US3808732A

US3808732A - Portable display toy

Info

Publication number: US3808732A
Application number: US00337962A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Cohen; D Dworkin; D Gay; W Smedley; M Nuttall; N Wilson
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1973-03-05
Filing date: 1973-03-05
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07
Also published as: CA967002A

Abstract

Two box-like portions hinged together to simulate a flight bag and having (1) simulated airplane seats, table and galley secured to the inner face of each portion, (2) a two-dimensional, simulated airplane tail hinged to one portion and (3) a twodimensional airplane nose hinged to the other portion, whereby the simulated flight bag may be spread open to represent a complete airplane in longitudinal cross-section so that a childuser may place dolls and other toys in the simulated galley and in positions at the table. For storage, the simulated airplane tail and nose are folded into the inside of the box-like portions which may then be folded together, closed with suitable fasteners and carried by a handle, just as a flight bag is carried.

Description

United States Patent [191 Gay et al.

[451 May 7,1974

[ PORTABLE DISPLAY TOY [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 337,962

[52] US. Cl. 46/12, 46/1 B, 46/19 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/06 [58] Field of Search 46/1 R, l B, l L, l2, 19,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1936 Bigelow 46/12 2/1959 Fenton 46/12 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Max E. Shirk; Franklin D.

J ankosky [57] ABSTRACT Two box-like portions hinged together to simulate a flight bag and having (1) simulated airplane seats, table and galley secured to the inner face of each portion, (2) a two-dimensional, simulated airplane tail hinged to one portion and (3) a two-dimensional airplane nose hinged to the other portion, whereby the simulated flight bag may be spread open to represent a complete airplane in longitudinal cross-section so that a child-user may place dolls and other toys in the simulated galley and in positions at the table. For storage, the simulated airplane tail and nose are folded into the inside of the box-like portions which may then be folded together, closed with suitable fasteners and carried by a handle, just as a flight bag is carried.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDuAY 1 I974 SHEET 3 [IF 4 PORTABLE DISPLAY TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

Field of the Invention The present invention pertains generally to the field of portable display toys and more particularly to a simulated flight bag toy which may be opened into a simulated airplane in longitudinal cross-section.

Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. No. 1,609,899 is one example of a prior-art publication disclosing a portable display toy which is interiorly equipped to represent the inside of a sleeping car or the like.

Additional prior art known to applicant is listed by way of illustration, but not of limitation, in separate communication to the United States Patent Office.

The present invention exemplifies improvements over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful portable display toy exemplifying improvements over prior art toys of this type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful portable display toy simulating a flight bag in a closed state and simulating an airplane in an open state.

According to the present invention, a portable display toy includes an openable and closeable case simulating, and having the external appearance of, a first object in a closed state and a vehicular object in an open state. The case includes two hinged portions and a unitary sheet hinged to each hinged portion. Each unitary sheet comprises a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle, such as an airplane, and the two hinged portions, when swung to open position, comprise a three-dimensional representation of the mid-section of the vehicle in cross-section.

Three-dimensional articles, such as simulated airplane seats, a table and a galley, are mounted in at least one of the hinged portions. Each unitary sheet may be folded into the interior of the case when it is closed to simulate a flight bag.

Various arrows are used in the drawings to indicate the direction of motion of the surfaces or elements near which they are placed.

The featuresof the present invention which are believed to be novelare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organizationand manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be under stood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a portable display toy of the present invention in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the parts in a partially open state;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the display toy of FIG. 1 in an open state;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the display toy in an open state;

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the display toy in a partially open'state;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along 99 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line l0-10 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a portable display toy constituting a presently-preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10, includes two box-like or hinged portions l2, 14 connected together by a hinge 16 for simulating a flight bag carrying case when the hinged portions are in the closed state shown in FIG. 1. Hinge 16 is affixed to the rear end 18 of hinged portion 14 and to the front end 20 of hinged portion 12.

The hinged portion 14 includes a front end 22 which is closed by an end wall 24 to which a first unitary sheet 26 is connected by a hinge 28. The rear end 18 of hinged portion 14 is closed by a wall 30 and includes an intermediate portion 32 formed by a partiallyencompassing side well 34 closing the left side 36 of hinged portion 14, while leaving the right side 38 thereof open. The hinged portion 12 includes a rear end 30 which is closed by a wall 42 to which a second unitary sheet 44 is connected by a hinge 46. The front end 20 of portion 12 is closed by a wall 48 and a partially-encompassing side wall 50 closes the left side 52 of portion 12 while leaving the right side 54 open. Each

unitary sheet

26, 44 comprises a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle, such as an airplane and the two hinged portions l2, 14, when swung to open positions, comprise a three-dimensional representation of the mid-section of the vehicle in cross-section. The first unitary sheet 26 simulates the nose or cabin of an airplane and is provided with a door 56 swingably connected to sheet 26 by a hinge 58 and a simulated pilot 60 and instruments 62 which may be painted on sheet 26. Sheet 44 simulates the tail of an airplane and is provided with simulated coat hangers 64 and a storage compartment 66 which may be painted on sheet 44. Sheet 44 also includes an upstanding tail section 68 hingedly connected to a lower tail section 70 by a hinge 72. Upstanding tail section 68 may be folded down to the position shown in FIG. 2 and is maintained in the upstanding position shown in FIG. 3 by a strap 74 having a first end 76 connected to upstanding tail section 68 and an end 78 engagable with a snap 80 carried by lower tail section 70. The

unitary sheets

26, 44 may be folded to the position shown in FIG. 2 so that they will be disposed inside display toy I0 when it is in the closed state shown in FIG. 1.

As best shown in FIG. 3, simulated windows 82 are painted on the inner surface of wall 34 of portion 14 and simulated kitchen utensils 84 are painted on the inner surface of wall 50 of portion 12. Additionally, three-

dimensional seats

86, 88 and a table 90 are mounted in portion 14 and are accessible through the open side 38 thereof and a three-dimensional counter 92 is mounted in portion 12 and is accessible through the open side 54 thereof. A vertical partition 94 is mounted in portion 12 and divides it into a pantry 96 and a simulated galley 98.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the

side walls

34, 50 may each be made from a suitable sheet of material, such as cardboard, having an arcuate section 100, a first straight section 102 extending at right angles from the lower edge 104 thereof and a second straight section 106 depending from the upper edge 108 thereof.

The front wall 24 of portion 14 and the first unitary sheet 26 may be formed from a single piece of any suitable materail, such as cardboard, and the front wall 24 is connected to side wall 34 by a connector 110 having an arcuate portion 112 and a straight portion 114. The rear wall 30 of portion 14 and the front wall 48 of portion 12 may be connected to their associated parts by

connectors

116, 118, respectively, and the rear wall 42 of portion 12 may be connected thereto by a connector 120, all of which are similar to the connector 110 and all of which may be injection molded of suitable plastic material, if desired. A carrying handle 122 may be connected to side wall 34 by a pair of clips 124, 126 to facilitate carrying toy when it is in the closed state shown in FIG. 1. Table 90 may be made from cardboard or the like and includes a table top 128 having a rear edge 130 from which a tab 132 depends and a front edge 134 from which a leg 136 depends. Table 90 may be attached to side wall 34 by adhesively securing tab 132 thereto and by adhesively securing leg 136 to the straight portion 102 of wall 34. The

seats

86, 88, FIG. 3, may comprise suitable removable doll furniture or, they may have a construction similar to that employed for table 90 and may be adhesively secured in position on floor or straight portion 102. Article partition 94 may have a curved edge 138 conforming to the shape of side wall 50 and may be secured thereto by a suitable adhesive means (not shown). Counter 92 may include a counter top 140 in which a small plastic sink 142 is mounted and is provided with a rear, upstanding wall 144 which may be adhesively secured to the side wall 50. Counter 92 also includes a depending front portion 146 having a forwardly extending tab 148 which may be adhesively secured to the floor 102. The forward end 150 of sink counter 92 is open and may be closed by securing it to front wall 48 of portion 12. Sink counter 92 also includes a swingable door 152 which,

simulates a refrigerator door and a pair of

swingable doors

154, 156 which simulate sink doors.

As best seen in FIGS. 4-7, each of the

connectors

110, 116, 118 and 120 includes a lower flange 160 which receives an associated one of the floors 102 for thestraight portion 114 and an associated one of the

curved side walls

34, 50 for the curved portion 112 and an upper flange 162 which receives an associated one of the lower edges of the

end walls

24, 30, 42 and 48 for the straight portion 114 of the associated flange and the curved portion for the curved portion of the associated flange. Each bracket includes a plurality of relieved areas 164 forming tabs 166 into which the cardboard structural portion of the

package portions

12, 14 may be sectionally engaged with a force fit.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 9, package portions l2, 14 may be secured in the closed state shown in FIG. 1 by an upper fastener 168 and a lower fastener 170. As

best seen in FIG. 9 for the fastener 170, each fastener includes a swingable tab 172 integrally formed with connector by a reduced-cross-section portion 174 fomiing a living hinge so that tab 172 may be swung into engagement with a hook 176 formed integrally with the connector 110.

While the particular portable display toy herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable display toy comprising:

an openable and closeable display case simulating,

and having the external appearance of, a first object in a closed state, said display case having a front end and a rear end when said display case is in an open state; and

a two-dimensional representation of a vehicular object provided on each of said ends, whereby said display case simulates and has the external appearance of a vehicular object in said open state, said first object being an object ordinarily associated with travel on a vehicle of the type simulated by said display case in said open state.

2. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said first object simulates an airplane flight bag.

3. A display toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said vehicular object is an airplane.

4. A portable display toy comprising:

an openable and closeable case having two hinged portions which may be swung to open positions to represent a three-dimensional representation of the midsection of a vehicle in cross-section, said midsection having a front end and a rear end; and

a unitary sheet hinged to each of said ends, each unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of said vehicle when in an extended position outside said case, said sheets being swingable to a position within said case when said case is closed.

5. A portable display toy as stated in claim 4 including three-dimensional articles mounted in at least one of said hinged portions, said articles simulating structural features usually found in a vehicle of the type portrayed by said portable display toy.

6. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion having an arcuate side wall, a

closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section; and

second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, an arcuate side wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rear mid-section of said vehicle in crossa second box-like portion having a front wall section. hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first 7. A portable display toy, comprising: box-like portion, a rear wall, a side wall and a floor; a first box-like portion having a side wall, a closed and front wall, a closed rear wall and a floor; 5 a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional repreof the other end of said vehicle and said second sentation of one end of a vehicle and said first boxbox-like portion comprising a three-dimensional like portion comprising a three-dimensional reprerepresentation of the rear mid-section of said vehisentation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle 10 cle in cross-section.

in cross-section;

Claims

1. A portable display toy comprising: an openable and closeable display case simulating, and having the external appearance of, a first object in a closed state, said display case having a front end and a rear end when said display case is in an open state; and a two-dimensional representation of a vehicular object provided on each of said ends, whereby said display case simulates and has the external appearance of a vehicular object in said open state, said first object being an object ordinarily associated with travel on a vehicle of the type simulated by said display case in said open state.

4. A portable display toy comprising: an openable and closeable case having two hinged portions which may be swung to open positions to represent a three-dimensional representation of the midsection of a vehicle in cross-section, said midsection having a front end and a rear end; and a unitary sheet hinged to each of said ends, each unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of said vehicle when in an extended position outside said case, said sheets being swingable to a position within said case when said case is closed.

6. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion having an arcuate side wall, a closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section; and a second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, an arcuate side wall and a substantially horizontal floor, a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rear mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section.

7. A portable display toy, comprising: a first box-like portion having a side wall, a closed front wall, a closed rear wall and a floor; a unitary sheet hinged to said closed front wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of one end of a vehicle and said first box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the forward mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section; a second box-like portion having a front wall hingedly connected to the rear wall of said first box-like portion, a rear wall, a side wall and a floor; and a unitary sheet hinged to said rear wall, said unitary sheet comprising a two-dimensional representation of the other end of said vehicle and said second box-like portion comprising a three-dimensional representation of the rear mid-section of said vehicle in cross-section.