Expandable piñata

• US 7,648,059 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
• Inventors: Chiu, Wong Chi, Pavlu, Robert R. Jr., Chun, Cheung Siu
• Primary Examiner(s): Newhouse; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US10/889,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20060006214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 428/7, 428/8, 428/9, 446/5, 446/4, 403/322.3, 493/223, 229/116.1, 383/127
• US Class Current: 229/116.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 37/00 Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours ; Cracker bonbons or the like

Abstract

A collapsible piñata construction may include two main panels, multiple folding side panels and a mechanism located inside the piñata that expands the piñata into an erected state. In various embodiments, the collapsible piñata may be expanded by a single pull on a string or other member coupled to the expansion mechanism.

Claims

1. A collapsible piñ

ata construction comprising;

first and second main panels each having a perimeter edge;

a plurality of foldable side panels spanning between the first and second main panels and maintaining the first and second main panels in generally parallel spaced apart relation;

one or more access doors to provide access to a candy-receiving space defined between the first and the second main panels when the first and second main panels are in an expanded condition; and

an expansion mechanism to move the side panels between a first position in which the side panels are folded and a second position in which the side panels are unfolded so that the candy-receiving space is defined between the first and second main panels, the expansion mechanism being located between the first and second main panels, and being spaced inward and apart from the perimeter edge of the first and second main panels and all the foldable side panels.

2. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the expansion mechanism is operable to expand when a single tensile force is applied to a tensile member coupled to the expansion mechanism, wherein the collapsible piñ

ata construction fully expands to define the candy-receiving space between a parallel arrangement of the first and second main panels in response to the application of the single tensile force.

3. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the expansion mechanism comprises;

a top planar face and a bottom planar face, wherein the top planar face is affixed to an inner surface of the first main panel, and the bottom planar face is affixed to an inner surface of the second main panel;

first and second foldable end panels spanning between the top and bottom planar faces; and

a foldable actuation panel spanning between the top and bottom planar faces,

wherein the actuation panel is folded away from the end panels in the first position, and

wherein the actuation panel is operable to be urged toward the end panels until the actuation panel is engaged by the end panels in the second position.

4. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the expansion mechanism expands substantially irreversibly when a tensile force is applied to a tensile member coupled to the expansion mechanism so as to hold the side panels in the second position.

5. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the expansion mechanism includes at least one aperture and a handle received in the at least one aperture, the handle being operable to urge the expansion mechanism to move the side panels from the first position to the second position when the handle is subjected to a tensile force.

6. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the side panels include at least one aperture being adapted to receive a handle, the handle being operable to urge the expansion mechanism to move the side panels from the first position to the second position when the handle is subjected to a tensile force.

7. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein, in the second position, adjacent side panels define a gap therebetween.

8. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the perimeter edge of the first and second main panels define one of a rectangular, square, oval and triangular shape.

9. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 8, wherein the side panels are adhered to both the first and second main panels.

10. The collapsible piñ

ata construction of claim 1, wherein the one or more access doors are arranged adjacent to the foldable side panels to provide side access to the candy-receiving space.

11. A collapsible construction method comprising:

receiving a collapsible piñ

ata structure comprising;

first and second main panels having a perimeter edge, one or more access doors to provide access to a candy-receiving space defined between the first and the second main panels when the first and second main panels are in an expanded position, and an expansion mechanism to move the first and second main panels from a first position to the expanded position, the expansion mechanism being located between the first and second main panels, and being spaced inward and apart from the perimeter edge of each of the first and second main panels;

actuating the expansion mechanism with a single tensile force applied to a tensile member coupled to the expansion mechanism so as to adjust the first and second main panels of the collapsible piñ

ata structure to the expanded position in which the first and second main panels are generally parallel to one another; and

inserting items through the one or more access doors into the candy-receiving space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of inserting items comprises inserting one or more of candy and small toys into the candy-receiving space.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of actuating comprises applying the tensile force on a loop coupled to the expansion mechanism.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the collapsible piñ

ata structure further comprises a plurality of foldable side panels spanning between the first and second main panels and maintaining the first and second main panels in generally parallel spaced apart relation when the first and second main panels are moved to the expanded position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the perimeter edge of the first and second main panels define one of a rectangular, square, oval and triangular shape.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the side panels are adhered to both the first and second main panels.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more access doors are arranged adjacent to the foldable side panels to provide side access to the candy-receiving space.