Surprise assortment toy container with changeable configurations

Abstract

A collapsible and expandable toy container includes a base member configured for placement on a support surface, a sidewall extending upwards from the base member, a top member, and an interior space configured for holding one or more accessory items. A telescoping column supports the top member from the base member. The column is vertically extendible and retractable relative to the base member. At least one spring biases the column towards its extended position which raises the top member to access the interior space. Openable/closeable doors provides alternate access to the interior space. An optional intermediate platform may be arranged on the column between the top and base members. In the collapsed condition with doors closed, the container resembles a can and conceals any accessory items in the interior space. In the expanded condition, the container provides a multi-level play experience with play surfaces at different elevations for the child.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible and expandable toy container comprising:
 a vertical axis;   a base member defining an interior space configured for holding one or more accessory items;   a top member;   a telescoping column supporting the top member from the base plate, the column vertically movable between an extended position and a retracted position;   at least one spring biasing the column towards the extended position;   wherein the container is changeable between a lower collapsed condition in which the top member engages the base member, and an upper expanded condition in which the top member is spatially separated from the base member.   
     
     
         2 . The toy container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises a base plate configured for placement on a support surface, and a sidewall extending upwards from the base plate; and the a top member comprises a cover plate. 
     
     
         3 . The toy container according to  claim 2 , wherein cover plate is adjacent to the sidewall of the base member when the container is in the collapsed condition, and the cover plate is vertically separated from the sidewall when the container is in the expanded condition. 
     
     
         4 . The toy container according to  claim 2 , wherein the column includes a vertically-extending central passageway extending between the top cover plate and the base plate. 
     
     
         5 . The toy container according to  claim 4 , wherein the column comprises a plurality of interlocked tubular segments of gradually smaller diameters going from the base member to the top member, each segment slideably coupled inside an adjacent segment and forming a portion of the central passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The toy container according to  claim 5 , wherein the segments are nested inside each other for a majority of the height of each segment when the container is in the collapsed condition. 
     
     
         7 . The toy container according to  claim 5 , wherein a top end of each segment includes an annular outside shoulder which mutually engages a corresponding annular inside shoulder of an adjacent segment to form an interlocked relationship which prevents the segments from separating. 
     
     
         8 . The toy container according to  claim 5 , further comprising an intermediate platform disposed between the cover plate and the base plate, the intermediate platform fixedly attached to one of segments between upper and lower ends of the column. 
     
     
         9 . The toy container according to  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate platform is spaced apart from the cover plate and base plate when the container is in the expanded condition. 
     
     
         10 . The toy container according to  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate platform is disposed inside the interior space and the cover plate engages the sidewall of the base member when the container is in the collapsed condition. 
     
     
         11 . The toy container according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one spring is arranged inside the vertically-extending central passageway formed inside the column. 
     
     
         12 . The toy container according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one spring comprises an assembly of springs coaxially aligned and arranged in the central passageway of the column. 
     
     
         13 . The toy container according to  claim 12 , wherein the assembly of springs includes a lower spring, an upper spring, and an intermediate spring therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The toy container according to  claim 13 , wherein the springs are helical conical compression springs or helical straight compression springs. 
     
     
         15 . The toy container according to  claim 13 , further comprising a first spring spacer arranged between the lower spring and the intermediate spring, and a second spring spacer arranged between the upper spring and the intermediate spring, the intermediate spring having opposing ends acting on the first and second spring spacers. 
     
     
         16 . The toy container according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is a helical conical compression spring. 
     
     
         17 . The toy container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member includes a tubular boss defining an upwardly open socket which receives a bottom end of the at least one spring. 
     
     
         18 . The toy container according to  claim 17 , wherein a bottom end of the column is slideably coupled to the tubular boss, the bottom end received inside the socket. 
     
     
         19 . The toy container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of openable and closeable doors hingedly coupled to a sidewall of the base member to provide access to the interior space. 
     
     
         20 . The toy container according to  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall and doors are arcuately curved and collectively form a circular shape when the doors are closed. 
     
     
         21 . The toy container according to  claim 20 , wherein the container resembles a cylindrical can shape when in its collapsed condition. 
     
     
         22 . The toy container according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of first locking tabs disposed on a bottom surface of the top cover plate arranged to selectively engage a corresponding plurality of second locking tabs disposed on the sidewall of the base member, the top cover plate being rotatable between a locked position in which the first locking tabs engage the second locking tabs to retain the container in its collapsed condition, and an unlocked position in which the first locking tabs disengage the second locking tabs which cause the at least one spring to expand the container to its expanded condition. 
     
     
         23 . A collapsible and expandable toy container comprising:
 a vertical axis;   a base plate configured for placement on a support surface, and a sidewall extending upwards from the base plate;   the base plate and sidewall collectively defining an interior space configured for holding one or more accessory items;   a top cover plate;   a telescoping column supporting the cover plate from the base plate, the column vertically extendible and retractable relative to the base plate;   at least one spring biasing the column towards an extended position;   the column comprising a plurality of column segments slideably coupled together and interlocked to each other to prevent separation under the biasing action of the spring;   wherein the container is changeable between a lower collapsed condition in which the top member engages the base member, and an upper expanded condition in which the top member is spatially separated from the base member.   
     
     
         24 . The toy container according to  claim 23 , further comprising an intermediate platform disposed between the cover plate and the base plate, the intermediate platform fixedly attached to one of segments and movable with the column when being extended or retracted. 
     
     
         25 . The toy container according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a plurality of coaxially aligned helical compression springs arranged in the central passageway of the column. 
     
     
         26 . The toy container according to  claim 25 , further comprising a first spring spacer arranged between a lower spring and an intermediate spring, and a second spring spacer arranged between an upper spring and the intermediate spring, the intermediate spring having opposing ends each acting on the first and second spring spacers. 
     
     
         27 . The toy container according to  claim 23 , wherein the segments of the column are nested inside each other for a majority of the height of each segment when the container is in the collapsed condition. 
     
     
         28 . The toy container according to  claim 23 , further comprising a radially extending intermediate platform coupled to the column between the base plate and top plate. 
     
     
         29 . The toy container according to  claim 28 , wherein the intermediate platform comprises at least one hook configured for attachment of an accessory item. 
     
     
         30 . A method for operating a toy container, the method comprising:
 providing the toy container which comprises a base member and a top member movably coupled to the base member by a telescoping column, the toy container being in a collapsed condition in which an interior space defined by the base member is covered by the top member; and   raising the top member by extending the column, wherein the base member is uncovered to allow access the interior space.