Double-hinged, modular panel system especially suited for playgrounds and playrooms

Claim 2

As a structural unit for the construction of play houses and mazes in play areas, a rigid rectilinear frame adapted to be supported in upright position, the lower side of said frame comprising a projection at one end thereof adapted to form part of a rotating joint, the other end of the lower side of said frame containing castor means, the upper side of said frame opposite said projection comprising pole supporting means whereby the frame may be supported from above by a pole held in the pole supporting means; a stationary panel attached to cover the opening in the frame, a first pivotable panel of approximately the same size as the staionary panel attached to said first side for pivoting about two vertical axes by a Jacobs-ladder type of double hinge whereby said pivotable panel may be opened in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction with respect to the stationary panel, a second pivotable panel corresponding to said first pivotable panel attached to the second side of said frame for pivoting about two vertical axes by a Jacobs-ladder type of double hinge.

Claim 3

The unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said second pivotable panels and the Jacobs-ladder type hinges is formed from a single sheet of relatively rigid material, said single sheet of material being cut to form a central panel, which is to be the pivotable panel, a half-panel extending from the upper portion of one side of the central panel, and a half-panel extending from the lower portion of the other side of the central panel, said half-panels being scored adjacent the connections to the central panel to form hinges, and also being scored adjacent the ends thereof to form hinges, said half-panels crossing over the central panel and the ends of the half-panels which extend beyond the hinge score lines being connected to said frame.

Claim 4

The structural unit as claimed in claim 1 comprising a two-part telescoping pole having a concentric projection of reduced diameter on the exposed end of the part of smaller diameter, the two parts of the pole being urged apart by an internal compression spring, said frame containing an opening adapted to receive said concentric projection of reduced diameter.

Claim 5

As a play area device, at least three unit frame devices each comprising a rigid rectilinear frame adapted to be supported in upright position, the lower side of said frame comprising a projection at one end thereof adapted to form part of a rotating joint, the other end of the lower side of said frame containing castor means, the upper side of said frame opposite said projection comprising pole supporting means whereby the frame may be supported from above by a pole held in the pole supporting means, a first side of said frame containing a first stationary panel attached to cover a first side of the opening in the frame, a first pivotable panel of approximately the same size as the stationary panel attached to said first side for pivoting about two vertical axes by a Jacobs-ladder type of double hinge, whereby said pivotable panel may be opened in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction with respect to the stationary panel, a second stationary panel attached to the second side of the opening of said frame, a second pivotable panel corresponding to said first pivotable panel attached to the second side of said frame for pivoting about two vertical axes, a plurality of floor pads corresponding to the number of frame units each adapted to form a rotatable joint with the projection of the lower side of one of said frame units, a plurality of poles one positioned in each of the pole holding means which is directly above the projection on the bottom side of each frame, roof means comprising a rigid sheet with positioning openings therein, said poles passing through the openings in the roof means and being attached to the roof means, said pads being positioned directly below the holes in the roof means whereby to support each of the poles and the frame units in a vertical position.

Claim 6

As a play area device, at least three unit frame devices each comprising a rigid rectilinear frame adapted to be supported in upright position, the lower side of said frame comprising a projection at one end thereof adapted to form part of a rotating joint, the other end of the lower side of said frame containing castor means, the upper side of said frame opposite said projection comprising pole supporting means whereby the frame may be supported from above by a pole held in the pole supporting means, a first side of said frame containing a first stationary panel attached to cover a first side of the opening in the frame, a first pivotable panel of approximately the same size as the stationary panel attached to said first side for pivoting about two vertical axes by a Jacobs-ladder type of double hinge, whereby said pivotable panel may be opened in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction with respect to the stationary panel, a second stationary panel attached to the second side of the opening of said frame, a second pivotable panel corresponding to said first pivotable panel attached to the second side of said frame for pivoting about two vertical axes, a plurality of floor pads corresponding to the number of frame units each adapted to form a rotatable joint with the projection of the lower side of one of said frame units, a plurality of poles one positioned in each of the pole holding means which is directly above the projection on the bottom side of each frame, roof means comprising a rigid sheet with positioning openings therein, said poles passing through the openings in the roof means and being attached to the roof means, said pads being positioned directly below the holes in the roof means whereby to support each of the poles and the frame units in a vertical position.

Claim 7

The play area device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the holes in said roof are fitted with sleeve devices adapted to receive the ends of said poles but having means to prevent the poles from passing therethrough, whereby the roof may be held in position on the poles by gravity.