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Toy apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Toys, Convertible From, Or Serving As Diverse Article, Including Container Or Storing Toy PartsToy apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060099874, Toy apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority under the Paris Convention to Great Britain Patent Application Serial No. 0424690.6 filed on Nov. 9, 2004 entitled "Toy Apparatus" by inventors Peter Cartlidge, Tim Rowe and Lucas Tyler. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to toy apparatus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is known to provide toy apparatus which needs to be assembled prior to use. For example, such toy apparatus may include a plurality of members which need to be interconnected together to form a pre-determined structure and a user typically moves one or more toy members, such as a toy doll, toy animal or toy vehicle about said structure during use. The advantages of such toy apparatus is that the members of the apparatus can be separated from each other and packed away in a box or similar container in a more compact form when not being used, such that the apparatus takes up less space in an out of use storage condition than in an in use erect condition. However, a problem with the abovementioned prior art apparatus is that it is time consuming for a user to have to erect the apparatus each time they wish to use the same. In addition, it is often the case that parts or members of the apparatus get separated from the container they are being stored in and become lost, thereby rendering the toy apparatus useless or at least reducing the enjoyment of the toy to a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide toy apparatus which does not require time consuming assembly of the same when moved from a stored condition to an in use condition. [0005] It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of construction of toy apparatus. [0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided toy apparatus, said apparatus including a playbase movable between a first closed position and a second open position, said playbase including one or more members and said members provided in a substantially flattened condition with said playbase in said first closed position and movable with said playbase to a partial or substantially erect condition with said playbase in said second open position and wherein at least one of said one or more members is provided in at least one recess in said playbase in said first closed condition. [0007] In the flattened condition, an upper or outer surface of the members can be substantially flush with a surface of the playbase, the members can be substantially parallel to and adjacent the playbase surface and/or recessed in the surfaces of the playbase. In the erect condition, the members typically protrude outwardly of the surface of the playbase. In one embodiment, with the playbase in the open position, the members can protrude substantially perpendicularly to the playbase surface. Thus, the present invention provides a pop-up toy apparatus which removes the requirement for a user to manually erect and/or dismantle interconnecting portions of the apparatus in use. As such, the toy can be used quickly and easily and can also be moved to a closed position both quickly and easily. [0008] The first closed position typically corresponds to an out of use storage position and the second open position typically corresponds to an in use position. [0009] In one embodiment the members of the apparatus are typically substantially rigid members. In addition, or as an alternative, one or more of the members can be substantially flexible. [0010] Preferably the one or more recesses are of a substantially similar shape and/or dimension to the one or more members which are located therein. Alternatively, one or more of said recesses are of a different shape or size with respect to said one or more members located therein. [0011] The members can be formed by cutting the same from the surface of the playbase and/or the members can be formed from a different source and attached to a surface of the playbase. The different source can include the same or a different material. [0012] Preferably the playbase includes a plurality of members arid each of said members is provided with a correspondingly shaped recess therefor. Alternatively, two or more members can be located in a recess. The two or more members can be located side by side in the recess or can be located in an overlapping relationship to form, for example, a stack of members in the recess of the playbase in a closed position. In the stack, each member is typically provided in overlapping arrangement with one member located above or below a further member. The recess can be provided with different levels associated therewith to accommodate different sized or shaped members. [0013] In one embodiment two or more members form a structure, article and/or the like when moved to an erect condition. Thus, for example, a member can be separate to another member in the flattened condition and can engage with, abut against and/or is associated with at least one further member when moved to an erect condition, such that the combination of members forms a pre-defined shape and/or object. Alternatively, the members can be connected in the flattened condition and are moved to form a structure, article and/or the like. [0014] Preferably one or more of said members are hingedly, rotatably and/or pivotally mounted to at least one surface of said playbase. [0015] Preferably one or more of said members are resiliently biased to an erect condition via resilient biasing means. [0016] In one embodiment the resilient biasing means can be associated with the hinge means or can be separate thereto. Thus, for example, sprung hinges or sprung metal can be used to attach the one or more members to a surface of the playbase. [0017] In one embodiment one or more members are connected to an adjacent member by moveable connection means, such as via pivotal, rotational and/or hinge means and any number of members can be connected together as required. Thus, one or more members can follow the movement of one or more other members when being moved from a collapsed to an erect condition via said moveable connection means. [0018] The surfaces of the playbase and/or members are typically provided with printed matter, graphics, texture, colour, photographs, text, one or more characters, images and/or the like which together create a scene or toy and/or the like. [0019] Preferably the playbase includes at least front and rear walls which are substantially parallel and adjacent to each other in said first closed position. The front and rear walls are typically movable to a substantially planar or flat configuration in said second open position. [0020] Preferably hinge or pivot means are provided between said at least front and rear walls to join the same together and to allow the same to be moved between said open and closed positions. Thus, the playbase includes at least two parts movable between said open and closed positions. Continue reading about Toy apparatus... Full patent description for Toy apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Toy apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Toy apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method of manufacturing a display unit Next Patent Application: Toy apparatus Industry Class: Amusement devices: toys ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Toy apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.48454 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Medical: Surgery , Surgery(2) , Surgery(3) , Drug , Drug(2) , Prosthesis , Dentistry 174 |
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