Fold-out playsets with pop-up structures

• US 7,618,301 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheung, Alan, Mo, Kwun Chung, Knight, James, Lau, Pitt, Payne, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kien T
• Application Number:
  US11/446,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20060286891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 446 71- 75, 446/478, 446/487, 446/486
• US Class Current: 446/75
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/42 Toy models or toy scenery not otherwise covered models or scenery for general purposes G09B

Abstract

Playsets having pop-up structures. Pop-up structures may be adapted to transition to an erect configuration when the playset is in an open configuration, in which at least a portion of the pop-up structure may extend outside of a perimeter of the playset, and to a compact stowed configuration when the playset is in a closed configuration, in which the pop-up structure is disposed within the perimeter. Playsets may include elements adapted to urge a portion of the pop-up structure toward the erect configuration or one or more playset-accessory retention chambers. Some examples may include first and second latch elements that are adapted to cooperatively retain the playset in the open configuration. Other examples may include a fastener adapted to be moved selectively between a clasping position in which the fastener retains the playset in the closed configuration and a linking position in which the fastener couples to a second playset.

Claims

1. A playset, comprising:

a playset-accessory;

a support surface;

an arm having a first end attached to the support surface, a second end, and a resilient portion between the first and second ends, the resilient portion of the arm urging the second end from a displaced position spaced from the support surface toward a rest position adjacent to the support surface; and

a barrier projecting from the support surface spaced from and facing the arm, the arm and barrier together forming a retention chamber for the playset-accessory when the second end of the arm is in the displaced position.

2. The playset of claim 1, wherein the resilient portion has a width and the second end has a width that is wider than the width of the resilient portion.

3. The playset of claim 1, further comprising a shell having a perimeter, wherein at least a portion of the barrier includes a portion of the perimeter.

4. A playset, comprising:

a first shell member including a first surface and a first latch element;

a second shell member operatively coupled to the first shell member and including a second surface and a second latch element, the second shell member being adapted to move relative to the first shell member between a closed position in which the first surface faces the second surface and an open position in which the first surface and the second surface face a common direction, the second latch element being adapted to engage the first latch element when the second shell member is in the open position to impede movement of the second shell member from the open position toward the closed position.

5. The playset of claim 4, including at least two second latch elements that each engage a corresponding one of at least two first latch elements.

6. The playset of claim 4, wherein the first latch element has a first edge, wherein the second latch element has a second edge that is adapted to engage the first edge when the second latch element engages the first latch element.

7. A playset, comprising:

a support surface; and

a pop-up structure coupled to the support surface and adapted to be transitioned between a stowed configuration in which the pop-up structure extends along the support surface and a deployed configuration in which the pop-up structure stands substantially transverse to the support surface, the pop-up structure including;

a first member having a first surface with a receiving portion; and

a second member having a second surface with a protrusion, the second member being adapted to be placed adjacent to the first member with the second surface against the first surface and the protrusion inserted into the receiving portion when the pop-up structure is in the stowed configuration.

8. The playset of claim 7, wherein the receiving portion includes an aperture in the first surface.

9. The playset of claim 7, wherein the receiving portion includes a recessed portion in the first surface.

10. The playset of claim 7, wherein the second member is hingedly coupled to the first member, and the second member is adapted to be selectively moved between a folded position, in which the second member is placed adjacent to the first member with the second surface against the first surface and the protrusion inserted into the receiving portion, and an unfolded position, in which the second surface is separated from the first surface.

11. The playset of claim 7, wherein the pop-up structure includes:

a platform that is substantially parallel to the support surface when the pop-up structure is in the deployed configuration, wherein the platform includes the first member; and

an erect assembly extending generally transverse to the platform when the pop-up structure is in the deployed configuration, wherein the erect assembly includes the second member.

12. A playset, comprising:

a support surface;

a pop-up structure coupled to the support surface and adapted to be selectively transitioned between a deployed configuration in which the pop-up structure stands substantially transverse to the support surface and a stowed configuration in which the pop-up structure is collapsed and extends along the support surface, the pop-up structure including;

a first member;

a second member hingedly coupled to the first member such that, when the pop-up structure is in the stowed configuration, the first member is substantially parallel to the second member and is positioned at a distance from the second member, such that there is a gap between the first member and the second member; and

a third member that extends generally transversely from at least one of the first member and the second member when the pop-up structure is in the deployed configuration, wherein the third member extends within the gap when the pop-up structure is in the stowed configuration.

13. The playset of claim 12, wherein the first member has a first surface and a first edge, wherein the second member has a second surface and a second edge, and wherein, when the pop-up structure is in to the deployed configuration, the first edge abuts the second edge and the first member and the second member collectively form a platform with the first surface substantially continuous with the second surface.

14. The playset of claim 12, wherein the pop-up structure further includes a hinge element that couples the first member to the second member, the hinge element being adapted to pivot the second member about the first member along a hinge axis that is spaced away from at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

15. A playset, comprising:

a shell having first and second shell members, the shell members being adapted to be transitioned between a closed configuration in which the shell members are facing each other and an open configuration in which the shell members are spaced apart; and

a pop-up structure that extends transversely from at least one shell member when the shell members are positioned in the open configuration, the pop-up structure including;

an assembly having a plurality of elements adapted to be transitioned between an erect configuration in which the assembly extends generally transversely from the at least one shell member when the shell members are in the open configuration and a stowed configuration in which the plurality of elements are in a collapsed configuration between the shell members when the shell members are in the closed configuration; and

a standard operatively coupled to one of the shell members such that the standard extends transversely from the one shell member when the shell members are in the open configuration, the standard including a tab that is adapted to press against a first element of the plurality of elements to urge the assembly toward the erect configuration.

16. The playset of claim 15, wherein the first element includes a surface and a projection from the surface that is aligned with the tab.

17. A playset, comprising:

a shell having a perimeter; and

a pop-up structure including a platform, the pop-up structure being operably coupled to the shell such that the pop-up structure transitions between a deployed configuration in which the pop-up structure stands substantially erect with at least a portion of the platform extending outside of the perimeter of the shell and a stowed configuration in which the pop-up structure is disposed within the perimeter, wherein the platform includes a first platform member and a second platform member hingedly coupled to the first platform member.

18. The playset of claim 17, wherein the shell has a support surface to which the pop-up structure is operatively coupled, and the platform has a surface that is substantially parallel to the support surface of the shell when the pop-up is moved to the deployed configuration.

19. A playset system, comprising:

two or more playsets, including at least a first playset and a second playset, the first playset being adapted to be transitioned between an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprising;

a first shell member;

a second shell member operatively coupled to the first shell member, the first and second shell members being configured to transition the first playset between the open configuration and the closed configuration; and

a fastener pivotably coupled to the first shell member and adapted to be selectively moved relative to the first shell member between a clasping position in which the fastener is coupled to the second shell member thereby retaining the first playset in the closed configuration and a linking position in which the fastener is coupled to the second playset.

20. The playset system of claim 19, wherein the fastener is adapted to be removed selectively from the first shell member.

21. The playset system of claim 19, wherein the first shell member includes a first recess portion and the second shell member includes a second recess portion, and wherein the first and second recess portions collectively form a recess when the first playset is in the closed configuration, wherein the fastener nests in the recess when the fastener is coupled selectively to the second shell member.

22. The playset system of claim 19, wherein the first shell member is spaced from the second playset when the fastener is operatively coupled selectively to the second playset.

23. The playset system of claim 19, wherein the fastener is pivotable relative to the second shell member.