Abstract:
The invention relates to device having a desired shape comprising an assembly of panels and wherein each panel carries information associated with the shape of the object. The device includes: a frame, and one or more panels that are engageable with said frame, wherein the device has a shape representative of a pre-determined object associated with a theme, and wherein at least one panel depicts selected information associated with the theme. Alternatively, the device includes three or more panels that are directly engageable with each other, wherein the device has a shape representative of a pre-determined object associated with a theme, and wherein at least one panel depicts selected information associated with the theme.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to an object of a desired shape comprising an assembly of panels and wherein each panel carries information associated with the shape of the object.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Items, including novelty items, that are associated with a particular sport or other theme, are always very popular. This is especially true where the item is associated with a particular sports team or player, thereby allowing an individual to collect the items to form sets. For example, player cards, which generally comprise a picture of a known sports figure, often in conjunction with statistical information relating to the player&#39;s achievements, are very popular. This is because individuals can collect the cards of their favourite, or popular players. They can also collect the cards to form sets of favourite, or famous, sports teams.  
         [0003]     Novelty items associated with a sport or theme are also popular. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,811 teaches a picture frame comprising two shells. One shell forms the picture frame, while the second shell is concave and is shaped to depict a theme. For example, the outer surface of the shells can be made to depict the outer surface of a baseball, and the inside surface of the second shell made to depict a baseball stadium.  
         [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that is shaped to represent a theme, wherein the components are interchangeable allowing people to collect the individual components, or to at least provide a useful alternative.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a device including: a frame, and one or more panels that are engageable with said frame, wherein the device has a shape representative of a pre-determined object associated with a theme, and wherein at least one panel depicts selected information associated with the theme.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the frame is of a predetermined shape.  
         [0007]     Preferably, the frame comprises a plurality of interconnecting elements.  
         [0008]     The present invention also provides a device including three or more panels that are engageable with each other, wherein the device has a shape representative of a pre-determined object associated with a theme, and wherein at least one panel depicts selected information associated with the theme.  
         [0009]     The present invention provides a panel for a device as defined above, wherein said panel is of a defined shape having a plurality of sides, wherein each side is adapted to engage with a side of an adjacent panel.  
         [0010]     Preferably, each edge of said panel includes one or more protrusions or one or more recesses to engage with one or more complementary shaped recesses or projections on an adjacent panel. Preferably said defined shape of said panel is hexagonal or pentagonal.  
         [0011]     In one aspect the theme of the device is associated with a sport. The shape may be that of a sports ball. More preferably the shape may be selected from any one of the following: soccer ball, rugby union ball, rugby league ball, baseball, basketball, cricket ball, golf ball, hockey ball, netball, volley ball or American football ball or the like.  
         [0012]     In another aspect of the invention the information presented on the panels is selected from one or more of a photograph, statistical information, or a figurine. In the case of a figurine, the figurine is permanently, or reversibly attached to the panel. Preferably, the information presented on the panel is fictional or non-fictional or combinations thereof. More preferably, the information presented on the panels relates to individual sporting personalities.  
         [0013]     In a further aspect of the invention, the theme may be non-sports related. In yet a further aspect of the invention, the theme is purely fictional and provides for a child&#39;s toy.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the invention, the elements are adapted to be associated with the theme. Preferably, the theme is associated with motorsport and the elements are adapted to form the chassis of a toy motorcar.  
         [0015]     In yet a further aspect of the invention, the panels include letters, words, numbers colours or shapes, and the device comprises a pre-school educational toy.  
         [0016]     In yet a further aspect of the invention, the device provides for a story, wherein different aspects of the story may be provided on different panels.  
         [0017]     The invention also provides a panel adapted to assemble a device according to the present invention.  
         [0018]     The invention also provides a frame adapted to assemble a device according to the present invention.  
         [0019]     The invention also provides for an element adapted to assemble a frame for use in a device according to the present invention.  
         [0020]     The invention also provides for a kit comprising one or more elements and/or one or more panels for use in assembling a device according to the present invention. Preferably, the kit includes at least one panel and one element. More preferably, the kit includes enough members and panels to assemble a device according to the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     The invention will now be explained by way of example with reference to the following figures.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a plan view of an element.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a plan of the underside of an element.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a completed frame.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a pentagon panel.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows the underside of a pentagon panel.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows the panels engaging with the frame.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of a panel having a figurine.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows the adaptation of an element to form a car.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a plan view of a hexagonal shaped panel of a second embodiment.  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  shows the bottom view of a hexagonal shaped panel shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  edge on view showing three sides of the hexagonal panel of a second embodiment.  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  shows a plan view of a pentagonal panel of a second embodiment.  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  shows the bottom view of a pentagonal panel shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  shows the edge of a pentagonal shaped panel of a second embodiment.  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  shows the bottom view of a number of hexagonal panels and pentagon panels coming together.  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  shows a plan view of a pentagonal shaped panel being adapted to provide removal means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0038]     As illustrated by the attached figures, the device may be in the shape of a soccer ball. The device comprises a frame built from repeating engageable elements  1  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The elements  1  comprise a body section  2  which splits into two sections  3  at each end. At the end  4  of each split section  3  there is either an “H” shaped protrusion  5  or a complementary “H” shaped recess  6 . The recess  6  is adapted in shape to snapfit into engagement with a protrusion  5  of another element  1 . Each element  1  has two ends  4  having a protrusion  5  and two ends  4  having a recess  6 . The two protrusions  5  and two recesses  6  are arranged in a trans configuration. The elements have a slight curvature such that thirty elements can be connected together by inserting the protrusion  5  of one element  1  into the recess  6  of an adjacent element  1  to form a frame  7  having a substantially ball shape (as shown in  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0039]     The upper side of the elements  1  have six substantially diamond shaped members  8 , such that when the element  1  is used to construct the frame  7 , the members  8  extend outwards from the centre of the frame  7 . The members  8  are arranged in two groups of three at each end of the body section  2  of the element  1 .  
         [0040]     Panels  9  and  13  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) have an upper surface  10  and a lower surface  11  and a lip  12  that extends about the perimeter of the panel  9  in a downward direction. The panels  9  and  13  are either in a substantially pentagonal shape  9 , or are substantially hexagonal in shape  13 . The panels  9  and  13  have a slight downward curvature.  
         [0041]     The corners of the lip  12  of the panels  9  and  13  engage the members  8  of the elements  1  allowing the panels  9  and  13  to reversibly engage the frame  7  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). The frame accepts a total of twelve substantially pentagonal shaped panels  9  and twenty substantially hexagonal shaped panels  13 . The completed device  14  has a shape representative of a soccer ball.  
         [0042]     The panels  9  and  13  can include individual soccer player information. For example, the upper surface  10  of the panels  9  or  13  could include a picture depicting a soccer player, while the lower surface  11  could display game or personal statistics associated with that player. It will be appreciated that other types of information or combinations could be used. For example, a figurine  15 , depicting the player, could be incorporated into the lower surface  11  of the panel  9  or  13  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). When the panel  9  or  13  is engaged with the frame  7 , the figurine  15  is inserted into the gap formed between the elements  1  and projects toward the centre of the ball  14 . The figurine  15 , may be permanently attached to the panel  9  and  13 , or adapted to reversibly engage the panel  9  and  13 .  
         [0043]     It is envisaged that an individual will be able to purchase the elements  1  and panels  9  and  13  as a set to build a complete device  14 . Alternatively, an individual could purchase the elements  1  and panels  9  and  13  separately, or as incomplete sets. Combinations of panels  9  and  13  and/or elements  1  could be given away as promotions, for example, in combination with the purchase of another item. Such other items could include, but are not restricted to, petrol, chewing and/or bubble gum, breakfast cereal, fast foods, or the like. This allows an individual to collect different panels  9  and  13  representing different players. An individual could then collect enough elements  1  and panels  9  and  13  to form a complete device  14  having panels  9  and  13  representing their favourite players, all the players of their favourite team, or a famous team, for example, a world cup winning team. The exact make up of the completed device  14  will depend on the individual.  
         [0044]     The advantage of selling the panels  9  and  13  separately is that it encourages people to collect the panels. Furthermore, as the sporting players and statistics change, individuals can interchange panels to ensure that the device is up to date.  
         [0045]     It is to be appreciated that the elements  1  and panels  9  and  13  may be adapted in size and shape to represent other sporting elements, for example a soccer ball, rugby union ball, rugby league ball, cricket ball, baseball, hockey ball, basketball, golf ball, netball or volley ball, American football ball, or the like. Although the elements  1  are disclosed in the present example as repeating elements, this is not essential. Non-identical elements could be used in order to achieve the different shapes envisaged by the present invention.  
         [0046]     It is also to be appreciated that the frame  7  could be provided as a single element, and does not have to be constructed from interconnecting elements  1 .  
         [0047]     It is also to be appreciated that the device  14  does not have to be in the shape of a sports item. For example the device  14  could form the shape of a cannon ball with the panels depicting information related to pirates.  
         [0048]     It is also to be appreciated that the information presented on the panels does not have to be associated with a famous individual and could be purely fictional. The device  14  could be sold as a complete set of elements  1  and panels  9  and  13 , or as an incomplete set, purely as a child&#39;s toy. For example, the complete device could be in the shape of a cannon ball, with each of the panels  9  and  13  having a figurine  15  of a purely fictional pirate or similar character. Other themes are also envisaged including, but not limited to, knights, princesses or other children&#39;s heroes. The combination of these as children&#39;s toys may also include, planets, aliens, space stations or the like. Furthermore, if the device is to be sold as a toy, other features may be included. For example, the device could be adapted to float to form a child&#39;s bath toy.  
         [0049]     The elements  1  may also be adapted in accordance with the theme. For example, the device  14  could be adapted to represent a motor sport theme (for example, the device could be adapted to represent a motor racing helmet), with the elements  1  being adapted to form the chassis of a motor car. This is achieved by adapting the elements  1  to allow wheels  16  to be attached to an engagement means  17  to the underside of the element  1  and a body of a car  18  to be attached to the upper side of the element  1  when the element  1  has been removed from the device  14  (as shown in  FIG. 8 ). Alternatively, the wheels  16  could be adapted to individually engage with either the protrusions  5  or recesses  6  of the element  1 . A small electric motor  19  could also be incorporated to drive the wheels. It is to be appreciated that the body of the car could be adapted to represent famous street or race cars, or adapted to represent purely fictional cars.  
         [0050]     It is also envisaged that the theme and information presented on the device could be adapted such that it forms an educational tool for preschool children. Alternatively, the theme could be associated with a story. For example, the words of the story could be placed on one side of the panels  9  and  13 , and a picture or figurine associated with the text included on the other side.  
         [0051]     In another embodiment of the invention, a device can also be assembled without the use of a frame from a plurality of panels that are engageable with each other as shown in FIGS.  9  to  15 .  
         [0052]     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  respectively, hexagonal panels  32  have an upper surface  34  and a lower surface  35 . The sides  21  of the panels provide projections  25  and recesses  26  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The size and shape of the protrusion  25  on a side  21  complements the shape and size of recess  26  thereby allowing two panels to engage each other. It is to be appreciated that a number of panels could be assembled together to create a desired shape.  
         [0053]     Each hexagonal panel  32  also has a flange  23  and a dome protrusion  24  on sides  20 , which in this embodiment is adapted to engage with a pentagonal panel  33  as illustrated in  FIGS. 12, 13  and  14 .  
         [0054]     The pentagonal panels  33  have an upper surface  36  and a lower surface  37 . The pentagonal panels  33  include recesses  27  along each side  38  to receive and engage the flange  23  and dome protrusion  24  on the sides  20  of the hexagonal panels  32 .  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the hexagon panels  32  and pentagon panels  33  engage with the adjacent panels. The panels can have a slight curvature allowing a soccer ball to be formed.  
         [0056]     At least one pentagon panel  38 , shown in  FIG. 16 , can be provided with two recesses  30  and  31  on its upper surface  36 , or any other suitable handle. The recesses allow the panel to be gripped and removed from the complete device, aiding its disassembly.  
         [0057]     Wherein the foregoing description, reference has been made to features having known equivalents, those equivalents are hereby incorporate as if they have been specifically set forth.  
         [0058]     Although the invention has been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any snap-fit fastening means could be used to connect the elements  1  to each other, or to connect the panels  9  and  13  to the frame  7 . Likewise, any snap fit fastening means could be used to allow the panels  32  and  33  to engage with each other.  
         [0059]     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.