US20090298382A1

US20090298382A1 - Polyhedral Toy

Info

Publication number: US20090298382A1
Application number: US11/719,853
Authority: US
Inventors: Yasushi Ochi
Original assignee: BLD Oriental Co Ltd
Current assignee: BLD Oriental Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2005-11-24
Publication date: 2009-12-03
Also published as: EP1852168A1; JPWO2006059527A1; WO2006059527A1; EP1852168A4; KR20070092247A; ES2361756T3; CN101068607A; AU2005310758A1; CA2589472A1; DE602005026720D1; TW200628207A; EP1852168B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a polyhedral toy from which fun with a sense of reality is experienced, and that prevents injury because of its lightweight. A polyhedral toy (1) is an elasticity-having polyhedron, on at least one face of which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion (3), and in at least another one face of which an interlock hole (7) is formed, and the interlock protrusion (3) and interlock hole (7) has shapes allowing reciprocally interlocking connection. Furthermore the interlock protrusion (3) has a constricted portion (5) reduced in diameter, between a protrusion top portion and a base face (2), and the interlock hole (7) has a shape in which an opening portion (8) is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock hole (7). Inserting the interlock protrusion (3) into the interlock hole (7) brings a state in which the opening portion (8) engages with the constricted portion (5) to prevent the interlock protrusion (3) form disengaging from the interlock hole (7). Additionally, the elastic-material constitution prevents play participants from being injured, and enables building of structures slightly smaller, and to the contrary greater, than those in full-size, making it possible to enjoy more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a polyhedral toy, on at least one face of which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion, and in at least another face of which an interlock hole is formed; more particularly, the invention relates to a polyhedral toy system in which a plurality of polyhedral toys are connected with each other by making interlocked coupling between their interlock protrusions and interlock holes to build a desired structure shaped in three dimensions, as with building blocks.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as one example of such polyhedral toys, a set of assembly blocks including first, second and third block elements is well known (Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-277262).
The first and second block elements have equal-sized cubic shapes, with an equal-sized cylindrical protrusion being formed on each of three faces of the first block element, a flat surface being formed on two other, contiguous faces, and a angular hole corresponding to the protrusion being formed on the remaining face.
Then a cylindrical protrusion of the same dimensions as those of the first block element is formed on one face of the second block element, with a round hole corresponding to the protrusion being formed on two of its other faces, a flat surface being formed on two other, contiguous faces, and an angular hole corresponding to the protrusion being formed on the remaining face.
Furthermore, the third block element has a hexahedral shape, and consecutive two faces of the third block element are formed to be square same in size as that of the first and second block elements, a cylindrical protrusion same in size as that of above described protrusion is formed on one of the two faces, and on another, a rectangular hole corresponding to the protrusion is formed, and additionally two faces adjacent to the two consecutive faces are formed parallel to each other, and the last two faces are formed perpendicular to the two square faces.
As just described, in such the set of assembly blocks, all the protrusions of these block elements are same in size and the rectangular hole of each block element and the round hole of the second block element correspond to the protrusions, so that the protrusion of each block element and the round or rectangular hole of another block element interlocks to connect the block elements freely with each other, and thus connecting three types of block elements with each other in this manner makes it possible to freely build a desired planar or three-dimensional shape.
It should be understood that keeping good connecting relationship between the block elements requires preventing the protrusion and hole wear caused by the repeated engagement and disengagement. For this reason, hard plastic is employed traditionally as the material for the block elements.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Pat. App. Pub. No. H05-277262.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problem Invention is to Solve

The polyhedral toys described above are conventionally provided to infants or very young children, and are often assembled into a miniaturized model of a ship, car, building, or other structures, most of which are of just the size that children can hold in their hands to play with, such that the size of the individual pieces is extremely small.
For children as play participants, however, a structure assembled using such polyhedral toys does not necessarily have to be just as large as can be held in the hands to play with; rather, a structure slightly smaller or, conversely, larger, than actual size would further stir the imagination with a sense of reality to make the play with such toys more interesting.
For example, if the polyhedral toys can be used to build a house large enough for play participants to enter into and a ship and car in which they get, the play participants experience the fun of using toys to build an assembled structure and of going into and out the assembled house and getting into the ship and car, with a sense of reality.
In this case, it is necessary to make the assembling work seem less difficult for infants who are likely to get bored to prevent them from losing interest in the assembling play. This can be achieved by increasing the size of a polyhedral toy unit to a certain extent, but if hard plastic is employed in the traditional way to increase the size, the single piece gains in weight to cause unwieldiness and to raise a problem that the infants are prone to be injured by the corners of the toy.
As a means for solving these problems, making the polyhedral toy of an elastic material is conceivable, though in the conventional interlocked coupling mechanism between the protrusion and hole, the protrusion and hole elastically deform to destabilize the coupling state between them, so that they are likely to be decoupled and thus the problem that maintaining connected state of the assembled structure is prevented is caused adversely.
Furthermore, from a perspective of usability, a decrease in weight of the polyhedral toy unit is required.
The present invention is made in view of the fact explained in the foregoing and for the purpose of providing a polyhedral toy from which a fun with a sense of reality is experienced, and furthermore that prevents injury, because of lightweight.

Means for Resolving the Problems

The present invention for resolving the problems involves an polyhedral toy that is an elastic polyhedron, on at least one face of which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion, and in at least another one face of which an interlock hole is formed, the polyhedral toy characterized in that the interlock protrusion and interlock hole has geometries enabling reciprocally interlocking connection, the interlock protrusion has a constricted portion reduced in diameter, between a protrusion top portion and a base face, in addition, and an opening portion of the interlock hole is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock hole.
With the polyhedral toy, having above configuration, of the present invention, the interlock protrusion of a first polyhedral toy and interlock hole of a second polyhedral toy are interlocked to connect the both polyhedral toys, and in such a manner, interlocking connections of a plurality of polyhedral toys enables are made to build a structure having a desired three-dimensional shape.
When the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole, a interlock protrusion top portion whose diameter is larger than that of the constricted portion elastically constricts to deform, and meanwhile the opening portion of the interlock hole elastically deforms (including enlarged deformation), to enable the insertion of the interlock protrusion into the interlock hole, so that the interlock protrusion and interlock hole are interlocked.
Once the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole in this way, the larger-diameter portion of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion of the interlock hole return from the deformation state to their original state to end in a state in which the opening portion of the interlock hole engages with the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion. And, such an engagement between the opening portion and constricted portion prevents the interlock protrusion from disengaging from the interlock hole to maintain the connection state between the assembled polyhedral toys, so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is favorably kept, even if the polyhedral toys are made of an elastic material.
In addition, because the polyhedral toys are made of the elastic material, even if they are increased in size, play participants are able to build a structure slightly smaller, and to the contrary larger, than that in hull-size without being hurt, so that the play participants can enjoy more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.
It should be understood that the polyhedrons may be made of elastic porous material as typified by a sponge. In such a configuration, even if the polyhedral toys are made larger, an increase in their weight is prevented to allow infants to handle the toys without difficulties.
Additionally, the surface of the interlock protrusion or interlock hole may be covered with a hard film. In this case, the hard film prevents the interlock protrusion or interlock hole in the interlock relationship from elastically deforming to make the interlock protrusion less likely to disengage from the interlock hole, so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is maintained favorably.
Also feasible is a configuration in which a constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole at least partly engages with each other, when the interlock protrusion and interlock hole interlock to be coupled, and the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is formed so that a span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface becomes longer continuously from the constricted portion side toward the top portion side, while the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole is formed so that a diameter of the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface becomes longer continuously from the opening portion side toward the bottom portion side, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface.
In such a configuration, when the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole, the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface abuts on the opening portion, and the interlock protrusion is pulled into the interlock hole by the elastic force of the interlock protrusion and interlock hole, so that more simple and more secure interlocking connection between the polyhedral toys can be made, because the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is smaller than the diameter of the opening portion. Additionally, after the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole, the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is engaged with the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole, and a force of pulling the interlock protrusion into the interlock hole is generated by the elastic force of the interlock protrusion and interlock hole, so that even if a lot of polyhedral toys are assembled, they are prevented from breaking.
Moreover, the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion may be formed at a joint between the interlock protrusion and the base face. This allows the engagement between the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion of the interlock hole, with the interlock protrusion completely fitted into the interlock hole, and with the interlock protrusion-having surface abutting on the interlock hole-having surface, to make the interlocked connection state stable and non-wobbly.

Effects of the Invention

As described above, according to the polyhedral toys of the present invention, play participants are able to build a structure slightly smaller, and to the contrary larger, than that in full-size without being hurt, even if the polyhedral toys are made larger to a certain extent, because they are composed of an elastic material, so that the play participants enjoy more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.
Furthermore, forming the constricted portion between the interlock protrusion top portion and base face, and shaping the opening portion of the interlock hole so as to be reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock hole, bring a state in which the opening portion of the interlock hole engages with the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion, when the interlock protrusion is inserted into the interlock hole. As a result, the interlock protrusion is unlikely to disengage from the interlock hole and thus the connection relationship between the assembled polyhedral toys is maintained favorably to keep the three-dimensional shape of the built structure well.
Additionally, if the polyhedral toys are composed of elastic porous material, the weigh of the toys is controlled to allow the infants to handle them without difficulties, and if the surface of the interlock protrusion or interlock hole is covered with the hard film, the interlock protrusion is unlikely to disengage from the interlock hole, so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is kept more favorably.
Moreover, a configuration in which the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole at least partly engage with each other, the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion is formed so that the span becomes larger toward the top portion, and on the other hand the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole is formed so that the diameter becomes larger toward the bottom portion and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface becomes smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface allows the interlock protrusion is pulled into the interlock hole by the engaging relationship between the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion of the interlock hole to engage and connect the polyhedral toys with each other more simply and more securely, when they are fitted to and connected with each other, and such a configuration prevents the interlock protrusion from being disengaged from the interlock hole by the pulling force caused by the engaging relationship between the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock hole to keep the assembled polyhedral toys from breaking down even if a lot of toys are assembled, after the interlock protrusion is fitted into the interlock hole.
In addition, if the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion is formed at the joint of the interlock protrusion, the engagement between the constricted portion of the interlock protrusion and the opening portion of the interlock hole enables the interlock protrusion to fit to the interlock hole completely, resulting in a state in which the surface provided with the interlock protrusion abuts on that provided with the interlock hole, so that the connecting relationship between the polyhedral toys is stabilized without wobbly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in A-A direction in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an interlocked coupling relationship between the interlock protrusion and interlock hole.

FIG. 4 is a side view in B direction in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrated a state in which a plurality of polyhedral toys involving this embodiment is connected.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in C-C direction in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in D-D direction in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in E-E direction in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view in F-F direction in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view in G-G direction in FIG. 14. Legend

1: Polyhedral toy; 2: Surface (base face); 3: Interlock protrusion; 4: Protrusion top portion; 5: Constricted portion; 6: Constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface; 7: Interlock hole; 8: Opening portion; 9: Opening portion-side inner peripheral surface.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A specific embodiment of the present invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a polyhedral toy involving one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in A-A direction in FIG. 1. Additionally, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an interlock protrusion and an interlock hole interlock and couple with each other, FIG. 4 is a side view in B direction in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which several polyhedral toys involving this embodiment are connected.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a polyhedral toy 1 of this embodiment is made of, for example, elastic polyurethane sponge, and is shaped into a cube. On the three consecutive faces of the polyhedral toy 1, four spherical interlock protrusions 3 are provided extendingly, and on another three consecutive faces, four interlock holes 7 are formed.
The interlock protrusions 3 are spherically formed, and a constricted portion 5 reduced in diameter is formed at a joint between the protrusion top 4 and the surface of the cube (base face). The interlock holes 7 are formed into a concaved sphere so that the interlock protrusions 3 fit into the interlock holes 7 perfectly, and have shapes in which an opening portion 8 is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock holes 7.
Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 are fitted into the interlock holes 7, the constricted portion 5 of the interlock protrusions 3 is engaged with the opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7, and a constricted portion 5-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 is engaged with the opening portion 8-side inner peripheral surface 9 of the interlock holes 7. The constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 is formed so that the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface becomes grater continuously (smoothly) from the constricted position 5 toward a protrusion top 4, while the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 of the interlock holes 7 is formed so that a diameter of the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface becomes grater continuously (smoothly) from the opening portion 8 toward the bottom portion, and so that a diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6.
Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 4, on each cube face where the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are provided, with two of them as one row, they are disposed in two rows, and are arranged so that the spacing between the centerlines of each row, and the spacing between the rows are equidistant (2×a), and are arranged so that the distance to the centerlines from the two edges on the adjacent-most sides is this same distance (a).
Thus, in the polyhedral toy 1 of this embodiment, as configured above, the protrusions 3 of a first polyhedral toy 1 and the interlock holes 7 of a second polyhedral toy 1 are interlocked to connect both of the polyhedral toys 1, and likewise a plurality of polyhedral toys 1 are interlocked and connected to build a structure having a desired three-dimensional shape.
And, if the polyhedral toy 1 is made larger to a certain extent, a house into which play participants can enter, and a ship and car into which they get can be built.
It is to be noted that FIG. 5 illustrates, as an example of connecting relationship, a state in which three polyhedral toys 1 are connected, tough the number of the connected ones.
Meanwhile, when the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into the interlock holes 7, a protrusion top portion whose diameter is larger than that of the constricted protrusion 5 of the interlock protrusions 3 elastically shrinks to deform, and opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 elastically deforms (including enlarged deformation), to enable the insertion of the interlock protrusions 3 into the interlock holes 7, because the polyhedral toy 1 is made of urethane sponge having elasticity, so that the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are interlocked.
Once the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into the interlock holes 7 in this manner, the larger-diameter portion of the interlock protrusions 3 and opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 return from deformation state to their former states, and the interlock protrusions 3 are fitted completely into the interlock holes 7, to end in a state in which opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 engages with the constricted portion of the interlock protrusions 3 as well as the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 engages with the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface of the interlock holes 7, with a surface having the interlock protrusions 3 abutting on a surface having the interlock holes 7.
Thus, the engagements between the opening portion 8 and constricted portion 5 and between the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface prevent the interlock protrusions 3 from disengaging from the interlock holes 7, and ensure stabled interlocked coupling state without wobbly, to maintain connection relationship between the assembled polyhedral toys 1, so that the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is kept favorably, even if the polyhedral toys 1 are made of elastic material, as this embodiment.
Furthermore, when the interlock protrusions 3 is inserted into the interlock holes 7, and the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 abuts on the opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7, the interlock protrusions 3 are pulled into the interlock holes 7 by the elastic force of the interlock protrusions 3 and the interlock holes 7 to enable simple and secure interlocking connection between the polyhedral toys 1, because the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 is smaller than the diameter of the opening portions 8 of the interlock holes 7.
Moreover, after the interlock protrusions 3 are inserted into the interlock holes 7, the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 of the interlock protrusions 3 and the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 of the interlock holes 7 engage with each other to generate a force of pulling the interlock protrusions 3 into the interlock holes 7, so that the interlock protrusions 3 are prevented from disengaging from the interlock holes 7 more securely, and thus the disadvantage that assembling a lot of polyhedral toys 1 results in their break-up is eliminated.
Additionally, making the polyhedral toys 1 of elastic urethane sponge allows infants to handle them without difficulty, and prevents the infants from being injured, because the polyhedral toys are light weigh even if made larger to a certain extent, so that a structure slightly smaller, and to the contrary larger, than that in full-size, such as a house large enough for the play participants to enter and a ship and car into which they are able to get can be build, and more interesting play with a sense of more convincing reality.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been explained in the foregoing, specific modes by which the present invention can be adopted are not in any way limited to the above example.
For example, in above example, the surface of the interlock protrusions 3 or the interlock holes 7 may be covered with a hard film such as resin. In this way, the hard film prevents the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 in interlock relationship from deforming, so that the interlock protrusions 3 are less likely to disengage from the interlock holes 7, and thus the three-dimensional shape of the built structure is maintained more favorably, compared with above example.
Additionally, in above example, urethane sponge is employed, but it is not limited to the urethane sponge, for example, if having elasticity, not only sponge made up of other material but also rubber material such as natural rubber and synthetic rubber may be used.
Furthermore, the basic shape of the polyhedral toys 1 is not limited to a sphere in above example. If polyhedral, the polyhedral toys 1 may be in any shapes including pyramid, and the face to which interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are provided, the number and position of them are not limited to above example.
Furthermore, the shapes of the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 are not limited to the above example. If they are shaped to be able to interlock and couple with each other, the interlock protrusions 3 have a constricted portion reduced in diameter between the protrusion top and the base face, and the opening portion 8 of the interlock holes 7 is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock holes 7, the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 may be in any shapes, so they can be shaped as illustrates in FIG. 6 through FIG. 13.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate interlock protrusions 3 a and interlock holes 7 a through which a cross section is oval. A constricted portion 5 a is formed at a joint of the interlock protrusions 3 a, and an opening portion 8 a of the interlock holes 7 a is reduced in diameter. Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 a are fitted into the interlock holes 7 a, the constricted portion 5 a of the interlock protrusions 3 a engages with the opening portion 8 a of the interlock holes 7 a, and the constricted portion 5-side outer peripheral surface 6 a the interlock protrusions 3 a engages with the opening portion 8 a-side inner peripheral surface 9 a of the interlock holes 7 a. The constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a of the interlock protrusions 3 a is formed so that a span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a becomes larger from the constricted portion 5 a toward the top portion, while the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 a of the interlock holes 7 a is formed so that a diameter of the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 a becomes greater from the opening portion 8 a toward the bottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a of the interlock protrusions 3 a is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 a.
Moreover, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 illustrate interlock protrusions 3 b and interlock holes 7 b, both of which are shaped to be conically trapezoidal. A constricted portion 5 b is formed at a joint of the interlock protrusions 3 b, and the opening portion 8 b of the interlock holes 7 b is reduced in diameter. Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 b is fitted into the interlock holes 7 b, the constricted portion 5 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b engages with the opening portion 8 b of the interlock holes 7 b, and an outer peripheral surface 6 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b engages with an inner peripheral surface 9 b of the interlock holes 7 b. The outer peripheral surface 6 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b is formed so that the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 b becomes greater from the constricted portion 5 b toward the top portion, while the inner peripheral surface 9 b of the interlock holes 7 b is formed so that the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 9 b becomes greater from the opening portion 8 b toward the bottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the outer peripheral surface 6 b of the interlock protrusions 3 b is smaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 b.
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate spherical interlock protrusions 3 c and holes 7 c. A constricted portion 5 c having a straight part is formed at a joint of the interlock protrusions 3 c, and the opening portion 8C of the interlock holes 7 has a cylindrical face, and is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock holes 7. Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 c are fitted into the interlock holes 7 c, the constricted portion 5 c of the interlock protrusions 3 c engages with the opening portion 8 c of the interlock holes 7 c, and the constricted potions 5 c-side outer peripheral surface 6 c of the interlock protrusions 3 c engages with the opening portion 8 c-side inner peripheral surface 9 c of the interlock holes 7 c. The constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c of the interlock protrusions 3 c is formed so that the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c becomes greater from the constricted portion 5 c toward the protrusion top, while the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 c of the interlock holes 7 c is formed so that the diameter of the opening portion-side inner peripheral surface 9 c becomes greater from the opening portion 8 c toward the bottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c of the interlock protrusions 3 c is smaller than the span of the constricted portion-side outer peripheral surface 6 c.
Additionally, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 illustrate conically trapezoidal interlock protrusions 3 d and interlock holes 7 d. A circular and groove-like constricted portion 5 d is formed at a joint of the interlock protrusions 3 d, and an opening portion 8 d has a cylindrical surface, and is reduced in diameter, compared with the inside of the interlock holes 7 d. Furthermore, in a situation in which the interlock protrusions 3 d are fitted into the interlock holes 7 d, the constricted portion 5 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d engages with the opening portion 8 d of the interlock holes 7 d, and an outer peripheral surface 6 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d excluding that of the constricted portion 5 d engages with an inner peripheral surface 9 d of the interlock hole 7 d excluding that of the opening portion 8 d. The outer peripheral surface 6 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d is formed so that the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 d becomes greater from the constricted portion 5 d toward the protrusion top portion, and the inner peripheral surface 9 d of the interlock holes 7 d is formed so that the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 9 d becomes greater from the opening portion 8 d toward the bottom portion, and so that the diameter of a part engaged with the outer peripheral surface 6 d of the interlock protrusions 3 d is smaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface 6 d.
Moreover, in above examples although the four interlock protrusions 3 or four interlock holes 7 are formed on each face, the number of the interlock protrusions 3 and interlock holes 7 is not limited to these examples. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a single spherical interlock protrusion 3 may be formed on the center of the consecutive three faces of a total of 6 faces, and a single spherical interlock hole 7 may be formed on the center of another three conductive faces.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention is suitable for polyhedral toys that are interlocked and connected with each other to build a structure slightly smaller, and to the contrary grater, than that in full-size.

Claims

1. A polyhedral toy, being a polyhedron having elasticity, and on at least one face of which an extension is provided as an interlock protrusion, and in at least another one face of which an interlock hole is formed, the polyhedral toy characterized in that:

said interlock protrusion and interlock hole have geometries enabling reciprocally interlocking connection;

said interlock protrusion between the protrusion fore-end portion and the toy base face has a constricted portion reduced in diameter; and

the mouth portion of said interlock hole is reduced in diameter relative to the inside of said hole.

2. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, being a polyhedron characterized in being configured with a porous material having elasticity.

3. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the surface of said interlock protrusion or interlock hole is covered with a hard film.

4. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, characterized in:

being configured so that when said interlock protrusion and interlock hole are interlocked, at least a part of the outer peripheral surface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion, and of the inner peripheral surface of said interlock hole along its mouth portion engage mutually; and

being formed so that the span of the outer peripheral surface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion becomes larger continuously from along the constricted portion toward the fore-end portion thereof, and meanwhile being formed so that the diameter of the inner peripheral surface of said interlock hole along its mouth becomes larger continuously from along the mouth toward the bottom portion thereof, and so that the diameter thereof where it engages with the outer peripheral surface of said interlock protrusion along its constricted portion is smaller than the span of the outer peripheral surface along its constricted portion.

5. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.

6. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the surface of said interlock protrusion or interlock hole is covered with a hard film.

7. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 2, characterized in:

8. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 3, characterized in:

9. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.

10. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.

11. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.

12. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.

13. A polyhedral toy as set forth in claim 8, characterized in that said constricted portion of said interlock protrusion is formed at the juncture of said interlock protrusion with the base face.