AU722307B2

AU722307B2 - Playhouse

Info

Publication number: AU722307B2
Application number: AU74170/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Ferre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-12-07
Filing date: 1996-12-04
Publication date: 2000-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-04
Also published as: AU7417096A

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Ferre ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

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0*6 be 0 *p* INVENTION TITLE: Q 016s- -Use for cshildrn toQ Dlaiv The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- -0 Q:\OPER\JPN\ISERN\COMPLETE.WPD 16/5100 -2-

PLAYHOUSE

This invention relates to a playhouse, and more particularly to a playhouse for children.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a playhouse including four modular facade parts and two modular roof parts, all being made of a moulded material, the facade parts having first connection means for connecting the facade parts along lateral contacting edges thereof, the roof parts having second connection means for connecting the roof parts along contacting edges thereof to form a roof structure, said contacting edges of the roof parts being along an axis of symmetry of the roof structure, and the facade parts and the roof parts having third connection means for connecting the roof parts to the facade parts to form the playhouse which is in the shape of a caricatured mushroom.

S"15 In a preferred embodiment, the modular facade parts made of a moulded material, the qIO facade parts are interconnectable in succession to make up a structure of the playhouse, the inside of which is accessible to a child, and the modular roof parts are interconnectable to make up a roof. The modular facade parts and the modular roof parts include connecting means formed at the moulding stage and which, due to the resilient yield of the material, establish a solid nexus between such elements, thereby providing a stable and strong structure that may be easily erected and dismantled by an adult and is suitable for children to play.

4' The facade parts have openings which form the window and door spaces, allowing a child into the living space.

The structure may be conveniently erected and installed both indoors and outdoors.

The components of the structure are adapted to be stored in a compact arrangement.

No ancillary connecting means such as screws nor any tools are required to erect the 3&payhouse.

Q:\OPER\JPN\ISERN\COMPLETE.WPD 16/5/00 -3- The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of exmple only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one pair of modular facade parts, prior to being connected with a first connection means; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another pair of facade parts, prior to being connected with the first connection means; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the four facade parts shown partially assembled, and of two modular roof parts shown prior to being fitted on said facade parts; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the roof parts coupled onto the facade parts, a second connecting means for connecting the two roof parts being shown separately and 15 exploded; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the playhouse in an assembled state.

The figures show an embodiment of a playhouse for children including four modular

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20 facade parts 1 and two modular roof parts 2 made of a hard moulded material.

The facade parts 1, which are upwardly elongated in shape, substantially dished at their lower middle portion and transversely curved, with their convexity towards the outside, establish contact along their sides, resulting in joints 24 having holes 5 on either side of bottom portions thereof. The holes 5 correspond to apertures 4 located at the ends of oblong plates 3 which lie over said joints 24. Each aperture 4 and its corresponding hole 5 form a female housing for receiving a through pin 8 provided with a resilient spear-like head which, upon expanding, secures connection of the facade parts 1.

Furthermore, the roof parts 2 have female holes 11 which correspond to apertures -0r Q:\OPER\JPN\ISERN\COMPLEE.WPD 16/5/00 -4formed at the ends of strips 9, and the strips cross over a joint 23 formed between the roof parts 2. In this case, through pins 12 having a configuration equivalent to the through pins 8, secure connection of the roof parts 2.

Top ends of the facade parts 1 have spigots 13 with spherical extensions 14 which are housed in semi-spherical cavities 15 located on the underside of the roof parts 2 to establish a connection between the facade structure and the roof structure.

The facade parts 1 have window 19 and door 20 spaces where an articulated leaf 21 allows access into the playhouse and at the same time stands as a closure therefor.

Complementary parts, namely for instance a grotesque chimney 16, are coupled to the roof by means of a short pin 17 which is snapped into a female hole in the roof, wherein it ois retained due to the spear-like conformation of the end of said pin. Another complementary part, such as a lamp 18, is hung from a salient 22 which projects from the eaves of the roof parts 2.

The above embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated step or integer or group of steps or integers but not the exclusion of any other step or integer or group of steps or integers.

Claims

1. A playhouse including four modular facade parts and two modular roof parts, all being made of a moulded material, the facade parts having first connection means for connecting the facade parts along lateral contacting edges thereof, the roof parts having second connection means for connecting the roof parts along contacting edges thereof to form a roof structure, said contacting edges of the roof parts being along an axis of symmetry of the roof structure, and the facade parts and the roof parts having third connection means for connecting the roof parts to the facade parts to form the playhouse which is in the shape of a caricatured mushroom.

2. A playhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection means include laminar plates oblong in shape and having an aperture at each end, the apertures corresponding to holes close to the contacting lateral edges of the facade parts, and each aperture and corresponding hole establishing a female housing for receiving a through pin having a spear-like resiliently deformable engaging portion. a a. S.o S:

3. A playhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second connection means include strips of strong material, each strip being provided at ends thereof with circular apertures which correspond to holes close to the contacting edges of the roof parts, and each aperture and corresponding hole establishing a female housing for receiving a through pin having a spear-like resiliently deformable engaging portion.

4. A playhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third connection means include spigots having spherical extensions which project vertically from the top edge of the facade parts and are operatively arranged to be inserted, upon the material yielding resiliently, in semi-spherical cavities existing in the inner underside of the roof parts. Q:NOPER\JPN\ISERN\COMPLETE.WPD 16/5/00 -6- A playhouse substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 16th day of May, 2000 JOSE MANUEL RODRIGUEZ FERRE By his Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 0