Abstract
An activity kit with tetherable components includes a foldable case movable between a closed position and an open position. The case is devised for use by a child during transit in a vehicle. An interior surface is presentable for use when the case is moved to the open position. Writing implements are releasably secured to the interior surface and may be unsecured for use. A tether connects each writing implement to the case whereby each writing implement may be retrieved if dropped during transit. A child may, therefore, engage in written and drawing activities in a vehicle without losing use of writing implements, even when the writing implements are dropped.
Claims
1. An activity kit with tetherable components comprising: a portable, foldable case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said foldable case foldable between an open position and a closed position; a pocket disposed within the interior surface, said pocket disposed to slidingly receive an activity booklet; at least one tether having a first end and a second end, said at least one tether releasably connectable to the interior surface and releasably connectable to a writing implement at or before the first end and at or before the second end; and a writable surface disposed upon the exterior surface; wherein the foldable case folds to enclose the activity booklet and writing implement.
2. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 1 writable surface is an erasable surface selected from the group consisting of: a dry erase surface, a slate, a magnetic erasable container, a touchscreen.
3. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 2 further comprising at least one receptacle disposed upon the interior surface proximal the pocket, said at least one receptacle configured to releasably receive a portion of the writing implement whereby said writing implement is secured to the interior surface of the case.
4. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 3 further comprising at least one fastener whereby the case is securable in a closed position.
5. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 4 wherein the case folds in half and the exterior surface is bisected by a spine.
6. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 5 further comprising at least one handle disposed upon the exterior surface or the spine.
7. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 6 further comprising a soft, raised perimeter disposed surrounding the writable surface upon the exterior surface.
8. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 7 wherein the case is configured to unfold through approximately three-hundred-and-sixty degrees whereby the interior surface is positional exteriorly in the open position.
9. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 8 wherein the case is securable in the open position by means a releasably attachable fastener disposed to interconnect when the case is moved to the open position.
10. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 9 wherein the releasably attachable fastener is selected from the group consisting of: hook and loop, snaps, buttons, magnets, and ties.
11. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 1 further comprising an attachable collar disposed at the second end of the at least one tether, said attachable collar fastenable around a portion the writing implement.
12. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 1 wherein the tether is disposed horizontally or vertically across the interior surface of the case and intermittently fastened to the interior surface at at least two points whereby the at least one writing implement is attachable by clipping onto sections of the tether between the at least two points of attachment.
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 11 wherein the writable surface is an erasable surface selected from the group consisting of: a dry erase surface, a slate, a magnetic erasable container, a touchscreen.
16. The activity kit with tetherable components of claim 12 wherein the writable surface is an erasable surface selected from the group consisting of: a dry erase surface, a slate, a magnetic erasable container, a touchscreen.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figures
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagonal elevation view of the case in a closed position.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the case exterior surface when the case is in an open position.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the case interior surface when the case is in the open position.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the case in a closed position.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the case in an open position.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the case in an open position with a first portion folded over a second portion.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagonal elevation view of the case in the open position to show a pocket member disposed upon an interior surface of a second portion of the case.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a diagonal elevation view of the case with an activity booklet inserted into the pocket member.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the case in an open position with writable implements ready for use.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a detail view of an end of a tether disposed with a collar member engaged around a writable implement.
[0027] FIG. 11 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the tether with a plurality of writable elements secured thereto.
[0028] FIG. 12 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the tether with a plurality of writable elements secured thereto.
[0029] FIG. 13 is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the tether with a plurality of writable elements secured thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] An example embodiment of the activity kit with tetherable components, designated by the number 10, is shown in the accompanying Figures. These drawings are set forth to exemplify features of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. Additional and other embodiments are contemplated as within scope of the present invention; the form and arrangement of fundamental features and parts set forth herein defined and controlled by the accompanying claims.
[0031] Discussing now the drawings in example embodiment, FIG. 1 is a diagonal elevation view of an example embodiment of the activity kit 10 in closed position. The kit includes a case 20 that has an exterior surface 22 and an interior surface 24. Case 20 includes first portion 26 and second portion 28 foldably articulated by means of spine 30. A writable surface 50 is disposed on exterior surface 22 of first portion 26. In this example embodiment, the writable surface 50 is contemplated to be a dry erase surface, however other writable surfaces are contemplated as within scope of the invention, including other erasable surfaces (such as slate, for example, or magnetic erasable containers) or touchscreen surfaces for example. Case 20 is foldable between an open position and a closed position and is portable by means of handle 32 attached to exterior surface 22 proximal spine 30. Case 20 may be securable in the closed position by means of fastener 34 disposed proximal lower edge 36 of first portion 26.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of case 20 in an open position, with first portion 26 extended from second portion 28. It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 6, case 20 may be inverted inside out, whereby first portion 26 opens through approximately 360 to contact second portion 28 and present interior surface 24 outermost. In this example embodiment, case 20 is securable in the closed position by means of loop member 38 engaging against fastener 34. However, additional and other means of securing the case in the closed position are contemplated as within scope of the invention, including, for example, hook and loop, snaps, buttons, clips, ties, magnets, and other means of selectively fastening first portion 26 to second portion 28 at lower edge 36.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows interior surface 24 of case 20 when first portion 26 is opened away from contact with second portion 28. Interior surface 24 may include a pocket member 40 (see, e.g. FIG. 7) into which activity booklet 100 may insertibly engage. Activity booklet 100 is here shown in example embodiment as a ring-bound pad of paper upon which a user may draw or write, however additional and other activity booklets are contemplated within scope of the invention, including, for example, coloring books, learning books, books, magazines, print media, games, or smart tablets securable in position by means of a cover member or other attachable planar portion inserting into pocket member 40.
[0034] Writing implements 42 are securable to the interior surface 24 of the second portion 28 by means of receptacles 44 disposed adjacently proximal the pocket member 40. In this example embodiment, receptacles 44 are configured to releasably receive a portion of writing implement 42 whereby said writing implement 42 is secured to the interior surface 24 of the case 20. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 3, receptacles 44 are configured to releasably engage writing ends of dry erase markers 42. A user may, therefore, retract markers 42 from receptacles 44 to write or draw upon activity booklet 100. It should be noted that the term writing implement, as used herein throughout, should be taken to include handheld styluses and other implements usable to interact with a medium, be it digital (as in the case of a smart tablet or surface, say) or analogue (as a piece of paper, slate, or dry erase surface, for example).
[0035] In this example embodiment depicted, tether 46 is releasably securable to second end of markers 42, whereby markers 42 are retrievable by a user holding the case 20 if the markers 42 are dropped during use when not secured in receptacles 44. In the example embodiment shown, tethers 46 are releasably attachable to markers by elasticated sections 48. Other means of attaching to writing implements are contemplated as within scope of this invention, however, including for example, hook and loop fasteners or releasable adhesive members or fictively engageable collars (such as manufactured from silicone or other polymer, for example), or other means of selectively attaching ends of tether 46 to at least a portion of writing implement 42.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of an example embodiment of case 20 secured in the closed position by means of fastener 34. First portion 26 is folded overtop of second portion 28 whereby interior surface 24 is enclosed and exterior surface 22 is disposed outermost. FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment side elevation view of case in the open position, with first portion extended our from second portion after first portion has been moved through approximately 180.
[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of an example embodiment of case 20 secured in the open position with first portion 26 folded over such that the exterior surface 22 of each of the first and second portions 26, 28 are brought into contact proximal lower edge 36. In some embodiments, fastener 34 may include magnetic properties whereby case 20 is securable in the open position by means of magnetic attraction between fastener 34 and a corresponding section of second portion 28. Additionally, other means of releasable attachment may secure case 20 in the open position when exterior surface 22 of first and second portions 26, 28 is brought in contact proximal lower edge 36, such as, for example, snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, clips, ties, and other means of effectuating temporary attachment between the first and second portions 26, 28 when in the open position.
[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates an example embodiment of pocket member 40 disposed upon interior surface 24 of second portion 28. In the example embodiment depicted, pocket member 24 is sized to receive the cover or backing of activity booklet 100. Pocket member 40 may be sized appropriately to slidingly receive a portion, backing, planar extension, cover, or case, or other leaf, of a smart tablet, for example, or other activity booklet or interactive apparatus such as a coloring book, workbook, or study book, whether print or digital media. Holes 60 shown in interior surface 24 proximal spine 30 are rendered for hosting tether 46 therethrough for connection with writing implements 42.
[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates an example embodiment of case 20 with activity booklet 100 inserted and securely supported by pocket member 40. When case 20 is in the open position, activity booklet 100 is therefore accessible. When case 20 is open with exterior surface 22 of first and second portions 26, 28 in contact, as shown, case 20 presents a thickness which, when case 20 is positioned upon a user's lap, may present activity booklet 100 in a more convenient position for writing or drawing upon or otherwise interacting with. Similarly, when case 20 is in the closed position, the writable surface 50 disposed upon first portion 26 exterior surface 22 may likewise be presented in a more convenient height above a user's lap for the user to work upon.
[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates an example embodiment showing writable implements 42 removed from receptacles 44. In this example embodiment, receptacles 44 serve as either housings for the writing implements' caps (to enclose nibs) or as the caps themselves. Tether 46 is shown threaded through holes 60 to present ends for releasable engagement with at least a portion of writing implements 42. FIG. 10 illustrates a detail view of an example embodiment of an end of tether 46 shown in FIG. 9. Collar 48 is disposed to releasably engage around writing implement 42 circumference and thus secure writing implement 42 endwise to tether 46 whereby writing implement 42 is retrievable if dropped in use by user.
[0041] FIG. 11 illustrates an example embodiment of an alternative embodiment of tether 46. In this example embodiment, tether 46 is disposed horizontally upon interior surface 24 of case 20. Writing implements 42 have hoop members 62 endwise disposed thereupon. Each writing implement 42 is thereby secured to tether 46 and may be uncapped for use. When the writing implement 42 is returned to its end cap, it remains secured to tether 46 and, therefore, portably engaged to the interior surface 24 of case 20.
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment similar to the example embodiment shown in FIG. 11. In this example embodiment, however, writing implement 42 has hoop member disposed at the end opposite the nib. This, the writing implement is maintained connected to tether 46 in use. Tether 46 may therefore be elasticated or spooled or extendible to accommodate use of the writing implement 42 within limited range of interior surface 24 while writing implement 42 is attached to tether 46
[0043] FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative example embodiment of tether 46. In this example embodiment, tether 46 is intermittently attached to interior surface 24, either horizontally or vertically upon interior surface 42, creating sections of tether 46 to which writing implements 42 may be selectively attached. In this example embodiment shown, tether 46 presents a width to which writing implements 42 may clip when slotted between each point where tether 46 is attached to the interior surface 24. Writing implements are therefore storable in case 20 in this example embodiment but may be used uninhibited (and without tether 46 attached).
[0044] Embodiments are contemplated that include combinations of all of the example embodiments disclosed in a single embodiment. Embodiments are contemplated in variation of the example embodiments disclosed, wherein variation is within the scope implied by the claims.
