Amusement devices: toys – Foldable – collapsible – or having pivoted portion – Sheet material folded to form object
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-11-13
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Foldable, collapsible, or having pivoted portion
Sheet material folded to form object
C273S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a toy that is used to convey messages or fortunes to players.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
It is common for children to be attracted to games or toys that convey secret messages. Toys that “tell fortunes” or predict some future event also have great attraction to children. A common school toy for elementary school children is a piece of plain square paper which is folded in such a way that it may be manipulated on the fingers to two distinct open positions. When in these open positions, the toy has flaps that have visible numbers. A player chooses one of these numbers. The flap with this number is opened to reveal a secret message or fortune.
This toy is often known among children as a “fortune teller”, a “cootie catcher”, “finger snapper”, or some other name.
However, despite the popularity of these child-made toys, they suffer from several disadvantages:
(a) The toy is constructed of paper and its useful life is limited. The toy quickly becomes worn out or ripped during use.
(b) Being made of plain paper, its visual appeal is limited.
(c) The “fortunes” or “messages” are often written directly by the players, thus removing the element of surprise.
(d) Once viewed, the fortunes no longer have any surprise element because they are not replaceable.
(e) The messages are not interchangeable. Since the toy is constructed of a single piece of paper, a given message must always coincide with the same number on the flap. After playing with the toy, the players quickly learn which message corresponds to which number. Once the players know this, a significant part of the attraction is lost.
(f) The historical way in which the toy is made dictates that when a flap is opened to view a message the message immediately adjacent to it is also revealed. Thus, the players can see two of the messages with each turn. This further limits the amount of play that can occur before the messages in the toy are no longer secret or novel.
Several attempts have been made to overcome some of these disadvantages. U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,563 to Drohomirecky et al. discusses a folded fortune pouch game that is made of more durable material to extend its useful life. While successful in this way, this toy still suffers from several disadvantages:
(a) It is constructed such that when a flap is opened to view a message, the message immediately adjacent to it is also revealed.
(b) The messages are immediately visible when the flap is opened. There is no practical way to hide the message, if desired.
(c) It has separate message cards that are held to the toy using slits. This method relies on the stiffness of the card to stay in. It also relies on the card and the slits to be in good condition and properly sized. If either the card or slit is not in good condition or is improperly sized, the cards will fall out.
(d) This method of attaching message cards dictates that only one message corresponds to each numbered flap. Multiple message cards associated with a given flap are not practical.
(e) The message cards must be of a certain stiffness and shape. Soft or bendable material or unique shapes cannot be used.
(f) The message cards must be formed of material that is of a thickness that fits easily within the slits.
(g) The folds of the toy are not reinforced. This allows the toy to easily become misshapen.
Within the public domain there are articles which instruct how to make a folded fortune telling toy. More than one may be found on the Internet. In addition,
The Cootie Catcher Book
by the Editors of Klutz (1997 Klutz Publishing) discusses how to make such a toy and has several tear-out pages pre-printed with artistic designs and pre-printed messages. Although this presents some visual appeal versus a toy made by the players from plain paper, it suffers the disadvantages of being made of paper. This means it will have a limited life. It also has the lack of flexibility inherent with a single pre-printed sheet (i.e. the messages must always coincide with the same number on the flap so the players will quickly learn which message corresponds to which number).
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a folded fortune telling toy which:
(a) Allows the user to open a flap and view one message or fortune without having to expose to view the immediately adjacent message.
(b) Has messages which are replaceable.
(c) Has messages on cards that could be pre-printed so that there is an element of surprise for all users.
(d) Allows for simple interchanging of the messages so that a flap with a given number or symbol is not necessarily associated with a given message.
(e) Uses a method to hold message cards which protects the cards from falling out.
(f) Is more durable than toys made of the previously existing designs.
(g) Is constructed to be stiff enough to maintain its intended shape for play.
(h) Protects the message cards from rapid wear.
(i) Functions properly even if the message cards have damaged edges and corners.
(j) Allows for the use of multiple messages to be offered to the user in association with opening a single given flap.
(k) Provides a method for hiding the message or messages from immediate view when a given flap is opened.
(l) Allows that message cards can be made of very soft or very rigid material.
(m) Allows that message cards can be made of thin or thick material.
(n) Can be durably printed with colors or graphics that offer visual appeal.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing drawings and description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1547967 (1925-07-01), Shilhan
patent: 2647785 (1953-08-01), Casnati
patent: 4083563 (1978-04-01), Drohomirecky et al.
patent: 5843262 (1998-12-01), Rosendale et al.
Marc Brown (Author) “Cootie Catcher” Internet Article Regarding Make Your Own Cootie Catcher http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/arthur/prunella/cootie/instructions.html (copy attached).
The Cootie Catcher Bookby the Editors of Klutz Copyright 1997 Klutz Publishing Palo Alto, CA 94306 (Copies Attached).
Cootie Catcher: FantasyYour Own Personal Fortuner Teller. Fold Your Own Fortune Tellers with Pre-Printed Messages. Found on Internet http:www.chronbooks.com/cgi-bin/adult/view. CGI? iSBN= 0811821374 (Copy of Web Page Attached).
Cootie CatchersAdditional Web Site That Instructs How To Make Paper Fortune Teller http://www. howiedoit.com/~orion/cootiedocs/ (Copy of Web Page Attached).
Gibbons Gioia M.
Gibbons Gregory M.
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