Play article

Abstract

 The invention relates to a play article which can be used in two configurations, a first in which the base of the article can contact a support surface and a second in which the base is spaced from the support surface by one or more wheels or rollers which depend downwardly from the base to contact the support surface. In the first configuration the base may be shaped so as to allow a rocking motion and in the second configuration the wheels or rollers allow the article to be propelled along the support surface. A body is connected to the base which allows a child to sit thereon and said body at least can be inflatable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a play article which can be used in two different configurations for enjoyment by a child. The article is typically provided to be sat upon by the child in both configurations and, in the first configuration a rocking motion can be provided and, in a second configuration, the article is moveable along a surface.

[0002] The provision of play articles for children is well known and, particularly for smaller children, there are a range of articles which can be used either in a rocking horse style in which the child sits on the device and, by movement of their body with respect to the article, in combination with the shaping of the underside of the article, can create a forwards and backwards rocking motion. An alternative form of article is provided with castors, wheels or rollers on the underside thereof which allow the child, sitting on the article, to use their legs in contact with the surface to propel the article along the surface. Alternatively the article with the child thereon can be pushed or pulled.

[0003] While these known forms of articles are provided in a range of forms, the same are typically provided in two distinct arrangements, one with castors, wheels or rollers and the other with the rocking motion.

[0004] A further problem with this type of article is that the same tend to be relatively bulky such that when not in use, there is a problem in providing storage space for the same in normal domestic premises. A further problem is that the size of the article means that a relatively large amount of packaging is required to be used to enclose the article prior to purchase. A further problem is that the known articles can lose their appeal relatively quickly to the child and therefore can be discarded and unused while still taking up storage space.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide an article that can be adapted between first and second configurations so as to allow the utility of the article to a child to be improved in terms of the possible usage of the article for playing purposes, and also to address storage and packaging problems.

[0006] In the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a play article, said article having a body which is shaped to receive and support a person thereon, a base on which the body is mounted and wherein in a first configuration the base is provided to be in contact with a support surface and in a second configuration, wheels, rollers or castors are positioned to space the base from the support surface.

[0007] In one embodiment, the underside of the base is shaped, such as in a curved manner so as to allow the first configuration of use of the article to provide a rocking motion when moved.

[0008] In one embodiment, the said base can be provided as an integral part of the body, can be permanently attached thereto or can be selectively engaged with the body.

[0009] In one embodiment, the said base includes reception means for a plurality of rollers, castors or wheels which, when located with the reception means, can contact with the support surface instead of said base.

[0010] Typically, when the wheels, rollers or castors are located with the reception means and contact with the support surface, the article can be propelled across the support surface by the child on the body and/or by a person pushing the article.

[0011] Typically the reception means are provided with apertures on the underside of said base and the wheels, castors or rollers are provided with a rod or stem depending therefrom which can be inserted through the aperture and locked into the reception means by the provision of threaded or another form of engagement means.

[0012] Preferably, the wheels, rollers or castors, can be selectively removed by the exertion of force thereon and, in one embodiment, the force that is required is such that the same is required to be done by an adult rather than by a child using the article.

[0013] Typically, the body is inflatable. Typically the body is shaped, when inflated, so as to depict a particular character or item while, at the same time, defining a portion on the same on which a child can sit.

[0014] Typically, the said base is substantially rigid and preferably, will be in a shape that matches with the contours of the body.

[0015] Thus, there is provided an article for use by a child in play, which can be used and adapted to provide two different play configurations thereby adding to the appeal of the article to a child and therefore prolonging the likely length of time of usage of the article, while at the same time, by allowing one article to perform two different functions, reducing the storage space required in comparison to, for example, the provision of two articles with different uses.

[0016] In one embodiment the base can receive further members thereon to allow the use of the article to be changed.

[0017] In one embodiment the article includes a compartment in which one or more accessories are located to allow the fitting and/or removal of the wheels, rollers or castors. Typically the compartment is located in the base of the article.

[0018] In one embodiment the wheels, rollers or castors are moveable between an in use position extending from the base to contact the support surface and a retracted position in which the base can contact the support surface. In this arrangement the wheels, castor or rollers are provided as integral parts of the base and can be provided in this arrangement regardless of whether the body portion is inflatable or not.

[0019] In one embodiment the wheels, rollers or castors are positioned on the base and acted upon by biasing means which bias the same to extend from the base for contact with the support surface. In one embodiment the action of the biasing means is overcome when a particular weight at, or greater than, a predetermined weight level is applied to the play article such as by a person sitting on the body. Typically, when the biasing means are overcome the article is rendered inoperable in the second configuration such that the wheels are retracted and cannot be used to propel the article across the surface. This features can be provided to prevent the use of the article by persons who are too heavy for the same and thereby prevent dangerous usage.

[0020] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing an article for play, said method comprising the steps of providing the article as a number of parts comprising a base, a plurality of wheels, castors or rollers, and a body, inflating said body and retaining said body in an inflated condition for use of the article, said body defining a portion on which a person can be supported during use of the article and selectively placing the article with the base in contact with the support surface or providing said wheels, castors or rollers to extend from the base and contact with the support surface and space the base at a distance from the support surface so as to provide at least two configurations of use of the article.

[0021] In one embodiment, once the body is inflated, the same is held in a permanent inflated condition. Alternatively the body can be inflated and deflated as and when required for use and storage purposes respectfully.

[0022] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein

Figure 1 illustrates a first configuration of an article in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a second configuration of the article in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates the body of the article separated from the base; and

Figure 5 illustrates a detailed view of the internal arrangement within the base.

[0023] Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is provided an article 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The article comprises a body 4 and a base 6. The body 4 is attached to the base 6 in use. In one arrangement, the body 4 can be attached to the base 6 at the time of assembly of the article or alternatively, the body 4 can be permanently attached to the base 6. In either case, it is preferred that the body 4 is inflatable such that when initially provided in the packaging for delivery, the same is deflated and, once received at the location of use, the same can be inflated.

[0024] In one arrangement, the body, once inflated, is held in a permanent inflated condition for subsequent use or alternatively can be selectively inflated and deflated to suit use and storage requirements respectively. Once inflated, the body 4 includes a portion 8 on which a child typically sits and the underside 10 of the base 6 can be contacted with a support surface. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the underside 10 is provided to contact with a support surface on which the article is to be used and the underside is shaped in a curved manner, as illustrated, such that a child, when sitting on the portion 8, can move backwards and forwards with respect to the body so as to impart a rocking motion on the article 2 due to the shape of the underside 10.

[0025] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the article 2 in accordance with a second configuration of use in which there is again provided a body 4 in an inflated condition and the base 6. In this case however, the underside 10 of the base is not used to contact the support surface 12, instead, a plurality of wheels, rollers or castors 14 have been moved into position to contact the support surface 12, space the underside of the base from the contact surface and hence allow the article 2 to be propelled along the support surface 12 either by the child sat on the article body 4 or via a person pushing the same. This therefore represents a second configuration of use of the same article 2.The members or stems 16 which depend from the wheels, rollers or castors 14 are received in apertures 18 provided on the underside 10 of the base as shown in Figure 1 which lead to reception means 20 provided in the base which are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0026] In both configurations the body can be provided with a cover portion which can be placed over the body such as to form the external surface of the same. The cover can be provided of a colour, pattern and/or with a tactile external surface which is selected to provide additional visual and touch benefits which are typically linked to the character or animal depicted by the article.

[0027] In Figure 4, there is shown the body 4 separated from the base 6. Also shown are the top portions 22 of reception means 20. The top portions 22 of the reception means are used to receive and locate the inflatable body 4 with the base 6. In one embodiment, the body and base are permanently attached therefore further securing means may be utilised or alternative securing means may be utilised to achieve permanent location of the two parts together. Alternatively, the body may be separable from the base to allow storage and use of the same separately. In one embodiment the location means between the body and base are provided such that when the body is deflated, the location means can be moved into position and the subsequent inflation of the body causes the location means to effectively lock into position thereby ensuring that for the duration of the inflation of the body the same is locked and secured with the base. Release can then be achieved by deflation of the body.

[0028] It should also be appreciated that the wheels, castors or rollers 14 can in one embodiment be selectively separated from the base 6 to allow the two different configurations of use of the article 2 to be achieved. Alternatively the wheels rollers or castors can be attached to the base and be movable with respect to the base between a retracted position within the base or in indents in the base in which the base can contact with the surface and an extended position to space the base underside from the contact surface to achieve the second configuration of use. Retaining means will typically be provided to retain the wheels rollers or castors in either of the positions.

[0029] The base may also include a compartment in which a spanner or others tools can be provided to allow the fixing and releasing of the wheels castors or rollers of the base. In one embodiment the compartment is provided with a lock which can only be accessed by an adult and the wheels rollers or castors can only be fixed or removed using the tools provided in the compartment.

[0030] Figure 5 illustrates a view showing the interior of the base 6 and body 4 of the article 2 and shows how the members 16 of the wheels, castors or rollers 14 are received within the retaining means 20, which can be by a snap-lock fitment action which is releasable. Alternatively the wheels castors or rollers can be provided with male or female threaded portions which can be engaged with the other of male or female threaded portions provided on the base retaining means 20 so as to allow engagement of the wheels, castors or rollers with the base.

[0031] Typically, the force required to cause locking and release of the wheels, castors or rollers from the reception means 20 is such as to require the same to be performed by an adult thereby ensuring that the change of configuration of the article is safely performed.

[0032] In one embodiment the wheels, rollers or castors 14 can be provided with biasing means, such as a spring mounted axially with the stem or member of the wheel castor or roller, which bias the wheels rollers or castors to an extended position when the same are desired to be in the second configuration. However these biasing means can be overcome when a weight at or above a predetermined weight level is applied such that the wheels rollers or castors retract into the base and the base is brought into contact with the support surface such that the same is brought into the first configuration. This prevents the article from being moved and used in the second configuration by children who may be too old and therefore too heavy to use the article in the second configuration safely.

[0033] If required a handle or frame can be provided to depend upwardly from the article in order to allow the article to be more easily pushed or pulled by a person who is not sitting on the article.

[0034] There is therefore provided an article 2 in accordance with the invention which can be used in two different configurations and which can include a body portion 4 which is at least initially deflated which reduces the packaging requirements for the same and allows easy assembly of the article and inflation of the body for subsequent use and the configuration of use can be selected by the user so as to increase the utility of the article.

Claims

1. A play article, said article having a body which is shaped to receive and support a person thereon, a base on which the body is mounted and wherein in a first configuration the base is provided to be in contact with a support surface and in a second configuration, wheels, rollers or castors are positioned to space the base from the support surface.

2. A play article accordingly to claim 1 wherein the underside of the base is shaped so as to allow the article in the first configuration of use of the article to provide a rocking motion when moved on the support surface.

3. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the said base and body are integral.

4. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the base is permanently attached to the body.

5. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the base is selectively engagable with the body.

6. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the said base includes reception means for a plurality of rollers, castors or wheels which, when inserted into the reception means, are positioned intermediate the support surface and the base.

7. A play article according to claim 1 wherein when the wheels, rollers or castors are in contact with the support surface, the article can be propelled across the support surface.

8. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the wheels, rollers or castors when engaged with the body are releasably locked in position.

9. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the body is inflatable.

10. A play article according to claim 9 wherein, when inflated, the body defines a portion on which a person can sit.

11. A play article, said article comprising a body on which a child can sit, said body supported and located on a base wherein the body is inflatable into an inflated condition for use.

12. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the article includes a compartment in which one or more accessories are located to allow the fitting and/or removal of the wheels, rollers or castors.

13. A play article according to claim 12 wherein the compartment is located in the base of the article.

14. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the wheels, rollers or castors are moveable between an in use position extending from the base to contact the support surface and a retracted position in which the base can contact the support surface.

15. A play article according to claim 1 wherein the wheels, rollers or castors are positioned on the base and acted upon by biasing means which bias the same to extend from the base for contact with the support surface.

16. A play article according to claim 15 wherein the action of the biasing means is overcome when a particular weight at, or greater than, a predetermined weight level is applied to the play article.

17. A play article according to claim 16 wherein when the biasing means are overcome the article is rendered inoperable in the second configuration.

18. A method of providing an article for play, said method comprising the steps of providing the article as a number of parts comprising a base, a plurality of wheels, castors or rollers, and a body, inflating said body and retaining said body in an inflated condition for use of the article, said body defining a portion on which a person can be supported during use of the article and selectively placing the article with the base in contact with the support surface or providing said wheels, castors or rollers to extend from the base and contact with the support surface and space the base at a distance from the support surface so as to provide at least two configurations of use of the article.

Drawing