Contoured lid for a toy bucket and a toy bucket incorporating the same

Abstract

A lid for a toy bucket, a toy bucket incorporating the lid and a method of use are disclosed. The toy bucket includes a base having a bottom wall with a sidewall extending upwardly therefrom. A chamber is defined by the base and is used for storing toys and accessories therein. The lid is selectively engageable with an upper region of the base and blocks access to the chamber. The lid includes a first wall that is positioned opposite to the base's bottom wall. The first wall of the lid is provided with contours that depict a 3-dimensional geographical landscape that complements the toys and accessories in the base. The accessories may include a pop-up card that is unfolded to produce an additional 3-dimensional structure. The unfolded card may be placed adjacent the lid and be secured thereto by a locking member thereby extending the 3-dimensional landscape.

1 . A lid for a toy bucket comprising:
 a first wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   an annular peripheral wall extending outwardly from the first wall and having an exterior surface and an interior surface; at least a portion of the first wall is contoured and depicts a 3-dimensional geographical landscape.   
     
     
         2 . The lid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall has a bottom edge located a distance from the first wall; and wherein the portion of the first wall is contoured to include regions of varying elevation relative to the bottom edge of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         3 . The lid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first wall includes a first region that is located a first distance from a bottom edge of the peripheral wall and a second region that is located a second distance from the bottom edge, and the first region comprises a raised component of the landscape. 
     
     
         4 . The lid as defined in  claim 3 , wherein a third region on the first wall is located closer to the bottom edge than either of the first and second regions and wherein the third region comprises a recessed component of the landscape. 
     
     
         5 . The lid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first wall of the lid is contoured to include geographical features of the natural world or is contoured to represent a landscape of a fantasy world; and wherein the geographical features of the natural world include one or more of rocks, rock formations, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and mountains. 
     
     
         6 . The lid as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the lid is contoured to include features that have an appearance of being man-made features and wherein the man-made features include one or more of bridges, fences, gates, towers, buildings, walls or vehicles. 
     
     
         7 . The lid as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle engageable with the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The lid as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising a recess defined in the first wall and wherein the handle is located so as to span the recess. 
     
     
         9 . The lid as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the handle is molded or formed to have an appearance of a bridge. 
     
     
         10 . The lid as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the lid is contoured and forms part of the landscape depicted by the first wall. 
     
     
         11 . A toy bucket including:
 a base having a bottom wall with a sidewall extending upwardly away from the bottom wall; a chamber defined by an interior surface of each of the bottom wall and the sidewall; and wherein the sidewall includes an upper region having a top rim defining an opening through which the chamber is accessed; and   a lid that is selectively engageable with the top rim of the base to close off access to the chamber; wherein the lid includes:   a first wall;   an annular peripheral wall extending outwardly from the first wall, said peripheral wall being engageable with the upper region of the base;   wherein at least the first wall is contoured and depicts a 3-dimensional geographical landscape.   
     
     
         12 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral wall has a bottom edge located a distance from the first wall; and wherein the lid is contoured to include regions of varying elevation relative to the bottom edge of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         13 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 11  wherein the bottom wall of the base defines a recess and the recess is of a sufficient size and shape to receive a contoured portion of the lid therein. 
     
     
         14 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 11 , wherein contouring of the first wall gives the lid a first profile when viewed from a side; and wherein the toy bucket further comprises one or more components that are selectively engageable with the lid, wherein the one or more components give the lid a second profile when viewed from the side. 
     
     
         15 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more components include a pop-up card; said pop-up card being movable between a folded position and an expanded position; and when in the expanded position the pop-up card includes 3-dimensional structures thereon. 
     
     
         16 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising a locking member engageable with the lid and the pop-up card to secure the lid and pop-up card together. 
     
     
         17 . The lid as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more components include a plastic component molded or formed to depict an additional 3-dimensional landscape. 
     
     
         18 . The lid as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the lid includes one or more support platforms on the first wall; and wherein the plastic component is received on the one or more support platforms. 
     
     
         19 . The toy bucket as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the bottom wall of the base includes a recess which is of a depth and width suitable to receive the contouring of the lid therein. 
     
     
         20 . A method of playing with a toy bucket; said method including the steps of:
 providing a toy bucket comprising a base having a bottom wall with a sidewall extending upwardly away from the bottom wall; a chamber defined by an interior surface of each of the bottom wall and the sidewall; and   wherein the sidewall includes an upper region having a top rim defining an opening through which the chamber is accessed; and a lid that is selectively engageable with the top rim of the base to close off access to the chamber;   wherein the lid includes a first wall and an annular peripheral wall extending outwardly from the first wall, said peripheral wall being selectively engageable with the upper region of the base; wherein at least the first wall is contoured and depicts a 3-dimensional geographical landscape;   providing a plurality of figurines and accessories to be stored within the chamber of the base;   disengaging the lid from the base;   placing the lid on a flat surface so that a bottom edge of the peripheral wall is positioned on the flat surface;   maneuvering the figurines during play including placing the figurines on the 3-dimensional landscape provided by the lid.   
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the step of providing accessories includes providing a pop-up card having a foldable planar sheet and a pop-up structure engaged with the planar sheet; and wherein the method further comprises:
 moving the planar sheet from a folded position to an unfolded position;   erecting the pop-up structure as the planar sheet unfolds.   
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising;
 engaging the pop-up card with the lid after erecting the pop-up structure.   
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the step of engaging the pop-up card with the lid includes:
 providing a locking member;   engaging the locking member with the pop-up card; and   engaging the locking member with the lid.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , further comprising resting a portion of the pop-up structure on the lid. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , further comprising positioning one or more figurines or accessories on the pop-up structure or planar sheet. 
     
     
         26 . In combination:
 a lid for a toy bucket comprising a first wall having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and an annular peripheral wall extending outwardly from the first wall and having an exterior surface and an interior surface; wherein at least a portion of the first wall is contoured and depicts a 3-dimensional geographical landscape; and   a pop-up card positionable adjacent the lid; said pop-up card comprising a planar sheet having a first surface and a second surface;   and a pop-up structure engaged with the first surface; and wherein the pop-up card is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position; and when in the unfolded position the pop-up structure forms a 3-dimensional feature that laterally extends the lid's 3-dimensional landscape.   
     
     
         27 . The combination as defined in  claim 26 ; further comprising a locking member releasably engageable with each of the lid and the pop-up card to secure the lid and unfolded card to each other and to releasably retain the laterally extended 3-dimensional landscape in a set configuration.