US1881356A - Folding playhouse - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1932.

A. GOLD 1,881,356

FOLDING PLAYHOUS E Filed May 51. 1930 \S; 1 nuummmllmmum lllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllfllllllllllllllllllllll II II llllllllllllllllllllllll lllllll lllllllllllllllll 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1932. A. GOLD FOLDING PLAYHOUSE Filed May 31. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m away;

ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1932. A. GOLD FOLDING PLAYHOUSE Filed May 51, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J 3 16' 1417 if 4 ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1932. A. GOLD 1,881,356

FOLDING PLAYHOUS E Filed May 51, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENTRANCE 24' 11 2 11 25 w Z1 Z2 Z4 11 ATTORNEV Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABE GOLD, OF SHBEVEPOBT, LOUISIANA FOLDING PLAYHOUSE Application filed Kay 31,

My present invention has reference to a folding playhouse for children and the primary ob]ect of the invention is the provision of a pla house constructed primarily of cardboar light wall board or similar material which is scored throughout its length to provide bendable panels and which is likewise provided with a vertical score line terminating transversely to'provide a door, and wherein the several panels may be folded at any desired angle with respect to each other and held at such angles by suitable clips and rods connected with the clips to produce a play house of different shapes or formations, in accordance with the idea of the child and which will be held firmly in set up position so that the child, with hisor her toys may enter the play house and any of the rooms therein and consequently to produce a device for this purpose which will enhance the intelligence of the child in erecting the play house and likewise afiord amusing and satisfactory recreation for the child in the play house.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a foldable play house for children divided into panels provided with an endless door and with windows upon the exterior thereof and having its inner face painted or otherwise provided with designs representing furniture or the like, and wherein the board formed with the panels may be bent to assume different desired angles and afford a play house with any desired number of 35 rooms and wherein said room sections are effectively held associated by suitable clips and divided from each other by draperies arranged on rods connected with the clips.

The invention will be fully and compre- 40 hensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the im- 4 provement is capable of extended application and is not confined tothe exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do .u not affect the spirit of the invention nor ex- 1930. Serial Iva-158,156.

ceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a scored board that affords the exterior of the play house.

Figure 2 is a similar view looking toward the inner face thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the play house erected.

Figure 4 is a similar view but illustrating a different type of the interior of the play house.

ing rods.

Figures 8, fl and illustrate different forms of clips employed.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of a modification.

Figure 12 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 13 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the board comprising the body of the play house may be arranged in a carton.

Figure 15 is a perspective view ofanother clip which may be employed.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a gate which may be likewise employed.

Figure 17 is a detail horizontal sectional view through the confronting edges of the panels to illustrate the manner in which the same are preferably hingedly connected.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail perspective view to illustrate the flexible joint 0 between the panels.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary pe ective view to illustrate the arrangemento parts when the device is set up.

Before entering into the detailed description of my improvement it is-to be understood that the same isin the nature of a foldable play house for children and is of a size whereby the child or children may enter and likewise enter any of the rooms provided by the device.

The device and rooms .produced thereby are of a size not only to permit of the entrance of the child or children but the toys employed thereby and, therefore, it is to be understood that the improvement is not to be considered in the nature of a folding toy house that will not permit of the access of the child but as a miniature house that may be erected in the room of a dwelling, on the lawn or at any other desired place and which will afford the children the privacy of playing in their own manner with their own particular toys.

The play house is formed. of a substantially rectangular strip 1 of cardboard, cor rugated paper, light wall board or an other suitable material. The board 1 is ivided by score lines 2 into any desired number of panels 3. The panels are preferably of an equal Width. One of the end panels is slitted vertically with respect to the erected house, as at 4, transversely at 5 and provided with a vertical score line 6. The panel 7 provided between the slits 4 and 5 and the score line 6 afiord a door and the door may be opened either inwardly or outwardly. Except for the panel 7 the remaining panels 3 have their outer faces painted or otherwise decorated to provide the same with windows 8 as well as shutters, and if desired the panels may be cut away at the window portions 8 thereof and the openings thus afforded filled in with transparent strips of any desired material. The base or lower edge of the board 1 has painted or is otherwise provided with decorations indicating herbage and shrubbery, as at 9, and the top of the board 1 is also decorated, as at 10, to provide the same with a decorative cornice. Obviously the panels may be folded at desired angles on their score lines 2 and as previously stated the board 1 is of a size to permit of the entrance of the childor children through the door 7 The inner face of the board 1, in the paneled portions thereof, are suitably decorated to represent curtains for the windows, articles of furniture, a bookcase and a fireplace and lighting fixtures.

As far as'the description has progressed it will be apparent that the board 1 may be folded upon certain of its panels to present a substantially rectangular or s uare house as disclosed by Figure 3 of the rawings or the panels may be bent to provide a house having three rooms therein as disclosed by Figure 4 of the drawings. In each instance the upper and lower corners of the house have attached thereto angularly disposed cross sectionally U-shaped spring clips 8', such as disclosed by Figure 8 of the drawings and in addition to this straight substantially U-shaped spring clips 11 best disclosed by Figure 10 of the drawings. It is to be noted that the score line 2 between the board and one edge of the panel affords 14 of combined brace and spacer rods 15- as best disclosed by Figure 7 of the drawings.

When the house contains three rooms as disclosed by Figure 4 of the drawings certain of the oppositely arranged right angle clips comprise cross sectionally' U-shaped bendable members 16 having spring sockets 17 similar to the sockets 13, and the rods 15 have their ends received in the sockets 17. The rods in this event provide supports for tapestry 18 that afi'ord partitions for certain of the rooms of the house as disclosed by Figure 4 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that when the device is not required for use the board 1 may be folded upon the score lines and arranged in the carton 18, as shown in Figure 14 of the drawings, and this carton may be positioned in a closet or like receptacle in the dwelling. It is also to be noted that the door 7 can be opened so that the child or children can obtain access to the rooms of the folding play house and, as previously stated, the house is of such proportion to provide ample room for the child or children and for their toys. If desired, either of the houses disclosed by Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings may be provided with a gateway leading to the doorway, the same being also constructed from a single board and includes swingablc gates 19, walls 20 scored from the gates 19 and foldable end lines 21 scored from the walls 20. Such construction may be disclosed by Figure .16 of the drawin 's.

Also if desired the folding play house may be made to assume the shape of a circus tent as disclosed by Figures 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings. In this event the board 22 is provided with score lines 23 and may be provided with either a door or an entrance opening 24. The sustaining clips are bent at the walls of the play house rigid and ofier supports for the spacer and brace rods 15, the latter in turn providing supports for draperies that divide the house intoseveral rooms. Also as stated, the foldingplay house is of a size to admit a child or a number of children and the same can be erected in a room of a building or on a lawn. The erection of the play house affords interest and amusement to the child or children and the child or children when arranged in any of the several rooms of the house can amuse themselves by playing with their toys or passing from one to the several rooms in the house.

l/Vhile I have described the panels being scored to permit of the bending thereof it is obvious that such scoring, unless the same is reinforced, would soon result in the breakin g of the panels at the hinged or joint therebetween and, therefore, and as illustrated by Figure 17 of the drawings I let in the panels at the confronting edges thereof a strip of tough flexible material 28 which not only serves to strengthen the panels at the said confronting ends but provides a hinged joint between the panels and prevents the breakage thereof.

It will be apparent that the folding playhouse may consist of only four panels, though the height thereof will be the same. The device, therefore, may be not only used as a play-house but as a screen and as heretofore inferred the play-house may be of difi'erent desired sizes and heights.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A childs play house made up of pasteboard panels which have their confronting edges slotted, strips of tough flexible material let in the slots and secured to the panels and providing hinges to permit the panels being arranged at different desired angles with respect to each other and cross sectionally U-shaped spring bendable clips to engage with the edges of the panels when disposed in angular relation,

said clips having their sides provided With spring sockets and rods having bent ends to be received in the sockets for holding the panels when arranged angular-1y with respect to each other and the said clips when in straight condition also designed for holding the panels in longitudinal alinement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ABE GOLD.

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