Child's playhouse with bed on top

A platform bed assembly, to be used by a child as a sleeping area and a play area, the bed assembly includes a lower base structure structured and disposed to resemble a large scale version of a toy article such as a van or house. The platform bed assembly includes a mattress support platform positioned and secured atop the base structure whereon a mattress may be placed in overlying position, thereby defining a sunken sleeping area, includes a ladder secured to the base structure so as to allow faciliated access to the sleeping area, and includes a door in a side wall of the base structure to allow access to an interior compartment defining the play area. Additionally, there are a plurality of toy accessory components positioned within the interior compartment which correspond the design of the toy article, and add realism to the play environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a platform bed assembly including a lower base 
portion, resembling a large scale version of a toy article, and a sunken 
sleep area positioned therein, thereby providing a child with a safe sleep 
area as well as a realistic play area. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Increasingly, elevated beds are becoming common place in the bedrooms of 
children, partially for a need to maximize space in the child's bedroom. 
For this reason, a platform bed assembly that combines a sleep area with a 
play area would be highly desirable. In the past, other attempts have been 
made to combine a sleep area with other useful items, such as a closet as 
shown in the disclosure to Jewell, U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,246. The assembly 
of Jewell, while maximizing space, is not adapted to be used by a child as 
it merely includes a mattress positioned atop the collapsible closet, and 
does not provide a safe sleeping area for a child who may tend to roll to 
the sides of the bed, nor does it provide a play area to function as a 
child's creative outlet. A second example of an attempt to combine a sleep 
area with a player area may be seen in U.S. Design Pat. No. 218,512 
wherein a bunk bed unit resembling a wagon is disclosed. As this is a 
design patent, it merely discloses the exterior portions of the bunk bed 
unit, and as viewed from the drawings, it does not include a safe sunken 
sleep area for a child or a plurality of toy accessory components within. 
As a result, there is still a need for a platform bed assembly which 
provides a safe sleeping area, is made of a durable, sturdy, safe 
material, and is adapted to provide an interactive and entertaining 
creative outlet for a child. 
Applicant's invention as claimed is designed specifically to overcome the 
shortcomings of prior assemblies. Applicant's platform bed assembly 
provides a safe environment during both sleep and play, and is an 
interactive and attractive addition to any child's room. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed towards a platform bed assembly to be 
used by a child as a sleep area and a play area. The assembly includes a 
lower base structure which is structured and disposed to resemble a large 
scale version of a toy article such as a van or a playhouse. Located 
within an interior compartment formed by the base structure are a 
plurality of toy accessory components positioned and structured to 
correspond the toy article after which the base structure is modeled. 
Further included in the base structure are a plurality of window openings, 
a door to allow entrance to the interior compartment, and platform support 
means integrally formed as part of the base structure. Secured atop the 
platform support means is the mattress support platform. The mattress 
support platform which is adapted to receive the mattress in overlying 
relation thereon, is structured so as to form a sunken sleep area, thereby 
providing a safe sleeping environment for a child. Additionally, there is 
a ladder secured to the base structure and positioned so as to allow 
facilitated access to the sunken sleeping area. Finally, the base 
structure is formed of a relatively lightweight, rigid, sturdy plastic or 
like material, whose components are securely interlocked, but are also 
capable of quick and easy movement and disassembly by an adult. 
It is a purpose of this invention to provide a safe and appealing play 
environment which will maximize a child's creative energy. 
It is also a purpose of this invention to provide a safe, secure sleeping 
area that will maximize the space in a child's room and provide a child 
with a unique environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Shown throughout FIGS. 1-9 are four embodiments, 10, 11, 12 and 13, of the 
applicant's platform bed assembly, which combine a safe sunken sleep area 
50 with a lower base structure 20 which functions as a creative and 
interactive play area. 
Turning to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the platform bed assembly 10 
includes a lower base structure 20 resembling a van and including an inner 
compartment 40 which defines the play area. Referring to FIG. 3, the lower 
base structure 20 includes a pair of generally square support brackets 21 
and 22 positioned in spaced apart relation from one another. Each of the 
support brackets 21 and 22 includes a pair of vertical sides 23 and 24, an 
upper side 25, and a lower side 26. The lower base structure 20 which 
rests on the lower side 26 of the support brackets 21 and 22 further 
includes a generally elongate floor portion 27. The floor portion 27, 
which is positioned within an open central portion 25' of the support 
brackets 21 and 22 is secured to the vertical sides 23 and 24 of the 
support brackets 21 and 22 in a position that is slightly elevated from 
the lower side 26 of the support brackets 21 and 22. Further defining the 
interior compartment 40 of the lower base structure 20 are a pair of 
oppositely disposed elongate side walls 30 and 32. The side walls 30 and 
32, which include a plurality of protruding hook portions 38 extending 
from an interior thereof, are secured to corresponding vertical sides 23 
or 24 of the support brackets 21 and 22 by positioning the hook portions 
38 into corresponding slots 39 formed in the vertical sides 23 and 24. The 
base structure 20 is thereby disassemable, but is also sturdy such that a 
child may not disconnect the assembly. Located within the interior 
compartment 40 of the lower base structure 20 are a plurality of toy 
accessories corresponding to a van. These toy accessories include 
passenger seat 41 and driver's seat 42 secured at a front portion of the 
floor portion 27 behind a dashboard 43. Positioned within the dashboard 
portion 43 is a steering wheel 46 and a pair of joystick-type video game 
controllers 45 which are structured and disposed to enable a child sitting 
in one of the seats 41 or 42 to play a video game connected to the 
joystick 45. Resting on the upper side 25 of the support brackets 21 and 
22 is a mattress support platform 52 which defines the sleeping area 50. 
The mattress support platform 52, which is sunken to provide a safe 
sleeping area 50, is adapted to receive in overlying relation thereto a 
mattress 54, and is easily accessible by a ladder 80 secured to the 
mattress support platform 52. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower 
base structure 20 includes a plurality of windows 36 disposed throughout 
the side walls 30 and 32. Further included in one of the side walls 30 is 
a door 35 to allow access to the interior compartment 40. Finally, to add 
realism to the van design of the base structure 20, a plurality of tires 
48 are secured to the support bracket 21 and 22 so as to give the 
appearance that the base structure 20 is resting solely on the tires 48. 
Turning to FIG. 4 and the second embodiment of the platform bed assembly 
11, the lower base structure 20 resembles a house. As shown in FIG. 7, the 
lower base structure 20 includes primarily a front wall 60, a back wall 
61, and a pair of side walls 62 and 63. The front wall 60 and the back 
wall 61 include a plurality of the hooked protrusions 38 extending from 
the opposite vertical edges thereof. The hook protrusions 38 are 
structured and disposed to be correspondingly fitted into the plurality of 
slots 39 in side walls 62 and 63, thereby forming a sturdy interlocking 
base structure 20, which may be disassembled by an adult if needed, but is 
safe for a child. Positioned along an upper portion of the walls 60, 61, 
62 and 63, are a plurality of support ridges 65. The support ridges 65 are 
structured and disposed so as to supportably receive thereon the mattress 
support platform 52 upon which the mattress 54 is placed, thereby defining 
a sunken sleep area 50. Located within the base structure 20 are a 
plurality of toy accessory components, such as a toy refrigerator 75 and a 
toy oven 76 which provide a more realistic and interactive play area. 
Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, the base structure 20 includes a 
decorative front door 70 in the front wall 60 to allow access to the 
interior compartment 40. Disposed throughout the front wall 60 and the 
side walls 62 and 63 are a plurality of shuddered windows 72 which may be 
opened and closed by the child. Finally, the ladder 80 is included to 
allow facilitated access to the sleeping area 50. 
As seen by the embodiments in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower base structure 20 
may be provided in a variety of forms, such as a dump truck shown as the 
third embodiment 12 of FIG. 8, or a castle shown as the fourth embodiment 
13 of FIG. 9. Accordingly, it should be noted that other designs 
consistent with the doctrine of equivalents and the intent of the 
applicant may also be included. 
Now that the invention has been described,