US20100184354A1

US20100184354A1 - Toy house

Info

Publication number: US20100184354A1
Application number: US12/354,870
Authority: US
Inventors: Darla Stevens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-01-16
Publication date: 2010-07-22

Abstract

Disclosed is a toy house for storing and displaying at least one toy. The toy house includes a body portion, a door and a name plate. The body portion is configured to define an interior space for storing the at least one toy. The door is hingedly connected to the body portion and is configured to provide access to the interior space. The door includes a door closing mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of the door. The name plate is removably disposed on at least one of the body portion and the door. Further, the name plate includes at least one indicium configured thereon.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to toy storage apparatuses, and, more particularly, to a toy house for storing and displaying at least one toy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toys are objects that are generally used by children for playing. Further, the toys may be configured to serve multiple purposes, for example, the toys may be used for entertainment of children, for providing educational awareness amongst the children, for enhancing cognitive behavior, and for stimulating creativity in the children. Still further, the toys may positively impact the physical development, emotional development, and social development of children. Generally, children tend to accumulate large number of such toys as per their liking.
Usually, the toys are stored in conventional storage systems, such as toy boxes, chests, closets, and the like. Although these conventional storage systems are capable of storing a plurality of toys, the use of the conventional storage systems is associated with numerous limitations. For example, the conventional storage systems are incapable of displaying the toys stored therewithin, in order to be easily located by children. Further, due to cumbersome structures of the conventional storage systems, such systems are difficult to be carried by the children. Moreover, the conventional storage systems generally provide a cluttered arrangement of the toys stored therewithin, and further, may prove to be disruptive for the children.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a toy house that is capable of displaying toys stored therewithin. Further, there is a need for a toy house that is compact and is capable of being carried easily. Furthermore, there is a need for a toy house that is capable of storing the toys in a systematic manner. Additionally, there is a need for a toy house that is simple in construction and is easy-to-use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a toy house that is configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the limitations inherent therein.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toy house that is capable of displaying toys stored therewithin.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy house that is compact, and is capable of being carried easily.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a toy house that is capable of storing toys in a systematic manner.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a toy house that is simple in construction and easy-to-use.
In light of the above objects, a toy house is disclosed. The toy house includes a body portion, a door and a name plate. The body portion is configured to define an interior space for storing at least one toy. The door is hingedly connected to the body portion and is configured to provide access to the interior space. The door includes a door closing mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of the door. The name plate is removably disposed on at least one of the body portion and the door. Further, the name plate includes at least one indicium configured thereon.
This together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, is pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a toy house, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the toy house, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular toy house, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Unless limited otherwise, the terms, “connected,” “disposed” and variations thereof herein are used broadly, and may encompass direct and indirect connections and arrangements, to define association among various elements.
The term “user” may refer to a child, a parent of the child, a care taker of the child, and the like.
The present invention discloses a toy house for storing and displaying at least one toy. Suitable examples of the at least one toy include, but are not limited to stuffed toys, and more specifically, stuffed animals. The toy house includes a body portion that defines an interior space for storing the at least one toy, a door hingedly connected to the body portion, and a name plate removably disposed on at least one of the body portion and the door. The toy house of the present invention is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a toy house 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The toy house 100 includes a body portion 102, a door 104 and a name plate 106.
The body portion 102 is configured to store at least one toy (not shown) therewithin. The body portion 102 may be configured to have a cubical shape, a trapezoidal shape, a rectangular shape, or such other shape. In the present embodiment of the present invention, the body portion 102 may be designed as a cube, which may have a dimension ranging from about 6 inches to about 14 inches, and accordingly, the body portion 102 may serve as a mini compartment. The body portion 102 includes a top panel 108, a bottom panel 110, a first side panel 112, a second side panel 114, a rear panel 116 and a front panel 118 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “plurality of panels”). The first side panel 112, the second side panel 114, the rear panel 116, and the front panel 118 are configured to connect the top panel 108 to the bottom panel 110 (as shown in FIG. 1). Further, the first side panel 112 and the second side panel 114 are configured to connect the rear panel 116 to the front panel 118 (as shown in FIG. 1). Specifically, the first side panel 112, the second side panel 114, the rear panel 116, and the front panel 118 may be configured to connect the top panel 108 to the bottom panel 110 by various means known to the person skilled in the art. For example, the first side panel 112, the second side panel 114, the rear panel 116, and the front panel 118 may be configured to connect the top panel 108 to the bottom panel 110 by means, such as welding, brazing, soldering, and the like. Similarly, the first side panel 112 and the second side panel 114 may be configured to connect the rear panel 116 to the front panel 118 by means known to the person skilled in the art. Further, the body portion 102 is configured to define an interior space 120 amongst the plurality of panels. The interior space 120 is utilized to store the at least one toy therewithin.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of panels may be configured to form an open mesh structure for displaying the at least one toy stored within the toy house 100. Specifically, the each of the plurality of panels may be constructed of a plurality of plastic coated wires or a plurality of plastic wires. Accordingly, the body portion 102 may be constructed of the plurality of plastic coated wires to form a housing, such as a wire crate. More specifically, the each of the plurality of panels may include a sturdy frame member, such as a frame member 122. The plurality of plastic coated wires may be woven on the frame member 122. The each of the plurality of panels may be configured to form an open mesh structure by means of any other conventional fabrication methods known to the person skilled in the art.
It would be obvious to the person skilled in the art that the each of the plurality of panels may be configured to form a structure other than the open mesh structure. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the open mesh structure formed by the each of the plurality of panels. Based on the foregoing, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom panel 110 may be configured to assume a solid non-mesh structure.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the each of the plurality of panels may be composed of a continuous sheet having a plurality of holes punched therethrough for display purposes. Such a sheet may be a sheet of a lightweight material, such as a plastic material. Accordingly, the body portion 102 may be composed of a plastic material. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the each of the plurality of panels may be composed of a continuous sheet of a plastic material, which is transparent. It would be understood that in all of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, the each of the plurality of panels may be configured to have sufficient strength to provide a free-standing thereof.
Still further, referring to the present embodiment of the present invention and as shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 118 includes an opening (not numbered) configured thereon. The opening is configured to provide access to the interior space 120 of the toy house 100. The opening may be selectively accessed by a user by means of the door 104. Specifically, the opening is configured to accommodate the door 104. The door 104 is hingedly connected to the body portion 102. More specifically, the door 104 is hingedly connected to a first longitudinal edge portion 124 of the front panel 118. Further, the door 104 is hingedly connected to the first longitudinal edge portion 124 of the front panel 118 by means of various hinge mechanisms known to the person skilled in the art. Although in the present embodiment of the present invention, the door 104 is hingedly connected to the first longitudinal edge portion 124 of the front panel 118, the hinged connection of the door 104 is not restricted to the front panel 118 only. The door 104 may be hingedly connected to any other panel, such as the top panel 108, of the plurality of panels, as per a manufacturer's preference.
The door 104 is configured to provide access to the interior space 120, as the door 104 includes a door closing mechanism 126 (shown with the help of an encircled portion of FIG. 1) for facilitating the opening and closing of the door 104. In one embodiment of the present invention, the door closing mechanism 126 is a latch mechanism. Accordingly, the “door closing mechanism 126” may hereinafter interchangeably be referred to as “latch mechanism 126”). The latch mechanism 126 may include a handle 128 and a hook 130. The handle 128 may be hingedly disposed on the door 104 and the hook 130 may be disposed on the front panel 118. Specifically, the handle 128 may be hingedly disposed on the door 104 by means of various hinge mechanisms known to the person skilled in the art. The handle 128 includes an elongated portion 132 a and a semicircular portion 132 b extending from the elongated portion 132 a. The semicircular portion 132 b of the handle 128 is configured to be received in a notch 134, which is configured on the hook 130, for securing the handle 128 to the hook 130.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the door closing mechanism 126 is a magnetic door closing mechanism. The magnetic door closing mechanism includes a handle and a hook. The handle of the magnetic door closing mechanism is similar in structure and configuration to the handle 128 of the latch mechanism 126. Further, the handle of the magnetic door closing mechanism may be composed of a material, such as an iron, which may be easily attracted by a magnet. Further, the hook of the magnetic door closing mechanism is similar in structure and configuration to the hook 130 of the latch mechanism 126. Furthermore, the hook of the magnetic door closing mechanism is composed of a magnetic material. Accordingly, the hook of the magnetic door closing mechanism is configured to secure the handle of the magnetic door closing mechanism thereto by a magnetic force of attraction. It would be understood that the description of the present invention with respect to the particular door closing mechanisms, such as the latch mechanism 126 and the magnetic door closing mechanism, should not construed as a limitation of the present invention. Accordingly, the door closing mechanism 126 may be configured to be any other mechanism known to the person skilled in the art for facilitating the opening and closing of the door 104.
Further, the door 104 may be configured to form an open mesh structure. The open mesh structure is configured to display the at least toy stored within the toy house 100. Accordingly, in one embodiment of present invention, the door 104 may be constructed of a plurality of plastic coated wires, which may be similar to the plurality of plastic coated wires that may be used for constructing the each of the plurality of panels of the body portion 102. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the door 104 may be composed of a thin material sheet having a plurality of holes punched therethrough. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the door 104 may be configured to form an open mesh structure by means of any other conventional fabrication method and means known to the person skilled in the art. In another embodiment, the door 104 may be constructed of a plurality of plastic wires. In yet another embodiment, the door 104 may be constructed using a continuous sheet of a plastic material.
Furthermore, the name plate 106 of the toy house 100 may be removably disposed on the door 104. In another embodiment of the present invention, the name plate 106 may be removably disposed on the body portion 102. The name plate 106 may be removably disposed on the at least one of the door 104 and the body portion 102, by various conventional means, such as a hook, a clip, and the like. More specifically, the hook or the clip may be disposed on a back portion (not shown) of the name plate 106. Accordingly, the name plate 106 may be removably disposed to the open mesh structure of the door 104 by means of the hook or the clip. The name plate 106 may be removably disposed to the open mesh structure of the door 104 by various other means known to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
The name plate 106 includes at least one indicium, such as, for example, “Toy House”, configured on a front surface (not numbered) thereof. The at least one indicium may be configured in the form of text. The text may be configured in written, printed or any other form known to the person skilled in the art. Alternately, the at least one indicium may be configured in the form of various other letters, symbols, abbreviations, drawings, and the like. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to a specific type of indicium used on the name plate 106. The at least one indicium may be configured in a customized way as per the user's requirement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the name plate 106 is configured to glow in dark. Specifically, the name plate 106 may be constructed of a material capable of glowing in the dark. More specifically, the at least one indicium may be composed of a material, such as phosphor, which is capable of glowing in the dark.
Moreover, in one embodiment of the present invention, the toy house 100 includes a handgrip member 136. The handgrip member 136 is disposed on the body portion 102 of the toy house 100. The handgrip member 136 may be disposed on the body portion 102 using various mechanisms, such as welding, brazing, soldering, and the like, known to a person skilled in the art. The handgrip member 136 is configured to facilitate the user to easily carry the toy house 100 as per his/her requirement.
Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the toy house 100 includes at least one hook means, and more specifically, a pair of hooks, such as a hook 138 a and a hook 138 b (hereinafter collectively referred to as “pair of hooks 138”). The pair of hooks 138 may be disposed on the body portion 102 of the toy house 100. More specifically, the hook 138 a is disposed on a corner portion 140 a and the hook 138 b is disposed on a corner portion 140 b of the body portion 102. Further, the hook 138 a may be disposed on the corner portion 140 a and the hook 138 b may be disposed on the corner portion 140 b of the body portion 102 by various means, such as welding, brazing, soldering, and the like, known to the person skilled in the art. The pair of hooks 138 is configured to facilitate mounting of the toy house 100 on a wall of a room where the toy house needs to be placed.
The at least one toy, as described herein, may be a stuffed animal. Specifically, the stuffed animal may be designed to have a shape of a specific animal. Suitable examples of the stuffed animal may include, but are not limited to, a Build-A-Bear toy, a teddy bear toy, a bunny toy, a hamster toy, and a hippo toy.
FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a toy house 200, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The toy house 200 includes a body portion 202, a door 204 and a name plate 206. The body portion 202 is configured to store at least one toy (not shown) therewithin. The body portion 202 includes a top panel 208, a bottom panel 210, a first side panel (not shown), a second side panel (not shown), a rear panel (not shown) and a front panel 212 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “plurality of panels”). Further, panels of the plurality of panels of the body portion 202 are connected to each other in a way similar to panels of the plurality of panels of the body portion 102 of FIG. 1. Furthermore, the body portion 202 is configured to define an interior space (not shown) amongst the plurality of panels. The interior space is utilized to store the at least one toy therein. Moreover, the front panel 212, the rear panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel may be constructed of a plurality of elongated members, such as an elongated member 214 a. Such elongated members may hereinafter collectively be referred to as “plurality of elongated members 214”. Each of the plurality of elongated members 214 is configured to be spaced apart at a distance from each other for enabling proper display of the at least one toy stored therewithin. In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of elongated members 214 may be composed of a plastic material. Further, the top panel 208 and the bottom panel 210 may be composed of a sheet without any holes or openings thereon. Furthermore, the front panel 212 includes an opening, which is similar to the opening of the front panel 118 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the structure and configuration of the opening of the front panel 212 is not described in detail herein for the sake of brevity.
The door 204 is hingedly connected to the body portion 202. More specifically, the door 204 is hingedly connected to a first longitudinal edge portion 216 of the front panel 212 in a way similar to the hinged connection of the door 104 to the first longitudinal edge portion 124 of the front panel 118 of FIG. 1. Further, the door 204 is constructed of a plurality of elongated members, such as the plurality of elongated members 214. Further, the door includes a door closing mechanism 218. The door closing mechanism 218 is similar in structure and configuration to the door closing mechanism 126 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the structure and configuration of the door closing mechanism 218 is not described in detail herein for the sake of brevity.
Further, the name plate 206 may be removably disposed on the top panel 208. Furthermore, the name plate 206 is similar in configuration to the name plate 106 of FIG. 1, and accordingly, the structure and configuration of the name plate 206 is not described in detail herein for the sake of brevity. More specifically, the name plate 206 may be removably disposed on the top panel 208 in a way similar to the name plate 106 removably disposed on the door 104. Moreover, the toy house 200 further includes a handgrip member 220 and a pair of hooks, such as a hook 222 a and a hook 222 b (hereinafter collectively referred to as “pair of hooks 222”). The handgrip member 220 and the pair of hooks 222 are similar in structure and configuration to the handgrip member 136 and the pair of hooks 138, respectively. Accordingly, the structure and configuration of the handgrip member 220 and the pair of hooks 222 are not described in detail herein for the sake of brevity.
Moreover, the toy house, such as the toy house 100 and the toy house 200, of the present invention, may be manufactured using a variety of color schemes and styles, as per a manufacturer's preference. Accordingly, the toy house may be designed to have an aesthetic appearance, which is appealing to the eyes of children. Further, the toy house may be a stackable toy house. Furthermore, the toy house is a portable toy house, as material used for manufacturing the toy house is a lightweight material. Specifically, the toy house may be configured to have a weight ranging from about 1 to about 2 pounds.
Various embodiments of the present invention offer the following advantages. The toy house, such as the toy house 100 and the toy house 200, as described herein above, is capable of displaying toys stored therewithin. Further, the toy house is compact and is capable of being carried easily. Still further, the toy house is simple in construction and is easy-to-use. Furthermore, the toy house is capable of storing toys in a systematic manner.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A toy house, the toy house comprising:

a body portion defining an interior space for storing at least one toy;

a door hingedly connected to the body portion, the door configured to provide access to the interior space of the body portion, the door comprising a door closing mechanism for facilitating opening and closing of the door; and

a name plate removably disposed on at least one of the body portion and the door, the name plate comprising at least one indicium configured thereon.

2. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the body portion is composed of a plastic material.

3. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the door is composed of a plastic material.

4. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the body portion is constructed of a plurality of plastic coated wires to form a housing.

5. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the door is constructed of a plurality of plastic coated wires.

6. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the name plate is constructed of a material capable of glowing in dark.

7. The toy house of claim 1 further comprising a handgrip member disposed on the body portion for carrying the toy house.

8. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the body portion is of a cubical shape.

9. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the at least one toy is a stuffed animal.

10. The toy house of claim 1 further comprising at least one hook means disposed on the body portion for facilitating mounting of the toy house on a wall.

11. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the door closing mechanism is a latch mechanism.

12. The toy house of claim 1, wherein the door closing mechanism is a magnetic door closing mechanism.