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.

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.

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.