US4237650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preschool play apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-02-09
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Granted: 1980-12-09
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Expires: 1999-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A preschool play apparatus comprising a base having a wall defining a plurality of different shape holes. There is a translucent viewing window in the wall adjacent each of the holes. There are also a plurality of plugs or inserts having shapes which match the shapes of the holes. The child-user attempts to insert the plugs in the holes of matching shapes. When he or she is successful at inserting a plug, the inserted plug engages a mechanism which moves a picture up to the adjacent translucent window so that the picture is visible through the window. The base may take the form of a play telephone switchboard, with the plugs being attached to telephone lines or cords secured to the switchboard. The windows are translucent such that the pictures are readily visible without backlighting when they are adjacent the windows, but are not readily visible when spaced away from the windows.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolph E. Goldfarb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/0666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
a preschool play apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a wall; (b) means on said wall defining a plurality of openings of different shapes; (c) means on said wall defining a plurality of windows in said wall, each of said windows being associated with one of said openings; (d) a plurality of pictures, each being positioned at a respective one of said windows for being viewed through that window; (e) means for moving each of said pictures between a first position spaced away from said window and a second position adjacent to said window; (f) a layer of translucent material disposed across each of said windows, said layers having such thickness and such translucent characteristics that the associated picture can be readily seen through the layer without backlighting when the picture is in said second position adjacent to said layer but said picture cannot be readily seen through said layer when said picture is in said first position spaced from said layer, and (g) a plurality of plug means of different shapes, each of said plug means having a shape matching the shape of one of said openings so that each of said plug means will fit into a matching opening but will not fit into the other openings, each of said pictures being movably mounted on said wall adjacent the associated window and the associated moving means comprising an element associated with said picture and disposed at said associated opening when said picture is in said second position, said element being movable by the plug means fitting into the associated opening to thereby move the picture to its first position where it may be viewed through the translucent window layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
a preschool play apparatus comprising: (a) a base having a wall; (b) means on said wall defining a plurality of openings of different shapes; (c) means on said wall defining a plurality of windows in said wall, each of said windows being associated with one of said openings; (d) a plurality of pictures, each being positioned at a respective one of said windows for being viewed through that window; (e) means for moving each of said pictures between a first position spaced away from said window and a second position adjacent to said window; (f) a layer of translucent material disposed across each of said windows, said layers having such thickness and such translucent characteristics that the associated picture can be readily seen through the layer without backlighting when the picture is in said second position adjacent to said layer but said picture cannot be readily seen through said layer when said picture is in said first position spaced from said layer, and (g) a plurality of plug means of different shapes, each of said plug means having a shape matching the shape of one of said openings so that each of said plug means will fit into a matching opening but will not fit into the other openings, each of said pictures being movably mounted on said wall adjacent the associated window and the associated moving means comprising an element associated with said picture and disposed at said associated opening when said picture is in said second position, said element being movable by the plug means fitting into the associated opening to thereby move the picture to its first position where it may be viewed through the translucent window layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 1 wherein each of said pictures is pivotally mounted for rotational movement toward and away from the associated window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 2 wherein each of said pictures is pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal transversely extending axis disposed below the associated picture, and each of said openings is below the associated window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 1 wherein said pictures are normally biased to said first position by the force of gravity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 1 further comprising a bell-ringer mechanism comprising: (1) a bell mounted on said apparatus; (2) a member having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends and being pivotally mounted adjacent one of said ends on said apparatus, said member having an aperture intermediate said ends with a pair of opposed driven teeth extending inwardly from opposite sides of said aperture transversely spaced from the longitudinal axis of said member; (3) a clapper mounted on the other of said ends of said member and being disposed adjacent to said bell for movement into and out of engagement with said bell incident to pivotal movement of said member; and (4) a rotatable wheel disposed within said aperture and having a plurality of drive teeth configured and arranged with regard to said opposed driven teeth to alternately engage said drive teeth and thereby reciprocally pivot said member back and forth so as to cause said clapper to repeatedly strike said bell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 1 wherein each of said plug means is connected to said base by a flexible cord.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
A play apparatus comprising: (a) a wall; (b) means defining a window in said wall, the window extending in a plane; (c) a picture associated with said window; means for moving at least a major portion of said picture in a direction generally transverse to said plane so that said picture is moved between a first position spaced away from said plane of said window and a second position adjacent to said plane of said window, said means for moving said picture comprising a picture-supporting element which is mounted by pivot means located on the rear of said wall adjacent to an edge of said window; and (d) a layer of translucent material disposed across said window, said layer having such thickness and such translucent characteristics that the said picture can be readily seen through the layer without backlighting when the picture is in said second position adjacent to said layer, but said picture cannot be readily seen through said layer when said picture is in said first position spaced from said layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
A play apparatus comprising: (a) a wall; (b) means defining a window in said wall, the window extending in a plane; (c) a picture associated with said window; means for moving at least a major portion of said picture in a direction generally transverse to said plane so that said picture is moved between a first position spaced away from said plane of said window and a second position adjacent to said plane of said window, said means for moving said picture comprising a picture-supporting element which is mounted by pivot means located on the rear of said wall adjacent to an edge of said window; and (d) a layer of translucent material disposed across said window, said layer having such thickness and such translucent characteristics that the said picture can be readily seen through the layer without backlighting when the picture is in said second position adjacent to said layer, but said picture cannot be readily seen through said layer when said picture is in said first position spaced from said layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 6 further comprising means on said wall adjacent to said window to define an opening through said wall, said means for moving said picture including a contact portion disposed in said opening for being engaged to move said picture between said first and second positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A play apparatus as called for in claim 8 further comprising at least two plugs of different shapes, one of said plugs having a shape such that when it is inserted into the opening it will engage said contact portion of the means for moving said picture so as to move said picture from said first position to said second position, said other plug having a shape such that it may not be inserted into said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-09 | 1984-06-09 | 1984-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-09 | 1988-06-09 | 1988-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-09 | 1992-06-09 | 1992-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |