Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1. TITLE: PIII~ATA GAME
Il. TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to pinata games, and more
particularly, to those pinata games that are reusable.
111. BACKGROUND ART
Pinata designs usually`include a container that is filled with
candy bars and toys. The Mexican pinatas are typically hit by one of
the children playing the game and the Cuban pihata involve the pulling
of ribbons to make an opening through the bottom of a container. Both
of these pinata designs involve the destruction of ~he pinata.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a
reusable pi~ata game that can be utilized several times.
It is another object of this present invention to provide such a
pinata game that is educational requiring the participating children to
recognize the shapes of tokens dropped by the pinata and encourages
them to do this within given time parameters.
It is yet another object of this present invention to pruvide such
a game that is inexpensive to manufacture and reuse while retaining
its effectiveness.
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According to the invention there is provided an
educational game for children comprising: (a) a stand;
(b) a hollow container suspended from said stand;
(c) an opening in the bottom of said hollow container;
(d) a closure member pivotally mounted within said opening,
said closure member being movable between a horizontal position
closing said opening and a vertical position opening said
opening, (e~ means for releasably latching said closure
memberin its horizontal position closing said opening;
(f) means for releasing said latching means to permit said
closure member to pivot from its horizontal to its vertical
position; (g) a plurality of game objects of different sizes
and shapes having means to divide said objects into different
distinguishable sets; (h) a plurality of distinguishable game
boards, each having means to associate that game board with
one of the sets and having apertures therein of the same size
and shape as the game objects of the associated sets; and
(i) means for timing the game; whereby each game player may
take a game board, the game pieces may be placed in the
container, the closure may be closed and subsequently released
thereby freeing the game objects to fall therefrom, and the
players may race against the timer and each other to place the
associated game objects into the matching recesses of their
game boards.
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V. BRIEF DESCP~IPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and other related objects in view, the invention
consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as
will bo more fully understoo~ from the following description, when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of the present
invention after the strings are pulled showing the different
tokens being dropped by the container portion of the pinata.
Figure ~ shows an elevational view of the container.
.o Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of the preferred embodiment
for the container of the pinata.
Figure 4 is a repres~ntation of a partial view taken along line 4-
4 in figure 3
Figure 5 shows an alternate embodiment incorporating the
present invention showing the centrally hinged bottom sections
in an open position.
A
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Figure 6 is a bottom view of the alternate embodirnent of figure
5 in closed position.
Figure 7 is a representation of a cross-sectional view taken
along line 7-7 in figure 6.
Figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the present
invention showing a centrally pivoted unitary closure member.
Figure 9 shows a botto`rn view of the second embodiment shown
in figure 8 with the bottom in the closed position.
Figure 10 is a representation of a cross-sectional Vi8W taken
along line 10-10 in figure 9
Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention
with closure members of semicircular shape similar to those of
figures 2; 3 and 4 having complementary edge walls at the
strai~ht edges.
Figure 12 shows a bottom view of the third embodiment shown in
figure 11, in the closed position.
Figure 13 shows a d~tail view of th~ straight edg~ of the
semicircular closure members incorporating magnetic elements
positioned on the horizontal walls.
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Figure 14 shows a detail view of the straight edge of the
semicircular closure members incorporating Velcro pads on the
horizontal walls.
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 in
figure 1 2.
Figure 16 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present
invention showing a unitary closure member heid in place by
several Velcro straps ar~d cooperatively positioned pads.
Figure 17 shows a bottom view of the fourth alternate
embodiment shown in figure 16.
Figure 18 is a cros$-sectional view taken along line 18-18 in
figure 1 7.
Vl. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODll\flENT
Referring now to figure 1, where the present invention is
generally referred to with numeral 10, it can ba observed that it
basically includes adjustable height stand assembly 20, hollow
container member 30, game objects 40, game boards 50 and timer 60
mounted preferably on assembly 20.
Stand assembly 20 comprises base member 22 having a
sufficiently large footprint to provide the necessary stability to the
structure which extends upwardly and horizontally with pole member
24 and arm member 26. Hook member 28 is located preferably at the
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ou~er end of arm member 26 to provide suitable means for supporting
container 30 through loop 31. Container 30 is hollow and it is
suspended from the end of arm 26. The outer surface of container 30
is designed with an attractive ornamental shape and look and it is
made out of a washable material, such as, plastic or equivalent.
Container 30 includes an opening in the bottom where two closure
members 32 and 32' are pivotally mounted off-center, as best shown in
the preferred embodiment in figures 2 and 3 and in the third alternate
embodiment in figures 11 and 12. The first alternate embodiment is
shown in figures 5 and 6 and it discloses two closure members 132
- and 132' that are hingedly mounted at the flat side of a semicircle.
The second alternate embodiment consists of a unitary closure member
232 that is centrally hingedly mounted so that it pivots over its
centerline, as best shown in figures 8 and 9.
Closure members 32 ancl 32'; 132 and 132'; 232; 332 and 332'
are releasably latched in the closed position when in the horizontal
plane as shown in the drawings. Latching tab members 34 and 34', 134
and 134'; 234 in the preferred, first and second alternate
embodiments can be implemented in a number of ways including a
resilient termination that is capable of holding the closure members in
the horizontal position and, upon the~exertion of a predetermined
downwardly pulling force through strings 36. Simple means for
releasably holding closure members 32 and 32'; 132 and 132' and 234
in a horizontal plane is thereby provided. Latching tab members 34 and
34' rest on inwardly extending flange 35 . Closure memb~rs 32 and 32',
as well as integrally built latching tab mernbers 34 and 34', are made
of a resilient material that allows for certain deformation when
strings 36 are pulled thereby exerting a downward force on closure
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members 32 and 32'. The deformation is sufficient to cause a
deflection on closure members 32 and 32' allowing tab members 34
and 34' to slip down. Closure members 32 and 32' are pivota~ly
mounted to lateral wall 39 of container.30 through pins 38 and 38', as
best seen in figures 2; 3 and 4.
First alternate embodiment works like the preferred embodiment
with the exception of the manner in which closure members 132 and
132' are hingedly mounted and using only one pivoting point
implemented with pin 138. `rhe first alternate embodiment can be
appreciated in figures 5; 6 and 7.
The second alternate embodimsnt uses only one closure member
232 that is centrally pivoted and releasably held in place by tab
member 234, as seen in figures 8; 9 and 10. The third alternate
embodiment disclosed in the present application is similar to the
preferred embodiment disclosed above except that instead of tab for
releasably holdin~ the closure members in place, The straight edge of
semicircular closure mernbers 332 and 332' have complementary
vertical and horizontal walls 331; 331'; 333' 333'; 335 and 335', as
best seen in figures 13 and 14. To keep these walls in locking
abutment, flat magnetic members 336 and 337 with opposite poles
facing each other may be used, as seen in figure 13. ~Iso, Velcro pads
340 and 341 can be used to keep closure members 332 and 332' in a
horizontal plane.
The fourth alternate embodiment, shown in figures 16; 17 and
18, utilizes a unitary closure member 442. Member 442 is held in
place by several Velcro pads 445 that are mounted on the periphery of
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the outer face of closure member 442 and on the lower portion of
lateral wall 39 and straps 446 of opposite type that mates with pads
445.
A number of tokens or objects 40, with a variety of shapes, are
loaded into container 30. When they are dispensed, as the result of the
chi!dren pulling strings 36, they fall so that they can be picked up by
the players and matched with the cavities or apertures 52 in boards
50. A timer 60 is mounted to pole member 24, preferably, so that the
players can be timed, if desi~bd.
It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best
understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention.
Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this
invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to
be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
It is apparent from the previous paragraphs that an improvement
of the type for such pi~iata games is quite desirable for a reusable
pi~iata game that can be utilized several times and that is educational
requiring the participating children to recognize the shapes of tokens
dropped by the pinata and encourages them to do this within given time
parameters.
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