GB1602471A - Play device - Google Patents

Description

(54) PLAY DEVICE (71) We, DECLON LIMITED, a British Company, of Humphrys Road, Woodside Estate, Dunstable Bedfordshire LU5 4TW, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a play device and has for its object to provide such a device which is very versatile and effective as well as being safe for children.

According to the invention, there is provided a play device comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of holes disposed at spaced positions therein, and a plurity of members, each having a form representing an animate or inanimate object, each member having an integral peg engageable in any one of the holes in the base and the base and each of the members being formed from a flat sheet of flexible and compressible plastics foam material.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the single figure is a perspective view of a play device constructed in accordance with the invention.

The device illustrated comprises a flat rectangular base 10 formed from a sheet of material approximately a quarter of an inch thick. The sheet of material is formed in three layers which may be of different colours but the layers are permanently adhered together. The material is a soft, flexible and compressible plastics foam material. The preferred material is expanded polyethylene foam plastics material. However, other plastics materials which have similar properties may be used.

The base 10 has a plurality of regularly spaced circular holes 11 through it. The holes are spaced apart by approximately half an inch and each is quarter of an inch in diameter. The holes cover substantially the whole of the area of the base.

There are also a number of members representing trees 12, 13, bushes 14, fences 15, animals 16 and birds 17. Each such member is formed from flat sheet material having approximate profile but no definition on the flat side faces. The members are made from the same soft flexible and compressible material and may also be formed from two or more layers which can be of any colours.

However they are, in this example thinner than the base 10. The colours in general accord with the nature of the object depicted.

Any animate or inanimate object may be depicted. Sets of the members however generally represent a particular environment such as a farm or a zoo.

Each of the members has an integral peg 18, one of which is shown on the bird 17. The peg is approximately rectangular in section, the larger dimension being approximately a quarter of an inch. For any member, only one peg is necessary but pegs on all members are of the same dimensions. The peg on any member is engageable in any one of the holes 11 in the base 10. Since the peg 18 is larger, at least in one dimension, than the hole into which it fits, reliance is placed on the compressibility of the material, both of the base and of the peg, to allow fitting. Once fitted, with interference, the member will stand upright, as shown. The material is very light and relatively large members may easily be supported from only one peg thereon.

Where a four legged animal is, for example depicted, the peg is provided only on one leg or one pair of legs. This is apparent from the animal 16. The fence 15 has a central peg.

This arrangement permits any member to be placed in any desired orientation relatively to another on the base 10.

The members may be pulled out and recited as often as desired without damage either to the base or to the members.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A play device comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of holes disposed at spaced positions therein, and a plurality of members, each having a form representing an animate or inanimate object, each member having an integral peg engageable in any one of the holes in the base and the base and each of the members being

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) PLAY DEVICE (71) We, DECLON LIMITED, a British Company, of Humphrys Road, Woodside Estate, Dunstable Bedfordshire LU5 4TW, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a play device and has for its object to provide such a device which is very versatile and effective as well as being safe for children. According to the invention, there is provided a play device comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of holes disposed at spaced positions therein, and a plurity of members, each having a form representing an animate or inanimate object, each member having an integral peg engageable in any one of the holes in the base and the base and each of the members being formed from a flat sheet of flexible and compressible plastics foam material. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the single figure is a perspective view of a play device constructed in accordance with the invention. The device illustrated comprises a flat rectangular base 10 formed from a sheet of material approximately a quarter of an inch thick. The sheet of material is formed in three layers which may be of different colours but the layers are permanently adhered together. The material is a soft, flexible and compressible plastics foam material. The preferred material is expanded polyethylene foam plastics material. However, other plastics materials which have similar properties may be used. The base 10 has a plurality of regularly spaced circular holes 11 through it. The holes are spaced apart by approximately half an inch and each is quarter of an inch in diameter. The holes cover substantially the whole of the area of the base. There are also a number of members representing trees 12, 13, bushes 14, fences 15, animals 16 and birds 17. Each such member is formed from flat sheet material having approximate profile but no definition on the flat side faces. The members are made from the same soft flexible and compressible material and may also be formed from two or more layers which can be of any colours. However they are, in this example thinner than the base 10. The colours in general accord with the nature of the object depicted. Any animate or inanimate object may be depicted. Sets of the members however generally represent a particular environment such as a farm or a zoo. Each of the members has an integral peg 18, one of which is shown on the bird 17. The peg is approximately rectangular in section, the larger dimension being approximately a quarter of an inch. For any member, only one peg is necessary but pegs on all members are of the same dimensions. The peg on any member is engageable in any one of the holes 11 in the base 10. Since the peg 18 is larger, at least in one dimension, than the hole into which it fits, reliance is placed on the compressibility of the material, both of the base and of the peg, to allow fitting. Once fitted, with interference, the member will stand upright, as shown. The material is very light and relatively large members may easily be supported from only one peg thereon. Where a four legged animal is, for example depicted, the peg is provided only on one leg or one pair of legs. This is apparent from the animal 16. The fence 15 has a central peg. This arrangement permits any member to be placed in any desired orientation relatively to another on the base 10. The members may be pulled out and recited as often as desired without damage either to the base or to the members. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A play device comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of holes disposed at spaced positions therein, and a plurality of members, each having a form representing an animate or inanimate object, each member having an integral peg engageable in any one of the holes in the base and the base and each of the members being formed from a flat sheet of flexible and compressible plastics foam material.

2. A play device as claimed in claim 1 in which the base has holes spaced equally over its surface.

3. A play device as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the base is a flat panel of snid flexible and compressible plastics foam material.

4. A play device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the members each have a single integral peg.

5. A play device as claimed in claim 4 in which the peg is rectangular and the holes in the base are circular.

6. A play device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.