WO1989006152A1

WO1989006152A1 - Dinnerware assemblable to toy configuration

Info

Publication number: WO1989006152A1
Application number: PCT/US1989/000031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo M. B. Tiramani; Michael J. Pinkus
Original assignee: Nikkal Industries, Ltd.
Priority date: 1988-01-08
Filing date: 1989-01-05
Publication date: 1989-07-13
Also published as: CN1044766A; AU2940189A

Abstract

Disclosed is a variety of toy eating utensil and dishware sets. One is a toy boat assembly (100). The set features self-righting fork (110), knife (120), spoon (130) with plate (140), bowl (150), straw (160) and tumbler (170) which are styled to resemble portions of a boat. After or before use the plate, bowl, straw, and tumbler may be assembled to form a toy.

Description

DINNER ARE ASSEMBLABLE TO TOY CONFIGURATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to dual function toys and children's dinnerware sets. Toys which can be assembled and disassembled by young children are well- known in the art. Similarly, fanciful dinnerware for children is also well-known. The improvement of the present invention is the provision of toys which can be converted to dinnerware sets and which provide both entertainment and motor development in the disassembly and reassembly and in grasping and using utensils.

In particular, the present invention is intended to improve the ability of very young children to grasp and use hand-held implements and utensils such as knives, forks, spoons and toothbrushes. Prior children's utensils have provided various smooth shapes and handles to assist children in learning to use them. The prior art does not provide utensils which a child can reach out and grasp without having to pick them up from a horizontal position on a surface on which they rest. The present invention addresses this problem by providing utensils which stand essentially vertically, having a rounded base and low center of gravity which permits the utensils to be self-righting when tipped.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is a toy play set, presented in several embodiments, which when assembled is a toy and when disassembled can be used as children's dinnerware. A toy boat, a toy fort, a toy turtle and a toy clock are specific embodiments herein taught. Each of these can be used with self-righting play figures. When disassembled, the components of the toys serve as a plate, bowl, cup or tumbler, and straw. This arrangement of components helps young children develop dexterity in grasping and assembling and disassembling toys. It further serves to develop their creative abilities by converting a single assembled object to a different function when it is disassembled and reoriented. Also, the inherent entertainment value encourages children to enjoy mealtime. The accompanying play figures of the toy sets serve as children's hand¬ held implements, referred to herein as utensils, such as a knife, fork, spoon or toothbrush, each of which is designed to be vertically self-righting. The utensil is comprised of a functional element which is attached to a ball or bulb-shaped handle which has a rounded base. The handle is weighted by either a weight contained inside the hollow base or by means of thicker material in the base than elsewhere. In either instance, the center of gravity is lowered to a point near the base of the handle as a result of the weight in the handle base. When the utensil is placed on a flat horizontal surface, it automatically stands essentially vertical. When tipped, the utensil rocks on its rounded base, but does not tip over on its side. The base can be textured to provide improved traction on the surface. A small flat area at the very bottom of the handle base can be provided to assist in the return to and maintenance of vertical positioning when the utensil is at rest.

The implement head of the utensil is provided with a drip-catching rim at its base in the area where it attaches to the handle. The handle and implement head are made of flexible plastic material, in one presently preferred embodiment of the utensils, the materials have been selected to prevent flexing of the utensils. Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment, flexing along the implement head is contemplated. In such other embodiment, the shape of the implement head, the choice of materials for the implement head, variations in the bulb- or ball-shaped handle, and choice of handle materials may permit flexing of the utensils, which will assist a young child in using the utensils. Such flexing would be especially useful in toothbrush versions of the present inventions. By standing essentially vertical, the utensil can be easily grasped by a very young child, eliminating the need for the child to pick a prone utensil off a horizontal surface.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a self- righting knife (la), fork (lb), spoon (lc);

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a self- righting knife with molded handle surface features and molded and surface-applied features on the implement head (blade) of the knife;

Figure 3 shows an exploded construction drawing of a spoon showing molded handle halves, a weight to be inserted in the base of the handle and an implement head (spoon) to be inserted in the top of the handle;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of utensils used as play figures with a toy boat assembled to be used as a toy; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of utensil play figures and a toy boat disassembled to be a cup, straw, bowl, plate and knife, fork and spoon;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of utensil play figures and a toy fort assembled to be used as a toy;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of utensil play figures and a toy fort disassembled to be a tumbler, straw, bowl, plate and knife, fork and spoon;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of utensil turtle eggs with a toy turtle assembled to be used as a toy;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of utensil play figures and a toy turtle disassembled to be a cup, lid, straw, bowl, plate and knife, fork and spoon;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a toy clock assembled to be a toy;

Figure 11 shows an overhead view of a toy clock with clock hands and clock numerals and a knob for turning the clock hands;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a toy clock disassembled to be a cup, bowl, and plate;

Figure 13 shows an exploded view of a gear mechanism or turning the clock hands. Best Mode For Carrying Out the Invention

Figure 1 shows various embodiments of hand-held implements, referred to as utensils herein, each having a rounded handle and an implement head. Figure la shows a vertically self-righting knife; Figure lb shows such a self-righting fork; Figure lc shows such a self-righting spoon. Not shown, but also contemplated by this invention is a similar self-righting toothbrush. Each of these utensils has a rounded ball- or bulb-shaped handle 10, with a rounded base 18 which may be textured, serrated or otherwise roughened to improve traction on the surface on which the utensil is placed. Each utensil has a drip catching rim 15. The knife has implement head 20 which is a blade 26 having a cutting edge 24 and cutting tip 22. The fork has an implement head 30 which is a rounded fork head 34 having a plurality of fork prongs 32. Such fork prongs are rounded at their tips to minimize the likelihood that a child using the fork would stick himself with the fork. The fork head has concave features, similar to a spoon, to assist in picking up food items such as peas. The spoon has an implement head 40 having a spoon head which is concave on one side 42 and convex on the opposite side 44. The toothbrush embodiment, not shown, has an implement head which is a toothbrush head which includes a shaft to which are attached bristles. These utensils are each made vertically self-righting to remain standing essentially upright on their bases by locating the center of gravity in the base 18 of the handle 10. This center of gravity can be achieved by placing a weight in the base 18 of handle 10, or alternatively, by making the handle more massive than the remainder of the utensil. This latter result can be achieved by making the handle 10 hollow and using thicker handle material in the base than elsewhere in the handle. The base of the handle may be completely rounded. Alternatively, a small flat area at the very bottom of the base may be provided which will assist in maintaining the utensil in a vertical position or in restoring it to a vertical position if tipped.

Figure 2 shows an exemplary utensil, in this case a knife, having molded surface features and surface applications to make the knife appear as a fanciful play figure. The implement head 20 is a blade 26 having a cutting edge 24 and serrated cutting tip 22, as in Figure 1. Additionally, a molded face 28 is provided on blade 26 opposite to the cutting edge 24 of the blade 26. Painting or surface application can be used to enhance the face and provide eyes and other features. Molded arms 12 are provided for handle 10, as well as molded tie 14 and buttons 16, thereby creating a fanciful human-like torso. Again, surface features can be enhanced by surface applications or painting. Similar fanciful faces can be provided for a fork, spoon, or toothbrush utensil. Figure 2 shows the utensil rocking about its base without falling over, as indicated by arrow R.

Figure 3 shows an exploded construction view of a utensil. A handle 10 molded as two hollow hinged halves is shown. A chamber 13 is provided to house and secure a slug 21 of heavy material such as lead. A hole 19 is provided to grasp the neck 62 of an implement head 60. When the lead slug 21 is inserted in one half of chambers 13 (see arrow W) and the implement head 60 is fitted into one half of hole 19 (see arrow H) , the other handle half is folded (see arrow C) about hinge 23 until male snap clasp 17m is inserted into female snap clasp 17f. An alternative manufacturing technique would involve making the implement head an integral part of one of the handle halves. Preferred materials for the handle include, but are not limited to, FDA-approved 20% talc-filled polymeric materials, e.g., polypropylene or semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride. Preferred materials for the implement head include, but are not limited to, FDA-approved materials such as ABS resin. Other materials are envisioned, subject to being capable of withstanding wash water temperatures.

The utensils shown in Figures 1-3 have dual utility. They can be used as play figures with the toys disclosed in Figures 4-12. In addition they can be used as training utensils and oral hygiene devices for very young children. Because they have low centers of gravity and are thereby vertically self-righting, they are easy for a child to grasp and do not require the child to pick them off of a horizonal surface, in some embodiments of the invention, the implement head area will flex, thereby making it easier for a child to manipulate in using the utensil with food.

Figures 4-12 show convertible integral toys in assembled and disassembled orientations with which the utensils would be used as self-righting play figures when the toys are assembled and as self-righting utensils when the toys are disassembled. The toys are each made up of components which include vessels having open and closed ends, and other parts, whose locations are constrained by a location platform which holds the components in relative proximity to each other. Such relative proximity may be components held on the location platform adjacent to each other, or alternatively, with the components nested inside each other and nested in the location platforms. The location platform is designed to constrain the relative positions of the components without the need for the components to snap into place. This permits a very young child, possessing limited strength and dexterity to assemble and disassemble the toy. When properly placed on the location platform, the components combine with the platform to form a fanciful toy which can be used with or without the utensils as play figures, to amuse a young child. In the adjacent configuration, a larger component serves as a housing member with a flat top surface which permits the placement of play figures thereon. A smaller component on the adjacent configuration may serve as a stand for a play figure. The individual components/ within the constraints imposed by the location platform, have a dual function and utility. When the toy is disassembled by removing the components from the location platform, the location platform can^" serve as a plate, the larger of the remaining components can serve as a bowl, with the smaller remaining component serving as a cup or tumbler. A hollow thin vertical tubular component services as a straw. Various embodiments of toys which can be disassembled to serve such a dual function are illustrated in Figures 4-12. Figures 4 through 7 illustrate adjacent configuration toys. Figures 8 through 13 show nested configuration toys and components. It is envisioned that the toys may be made of any convenient material, e.g., molded plastic, preferably polypropylene, ABS resin, or high impact polystyrene, capable of withstanding wash water temperatures and being resistant to cutting abrasions. Figure 4 shows a toy boat 100 which is made up to location platform 140, which is shaped as a hull. Located inside the hull-shaped location platform 140 is a vessel shaped as a cylindrical cabin 150 and a vessel shaped as a smokestack 170 formed as a wider cylinder resting atop a narrower cylinder. The dimensions of the location platform 140 and the cabin vessel 150 and smokestack vessel 170 are determined, within reasonably narrow tolerances, such that the cabin vessel 150 and smokestack vessel 170 can each fit in only one place on the location platform 140. Utensil play figures 110, 120 and 130 can be used to fit atop the cabin 150 and smokestack 170. A hollow tubular member 160 with banner 164 is fitted within a hole at the periphery of cabin 150, thereby forming a flag.

Figure 5 shows the toy boat 100 disassembled. The concave inner surface 142 of the hull-shaped location platform 140 is used as a child's plate. Cabin vessel 150 is inverted to rest on top of railing 154, with concave bottom surface 152 serving as a bowl. Smokestack vessel 170 is inverted to rest on concave wider cylinder 172, with tubular cylinder 174 serving as a cup. Tubular flag member 160, having hollow tube 162 and banner 164 serves as a straw. Utensil 110 is used as a self-righting fork, with utensil 120 used as a self-righting knife and utensil 130 used as a self- righting spoon.

Figures 6 and 7 show a fort toy which can be disassembled in much the same way as the boat toy of figures 4 and 5. Figure 6 shows a moat-shaped location platform 440 which is essentially elliptical in shape, dimensioned so that a tower-shaped vessel 470 and castle-shaped vessel 450 can rest in only one orientation relative to each other on top of the location platform 440. Thus assembled, a toy fort surrounded by a moat is formed. Utensils 410, 420 and 430 can then be used as play figures.

Figure 7 shows the components of fort toy 400 disassembled to serve as a child's dinnerware set. Moat-shaped location platform 440, having rim 444 and flat inner surface 442 serves as a plate. Castle vessel 450 is inverted to rest on the concave battlement 454 surface, thereby exposing concave surface 452 which serves as a bowl. Similarly, tower vessel 470 is inverted to rest on concave battlements 472, exposing tubular surface 474 which serves as a cup or tumbler. Flag pole 460 which normally resides in a hole in battlements 472 is used as a straw 462 with banner 464. Utensils 410,420, and 430 are used as self-righting fork, knife and spoon.

Figures 8-13 show nested toys which can be disassembled to serve as children's dinnerware.

Figure 8 shows a toy turtle 200 having a carousel pole 274 rising from the top of its shell, reminiscent of the animals seen on carousels. In this toy play setting the utensils 210, 220 and 230 serve as turtle eggs.

Figure 9 shows the play turtle disassembled. Location platform 240 which has molded turtle head and features 244, legs 246, tail 245 and cylindrical concave surface 242 serves as a plate. The shell vessel 250 of the toy turtle, suitably marked either by surface application or molded features, and having cylindrical concave surface 252 serves as a bowl. Shell center piece vessel 270 with cylindrical concave depression 276 serves as a cup and shell crown 272 serves as a lid. Hollow carousel pole 274 serves as a straw fitted through a hole in the top of shell crown 272. In this orientation of the components of the toy, utensils 210, 220 and 230 serve as self-righting fork, knife and spoon.

Figure 10 shows a toy clock 300. The toy clock is made up of a circular location platform 340 which is provided with clock numerals 1-12. Nested within the location platform vessel 340 is a clock face vessel 350 having two pointer members, minute hand 356 and hour hand 358 and rim 359. Resting atop minute hand 356 inside shoulder 357 and in friction contact with shoulder 357 is cylindrical knob vessel 370. hen knob vessel 370 is turned, minute hand 356 moves. Minute hand 356 is connected by gears to hour hand 358. As minute hand 356 moves, hour hand 358 moves at one- twelfth the rate of minute hand 356. The utensils, not shown, may be used as play figures to be located near individual numbers to denote specific times, as for instance meal times.

Figure 11 shows an overhead view of the clock toy when assembled.

Figure 12 shows the clock toy 300 disassembled. Location platform 340 having essentially cylindrical concave depression 342 and numbered rim 344 serves as a plate. Clock face vessel 350, is inverted "to rest on rim 359 to expose essentially frusto-conical depression 352 to serve as a bowl. Knob vessel 370, inverted to expose rim 374 and essentially cylindrical concave depression 376, serves as a cup. The utensil play figures serve as self-righting knife, fork, and spoon.

Figure 13 shows an exploded gear arrangement for an embodiment of the clock hand mechanism. There are four major components, two pointer members — minute hand 356 and hour hand 358, stationary disc 322, and intermediate gear 393. Stationary disc 322 holds both minute hand 356 and hour hand 358 in essentially concentric relationship about a common center attached to clock face vessel 350, and further acts to hold and support intermediate gear 393 as it engages minute hand 356 and hour hand 358. Minute hand 356 is comprised of arm 380 attached to disc 382. On the underside of disc 382 and centered on disc 382 is spindle 361 having gear teeth 399, smooth shaft 362 and shaft lip 391. Disc 382 has rim 392. Hour hand 358 is comprised of arm 381 and disc 383. Disc 383 has annular cavity 385, rim 386, shoulder 387, gear ring 388 centered about the center of disc 383, having gear teeth 384. In the center of disc 383 is hole 389. Intermediate gear 393 is comprised of toothed gear disc 394 and toothed gear shaft 395, having gear teeth 396. Stationary disc 322 is comprised of disc 328 attached to shaft 329. Shaft 329 is centered on the center of disc 328 and has essentially cylindrical interior cavity 325 and an essentially rectangular solid of square cross-section 326. The base of shaft 329 has lip 324. Eccentric receiving hole 323 is located off-center on disc 322. Disc 322 has rim 327. Clock face vessel 350 has attached to^* it, essential at its center, receiving dipple 352 which has a shaft 353 of essentially square cross section and an exterior shaft 354 formed as an essentially right circular cylinder. The clock hand mechanism is assembled by placing hour hand 358.on receiving dipple shaft 354. Stationary disc 322 is placed over gear ring 388, with shaft 326 lowered into receiving dipple cavity 353, and held in place by lip 324. Intermediate gear 393 toothed gear shaft 395 is placed in stationary disc 323 eccentric receiving hole 323, with toothed gear shaft 395 intermeshing with hour hand gear teeth 384. Minute hand 356 is placed over this assembly with smooth shaft 362 fitted into stationary disc cavity 325 and held in place by shaft lip 391, which snaps into place in cavity 325. Minute hand gear teeth 399 intermesh with intermediate gear teeth 396. Disc 382 fits directly over disc 383, with rim 392 resting on shoulder 387. When knob vessel 370 is held in contact with shoulder 357 of disc 382, by the frictional contact of the rim 374 of knob vessel 370 and shoulder 357 and the pressure applied by a child's hand the minute hand 356 can be turned clockwise, (arrow M), intermediate gear 393 is turned counterclockwise (arrow S); in turn, hour hand 358 is turned clockwise (arrow T) at a rate one- twelfth of that of minute hand 356.

Although four embodiments of toys which can be converted to dinnerware sets have been shown, other adjacent or nested convertible integral toys are envisioned by the present invention.

Similarly, other self-righting implements are envisioned in addition to the fork, knife, spoon and toothbrush shown herein.

The above discussion and related illustrations of the present' invention are directed primarily to preferred embodiments and practices of the invention. However, it is believed that numerous changes and modifications in the actual implementation of the concepts described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is contemplated that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1 1. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement

2 comprising:

3 a. a handle having a rounded base,

4

5 b. an implement head attached to said handle,

6 with the center of gravity of said implement

7 located in said base of said handle.

1 2. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in

2 claim 1, further comprising a drip rim located along

3 said implement near the point of attachment of said

4 implement head to said handle.

1 3. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as a

2 claim 1, wherein said handle base is textured.

3

1 4. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in

2 claim 1, wherein said implement head is a fork having a plurality of prongs.

1 5. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as a 2 claim 1, wherein said implement head is a spoon.

•j 6. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in 2 claim 1, wherein said implement head is a knife blade.

7. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said implement head is a toothbrush.

8. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said location of said center of gravity in said handle is by means of a weight located in the base of said handle.

9. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said location of said center of gravity in said handle is by means of greater mass of handle material in said handle base than elsewhere in said handle.

10. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said handle includes fanciful human-like torso features.

11. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said implement head includes fanciful human-like facial features.

12. A vertically self-righting hand-held implement as in claim 1, wherein said implement flexes in the area near said attachment of said handle to said implement head.

13. A toy comprising: a. a first vessel having an open end and a closed end,

b. a cover fitting over said open end of said first vessel,

c. a second vessel having an open end and a closed end, said open end receiving said first vessel and holding said first vessel in horizontally immovable relation to said second vessel,

d. a location platform having an open cavity in which said second vessel is placed, holding said second vessel in ¹⁷ horizontally immovable relation to

¹⁸ said location platform, thereby

¹⁹ creating an integral toy; 20

²¹ wherein said toy is disassembled by removing said first

22 vessel from said second vessel and said second vessel

²³ from said location platform, thereby converting said

²⁴ first vessel to a cup, converting said cover to a lid,

²⁵ converting said second vessel to a bowl and converting

²⁶.said location platform to a plate.

1 14. A toy as in claim 13, wherein said cover and said

2 second vessel combine to form the shape of a turtle

3 shell and wherein further said location platform

4 includes molded turtle head, turtle legs and turtle tail

5 features.

.1 15. A toy comprising:

2 a. a first open-ended vessel having a

3 cavity formed therein,

4

5 b. a second open-ended vessel having two

6 cavities therein, said cavities

7 separated by a partition essentially

8 perpendicular to said vessel walls,

9

10 c. a location platform having an open cavity holding said first vessel in

11 essentially fixed proximity to said 12 second vessel and to said location 13 platform, thereby creating an integral toy; 5 6 wherein disassembly of said toy by removal of said first 7 vessel ^"from said location platform and inverting of said 8 first vessel converts said first vessel to a bowl, g removal of said second vessel from said location ₀ platform and inverting said second vessel converts said ₁ second vessel to a cup, and removal of both said first 2 and second vessels from said location platform means 3 converts said location platform to a plate.

16. A toy as in claim 15, wherein said first vessel is essentially cylindrical in shape, said second vessel is essentially cylindrical in shape and said location platform is in the shape of. a hull.

17. A toy as in claim 15, wherein said first vessel is essentially rectangular in shape, said second vessel is essentially cylindrical in shape and said location platform is essentially elliptical in shape.

18. A toy comprising: a. a cabin-shaped vessel,

b. a smokestack-shaped vessel,

c. a hull-shaped platform holding said vessels in fixed relation to each other and to said platform. thereby forming^'a toy boat.

19. A toy as in claim 17, comprising: a flag comprising a banner attached to a hollow tube, said flag attached to said cabin-shaped vessel.

20. A toy comprising: a. a castle-shaped vessel,

b. a tower-shaped vessel,

c. a moat-shaped platform holding said vessels in fixed relation to each other and to said platform,

thereby forming a toy fort.

21. A toy as in claim 19, comprising: a flag further comprising a banner attached to a hollow tube, said flag attached to said tower-shaped vessel.

22. A toy clock comprising: a. a first vessel having an open end and a closed end,

b. a first pointer member comprised of an essentially circular member attached to an elongated member,

c. a second pointer member comprised of an essentially circular member attached to an elongated member, d. said first and second pointer members pivotally attached at a common center of said circular members to said first vessel,

e. a second vessel having an open end and a closed end, said second vessel mounted upon said first pointer member and engaged to rotate said first pointer member,

f• said first pointer member engaged to said second pointer member to rotate said second pointer member when said first pointer member is rotated,

g. a location platform having an open cavity in which said first vessel is placed, holding said second vessel in horizontally immovable relation to said location platform;

wherein said toy is disassembled by removing said second vessel from said first pointer member and inverting said second vessel, removing said first vessel from said location platform and inverting said first vessel, thereby converting said first vessel to a bowl, converting said second vessel to a cup and converting said location platform to a plate.

23. A toy clock as in claim 22 wherein said location platform has numerals 1 through 12 on the periphery thereof.