GB2197592A

GB2197592A - Educational picture toy

Info

Publication number: GB2197592A
Application number: GB08627959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penny Camus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-21
Filing date: 1986-11-21
Publication date: 1988-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-21
Also published as: GB8627959D0; GB2197592B

Abstract

An educational picture toy (10) has a felt base or support (12) on which basic picture elements (16, 20) are sewn and various attachment means are provided which may include buttons (22), hooked nylon patches (42), poppet studs and sliding clasp fasteners (36). Picture elements (24, 28, 44) can be attached to the support (12) to construct a picture or design. Children playing with the toy learn to manipulate every day fastenings while being kept amused. <IMAGE>

Description

Educational Picture Toy The present invention relates to toys for children having an educational element. Such toys are desirable because not only do they keep children amused but also the children are educated to some degree while they play.

Many such toys exist already but frequently they are bulky or complicated or heavy or expensive or fragile. It Is an object of the present invention to provide an educational toy which does not suffer from, or at least mitigates, these disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an educational picture toy comprising a fabric support and a plurality of picture elements, the support having attachment means enabling said picture elements to be detachably secured on the support to construct a picture or design.

Preferably the support includes basic picture elements permanently secured thereto and on the basis of which the picture or design may be constructed by appropriate attachment of the picture elements.

The support is preferably felt or similar material and the basic picture elements sewn on the support. The picture elements are attachable by fastenings commonly employed in everyday life which children experience as they grow up: that is to say, such fastenings as zips, buttons1 Velcro, press-studs, buckles etc.

An educational picture toy according to the Invention has none of the disadvantages referred to above and is an ideal toy for children to play with in confined spaces such as In cars and airplanes. By fastening and unfastening the various picture elements to build and dismantle a picture, a child is kept amused and distracted.

The toy presents a challenge to the child and developes his or her manipulative skills in dealing with the various fastenings on the toy which the child comes to experience in everyday situations. Moreover, the toy also serves to develope the child's creative skills in constructing and building a picture from various.different elements.

The Invention Is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings1 In which: FIg.1 is a perspective view of an educational picture toy in accordance with the invention; and, Fig.2 is section along the line ll-ll in Fig.1.

An educational picture toy 10 comprises a support 12 in preferably two layers of felt or similar material and on which are sewn various basic picture elements and attachment areas for further detachable picture elements.

The toy 10 in the drawing comprises a picture of a lorry 14 comprising basic picture elements In the form of a cab 16 having a window 18 and a load 20, both of which elements are sewn on the support 12.

The wheels of the lorry 14 are constituted from a plurality of round patches 24 retained in position by buttons 22 sewn to the support 12 in a line beneath the cab 16 and load 20. The patches 24 have button holes 26 which enable them to be attached and detached from the support at will.

The driver of the lorry 14 is constituted by a further patch 28 having on one side a face, which Is preferably sewn or drawn on the material of the patch, and on the other side one part 30 of a poppet connector (30,32).

The other part 32 of the poppet connector is sewn on the support 12 in a central position of the window 18. Thus the driver 28 can be attached to and detached from the support 12 at will by operation of the poppet 30,32.

The load 20 has a diagonal cut 34 which incorporates a zip-type fastener 36. In the space between the load 20 and the support 12 is disposed, for example, a closed bag 38 incorporating a noise making device 40 of the type which squeaks when squeezed. Access to the bag 38 may be had by appropriate operation of the zip fastener 36.

The picture is completed above the lorry 14 by a sun comprising a yellow patch of hooked nylon 42 sewn on the support 12 and a cloud formed from a further patch 44. In the centre of the patch 44, on its under side Is sewn an area of hooped nylon 46. The support 12 has another circular patch 48 of hooked nylon by which the cloud patch 44 can be attached to and be detached from the support 12. The patch 48 of hooked nylon Is preferably white while the sun patch 42 is preferably yellow, Thus the cloud patch 44 could be placed on the sun patch 42 to hide the sun and expose the patch 44 which could thus represent the moon.

By removing and replacing the various elements such as the wheels, driver, cloud and bag a child learns to manipulate the various fastenings used in every day situations. Thus the toy 10 serves the dual function of both keeping a child amused and occupied and also fosterlng his or her manipulative and creative skills. Because the toy Is small and light and does not require supervision or much space In which to play with it, It Is an ideal toy for use by younger children on journeys in cars or airplanes etc.

Although the Illustrated toy 10 comprises a picture of a lorry having the features described the concept of the invention is of course applicable to any picture or scene which could be more or less complicated as desired.

Furthermore the picture toy could be accompanled by written material in the form of nursery rhymes or songs or other stories. These might be on the support itself or presented separately.

Claims

1. An educational picture toy comprising a fabric support and a plurality of picture elements1 the support having attachment means enabling said picture elements to be detachably secured on the support to construct a picture or design.

2. An educational picture toy as claimed in claim 1 In which the support includes basic picture elements permanently secured thereto and on the basis of which the picture or design may be constructed by attachment of the picture elements.

3. An educational picture toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which he support is constructed from felt or similar material and the basic picture elements are sewn on the support.

4. An educational picture toy as claimed in claim 3 in which the support comprises two layers of felt, on one of which are sewn said basic picture elements and the other of which forms a backing.

5. An educational picture toy as claimed in any preceding claim in which said attacment means comprise fastenings commonly employed in every day life including such fastenings as zips, buttons, hooped and hooked nylon patches, press-studs, laces and buckles.

6. An educational picture toy as claimed in any preceding claim in which a nursery rhyme is formed on the support and in which said picture or design depicts a scene appropriate to said rhyme.

7. An educational picture toy as claimed in claim 6 in which the words of said rhyme are sewn onto the support.

8. An educational picture toy substantially as herinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.