Play equipment container lid for a play equipment container and use of a play equipment container lid for marking

Abstract

The invention relates to a lid for a game equipment container, comprising an inner and an outer surface, wherein the game equipment container is designed to hold one or more games of play, access to the game(s) is enabled by removing the lid from the container, and reversible closure of the interior space within the container by placing the lid onto the container is possible, wherein the outer surface, when in a closed position, faces the interior space and is visible, and wherein a counter is assigned to the outer surface, the counter being capable of recording multiple counts.The invention features counting steps equipped with indicator values ​​and enables the display of a selected counting step based on an indicator value indexed by the counting indicator, thus visibly indicating the number of accesses to the gaming devices. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a gaming device container lid.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a playground equipment container lid for a playground equipment container according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a playground equipment container lid.

[0002] Commonly used containers for playground equipment are usually closed with a simple lid or consist of several parts that can be connected together. For example, containers for tennis balls are known in which the tennis balls are lined up inside a transparent sleeve. The transparent sleeve forms a base container and is then closed with a lid that is either pushed on or screwed on.

[0003] Furthermore, play equipment, such as tennis balls, squash balls, equipment for paddle tennis or pucks for an ice hockey game, are carried loose or stored in bags.

[0004] A disadvantage in each case is that, for example with tennis balls, the number of uses already made by a particular ball or set of balls is not discernible. This is particularly problematic with tennis balls or other air-filled balls because frequent use can alter, for example, the rebound behavior of the tennis ball or other air-filled balls and / or the surface of the respective playing equipment.

[0005] The purpose of the invention is to improve the state of the art.

[0006] The problem is solved by a playground equipment container lid for a playground equipment container according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in dependent claims 2 to 9.

[0007] A key concept of the invention is that the lid of the toy container has a counter, particularly on its outer surface, so that corresponding counting steps can be performed and displayed using a counter indicator. For example, if the counter indicator shows that the toy has already been used five times, the user can either accept this number of uses or, for example, use different tennis balls if the playing characteristics of the balls are no longer acceptable. It should be noted that the counter is typically located on the outer surface, although an internal counter, for example, on the inner surface of the toy container lid, can also be advantageous depending on the specific embodiment of the invention.Furthermore, it should be noted that a "play equipment container lid" can have any shape and can, for example, also provide a compartment for one or more pieces of play equipment. Thus, the play equipment container lid can also form part of the interior of a play equipment container, whereby the boundary between lid and container can become blurred.

[0008] In particular, the counter mechanism is mechanical. Indicator values ​​can be embossed or stamped onto the outer surface. For example, letters or numbers can be embossed or stamped. A mechanical indicator, such as an embossed or stamped arrow or line, can then be used to display the respective counter indicator, for example, the number of uses.

[0009] The lid of the play equipment container can be round with corresponding round mechanical components. For example, the indicator can be arranged in a ring or circle and then rotated relative to the indicator values.

[0010] For example, a ring-shaped arrangement is implemented in which the indicator values ​​and the mechanical display element are arranged in a ring shape. The corresponding components can then be rotated relative to each other, so that, for example, the indicator values ​​are arranged circularly on the outside and a corresponding component with the display element is rotatably arranged within the ring-shaped arrangement of the indicator values.

[0011] The mechanical display means can also be arranged linearly, so that, for example, the display means shifts linearly relative to the indicator values. This embodiment of the invention can be applied, for example, to rectangular game equipment containers.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, the counter can have a digital display to show the counting steps and / or the selected counting step. For example, a digital display, possibly supplemented by a solar cell for power supply, can be used to electronically display the corresponding counting steps.

[0013] If a counter is assigned a step counter with a counting device, the increment of a counting step can occur each time, for example, the lid of the play equipment container is placed on or removed from the container. Thus, the corresponding counting steps are automatically incremented every time the container is opened.

[0014] In particular, an individually visualizable identification field can be assigned to the outside and / or inside, so that, for example, corresponding player names, team names or similar information can be applied to the identification field.

[0015] It should be noted that playground equipment container lids according to one or more of the aforementioned embodiments can be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process, in particular by means of a material melting process and / or by means of laser sintering. Likewise, for example for a larger quantity of identical playground equipment container lids, production by injection molding is possible.

[0016] For example, as an accompanying service for a tournament, individualized production of corresponding equipment container lids for participants can be carried out, whereby, for example, a team name or individual person's name can be entered in the identification field and corresponding components with correspondingly chosen gap dimensions between the components can be printed together and / or nested within each other, so that the equipment container lid is manufactured integrally in one operation, for example in a 3D printer.

[0017] In another aspect, the problem is solved by using a playground equipment container lid according to one of the previously described embodiments to indicate a number of uses according to claim 10.

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. These will show... Fig. 1. A schematic representation of a ball container for holding tennis balls in a cutaway view. Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a lid of the ball container of the Fig. 1 in a top view, as well as Fig. 3 a schematic detail representation of the lid of the Fig. 2 in a cutaway view.

[0019] A ball container 101 serves to hold and store tennis balls 151. The tennis balls 151 are stored in an interior 111 of a can 103. The can 103 is cylindrical and has a wall 104 and a base 106. Opposite the base 106, the can 103, and thus the interior 111, is closed by a lid 121. The lid 121 has an overhanging rim 122 on its underside 163, which surrounds the can 103.

[0020] The cover 121 has a round outer body 123 in which an internal rotary disk 125 is rotatably mounted on a similarly round contact line 124. The rotary disk 125 can be rotated about an axis of rotation 181 along a direction of rotation 185. It should be noted that rotation in only one direction 185 or, alternatively, rotation in different directions is possible.

[0021] The outer body 123 is provided with numbers 127 (for example, numbers 1 to 8) all around on a top surface 161 of the lid 121, with the numbers 127 being embossed here in an exemplary manner to protrude.

[0022] The rotating disc 125, also facing the upper surface 161, has an eccentric arrow 129 pointing towards the outer body 123. Furthermore, an individualized inscription 131 (here, for example, "ABCDEFG," although any other inscription can be chosen) is embossed centrally on the rotating disc 125. The arrow 129 points along an indicator axis 183 to one of the numbers 127 (here, for example, "2"). It should be noted that corresponding markings and / or inscriptions can also be arranged on the underside 163, if this is expedient.

[0023] If a tennis ball 151 is removed and the lid 121 is removed from the container 103, the user can turn the arrow 129 from the number 2 to the number 3 by rotating the dial 125. This indicates to the next user that, for example, the tennis balls 151 in the container 103 have already been used three times. If, for example, the arrow 129 reaches the number "8" through this process, a subsequent player knows that the tennis balls 151 have reached the end of their useful life. It should be noted that these numerical examples are purely illustrative and can be adapted to reflect the wear and tear of equipment, such as tennis balls 151.

[0024] It should also be mentioned that a shift lever 141 may be arranged inside the cover 121 (compare this to...). Fig.3) When the lid 121 is placed on the can 103, the shift lever 141 is pressed in parallel to the axis of rotation 181 and can then, via an internal switching mechanism (not shown in detail), cause the rotary disc 125 to rotate automatically and thus rotate the arrow 129 to the next number 127.

[0025] Similarly, instead of or in addition to the numbers 127, a corresponding indication can also be digital, with the lid 121, for example, having a digital display that can be advanced by pressing a button. Likewise, a solar cell can be integrated into the lid to power such a digital display. Alternatively, a battery, such as a button cell, can be used for power. List of reference symbols 101 ball containers 103 cans 104 Wall 106 Floor 111 Interior 121 lids 122 Rand 123 Outer body 124 contact line 125 turntable 127 number 129 Arrow 131 lettering 141 Gearshift lever 151 tennis balls 161 Top 163 Underside 181 Axis of rotation 183 Indicator axis 185° direction of rotation

Claims

[1] A play equipment container lid (121) for a play equipment container (101), having an inner side (163) and an outer side (161), wherein the play equipment container (103) is designed to accommodate one or more play equipment (151), access to the play equipment (151) or the play equipment (151) is enabled by removing the play equipment container lid (121) from the play equipment container (103), and reversibly closing an interior space (111) in the play equipment container (103) that accommodates the play equipment (151) is enabled by applying the play equipment container lid (121) to the play equipment container (103), and wherein the outer side (161), in an applied position closing the interior space (111), has the inner side (163) facing the interior space (111) and the outer side (161) is visible, characterized byin that a counter (123, 125, 127, 129) is assigned to the outer side (161), wherein the counter (123, 125, 127, 129) has a plurality of counting steps (127) equipped with indicator values ​​(123, 127), and by means of a counting indicator (129) it is possible to display a selected counting step (127) on the basis of an indicator value (123, 127) indicated by the counting indicator (129) for visibly indicating a number of accesses to the gaming devices (151). [2] Play equipment container lid according to claim 1, characterized by that the counter (123, 125, 127, 129) is mechanically designed, wherein the counting steps (127) have indicator values ​​(127) embossed into the outer side (161) and / or mechanically impressed on the outer side (161) and / or the counting indicator (129) is designed as a mechanical display means (125, 129) for indicating at least one of the embossed and / or impressed indicator values ​​(123, 127). [3] Play equipment container lid according to claim 2, characterized by that the indicator values ​​(123, 127) and / or the mechanical display means (125, 129) are arranged in a ring-shaped and / or circular arc-shaped manner, wherein the display of the selected counting step (127) is effected by means of a rotation of the display means (125, 129) relative to the indicator values ​​(123, 127). [4] Play equipment container lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the indicator values ​​(123, 127) and the mechanical display means (125, 129) are arranged in a ring shape one inside the other, wherein the display of the selected counting step (127) takes place by means of a rotation of the display means (125, 129) relative to the indicator values ​​(123, 127), wherein in particular the indicator values ​​(123, 127) surround a circular display means (125, 129) in a ring-shaped arrangement and the circular display means (125, 129) is arranged rotatably within the ring-shaped indicator values ​​(123, 127). [5] Play equipment container lid according to claim 2, characterized by that the indicator values ​​(123, 127) and / or the mechanical display means (125, 129) are arranged linearly, wherein the display of the selected counting step (127) is effected by means of a displacement of the display means (125, 129) relative to the indicator values ​​(123, 127). [6] Play equipment container lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the counter (123, 125, 127, 129) has a digital display for displaying the counting steps (127) and / or the selected counting step (127). [7] Play equipment container lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the counter is assigned a step mechanism with a counting means (141), wherein when the play equipment container lid (121) is removed and / or when the play equipment container lid (121) is placed on the play equipment container (103), an automatic counting up of a counting step (127) takes place by means of an engagement of the counting means (141) on the play equipment container (101). [8] Play equipment container lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer side (161) is assigned a particularly customizable identification field (131). [9] Play equipment container lid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the play equipment container lid (121) is produced by means of an additive manufacturing process, in particular by means of a material melting process and / or by means of laser sintering. [10] Use of a play equipment container lid (121) according to one of the preceding claims for marking a number of uses of a respective play equipment (151) or respective play equipment (151), in particular tennis balls (151), on a play equipment container (101), in particular a can (101, 103) for tennis balls (151).

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