Modular house toy

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.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor;    a solid ceiling;    a solid back wall connecting said floor to said ceiling; and    an open arch connecting said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said back wall permanently connects said floor to said ceiling; and    said arch permanently connects said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         3 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said back wall connects said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and    said arch connects said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.    
     
     
         4 . The toy according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said back wall permanently connects said floor to said ceiling in said first vertical connection plane; and    said arch permanently connects said floor to said ceiling in said second vertical connection plane.    
     
     
         5 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said floor has floor depressions;    said ceiling has ceiling depressions;    said back wall has wall extensions;    at least one of said wall extensions is inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions is inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling;    said arch has arch extensions; and    at least one of said arch extensions is inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions is inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         6 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said floor depressions include four floor depressions;    said ceiling depressions include four ceiling depressions;    said back wall has two upper wall extensions and two lower wall extensions;    said two lower wall extensions are inserted into two of said four floor depressions and said two upper wall extensions are inserted into two of said four ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling;    said arch has two upper arch extensions and two lower arch extensions; and    said two lower arch extensions are inserted into two of said floor depressions and said two upper arch extensions are inserted into two of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         7 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said floor has a top side with two pairs of floor depressions;    said ceiling has a bottom side with two pairs of ceiling depressions;    said back wall has: 
 two lower wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and  
   said arch has: 
 two lower arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.  
   
     
     
         8 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said floor is a one-piece, injection molded part.  
     
     
         9 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said floor has a square shape.  
     
     
         10 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said floor has four top side corners and one of said floor depressions is disposed in each of said four top side corners.  
     
     
         11 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said floor has: 
 a top side; and  
 four side walls formed in one piece with said top side.  
   
     
     
         12 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said floor has four side walls; and    each of said four side walls has a cavity and a projection.    
     
     
         13 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 each cavity has a rectangular shape; and    each projection has a rectangular shape corresponding to said rectangular shape of said cavity.    
     
     
         14 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 each cavity has a cavity recess;    each projection has a projection recess; and    a fastener is disposed in each of said cavity recess and said projection recess.    
     
     
         15 . The toy according to  claim 14 , wherein said fastener is a magnet and ferrum pair.  
     
     
         16 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said cavity and said projection are staggered around said four side walls.  
     
     
         17 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said ceiling is a one-piece, injection molded part.  
     
     
         18 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said ceiling has a square shape.  
     
     
         19 . The toy according to  claim 18 , wherein said floor has a shape corresponding to said square shape of said ceiling.  
     
     
         20 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said ceiling has four bottom side corners and one of said ceiling depressions is disposed in each of said four bottom side corners.  
     
     
         21 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has: 
 a top side; and  
 four side walls formed in one piece with said top side.  
   
     
     
         22 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has four side walls; and    each of said four side walls  32  has a cavity and a projection.    
     
     
         23 . The toy according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 each cavity has a rectangular shape; and    each projection has a rectangular shape corresponding to said rectangular shape of said cavity.    
     
     
         24 . The toy according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 each cavity has a cavity recess    each projection has a projection recess; and    a fastener is disposed in each of said cavity recess and said projection recess.    
     
     
         25 . The toy according to  claim 24 , wherein said fastener is a magnet and ferrum pair.  
     
     
         26 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said floor has floor depressions;    said ceiling has ceiling depressions identical in shape to said floor depressions.    
     
     
         27 . The toy according to  claim 22 , wherein said cavity and said projection are staggered around said four side walls.  
     
     
         28 . The toy according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said floor has four floor side walls;    each of said four floor side walls has a floor cavity and a floor projection; and    said cavity and said projection are staggered with respect to said floor cavity and said floor projection.    
     
     
         29 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has: 
 a top side; and  
 four side walls; and  
   said four side walls and said top side form a one-piece open box.    
     
     
         30 . The toy according to  claim 29 , including plate connected to said open box and closing said open box.  
     
     
         31 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has a top side defining a plane; and    said top side has at least one flange projecting transverse to said plane.    
     
     
         32 . The toy according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said top side has four edges;    said at least one flange is four flanges; and    each of said four flanges projects transversely to said plane in the vicinity of a respective one of said four edges.    
     
     
         33 . The toy according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said top side has four edges;    said at least one flange is four pairs of flanges; and    each of said pairs project transversely to said plane the vicinity of a respective one of said four edges.    
     
     
         34 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has a top side; and    a roof is removably connected to said top side.    
     
     
         35 . The toy according to  claim 34 , wherein: 
 said top side has: 
 four edges; and  
 flanges projecting from said top side; and  
   said roof is connected to said top side by said flanges.    
     
     
         36 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said floor depressions are four floor depressions;    said ceiling depressions are four ceiling depressions;    said wall extensions are four wall extensions;    said arch extensions are four arch extensions;    a pair of said four wall extensions is inserted into two of said floor depressions and another pair of said four wall extensions is inserted into two of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling; and    a pair of said four arch extensions is inserted into two of said floor depressions and another pair of said four arch extensions is inserted into two of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         37 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said wall extensions have a bore with a thread for receiving a screw.  
     
     
         38 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said back wall is a one-piece, injection molded part.  
     
     
         39 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said back wall has a solid window.  
     
     
         40 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said back wall has a shuttered window.  
     
     
         41 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch has: 
 two side walls; and    an upside-down-U-shaped front wall.    
     
     
         42 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch is a one-piece, injection molded part.  
     
     
         43 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said arch extensions have a bore with a thread for receiving a screw.  
     
     
         44 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said arch has a post with a bore for receiving a screw.  
     
     
         45 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said floor, said ceiling, and at least one of said back wall and said arch define a side opening; and    a side wall is removably connected at said side opening.    
     
     
         46 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall has at least one connector for removably securing said side wall at said side opening.  
     
     
         47 . The toy according to  claim 46 , wherein said at least one connector is at least one tongue.  
     
     
         48 . The toy according to  claim 46 , wherein: 
 said side wall has four edges;    said at least one connector is at least four tongues; and    at least one of said at least four tongues is disposed in the vicinity of each of said four edges.    
     
     
         49 . The toy according to  claim 47 , wherein at least one of said floor, said ceiling, said back wall, and said arch has a groove corresponding to said at least one tongue.  
     
     
         50 . The toy according to  claim 47 , wherein: 
 said at least one tongue is at least four tongues; and    each of said floor, said ceiling, said back wall, and said arch has at least one groove corresponding to at least one of said at least four tongues.    
     
     
         51 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall is a one-piece, injection molded part.  
     
     
         52 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall has a solid window.  
     
     
         53 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall has a shuttered window.  
     
     
         54 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall has a door.  
     
     
         55 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein: 
 said back wall has: 
 four plugs;  
 two side walls; and  
 a rear wall.  
   
     
     
         56 . The toy according to  claim 55 , wherein said rear wall extends at right angles to each of said two side walls.  
     
     
         57 . The toy according to  claim 55 , wherein said four plugs, said two side walls, and said rear wall are formed as a one-piece injection molded part.  
     
     
         58 . The toy according to  claim 45 , wherein said side wall is at least two interchangeable side walls.  
     
     
         59 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor;    a solid ceiling;    a solid back wall permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling; and    an open arch permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         60 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor;    a solid ceiling;    a solid back wall permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and    an open arch permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.    
     
     
         61 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;    a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;    a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling; and    an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         62 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;    a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;    a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and    an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.    
     
     
         63 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor having a top side with two pairs of floor depressions;    a solid ceiling having a bottom side with two pairs of ceiling depressions;    a solid back wall having: 
 two lower wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and  
   an open arch having: 
 two lower arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.  
   
     
     
         64 . A modular house toy, comprising: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;    a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;    a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling;    an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling; and    said floor having a first given shape, said ceiling having said first given shape, said back wall having a second given shape, and said arch having said second given shape, to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of the modular house toy to another module house toy.    
     
     
         65 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor;  
 a solid ceiling;  
 a solid back wall connecting said floor to said ceiling;  
 an open arch connecting said floor to said ceiling; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         66 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said back wall permanently connects said floor to said ceiling; and    said arch permanently connects said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         67 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said back wall connects said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and    said arch connects said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.    
     
     
         68 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said back wall has wall extensions;    at least one of said wall extensions is inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling;    said arch has arch extensions; and    at least one of said arch extensions is inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions is inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling.    
     
     
         69 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said floor has a top side with two pairs of floor depressions;    said ceiling has a bottom side with two pairs of ceiling depressions;    said back wall has: 
 two lower wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said solid floor to said solid ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and  
   said arch has: 
 two lower arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane.  
   
     
     
         70 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said floor of said first fixed supporting structure has a first floor shape;    said floor of said second fixed supporting structure has a second floor shape substantially identical to said first floor shape;    said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure has a first ceiling shape;    said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure has second ceiling shape substantially identical to said first ceiling shape;    said back wall of said first fixed supporting structure has a first back wall shape;    said back wall of said second fixed supporting structure has a second back wall shape substantially identical to said first back wall shape;    said arch of said first fixed supporting structure has a first arch shape; and    said arch of said second fixed supporting structure has a second arch shape substantially identical to said first arch shape.    
     
     
         71 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said floor of said first fixed supporting structure has an exterior shape;    said floor of said second fixed supporting structure has a second exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape;    said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure has a third exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape; and    said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure has fourth exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape.    
     
     
         72 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said back wall of said first fixed supporting structure has an exterior shape;    said back wall of said second fixed supporting structure has a second exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape;    said arch of said first fixed supporting structure has a third exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape; and    said arch of said second fixed supporting structure has fourth exterior shape substantially identical to said exterior shape.    
     
     
         73 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure has four first side walls each with a first cavity and a first projection;    said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure has four second side walls each with a second cavity and a second projection; and    said first projection is removably inserted into said second cavity and said second projection is removably inserted into said first cavity when said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure is placed adjacent said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         74 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said floor of said first fixed supporting structure has four first floor side walls each with a first floor cavity and a first floor projection;    said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure has four first ceiling side walls each with a first ceiling cavity and a first ceiling projection;    said floor of said second fixed supporting structure has four second floor side walls each with a second floor cavity and a second floor projection;    said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure has four second ceiling side walls each with a second ceiling cavity and a second ceiling projection; and    when said floor of said first fixed supporting structure is placed immediately adjacent said floor of said second fixed supporting structure and said ceiling of said first fixed supporting structure is simultaneously placed immediately adjacent said ceiling of said second fixed supporting structure: 
 said first floor projection, said second floor projection, said first ceiling projection, and said second ceiling projection are simultaneously removably inserted into a respective one of said second floor cavity, said first floor cavity, said second ceiling cavity, and said first ceiling cavity.  
   
     
     
         75 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said at least first and second fixed supporting structures are a plurality of fixed supporting structures; and    each of said plurality of fixed supporting structures is removably connected to another of said plurality of fixed supporting structures.    
     
     
         76 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said first fixed supporting structure is a cube having a given length, a given width, and a given height; and    said second fixed supporting structure is a cube having said given length, said given width, and said given height.    
     
     
         77 . The toy configuration according to  claim 76 , wherein said first fixed supporting structure has six sides and is removably connectable to said second fixed supporting structure at every one of said six sides.  
     
     
         78 . The toy configuration according to  claim 77 , wherein each of said first and second fixed supporting structures have six sides and one of said first and second fixed supporting structures is removably connectable to another of said first and second fixed supporting structures at every one of said six sides.  
     
     
         79 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein said ceiling has a top side with a connector for releasably connecting another of said fixed supporting structures on said top side.  
     
     
         80 . The toy configuration according to  claim 79 , wherein: 
 said floor has a bottom side; and    said connector releasably connects a top side of one of said fixed supporting structures to said bottom side of another of said fixed supporting structures.    
     
     
         81 . The toy configuration according to  claim 80 , wherein: 
 said connector has two parts;    a first of said two parts is disposed on said top side; and    a second of said two parts is disposed on said bottom side.    
     
     
         82 . The toy configuration according to  claim 81 , wherein: 
 a first of said two parts is a flange; and    a second of said two parts is a groove.    
     
     
         83 . The toy configuration according to  claim 81 , wherein: 
 a first of said two parts is a rectangular stud having a given length, a given width, and a given height; and    a second of said two parts is a receptacle having said given length, said given width, and said given height.    
     
     
         84 . The toy configuration according to  claim 79 , wherein said connector is at least one flange.  
     
     
         85 . The toy configuration according to  claim 84 , wherein said at least one flange is at least four flanges.  
     
     
         86 . The toy configuration according to  claim 84 , wherein said at least one flange is eight flanges.  
     
     
         87 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has a top side; and    a roof is removably connected to said top side.    
     
     
         88 . The toy configuration according to  claim 65 , wherein: 
 said ceiling has a top side with a connector;    a roof is removably connected to said top side by said connector.    
     
     
         89 . The toy configuration according to  claim 88 , wherein: 
 said connector is flanges projecting from said top side; and    said roof is removably connected to said top side by said flanges.    
     
     
         90 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor;  
 a solid ceiling;  
 a solid back wall permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling;  
 an open arch permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         91 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor;  
 a solid ceiling;  
 a solid back wall permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane;  
 an open arch permanently connecting said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         92 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;  
 a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;  
 a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling;  
 an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         93 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;  
 a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;  
 a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane;  
 an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         94 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor having a top side with two pairs of floor depressions;  
   a solid ceiling having a bottom side with two pairs of ceiling depressions;    a solid back wall having: 
 two lower wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of floor depressions; and  
 two upper wall extensions inserted into a first of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a first vertical connection plane; and  
   an open arch having: 
 two lower arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of floor depressions;  
 two upper arch extensions inserted into a second of said two pairs of ceiling depressions to permanently connect said floor to said ceiling in a second vertical connection plane different from said first vertical connection plane; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.    
     
     
         95 . A modular house toy configuration, comprising: 
 at least first and second fixed supporting structures each having: 
 a solid floor having floor depressions;  
 a solid ceiling having ceiling depressions;  
 a solid back wall having wall extensions, at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said wall extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling;  
 an open arch having arch extensions, at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said floor depressions and at least one of said arch extensions inserted into at least one of said ceiling depressions to connect said floor to said ceiling;  
 said floor having a first given shape, said ceiling having said first given shape, said back wall having a second given shape, and said arch having said second given shape, to allow repetitious and modular interlocking of said first fixed supporting structure to said second fixed supporting structure; and  
   said first fixed supporting structure removably connected to said second fixed supporting structure.