f) a first internal hinge
disposed at a bottom portion of the front panel configured for
folding the front panel only inwardly in a manner as to position
the front panel substantially horizontally onto the floor panel;
(g) a second internal hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the
rear panel configured for folding the rear panel only inwardly in a
manner as to position the rear panel substantially horizontally
onto a folded front panel, said second internal hinge being
vertically positioned above the first internal hinge; (h) a third
internal hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the left side panel
configured for folding the left side panel only inwardly in a
manner as to position the left side panel substantially
horizontally onto a folded rear panel, said third internal hinge
being vertically positioned above the second internal hinge; (i) a
fourth internal hinge disposed at a bottom portion of the right
side panel configured for folding the right side panel only
inwardly in a manner as to position the right side panel
substantially horizontally onto a folded left side panel, said
fourth internal hinge being vertically positioned above the third
internal hinge; (j) a first flexible strap configured for bracing
the front panel with the left side panel in the assembled
configuration to prevent the front panel and left side panel from
unintentionally folding inwardly; (k) a second flexible strap
configured for bracing the left side panel with the rear panel in
the assembled configuration to prevent the left side panel and rear
panel from unintentionally folding inwardly; (l) a third flexible
strap configured for securing the front panel to the right side
panel in the assembled configuration to prevent the front panel and
right side panel from unintentionally folding inwardly; (m) a
fourth flexible strap configured for securing the right side panel
to the rear panel in the assembled configuration to prevent the
right side panel and rear panel from unintentionally folding
inwardly; and (n) two flexible straps configured for securing the
floor panel to the right side panel of the cubicle in the collapsed
configuration, said method comprising: unhooking the first flexible
strap that secures the front panel to the left side panel;
unhooking the second strap that secures the front panel to the
right side panel; folding the front panel inwardly along the first
internal hinge in a manner as to position the front panel
substantially horizontally onto the floor panel; unhooking the
third flexible strap that secures the rear panel to the left side
panel; unhooking the strap that secures the rear panel to the right
side panel; while holding the left side panel and right side panel
in a vertical position, folding the rear panel inwardly along the
second internal hinge in a manner as to position the rear panel
substantially horizontally onto the front panel; while holding the
right side panel in a vertical position, folding the left side
panel inwardly along the third internal hinge in a manner as to
position the left side panel substantially horizontally onto the
rear panel; folding the right side panel inwardly along the fourth
internal hinge in a manner as to position the right side panel
substantially horizontally onto the left side panel to form a
collapsed configuration; and strapping on the two flexible straps
to secure the floor panel to the right side panel of the cubicle in
the collapsed configuration.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 61/428,864 filed on Dec. 31, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a collapsible cubicle
containing a play area for children. The cubicle is constructed
from four vertically disposed panels configured to fold into an
attache type case that is easily transportable from one place to
another and can be easily installed in any location that has a
generally flat floor. The play area features play and educational
aids displayed on the panels such as a chalk board, a flip chart
with paper for drawing or painting, a dry erase board and a
painting canvas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] A fair number of prior art references that relate to play
boxes that have wall hangings have been identified.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,963,122 is for a collapsible utility house.
The hinges in this patent are used for connecting the sides of the
panels.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,682 relates to an easily assembled and
disassembled toy backdrop display for simulating a room or rooms of
a house includes at least two wall panels hingedly coupled together
along one edge and a plastic beam of U-shaped cross-section having
at least first and second pairs of notches spaced from one another
for receiving within and holding said first and second wall panels
to hold said wall panels at a predetermined corner angle. The
hinges in this patent are used for connecting the sides of the
panels.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,068 describes a play house apparatus
aimed at children whose ages range from eighteen months to nine or
ten years which is designed to provide entertainment and to
introduce, teach and/or reinforce any number of artistic, theatric
and imaginative skills as well as fundamental skills, such as
alphabet recognition, handwriting, numeric skills, musical scales,
and the like.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,083 discloses a toy store comprising a
vertical front wall including a door and a window. A floor member
is connected to the front wall along its bottom portion and a
ceiling member is similarly connected to the front wall along its
top portion and substantially overlies the floor member.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,848 teaches a folding portable play
enclosure for children including a plurality of panels connected in
a series in an accordion-fold manner by a plurality of folding
joints. The panels are formed by cardboard sheets sandwiched
between inner and outer flexible vinyl layers. The folding joints
are formed by the provision of spaces between the ends of each
adjacent pair of cardboard sheets in the series.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,690 provides panels of scrap corrugated
panel to make free standing play structures that a child can
assemble with clamps. The clamps are extrusions of high density
polystyrene, incorporating flexible legs that form a U-shaped panel
receiving section. Each clamp has a panel insertion guide, an
elastic deformation gripping section, and a crush deformation
gripping section. The clamps are designed to be easy for a child to
insert a corrugated panel.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,870 is for a play enclosure apparatus
that includes a plurality of panels that are detachably connectable
to each other at their sides to form a play enclosure. The panels
may be connected to form enclosures of various shapes, and two of
the panels may be connected to trap the remaining panels between
the two panels for portability or storage.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,287 describes a children's play
structure that includes a frame having hinging structures capable
of being arranged into a free-standing structure and at least one
interchangeable panel capable of removable attachment to the frame.
The frame is easily assembled and is foldable into a compact
structure when not in use.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,982 relates to a collapsible, folding
play structure including wall members that are integrally connected
to each other and roof members which are integrally connected to
the wall members. The play structure may be folded and stored by
folding the roof members outward to the corresponding wall members.
The roof and wall members are then folded flat and again folded
together to form a flat compact storage state for reuse.
[0013] U.S. design patent D334221 shows a combined toy booth and
display unit. U.S. design patent D381705 shows a castle type
playhouse.
[0014] None of the prior art references are configured in such a
way that allows the box to fold into a briefcase.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0015] The present invention relates to a foldable box in which a
child can play and be creative. The box is most appropriate for
toddlers to about age 4; however children and adults of most ages
may utilize the box as well.
[0016] The present invention has two aspects:
[0017] 1. A box comprising a floor panel and four panels configured
to collapse into an attache type case so it may be carried from
place to place.
[0018] 2. Boards hung on the inside part of the panels that may be
used for educational purposes as well as decorative purposes.
[0019] The box contains a rectangular floor panel positioned
horizontally on ground and four rectangular side panels each
positioned vertically onto and attached to an edge of the floor
panel. The top of the box is open. The bottom side of each vertical
panel contains an internal hinge that allows the panel to pivot
toward the inside of the box. The panels are configured to fold one
on top of the other when folded in a predetermined sequence. To
accomplish this, the hinge of the bottom-most panel is placed
lower, i.e., closer to the floor, than the hinge of the subsequent
panel folded over it and the hinge of each subsequent folded panel
is progressively placed above that of the previous folded panel. In
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hinge for
the front panel is placed closest to the floor as the front panel
folds first over the floor panel. The hinges of the rear panel,
left side panel and right panel are placed progressively higher off
the floor to correspond with the order of panel folding.
[0020] The front panel has an opening that allows a person to enter
and exit the box. The front panel may also optionally comprise of a
window. Alternatively, the opening may be equipped with a door. The
window is preferably made of a hard transparent plastic such as
Plexiglass and may be used for marking with markers or pasting
pictures. The dimensions of the panels can vary depending on the
ages of the children.
[0021] In a folded configuration, the box essentially becomes a
large briefcase adapted for carrying from place to place. For this
purpose, the bottom of one of the side panel contains a handle.
[0022] In the assembled and set-up configuration, the floor panel
is situated on a floor and the panels are positioned upright.
Bracing the tops of adjacent panels together is accomplished using
detachable straps attached to button-like protrusions at the edges
of adjacent panels.
[0023] Each panel interior contains a board that may be used by
children for amusement or learning. One board may be a chalk board,
another may be a flip chart having paper for drawing or painting
and the third panel may contain a dry erase board or a painting
canvas. A box containing art supplies such as chalk, crayons and
paint brushes may be situated on the floor panel opposite to the
panel having the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a first angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a second angle according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a close up side view of a strap portrayed in FIG.
2 configured for holding together the ends of two adjacent side
panels viewed from a first angle according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a third angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a first angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a first angle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a close up side view of a strap highlighted in
FIG. 6 configured for holding together the ends of two adjacent
side panels viewed from a second angle according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the assembled art box
viewed from a second angle according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a close up side view of a strap highlighted in
FIG. 8 configured for bracing together the ends of two adjacent
side panels viewed from a third angle according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates a first step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 11 illustrates a second step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates a third step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0036] FIG. 13 illustrates a fourth step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIG. 14 illustrates a fifth step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 15 illustrates a sixth step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0039] FIG. 16 illustrates a seventh step in the sequence of
collapsing the art box and shows the collapsed art box in a closed
and fastened position according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention.
[0041] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally
relates to a collapsible play box for children. The features and
components of the art box are illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 while the
method of disassembling the assembled art box is illustrated in
FIGS. 10-16. The method of assembling the art box would be carried
out in reverse order from the disassembling steps.
[0042] The art box 10 comprises of a floor panel 22 and four panels
erected in a perpendicular relation to the floor panel: 1) a front
panel 19, 2) a rear panel 28 that is opposite that of the front
panel, 3) a left side panel 31 relative to facing the front panel
19 and 4) a right side panel 23 relative to facing the front panel
19. Each of the panels is configured for folding inwardly by means
of internal hinges built inside each panel. The hinges are located
a distance off the floor and arranged in such a manner that enables
a successive panel to fold over a preceding panel in a
predetermined fashion. Shown are: hinge 21 of the front panel 19,
hinge 29 of the left side panel 31, hinge 27 of the back panel 28
and hinge 17 of the right side panel 23. The circular hinges are
also shown at the ends of the exposed edges of panels 23 and 31 as
17A and 29A respectively.
[0043] A board for use by playing children may be detachably or
permanently attached to the inside surface of each panel except
possibly the front panel. Any of the following boards may be used:
a chalk board, a flip chart having paper for drawing or painting, a
dry erase board, and a painting canvas. The right side panel 23 has
board 15, left side panel 31 has board 34 and rear panel 28 has
board 35. The front panel 19 has an opening 11 through which
children may enter the box. The front panel 19 also has a window
14.
[0044] The boards are braced together by flexible straps 32 that
are fastened to snap-on buttons 41 and 47 attached to the boards
through apertures 43. In an embodiment of the present invention,
buttons 47 are larger than buttons 41 as are configured for a tight
fit of the strap apertures 43 onto button 47 and are generally not
removed. Fastening the straps 32 onto button 41 through apertures
43 is designed for relatively quick unclasping. The straps 32 are
preferably made of a stretchable plastic that allow them to stretch
so that the apertures 43 fit over the snap-on buttons 41.
[0045] Additional features of the box include a handle 33 attached
to the center bottom of the right side panel 23. The handle 33 is
used for carrying the folded art box 10. An art supply storage
container 48 is placed on the floor panel near the rear panel 28.
The container holds supplies such as chalk, paint brushes and
crayons. Two additional snap-on buttons 26A and 26B are attached to
the bottom left side of the front panel 19 and to the right side of
the rear panel 28 respectively.
[0046] a flexible strap configured for securing the front panel to
the left side panel;
[0047] a flexible strap configured for securing the front left side
panel to the rear panel;
[0048] a flexible strap configured for securing the front panel to
the right side panel;
[0049] a flexible strap configured for securing the right side
panel to the rear panel;
[0050] Each panel may come in a length and height ranging from
about 2 ft to about 6 ft.
[0051] The method of disassembling the art box comprises of the
following steps illustrated in FIGS. 10-16:
[0052] 1. Unhooking the straps that tie the front panel to the left
and right side panels.
[0053] 2. Folding the front panel onto the floor panel.
[0054] 3. Unhooking the straps that tie the rear panel to the left
and right side panels.
[0055] 4. Folding the rear panel onto the folded front panel.
[0056] 5. Folding the left side panel onto the folded rear
panel.
[0057] 6. Folding the right side panel onto the folded left side
panel.
[0058] 7. Clasping the straps 49 on the top of the right side panel
onto snap-on buttons 26A and 26 B. This may be accomplished by
either stretching the existing straps to fit onto the corresponding
snap-on button 26A or 26B, or using a longer strap.
[0059] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *