Pinata expandable to a plurality of positions

Abstract

Expandable piñata is a decorative container constructed from sheet materials connected at the edges, which can be shipped and stored flat. An internal expandable brace is activated by pulling external cords that draw brace into the expanded position, causing piñata body to flex into a three-dimensional body with fillable chamber. Score lines optionally direct flexing into a faceted shape. Lock mechanism holds brace in the erect configuration, with adjustable degree of expansion. Piñata body is resilient and compresses brace, to engage lock automatically and maintain expanded configuration.

1 . An expandable piñata, including:
 a body, comprising:
 a front face including:
 a border; 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 a hole piercing said central portion from said outer surface to said inner surface; 
 
 a back face including:
 a border; 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 a hole piercing said central portion from said outer surface to said inner surface; wherein said front face and said back face are attached to each along substantially their complete respective borders such that said front face and said back face are movable relative to each other between a first position, wherein said front and back faces are close together, and a second position wherein said central portions of said front and back faces are at least twice as far apart as in the first position; said piñata body being biased toward the first position; and 
 
   a brace mechanism for moving said body from the first position to the second position and for bracing said body in the second position, comprising:
 an expandable frame movable between a first position and a second position; including:
 an attached wall attached to said inner surface of one said face; 
 
 lock means for maintaining said frame in the second position; 
 a front end of cord attached to said frame and extending through said hole piercing said front central portion; and 
 a back end of cord attached to said frame and extending through said hole piercing said back central portion; and wherein: 
   
     said front and back ends of cord are each connected with said frame such that pulling said front and back ends of cord apart urges said frame and said piñata body from the first position to the second position. 
   
   
       2 . The piñata of  claim 1 , said lock means comprising:
 a selectively adjustable-detent means that engages automatically when said expandable frame is moved from the first position to the second position.   
   
   
       3 . The piñata of  claim 2 , said detent means including:
 a plurality of spaced-apart, generally parallel strips attached to said attached wall of said frame for cooperatively engaging a different portion of said frame so as to retain said frame in a second position, with a plurality of selectable degrees of expansion.   
   
   
       4 . The piñata of  claim 1 , said front and said back faces further including:
 score lines for causing said front and back faces to bend in a predesigned manner when said piñata is moved from the first position to the second position.   
   
   
       5 . An expandable piñata, including:
 a container comprising:
 a front face including:
 a border; and 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 
 a back face including:
 a border; and 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; 
 
 
   
     said front face and said back face being attached to each other along substantially their complete respective peripheries to define a cavity between said faces with at least one access hole for filling said cavity; and
 a brace mechanism including:
 a moveable frame disposed in said cavity between said faces, for bracing said piñata in an expanded position; 
 selective lock means for retaining said piñata in a selected one of a plurality of available expanded positions; and 
 handle means for moving said frame from a first flat position to a second expanded position. 
 
 
   
   
       6 . The piñata of  claim 5 , said brace mechanism comprising:
 a hinge member attached to a first said inner surface; including:
 a lock end; including
 cooperative lock means for locking said brace mechanism in the expanded position; 
 
 a free end; 
 a hinge between said lock and free ends; and 
 a slot near said free end; 
   a prop member connected to said hinge member, including:
 a lock end; including:
 cooperative lock means for locking said brace mechanism in the expanded position; 
 
 a support end; and 
 a slot between said lock and support ends, for engaging with said hinge member slot to connect said hinge member to said prop member; and 
   handle means, including:
 at least one length of cord connected to said brace mechanism and interacting with said brace mechanism such that pulling the ends of said cord moves said brace mechanism from the flat position to the expanded position. 
   
   
   
       7 . The piñata of  claim 6 , wherein: said container is biased toward the flat position such that said container tends to compress said moveable frame when in the expanded position. 
   
   
       8 . The piñata of  claim 7 ; said hinge member cooperative lock means comprising:
 a plurality of detent strips attached to said lock end of said hinge member with small gaps between said detent strips; such that said prop member lock end will snap into each small gap sequentially as said brace mechanism is moved from the flat position to the expanded position.   
   
   
       9 . The piñata of  claim 8 , wherein said moveable frame is formed into a shape that is an isosceles triangle in the expanded position. 
   
   
       10 . The piñata of  claim 8 , said handle means including:
 a hole near the center of each said front central portion;   a first cord attached to said lock end of said prop member and passing through said hole in a first said central portion such that pulling said first cord from outside said container causes said lock end of said prop member to be dragged across said plurality of detent strips; and   a second cord attached to said support end of said prop member and passing through said hole in a second said central portion such that: pulling said second cord causes said support end of said prop member to be pulled away from and perpendicular to said first inner surface; and such that: pulling said second cord from outside said container causes said support end to push said second central portion to move apart from said first central portion such that said piñata is moved from a flat position to an expanded position.   
   
   
       11 . An expandable piñata, including:
 a body enclosing a cavity comprising:
 a front face including:
 a border; and 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 
 a back face including:
 a border; and 
 a central portion; including:
 an outer surface; and 
 an inner surface; and 
 
 
 at least one hole through one said central portion; said front face and said back face being attached to each other along substantially their complete respective peripheries to define a cavity between said faces; and 
   a brace mechanism including:
 a moveable frame disposed in said cavity between said central portions; and 
 a cord including:
 an internal portion connected to said frame within said cavity; 
 a midsection disposed through said hole; and 
 an external portion accessible outside said central portion; said cord connected to said frame such that pulling on said external portion moves said frame from a close position wherein said central portions are close together to an expanded position wherein said frame holds said central portions at least twice as far apart as in the close position