Abstract
A mess-free sand play device is disclosed herein. The mess-free sand play device in accordance with aspects herein has a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base. A quantity of loose, granular sand and a moveable device or internal stylus are enclosed within the tray and a cover, the cover having a clear or transparent window through which the loose, granular sand and the moveable device or internal stylus are visible. The moveable device or internal stylus has a foam tip and a magnetic top, which allows for it to be manipulated with an external stylus having a magnetic tip. The foam tip of the moveable device or internal stylus, when pulled through the layer of loose, granular sand, forms a path in the layer of loose, granular sand, the path forming a desired pattern in the layer of loose, granular sand.
Claims
1. A sand play device comprising: a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base; a quantity of loose, granular sand; a cover coupled to the tray to provide a cavity between the tray and the cover, said cavity configured to secure the quantity of loose, granular sand within the cavity, wherein the cover comprises a clear window; a moveable device inside the cavity, said moveable device comprising a foam tip and a magnet covered with a protective material layer, said moveable device configured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity of loose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within the cavity; and a magnetic stylus.
2. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein a size of each grain of sand within the quantity of loose, granular sand is between 125 um and 1 mm in diameter.
3. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one or more of the tray and the cover comprise polycarbonate.
4. The sand play device of claim 1, further comprising at least one lighting component coupled to at least a portion of the sand play device above the quantity of loose, granular sand.
5. The sand play device of claim 4, wherein the lighting component comprises color-changing lights.
6. The sand play device of claim 5, wherein the color changing lights are configured to change visible colors automatically or manually via a light switch.
7. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein the foam tip comprises a closed cell foam structure having a height that is less than or equal to a height of the cavity, wherein the height of the cavity is measured from an interior surface of the tray to an interior surface of the cover.
8. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein the moveable device is configured to stay in an upright position with the protective material layer covering the magnet, said magnet being in direct contact with an interior surface of the clear window.
9. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein the stylus comprises a magnetic tip that, when positioned near an outer surface of the clear window, attracts the magnet of the moveable device such that the stylus is configured to manipulate the moveable device.
10. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein the stylus is tethered to the sand play device.
11. A sand drawing apparatus having an internal magnetic stylus and an external magnetic stylus, said sand drawing apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal cavity configured to enclose sand and a transparent window for viewing the internal cavity and the enclosed sand; an internal magnetic stylus comprising: (1) a magnetic top; and (2) a foam tip opposite the magnetic top; and an external magnetic stylus comprising: (1) a magnetic tip comprising: (a) a magnet within a magnet housing; (b) a fabric covering over at least a portion of the magnet; and (c) a collar configured to fit over at least a portion of the magnet housing and the fabric covering to secure the fabric covering with respect to the magnet housing; and (2) a handle configured to enclose at least a portion of the magnetic tip.
12. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises at least one curved surface for manipulation by a user.
13. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the magnetic tip and the handle are ultrasonically welded to each other.
14. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the handle further comprises at least one screw that further secures the magnetic tip enclosed in the handle.
15. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the magnetic tip of the external magnetic stylus is configured to manipulate the internal magnetic stylus to provide at least one marking in the enclosed sand of the internal cavity.
16. A mess-free sand play device comprising: a tray having a planar base and at least one upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base; a clear cover parallel to the planar base and configured to fit over the tray at a threshold distance from the tray to seal a cavity between the tray and the clear cover; a quantity of loose, granular sand contained within the cavity; and a movable device inside the cavity, said moveable device comprising a foam tip at a first end of the moveable device, said foam tip adjacent the planar base, and a magnet covered with a protective material layer at a second end of the moveable device opposite the first end, said magnet adjacent the clear cover, wherein the moveable device is configured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity of loose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within the tray in response to at least one magnetic source external to the cavity.
17. The mess-free sand play device of claim 16, wherein the at least one magnetic source comprises a magnetic stylus tethered to the sand play device, said magnetic stylus configured to couple to the mess-free sand play device.
18. The mess-free sand play device of claim 17, wherein the magnetic stylus comprises at least one ergonomic feature, said at least one ergonomic feature comprising an external shape configured to fit within a hand of a user.
19. The mess-free sand play device of claim 16, further comprising a lighting component enclosed within the cavity.
20. The mess-free sand play device of claim 19, wherein the lighting component is configured to shine light having one or more visible colors onto an upper surface of the tray such that the loose, granular sand resting on the planar base is illuminated and a path of exposed tray void of sand is darker in appearance than a path of tray covered by the loose, granular sand.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view of a mess-free sand play device in accordance with aspects herein;
[0016] FIG. 2A is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device of FIG. 1, with the tether removed from view, in a rest/store position in accordance with aspects herein;
[0017] FIG. 2B is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device of FIG. 1, with the tether removed from view, in an active/use position in accordance with aspects herein;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line 3-3 in FIG. 2B in accordance with aspects herein;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary stylus in accordance with aspects herein;
[0020] FIG. 5A is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary moveable device or internal stylus in accordance with aspects herein;
[0021] FIG. 5B is a side, perspective view of an alternative covering for the magnet in the moveable device or internal stylus in accordance with aspects herein;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view of the stylus and the moveable device or internal stylus showing their interaction, in accordance with aspects herein; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line 7-7 in FIG. 6 in accordance with aspects herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereof similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
[0025] Devices and methods are described herein for mess-free sand play. In particular, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a device including a tray coupled to a cover enclosing a predetermined amount of non-magnetic loose, granular sand and at least a moveable device or internal stylus. The moveable device or internal stylus comprises a closed cell foam tip and a magnetic top. The moveable device or internal stylus is movable through the sand via an external stylus comprising a magnetic tip. The magnetic top of the moveable device or internal stylus and the magnetic tip of the external stylus are configured to attract each other so that the moveable device or internal stylus is able to be dragged through the loose, granular sand within the confines of the mess-free sand play device. As the moveable device or internal stylus is moved around through the sand, the moveable device or internal stylus is configured to leave a track in the sand, behind its travel path.
[0026] In a further aspect, the mess-free sand play device further comprises at least one lighting component configured to expose the enclosed sand to an amount of light, such as a color lighting component configured to shine a colored light onto the loose, granular sand so that the loose, granular sand appears illuminated and/or colored, such as having the appearance of the color of light shone onto it. In some aspects, the lighting component dispenses light into the cavity in a particular direction, such as at an angle towards the surface of the enclosed sand. The lighting component may be battery operated and/or electricity operated, and may further be configured to include multiple visible colors. In accordance with aspects herein, a switch may be provided to manually and/or automatically cycle through the multiple visible colors of the lighting component. By illuminating the sand surrounding a path that is cleared of sand by the internal stylus, the areas of displaced sand and revealed tray are emphasized markings surrounded by the lit sand within an enclosed drawing environment, in aspects of the invention.
[0027] With reference now to the figures, a mess-free sand play device is described in accordance with aspects herein. Various aspects are described with respect to the figures in which like elements are depicted with like reference numerals.
[0028] With reference to FIGS. 1-7, an exemplary mess-free sand play device 100 is shown. In FIG. 1, the exemplary mess-free sand play device 100 includes a tray 12 coupled to a cover 14 with a clear window 16, forming a cavity 94. The tray 12 comprises an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of tray 12, the upstanding wall comprising a wall interior 18 and a wall exterior 44. There is also optionally provided at least one lighting component 20 located within the cavity 94 near a top end of the upstanding wall, above the loose, granular sand level, to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand 46. The at least one lighting component 20 may be, for example, an LED lighting component comprising one or more visible colors. The at least one lighting component 20 may, for example, comprise three visible colors, six visible colors, ten visible colors, twelve visible colors, twenty-four visible colors, or any number of visible colors desired. When more than one lighting component 20 is provided, each lighting component 20 may operate simultaneously with the other, shining the same color at the same time, or simultaneously with the other, shining different visible colors at the same time to form new visible colors by virtue of the mixing of the reflection of the shone light visible colors. The visible colors of the light may be automatically changed and/or may be manually changed by actuating a switch 40, also provided on an exterior surface of the mess-free sand play device 100.
[0029] The mess-free sand play device 100 may further comprise a moveable device or internal stylus 28. The moveable device or internal stylus 28 may comprise a foam tip 30 and a magnet encased within magnet housing 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the moveable device or internal stylus 28, the loose, granular sand 46, and the lighting component 20 may all be enclosed within tray 12 and cover 14. Further, although not shown, the moveable device or internal stylus 28 may further include a magnet 52 (shown in FIGS. 5A-5B and FIG. 7) within a dock 24 and internal to the cover 14. Furthermore, the mess-free sand play device 100 may comprise an external stylus 26 with a magnetic tip 42. The external stylus 26 may be optionally tethered to the mess-free sand play device 100 via tether 22, which is attached to the mess-free sand play device 100 at a first tether outlet 36, and which is attached to the external stylus 26 at a second tether outlet 34. When not in use, the dock 24 is configured to receive the external stylus 26, and if magnetized, the dock 24 is configured to securely hold the external stylus 26 in place and guide a user to the storage location by magnetically pulling the external stylus 26 into the dock 24 when the external stylus 26 is in the vicinity of the dock 24. Additionally, the mess-free sand play device 100 may be designed to comprise a carrying handle 38, which may be ergonomically shaped to be easily carried by, for example, a small toddler.
[0030] Moving on to FIG. 2A, a perspective view of the mess-free sand play device 100 of FIG. 1, with the tether 22 removed from view, includes a mess-free sand play device 100 in a rest/store position in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be observed from FIG. 2A, the external stylus 26 is configured to fit within the dock 24. Further, it can be observed that the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is configured to remain in a generally upright position within the cavity 94, with the foam tip 30 pointing downward toward the tray 12 and the magnet within magnet housing 32 pointing upward toward the clear window 16. As described above, the magnet inside the magnet housing 32 may be covered by a soft material such as a woven or non-woven fabric to provide a buffer between the magnet and the interior surface of clear window 16 and thereby prevent scratching of the interior surface of clear window 16 as the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is moved around.
[0031] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the mess-free sand play device 100 of FIG. 2A, in an active/use position in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be observed in FIG. 2B, the external stylus 26 magnetically engages with moveable device or internal stylus 28 and is configured to pull moveable device or internal stylus 28 through the loose, granular sand 46 within the confines of the cavity 94. As the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is moved through the loose, granular sand 46, the foam tip 30 forms a path 10 in the spread out loose, granular sand 46. In accordance with aspects herein, the path 10 comprises a path of exposed tray void of sand. When light is shone onto the path 10, the path of exposed tray void of sand appears darker in appearance than parts of the path covered by the loose, granular sand 46. The path 10 may be easily removed from the sand by gently shaking the mess-free sand play device 100 to redistribute the loose, granular sand 46. Once shaken, the mess-free sand play device 100 is reset and again ready for forming new paths 10 in the loose, granular sand 46. In accordance with aspects herein, the loose, granular sand 46 comprises a non-magnetic material.
[0032] Moving on to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line 3-3 in FIG. 2B in accordance with aspects herein. As it can be clearly observed from FIG. 3, foam tip 30 of moveable device or internal stylus 28 may not be perfectly perpendicular to the planar surface of tray 12, but rather, it is slightly angled, deviating between about 1 and 10 degrees from perpendicular. This slightly angled configuration for the foam tip 30 may allow the moveable device or internal stylus 28 to easily glide through the loose, granular sand 46 and be less prone to getting stuck or caught within the cavity 94, thereby making the process of doodling in the loose, granular sand 46 a smooth process. Further, the angled configuration of the foam tip 30 allows for the loose, granular sand 46 to fall back into the path 10 at an inward angle, as the foam tip 30 is pulled through the loose, granular sand 46, thereby creating the impression of outlines for the path 10.
[0033] As it can be further observed from FIG. 3, the lighting component 20 may be located near the top of the mess-free sand play device 100, such as near the cover 14. This configuration allows, in some aspects, for the lighting component 20 to be above the level of the loose, granular sand 46 to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand 46. As described above, the at least one lighting component 20 may be battery and/or electricity operated. For example, lighting component 20 may be powered by battery 80. In FIG. 3, for example, three lighting components 20 are depicted. The lighting component 20 is located along an internal perimeter of the mess-free sand play device 100 in order to prevent obstruction of the clear window 16. The lighting component 20 may be evenly distributed on one or more sides, or all sides, of the mess-free sand play device 100 to allow for a uniform distribution of light on the surface of the loose, granular sand 46. As further submitted above, the lighting component 20 may be an LED lighting component 20 configured to change visible colors manually on demand via a switch 40, or automatically cycle through the different visible colors when the lighting component 20 is turned on. In a different aspect, the clear window 16, itself, may comprise a lighting component 20 configured to change into different visible colors manually or automatically. It should be understood that the lighting component 20 may be made available to enhance the play experience with the mess-free sand play device 100; however, it is not necessary for its operation.
[0034] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary external stylus 26 in accordance with aspects herein. The external stylus 26 may take any suitable shape for a comfortable fit for an intended user's hands. FIG. 4, for example, shows external stylus 26 having a pear-shaped handle 70. The handle 70 is configured to securely enclose different components such as a magnet 58 inside the handle 70. For example, the external stylus 26 may comprise at least a tip housing 62, a magnet 58, a woven or non-woven fabric covering 60, and a retaining collar 64. In accordance with aspects herein, the pear-shaped handle 70 may be formed as a single piece or, in the alternative, in two or more pieces. This may also be true for the tip housing 62 and the retaining collar 64. When formed in two or more pieces, once the pieces are fitted together, the different respective pieces for the individual components may be glued together and/or heated or ultrasonically welded together. As an additional added safety feature, the pear-shaped handle 70 may further comprise one or more screw anchors 56 to further hold one or more pieces of the pear-shaped handle 70 together. The pear-shaped handle 70, the tip housing 62, the magnet 58, the fabric covering 60, and the retaining collar 64 may be configured to tightly fit together as, for example, puzzle pieces, as further shown in FIG. 7.
[0035] FIG. 5A is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary moveable device or internal stylus 28, in accordance with aspects herein. As described above, moveable device or internal stylus 28 comprises a foam tip 30. The foam tip 30 may be secured to a magnet housing 32, the magnet housing 32 comprising at least a magnet 52 secured within a case 54, woven or non-woven fabric or textile covering 48, and a retaining collar 50. As can be observed from FIG. 5A, the foam tip 30 may comprise an opening 98 configured to fit a rod 96 of case 54, thereby immobilizing the foam tip 30. The case 54 may further comprise a cavity 72 configured to fit one or more magnets 52 and an unexposed portion of the foam tip 30. As such, the internal stylus 28 may generally include a foam tip 30 opposite a magnet 52 within a housing device that maintains the internal stylus 28 in a generally upright position within the cavity 94.
[0036] In accordance with aspects herein, the case 54 may be manufactured from a hard plastic, wood, or metal material, and the retaining collar 50 may be manufactured from a rubber, plastic, wood, or metal material. For example, these parts may be manufactured from a polycarbonate plastic material, or other material configured to secure a foam feature, a magnetic feature, and the like. The foam tip 30 may be manufactured from a closed cell foam material, or any other material configured to disperse sand along a path within the cavity 94. Further, the magnet 52 may be a permanent magnet. As shown, the magnet 52 may be disc shaped; alternatively, the magnet 52 may be square shaped, triangle shaped, or shaped in any suitable form to fit within cavity 72 of case 54, depending on the shape of case 54. The foam tip 30 of the moveable device or internal stylus 28, in accordance with aspects herein, may comprise a closed cell foam structure having a height that is less than or equal to a height 96 of the cavity 94 of the exemplary mess-free sand play device 100, wherein the height 96 of the cavity 94 is measured from an interior surface 97 of the tray 12 to an interior surface 98 of the cover 14.
[0037] FIG. 5B shows an alternative material for textile covering 48 for moveable device or internal stylus 28. For example, the textile covering 48 for moveable device or internal stylus 28 may comprise an uneven surface, such as shown, with a plurality of loops 90, like the loops 90 shown on FIG. 5B. The uneven surface of the textile covering 48 may be desirable to prevent sand granules from becoming trapped between the interior surface of clear window 16 and the top surface 92 of textile covering 48. This is because if sand granules were to become trapped between top surface 92 and the interior surface of clear window 16, the trapped sand granules may potentially scratch the interior surface of clear window 16 when the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is moved across the clear window 16, thereby causing the mess-free sand play device to become unsightly, and causing the view through clear window 16 to be inhibited. With the plurality of loops 90, the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is allowed to remain compressed against the clear window 16, while any trapped sand granules are allowed to fall through the loops 90 and back to tray 12 as the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is pulled through the loose, granular sand 46.
[0038] FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view of the external stylus 26 and the moveable device or internal stylus 28 showing their interaction, in accordance with aspects herein. As seen from FIG. 6, when the magnetic tip 42 of the external stylus 26 and the top surface 92 of the moveable device or internal stylus 28 are aligned with each other, the magnet of the magnetic tip 42 is configured to be attracted to the top surface 92 of moveable device or internal stylus 28 via the magnet located within magnet housing 32. This attraction allows for the manipulation of moveable device or internal stylus 28 via the external stylus 26 when they are provided as part of the mess-free sand play device 100. Additionally, as discussed above, all components of external stylus 26 may be glued together, ultrasonically and/or heat bonded, and for added safety, one or more screws 68 may be provided at one or more screw anchors 56 to ensure that the external stylus 26 does not open and fall apart, even in the event that the glued on part, or heat or ultrasonically welded parts, fail. The one or more screw anchors 56 may be recessed from the surface of the external stylus 26 so that the screws 68 are hidden from view and not readily exposed.
[0039] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through the line 7-7 in FIG. 6 in accordance with aspects herein. In FIG. 7, it can be readily observed how the different components of external stylus 26 and the different components of moveable device or internal stylus 28 are securely fitted together.
[0040] Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Aspects of the technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative examples will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.
