US3236003A - Child's play furniture set - Google Patents

Description

Feb, 22, 1966 J. T. FLOOD, JR

CHILD'S PLAY FURNITURE SET i;i 4

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Filed April 10. l

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Filed April 10. 1962 Feb. 22, 1966 J. 'r. FLOOD, JR 3,236,003

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United States Patent M 3,236,003 CHILDS PLAY FURNITURE SET John T. Flood, Jr., 3229 Wilmette Road, Wilmette, Ill. Filed Apr. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 186,468 1 Claim. (CI. 46-15) This invention relates generally to articles providing amusement and divertissement for children and more particularly to toy furniture and analogous items.

Toy chairs, tables and other furniture units are commonly provided for use by small children; and heretofore, each of these structures has been fabricated as an individual item planned to serve but a single function. Because of this narrow, rather prevalent conception of toy furniture items, the prior art play sets comprising such units have displayed only a limited amount of utility and have presented no real challenge to a childs imagination and ingenuity.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved childs play set.

Another object of the invention is to provide a play set in which the components are formed to complement each other naturally in various modes and configurations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide play set components which are constructed to serve plural functions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a play set in which the components can be assembled in a variety of ways to develop different toy structures.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a play set which is easy to assemble in its various configurations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a childs play set which is sturdy and resistant to rough usage.

A still futrher object of the invention is to provide a childs play set having a stable geometry.

And a yet further object of the invention is to provide a play set which is capable of sustaining a childs interest for long periods of time and of renewing the childs interest on different occasions.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following descriptions.

A structure in accord with the invention includes first and second members of hexahedral form, each having a closed face and a planar element upstanding adjacent one edge thereof; a third member of hexahedral form having a closed face and being situatable interjacent the first and second members with its closed face aligned to bridge the space between the closed faces of the first and second members whereby to define a substantially continuous platform; connecting members releasably coupling the several members in a rigid structure; a fourth member including a substantially continuous panel element and extensible leg elements at the corners thereof, the fourth member being superpositionable on the spaced-apart first and second members with the panel element spaced apart from the platform in parallel relationship therewith; and connecting means releasably coupling the fourth member to the first and second members.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of usage, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a play set constructed in accordance with the invention and shown assembled for use as a bookcase, jail, bunkbeds or the like;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a chair unit employed as a component of the play set of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken through the section 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

3,236,003 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a table unit used as a component of the play set of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the play set of FIG. 1 showing the table unit of FIG. 6 removed for use of the set as a bedstead;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view taken through the section 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the bench unit used in the play set of FIG. 1 to separate the opposed chair units;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the table unit of FIG. 6 rearranged and combined with a blackboard panel for use, for example, as a desk;

FIG. 11 is a perspective View of a tackboard which may be used to replace the blackboard shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the means for mounting either the tackboard of FIG. 11 or the blackboard of FIG. 10 to the upraised panel of the table unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a reduced scale, perspective View showing the table unit and the two chair units of the play set of FIG. 1 disassembled for independent use;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the play set of FIG. 1 to which sliding panels have been added to close off the lower sections;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view taken through the section 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the play set of FIG. 1 rearranged and combined with roof elements for use as a dolls house;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view taken from a different aspect from that shown in FIG. 16 whereby to reveal use of the sliding panels of FIG. 14 in defining shingles for one side of the roof of the dolls house;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view taken through the section 1818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a seat cushion which is adapted for assembly with the chair unit of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view in cross-section showing the manner of assembling the seat cushion of FIG. 19 to the chair unit of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIGS. 1, 3*5 and 8, a play set indicated generally by the numeral 30 will be seen to include a pair of hexahedral members 32 and 34 which are spaced apart by a hexahedral member 36 and which have a fourth member 38 superpositioned thereon. The members 32, 34, 36 and 38 are rigidly fastened together by means of dowel rods 40, dowel pins 42 and 44 and extension elements of the legs of member 38. This latter arrangement will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The play set 30, when assembled as shown in FIG. 1, is intended to be used by children as a bookcase, a storage cabinet, a gym set, a cage, a jail, or bunkbeds in accordance with the wants and desires of its users. In addition, the play set 30 is intended to be dismantled for use of the individual components or for rearrangement of the components in different modes and configurations; and at this juncture, it is important to realize that members 32 and 34 are adapted for separate use as chairs whereas member 36 is adapted for separate use as a bench and whereas member 38 is adapted for separate use as a table.

The members 32 and 34 are substantially identical; and turning to FIG. 2 for a detailed decsription of one of them, the hexahedral member 34 is seen to comprise a pair of closed faces defined by a seat element 46 and a platform element 48 spaced beneath the seat element. The corners of elements 46 and 48 are cut out to receive square leg elements 50. A planar element 52 upstands from the top surface of seat element 46 spaced inwardly from the rear edge thereof and aligned inwardly from the adjacent leg elements 50. Planar element 52 includes sidepieces 54, a top piece 56 and vertical dowels 58 in order to define a-backwhen the member 34 is employed as a chair unit. For purposes which will become more apparent hereinafter, the top piece 56 is fashioned with horizontal, circular bores 60 and the leg elements 50 are fashioned with longitudinally extending, square bores 62. In addition, the leg elements 50 are drilled with transverse bores 64 which advantageously intersect the bores 62 and which are oriented to define spaced-apart parallel passageways for receiving the dowel rods 40 in releasably assembling theplay set 30. I

Desirably, vertical dowel rods 66 extend between seat element 46 and platform element 48 at the front and rear of the number 34 for partially closing the corresponding faces thereof. Moreover, it has proved useful to provide plug elements 68 having a rectangular shank depending from a cap, the shank entering a bore 62 at the top of the leg element whereby the cap serves to finish the top of the leg. An element 68 is used at each of the legs 50 under such circumstances.

With reference now to FIG. 9, the hexahedral member 36 will be seen fashioned with top and bottom faces closed by panel elements 70 and 72 respectively. The panel elements 70 and 72 are notched at their corners to receive square leg elements 74. The lateral faces of member 36 remain open; and horizontal, circular bores 76 are drilled in the leg elements 74 adjacent the feet thereof to pass the dowel rods 40 in uniting the member 36 with the members 32 and 34. The leg elements 74 are arranged to be substantially identical with the leg elements 50 in order to achieve mass-production economies and in order to space the panel element 70 at the same height above the floor as the seat panels of the members 32 and 34. Thus, a substantially continuous platform may be defined by the elements 46 and 70 upon assembly thereof in the configuration shown in FIG. 1.

The construction of member 38 will be given now with reference to FIG. 6. There, the member 38 will be seen to include a substantially continuous planar elementdefined by longitudinally articulated panels 78 and 80, panels 78 and 80 being swingably interconnected at adjacent edges by means of double-acting hinges 82. The four corners of panel element 80 are notched to receive square leg elements 84. The front face 86 of a drawer 87 combines with vertical end panels 88 depending from the panel element 80 to define a skirt therebeneath, face 86 being fashioned with a horizontally elongated aperture 89 for use in gripping and panel 88 being drilled with bores 90 to cooperate with the bores 60 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

As is well shown in FIG. 5, the legs 84 are fashioned with longitudinally extending, square bores 92; and returning to FIG. 6 with secondary reference to FIG. 8, square extension members 94 are seen slidably received in the bores 92. In order to fasten the extension members 94 in a selected position of extension relative to the corresponding leg elements 84, the extension members are provided with longitudinally spaced, transverse bores 96, each of the leg elements 84 being fashioned with a corresponding transverse bore 98 adjacent the foot portion thereof whereupon the dowel pins 42 may be passed through the bores 98 and aligned bores 96 to fix the-extension members 94 in place. Thus, the height of the panel elements 80 and 78 may be adjusted.

Moreover, the bores 92 in leg elements 84 are arranged to be substantially the same size as the bores 62 in the legs 50 whereupon the extension members 94 may enter the bores 62 when the member 38 is superpositioned on the members 32 and 34 in construction of the play set 30.

In order to provide support for the remote edge of the swingable panel element 78, brackets 100 are attached to the underside of panel element 78, spaced apart from the panel element 80, Le. adjacent the far corners of the panel element 78. As is well shown in FIG. 8, each of the brackets 100 is provided with a square central bore 102. The bores 102 in the brackets 100 each receive a supplemental leg element 104 when the member 38 is being used as a table in accordance with the showing of FIG. 6. The leg elements 104 are fashioned with longitudinally extending bores for receiving extensible members 106 in a manner similar to the leg elements 84 whereby to support the panel element 78 substantially coplanar with the panel element 80.

Because the users of the play set 30 are intended to be children, it has proved desirable to fashion the component parts of the play set to possess stable geometry. Accordingly, certain shapes and dimensions have been found to be preferred. For example, the members 32 and 34 have been found to be desirably fashioned as hexahedral structures with square horizontal section approximately fourteen inches on a side. In'addition, the panel element of member 38 is desirably fashioned to be approximately thirty-six inches long and fourteen inches wide. Cooperatively, the member 36 is of rectangular section approximately eight inches by approximately fourteen inches whereby the sum of the horizontal dimensions of member 32 and 34 with the minor horizontal dimension of member 36 equals the length dimension of member 38.

The leg elements 50 and 74 have proved to be desirably eleven inches in length whereas the leg elements 84 are desirably fifteen inches in length to make a total height dimension 'in the play set of twenty-six inches. Furthermore, the extension members 94 are approximately fifteen inches in length; and if it is desired to provide extensions for the legs 50, these latter elements are approximately nine-and-one-half inches in length.

The various parts for the play set 30 are desirably fabricated from a suitable wood which is appropriately finished with bright colored, chip-resistant enamels. In addition, it has proved advantageous to surface the panels 78 and 80 of member 38 with a laminated plastic sheeting for both the decorative and wear-resistant aspects thereby available.

For purposes of atfording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is advantageous at this juncture to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts thus far identified cooperate.

As has been indicated hereinabove, the four basic components of the play set, namely the members 32, 34, 36 and 38, are adapted for use in combination and for separate use, specifically as a pair of chairs, a bench or end table, and a table proper. This separate use of the basic components is illustrated in FIG. 13. There, the members 94 are shown to have been extended from the leg elements 84; and the members 106 are shown to have been extended from the leg elements 104 to permit the seat panels 46 of the members 32 and 34 to be spaced a suitable distance beneath the skirt depending from the edges of the panel element 80 of the member 38. The several members may thus be used by children in playing at having a family dinner, a tea party or similar events. j More importantly,'the members 32, 34, 36 and 38 can be assembled in rigid relationship to develop toy structures for use in many other types of play. For example, the members-32, 34 and 36 may be assembled in aligned relationship as is shown in FIG'. 7. There, the panel elements 46 and 70 are shown disposed in coplanar and continuous relationship whereby'to suggest a sleeping surface. The upstanding planar elements 52. of the members 32 and 34, being disposed in parallel, extreme spatial separation, suggest the head and foot of a bed. In the arrangement of FIG. 7, dowel rods 40 are passed through the aligned bores 64 and 76 to unite the members 32, 34 and 36 in rigid relationship.

By adding the member 38 to the assemblage of FIG. 7, the basic play set of FIG. 1 is achieved. In making this transformation, the dowel rods 48 are withdrawn and the member 38 is superpositioned over the assembled members 32, 34 and 36, the leg members 84 being aligned over the leg members 50 whereby to permit the extension members 94 to enter the bores 62 in leg elements 50. Advantageously, the members 94 are extended from the leg elements 84 of the member 38 into their extreme position as is shown in FIG. 8. In such a position, the lowermost of the transverse bores 96 is aligned with the bore 64 to permit the dowel rod 48 to pass through the lowermost of the bores 96 as well as the bores 64 and 76 for locking the extension members into the assemblage of members 32, 34 and 36. Dowel pins 42 may next be inserted through the bores 98 and the aligned, topmost bore 96 in the extension member, further locking the member 38 to the assemblage of the members 32, 34 and 36.

In the arrangement of FIG. 10, the supplemental leg elements 104 are removed from their supporting relationship with the panel element 78 of member 38 whereupon the panel element 78 swings to take a vertically downward position closing off the upper half of the back side of the assemblage. It is to be noted that, in this position of the panel element 78, the brackets 100 reside adjacent inside surfaces of the sidepieces 54 as is best shown in FIG. 3.

When the members 32, 34, 36 and 38 are assembled into the play set 30 as shown in FIG. 1, the top pieces 56 of the chair units are disposed against the inner surface of the panels 88 which depend from the panel element 80 of member 38 as is well shown in FIG. 5. In this relative disposition of top piece 56 and panel 88, the bores 60 are aligned with the bores 98 whereby to permit the dowel pins 44 to be inserted therethrough, thus enhancing the rigidity of the structure.

As arranged in FIG. 1, the play set 30 may be used variously as a bookcase, a cabinet, a gym set, a cage, a jail or bunkbeds as has been mentioned hereinabove. Moreover, this configuration of the play set establishes a convenient and rugged arrangement for handling and shipping the set in commerce.

The scope of play activities in which the set 30 may be employed is readily extended by adding various additional elements to the basic combination of components. For example, the panel elements 46 and 48 of the chair unit may advantageously be provided with confronting horizontal grooves 110 and 112 respectively as is shown in FIG. 15. Vertical panels 114 are slidably situated in the grooves 118 and 112; and the upper groove 118 is desirably fashioned to be approximately twice as deep as the lower groove 112 in order that the panels may be raised and removed if desired. Use of the panels 114 in closing off the lower portions of the play set 38 is best shown in FIG. 14. It will also be observed, in that figure, that foot blocks 116 are employed to close off the space beneath panels 48 and 72.

The play set 30 may also be readily converted to use as a dolls house as is shown in FIGS. 16-18. There, triangular roof trusses 118 are superpositioned on the top surface of panel element 80 whereby to support the swingable panel 78 in forming one-half of the roof of the dolls house as is best shown in FIG. 16. Suitably configurated chimney elements 120 are inserted in the brackets 100 as is shown. The opposite side members of truss elements 118 are grooved to receive slats 122, 124 and 126 as is indicated in FIGS. 17 and 18; and the slidable panels 114 are disposed in place to simulate shingles according to the illustration of FIG. 18. Moreover, a facade-forming element 128 is mounted in place over the front surface of the play set between the leg 84; and the member 128 is suitably painted or otherwise provided with means indicating windows and doors for furtherance of the illusion of a house.

In addition, the table unit that is defined by member 38 may be separated from the members 32, 34 and 36 to be combined with other auxiliary components as is shown in FIGS. 10-12. In FIG. 10, crook appendages 130 are arranged in upstanding relationship relative to the panel element by having their lower ends inserted in the bores of those legs 84 which are situated adjacent the swingable panel element 78. The crook appendanges are provided with hooks 132 at their upper ends, and the hooks 132 serve to support the panel element 78 in upright position. So disposed, the panel element 78 may be employed in supporting a blackboard member 134.

As is shown in FIG. 12, pins 136 upstand from an edge of the blackboard element 134 to be inserted in cooperatively shaped bores 138 fashioned in angle brackets 140. With the bottom edge of the blackboard member 134 resting on the panel element 80, angle brackets 140 are capable of holding the top edge of the blackboard member 134 against the adjacent edge of panel element 78. The angle brackets 140 may also be employed in holding a tackboard member 142 against the panel element 78, tackboard member 142 being shown in FIG. 11. With the member 38 arranged as shown in FIG. 10, use of the member as a desk or easel is envisaged.

When the members 32 and 34 are separated for independent use as chair units, it is oftentimes desirable to upholster the seat panel 46; and this can be achieved by the arrangement shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. There, a cushion member 144 will be seen provided with metal rings 146 secured to its underside by fasteners 148 which allow the ring to swing or pivot. The rings 146 are selected to be of such a size as to pass the shank portions of elements 68 but small enough to retain the cap thereof, Accordingly, a number of the elements 68 can be used in attaching the cushion member 144 to a member 34 as is shown in FIG. 20, the shank of elements 68 passing through the rings 146 to enter the bores 62 in the legs of the member 34.

As will be recognized, other components may be added to the basic play set in order to extend its utility into other areas of play and amusement. Therefore, the specific examples herein shown and described are to be considered as being primarily illustrative. Various changes in structure may occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

The invention is claimed as follows:

A play set comprising: first and second members of hexahedral form, each having a closed horizontally disposed face, said members being situatable in spaced-apart confronting relationship; a third member of hexahedral form having a closed horizontally disposed face, and massive legs of rectangular section depending from positions adjacent the corners thereof, said third member being situatable interjacent said first and second members with the closed face thereof aligned to bridge the space between the closed faces of said first and second members whereby to define a substantially continuous platform and with the legs thereof abuttin-gly contacting adjacent legs of said first and second members, the flat faces of said legs serving as locating surfaces for aligning said legs and thereby the entire group of members; connecting means coupling said members in a rigid structure; a fourth member including a horizontally disposed panel element and massive leg elements of rectangular section depending from positions adjacent the corners thereof, said fourth member being supetrpositioniable on said spaced-apart first and second members with its panel element roofing the space between the planar elements of said first and second members and with the bottom end faces of said leg elements abutting portions of the closed faces of said first and second members to define a substantial, stable bearing surface; and connecting means coupling said fourth member to said first and second members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1882 McMaster 53 11/1902 Barney 297248 6/1909 Johnson 4617 5/1911 Butler 46--15 X 5/1919 Tidyman 248-191 X 1/1922 Scanlan 297-457 X 5/1930 Knight 10813 X 6/1934 Schneider 297157 X 7/ 1951 Schwartz.

10/1952 Kitson 4619 X 4/1954 Berg 4621 X Westdeutche et aL:

FOREIGN PATENTS France. Germany. Germany. Great Britain. Great Britain. Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES (German printed application),

15 1,073,705, Jan. 21, 1960.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

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