U.S. patent application number 10/178313 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for toy fire house.
Invention is credited to Brauer, Cheryl L..
Application Number | 20030236052 10/178313 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29734652 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030236052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brauer, Cheryl L. |
December 25, 2003 |
Toy fire house
Abstract
A toy fire house for providing a male orientated toy building
structure. The toy fire house includes a first section pivotally
attached to a second section. The first section has a first opening
exposing a first interior and the second section has a second
opening exposing a second interior. The first opening and the
second opening are closed when the first section is pivotally
closed with respect to the second section. The second section
includes a garage door which allows for the entry and exiting of a
fire truck.
Inventors: |
Brauer, Cheryl L.;
(Bolingbrook, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHERYL L. BRAUER
1433 PARKSIDE DRIVE
BOLINGBROOK
IL
60490
US
|
Family ID: |
29734652 |
Appl. No.: |
10/178313 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 3/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/476 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/52 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A toy fire house for simulating a fire house environment,
comprising: a first section having a first interior and a first
opening; a second section pivotally attached to said first section
at a corner, said second section having a second interior and a
second opening, wherein said second opening is in opposition to
said first opening; and a garage opening within said second section
for entering and exiting a toy fire truck.
2. The toy fire house of claim 1, including a garage door for
selectively enclosing and opening said garage opening.
3. The toy fire house of claim 2, wherein said garage door is an
articulated overhead door structure.
4. The toy fire house of claim 1, wherein said first section
includes a main floor and an upper floor.
5. The toy fire house of claim 4, including a slide attached to
said upper floor extending downwardly with a lower end of said
slide attached to said main floor.
6. The toy fire house of claim 5, wherein said lower end of said
slide extends over a second main floor of said second section when
closed.
7. The toy fire house of claim 6, wherein said slide has a first
section extending straight from said upper floor, a second section
having a curved structure, and a third section extending straight
and at an angle to an edge of said first section.
8. The toy fire house of claim 4, including a flight of stairs
extending from said main floor to said upper floor.
9. The toy fire house of claim 1, including a main door within said
first section.
10. The toy fire house of claim 1, including a plurality of windows
within said first section.
11. A toy fire house for simulating a fire house environment,
comprising: a first section having a first interior and a first
opening; a second section pivotally attached to said first section
at a corner, said second section having a second interior and a
second opening, wherein said second opening is in opposition to
said first opening; wherein said first section and said second
section have a closed position and an open position, wherein said
closed position completely encloses said first opening and said
second opening; and a garage opening within said second section for
entering and exiting a toy fire truck.
12. The toy fire house of claim 11, including a garage door for
selectively enclosing and opening said garage opening.
13. The toy fire house of claim 12, wherein said garage door is an
articulated overhead door structure.
14. The toy fire house of claim 11, wherein said first section
includes a main floor and an upper floor.
15. The toy fire house of claim 14, including a slide attached to
said upper floor extending downwardly with a lower end of said
slide attached to said main floor.
16. The toy fire house of claim 15, wherein said lower end of said
slide extends over a second main floor of said second section when
closed.
17. The toy fire house of claim 16, wherein said slide has a first
section extending straight from said upper floor, a second section
having a curved structure, and a third section extending straight
and at an angle to an edge of said first section.
18. The toy fire house of claim 14, including a flight of stairs
extending from said main floor to said upper floor.
19. The toy fire house of claim 11, including a main door within
said first section.
20. The toy fire house of claim 11, including a plurality of
windows within said first section.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable to this application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable to this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to toy buildings and
more specifically it relates to a toy fire house for providing a
male orientated imaginative toy building structure.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Toy building structures have been in use for years. The
best-known type of toy building structure is typically referred to
as a "dollhouse". Conventional dollhouses typically have a female
theme which is not attractive to boys. Toy structures for boys
typically involve the usage of negative role models such as pirates
and criminals.
[0007] Examples of patented devices which may be related to the
present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,050,892 to Marx; U.S.
Pat. No. 4,087,935 to Edmisson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,519 to
Becker; U.S. Pat. No. 262,558 to Clanton; U.S. Pat. No. 202,123 to
Picco; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,560 to Lubiniecki; U.S. Pat. No.
6,146,238 to Daiber; U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,076 to Goldstein et al.;
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,424 to Kilroy, Jr. et al.
[0008] While these devices may be suitable for the particular
purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for
providing a male orientated toy building structure. Conventional
dollhouses do not provide an inviting environment for male
children.
[0009] In these respects, the toy fire house according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an
apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a male
orientated toy building structure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of toy buildings now present in the prior art, the present
invention provides a new toy fire house construction wherein the
same can be utilized for providing a male orientated toy building
structure.
[0011] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new toy
fire house that has many of the advantages of the toy buildings
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new
toy fire house which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art toy buildings,
either alone or in any combination thereof.
[0012] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a
first section pivotally attached to a second section. The first
section has a first opening exposing a first interior and the
second section has a second opening exposing a second interior. The
first opening and the second opening are closed when the first
section is pivotally closed with respect to the second section. The
second section includes a garage door which allows for the entry
and exiting of a fire truck.
[0013] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are additional features of the invention that will be described
hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims
appended hereto.
[0014] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0015] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
toy fire house that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art
devices.
[0016] A second object is to provide a toy fire house for providing
a male orientated toy building structure.
[0017] Another object is to provide a toy fire house that
encourages boys to utilize their imagination within a toy fire
house environment.
[0018] An additional object is to provide a toy fire house that
allows for children to simulate a firefighters daily life while
they are not actively fighting fires.
[0019] A further object is to provide a toy fire house that
provides a positive role model for both boys and girls.
[0020] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects
and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
[0021] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
in the close position.
[0024] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
in the open position.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
in the open position with the fire truck positioned within.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the present invention
in the open position with the garage door closed.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view of the second section of the housing
structure.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a side view of the first section of the housing
structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate a toy fire house 10, which
comprises a first section 20 pivotally attached to a second section
30. The first section 20 has a first opening exposing a first
interior and the second section 30 has a second opening exposing a
second interior. The first opening and the second opening are
closed when the first section 20 is pivotally closed with respect
to the second section 30. The second section 30 includes a garage
door 34 which allows for the entry and exiting of a fire truck
60.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, when the first section
20 is closed upon the second section 30 a generally rectangular
structure is formed. The first section 20 has a first main floor, a
pair of opposing sidewalls, a first rear wall and a first roof 22
forming a rectangular structure. A first opening extends into the
first section 20 opposite of first rear wall as shown in FIGS. 2
through 4 of the drawings. At least one front door 26 and a
plurality of windows 24 are preferably positioned within one of the
sidewalls of the first section 20. The exterior of the first
section 20 preferably has a simulated brick design.
[0031] An upper floor 28 is preferably positioned within the first
section 20 for providing a downstairs and an upstairs within the
first section 20. A flight of stairs 40 extend from the main floor
of the first section 20 through an opening within the upper floor
28 for providing access between the upstairs and downstairs of the
first section 20.
[0032] A slide 42 is attached to the upper floor 28 adjacent the
first opening for sliding figurines/characters down from the
upstairs to the downstairs as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the
drawings. The lower end of the slide 42 is preferably attached to
the edge of the main floor of the first section 20 so as to be
positioned above the main floor of the second section 30 when the
first section 20 is closed upon the first section 20 as shown in
FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The slide 42 preferably extends
straight from the upper floor 28 initially and then is curved in
the middle portion to be substantially at an angle with respect to
the lower edge of the main floor of the first section 20 as further
shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings.
[0033] The second section 30 is pivotally attached to the first
section 20 at a corresponding corner thereof using a hinge as best
shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The second section 30
has a second main floor, a second sidewall, a second rear wall and
a second roof 32 forming a rectangular structure. A second opening
extends into the second section 30 opposite of second rear wall as
shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The exterior of the
second section 30 preferably has a simulated brick design.
[0034] The second section 30 preferably includes a door opening for
receiving a fire truck 60 or similar object. A garage door 34 is
movably attached within the second section 30 for selectively
closing and opening the door opening as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4
of the drawings. The garage door 34 is preferably comprised of a
replicated articulated overhead door structure.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, various objects may be
positioned within the first section 20 and the second section 30
for simulating a fire house environment. For example, a plurality
of beds 44 may be positioned within the upstairs as well as a
family room area with chairs, couch and a television of the first
section 20. A table set 46 may be positioned upon the first main
floor, a plurality of cabinets 48 and kitchen appliances within the
first section 20 and a plurality of lockers 50 within the second
section 30. Various other objects may be included within the
present invention that are commonly utilized within a fire house
environment.
[0036] An alarm may be utilized within the present invention
wherein a button 52 may be depressed which activates a
corresponding electrical circuitry which sounds an audible alarm
similar to the sound of an actual firehouse alarm as shown in FIG.
4 of the drawings. The button 52 may be positioned within the
interior of the structure as shown in FIG. 2, however the button 52
may be positioned upon the exterior of the structure.
[0037] In use, the user opens the first section 20 and the second
section 30 with respect to one another as shown in FIGS. 2 through
4 of the drawings. The user is then able to insert and reposition
characters (e.g. dolls, figurines, etc.) within the interior
portions of the first section 20 and the second section 30 thereby
simulating the life of a fireman. If the user desires to simulate a
fire situation, the user may slide one or more characters down the
slide 42 from the first section 20 to the second section 30
thereafter positioning the characters within the fire truck 60. The
user would then elevate the garage door 34 and then remove the fire
truck 60 to begin the fire fighting simulation. Various other
simulated events may take place within the toy fire house 10. When
finished utilizing the toy fire house 10, the user simply closes
the first section 20 upon the second section 30. A latch or locking
mechanism may be utilized to secure the first section 20 to the
second section 30 in a closed position shown in FIG. 1 of the
drawings.
[0038] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and
all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *