GB2238775A - Multi-purpose toy box - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1) for storing toys and the like comprises a hollow base (2) in the form of a rectangular box which is closed by a hinged lid (7). The lid (7) includes a work/play surface (12), for example a blackboard, and also includes apertures for receiving paint receptacles. The sides of the box include various children's activities and surface decoration. <IMAGE>

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE TOY BOX The present invention relates to a multi-purpose toy storage box for use 'by children between 18 months and 6 years approximately.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container for storing toys and the like, the container comprising a hollow base and lid operable to open and close the container, in which the lid includes at least one working or playing surface and at least one receptacle for holding paint or s similar substances.

Preferably. there are a number of paint receptacles which are held within suitably sized holes in the lid, the workingXplaying surface being centrally placed in the lid with the paint receptacles on either side.

The workingJplaying surface ay comprise any suitable surface, for example a blackboard. wipe clean plastics board. or a game board.

The paint receptacles may take any suitable form, but preferably include lockable lids to prevent the paint from spilling out.

Alternatively, or in addition to the lockable lids for the paint receptetc 1 es, the portion of the lid containing the receptacles may be fixed relative to the base, with the central portion including the working/playing surface being openable to provide access to the interior of the container the container preferably takes the form of a rectanugular box with all edges and corners rounded to prevent injury to the children, Conveniently, the lid and the base may be arranged such that the lid can only be opened by an adult, and any su i table child resistant device could be used for this purpose.

In the prefered embodiment. the exterior surface of the sides of the box include various activities for the children to play with, as well as surface decoration, Any type of activity suitable for the intended age group can be included. but examples described and illustrated herein included shaped reliefs into which matching shaped pieces can be placed and held there by magnets, the magnetic board on which letters and numbers etc can be secured by magnetic attraction. a "pretend clock with moveable arms, and a nursery rhyme and illustrated picture of the rhyme.

The shaped reliefs and matching shaped pieces maybe in the form of simple geometrical shapes painted in different colours. or more complex shapes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two end wall of the box each include such reliefs. one end wall including geometrically shaped reliefs and the other end wall including reliefs in the shape of specific animals. On each end wall, the name of the shape or animal appears next to each relief, to assist the children in associating words with shapes and pictures.

Preferably, the shaped pieces include handles extending therefrom to enable children to hold them.

Conveniently. there are at least two castors provided on the underside of the base so that the box can be easily moved around. A mobile but stable arrangement is achieved by using only two castors on one end of the box. and having two legs at the opposite end.

In order to avoid children trapping their fingers between the lid and the base. the lid in its closed position Is preferably raised up from the base by providing resilient spaces at each upper corner of the base and each corner of the underneath of the lid.

The lid is preferably hinged to the base along the back wall of the container, and is prevented from pivoting beyond a predetermined angle by means of chains extending between the lid and the base at each side of the container.

It should be appreciated that the type and number of activities in the box may vary whilst remaining within the scope of the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a hollow base and lid operable to open and close the container, in which a part of the base is recessed to provide space for a chair and/or the legs of a person sitting in the chair, whereby the container also serves as a desk.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;- Figure 1 is an orthographic projection of the toy box: Figures 2 to 5 illustrate various constructional and design details of the toy box; Figure 6 illustrates the geometrical shaped reliefs and matching pieces on one end face of the box; Figure 6A illuatrates the geometrical shaped pieces to fit in the reliefs: Figure 7 illustrates the clock and nursery rhyme picture located on one long side of the box: Figure 8 illustrates close up detail of the clock face; Figure 9 illustrates details of the numbers and arms of the clock:: Figure 10 illustrates close up detail of the nursery rhyme picture; Figure 11 is a plan view of the lid of the box; Figure 12 illustrates the animal shaped reliefs and matching pieces on the opposite end of the box; Figure 12A illustrates close up detail of the animal shaped pieces; Figure 13 illustrates details of the letters of the alphabet located on the opposite long side of the box;; Figure 14 illustrates details of various shaped pieces for location on the same side of the box as the alphabet Figure 15 shows the arrangement of the pictures and letters shown in figures 13 and 14 Fig 16 illustrates a modified version of the box Fig 17 is an end view of the box showing further modifications Fig 18 Is a perspective view of the box incorporating a sloped front Fig 18A-18C are end and plan views of the box shown in Fig 18 Fig 19 is a front view of the box shown in Fig 16 with the addition of a shelf unit Fig 19A is e plan view of the box shown in Fig 19 Fig 19B is a perspective view of the shelf unit shown in Figs 19-19A Fig 20 is a front view of a box in which the recess is offset to one side Fig 20A-20D are end. rear, plan and end views respectively of the box shown in Fig 20.

Revering to the drawings, a multi-purpose toy box 1 comprises a hollow base 2 in the form of 8 rectangular box providing a storage facility for toys and the like.

Posts 3, 4, 5 and 6 at each corner of the box are rounded on the outside corner for safety reasons Two of the four posts have castors 3A, 4A to impart mobility to the box when the opposite of the box is lifted clear of the ground.

The box is closed by a hinged lid 7 attached to the back face of the box by means of hinges 7A. one or both end faces of the box include a cut-out handle 10 for easy lifting.

The lid 7 incorporates a work surface 12 in the form a blackboard. and arranged to either side of the blackboard are apertures 14 (six in the illustrated embodiment) cut out of the lid to receive receptacle 16 for paint or similar substances. These receptacles may comprise commercially available designs. preferably with twist-lock lids to prevent the paint from spilling out.

One end face of the box may include a towel rail 18 which alo serves as a handle, as shown in figure 3.

Also shown in figure 3 is an alternative arrangement of lid in which only the central blackboard section 12 is hinged, so that the parts of the lid holding the paint receptacles are fixed relative to the base 2.

Various different types of corner joint maybe employed as shown in figure 4, but whatever joint is used it is preferred that a piece of material-covered sponge 20 is glued on top of each corner post and also to the unerneath of the lid at each corner. This, together with an extra piece 22 (see figure 5) fitted to the hinged edge of the base enables the lid to close whilst retaining a small space between the lid and base to prevent small fingers from being trapped, Each face of the box, with the exception of the underneath of the base, incorporates a different activity or activities, as show schematically in figure 5.

On the front face there is an alphabet with pictures incorporated therein, on the back face there is a "pretend" clock and a nursery rhyme superimposed on a picture illustrating the rhyme, on one end there is a number of geormetically shaped reliefs and removeable matching pieces, and on the opposite end there is a number of animal shaped reliefs and removeable matching pieces. These pieces are held in place by magnetic attraction and include dowel handles to enable them to be removed from and placed into the reliefs.

The geometrically shaped reliefs 29 and pieces 24 are illustrated in more detail in figures 6 and 6A, and comprise a square, a rectangle, a circle and a triangle.

These pieces are painted in different, distinctive colours on both surfaces, and the names of the shapes may be printed on the end face, next to the appropriately shaped relief. Each shape 24 has a circular magnet 26 set into the back at the approximate centre of the shape, and a magnet of opposite polarity is set into a matching position in the centre of the matching relief, so that the shape 24 is held in position within relief 25 hy magnetic attraction.

A dowel handle 27 is included in each piece for ease of operation.

Similar shapes and reliefs 28, 30 are included in the opposite end face of the box and comprise shapes of animals. eg. rabbit, pig. robin and frog, and the names of these animals appear next to the appropriate reliefs.

The front face comprises a "pretend" clock 32 with moveable arms 32A, 325 superimposed on an attractive clock face. eg.

a sun face, and next to the clock is a picture 34 illustrating a nursery rhyme 36. Both the clock face and the picture and lettering are screen printed onto the box using lead-free paint. The numbers 40 of the clock are formed seperately, painted with lead-free paint and fixed to the clock face.

Figure 11 illustrates in more detail the top of the lid 7 which includes a recess 40 for pencils. brushes etc.

Figure 15 illustrates the design of the back face of the box which includes an alphabet 42 and pictures 44. Either or both of the pictures 44 in alphabet 42 may be screen printed onto the box or formed seperately and secured to the box using either glue or the principle of magnetic attraction. the latter giving the opportunity for the children to remove and replace the letters andlor pictures.

Other ideas for activities are illustrated in figure 2, for oxample sn abacus and an alphabet incorporated around a child's initial letter for a personalised toy box.

Suitable materials for the box include various types of wood or plastics materials. such as scrylic, high density polyethylene. ridgid PVC polypropylene, polyester resin.

The preferred woods are teak. oak or beech, and the preferred plastic is high density polyethylene.

All paints used on the box or its components should be lead-free for safety reasons.

Referring now to Figs 16 to 20D, further alternative embodiments and modifications will be discussed in detail.

In Fig 16, a recess 50 is vacuum formed or otherwise provided in a central portion of one of the two long faces of the box. to accommodate a child's legs and chair. This recess would be approximately 3 inches deep by 10-12 inches wide, and will allow the toy box to be used as a desk whilst retaining storage facilities to either side of the central recess.

in Fig 17, a letter box flap 52 is hinged to the box to cover the cut-out handle 12. to provide added interest for the child, and the flap 52 may further be personalised with a child's name Fig 17 also illustrates the addition of lockable hinges 54, 56 which are set at a predetermlned angle at each end of the box. The hinges unlock at centre point 55 to allow the lid to fall flat.

In Fig 18-18C, the box is provided with a graded or sloped front 58 instead of the recess shown in Fig 17. The graded front, which provides clearance of approximately 5-6 inches at the base, gives engough room for two children's chairs to fit at the desk.

In Fig 19 B, there is provision for a small shelf unit 60 for pencils ete which is located above the central recess.

This shelf unit may include three or more individual compartments to hold different items.

In Figs 20-20D, the recess 50 is shown off-set to one side of centre. and to accommodate this the working/playing surface is offset to the same side as the recess, and all of the paint receptacles 16 are offset to the other side, as shown in Fig 20C.

Claims (12)

1. A container for storing toys and the like. the container comprising a hollow base and a lid at least part of which is operable to open and close the container, in which the lid includes at least one working or playing surface and also includes means for holding paint or similar substances.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the means for holding paint or similar substances comprises at least one hole in the lid, for receiving a separate paint receptacle.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which a portion of the lid is fixed relative to the base. and a further portion of the lid is openable to provide access to the interior of the container.

4. A container according to any of the preceeding claims in which the lid of the container is fitted with a child resistant device.

5. A container according to any of the preceeding claims in which the container takes the form of a rectangular box with rounded edges and corners.

6. A container according to claim 5 in which the exterior surface of the size of the box include various children's activities, in addition to surface decoration.

7. A container according to any of the preceeding claims in which the lid, when in its closed position, is raised up from the base by means of resilient spacers at each upper corner of the base and each corner of the underneath of the lid.

8. A container according to any of the preceeding claims in which the lid is hinged to the base along the back wall of the container.

9. A container according to claim 8 in which the lid is prevented from pivoting beyond a predetermined angle by means of chains extending between the lid and the base at each side of the container.

10. A container comprising a hollow base and a lid at least part of which is operable to open and close the container, in which a part of the base is recessed to provide space for a chair and/or the legs of a person sitting in the chair. whereby the container also serves as a desk.

11. A container according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A container according to claim 10 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.