This unique T-shirt is custom-designed for US Patent 4755141 and features the main patent image along with the following information about the patent:

The high-quality T-shirt is made of 100% pre-shrunk cotton.  Choose between short sleeves and long sleeves.  Short-sleeve shirts come in your choice of white or ash grey, and long-sleeve shirts come in white only.  The text and patent image is printed in black on the front side of the shirt, and the back of the shirt is blank.  Shirts range in size from small to double-XL.  Please allow up to 3 weeks for custom designing, printing, and delivery.

Note: The product image shown above is only a computer-generated representation of what the T-shirt will look like. Your actual T-shirt will be custom-formatted to ensure better spacing and layout (using the full width of the shirt), more appropriate text size, and correct image orientation.

Following is some more information about the invention featured on the T-shirt:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly, relates to toys which are models of green vegetables, fruits and the like which are cut into pluralities of blocks. The blocks are capable of being temporarily adhered and then separated by a child by using a model edged tool such as a simulated kitchen knife, a knife or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the customary toys for child, use so-called block toys or puzzle games are known. Such toys are characterized by constructions wherein the blocks have fixed shapes and may simply be laminated. In other block type toys, articles or structures and the like are constructed and constituted by arranging in a row. Block type toys having previously constructed and constituted articles or structures which were designed to be divided by hand have also been developed by prior workers in the art.

However, even when children have played with these prior art block type, customary toys, upon reaching adulthood, the previous block type toys provided no kitchen or related training or experience. A serious situation can arise wherein an adult cannot master the use of a kitchen knife or cannot skillfully use other types of knives.

In spite of the fact that an edged tool can be a safe article when properly used, the fact that children are usually kept away or are prohibited from using an edged tool because of a preconception that the edged tool is dangerous simply is a cause for this situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a quite new technique in which the above-mentioned customary controversial points were solved fundamentally. More particularly, the present invention relates to toys which are models of to be cut vegetables, fruits and the like. The models are previously divided into several blocks and the blocks are temporarily adhered mutually by a hook-and-look fastener. A child can separate the model vegetable into several blocks by using a model edged tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing a toy construction in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a situation in which a pair of divided blocks of the toy are temporarily adhered.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a situation in which the model to be cut is cut by using a model edged tool.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the model to be cut having the shape of a carrot.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the model to be cut having the shape of a lemon.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the model to be cut having the shape of a cucumber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to an embodiment of the toy in accordance with the present invention, numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a model to be cut made of plastic having the shape of a tomato. The model is previously divided into two blocks 1a and 1b of which said model 1 is constituted. The central parts of the facing sections 2 of these blocks 1a and 1b are provided with the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) 3a and 3b (such as a "Velcro" type faster) which are capable of mutually adhering in known manner. Therefore, the model 1 to be cut in accordance with the present invention can be constructed to the shape of a tomato by temporarily adhering the two blocks 1a and 1b interiorly by means of adhesion of the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) 3a and 3b.

The joining portions of the blocks 1a and 1b when adhered temporarily define between them a chink 4 which is equal to the thickness of the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) 3a and 3b, as shown in FIG. 2. The numeral 5 indicates the model edged tool which preferably is configured in the shape of a kitchen knife.

On the occasion when a toy constructed in accordance with the present invnetion is used by a child, it is possible that the model 1 to be cut can be separated into the left and right blocks 1a, 1b by pushing with sufficient downward force while the edge of the model edged tool 5 is inserted in the chink 4 of the model 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the explanation was set forth with regard to the model 1 having the shape of a tomato. It will be appreciated that other models having various shapes can be similarly used by being configured to simulate other articles. For example, a model 6 having the shape of a carrot consisting of blocks 6a and 6b is shown in FIG. 4; or a model 7 having the shape of a lemon consisting of blocks 7a, 7b and 7c is shown in FIG. 5; or a model 8 having the shape of a cucumber consisting of blocks 8a and 8b shown in FIG. 6 can be employed.

In the present invention, since the width of the chink 4 is approximately the same thickness as that of the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) and the chink is defined when the temporarily adhered joining portions of the blocks 1a, 1b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 7c, and 8a which comprise each embodiment of the model to be cut are adhered, it is possible for the child user (not shown) to insert the sharpened edge of the tool 5 easily and accurately in the chink. Since the blocks which comprise each unit or embodiment are temporarily adhered mutually by an attachment of the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) 3a, 3b, the model edged tool can be wedged between each pair of the adhered blocks gradually. As both sides of the velvet fasteners (magic tapes) are disconnected, the model edged tool will fall quickly to the bottom. Accordingly, the child using the toy of the present invention can experience the feel and sense of green vegetables as they are cut by using an edged tool.

Therefore, the present invention has the following characteristics. It is possible that the way to use an edged tool is comprehended and understood as the child plays with the model toys in accordance with the present invention. There will be no danger when an edged tool is really used when the child grows into a man or woman, and then it is possible the the grown-up will master the use of an edged tool spontaneously.

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