US 9,364,769 B2Granted

Surfacescape for multi-dimensional play and display

OwnerJennifer Lynn Kosmoinventor

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Abstract

A multi-purpose surface covering for interactive play and display is disclosed. The play or display environment, or surfacescape, is created by the user by combining the various components of the invention. The components interact so that they may be scaled to various sizes for use on floors, walls, table or counter tops, or other surfaces, and can be assembled outward as well as upward for play or display in multi-dimensional settings. As a play environment, it provides a set of easily interchangeable components that allow an unlimited number of colors, textures, shapes, and articles to be incorporated into the system. When displayed horizontally or vertically, this invention provides the capacity for interchangeable display of inserts, which may include but is not limited to artwork, advertising indicia, educational material (numbers, letters, etc.), instructional information, notices, or an infinite number of other materials which can be readily and changeably viewed.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A multi-functional, multi-directional, and multi-dimensional surface covering for play and display comprising:

I. A set of cooperating, interchangeable, tessellating tiles further comprising a plurality of opposing sides of equal length, ornamented surfaces, said surfaces including removably blocked punch-outs;
II. A set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing tiles, including multi-dimensional insert tiles and sloping tiles, capable of interacting with proximate tiles ornamentally and structurally to form structures or subsequent levels;
III. A set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing forms, including pillars and support forms, capable of interacting with proximate tiles to form structures or subsequent levels;
IV. Articles for a surfacescape shaped, ornamented, laminated, textured, surfaced, conditioned, or printed with indicia on one or more sides or surfaces to resemble elements commonly found in cityscapes, landscapes and on travelways that include roadways, railways, runways, waterways, and pathways;
said articles include telephone poles, street signs, stop lights, street lights, fire hydrants, trees, shrubs, fences, billboards, bridges, ramps, mailboxes, columns or supports for bridges and upper roadways, gas pumps, flags, flag poles, people, animals, or other objects or figures related to cityscapes, landscapes or travelways that include roadways, railways, runways, waterways, and pathways, wherein said articles are capable of insertion into or accepting said tiles, said punch-outs or said pillars;
and
V. A set of cooperating, interchangeable and flexible tile mats with a raised panel or raised frame configuration wherein said flexible tile mats are a soft and relatively flexible, yet sturdy material, without sharp or hard edges and can roll or fold for portability or storage, can accept insert tiles, frame tiles, panel tiles, complementing raised or routed areas, or dimensionalizing elements to stabilize and support those elements;
wherein said cooperating, interchangeable tessellating tiles, dimensionalizing tiles, dimensionalizing forms, articles, and mats further comprise physical dimensions that are the same as, or multiples of or proportional to, and capable of cooperating with the surfaces, sides, and ornamentation of proximate tiles to render them vertically and horizontally continuous.

5 more elements

A method of creating a multi-functional, multi-directional, and multi-dimensional play system comprising:

a.) providing a set of cooperating, interchangeable tessellating tiles, a set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing tiles, a set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing forms, articles for a surfacescape, and a set of cooperating, interchangeable and flexible tile mats;
b.) laying or hanging a mat or tile along a vertical or horizontal surface and aligning proximate sides, surfaces, or ornamentation of additional tiles or mats such that they cooperate, interact, connect, and stabilize each other to form a first level surface arranged according to the user's preference;
c.) aligning proximate sides, surfaces, or ornamentation of dimensionalizing tiles upon a first level of mats or tiles to form structures and interconnect said first level to a subsequent level of play arranged according to the user's preference;
d.) inserting juts or tabs of dimensionalizing forms into the punch-out areas of mats, tiles, or dimensionalizing tiles to form structures, or to support and interconnect said first level to a subsequent level of play arranged according to the user's preference;
e.) adding articles for a surfacescape into the punch-out areas of mats, tiles, or dimensionalizing tiles or into the juts, jut ports or grooves on dimensionalizing forms to create a surfacescape arranged according to the user's preference;
f.) continuing the steps to join, support, and create multiple levels and directions of play;
g.) connecting, rotating, removing, and reconstructing mats, tiles, dimensionalizing tiles, dimensionalizing forms, and articles for a surfacescape to form playscapes, travelways including roadways, railways, runways, waterways, and pathways, and scenes capable of continuing in multiple directions and dimensions;
h.) adding vehicles and play toy elements to place and play with along tiles;
i.) removing the vehicles and play toy elements, and disassembling the tiles, mats, forms, and articles of the set.

6 more elements

A method of creating a multi-functional, multi-directional, and multi-dimensional display system comprising:

a.) providing a set of cooperating, interchangeable tessellating tiles, a set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing tiles, a set of cooperating, interchangeable dimensionalizing forms, a set of cooperating articles for a display, and a set of cooperating, interchangeable and flexible tile mats;
b.) laying or hanging a mat or tile along a vertical or horizontal surface and aligning proximate sides, surfaces, or ornamentation of additional tiles or mats such that they cooperate, interact, connect, and stabilize each other to form a first level surface arranged according to the user's preference;
c.) placing and attaching tiles ornamented with messages, information or indicia by inserting them into frames or inserting juts or tabs into punch-outs on proximately positioned tiles to form a multi-dimensional display;
d.) aligning proximate sides, surfaces, or ornamentation of dimensionalizing tiles upon the first level of mats or tiles to form structures and interconnect said first level to a subsequent level of display arranged according to the user's preference;
e.) inserting juts or tabs of dimensionalizing forms into the punch-out areas of mats, tiles, or other dimensionalizing forms to create structures, provide support, and interconnect said first level to a subsequent level of display arranged according to the user's preference;
f.) adding insert tiles or articles into the punch-out areas or frames of mats, tiles, or into the juts, jut ports, or grooves on dimensionalizing forms of subsequent levels to create a multi-dimensional display according to the user's preference;
g.) continuing the steps to join, support, and create multiple levels and directions of display;
h.) connecting, rotating, removing, and reconstructing mats, tiles, dimensionalizing tiles, dimensionalizing forms, and articles for a display to form a variety of display areas capable of continuing in multiple directions and dimensions;
i.) removing and disassembling the tiles, mats, forms, and articles of the set.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/308,435Filed 18 Jun 2014
Published: US 2015/0367247 A124 Dec 2015
Granted: 14 Jun 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A63H 33/42
Other toys: toy models or toy scenery not otherwise covered
A63H 18/00
Highways or trackways for toys
A63H 18/02
Highways or trackways for toys ; Propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track: construction or arrangement of the trackway
A63H 19/30
Model railways: permanent way; Rails; Rail-joint connections