US2850027A - Children's houses - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1958 F. T. SMITH ,850,0

CHILDREN'S HOUSES Filed Aug. 6, 1956 INVENTOR. Fket'ehck Th me: snuff/l BX: M

CHILDRENS HOUSES Frederick Thomas Smith, Broadheath, England, assignor to M. S. P. (Luxiproducts) Limited, Broadheath, England, a corporation of Great Britain Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,326

2 Claims. (Cl. 135-4) This invention relates to tents for use as childrens toy houses in which the tent is of the type constructed with a pivoted framework with a ridge roof and vertical sides over which a fabric cover is stretched.

According to the present invention the framework of the tent comprises vertical members at each corner of the house supported by pivoted strips extending along the sides at ground and eaves level and by transverse pivoted strips at each end, links being pivoted to each strip to engage the vertical members to lock the framework in the erect position.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the tent house,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the framework for the tent,

Fig. '3 is a perspective view enlarged of the strips and links holding the framework together at the eaves,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view enlarged showing the ridge pole mounting.

The toy house or tent A comprises a framework B built up from four vertical members or pillars b arranged one at each corner of the house or tent. A strip formed of two parts 17 b pivoted together intermediate their ends is pivoted to each vertical member or pillar b to extend along the sides of the tent or house at eaves level and a similar strip also formed in two parts b b is similarly pivoted to each vertical member to extend along the sides at ground level. One portion of each strip b b may be extended beyond the pivot and bent upwards and formed with a stop to prevent the strips from pivoting beyond a horizontal position.

Similar strips 12 l: and b b are pivoted to the vertical members to extend across the ends of the house or tent at ground and eaves level.

The strips may be pivoted on pins c engaging bores in the upright members or pillars b and riveted over at their ends to prevent withdrawal.

Links d provided with pins at their free ends are pivoted to the strips b b and b, b to engage further bores in the upright members b when the house or tent is erected to give rigidity thereto.

The strips b b and b", in extending transversely of the tent or house may enter slots 0 in the upright member or pillar b and on the pivot pins of the strips b and 12 further longer strips d are mounted to form the gable ends of the house or tent. These further strips a are arranged in pairs pivoted together at their upper ends to form the ends of the ridge of the roof and are provided with a pivot pin c extending inwards to receive a ridge pole D.

The framework B is covered by a fabric cover C stretched thereover. The fabric may be composed of pieces of cloth of difiering colours for the roof, walls, ends and gables and may have muslin or other open mesh fabric let in to provide windows c The windows c may be divided vertically and longitudinally by strips of cloth to simulate panes.

' nited States Patent 2,850,027 Patented Sept. 2, 1958 The cover C is divided vertically along the side to give access to the interior, the two flaps so formed being capable of being closed by press studs, a zip fastener or other means. The portion of the side adjacent the opening may be formed to simulate a door and a flap to indicate a letter box may be provided.

A rectangular member 0 formed with a V slot in its base may rest on the ridge rod or pole to simulate a chimney and may be secured to the cover C by press studs or the like to counteract any tendency for wind to raise the roof.

When not in use the framework may be folded up for storage purpose with the fabric cover removed therefrom, the links at being disengaged from the upright member or pillar b, the ridge pole D removed and the strips b b being pivoted in the direction of the arrows.

I claim:

1. For use in a childrens toy house, a foldable frame, comprising, in combination, a plurality of upright posts extending spaced from and substantially parallel to each other, said posts having bottom faces located in a plane; a plurality of upper spacing strips, each formed of two portions pivotally connected adjacent the inner overlapping ends thereof to each other, and the overlapping end of one of said portions being bent upwardly and across the overlapping end of the other of said portions so as to form a stop to prevent the said strip portions from pivoting beyond a position in which said strip portions extend aligned with each other in opposite directions, the outer ends of said upper spacing strips being respectively pivotally connected to said posts, adjacent the upper ends thereof; a plurality of lower spacing strips, each being formed of two portions pivotally connected adjacent the inner overlapping ends thereof to each other and the overlapping end of one of said portions being bent upwardly and across the overlapping end of the .other of said portions so as to form a stop to prevent said strip portions from pivoting beyond a position in which said strip portions extend aligned with each other in opposite directions, said lower spacing strips having bottom faces extending over a major portion of the length thereof in said plane and each of said strip portions of said lower spacing strips having an outer end portion upwardly inclined to said plane and being pivotally connected adjacent the free end thereof to said posts, respectively, at a point located above said plane; and a plurality of struts respectively pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to said upper spacing strips and said posts respectively at points spaced from the pivotal connection of the respective strip to the respective post and one of the connections of said-strut being disengageable.

2. A tent for use as a childrens toy house comprising, in combination, a foldable frame, including a plurality of upright posts extending spaced from and substantially parallel to each other, said ports having bottom faces located in a plane; a plurality of upper spacing strips, each formed of two portions pivotally connected adjacent the inner overlapping ends thereof to each other, and the overlapping end of one of said portions being bent upwardly and across the overlapping end of the other of said portions so as to form a stop to prevent the said strip portions from pivoting beyond a position in which said strip portions extend aligned with each other in opposite directions, the outer ends of said upper spacing strips being respectively pivotally connected to said posts, adjacent the upper ends thereof; a plurality of lower spacing strips, each being formed of two portions pivotally connected adjacent the inner overlapping ends thereof to each other and the overlapping end of one of said portions being bent upwardly and across the overlapping end of the other of said portions so as to form a stop J to prevent said strip portions from pivoting beyond a position in which said strip portions extend aligned with each other in opposite directions, said lower spacing strips having bottom faces extending over a major portion of the length thereof in said plane and each of said strip portions of said lower spacing strips having an outer end portion upwardly inclined to said plane and being pivotally connected adjacent the free end thereof to said posts, respectively, at a point located above said plane; a plurality of struts respectively pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to said upper spacing strips and said posts respectively at points spaced from the pivotal connection of the respective strip to the respective post and one of the connections of said strut being disengageable; two pairs of gable strips, the strips in each of said pairs being pivotally connected at the inner ends thereof to each other and at the outer ends thereof to upper ends of said posts, respectively; a pole removably connected at the opposite ends thereof to said pivotally connected inner ends of said gable strips; and a tent cover placed over said foldable frame, said tent cover being made of a plurality of different colored portions to simulate the roof, the windows and the door of the toy house.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 33,959 Pullan Dec. 17, 1861 1,170,188 Rasmussen et a1 Feb. 1, 1916 1,204,329 Wilkins Nov. 7, 1916 1,291,947 Linville Jan. 21, 1919 1,446,296 Irvin Feb. 20, 1923

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