US4067137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible doll house
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-01
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Granted: 1978-01-10
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Expires: 1996-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A doll house which collapses, without disassembly, to permit its convenient storage. The collapsible doll house includes two full length side members which mate along their respective upper edges, thereby defining the top ridge of the doll house, and then slope outwardly and downwardly therefrom, thereby defining the sides and roof of the doll house. The lower edges of the two side members are joined by a lower horizontal member to form the floor of the doll house. Additional horizontal members joining the two side members may be provided at one or more vertical locations between the upper and lower edges of the two side members. Each horizontal member, including one preferably located near the top ridge of the doll house, comprise at least two portions, which portions are connected, respectively, to the two side members and to each other in such a manner as to permit the lower edges of the two side members to be swung toward each other when the horizontal member portions are folded, thereby resulting in a collapsed doll house having a relatively small width compared to its other dimensions.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig F. Korthase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:56
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/36; A63H3/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
A collapsible doll house, comprising: a. first and second panel members, each having top and bottom edges, said panel members being positioned relative to each other when the doll house is erect so as to (1) mate along their respective top edges to form a ridge for the doll house, and further (2) extend downwardly and outwardly from said ridge such that said lower edges are spaced a substantial distance apart, said panel members thereby forming both the side walls and the roof of the doll house when it is erect; b. an upper bracing member extending between and secured to said panel members in the vicinity of said upper edges thereof in position to be horizontally disposed between said panel members when the doll house is erect, said upper bracing member comprising first and second portions extending longitudinally of said panel members and first means positioned substantially intermediate said panel members for interconnecting said first and second longitudinal portions of said upper bracing member for relative movement about a first axis; c. a lower bracing member extending between and secured to said panel members in the vicinity of said lower edges thereof in position to be horizontally disposed between said panel members when the doll house is erect, said bracing member comprising first and second portions extending longitudinally of said panel members and second means positioned substantially intermediate said panel members for interconnecting said first and second longitudinal portions of said lower bracing member, for relative movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, so that, when the doll house is erect, upon proper movement of said first and second longitudinal portions of both said upper and lower bracing members about said axes, said lower edges of said panel members move toward each other and said upper edges of said panel members move away from each other until the distance between said panel members is substantially the same at the upper edges as at the lower edges thereof when the doll house is completely collapsed, said distance being relatively small compared to the other dimensions of said panel members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
A collapsible doll house, comprising: a. first and second panel members, each having top and bottom edges, said panel members being positioned relative to each other when the doll house is erect so as to (1) mate along their respective top edges to form a ridge for the doll house, and further (2) extend downwardly and outwardly from said ridge such that said lower edges are spaced a substantial distance apart, said panel members thereby forming both the side walls and the roof of the doll house when it is erect; b. an upper bracing member extending between and secured to said panel members in the vicinity of said upper edges thereof in position to be horizontally disposed between said panel members when the doll house is erect, said upper bracing member comprising first and second portions extending longitudinally of said panel members and first means positioned substantially intermediate said panel members for interconnecting said first and second longitudinal portions of said upper bracing member for relative movement about a first axis; c. a lower bracing member extending between and secured to said panel members in the vicinity of said lower edges thereof in position to be horizontally disposed between said panel members when the doll house is erect, said bracing member comprising first and second portions extending longitudinally of said panel members and second means positioned substantially intermediate said panel members for interconnecting said first and second longitudinal portions of said lower bracing member, for relative movement about a second axis parallel to said first axis, so that, when the doll house is erect, upon proper movement of said first and second longitudinal portions of both said upper and lower bracing members about said axes, said lower edges of said panel members move toward each other and said upper edges of said panel members move away from each other until the distance between said panel members is substantially the same at the upper edges as at the lower edges thereof when the doll house is completely collapsed, said distance being relatively small compared to the other dimensions of said panel members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article of claim 1 wherein said panel members are substantially identical in size and configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said first and second panel members each have front and rear edges connecting said top and bottom edges and wherein the article includes a front wall positioned in the vicinity of said front edges of said panel members, said front wall being configured to fit within at least a portion of the area bounded by said first and second panel members and said upper and lower bracing members, said front wall comprising a plurality of vertical portions, each vertical portion being coincident laterally between said first and second panel members with a corresponding longitudinal portion of said lower bracing member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An article of claim 3, wherein said article includes means movably connecting a sufficient number of vertical portions of said front wall to said doll house so as to permit movement of said sufficient vertical portions between a first, substantially vertical position, and a second position which is so located relative to the doll house as to facilitate collapse thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article of claim 4, wherein said second position is adjacent said lower bracing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
An article of claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal portion of said lower bracing member is divided into a first edge portion which is secured to said first panel member, and a first folding portion which abuts said first edge portion, and wherein said second longitudinal portion of said lower bracing member is divided into a second edge portion which is secured to said second panel member, and a second folding portion which abuts said second edge portion, and wherein said lower bracing member includes means rotatably connecting said first edge portion and said first folding portion, and means rotatably connecting said second edge portion and said second folding portion, along first and second dividing lines, respectively so as to permit movement of said first folding portion about said first dividing line toward the inner surface of said first panel member, and movement of said second folding portion about said second dividing line toward the inner surface of said second panel member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An article of claim 6 wherein said first and second edge portions have a width less than that of said first and second longitudinal portions of said upper bracing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
An article of claim 5 wherein said front wall includes: a first edge portion secured to said first panel member and co-extensive laterally with said first edge portion of said lower bracing member; a first collapsing portion co-extensive laterally with said first folding portion of said lower bracing member; a second collapsing portion co-extensive laterally with said second folding portion of said lower bracing member; and a second edge portion secured to said second panel member and co-extensive laterally with said second edge portion of said lower bracing member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An article of claim 8, wherein said first and second folding portions of said lower bracing member mate together in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the doll house when the doll house is erect, and wherein said first and second longitudinal portions of said upper bracing member mate together in said vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the doll house when the doll house is erect.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
An article of claim 9 including an intermediate bracing member extending between and secured to said panel members substantially intermediate said upper and lower bracing members and in position to be horizontally disposed between said panel members when the doll house is erect, said intermediate bracing member comprising in succession; a first edge portion, a first longitudinal portion, a second longitudinal portion and a second edge portion, said first and second edge portions of said intermediate bracing member being connected, respectively, to said first and second panel members, said first and second edge portions of said intermediate bracing member being movably connected, respectively, to said first and second longitudinal portions of said intermediate bracing member which in turn mate together in the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the doll house when the doll house is erect, the article further including means movably connecting said first and second longitudinal portions of said intermediate bracing member, thereby permitting relative movement of said first and second longitudinal portions of said intermediate bracing member and facilitating collapse of the doll house.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
An article of claim 10 wherein said front wall comprises upper and lower parts, said lower part extending between said lower bracing member and said intermediate bracing member, and said upper part extending between said intermediate bracing member and said upper bracing member, said upper and lower parts each comprising a plurality of vertical portions, each of the vertical portions of said upper part being laterally co-extensive with a corresponding portion of said intermediate bracing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article of claim 11 wherein said movably connecting means are hinge means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An article of claim 11 including stop means positioned near said front edge of said first and second panel members in a manner such that when said front wall contacts said stop means when the doll house is erect, said front wall is in a substantially vertical position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-09 | 1981-07-11 | 1982-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-09 | 1985-07-11 | 1986-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-09 | 1989-07-11 | 1990-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |