Patent Publication Number: US-2003236052-A1

Title: Toy fire house

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not applicable to this application.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] Not applicable to this application.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0004] The present invention relates generally to toy buildings and more specifically it relates to a toy fire house for providing a male orientated imaginative toy building structure.  
       [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0006] Toy building structures have been in use for years. The best-known type of toy building structure is typically referred to as a “dollhouse”. Conventional dollhouses typically have a female theme which is not attractive to boys. Toy structures for boys typically involve the usage of negative role models such as pirates and criminals.  
       [0007] Examples of patented devices which may be related to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,050,892 to Marx; U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,935 to Edmisson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,519 to Becker; U.S. Pat. No. 262,558 to Clanton; U.S. Pat. No. 202,123 to Picco; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,560 to Lubiniecki; U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,238 to Daiber; U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,076 to Goldstein et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,424 to Kilroy, Jr. et al.  
       [0008] While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing a male orientated toy building structure. Conventional dollhouses do not provide an inviting environment for male children.  
       [0009] In these respects, the toy fire house according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a male orientated toy building structure.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of toy buildings now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new toy fire house construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing a male orientated toy building structure.  
       [0011] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new toy fire house that has many of the advantages of the toy buildings mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new toy fire house which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art toy buildings, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
       [0012] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a first section pivotally attached to a second section. The first section has a first opening exposing a first interior and the second section has a second opening exposing a second interior. The first opening and the second opening are closed when the first section is pivotally closed with respect to the second section. The second section includes a garage door which allows for the entry and exiting of a fire truck.  
       [0013] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
       [0014] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
       [0015] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a toy fire house that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.  
       [0016] A second object is to provide a toy fire house for providing a male orientated toy building structure.  
       [0017] Another object is to provide a toy fire house that encourages boys to utilize their imagination within a toy fire house environment.  
       [0018] An additional object is to provide a toy fire house that allows for children to simulate a firefighters daily life while they are not actively fighting fires.  
       [0019] A further object is to provide a toy fire house that provides a positive role model for both boys and girls.  
       [0020] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.  
       [0021] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
     [0023]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in the close position.  
     [0024]FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in the open position.  
     [0025]FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in the open position with the fire truck positioned within.  
     [0026]FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in the open position with the garage door closed.  
     [0027]FIG. 5 is a side view of the second section of the housing structure.  
     [0028]FIG. 6 is a side view of the first section of the housing structure.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0029] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate a toy fire house  10 , which comprises a first section  20  pivotally attached to a second section  30 . The first section  20  has a first opening exposing a first interior and the second section  30  has a second opening exposing a second interior. The first opening and the second opening are closed when the first section  20  is pivotally closed with respect to the second section  30 . The second section  30  includes a garage door  34  which allows for the entry and exiting of a fire truck  60 .  
     [0030] As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, when the first section  20  is closed upon the second section  30  a generally rectangular structure is formed. The first section  20  has a first main floor, a pair of opposing sidewalls, a first rear wall and a first roof  22  forming a rectangular structure. A first opening extends into the first section  20  opposite of first rear wall as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. At least one front door  26  and a plurality of windows  24  are preferably positioned within one of the sidewalls of the first section  20 . The exterior of the first section  20  preferably has a simulated brick design.  
     [0031] An upper floor  28  is preferably positioned within the first section  20  for providing a downstairs and an upstairs within the first section  20 . A flight of stairs  40  extend from the main floor of the first section  20  through an opening within the upper floor  28  for providing access between the upstairs and downstairs of the first section  20 .  
     [0032] A slide  42  is attached to the upper floor  28  adjacent the first opening for sliding figurines/characters down from the upstairs to the downstairs as shown in FIGS.  2  through  4  of the drawings. The lower end of the slide  42  is preferably attached to the edge of the main floor of the first section  20  so as to be positioned above the main floor of the second section  30  when the first section  20  is closed upon the first section  20  as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The slide  42  preferably extends straight from the upper floor  28  initially and then is curved in the middle portion to be substantially at an angle with respect to the lower edge of the main floor of the first section  20  as further shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings.  
     [0033] The second section  30  is pivotally attached to the first section  20  at a corresponding corner thereof using a hinge as best shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The second section  30  has a second main floor, a second sidewall, a second rear wall and a second roof  32  forming a rectangular structure. A second opening extends into the second section  30  opposite of second rear wall as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The exterior of the second section  30  preferably has a simulated brick design.  
     [0034] The second section  30  preferably includes a door opening for receiving a fire truck  60  or similar object. A garage door  34  is movably attached within the second section  30  for selectively closing and opening the door opening as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings. The garage door  34  is preferably comprised of a replicated articulated overhead door structure.  
     [0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, various objects may be positioned within the first section  20  and the second section  30  for simulating a fire house environment. For example, a plurality of beds  44  may be positioned within the upstairs as well as a family room area with chairs, couch and a television of the first section  20 . A table set  46  may be positioned upon the first main floor, a plurality of cabinets  48  and kitchen appliances within the first section  20  and a plurality of lockers  50  within the second section  30 . Various other objects may be included within the present invention that are commonly utilized within a fire house environment.  
     [0036] An alarm may be utilized within the present invention wherein a button  52  may be depressed which activates a corresponding electrical circuitry which sounds an audible alarm similar to the sound of an actual firehouse alarm as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The button  52  may be positioned within the interior of the structure as shown in FIG. 2, however the button  52  may be positioned upon the exterior of the structure.  
     [0037] In use, the user opens the first section  20  and the second section  30  with respect to one another as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings. The user is then able to insert and reposition characters (e.g. dolls, figurines, etc.) within the interior portions of the first section  20  and the second section  30  thereby simulating the life of a fireman. If the user desires to simulate a fire situation, the user may slide one or more characters down the slide  42  from the first section  20  to the second section  30  thereafter positioning the characters within the fire truck  60 . The user would then elevate the garage door  34  and then remove the fire truck  60  to begin the fire fighting simulation. Various other simulated events may take place within the toy fire house  10 . When finished utilizing the toy fire house  10 , the user simply closes the first section  20  upon the second section  30 . A latch or locking mechanism may be utilized to secure the first section  20  to the second section  30  in a closed position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.  
     [0038] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.  
     [0039] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
     [0040] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.