Abstract:
A playhouse composed of a sheet material is provided that utilizes plastic windows, doors, and fasteners to secure various sections together. The fastener engages a clip that is attached to various sections. The fastener is then twisted to secure the windows and doors to the structure as well as securing two sections together. The playhouse is disassembled for easy storage under a bed or in a closet. Additionally, the fasteners, windows, door, and clips can be re-used with additional corrugated structures or kits.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/610,709 filed 2012 Mar. 14 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to assembled play structures and a system for fastening sheet material together to create playhouses using removable fasteners. 
         [0005]    Playhouses have been providing generations of children places to stretch their imagination and escape into a life of pretend make believe. These houses often provide children hours of fun as they explore and pretend to be homeowners, business operators, farmers, or whatever they can imagine. There exist three major types of playhouses: permanent, semi-permanent, and disposable. Permanent playhouse structures are often constructed out of wood similar to a modern house with framing, walls, and include permanent windows, doors, and roofs with shingles. Often these permanent playhouses are constructed onsite and become a permanent structure in the yard of the owner. 
         [0006]    The semi-permanent playhouses are typically constructed out of a molded plastic and designed to be assembled by the purchaser. Often these houses are constructed by fitting four walls together and attaching a roof. Typically, the walls and roof are assembled using a slot and tab style assembly or a snap type assembly. Typically, the windows and doors will be pre-cut into the structure. The semi-permanent playhouse is often assembled and left assembled, although it can be disassembled and moved to a new location or stored. 
         [0007]    Disposable playhouses are often constructed out of corrugated cardboard with minimal assembly. A Typical cardboard playhouse is constructed out of a preassembled cardboard sheet which is unfolded and secured using pre-cut tabs and slots. The windows and doors are pre-cut. This structure is often easy to assemble and is often recyclable. It does however lack the quality, strength, and finish of a permanent or semi-permanent style playhouse. Therefore, there exists a need to develop a playhouse that has the benefits of a disposable style playhouse with permanence and appearance of a semi-permanent style playhouse. Preferably this playhouse is easy to assemble and disassemble, offers windows and doors with structural integrity, is recyclable, and is easily stored in a closet or under a bed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a prospective view of the playhouse, according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a close up view of the upper door hinge of the playhouse as indicated in  FIG. 1 , according present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a close up view of the lower door hinge of the playhouse as indicated in  FIG. 1 , according present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  is a close up view of the fastening system of the playhouse as indicated in  FIG. 1 , according present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1D  is a close up view of the fastening of a window to the playhouse as indicated in  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the roof attachment of the playhouse, according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the hinge fastening clip, according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the hinge fastening clip, according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the fastener in receipt of the fastening clip, according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the fastener, according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the fastening clip, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 1D , a perspective view of the playhouse assembly with various close-ups there is shown the playhouse generally referred to as  10 . The playhouse  10  is a modular structure constructed out of a sheet material with plastic components. This sheet material may be corrugated cardboard, corrugated plastic, foam core, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (“MDF”), or other similar material. In the preferred embodiment, this sheet material is corrugated cardboard laminated with images resembling the interior and exterior of a house. Further, this lamination allows a user to place removable decals on the exterior and the interior of the playhouse  10 . The playhouse  10  is received by the user flat in a box and must be assembled. Although the playhouse  10  is depicted in the style of a traditional house, other shapes and designs can be constructed using the disclosed fastening system and method. These styles include but are not limited to, a general store, fire stations, police station, log cabin style home, cottage style home, barn, and other similar designs. 
         [0021]    In the preferred embodiment, the playhouse  10  is assembled from four (4) separate wall sections  100 , three (3) separate roof sections  101 , and one door section (not numbered) folded over to provide added strength and durability. These sections are constructed of sheet material. Of the four separate wall sections  100 , two sections are similar. These individual sections  100  and  101  are pre-cut with a fastener aperture  104  designed to receive a fastener  201  and fastener clip  300  or hinged fastener clip  301  or a window frame  102  or a door frame  103  and secured with a fastener  200 . 
         [0022]    To assemble the playhouse  10 , according to the present invention, the user will use the walls  100 , fasteners  200 , fastener clip  300 , hinge fastener clip  301 , window  102 , and door frame  103  in combination to secure the joints between separate pieces to create a complete structure. The fasteners  200  engage a corresponding fastener clip  300  or hinge fastener clip  301  securing two layers of cardboard together. Additionally, the fasteners  200  secure the framing of the windows  102  and the door  103  to the playhouse structure  10 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the fastener  200  is designed to engage the clips  300  and  301 . The fastener  200  is generally circular in shape and includes a base  201 , handle  204 , engagement surface  202 , and raised node  203 . The engagement surface  202  is hour glass shaped and forms a ramp designed to be received in a primary aperture  310  ( FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 7 ) of the fastening clips  300  and  301  ( FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 7 ). The engagement surface  202  extends outward from the base  201  opposite the handle  204 . The preferred depth of the extension of the engagement surface  202  is between nine (9) and eleven (11) millimeters from the bottom of the base  201  opposite the handle  204 . This depth is necessary to accommodate the width of two sections of the preferred thickness of the cardboard material used. 
         [0024]    The engagement surface  202  further includes a pair of raised nodes  203 . These raised nodes  203  are designed to seat in a pair of secondary apertures  311  present on the fastener clip  300  and hinge fastener clip  301  ( FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 7 ). Upon engaging the fastener  200  within the fastener clip  300  and hinge fastener clip  301 , the user will rotate the fastener  200  clockwise ninety degrees (90°) wherein the twisting of the engagement surface  202  will tightly secure the fastener  200  to the desired clip  300  or  301 . Further, the engagement of the raised nodes  203  into the secondary apertures  311  will make a distinct “clicking” noise, notifying the user that the fastener  201  has been securely engaged. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 7 , the various views of the fastener clip  300  and hinge fastener clip  301 . The fastener clip  300  and hinge fastener clip  301  are identically shaped with the hinge fastener clip  301  having the addition of a post  330 . The post  330  is designed to be received in a hole  130  present on the upper and lower door frame  103  ( FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B ). The receipt of the post  330  into the hole  130  creates a hinge allowing the door to pivot open and closed. 
         [0026]    The clips  300  and  301  have an upper end  302 , a lower end  303 , a tension arm  304 , and a raised portion  305 . The raised portion  305  may be cylindrical and sized to correspond to the aperture in the sheet material. The upper end  302  includes the tension arm  304 . When viewed in cross section, the tension arm  304  is u-shaped and provides a grasping force to the material as the clips  300  and  301  are attached to the cardboard material. The lower end  303  includes the raised portion  305 . When viewed in cross section, the raised portion  305  extends outward from the clips  300  and  301  and parallel to the tension arm  304 . The raised portion  305  is sized to be securely received in the aperture  104  present on the various wall, roof, and door structures. The tension arm  304  and raised portion  305  secure the clips  300  and  301  tightly to the substrate and prevent unwanted rotation and ensure proper placement of the clips  300  and  301  during assembly and use. 
         [0027]    The raised portion  305  includes the primary aperture  310  and a pair of secondary apertures  311 . The primarily aperture  310  is hour-glass shaped to selectively receive the fastener  201  in the proper orientation. The secondary apertures  311  are adjacent to the narrowing of the hour-glass shaped primary aperture  310  and designed to receive the raised node  203  present on the engagement surface  202 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , to fasten two materials, such as roof sections  101 , a user will affix the appropriate clip  300  or  301  to the desired substrate. The user will then overlap a second substrate over the appropriate clip and insert the fastener  201  by aligning the engagement surface  202  with the aperture primary aperture  310 , the user will then rotate the fastener clockwise 90 degrees to secure the connection. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 1D , the windows  102  and door frame  103  contain an identical aperture structure as the fastener clip  300  and hinge fastener clip  301 . The window and door frame are constructed out of a molded plastic with a cavity space. This cavity space allows for the inclusion of the primary aperture  310  and the secondary apertures  311 . To attach a window  102  or door frame  103  to the playhouse  10 , a user will insert the plastic window  102  or door frame  103  into the appropriate space aligning the window  102  or door frame  103  with the appropriate aperture  104  and use the fastener  201  to secure the window  102  or door frame  103  to the appropriate wall section  100 . 
         [0030]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the playhouse  10  is provided to the user disassembled in a flat style box. This box will be kept by the user for storage of the disassembled structure and be appropriately sized to fit underneath a bed. A user will then place the appropriate fastener clip  300 , the hinge fastener clip  301 , the window frame  102 , and the door frame  103  into the appropriate position on the appropriate wall section  100  or roof section  101 , as per the provided instructions. The user will then secure the playhouse structure together using the fastener  201 . 
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the playhouse  10  wall, roof, and door structures are constructed out of a corrugated cardboard. The preferred cardboard is a c-flute corrugate. 
         [0032]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastener  201 , the fastener clip  300 , the hinge fastener clip  301 , the window  102 , and the door frame  103  are constructed out a molded plastic, due to resiliency. Preferably, the plastic used for the window and door frames is polyethylene due to its desirable properties. Preferably, the plastic used for the fastener, fastener clip, and hinge fastener clip is composed of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (“ABS”) based plastic due to its strength and durability. Additionally, it is desired that the fasteners, clips, windows, and door be universally applicable to multiple styles of play structures, wherein a user could order a replacement or add-on kit containing only the corrugated materials and re-use their existing plastic components. 
         [0033]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) but that the invention will include all embodiments falling with the scope of the appended claims.