Abstract:
A rectangular base housing is formed of generally parallel sidewalls coupled to a rear wall and top and bottom walls. The base housing forms an open side which receives a hingedly secured front panel to form an open or closed configuration. The interior of the base housing is divided by interior floors, ceiling and partition to form a plurality of open-faced room environments. The front panel is joined to the base housing along a lower hinge and is secured in a closed position by a pair of zipper attachments and may be opened to a play position. The front panel is formed of a pair of flexible clear plastic sheets captivating a quantity of liquid therebetween in a sealed pouch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to playhouses such as dollhouses and particularly to those utilized in providing a storage or carrying case for associated equipment and toys.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Dollhouses and other similar playhouses are well known and extremely popular in the toy art. Many dollhouses are sized and configured for cooperative play with small dolls or toy figures as well as suitably scaled accessories. For example, published U.S. Patent application U.S. 2001/0034183A1 in the name of Brownrigg sets forth a MODULAR HOUSE TOY comprising a plurality of stacked room modules in the form of open-sided boxes. The plurality of modules includes a triangular peak module and open deck modules. The accessories include a planar cloth mat upon which the toy house is situated. The planar cloth mat simulates a backyard environment such as lawn, patio and pool environments.  
           [0003]    British patent application 2,359,032 filed on behalf of Maiwald sets forth a MODULAR DOLL&#39;S HOUSE constructed from a skeleton comprising floors, ceilings and pillars. Openings are provided in the skeleton between adjacent pillars while floor and ceiling surfaces are adapted to receive removable panels having wall surfaces and accessories such as windows or doors.  
           [0004]    British patent application 2,049,447 filed on behalf of Duppawhyte sets forth a COLLAPSIBLE AND SELF-ERECTING MODEL BUILDING formed of a base supporting a plurality of hinged panels which, in their raised position, define a playhouse enclosure and which lie flat in a closed position for storage etc.  
           [0005]    European patent application 0,555,188A1 filed on behalf of Borgatta sets forth a TOY HOUSE FOLDABLE IN THE FORM OF A SUITCASE having a generally rectangular main body to which a plurality of panels are hingedly secured. The hinged panels may be folded to an open configuration providing a playhouse environment or folded to a closed configuration providing a closed suitcase-like structure.  
           [0006]    German patent DE3343098A1 issued to Giessler sets forth a display case having a generally rectangular shape and forming a plurality of internal open-sided compartments within its interior. The compartments receive and store various toy articles in a visible relationship to the container.  
           [0007]    British patent application 2,159,425A filed on behalf of Shikano sets forth a TOY HOUSE having two frame members connected so as to be capable of being opened to a first position for play activities and to be closed in a second configuration to provide a closed case. The frame and wall members are foldable to facilitate the two configurations of the toy house.  
           [0008]    In a different technology generally related to the present invention, a plurality of apparatus have been provided which make use of a flexible sealed generally planar pouch of plastic material or the like. Such devices utilize a transparent side to reveal a quantity of liquid captivated within the pouch. Examples of such apparatus are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,688 issued to Jones; U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,888 issued to Pantaleo, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,457 also issued to Pantaleo, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,699 also issued to Pantaleo, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,341 issued to Pantaleo.  
           [0009]    Notwithstanding the development and creation of the above-described prior art devices, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in the art for evermore improved, interesting and innovative playhouses for dolls and other articles.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved playhouse. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved playhouse which facilitates configuration from a storage or carrying arrangement suitable for carrying dolls and small accessories to a novel play environment having additional amusement features.  
           [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combination playhouse and carrying case comprising: a base housing defining a plurality of open-sided rooms; a front panel having a sealed pouch formed by a pair of flexible material sheets and a quantity of captive liquid therebetween; and a hinge securing the front panel to the base housing allowing the front panel to be moved to a closed position providing closure of the open-sided rooms and an open position, the liquid and the sealed pouch simulating a waterfront in the open position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of the present invention combination playhouse and doll carrying case in its closed configuration;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of the present invention combination playhouse and doll carrying case in its open or play configuration; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 sets forth a section view of the liquid pouch portion of the present invention combination playhouse and doll carrying case taken along section lines  3 - 3  in FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]    By way of overview, FIGS. 1 and 2 set forth respective closed configuration and open configuration perspective views of the present invention combination playhouse. By way of further overview, the present invention combination playhouse is utilized as a storage and transport apparatus when in the closed configuration of FIG. 1 and is used as a play environment and doll playhouse when in the open configuration of FIG. 2. The transition from closed configuration to open configuration is provided by the pivotal or hinged attachment of the front panel of the present invention playhouse. By way of further overview and in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the front panel of the present invention combination playhouse and doll carrying case comprises a transparent plastic pouch partially filled with a quantity of captive liquid.  
         [0017]    More specifically, a combination playhouse and doll carrying case constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally referenced by numeral  10 . Playhouse  10  includes a generally rectangular base housing  11  having a pair of vertical sides  13  and  14  together with a bottom surface  12  and a rear surface  15 . Base housing  11  further includes a top surface  16  which supports a carrying handle  20 . Top surface  16  further includes a foldable flap  21  hingeably secured to the remainder of top portion  16  which in turn supports an attachment pad  24 . A second attachment pad  23  is secured to a front panel  17  of base housing  11 . Front panel  17  is secured to bottom portion  12  by a hinge  22 . Attachment pads  23  and  24  cooperate to provide attachment of flap  21  in an overlapping relationship to the upper edge of front panel  17 . A pair of zipper attachments constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques secure the side edges of front panel  17  to sides  14  and  13  of base housing  11 . Attachment pads  23  and  24  preferably comprise conventional hook and loop fabric attachment pads or the like. Alternatively, attachment pads  23  and  24  may utilize cooperating mechanical fasteners such as snap fasteners or, by still further alternative, utilize cooperating magnetic elements.  
         [0018]    Front panel  17  comprises a pair of transparent plastic layers having a separation therebetween. A quantity of liquid  50  is captivated within the interior between the layers of front panel  17 .  
         [0019]    The interior of base housing  11  defines a first floor room  40  and a pair of upstairs rooms  41  and  42 . Rooms  41  and  42  are separated by an interior partition  44 . First floor room  40  and upstairs rooms  41  and  42  are separated by a combination ceiling and floor surface  43 . Rooms  40 ,  41  and  42  are open on the sides thereof corresponding to front panel  17 . First floor room  40  further includes a movable fence  25  slidably received within room  40  and having an opening gate  26  formed therein. Similarly, upstairs rooms  41  and  42  support sidably movable balcony railings  45  and  46 . A pair of zipper tabs  32  and  33  are operative to provide closure and opening of zippers  30  and  31  respectively.  
         [0020]    In the closed configuration shown in FIG. 1, front panel  17  is raised upwardly about hinge  22  and secured to sides  14  and  13  by zippers  30  and  31  respectively. In the closed configuration, flap  21  is folded downwardly to overlie the upper portion of front panel  17  and is secured in place by the cooperation of attachment pads  23  and  24 . While not seen in FIG. 1, it will be understood that a quantity of toy items such as dolls and accessories therefor may be supported within rooms  40 ,  41  and  42  in the closed configuration to provide convenient storage and transport.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of combination playhouse  10  in its open or play configuration. As described above, the configuration of playhouse  10  in the open position for use as a play environment is facilitated by the use of zippers  30  and  31  in folding front panel  17  forwardly to lie in front of the open faces of base housing  11 .  
         [0022]    More specifically, a combination playhouse and doll carrying case constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally referenced by numeral  10 . Playhouse  10  includes a generally rectangular base housing  11  having a pair of vertical sides  13  and  14  together with a bottom surface  12  and a rear surface  15 . Base housing  11  further includes a top surface  16  which supports a carrying handle  20 . Top surface  16  further includes a foldable flap  21  hingeably secured to the remainder of top portion  16  which in turn supports an attachment pad  24 . A second attachment pad  23  is secured to a front panel  17  of base housing  11 . Front panel  17  is secured to bottom portion  12  by a hinge  22 . Attachment pads  23  and  24  cooperate to provide attachment of flap  21  in an overlapping relationship to the upper edge of front panel  17 . A pair of zipper attachments constructed in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques secure the side edges of front panel  17  to sides  14  and  13  of base housing  11 . Attachment pads  23  and  24  preferably comprise conventional hook and loop fabric attachment pads or the like. Alternatively, attachment pads  23  and  24  may utilize cooperating mechanical fasteners such as snap fasteners or, by still further alternative, utilize cooperating magnetic elements.  
         [0023]    Front panel  17  comprises a pair of transparent plastic layers having a separation therebetween. A quantity of liquid  50  is captivated within the interior between the layers of front panel  17 .  
         [0024]    The interior of base housing  11  defines a first floor room  40  and a pair of upstairs rooms  41  and  42 . Rooms  41  and  42  are separated by an interior partition  44 . First floor room  40  and upstairs rooms  41  and  42  are separated by a combination ceiling and floor surface  43 . Rooms  40 ,  41  and  42  are open on the sides thereof corresponding to front panel  17 . First floor room  40  further includes a movable fence  25  slidably received within room  40  and having an opening gate  26  formed therein. Similarly, upstairs rooms  41  and  42  support slidably movable balcony railings  45  and  46 . A pair of zipper tabs  32  and  33  are operative to provide closure and opening of zippers  30  and  31  respectively.  
         [0025]    With temporary reference again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that zipper tabs  32  and  33  may be pulled downwardly in the directions indicated by arrows  34  and  35  to open zippers  30  and  31  respectively. Returning to FIG. 2, zipper tabs  32  and  33  having been moved downwardly to the bottom of zippers  30  and  31  (seen in FIG. 1), front panel  17  is now folded outwardly and forwardly about hinge  22  to provide a play mat in the front portion of base housing  11 .  
         [0026]    In further accordance with the anticipated play pattern of the present invention, balconies  45  and  46  are sidable outwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  47  to expand upstairs rooms  41  and  42  and to provide an amusing and interesting set of upper balcony environments. Similarly, fence  25  and gate  26  are also slidable outwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  48  to further expand the play environment provided by first floor room  40 . In addition, gate  26  is opened by pivoting downwardly to the configuration shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the opening of front panel  17  is a simple pivoting movement about hinge  22  as indicated by arrow  60 . Thereafter, front panel  17  lies or rests upon the underlying play surface such as a floor or table without further need of support by base housing  11 . In accordance with the present invention, front panel  17  is fabricated of a pair of transparent layers  61  and  62  (seen in FIG. 3) having a space defined therebetween. A quantity of liquid  50  which is in the preferred environment of the present invention generally tinted or colored is captivated within the interior space of front panel  17 . In the beach playhouse theme of combination playhouse  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, liquid  50  is preferably tinted or colored a slight blue color to replicate a waterfront environment. In addition, either or both of layers  61  and  62  may be suitably enhanced by image elements such as fish or the like to further replicate an oceanfront or beach environment. By way of example, a fish image  70  is shown upon layer  61  in FIG. 2.  
         [0027]    In accordance with an anticipated play pattern for the present invention combination playhouse, the flexible character of front panel  17  together with liquid  50  therein is utilized to provide a finger tip responsive surface which undulates in a similar fashion to ocean waves or the like.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 set forth a section view of front panel  17  taken along section lines  3 - 3  in FIG. 2. As described above, front panel  17  is preferably formed of a pair of flexible clear plastic layers  61  and  62  supporting an attachment pad  23  and joined to the remainder of base housing  11  by a hinge  22 . A space  63  is formed between layers  61  and  62  which defines a sealed liquid retaining space. Accordingly, a quantity of liquid  50  is captivated within space  63  between layers  61  and  62 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that front panel  17  may be fabricated in the manner provided above in other liquid captive elements. The essential aspect of front panel  17  is the use of sealed edges on all four sides to captivate liquid  50  therein. This sealed attachment may be provided by conventional fabrication means such as thermal or sonic welding or adhesive attachment as desired.  
         [0029]    The resulting combination playhouse and doll carrying case allows the user to enjoy a simulated waterfront or beachfront playhouse without any exposure to potential problems of spillage or the like associated with other water play toys.  
         [0030]    Combination playhouse  10  may be returned to the carrying configuration shown in FIG. 1 by simply sliding balconies  45  and  46  inwardly and by sliding fence  25 , inwardly and raising gate  26 . Thereafter, suitable articles which are to be carried and stored such as dolls or doll accessories (not shown) may be conveniently deposited within rooms  40 ,  41  and  42 . Finally, front panel  17  is pivoted upwardly about hinge  22  aligning zippers  30  and  31  for closure. Finally, with flap  21  folded upwardly, front panel  17  is secured by raising zipper tabs  32  and  33  to provide zipper attachments afterwhich flap  21  is folded downwardly and secured by the cooperation of attachment pads  23  and  24 . At this point, articles within rooms  40 ,  41  and  42  are secure and the combination playhouse may be conveniently carried using handle  20 .  
         [0031]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.