Amusement devices: toys – Having portions knocked apart or awry by impact – Including portion serving as container for diverse articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-02
2001-01-09
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Having portions knocked apart or awry by impact
Including portion serving as container for diverse articles
C446S073000, C446S487000, C383S119000, C383S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171166
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of containers, particularly those containers used as amusement devices and games of chance or of combinations of chance and ability, and even more particularly, to the type of containers commonly known as pi{tilde over (n)}atas.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Pinata breaking celebrations are quite popular in Mexico and in the Mexican communities of the United States. Traditionally, pifiatas are constructed of a clay pot or container ornamented with colorful paper and filled with candy, nuts, confetti, and/or token gifts such as light-weight toys and the like, collectively referred to as treats. The pi{tilde over (n)}ata is suspended above a party area and at the appropriate time and with celebration, the pi{tilde over (n)}ata is broken so that the treats are scattered among the several guests who in turn may generally keep whatever treats each collects. The usual method of breaking the pi{tilde over (n)}ata is by beating it with a club or cane. This is done by a blindfolded participant—usually, but not necessarily, a child—who is the subject of the celebration. Alternatively, several participants in succession are each given a certain number of turns in which to attempt to break the pifiata. Unfortunately, as a result of the enthusiasm of one or more of the participants in gathering close to the pi{tilde over (n)}ata so as to collect a larger number of treats, it occasionally happens that a participant in the celebration is hit by the club or by the cane used to break the pi{tilde over (n)}ata. Additionally, the traditional pi{tilde over (n)}ata made of clay pottery may break into large fragments which can fall and cause injury. Modern pi{tilde over (n)}atas are often made of paper mache or cardboard, thereby avoiding some of the dangers presented by cracked clay fragments. However, modern pi{tilde over (n)}atas are generally more difficult to break, requiring greater swings with the resultant greater danger from that aspect to the participants.
Storage and transportation for traditional, and even modem, pi{tilde over (n)}atas are awkward and difficult because of the bulkiness of an assembled, ready-to-use pi{tilde over (n)}ata. Furthermore, even modern pi{tilde over (n)}atas are relatively difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to construct in a ready-to-use state, and often must be stored with treats inside for long periods of time. This requirement of extensive storage in a ready-to-use state often precludes the use of perishable treats, such as many types of candies and gums, in the pi{tilde over (n)}atas.
Accordingly, there exists a need for containers, and especially pi{tilde over (n)}atas, that are not awkward, difficult, or expensive to store, and for pi{tilde over (n)}atas that may be easily stored without treats enclosed, and constructed just prior to use. Additionally, there exists a need for containers, especially pi{tilde over (n)}atas, that are made of relatively inexpensive materials, and that are neither expensive nor time-consuming to construct into a ready-to-use state. Finally, there exists a need for such pi{tilde over (n)}atas that can be easily constructed into a ready-to-use state by those with no special training.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a container, typically for use as a pi{tilde over (n)}ata, which comprises a “containing” chamber, which may be a conventional paper bag, having an opening on one side, and a plurality of handles fixably attached to the containing chamber and extending outwardly from the opening of the chamber; at least one pull line that is fixably attached to the chamber, the pull line passing through at least one face of the chamber, so that when the pull line is pulled with sufficient force the chamber will rupture; and a “shroud” chamber having an opening on one side, and a plurality of slots on a side opposite the opening of the shroud chamber. The shroud chamber may be a conventional paper bag and may be laminated, and is positioned atop the containing chamber to shroud the opening of the containing chamber with the side opposite the opening of the shroud chamber, so that the handles of the containing chamber may readily be inserted into the slots of the shroud chamber to stabilize the entire container and to shroud the opening of the containing chamber with the shroud chamber, specifically, the side opposite the opening of the shroud chamber. Ribbons, with attached cards thereto, may also be used with the pi{tilde over (n)}ata.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3006532 (1961-10-01), Fine
patent: 3349992 (1967-10-01), Skinner
patent: 3702675 (1972-11-01), Bajo
patent: 4015364 (1977-04-01), Oquita
patent: 4092798 (1978-06-01), Oquita
patent: 4167078 (1979-09-01), Oquita
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patent: 4787872 (1988-11-01), Bajo
patent: 4930903 (1990-06-01), Mahoney
patent: 5263889 (1993-11-01), Ledonne
patent: 5536194 (1996-07-01), Larsen et al.
patent: 5613312 (1997-03-01), Crowell
patent: 5824378 (1998-10-01), Armendariz et al.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Muir D. Neal
LandOfFree
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