US992337A - Combined toy table and playhouse. - Google Patents

Description

P. BUTLER.

COMBINED TOY TABLE AND PLAYHOUSE.

AIPLIOATION FILED MAB-25,1910.

Patented May 16,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NI/ENTOR Qua/am WITNESSES:

P. BUTLER.

COMBINED TOY TABLE AND PLAYHOUSE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB.26,1910.

992,337. PatentedMay 16,1911.

2 SHEETS-8HBET 21 THE NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsHmcrdN, Dv'C TIN COMBINED TOY TABLE AND IPLAYHOUSE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERCE BUTLER, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Toy Table and Playhouse, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in childrens toys and more particularly to a convertible table and house.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy table which is both entertaining and instructive to children, and which is provided with members which are normally concealed from view, said members being adapted to be readily shifted to create a toy house.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for locking the said members in position when the invention is arranged in the form of a table.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which is extremely simple in construction, easy of adjustment and cheap to manufacture.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, and showing the parts assembled to form a table. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing the parts assembled to form a play-house. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the device showing in the left half, the elements assembled to form a table, and in the right half the corresponding elements assembled to form a house. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device showing in the left half the elements assembled to form atable, and in the right half the corresponding elements assembled to form a house. Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge detailed view of the locking device, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed side view of the locking device.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

Serial No. 551,508.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, the invention comprises a table provided with a preferably rectangular body comprising side rails 22, end rails 33, and legs 4, of any suitable size and material, and which may be secured together in any suitable manner.

Transversely centrally arranged across the body and secured to the rails thereof, is a diaphragm '5, which not only gives rigidity to the parts, but divides the body into upper and lower compartments.

Respeotively secured to the upper edges of the side rails 22, by hinges 14, are mem bers 11. These members project beyond the said end and side rails and normally rest thereon, the inner longitudinal edges of the said members normally abutting against each other. In this position, the said members form the top of the table. Secured to the inner edge of each member by a hinge 15 is an extension-piece 6, the outer edge thereof being beveled. The said members 11 at their lower edges at each end of the table are provided with striker plates 13,which are suitably recessed to receive the members of the locking device, hereinafter more fully described. On the inner side of each end rail 3, and near the diaphragm 5, are arranged hinges 16-16 to which are secured members 77 which constitute the gable ends of the house. These members are each formed at the top to resemble a chimney. On the outer side of each member 7, is secured by a hinge 19, a roof extension 8; the hinge being so arranged that the said roof extension 8 will readily fall to a horizontal position when the member 7 is in an upright position.

Secured to each side rail 2, below the diaphragm 5, by hinges 17 are house wall members 9, which are painted or decorated externally in any suitable manner to resemble a house. These members 9 may be provided, if desired, with doors and windows. These wall members, when lowered, fill the side spaces between the legs 4, when used as a toy-house, as will be hereinafter explained. Arranged beneath the wall members 9 and secured to the end rails 3, by hinges 18, are end house members 10, which are adapted, when lowered, to fill the end spaces between the legs 4, when used as a toy-house.

l/Vhen the parts are assembled to form a table, as shown in Fig. 1, means are employed to lock the said hinge members against accidental displacement. These means are preferably arranged at each end of the table body and comprise a vertical shaft 12, provided at its upper ends with T-heads 120, which turn in the recesses formed in the members 1, above the striker plates 13, above referred to. The bottom of the shaft is provided with a lug 121, adapted to engage the lower surface of the lowermost wall member 9. The said lug 121 is provided with a projecting threaded operating arm 11, by which the shaft may be turned. It will be noted that as the shaft is turned the T-head 120 is disengaged from the recess above the striker, plate 13 and simultaneously the lug 121 is disengaged from the wall'member 9, thereby permitting the raising of the roof member 1 and the dropping of the wall members 9 and 10.

In setting up the house, after the abovementioned means has been disengaged, the extension-pieces (3 of the members 1 are swung outwardly. The gables 7 are then swung upwardly into a vertical position and the roof extensions 8-8 are folded downwardly in a horizontal position. The extensions 6-6 of said top members 11 are then brought together bet-ween the gables 7 7 the beveled edges 6060 of the extension-pieces 6-6 abutting together to form the apex of the house. It will also be noted that the ends of the said members 1-1 extend beyond the gables. When the said gables are positioned vertically, the roof extensions 8- 8, which are hingedly connected thereto, drop by gravity upon the said extending ends of the members 1-1 and thereby complete the top of the roof beyond the gables.

To convert the play-house into a table, the top pieces 11,with their extension-pieces 6-G, are raised sufiiciently to permit of the gables 7--7 to be folded inwardly into their concealed position above the diaphragm 5, and between the said side and end rails. The extension-pieces 66 are then swung to a position under the said top members l1, and the said members 1-1, together with the extensions (3-6, are then dropped downwardly upon the rails to ointly form the top for the table. The end wall members 101O and the side wall members 99 are then folded upwardly to a position below the diaphragm 5, and between the said end and side rails. In this position, the gables, together with the roof extension, end and side walls, are all arranged within the side and end rails and below the top of the table. The shafts 1212 are then rotated as before explained, to lock the various parts in the above described positions.

lVhat I claim is 1. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination a frame, side and end members hingedly connected to the frame for forming the walls of a house, and top members hingedly connected to the frame for forming the roof of a house.

2. A convertible table and house, including a frame, members hingedly connected to the frame to form in one position a table top, and other members connected and cooperating therewith to form in another position a roof of a house.

3. A convertible table and house, including a frame, members hingedly connected to the frame to form in one position a table top, and extension pieces hingedly connected and cooperating therewith to form in another position a roof of a house.

-it. A convertible table and house, in eluding side and end rails, members hingedly connected to the side rails to form in one position a table top, and extension pieces connected and cooperating therewith to form in another position a roof of a house.

5. A convertible table and house, including side and end rails, members hingedly connected to the side rails to form in one position a table top, extension pieces connected and cooperating therewith to form in another position a roof of a house, and members hingedly connected to the end rails to form roof gables.

6. A convertible table and house, including a frame, supporting legs for the frame, and members hingedly connected to the frame for forming in one position the walls of a house.

7. A convertible table and house, including a frame, supporting legs for the frame, members hingedly connected to the frame for forming in one position the walls of a house, and means for locking the members to the frame in an inoperative position.

8. A convertible table and house, including side and end rails, members hingedly connected to the said rails for forming the walls of a house.

9. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side and end rails, a top consisting of two tiltable members respectively hingedly connected to each side rail to form in one position a portion of the roof of the house, extension-pieces respectively hingedly connected to the inner edges of the said members to form in one position the apex of the roof, and upright pieces respectively hinged to the end rails and adapted to be folded beneath the plane of the top or raised to an upright position to form roof gables.

10. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side and end rails, a top consisting of two tiltable members respectively hingedly connected to each side rail to form in one position a portion of the roof of the house, extension-pieces respectively hingedly connected to the inner edges f of the said members to form in one position the apex of the roof, and upright pieces respectively hinged to each end rail so that each may be folded beneath the plane of the top or raised to an upright position to form roof gables, each upright provided with a hinged roof extension adapted when the said upright pieces are vertical to fit between the two tiltable members of the top.

11. A convertible table and house, comprising in combination, side and end rails, supporting legs connected thereto, a transverse diaphragm centrally arranged within the rails, roof forming members hingedly connected to the rails above the diaphragm, some of the members forming in one position a top for the table, and house-wall members hingedly connected to the rails below the diaphragm and adapted in one position .to be arranged between the legs of the said table and in another position to be concealed from view between the rails and below the diaphragm.

12. A toy table comprising legs, a rectangular body and divided top, extensionpieces hingedly connected to the top, the top and extension pieces being adapted to be arranged in an inclined position to form the roof of a house, gable members connected to the body and adapted to engage with the pieces of the top when inclined, and house Wall members connected to the body and depending therefrom.

13. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame consisting of side rails and end rails, supporting legs connected thereto, a top in two pieces, one hinged to each side rail and adapted to be swung thereon, to form roof members, extension-pieces, one infolded against each top piece and adapted when unfolded to be brought to engage each other to form a roof peak, in combination with house wall members hinged to the side and end rails and adapted to be folded within the body and unfolded to convert the device into a house.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular frame, supporting legs connected thereto, a divided hinge top, an extension piece hinged to each top piece, gable pieces hinged to the frame, house wall pieces hinged to the frame, and means for securing the top and house wall pieces together so that the device constitutes a table.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PIERCE BUTLER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. COURTENAY, Jr., Bn'r'rm A. ALLMoNn.

Copies of this patent ma; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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