US20090031757A1

US20090031757A1 - Modular toy bracelet

Info

Publication number: US20090031757A1
Application number: US11/832,604
Authority: US
Inventors: Kristin Norris Harding
Original assignee: FUNKI LLC
Current assignee: FUNKI LLC
Priority date: 2007-08-01
Filing date: 2007-08-01
Publication date: 2009-02-05

Abstract

A modular toy bracelet that is easily constructable, interchangeable, lightweight, adjustable, and fashionable. The bracelet comprises a plurality of connecting cases, with each connecting case having a top portion and a bottom portion removably attached at the back side to form an interior cavity when the top portion is closed over the bottom portion. The bracelet is preferably used to hold in the interior cavity articles such as cosmetics, edibles, and other small items. The bracelet comprises a plurality of connecting cases that are removably and interchangeably linked together on the lateral sides. The plurality of connecting cases with different shapes, colors, and designs may be interchangeably and hingedly linked to each other by mixing and matching the different connecting cases.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a modular toy bracelet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular toy bracelet that can be easily constructed by removably engaging the interchangeable pieces together and to further hold articles while being worn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children of various ages enjoy constructing toy sets to make different toy items. Young girls particularly like to play with fashionable jewelry items such as bracelets, necklaces, watches, hairpins, rings, and other accessories. To provide such fashionable jewelry items that are somewhat modular and practical in limited uses as described below, practitioners in the arts have come up with various combinations of jewelry items, particularly rings and bracelets, for children's use.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,699 issued to Yoshida (“the '699 reference”) sets forth toy accessories having a plastic accessory base having plural engaging parts. At least two different ornamental parts, containing a composition for writing particularly a polyolefin, are attached to the base. The different ornamental parts in the '699 reference can be detachably engaged with the base to provide a bracelet and detached from the base to be used as tools for writing. The detachable and different ornamental parts in the '699 reference are limited to being used as writing tools.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,260 issued to Lutz (“the '260 reference”) sets forth a scented friendship bracelet kit containing several ornamental beads. The bracelet in the '260 reference can also be used as a tie string holding the fabric bundle with the beads and pellets together in the bundle. The ornaments can be beads in a variety of shapes, each having a through-hole for stringing on the tie string to form a bracelet. The ornaments in the '260 reference are limited to being attached to the scented string by putting the tie string through the holes of the ornaments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,448 issued to Gilbert et al. (“the '448 reference”) sets forth a toy jewelry kit with assembly workstations for making rings and tube bracelets. Bracelets may be formed by filling hollow tubular structures with water and coloring or other particulates and threading the charms onto the bracelet before sealing the tubes using the jewelry kit machine. Bracelets of the '448 reference are limited to construction by using the jewelry kit machine, and the threading charms can be attached only by putting the hollow tubular structure through the holes of the threading charms to form a bracelet.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,503 issued to Golove (“the '503 reference”) sets forth a ring with interchangeable settings and attachable charms and methods for their use. An item of jewelry includes a ring having removable and interchangeable settings and attachable charms that can be easily removed. The use of this jewelry item in the '503 reference is limited to a ring with interchangeable settings and charms in a wide range of designs by coupling a short chain captured on the ring by the setting.
All of these references disclose jewelry items limited to particular purposes and have various drawbacks, including interchangeable parts being used as writing tools or constructing a ring. Other drawbacks of the bracelet kits include relatively simple designs without having compartments to store small articles while the bracelets are being worn. The present invention is directed to overcoming the foregoing and other disadvantages. Accordingly, it is desirable for children to have easily constructable, interchangeable, and fashionable jewelry items such as a bracelet that can hold articles such as cosmetics, vitamins, candy, toy items, and other small items. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a modular toy bracelet that can be easily and interchangeably engaged to construct the bracelet and to further hold articles in the plurality of cases forming the bracelet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the modular toy bracelet is easily adjustable, interchangeable, lightweight, fashionable, and constructable to be worn by anyone. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the modular toy bracelet includes a plurality of connecting cases with each connecting case having a top portion and a bottom portion with engaging means on the back side. The top portion of the connecting case is removably and hingedly connected to the bottom portion on the back side by connecting the extending member of the top portion to the receiving member of the bottom portion using a clasping mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the top portion has a latch at the frontal side to fit and close over a catch of the bottom portion also located at the frontal side. By closing the top portion over the bottom portion by any engaging means, the connecting cases can hold articles such as edibles, cosmetic items, and other small items.
According to the present invention, the modular toy bracelet includes a plurality of connecting cases with each connecting case having the engaging means on the first and second lateral sides of each connecting case to removably and interchangeably link to one another. The step in which a first connecting case is removably and interchangeably linked to a second connecting case is demonstrated whereby a first connecting case removably and hingedly links to a second connecting case via the engaging means on the lateral sides to assemble the modular toy bracelet. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each connecting case has a protruding member on the first lateral side, the protruding member having a protruding structure shaped like a ladder with two protruding outer portions perpendicularly attached to the middle portion of the first lateral side, and a crossbar is set between the two protruding outer portions to form the ladderlike protruding member on the first lateral side of the connecting case. In the preferred embodiment, each connecting case also has a support member on the second lateral side with a protruding structure attached to the middle portion of the second lateral side with an aperture that is generally shaped inwardly cylindrical with the aperture having the same length as the crossbar to removably receive the crossbar. The crossbar attached between the two protruding outer portions of the protruding member from the first lateral side of the connecting case is gently pushed into the aperture of the support member on the second lateral side of another connecting case to removably and hingedly link the connecting cases together. The hinged engagement of the protruding member and the support member of the connecting cases on the lateral sides allows flexible and pivotal movement of the plurality of connecting cases forming the bracelet around the wrist of a user.
According to the present invention, the upper side of the top portions is preferably provided in a wide range of designs, including but not limited to different geometric shape themes, flower themes, various color themes, and other fun themes to appeal to children. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of connecting cases with different shapes, colors, and designs are removably and hingedly linked together for flexibility and interchangeability. Therefore, the plurality of connecting cases with different shapes, colors, and designs may be interchangeably and hingedly linked to each other by mixing and matching the different connecting cases. The modular toy bracelet may be easily constructed or deconstructed without much complexity and allows the user to interchange the different connecting cases and top portions of the connecting cases to construct, lengthen, shorten, decorate, and adjust the different portions and connecting cases according to the user's preferences. The user may also access and replace articles from the interior cavity of the connecting cases while mixing and matching the top portions and the connecting cases.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one connecting case to construct a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases, with each connecting case having a top portion and a bottom portion, with the portions being removably and hingedly engageable.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the step in removably linking a first connecting case to a second connecting case via an engaging means to assemble the bracelet.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the step in removably linking a first connecting case to a second connecting case via an engaging means to assemble the bracelet.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases of the same rectangular shape interchangeably and removably linked together.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases of the same circular shape interchangeably and removably linked together.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention having a plurality of connecting cases with different shapes interchangeably and removably linked together.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modular toy bracelet of the present invention being worn on a wrist after assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A modular toy bracelet 5 in accordance with the present invention is shown in the attached drawings for illustrative purposes. The modular toy bracelet 5 of the present invention comprises an easily constructable, adjustable, interchangeable, and fashionable jewelry item to hold small articles, more particularly directed to a bracelet. This disclosure describes numerous specific details that include specific structures in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. One skilled in the art will appreciate that one may practice the present invention without these specific details. As best seen in FIG. 1, the modular toy bracelet 5 of the present invention includes a plurality of connecting cases 100, with each connecting case 100 having a top portion 80 and a bottom portion 10 with an engaging means on the back side 40 for removably engaging the top portion 80 to the bottom portion 10. The modular toy bracelet 5 of the present invention also includes an engaging means on a first and second lateral sides 20, 30 for removably linking each connecting case 100 to another connecting case 200. The top portion 80 of the connecting case 100 is removably and hingedly connected to the bottom portion 10 at the back side 40 by any engaging means to allow the top portion 80 to open and close as a lid over the bottom portion 10 by pivoting at the back side via the engaging means.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top portion 80 and the bottom portion 10 are hingedly engaged by connecting the extending member 86 of the top portion 80 to the receiving member 42 of the bottom portion 10 in a clasping mechanism on the back side 40. The extending member 86 of the top portion 80 clasps over the receiving member 42 of the bottom portion 10 by gently pushing and clasping the parts together. In the preferred embodiment, the extending member 86 is a structure attached to and extending perpendicularly downward at ninety degrees from the back side 40 of the top portion 42, and the extending member 86 includes two perpendicularly protruding structures with inwardly and cylindrically shaped openings to hook onto and to engage the receiving member 42 of the bottom portion 10. The cylindrical opening of the extending member 86 of the top portion 80 is flexible to removably and hingedly attach to the receiving member 42 by a clasping mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the receiving member 42 of the bottom portion is a crossbar attached in a parallel direction in the horizontal axis of the connecting case 100 in the inner space of the back side 40 of the bottom portion 10 to removably and hingedly clasp into and connect to the extending member 86 of the top portion 80 on the back side 40. As the extending member 86 of the top portion 80 firmly, removably, and hingedly clasps onto the receiving member 42 of the bottom portion 10 on the back side, the top portion 80 can be easily opened or closed, providing a pivoting movement as a lid moves up and down over a container. The connecting case 100 of the present invention with the top portion 80 and the bottom portion 10 can be closed by using any engaging means to attach the top portion 80 to the bottom portion 10 on the back side 40, and the engaging means is not limited to the structures of the extending member 86 and the receiving member 42. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom portion 10 of the connecting case 100 is shaped as a rectangular case, creating an interior cavity 50 and a compartment to hold articles inside the connecting case 100, particularly when the top portion 80 is closed as a lid over the bottom portion 10. The interior cavity 50 is preferably big enough to hold articles such as edibles, charms, cosmetic items, small toy items, and the like.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top portion 80 has a latch 84 at the frontal side 14 to fit and close over a catch 12 of the bottom portion 10 at the frontal side 14. The latch 84 is smooth on the outer section with a slight notch on the inner and lower section to snap over the catch 12, which is a slightly outwardly shaped slit as used in a typical snap fit of a lid over a plastic-like container. The top portion 80 may be simply closed over the bottom portion 10 by gently pressing the top portion 80 and the bottom portion 10 together between any two fingers to snap the two parts together. To open the top portion 80 from the bottom portion 10, the latch 84 may be slightly lifted up by using a gentle force in order to access articles stored in the interior cavity 50. The simple engaging means at the back side 40 and the frontal side 14 allows easy construction of the top portion 80 to the bottom portion 10 and easy access to the articles stored in the interior cavity 50 between the top and bottom portions 80, 10. The connecting case 100 of the present invention with the top portion 80 and the bottom portion 10 can be closed by using any engaging means to fit and close the top portion 80 over the bottom portion 10, and the engaging means is not limited to structures of the latch 84 and the catch 12. Even though the connecting case 100 is described to have a latch 84 of the top portion 80 to close over a catch 12 of the bottom portion 10 by a snap mechanism, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the engaging means on the back side 40 and the frontal side 14 of the top and bottom portions 80, 10 are described herein as clasping structures and snapping structures, respectively, other engaging means could be used to connect the top portion 80 to the bottom portion 10 in constructing the plurality of connecting cases 100 and to close the top portion 80 over the bottom portion 10 in order to hold articles in the interior cavity 50.
As best seen in FIG. 2, a top view of one preferred embodiment of the modular toy bracelet 5 illustrates a plurality of connecting cases with a first connecting case 100 removably and hingedly linking to a second connecting case 200 via an engaging means to assemble the modular toy bracelet 5. Each connecting case 100 has a first and second lateral sides 20, 30. As best seen in FIG. 2A, the first connecting case 100 has a protruding member 22 on the first lateral side 20 and a support member 32 on the second lateral side 30. The protruding member 22 is not limited to being on the first lateral side but can be located on the opposite side as long as all the other connecting cases consistently have the same structure on either side for connecting the protruding member 22 of one connecting case from one side to the support member 32 of another connecting case on the other side. The engaging means for the connecting cases to hingedly and removably link the cases together comprise the protruding member 22 and the support member 32. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protruding member 222 of the second connecting case 200 is a protruding structure shaped like a ladder with two outer portions 221 attached to the middle portion of the first lateral side and outwardly protruding from the first lateral side 220 of the second connecting case 200. A perpendicular crossbar 223 shaped as a long and thin cylinder is attached between the two protruding outer portions 221, forming a ladder-like protruding member 222. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support member 32 of the first connecting case 100 is a complementary protruding structure attached to the middle portion and expanding the entire middle portion of the second lateral side 30 of the first connecting case 100. More specifically, the support member 32 of the first connecting case 100 is the same length as the crossbar 223 of the protruding member 222 and has a complementary aperture 34 (not readily seen in FIG. 2), generally inwardly cylindrical in shape, that removably and hingedly clasps and fits over the crossbar 223 of the protruding member 222 of the second connecting case 200. The complementary aperture 34 of the support member 32 from the first connecting case 100 that is generally shaped inwardly cylindrical extending throughout the entire support member receives the crossbar 223 of the protruding member 222 by gently pushing together the support member 32 over the protruding member 222 as shown in FIG. 2A. More specifically, the crossbar 223 is inserted into the aperture 34 of the support member 32 by gently forcing the parts to clasp together, thereby removably and hingedly linking the first and second connecting cases 100, 200 together for assembling the modular toy bracelet 5. The crossbar 223 of the protruding member 222 engaged in the aperture 34 at the lateral sides allows pivotal movement on the y-axis at the lateral sides between the connecting cases 100, 200 once the support member 32 and the protruding member 222 are clasped together (best seen in FIG. 3A). The two connecting cases 100, 200 are hingedly attached, allowing flexible and pivotal movement of the connecting cases 100, 200 at the engaging means to comfortably and flexibly fit around a wrist of a user.
Even though the connecting case 100 is described to have a support member 32 with an inwardly cylindrical aperture 34 by receiving the complementary cylindrically shaped crossbar 223 of the protruding member 222 of the second connecting case 200 to removably link with the second connecting case 200, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, but that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the engaging means on the second lateral side 30 of the first connecting case 100 and the first lateral side 220 of the second connecting case 200 are described herein as structures to clasp together, other engaging means could be used to connect the first connecting case 100 to the second connecting case 200 as known to those skilled in the art. The top portions 80, 280 are also interchangeable with other top portions with different design features and colors, since the top portions 80, 280 are removably and interchangeably attached to the bottom portions 10, 210 via the engaging means previously described.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of a modular toy bracelet 5 of the present invention includes a plurality of connecting cases with a first connecting case 100 hingedly and removably connecting to a second connecting case 200 via the engaging means to assemble the modular bracelet 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3, the support member 32 with the cylindrical aperture 34 can be more easily illustrated in the side view of the first connecting case 100. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting case 100 has a support member 32 on the second lateral side 30 with an inwardly cylindrical aperture 34 extending throughout the support member 32 to receive the crossbar 223 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A) of the protruding member 222 attached to the first lateral side 220 of the second connecting case 200. By gently pushing together the two connecting cases 100, 200 for the crossbar 223 (shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A) to be received in the complementary aperture 34 of the support member 32 attached to the second lateral side 30 of the first connecting case 100, the two connecting cases 100, 200 can be removably and hingedly linked together to construct an adjustable bracelet. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the frontal side 14 view of the first connecting case 100 and the second connecting case 200 with the top portions 80, 280 are closed over the bottom portions 10, 210 to store articles in the interior cavity 50 (shown in FIG. 1). The top portions 80, 280 of the two connecting cases 100, 200 can be easily opened or closed for users to access articles such as cosmetics, edibles, charms, notes, or other small items stored in the interior cavity 50. In the preferred embodiment, the undersides 16, 216 of the bottom portions 10, 210 for the connecting cases are preferably flat to fit comfortably around a wrist of the user, but the shape of the undersides 16, 216 is not limited to being flat. The undersides 16, 216 can be slightly convex or outwardly circular to create more space in the interior cavity 50 to hold more or larger articles and to uniformly accommodate the shape of the top portions 80, 280 to form containers.
As best seen in FIG. 4, the modular toy bracelet 5 comprises a plurality of connecting cases 100 removably and hingedly linked together for flexibility and interchangeability. In one preferred embodiment, the shape of the plurality of connecting cases 100 is rectangular or square. As best seen in FIG. 5 in an alternative embodiment of the modular toy bracelet 5, the plurality of connecting cases 100 are circularly shaped that are removably and hingedly linked together for flexibility and interchangeability. Accordingly, the shape of the connecting cases 100 can be in any form, including but not limited to stars, flowers, circles, rectangles, triangles, hearts, and other shapes.
As best seen in FIG. 6, the modular toy bracelet 5 of the present invention includes a plurality of connecting cases 100 with different shapes, removably and hingedly linked together for flexibility and interchangeability and the plurality of connecting cases 100 can have a wide variety of designs, colors and features. From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the plurality of connecting cases 100 are removable from and hingedly attachable to other connecting cases for interchangeability. In the alternative embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 6, the shape of the connecting cases 100 can be in any form, including but not limited to stars, flowers, circles, rectangles, triangles, hearts, and other shapes. Thus, the plurality of connecting cases 100 with different shapes, colors, and designs may be interchangeably and hingedly linked to each other by mixing and matching the different connecting cases. The connecting cases 100 are preferably formed of plastic material, recyclable lightweight materials, or other common materials used to make toy products and the like with different colors, designs, features, and shapes. The connecting cases 100 may bear different decorative exterior features or colors on the upper side 82 of the top portions 80, and the top portions 80 may be interchangeable and removable to connect with any bottom portion 10 with different design features or colors on the bottom portions 10. According to the present invention, the upper side 82 of the top portions 80 are preferably provided in a wide range of designs, including but not limited to geometric shape themes, flower themes, various color themes, and other fun themes to appeal to children.
In the illustrated embodiment as best seen in FIG. 7, the removable and hinged engagement between the protruding members 22 and the support members 32 from the lateral sides of each connecting case 100 allows for flexible and pivotal movement of the bracelet to fit around a wrist. The length of the modular bracelet 5 is easily adjustable by taking out a connecting case to shorten the length or by inserting more connecting cases to lengthen the bracelet 5 to accommodate the wrist size of a user.
Numerous modifications and variations of the modular toy bracelet disclosed herein will occur to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that these modifications and variations, and equivalents thereof, may be practiced while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A modular toy bracelet comprising:

(a) a plurality of connecting cases wherein each connecting case has a top portion and a bottom portion, the portions removably attached in a closed position defining an interior cavity; and

(b) the plurality of connecting cases being removably linked together wherein the bottom portion of each connecting case includes an engaging means on a first lateral side and a second lateral side, and the engaging means on the first lateral side of the connecting case is detachably engaged to the engaging means on the second lateral side of another connecting case to construct the toy bracelet.

2. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the connecting case is interchangeable with a differently shaped connecting case when constructing the toy bracelet.

3. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the connecting cases are adjustably linked together via the engaging means of the connecting cases to fit a user.

4. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity is for holding articles.

5. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the top portion is hingedly attached to the bottom portion of the connecting case on a back side for movably opening the top portion of the connecting case for allowing access to the articles in the interior cavity.

6. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the top portion of each connecting case is interchangeable with the top portion from other connecting cases to provide different exterior features.

7. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the engaging means of the first lateral side of the bottom portion is a protruding member with two protruding structures with a perpendicular crossbar attached between the two protruding structures.

8. The modular toy bracelet of claim 7, wherein the second lateral side of the bottom portion has a support member with a protruding structure having an aperture to removably receive the crossbar of the protruding member.

9. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the top portion has a latch on a frontal side.

10. The modular toy bracelet of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion has a catch on the frontal side wherein the latch from the top portion snaps over the catch in the closed position.

11. A modular toy bracelet comprising:

(a) a plurality of connecting cases wherein each connecting case has a top portion with a latch and a bottom portion with a catch wherein the latch and the catch are engaged in a closed position defining an interior cavity for holding articles; and

(b) the plurality of connecting cases being removably linked together wherein the bottom portion of each connecting case has a first lateral side with a protruding member and a second lateral side with a support member, and the protruding member of the first lateral side of the connecting member is removably received by the support member of the second lateral side of another connecting case to construct the bracelet to attach to a wrist.

12. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the connecting case is interchangeable with a differently shaped connecting case when constructing the toy bracelet.

13. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the top portion is hingedly attached to the bottom portion of the connecting case on a back side for pivotally opening the top portion of the connecting case for allowing access to the articles in the interior cavity.

14. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the protruding member on the first lateral side has two protruding structures with a perpendicular crossbar attached between the two protruding structures.

15. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the supporting member on the second lateral side has a protruding structure having an inwardly cylindrical aperture to removably receive the crossbar of the protruding member.

16. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the top portion of each connecting case is interchangeable with the top portion from other connecting cases to provide different exterior features.

17. The modular toy bracelet of claim 11, wherein the connecting cases are adjustably linked together to fit a user.

18. A modular toy bracelet for holding articles comprising:

(a) a plurality of connecting cases wherein each connecting case has a top portion that is hingedly attached to a bottom portion on a back side for pivotally opening the top portion to access the articles, the top portion having a latch and the bottom portion having a catch on a frontal side wherein the latch and the catch are engaged in a closed position defining an interior cavity for holding the articles; and

(b) the plurality of connecting cases being removably linked together wherein the bottom portion of each connecting case having a first lateral side with a protruding member and a second lateral side with a support member wherein the protruding member has a crossbar to be hingedly received by an aperture of the support member of the second lateral side of another connecting case to construct the bracelet to attach to a wrist of a user.

19. The modular toy bracelet of claim 18, wherein the connecting case is interchangeable with a differently shaped connecting case when constructing the toy bracelet.

20. The modular toy bracelet of claim 18, wherein the top portion of each connecting case is interchangeable with the top portion from other connecting cases to provide different exterior features.

21. The modular toy bracelet of claim 18, wherein the connecting cases are adjustably linked together to fit the wrist of the user.