Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to an improved children&#39;s toy playfort and a method of setting up a children&#39;s toy playfort. According to one aspect, the toy playfort comprises a canopy and a free-standing support structure for supporting the canopy. The support structure includes a first section and a second section that telescopes with respect to the first section to vary the height of the support structure. The canopy is secured to the support structure by an attachment that is provided between a central region of the canopy and a central region of the support structure, the support structure including a storage compartment to store the canopy. The method of setting up the playfort comprises telescoping at least one section of a support structure with respect to a base section to increase the height of the support structure, taking the canopy out from inside the support structure, and attaching the canopy to various objects located around the periphery of the canopy via attachment devices provided around the perimeter of the canopy to set up the playfort.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The principles disclosed herein relate generally to a children&#39;s toy playfort and the method of setting up a children&#39;s toy playfort.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Small children like to set up miniature shelters, tents, or forts in which they can hide out or play various games with their friends. To set up such mini shelters, children, or, often times, their parents, have to resort to using various household articles such as bed sheets, blankets, and different pieces of furniture. Toy companies have come up with numerous tent-style children&#39;s playfort or play shelter designs to make it easier on the children and their parents. However, most designs in the market require multiple pieces, are bulky, and are cumbersome to set up and to store away. Multiple pieces, especially smaller ones, can easily get lost and, in certain circumstances, create a health hazard for children. What is needed in the art is an easy-to-set-up and take-down/store children&#39;s playfort that is compact, is portable, and does not require multiple pieces.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     The present disclosure describes embodiments relating to an improved children&#39;s toy playfort that is compact, portable, easy to set-up, and easy to take-down and a method of setting up the improved children&#39;s toy playfort.  
         [0004]     According to the one aspect of the disclosure, the children&#39;s playfort includes a canopy and a support structure that supports the canopy. The canopy is attached to the support structure and also has attachment means to attach it to various household furniture such as chairs and tabletops, etc. to set up the playfort. The support structure has hollow sections that telescope with respect to each other to erect the playfort. The hollow support structure also serves as a storage compartment for the canopy when the playfort is taken down and put away for storage.  
         [0005]     According to another aspect of the disclosure, the playfort comprises a canopy and a free-standing support structure for supporting the canopy. The support structure includes a first section and a second section that telescopes with respect to the first section to vary the height of the support structure. The canopy is secured to the support structure by an attachment that is provided between a central region of the canopy and a central region of the support structure, the support structure including a storage compartment to store the canopy. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments that examples of how certain inventions can be put into practice. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a toy playfort having features that are examples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure, the playfort shown in a fully set-up configuration;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a support structure of the playfort of  FIG. 1 , the support structure shown in a fully extended position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is another top perspective view of the support structure of the playfort of  FIG. 1 , the support structure shown in a collapsed position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a base section of the support structure of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along section line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a middle section of the support structure of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of a top section of the support structure of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the top section of  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of a cover for the top section of the support structure of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top view of a canopy of the children&#39;s playfort of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a side view of an attachment device of the children&#39;s playfort of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of another embodiment of a support structure adapted for use with the children&#39;s playfort of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]      FIGS. 1-14  illustrate a children&#39;s playfort  10  having features that are examples of how various inventive concepts disclosed herein can be practiced.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the children&#39;s playfort  10  is shown from a bottom perspective view and is shown in a fully set-up configuration, as will be described herein in more detail.  
         [0024]     The playfort  10  generally includes a canopy  20  and a support structure  30  for supporting the canopy  20 . In  FIG. 1 , the support structure  30  is shown in a fully extended configuration with the canopy  20  taken out, ready to be attached to chairs, tabletops, or other types of home furnishings to set up the children&#39;s playfort  10 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the playfort  10  along section line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 , showing the interior of the support structure  30 . The support structure is a free-standing structure requiring no other means to keep it standing up.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the support structure  30  is shown in isolation. The support structure  30  of the playfort  10  generally includes a base section  40 , a middle section  50 , and a top section  60 . The middle section  50  and the top section  60  are constructed to telescope with respect to the base  40  to set up the playfort  10 . The top section  60  has a cover  70  for forming an enclosed structure when the playfort  10  is taken down and ready for storage.  FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along section line  4 - 4  of FIG.  3 , showing the relative positioning of the sections of the support structure  30  when the support structure is in the fully extended configuration.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the support structure  30  is shown in a collapsed (storage) configuration.  FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along section line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , showing the relative positioning of the sections of the support structure  30  when the support structure  30  is in the collapsed configuration.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the base section  40  of the support structure  30  is shown. The base section  40  includes a hollow body  41  including a wide, circular bottom surface  42  and a cylindrical sidewall  43  that tapers in from the bottom surface  42  to a narrower, upper snout portion  44 . The wide bottom surface  42  provides the stability to make the support structure  30  a free-standing structure. It should be understood that, in other embodiments, the shape of the bottom surface  42  of the base section  40  could be a shape other than a circle. The body  40  defines an inner cavity  45  within. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the base section  40  also includes a pair of oppositely positioned tabs  46  protruding toward the inner cavity  45  about halfway up the sidewall  43  of the base section  40 . The tabs  46  of the base section  40  are configured to keep the middle section  50  in an erected position when the fort  10  is set up, as will be explained in further detail below. The body  41  of the base section  40  also defines a pair of rectangular cavities  47 . These cavities  47  may be filled with sand or water and sealed up to provide for added weight for the base section  40  of the support structure  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the cavities  47  would include caps to make them refillable so that during storage or transport of the playfort, the cavities can remain empty.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the middle section  50  of the support structure  30  is shown. The middle section  50  generally includes a hollow body  51  with a cylindrical sidewall  52  extending from a closed bottom surface  53  to an open upper end  56 . The body  51  includes a pair of oppositely positioned longitudinal guides  54  defined along the cylindrical sidewall  52  (only one shown in  FIG. 9 ). The guides  54  extend only about halfway up the sidewall  52  of the middle section  50 . The guides  54  are configured to mate with the tabs  46  of the base section  40 . The tabs  46  ride along the guides  54  when the playfort  10  is being set up and being collapsed. When the playfort  10  is being set up for play, the middle section  50  of the support structure  30  is telescoped with respect to the base section  40  with the tabs  46  riding along the guides  54 . After the middle section  50  has been raised all the way, the middle section  50  is rotated slightly such that the tabs  46  of the base section  40  are no longer in alignment with the guides  54  of the middle section  50 . As such, the tabs  46  abut against the bottom surface  53  of the middle section  50  to keep the middle section  50  raised. This is illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the support structure  30  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0029]     Referring back to  FIG. 9 , the middle section  50  also includes a pair of oppositely positioned tabs  55  protruding radially inwardly. The tabs  55  are positioned adjacent the upper end  56  of the body  51 . The tabs  55  are placed 90 degrees offset from the longitudinal guides  54  of the middle section. The tabs  55  of the middle section serve a similar purpose to the tabs of the base section  40 , as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the top section  60  of the support structure  30  is shown. The top section  60  of the support structure  30  includes a head portion  61  and an integrally molded neck portion  62 . The head portion  61  is hollow and has a substantially hemispherical shape. The head  61  includes an opening  63  at the top. The canopy  20  of the playfort  10  is stored inside the hollow head  61  when the playfort  10  is not set up for play. The canopy  20  is taken out of and put back into the head  61  through the opening  63 . The cover  70  (illustrated in  FIG. 12 ) is used to seal the head  61  when the playfort is stored away.  
         [0031]     The integral neck portion  62  is also hollow and has a generally cylindrical shape. The neck  62  includes a closed bottom surface  64  with a small opening  69  located in the center of the surface  64 .  
         [0032]     The neck  62  includes two pairs of oppositely positioned longitudinal guides  65  and  66  defined in the cylindrical sidewall  67 . Longitudinal guides  65  extend about halfway up the sidewall  67  and are wider than guides  66 . Longitudinal guides  66  are narrower in width and extend the entire length of the neck  62 . Narrow guides  66  also include laterally offset L-shaped grooves  68  about halfway up the cylindrical sidewall  67 .  
         [0033]     As illustrated in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 6 , the wider guides  65  are shaped to accommodate the tabs  46  of the base section  40  and the guides  54  of the middle section  50  of the support structure  30 . The narrower guides  66  are used to receive the tabs  55  of the middle section  50 . The L-shaped grooves  68  act as catches for the tabs  55  of the middle section  50  during set-up of the playfort  10 .  
         [0034]     For example, during set-up, when the top section  60  is being telescoped relative to the middle section  50 , the tabs  55  of the middle section ride along the guides  66  of the top section  60 . When the tabs  55  reach the L-shaped grooves  68 , the top section  60  is rotated slightly to receive the tabs  55  within the L-shaped grooves  68 . Guides  65  are wider to accommodate for this rotation of the top section  60  relative to the middle section  50 . After the tabs  55  have been engaged into the L-shaped grooves  68 , further raising of the top section  60  causes the middle section  50  of the support structure to also raise relative to the base section  40 . And as discussed previously, after fully raising the middle section  50 , the middle section  50  can be rotated slightly to keep it erect relative to the base section  40 .  
         [0035]     When the playfort is taken down for storage, the entire process is reversed. The top section  60  can be slightly lifted and rotated, releasing the tabs  55  of the middle section  50  from the L-shaped grooves  68 , and the top section  60  can be lowered relative to the middle section  50 . Similarly, the middle section  50  can be rotated until the tabs  46  of the base section  40  align with the guides  54  of the middle section  50  to slide the middle section  50  into the base cavity  45 . In this manner, the entire neck portion  62  of the top section  60  and the entire middle section  50  can be collapsed into the cavity  45  of the base section  40  to make the support structure  30  very compact (as illustrated in  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0036]     In certain embodiments, the sections of the support structure  30  can be molded from polyethylene. In other embodiments, the support structure may be made from other types or plastics or other types of materials.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the canopy  20  of the playfort  10  is illustrated. The canopy  20  generally includes a fabric portion  21  and attachment devices  22  (illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 14 ) that are positioned around the perimeter of the fabric portion  21 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the attachment devices  22  can be secured to the fabric  21  via elastic cord  23  stitched to the fabric  21 . It should be understood that other means of attachment can be used to secure the attachment devices  22  to the fabric  21 .  
         [0038]     The canopy  20  is attached to the center of the support structure  30  via a thicker elastic cord  24  that is stitched to the center of the canopy  20  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The canopy  20  is attached to the support structure  30  by feeding the elastic cord  24  that is secured to the center or the canopy through the small opening  69  located at the bottom surface  64  of the top section  60  (see  FIG. 11 ) and tying a knot  25  at the end of it. It should be understood that the elastic cord  24  is only one of many means of attachment that can be used to secure the canopy to the support structure  30 . With the canopy  20  attached as such, a compact, single-piece, portable playfort is created. By providing an attachment from the center portion of the canopy to the center portion of the support structure, the support structure can be positioned in the center region of the canopy with the canopy symmetrically extending out from the support structure. The outer edges of the canopy  20  can then be secured to objects around the periphery of the playfort  10 .  
         [0039]     The top section  60  of the canopy can be raised either by pulling up on the head portion  61  or by taking out the canopy  20  and pulling on the elastic cord  24 . And, for storage, the canopy  20  can simply be stuffed back into the hollow head  61 . Although depicted as having a hexagonal shape, in other embodiments, the canopy can have any number of sides. The canopy  20  preferably has a major diameter of about 18.5 feet. In certain embodiments, it may have a diameter of about 15 feet to about 25 feet. And in certain other embodiments, it may have a diameter of about 17 feet to about 22 feet. In certain other embodiments, it may have a diameter of about 20 feet.  
         [0040]     In certain embodiments, the fabric portion  21  of the canopy can be manufactured from flame retardant nylon parachute material that is about 0.004″ thick. In other embodiments, the fabric may be made from other materials.  
         [0041]      FIG. 14  illustrates the attachment device  22  utilized with the canopy  20  of the playfort  10 . As discussed previously, the attachment devices  22  can be used to attach the canopy  20  of the playfort  10  to various types of furniture such as chairs, tabletops, etc. In  FIG. 14 , the attachment device  22  is depicted as a gator clip with a hole located at its center that is used to couple the clip to the canopy  20  via an elastic cord  23 . The gator clip also includes adhesive surfaces  26  at the “teeth” region to provide for a more secure attachment. It should be understood that the gator clip is only one example of a type of attachment device that can be utilized with the playfort  10  and that other types of attachment means such as adhesive tapes, other types of clips, velcro-wraps, etc. are also possible.  
         [0042]     By attaching different portions of the canopy to different objects, the shape of the playfort  10  can be varied. For example, certain portions of the canopy  20  can be attached to taller objects and other portions can be attached to shorter objects varying the look and feel of the created fort or dwelling. On the other hand, the entire canopy  20  can be attached close to the ground surface to form a tent-like structure.  
         [0043]      FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of a support structure  130  adapted for use with the children&#39;s playfort  10  of  FIG. 1 . The support structure  130  illustrated in  FIG. 15  is similar to the support structure  30  of  FIG. 3  except that it utilizes a different mechanism for keeping the sections of the support structure raised. The support structure  130  in  FIG. 15  utilizes flexible cantilever arms  131  with tabs  132  and matching holes  133  in adjoining sections to keep the sections of the support structure  130  raised. For collapsing the structure  130 , the tabs  132  can simply be pressed to release the adjoining sections. It should be understood that the inventive aspects of the disclosure are not limited only to those embodiments disclosed herein, but other mechanisms or techniques within the skill of the art can be utilized the lock and release the sections of the support structure.  
         [0044]     The playfort  10 , when fully set-up, preferably extends about 5 feet in height. In certain embodiments, it may have a height of about 3 feet to about 7 feet. And in certain other embodiments, it may have a height of about 4 feet to about 6 feet.  
         [0045]     When in a collapsed configuration, the playfort  10 , preferably has a height of about 3 feet. In certain embodiments, it may have a height of about 2 feet to about 4 feet. And in certain other embodiments, it may have a height of about 2.5 feet to about 3.5 feet.  
         [0046]     For decorative purposes, the base section and the middle section of the support structure  30  or  130  of the playfort  10  may be molded in color brown and the top section may be molded in color green to resemble a tree trunk and tree leaves, respectively.  
         [0047]     It will be appreciated that many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the broad scopes of the invention are not intended to be limited by the specific embodiments depicted and described herein.