GB2525278A

GB2525278A - Stackable storage tray for toy vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2525278A
Application number: GB1500941.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl David Tatum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-20
Filing date: 2015-01-20
Publication date: 2015-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-20
Also published as: GB201407034D0; GB2525278B; GB201500941D0

Abstract

A stackable storage tray 100 for toy vehicles comprises, within the volume of the tray 100, a storage area 108 for toy vehicles and a descent ramp 116 that runs from the top 102 of the tray 100 to the base 104 of the tray 100. A plurality of such trays 100 are stackable in a manner in which the bottom of the descent ramp 116 of an upper one of the stacked trays 100 aligns with the top of the descent ramp 116 of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays 100 thereby creating a continuous descent path that allows a toy vehicle to descend down through the stacked trays 100 under the force of gravity.

Description

Stackable Storage Tray For Toy Vehicles The present invention relates to a stackable storage tray for toy vehicles and to a storage tray system for toy vehicles.

Historically, toy vehicle manufacturers have provided storage trays for the purpose of orderly storage of toy vehicles and protection of the vehicles' paintwork. Such storage trays were often provided inside transport cases with handles. However, these storage trays and transport cases have limited storage space. The trays also have no additional functionality beyond storage and therefore have limited appeal for the user. It is therefore a principal aim of this invention to provide a storage tray that allows an indefinite amount of toy vehicle storage to be created and that is also entertaining and educational.

Thus, according to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a stackable storage tray for toy vehicles comprising, within the volume of the tray, a storage area for toy vehicles and a descent ramp that runs from the top of the tray to the base of the tray, wherein a plurality of such trays are stackable in a manner in which the bottom of the descent ramp of an upper one of the stacked trays aligns with the top of the descent ramp of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays thereby creating a continuous descent path that allows a toy vehicle to descend down through the stacked trays under the force of gravity.

It will be appreciated from the above that the present invention provides a scalable amount of storage for toy vehicles (e.g. wheeled toy vehicles such as toy cars) that is also entertaining and educational for the user. In particular, a plurality of such trays can be stacked to provide as much toy vehicle storage space as is desired and, when stacked, the trays can create a continuous descent path for a toy vehicle to descend down through the stacked trays. This advantageously allows the toy vehicles to be both stored and played with using the same compact tray system.

In preferred embodiments, a plurality of substantially identical such trays are stackable in the manner described above. In this way, there is no need to provide a number of different trays in order to create the continuous descent path. Furthermore, the tray may be provided as a single unitary structure such that the storage area and descent ramp form an integral part of the tray. This allows the tray to be simple and cheap to mass produce. The tray may be formed of plastics material and may, for example, be 3D printed or injection moulded. The base of the tray may be solid. However, the base preferably comprises a mesh structure for retaining the toy vehicles. These preferred embodiments provide a lightweight yet rigid tray.

The volume of the tray may be defined by the top of the tray and the base of the tray, preferably together with one or more perimeter walls of the tray. The top of the tray is preferably generally open so as to allow insertion of toy vehicles into the storage area. In preferred embodiments, the storage area is partitioned into a plurality of storage bays for toy vehicles. Each of the storage bays may be defined by one or more side walls (e.g. a perimeter wall of the tray) and/or by partitioning. The plurality of storage bays may be separated from one another by partitioning. These storage bays can reduce the risk of contact between toy vehicles within the storage area, and consequently may reduce the risk of damage to vehicle paintwork. In particularly preferred embodiments, each storage bay may be sized for a single toy vehicle. This further reduces the risk of paintwork damage due to contact between toy vehicles within the storage area. Also, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, the base of an upper one of the stacked trays may rest on the storage bay partitioning of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.

In preferred embodiments, the descent ramp turns through a turning angle from the top of the descent ramp to the bottom of the descent ramp. In these embodiments, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, an upper one of the stacked trays may be rotated through the turning angle and orientated relative to an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays so as to align the bottom of the descent ramp of the upper one of the stacked trays with the top of the descent ramp of the adjacent lower one of the stacked trays. The turning angle may be any desired and suitable angle based on the configuration of the tray. In general, the turning angle may be a multiple of 360° divided by n, where n is the number of ways in which two such trays can be rotationally orientated when stacked one on top of the other. For example, the turning angle may be a multiple of 9Q0 for a square shaped tray, a multiple of 1800 for an oblong shaped tray, a multiple of 60° for a hexagonal shaped tray, etc.. As will be appreciated, for a tray that is a regular polygonal shape, n may be equal to the number of sides of the shape. As will also be appreciated, the turning angle may be any desired angle for a circular shaped tray.

A toy vehicle preferably descends down through the trays under the force of gravity alone. To this end, when created, the continuous descent path may be substantially helical. In preferred embodiments, the descent ramp has at least one side wall for guiding a toy vehicle down the descent ramp. A side wall is preferably provided at least on the outside of any turning part of the descent ramp, but side walls may be provided on both sides of the descent ramp if necessary or desired. Also, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, an upper one of the stacked trays may rest on one or more of the descent ramp side walls of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.

The tray preferably further comprises alignment structure that, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, aligns the bottom of the descent ramp of an upper one of the stacked trays with the top of the descent ramp of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays. As will be appreciated, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, the alignment structure should allow stacking when an upper one of the stacked trays is rotated/orientated by the above-mentioned turning angle relative to an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays. This allows the bottom of the descent ramp of the upper one of the stacked trays to be aligned with the top of the descent ramp of the adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.

The alignment structure may also allow stacking with other relative rotations/orientations, e.g. in which the bottom of the descent ramp of an upper one of the stacked trays does not align with the top of the descent ramp of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays. This may provide an additional challenge to the user in suitably aligning the descent ramps of adjacent trays when stacked. The alignment structure may comprise one or more locating features (e.g. openings or projections) at the base of the tray and one or more corresponding locating features (e.g. corresponding projections or openings) at the top of the tray. The one or more locating features are preferably such that, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, the one or more locating features of an upper one of the stacked trays mate with the corresponding locating features of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays. In preferred embodiments, the alignment structure comprises a shaped perimeter at the base of the tray and a correspondingly shaped perimeter at the top of the tray. The shaped perimeters are preferably such that, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, the shaped perimeter at the base of an upper one of the stacked trays nests within or surrounds the correspondingly shaped perimeter at the top of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.

The shape of the tray (e.g. the shape of the perimeter at the base and/or at the top) may be substantially circular, triangular, rectangular (e.g. square or oblong), pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.. The shape of the tray is preferably regular (e.g. square) so as to allow a greater number of relative rotations when a plurality of such trays are stacked, but the shape of the tray may be irregular (e.g. oblong) in other embodiments.

In preferred embodiments, an open side section is provided in a perimeter wall of the tray opposite the bottom of the descent ramp to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp and then exit the tray through the open side section of the perimeter wall when the tray is placed on a substantially flat surface such as a table top. Similarly, in preferred embodiments, an open base section is provided in the base of the tray adjacent to the bottom of the descent ramp to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp and then exit the tray through the open base section to an adjacent lower such tray when the tray is stacked on the adjacent lower such tray.

In some embodiments, the tray may comprise one or more further descent ramps as described above. This can allow one or more further continuous descent paths to be created for a toy vehicle to descend down through the trays under the force of gravity as described above. The tray may also comprise, for each further descent ramp, a further one or more side walls, a further open side section, and/or a further open base section, as described above.

Accordingly, in preferred embodiments at least, there is provided herein a single-piece stackable toy vehicle storage tray with an integral curved vehicle descent ramp, wherein, if the tray is stacked with a specific rotational orientation respective to an identical consecutive tray within a stack formation, the integral ramps may link so as to create a continually helical or spiralling vehicle descent path through each tray within the stack via gravitational forces acting upon the toy vehicle. There is also preferably an area within the base or perimeter of the tray that is specifically left vacant in order for the toy vehicle to be able to pass downward through to the tray stacked consecutively below. There is also preferably an opening in the side wall that allows a toy vehicle to exit that tray along a table top surface should there be no further identical trays stacked below.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a storage tray system for toy vehicles comprising a plurality of trays as described herein. As discussed above, in preferred embodiments, the plurality of trays are substantially identical to one another. In preferred embodiments, the system further comprises a lid for placing on the uppermost tray of the plurality of trays.

The lid may comprise an opening through which a toy vehicle can pass onto the descent ramp of the uppermost tray on which the lid is placed. The lid may be pitched so as to resemble a roof. The lid may comprise one or more further storage bays for toy vehicles.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle storage tray according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of trays as shown in Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a storage tray system according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a plurality of trays as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Reference will initially be made to Figures 1 and 2, which show a toy vehicle storage tray 100 having a top 102, a base 104 and a perimeter wall 106 that define a volume for the tray 100. The tray 100 has been formed by injection moulding a plastics material and is therefore a unitary structure. The tray 100 comprises, within the volume of the tray 100, a toy vehicle storage area 108 having a plurality of storage bays 110 (one indicated in Figures 1 and 2) for individual toy vehicles such as toy cars. The storage bays 110 are separated by partitioning 112. The top 102 of the tray 100 is open to allow insertion of toy vehicles into the storage bays 110 of the storage area 108 whereas the base 104 of the tray 100 comprises a mesh structure 114 to retain the toy vehicles.

The tray 100 also comprises a descent ramp 116 that runs from the top 102 of the tray 100 to the base 104 of the tray 100. The descent ramp 116 turns through a turning angle of 90° and has side walls 118 to guide a toy vehicle down the descent ramp 116. The tray 100 also comprises an open side section in the perimeter wall 106 of the tray 100 opposite the bottom of the descent ramp 116 to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp 116 and then exit the tray 100 through the open side section 120 when the tray 100 is placed on a substantially flat surface such as a table top. The tray 100 also comprises an open base section 122 in the base 102 of the tray 100 adjacent to the bottom of the descent ramp 116 to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp 116 and then exit the tray 100 through the open base section 122 to an adjacent lower tray when a plurality of such trays 100 are stacked.

When a plurality of such trays 100 are stacked one on top of the other, the base 104 of each upper tray rests on the storage bay partitioning 112 and side walls 118 of the adjacent lower tray. The trays 100 also have alignment structure in the form of a substantially square shaped perimeter at the base 104 of the tray 100 and a corresponding (but slightly larger) substantially square shaped perimeter at the top 102 of tray 100. When the trays 100 are stacked, the base 104 of each upper tray 100 nests within the top 102 of the adjacent lower tray 100. In this embodiment, the alignment structure allows the trays 100 to be stacked when rotated/orientated relative to one another by 0° (or 360°), 90°, 180° and 270°.

Reference will now be made to Figure 3 which shows a tray system 300 comprising a plurality of trays 100 that are each identical to the tray 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, in order to create a continuous helical descent path for a toy vehicle to descend down through the stacked trays 100, the trays 100 should be rotated and orientated relative to one another by 900 (i.e. the above-mentioned turning angle) such that the bottom of the descent ramp 116 of each upper one of the trays 100 aligns with the top of the descent ramp 116 of the adjacent lower one of the trays 100. The trays 100 of Figure 3 are shown having this relative orientation. When correctly rotationally aligned, as shown in Figure 3, a toy vehicle will descend down through the stacked trays and exit the lowest tray through the open side section 120 of the lowest tray. The stacked storage trays 100 therefore provide entertainment for the user. Other stacking configurations are, of course, possible, but these would not create a continuous helical descent path. The trays 100 therefore also provide an educational challenge for the user to correctly rotationally align the trays 100 so as to create a viable descent path.

Referring now to Figure 4, the tray system 300 may further comprise a pitched roof shaped lid 400 for placing on the uppermost tray 100 of the plurality of trays 100. In this embodiment, the lid 400 comprises an opening 402 through which a toy vehicle can pass onto the descent ramp of the uppermost tray on which the lid 400 is placed. The lid 400 also comprises a further toy vehicle storage bay 404 that allows access to a toy vehicle stored therein without needing to remove the lid 400.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A stackable storage tray for toy vehicles comprising, within the volume of the tray, a storage area for toy vehicles and a descent ramp that runs from the top of the tray to the base of the tray, wherein a plurality of such trays are stackable in a manner in which the bottom of the descent ramp of an upper one of the stacked trays aligns with the top of the descent ramp of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays thereby creating a continuous descent path that allows a toy vehicle to descend down through the stacked trays under the force of gravity.
2. A tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tray is provided as a single unitary structure.
3. A tray as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage area is partitioned into a plurality of storage bays for toy vehicles.
4. A tray as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the descent ramp turns through a turning angle from the top of the descent ramp to the bottom of the descent ramp.
5. A tray as claimed in claim 4, wherein a plurality of such trays are stackable in a manner in which an upper one of the stacked trays is rotated or orientated by the turning angle relative to an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.
6. A tray as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the descent ramp has at least one side wall for guiding a toy vehicle down the descent ramp.
7. A tray as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising alignment structure that, when a plurality of such trays are stacked, aligns the bottom of the descent ramp of an upper one of the stacked trays with the top of the descent ramp of an adjacent lower one of the stacked trays.
8. A tray as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an open side section is provided in a perimeter wall of the tray opposite the bottom of the descent ramp to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp and then exit the tray through the open side section of the perimeter wall when the tray is placed on a substantially flat surface.
9. A tray as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an open base section is provided in the base of the tray adjacent to the bottom of the descent ramp to allow a toy vehicle to leave the bottom of the descent ramp and then exit the tray through the open base section to an adjacent lower such tray when the tray is stacked on the adjacent lower such tray.
10. A stackable storage tray for toy vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.
11. A storage tray system for toy vehicles comprising a plurality of trays as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of trays are substantially identical to one another.
13. A system as claimed in claim 11 or 12, further comprising a lid for placing on an uppermost tray of the plurality of trays.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lid comprises an opening through which a toy vehicle can pass onto the descent ramp of the uppermost tray on which the lid is placed.
15. A storage tray system for toy vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.