Amusement devices: toys – Building furnishing or appliance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-01-09
Ackun, Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Building furnishing or appliance
C446S073000, C446S071000, C446S075000, C040S600000, C312S204000, C434S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171173
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is generally related to children's furniture. More particularly, the present invention relates to a toy refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Children like to mimic adults by playing with a mini kitchen, and one of the kitchen appliances that they like to play with is the refrigerator. This specification discloses a construction of a toy refrigerator having a built-in metal surface or other activity surface by which children can mimic the message posting function of their parents' refrigerators.
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a toy refrigerator whose structural cabinet is primarily of wood or plastic material and which presents a magnetic surface or, alternatively, a chalk board, erasable marker surface, corkboard, or other activity surfaces.
The toy refrigerator has the basic appearance of a real refrigerator to stimulate a child's desire to play and to hold the child's interest. In preferred embodiments, the refrigerator has a body defining an interior refrigerator chamber, and a door having recess handles attached to the body through hinges. The door is generally substantially rectangular, of a size and configuration to match the refrigerator body. The door includes front and back sides and top, bottom and lateral faces or sides defining the periphery of the door. The refrigerator body structure is optionally equipped with removable shelves received within the refrigerator chamber. The shelves allow storage of toys/fake food, etc., mimicking the placement of food, etc. in a real refrigerator, and the door can be opened, as would the door on a real refrigerator. The recess handle also can be replaced by any traditional type of handle, as would be understood by those in the art.
A stepped or sunken recess is, in preferred embodiments, generally formed in the door, through which an activity surface, such as a surface formed from a metallic material for application of magnets, is attached and displayed. The sunken recess, alternately, is positioned on the front side or the back side of the door. When it is on the back side, a window typically is formed in the front side of the door as to expose the activity surface to view and use from the front of the door. The activity surface is optionally mounted onto or inserted into the door through a slit or channel located on a top face or either lateral face of the door.
The construction of the activity surface and manner of assembly within the door are designed to minimize the risks of injuries to children who play with the refrigerator. The toy refrigerator is preferably made either from a plastic material or wood, with sharp edges from the activity surface concealed and the comers of the door and the body rounded.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following figures, description and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 258971 (1981-04-01), Orenstein et al.
patent: 1505843 (1924-08-01), Banta
patent: 4341034 (1982-07-01), Tsui et al.
patent: 4852282 (1989-08-01), Selman
patent: 4992068 (1991-02-01), Conrad
patent: 6053585 (2000-04-01), Osen
patent: 6065253 (2000-05-01), Ojeda
“Korners For Kids Microwave Oven” 008-54461—p. 95 of ABC School Supply General Catalog—1996.
“Little Helper's Refrigerator” 344-61281—p. 96 of ABC School Supply General Catalog—1996.
“Korners For Kids Toddler Refrigerator” 008-11481—p. 94 of ABC School Supply General Catalog—1998.
“Korners For Kids Microwave Oven” 008-54481—p. 92 of ABC School Supply General Catalog—1998.
“KFK Toddler Refrigerator” 008-11462—p. 52 of ABC School Supply Catalog—1996.
“Colorco Refrigerator” 755-3()62—p. 52 of ABC School Supply Catalog—1996.
Alcala Jose
Dumery Sofia
Kim Sun Chul
Leonard Kimberly
Schloss Andrew
ABC school Supply, Inc.
Ackun Jacob K.
Cegielnik Urszula M.
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice
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