Collapsible pinata devices and methods for making same

Abstract

Collapsible piñata devices and methods to manufacture collapsible piñata devices are provided. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a piñata can comprise an exterior shell and one or more internal support frame members. The internal frame members can support the exterior shell when the exterior shell is fully expanded in an uncollapsed position to form a piñata. The internal frame members can also support the exterior shell during transition from expanded to collapsed position and from collapsed to expanded position. The piñata can also be collapsed into a state for storage, travel, and to preserve the exterior appearance of the piñata. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.

1 . A piñata device adapted to contain a plurality of articles and capable of being collapsed, the piñata device comprising:
 a collapsible exterior comprising one or more extendable portions, the collapsible exterior having a collapsed state and an uncollapsed state, the collapsible exterior adapted to define an interior when uncollapsed, the interior substantially enclosed by the collapsible exterior, the collapsible exterior having a perimeter when collapsed, the perimeter defining a central axis; and   a first framing member coupled to at least one of the extendable portions, the first framing member adapted to support the at least one of the extendable portions during collapsing and uncollapsing.   
   
   
       2 . The piñata device of  claim 1 , the collapsible exterior comprising an inner containing member and an outer section, the inner containing member being spaced apart from the central axis, and the outer section being spaced apart from the inner containing member such that the inner containing member is disposed between the central axis and the outer section. 
   
   
       3 . The piñata device of  claim 2 , the inner containing member adapted to be collapsible and to contain a plurality of articles when the inner containing member is uncollapsed. 
   
   
       4 . The piñata device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second framing member, wherein the distance between the first and second framing members varies during collapsing and during uncollapsing. 
   
   
       5 . The piñata device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more extendable portions comprise a first extendable portion end and a second extendable portion end, the first and second extendable portion ends in proximity to each other and comprising opposing ends of the collapsible exterior in the collapsed state. 
   
   
       6 . The piñata device of  claim 5 , further comprising a latch operatively connected to at least one of the first extendable portion end and the second extendable portion end, the first and second extendable portion ends in proximity to each other when the collapsible exterior is in the uncollapsed state, and the latch comprising a connector to connect the first extendable portion end and the second extendable portion end in the uncollapsed state. 
   
   
       8 . The piñata device of  claim 1 , the collapsible exterior comprising a plurality of predetermined folds, the folds being open in the uncollapsed state and closed in the collapsed state. 
   
   
       9 . The piñata device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second framing member, the first and second framing members rotatable about the central axis. 
   
   
       10 . A piñata manufacturing method comprising:
 providing a first framing support member; and   coupling a first collapsible outer wall to the first framing support member, the first collapsible outer wall proximate the first framing support member and adapted to contain a plurality of articles, the first framing support member adapted to support the first collapsible outer wall, and the first collapsible outer wall having a first perimeter defining a central axis.   
   
   
       11 . The piñata manufacturing method of  claim 10 , further comprising disposing the first framing support member between an inner layer and an outer layer of the first collapsible outer wall such that the first framing support member is positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
   
   
       12 . The piñata manufacturing method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a plurality of folds in the first collapsible outer wall such that the first collapsible outer wall can move between the collapsed state and the uncollapsed state. 
   
   
       13 . The piñata manufacturing method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing a second collapsible outer wall;   providing an inner support wall; and   coupling the first collapsible outer wall to a first side of the inner support member and the second collapsible outer wall to a second side of the inner support member.   
   
   
       14 . The piñata manufacturing method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a locking member coupled to a first outer end of the first collapsible outer wall such that the first outer end and a second outer end of the collapsible outer wall can be securely locked. 
   
   
       15 . The piñata manufacturing device of  claim 10 , further comprising configuring the first collapsible outer wall to rotate about the central axis such that the first collapsible outer wall can move between a collapsed state and an uncollapsed state. 
   
   
       16 . In a decorative piñata gaming system comprising a piñata capable of being collapsed in a portable carrying condition and expanded into an uncollapsed condition, the piñata comprising:
 an exterior shell configured to have a collapsed condition and an uncollapsed condition, the uncollapsed condition defining an interior substantially enclosed by the exterior shell; and   a framing system comprising a plurality of elongated frame members coupled to the exterior shell, the elongated frame members to support and carry the exterior shell in the uncollapsed condition.   
   
   
       17 . The piñata of  claim 16 , the exterior shell comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer and the outer layer being coupled to the elongated frame members such that the elongated frame members are positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
   
   
       18 . The piñata of  claim 16 , the exterior shell defining a perimeter in the uncollapsed condition, and the elongated frame members having a geometrical shape substantially similar to the perimeter. 
   
   
       19 . The piñata of  claim 16 , further comprising a second collapsible piñata suspended and disposed generally within the interior. 
   
   
       20 . The piñata of  claim 19 , further comprising an inner support member, the second collapsible piñata having a second exterior shell carried by the inner support member.