United States Patent
1111
[19]
Keces
3,835,580
[451 Sept. 17, 1974
[54]
BOTTLE SAND TOY
3,428,238
2/1969
Shelby ct 111. ................. .. 215/1 c x
[75]
Inventor:
3,490,50l
3,736,697
6/1973
l/l970
Mancm
Kcccsmf:...............................
tz1l....
.. 46/17
Mervy“ L- Keces, Hlghland
.
Park’ “1-
[73] Assignee: Tan-son Company, Chicago, Ill.
-
Primar Examiner-Hu h R. Chamblee
[2 2 1
[21]
Fl 1 e d:
July 2 6’ l9 7 3
Appl. No.1 382,647
Y Examiner-—.l. EQ. Lever
Assistant
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Gerald M. Newman
[52]
US. Cl ........................ .. 46/11, 46/17, 215/] C,
2
[51] hm CL
4 B
{57]
ABSTRACT
. .
A63h2gé/00
A child’s sand toy having ind1v1dual take-apart compo
[58] Field of'éégrilcli. . . . . . . . . . . "lg/‘iii; "1.7711; 215/1 c;
Items each'of which have segarate utilityiincon'nec
[56]
soft-drink bottle havmg a lower base portion de?mng
a container and an upper funnel-shaped portion hav
206/1316. 9a 47 R, 46 RL 220/4 B
References Cited
non with sand play.’ The to) compnses
simulated
ing an open neck and a reticulated cap which may be
3 O0 576
,1
,
3,263,847
271112351) STASES PATENTS
l9
8/1966
Fran
selectively removed or attached to the neck.
............................... .. 2l5/l C
Amann .............................. .. 215/] C
2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures
3,835,580
1
2
BOTTLE SAND TOY
take-apart sand toy of the invention, generally referred
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to toys for children
and in particular relates to toys for use by children
when playing with sand or other particulate materials.
More particularly, this invention relates to a take-apart
cylindrically shaped portion or section 12, an upper ta
sand toy which simulates a soft-drink bottle such as a
sand toy may receive when used by children. The poly
proplene may be colored green to more realistically
to by reference numeral 10, is seen to comprise a lower
pered portion or section 14 and a cap 16. Each compo
nent is preferably molded of strong, durable plastic ma
terial such as polyproplene which is highly resistant to
bending, crushing and other rough handling, which the
“7-UP” beverage bottle wherein the upper and lower
halves of the bottle have separate utility in connection
simulate the natural color of some soft-drink bottles,
such as a 7-UP bottle.
with sand play.
Children typically enjoy playing with sand and similar
The lower cylindrical shaped section has a height
equal to approximately two-?fths of the total height of
particulate materials which may be used as a child’s
dren. Such play and expression is rendered in?nitely
more enjoyable when using various novel implements
the simulated soft-drink bottle and has a proportionate
diameter. The lower section is preferably molded of
one-piece construction and includes a cylindrical side
wall 18 and an integral bottom wall 20. A label 22 may
either be molded as part of the outer surface of the side
to scoop, carry, mold or sift the sand or other building
wall or may be applied as a separate element. The bot
building and instructional element and which is also
useful for molding and as an element of expression for
the fertile, imaginative, creative minds of young chil
5
material. This invention contributes to the enjoyment 20 tle construction has dimensions similar to a 32 fluid
ounce soft-drink bottle.
and natural expression of children when playing with
The lower container section includes a groove 24
sand by providing a take-apart sand toy which, when
molded into its interior wall surface adjacent to its
assembled, visually simulates a soft-drink beverage bot
upper edge and also includes a lip 26 which cooperates
tle and wherein each of the parts have separate utility
in sand play.
In the take-apart sand toy of the invention, the lower
25 with the upper section of the invention in a manner to
be described hereinafter to form a detent for remov
tainer for holding, carrying, molding or pouring sand.
ably securing the upper and lower sections together.
Upper portion section 14 is tapered in the general
The upper portion or section of the bottle tapers to
shape of a funnel and includes a lower portion 30 hav
portion or section of the bottle may be used as a con
form a funnel-like structure comprising a wide lower 30 ing a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the
portion and a necklike upper portion. The neck has an
opening at the top which may be covered by a reticu
lower section 12. The diameter of the upper section
generally tapers from the given diameter to form a rela
lated, selectively removable cap through which sand
tively long neck 32 having an outside diameter of ap
proximately one-fourth of the largest diameter of the
may be poured. The wall forming the lower funnel por
simulated bottle. The walls of the upper section are
preferably molded in a one-piece construction and a
label 34 may be glued or otherwise affixed to the upper
tion includes a number of teeth along a segment of one
edge which may be used to scoop or rake the sand.
Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is
section.
to provide a novel child’s sand toy.
Upper section 14 includes a lower wall 35 or lesser
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel
child’s sand toy simulating a soft-drink bottle wherein 40 thickness than the other components of the toy. Wall
36 is relieved along its lower edge to form a number of
the upper and lower sections simulating the bottle may
rake teeth 38 which transform the upper funnelshaped
be taken apart and used separately in sand play.
section into a sand scoop shovel or rake. When so used,
A further object of this invention is to provide a
the child grasps the tapered neck with the wide portion
child’s sand toy having a number of elements each of
extending in the direction of the particulate matter or
which have separate utility and which may be assem
sand which the child wishes to scoop, shovel or rake.
bled to form a simulated soft-drink bottle with a selec
tively removable bottle cap.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent
from an understanding of the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
The upper bottle section includes an exterior ridge or
ring 40 of a diameter slightly less than the internal di
50
ameter of the lower section. Ring 40 is complimentary
to groove 24 provided in the lower section. Because of
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
the ?exibility of the materials of which the components
are constructed ring 40 can be slipped over lip 26, to
FIG. 1 is an elevational assembled view of the take
be received by groove 24 to thereby form a detent for
apart toy of the invention simulating a soft-drink bottle;
removably securing the upper and lower portions of the
FIG. 2 is a horizontally exploded view illustrating the
three separate elements of the take-apart sand toy of
bottle together. The two sections may be separated
simply by applying an opposing force to the upper and
lower sections and pulling them apart.
the invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view generally
taken along section line 3—3 of FIG. 2, but with the
simulated bottle in its assembled condition and with a
60
surface of the cap includes a plurality of apertures
section of the side wall removed to more clearly show
the scoop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the
The sand toy of the invention also includes a simu
lated bottle cap 16 having a series of vertical ridges 42
along the outer wall simulating the pleated-like con
struction of a conventional metal bottle cap. The upper
65
which serve as a sand sieve. The bottle cap is molded
with an interior circular ridge 44 which cooperates with
a complemental ridge 46 disposed downwardly adja
cent the upper edge of the bottle. The two ridges 44~46
3,835,580
3
4
cooperate to form a detent for removably securing the
bottle cap to the top of the bottle. Alternatively, a tight
friction fit could be utilized for securing the bottle cap
to the top of the bottle or for securing the upper and
lower sections of the bottle together.
As seen in FIG. 1, the take-apart sand toy, in its fully
assembled condition comprises a lower base section 12
which may be selectively secured to an upper funnel~
should be determined by the essential descriptions
thereof which appear in the appended claims.
The embodiment of the invention in which an exclu
sive property or privilege is claimed are de?ned as fol
lows:
1. A child’s sand toy simulating a soft drink bottle
when fully assembled comprising; a cylindrical-shaped
base member having a closed lower end and an open
upper end de?ning a container for receiving and mold
shaped section 14, and cap 16 which together simulate
a soft-drink bottle. The lower portion of the bottle with
ing sand; a funnel-shaped central member having an
enlarged lower portion including a plurality of teeth
formed by the funnel wall adapted to be received by the
its closed bottom is suitable for use as a sand container
or sand mold, the upper portion of the bottle is suitable
for use as a sand funnel and as a sand scoop which may
container, and an open end neck-like portion which
be used to shovel, scoop or rake sand. The funnel,
when used in conjunction with the removable cap may
may be grasped and used as a sand scoop and a simu
lated cap adapted to be received by the open neck in
covering relation thereto, said cap including a reticu
be used as a sand sieve.
What has been described is a child’s sand toy having
individual take-apart structural members each of which
have separate utility in connection with sand play and
which when assembled, simulate a soft-drink bottle.
It is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the
art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified
both in physical appearance and construction without
departing from its inventive concept. Therefore, the
scope of protection to be given this invention should
lated surface through which dry sand may be poured.
20
2. The child’s sand toy as set forth in claim 1 includ
ing detent means for ?rmly securing the central mem
ber to the cylindrical base and further including second
detent means at the top of the neck for ?rmly securing
the simulated cap thereto; said lower and central mem
25 bers simulating a soft-drink bottle.
*
not be limited by the embodiment described above but
30
35
45
55
65
*
1k
*
*