Activity toy

Abstract

An activity toy or stacker having two or more stackable components that can be assembled into multiple configurations. Surface engagement features retain the stackable components in a self-supporting assembly without an internal frame or support pole, and self-align the stackable components as they are assembled. The surface engagement features of the components are universally interengagable to allow the components to nest with one another in various assembly configurations and orientations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An activity toy comprising a plurality of nestable components, wherein a first of the nestable components comprises a first engagement element and a second of the nestable components comprises a second engagement element, the first and second engagement elements interacting with one another to self-align the first and second nestable components during assembly from a misaligned starting configuration to an aligned nested configuration. 
     
     
         2 . The activity toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement element comprises a convexly curved male projection, and the second engagement element comprises a concavely curved female receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The activity toy of  claim 2 , wherein the convexly curved male projection and the concavely curved female receiver follow a generally sinusoidal curvature. 
     
     
         4 . The activity toy of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second nestable components each comprise a generally circular periphery and the generally sinusoidal curvature defines a plurality of peaks and valleys about the generally circular periphery. 
     
     
         5 . The activity toy of  claim 2 , wherein the convexly curved male projection and the concavely curved female receiver define complementary angles of inclination to assist in alignment of the first and second nestable components during assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The activity toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first nestable component comprises a first upper surface and a first lower surface, and wherein the second nestable component comprises a second upper surface and a second lower surface, wherein the first upper surface and the first lower surface each comprise first engagement elements, wherein the second upper surface and the second lower surface each comprise second engagement elements, and wherein the first and second engagement elements are universally engagable between either of the first upper and lower surfaces with either of the second upper and lower surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The activity toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap component having a third engagement element configured for nesting engagement with either of the first and second engagement elements. 
     
     
         8 . The activity toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nestable components nest to form a frame-less assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The activity toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nestable components each define an opening extending axially therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . An activity toy comprising a plurality of stackable components, each of said stackable components comprising an upper surface defining at least one male engagement feature and a lower surface defining at least one female engagement feature, wherein at least two of the plurality of stackable components are stackable with the male engagement feature of the upper surface of one of the stackable components nesting within the female engagement feature of the lower surface of the other stackable component. 
     
     
         11 . The activity toy of  claim 10 , wherein the male and female engagement features retain the plurality of stackable components in a stacked assembly without additional support. 
     
     
         12 . The activity toy of  claim 10 , wherein the male and female engagement features bias the stackable components to self-align into the stacked assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The activity toy of  claim 10 , wherein the male and female engagement features comprise interengaging surfaces defining a generally sinusoidal curvature profile. 
     
     
         14 . The activity toy of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of stackable components are stackable into a first assembled configuration comprising a generally continuous outer surface at least partially defining a conic section profile. 
     
     
         15 . The activity toy of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of stackable components are stackable into a second alternative assembled configuration defining a generally discontinuous outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The activity toy of  claim 10 , further comprising a cap component having a cap engagement feature stackable with either of the male engagement feature or the female engagement feature. 
     
     
         17 . An activity toy comprising:
 a first stacking component having a first annular body with a generally circumferential first outer wall, a first inner wall bounding a first central opening, a first lower surface and a first upper surface, the first lower surface and the first upper surface each defining a plurality of generally sinusoidal peaks and valleys; and   a second stacking component having a second annular body with a generally circumferential second outer wall, a second inner wall bounding a second central opening, a second lower surface and a second upper surface, the second lower surface and the second upper surface each defining a plurality of generally sinusoidal peaks and valleys;   wherein the peaks and valleys of the first upper and lower surfaces are each interengagable with the peaks and valleys of either of the second upper and lower surfaces to form a plurality of assembly configurations depending on the orientation of the first and second stacking components when assembled.   
     
     
         18 . The activity toy of  claim 17 , further comprising a cap component having a dome-shaped upper surface and a lower surface comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys universally compatible for nesting engagement with the peaks and valleys of either of the first and second stacking components. 
     
     
         19 . The activity toy of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second upper and lower surfaces define complementary angles of inclination, whereby at least one of the plurality of assembly configurations is self-supporting without a central support post through the first and second central openings of the stacking components. 
     
     
         20 . The activity toy of  claim 17 , wherein the peaks and valleys of the first and second upper and lower surfaces define generally sinusoidal wave curves. 
     
     
         21 . The activity toy of  claim 17 , wherein the peaks and valleys of the first and second upper and lower surfaces bias the first and second stacking components toward self-alignment when assembled. 
     
     
         22 . The activity toy of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of assembly configurations comprises a generally continuous outer surface at least partially defining a conic section profile. 
     
     
         23 . The activity toy of  claim 22 , wherein the conic section profile is a generally parabolic curve.