EP0155111B1 - Boat toy and method for making same - Google Patents

Boat toy and method for making same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0155111B1
EP0155111B1 EP85301293A EP85301293A EP0155111B1 EP 0155111 B1 EP0155111 B1 EP 0155111B1 EP 85301293 A EP85301293 A EP 85301293A EP 85301293 A EP85301293 A EP 85301293A EP 0155111 B1 EP0155111 B1 EP 0155111B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
brackets
raft
pontoons
longitudinal edge
toy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP85301293A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0155111A2 (en
EP0155111A3 (en
Inventor
Henry Bolanos
John Piszko
David M. Williams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Johnson and Johnson
Original Assignee
Johnson and Johnson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johnson and Johnson filed Critical Johnson and Johnson
Publication of EP0155111A2 publication Critical patent/EP0155111A2/en
Publication of EP0155111A3 publication Critical patent/EP0155111A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0155111B1 publication Critical patent/EP0155111B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H23/00—Toy boats; Floating toys; Other aquatic toy devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a floatable toy and in particular a toy having the general configuration of a boat comprising a raft portion and being floatable by virtue of pontoons affixed to the raft.
  • BE-A-690 797 discloses a raft comprising a raft portion having longitudinally extending edges and two pontoons comprising floatable, generally cylindrical shaped bodies, each having a longitudinal axis and each affixed to the raft portion adjacent to a longitudinal edge with the longitudinal axis of the pontoons parallel to the longitudinal edge of the raft portion wherein means are provided for affixing the pontoons to the raft, said means comprising arcuate brackets extending from each of said longitudinal edges; a portion of said brackets being adapted to cooperate with and interfit into grooves of the cylindrical walls of the pontoons thereby securing said pontoons to said raft portion.
  • a floatable toy which obviates the problems associated with the affixation of pontoons to a raft-like portion of the toy and specifically, avoids the problems of complex connecting means, gluing or requiring difficult assembly steps.
  • the present invention provides a raft which is characterised in that: the raft is a toy; each bracket is essentially semicircular; at least two brackets extend from the top or bottom portion of each longitudinal edge and another bracket extends from the bottom or top portion respectively of said longitudinal edge; and the brackets interfit into depressions in the cylindrical walls of the pontoons.
  • the brackets are each provided with a rib portion extending radially from the inner circumferential surface toward the center of curvature of said brackets, the ribs being adapted to interfit into the depressions in the cylindrical walls of the pontoons.
  • the entire bracket interfits into the depressions in the cylindrical walls of the pontoons to present a smooth cylindrical surface comprising said bracket and said cylindrical walls of the pontoons.
  • the brackets are molded integrally with the body of the raft and, owing to the selection of materials of construction and the thickness of the brackets, have a slight degree of flexibility. Accordingly, the raft portion and the pontoons may be molded separately. To assemble the floatable toy, each pontoon may be axially aligned along one longitudinal edge and in front of said raft portion in a position whereby the pontoon is rotated out of its intended position of rotation when finally assembled. The pontoon may then be slid into position, parallel to and adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the raft and past the brackets which, owing to their flexible nature yield about the cylindrical walls of the pontoon.
  • the pontoon Because the pontoon has been rotated out of its intended position, the depressions in the cylindrical walls do not catch the brackets as the pontoon is slid into position. Once in its proper axial position, the pontoon may be rotated to align the depressions with the brackets which, again owing to their flexibility, will seat in the depressions to complete the assembly.
  • Figs. 1-3 depict, in perspective assembled, perspective exploded and transverse cross-sectional views, respectively, a floatable toy 10 embodying the teachings of this invention.
  • the floatable toy 10 comprises a raft portion 12 having longitudinally extendiing edges 14 and 16.
  • the raft portion 12 of toy 10 may include various additional structure to enhance the play value of the toy including, for example, a cabin like structure, a mast, a wheel house or the like.
  • the raft is provided with a plurality of apertures or depressions 22.
  • the floor of the depressions 22 are provided with drain holes 26.
  • Various additional play-enhancing elements may be provided with the toy and adapted to fit within the apertures or depression such as, for example, trays, cups, sprinkling cans or the like.
  • the toy 10 is provided with two pontoons 18 and 20, which are floatable and generally cylindrically shaped bodies each having a longitudinal axis A-A and B-B, respectively.
  • the pontoons are affixed to the raft, each adjacent to a longitudinal edge, with the longitudinal axis of the pontoons parallel to said longitudinal edge.
  • a portion 19 of the cylindrical surface of the pontoons is flattened to better fit against the longitudinal edge of the raft.
  • the means for affixing the pontoons to the raft comprise brackets extending from the longitudinal edges of the raft, at least a portion of the brackets adapted for cooperating and interfitting with depressions in the cylindrical walls of the pontoons.
  • upper brackets 28 are provided, integral with and extending from the top of the longitudinal edge of the raft.
  • Lower brackets 30 are provided extendingg from the bottom of the longitudinal edges of the raft. Brackets 28 and 30 are arcuate to conform and fit closely to the cylindrical walls of the pontoons.
  • brackets are provided with rib portions 29 which extend circumferentially along the inner surface of the brackets and depend toward the center of curvature of the brackets.
  • inner surface of the brackets will be understood to mean that surface facing towards the surface of the pontoons when the floatable toy is assembled.
  • the rib portions 29 of the brackets are adapted to interfit into depressions 32 and 34 provided in top and bottom portions of the pontoons. By so interfitting, the pontoons are held securely to the raft portions.
  • the design described herein lends itself to a simple, commercially practical means for assembly.
  • the brackets are selected to be constructed of a material and to have as thickness such as to impart to the brackets a degree of flexibility.
  • such flexibility shall mean that the brackets may be moved away from their intended position when the toy is in its assembled condition and may be biased to return to its intended position when the moving force is withdrawn.
  • each pontoon 18 and 20 is axially aligned along one longitudinal edge, e.g., edge 16 and in front of the raft portion, e.g., the end portion 36 of pontoon 18 is adjacent the raft corner 38.
  • the pontoon at this point in the process should be in a position of rotation about its axis away from its intended position of rotation when the toy is fully assembled.
  • the pontoon is rotated 10° to 180° out of its intended position and more preferably 45° to 135°.
  • the pontoon is then slid into a position parallel to and adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the raft and past the brackets and rib portions which, owing to their flexibility, yield about the cylindrical walls of the pontoon.
  • the pontoon Because the pontoon has been rotated, the depressions in the cylindrical walls do not interfere and catch the rib portions of the brackets as the pontoon is slid into position. Once in the proper axial position, the pontoon may be rotated to align the depressions with the rib portions of the brackets which, again owing to their flexibility, will seat into the depressions and present the assembled pontoon.
  • Fig. 4 depicts the partially assembled toy, in a transverse cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3, at a point in the assembly wherein pontoons 18 and 20 have been aligned with longitudinal edges 16 and 14, respectively, and the brackets 28 and 30 are out of alignment with depressions 32 and 34 (not shown).
  • the depressions may be brought into alignment with the bracket and the brackets will seat therein, reducing the toy to the assembled position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
  • FIGs. 5 and 6 illustrated therein are perspective and transverse cross-sectional views of an alternate embodiment for the floatable toy of this invention.
  • the floatable toy 40 again comprises a raft portion 42 having longitudinally extending edges 44 and 46.
  • the toy is provided with two pontoons 48 and 50 having the same general shape as those described in connection with Fig. 1.
  • Brackets 52 and 54 are provided extending from longitudinal edges 44 and 46 of the raft portion 42, but unlike those of Fig. 1, the brackets of this embodiment are not provided with depending ribs. Instead the inner surface of brackets 52 and 54 are smooth.
  • the pontoons 48 and 50 are provided with depressions 56 and 58 adapted to have the entire brackets 52 and 54 interfit therein. The depth and shape of the depression are provided such that when the brackets are interfitted and the floatable toy is in its assembled position, the brackets and the cylindrical walls of the pontoons will present a smooth cylindrical surface.
  • brackets may be of uneven size and, in some instances, the top bracket may simply be elongated and only one will suffice.
  • a plurality of brackets are employed with at least one of such being a top bracket and at least another being a bottom bracket. Needless to say, whatever the configuration of the brackets, the depression in the walls of the pontoons may be varied to conform thereto.
  • the materials of construction for the toy including, for example, metals, water proof paper or boards, or even, in part, wood.
  • the materials of choice are polymers which exhibit thermoplastic behaviour, e.g., "plastics" such as polyolefins, e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene.
  • the raft portion and its extending brackets are molded together using injection molding techniques.
  • the pontoons are preferably molded by utilizing blow molding techniques, particularly when the raft portion is floatable by virtue of the pontoons being hollow.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)
EP85301293A 1984-02-27 1985-02-26 Boat toy and method for making same Expired EP0155111B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US58356584A 1984-02-27 1984-02-27
US583565 1984-02-27

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0155111A2 EP0155111A2 (en) 1985-09-18
EP0155111A3 EP0155111A3 (en) 1987-05-06
EP0155111B1 true EP0155111B1 (en) 1989-12-06

Family

ID=24333624

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85301293A Expired EP0155111B1 (en) 1984-02-27 1985-02-26 Boat toy and method for making same

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0155111B1 (ko)
JP (1) JPS60215386A (ko)
KR (1) KR930001834B1 (ko)
AU (1) AU568919B2 (ko)
CA (1) CA1243842A (ko)
DE (1) DE3574564D1 (ko)
HK (1) HK36790A (ko)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2653028A1 (fr) * 1989-10-16 1991-04-19 Thierry Renaud Jouet du type engin a voile.
US5743779A (en) * 1996-09-17 1998-04-28 Interlego Ag Toy ship
CN114013596B (zh) * 2021-10-14 2024-04-05 浙江嘉声环保科技有限公司 一种多气室充气船加工方法

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE690797A (ko) * 1965-12-07 1967-05-16
JPS4318617Y1 (ko) * 1966-03-30 1968-08-01
DE2601063A1 (de) * 1975-01-17 1976-07-22 Miles Mumford Ltd Schwimmfaehige spielzeuge
US4144669A (en) * 1977-06-13 1979-03-20 Takara Co., Ltd. Multiple function water-going toy
US4313277A (en) * 1979-10-01 1982-02-02 Steven Manufacturing Company Floatable toy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
HK36790A (en) 1990-05-18
AU3917785A (en) 1985-09-05
EP0155111A2 (en) 1985-09-18
CA1243842A (en) 1988-11-01
AU568919B2 (en) 1988-01-14
KR850006509A (ko) 1985-10-14
KR930001834B1 (ko) 1993-03-15
JPS60215386A (ja) 1985-10-28
EP0155111A3 (en) 1987-05-06
DE3574564D1 (de) 1990-01-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3614937A (en) Pontoon structure
US3965514A (en) Adjustable and/or removable fin for surfboards
US5807152A (en) Surfboard and method of making same
KR101861759B1 (ko) 어업용 부구
EP0155111B1 (en) Boat toy and method for making same
US4955843A (en) Boat toy and method for making same
US6132276A (en) Connector for buoyant floatation apparatuses
US4538998A (en) Swimming and life saving device
JPH0328356B2 (ko)
US6331128B1 (en) Flexible core recreational device
US4919632A (en) Collapsible one-man pontoon fishing raft
NL8401993A (nl) Vleugel voor een voertuig.
US5743205A (en) Floating dock element
US4708684A (en) Toy building block set
KR19980064427A (ko) 빌트인 에어백을 갖는 스티어링 휘일
US6398064B1 (en) Insert for a liquid vessel, and liquid vessel
US5645010A (en) Device for a box
US6325013B1 (en) Portable boat having a plurality of attachable segments
JPS6324978A (ja) 箱船玩具
US4313277A (en) Floatable toy
US6460478B1 (en) Rotational molded article and method
US5220879A (en) Linkable fender
CA2236291A1 (en) Pedal boat
WO1987005273A1 (en) Watercraft stabilizing structure
KR200245555Y1 (ko) 카누

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE GB IT

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19871009

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19880405

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3574564

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900111

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: SOCIETA' ITALIANA BREVETTI S.P.A.

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970217

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970307

Year of fee payment: 13

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980226

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980226

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19981103