US3422562A - Toy theater - Google Patents

Description

J. GREEN TOY THEATER Jan. 21, 1969 Filed April 6, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH GREEN FIG. 4.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,422,562 l TOY THEATER Joseph Green, Hewlett, N.Y., assignor to Miner Industries Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 540,582 U.S. Cl. 46-13 9 Claims Int. Cl. A63h 33/42; A63h 33/26 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy theater is provided with a folded cardboard stage having a back portion with a layer of magnetizable material thereof and openings adjacent the side edges of the back portion, a number of cardboard figures each having at least one magnet by which it may be held to the front surface of the back portion of the stage and each dimensioned to enter and exit through the openings, and at least one actuating member movable over the rearwardly facing surface of the back portion of the stage and having a magnet to magnetically attract the magnet of a figure held to the front surface for effecting selected movements of such figure.

This invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly is directed to a toy theater with which a child can present animated circus acts or other performances.

An object of this invention is to provide a toy of the described character which is relatively inexpensive to produce, and which enhances the appearance and interest of animated performances presented therewith.

Another object is to provide a toy of the described character that includes a stage and a plurality of figures representing performers, animals, stage props or equipment, and wherein such figures are moved or animated from in back of the stage so that, to viewers positioned in front of the stage, the movements imparted to the figures appear to be spontaneous or independent of control by the child presenting the performance.

A further object is to provide a toy of the described character in which the stage has a vertical back portion with magnetizable material thereon to cooperate with magnets carried by the figures for holding the latter to the back portion of the stage, and the movements or animation of the gures are effected by at least one actuating member movable over the rearwardly facing surface of the back portion of the stage and having a magnet to magnetically attract the magnet of a selected figure held to the back portion of the stage for effecting selected movements of such figure.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the stage is of folded cardboard and has top, side and fioor portions extending forwardly from the edges of the back portion which may have the magnetizable material thereon in the form of steel foil bonded thereto, and the side portions of the stage have flaps struck inwardly therefrom to define openings adjacent the side edges of the back portion through which the figures can enter and exit from the stage, with such fiaps further forming wings to shield the openings from view at the front of the stage.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the figures are also formed of cardboard and at least some of the figures are made up of a plurality of pivotally connected parts which, in some instances, are provided with respective magnets to produce unusual animation effects or movements when such magnets are inuenced by the actuating member or members.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

A 3,422,562 Patented Jan. 2l, 1969 ICC FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a toy theater embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2 2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flat cardboard blank which can be folded to form the stage of the toy theater shown on FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a typical figure included inthe toy theater; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another typical gure included in the toy theater in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a top theater 10l embodying this invention generally comprises a stage 11, a plurality of figures 12a, 12b and 12C which are magnetically held to the stage, as hereinafter described in detail, and one or more actuating members 13 by which the various figures can be moved about the stage or animated.

The stage 11 is preferably formed of a stiff cardboard and is shown to include a rectangular back portion 14 having a layer 15 (FIG. 2) of magnetizable material, for example, steel foil, adhesively bonded or otherwise secured to the back surface of back portion 14. Side portions 16, a top portion 17 and a oor portion 18 extend forwardly from back portion 14 along the edges of the latter, with the side and top portions 16 and 17 preferably enclosing an angle greater than for example, an angle of 135, with respect to the plane of back portion 14, whereas floor portion 18 extends at right angles to back portion 14 and thus is disposed horizontally when back portion 14 is in a vertical position, as shown on FIG. 2. Side portions 16 and top portion 17 have rims 19 extending along their free edges, and such rims are preferably die-cut so as to have edges of suitably ornamental configuration for defining a proscenium of the stage 11.

An apron 20 depends from the forward edge of floor portion 18, and a base 21 (FIG. 2) extends rearwardly from the bottom of apron 20 and, at its rear edge, is joined to an upwardly directed securing flap 22 which is adhesively or otherwise secured to back portion 14 adjacent the bottom of the latter so as to maintain'fioor por-tion 18 and ibase 21 in substantially parallel relationship. Thus, base 21 can rest on a table or other suitable supporting surface `and floor portion 18 is then elevated from such supporting surface.

In accordance with this invention, side portions 16 of stage 11 are provided with flaps 23 (FIGS. 1 and 2) struck inwardly therefrom to define openings 24 (FIG. 2) extending along the opposite side edges of *back portion 14, with such fiaps 23 further defining wings shielding the openings 24 from view at the front of the stage, as is apparent on FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will `be seen that the stage 11 is preferably formed of a single cardboard blank 11a and that the various sections of such blank are identified Iby the same reference numerals as the corresponding portions of the stage, but with the letter a appended to each such reference numeral. Thus, cardboard blank 11a includes a major rectangular section 14a for forming the back portion 14, and marginal sections 16a, 17a and 18a foldably joined to major section 14a at score lines 25, 26 and 27, respectively, extending along the edges of section 14a and intended to form the sides, top and floor portions of the stage 11. Extending along the youter edges of sections 16a and 17a, and joined thereto 'by score lines 28, are sections 19a having ornamentally cut free edges to define the ornamental rims 19 -constituting the proscenium of the erected stage.

The upper ends of sections 16a and the opposite ends of section 17a are cut obliquely, as shown, and are provided with slots 29 and tabs 30 which are interengageable for the purpose of securing together the side and top portions 16 and 17 of the stage in the desired angled positions with respect to lback portion 14.

Foldably joined to floor forming section 18a, as at a score line 31, is an elongated section 20a to form the apron 20, and the score line 31 is preferably, at regular intervals, intercepted by arcuate cuts 32 extending into the material of section 18a so that, when section 20a is folded at right angles to section 18a, as in the completed stage, the material within the arcuate cuts 32 will project upwardly from the apron 20, as at 33 on FIGS. l and 2, to simulate the appearance of foot lights spaced apart along the front edge of floor portion 18.

The end edges of section 18a are cut o-bliquely, as at 34, so as to lbe separated from sections 16a, and further to lie against the latter when the stage is in its erected position, as on FIGS. l and 2. The ends of section 20a are provided with tabs 35 engageable in slots 36 formed in sections 16a adjacent their lower ends so as to securely hold side portions 16, floor portion 18 and apron 20 of the stage in their assembled relationship.

A section 21a, which is similar in configuration to section 18a is joined to section 20a, as at score line 37 extending along the edge of apron forming section 20a remote from floor forming section 18a. An additional section 22a intended to form the securing flap 22 is joined to the base forming section 21a at a score line 38 and may have adhesive applied to a surface thereof for secure attachment to 'back portion 14 when the stage is erected.

As shown, blank 11a is cut along lines 39 which extend upwardly along substantial parts of the side edges of main section 14a from the ends of score line 27. The blank is further cut along lines 40 extending generally transversely from the upper ends of cuts 39 approximately midway across sections 16a, and score lines 41 extend downwardly from cuts 40 parallel to cuts 39 and intercept, at their lower ends, l.generally Z-shaped cuts 42 which intercept or extend to the oblique cuts 34 at the ends of section 18a. Such Z-shaped cuts 42 define tabs 43 at the lower ends of the flap forming parts 23a of sections 16a. When the stage is being erected, parts 23a of sections 16a are folded inwardly from the latter about score lines 41 and the tabs 43 at their lower ends are engaged in slots 44 suitably positioned in section 18a, thereby to retain the flaps 23 in the desired positions parallel to the plane of back portion 14 and spaced forwardly from the latter.

As shown on FIG. 1, the play pieces or figures 12a, 12b and 12o may represent performers, stage props, animals, and other objects commonly associated with theatrical or circus performances. In accordance with this invention, each of the figures includes a generally fiat cardboard Ibody 44 Which is suitably shaped and printed or colored, for example, so as to represent a ball as on FIG. 4, and such cardboard body has at least one permanent magnet 45 adhesively or otherwise secured to its `back sur-face so as to cooperate with the magnetic layer 15 in holding the figure to the front surface of back portion 14 of the stage. In accordance with this invention, all of the figures employed in connection with the stage 11 are dimensioned so as to be capable of entering and exiting from the stage 11 through the winged openings 24, whereby a child presenting the performance can initially engage the selected figures with fback portion 14, or remove the figures from such back portion through the openings 24 at the sides of the stage and such manipulation of the figures will not be observable from in front of lthe stage Iby reason of the shielding effect of the flaps or wings 23.

The `actuating members 13 for effecting movements of the several figures magnetically adhered to the front surface of back portion 14 may each include a rod or wand 46 having a head 47 at one end carrying a magnet 48 (FIG. 2) which can be moved over the rearwardly facing surface of back portion 14 from positions at the sides of the stage 11. The magnet 48 of each actuating member 13 is preferably polarized so as to `attract the magnets 45 of the various figures, whereby the movement of the magnet 48 of each `actuating member 13 will effect selected movements of a figure 12a-c when the actuating member is in the vicinity of a magnet or magnets of the figure. Thus, movements of the figures magnetically adhering to the front surface of back portion 14 of the stage can be effected from in back of the stage, whereby the instrumentalities that effect such movements of the figures will be hidden from the audience.

As shown particularly on FIG. 5, one or more of the figures 12d to be employed in the toy theater 10 may have its cardboard body 44d formed in several parts 49, 50 and 51 which are pivotally connected, as by a rivet 52 or the like, for example, to represent the head and torso and the legs, respectively, of a man on stilts, as shown. Where the cardboard body 44d of the figure is fonmed in several parts, 'as in the case of the figure 12d, two or more of such parts may Shave respective magnets secured to their back surfaces, as at 53, 54 and 55, with such magnets being preferably spaced from the pivot 52. With the arrangement shown on FIG. 5, the several parts 49, 50 and 5'1 of the figure 12d will be individually held tot the back portion 14 by the respective magnets and one or more of such magnets can be 4made to move over back portion 14 by actuating members 13, as described above, thereby to impart tunique, animated movements to the figure. In order to permit the leg parts 50 and 51 of figure 12d to swing past each other, the leg part 50 may be made longer than the leg part 51, as shown, thereby to cause the magnet 54 to clear the lower end of leg part 51.

Although a few forms of figures 12a-d have been illustrated in the drawing, it is obvious that great variations are possible in the performers, animals or objects represented by the figures so as to make it possible to present varied and interesting performances.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been idescribed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a folded cardboard stage includinfg a floor portion, a back portion extending upwardly from the rear edge of said oor portion and having a layer of magnetizable material secured thereto, and side and top portions extending forwardly from said back portion to define a proscenium, said side portions having flaps. struck inwardly therefrom to define openings adjacent the side edges of said back portion, said flaps shielding said openings from View at the front of the stage;

a plurality of cardboard figures each having at least one magnet secured to the back thereof so as to cooperate with said layer of magnetizable material of the back portion in magnetically holding the cardboard ligure to said back portion, each of said cardboard figures being dimensioned to enter and exit from said stage through said openings in the side portions thereof;

and at least one actuating member movable over the rearwardly facing surface of said back portion of the stage `and having a magnet to magnetically attract the magnet of a cardboard figure lheld to the front surface of said back portion and thereby effect selected movements of said figure.

2. A toy according to claim 1; wherein said layer of magnetizable material consists of a sheet of steel foil bonded to said back portion of the cardboard stage.

3. A toy according to claim 1; wherein at least one of said cardboard figures includes a plurality of pivotally connected parts.

4. A toy according to claim 3; wherein said one figure has at least two magnets secured `at the back of respective pivotally connected parts of the figure.

5. A toy according to claim 4; wherein said magnets secured to respective parts of the figure are spaced substantially away from the pivotal connection between the respective parts.

6. A toy according to claim 1; wherein said stage consists of a cardboard blank having a -major rectangular section forming said back portion, marginal sections foldably joined to said major section along the edges of the latter and forming said side, top and oor portions, respectively, said top and side forming sections of the blank having cooperating tabs and slots at their adjacent ends to hold said top and side forming sections in forwardly folded relation to said back forming section, said side forming sections being out from said back forming section along parts of said adjacent edges extending to the ends of said side forming sections adjacent said floor forming section and further being cut transversely to said adjacent edges at the ends of said parts to dene said flaps, the adjacent ends of said flaps and said oor forming section having cooperating tabs and slots to hold said flaps in inwardly folded relation to said side forming sections for defining said Wings.

7. A toy `according to claim 6; wherein said major section of the cardboard blank has steel foil bonded to the back surface thereof to define said magnetizable layer.

8. A toy according to claim 6; Wherein said cardboard blank further includes an apron forming section foldably joined to said floor forming section along the edge of the latter remote from said back forming section, a base forming section foldably joined to said apron for-ming section along the edge of the latter remote from said floor forming section and having a width substantially equal to that of the latter, and a securing flap section foldably joined to said base forming :section along the edge of the latter remote from said lapron forming section and adapted to be secured to said back forming section upon downward folding of said apron forming section relative to said floor forming section, rearward folding of said base forming section relative to said apron forming section :and upward folding of said securing flap section relative to said base fonming section, whereby said base forming section can rest on :a support surface to dispose said floor portion at an elevated position with respect to the support surface.

9. A toy comprising a folded cardboard structure including an erect, planar wall portion having a layer af magnetizable material secured thereto, at least one cardboard figure having a magnet secured to the back thereof so as to cooperate with said layer of magnetizable material in magnetically holding said cardboard figure to one surface of said erect Wall portion, and an actuating member movable over the opposite surface of said wall portion and having a magnet to magnetically attract the -magnet of said cardboard `figure held to said one surface for causing said magnet of the cardboard figure to follow movements of said magnet of the actuating member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,066 12/1914 Barber 272-11 1,396,046 11/1921 Moore 46-13 2,637,138 5/1953 Doran et al 46-13 2,665,913 l/l954 Hlavac 273-1 2,837,863 6/1'958 Duvall 46-13 3,143,826 8/ 1964 Ellis 46-240 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

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