US4212130A — Playhouse with elements based on two modular units

Claim 1

Independent Claim 211 words

A modular playhouse comprising a plurality of sections, means for supporting said playhouse, said supporting means having a vertical portion determining its height and generally horizontal portion with sides determining its length and width, and means for connecting said sections ones to the others, the shapes and sizes of said sections regulated by two related modular units, a first of said modular units being essentially a right triangle so proportioned that the hypotenuse thereof is essentially twice as long as the base thereof, a second of said modular units being essentially a rectangle, the length and width of said second modular unit essentially corresponding in measurement to said hypotenuse and said base of said first modular unit respectively, said sections comprising at least one substantially triangular panel having its linear dimensions regulated by the linear dimensions of said first modular unit, and at least one substantially rectangular panel having its linear dimensions regulated by the linear dimensions of said second modular unit, and said supporting means having the linear dimension of its height regulated by the linear dimension of the height of said first modular unit and having the linear dimension of at least one of its sides regulated by the linear dimension of said hypotenuse of said first modular unit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 211 words

A modular playhouse comprising a plurality of sections, means for supporting said playhouse, said supporting means having a vertical portion determining its height and generally horizontal portion with sides determining its length and width, and means for connecting said sections ones to the others, the shapes and sizes of said sections regulated by two related modular units, a first of said modular units being essentially a right triangle so proportioned that the hypotenuse thereof is essentially twice as long as the base thereof, a second of said modular units being essentially a rectangle, the length and width of said second modular unit essentially corresponding in measurement to said hypotenuse and said base of said first modular unit respectively, said sections comprising at least one substantially triangular panel having its linear dimensions regulated by the linear dimensions of said first modular unit, and at least one substantially rectangular panel having its linear dimensions regulated by the linear dimensions of said second modular unit, and said supporting means having the linear dimension of its height regulated by the linear dimension of the height of said first modular unit and having the linear dimension of at least one of its sides regulated by the linear dimension of said hypotenuse of said first modular unit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 99 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting means comprises the lower portion of a box, at least four elongate members, and means for attaching said elongate members to said lower portion of said box to form a table-like structure, the bottom part of said lower portion of said box being essentially square and having its linear dimensions regulated by the linear dimension of said hypotenuse of said first modular unit, and said elongate members each having the linear dimension of its height regulated by the linear dimension of said height of said first modular unit.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 64 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said elongate members comprises at least four joint elements, said joint elements being affixed to the interior corners of said lower portion of said box, each of said joint elements being provided with at least one opening therein, and said elongate members being adapted to be removably inserted into said openings.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lower portion of said box is provided with a plurality of apertures near the edges of said bottom part of said box to allow said panels to be connected to said table-like structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 121 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of bendable strips and a plurality of continuous elastic bands, said panels being provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough near the peripheral edges thereof, said bendable strips being adapted for removably linking at least two of said panels through said apertures, members of pairs of said apertures being adapted to oppose one another on adjacent panels, said bendable strips being adapted to pass through and extend between said aperture pair members, and said continuous elastic bands being adapted to be removably attached under tension around opposing end portions of respective ones of said bendable strips to hold said opposing end portions contiguous one to another.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 79 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bendable strips are provided with transverse scorings, the central portions of said bendable strips being marked off by said scorings into at least two segments, said segments being at least as wide as the distance of said panel apertures from the peripheral edges of said panels, and said bendable strips being adapted to bend on said scorings so that said opposing end portions of said bendable strips are contiguous.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 5, said bendable strips being notched to retain said continuous elastic bands.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 159 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of flexible strips, said panels being provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough near the peripheral edges thereof, said flexible strips being adapted for removably linking at least two of said panels through said apertures, members of pairs of said apertures being adapted to oppose one another on adjacent panels, said flexible strips being adapted to pass through and extend between said aperture pair members, a first end portion of said flexible strips being provided with at least one pair of notches, the end portion of said flexible strips opposing said notched end portion being provided with at least one lengthwise slot therethrough, the outermost tip of said lengthwise slot being enlarged, and said notched end portion being adapted to removably pass through said lengthwise slot and reversibly twist into an interlocking position at said outermost tip for effecting joining of said flexible strips.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 151 words

A modular playhouse comprising a plurality of sections, the shapes and sizes of said sections regulated by two related modular units, a first of said modular units being essentially a right triangle so proportioned that the hypotenuse thereof is essentially twice as long as the base thereof, a second of said modular units being essentially a rectangle, the length and width of said second modular unit essentially corresponding in measurement to said hypotenuse and said base of said first modular unit respectively, means for connecting said sections ones to the others, and means for supporting said modular playhouse, said supporting means comprising the lower portion of a substantially square box adapted for packaging said sections, said box having each side about equal in length to said hypotenuse, at least four elongate members, and means for attaching said elongate members to said lower portion of said box to form a table-like structure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 151 words

A modular playhouse comprising a plurality of sections, the shapes and sizes of said sections regulated by two related modular units, a first of said modular units being essentially a right triangle so proportioned that the hypotenuse thereof is essentially twice as long as the base thereof, a second of said modular units being essentially a rectangle, the length and width of said second modular unit essentially corresponding in measurement to said hypotenuse and said base of said first modular unit respectively, means for connecting said sections ones to the others, and means for supporting said modular playhouse, said supporting means comprising the lower portion of a substantially square box adapted for packaging said sections, said box having each side about equal in length to said hypotenuse, at least four elongate members, and means for attaching said elongate members to said lower portion of said box to form a table-like structure.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 65 words

The modular playhouse as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attaching means comprise at least four joint elements, said joint elements being affixed to the interior corners of said lower portion of said box, each of said joint elements being provided with at least one opening therein, and said elongate members being adapted to be removably inserted into said openings to form a table-like structure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 111 words

The modular playhouse of claim 9 including at least one substantially equilateral-triangular panel having each side substantially equal to said hypotenuse and having at least one rectangular panel having its height equal to the height of said right triangle and its base equal to the base of said right triangle and further having at least one second rectangle having its base substantially equal to said hypotenuse and its height substantially equal to the height of said right triangle and further having at least one third rectangular member having its base substantially equal to the base of said right triangle and its height substantially equal to the hypotenuse of said right triangle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-07-15	1984-01-14	1984-07-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-07-15	1988-01-14	1988-07-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-07-15	1992-01-14	1992-07-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Playhouse with elements based on two modular units

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