Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method of packaging toy build- ing elements for toy building sets for the construction of a toy model comprising a number of associated model sections .
• the building elements in a toy building set are packed in a number of bags, where selection of the contents of each bag is based on the criterion that the packaging machines should perform most efficiently, usually in connection with a subsequent control weighing.
• all the bags are opened and their contents discharged onto a support, following which relatively much of the time spent on building the model is consumed in finding the right elements to be used in accordance with the construction manual.
• this ' unproduc- tive' work increases with increasing size of the relevant finished model.
• This object is obtained in that the elements are divided into a number of sets corresponding to each their model section; and that the sets are kept apart by means of the packaging, e.g. in the form of the bag or boxes.
• a model can typically be divided into 5-10 portions or sections, and the construction manual indicates which portion is to be built first, and so on.
• a model section may constitute a separate model portion whereby the child can obtain the finished model by interconnecting the model portions, but it is also an option that a model portion consists of a plurality of model sections that may, in accordance with the invention, be packed in each their bag, box or the like.
• the model sections and the model portions may be classified in accordance with various criteria. For instance, a visual effect can be relatively more significant to small children whereas a distinction in accordance with the technical effect obtained is typically more significant to older children. Finally, the complexity of the model section can also play a part, in particular for the smaller children.
• the construction manual may be subdivided, one manual for each model section, supplemented with a guide how to combine the model sections to accomplish the large model, but it may also be explained in one single construction manual that may be printed or otherwise communicated, e.g. by CD-ROM.
• the invention also relates to a packaging for exercising the method.
• the method is intended for use in connection with a toy building set that comprises a number of different building elements that can be used for con- structing a toy model by interconnecting the building elements.
• the packaging comprises means configured for separately enclosing such sets of building elements; that these building sets enable the construction of respective model sections of the toy model that can be accomplished by the interconnection of said model sections.
• the packaging comprises plastics bags or boxes for keeping the building elements apart in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a finished model
• Figure 2 shows a model section and the contents of a bag for building said section
• Figure 3 shows the model which has been further enlarged by means of elements from the bag 2 shown in Figure 3;
• Figure 4 shows the model which has been enlarged by means of the building elements contained in the bag 3 shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 5 shows the contents of a bag 4 used for comple- tion of the model section shown in Figure 4 to accomplish the finished model shown in Figure 1.
• Figures 6-9 show model portions corresponding to a second embodiment
• Figure 10 shows a section of the model portion of Figure 6
• Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a first use of the model portions shown in Figures 6-9;
• Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a second use of the model portions shown in Figures 6-9;
• Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a third use of the model portions shown in Figures 6-9.
• Figure 17 shows a packaging according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a model of a fantasy vessel that can be difficult to construct for small children. It is the object of the invention to allow that the targeted age can be lowered.
• the building set can be sold in a usual manner in a box on the outside of which the model is typically depicted.
• the box there is a number of compartments that may contain elements or may each contain one or more bags holding elements, cf. the description of the prior art given in the introductory part.
• the contents of the different bags are matched with the construction manual whereby it is considerably more easy and expedient for the child to get an overall view of how the model is to be built.
• Figure 2 illustrates a model section which can be built with the elements shown at the bottom of Figure 2 and which can be contained in a first bag of building ele- ments.
• the bag may be identified by means of numbers, letters, colours, pictures and the like.
• the model section of Figure 2 can subsequently be enlarged to form the section shown in Figure 3 by means of the elements contained in a bag labelled bag 2 and shown at the bottom of Figure 3.
• By means of the accompanying construction manual it will appear where to position the elements of bag 2.
• the elements that belong to bag 2 are not adequately shown in Figure 3 that merely serves to impart the principle understanding of how a bag 2 will allow you to enlarge a relatively complex constituent model in a easy and well-planned manner .
• bag No 2 By means of bag No 2 it is not possible to build a model portion in the form of a separate unit, since the con- tents of bag No 2 presuppose that the model section shown in Figure 2 can be used as a starting point.
• the contents of bag No 2 enable building of a section but not a separate model portion.
• FIGS 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate four different model portions having the following functions:
• Each of the model portions shown in Figures 6 through 9 can be built by means of elements that are packed in respective bags or separate boxes which are, in turn, contained in the principal packaging of the toy building set.
• construction manuals are included to shown how the model portions shown in Figures 6 through 9 are to be built.
• the separate bags or boxes are, as described previously, clearly labelled to match the construction manual thereby allowing the child to quickly identify the model portions as well as the associated individual elements.
• Model portion may - in order to further reduce the time consumed in searching for the elements - consist of a plurality of sections.
• Figure 10 illustrates how a subsection of model portion 6 may look, and in correspondence with the previous explanation, the elements belonging to the subsection shown in Figure 10 can be packed in a separate bag or box, and likewise the remain- ing elements for finishing the model portion shown in Figure 6 can be delivered in its respective bag or box.
• the time saved and the flexibility are further enhanced in that the model portions are divided as to functionality, as will be subject to more detailed explanation with reference to the following figures.
• Figure 11 is a typical example of a picture from a con ⁇ struction manual and which shows how, by combining the model portions from Figures 7, 8, and 9, the child is able to assemble the model shown in Figure 12 in a quick manner and without difficulty.
• Figure 13 that can also be comprised in a construction manual shows how the child can use the model portions 6, 7 and 8 to assemble the model shown in Figure 14.
• Figure 15 can be part of the construction manual and shows how, simply by turning the model portion 8 upside down and adding a few further elements, the child is able to modify the vehicle shown in Figure 14 into the vehicle shown in Figure 16.
• Figure 17 is an example of a packaging according to the invention.
• the packaging consists of portions that are known per se, viz a box 1 with a lid and a number of compartments for containing the building elements.
• the compartments can be divided to contain separate large elements, eg a motor 2 or bags 3 or boxes 4 with toy building elements.
• one or more construction manu- als are present, shown e.g. in the form of a booklet, but it could also be a CD-ROM.
• the bags 3 and/or the boxes 4 or the like are provided with a clear indication, e.g. with letters A-E and/or depictions that clearly identify the corresponding model portions, optionally model sections in correspondence with the construction manual.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
• Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
• Cephalosporin Compounds (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8092540

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1997
  • 1997-03-26 DK DK199700350A patent/DK173617B1/da not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1998
  • 1998-03-25 DE DE69830244T patent/DE69830244T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-25 JP JP54091698A patent/JP4195515B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-25 DK DK98909370T patent/DK1011834T3/da active
  • 1998-03-25 AT AT98909370T patent/ATE295755T1/de active
  • 1998-03-25 US US09/381,756 patent/US6554675B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-25 AU AU63929/98A patent/AU6392998A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-03-25 PT PT98909370T patent/PT1011834E/pt unknown
  • 1998-03-25 EP EP98909370A patent/EP1011834B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-25 ES ES98909370T patent/ES2241126T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-03-25 WO PCT/DK1998/000123 patent/WO1998042422A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

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