Abstract:
A collapsible toy structure has a back support, a counter top pivotably connected to the back support, a front wall that is pivotably connected to underside of the counter top, a locking mechanism having a block secured to the back support and a locking bar rotatably connected to the block, a left side wall having a left front panel, and a right side wall having a right front panel. The toy structure assumes a collapsed position with the counter top pivoted to an upright position against the back support, the front wall pivoted to an upright position against the counter top, the left front panel and the right front panel pivoted against the front wall, and with the locking bar rotated to a position where its opposite ends are positioned against the left front panel and the right front panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toys, and more particularly to larger toy structures, such as kitchens and workbenches, that may be collapsed, such as for storage 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Life-size toy structures have become popular with children as they allow a child to re-create a real-life experience with a toy structure. Good examples include toy kitchens and toy workbenches that are now being made of a larger size so that a child can play with these structures as if the structure were a real kitchen or workbench. 
     Unfortunately, these larger toy structures consume significant space. Because of their size, many such toy structures cannot be stored as assembled in narrow or small areas, such as under beds or in some closets. Therefore, the toy structures may have to be partially disassembled into parts small enough to store in those areas. However, such disassembly (and subsequent assembly) may be time-consuming and parts of the toy kitchen may be lost during the storage process. 
     Therefore, there may be a need for toy structures, such as kitchens and workbenches, that may be quickly collapsed for storage in narrow or small areas without removal of numerous parts. There is also a need for toy structures that may likewise be quickly redeployed to its expanded position for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible toy structure comprising a back support, a counter top pivotably connected to the back support, and a front wall that is pivotably connected to underside of the counter top. A locking mechanism has a block coupled to the back support and a locking bar rotatably connected to the block. The structure also has a left side wall having a left rear panel and a left front panel, the left rear panel having a rear edge that is secured is the left edge of the back support, and a front edge that is pivotably connected to the left front panel. The structure further includes a right side wall having a right rear panel and a right front panel, the right rear panel having a rear edge that is secured is the right edge of the back support, and a front edge that is pivotably connected to the right front panel. The toy structure assumes a collapsed position with the counter top pivoted to an upright position against the back support, the front wall pivoted to an upright position against the counter top, the left front panel and the right front panel pivoted against the front wall, and with the locking bar rotated to a position where its opposite ends are positioned against the left front panel and the right front panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a collapsible toy kitchen according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the kitchen of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  shows the kitchen of  FIG. 1  in the fully collapsed position. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the same kitchen of  FIG. 3A  but with some of the components removed. 
         FIGS. 4, 5, 6A, 7 and 8  illustrate the steps for deploying the kitchen of  FIG. 3  into a fully expanded position for use. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates the same kitchen of  FIG. 6A  but with a part of the side wall removed to illustrate the internal components. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a collapsible toy workbench according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the workbench of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows the workbench of  FIG. 9  in the fully collapsed position. 
         FIGS. 12A, 13, 14A and 15  illustrate the steps for deploying the workbench of  FIG. 11  into a fully expanded position for use. 
         FIG. 12B  illustrates the same workbench of  FIG. 12A  but with some of the components removed. 
         FIG. 14B  illustrates the same kitchen of  FIG. 14A  but with a part of the side wall removed to illustrate the internal components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a collapsible toy kitchen  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The collapsible toy kitchen  100  is shown in  FIG. 1  in the expanded position, for use. The collapsible toy kitchen  100  may include a back support  102 , a kitchen counter  104 , a front wall  106  and two side walls  108  and  110 . 
     The back support  102  may include a back wall  112  and a lower back support  130 . The back wall  112  and lower back support  130  can be provided in one piece, or they can be separated. The back wall  112 , two side walls  114  and  116 , a horizontal panel  120  and a top wall  122  together enclose and define an interior space that can be further divided up by shelving panels  124  and dividing walls  126 . All of these walls and panels  114 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  are attached to the back wall  112 . A faucet  118  can be connected to the horizontal panel  120 , and optional doors  128  can be hingedly connected (e.g., via hinges  198  as shown in  FIG. 6B ) to certain dividing walls  126  or side walls  114 ,  116  to enclose storage areas. 
     Each side wall  108  and  110  can be provided in two separate pieces that can be hingedly or pivotably connected to each other. Specifically, each side wall  108 ,  110  has a rear panel  132  and a front panel  134 . The rear edge  136  of the rear panel  132  can be fixedly attached to a side edge of the lower back support  130 . The front edge  138  of the rear panel  132  and the rear edge  140  of the front panel  134  can be hingedly connected (e.g., via hinges  142  as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 and 6B ) to each other. Legs  144  can be defined at the bottom of the panels  132  and  134 . 
     The kitchen counter  104  can include a countertop  150  and one or more kitchen components. The kitchen components may be positioned on and/or extend through the countertop  150 , and can include a range  152  connected to the countertop  150 , and a sink  154  extending through the countertop  150 . The faucet  118 , range  152  and sink  154 , as well as other elements of the toy kitchen may be considered toys and thus not be “operational” as their real counterparts, though in another embodiment one or more of those elements may actually be operational to a limited extent to simulate real play. 
     The kitchen counter  104  may be pivotably connected to the back wall  112  or other part of the back support  102 , as desired. In one such embodiment, a rear edge of the kitchen counter  104  is pivotably connected (e.g., via hinges  158 ) to the horizontal panel  120 . 
     The front wall  106  includes a wall portion with two doors  160  hingedly connected (e.g., via hinges) thereto. The upper edge  162  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the front wall  106  is pivotably connected via hinges  178  (see  FIG. 6B ) to the underside of the kitchen counter  104  at a location that is offset from the front edge  164  of the kitchen counter  104 . Legs  166  can be defined at the bottom of the front wall  106 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 and 6B , a lower horizontal panel  180  is hingedly connected at its rear edge via hinges  184  to another horizontal panel  182  that extends from the lower back support  130 . The front edge of the panel  180  is hingedly connected to the interior surface of the front wall  106  via hinges  190 . A locking mechanism is provided on the panel  180 . The locking mechanism includes a stationary mounting block  170  that is securely mounted to the panel  180 , and a pivoting bar  172  pivotably secured to the front of the block  170 . The depth of the block  170  is dimensioned so that it is slightly larger than the width of the rear panels  132 , so as to allow the bar  172  to snugly overlie the outsides of the front panels  134  after they have been folded towards each other in the collapsed position. 
     In addition, referring to  FIG. 7 , the front panels  134  can be secured to the front wall  106  via threaded connections by the use of screws  176 . 
       FIGS. 3-8  illustrate how the kitchen  100  can be collapsed and deployed. Starting with  FIGS. 1 and 8 , the kitchen  100  is shown in the fully deployed position. Trays B and cups C can be removed from the storage compartments in the back support  102 . In  FIG. 7 , the screws  176  can be removed, and then the front panels  134  can be pivoted away from each other (see  FIGS. 5 and 6A ), so as to allow the front wall  106  to be pushed upwardly about the pivoting connections (i) defined by the hinges  178  between the upper edge  162  of the front wall  106  and the underside of the kitchen counter  104 , (ii) defined by the hinges  158  between the kitchen counter  104  and the panel  120 , (iii) defined by the hinges  190  between the front edge of the panel  180  and the front wall  106 , and (iv) defined by the hinges  184  between the rear edge of the panel  180  and the front edge of the panel  182 . This allows the kitchen counter  104  to be pushed against the back board  102  (with the faucet  118  fitting inside the sink  154 ), and the front wall  106  to be pushed against the underside of the kitchen counter  104 , with the panel  180  sandwiched between the front wall  106  and the lower back support  130 , and positioned below the kitchen counter  104 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the front panels  134  can then be pivoted towards each other, and when the front panels  134  are resting against the front wall  106 , the bar  172  can be rotated by ninety degrees so that its opposite ends are resting against the front panels  134  to secure the entire assembly in a collapsed and secure arrangement as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The kitchen  100  can be opened up and deployed by reversing the steps shown in  FIGS. 3-8 , by following the sequence of steps shown in  FIGS. 3-8 . First, the bar  172  is rotated by ninety degrees to free the front panels  134  ( FIG. 4 ), which are then pivoted away from each other ( FIG. 5 ). The front wall  106  is then pulled down ( FIG. 6 ) so that the kitchen counter  104  is deployed. The front panels  134  are then secured to the front wall  106  via the screws  176  ( FIG. 7 ) and then the components B and C are put into place and the kitchen  100  is ready for use. 
       FIGS. 9-15  illustrate a collapsible workbench  100   a  according to the present invention. The workbench  100   a  has a very similar construction as the kitchen  100 , so the same numerals will be used to designate corresponding elements in both embodiments except an “a” is added to the designations in  FIGS. 9-15 . 
     The collapsible workbench  100   a  is shown in  FIG. 9  in the expanded position, for use. The collapsible workbench  100   a  may include a back support  102   a , a counter top  104   a , a front wall  106   a  and two side walls  108   a  and  110   a.    
     The back support  102   a  may include a back wall  112   a  and a lower back support  130   a . The back wall  112   a  and lower back support  130   a  can be provided in one piece, or they can be separated. The back wall  112   a , two side walls  114   a  and  116   a , a horizontal panel  120   a  and a top wall  122   a  together enclose and define an interior space that can be further divided up by shelving panels  124   a  and dividing walls  126   a . All of these walls and panels  114   a ,  116   a ,  120   a ,  122   a ,  124   a  and  126   a  are attached to the back wall  112   a . Optional doors  128   a  can be hingedly or otherwise connected to certain dividing walls  126   a  or side walls  114   a ,  116   a  to enclose storage areas. 
     Each side wall  108   a  and  110   a  can be provided in two separate pieces that can be hingedly or pivotably connected to each other. Specifically, each side wall  108   a ,  110   a  has a rear panel  132   a  and a front panel  134   a . The rear edge  136   a  of the rear panel  132   a  can be fixedly attached to a side edge of the lower back support  130   a . The front edge  138   a  of the rear panel  132   a  and the rear edge  140   a  of the front panel  134   a  can be hingedly connected (e.g., via hinges  142   a  as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14B ) to each other. Legs  144   a  can be defined at the bottom of the panels  132   a  and  134   a.    
     The counter top  104   a  may be pivotably connected to the back wall  112   a  or other part of the back support  102   a , as desired. In one such embodiment, a rear edge of the counter top  104   a  is pivotably connected (e.g., via hinges  158   a ) to the horizontal panel  120   a.    
     The front wall  106   a  includes a wall portion with two doors  160   a  hingedly connected (e.g., via hinges) thereto. The upper edge  162   a  (see  FIG. 13 ) of the front wall  106   a  is pivotably connected (e.g., via hinges  178   a ) to the underside of the counter top  104   a  at a location that is offset from the front edge  164   a  of the counter top  104   a . Legs  166   a  can be defined at the bottom of the front wall  106   a.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 and 14B , a lower horizontal panel  180   a  is hingedly connected at its rear edge via hinges  184   a  to another horizontal panel  182   a  that extends from the lower back support  130   a . The front edge of the panel  180   a  is hingedly connected to the interior surface of the front wall  106   a  via hinges  190   a . A locking mechanism is provided on the panel  180   a . The locking mechanism includes a stationary mounting block  170   a  that is securely mounted to the panel  180   a , and a pivoting bar  172   a  pivotably secured to the front of the block  170   a . The depth of the block  170   a  is dimensioned so that it is slightly larger than the width of the rear panels  132   a , so as to allow the bar  172   a  to snugly overlie the outsides of the front panels  134   a  after they have been folded towards each other in the collapsed position. 
     In addition, referring to  FIG. 15 , the front panels  134   a  can be secured to the front wall  106   a  via threaded connections by the use of screws  176   a.    
       FIGS. 9-15  illustrate how the workbench  100   a  can be collapsed and deployed. Starting with  FIG. 9 , the workbench  100   a  is shown in the fully deployed position. In  FIG. 15 , the screws  176   a  can be removed, and then the front panels  134   a  can be pivoted away from each other, so as to allow the front wall  106   a  to be pushed upwardly about the pivoting connections (i) defined by the hinges  178   a  between the upper edge  162   a  of the front wall  106   a  and the underside of the counter top  104   a , (ii) defined by the hinges  158   a  between the counter top  104   a  and the panel  120   a , (iii) defined by the hinges  190   a  between the front edge of the panel  180   a  and the front wall  106   a , and (iv) defined by the hinges  184   a  between the rear edge of the panel  180   a  and the front edge of the panel  182   a . See  FIGS. 13 and 14A-14B . This allows the counter top  104   a  to be pushed against the back board  102   a , and the front wall  106   a  to be pushed against the underside of the counter top  104 , with the panel  180   a  sandwiched between the front wall  106   a  and the lower back support  130   a , and positioned below the counter top  104 . Referring to  FIG. 12 , the front panels  134   a  can then be pivoted towards each other, and when the front panels  134   a  are resting against the front wall  106   a , the bar  172   a  can be rotated by ninety degrees so that its opposite ends are resting against the front panels  134   a  to secure the entire assembly in a collapsed and secure arrangement as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The workbench  100   a  can be opened up and deployed by reversing the steps shown in  FIGS. 11-15 , by following the sequence of steps shown in  FIGS. 11-15 . First, the bar  172   a  is rotated by ninety degrees to free the front panels  134   a  ( FIG. 12 ), which are then pivoted away from each other ( FIG. 13 ). The front wall  106   a  is then pulled down so that the counter top  104   a  is deployed. The front panels  134   a  are then secured to the front wall  106   a  via the screws  176   a  ( FIG. 15 ) and the workbench  100   a  is ready for use. 
     The collapsible kitchen  100  and workbench  100   a  may be made of various materials. For example, the back supports  102 ,  102   a , the counter  104 , the counter top  104   a , the front walls  106 ,  106   a , the panels  132 ,  132   a ,  134 ,  134   a ,  180 ,  180   a  and the various panels and walls  114 ,  116 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  114   a ,  116   a ,  120   a ,  122   a ,  124   a  and  126   a  may be mostly made of medium density fiberboard or other wood. The faucet  113 , the sink  154  and the range  154  may be made of plastic. The doors  128 ,  160  and  160   a  can be made of fiberboard, wood, or plastic. Other materials may be alternatively or additionally be used for the aforementioned parts and other parts of any of the embodiments herein. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a collapsible toy workbench and kitchen which can provided in a “life-like” size for use by a child, yet can be quickly folded and collapsed for storage. The block  170 ,  170   a  and locking bar  172 ,  172   a  provide a simple and convenient locking mechanism for holding the collapsed workbench or kitchen together. 
     The above detailed description is for the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
     For example, the design of the kitchen counter  104  and counter top  104   a  can be varied by adding additional elements or making them simpler. The design and configuration of the storage spaces and doors in the back support  102 ,  102   a  can also be varied.