GB2270850A

GB2270850A - Ornamental model dwelling having an electrically operated device

Info

Publication number: GB2270850A
Application number: GB9220494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hine
Original assignee: John Hine Ltd
Current assignee: John Hine Ltd
Priority date: 1992-09-29
Filing date: 1992-09-29
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-29
Also published as: GB9220494D0; GB2270850B

Abstract

There is provided an ornamental model dwelling (10) comprising an electrically operated device (36) and having means (30, 32) to couple the dwelling (10) to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto, said coupling means (30, 32) also providing an electrical connection between the electrically operated devices (36) of the two dwellings (10). There is also described a collection of one or more ornamental model dwellings (10) which are coupled together so as to form a scene. <IMAGE>

Description

ORNAMENTAL MODEL DWELLING HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED DEVICE The present invention relates to an ornamental model dwelling having an electrically operated device and in particular, but not exclusively, to a series of such dwellings coupled together.

In the past model manufacturers have produced models of individual buildings which when collected may be arranged to form either a model street or a model village. Such models have proved to be very popular although clearly limited in their reproduction of detail.

Since the vast majority of dwellings (which term is used throughout in its broadest sense to include private houses, public buildings, factories, offices, shops and the like) are now provided with electric light together with numerous other electrically operated devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ornamental model dwelling possessing a greater realism than those of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an ornamental model dwelling comprising an electrically operated device and having means to couple the dwelling to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto, said coupling means also providing an electrical connection between the electrically operated devices of the two dwellings.

Advantageously the coupling means may comprise means to resiliently engage a complimentary coupling means located on the ornamental model dwelling to be placed adjacent thereto. Preferably the resilient engaging means and said complimentary coupling means may comprise respective male and female electrical connection means. Preferably the respective male and female electrical connection means may comprise a jack plug and socket.

Advantageously the ornamental model dwelling may additionally comprise a coupling means complimentary to said means to couple the dwelling to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto. Preferably the coupling means and said complimentary coupling means may be provided on generally opposed or orthogonal surfaces of the dwelling.

Advantageously the ornamental model dwelling may additionally comprise a base in which the or each coupling means is located. Preferably the base may be provided with a design feature which is continuous with that provided on the base of another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto.

Advantageously the or each coupling means may be provided substantially flush with the surface of the dwelling on which it is located.

Advantageously the electrically operated device may be adapted to be connected in parallel with that provided in relation to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto.

Advantageously the electrically operated device may comprise a light source.

Advantageously the ornamental model dwelling may additionally comprise transformer means.

Alternatively the ornamental model dwelling may comprise current generating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a collection of one or more ornamental model dwellings, each as previously described, the ornamental model dwellings being coupled together so as to form a scene.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ornamental model dwelling in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of two ornamental model dwellings in accordance with the present invention which have been coupled together so as to provide an electrical connection between the two.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a model dwelling 10 comprising a building 12 mounted on a base 14. The base 14 which is substantially plannar, extends beyond the building 12 in all directions and provides the model dwelling 10 with the required stability to enable it to stand on a mantlepiece or other suitable display stand. The under surface of the base 14 may be provided with a layer of protective material 16 to prevent the model dwelling from scratching the surface of the mantlepiece or display stand.

In addition to the layer of protective material 16, the base 14, which comprises side surfaces 18,20,22 and 24 and upper surface 28, is provided with respective male and female electrical connectors in the form of a 3.5mm jack plug 30 and a socket 32.

As shown in Figure 1 these connectors are preferably located in opposed side surfaces of the base 14 and ideally in those surfaces 20 and 24 disposed to either side of the front of the house 12.

The electrical connectors 30 and 32 are disposed relative to the surfaces in which they are located 20 and 24 so as to be capable of providing electrical coupling between two or more model dwellings placed adjacent to one another as shown in Figure 2. In this way it is possible to build up a street" of dwellings each electrically coupled to the next.

The female electrical connector 32 is preferably disposed so as to be flush with the side surface 20 in which it is located. Likewise the male electrical connector 30 is preferably disposed so that only the projecting pin of the jack plug protrudes from the side surface 24 in which it is located. In this way two such model dwellings 10 may be placed adjacent to one another with the side surface 20 of one of the model dwellings in abutting relationship with the side surface 24 of the other.

Whilst it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the electrical connectors 30 and 32 may be of any convenient type, the electrical connectors preferably display a resilient engaging action or a snap fit since in this way the electrical connectors may also provide a degree of mechanical coupling between adjacent model dwellings and so prevent one from being accidentally displaced with respect to the other.

In order to enhance a collection of two or more -such model dwellings each base 14 may be provided with a design feature 34 such as a road, pavement, fence, stream or the like that is continuous with that provided on an adjacent base. In this way two or more such model dwellings may be arranged so as to form a scene.

Each model dwelling 10 is provided with one or more electrically operated devices 36 such as a light source or moving part. The or each electrically operated device 36 may be provided either internally of the building 12 to represent, for example, an interior light or externally of the building 12 to represent, for example, a street light or the moving vanes of a windmill. Preferably the or each electrically operated device 36 of each model dwelling 10 is connected in parallel with those of the other model dwellings 10 arranged adjacent thereto and to which it is electrically coupled by means of the electrical connectors 30 and 32. In this way if one of the electrically operated devices 36 were to fail it would not affect the operation of any other electrically operated devices 36 provided in relation to that particular model dwelling 10 or those disposed adjacent to it.

At least one of a series of electrically coupled model dwellings 10 may be provided with a transformer and means to connect the transformer to mains electricity. Alternatively at least one of a series of electrically coupled model dwellings may be provided with a current generating source such as a battery or a solar cell.

Where a transformer is used the transformer may be protected by a temperature dependant fuse.

Claims

1. An ornamental model dwelling comprising an electrically operated device and having means to couple the dwelling to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto, said coupling means also providing an electrical connection between the electrically operated devices of the two dwellings.

2. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises means to resiliently engage a complimentary coupling means located on the ornamental model dwelling to be placed adjacent thereto.

3. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with claim 2, wherein said resiliently engaging means and said complimentary coupling means comprise respective male and female electrical connection means.

4. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with claim 3, wherein said respective male and female electrical connection means comprise a jack plug and socket.

5. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim and comprising a coupling means complimentary to said means to couple the dwelling to another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto.

6. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with claim 5, wherein said coupling means and said complimentary coupling means are provided on generally opposed or orthogonal surfaces of the dwelling.

7. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim and comprising a base in which the or each coupling means is located.

8. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with claim 7, wherein the base is provided with a design feature which is continuous with that provided on the base of another such ornamental model dwelling placed adjacent thereto.

9. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the or each coupling means is provided substantially flush with the surface of the dwelling on which it is located.

10. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said electrically operated device is adapted to be connected in parallel with that provided in relation to another such ornamental dwelling placed adjacent thereto.

11. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said electrically operated device comprises a light source.

12. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any preceding claim and comprising transformer means.

13. An ornamental model dwelling in accordance with any of claims 1 to 11 and comprising current generating means.

14. An ornamental model dwelling substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A collection of one or more ornamental model dwellings, each in accordance with any of the preceding claims, the ornamental model dwellings being coupled together so as to form a scene.

16. A collection of one or more ornamental model dwellings substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.