[0001] The present invention relates to a play frame and in particular to a soft, fabric
covered child's play frame to which small toys and decorative items may be attached.
[0002] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a play frame
comprising an internal frame structure and an outer fabric covering, wherein the outer
fabric covering is made from one part of a two-part releasable fabric attachment system.
[0003] Preferably the whole of the outer fabric covering is made from one part of a two-part
releasable fabric attachment system.
[0004] Preferably, the two-part, releasable fabric attachment system is a hook and loop
fabric attachment system, such as, for example, the Velcro® system.
[0005] The outer fabric covering is preferably made from a fabric which forms the loop part
of a hook and loop fabric attachment system. Preferably, the outer fabric covering
is made from tricot fabric. A suitable type of tricot fabric is the commercially available
fabric sold under the trade mark Nylex. This material is soft, durable and readily
available, relatively inexpensively.
[0006] Preferably the play frame is inflatable and the internal frame structure is formed
from an inflatable, airtight vesicle or inner tube. Preferably the internal frame
structure is formed from vinyl and includes a valve for assisting in the inflation
of the play frame. Making the play frame inflatable has the advantage of greatly increasing
the ease with which the play frame may be transported and stored while providing a
soft yet substantially rigid play frame suitable for use with babies and small children.
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the play frame is formed from a plurality
of separate components, each component comprising an internal structure and an outer
fabric covering, wherein the outer fabric covering is made from one part of a two-part
releasable fabric attachment system and wherein the separate components are releasably
attachable to one another by means of one or more interconnecting pads formed from
the other part of the two-part releasable fabric attachment system. The use of separate
components in this way enables a large number of diverse structures to be formed from
a small number of separate components.
[0008] Preferably the one or more interconnecting pads are made from a fabric which forms
the hook part of a hook and loop fabric attachment system such as Velcro®.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component
of a play frame, the component comprising an internal frame structure and an outer
fabric covering, wherein the outer fabric covering is made from one part of a two-part
releasable fabric attachment system. Preferably the component is inflatable.
[0010] In both aspects of the present invention, there may be further provided at least
one small toy or decoration for attachment to the outer covering, at least a part
of the small toy or decoration being formed from the other part of the two-part releasable
fabric attachment system from that of the outer covering. This enables the small toy
or decoration to be fitted to any part of the play frame.
[0011] In order that the present invention may be better understood, embodiments thereof
will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a play frame according to a first embodiment of
the present invention when in use;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the play frame of Figure 1 illustrating
how small toys may be releasably attached to the play frame;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a play frame according to a second embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the play frame of Figure 3 in an alternative position;
and
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the play frame of Figures 3 and 4 in another alternative
position.
[0012] The play frame 1 of Figure 1 comprises a single unit made up of two pairs of legs
5 and a central bar 6 joining the two pairs of legs 5 together. The entire frame is
covered in an outer fabric covering 10. The outer fabric covering 10 is formed from
a tricot fabric such that it forms the loop part of a loop and hook releasable fabric
attachment system. A suitable tricot fabric is sold under the name Nylex.
[0013] Underneath the outer fabric covering 10 there is an inflatable airtight vesicle,
which when inflated provides rigidity for the play frame 1 as a whole. The airtight
vesicle may be made from vinyl and may be inflated and preferably also deflated when
desired via the valve 15.
[0014] A number of small toys 20 or other decorative items may be attached to the outer
covering 10 of the play frame 1 by providing that a part 21 of the toy 20 is made
from the hook part of a hook and loop fabric attachment system which is compatible
with the loop part fabric of the outer covering 10. A suitable such material is the
hooked fabric of the Velcro® system.
[0015] As shown in Figure 2, it is clear that the hooked part 21 of a toy 20 may be attached
to any part of the outer covering 10. Furthermore, the hook and loop fabric attachment
system is releasable so the toys 20 may be released, reattached, removed and replaced
at will.
[0016] Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a second play frame which is formed from two separate components
30 each of which is similar in its construction to the play frame of Figure 1 described
above.
[0017] In order to releasably attach the components to one another, there are provided small
pads 31 formed from hooked fabric (such that both outer surfaces are hooked) which
may be releasably attached to any part of the outer covering 10 of the components
to join any part of one component to any part of another (where geometrically possible).
When two components are joined together the pads 31 will generally be hidden from
view.
[0018] Although not shown in the drawings, it will be apparent to a reader of this document
that more than two components could be used to construct a play frame according to
the present invention. Furthermore, alternative releasable fabric attachment systems
could be used instead of the hook and loop systems described.
[0019] It is a preferred feature of the present invention that the whole of the outer fabric
covering is made from one part of a two-part releasable fabric attachment system,
since this provides for ease of manufacture, enhanced aesthetics of the finished product
and maximum versatility. Nonetheless, it will be readily apparent to a reader that
the majority of the technical advantages of the present invention will be present
in a play frame in which only a part or parts of the outer covering are made, or in
which a part or parts of the outer covering are not made, from one part of a two-part
releasable fabric attachment system, and it is intended that the present invention
should cover such arrangements.
1. A play frame comprising an internal frame structure and an outer fabric covering,
wherein the outer fabric covering is made from one part of a two-part releasable fabric
attachment system.
2. A play frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the whole of the outer fabric covering
is made from one part of a two-part releasable fabric attachment system.
3. A play frame as claimed in either one of the preceding claims wherein the play frame
is inflatable.
4. A play frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the internal frame
structure comprises an inflatable airtight vesicle adapted to take on the desired
shape of the play frame when inflated.
5. A play frame as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inflatable vesicle includes a valve
which ordinarily acts as a one way valve preventing the escape of gas from within
the vesicle, but which may be manipulated by a user to enable deflation of the play
frame when desired.
6. A play frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the two-part releasable
fabric attachment system comprises a hook and loop system.
7. A play frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer fabric
covering is made from a tricot fabric adapted to act as the loop part of a hook and
loop releasable fabric attachment system.
8. A play frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the play frame
is formed from a plurality of separate components, each component comprising an internal
structure and an outer fabric covering, wherein the outer fabric covering is made
from one part of a two-part releasable fabric attachment system and wherein the separate
components are releasably attachable to one another by means of one or more interconnecting
pads formed from the other part of the two-part releasable fabric attachment system.
9. A play frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising at least
one small toy or decorative item at least part of which is made from the other part
of the two-part releasable fabric attachment system from which the outer fabric covering
is made.
10. A component of a play frame, the component comprising an internal frame structure
and an outer fabric covering, wherein the outer fabric covering is made from one part
of a two-part releasable fabric attachment system.
11. A component as claimed in claim 10 wherein the component is inflatable.
12. A component as claimed in either one of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the outer fabric
covering is made from a tricot fabric adapted to act as the loop part of a hook and
loop releasable fabric attachment system.