US 12,161,947 B2 · Collapsible toy boat

Abstract

A play structure is formed from flexible struts supporting a fabric. The struts are inserted through pockets along the edges of the fabric. The struts are joined together by connectors at apexes of the structure. The struts form an upper frame and a lower frame. The upper and lower frames are connected by battens. The struts and battens hold the fabric in a selected shape, such as a sailboat. The battens are formed from flat, flexible members that are bent about their longitudinal axis to form a C-shaped cross section. Ends of the battens are inserted into curved batten receivers on the connectors. When a downward force is applied, the upper frame is pressed toward the lower frame. The battens bend and flatten to resiliently allow the structure to collapse. When the force is relieved, the battens resiliently resume their curved shape, restoring the structure to its original configuration.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A batten assembly for a collapsible toy comprising:

a first connector having a first batten receiver,
a second connector having a second batten receiver, wherein the first batten receiver and second batten receiver each have a curvilinear cross section and a path length along the curvilinear cross section;
and
a batten having a longitudinal axis and a batten width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the batten width is less than or equal to the path length,
wherein the batten is flexed about the longitudinal axis to conform to the curvilinear cross section and wherein a first end of the batten is removably inserted in the first batten receiver and a second end of the batten is removably inserted in second batten receiver.

2 more elements

A collapsible toy comprising:

a fabric having a fabric surface and a plurality of pockets arranged along edges of the fabric surface;
a first plurality of struts;
and
at least one lower connector, wherein the lower connector includes a plurality of lower strut receivers, and a lower batten receiver, wherein the first plurality of struts are removably inserted into the lower strut receivers, and wherein the lower batten receiver has a curvilinear cross section and a path length along the curvilinear cross section;
a second plurality of struts;
and
at least one upper connector, wherein the upper connector includes a plurality of upper strut receivers, and an upper batten receiver, wherein the second plurality of struts are removably inserted into the upper strut receivers, and wherein the upper batten receiver has the curvilinear cross section and the path length along the curvilinear cross section;
and
at least one batten having a longitudinal axis and a batten width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the batten width is less than or equal to the path length,
wherein the batten is flexed about the longitudinal axis to conform to the curvilinear cross section and wherein a first end of the batten is removably inserted in the lower batten receiver and a second end of the batten is removably inserted in upper batten receiver,
wherein the first plurality of struts are inserted through respective first ones of the plurality of pockets along an upper edge of the fabric and wherein the second plurality of struts are inserted through second ones of the plurality of pockets along a lower edge of the fabric.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible toy boat

Life of this patent

Collapsible toy boat

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17