Apparatus for housing and revealing a plurality of children's toys

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a plurality of bodies which can be assembled together to form a singular three-dimensional body. The bodies each a cavity within which a child's toy can be received. Each cavity has a cavity opening through which said child's toy can be viewed, accessed and/or withdrawn from the cavity. The cavity opening is obstructed by an adjacent one of the plurality of bodies when the plurality of bodies are in the assembled state.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising at least three sector shaped bodies which can be assembled together in a assembled state to form a spherical body wherein each of the plurality of bodies define a cavity within each of which a separate item is received, and wherein said cavity has a cavity opening through which said item can be withdrawn from the cavity, and wherein said cavity opening is obstructed by an adjacent one of the plurality of bodies when the plurality of bodies are in the assembled state, but can be exposed by moving one or more of said plurality of bodies away from the remainder of the plurality of bodies.

2. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bodies comprises between three and six bodies.

3. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that once the plurality of bodies have been assembled together in the assembled state, each one of the plurality of bodies may be moved away from the position which it assumes in the assembled state independently of the remainder of the plurality of bodies, which remaining bodies may stay in the position that they assume when in the assembled state used.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bodies are connected to one another via a common hinged or pivoting connection.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the common hinged or pivoting connection is at or near a base region of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of bodies are connected at a first end, and have a second free end which is able to swing about the hinge in order to move the bodies away from and back toward the assembled state.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a latch is provided to restrict movement of one or more of the plurality of bodies away from the assembled state.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latch engages with each of the plurality of bodies to restrict their relative movement.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cavity opening is obstructed by a removable seal.

10. An assembly of at least three segments of a spherical body, the assembly holding a separate item in each segment of the assembly of segments, at least when the segments are in an assembled form, wherein said segments are sector shaped so as to permit assembly together in an assembled form of a single spherical body, and wherein the segments are associated together so as to be able to transform from the assembled form towards an expanded form upon the disassociation of a retainer element from the assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a single body of which the apparatus may be comprised.

(4) FIGS. 3-5 show various views of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

(5) FIGS. 6a and 6b show two views of an apparatus in which the bodies are moved away from the assembled state.

(6) FIG. 7a shows a top down view of the configuration of FIGS. 6a and 6b.

(7) FIG. 7b shows a view of the underside of an apparatus in which the bodies are moved away from the assembled state.

(8) FIG. 8 shows the association between a retainer and an assembly of one embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a view of a retainer.

(10) FIG. 10 shows another view of a retainer.

(11) FIG. 11 shows a view of an assembly of bodies moved away from the assembled state and their connection.

(12) FIG. 12 shows a view of a connection.

(13) FIG. 13 shows a view of a connection when connected to a single body segment.

(14) FIG. 14a shows an assembly of bodies moved away from the assembled state where the openings of at least some bodies are sealed.

(15) FIG. 14b shows the assembly of FIG. 14a wherein a seal has been partially removed from an opening.

(16) FIG. 15a-c show various views of a single body segment.

(17) FIG. 16 shows an assembly of another embodiment.

(18) FIG. 17 shows an assembly of another embodiment when the bodies are moved away from their assembled form.

(19) FIG. 18 shows an assembly of another embodiment when the bodies are moved away from their assembled form.

(20) FIG. 19 shows an assembly of another embodiment.

(21) FIG. 20 shows an assembly of another embodiment when the bodies are moved away from their assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(22) In some embodiments the present invention is an apparatus 1 made up of a plurality of discrete bodies 2, each defining a cavity, container or receptacle 3 within which at least one item, such as a child's toy or other item or reward 4, can be received. For example the child's toy or other reward 4 may be a figurine, keychain, model, plush toy, balloon, sticker, plastic accessory or other novelty item, including an at least partially edible novelty item. It is intended that by providing multiple bodies 2, each capable of receiving at least one item 4, a plurality of items 4 may be housed within the apparatus 1. However in some embodiments the apparatus may comprise a plurality of bodies 2 but only some of those have a cavity 3 for receiving one or more items.

(23) In preferred embodiments the plurality of bodies 2 number between 3 and 6. In some embodiments there may be 7 to 10 bodies 2, or even more.

(24) Each cavity 3 may have an opening 5 of the cavity through which an item, e.g. a reward or toy 4, housed inside the cavity 3 can be viewed, accessed and withdrawn from the cavity. In some embodiments the bodies 2 are of a thin-walled construction, so as to form an at least partial shell defining the cavity, for example as shown in FIG. 2. The body or shell 2 may be opaque so that a toy housed inside the cavity 3 can only be viewed through the opening 5.

(25) In some embodiments the multiple discrete bodies 2 can be assembled together to form a single three-dimensional body (or notional body). The body may be, for example, of spherical, cuboid, elliptical and/or polyhedral form. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the singular three-dimensional body formed by the assembled multiple bodies 2 could take on any manner of shapes and/or forms. However in some embodiments it is desired that in the assembled state, the multiple bodies fit together with at least one outer surface of each body contiguous at least one outer surface of an adjacent body, such that the multiple bodies together jointly define a substantially continuous outer surface 13 of the singular three-dimensional body, for example as seen in FIG. 1. Another way that this could be described is that an outer surface of each one of the plurality of bodies, is co-extensive with a notional outer surface 13 of the three-dimensional body.

(26) Also seen in FIG. 1 is that for at least some preferred embodiments the jointly defined outer surface 13 of the singular three-dimensional body is substantially smooth. Such a feature can assist with the ease of applying an exterior overwrap to the assembled apparatus if such is desired for on shelf display at the point of purchase.

(27) When in the assembled state, the bodies 2 may be arranged so that for each body, the opening 5 of its cavity 3 is obscured by the other bodies of the apparatus 1. Thus any items/toy(s) 4 housed inside the apparatus will be concealed when the multiple bodies 2 are in the assembled state. This is shown for example in FIGS. 1, 3-5, 16 and 19. However the bodies 2 may be moveable away from the assembled state. The apparatus may be configured such that for each of the multiple bodies, such deployment from the assembled state causes the opening 5 of the cavity 3 to be revealed, and thus any items/toy(s) 4 housed inside the cavity will come viewable, accessible and/or able to be withdrawn from the cavity.

(28) An example of how the multiple bodies 2 may be deployed by moving relative to adjacent bodies 2, away from the assembled state, is shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. In this example the multiple discrete bodies 2 are segment or sector shaped and, in the assembled state, together define a singular three-dimensional body of spherical shape. The multiple bodies 2 are permanently connected to one another via a hinged, pivoting or otherwise articulating connection 6 at a base region of the apparatus. The multiple bodies articulate at or near a first end 8, each with a second free end 9 which is able to swing radially outward to move its respective body 2 away from the assembled state and/or radially inward back toward the assembled state if so desired. In this embodiment the apparatus 1 may be configured so that all of the multiple bodies 2 can move simultaneously, and thus the apparatus opens like a flower as shown in FIGS. 6a-6b and 7a-7b.

(29) Further examples of how multiple bodies 2 of other shapes may be deployed by moving relative to adjacent bodies 2, away from the assembled state, is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. In the embodiment of FIG. 17, the multiple bodies 2 are of substantially rectangular form, and are connected to one another via a hinged or pivoting or otherwise articulating connection 6 towards the base region 7 of the apparatus 1. The second free ends 9 of each body 2 may swing radially outward to move its respective body 2 away from the assembled state and/or radially back inward towards the assembled state.

(30) In the embodiment of FIG. 18, multiple bodies 2 of the same rectangular form as seen in FIG. 17 are connected to one another via a hinged or pivoting or otherwise articulating connection 6 along an edge of each body 2. A body 2 may be moved by pivoting of the connections 6 to swing the body away from an adjacent body and thus away from the assembled state, or back inward toward the assembled state. Dependent on the configuration of the location of the connections 6 and the open face 5 of a body 2, an assembly 1 may be provided wherein the cavity 3 of each body 2 having such a cavity is hidden from view when in the assembled state.

(31) Further details of one embodiment of the connection 6 is shown in FIGS. 11-13. FIG. 12 shows the projections 16 which the connection may comprise, the projections 16 each to be associated with a corresponding hole 17 of the first end 8 of a body 2. The projections 17 may be mated with the body 2 by an interference fit of the head of the projection once passed through the hole 17. In a preferred form either or both of the body of the connection 6 or projections 17 may be formed from a resilient or flexible material such that it may accommodate the pivoting or other movement of the bodies 2 away from or towards the assembled state. A view of such a projection 16 mated with a hole 17 of a body 2 is shown in FIG. 13.

(32) The apparatus 1 may further comprise a retainer or latch 10 (in the exemplary embodiment a circular cap) which engages with each of the multiple bodies 2, preferably at or near the second end 9, in order to prevent their relative movement and thus retain the bodies 2 in their assembled state. One exemplary association of the retainer 10 with the second ends 9 of the bodies 2 is shown in FIG. 8.

(33) In the exemplary embodiment where the retainer 10 is a circular cap, it preferably comprises a plurality of projections 13 which correspond with a hole 14 in the second end 9 of each body to be retained. The connection between the projections 13 and their respective holes 14 is preferably such as to retain the second ends 9 of the multiple bodies 2 in place, yet such that it is able to be released when it is desired to allow or cause at least one second end 9 of a body 2 to move away from the assembled state. In order to facilitate the removal of the retainer 10 from engagement with the holes 14 of the bodies 2 a tab 15 may be provided to enable a user to grasp the retainer 10. The example embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3-7b, each of the multiple bodies 2 is identical. Even the retainer latch 10 and hinging connection 6 can be implemented while employing multiple bodies 2 of identical form. Although not all embodiments require that the multiple bodies 2 are identical, it is a significant feature of the present design because it greatly simplifies the process and cost for manufacture of the apparatus.

(34) In another example the segment shaped multiple bodies 2 may not be connected via a hinged or pivoting connection 6 at the first end, but instead the connection is along a side edge (between the first and second ends 8, 9) such the bodies 2 move relative one another in a concertina fashion. Such a configuration is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19-20. As the “concertina” is expanded the cavity 3 openings 5 are revealed. In this embodiment it can be seen that the previously described circular cap could be similarly employed to latch the bodies together in the assembled state, however a person skilled in the art would appreciate that other types of retainers 10 could be used to retain the multiple bodies 2 in the assembled state. For example, the same purpose could be served by an elastic band encircling the circumference of the three dimensional sphere formed by the multiple bodies in their assembled state as seen in FIG. 1 or 19.

(35) In yet further examples one or more of the multiple bodies may not be permanently connected to the others, and in some examples all of the bodies 2 may be free of permanent connection with each other. For example the multiple bodies could be of substantially cuboid shape, and may instead assume the assembled state by stacking on top of each other or releasably interlocking.

(36) In some embodiments it is desirable for the apparatus to be configured such that the interior of each cavity 3 can be revealed and/or accessed in sequence, i.e. one at a time. This is to increase the length of the process for revealing toys 4 housed inside the apparatus 1, and thus extending the period of interest and entertainment for the child. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 18 or 19-20 this could be achieved by applying a selector mechanism to the hinges/pivots 6 so that only one of the segmented multiple bodies 2 can be moved away from the assembled state at a time to reveal its associated cavity 3. However a further convenient way to achieve this is to apply a (preferably opaque) cover or seal 12 over the opening of the cavity 3 which must be removed before any items/toy(s) housed within the cavity can be viewed, accessed and/or withdrawn from the cavity 3.

(37) The cover or seal 12 may be a foil seal, adhesive or heat sealed about the edges of the cavity opening, or may be frangible, edible, deformable or otherwise removable to permit access to the interior of the cavity. For toy items 4 which are stored best in airtight conditions, there could be a packaging advantage in applying the cover or seal to create an airtight seal with the cavity 3 opening 5.

(38) In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14a, the bodies 2 are in capsule form with a peel-off seal 12 covering the entirety of each cavity 3 opening 5. (In this embodiment the cavity opening defines one whole face of the body segment). Even after each body segment 2 has been moved to reveal the cavity opening, it is still necessary to peel off the seal 12 to view, access and/or withdraw and toy 4 inside, thus the cavity 3 interiors can be revealed and/or accessed in sequence, ie one at a time, and there is the option to save a surprise for later by allowing one or more of the capsules to remain sealed.

(39) Shown in FIG. 14b is the apparatus 1 of FIG. 14a, where a seal 12 has been partially peeled away from the opening 5 of the body 2 to reveal a toy 4 held within the cavity 3.

(40) The item in each segment may be a toy like a figurine, eraser, hairclip, model of the Eiffel Tower. Each segment may have a different item. Whilst each segment may be identical in shape, some or all segments of the assembly may be different in shape.

(41) In some embodiments the plurality of bodies may be frangibly connected to the apparatus, or otherwise able to be independently detached. This feature may especially be present in embodiments where the cavity opening is sealed or covered, in which case the individual bodies can be broken off and distributed.

(42) The frangible connection may be provided by a hinged or pivoting connection 6 as previously described which is weakened or provided of a material able to be torn by a user. Such a user could be someone of adult strength or more likely could be a child. One such method of frangible or tearable connection 6 may be provided using the connection 6 shown in FIGS. 11-13 wherein the projections 16 are able to be torn away from the body of the connection 6.

(43) It will be appreciated that the above embodiments are disclosed by way of example only, and that further variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.