US3611619A - Toy including plural packages with imprinted patterns aiding construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TOY INCLUDES SEVERAL PACKAGES OF CUT-TO-SIZE SIMULATED LOGS. THE LOGS ARE ARRANGED LOOSELY IN THE PACKAGES. THE BOTTOM OF EACH PACKAGE IS DEFINED BY A CARDBOARD SHEET UPON WHICH IS IMPRINTED A PATTERN WHICH THE LOGS IN THE PACKAGE SHOULD COLLECTIVELY ASSUME TO DEFINE A WALL OF ROOF PORTION OF A COMPLETED MINIATURE BUILDING, WHEN THE PACKAGE IS OPENED THE LOGS ARE GLUED TOGETHER OVER THE PATTERN IN THE PROPER CONFIGURATION. THE WALLS AND ROOF MEMBERS ARE THEN INTERCONNECTED SO AS TO CONSTRUCT A COMPLETED BUILDING. THE BUILDING MAY BE KNOCKED-DOWN AFTER CONSTRUCTION FOR SUBSEQUENT REASSEMBLY.

Description

Oct. 12, 1971 w, TESTA 3,611,619

TOY INCLUDING PLURAL PACKAGES WITH IMPRINTED PATTERNS AIDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6, 1970 INVENTOR. MLUAM E. 731374 Amen/5m United States Patent fie 3,611,619 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building construction toy includes several packages of cut-to-size simulated logs. The logs are arranged loosely in the packages. The bottom of each package is defined by a cardboard sheet upon which is imprinted a pattern which the logs in the package should collectively assume to define a wall or roof portion of a completed miniature building. When the package is opened the logs are "glued together over the pattern in the proper configuration. The walls and roof members are then interconnected so as to construct a completed building. The building may be knocked-down after construction for subsequent reassembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to toys and more particularly to a knock-down miniature building construction.

Description of the prior art Various knock-down building construction toy kits have been previously proposed. Applicant is aware of US. Pat. Nos. 1,287,771; 2,600,900; 2,931,130; 2,077,065; and 3,137,967.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the present invention to provide a knock-down building construction toy which will provide both education and entertainment for children.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a knock-down building construction toy incorporating aplurality of packages of cut-to-size construction elements that collectively define the external surface members of a miniature building. These packages also include a transparent covering that encloses the construction elements. The base of each package is imprinted with the pattern which the elements should assume to define an external surface member of the building. When the packages are opened a child may glue the elements together in the proper configuration of the external surface members, and then interconnect such members to thereby construct a miniature building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a knock-down building construction toy which may be disassembled for compact storage.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a knock-down building construction toy which is economical of construction and capable of providing a long and useful service life.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a miniature building constructed from a kit embodying the present invention, the roof of such building being broken away in the interest of clarity;

FIGS. 2 through 7 are reduced top views of packages forming a part of the kit of the present invention;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are top plan views showing steps in the construction of the building shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken in enlarged scale along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a typical miniature building construction of the type which may be constructed from a kit embodying the present invention. The building is defined by a plurality of external surface members, including lower walls 10 and 12, upper walls 14 and 16 and roof sides 18 and 20. It will be understood that the side of the building opposite that shown in FIG. 1 utilizes lower and upper walls similar to those visible in this figure.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 6, a kit comprising a preferred form of knock-down building construction toy embodying the present invention includes a plurality of individual packages P1 through P-S, Each package contains cut-to-size simulated logs 22 from which one of the external surface members is formed. Thus, the package P1 of FIG. 2 contains cut-to-size simulated logs 22 for fabricating upper wall 16. A like package (not shown) is provided for the other upper wall. The package P-2 of FIG. 3 contains logs for fabricating one of the roof halves 18. A like package (not shown) is provided for the other roof half 20. Note that tthree anchoring sticks 23 are contained in the package of FIG. 3 for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter. Two packages P3 as shown in FIG. 4 contain logs for fabricating the two lower walls 12. Two packages P-4 as shown in FIG. 5 contain logs for fabricating the two lower walls 10. Two packages P-5 as shown in FIG. 6 contain logs for fabricating the two upper walls 14.

As indicated in FIG. 11, each package utilizes a cardboard base 24. The upper surface of each base 24 is imprinted with a pattern 25 (FIGS. 9 and 10) showing the configuration of the external surface member to be formed from such package. With further reference to FIG. 11, the cut-to-size simulated logs 22 are retained upon the upper surface of the cardboard base 24 by means of a transparent covering 28. Such transparent covering is formed of a suitable synthetic plastic and may have its sides secured to the underside of the peripheral edges of the cardboard 24 by a suitable adhesive. Preferably, the upper surface of each cardboard base 24 will be imprinted with a separate numeral (such as indicated at 30 in FIGS. 2-7) which is keyed to a master plan or drawing (not shown) so as to instruct the builder as to the respective position of each of the external surface members in the completed miniature building.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, one of the packages will enclose elements such as the doors and shutters to be employed with the miniature building. A separate chimney 27 may also be provided.

In constructing one of the external surface members the transparent covering 28 is first removed from its cardboard base and the cut-to-size simulated logs placed to one side. As shown in FIG. 8, removing such logs from the cardboard base will reveal the pattern 25 of the external surface member to be constructed utilizing the contents of such package. Thereafter, as indicated in FIG. 9, the logs 22 will be positioned upon the pattern 25 and their proximate edges glued together. After the glue has dried, the now joined-together logs may be lifted from the pattern P whereupon they will have the appearance shown in FIG. 10.

After all of the external surface members have been assembled, their edges will be interconnected so as to define the completed miniature building. It should be particularly noted that with respect to the wall members 10 and 12 and 14 and 16 the adjoining logs 22 are of uneven length so that the ends thereof define notches 32. The notches 32 of one wall will releasably interlock with the corresponding notches of the adjoining wall so that the various wall members may be frictionally retained together as an integral unit. As shown in FIG. 1, the roof members 18 and 20 are retained upon the upper edges of these interlocked walls by means of the restraining sticks 23 which are previously glued to the underside of each roof half. When package P-6 shown in FIG. 7 is opened the doors 40 may be glued in the door openings 42 of the walls in either an open or closed position. Similarly, the shutters 44 may be glued to opposite sides of each window opening 46. The chimney 27 is glued upon one of the roof halves.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a child will obtain great pleasure from assembling the miniature building. Additionally, the construction by the child of such building affords entertainment while enhancing his manual dexterity. The external surface members may be easily disassembled and stored in a convenient receptacle, such as the box (not shown) originally housing the various packages P. Alternatively, the external surface members may be glued together and the building will remain in its assembled condition. It will be apparent that other types of buildings than that shown in the draw ings may be utilized.

Various other modifications may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 claim:

1. A knock-down building construction toy, comprising:

a plurality of packages, each including a base upon which is imprinted the pattern of an external surface member of a miniature building and a transparent covering for said base;

pluralities of individual construction elements, each said plurality disposed upon one of said patterns and precut to the configuration of the external surface member defined by the associated pattern, with said transparent coverings retaining said construction elements against said bases; and

means for joining said individual construction elements as the latter rest upon said pattern in the configuration of the respective external surface members, said configurations including means adapting the surface members, when completed, for joining to one another.

2. A knock-down building construction toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said individual construction elements are cut-to-size simulated logs.

3. A knock-down building construction toy as set forth in claim 1 wherein said external surface members include walls and a roof portion.

4. A knock-down building construction toy as set forth in claim 2 wherein said last recited means includes adjoining logs of uneven length to thereby define notches in some of said external surface members by which they may be releasably interlocked.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,258 2/1932 Forbes 4620 1,873,748 8/1932 Favreau 35-16 2,427,3 1 8 9/ 1947 Warren 206-46 AM 2,871,619 2/1959 Walters 3516 X 3,171,540 3/1965 Douglas 20 6 47 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

35-16; 4620; 20646 AM; 47 R

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