Planar Sided Case with Multiple Magnetically Engageable Activities

Abstract

A portable activity device for playing entertaining and educational games and activities. The activities may also be adapted for provision of physical therapy and occupational therapy. The device features a case having an accessible cavity for storage of activity components. A side surface of the case is magnetically receptive to the activity components which have magnets upon them. The device maintains the activity pieces in place in moving vehicles allowing children to play games during travel without the risk of sharp movements causing the game parts to fall. A white board on the exterior surface is provided which may be employed with markers stored in the cavity.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 096733 filed Sep. 12, 2008 and which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention herein disclosed relates generally to activities and games. More specifically to a portable carrying case adapted to engagement with a plurality of interchangeable magnetically engageable surfaces each adapted for playing, drawing, physical therapy, and playing games with pieces which are also magnetically engageable.[0004]2. Prior Art[0005]Entertainment activities such as drawing, writing, puzzles, and board games, have been enjoyed for ages and are believed to have been employed for entertainment and education since the very beginning of civilization. Some games, like chess or backgammon, have become lasting favorites, while others flow with the tide of fashion and pop-culture. Not even the lightning-fast pace of video games have les...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present device remedies the aforementioned shortcomings by providing an activity playing system which is easy to transport and employ in a moving vehicle, or at home. The device features a generally rectangular wooden, metal, or plastic folding or other carrying case which has at least one planar side surface configured to be magnetically attractive in combination with the activity components, boards, and playing pieces stored internally.

[0014]Activity pieces employed with the activity surfaces, such as game pieces, puzzle pieces, drawing components, letters of the alphabet, and the like, are also magnetically attracted to the planar surface of the activity board. In this manner when in a moving car which imparts sharp movement from bumps and lateral forces from curves at high speed, the components of the device, when engaged upon the planar surface of the case, are prevented from dislodging or moving. This magnetic attraction thereby provides a means for keeping engaged game boards or activity boards, playing pieces, and the like, from moving around upon the activity or game board and getting lost or interrupting the activity itself.

[0016]When employed for occupational or physical therapy for practicing and developing motor skills, the device may employ a varied magnetic attraction between the planar surface or surfaces, and the game pieces, letters, numbers, puzzles and the like. By making the attraction higher, the user must use more force to both move and remove parts and pieces and by making the attraction lower, the user needs less force between their thumb and fingers. Varying the magnetic attraction force thereby provides a means to provide a user undergoing physical or occupational therapy ongoing therapy at different levels as determined by the therapist providing the device for that purpose.

[0017]On the underside of the magnetically attractive planar surface, a plurality of magnetically attracted activity or game playing surfaces can be stored within a magnetically engageable pouch or envelope. In this manner the activity surfaces are held adjacent to the magnetically attractive planar surface of folding or slide-open case and prevent excessive rattling and moving about during traveling.

[0019]In another mode of the device, it is easily adapted for the provision of mental and motor skills practice for users in need of such. By employing puzzles of interlocking pieces, manual dexterity may be developed. Fine motor skills are also developed and the therapy may be made easier or harder by making the magnetic attraction of the puzzle pieces and other components, more, or less, attractive to the activity board. Making the attraction less will require less force by the user to move the pieces around. Using pieces or an activity board which is more attracted to the other will require more strength to move the pieces about as well as with the user's gripping of the pieces or parts between fingers prior to mounting or while dismounting them.

[0024]It is an object of this invention to provide an easily transportable activity and gaming device which provides both a container for the activity boards and surfaces and the activity related components and game board pieces as well as a self-securing support surface for the activity board and pieces employed with it.

Problems solved by technology

Difficulty levels may be adapted by changing force of the magnetic attraction of the pieces with the magnetically receptive activity surface or surfaces on the device.

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