WO2011008555A2 - Child-safe construction kit - Google Patents
Child-safe construction kit Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2011008555A2 WO2011008555A2 PCT/US2010/040438 US2010040438W WO2011008555A2 WO 2011008555 A2 WO2011008555 A2 WO 2011008555A2 US 2010040438 W US2010040438 W US 2010040438W WO 2011008555 A2 WO2011008555 A2 WO 2011008555A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- child
- safe
- construction kit
- safe construction
- simulated
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/30—Imitations of miscellaneous apparatus not otherwise provided for, e.g. telephones, weighing-machines, cash-registers
- A63H33/3072—Tools or machine-tools
-
- 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
- A63H33/10—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled by means of additional non-adhesive elements
- A63H33/107—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled by means of additional non-adhesive elements using screws, bolts, nails, rivets, clamps
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a child-safe construction kit which, to the extent possible, duplicates the experience of a real life construction project.
- the child- safe construction kit can be used to build a variety of structures that are often made from wood, for example buildings, boats, tables, furniture, and the like.
- kits which employ relatively simple techniques for holding the building parts together.
- One type of kit known as LINCOLN LOGS ® , includes a plurality of rounded log members having interlocking notched ends to facilitate stacking of the log members to make a toy building.
- Another type of kit known as LEGO ® , includes a plurality of plastic brick members having male fastening members on top surfaces and interlocking female fastening members on bottom surfaces thereof. The mating male and female fastener members allow the plastic brick members to be assembled in a wide variety of configurations.
- U.S. Patent 6,554,667 discloses a flexible foam building kit including a plurality of flexible foam tubes that can bend and be joined together at their ends using connectors having spaced apart apertures for receiving the flexible foam tubes in a friction fit relationship.
- U.S. Patent 6,402,581 issued to Podgaiz, discloses a building kit including flexible hollow tubes using connectors that can be snuggly fitted into the hollow ends of the tubes.
- U.S. Patent 4,708,684, issued to Chen discloses a toy building block set including several kinds of blocks, each including a circular member on the outer circumference of which a plurality of connecting elements and sockets are provided.
- the present invention is directed to a child-safe construction kit that provides a better simulation of real world construction projects compared to prior child- safe construction kits.
- the child-safe construction kit includes a plurality of elongated, rigid, lightweight simulated wooden boards.
- the simulated wooden boards can be formed from a rigid plastic material, such as a rigid polystyrene foam, which has been cut or molded into elongated rectangular members.
- Each elongated rectangular member has a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces and two end surfaces.
- Each elongated rectangular member is covered with a laminated sheet on its top surface, bottom surface and two side surfaces.
- the laminated sheet may have a wood grain design, stained wood design or painted wood design, and provides the elongated member with the appearance of a simulated wooden board.
- the child-safe construction kit also includes a plurality of plastic fasteners.
- plastic fasteners include without limitation nails, screws, nuts and bolts, fastener pins, and combinations thereof.
- Fastener accessories such as plastic washers and glue may also be provided.
- the child-safe construction kit may also include a plurality of child-safe plastic tools.
- plastic tools include without limitation a hammer, hand saw, circular saw, power saber saw, Phillips screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, power drill, hand drill, wrenches, socket wrenches, and combinations thereof.
- a work bench with adjustable legs and clamps or vise can also be included.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elongated rectangular member useful in making a simulated wooden board for the child-safe construction kit of the invention.
- Fig.2 is a perspective view of a simulated wooden board useful in the child- safe construction kit of the invention.
- Figs. 3-7 illustrate child-safe plastic fasteners useful in the construction kit, including a nail (Fig. 3), screw (Fig.4), bolt (Fig. 5), nut (Fig. 6) and fastener pin (Fig.7).
- Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate child-safe fastener accessories useful in the construction kit, including a washer (Fig. 8) and glue bottle (Fig. 9).
- Figs. 10-16 illustrate child-safe plastic construction tools useful in the construction kit, including a hammer (Fig. 10), flat head screwdriver (Fig. 11), Phillips screwdriver (Fig. 12), hand saw (Fig. 13), power drill (Fig. 14), standard wrench (Fig. 15), socket wrench (Fig. 16), and power saber saw (Fig. 17).
- a hammer Fig. 10
- flat head screwdriver Fig. 11
- Phillips screwdriver Fig. 12
- hand saw Fig. 13
- power drill Fig. 14
- standard wrench Fig. 15
- socket wrench Fig. 16
- power saber saw Fig. 17
- the child-safe construction kit of the invention includes a plurality of simulated wooden boards 10, each including a lightweight elongated member 12 covered with a laminated sheet 14.
- the simulated wooden boards 10 may be provided in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are suitably rectangular. In order to provide a real life construction experience, the simulated wooden boards 10 should have a length of at least about 24 inches, suitably at least about 36 inches. Examples of simulated rectangular wooden boards include without limitation boards that are one inch thick, 24 inches wide and 36 inches long; boards that are one inch thick, 12 inches wide and 36 inches long; boards that are 2 inches thick, 4 inches wide and 36 inches long; and boards that are 2 inches thick, 6 inches wide and 36 inches long.
- the simulated wooden boards 10 may also have other sizes, and may have shapes other than rectangular. Rectangular boards having the foregoing thickness and width dimensions are perhaps most representative of wooden boards that are used in real life construction projects.
- the elongated members 12 can be formed of any lightweight rigid material that is light enough for a child to lift and carry and rigid enough so that it cannot easily bend, and/or cannot bend very far without breaking.
- the material should be selected to provide the simulated wooden board with a weight of less than about 2 lbs, suitably less than about 1.5 lbs, or less than about 0.75 Ib.
- the material should have a bulk density less than 7 lb/ft 3 , suitably less than 5 lb/ft 3 , or less than 3 lb/ft 3 , or less than about 2 lb/ft 3 .
- Suitably lightweight rigid materials include rigid polystyrene foam; rigid polyolefin foam such as foamed polypropylene, foamed high density polyethylene or foamed medium density polyethylene; and other suitable lightweight rigid materials.
- rigid polystyrene foam such as foamed polypropylene, foamed high density polyethylene or foamed medium density polyethylene
- suitable lightweight rigid materials include STYROFO AM ® , a lightweight resilient polystyrene foam available from Dow Chemical Co.
- the elongated members 12 in a rectangular form have a top surface 16, a bottom surface 18, two side surfaces 20 and 22, and two end surfaces 24 and 26.
- each elongated member 12 is combined with a laminated sheet 14 that covers at least the top surface 16, bottom surface 18, and side surfaces 20 and 22 of elongated member 12.
- the laminated sheet 14 has an exposed surface 28 which has a simulated wood appearance such as a wood grain, stained wood or painted wood appearance, and a laminated surface 30 that bonds the laminated sheet 14 to the elongated member 12.
- the laminated sheet 14 may be formed of high strength paper, plastic, fabric, combinations thereof, or another suitable material and may be single layer or multilayer material.
- the laminated surface 30 of laminated sheet 14 can be bonded to the elongated member 12 using any suitable technique, including without limitation solvent-based adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, thermal bonding and the like, and combinations thereof.
- a particularly suitable laminated sheet 14 is formed of decorated paper or thin wood. This laminated sheet 14 can be provided with a wood grain, stained wood or painted wood appearance by using a very thin balsa wood as the laminated sheet. This laminated sheet 14 can be bonded to the elongated member 12 using conventional child- safe environmentally friendly adhesives.
- the child-safe construction kit of the invention is provided with a plurality of child-safe fasteners made from plastic or another suitable child-safe material.
- the child-safe fasteners are intended to simulate types of fasteners that are commonly used in real life construction projects involving wooden boards.
- Suitable child-safe fasteners include without limitation nails 32 (Fig. 3), screws 34 (Fig. 4) which can be flat head screws and/or Phillips screws, bolts 36 (Fig. 5), nuts 38 (Fig. 6) and fastener pins 40 (Fig.
- the fasteners can be formed of any child-safe material that is capable of penetrating the simulated wooden boards 10, and/or fastening a simulated wooden board 10 to another simulated wooden board 10, another object, or another material.
- Suitable child-safe materials for making the fasteners include without limitation plastics such as polypropylenes, high or medium density polyethylenes, filled polyolefms (not limited to polyolefins of higher density), other plastic materials, and other materials that are resilient enough to serve the foregoing purposes yet not so rigid as to endanger the child.
- a particularly suitably fastener material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic.
- Fasteners such as nails 32, screws 34 and pins 40 may suitably be provided with dull or rounded end tips 33, 35 and 41, for maximum child safety.
- the child-safe construction kit can also include fastener accessories, including without limitation washers 42 (Fig. 8) made of a suitable plastic materials, and glue 44 (Fig. 9).
- the glue 44 may be any type of glue that is safe for use by children.
- suitable glues 44 include without limitation plastic or rubber cement, and various water-based glues such as ELMER'S GLUE ® .
- the child-safe construction kit can also include child-safe construction tools made from plastic or another suitable child-safe material. While the construction tools are essential to the use of the construction kit, they may be included as part of the construction kit or sold separately. Suitable child-safe construction tools include without limitation a child-safe hammer 44 (Fig. 10), flathead screwdriver 48 (Fig. 11), Phillips screwdriver 52 (Fig. 12), hand saw 56 (Fig. 13), power drill 60 (Fig. 14) which can be battery powered, standard wrench 64 (Fig. 15), socket wrench 68 (Fig. 16), and saber saw (Fig. 17).
- Hammer 44 can be formed of polypropylene, high or medium density polyethylene, a filled polyolefin not limited to higher density polyolefins, or another suitable rigid or resilient material that is capable of driving nails 32 and pins 40 into simulated wooden board 10.
- a particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic.
- Hammer head 45 can be formed of the same or different material as hammer handle 46.
- the anchor tip 47 should be rounded or dull in order to maximize child safety.
- Flat head screwdriver 48 and Phillips screwdriver 52 can also be formed of polypropylene, high or medium density polyethylene, a filled polyolefin not limited to higher density polyolefins, or another suitable rigid or resilient material that is capable of driving screws 35 into simulated wooden board 10.
- a particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic.
- Screwdriver handles 49 and 53 can be formed of the same or different materials than screwdriver shafts 50 and 54 and screwdriver tips 51 and 55.
- Hand saw 56 should be formed of a child-safe material that is capable of sawing through simulated wooden board 10. Suitable materials include without limitation rigid polyolefins and polyolefins that are filled with a particulate inorganic filler to make them rigid. Examples include polypropylene, high density polyethylene, and filled polyolefins not limited to higher density polyolefins. Other rigid plastic materials can also be used.
- Saw handle 57 can be formed of the same or different material as saw blade 58. The jagged edges 59 of saw blade 58 may be dull or rounded in order to maximize child safety.
- Power drill 60 includes a drill bit 62 that can be formed of any of the rigid, child-safe materials listed above for shafts 50 and 54 of screw drivers 48 and 52. Power drill 60 also includes casing 61, trigger 63, release wheel 65 and power switch 67 which can be formed of a suitable rigid plastic or other rigid material. The power drill 60 is suitably powered by a rechargeable internal battery pack or another battery assembly (not shown).
- Standard wrench 64 and socket wrench 68 can be formed of any child-safe plastic material or other child-safe material that is rigid enough to turn and fasten the bolts 36 and nuts 38. Suitable materials without limitation polypropylene, high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, and filled polyolefms not limited to the higher density polyolefins. A particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic.
- the handle 69 maybe formed from the same or different material as the socket 70.
- Saber saw 71 includes a removable saw blade 72 that can be formed of the same material that is listed above for handsaw blade 58.
- the jagged edges 77 of saw blade 72 may be dull or rounded in order to maximize child safety.
- Saw blade 72 is capable of sawing through a simulated wooden board 10.
- Saber saw also includes casing 73, trigger 74, high/low speed switch 75 and power switch 76.
- the saber saw 71 is suitably powered by a rechargeable internal battery pack or another battery assembly (not shown).
- the child-safe construction kit of the invention is designed to simulate a real-life construction experience as closely as possible using child-safe parts and tools.
- the simulated wooden boards 10, fasteners, fastener accessories and construction tools are all designed to simulate real wooden boards, fasteners, fastener accessories and tools as closely as possible using child-safe designs and materials.
- the child-safe construction kit of the invention may also include other simulated child-safe construction materials such as brackets, braces, rooftop tiles, concrete slabs for building foundations and the like, that are not specifically described above.
- the child-safe construction kit may also include other child-safe fasteners and construction tools, made from child-safe materials, that are not specifically described above.
Abstract
A child-safe construction kit includes a plurality of elongated simulated wooden boards constructed from lightweight, child-safe material, and a plurality of child- safe fasteners, suitably made from plastic. The child-safe construction kit may also include a plurality of child-safe construction tools formed from child-safe plastic or other materials. The simulated wooden boards, fasteners and construction tools are designed to simulate a real-life construction experience as closely as possible using the child-safe construction kit.
Description
CHILD-SAFE CONSTRUCTION KIT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child-safe construction kit which, to the extent possible, duplicates the experience of a real life construction project. The child- safe construction kit can be used to build a variety of structures that are often made from wood, for example buildings, boats, tables, furniture, and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of child-safe construction kits are known which employ relatively simple techniques for holding the building parts together. One type of kit, known as LINCOLN LOGS®, includes a plurality of rounded log members having interlocking notched ends to facilitate stacking of the log members to make a toy building. Another type of kit, known as LEGO®, includes a plurality of plastic brick members having male fastening members on top surfaces and interlocking female fastening members on bottom surfaces thereof. The mating male and female fastener members allow the plastic brick members to be assembled in a wide variety of configurations.
U.S. Patent 6,554,667, issued to Leemon, discloses a flexible foam building kit including a plurality of flexible foam tubes that can bend and be joined together at their ends using connectors having spaced apart apertures for receiving the flexible foam tubes in a friction fit relationship. U.S. Patent 6,402,581, issued to Podgaiz, discloses a building kit including flexible hollow tubes using connectors that can be snuggly fitted into the hollow ends of the tubes. U.S. Patent 4,708,684, issued to Chen, discloses a toy building block set including several kinds of blocks, each including a circular member on the outer circumference of which a plurality of connecting elements and sockets are provided.
While the foregoing construction kits provide fun and enjoyment for children, they employ simplified connection mechanisms and unique forms of building members that are not common in real world construction projects. There is a need or
desire for a child-safe construction kit which not only provides fun and enjoyment, but also provides education and insight into real world construction projects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a child-safe construction kit that provides a better simulation of real world construction projects compared to prior child- safe construction kits. The child-safe construction kit includes a plurality of elongated, rigid, lightweight simulated wooden boards. The simulated wooden boards can be formed from a rigid plastic material, such as a rigid polystyrene foam, which has been cut or molded into elongated rectangular members. Each elongated rectangular member has a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces and two end surfaces. Each elongated rectangular member is covered with a laminated sheet on its top surface, bottom surface and two side surfaces. The laminated sheet may have a wood grain design, stained wood design or painted wood design, and provides the elongated member with the appearance of a simulated wooden board.
The child-safe construction kit also includes a plurality of plastic fasteners. Examples of plastic fasteners include without limitation nails, screws, nuts and bolts, fastener pins, and combinations thereof. Fastener accessories such as plastic washers and glue may also be provided.
The child-safe construction kit may also include a plurality of child-safe plastic tools. Examples of plastic tools include without limitation a hammer, hand saw, circular saw, power saber saw, Phillips screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, power drill, hand drill, wrenches, socket wrenches, and combinations thereof. A work bench with adjustable legs and clamps or vise can also be included.
With the foregoing in mind, it is a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a child-safe construction kit which is fun and enjoyable, and provides a better simulation of real life construction projects than conventional child-safe construction kits.
It is also a feature and advantage of the invention to provide a child-safe construction kit including child-safe simulated wooden boards, child-safe plastic
fasteners, and optionally child-safe plastic tools that may be provided with or separately from the kit.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elongated rectangular member useful in making a simulated wooden board for the child-safe construction kit of the invention.
Fig.2 is a perspective view of a simulated wooden board useful in the child- safe construction kit of the invention.
Figs. 3-7 illustrate child-safe plastic fasteners useful in the construction kit, including a nail (Fig. 3), screw (Fig.4), bolt (Fig. 5), nut (Fig. 6) and fastener pin (Fig.7).
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate child-safe fastener accessories useful in the construction kit, including a washer (Fig. 8) and glue bottle (Fig. 9).
Figs. 10-16 illustrate child-safe plastic construction tools useful in the construction kit, including a hammer (Fig. 10), flat head screwdriver (Fig. 11), Phillips screwdriver (Fig. 12), hand saw (Fig. 13), power drill (Fig. 14), standard wrench (Fig. 15), socket wrench (Fig. 16), and power saber saw (Fig. 17).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the child-safe construction kit of the invention includes a plurality of simulated wooden boards 10, each including a lightweight elongated member 12 covered with a laminated sheet 14. The simulated wooden boards 10 may be provided in a variety of sizes and shapes, and are suitably rectangular. In order to provide a real life construction experience, the simulated wooden boards 10 should have a length of at least about 24 inches, suitably at least about 36 inches. Examples of simulated rectangular wooden boards include without limitation boards that are one inch thick, 24 inches wide and 36 inches long; boards that are one inch thick, 12 inches wide
and 36 inches long; boards that are 2 inches thick, 4 inches wide and 36 inches long; and boards that are 2 inches thick, 6 inches wide and 36 inches long. The simulated wooden boards 10 may also have other sizes, and may have shapes other than rectangular. Rectangular boards having the foregoing thickness and width dimensions are perhaps most representative of wooden boards that are used in real life construction projects.
The elongated members 12 can be formed of any lightweight rigid material that is light enough for a child to lift and carry and rigid enough so that it cannot easily bend, and/or cannot bend very far without breaking. The material should be selected to provide the simulated wooden board with a weight of less than about 2 lbs, suitably less than about 1.5 lbs, or less than about 0.75 Ib. The material should have a bulk density less than 7 lb/ft3, suitably less than 5 lb/ft3, or less than 3 lb/ft3, or less than about 2 lb/ft3. Suitably lightweight rigid materials include rigid polystyrene foam; rigid polyolefin foam such as foamed polypropylene, foamed high density polyethylene or foamed medium density polyethylene; and other suitable lightweight rigid materials. One particularly suitable lightweight rigid material is STYROFO AM®, a lightweight resilient polystyrene foam available from Dow Chemical Co.
The elongated members 12 in a rectangular form have a top surface 16, a bottom surface 18, two side surfaces 20 and 22, and two end surfaces 24 and 26. To make the simulated wooden boards 10, each elongated member 12 is combined with a laminated sheet 14 that covers at least the top surface 16, bottom surface 18, and side surfaces 20 and 22 of elongated member 12. The laminated sheet 14 has an exposed surface 28 which has a simulated wood appearance such as a wood grain, stained wood or painted wood appearance, and a laminated surface 30 that bonds the laminated sheet 14 to the elongated member 12. The laminated sheet 14 may be formed of high strength paper, plastic, fabric, combinations thereof, or another suitable material and may be single layer or multilayer material. The laminated surface 30 of laminated sheet 14 can be bonded to the elongated member 12 using any suitable technique, including without limitation solvent-based adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, thermal bonding and the like, and combinations thereof.
A particularly suitable laminated sheet 14 is formed of decorated paper or thin wood. This laminated sheet 14 can be provided with a wood grain, stained wood or painted wood appearance by using a very thin balsa wood as the laminated sheet. This laminated sheet 14 can be bonded to the elongated member 12 using conventional child- safe environmentally friendly adhesives.
The child-safe construction kit of the invention is provided with a plurality of child-safe fasteners made from plastic or another suitable child-safe material. The child-safe fasteners are intended to simulate types of fasteners that are commonly used in real life construction projects involving wooden boards. Suitable child-safe fasteners include without limitation nails 32 (Fig. 3), screws 34 (Fig. 4) which can be flat head screws and/or Phillips screws, bolts 36 (Fig. 5), nuts 38 (Fig. 6) and fastener pins 40 (Fig.
7).
The fasteners can be formed of any child-safe material that is capable of penetrating the simulated wooden boards 10, and/or fastening a simulated wooden board 10 to another simulated wooden board 10, another object, or another material. Suitable child-safe materials for making the fasteners include without limitation plastics such as polypropylenes, high or medium density polyethylenes, filled polyolefms (not limited to polyolefins of higher density), other plastic materials, and other materials that are resilient enough to serve the foregoing purposes yet not so rigid as to endanger the child. A particularly suitably fastener material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic. Fasteners such as nails 32, screws 34 and pins 40 may suitably be provided with dull or rounded end tips 33, 35 and 41, for maximum child safety.
The child-safe construction kit can also include fastener accessories, including without limitation washers 42 (Fig. 8) made of a suitable plastic materials, and glue 44 (Fig. 9). The glue 44 may be any type of glue that is safe for use by children.
Examples of suitable glues 44 include without limitation plastic or rubber cement, and various water-based glues such as ELMER'S GLUE®.
The child-safe construction kit can also include child-safe construction tools
made from plastic or another suitable child-safe material. While the construction tools are essential to the use of the construction kit, they may be included as part of the construction kit or sold separately. Suitable child-safe construction tools include without limitation a child-safe hammer 44 (Fig. 10), flathead screwdriver 48 (Fig. 11), Phillips screwdriver 52 (Fig. 12), hand saw 56 (Fig. 13), power drill 60 (Fig. 14) which can be battery powered, standard wrench 64 (Fig. 15), socket wrench 68 (Fig. 16), and saber saw (Fig. 17).
Hammer 44 can be formed of polypropylene, high or medium density polyethylene, a filled polyolefin not limited to higher density polyolefins, or another suitable rigid or resilient material that is capable of driving nails 32 and pins 40 into simulated wooden board 10. A particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic. Hammer head 45 can be formed of the same or different material as hammer handle 46. The anchor tip 47 should be rounded or dull in order to maximize child safety.
Flat head screwdriver 48 and Phillips screwdriver 52 can also be formed of polypropylene, high or medium density polyethylene, a filled polyolefin not limited to higher density polyolefins, or another suitable rigid or resilient material that is capable of driving screws 35 into simulated wooden board 10. A particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic. Screwdriver handles 49 and 53 can be formed of the same or different materials than screwdriver shafts 50 and 54 and screwdriver tips 51 and 55.
Hand saw 56 should be formed of a child-safe material that is capable of sawing through simulated wooden board 10. Suitable materials include without limitation rigid polyolefins and polyolefins that are filled with a particulate inorganic filler to make them rigid. Examples include polypropylene, high density polyethylene, and filled polyolefins not limited to higher density polyolefins. Other rigid plastic materials can also be used. Saw handle 57 can be formed of the same or different material as saw blade 58. The jagged edges 59 of saw blade 58 may be dull or rounded in order to maximize child safety.
Power drill 60 includes a drill bit 62 that can be formed of any of the rigid, child-safe materials listed above for shafts 50 and 54 of screw drivers 48 and 52. Power
drill 60 also includes casing 61, trigger 63, release wheel 65 and power switch 67 which can be formed of a suitable rigid plastic or other rigid material. The power drill 60 is suitably powered by a rechargeable internal battery pack or another battery assembly (not shown).
Standard wrench 64 and socket wrench 68 can be formed of any child-safe plastic material or other child-safe material that is rigid enough to turn and fasten the bolts 36 and nuts 38. Suitable materials without limitation polypropylene, high density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, and filled polyolefms not limited to the higher density polyolefins. A particularly suitable material is any rigid plastic or filled plastic. In the socket wrench 68, the handle 69 maybe formed from the same or different material as the socket 70.
Saber saw 71 includes a removable saw blade 72 that can be formed of the same material that is listed above for handsaw blade 58. The jagged edges 77 of saw blade 72 may be dull or rounded in order to maximize child safety. Saw blade 72 is capable of sawing through a simulated wooden board 10. Saber saw also includes casing 73, trigger 74, high/low speed switch 75 and power switch 76. The saber saw 71 is suitably powered by a rechargeable internal battery pack or another battery assembly (not shown).
The child-safe construction kit of the invention is designed to simulate a real-life construction experience as closely as possible using child-safe parts and tools. The simulated wooden boards 10, fasteners, fastener accessories and construction tools are all designed to simulate real wooden boards, fasteners, fastener accessories and tools as closely as possible using child-safe designs and materials. The child-safe construction kit of the invention may also include other simulated child-safe construction materials such as brackets, braces, rooftop tiles, concrete slabs for building foundations and the like, that are not specifically described above. The child-safe construction kit may also include other child-safe fasteners and construction tools, made from child-safe materials, that are not specifically described above.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary. Various
modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A child-safe construction kit, comprising:
a plurality of simulated wooden boards, each board including an elongated member formed of a rigid, lightweight material having a bulk density less than about 7 lb/ft3 and a laminated sheet bonded to the elongated member, the laminated sheet having a laminated surface and an exposed surface with a simulated wood appearance; and
a plurality of child-safe plastic fasteners selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, fastener pins, nuts and bolts, and combinations thereof, the fasteners being capable of fastening two or more of the simulated wooden boards together.
2. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1, wherein the simulated wooden boards have a length of at least about 24 inches and a weight less than about 1.5 lbs.
3. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1, wherein the rigid, lightweight material is selected from the group consisting of rigid polystyrene foam, rigid polyolefin foam, and combinations thereof.
4. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1, wherein the rigid, lightweight material has a bulk density less than about 3 lb/ft3.
5. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1, wherein the exposed surface of the laminated sheet has a simulated wood appearance selected from the group consisting of wood grain, stained wood, painted wood, and combinations thereof.
6. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1 , further comprising one or more child-safe fastener accessories.
7. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 1 , further comprising one or more child-safe plastic tools selected from the group consisting of hammers, screw drivers, saws, power drills, wrenches, and combinations thereof.
8. A child-safe construction kit, comprising:
a plurality of simulated wooden boards, each board including an elongated member formed of a rigid, lightweight material selected from the group consisting of rigid polystyrene foam, rigid polyolefin foam, and combinations thereof;
each simulated wooden board further including a laminated sheet bonded to the elongated member, the laminated sheet having a laminated surface and an exposed surface with a simulated wood appearance; and
a plurality of child-safe plastic fasteners capable of fastening two or more of the simulated wooden boards together.
9. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, wherein each elongated member has a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces and two end surfaces, and the laminated sheet covers at least the top surface, the bottom surface, and the two side surfaces.
10. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, wherein the rigid, lightweight material has a bulk density less than about 2 lb/ft3.
11. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, wherein the plurality of child-safe fasteners is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, fastener pins, nuts and bolts, and combinations thereof.
12. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, wherein the simulated wooden boards have a length of at least about 24 inches and a weight less than about 1.5 lbs.
13. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, further comprising one or more fastener accessories.
14. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 8, wherein the exposed surface of the laminated sheet has a simulated wood appearance selected from the group consisting of wood grain, stained wood, painted wood, and combinations thereof.
15. A child-safe construction kit, comprising:
a plurality of simulated wooden boards, each board including an elongated member formed of a rigid, lightweight material having a length of at least about 24 inches and a weight of less than about 1.5 lbs, and a laminated sheet bonded to the elongated member, the laminated sheet having a laminated surface and an exposed surface with a simulated wood appearance; and
a plurality of child-safe plastic fasteners selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, fastener pins, nuts and bolts, and combinations thereof, the fasteners being capable of fastening two or more of the simulated wooden boards together.
16. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 15, wherein each simulated wooden board has a length of at least about 36 inches.
17. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 15 , wherein each elongated member has a rectangular configuration having a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces and two end surfaces, and the laminated sheet covers at least the top surface, the bottom surface, and the two side surfaces.
18. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 15, wherein the exposed surface of the laminated sheet has a simulated wood appearance selected from the group consisting of wood grain, stained wood, painted wood, and combinations thereof.
19. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 15, further comprising a plurality of child-safe plastic tools selected from the group consisting of hammers, screw drivers, saws, power drills, wrenches, and combinations thereof.
20. The child-safe construction kit of Claim 15 , wherein the lightweight material comprises a rigid polystyrene foam.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US22131109P | 2009-06-29 | 2009-06-29 | |
| US61/221,311 | 2009-06-29 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2011008555A2 true WO2011008555A2 (en) | 2011-01-20 |
| WO2011008555A3 WO2011008555A3 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
Family
ID=43450093
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2010/040438 WO2011008555A2 (en) | 2009-06-29 | 2010-06-29 | Child-safe construction kit |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2011008555A2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD763365S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-08-09 | Buster Timg | Stretcher block model construction component |
| USD763366S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-08-09 | Buster Timg | Bond beam model construction component |
| USD767044S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-09-20 | Buster Timg | Brick stack model construction component |
| USD767045S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-09-20 | Buster Timg | Curved block model construction component |
| USD769986S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-10-25 | Buster Timg | Construction components container with lid |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5454746A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-10-03 | Meccano, S.A. | Toy hand tool |
| US5498188A (en) * | 1995-01-05 | 1996-03-12 | Deahr; Christine M. | Child-constructable toys that are assembled using a system of color-coordinated components and tools |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0733839Y2 (en) * | 1991-05-16 | 1995-08-02 | 株式会社トイボックス | Assembly work toy set |
-
2010
- 2010-06-29 WO PCT/US2010/040438 patent/WO2011008555A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5454746A (en) * | 1994-01-06 | 1995-10-03 | Meccano, S.A. | Toy hand tool |
| US5498188A (en) * | 1995-01-05 | 1996-03-12 | Deahr; Christine M. | Child-constructable toys that are assembled using a system of color-coordinated components and tools |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD763365S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-08-09 | Buster Timg | Stretcher block model construction component |
| USD763366S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-08-09 | Buster Timg | Bond beam model construction component |
| USD767044S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-09-20 | Buster Timg | Brick stack model construction component |
| USD767045S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-09-20 | Buster Timg | Curved block model construction component |
| USD769986S1 (en) | 2015-05-19 | 2016-10-25 | Buster Timg | Construction components container with lid |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2011008555A3 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
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