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US 11,697,074 B1Granted
Stackable model
AssigneeThe Marketing Store Worldwide, LP
InventorsPeter Grinsell, Ming Tang, Mitzi De Castro, Evangelos Gicas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A model toy with stackable elements. The stackable elements are unitary layers which are attached to one another behind a front plate. The front plate has guide tabs to be threaded through openings in each of the unitary layers. The end of each guide tab is affixed to the last of the unitary layers.
Claims20
A model comprising:
- a plurality of unitary layers comprising:
- an end layer comprising a first opening and a second opening, and
- a plurality of intermediate layers, comprising:
- a first intermediate layer, comprising:
- a first opening comprising a first length,
- a second opening comprising a second length greater than the first length, and
- a first band comprising a first color surrounding each of the first opening and the second opening;
- a second intermediate layer, comprising:
- a first opening comprising the first length,
- a second opening comprising a second length that is less than the second length of the first intermediate layer, the second length of the second intermediate layer being equal to or longer than the first length thereof, and
- a second band comprising a second color surrounding each of the first opening and the second opening of the second intermediate layer;
- a front plate, comprising:
- a base plate,
- a first guide tab comprising a length substantially equal to the first length,
- a stepped second guide tab, comprising:
- a first step, comprising:
- a length substantially equal to the second length of the second opening of the first intermediate layer, and
- the first color;
- a second step, comprising:
- a length substantially equal to the second length of the second opening of the second intermediate layer, and
- the second color;
- the first guide tab and the stepped second guide tab configured to be bent 90 degrees from a plane of the front plate, the first guide tab and the stepped second guide tab further comprising a depth configured to simultaneously extend through the openings of the plurality of intermediate layers and the end layer while also providing end portions of the guide tabs extending beyond the end layer;
- and
- a sticker configured to cover the end portions of the guide tabs after they are folded over on the end layer, fixing the end portions of the guide tabs substantially flat on the end layer;
- wherein the first and second openings of the end layer and each intermediate layer are configured to align, respectively, with the first guide tab and stepped second guide tab when the first guide tab and stepped second guide tab are bent 90 degrees from the plane of the front plate.
22 more elements
A method of assembling a model comprising the steps of:
- preparing a front plate comprising the steps of:
- bending a first guide tab of the front plate to a position forming a 90 degree angle from a plane of a base plate of the front plate, the first guide tab comprising a first length;
- and
- bending a stepped second guide tab of the front plate to a position forming a 90 degree angle from the plane of the front plate, the stepped second guide tab comprising a first step comprising a first length and the first color and a second step comprising a second length;
- mounting a plurality of unitary layers on the front plate, wherein the plurality of unitary layers comprises a first intermediate layer comprising a first opening of a first length substantially equal to the first length of the first step, a second opening of a second length substantially equal to the second length of the second length, and a first band comprising a first color, wherein mounting a plurality of unitary layers on the front plate comprises:
- threading the first guide tab through the first opening of the first intermediate layer;
- threading the stepped second guide tab through the second opening of the first intermediate layer;
- sliding the first intermediate layer toward the front plate along the first guide tab and stepped second guide tab;
- the plurality of unitary layers comprising a second intermediate layer, comprising a first opening of a first length substantially equal to the first length of the first intermediate layer, a second opening of a second length substantially equal to the second length of the second step, the mounting the plurality of unitary layers on the front plate further comprising:
- threading the first guide tab through the first opening of the second intermediate layer,
- threading the stepped second guide tab through the second opening of the second intermediate layer, and
- sliding the first intermediate layer along the first guide tab and stepped second guide tab,
- wherein the plurality of unitary layers further comprises an end layer, comprising a first opening of a length substantially equal to the first length and a second opening, the mounting a plurality of unitary layers on the front plate further comprising:
- threading the first guide tab through the first opening of the end layer, and
- threading the stepped second guide tab through the second opening of the end layer;
- bending an end portion of the first guide tab to be substantially flat with the end layer,
- bending an end portion of the stepped second guide tab to be substantially flat with the end layer;
- affixing the end portion of the first guide tab and the end portion of the stepped second guide tab in a way that maintains the end portions in a flush configuration with the end layer.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.