US3623728A

US3623728A - Inflatable pillow with game board

Info

Publication number: US3623728A
Application number: US807177A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Eddy Goldfarb
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-03-14
Filing date: 1969-03-14
Publication date: 1971-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-30
Also published as: GB1263852A; AU1216470A; DE2010781A1

Abstract

A play device in the form of a flexible envelope inflatable into a functional pillow and having at least a portion of its walls transparent. The envelope encloses a rigid game board and one or more play or game pieces which may be positioned or moved relative to the board by manipulating the inflated pillow to effect play of the game.

Description

United States Patent Inventor A. Eddy Goldl'arb 19434 Londelius St., Northrldge, Calif. 91324 Appl. No. 807,177

Filed Mar. 14, 1969 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 INFLATABLE PILLOW WITH GAME BOARD 14 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 273/109, 273/126. 206/46 AM. 273/136 C Int. Cl A63b 67/14 Field 01 Search 273/109,

Primary Examiner- Richard C Pinkham Assistant ExaminerTheatrice Brown Allorney-Robert M. Ashen ABSTRACT: A play device in the form of a flexible envelope inflatable into a functional pillow and having at least a portion of its walls transparent. The envelope encloses a rigid game board and one or more play or game pieces which may be positioned or moved relative to the board by manipulating the inflated pillow to effect play of the game.

INFLATABLE PILLOW WITH GAME BOARD While manipulative play devices per se are not new, they have generally been small hand-size items and have generally lacked any added utilitarian function or feature, being solely an amusement device.

The illustrated embodiments of the present invention are in the form of an inflated transparent pillow containing a game board and one or more game or play pieces movable relative to the game board through manipulation of the pillow to effect play of the game. In addition to being also usable as a pillow, the device may provide an unusual and attractive appearance, so that it can be used as a decorative piece or a collectors item. Various sizes, shapes, contours, colors, etc. may be im parted to the pillow, board and/or pieces to appeal to wide range of tastes and age groups.

The board and pillo'w are desirably so constructed that when the pillow is inflated, the board is thereby positioned and retained centrally of the pillow without additional securing or retaining means. This construction provides particular ease and economy in the manufacture and fabrication of the item. Further, both sides of the board are made available for play surfaces. The 'parts of the game are all kept together in one place and cannot be lost. Small children are protected from sharp edges and from the temptation to put the play pieces into their mouths. The device may be deflated for easy, compact shipment or storage.

In a broad aspect, the illustrated play device comprises the combination of an envelope of flexible material and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of the envelope being transparent, a board within the envelope, and one or more play or game pieces within the envelope and movable by manipulation of the envelope to selectively move the piece relative to the game board.

In a narrower aspect, the illustrated play devicetakes the form of an envelope inflatable into a functional pillow and fabricated from matting flexible sheets of like shape that have a plurality of generally straight-line edges. The sheets are joined together at matting edges to form a sealed envelope. In this form, the envelope encloses one or more game or play pieces and a generally flat rigid game board having means on one or both sides for contact or interengagement with the game pieces, One or both sheets, or portions thereof, are transparent to permit a view of the game board and pieces. When the envelope is inflated, each theretofore straight-line edge of the envelope assumes a concave configuration. The edges of the game board are concave and are arranged to match those of the inflated envelope. When the envelope is inflated, the board is positioned and maintained, without added positioning or holding means, centrally of the envelope with space for game pieces and play of a game on either side of the board. Thus, as well as functioning as an inflated pillow, the envelope may be manipulated to position or move'the game pieces relative to or along the game board in accordance with the objective of the game.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a play device comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the pillow in deflated condition;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. I, but with the pillow in inflated condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken generally along the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1, but with the pillow in an inflated condition; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an additional embodiment of the invention, with the pillow in deflated condition.

As shown in FIGS. I through 3 of the drawings, a preferred form of play device includes generally an envelope 12 of a clear, flexible plastic material which may be inflated into a pillow and contains a game board 14. The envelope 12 also contains movable game or play pieces 16 such as balls. The game is played by manipulating the inflated pillow to position or moving the game pieces 16 relative to the game board I4 so as to attain a game objective.

Now, considering the play device 10 in further detail, the inflatable envelope 12 may be made in various selected ways. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the envelope 12 is fabricated from two identical sections 18 and 20 of clear ther moplastic sheet material, the sections being joined together along then corresponding edges as by heat sealing. For ease and economy of manufacture, the illustrated sections 18 and 20 are each made from flat sheet material, and are each configured with four straight-line edges 22', 24', 26 and 28' defining a square as shown in FIG. 1. This facilitates cutting the sections 18, 20 and heat sealing their edges together. As shown in FIG. 1, the resulting envelope 12 has straight edges or

sides

22, 24, 26 and 28 arranged in a square. When the envelope 12 so formed is inflated, each

envelope edge

22, 24, 26 and 28 assumes a concave shape as shown in FIG. 2. As will be explained more fully below, the game board 14 is designed to coact with the edges of the envelope 12.

The sections 18, 20 may have any suitable shape. FIGS. 1 and 2 show square sections, while FIG. 4 shows an octagon shaped section. The sections might be designed to represent objects or characters.

It will be appreciated that the entire envelope need not be transparent or clear. For example, in the illustrated configuration, one of the sections 18, 20 may be clear plastic, while the other is opaque or translucent. Similarly, portions of a section may be transparent, while the remainder is opaque or translucent. It is only required that some portion of the envelope be transparent to permit the user of the pillow game to see the interior of the envelope to permit him to play the game. A suitable valve, such as is well known in the art, and indicated generally at 30, may be provided for inflating the envelope.

The pillow, when inflated, may be of substantial size so that it is usable as an ordinary pillow of this type. Desirably, the pillow will have at least one dimension that is 12 inches or more in length.

The illustrated game board 14 is generally flat and corresponding in shape and size to the inflated envelope 12. Thus, the board shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is generally square to match the generally square shape of envelope 12. The board should be generally rigid and shape-retaining. The game board may be conveniently formed of one or more blow-molded, injection molded, or vacuum formed plastic sections (or a combination thereof) to provide the desired surface contour or shape. For example, each playing surface of the play board may be formed with suitable game piece-engaging means such as recesses, pockets, channels, pathways, grooves, bais relief, obstacles, barricades, etc., and with various decorative appearances. The board may have such contour on one or both sides. It might also be made by othersuitable techniques or of wood, metal, cardboard or any other suitable material. The illustrated board 14 has upright walls 29 on one side defining a pathway for a play piece in the form of a ball 16 and frustoconical projections 29' on the opposite side for receiving play pieces in the form of rings 16.

As described above and shown in FIG. 2, the edges of 22, 24, 26 and 28 of the envelope l2 assume a concave configuration when the envelope is inflated. To accommodate and coact with the erivelope 12, the

edges

32, 35, 36 and 38 of the game board 14 are each concave. Each time the envelope is inflated, the board is automatically positioned and retained generally centrally of the envelope with the

concave edges

32, 34, 36 and 38 of the board aligned with the corresponding edges of the

envelope

22, 24, 26 and 28 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. There is no need for either separate positioning or retaining means to locate or hold the board in place.

A convenient and economical method of fabricating the illustrated pillow game is to seal the sections 18, 20 together along some but not all edges. The game board 14 and the game pieces 16 may then be inserted into the partially formed envelope, and the remaining edge may be sealed. The game board 14 and the game pieces 16 are thereby retained within the envelope 12, which is thereby sealed for inflation.

As noted above, the illustrated game pieces 16 and 16' are in the form of balls and rings respectively. The game pieces may take other selected forms or configurations. To play the game, the envelope 12 is inflated by use of the valve 30. The envelope is then manipulated to move the game pieces 16 relative to the board 14 to physically interact with means on the board to achieve a game objective. By way of example, the ball 16 may be rolled along the pathway between the walls 29 or the rings 16' may be hooked over selected projections 29' from the board surface. Games may be provided at either side of the board.

The illustrated preferred construction offers a further advantage in that, when the envelope is deflated, the space between the

concave edges

32, 34, 36 and 38 of the game board and the

edges

22, 24, 26 and 28 of the envelope may be used as a passageway for movement of game pieces of suitable size from one side of the board to the other. This permits a game to be played on either side of the board without duplicating game pieces if this is desired.

In the alternate embodiment of pillow game a (FIG. 4), comprised of envelope 12a, board 140 and game pieces 16a, to permit passage of the game pieces 16a from one side of the game board 14a to the other, the board is provided with apertures 40b therethrough, each large enough to receive the game piece. As a further alternative, the edge of the game board could be formed so as to provide a passageway in cooperation with the envelope.

The illustrated pillow games, when deflated, are generally flat and compact for storage, packaging and shipment. They also may be quite light weight relative to their size.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the illustrated games without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1 claim:

I. A play device comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, a board within the envelope, said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated,

the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board,

one or more play pieces within the envelope and movable by manipulation of the envelope to selectively move the play piece relative to the board, and means on one side of said board defining an objective for interaction with play pieces moving over said side.

2. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said board includes means on at least one surface for physically interacting with the play piece incident to movement of the piece.

3. A play device as defined in claim 2 wherein said envelope is at least about l2 inches across in at least one dimension and includes valve means operable to permit selective inflating and deflating of the envelope.

4. A play device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for interacting with the play piece are provided on both sides of said board and said board includes means defining at least one passageway therethrough large enough to accommodate said play piece and permit it to pass from one side of the board to the other.

5. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelope is constructed of two sheets of flexible material, said sheets each having the same shape and having edges defining straight lines when said sheets are flat and the envelope is deflated, said sheets being joined together along matching edges so that said joined edges each assume a concave configuration when said envelope is inflated, said board being generally rigid and having concave edges which provide a perimeter that generally conforms to the joined concave edges of the sheets when the envelope is inflated, whereby the board is located and retained in position without additional locating or posi tioning means when the envelope is inflated.

6. A play device as defined in claim 4, wherein said sheets are of thermoplastic material and are joined along matching edges by a heat seal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the relative dimensions of said envelope and said board are such that said envelope generally conforms to and matches the perimeter of said board when inflated. v

8. A play device comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material, and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, and a board within the envelope, said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated,

the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board, I

said board being generally planar and provided with means for physically interacting with one or more movable play pieces which may be received within the envelope, whereby said envelope may be manipulated for selectively moving a play piece relative to said board.

9. A play device as defined in claim 8 wherein said envelope is at least 12 inches across in at least one dimension and includes closable valve means operable to permit selective inflating and deflating of the envelope.

10. A play device as defined in claim 8 wherein said envelope is constructed of two sheets of flexible material, said sheets each having the same shape and having edges defining straight lines when said sheets are flat and the envelope is deflated, said sheets being joined together along matching edges so that said joined edges each assume a concave configuration when said envelope is inflated, said board being generally rigid and having concave edges which provide a perimeter that generally conforms to the joined concave edges of the sheets when the envelope is inflated, whereby the board is located and retained in position without additional locating or positioning means when the envelope is inflated.

l 1. A play device as defined in claim 10, wherein said sheets are of thermoplastic material and are joined along matching edges by a heat seal.

12. The play device of claim 8 wherein the relative dimensions of said envelope and said board are such that said envelope generally conforms to and matches the perimeter of said board when inflated.

13. A play device comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, a board within said envelope, said board and envelope having relative dimensions such that the board is positioned and maintained in a predetermined fixed relationship relative to said envelope by said envelope when it is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of the board,

and one or more play pieces within the envelope and movable by manipulation of the envelope to selectively move the play piece relative to the board.

14. A device comprising:

an inflated enclosed envelope of flexible transparent material, a board disposed within said envelope,

said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated,

the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board.

i l I I

Claims

1. A play device comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, a board within the envelope, said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated, the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board, one or more play pieces within the envelope and movable by manipulation of the envelope to selectively move the play piece relative to the board, and means on one side of said board defining an objeCtive for interaction with play pieces moving over said side.

3. A play device as defined in claim 2 wherein said envelope is at least about 12 inches across in at least one dimension and includes valve means operable to permit selective inflating and deflating of the envelope.

5. A play device as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelope is constructed of two sheets of flexible material, said sheets each having the same shape and having edges defining straight lines when said sheets are flat and the envelope is deflated, said sheets being joined together along matching edges so that said joined edges each assume a concave configuration when said envelope is inflated, said board being generally rigid and having concave edges which provide a perimeter that generally conforms to the joined concave edges of the sheets when the envelope is inflated, whereby the board is located and retained in position without additional locating or positioning means when the envelope is inflated.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the relative dimensions of said envelope and said board are such that said envelope generally conforms to and matches the perimeter of said board when inflated.

8. A play device comprising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material, and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, and a board within the envelope, said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated, the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board, said board being generally planar and provided with means for physically interacting with one or more movable play pieces which may be received within the envelope, whereby said envelope may be manipulated for selectively moving a play piece relative to said board.

11. A play device as defined in claim 10, wherein said sheets are of thermoplastic material and are joined along matching edges by a heat seal.

13. A play device comPrising, in combination, an envelope of flexible material and inflatable into a functional pillow, at least a portion of said envelope being transparent, a board within said envelope, said board and envelope having relative dimensions such that the board is positioned and maintained in a predetermined fixed relationship relative to said envelope by said envelope when it is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of the board, and one or more play pieces within the envelope and movable by manipulation of the envelope to selectively move the play piece relative to the board.

14. A device comprising: an inflated enclosed envelope of flexible transparent material, a board disposed within said envelope, said board and said envelope having relative dimensions such that at least a certain portion of the perimeter of the board is spatially disposed from said envelope when said envelope is deflated, the board being held in a fixed position within the envelope when the envelope is inflated, by means of interaction between said envelope and at least a portion of the perimeter of said board.