GB2101492A - Folding toy or model structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a model kit for erection by the purchaser, the kit comprising at least two cut and creased blanks 12, 14 of sheet material such as cardboard which are adapted to be glued together to form a flat structure which can be erected to three dimensional form by unfolding the flat structures. The blanks may be pre-printed and coloured and the kit will include instructions and adhesive which may be in the form of double sided adhesive strips provided with release paper on each side. The blank(s) may have flaps 30, 32, 34 extending transversely to the collapse fold lines e.g. 44, 46 for folding inwards to support and maintain the model in the errected condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to toy or model structures This invention relates to toy or model structures being principally but not exclusively in the form generally of buildings, farm structures, tents, castles and the like which can best be described as structures having a roof covering, all collectively referred to herein (unless the context dictates otherwise), in the interests of simplicity only as "structures".

The present invention is concerned with toy or model structures erected from sheet material, such as printed cardboard, and aims to provide a novel and easily manufactured structure, which, in the preferred embodiment is erected by the user.

Cut out figures which are erectable from a collapsed condition, are known, but are generally embodied in children's books, the structures becoming erect by virtue of the act of opening the pages of the book. The present invention is concerned with this type of structure, but provides an improved arrangement for the erection of toy or model structures, which can be used for children's play or for demonstration or exhibition purposes.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a kit for constructing a three dimensional toy or model structure, said kit comprising at least one defined sheet material blank which is adapted to be connected to itself or other blanks at a defined location or locations and appropriately folded to provide a defined collapsed toy or model structure which can be moved to the three dimensional condition by unfolding of the blank or blanks. There will preferably be at least two blanks.

It is preferred that the blanks be designed so that they are connected whilst they remain in the flattened condition, although clearly at least one of the blanks will require to be folded during the connecting together of same.

The structure will preferably be marketed in the form of a single or several sheets from which the individual blanks, defined by cutting and creasing can be pressed, and the blanks will preferably be appropriately printed and will be provided with glue tabs for the connecting together of the blanks by the means of adhesive, and appropriate instructions for the erection of same. In the alternative, the blanks may be left unprinted and uncreased so that they can be painted, decorated and creased by the user.

There may be maintaining flaps which extend transversely of the said fold lines about which the erecting panels are folded, so that said maintaining flaps can be folded in the erected condition of the structure at an angle usually a right angle, to said folds, in order to maintain the structure in the erected condition.

For the utilisation of several blanks of sheet material, it is possible to construct models of an extremely realistic appearance, and of course they will be manufactured to scale as related to the other articles with which they will be used e.g. toy motor cars, model railways and so on. Because the structures are constructed from sheet material and are erected normally by the user (although the manufacturer can supply the structure in glued, collapsed condition), they will be relatively inexpensive items.

In the manufacture of the sheets from which the blanks can be pressed, it will simply be a matter of printing the sheets and then cutting and creasing same using a cutting and creasing forme which is of a nature not to cut the blanks completely from the sheets but to half-cut the blanks so that they can be removed easily by the user. Alternatively, the blanks may simply be marked in outline for the user to cut the blanks therefrom, using scissors. The blanks may be provided with the necessary creases for the erection operation, and although it is possible to provide blanks with no creases, so that the creasing is performed by the person erecting the building, this is not preferred as it is a simple matter to impart the creases to the blanks during the cutting and creasing operation.

In the majority of cases, the blanks will be of cardboard material, although they could be made of other sheet material such as plastics material.

Laminated sheet material may also be used.

It will be appreciated that the structures which can be constructed are many and varied, complicated or simple, but the more complicated the building, in general, the larger number of blanks which will be required.

In all cases the blanks can be adhered in the flattened condition enabling good appearance, and when adherence has been completed, the collapsed structure can then be moved in the erected condition. The use of maintaining flaps is also important as these maintain the structure in the erected condition. The said flaps are preferably located so that they can be used for adhering the erected structure to a base structure, if it is to be a permanent fixture, for example in a model railway layout.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a sheet of cardboard which has been printed, cut and creased to define two blanks erectable into a model house according to the invention; Figs. 2 to 5 show in stages how the blanks of the sheet of Fig. 1 are adhered to provide the collapsed structure; and Figs. 6 and 7 show in perspective elevation, the erection of the collapsed structure to the erected condition.

It is to be mentioned that the house which is erectable from the blanks shown in Fig. 1 is only one example of the invention, and any suitable structure can be designed. It is necessary however, that the structure should be erected from at least two blanks in order to provide the necessary realism, and also to provide the user with the enjoyment of connecting the blanks, and also so that the blanks can be adhered in the flattened condition of the structure.

The sheet 10 shown in Fig. is a sheet of cardboard and has defined therein two cut and creased press out blanks 12 and 14, the blank 12 defining the walls of the house, and the blank 14 defining the roof. These two blanks must be adhered to in order to provide the collapsed erectable structure.

The blank 1 2 defines two gable wall panels 1 6 and 18, front and rear wall panels 20 and 22, a porch wall panel 24, one side porch panel 26, a chimney panel 28, maintaining flaps 30, 32 and 34, and glue tabs 36, 38 and 40. The gable panel is provided with a further porch side wall extension 42, and the gable panels have central vertical creases 44, 46. Dotted lines A to L, represent lines of creasing as will be understood.

In the blank 14, a crease line 48 defines front and rear roof panels 50, 52 and a further crease line 54 defines a porch roof panel 56. There is a cut out 58 in the front roof panel to accommodate the chimney panel as will be clear from the following.

The two blanks 12 and 14 are located in the sheet 10 so as to be capable of being pressed therefrom easily, so that a person erecting the structure will simply press the blanks from the sheet and then erect the blanks using adhesive, in accordance with the instructions provided, which instructions may be carried by the sheet 10. The blanks are erected into the collapsed structure by means of double sided adhesive strips, in the manner as illustrated by Figs. 2 to 5. The double sided adhesive strips are provided with the kit and each has a release paper on each side. To use the strip, one release paper is removed, the strip is applied to one of the blanks in the correct position, and then the other release paper is removed leaving the adhesive on the blank ready to receive the other blank.In erecting the model, firstly glue tab 36 is adhered to the rear roof panel 50 as shown in Fig. 2, the rear roof panel 50 being located behind the blank 12, in the position shown, so as to provide a rear roof panel overhang as will be clear from Fig. 7. Next, the blank 12 is folded about crease line 46 so that the gable panel 1 6 folds in two and front wall panel 20 overlies the rear wall panel 22. At the same time, the porch end panel 26 and chimney panel 28 are folded about crease lines A and B in zig zag fashion, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the chimney panel 28 lies on top of the porch end panel 26.

The blank 1 2 is next folded about the centre crease 44 of the gable panel 1 8, and the chimney panel is glued to half of the gable panel 1 6, and the glue tab 40 is glued to the inside of half of the gable panel 1 8. To complete the collapsed structure, the roof panel is folded about crease line 48 so as to bring the front roof panel 52 into adhering contact with the glue tab 36. The resulting collapsed structure is shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be noticed that in folding the gable panels, the maintaining flaps 32 and 34 are also folded in two.

To move the collapsed structure to the erected condition, it is simply a matter of pushing together the centre folds of the gable panels, which causes the gable panels to open out, and cause erection of the structure. Fig. 6 shows the structure in the process of moving to the erected condition, whilst Fig. 7 shows the structure fully erected. Between the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 positions, there is a position in which the structure is erected, but the maintaining flaps still project vertically downwards. To complete the erected structure, the maintaining flaps 30, 32 and 34 are simply folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 7, and if the structure rests on a support surface these flaps will remain in the inwardly folded condition, and will of course keep the structure in the erected condition.The erected structure is quite rigid and stable, and has an extremely realistic appearance in being provided with the eaves and overhandings as shown in Fig. 7.

Modifications of the invention may be made, without departing from the scope thereof and different building structures can be defined as desired.

In one modification the kit additionally includes a base sheet to which the model is glued, the base can be folded in two and in so doing, the model is moved to the flattened condition between the two parts of the base sheet. In this modification, the model may include an internal elastic band tensioned to urge the model to the erect condition so that the model will erect automatically when the base sheet is folded open.

The structure of the invention it will be understood can be collapsed to the flattened condition and stored as desired, and can be reused at will. Instead of colour printing the blanks they may be printed in outline only, leaving the purchaser to paint the blanks. To this end the kit may include paints, brushes and colouring instructions. If the model is to be made permanent, for example in a model railway layout, the maintaining flaps can be adhered to the support surface on which the model is to stand.

The invention therefore provides an activity kit in which the purchaser is involved in the construction and optionally the decoration work, and when the model has been completed, it can be collapsed and stored in a very small space; this enables a person therefore to have many models of the type according to the invention in a very small space. A large number of models will provide many hours of enjoyment for a user because different models can be used together to provide different layouts.

Claims (12)

1. A kit for constructing a three dimensional toy or model structure, said kit comprising at least one defined sheet material blank which is adapted to be connected to itself or other blanks at a defined location or locations and appropriately folded to provide a defined collapsed toy or model structure which can be moved to the three dimensional condition by unfolding of the blank or blanks.

2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two defined blanks.

3. A kit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each blank is pre-creased.

4. A kit according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the or each blank is defined in sheet material and are adapted to be pressed out of same.

5. A kit according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the or each blank is pre-printed and coloured.

6. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each blank is formed in cardboard sheet material.

7. A kit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blank or blanks is or are adapted to be glued to itself or together at said location or locations, and the kit includes double sided adhesive film protected on each side by release paper.

8. A kit according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each blank has maintaining flaps extending transversely to the fold lines about which the structure is unfolded to the erected condition, said maintaining flaps being adapted to be hinged to a position maintaining the structure in erected condition.

9. A kit for constructing a three dimensional toy or model, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A toy or model constructed from a kit according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A toy or model structure constructed from cut and creased sheet material which can be unfolded from a flattened condition to an erected condition.

12. A toy or model structure according to claim 10, wherein the sheet material defines maintaining flaps extending transversely to the fold lines about which the structure is unfolded to the erected condition, said maintaining flaps being adapted to be hinged to a position maintaining the structure in erected condition.