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US3888039A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Foldable toy building

Assignee: Fisher Price Inc
•
Filing: 1974-09-26
•
Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-09-26
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Abstract

Abstract A toy building is formed of a pair of foldable portions joined by a removable archway spanning the distance between the front corners of the building portions when they are folded up back to back. Vertical resin hinges on each of the front corners fit in vertical slots in the archway so the archway can be slid down over the hinges or lifted up from the hinges and can join the building portions in freely pivotal motion relative to each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul D Snyder
  • 👤 Ralph W Crawford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 16:13
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/16; A63H33/04; A63H33/044

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 326 words
A foldable toy building comprising: a. a pair of disconnectable building portions orientable from a folded, back-to-back disposition to an openedup disposition with said building portions set at any desired angle relative to each other; b. a separate archway removably joinable to one end of each of said building portions for releasably connecting said building portions; c. said archway spanning the distance between front corners of said building portions with said building portions in said back-to-back orientation; d. a vertically oriented resin hinge arranged on each of said building portions at each of said front corners; e. each of said hinges having a base portion interlocked with one of said building portions in a fixed relation and a free end region extending outward from said building portions and flexibly pivotal relative to said base portion and said building portion; f. each of said hinges having opposed vertical grooves inward from said free end regions of said hinges making said hinges relatively narrower in the region of said opposed grooves and relatively wider in said free end regions outward from said opposed grooves; and g. each opposite end region of said archway having a vertical slot, each of said slots having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and opening into a recess in said archway, the sides of said slots being shaped to fit in said grooves on said hinges so said archway can be slid down over said hinges and slid back up from said hinges with said free end regions of said hinges being received in said recesses of said archway and said sides of said slots having a vertically slidable fit on said hinges, the pivotal portions of which allow free pivotal motion of said building portions relative to each other and relative to said archway with said archway in place on said hinges, said building portions and archway including means by which each may stand apart from connection with the others.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 326 words
A foldable toy building comprising: a. a pair of disconnectable building portions orientable from a folded, back-to-back disposition to an openedup disposition with said building portions set at any desired angle relative to each other; b. a separate archway removably joinable to one end of each of said building portions for releasably connecting said building portions; c. said archway spanning the distance between front corners of said building portions with said building portions in said back-to-back orientation; d. a vertically oriented resin hinge arranged on each of said building portions at each of said front corners; e. each of said hinges having a base portion interlocked with one of said building portions in a fixed relation and a free end region extending outward from said building portions and flexibly pivotal relative to said base portion and said building portion; f. each of said hinges having opposed vertical grooves inward from said free end regions of said hinges making said hinges relatively narrower in the region of said opposed grooves and relatively wider in said free end regions outward from said opposed grooves; and g. each opposite end region of said archway having a vertical slot, each of said slots having a closed upper end, an open lower end, and opening into a recess in said archway, the sides of said slots being shaped to fit in said grooves on said hinges so said archway can be slid down over said hinges and slid back up from said hinges with said free end regions of said hinges being received in said recesses of said archway and said sides of said slots having a vertically slidable fit on said hinges, the pivotal portions of which allow free pivotal motion of said building portions relative to each other and relative to said archway with said archway in place on said hinges, said building portions and archway including means by which each may stand apart from connection with the others.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
The toy building of claim 1 wherein said sides of said slots are resilient enough to allow said archway to pop off said free end regions of said hinges if excessive force is applied.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The toy building of claim 1 wherein said base portions of said hinges are J-shaped in cross section and interlocked with vertical ends of walls of said building portions at said front corners.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The toy building of claim 1 wherein said archway includes a simulated traffic light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The toy building of claim 1 wherein said archway has a channel-shaped top edge providing a simulated walkway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
The toy building of claim 1 wherein said hinges allow said archway to pivot through approximately 180* relative to each of said front corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The toy building of claim 6, including latch means for securing said building portions together in said back-to-back disposition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The toy building of claim 6 wherein said base portions of said hinges are J-shaped in cross section and interlocked with vertical ends of walls of said building portions at said front corners.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The toy building of claim 8 wherein said archway includes a simulated traffic light and a channel-shaped top edge providing a simulated walkway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The toy building oF claim 9, including latch means for securing said building portions together in said back-to-back disposition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The toy building of claim 10 wherein said sides of said slots are resilient enough to allow said archway to pop off said free end regions of said hinges if excessive force is applied.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2968118A Cited
US3363360A Cited
US3478464A Cited
US3597858A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-06-09 1978-12-09 1979-06-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-06-09 1982-12-09 1983-06-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-06-09 1986-12-09 1987-06-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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