U.S. patent number 3,729,881 [Application Number 05/133,277] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for children's playhouse.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Marvin Glass and Associates. Invention is credited to Harry Disko.
United States Patent |
3,729,881 |
Disko |
May 1, 1973 |
CHILDREN'S PLAYHOUSE
Abstract
A children's playhouse comprised of interfitting frame and panel
members which are easily assembled and disassembled and which may
be assembled in different modes to create differing simulated house
structures.
Inventors: |
Disko; Harry (Park Ridge,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Marvin Glass and Associates
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22457820 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/133,277 |
Filed: |
April 12, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/280; 446/105;
52/282.1; D21/506 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
1/12 (20130101); A63H 33/008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/00 (20060101); E04H 1/12 (20060101); E04b
002/60 (); A63h 033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/21,19,30,31,12
;52/475,495,282,79,280 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Murtagh; John E.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An assembly as set for a children's play house, comprising: a
plurality of panel members having a generally rectangular periphery
with corner portions having an inwardly offset stepped
configuration; a plurality of upright frame members having
uprightly extending channels therein of a size and shape to
frictionally embrace the peripheral portions of said panel members;
a plurality of horizontal frame members also having horizontally
extending channels therein of a size and shape to frictionally
embrace the peripheral portion of said panel members; frame
coupling members including corner connectors having transversely
oriented body portions with receptacle means in each body portion,
said receptacle means being of a size and shape for receiving
transversely oriented frame members, said coupling members further
including horizontal coupling members having opposite ends with one
end having a generally U-shaped configuration of a size and shape
to frictionally embrace an upright panel member and the other end
having a receptacle of a size and shape to frictionally receive a
horizontal frame member and wherein said coupling members further
include horizontal coupling members having opposite receptacles of
a size and shape to frictionally receive oppositely extending
horizontal frame members and a transversely extending receptacle of
a size and shape to receive an upright frame member, whereby said
frame members and connectors may be assembled together to define an
enclosure with said panels captured in said channels of said frame
members, and the inwardly offset stepped corners of said panels
matingly engaging with exterior portions of said several coupling
members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a children's construction toy, and more
particularly, to a children's playhouse.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Playhouses for children are well known in the art. Typically, such
structures are of a reduced scale, more tailored to the size of
young children. Some such structures are simulated log-type houses
being substantially rigid and permanent in construction. Others may
be of foldable panels which permit disassembly and storage thereof.
However, there is little, if any, possibility of varying the
structure of children's playhouses. Furthermore, such structures
are generally incapable of being assembled and disassembled by the
children themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention, is directed, in brief, to the provision of an
improved playhouse for children which may be easily assembled and
disassembled by children wherein the construction thereof may be
altered to create different simulated house structures.
The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the
invention, includes the provision of channeled frame members and
panel members intended to fit within the channels of the frame
members. Frame interlocking members are also provided for holding
the several frame members together as a rigid structure.
The panel members may be provided with decorations some of which
may simulate house accessories and others which may relate to
useful learning functions. Doorways or windows may be created by
leaving spaces between the frame members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the playhouse of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the frame members and
interlocking members utilized with the playhouse of this
invention;
FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the line 3--3 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a section view taken generally along the line 4--4 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a corner portion of a panel member
used in the playhouse of this invention; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view, partially broken away in section,
showing the relationship of the panel members and intersecting
frame members at a corner juncture.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The playhouse 10 of this invention is comprised of a plurality of
different panel members 12 and a plurality of different upright and
horizontal mullion or frame members 14. Frame interlocking or
coupling members, generally indicated 16, are provided on some
frame members 14 to hold the frame members 14 together in a
grid-like framework for receiving the panels 12 therebetween.
The panels 12 are formed of a suitable lightweight rigid material,
such as cardboard or plastic. The peripheral portions of the panels
are folded over at each edge, as Represented at 12a, 12b, 12c and
12d, to give added rigidity to the structure. The panels 12 may
differ in dimension, but are preferably rectangular or square with
the exception of an arch-like panel 13a which may be provided and
an inclined door sill 13b. The corners 18 of the panels have an
inturned stepped configuration as represented in FIG. 5 by the
inwardly directed edge 18a, the transverse portion 18b, the
inwardly returned portion 18c and the transversely returned portion
18d.
Each of the different frame members 14 are generally H-shaped in
section, and include a cross-web 20a, which spans transverse side
webs 20b and 20c forming two panel receiving channels 22 and 24
which face outwardly from opposite sides of cross-web 20a.
Preferably, the spacing between the interior of side webs 20b and
20c is substantially the same as the thickness of the edge portions
of the panels, including the folded over ends 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d
to snugly frictionally receive the peripheral portions of the
panels 12 in the channels 22 and 24. In addition, a transverse web
27 may span the opposite ends of frame members 20.
In the preferred embodiment, the set of frame members 14 includes
elongate basic horizontal and vertical frame members 28 and 30,
respectively, and top and bottom corner assemblies 34 including
transversely oriented frame portions 34a, and 34b. Corner
assemblies 34a and 34b include a corner connector 34c having
transverse vertically facing openings 34d. The preferred embodiment
further includes intermediate corner assemblies including
transversely oriented portions 36a, 36b and corner connector 36c
having vertically facing openings 36d. The frame portions of
assemblies 34 and 36 are similar to frame members 28 and 30, having
panel receiving channels as hereinabove described. The intermediate
corner assemblies 36 have vertical connector portions 38 on the
free ends of each of the frame portions 36a and 36b. Connector
portions 38 have vertically oriented openings 38a for frictionally
retaining other frame members 14.
The playhouse of this invention further includes upright frame
members 40 having a medial horizontal receiving connector 44.
Preferably, connector 44 is generally U-shaped in configuration,
having a portion 46 which is fixed to frame member 40, of a size
and shape to snugly and frictionally receive a frame member 20. The
end of the connector 44 opposite the U-shaped channel 46, has an
oppositely facing opening or recess 48, therein, for receiving a
transversely oriented frame member 28 or 30 in frictional
interengagement therewith.
The frame members 40 are further provided with horizontal frame
receiving connectors 50 at one end. The connectors 50 have opposite
end openings 52 of a size and shape to frictionally receive frame
members 28 or frame portions such as 34a or 36a of assemblies 34
and 36, therein. With reference to FIG. 2, depending on how the
connector 50 is oriented, the openings 52 may be utilized to
accomplish a horizontal connecting function, at the top or the
bottom of the playhouse.
With reference to FIG. 4, wherein connector 44 is shown
horizontally connecting a frame member 28 to transverse upright
frame member 40, it can be seen that the panel 12 may be
accommodated in such a connection by the particular construction of
the corners 18. The stepped corner construction, as illustrated by
the portions 18b and 18c, accommodates the protruding portions of
the connector 44. It can be understood that if the connection
function were in a transverse plane, the corner construction would
still accommodate the configuration of the various components as
well.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention four of the panel
members 12 are of a substantially square configuration and eighteen
of the panel members are generally rectangular with one entrance
arch 13a and one door sill 13b also being provided. The preferred
embodiment further includes eight corner assemblies 34 and four
corner assemblies 36. Furthermore, eight frame members 28 and 22
frame members 30 are provided together with 16 of the frame members
40. It is understood that the number of components could be changed
and extra components added so that an unlimited number of frame
patterns could be created.
The playhouse of this invention is comprised of a few basic frame
members and interlocking connectors. It is possible that the
several connectors could be separate components, rather than
integrally associated with certain frame members so that the
structure of the playhouse could be changed from time to time. The
panels 12 may be of different sizes to accommodate different frame
patterns and open spaces may be left between the frame members to
provide simulated windows and doorways. The several frame members
and connectors, as well as the panels, are all assembled together
by frictional interengagement of the several components so that no
separate fastening means is necessary. Generally speaking, the
assembly of the components is by means of relative endwise
insertion of one part with respect to the other. This is a simple
manipulative procedure which may be easily accomplished by younger
children so that children may exercise their own creative desires
in assembling the playhouse and may easily disassemble the several
components for storage thereof.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *