SIMULATED ROCK AND FOSSIL KIT

TROUSSE DE ROCHES ET DE FOSSILES SIMULES

English Abstract

A palaeontology kit comprises a simulated fossil, and a simulated rock
encapsulating the simulated fossil. The simulated rock comprises a composite
material that is formed from a combination of an aggregate material and a
paraffin wax matrix material, which composite material is suitable for chipping
away so as to permit excavation of the simulated fossil. The simulated fossil may
comprise a representation of a fossil of a dinosaur, a dinosaur component, a
dinosaur egg, insect or a plant, or a miniature sculpted representation of a fossil
of a dinosaur skull, among other things.

French Abstract

Trousse de paléontologie comportant un fossile simulé et une pierre simulée renfermant le fossile en question. La pierre est constituée d'un matériau composite créé à partir de la combinaison d'un agrégat et d'une matrice de paraffine, matériau qui se fragmente de façon à permettre l'extraction du fossile. Le fossile simulé peut être une représentation d'un fossile de dinosaure, d'une partie d'un dinosaure, d'un oeuf de dinosaure, d'un insecte ou d'une plante ou une sculpture miniature représentant, entre autres, le crâne d'un dinosaure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A palaeontology kit comprising:
a simulated fossil; and
a simulated rock encapsulating said simulated fossil;
wherein said simulated rock comprises a composite material that is
formed from a combination of an aggregate material and a paraffin wax matrix
material, which composite material is suitable for chipping away so as to permitexcavation of said simulated fossil.
2. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil
comprises a representation of a fossil of a dinosaur, a dinosaur component, a
dinosaur egg, insect or a plant.
3. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil
comprises a sculpted representation of a fossil of a dinosaur, a dinosaur
component, a dinosaur egg insect or a plant.
4. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil
comprises a miniature sculpted representation of a fossil of a dinosaur skull.
5. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil is
made from a material comprising calcium sulphate.
6. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil is
made from a ceramic material.

7. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil is
made from a plastic material.
8. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said simulated fossil is
completely encapsulated.
9. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said composite material
comprises an effective amount of sand in the aggregate material.
10. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said composite material
comprises an effective amount of clay in the aggregate material.
11. The palaeontology kit of Claim 1, wherein said composite material
comprises fragments of inorganic and biotanical inert granular carriers.
12. The palaeontology kit of Claim 11, wherein said inorganic inert
granular carriers include polystyrene and derivatives thereof, and said biotanical
inert granular carriers include corn cob products, walnut shells, rice husks, and
wood.
13. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said composite
material comprises
about 10% to 75% by volume of matrix material and about 90% to 25% aggregate
material.
14. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said composite
material comprises

about 10% to 20% by volume of matrix material and about 90% to 80% aggregate
material.
15. The palaeontology kit of claim 1, wherein said composite
material comprises
about 14% by volume of paraffin wax as the matrix material and about 28%
quartz sand, about 28% crushed granite, and about 30% clay as the aggregate
material.
16. A composite material for encasing a simulated fossil, said composite
material comprising:
a combination of an aggregate material and a paraffin wax matrix
material, which composite material is suitable for chipping away so as to permitexcavation of said simulated fossil.
17. The palaeontology kit of claim 16, wherein said composite material
comprises an effective amount of a paraffin wax as the matrix material.
18. The composite material of claim 16, wherein said composite material
comprises an effective amount of sand as the aggregate material.
19. The composite material of claim 16, wherein said composite material
comprises an effective amount of clay as the aggregate material.
20. The composite material of claim 16, wherein said composite material
comprises about 10% to 75% by volume of matrix material and about 90% to 25%
aggregate material.

21. The composite material of claim 16, wherein said composite
material comprises
about 10% to 20% by volume of matrix material and about 90% to 80% aggregate
material.
22. The composite material of claim 16, wherein said composite
material comprises
about 14% by volume of paraffin wax as the matrix material and about 28%
quartz sand, about 28% crushed granite, and about 30% clay as the aggregate
material.

Description

~ i 2~70~t
F l Ei ~ F THE I Nss~ENT I O ~:
This- N~.ention relates tQ palaeclntfllclqy kit.s mclre particul~ lly tCI sucll
pulaenntr ln.gg kiits h~S. ing ~ simrllsted fe.s dl er.~aeied in a .imulated rQ~k tQrmed
frQm a ~ompnJsite maierial and alsQ to the cQmpflsite material Mself
.
i3ACiYl~klillN~ IIF THE ii~sYENlTlGN: ~
This inSrfntiorl relsteci tf~ 5 Pslaec~ntoll39y kit and mQre pariicularly
relates tll the eQrll~iflatilJn of a sin-,lllated stone and en~as-7d fn55jl5 i.e. ffssilizrli
remains ~f anirf,als N~cfct7 and Qlants~ and traf;e. fnssils tl-CIrfl early fgeolQgif.
pericJds such as the Oreta, eQus periali.
The rsmaU~s uf pr6histfJrie arlimals sufh as dinc~saul-s has;e tle6rl preser./6d ir-
~sediments~ srihich Q5~er tirflq ha~e Leeotne ceme.rlted ffr eclf ar:ted int.o rocks
typified Cly lime.stclne shale and sc7.ndst.Qrle. SandstQne sf.dHnentary rof;k is a
eQrrlmQn lc~cst.iQn Tf;r the liiscQ.ery nT dinl~s~ur fl~ssils. i he dinl~sal.lr retnflu~s are
replaced Qy rflCk minel-515, sueh as silic-ates frQm aqueQus s,~lutiQns which
dupiicate .3nd form stQne replica i.e. fossils Qf the Qriginal Qclne St.rUCtUre and
animal and in.se.c.t shapes.
SUi1MARY OF THE i~YENTIl N:
In its tlrclad aspect the present in.enticln N~ludes 5 sirnulated st.fJne
eomprisinq an effec;ti e am, unt nf a rmatrix rnater-ial such .5s paraffin wax t7 tlind

~ETAILE~ ~E5~RiPTIE~iN llF THE P~EFEr'RErl E~B~ lEhT-
The Pi3i,3er~ tnlLsy kit nf the rl~-f..sent in;enti~ln ~.Jill nnw te dessrited with
refereni e tc the ~ii.e,"" "~,lying Figure 1 in whii h a $imulated rock 10 ~.b~hii h
typjsally aFpears t~ tle sirnillated sandsti~neJ is illustrated having an expssed
~irllul~tc.~d fc~il 1 ,t p~rtially er.lbedded lherein
With reference t~ FiLure ~ thei-e i~ s.ho~.J.Jil the ~:iri-,lllated rcck 10 having the
emt!edded simulated fnssil 17 psrti!311y expnsed InitiallyJ the simlllated fn~sil 1~
woilld ti5picslly be ccmpletely e~lcap;;lll~t~d ~nd enccssed ty the ~ nlllatfd rcck 10
at the time cf manufi3ct!li-e snd ~a,sle ~ld ~Yculd ~e expo;,ed tly chippi~lg awsy st th
:.irn~ ted r~ckJ ~$uch ~c t!y a cl-,ild.
The sirl-luli3t2d fss$il 1~ L;3n t;e prsdused frcm g cer,srnis n-~ater-isl 5r plaster
sf p~ri~ Icnli ium sulphi3te}J cr can te fsrrrled by ii-,jestion mLldin~ nf plsstiL
pl~lyrners. TypiLal1y the .$i rnul~ted fsssil 17 .~.~suld ~e rnslded tut ssuld slss be
prodused in sny nther suitatls mi3nner The sirrlll3ted fn.$sil mi3!J c st~lprise i3
represe.ntati,:lh nf a ,ossil ~If ~ dinqs~ur ~ dinnc;i~lJ-r csrnrli-lnsnt i3 dinl-!cii3ur e~
insest 5r a pl,snt sr m~y snrllprisfl a ssulpted represe.nt.stisn nf i3 fnssil nf a
dinosi3ilr a dinnsaur l.ulli-b~lneni, a dinsssur eggJ in~$eet or a plsntJ sr mi3y compri~$e
a minii3ture ssulpted represent,stisn of a fcssil cf i3 dincsaiir skull.
. .
The si~rlillated r5i k 10 ssn have thce sppc.arsnce nf n shale cr 3 $3rldstnrle;typissl Df tlle early geslngis perindsJ in whish mi3nlJ sihlulsted fnssil remains nf
dinc~$aui-s are di~covered The de~$ired appei3rance nf the s,snd~$tQne ~nd Vi3i-iClls
prspe.i-ties sush as weight and J ~hipsbilit!J J i3re depe.nderlt sn the spssifis
rnstP~r-isls u~$ed

~ 3 ~ ~i 70~
The. sirnIll3tfd r~I~k 1~ eC~riirlri3es 3 enmrIn~-iite n-Ii3teri31 that is fQn-ned frIlrr
a ~rrnQini3lir.Il nf arl agsrfni3te. rni3te.ri~il anQ i3 rmi3trix rni3terii31 ~Yhiei-I rrii3trix
mi-itP~rii3l j5 i3 QiiraTfin r-ii~n Thr~ ~ompQsito mi-iteri~tl is suit.3Qli~ fQr ~hippiny ri Yay
so as to pfrmit e x~i3ri3tiQn Qf said simuli3tr~d fQssil. In t.hs pr~3ferred ~3m5Qdim~3nt
the -3mposite mi3terii31 alsQ ~nmprii.~s an effecti~e an~l~3unt I3f sand and.Qr ..in
oiffo~t.i~e aml3unt I~f ~1i3y ~is the i3~2reqi3te m=iterii31. An effecti~e an~ nt l~f a
mi3triY mi3terii31 pr-efet-i351y pari3ffin .Yax hii~fing 3 meltirlg point 13f aQi~fe fr~OO
denirees F bind i the i3ngr~3Qiato i-nat~rir31 irlto a r,:,~k-like mi3tt3rii-il. ir"lli3nIlfi3~tur~3
the pi3ri3ffin wi3x is hsi3ted until rnsltod irnd thl3r~ hly mi~ed with the an2r-~ 3te
rnaterii31 that is 5eini hei3ted SQ thi3t the pi3raffirl W.3.~ and the aQiQrfli.3tf r-fIutfrii31
are e~ h jqf neri-311y e yf nly distri5I.lted throIll hqlIt the r~3rflp~3r jte m~3tfri 31. T'ilf
heatfd -3mpQ3ite rni3tfri.31 is thfn pllureIi int3 sIliti351f rI-ll31d3.
We ha.e fl3und i-it lfa3t ahl3ut 10% by ~/Qlurne rJf mi3triY~ trrL~tf~ii31 s.!ch as
p-3ri3ffitl ~i j3~ j-3 ~-eql.Jired i3~113 ~ rrdi~21y l~p tQ i3bQut ~lo~ i3!~2~-eQi3te ~Tli3teri31
s n pa~ticuli3te ;anli and ~Ir ~1i3y tn fnrrn i3 ~nhe2i.~e tII3Qy. A m!i3xirnurrl nf ahnut
f~ i3y folurne nf the Wi3X: has heerI ~,und pri3I tieul tn re..i3ir, i3 r.Il:k~ f
i~p~eari3n~f. ~in~cIrdinn~ly at lea~r;t a~Qut ~ 3srireqi3te rrl3tf.rii31 Jruid he rf.Qjuired.
11QrP pr~oferi3QlrJr i3QQut l~ tQ 'f'O~. by ~;olIlme of matrix material and i3QQut ~O.~ tQ
O% aQJareQi3te matrerii31 i3rs reQi.~ired to prQ~Jide a ~Qmposite mixture ha~ing ideal
prc pertiP.3.
h partieular ~Qrnp~3itiI~ll Qf tho aS2rP2satoi mIi3it~rii31 affQrdins a rei31i3ti~
~ sandstone appoaranee eQrrlprisr3r3 hIji Yolume 14~ pi3raffiIl ~Yax~ rf~ nui3rtz s3nd
~ ,r~ 2srey 9ranitf" ot~d i3hl3ut ~o.r~ a~sQr3fnt cl,ay. One supplier Qf 3 suitoble ~lay is
Flestell ~et PrQduets Ltd. New Harrl13Itr2 OntariQ OarIada. The agsre~ate material

2i~ 7~35~ ~
o arl pe ~ ried r-is t!3 c-;ize Fn!3 cl310lll- t~l r,l-l3 li,de a rrd !3r brey ci~nie.tc,rle !or ~ihi11e fclr
e orfl~llo to sirnuli3te. r3uthorltic rc~ fr!3rl-i ttli. Iuri3~;ciic: period nr -~r,y othe/-
ppr~prii3te prehic;ti3ric peric!d.
t/ariouci specifie materials that ean be useri tl3 form tihe aygregiite materiall~f the present in~ention inelude. s ond ~,rFiin s ~f dlicii ci-3lcite~ d!31i3nmite feldspi3r
pi3tosh flir,t nep,leline !~rtni3cliise ~erri-lir ullie i3nd fine-gri3ined i3rlralili-3r orushed
nri3nite t~!~ether with eZ clriy sur 11 r-iS kr-iolinite n-iontmorillinite br diritrJn r-iceous
r~i3rth rlr the !ike inrJrgi.-nio r~ -teri~
Cltho.~- pi3~-tir ~ 3te cj~J~ c; ~ .h jgc; i~lcll~fie~-c~: h~ lg the c~ e. ~"-"i ~ pei3~ ci3 !3f
ri3turi311_ ~ceurrirlg ~3nd 3nd~r~r cliay ri3n t.e ll~celi fnt- the i39;reg3te r ~mpcni3rlt of
t~ sirrlul3ted .~t-l3ne o orilpositiorl
In order to prodiii e i3 nmrJre liaht.~eiaht sirl-lulisti3id rock 10 the ccmposite
rn3teri31 ~r,ay inl lude rflFiteri31s th.~3t 3re lighter in .b-eight tllarl ~3ndi and c13y
~ . arri!3ng others. Such liohtweight rfi3teri31~ might ir.l lurie ~3riolis type~ of
inrlrci3r,ic ig~ hiot.i~nir~isl inert gri-irlul3r r;isrrier s t~pil i311y in fr-isqrflento.c3 fqrrn.
Such Trabrnentcii ~nllld typj, ~ lly he in the. size rr1nge llf s3lld pisrticle.:i 13,- srlrfle.~hat
13rger. The inorganir inçrt granu1ar carriers might inrlude piollistyrene and
di3ri~1ati~es thereof. The bir~tanir.~il inert granular carriers nnight include r_rlrn r oi3
prrJdllets wF~ utshells r-ier husks isndwl3l3d
It ~.~ill te understi3l3d by tlll3se skilled in tlle isrt thist althl3upil ~nly a sin~le
~ emt3bdirnent of the prese.nt in~entibn hss been described 3nd illustrsted the
prese,lt in~erltibn is nbt lirnited to the feistures bf this emhodirrlent hut incllldes
311 . 3riFitipns 3nd mcidifir~3tirns of the d~sigri isnd m3r,ufsr ture rJf the isppi-iri~tlls ~f

~ ~ ~a 5~ ~
the preS;~nt in~ ntiQn th~t i3r~ wlthii-l t.he -pirit .;nd ~ Clp~ nf th~ o~r,~i~nyi
i r~

Representative Drawing