Mess-free sand play device

Abstract

A mess-free sand play device is disclosed herein. The mess-free sand play device in accordance with aspects herein has a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base. A quantity of loose, granular sand and a moveable device or internal stylus are enclosed within the tray and a cover, the cover having a clear or transparent window through which the loose, granular sand and the moveable device or internal stylus are visible. The moveable device or internal stylus has a foam tip and a magnetic top, which allows for it to be manipulated with an external stylus having a magnetic tip. The foam tip of the moveable device or internal stylus, when pulled through the layer of loose, granular sand, forms a path in the layer of loose, granular sand, the path forming a desired pattern in the layer of loose, granular sand.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sand play device comprising:
 a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base;   a quantity of loose, granular sand;   a cover coupled to the tray to provide a cavity between the tray and the cover, said cavity configured to secure the quantity of loose, granular sand within the cavity, wherein the cover comprises a clear window;   a moveable device inside the cavity, said moveable device comprising a foam tip and a magnet covered with a protective material layer, said moveable device configured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity of loose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within the cavity; and   a magnetic stylus.   
     
     
         2 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein a size of each grain of sand within the quantity of loose, granular sand is between 125 um and 1 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the tray and the cover comprise polycarbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one lighting component coupled to at least a portion of the sand play device above the quantity of loose, granular sand. 
     
     
         5 . The sand play device of  claim 4 , wherein the lighting component comprises color-changing lights. 
     
     
         6 . The sand play device of  claim 5 , wherein the color changing lights are configured to change visible colors automatically or manually via a light switch. 
     
     
         7 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein the foam tip comprises a closed cell foam structure having a height that is less than or equal to a height of the cavity, wherein the height of the cavity is measured from an interior surface of the tray to an interior surface of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable device is configured to stay in an upright position with the protective material layer covering the magnet, said magnet being in direct contact with an interior surface of the clear window. 
     
     
         9 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein the stylus comprises a magnetic tip that, when positioned near an outer surface of the clear window, attracts the magnet of the moveable device such that the stylus is configured to manipulate the moveable device. 
     
     
         10 . The sand play device of  claim 1 , wherein the stylus is tethered to the sand play device. 
     
     
         11 . A sand drawing apparatus having an internal magnetic stylus and an external magnetic stylus, said sand drawing apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an internal cavity configured to enclose sand and a transparent window for viewing the internal cavity and the enclosed sand;   an internal magnetic stylus comprising:
 (1) a magnetic top; and 
 (2) a foam tip opposite the magnetic top; and 
   an external magnetic stylus comprising:
 (1) a magnetic tip comprising:
 (a) a magnet within a magnet housing; 
 (b) a fabric covering over at least a portion of the magnet; and 
 (c) a collar configured to fit over at least a portion of the magnet housing and the fabric covering to secure the fabric covering with respect to the magnet housing; and 
 
 (2) a handle configured to enclose at least a portion of the magnetic tip. 
   
     
     
         12 . The sand drawing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises at least one curved surface for manipulation by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The sand drawing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic tip and the handle are ultrasonically welded to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The sand drawing apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the handle further comprises at least one screw that further secures the magnetic tip enclosed in the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The sand drawing apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic tip of the external magnetic stylus is configured to manipulate the internal magnetic stylus to provide at least one marking in the enclosed sand of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A mess-free sand play device comprising:
 a tray having a planar base and at least one upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base;   a clear cover parallel to the planar base and configured to fit over the tray at a threshold distance from the tray to seal a cavity between the tray and the clear cover;   a quantity of loose, granular sand contained within the cavity; and   a movable device inside the cavity, said moveable device comprising a foam tip at a first end of the moveable device, said foam tip adjacent the planar base, and a magnet covered with a protective material layer at a second end of the moveable device opposite the first end, said magnet adjacent the clear cover, wherein the moveable device is configured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity of loose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within the tray in response to at least one magnetic source external to the cavity.   
     
     
         17 . The mess-free sand play device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one magnetic source comprises a magnetic stylus tethered to the sand play device, said magnetic stylus configured to couple to the mess-free sand play device. 
     
     
         18 . The mess-free sand play device of  claim 17 , wherein the magnetic stylus comprises at least one ergonomic feature, said at least one ergonomic feature comprising an external shape configured to fit within a hand of a user. 
     
     
         19 . The mess-free sand play device of  claim 16 , further comprising a lighting component enclosed within the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The mess-free sand play device of  claim 19 , wherein the lighting component is configured to shine light having one or more visible colors onto an upper surface of the tray such that the loose, granular sand resting on the planar base is illuminated and a path of exposed tray void of sand is darker in appearance than a path of tray covered by the loose, granular sand.