PANEL FOR CONSTRUCTING A CHILD'S PLAYHOUSE AND A CHILD'S PLAYHOUSE INCORPORATING THE SAME
A panel and method for constructing a child's playhouse. Each panel defines a pair of spaced apart slits in the top and bottom sides thereof. Panels are interlocked by positioning one panel vertically above another and at an angle relative thereto. The top panel is moved downwardly so that a slit in the bottom side of the top panel enters a slit in the top side of the bottom panel. Some panels include apertures which form windows and doors. Panels are rearranged to form differently configured playhouses. Individual playhouses connect to each other to form modular playhouses. A kit includes a blank of full-sized panels and a blank of miniaturized panels. The miniaturized panels are used to plan and build a miniaturized playhouse and the pattern of that playhouse is followed in the building of the full-sized playhouse.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/536,111, filed Sep. 19, 2011, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to playhouses for children. More particularly, this invention relates to playhouses that may be constructed quickly and easily. Specifically, the invention is directed to a panel useful for constructing the walls and roof of a child's playhouse, a child's playhouse incorporating the panel and a method of constructing the playhouse.
2. Background Information
Children love to play in child-sized houses and in the past a wide variety of playhouses have been disclosed in the art. Typically these houses are constructed from wood, plywood or plastic sheets which form the walls and roof of the playhouse. In the case of plastic playhouses, each wall is comprised of a single plastic sheet and then the sheets are secured together along their edges to make the exterior shape of the playhouse. The roof is then attached to the top edge of the vertical walls. Plastic playhouses may come preassembled or are provided with instructions to the user as to how to secure the various walls and roof sheets to each other. Wooden playhouses may be built by constructing individual walls and then securing the walls together. Each wall is made by building a frame and then securing individual planks to that frame. Alternatively, each wall may be comprised of a single sheet of plywood that is secured to a frame and then the walls are secured together. Once the walls have been joined together, a roof is secured to the top of the walls.
One of the features of previously known playhouses is that there is only one way of putting the playhouse together and once the playhouse is built it stays in that configuration.
There is therefore a need in the art for a child's playhouse that is readily and easily constructed, but which can be quickly and easily be changed to a different configuration, and which can be readily added to as desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention comprises a panel for use in the construction of the walls and roof of a child's playhouse, a modular playhouse incorporating two or more of the constructed playhouses, a method of assembling the same; and a kit which includes a miniaturized blank of miniaturized panels which is able to be used to design and build a miniaturized playhouse, the pattern of which is then followed in the building of the full-sized version.
The panel in accordance with the present invention includes a front surface, a back surface, a top side extending between the front and back surfaces, a bottom side extending between the front and back surfaces and opposite the top side, a left end extending between the top and bottom sides, a right end extending between the top and bottom sides and opposite the left end; and a pair of spaced apart first slits defined in the top side of the panel. Each slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof. The first slits interlockingly engage with a lower region of a second panel disposed above the panel. The panel further includes a pair of spaced apart second slits defined in the bottom side of the panel. Each slit extends upwardly into the interior of the panel and interlockingly engages an upper region of a third panel which is disposed below the panel.
The child's playhouse in accordance with the present invention includes a front wall, a back wall disposed opposite the front wall, a first side wall extending between the front and back walls, a second side wall extending between the front and back walls and disposed opposite the first side wall; and wherein each of the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side walls are constructed from a plurality of panels that are releasably engaged with each other; and wherein each of the panels includes a front surface, a back surface, a top side extending between the front and back surfaces, a bottom side extending between the front and back surfaces and opposite the top side, a left end extending between the top and bottom sides, a right end extending between the top and bottom sides and opposite the left end; and a pair of spaced apart first slits defined in the top side of the panel. Each slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof. The first slits interlockingly engage with a lower region of a second panel disposed above the panel. The panel further includes a pair of spaced apart second slits defined in the bottom side of the panel. Each slit extends upwardly into the interior of the panel and interlockingly engages an upper region of a third panel which is disposed below the panel. At least some of the panels define apertures therein that are able to be used as windows and doors for the playhouse. The roof is constructed of a panel that includes fold lines which allow it to be folded into a generally inverted V-shape and then engaged with an uppermost end of two of the top panels of two of the opposing walls of the playhouse.
The modular playhouse in accordance with the present invention is constructed by interlockingly engaging two or more playhouses defined above. Each playhouse is built using the following steps:
-
- building a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; and
- engaging a roof therewith; and wherein the step of building the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side walls further includes the steps of:
- a) positioning a first and second foundation panel onto a ground surface so that a bottom side of each of the first and second foundation panels is in contact with the ground surface;
- b) positioning a first wall panel so that it will extend between the first and second foundation panels;
- c) moving the first wall panel downwardly toward the first and second foundation panels so that a first slit on a bottom side of the first wall panel enters a first slit on a top side of the first foundation panel, and a second slit on the bottom side of the first wall panel enters a first slit on a top side of the second foundation panel;
- d) moving the first wall panel downwardly until no further movement is possible;
- e) positioning a second wall panel so that it will extend between the first and second foundation panels a spaced distance from the first wall panel;
- f) moving the second wall panel downwardly toward the first and second foundation panels so that a first slit in a bottom side of the second wall panel enters a second slit in the top side of the first foundation panel, and a second slit on the bottom side of the second wall panel enters a second slit in the top side of the second foundation panel;
- g) moving the second wall panel downwardly until no further movement is possible;
- h) repeating steps b) through g) until the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side wall are of a desired height.
The present invention further comprises a miniaturized playhouse that is comprised of a plurality of miniaturized panels. The miniaturized panels are substantially identically configured to the panels used to construct the playhouse and are interlockingly engaged with each other in a substantially identical manner to the playhouse panels. The miniaturized panels may be assembled in any one of a number of different configurations to form a miniaturized playhouse and then the full-sized playhouse may be constructed following the pattern developed in the design and assembly of the miniaturized playhouse. Thus, the child is able to plan and design the full-sized playhouse by building the miniaturized playhouse using the smaller and easier to handle miniaturized panels.
The present invention may therefore be sold as a kit which comprises a plurality of miniaturized first panels and a plurality of full-sized second panels, where the first and second panels are substantially identical in shape and number. The kit of the present invention may further include a set of drawings illustrating the various configurations that each of the first and second panels may be constructed into.
In addition to using the miniaturized playhouse for planning purposes, this playhouse may be used independently as a doll-house.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring to
Each panel used in playhouse 10 is comprised of any suitable sheet material. In particular, the panels are comprised of corrugated cardboard, a foam material such as EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), plastic, wood or any other material that is relatively strong and lightweight. If cardboard is selected for the manufacture of the panels, for example, that cardboard should be sufficiently thick enough to take the forces involved in assembling and disassembling playhouse 10. Additionally, if cardboard is selected for the manufacture of the panels, it preferably will be of a type and/or color which will permit a child to draw or paint on the same. If EVA foam material is used for the manufacture of the panels for playhouse 10, then the foam may be of a single solid color or each of the front and back surfaces of the panel may be differently colored, or the foam material can be multicolored or have some type of design applied to the front and back surfaces thereof.
During manufacture, a plurality of differently configured panels is preferably die-cut into a blank, such as blanks 12a, 12b, 12c illustrated in
The panels are then separated from the blank by a child or by an adult to form individual pieces which are subsequently utilized in a variety of different orders to construct playhouse 10. It will be understood that instead of die-cutting a blank 12a, 12b, 12c and then separating out the panels therefrom, each panel may be separately manufactured.
As indicated previously and in accordance with the present invention, playhouse 10 is made up from several differently configured panels. These include foundation panels 14, wall panels 16, first apertured panels 18, second apertured panels 20, third apertured panels 22, fourth apertured panels 24, and roof panels 26. Blanks 12a-12c may be die-cut to include only one type of panel, such as roof panel 26, or may include a combination of the differently configured panels 14-26.
Referring to
Referring to
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, wall panel 16 is provided with slits 40 that are used to enable panels 14-26 to be engaged with each other. Wall panel 16 includes a pair of spaced apart slits 40a, 40b (
Referring to
First apertured panel 18 defines one or more generally semi-circular apertures 44 (
Second apertured panel 20 defines one or more apertures 46 therein. Each aperture 46 extends from front surface 28 through to back surface 30 and is generally circular in shape. In the example shown, second apertured panel 20 defines three apertures 46a, 46b, and 46c therein which are spaced at intervals along the length “L” of panel 20. Each aperture 46 is 6.5″ in diameter, is spaced a distance of 2″ from top side 32 and a distance of 2″ from bottom side 34. The two end apertures 46a, 46c are each spaced a distance of 6.5″ from the associated one of the left and right ends 36, 38 of panel 20. The middle aperture 46b is spaced a distance of 3.25″ from each of the end apertures 46a, 46c. It should be understood that second apertured panel 20 may include only a single aperture 46, or two apertures, or more than three apertures. As will be understood, the dimensions of apertures 46 and their spacing from the various surfaces of panel 20 and from each other may be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention. Apertures 44, 46 are provided to act as windows or small passages in playhouse. Consequently, the size of apertures 44, 46 utilized in first and second apertured panels 18, 20 is selected so as to be either too small or two big for children to get their heads stuck in the same. This is especially important if the material used to construct playhouse 10 is rigid in nature.
Third apertured panel 22 defines one generally semi-circular aperture 48 therein which extend from front surface 28 to back surface 30 of the panel. Aperture 48 originates in one or the other of top side 32 and bottom side 34 of the panel 22 and extends for a distance into the interior thereof.
Fourth apertured panel 24 includes an aperture 50 that is configured to form a central region of a circle when two third apertured panels 22 are disposed on either side of fourth apertured panel 24 in the manner shown in
Foundation panel 14 essentially comprises a top half of wall panel 16. As such, foundation panel 14 has a front surface 52, a back surface (not shown), a top side 54, a bottom side 56, a left end 58 and a right end 60. Foundation panel 14 has a height “H2” (
Finally, roof panel 26 is a substantially rectangular panel having a front surface 64, a back surface 65 (
Roof panel 26 includes three fold lines 76a, 76b, 76c which preferably extend from top side 66 to bottom side 68 of panel 26. Middle fold line 76b is spaced along a midline of roof panel 26 and is disposed at a distance of 26″ from each of the left and right ends 70, 72. The other two fold lines 76a, 76c are each spaced a distance of 5.25″ from one or the other of the left and right ends 70, 72.
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, fold lines 76a, 76b, 76c on roof panel 26 comprise regions that preferably are thinner than the rest of roof panel 26. (These thinner regions are not illustrated in the attached figures.) In the EVA foam version of the panel; these thinner regions will be less than 1″ in thickness. The thinner regions act as living hinges and enable roof panel 26 to be reconfigured from a planar shape to an inverted V″ shape by folding the panel 26 along fold lines 76a, 76b, 76c prior to engagement with the playhouse walls. It will be understood that if a material other than EVA is used for playhouse 10, instead of providing roof panels 26 that are manufactured with thinner regions along fold lines 76a, 76b, 76c, roof panel 26 may, instead, be scored along fold lines 76a-76c, or the builder may be instructed to score the roof panel 26 therealong prior to initial construction of playhouse 10.
As indicated previously, third blank 12c (
Referring to
A second layer of panels is then engaged with the base layer. The second layer, as illustrated in
Fourth apertured panel 24 is then engaged with second and third wall panels 16b, 16c. Since fourth apertured panel 24 is essentially in two sections, each section thereof is engaged with one of the second and third wall panels 16b, 16c. Each section is oriented so as to be disposed at right angles to the respective one of the second and third wall panels 16b, 16c and is pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” until the slit in the bottom side of the section slides into the slit in the top side of the respective one of the second and third wall panels 16b, 16c. The section is then pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” until its bottom side abuts the top side of third apertured panel 22a. The second apertured panel 18a is engaged with second and third wall panels 16b, 16c in a similar fashion by orienting it at right angles to the wall panels 16b, 16c, moving it downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” until the slits in the bottom side of second apertured panel 18a enter the slits in the top side of second and third wall panels 16b, 16c, and then continuing the downward movement until the bottom side of second apertured panel 18a abuts the top side of the second and third wall panels 16b, 16c. At this stage, the second layer of the playhouse walls is completed.
A third layer of panels is then engaged with the second layer thereof in the same fashion.
Finally, roof panel 26 is engaged with the uppermost layer of panels 16-24 that form side walls 80, front wall 82 and back wall 81. Roof panel 26 preferably is folded along fold lines 76a, 76b, and 76c before engagement with the walls. The folded roof panel 26 assumes the inverted V-shaped profile shown in
It should be noted that the panels 14-24 used to construct walls 80, 81, 82 are selected and ordered in a manner consistent with the desired end design of playhouse 10 as conceived by the builder thereof. Consequently, each layer of the playhouse walls is formed by selecting the four desired panels and engaging them with the layer beneath them in accordance with the design. Thus, it will be understood that the configuration of each wall 80, 81, 82 illustrated in
Should it be decided later on that a differently configured playhouse is desirable, playhouse 10 is easily deconstructed in the following manner. Roof 85 is lifted of playhouse by applying pressure to its underside (front 64) so that roof panel 26 moves in the opposite direction to arrow “A” in
It will be understood that other components may also be provided as part of playhouses 10, 200. The other components could include floors that are interlockingly engaged with panels 14-24 in substantially the same manner as roof panel 26, i.e. with wall sections that are folded to extend downwardly or upwardly to engage slits in the bottom sides or top sides of the panels that form the layer to which the floor is to be attached.
It will also be understood that the various apertures in panels 18-24 may be differently configured from the way they are shown in the attached figures. For example, apertures 44, 46, 48, 50 can be shaped so that playhouse has square or rectangular windows and/or doors. Alternatively, the apertures can be shaped in other decorative ways so that they have the appearance of stars, or rockets, or animals or any other desired design. Additionally, these various apertures may be cut out of the panels at the time of manufacture or the panels may simply be formed with lines of weakness therein so that the builder of the playhouse can remove material from within the lines of weakness if and when desired.
It will also be understood that although panels 14-26 illustrated and described herein are rectangular in shape, other shapes could also be utilized. Suitable shapes could include a square, parallelogram, trapezoid, trapezium, etc. Additionally, the panels could also have an irregularly shaped top and bottom side provided that the top and bottom sides of the panels that will be engaged therewith are configured to be complementary thereto. So, for example, both of the top and bottom sides could be sinusoidal and complementary, or the top and bottom sides could be manufactured so that there is an interlocking complementary pattern on substantially all of the panels used to form the major portions of the wall sections of the playhouse.
Additionally, it will be understood that while playhouse 10 has been illustrated and described herein as being square when viewed from above, the panels could be configured so that other shaped playhouses could be constructed therefrom. For instance, the slits could be cut at an angle other than at ninety degrees relative to the front and back surfaces of the panel, so that the panels could be joined together at an angle other than ninety degrees relative to each other. This would allow playhouses in the forms of octagons and the like to be constructed therefrom.
It will be understood that free standing walls 311a, 311b may be constructed to a desirable height utilizing a number of different wall panels of choice. It is desirable that such free standing walls 311a, 311b preferably are not more than four or five panels in overall height simply because beyond that height they become less stable and more likely to fall over during play. It will also be understood that free standing wall 311a may be made in a zig-zag pattern and be of any desired length, with the connector panels 27a, 27b only being used on the outermost banks of panels to connect the free ends of those outermost banks of panels to each other. The free standing wall 311b on the other hand will only be able to be constructed to be one panel long in length. It will be understood that connector panels 27a, 27b may be differently shaped from the connector panels shown herein without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a kit 400 (
It will be understood that either of the miniaturized versions of the playhouse, 410, and 500 may be played with as a dollhouse for toys, independent of the full-sized playhouses 10, 200. So, if the child does not wish to personally play inside playhouse 10 or 200, they are still able to plan, build and play with playhouse 410 or 500 as a dollhouse.
It will be further understood that when the child no longer wishes to play with either of the full-sized or miniaturized versions of the playhouse, they are able to disassemble the same, stack the individual panels, and then place the same in a container of some nature for play at another time.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims
1. A panel for use in a modular playhouse, said panel including:
- a front surface;
- a back surface;
- a top side extending between the front and back surfaces;
- a bottom side extending between the front and back surfaces and opposite the top side;
- a left end extending between the top and bottom sides;
- a right end extending between the top and bottom sides and opposite the left end; and
- a first slit defined in the top side of the panel, wherein the first slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof; and wherein the first slit is adapted to interlockingly engage with a lower region of a second panel disposed above the panel.
2. The panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second slit defined in the bottom side of the panel, wherein the second slit extends upwardly into the interior of the panel; and wherein the second slit is adapted to interlocking engage with an upper region of a third panel disposed below the panel.
3. The panel as defined in claim 2, wherein the first and second slits are aligned with each other.
4. The panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising an additional first slit defined in the top side of the panel and spaced from the first slit to form a pair of spaced apart first slits, wherein the additional first slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof; and wherein the additional first slit is adapted to interlockingly engage with the lower region of the second panel disposed above the panel a spaced distance from the first slit.
5. The panel as defined in claim 4, further comprising an additional second slit defined in the bottom side of the panel and spaced from the second slit to form a pair of second slits; wherein the additional second slit extends upwardly into the interior of the panel; and the additional second slit is adapted to interlocking engage with the upper region of the third panel disposed below the panel.
6. The panel as defined in claim 5, further comprising an aperture defined in the panel, said aperture extending between the front and back surfaces and spaced a distance inwardly from the left and right ends thereof.
7. The panel as defined in claim 6, wherein said aperture is additionally spaced a distance inwardly from the top and bottom sides of the panel.
8. The panel as defined in claim 5, wherein said aperture is spaced a distance from one of the top and bottom sides of the panel and wherein a region of the panel which defines the aperture is substantially continuous with the other of the top and bottom sides of the panel.
9. The panel as defined in claim 5, further comprising:
- a first fold line extending between the left and right ends of the panel and positioned generally midway between the top and bottom sides of the panel;
- a second fold line extending between the left and right ends of the panel and positioned intermediate the first fold line and the top side of the panel; and
- a third fold line extending between the left and right sides of the panel and positioned intermediate the first fold line and the bottom side of the panel; and wherein the panel is foldable about the first, second and third fold lines to form a generally V-shaped member.
10. The panel as defined in claim 9, wherein the pair of first slits is defined between the second fold line and the top side of the panel; and the pair of second slits is defined between the third fold line and the bottom side of the panel.
11. A child's playhouse comprising:
- a front wall;
- a back wall disposed opposite the front wall;
- a first side wall extending between the front and back walls;
- a second side wall extending between the front and back walls; and disposed opposite the first side wall, and wherein each of the front and back walls; and first and second side walls is constructed of a plurality of panels that are releasably engaged with each other; and wherein each of the panels comprises: a front surface; a back surface; a top side extending between the front and back surfaces;
- a bottom side extending between the front and back surfaces and opposite the top side; a left end extending between the top and bottom sides; a right end extending between the top and bottom sides and opposite the left end; and a pair of spaced apart first slits defined in the top side of the panel, wherein each first slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof; and wherein the first slits interlockingly engage with a lower region of a second panel disposed above the panel; and wherein the second panel is disposed generally at right angles to the panel.
12. The playhouse as defined in claim 11, wherein at least one of the panels further comprises a pair of spaced apart second slits defined in the bottom side of the at least one panel, wherein each second slit extends upwardly into the interior of the at least one panel; and wherein the second slits interlocking engage with an upper region of a third panel disposed below the at least one panel; and wherein the third panel is disposed generally at right angles to the at least one panel.
13. The playhouse as defined in claim 12, wherein a first one of the pair of first slits is aligned with a first one of the pair of second slits, and a second one of the pair of the first slits is aligned with a second one of the pair of second slits.
14. The playhouse as defined in claim 11, further comprising an aperture defined in the panel, said aperture extending between the front and back surfaces of the panel and spaced a distance inwardly from the left and right ends thereof.
15. The playhouse as defined in claim 14, wherein said aperture is additionally spaced a distance inwardly from the top and bottom sides of the panel.
16. The playhouse as defined in claim 14, wherein said aperture is spaced a distance from one of the top and bottom sides of the panel; and wherein a region of the panel is substantially continuous with the other of the top and bottom sides thereof.
17. The playhouse as defined in claim 11, further comprising a roof that is releasably engageable with the front and back walls or with the first and second side walls, and wherein the roof comprises one of the panels and additionally includes:
- a first fold line extending between the left and right ends and positioned generally midway between the top and bottom sides of the one panel;
- a second fold line extending between the left and right ends and positioned intermediate the first fold line and the top side of the one panel; and
- a third fold line extending between the left and right sides and positioned intermediate the first fold line and the bottom side of the one panel.
18. A modular playhouse constructed from two or more individual playhouses that are interlockingly engaged together by way of a plurality of interlocking panels; and wherein each of the two or more individual playhouses comprises:
- a front wall,
- a back wall disposed opposite the front wall;
- a first side wall extending between the front and back walls;
- a second side wall extending between the front and back walls; and disposed opposite the first side wall; and wherein each of the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side walls are constructed of a plurality of panels that are releasably engaged with each other; and wherein each of the panels comprises: a front surface; a back surface; a top side extending between the front and back surfaces;
- a bottom side extending between the front and back surfaces and opposite the top side; a left end extending between the top and bottom sides; a right end extending between the top and bottom sides and opposite the left end; and a pair of spaced apart first slits defined in the top side of the panel, wherein each first slit extends downwardly into an interior of the panel and between the front and back surfaces thereof; and wherein the first slits interlockingly engage with a lower region of a second panel disposed above the panel and at right angles relative thereto; and wherein at least one of the panels further includes a pair of spaced apart second slits defined in the bottom side thereof and each second slit extends upwardly into the interior of the at least one panel; and wherein the second slits interlocking engage with an upper region of a third panel disposed below the at least one panel; and wherein the third panel is disposed generally at right angles relative thereto.
19. A kit for building a child's playhouse, said kit comprising:
- a first full-sized blank, said full-sized blank including a plurality of full-sized panels that are separable therefrom to build a full-sized child's playhouse; and
- a second miniaturized blank, said miniaturized blank including a plurality of miniaturized panels that are separable therefrom to build a miniaturized playhouse.
20. A method of assembling a child's playhouse comprising the steps of:
- building a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall; and
- engaging a roof therewith; and wherein the step of building the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side walls further includes the steps of:
- a) positioning a first and second foundation panel onto a ground surface so that a bottom side of each of the first and second foundation panels is in contact with the ground surface;
- b) positioning a first wall panel so that it will extend between the first and second foundation panels;
- c) moving the first wall panel downwardly toward the first and second foundation panels so that a first slit on a bottom side of the first wall panel enters a first slit on a top side of the first foundation panel, and a second slit on the bottom side of the first wall panel enters a first slit on a top side of the second foundation panel;
- d) moving the first wall panel downwardly until no further movement is possible;
- e) positioning a second wall panel so that it will extend between the first and second foundation panels a spaced distance from the first wall panel;
- f) moving the second wall panel downwardly toward the first and second foundation panels so that a first slit in a bottom side of the second wall panel enters a second slit in the top side of the first foundation panel, and a second slit on the bottom side of the second wall panel enters a second slit in the top side of the second foundation panel;
- g) moving the second wall panel downwardly until no further movement is possible;
- h) repeating steps b) through g) until the front wall, back wall, first side wall and second side wall are of a desired height.
21. The method as defined in claim 20, further comprising the step of:
- separating a plurality of miniaturized panels from a miniaturized blank; where the miniaturized panels are substantially identical to the panels used to build the child's playhouse in all ways except size;
- building a miniaturized playhouse from the miniaturized panels; and then
- following the pattern of the built miniaturized playhouse to layout and build the child's playhouse.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventor: Norio Saneshige (North Canton, OH)
Application Number: 13/621,980
International Classification: A63H 33/00 (20060101); E04C 2/38 (20060101);