US3614840A - Portable folding three dimensional scene - Google Patents

Abstract

A PORTABLE SCENE OF THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS, FOLDABLE TO FORM ITS OWN CONTAINER WITHOUT DISMANTLING THE OBJECTS.

Description

Oct. 26, 1971 5, VADELL 3,614,840

PORTABLE FOLDING THREE DIMENSIONAL SCENE Filed April 27, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HERBERT S. VADELL BYxm gozgfi A TTORNE Y Oct. 26, 1971 A E 3,614,840

PORTABLE FOLDING THREE DIMENSIONAL SCENE Filed April 27, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. HERBERT S. VADELL %amw a a,

ATTORNEY United States Paten ,1;

US. Cl. 40-126 A 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable scene of three dimensional objects, foldable to form its own container without dismantling the objects.

The invention relates generally to portable scenes and more particularly to a scene depicted with fixed threedimensional figures that is foldable to form its own container.

The art is replete with folding containers and display cases for which props have to be arranged and set out for each display and removed when the case is folded.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set scene with fixed three dimensional objects and foldable to form its own portable container.

For purposes of disclosure a scene of the nativity is described and illustrated, but it should be understood that any still scene could be depicted.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the following description, claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the scene folded to form its own container,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scene partially unfolded, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scene fully unfolded for presentation.

Referring to FIG. 1 the invention comprises a cubic container 10, the components of which swing outward to unfold a scene of fixed three-dimensional objects 12 which remain fixed to the structure whether open or closed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention more particularly comprises a horizontal square base 14 and top 15 separated by four square vertical sides of which two are oppositely disposed sides 16 and 18, one is back side 20 and one front side that is divided vertically into two front parts 22 and 24. The back side 20 is rigidly fixed by its lower horizontal edge to the base 14 at its rear edge to extend vertically upward therefrom. The opposing side 16 is vertically hinged by an edge to one vertical edge of back side 20, and the opposing side 18 is similarly hinged to the other vertical edge of back side 20. The front part 22 is verticallyl fixed to the vertical free edge of opposite side 18, and the front part 24 is similarly fixed to the opposite side 16. The top 15 is hinged by an edge to the upper horizontal edge of the back side 20 to swing over and parallel to the base 14. A beading 26 depends from the other three edges of the top 15 and is adapted to enclose the upper edges of sides 16 and 18, and the two front parts 22 and 24 when the sides and top are swung inward to hold the formed container closed at the top. Complementary catches 2 8 are fixed to the front edge of the base 14 and adjacent the lower edges of front parts 22 and 24' that cooperatively engage to hold the formed container closed at the bottom.

Two additional opposing sides 29 and 30, inboard of sides 16 and 18, are respectively hinged by a lower edge to the parallel side edges of base 14 to swing oppositely and outwardly from vertical to horizontal positions. When the scene is folded, the sides 29 and 30 are parallel and respectively adjacent to the opposite sides 16 and 18. The sides 29 and 30 are pentagonally shaped and each has an edge 32 that is contiguous with the front edge of the base 14 when in horizontal positions, and flush with the respective front parts 22 and 24 when the container 10 is closed. Angled edges 34 are opposite respective edges 32 and are angled with the back side 20 when the sides 29 and 30 are in vertical position. The other two edges 36 and 38 define angles with edges 34 to conform to the angle between each of the opposite sides 16 and 18 and their corresponding front parts 24 and 22 fixed thereto when the sides 29, 30 swing downwardly. The opposite sides 16 and 18 and the additional sides 29 and 30 form respective wings to the base 14 to enlarge the area for scenic depiction.

Three-dimensional objects 12 may be fixed to the base 14 and the additional sides 29 and 30 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Before fixing in place the objects 12 should be placed on the base 14 and held in place on the additional sides 29 and 30 when they are in the vertical position to be sure they will not interfere in this position when fixed in place.

To operate from a closed position, the top 15 is swung upward releasing the tops of the opposite sides and the two front parts of the front side. The bottoms of the two front parts are released from the catches 28, and the front parts and the attached opposite sides are swung outward. The additional sides are swung downward and the respective opposite sides and attached front parts swung back to conform with the edges of the additional sides. The top may be returned to its closed position or swung backward out of sight. The scene can be lighted fro many convenient source of electricity and a string of small colored Xmas lights.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable three-dimensional. fixed scene, foldable to form its own container and comprising: a rectangular base having a raised front sill; a rectangular back side having a raised jamb, and rigidly fixed by a lower edge to and normal with the rear edge of said base; two rectangular opposite sides, each hingedly connected by an adjacent edge to the oppositely disposed vertical edges of said back side, said opposite sides being adapted to swing outwardly from closed parallel positions to open positions; two front parts respectively and rigidly fixed to and normal with the respective free vertical edges of said opposite sides and adapted for the free vertical edges of said front parts to meet parallel with said back side When said opposite sides are closed and parallel; two quadrilateral sides hingedly connected respectively to the respective side edges of said base and adapted to swing from closed vertical parallel positions to open oppositely disposed horizontal positions congruent with said base; a rectangular top hingedly connected by a rear edge to said back side jamb, the three free edges having a depending beading fixed normal thereto, said top being adapted to swing from a closed position over and par allel to said base and with said beading enclosing the upper edges of said opposite sides and front parts to an open upward position releasing said sides and parts; and a plurality of three dimensional figures fixed to said base and said quadilateral sides and adapted not to interfere when said quadralateral sides are swung from horizontal open position to closed vertical position, whereby when said top is swung upward the opposite sides and front parts are released from the enclosing heading and may be oppositely swung outwardly thereby allowing said quadrilateral sides to swing downward and expose the three dimensional scene with said opposite sides and front parts as backdrops.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1934 Hungerford 4612 6/1959 Sellrner 40124.l

4 5/1963 Malamude 40-1241 5/1965 Bender 4612 v 8/1967 Green et a1 40-160 5 ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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