US3742641A - Toy bank - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy bank comprising a collapsible enclosure and having a coincarrying figure pivotally disposed upon one of the walls of the enclosure for movement toward and away from an opening provided in a top panel of the enclosure, the coin-carrying figure having capacity for casting a coin through the opening in the top panel for confinement within the enclosure.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Green 1 July3, 1973 i 1 TOY BANK [76] Inventor: Franklin H. Green, 200 Yale St..

Roslyn Heights, L. 1., NY.

[22] Filed: June 8, 1972 [2]] Appl. No. 260,905 7 [52] US. Cl. 46/4, 229/16 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/00 [58] Field of Search 46/2-5; 229/16 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,918,691 7/1933 Eschenbacher 46/4 3,439,444 4/1969 Smith 46/4 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene 4W4!" 559."!!21-599953594198-. Attorney-Abraham Friedman, Abraham Goodman et al.

[ 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A toy bank comprising a collapsible enclosure and having a coin-carrying figure pivotally disposed upon one of the walls of the enclosure for movement toward and away from an opening provided in a top panel of the enclosure, the coin-carrying figure having capacity for casting a coin through the opening in the top panel for confinement within the enclosure.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures TOY BANK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a toy bank, and more particularly to a toy bank which can be entirely collapsed into a very thin arrangement so as to permit mailing thereof in a manner akin to that of a greeting card.

As is well understood, there are many conventional toy banks which employ a movable member for carrying a coin from one position remote from a coin slot provided in the bank, to a position proximate the coin slot so as to cast the coin through the coin slot and into the bank. However, toy banks of this nature are generally constituted of a rigid material which cannot be collapsed and, therefore, require extensive space and packaging to permit mailing thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible bank which can be mailed in a manner as may be a greeting card.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible bank which employs a pivotal figure for casting a coin into the bank enclosure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy bank having a movable figure which requires a degree of skill, to some extent, for casting a coin into the bank enclosure.

To this end, the present invention relates generally to a toy bank comprising a flat bank having a predetermined army of scored folding lines which define adjacent panels. The panels are foldable relative to one another along the respective scored folding lines to provide an assembled enclosure. Fastening means are detachably associated with the enclosure for retaining the assembled condition of the latter, yet permit dismantling of the enclosure such that selected of said panels are collapsible into superposed relation upon one another. One of the panels has an opening formed therein through which is insertable a coin to be confined in the assembled enclosure. Coin-carrier means are supported by a second of said panels for movement from a coin-carrying position remote from the opening to an extreme tilt position proximate the opening so as to cast a coin into the assembled enclosure through the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the toy bank pursuant to the present invention, wherein a coin-carrier is in a position remote from the opening in the bankenclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bank in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1, however, the coin-carrier is in its extreme tilt position to permit casting of a coin into the opening of the bank enclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a flat blank which may be utilized for providing a scenic background for the coin-carrier;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the coin-carrier; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a further blank in which is provided scored folding lines permitting folding of various panels relative to one another into an enclosure arrangement for confining coins.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the present invention relates gener ally to a toy bank denoted by the reference character 10. The bank 10 includes an enclosure 12 which is formed from a thin flat blank 14 illustrated in FIG. 6, and constituted of paper board or plastic and the like, the enclosure 12 pivotally supporting, in a manner as will be clarified below, a coin-carrier 16 for movement from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The coin-carrier 16 is also a flat blank, and as illustrated in FIG. 5, is provided with a first limb 18, in the form of a ski, from which extends a skier 20 having an outstretched hand 22 in which is formed a slot 24 for detachably confining a coin or the like (not shown).

The coin-carrier 16 is also provided with a second limb 26 which cooperates with the first limb 18 for defining what may be characterized as a bell-crank having a pivot point 28 between the first and second limbs 18 and 26 respectively. A push-pull handle 30 is pivotally mounted at 32 upon the second limb 26 to permit pivoting of the coin-carrier 16 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to that position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The bank 10, pursuant to the preferred embodiment thereof, is also provided with a third flat blank 34 in which is provided an opening 36 for accommodating a pivot pin or the like (not shown), that pivot pin utilized for pivotally interconnecting the coin-carrier 16 to the enclosure 12 at 28 as denoted generally in FIGS. 1 and 3. Moreover, the blank 34 is also provided with an arcuate slot 38, likewise, for accommodating a pivot pin or the like (not shown), that pivot pin utilized for interconnecting the push-pull handle 30 and the second limb 26 of the coin-carrier 16.

The blank 34 is provided with still another opening which may be characterized as an arcuate coin-guide slot 40 terminating in a lowermost end portion 41 (as denoted in FIG. 3). The arcuate coin-guide slot 40 is provided so as to permit a coin (not shown) to be held within the slot 24 formed in the hand 22 of the skier 20, the coin extending transversely of the plane of the blank 34 and partially through the arcuate coin-guide slot 40 as the coin-carrier 16 is moved from that position illustrated in FIG. 1 to that position illustrated in FIG. 3, this for permitting casting the coin through a coin-receiving opening 42 (FIG. 2) formed in a horizontal top segment 44 of the enclosure 12, relative to which extends an inclined top segment 46 which constitutes the remaining portion of the top panel for the enclosure 12.

In other words, as the handle 30 is pulled outwardly,

v or in a direction to the right in FIG. 1, the coin-carrier 16 will pivot about the pivot point 28 from a coincarrying position illustrated in FIG. 1 to an extreme tilt position illustrated in FIG. 3. As the coin-carrier 16 is in fact pivoted, the coin held within the slot 24 formed in the hand of the skier 20 will ride transversely within the confines of the arcuate coin-guide slot 40 provided in the blank 34 until the extreme tilt position illustrated in FIG. 3 is reached. Thereupon, the coin will contact the end 41 of the arcuate coin-guide slot 40 and be caused to flip out of the slot 24 provided in the hand of the skier 20 so as to be cast through the coinreceiving opening 42 of the enclosure 12.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 6, the enclosure 12 is formed from a blank 14 in which are provided an array of scored folding lines defining adjacent panels which may be folded relative to one another into superposed relation. In this respect, extending along the center of the blank 14 are a pair of closely spaced scored folding lines 50 and 52 respectively between which is defined a bottom panel 54 and externally of which are defined a front panel 56 and a rear panel 58. The rear panel 58 is provided with an arcuate slot 60 for accommodating the pivot pin (not shown) pivotally interconnecting the handle 30 to the coin-carrier 16 at 32. Moreover, the rear panel 58 is provided with an opening 62 adjacent the arcuate slot 60 for pivotally accommodating a pivot pin (not shown) pivotally'interconnecting the coin-carrier l6 internally of the enclosure 12 upon that face of the rear panel 58 as illustratively exposed in FIG. 6.

A further pair of scored folding lines 64 and 66 are provided adjacent the rear panel 58 and define therebetween a first top panel segment 68, that which denotes the horizontal top segment 44 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and a flap 70 for being concealed and superposed against the front panel 56 when the blank 14 is properly assembled, as will be clarified below.

Extending adjacent the front panel 56 are a pair of scored folding lines 72 and 74 between which is defined a second top panel segment 76, that which constitutes the inclined top segment 46 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and outside of which are defined a pair of spaced flaps 78 and 80, and a tongue 82 for being inserted within the slot 84 provided in the top panel segment 68 when the entire blank 14 is properly assembled, as will be clarified below.

At one side of the blank 14 are provided a pair of transverse scored folding lines 86 and 88 respectively between which is defined a side panel 90 and outside of which is defined an end flap 92. The scored folding line 86 also defines a pair of flaps 94 and 96 which are to be concealed internally of the side panel 90 when the enclosure is assembled.

The other side of the blank 14 is provided with a further transverse scored line 98 which defines to the right thereof an opposite side panel 100 and together with the scored folding lines 50 and 52 respectively a pair of flaps 102 and 104 which are likewise to be concealed internally of the enclosure 12 when the blank 14 is properly assembled. The flap 104 is provided with a slot 106 through which projects at least partially the push-pull handle 30 of the assembled enclosure 12, the remainder of the push-pull handle 30 and the second limb 26 of the coin-carrier 16 being concealed within the enclosure 12 when assembled.

In order to properly describe the manner by which the blank 14 is assembled into the enclosure 12, and for purposes of clarity and brevity, those portions, surfaces or faces of the blank 14 as illustratively exposed in FIG. 6 are defined hereinafter as upper faces, whereas those concealed surfaces of the blank 14 beneath the plane of FIG. 6, and directly opposite the upper faces aforementioned, are defined hereinafter as lower faces.

Assembling of the blank 14 into the enclosure 12 is effected by first folding the front panel 56 relative to the bottom panel 54 upwardly along the scored folding line and thereafter folding the rear panel 58 relative to the bottom panel 54 upwardly along the scored folding line 52. Thus, the upper face of the front panel 56 will be directly opposite the upper face of the rear panel 58. Thereafter, the top panel segment 68 is folded toward the front panel 56 along the scored folding line 64 while the flap is folded along the scored folding line 66 such that the lower face of the flap 70 contacts the upper face of the front panel 56 in superposed relation. It should be understood of course that assembling of the blank 14 is effected after the coincarrier 16 is pivotally superposed and connected upon the upper face of the rear panel 58 such that the point 28 on the second limb 26 of the coin-carrier 16 is pivotally mounted upon the opening 62 of the rear panel 58.

Thereafter, the second top panel segment 76 is folded along the scored folding line 72 while the spaced flaps 78 and are folded along the scored folding line 74, the lower faces of the flaps 78 and 80 being brought into superposed relation with the upper face of the rear panel 58 so as to permit insertion of the tongue 82 extending from the second top panel segment 76 into the slot 84 provided in the first top panel segment 68. Thus, the first top panel segment 68 and the second top panel segment 76 cooperatively define the entire top panel for the enclosure 12. The flaps 94 and 96 extending to the left of the blank 14 are then folded along the scored folding line 86 while the side panel is likewise folded along the scored folding line 86 such that the lower face of each of the flaps 94 and 96 contacts the upper face of the side panel 90. Thereafter, the end flap 92 is folded along the scored folding line 88 such that the lower face of the end flap 92 contacts, in superposed relation, the upper face of the front panel 56.

The flaps 102 and 104, to the right of the blank 14 are then folded along the scored folding lines 50 and 52 respectively, while the opposite side panel is folded upwardly along the transverse folding line 98, thereby,

permitting the lower face of each of the flaps 102 and 104 respectively to be brought into superposed contact with the upper face of each of the front and rear panels 56 and 58 respectively, the free end of the push-pull handle 30 being inserted through the slot 106 provided in the flap 104 so as to extend outwardly of the enclosure 12.

In this manner, the enclosure 12 is formed from the blank 14, the latter having fastener openings 108 respectively provided in the panels 56, 58, 70, 92, 102 and 104 respectively. These fastener openings 108 are arranged so as to provide a pair of co-axially aligned passageways for receiving respectively a pair of pins 110 or the like which are adapted to detachably yet reliably and firmly maintain the blank 14 as folded into the configuration of the enclosure 12 in a manner as aforementioned.

Once assembled, the push-pull handle 30 as projecting through the slot 106 formed in the flap 104 may be manipulated by being either pushed inwardly of the enclosure 12 or pulled outwardly of the enclosure 12 to thereby pivotally swing the coin-carrier 16 from that position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the extreme tilt position as illustrated in FIG. 3 and permit casting of a coin held in the slot 24 of the hand of the skier 20 into the enclo sure 12 through the opening 42 in the top panel segment 68. The front panel 56 adjacent the top panel segment 68 is provided with an enlarged contour or elevated lip 112 so as to aid in guiding the coin as cast into the opening 42. The coin-carrier 16 moves along the straight edge 114 between the flap 78 and 80 along the upper face of the rear panel 58. The flat blank 34 cooperates generally with the elevated contour or lip 112 of the front panel 56 for guiding a coin into the opening 42 when the latter is cast by the coin-carrier 16 downwardly toward the top panel segment 68, the blank 34 being superposed against the lower face of the rear panel 58 such that the arcuate openings 38 and 60 are mutually aligned and the pivotal openings 36 and 62 are mutually aligned likewise.

The exposed face of the blank 34 and the exposed faces of the assembled enclosure 12 are provided with a scenic background for the skier 20 so as to impart to the arrangement on aesthetic appearance, the entire arrangement being collapsible such that selected panels are superposed upon one another for permitting mailing or other storage thereof as desired.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy bank comprising a flat blank; said blank having a predetermined array of scored folding lines which define adjacent panels; said panels being foldable relative to one another along the respective scored folding lines to provide an assembled enclosure; fastening means detachably associated with said enclosure for retaining the assembled condition of the latter, yet permitting dismantling of said enclosure such that selected of said panels are collapsible into superposed relation upon one another; one of said panels having an opening formed therein through which is insertable a coin to be confined in the assembled enclosure; and coin-carrier means supported by a second of said panels for movement from a coin-carrying position remote from said opening to an extreme tilt position proximate said opening so as to cast a coin into the assembled enclosure through said opening.

2. A toy bank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coin-carrier means is a second flat blank pivotally superposed upon said second panel.

3. A toy bank as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second flat blank is provided with a narrow recess which extends substantially horizontally when said coincarrier means is in said coin-carrying position remote from said opening, and is inclined relative to a plane of said opening when said coin-carrier means is in said extreme tilt position proximate said opening.

4. A toy bank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said narrow recess is of a dimension sufficient for loosely carrying a coin, yet will confine a coin until said coin-carrier means is moved into said extreme tilt position.

5. A toy bank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second flat blank includes two limbs and is pivotally superposed upon said second panel between said two limbs, one of said limbs including a portion in whichis provided said narrow recess; said bank further including a flat push-pull handle pivotally connected to the other of said limbs of said second flat blank and exposed at least partially relative to the assembled enclosure for pivotally manipulating said coin-carrier means.

6. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, wherein a third of said panels is provided with a slot, said second flat blank being pivotally superposed on said second panel internally of said assembled enclosure, said third panel extending substantially transversely of said second panel when said enclosure is assembled, said push-pull handle protruding through said slot of said third panel for manipulation.

7. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second panel is provided with an arcuate slot proximate the point at which said second flat blank is pivotally superposed upon said second panel, said push-pull handle and second flat blank being pivotally interconnected to one another through the intermediary of a pivotal fastening element which includes a portion projecting into said arcuate slot and which is movable from one end of said arcuate slot to the other as said push-pull handle moves said second flat blank.

8. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, including a third flat blank detachably superposable upon said second panel externally of the assembled enclosure, said third flat blank being provided with an arcuate coin-guide slot which terminates at one end thereof proximate and above said opening through which a coin is to be cast, said one end of the latter said slot being disposed proximate said extreme tilt position of said coin-carrier means to be engaged by a coin so as to aid in dislodging the coin from the said narrow recess in said coin-carrier means.

9. A toy bank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels of said flat blank which constitute top, bottom and opposite side walls of the assembled enclosure are of common narrow extent, and the panels which constitute front and rear walls of the assembled enclosure are of substantially similar dimension with one another, yet differ slightly in contour in that at least a portion of the front wall extends above and transversely of the opening formed in the first said panel which constitutes the top wall to aid in guiding a coin into said opening.

Claims (9)

1. A toy bank comprising a flat blank; said blank having a predetermined array of scored folding lines which define adjacent panels; said panels being foldable relative to one another along the respective scored folding lines To provide an assembled enclosure; fastening means detachably associated with said enclosure for retaining the assembled condition of the latter, yet permitting dismantling of said enclosure such that selected of said panels are collapsible into superposed relation upon one another; one of said panels having an opening formed therein through which is insertable a coin to be confined in the assembled enclosure; and coin-carrier means supported by a second of said panels for movement from a coin-carrying position remote from said opening to an extreme tilt position proximate said opening so as to cast a coin into the assembled enclosure through said opening.

2. A toy bank as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coin-carrier means is a second flat blank pivotally superposed upon said second panel.

3. A toy bank as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second flat blank is provided with a narrow recess which extends substantially horizontally when said coin-carrier means is in said coin-carrying position remote from said opening, and is inclined relative to a plane of said opening when said coin-carrier means is in said extreme tilt position proximate said opening.

4. A toy bank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said narrow recess is of a dimension sufficient for loosely carrying a coin, yet will confine a coin until said coin-carrier means is moved into said extreme tilt position.

5. A toy bank as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second flat blank includes two limbs and is pivotally superposed upon said second panel between said two limbs, one of said limbs including a portion in which is provided said narrow recess; said bank further including a flat push-pull handle pivotally connected to the other of said limbs of said second flat blank and exposed at least partially relative to the assembled enclosure for pivotally manipulating said coin-carrier means.

6. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, wherein a third of said panels is provided with a slot, said second flat blank being pivotally superposed on said second panel internally of said assembled enclosure, said third panel extending substantially transversely of said second panel when said enclosure is assembled, said push-pull handle protruding through said slot of said third panel for manipulation.

7. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second panel is provided with an arcuate slot proximate the point at which said second flat blank is pivotally superposed upon said second panel, said push-pull handle and second flat blank being pivotally interconnected to one another through the intermediary of a pivotal fastening element which includes a portion projecting into said arcuate slot and which is movable from one end of said arcuate slot to the other as said push-pull handle moves said second flat blank.

8. A toy bank as claimed in claim 5, including a third flat blank detachably superposable upon said second panel externally of the assembled enclosure, said third flat blank being provided with an arcuate coin-guide slot which terminates at one end thereof proximate and above said opening through which a coin is to be cast, said one end of the latter said slot being disposed proximate said extreme tilt position of said coin-carrier means to be engaged by a coin so as to aid in dislodging the coin from the said narrow recess in said coin-carrier means.

9. A toy bank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels of said flat blank which constitute top, bottom and opposite side walls of the assembled enclosure are of common narrow extent, and the panels which constitute front and rear walls of the assembled enclosure are of substantially similar dimension with one another, yet differ slightly in contour in that at least a portion of the front wall extends above and transversely of the opening formed in the first said panel which constitutes the top wall to aid in guiding a coin into said opening.

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