Abstract:
A modular house toy includes a fixed supporting structure made of a solid floor, a solid ceiling, a solid back wall connecting the floor to the ceiling, and an open arch connecting the floor to the ceiling. The back wall and/or the arch permanently connect the floor to the ceiling in respective connection planes. A modular house toy configuration includes at least two fixed supporting structures. One fixed supporting structure is removably connected to another in six positions. Preferably, the floor and the ceiling have the same shape and the back wall and the arch have the same shape to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of one modular house toy to another module house toy. Wall and arch extensions are inserted into floor depressions and other wall and arch extensions are inserted into ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to toy houses, and more particularly, to a modular toy house.  
           [0002]    Different toy houses have been made in the past. Most of the existing modular-like toy houses, however, exist as multi-piece construction sets. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,297 to Fox, U.S. Pat. No. 3,020,601 to Stambaugh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,965 to Gibb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,302 to Dandia, U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,372 to Lin, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,690 to Stoffle et al.  
           [0003]    One such multi-piece construction set is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,261 to Bach et al., which discloses a self-supporting grating structure that, when fully assembled, includes a bottom plate, four columns, four girders, and one or more wall elements. The assembled structure is intended to be disassembled in its entirety. The four girders make up the open ceiling, and the four columns make up the structure for holding the four-girder assembly at a distance above the bottom plate. A significant feature of Bach et al. is that the building must be accessible from above, in other words, the support girders are disposed such that there is unimpeded access to the interior space from above.  
           [0004]    Architectural models are also present in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,315,463 to Tingley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,225 to Sodergren, U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,291 to Zucht, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,437 to Sitkus. Other types of doll houses exist as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,054 to Raman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,693 to Walmer, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,404 to Norfleet.  
           [0005]    The prior art, however, does not provide a modular house toy having a fixed supporting structure that can be easily combined to create a structure larger than a single fixed supporting structure, and to do so in an easy and inexpensive manner, while simultaneously providing sophisticated household objects/props and electronic lights and sounds.  
           [0006]    What is needed is a modular house toy having a secure foundation that enables easy modularity for constructing a multi-part house and that allows for the addition and inclusion of sophisticated electronics, including, for example, lighting and sound effects.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a modular house toy that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and that provides an inexpensive and structurally strong modular house toy.  
           [0008]    With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a modular house toy including a fixed supporting structure having a solid floor, a solid ceiling, a solid back wall connecting the floor to the ceiling, and an open arch connecting the floor to the ceiling.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another feature of the invention, the back wall and/or the arch permanently connects the floor to the ceiling.  
           [0010]    In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the connection of the floor to the ceiling with the back wall is in a first vertical connection plane, and the connection of the floor to the ceiling with the arch is in a second vertical connection plane different from the first vertical connection plane.  
           [0011]    In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the floor has floor depressions, the ceiling has ceiling depressions, the back wall has wall extensions, and the arch has arch extensions. At least one of the wall extensions is inserted into at least one of the floor depressions and at least one of the wall extensions is inserted into at least one of the ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling. Further, at least one of the arch extensions is inserted into at least one of the floor depressions and at least one of the arch extensions is inserted into at least one of the ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling.  
           [0012]    In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the floor has a top side with two pairs of floor depressions. The ceiling has a bottom side with two pairs of ceiling depressions. The back wall has two lower wall extensions inserted into a first of the two pairs of floor depressions and two upper wall extensions inserted into a first of the two pairs of ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling. The arch has two lower arch extensions inserted into a second of the two pairs of floor depressions and two upper arch extensions inserted into a second of the two pairs of ceiling depressions to connect the floor to the ceiling.  
           [0013]    In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the floor and the ceiling have the same shape and the back wall and the arch have the same shape to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of one modular house toy to another module house toy.  
           [0014]    With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a modular house toy configuration including at least two of the fixed supporting structures where the first fixed supporting structure is removably connected to the second fixed supporting structure.  
           [0015]    In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the floors and the ceilings of the multiple structures have the same shape and the back walls and the arches of the multiple structures have the same shape to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of one modular house toy to another module house toy.  
           [0016]    Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.  
           [0017]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a modular house toy, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.  
           [0018]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a disassembled fixed supporting structure of a modular house toy according to the invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of an assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with a roof structure;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of three connected fixed supporting structures of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of a side wall connection of the fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a bathroom embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a kitchen embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a living room embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a nursery embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a dining room embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a master bedroom embodiment of the assembled fixed supporting structure of FIG. 1 with the front arch and one side wall removed; 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    In all the figures of the drawing, sub-features and integral parts that correspond to one another bear the same reference symbol in each case.  
         [0030]    Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an exploded view of a modular house toy having a fixed supporting structure  1 . The fixed supporting structure  1 , as shown in FIG. 1 includes a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , and an open front arch  5 , which, when assembled (see FIG. 2), together define an inner space  6 .  
         [0031]    “Fixed,” with respect to the fixed supporting structure  1 , is to be understood as meaning that a user will not remove any of the solid floor  2 , the solid ceiling  3 , the solid back wall  4 , or the open front arch  5  after assembly and during normal use of the modular house toy. “Assembly” is to be understood as meaning either assembly of the modular house toy at the manufacturing location or by a toy user immediately after opening the toy from its packaging and before normal use by the user.  
         [0032]    “Solid,” with respect to the solid floor  2 , is to be understood as meaning that objects do not pass to the inner space  6  through the plane defined by the edges of the solid floor  2  from below the solid floor  2  without breaking the solid floor  2  itself. In other words, when the assembled modular house toy is set down on a solid surface larger than a footprint of the solid floor  2 , all access by the user to the space below the solid floor  2  is impeded by the solid floor  2 .  
         [0033]    Similarly, “solid,” with respect to the solid ceiling  3 , is to be understood as meaning that objects do not pass through the plane defined by the edges of the solid ceiling  3 , whether from above the solid ceiling  3  to below the solid ceiling  3 , or from below the solid ceiling  3  to above the solid ceiling  3  without breaking the solid ceiling  3  itself. In other words, all access by the user to the inside space  6  of an assembled modular house toy through the plane defined by the edges of the solid ceiling  3  is impeded.  
         [0034]    Likewise, “solid,” with respect to the solid back wall  4 , is to be understood as meaning that objects are not intended to pass to the inner space  6  through the plane defined by the edges of the solid back wall  4  from outside the solid back wall  4  without breaking the solid back wall  4  itself. In other words, all access by the user to the inside space  6  of an assembled modular house toy through the plane defined by the edges of the solid back wall  4  is impeded. There is an exception, however. The solid back wall  4  can have a window  45 , as illustrated in FIG. 1. The window  45  is solid and objects cannot pass through the window  45  without breaking the window  45  itself or the solid back wall  4 . In an alternative embodiment, however, the window  45  or the panes  46  in the window  45  can be shuttered, either vertically or horizontally, similar to conventional household windows. In a shuttered embodiment, passage is possible, but only through the rectangular space defined by the window frame  47 .  
         [0035]    The solid floor  2  has a rectangular footprint. In a preferred embodiment, the footprint is square. The solid floor  2  has a depression  21  in each of the four top side corners. The solid floor  2  also has four side walls  22  that, in a preferred embodiment, are made as one piece with the top side of the solid floor  2 . Particularly, the solid floor  2  is made in one piece in an injection molding process. In the preferred embodiment, portions of the side walls  22  make up two of the five walls defining the open box-shaped depression  21  in the floor. Each of the side walls  22  has a cavity  23  and a projection  24 . Each cavity  23  preferably has an approximately rectangular shape, and each projection  24  also preferably has an approximately rectangular shape corresponding to each cavity  23 . Thus, the cavities  23  and projections  24  are standardized with respect to one another. The projection  24  and cavity  23  can take any shape, however. Further, the cavity  23  and the projection  24  are preferably bow-shaped, as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    Each of the cavities  23  has a recess  29  for receiving a fastener  25 . The fastener  25  is, preferably, a circular magnet and the recess  29  has a circular shape corresponding to the magnet. Each of the projections  24  has a recess  29  for receiving a second fastener  26 . Preferably, the fastener  26  is a circular ferrum and the recess  29  has a circular shape corresponding to the ferrum. Preferably, the cavities  23  and projections  24  are staggered around the side walls  22  of the solid floor  2 . Thus, when two floors  2  are placed adjacent one another (see FIG. 3), a projection  24  of the first floor  2  mates with a cavity  23  of the second floor  2  and a projection  24  of the second floor  2  mates with a cavity  23  of the first floor  2  to produce a form lock. The projections  24 ,  34  can be slightly larger than the cavities  23 ,  33  such that a force lock is produced by a mating of the two. The magnet  25  and ferrum  26  provide an attractive force that holds the two floors  2  together in place.  
         [0037]    The solid ceiling  3  has a rectangular footprint. Preferably, the footprint is square and corresponds to the shape of the solid floor  2 . The solid ceiling  3  has four side walls  32  that, in a preferred embodiment, are made as one piece with the top side of the solid ceiling  3 . The side walls  32  and the top side of the solid ceiling  3 , therefore, form an open box. The open box is preferably made in an injection molding process and is used for housing electronic devices for the modular house toy. For example, the open box can house a battery pack, wires, and lights and/or sound devices for a ceiling or wall light, a television, a fireplace, a microwave, a stove, or any other electrically operable item that can be envisioned to exist in a room of a house. The solid floor  2  additionally or alternatively house such electronics in the cavity formed by the side walls  22  and floor  2 .  
         [0038]    The solid ceiling  3  has a non-illustrated depression in each of the four bottom side corners corresponding to the depression  21  in each of the four top-side corners of the solid floor  2 . Preferably, portions of the side walls  32  and portions of the top side of the solid ceiling make up three of the five walls defining the box-shaped depression in the ceiling. Each of the side walls  32  has a cavity  33  and a projection  34 . Each cavity  33  has an approximately rectangular shape, and each projection  34  also has an approximately rectangular shape corresponding to each cavity  23 ,  33 . Preferably, the non-illustrated depressions are identical in shape to the depressions  21  in the solid floor  2 . Thus, the cavities  23 ,  33  and projections  24 ,  34  are standardized with respect to one another. The projection  34  and cavity  33  can take any shape, however. Further, the cavity  33  and the projection  34  are preferably bow-shaped, as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0039]    Also in a preferred embodiment, the cavities  23  and projections  24  on the solid floor  2  are staggered with respect to the cavities  33  and projections  34  on the solid ceiling  3 . Each of the cavities  33  has a recess  39  for receiving a fastener  35 . Preferably, the fastener  35  is a circular magnet and the recess  39  has a circular shape corresponding to the magnet. Each of the projections  34  has a recess  39  for receiving a second fastener  36 . Preferably, the fastener  36  is a circular ferrum and the recess  39  has a circular shape corresponding to the ferrum. Preferably, the cavities  33  and projections  34  are staggered around the side walls  32  of the solid ceiling  3 .  
         [0040]    The open box can be closed by a non-illustrated ceiling plate that is securably fastened to either the side walls  32 , the top side of the solid ceiling  3 , or both. Thus, a protective enclosure is formed for electronics, or any other device, housed therein.  
         [0041]    The top side of the solid ceiling  3  has at least one flange  31  projecting transversely to the plane of the top side. Preferably, the top side has two flanges  31  projecting transversely to the plane of the top side near each of the four edges of the top side, for a total of eight flanges  31  as shown. The flanges  31  are used, for example, to secure a roof section  9  (see FIG. 2) from easily falling off or to secure a second modular house toy  1  on top of a first modular house toy  1  as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0042]    The solid back wall  4  has four plugs  41 , two side walls  42 , and a back wall  43 . The two side walls  42  extend at right angles to the back wall  43 . Each of the four plugs  41 , the two side walls  42 , and the back wall  43  are formed integral with one another, preferably in one piece by injection molding. The upper two of the four plugs  41  are configured to be inserted into the corresponding non-illustrated depressions in the lower side of the solid ceiling  3  and the lower two of the four plugs  41  are to be inserted into the two corresponding depressions  21  in the solid floor  2 . Preferably, the plugs have a bore  49  with a thread for securably receiving a screw  27 ,  37  therein.  
         [0043]    The open front arch  5  has four plugs  51 , two side walls  52 , and an upside-down U-shaped front wall  53 . Each of the plugs  51 , the side walls  52 , and the U-shaped front wall  53  are formed integral with one another, preferably by injection molding. The upper two of the four plugs  51  are configured to be inserted into the corresponding non-illustrated depressions in the lower side of the solid ceiling  3  and the lower two of the four plugs  51  are to be inserted into two corresponding depressions  21  in the solid floor  2 . Preferably, the plugs have a bore  59  with a thread for securably receiving a screw  27 ,  37  therein. The open front arch  5  can also have an integral post  54  with a bore therein for receiving another top screw  37  to provide additionally securing support to the center top part of the open front arch  5 .  
         [0044]    The fixed supporting structure  1  is assembled by inserting the two lowermost plugs  51  of the open front arch  5  into the two front depressions  21  on top of the solid floor  2 , and inserting the two lowermost plugs  41  of the solid back wall  4  into the two rear depressions  21  on top of the solid floor  2 . At each corner of the solid floor  2 , a bottom screw  27  is turned through the bottom of the solid floor  2  and into a respective bottom plug  41 ,  51  to fixedly and/or permanently secure the plug  41 ,  51  into its corresponding depression  21 . Equivalent fasteners to the screw  27  can also be used. The solid ceiling  3  is placed on top of the open front arch  5  and the solid back wall  4  such that the two uppermost plugs  51  of the open front arch  5  are inserted into the corresponding two non-illustrated front (with respect to the view of FIG. 1) depressions of the bottom side of the solid ceiling  3 , and such that the two uppermost plugs  41  of the solid back wall  4  are inserted into the corresponding two non-illustrated rear depressions of the bottom side of the solid ceiling  3 . At each corner of the solid ceiling  3 , a top screw  37  is turned through the top side of the solid ceiling  3  and into a respective top plug  41 ,  51  to fixedly and/or permanently secure the plug  41 ,  51  into its corresponding depression. Equivalent fasteners to the screw  37  can also be used. The modular house toy  1  also includes two removable side walls  7 ,  8 . See FIG. 1. Each of the side walls  7 ,  8  have at least one connection device, preferably, in the form of at least one tongue. In the preferred configuration, each side wall  7 ,  8  has at least one tongue  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  on each of the four edges of the respective side wall  7 ,  8 . Particularly, each lateral edge has a centrally disposed lateral tongue  71 ,  81 , each lower edge has a lower edge tongue  72 ,  82  disposed over almost the entirety of the lower edge, and each upper edge has three upper edge tongues  73 ,  83  evenly spaced on the upper edge as shown in FIG. 1. The lower edge tongue  82  is preferably more than 80 percent as long as entire lower edge of side wall  8 , and, particularly, more than 90 percent as long. The lower edge tongue  72  is preferably more than 80 percent as long as the lower edges on either side of the bottom of the door  75 , and, particularly, more than 90 percent as long. Each tongue  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  is preferably rectangular, but can take any shape. For example, the center part of the tongue can be longer (in the tongue-extending direction) than the side portions thereof.  
         [0045]    The side walls  42  of the solid back wall  4  and the side walls  52  of the open front arch each have a corresponding groove  48 ,  58  (see FIG. 4) for receiving a respective lateral tongue  71 ,  81 . Similarly, the solid floor  2  has two grooves  722 ,  822  for receiving a respective lower edge tongue  72 ,  82 . Also, the solid ceiling  3 , has non-illustrated grooves corresponding to the shape of the upper edge tongues  73 ,  83 . The side walls  7 ,  8  can have any number of tongues  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83 . Preferably, for stability, each side wall  7 ,  8  has at least two tongues disposed symmetrically on opposing edges of the side wall  7 ,  8 .  
         [0046]    The connection of one lateral tongue  71 ,  81  into a corresponding groove  48 ,  58  can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. 4. Preferably, the side walls  7 ,  8  are plastic. Therefore, they are somewhat bendable. Insertion of a side wall  7 ,  8  is performed by inserting a tongue  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  on one of the edges. Preferably, the tongue  72 ,  82  is first inserted into the corresponding groove  722 ,  822 . Then, the side wall  7 ,  8  is slightly bent such that the height and width decreases sufficiently enough to insert the second and subsequent edges. Alternatively, the side wall is simply pressed against the side walls  32 ,  42 ,  52  until the tongue  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  snaps into the corresponding groove. A non-illustrated bevel can be added to the tongue for ease of connectivity.  
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment of the side walls  7 ,  8 , one side wall  7  of each module of the modular house toy has a door  75  and another side wall  8  has a window  85 . If the solid back wall  4  has a window  45 , then the window  85  preferably matches, in configuration, the window  45  in the solid back wall  4 . Each side wall  7  has a configuration that can be interchanged with the other side wall  8  in a modular fashion. Additionally, the four edges of an opening defined by three sides of the open front arch  5  and the solid floor  2  can be equipped with grooves like grooves  48 ,  58  such that any of the side walls  7 ,  8  can be inserted into any one of the three apertures of the fixed supporting structure  1  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0048]    The following describes an alternative, non-illustrated embodiment of the side wall connector that eliminates many of the tongues and grooves shown in FIG. 1. In the alternative embodiment, the lateral edges of the side walls  7 ,  8  do not have tongues. With respect to the upper edge of the side walls  7 ,  8 , the upper edge tongues on the side walls  7 ,  8  are removed and a number of pins, preferably, two, are placed on a side of the side walls facing the inner space  6  and projecting towards the inner space  6 . The lower edge flange  72 ,  82  remains the same as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the non-illustrated grooves in the bottom side of the solid ceiling  3  are removed and one or more flanges projecting from the bottom side of the side walls  32  facing each side wall  7 ,  8  is added to the solid ceiling  3 , preferably, slightly back (i.e., towards the center of the inner space  6 ) from the side opening housing the side wall  7 ,  8 . The flanges project downward towards the solid floor  2 . Each flange has an approximately rectangular shape and includes at least one aperture for receiving a respective one of the pins projecting from the side walls  7 ,  8 . Preferably, one flange projects downwards and has two symmetrically spaced pin holes with an inner shape corresponding to an outer shape of a pin. To place such a side wall  7 ,  8  onto the fixed supporting structure  1 , the lower edge tongue  72  is inserted into the groove  722  and the pins are inserted into the pin holes. Another integral magnet/ferrum pair  25 ,  26  can be placed at the pin/flange location for providing an additional securing force or as a replacement for the pin and pinhole connector.  
         [0049]    Any other suitable equivalent connector for the side walls  7 ,  8  can be used to secure a side wall  7 ,  8  to the fixed supporting structure  1  so long as the side walls  7 ,  8  remain easily secured to and easily removed from the apertures.  
         [0050]    A fully-assembled fixed supporting structure  1  with two side walls  7 ,  8  in place is shown in FIG. 2. Also shown is an example roof structure  9  to be placed on top of the solid ceiling  3  of the fixed supporting structure  1 .  
         [0051]    The invention is configured so that multiple fixed supporting structures  1  can be attached to each other to form a plurality of structures  1  in any configuration desired by the user. For example, four structures  1  can be disposed in a row to form a four-room single level house. Four structures  1  also can be disposed as a square duplex with two adjacent structures  1  below and two adjacent structures  1  above. Alternatively, four structures can be disposed as a two-level house with three adjacent structures  1  below and one structure  1  above. FIG. 3 depicts a two-level house made of three structures  1  where two lower structures  1 A,  1 B are placed adjacent one another and one structure  1 C is disposed on top of the lower structure  1 A.  
         [0052]    To attach a first fixed supporting structure  1 C on top of a second fixed supporting structure  1 A, as shown in FIG. 3, the first structure  1 C is placed upon the second structure  1 A such that the flanges  31 , extending upward from the top side of the solid ceiling  3 A of the second structure  1 A, are inserted into four non-illustrated grooves on the bottom side of the solid floor  2 C of the first structure  1 C. The bottom side of a solid floor  2  can have any device or means for securing the solid floor  2  to the lower disposed solid ceiling  3 . A groove corresponding to the flanges  31 , as set forth above, is preferred. Alternatively, the solid floor  2  can have a grating underneath with groove-like cutouts for accommodating the flanges  31 . In another alternative to the flanges  31  for attaching a roof section  9  or a second modular house toy  1  to a first modular house toy  1 , the solid ceiling  3  can have vertically-extending plugs corresponding to the upper plugs  51  of the open front arch  5  and the upper plugs  41  of the solid back wall  4 . In the alternative embodiment, the solid floor  2  has four depressions on the non-illustrated underside (corresponding to the depressions  21  shown on the upper side of the solid floor  2 ) for receiving the vertically-extending plugs. Such plugs provide substantial support for a roof section  9  or a second story structure  1 . Other alternative equivalent connection embodiments are also possible so long as the roof structure  9  or other supporting structure  1  remain easily secured to and easily removed from the other supporting structure  1 . Additionally, a ceiling  3  can have magnets  25  and a floor  2  can have ferrums  26  (or vice-versa) for additional releasably-connective support of two supporting structures  1 A,  1 C.  
         [0053]    Each of the features and alternatives for connecting one structure  1 C on top of another structure can be reproduced for the bottom side of the roof structure  9 . While the roof structure  9  is depicted as a conventional gabled roof, the roof structure can take any shape. For example, the roof can be in the form of a sun deck.  
         [0054]    To attach a third fixed supporting structure  1 B immediately adjacent to the second fixed supporting structure  1 A, the third structure  1 B is placed next to the second structure  1 A such that, preferably, two projections  24 ,  34  on a left side of the third structure  1 B (one upper and one lower) are inserted into two cavities  23 ,  33  on a right side of the second structure  1 A (one upper and one lower) and two projections  24 ,  34  on the right side of the second structure  1 A (one upper and one lower) are inserted into two cavities  23 ,  33  on the left side of the third structure  1 B (one upper and one lower). The cavities  23 ,  33  and the projections  24 ,  34  are shaped preferably to provide both a form lock and a force lock to keep the two adjacent fixed supporting structures  1 A,  1 B together as set forth above. The magnets  25 ,  35  inside the cavities  23 ,  33  and the ferrums  26 ,  36  inside the projections  24 ,  34  are mutually attracted to provide an additional holding force that keeps the two fixed supporting structures  1 A,  1 B together.  
         [0055]    Either the user or the manufacturer can assemble the fixed supporting structure  1 , including the solid floor  2 , the solid ceiling  3 , the solid back wall  4 , and the open front arch  5 . Preferably, the magnets  25 ,  35  are fixedly and/or permanently secured into corresponding recesses  29  and the ferrums  26 ,  36  are fixedly and/or permanently secured into other corresponding recesses  29  by the manufacturer. Alternatively, the magnets  25 ,  35  and ferrums  26 ,  36  can be installed by the user.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a bathroom. The bathroom is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  8  with a window  85 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  7  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The bathroom is shown with a bathtub  501 , a toilet  502 , a sink cabinet  503 , and a medicine cabinet/vanity  504 , for example.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a kitchen. The kitchen is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  8  with a window  85 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  7  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The kitchen is shown with a refrigerator  601 , sink cabinet  602 , stove  603 , counter  604 , microwave  605 , and cabinetry  606 , for example.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a living room. The living room is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  8  with a window  85 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  7  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The living room is shown with a fireplace  701  and an entertainment center  702 , for example.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a nursery. The nursery is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  8  with a window  85 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  7  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The nursery is shown with a crib  801  and a teddy bear light switch  802 , for example.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a dining room. The dining room is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  7  with a door  75 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  8  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The dining room is shown with two dining hutches  901 , for example.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 10 shows a preferred embodiment of fixed supporting structure  1  as a master bedroom. The master bedroom is shown with a solid floor  2 , a solid ceiling  3 , a solid back wall  4 , a side wall  8 , and a roof structure  9 . The side wall  7  and the open front arch  5  are not shown for the sake of clarity. The master bedroom is shown with an end table with radio  1001 , an end table with telephone  1002 , and a bed  1003 , for example.  
         [0062]    Other alternative examples of the fixed supporting structure include, for example, a bedroom, a garage, an entertainment room, a gym or workout room, a foyer, and a sun room.