GB2135896A - Construction toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy in the form of a model structure such as a farmhouse 1, with a base 2, is made up of a plurality of elements that can be disassembled. At least some of these elements (32, 38, 46, 47, 50, 51) are structured such that they constitute representational toys in their own right, either individually or in combination. Preferably, one or more of these elements (32, 38) is provided with wheels (33, 39) to act as a cart. Elements 46, 47, 50, 51 together with rods (not shown) can be used to construct an animal pen (Fig. 6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy The present invention relates to a toy in the form of a model structure that can be disassembled into a plurality of component elements.

For a long time numerous constructional toys have been known and widely used which are based on the assembly of a plurality of modular base elements such as, for example, small bricks of similar structure and different dimensions and forms, or blocks having faces carrying parts of drawings or flat representations to be reconstructed in their entirety etc. Depending on the availability of modular elements and the ability and imagination of the person using the constructional toy, it is possible to obtain, to a greater or lesser extent, a wide range of toy models, the ability and the imagination of the player being generally guided and stimulated by suitable instuctions provided with the constructional toy.However, the teaching aspect of these instructions and the concentration required to carry them out, together with a certain degree of difficulty in combining the modular elements, all contribute to children growing tired of and sometimes turning away from, the constructional toy. Furthermore, to build up a "toy" which is finished and hence useable as such, takes a relatively long time which is very often the opposite of the child's desire to have toys available more or less immediately for use. This is particularly true when the chosen toy model which it is desired to construct represents a special and involved structure.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a toy in the form of a model structure, such as a small house or the like, that is made up of component elements having structural, functional and assembly characteristics which overcome the disadvantages mentioned above with reference to the known art.

This object and others which will become more apparent from the description which follows are achieved by a toy, in the form of a model structure, that can be disassembled into a plurality of component elements at least some of which, in accordance with the present invention, constitute representational toys either individually or in combination.

Further characteristics and advantages of a toy according to the present invention, will become clearer from the following description of one embodiment thereof made with reference to the appended drawings, given purely by way of example, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy embodying the invention, this toy being formed basically as a small house, and in particular a farm house; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the Figure 1 toy separated into a base or floor part and a farmhouse structure part; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the separation of the base part shown in Figure 2, into component elements; Figure 4to 6 illustrate the use of certain of the component elements shown in Figure 3 as representational toys either individually or in combination; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the farmhouse structure part illustrated in Figure 2.

With reference to Figure 1, a toy embodying the invention is generally indicated 1 and is structured as a small house, and more particularly as a farmhouse. In the description below the toy will more briefly be referred to as the "farmhouse".

The farmhouse 1 is shaped as a frustum of a pyramid having a rectangular base 2 and an upper wall 3 which constitutes the roof or lid of the farmhouse, this lid being inclined from a shorter wall 4 of the farmhouse itself towards the opposite wall 5.

In the shorter wall 4 which is preferably the front access wall of the farmhouse 1, a large aperture 6 is formed that can be closed by a pair of doors 7,8 mounted on respective hinges 9, 10 and 11, 12 fixed to the wall 4 laterally of the aperture 6.

Further apertures 15, 16 (Figures 1 and 2) are formed in the longer walls 13, 14 of the farmhouse 1 and are closed by respective hatches 17,18 the lower edges of which are hinged to the walls 13 and 14 by respective hinges 19,20 about which the hatches can be pivoted to closed or open positions.

To advantage and in accordance with a preferred embodiment, each of the hatches 17, 18 is constituted by two parts 21, 22 which are mutualiy interconnected by means of a hing 23 the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the hinges 19 and 20 about which the hatches are pivotal. In this manner, it is possible to open only the upper portions 21 of the htches 17 and 18 so asto provide respective windows, or else the hatches may be opened completely with the portions 22, 21 (Figure 2) extending down to constitute a ramp allowing the passage of toy vehicles or toy animals into the farmhouse.

A part 24 of the roof or lid 3 of the farmhouse constitutes a further large hatch which is also hinged along one side to the roof 3 about a hinge axis parallel to the shorter walls 4, 5 of the farmhouse 1.

The hatch 24 can be turned over about this axis from a closed position (Figure 1) to an open position (Figure 2) defining a wide upper access opening 25 to the farmhouse 1.

A sleeve support 26 is fixed to the surface 24a of the hatch 24 facing inwardly of the farmhouse 1,the support being rotatably engageable by an end portion 27a of a rod-shaped arm 27. A pulley 28 is mounted close to the free end of the rod-shaped arm 27 and is engageable by a cord 29 to enable a plurality of bodies 31, aesthetically resembling bales of hay, grass and the like, to be lifted using a hook 30. The arm 27 and its puley 28 and also the cord 29 and the plurality of bales 31, advantageously constitute just some of a whole series of accessories provided for games which have the aforesaid farmhouse 1 as their setting.

The base 2 of the farmhouse is shown in perspective in Figure 2 and is constituted by a series of component elements as is illustrated in Figure 3.

According to a preferred but non limiting embodiment, the base 2 comprises a first body 32 which is substantially flat and provided on opposite sides with pairs of wheels all indicated 33 (more particular liy two pairs of wheels). It should be noted that the wheels 33 are partially set into corresponding recesses each indicated 34, formed in the longer sides of the flat body 32, the wheels 33 obviously being freely rotatable relative to the recesses.

A substantially rectangular recess 35 is formed in the upper wall of the flat body 32 and is advangeously used for storing accessories such as for example small rods 36, pins 37 and the like (Figure 2) which can be used in a make-believe game set in the farmhouse described.

A second flat body 38 has wheels 39, on opposite sides, which are also partially set into respective recesses 40 formed in the sides. This flat body 38 also has an upper wall that is advantageously provided with a recess 41 in which other accessories, for example the plurality of bales 31 mentioned above, may be stored in an ordered arrangement.

The flat bodies 32 and 38 can be mutually interconnected head to tail by means of the engagement of projecting pins 42,43 of the flat body 32 in respective holes 44, 45 in the flat body 41.

The base 2 further includes two substantially rod-shaped elements 46, 47 provided on one side with respective recessed portions 48 and 49 for housing the wheels 33 in a freely rotatable manner when the rod-shaped elements 46,47 are coupled laterally to the flat body 32. A further two similar elements 50,51 intended to be coupled laterally to the flat body 38 are provided with respective recesses 52, 53 for receiving the wheels 39.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate respective examples of the use of the elements which in their entirety constitute the base 2 of the toy 1 of this invention.

According to these examples, the flat body 32 may be used as a carriage for transporting objects in general, drawn for example by a vehicle which if desired may be an accessory of the toy illustrated above. The flat body 38 may constitute a cart for attachment, for example, to a draught animal while the elements 46,47, 50 and 51 may, in combination with the rods 36 and the pins 37 constitute a pen for animals to be reared.

Finally it should be noted that the farmhouse structure of this invention is to advantage provided with a handle 54 by which it may be carried.

The advantages achieved by a toy made up of component elements as described above are due particularly to the fact that a large number of the component elements, particularly the elements which constitute the base 2 of the structure, constitute representational toys both individually and/or when taken in combination. Consequently it is possible for the child using the toy of this invention to have a whole range of toys, availabie rapidly and easily, that are compatible with the setting provided by the farmhouse, small house, stall structure or other similar construction made in accordance with the basic concept of this invention.

Claims (4)

1. A toy in the form of a model structure that can be disassembled into a plurality of component elements at least some of which constitute representational toys either individually or in combination.

2. A toy according to Claim 1, wherein said toy is in the form of a small house and includes a base which is structurally separable from the rest of the house, the base being constituted by component elements that form representational toys both when considered individually and when taken in combination.

3. Atoy according to Claim 2, wherein at least one of the component elements of the base has a pair of wheels.

4. A toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.