BRPI1006493A2 - case with amusement article and corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

CASE WITH FUN ARTICLE AND CORRESPONDING METHOD. The present invention relates to articles for amusement, such as, for example, toys and the like, the case comprising a container (C) in the form of a shell with a container part (C1) similar to a barrel and an article for fun (10, 11) inserted into the shell (C) in the shape of a shell; the entertainment article (10) comprises at least one elongated element (12, 14, 16, 18) formed by a ribbon-like element wound to form a loop and placed in the container (C) against the inner wall of the part (C1 ) container-like contention of the container (C): the aforementioned ribbon-like element has at least one fold line (120, 140, 160, 180) so that the ribbon-like element taken from the container can be stretched and folded along the fold line (120, 140, 160, 180) to give consistency to a rigid elongated element. (Figures 1 and 13).

Description

Case with fun item and corresponding method.

The present invention relates to articles for amusement, such as, for example, toys and the like.

This invention was developed with particular attention to 5 objects for entertainment designed to be inserted into containers in the shape of a shell or capsules, used for the insertion of so-called "surprises"

, accompanying food products such as chocolate and similar eggs.

Containers in the shape of a shell or capsules, which comprise a first half shell and a second half shell, and which 10 are designed to receive within them an object for fun such as a toy, an accessory such as a keychain , a necklace, an amulet, and others, in the form of a "surprise", are known, and in numerous variants. . For example, documents, such as those of Patents and Publications, EP-A -0 631 932, EP-A -0 631 933, EP-A -0 631 934, WO-A-2005/044677, 15 WO-A -2005/110880, and WO-A - 2007/074355, address problems of various kinds linked to the production of a container of the above type, for the insertion of the "surprise" inside it, and also for the closure of the container.

Similar containers are shown in "EP-A-1110459enaEP-A-1308392. These containers can be used for introducing" 20 "surprises" into hollow food products, such as chocolate eggs with dimensions similar to those of an egg. normal chicken.

Consequently, the container has smaller dimensions than those of the product in which it is inserted: as a reference (without this, of course, to be understood as in no way a limitation of the scope of the present description) a container of the type considered can be used. present in the form of a cylindrical "barrel" with end parts in the form of a dome (for example, hemispherical), which has an axial dimension (length) around 5 cm with a diameter around 3.5 cm.

The dimensions of the surprise are correspondingly limited by the dimensions of the container.

Consequently, surprises can present themselves in the form of articles made in a single piece (for example, a statue or model representing a character), or perhaps in the form of articles comprising distinct parts, which, once removed from the container, can be assembled together, this approach limits the possibilities of choice to articles of small size (maximum of a few centimeters). Larger size articles do require the provision of larger size containers, which, in turn, can be inserted into larger size products (for example, large Easter eggs).

In any case, it is practically impossible to use articles of "surprises" of rather large dimensions, as - merely as an example - an airplane model that is capable of flying.

Similar problems arise for substantially similar containers 5, which are also representative of the prior art taken as a model for the preamble of Claim 1, which comprises a shell-shaped container with a tone-like retaining part! including a half shell (a valley) of a (semi) oval shape, as described as an example in EP-AO 919 488, and in EP-AO 768 039. 10 It is known, on the other hand (see, for example, the 'documents, such as those of Patents FR-A-907 363 A, US-A - 2 311 907, US-A - 3 505 759 or US-A - 2006/135032), the possibility of producing articles made of - laminated material that can be folded along a fold line to give consistency to a rigid elongated element. 15 Starting with the state of the art previously underlined, the aim of the invention is to provide a solution capable of overcoming the Limitations highlighted above.

In accordance with the present invention, the above objective is achieved thanks to a case that comprises an article for entertainment that has the "20 characteristics recalled in the subsequent claims.

The invention also aims at a corresponding use process.

The claims form an integral part of the technical discovery provided herein in connection with the invention.

The invention will now be described, purely by means of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached representations, in which: - Figure 1 is a view that compares the dimensions of an article for fun ("surprise"), according to the solution described here, with the dimensions of the container designed to receive it; - Figures 2 to 5 show the successive steps for producing the article for fun in fig. 1, as well as its insertion into the corresponding container; - Figure 6 shows the entertainment item inserted in the corresponding container, in turn arranged in a hollow food product; - Figures 7 to 13 show the sequence from the extraction of the article for amusement from the container to its assembly; and 35 - Figures 14 and 15 clarify the possibility of using the solution described here in relation to an amusement article different from that represented as an example in the figures from 1 to 13. In the description that follows, several specific details are shown to provide an understanding of the depth of the settings. The configurations can be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and whatever. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described 5 in detail in this way and do not aim at making various aspects of the configurations obscure. The reference to "one configuration" or "one configured" in the context of this description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure or feature described in relation to the configured is included in at least 10 one configuration. Thus, phrases such as "in a configuration" or "in a 'configured" that may be present at different points in this description do not necessarily refer to one and the same configuration. In addition, conformations

Particles, structures, or features can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more configurations. 15 The references used here are only adopted for reasons of convenience and thus do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the settings. In particular, the configurations considered here refer - purely as an example - to a case comprising an article for "20 fun designed to be inserted into a container (C) in the shape of a barrel of the type recalled in the introductory part of the description, said article for amusement, consisting, for example, of: - an airplane model (10) - fig. 1 to 13; and - a figure representing an animal, such as a giraffe. 25 To fix ideas (more once, again without this being understood as in any way limiting the scope of the solution described here), the container (C) can be a barrel that has a maximum axial dimension (length) around 5 cm and a diameter dimension in the around 3.5 cm and consisting of two separate elements, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, or in addition 30 by elements connected to form a single body, according to what is shown in the aforementioned Requests for WO A2005 / 110880 and WO A2007 / 074365. With reference to the examples considered here, the object for fun can refer to an airplane model (10) that can have a length around 20 cm and a wing size around 18 - 20 cm, or 35 in addition, for example, to an animal such as a giraffe with a height of around 30 cm, the amusement object is adjusted in each case to be produced in the form of any object. Consequently, the reference to an airplane model or an animal such as a giraffe is to be intended as representing purely a possible example: the solution considered here can be used for amusement articles of any kind such as, just to provide a few examples. , model of aircraft of various types (airplanes, "paraglaider", helicopters), motorized vehicles - automobiles or, for example, a model of "dragster" or of an elongated shape with a length much greater than the length of the container ( C) - or figures of any kind (for example, a figure that reproduces a giraffe with its neck extended, or again, a house, a kite, a crane, and others. 10 It can be readily understood that, using "conventional solutions," surprises "of this type, in particular when comprising parts of an elongated shape that have a certain length, could in no way fit within a container such as the container (C) to shown here.

Similarly, it can be readily understood 15 that the solution considered here is in no way limited to the dimensional values referred to, but generally extends to all situations in which it might be impossible to insert a "surprise" of a conventional type within a corresponding container.

The solution considered here can be applied to any "20 amusement article comprising at least one structural element constituted by a rigid elongated element. B

For example, in the case of the airplane model (10) considered here, four elements of this type are present, namely: - the fuselage (12): 25 - the wing (14); - the horizontal warping, or lift unit (16); and - the vertical warp, or rudder unit (18). The model (10) then comprises other parts, such as, for example: 30 - a frontal nose cone with nose function (20); - a connection element (22), which can be fixed to the fuselage (12) to allow the insertion and connection of the wing (14); and - another shaped element (24), which can be coupled to the fuselage tail (12) to allow the assembly of the horizontal warp (16) and the vertical warp (18). Components such as the components designated by (20), (22), and (24) can be produced in the form of small pieces of molded plastic material that can be inserted into the container (C). The specific production arrangements for elements (20), (22), and (24) are to be considered as known per se (substantially similar elements are commonly used, for example, in the airplane model industry) and, in any case, they do not assume specific importance for the purposes of understanding and reproducing the 5 outstanding characteristics of the solution considered here.

The vertical warp (18) is provided here in the form of a V-shaped warp to facilitate insertion into the coupling element (24). The elements (12, 14, 16, 18) - and, in particular, the fuselage (12) and the wing (14) - are structural elements constituted by an element 10 of an elongated shape which is folded to be rigid.

It is clear that the stiffness characteristics are to be heard with reference to the conditions of normal use of the model (10); it is understood, in fact, that when the model (10) is flying, its structure will not bend and will allow the model to fly, as shown schematically in fig. 2, elements 15 (12), (14), (16) and (18) are obtained, for example, by making, starting with a laminar material (S), such as, for example, cardboard or a thin plastic material . This enables, among other things, an application of printing material on said elements - shown only in fig. 2 - reproducing, for example, the camouflage of a military airplane, the colors of the Company and civil airplane logos or different graphics "20 corresponding to the product in which the container (C) with the surprise (10) is to be inserted into b

The elements (12), (14), (16) and (18) thus appear initially as strip-like laminar elements (similar to networks) - - see, in particular, fig. 3. 25 These elements are then designed to be rolled, that is, rolled as in a loop, and arranged in one of the two parts of the container (C) - for example, in the containment part designated as (Cl) similar to a vat, as shown schematically in fig. 4, that is, with the element (12) wound, that is, wound as in a loop, and arranged against the inner wall (which is cylindrical in the configuration example shown) of the retaining part (Cl) similar to a cask with the other elements (14), (16) and (18) fitted within it which are also rolled up and inserted into each other, as shown in fig. 4, that is, with the element (14) inserted in the element (12), the element (16) inserted in the element (14), and the element (18) inserted in the element (16). 35 To roll and insert these ribbon-like elements in the container (C) it is possible to resort to the use of known equipment, for example, to insert in the containers (C) the sheets with the instructions for assembling traditional surprises of a traditional type for a number of pieces.

An instruction sheet m of this type can be conveniently included in the container (C) together with the elements (12), (14), (16) and (18). The equipment that can be used for this purpose is described in EP-A - 0611699. As shown in fig. 5, the other elements (20), (22) and 5 (24) that complete the model (10) can also be inserted (according to commonly used procedures) in the same container that uses the cavity left inside them by the elements (12 ), (14), (16) and (18) which are wrapped in a loop or scroll.

Before the elements (12), (14), (16) and (18) are rolled 10 to insert them into the container (C) - for example, before or after they have been separated from the sheet (S ) in which they are formed - they are subjected to a folding / creasing treatment.

By "folding" it is understood that the treatment, commonly used in the paper industry, designed to form on a laminar element (for example, cardboard or plastic material) a fold line that is to define a preferred fold line for itself article.

In the specific case of the example shown here, the strip-like element that is to form the fuselage (12) of the model (10) receives three fold lines (120) that ideally divide the element (12) into four portions "20 approximately the same width.

The element (14) designed to form the wing of the modeb (10) &

it can receive, for example, a fold line (140) placed in an intermediate position with respect to the network-like element.

In a preferred mode, the fold line (140) is placed approximately 25 to 30 ° /) of the width of the element 25 so as to be as close as possible to the leading edge with respect to the trailing edge of the wing.

The elements (16) and (18) can receive respective fold lines (160) and (180) in an approximately median position.

The presence of the aforementioned fold lines does not endanger the possibility of making rolls, that is, wrapping the elements (12), (14), (16) and (18) in a loop with a view to insertion into the container (C) and the closure of this container, as shown schematically in fig. 5, in which the barrel-like part (Cl) of the container (C) is visible - with the elements (12), (14), (16) and (18) wrapped in a loop that receive the elements inside (20), (22) and (24) - the 35 which are close to the top in a complementary part (C2) that functions as a lid.

The case comprising the container (C) with the "surprise" (10) inside it can thus be placed inside a product such as, for example, a

.

7/9

No chocolate egg (E), according to the common methods of using said containers, as documented, for example, by the various Patent documents cited in the introductory part of the present description. Once the container (C) is taken out of the product (E), it is opened, as shown schematically in fig. 7, and the various elements that make up the surprise (10) can, in turn, be removed from the container and stretched by unrolling them (see fig. 8). These elements are in general elements similar to flexible networks, since it is precisely their flexibility that gives them the possibility of being rolled up to be placed inside the container (C). However, once said elements are stretched, if they are at least slightly bent along the respective fold lines (120), (140), (160) and (180), in order to assume at least partially a conformation of dihedral, they become rigid. For example, the element (12), folded to form a tube along the three fold lines (120) - as shown in fig. 9 - assumes the shape of a triangular prism - in practice, a stick - rigidly marked in the direction of the length. In the configuration shown in the figures, the "20 fuselage element thus obtained is kept closed to form a tube as a result of being fixed on the fuselage element itself, which is the connecting element (22)

W attached to the tail element (24) - see fig. 13. In one configuration, the fuselage closure (12). it could be secured, for example, by adhesive dots or buttons that can be set in an elastic way; or in a different way, the element itself (12) could have holes for fixing the components of the assembly (14), (18), (16), which could in turn contain toggles for fixing inside said holes. In the case of the element (14) designed to form the wing, the fold along the fold line (140) is usually less marked (see fig. 10) and 30 could be limited to give the element (14) a concave - convex profile, which in addition presents the characteristics of a wing profile. The element (14) thus obtained can be inserted into the connection element (22) - see fig. 13 - in its wing position coupled to the fuselage (12) of the model (10) and has, as a result of folding along the fold line (140), the desired rigidity in preventing the wing from bending in an undesirable way | when the model (10) is flying. Substantially similar considerations apply for horizontal warping (16) and vertical warping (18). Also, these elements, once removed from the container (C), are slightly bent along the fold lines (160) and (180) in order to assume the required rigidity to carry out their functions, with their subsequent assembly on the element (24 ) fitted over the fuselage tail (12). In this way, according to the modalities shown in fig 13, the assembly of the model (10) of fig, 1 is completed.

It should be noted that a box-like structure such as that of the fuselage (12) - for example, in the form of a tubular structure with a square cross section - can be used to provide, for example, the body 10 of a model of a motor vehicle.

A similar result can be obtained by supplying, again starting with elements similar to a net that can be rolled up, that is, closed to form a loop, and be inserted in a container (C), of parts in channel which can be coupled with each other (for example by fixing or differently via coupling button formations) in order to provide similar structural elements.

Figures 14 and 15 refer to a configuration in which the amusement article consists of a figure (11) showing an animal such as a giraffe that can be assembled.

The giraffe (11) comprises a body (25) - "20 generally constituted by a molded body made of a plastic material - provided with four angular slits (26) in the shape of an L for insertion of four elements b

(27) elongated rigid legs.

The body (14) then has on its upper F-side a similar opening for the insertion of another rigid elongated element (28), in the form of a neck, designed to lead, fixed on its top, plus a body 25 molded of plastic material (29) in the shape of a head.

Fig. 15 (which is substantially similar to fig. 2) clarifies how the legs (27) and neck (28) of the giraffe (11) can be obtained according to modalities similar to those adopted to obtain the fuselage (12), the wing (140, and the warps (16) and (18) of the airplane (10) .30 The ribbon-like elements designed to define the legs (27) and neck (28) of the giraffe (11) are subjected in a similar way to creasing (see lines (270) and (280) of fig. 15) and which are then rolled up to fit inside the barrels (Cl) and (C 2) according to the same modalities shown in figs 4 and 5 - with the bodies (25) and (29) inserted inside them 35 as shown for the parts (20), (22) and (24) of the airplane (10). , which are to define the legs (27) and neck (28) of the giraffe (11), are removed from the barrel (C) according to the same criterion shown in Fig. 7, they are bent to form a dihedral (for example, a diedr o in the form of L) along the fold lines (270) and (280), thus making them rigid in this way, are then inserted into the holes provided in the body (25) and in the head (29) in order to complete the giraffe mount.

Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and configurations may vary, even significantly, with respect to what is shown here purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims attached.

Claims (9)

Claims 1. Case including: - a shell-type container (C) with a barrel-type retaining part (Cl), and 5 - an amusement article (10, 11), which is inserted into said container (C) of the shell type, characterized by the fact that said article for entertainment (10, 11) includes at least one elongated element (12, 14, 16, 18; 27, 28) formed by an element similar to a ribbon wrapped around form a hoist and put it in said container (C) against the inner wall 10 of said part (Cl) similar to a barrel, said element similar to a ribbon having at least one fold line (120, 140, 160, 180; 270, 280) whereby, once extracted from said container, said ribbon-like element can be stretched and folded into said at least one fold line (120, 140, 160, 180; 270 , 280) to give consistency to a rigid elongate element. 15 2. Case according to claim 1, characterized in that said ribbon-like element (14, 16; 27, 28) has a single fold line (140, 160: 270, 280) to fold said element ( 14, 16; 27, 28) similar to a ribbon in a dihedral configuration to give consistency to said rigid elongated element. '20 3, Case according to claim 1, characterized in that said ribbon-like element (12) has a plurality of m-fold lines (120) to fold said ribbon-like element in a tubular or similar configuration a box to give consistency to said rigid elongated element 4. Case, according to claim 3, characterized in that said ribbon-like element (12) is configured to be retained in said tubular or box-like configuration thanks to at least one of: - at least one body (22, 24) seated on said ribbon-like element (12) folded into said tubular or box-like configuration; - adhesive buttons or elastic crimp buttons; 30 - coupling pins that extend through holes provided in said ribbon-like element (12). Case according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fact of said rigid elongated element is a formation (14) of the type of a wing, which has at least one fold line (140), to bend said element 35 similar to a ribbon, to give it an airfoil profile such as a concave - convex profile. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said ribbon-like element is made with a laminar material (S) such as cardboard or plastic sheet. 7. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that it includes a plurality of said elongated elements (12, 14, 16, 18; 27, 28) together with a connection part (20) , 22, 24: 5 25, 29) to connect said plurality of rigid elongated elements. 8. Case, according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said elements (12, 14, 16, 18) are rolled up in a loop and inserted into each other, with said at least one connection part (20, 22 , 24; 25, 29) inserted in the cavity formed within said elements rolled up as if in a loop. + 9. Method of using the case (c, 10, 11) of any one of claims 1 to 8, the method characterized by the fact that it includes the steps of: - extraction, from said container (C) in the form of a shell, at least one elongated element (12) similar to a ribbon wrapped in a loop and arranged against the inner wall of said part (Cl) of contention similar to a barrel, and - storing said at least one elongated element similar to a tape, stretching it, and folding it into said at least one fold line (120, 140, 160, 180; 270, 280), to give consistency to said rigid elongated element. \ O fi) 7AL '! rl d i-l ú- oI "r-l U t \ 2 / '6 L i) 6jL) ' U) Jir; : J =,> O f j m f - j ê 'i-j) M N + \ O QO r-l rl 1 t "" à b EJ;: »} {','"; '", r ·' ã" '".-: 4ká. «D N \ i'ç njj '; ') ,,, 1 í ": í: {j:,' ,,,, | ,,, qÈ}: [* i! G 'Ê 2! J'íiK"' '7' '- "" § 'g N Ê.àk? "AS .r' i ('{$'.! t, I r: T" ,, - '' Y .. \ j; ';: € i' 41 F>. '" '"} 'í') ', q R t Y-j N' d uj CQ 0) "" tj) Ê 'Ê') U,) / ',))')) ')))] n T-Í tD "rl í rl! J ,: (', q n 'N U ^ n W;) ')) \, now! q "\\ \ M 'n q O \ Ô n ji) ,,,,}' \) g "\\ új rl \ O rl Y N O '\ J Í "j),,)'" 4 m "" "|)))): 2 (Y) N rl N d F · l IL g ¥ 't ¢ rd Rl a yy N /, "), j / 'J"' "), i" j "§ in n è R"; tj h {jí '") - Ê. B n n "\ Í \ ll) \ O N N, R n YL7, \ h r 0: "7 li 8 8 / \> \ À