Abstract:
An apparatus for use at parties resembles a cardboard box that is open at the top and is supported in mid air. The box stores candy or toys therein and includes a latch that is released subsequent to pulling on a trigger cord. The latch includes a pin in a side member that engages a hole attached to a flap of a bottom member. The trigger cord pulls the flap away from the pin which then releases the bottom member which is able to pivot and release the candy or toys which then fall to the ground. VELCRO is used to ensure that the flap is maintained in a closed position until the trigger cord is pulled. A plurality of false cords resemble the trigger cord and they all dangle through openings that are provided in the bottom member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention, in general relates to piñatas and, more particularly, to piñatas that are reusable and which collapse for storage or sale. 
     Piñatas are well known party favors. They are used at birthdays and for other types of celebrations. Typically, a piñata is filled with candy or other desirable articles, such as toys, and is struck with an object (i.e., a stick) by each member of the group in turn until it is destroyed and the contents are released. 
     The problem is that only one member of the group actually causes the contents to be released. The remaining members are left feeling discouraged. 
     Also, little children typically are unable to wield a stick with sufficient force to actually break open a typical piñata and, as such, are doomed to failure. 
     Furthermore, a reusable piñata must fold compactly for storage, otherwise a large and cumbersome type of a piñata would have to be transported and stored, which would discourage sales and use. Shopkeepers would not mind displaying one opened piñata but they would not want to fill up their stores with large bulky devices. Also, additional shipping charges for oversize articles would make transport of a non-collapsing piñata prohibitive. 
     The ideal piñata would also be inexpensive to manufacture and therefore, also to sell. 
     Finally, a reusable piñata must secure in a closed position effectively. It must resist opening by normal jiggling and shaking, that normally occurs during use so that only the proper action (not shaking of the piñata) actually releases the contents. 
     Accordingly, a secure piñata latch mechanism is desired. Furthermore, use of the piñata latch mechanism must not, in any way, provide any suggestion that favors or reveals how to release the latch mechanism. 
     Ideally, a piñata that is reusable would allow repeated attempts to access the contents. This would also save the cost of having to purchase new piñatas each time one was desired. 
     It is also desirable to provide all members of the group with an equal chance of opening the piñata. 
     It would be desirable if the contents could be refilled for each subsequent use with candy or toys, as desired, to best suit the needs of all group members. 
     An ideal piñata would also fold (i.e., collapsible) for storage and ease in transportation. 
     Accordingly, there exists today a need for a collapsible, reusable piñata that provides an equal chance for all members to open, is reusable, folds compactly when not in use, and has a secure latch mechanism that does not open when it is not intended to open yet freely opens when it is desired to open and is inexpensive to manufacture and ship. 
     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Piñatas are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,078 to Oquita, Sep. 11, 1979; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,514 to Oquita, Feb. 5, 1980; 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,308 to Estrada, Sep. 7, 1993; and 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,194 to Lasen, et al., Jul. 16, 1996. 
     While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that can be collapsed when not in use. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that is reusable. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that can be hung (i.e., suspended). 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that is released by pulling a trigger ribbon disposed among a plurality of look-alike false trigger ribbons. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that includes a secure latching mechanism. 
     Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide a collapsible, reusable piñata that can be quickly and easily refilled. 
     Briefly, a collapsible, reusable piñata that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is preferably formed of corrugated material (i.e., cardboard) and includes a collapsible enclosure that has a planar bottom member and four planar side members, each of the side members being attached at a ninety degree angle with respect to two of the remaining side members and also being disposed at a ninety degree angle with respect to the bottom member when the piñata is assembled, ready for use. The bottom member is hingedly attached on one side to one of the four side members and it includes a flap that is hingedly attached to a distal end of the bottom member with respect to where the bottom member is attached to the side member. The four side members are hingedly attached to each side member which they abut. When assembled, the piñata forms a rectangular structure with an open top. Support cords attach to the tops of each of the side members to support the piñata above the ground. A releasable latch mechanism includes a first half that is attached to one of the side members and a second half that is attached to the flap and which cooperate to secure the bottom member in perpendicular alignment with respect to the side members until a trigger ribbon (i.e., cord) is pulled. The trigger ribbon is disposed among a plurality of false ribbons, each of which resembles the other in appearance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a collapsible, reusable piñata in an assembled position and showing a bottom member also in an opened position in dashed lines. 
     FIG. 2 is a detailed view in perspective of a portion of the latch mechanism of the collapsible, reusable piñata. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to all of the FIGURE drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 is shown, a collapsible, reusable piñata, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The piñata  10  includes a planar bottom member  12  that is pivotally attached to a first side member  14  along an axis created by a seam  14   a  that is intermediate the bottom member  12  and the first side member  14 . 
     The bottom member  12  includes a flap  16  that is disposed opposite the seam  14   a.  The flap  16  is similarly pivotally (i.e., hingedly) attached to the bottom member  12 . 
     The preferred material to form the enclosure portion of the piñata  10  is corrugated fiber, commonly referred to as cardboard. The enclosure, once assembled, resembles a cardboard box (without a top) in appearance. 
     A second side member  18  is pivotally attached to the first side member  14  along a second seam  20 . A third side member  22  is pivotally attached to the second side member  18  along a third seam  24 . A fourth side member  26  is pivotally attached to the third side member  22  along a fourth seam  28  and is pivotally attached to the first side member  14  along a fifth seam  30 . 
     The first, second, third, and fourth side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  are normal (i.e., perpendicular) with respect to each other when the piñata  10  is assembled ready for use. 
     The second, third, fourth, and fifth seams  20 ,  24 ,  28 ,  30  allow the first, second, third, and fourth side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  to pivot and collapse into a flat position with the second side member  18  disposed substantially against the first side member  14  and third side member  22  disposed substantially against the fourth side member  26 . 
     When the piñata  10  is collapsed for storage, the bottom member  12  is adapted to pivot back around the seam  14   a  so that it too is disposed substantially against the first side member  14  but on the opposite side thereof as is the second side member  18  disposed. 
     While a cube shape is preferred, the overall shape of the piñata  10 , when assembled and ready for use may be that of any rectangular box. 
     During use, each of the side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  is disposed in perpendicular planar alignment with respect to each adjoining side member (i.e., the first side member  14  is perpendicular with respect to the second and fourth side members  18 ,  26 , etc.) and in parallel planar alignment with respect to an opposite planar side member (i.e., the first side member  14  is disposed in parallel planar alignment with respect to the third side member  22 , etc.). 
     Each of the side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  is disposed in perpendicular planar alignment with respect to the bottom member  12  during use and prior to the release of the contents in the piñata  10 , as is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     Each of the side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  includes a support hole  31  through which one of four support cords  31   a  are attached. The support cords  31   a  are preferably tied together and to an object (not shown) that is overhead and able to support the weight of the piñata  10  and any forces that are applied to the piñata  10  during its use. 
     The bottom member  12  includes a plurality of identical openings  32 . The openings  32  are scattered either in a pattern or randomly about the bottom member. A preferred type of an opening includes a cut or a “slit” that is formed through the bottom member  12 . 
     A plurality of false cords  34  are each threaded through one of the openings  32  and allowed to hang under the piñata  10 . A small segment of each of the false cords  34  extends into the interior of the piñata  10 . 
     The false cords  34  are preferably made of attractive colored ribbon segments. 
     When any of the false cords  34  are pulled from under the piñata  10  by a child hoping to open the piñata  10 , its small segment is readily pulled through the opening  32  without effect. 
     Disposed though any one of the openings  32  a trigger cord  36  is allowed to pass and to hang under the piñata  10  in a manner similar to that of the false cords  34 . The trigger cord  36  is allowed to hang the same length below the piñata  10  as the false cords  34  and is similarly colored so as to not provide any visual cue to suggest that it might in any way be different than any of the false cords  34 . 
     An opposite end of the trigger cord  36  extends inside of the assembled piñata  10  and connects with a central flap  38 . 
     The central flap  38  is pivotally attached to the flap  16  along a flap seam  38   a  and is preferably disposed near its center. The central flap  38  includes a pair of cuts  38   b  that are disposed on opposite sides thereof and which extend into the flap  16  an amount that is equal to the depth of the central flap  38  and less than that of the flap  16  itself. 
     The central flap  38  includes a first half of a latch assembly identified in general by the reference numeral  40  that is used to retain the bottom member  12  in perpendicular alignment with respect to the side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26 . 
     A second half of a latch assembly is attached to the third side member  22  near the bottom and is identified in general by the reference numeral  42 . (See FIG. 2) 
     The second half  42  includes a pin  44  that passes through the third side member  22  and extends into the interior of the piñata  10 . 
     A section of a first half of a hook and loop fastener  46 , such as is commonly sold under the tradename VELCRO surrounds the pin  44 . 
     The pin  44  may be formed from a small bolt and nut or any plastic or metallic substance that is sufficiently strong enough to bear the weight of any items placed in the piñata  10 . 
     The first half of a latch assembly  40  that is attached to the central flap  38  includes a reinforced hole  47  that is adapted to receive the pin  44  therein. 
     The reinforced hole  47  passes through the central flap  38  and it includes a grommet or a reinforcing ring that resists wear or damage that would otherwise be caused by the force of the contents (not shown) applying force to the bottom member  12  which in turn is held in a closed position by the pin  44 . 
     The trigger cord  36  is preferably attached near the top of the central flap  38  and the reinforced hole  47  is nearer to the center thereof. 
     Around the reinforced hole  47  is disposed a quantity of a section of a second half of a hook and loop fastener  48 . 
     To use the piñata  10 , the bottom member  12  is pivoted until it aligns with the bottom edges of each of the four side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26 . A pair of side flaps  50  that are attached to the bottom member  12  are inserted inside the piñata  10 . 
     The flap  16  is brought up against the inside of the third side member  22 . The central flap  38  is pivoted away from the third side member  22  so that the reinforced hole  47  (in the central flap  38 ) can clear the pin  44 . 
     Once the reinforced hole  47  is disposed proximate the pin  44 , a person (not shown) urges the central flap  38  to pivot closer toward the third side member  22 . The reinforced hole  47  passes over the pin  44  and the central flap  38  is urged even further toward the third side member  22  until the second half of a hook and loop fastener  48  makes contact with the first half of a hook and loop fastener  46  and secures the central flap  38  to the third side member  22 . 
     When the trigger cord  36  alone is pulled, the central flap  38  is accordingly urged away from the third side member  22 . First, the second half of a hook and loop fastener  48  is separated apart from the first half of a hook and loop fastener  46 . 
     As the trigger cord  36  is pulled some more, the central flap  38  continues to pivot around the flap seam  38   a  toward the interior of the piñata  10  until the reinforced hole  47  is pulled beyond the pin  44 . At that point, the bottom member  12  is no longer held in position and the weight of the contents therein plus the force applied to the trigger cord  36  urge the bottom member  12  to pivot about the seam  14   a  until the contents are released and spill out from the bottom of the piñata  10 . 
     To reuse the piñata  10 , the bottom member  12  is once again closed and the above described procedure for securing the bottom member  12  is repeated, as desired. 
     To store the piñata  10  the trigger cord  36  is pulled to release the bottom member  12  which is pivoted fully around the first side member  14  until it contacts it. The four side members  14 ,  18 ,  22 ,  26  fold together flat, as was discussed hereinabove. 
     The first half of a latch assembly  40  and the second half of a latch assembly  42  cooperate to provide a fast, inexpensive latching mechanism that holds the bottom member  12  securely in place until the trigger cord  36  is pulled, at which time an easy and positive release of the latching mechanism is accomplished. 
     It is noted that it is easier to pivot the central flap  38  than the entire flap  16  and it is therefore easier to pull the central flap  38  away from the pin  44  than it would be to pull the entire flap  16  away from the pin. Accordingly, the latching mechanism is very easy to release. 
     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.