US3906659A

US3906659A - Doll house

Info

Publication number: US3906659A
Application number: US550138A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry E Walmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1975-02-14
Filing date: 1975-02-14
Publication date: 1975-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a doll house of the collapsible type having a novel design in its construction. It is constructed of a small number of individual panels which comprise the walls, floors, roof, etc. The panels are provided with grooves and slots so that all the panels slide together easily and support one another. A novel chimney structure is adapted to supply rigidity to the panels of the roof structure. No tools or screws are required for construction and the parts are locked tightly together in a rigid structure by the simple insertion of several small pegs in matching holes provided in the various panels. The doll house also comprises novel staircase, balcony and door structures.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Walmer 14 1 Sept. 23, 1975 DOLL HOUSE [21] Appl. No.: 550,138

Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or FirmMillen, Raptes & White [57 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a doll house of the collapsible type having ariovel design in its construction. It is constructed of a small number of individual panels which comprise the walls, floors, roof, etc. The panels are provided with grooves and slots so that all the panels slide together easily and support one another. A novel chimney structure is adapted to supply rigidity to the panels of the roof structure. No tools or screws are required for construction and the parts are locked tightly together in a rigid structure by the simple insertion of several small pegs in matching ho'les provided in the various panels. The doll house also comprises novel staircase, balcony and door structures.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures US Patant Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of 4 3,906,659

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of4 3 906 65 US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,906 659 DOLL HOUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a doll house or toy house of the knock-down or collapsible type having a pleasing design and simplified construction capable of being easily constructed or taken apart.

There have been developed various types of doll houses to provide recreation and education to children. Many of these doll houses are of the permanent type presenting problems with respect to shipping and storage. Others. which are of the knock-down type are relatively complicated in construction and require various types of fasteners and locking members to hold the doll house together. These doll houses. for the most part require tools and screws for construction and lacked the desired rigidity when constructed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, the present invention provides a unique design style of a knock-down construction for a doll house. The doll house is constructed of a small number of panels provided with grooves and slots so that all parts slide together easily and support one another. The doll house assembles easily in minutes using no tools or screws, and once assembled, all the parts are locked tightly together to provide a rigid structure by the simple insertion of several small pegs.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a doll house having a unique construction design capable of being easily constructed without special skill or the use of tools and fasteners, and which can be easily disassembled or knocked-down for storage or transport purposes. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a doll house that is relatively rigid and sturdy in construction when assembled requiring only simple pegs for holding the assembled house together.

A further object of this invention is to provide a doll house constructed from novel arrangement of panels provided with grooves and slots whereby construction or disassembly of the doll house is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel roof construction for a doll house whereby inclined roof panels are held together by horizontal frame members provided with slots and a chimney is provided with a unique device for rigidly retaining the roof structure in place.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a' preferred embodiment of the invention when considered with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the doll house as fully assembled embodying the novel aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the doll house fully assembled disclosing the interior rooms thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view as seen from the rear as in FIG. 2 disclosing all the panels and various parts of the doll house;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the front left corner of the doll house as seen from the rear disclosing details of the assembly thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of a horizontal side beam member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective fragmentary view of a horizontal front beam member shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the left side wall and second floor disclosing details of the assembly thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary rear plan view of the assembled left side wall and second floor disclosing details of how they are held together by a peg;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the chimney and a partial section of the roof and center wall divider disclosing details of the assembly of the chimney thereto;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary rear plan view of the assembled roof, left side roof panel, third floor member, left side wall and left horizontal beam member;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary side sectional view of the assembled roof, front side roof panel, third floor, front wall and front horizontal beam member;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the assembled staircase between the first and. second floor members;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side plan view, partially in section, of the assembled staircase between the first and second floors;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary side plan view, partially in section of the balcony assembled on the front wall; and,

FIG. 15 is an enlarged front plan view of the door construction on the first floor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a doll house embodying the principles of the invention and FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the doll house. Both views show the doll house fully assembled and ready for use as a recreational device or as a model house for display purposes with furniture arrangements, etc. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view disclosing the manner in which the various parts are assembled together.

The doll house comprises a rectangular base or first floor member 22 having

grooves

220, 221, 222 and 223 in the top surface. A left side wall member 24 comprises an integral horizontal groove member 52 containing a groove 520, and an integral horizontal beam member 25 at its top edge. Similarly a right side wall member comprises groove member 54 containing groove 540 and beam member 27. A front wall member 30 comprises integral L-shaped left corner beam member 33 and right comer beam member 35 and also a horizontal beam member 31 comprising

grooves

312 and 313. Left wall member 24 is inserted in groove 220, right wall member is inserted in groove member 222 and front wall member 30 is inserted in groove 221. The leading edge 241 of wall 24 fits within left comer beam member 33 and similarly leading edge 261 of wall 26 fits within right corner beam member 35. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the left side of mitered beam member 31 matches the mitered beam member 25 and similarly the right side matches beam 27. The beam member 33 retains wall 24 as particularly shown in FIG. 6 wherein the beam 25 of wall 24 is now shown. At the upper end of wall 24, there is disposed a triangular member 245 which is adapted to be inserted i a triangular recess 315 in the end of beam 31, thereby providing a more firm and sturdy fit of the mitered corners of

beams

25 and 31. A peg 60 is inserted in hole 250 of member 25 and hole 310 of member 31 and retains the left wall and front wall firmly together. Similar holes and peg 601 in right beam 27 and right side of beam member 31 retain the right side wall and front wall together. Another peg 602 is inserted through hole 301 in the bottom of the front wall and into hole 224 in the front of base floor 22. Peg 603 is inserted in holes 240 and 225 and similarly peg 604 is inserted in holes 260 and 226. Thus, the five pegs, triangularly arranged, firmly retain the left and right side wall, front wall and base floor in a study construction.

A central wall divider 28 comprises

slots

280 and 281 and it is inserted in groove 223 of the base floor. The vertical leading edge 282 abuts the front wall 30 and fits within groove 31 1 of beam 31, thereby retaining the divider in a firm vertical position.

The second floor member 32 comprises a stair well 320 having an open end 321. The second floor is assembled by sliding it into grooves 520 (FIGS. 7 and 8), and 540 of

groove members

52 and 54 respectively. Open end 321 of the stair well is inserted into slot 281 of the divider and moved toward and against the front wall. The second floor is secured to the left wall by a peg 605 inserted through hole 332 in the floor and hole 521 in groove member 52. Similarly, the second floor is secured to the right wall by a peg 606 inserted in

holes

323 and 541.

The third floor member 34 comprises a stair well 340 having an open end 341. The third floor is assembled by sliding it into groove 251 of beam member 25 and groove 271 of beam member 27. Open end 341 of the stair well is inserted into slot 280 of the divider and moved towards and against the beam 31. The leading edge 342 of floor 34 engages groove 312 of beam 31. Floor 34 is secured to the left beam member 25 by a peg 607 (FIG. inserted in hole 343 of floor 34 and hole 253 of beam 25. Similarly, a peg 608 secures the right beam 27 to the floor 34.

The roof structure is assembled by first inserting the bottom edge 421 of the front side roof panel 42 into groove 313. The panel 42 is designed to slant about from the vertical in groove 313. Panel 42 comprises integral left and right L-shaped

roof beam members

56 and 58, respectively. Roof 36 is next assembled and comprises angled

grooves

360, 361, 362 and vertical groove 363 on the underside and also a rectangular opening or hole 364 which is disposed through groove 363. The roof is installed by fitting leading edge 420 of front roof panel 42 into groove 362 (FIG. 11) and the top edge 284 of divider 28 into groove 363.

At this stage of assembly, the roof structure is provided with novel and unique means for providing rigidity and stability thereto. This is accomplished by the unique design of the chimney structure 51, which comprises two downwardly projecting parallel members 510 and 511 (FIG. 9) having holes, 512 and 513 respectively. Opening 364 of the roof is bisected by the edge 284 of the divider 28.

Members

510 and 511 are spaced apart a distance a little greater than the thickness of the divider 28. Chimney 51 is assembled to the roof by installing

members

510 and 511 through opening 364 whereby

members

510 and 51 1 straddle divider 28.

Holes

512 and 513 are adapted to be aligned together and aligned with hole 283 of the divider when the chimney is assembled. A peg 609 is inserted through

holes

512, 513 and 283, which provides rigid ity and stability to the roof structure such that the entire doll house can be picked up by the chimney.

Side roof panel 38 is inserted by sliding into angled groove 252 of beam 25 and angled groove 360 of roof 36 (FIG. 10) until it engages front roof panel 42 on the inside of L-shaped beam member 56. Similarly, right side roof panel 40 is installed in angled grooves 272 of

beam

27 and 361 of roof 36. In this manner, the basic structure of the doll house is completed.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 a staircase 46 is installed between the first and second floors against divider 28. The bottom 460 of the staircase rests on the first floor and an upper edge 461 extends through the stair Well 320 and rests on ledge 324. A protective L- shaped handrail 462 is also provided around the stair well. Similarly, a staircase 48 is installed between the second and third floors.

A widows walk structure 44 is installed on the roof 36 by inserting pins (not shown) contained on the underside of the structure into holes such as 365 in the top of the roof.

In FIG. 15, a novel means for installing a door in a doorway 701 on the first floor of the front wall 30 is provided. The door 70 has an upwardly extending pin 707 initially inserted in hole 703. The door is angled flush into the top of the doorway and the end of pin 707 marks a point on the underside of the top of the doorway where a hole 702 is drilled after the door is re- I moved. Pin 707 is inserted in hole 702 and the door is thereby able to be installed flush in the doorway. Two holes 704 in

wall

30 and 705 in door 70 are drilled simultaneously up through the bottom edge of wall 30.

Pin 706 is inserted first in hole 703 and then hole 704 to secure the door in the doorway. This procedure assures alignment of the holes and flushness of the door in the doorway. The front wall of the doll house is also provided with windows, shutters, door frames, etc.

On the front wall of the doll house, a balcony structure 50 which can be easily put on or removed is provided. The balcony structure comprises a pair of rear posts 502 and an extending horizontal pin 504 disposed in the rear side of a bottom member of the balcony midway between the rear posts 502. The tops of the posts 502 are mitered and adapted to be engaged up under a matching pair of mitered blocks 503 permanently mounted on the front wall 30. The balcony structure is easily installed by first slipping each mitered top edge 501 up under each mitered block 503 and moving the balcony downwardly through an arc until pin 504 engages a hole 505 in wall 30.

The doll house is knocked-down or disassembled by reversing the above procedure. The unique and novel design provides the benefits of knock-down construction. The use of grooves and slots provide means for easily sliding the various parts together, which support one another. THe doll house is rigid in construction and all parts are held together tightly by the simple insertion of a relatively small member of strategically arranged small pegs. When disassembled, the parts of the doll house can be stacked together for easy storage or shipment.

The above description of the invention is deemed to be the most practical and efficient embodiment and it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiment as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An easily assembled knock-down doll house, the parts of which are fitted together and held together only with pegs comprising:

a. a generally rectangular first floor member comprising left, right, and front grooves in the top surface thereof and a center groove parallel to said left and right grooves;

b. left and right side walls adapted to have their bottom edges engaged in said respective grooves of said first floor, said side walls containing a top horizontal beam member with a top inwardly slanted groove and an inward side groove, and an inner horizontal ledge member disposed between said top beam and the lower edge of said wall containing an inward side groove,

c. a front wall member adapted to have its bottom edge engaged in said front groove of said first floor, comprising vertical L-shaped side beams and a top horizontal beam member containing a top inwardly slanted groove and an inward side groove;

d. a center wall with its lower edge adapted to engage said respective groove in said first floor comprising two horizontal slots extending from the rear edge, and a forward edge having its upper portion angled inwardly;

e. identical second and third floor members comprising a stairwell in the front portion thereof containing an opening to the front edge of the floor member;

f. a roof member comprising outwardly angled left, right and front grooves and an intermediate groove parallel to said left and right grooves, said grooves disposed in the underside of said roof member, a

hole through said roof member disposed through and on both sides of said intermediate groove;

g. left, right and front roof side panels each adapted to engage respective grooves in said roof member and respective top inwardly slanted grooves in said beams of said side and front walls;

h. said center wall having its top edge adapted to engage said intermediate groove in said roof;

i. said second and third floor members adapted to be inserted horizontally into respective inward side grooves of said side wall ledges and said top beam members with said stairwells engaging said slots of said center wall;

j. a plurality of pegs adapted to be inserted in holes contained in said beams, ledges and floor members at their junctures for retaining said structure together.

2. The doll house of claim 1 wherein a chimney member containing a pair of parallel downwardly projecting members is adapted to be inserted in said roof hole, to straddle said center wall and to be secured thereto by a peg inserted in aligned holes in said center wall and said parallel members.

3. The doll house of claim 1 wherein staircases are adapted to be contained in said stairwells.

4. The doll house of claim 1 wherein the edges of said front and said side wall beam members are mitered and contain matching triangular members with triangular notches.

5. The doll house of claim 1 wherein a balcony is suspended on said front wall, said front wall containing mitered blocks and a lower hole therebetween, and said balcony containing mitered upper rear posts and a lower pin adapted to engage said hole.

6. The doll house of claim 1 wherein a door is adapted to be placed flush within a doorway at said first floor on said front wall, comprising a pin in said upper edge of said door adapted to engage a hole in the upper part of the doorway, and a second pin adapted to be inserted through the bottom edge of said front wall through pre-dn'lled aligned holes in said wall and said door.

Claims

1. An easily assembled knock-down doll house, the parts of which are fitted together and held together only with pegs comprising: a. a generally rectangular first floor member comprising left, right, and front grooves in the top surface thereof and a center groove parallel to said left and right grooves; b. left and right side walls adapted to have their bottom edges engaged in said respective grooves of said first floor, said side walls containing a top horizontal beam member with a top inwardly slanted groove and an inward side groove, and an inner horizontal ledge member disposed between said top beam and the lower edge of said wall containing an inward side groove; c. a front wall member adapted to have its bottom edge engaged in said front groove of said first floor, comprising vertical L-shaped side beams and a top horizontal beam member containing a top inwardly slanted groove and an inward side groove; d. a center wall with its lower edge adapted to engage said respective groove in said first floor comprising two horizontal slots extending from the rear edge, and a forward edge having its upper portion angled inwardly; e. identical second and third floor members comprising a stairwell in the front portion thereof containing an opening to the front edge of the floor member; f. A roof member comprising outwardly angled left, right and front grooves and an intermediate groove parallel to said left and right grooves, said grooves disposed in the underside of said roof member, a hole through said roof member disposed through and on both sides of said intermediate groove; g. left, right and front roof side panels each adapted to engage respective grooves in said roof member and respective top inwardly slanted grooves in said beams of said side and front walls; h. said center wall having its top edge adapted to engage said intermediate groove in said roof; i. said second and third floor members adapted to be inserted horizontally into respective inward side grooves of said side wall ledges and said top beam members with said stairwells engaging said slots of said center wall; j. a plurality of pegs adapted to be inserted in holes contained in said beams, ledges and floor members at their junctures for retaining said structure together.

6. The doll house of claim 1 wherein a door is adapted to be placed flush within a doorway at said first floor on said front wall, comprising a pin in said upper edge of said door adapted to engage a hole in the upper part of the doorway, and a second pin adapted to be inserted through the bottom edge of said front wall through pre-drilled aligned holes in said wall and said door.