Storybook playset

Abstract

A playset ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of panels ( 11 - 16 ), attached structures ( 41 - 47 ), unattached structures ( 61 - 68 ), and a storybook ( 80 ) telling a certain story theme. The attached structures ( 41 - 47 ) comprise scenery structures corresponding to scenes in the story theme, and the unattached structures ( 61 - 68 ) comprise figurines corresponding to characters in the story theme. The panels ( 11 - 16 ) are hingedly interconnected for conversion between a ready-to-play condition and a storage condition.

1 . A playset comprising: 
 a plurality of panels which are hingedly interconnected for conversion between a ready-to-play condition, whereat the panels are positioned in the same general plane and can rest upon a flat surface, and a storage condition, whereat the panels form a container;    one or more attached structures attached to, and extending upward from, one or more of the panels when they are in the ready-to-play condition, and positioned inside the container when the panels are in the storage condition; and    one or more unattached structures, unattached to any of the panels, and storable within the container when the panels are in the storage condition.    
   
   
       2 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of attached structures attached to respective panels, all of the attached structures being positioned inside the container when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       3 . A playset as set forth in  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of unattached structures which are all storable within the container when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       4 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of unattached structures which are all storable within the container when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       5 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the container has a substantially rectangular prism shape.  
   
   
       6 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising fastening elements to selectively secure the panels in the storage condition.  
   
   
       7 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle is secured to one of the panels and accessible when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       8 . A playset as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the handle can be folded substantially flush with a face of the one panel.  
   
   
       9 . A playset as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a book which is positionable within the container when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       10 . A playset as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the book comprises pages with text telling a story theme and wherein the attached structures and the play structures are related to the story theme.  
   
   
       11 . A playset as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the attached structures comprise scenery structures corresponding to scenes in the story theme.  
   
   
       12 . A playset as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the play structures comprise figurines corresponding to characters in the story theme.  
   
   
       13 . A playset as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the play structures comprise items resembling changes of clothes for the figurines.  
   
   
       14 . A playset as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the play structures comprise props corresponding to animals, articles or items in the story theme.  
   
   
       15 . A playset comprising: 
 a plurality of panels which are hingedly interconnected for conversion between a ready-to-play condition, whereat the panels are positioned in the same general plane and can rest upon a flat surface, and a storage condition, whereat the panels form a container;    one or more attached structures attached to, and extending upwardly from, one or more of the panels when they are in the ready-to-play condition, and being positioned inside the container when the panels are in the storage condition;    one or more play structures, unattached to any of the panels, and storable within the container when the panels are in the storage condition; and    a story-telling device which can convey a story theme;    wherein the attached structure(s) comprise one or more scenery structures corresponding to one or more scenes in the story theme, and wherein the play structure(s) comprise one or more figurines corresponding to one or more characters in the story theme.    
   
   
       16 . A playset as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the story-telling device is a book comprising pages which contain text telling the story theme.  
   
   
       17 . A playset as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the container has a substantially rectangular prism shape.  
   
   
       18 . A playset as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising a handle is secured to one of the panels and accessible when the panels are in the storage condition.  
   
   
       19 . A method of telling a story with the playset of  claim 15 , said method comprising the steps of: 
 converting the plurality of panels from the storage condition to the ready-to-play condition whereby the scenery structure(s) extend upward from the panel(s);    conveying the story theme from the story-telling device; and    moving the play structures to act out the story theme.    
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the story-telling device is a storybook and the conveying step comprises reading text from pages of the storybook.  
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 converting the panels from the ready-to-play condition to the storage condition whereat they form the container; and    placing the unattached play structures in the container.    
   
   
       22 . A playset comprising: 
 a plurality of panels which are hingedly interconnected for conversion between a ready-to-play condition, whereat the panels are positioned in the same general plane and can rest upon a flat surface, and a storage condition, whereat the panels form a container;    a story-telling device which can convey a story theme;    one or more scenery structures, corresponding to one or more scenes in the story theme, attached to, and extending upward from, one or more of the panels when they are in the ready-to-play condition, and attached to the panels and positioned inside the container when the panels are in the storage condition.