US2560155A - Toy house construction - Google Patents

Description

July 10, 1951 J. BRUNE-T1 2,560,155

TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l fc: m W

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O s \d I Y* I i q JNVENTOR. Jos-PH BRU/V577? A TTOENEY July 10, 1951 J. BRuNE'rrl 2,560,155

TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION I Fld April 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- I Mmm J. BRuNE'r'n 2,560,155

.TOY HOUSE CONSTRUCTION July l0, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 QI QI O i9 (T W INVENTOR.

f JOSEPH Bew/57W Patented July 10, i1,951

lumbia Protektosite Company,- Inc., Carlstadt, N. JI,- a corporation of New Jersey Application April 9, 1948,'Serial No.v19,92`9

4 claims,

'This' invention relates to miniature-house constructions, and more particularly is-directed to an easily erected model, display, toy, or play house structure having readily accessible room spaces simulating actual or proposed houses adapted to be furnished With portable miniature size furniture, interior decorations and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide 'toy or play house constructions of the character described which Shall comprise few and Simple parts that are readily assembled to provide a structure simulating in miniature form actual or proposed rooms of households o'r apartments, which shall be .made po'rtably collapsible and easily erected, which .shall be. adapted to be furnished With portable miniature size furniture, interior decorations and the like, which .shall .be cheap to manufacture yet have aesthetic appeal, which .shall be practical and eliizcientto a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will. .in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The .invention accordingly consists in the fea;- tures of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement vof parts which will be exemplified in the construction.hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be v.indi cated in the *following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which `is Shown one possibleillustrative embodiment of this' invention: y

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View taken-centrally through a toy or play house 'constructed Ito embody the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved toy o'r play house shown in Fig. l, A Figs. 3 and 4 arefplan views -oi the upper and lower floors, respectively, of the 'improvedtoiy or play heuse as se'en from lines 3=3 'and IIl--IL respectively, in Fig.. 1, and

Figs. 5 and 6 4are side elevational and front views, respectively, of the improved toy or play house shown in Figs. vl and 2l Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a toy play house of circular configuration y'constructed '-.to embody the invention. i

.Preferably house I0 is made of any suitable lightweight metallic or nonmetallic sheet material and for cheapness may be made principally of cardboard lithographed orprinted if desired to imitate the Wall, ceiling andyor floor cover-- ings land decorations and the like.

Said house' I0 is 'seen to lcomprise a at .horizntally disposed circular Vshaped ibase IfI., which provides a `first door, aninterrnediate :circular dat `shaped horizontally disposed member I2 which provides a second door spaced from base II, and a at segmentary shaped horizontally disposed'top I3 which provides a roof spaced from said member I2. As shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, said base II, member I2 and roof I3 are assembled inspaced superimposed relation to correspond in proportions to theheights with relation to the floor area of the various simulated rooms or apartments. Said base II, member l2 and roof I3 are demountably retained in assem-Y bly by suitable means, such as a plurality of spaced apart upstanding st-anchionsl `or rods I4 vextending therethrough close to the peripher-ies thereof and a similar center. rod I5 uniformly positioned with respect to said rods I4, said Vrods VIII being positioned in parallel alignment and may be set radial-ly at about ,129 apart In the constructionin Figs.Y 1,3 and 4,-.saidv rods I4 and II 5 may yeach be provided with spaced tubes or sleeves Ma and -I5a, respectively to retain the member I2 and roof I3 insecured horizontal level alignment with .base I I. Said rods I4 and I5 each may have shallow headedloWer-ends I'IIb and I-5b, respectively, which are recessed flush into the bottom side I-Ia of base II. The upper freeiends of each ofv said rods .|74 may be threadedv as 4at Mc and provided with a suitable nial .such as blind clamping nuts 14d, and'rod I5 may be like'- wise threaded as at I5c and providedwith screw clamping nial I5d shaped :to simulate a radio antenna. Similarly secured in upright positions between base II .and member I2, are partitions I6, Il and I8 vwhich divide the 'space --therebetween into Achambers vor room sections 2U, 2| and 22;, Asection ,20 having an alcove portion .23a in which are stairs 23 and center rod I5 with tube Iiiafex'f tending therethrough, as clear from Figi. 4.1

Said portion I6 may be made with 'an offset extensionrla forming ra wall of said alcove pore tion 20a and la doorway vnr opening .flb com'- nrunicating room section 20-Wi1th room section' 2.I Likewise partitions ITI :and I8 may each .fbe pros vided with suitably vpositioned doorways or'openfings Ila and .I.8a,.respectively, communication room sectionZI 'with' 22, and room section 22 with .20, respectively.

If desired, :room :section 20 may be furnished with miniature furniture (not shown) fan. enwe closed ,front porch or living room, roompsection l rear, as a kitchen, and room 'section :2.2 -side,as a dining room. YThe Wallszof said .partitions,*-.raom ceilings, floor surfaces and interior house trim may be appropriately imprinted, litnographed or otherwise decorated to conform to the furnishing of the character of the room to be simulated in the well understood manner.

Said partitions I6, I1 and I8 may be interlocked along their respective edges with the base I I and member I4 by any suitable means of simple construction, such as tongue and slot attachments 24. Similarly secured in upright position between the memberv I2 and the roof I3 are second floor outer wall portions 25, and partitions 26,

21 and 28 which divide the space therebetween into room sections 29, 30, and 3l and an open- I5 with tube I5a extending therethrough as isV clear from Fig. 3. Wall portion 25 having an opening or doorway 25a communicating with the hallway'32 may have exterior surface 25h of said wall 25 above the upper iioor decorated to simulate Youter wall building construction, such as brick, stuccofor shingle. The roof I3 may be extended beyond said wall 25a as at I3a, to provide an eave and to leave uncovered said member portion I2a to simulate a segmentary shaped open porch as seen from Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5.

' The stairway 23 may be held in place by conventional means, such as, by attachment to members II and I2.

' Said partitions 26, 21 and 28 may be provided with a door opening 26a, 21a and 28a, respectively, communicating with hallway 32, and may also be firmly set in place by suitable means such as tongue and slot attachment 24.

Room section 29, 30 and 3l may have the walls, floors and ceilings decorated to conform to predetermined interior decorations, and furnished with miniature furniture as for example, a master bedroom nursery and another bedroom or sun parlor, respectively.

The house I may have n0 opaque Vexterior upright walls other than provided by wall portion `25. However to provide a simulated front entrance, a'sheet 34 may be extended to partially encircle the lower floor between the two spaced apart stanchions I4. Said sheet 34 may be formed of a exible transparent material such as cellophane or other plastic and may have imprinted or lithographed thereon a picture of a doorway 34a, directly in alignment and under the doorway 25a. Suitable clip fasteners 35 may be provided on Vthe ends of sheet 34 for engaging Astanchions I4. Said sheet 34 being,` of a height to extend a short distance above the portion I2a and circling the same as is clear from Figs. l, 4, and 6.

If desired a second similar sheet 36 of transparent material may be provided to encirclethe house extending from the base II to the roof I3 and about the sides and rear of the house as indicated in Fig. 4. Said second sheet 36 may also be secured by suitable spring clips (not shown) similar to clips 35 to the stanchions I4 or sheet 36 may be of a resilient material preformed in arcuate shape of less diameter than that of the house. By flexing the resilient sheet to an increased diameter the latter may readily be positioned about stanchions I4 and upon release thereof will grippingly engage said stanchions I4 as is clear from Fig. 4 thereby being retained in position without requiring any fastening means whatsoever.

In practicing the invention all the parts may be supplied in a knockdown condition in a box and may be readily assembled to form the toy or play house I0 shown in the drawing and described above. The tongue and slot connections 24 of each of the partitions with a base II, member I2 and roof I3 form a rigid `assembled structure when clamped in position by the rods I4 and I5. With sheet material 34 and 36 removed all the rooms are accessible from the exterior so that miniature furniture (not shown) can be placed about the floors of the diiferentrooms to suit any desired artistic arrangement, such as a simulated kitchen, livingroom, diningroom, bedroom and the like.

vThe floor surfaces of base II and member I2 may either havev imprinted thereon designs simulating fioor covering or if desired actual cloth or other sheet material may be readily placed or attached for such purposes. Likewise, the partition surfaces and ceilings which form walls for -the various rooms or apartments may have'imprinted thereon suitable wall paper decorations, framed pictures, mirrors and the like.

The toy house I thus formed'can be easily erected to give readily accessible room spaces always visible for simulating actual and proposed arrangements when furnished with portable miniature size furniture and decorations and the like to conform therewith, and thus provides' a toy or play house of particular interest and appeal to children and to grownups who may use the same to more clearly visualize various arrangement of rooms.

It is obvious that instead of using a single intermediate circular at shaped horizontally disposed member I2 to provide 'a second floor spaced from the base that additional similar horizontally disposed members like member I2 may be interposed in spaced relation to form a house construction of a plurality of stories.

ItV will thus be seen thatV there is' provided a miniature house construction of the character described in which the several. objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of lthe above invention, and asl various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is tobe understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative andV not in a limiting sense.

Having thus/described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A knockdown toy play houseconstruction of the character described suitable for furnishing with miniature furniture comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed flat members Vpositioned in separated superimposed relationV to form ground and intermediate floors and a roof, a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheral portion of said ground floor member removably supporting said other members in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding from said ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripheral stanchions for removably supporting midsections of said members and roof, detachable partitions f' extending between said members for dividing spaces therebetween into room sections each with a full opening communi,- cating with the exterior to permit full view of and access to eachroom section, a flexible sheet of transparent material having clips thereon `for engaging two of said peripheral stanchions, said sheet being positioned to serve as an outer wall portion for one of said room sections and formed with a simulated front door for said house construction, at least two of said members being circular in shape, said roof being segmentary shaped to provide an open deck space on the underlying intermediate circular member, two of said stanchions being positioned in an aligned relation with respect to the straight side of the roof member, and an exterior wall partition extending from the underside of the roof member to the deck between said two stanchions.

2. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character described suitable for furnishing with portable miniature furniture comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separated superimposed relation to form ground and intermediate doors and a roof, a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheral portion of said ground floor member removably `supporting said other members in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding from said ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripherally position stanchions for removably bracing midsections of said members and roof, detachable partitions vertically disposed to engage between said members for bracing regions of the latter between said stanchions and extending to the periphery of said members for dividing spaces therebetween into room sections each with a full opening communicating with the exterior to permit full view of and free access to each room section, a exible sheet of transparent material having clips thereon for engaging two of said peripheral stanchions, said sheet being formed with a simulated door for said house construction positioned to serve as an outer front wall, at least two of said members being congruently shaped, said roof being of smaller area than each of said congruently shaped members for exposing an underlying member to provide an open deck on the latter, said stanchions each including a rod fitted with sleeves threaded coaxially therewith to provide combination spacers and supports, and clamping means carried by the rods for demountably retaining the stanchions, rods and sleeves with the members as a rigid structure.

3. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character described suitable for furnishing with portable miniature furniture comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separated superimposed relation to form ground and intermediate floors and a roof, a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheral portion of said ground oor member removably supporting said other members in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding from said ground floor member uniformly spaced from said peripherally positioned stanchions for removably bracing midsections of said members and roof, detachable partitions vertically disposed to engage between said members for bracing regions of the latter between said stanchions and extending to the periphery of said members for dividing spaces therebetween into room sections each with a full opening communicating with the exterior to permit full view of and free access to each room section, a flexible sheet of transparent material formed with a simulated door for said house construction extending between two of said peripherally positioned stanchiens to serve as an outer front wall, clip fastening means for securing said sheet to said peripheral stanchions so constructed and arranged to permit ready access from the exterior for arrangement of miniature furniture to all the room sections with the sheet in said outer front wall position.

4. A knockdown toy play house construction of the character described suitable for furnishing with miniature furniture comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed flat members positioned in separated superimposed relation to form ground and intermediate floors and a roof, a plurality of spaced apart stanchions upstanding from a peripheral portion of said ground floor member removably supporting said other members in said separated relation, a center stanchion upstanding from said ground door member uniformly spaced from said peripheral stanchions for removably supporting midsections of said members and roof,

detachable partitions extending between said' members for dividing spaces therebetween into room sections each with a full opening communieating with the exterior to permit full view of and access to each room section, at least two of said members being circular in shape, said roof being segmentary shaped formed with a straight side to provide an open front deck spacevon the underlying intermediate circular member, two of said stanchions being positioned in an aligned relation with respect to said straight side, an exterior wall portion extending from an underside of the roof member to the deck between said two stanchions, a flexible sheet of transparent material formed with a simulated front door for said house construction extending between said two aligned peripheral stanchions in a vertical direction between said ground and intermediate oors to serve as an outer front wall thereat, clip fastening means for securing said sheet to said peripherally positioned stanchions so constructed and arranged to permit ready access from the exterior to all the room sections for arrangement of miniature furniture when said sheet is positioned t0 serve as said outer front wa1l.

JOSEPH BRUNETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '739,669 Grimm Sept. 22, 1903 1,241,594 Williams Oct. 2, 191'7 1,488,872 Fairchild Apr. 1, 1924 1,493,277 Pool May 6, 1924 2,120,826 Young June 14, 1938 2, 262,700 Reed Nov. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 465,002 France June 26, 1914

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