Breakable container for games

A breakable container, commonly called a piñata, has a first half, a second half, a fastener to attach the halves together, and a decorative portion. The first half and the second half form a hollow main body when they are assembled by engaging the fastener. The decorative portion is attached to the main body, and the halves are made of fragile material. The halves includes first half projections, and second half projections that form main projections that extend from the main body. The decorative portion includes cone-shaped decoration enclosures having connecting ends that are attached to the main projections. The fastener includes fixing projections on the first half projections, and fixing recesses on the second half projections along the mating line. The fixing projections are inserted into the fixing recesses and fit tight with each other when the first half and the second half are assembled.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a breakable container for games. More particularly, this invention relates to a breakable container for games, which is easy to produce and transport.

A breakable container is widely used for children's games. A typical example is the piñata, which is used at events such as birthdays, and contains candies or toys. The piñata is made of breakable material such as paper or clay. It is suspended from the ceiling or a tree and becomes broken to release stuffs inside by wielding a stick, etc.

Since the breakable container is made to have some volume to contain toys or candies, and is usually made of light and fragile material, the breakable containers are very bulky and require large boxes and thus are difficult to transport and expensive to ship, especially overseas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantage of the prior art.

An objective of the invention is to provide a breakable container that increases the ability of a shipper of these items to ship them in a compact manner that reduces the space required by many times the space required to send one breakable container. This reduction in necessary space effectively will reduce the cost and energy required to ship the breakable container.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a breakable container for ease of storage when the item is not being used.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide a breakable container that is easy to assemble. Still another objective of the invention is to provide a breakable container that includes various decorative features.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a breakable container that includes a first half, a second half, a fastener to attach the first half and the second half together, and a decorative portion. The first half and the second half form a hollow main body when the first half and the second half are assembled by engaging the fastener. The decorative portion is attached to the main body. The first half and the second half are made of fragile material including paper, and plastic foam, etc.

The first half includes one or more first half projections, and the second half includes one or more second half projections that correspond to the first half projections. The first half projections and the second half projections form one or more main projections that extend from the main body when the first half and the second half are assembled by engaging the fastener. The decorative portion includes one or more decoration enclosures, each of the decoration enclosure includes a connecting end that is attached to the main projection.

Preferably, the decoration enclosures are cone-shaped, and the decoration enclosures are attached to the main projections with adhesive tapes that are pre-installed on the main projections.

The fastener includes a plurality of fixing projections provided on the first half along the mating line between the first half and the second half, and a plurality of fixing recesses provided on the second half along the mating line between the first half and the second half. The fixing projections are inserted into the fixing recesses and fit tight with each other when the first half and the second half are assembled. Particularly, the fixing projections are provided on the first half projections, and the fixing recesses provided on the second half projections.

The fastener may further include a flexible hinge positioned between the first half and the second half, and integrated with the first half and the second half. Specifically, the flexible hinge is provided between one of the first half projections and the second projection that mates with the first half projection on which the flexible hinge is provided.

Part or all of the main projections extend radially from the main body in a plane along which the first half and the second half are mated. In addition to this, some of the main projections may extend from the main body in a direction perpendicular to the plane along which the first half and the second half are mated.

The decorative portion may further include one or more decorative sheets that are attached to the main body.

The breakable container further includes a string attached to the main body, so that the breakable container can be suspended in the air.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) a breakable container that consists of halves so the halves are foldable on each other for space efficiency; (2) a breakable container that consists of halves that when the halves are attached together provide the same use as an one-piece breakable container; (3) a breakable container that is convenient and inexpensive to ship because the halves are foldable over each other; (4) a breakable container that saves space and is easy to store; a breakable container that is easy to assemble; and (5) a breakable container that provides various combinations of decorations that attracts children and increases retail value of the container.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative elevation view of a breakable container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a main body of the breakable container;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a cone-shaped decoration enclosure;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first half and a second half that form the main body;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the first half and the second half;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an illustrative elevation view of a breakable container according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is an illustrative elevation view of a breakable container according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 shows a breakable container 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows that the breakable container 10 is suspended from a ceiling 12 with a string 14. FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 show that the breakable container 10 includes a first half 16, a second half 18, a fastener 20 to attach the first half 16 and the second half 18 together, and a decorative portion 22. The first half 16 and the second half 18 form a hollow main body 24 when the first half 16 and the second half 18 are assembled by engaging the fastener 20. The decorative portion 22 is attached to the main body 24. The first half 16 and the second half 18 are made of fragile material, so that the breakable container 10 may be used in games, like a piñata in a birthday party. The hollow main body 24 is used to contain candies or small toys, and the hollow main body 24 is breakable by wielding a stick, etc. The fragile material, of which the main body 22 is made, includes paper, plastic foam, Styrofoam and any other soft and breakable material. The string 14 is attached to the main body 24.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the first half 16 includes one or more first half projections 26, and the second half 18 includes one or more second half projections 28. The first half projections 26 and the second half projections 28 form one or more main projections 30 that extend from the main body 24 when the first half 16 and the second half 18 are assembled by engaging the fastener 20.

The decorative portion 22 includes one or more decoration enclosures 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are five decoration enclosures 32, and the decoration enclosures 32 are cone-shaped. FIG. 3 shows that each of the decoration enclosures 32 includes a connecting end 34 that is attached to the main projection 30. FIG. 2 shows that the decorative portion 22 further includes one or more decorative sheets 62 that are attached to the main body 24. The decoration enclosures 32 or the decorative sheets 62 may include photographs or designs of famous characters, and paper or fabric tassels, pleats, etc.

FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 show that the fastener 20 includes a plurality of fixing projections 36 provided on the first half 16 along the mating line 40 between the first half 16 and the second half 18, and a plurality of fixing recesses 38 provided on the second half 18 along the mating line 40 between the first half 16 and the second half 18. The fixing projections 36 are inserted into the fixing recesses 40 and fit tight with each other when the first half 16 and the second half 18 are assembled. Specifically, the fixing projections 36 are provided on the first half projections 26, and the fixing recesses 38 provided on the second half projections 28.

FIGS. 4-6 show that the fastener 20 further includes a flexible hinge 42 positioned between the first half 16 and the second half 18. The flexible hinge 42 is integrated with the first half 16 and the second half 18 so that the halves 16, 18 and the flexible hinge 42 can be molded or formed as a single piece in a state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Specifically, the flexible hinge 42 is provided between one of the first half projections 26 and the second half projection 28 that mates with the first half projection 26 on which the flexible hinge 42 is provided.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the decoration enclosures 32 are attached to the main projections 30 with patches of adhesive tapes 44 that are pre-installed on the main projections 30.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the main projections 30 extend radially from the main body 24 in a plane 46 along which the first half 16 and the second half 18 are mated.

In order to use the breakable container 10, the first half 16 and the second half 18 are assembled with the fastener 20. Before fitting the fixing projections 36 into the fixing recesses 38, candies or toys are filled in the first half 16 and the second half 18. Then after assembling the halves, a lining paper, which is provided on each of the adhesive tapes 44 are removed, and decoration enclosures 32 are put on the main projections 56. Candies can also be filled into the decoration enclosures 32 before they are attached to the main body 24. The decoration enclosures 32 are fixed on the main projections 56 with the adhesive tapes 44.

FIG. 9 shows a breakable container according to the second embodiment of the invention. Only a main body 48 is shown for clarity. The main body 48 includes a first half 50 and a second half 52, which are mated with each other. The main body 48 includes one or more main projections 54 that radially extend from the main body 48 in a plane 58 along which the first half 50 and the second half 52 are mated. The main body 48 also includes one or more main projections 56 that extend from the main body 48 in a direction perpendicular to the mating plane 58. Other details of the main body 48 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the main body 24 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a breakable container 60 according to the third embodiment of the invention. The breakable container 60 includes a main body 64, main projections 66 that extend from the main body 64, and decoration enclosures 68, 70, 72 are that are fitted onto the main projections 66. The main body 64, the main projections 66, and the decoration enclosures 68, 70, 72 resemble a shape of an animal when they are assembled together. Other details of the main body 64, the main projections 66, and the decoration enclosures 68, 70, 72 are the same as those of the first embodiment.

With the above construction, a breakable container, which is very simple and convenient to produce, and consumes far less storage space, is provided. The first half and the second half can be molded and formed as a single piece, and the halves can be stacked one another.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A breakable container comprising:

a) a first half;
b) a second half;
c) a fastener to attach the first half and the second half together; and
b) a decorative portion;
wherein the first half and the second half form a hollow main body when the first half and the second half are assembled by engaging the fastener, wherein the decorative portion is attached to the main body, and wherein the first half and the second half are made of fragile material.

2. The breakable container of claim 1 wherein the first half comprises one or more first half projections, and the second half comprises one or more second half projections, wherein the first half projections and the second half projections form one or more main projections that extend from the main body when the first half and the second half are assembled by engaging the fastener, wherein the decorative portion comprises one or more decoration enclosures, each of the decoration enclosures comprises a connecting end that is attached to the main projection.

3. The breakable container of claim 2 wherein the decoration enclosures are cone-shaped.

4. The breakable container of claim 1 wherein the fastener comprises a plurality of fixing projections provided on the first half along the mating line between the first half and the second half, and a plurality of fixing recesses provided on the second half along the mating line between the first half and the second half, wherein the fixing projections are inserted into the fixing recesses and fit tight with each other when the first half and the second half are assembled.

5. The breakable container of claim 4 wherein the first half comprises one or more first half projections, and the second half comprises one or more second half projections, wherein the first half projections and the second half projections form one or more main projections that extend from the main body when the first half and the second half are assembled by engaging the fastener, wherein the decorative portion comprises one or more decoration enclosures, each of the decoration enclosure comprises a connecting end that is attached to the main projection.

6. The breakable container of claim 5 wherein the fixing projections are provided on the first half projections, and the fixing recesses provided on the second half projections.

7. The breakable container of claim 6 wherein the fastener further comprises a flexible hinge positioned between the first half and the second half, and integrated with the first half and the second half.

8. The breakable container of claim 7 wherein the flexible hinge is provided between one of the first half projections and the second projection that mates with the first half projection on which the flexible hinge is provided.

9. The breakable container of claim 5 wherein the decoration enclosures are cone-shaped.

10. The breakable container of claim 9 wherein the decoration enclosures are attached to the main projections with adhesive tapes that are pre-installed on the main projections.

11. The breakable container of claim 5 wherein at least one of the main projections extend radially from the main body in a plane along which the first half and the second half are mated.

12. The breakable container of claim 11 wherein at least one of the main projections extend from the main body in a direction perpendicular to the plane along which the first half and the second half are mated.

13. The breakable container of claim 5 wherein the decorative portion further comprises one or more decorative sheets that are attached to the main body.

14. The breakable container of claim 5 further comprising a string attached to the main body, whereby the breakable container can be suspended in the air.

15. The breakable container of claim 4 wherein the first half and the second half are made of paper, styrofoam or plastic foam.

Patent History
Publication number: 20050197036
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 3, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2005
Inventors: Charles Won (Vemon, CA), Michael Chong (Vemon, CA)
Application Number: 10/792,251
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: 446/5.000