BE1018236A5 - CONNECTION ELEMENT FOR BUILDING BLOCKS, BUILDING BLOCK, NUTS AND KITS OF SUCH ELEMENTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting element for building blocks is provided, which comprises a main part which is adapted to be cleaned up in a complementary hole present in a building block, and which is adapted at both ends of the main part to be coupled to the same connecting element without the use of an accessory. to be provided thereon by means of a first and a second coupling structure at these ends, the first and the second coupling structures being adapted to be able to form a snap connection to the second and the first coupling structures of the same connecting element, respectively. Corresponding building blocks, must-type annular elements, and a kit of building blocks are also explained.

Description

CONNECTION ELEMENT FOR BUILDING BLOCKS, BUILDING BLOCK, NUTS AND KITS OF SUCH ELEMENTS

Description

The present invention relates to the field of construction elements such as building blocks, such as exist, for example, in toy articles of the building block type or construction type.

Background

There are different types of toy building blocks and coii Structure systems today.

There are also different terms that stand for an elementary construction element, such as, for example, the terms "(building or construction) brick", "(building or construction) block" and "(building or construction) element" .

In the context of this description, the terms "(building) brick" or "(building) block" are used to refer to this. Unless otherwise stated or implicitly clear to the skilled person, this "stone" should not have a specific shape. Various forms can be used without departing from the present invention.

Many existing building blocks are based on the combination of building elements or stones by means of a combination of a female and a male coupling structure, each of which is usually permanently arranged on one of the surfaces of a corresponding building element and which can be clamped in a complementary male or female coupling structure of a subsequent building element [for example the classic LEGO ™ building block].

The male coupling structures protrude from the stone, which enables a good connection / attachment with other building elements, but which at the same time limits the number of degrees of freedom in the combination of stones.

The coupled structures are also often difficult to remove from each other, in particular for elements of relatively small dimensions and for small children.

There is also often a fixed orientation direction for the structures built up by such building elements; the male and female elements are on opposite surfaces of a building element, so that a construction always ends upwards on male coupling structures, and downwards in female coupling structures, with upper and lower lying in opposite directions.

These coupling structures can also be damaged, which at least results in a reduction of the functionality of the block and / or coupling structure; the strength of the coupling can decrease or disappear completely. ........

This also means that the use of certain materials is not possible or would mean inferior quality. Often in commercial kits of such building blocks elements are added that allow to deviate to some extent from the "main direction", but these are usually present in relatively relatively small numbers so that the intrinsic "deviation" possibilities for commercially available construction packages are earlier is limited.

Other systems include holes in the components, whether or not in combination with the coupling structures as described in the previous paragraph, and associated connecting bars that fit, clamp or snap into these holes. An example of this are LEGO Technics ™ packages. However, these connecting rods cannot be directly coupled to each other and fittings are needed to realize such coupling. This means a limitation in the possible combinations of building blocks and a reduction of degrees of freedom in combining building blocks.

The kiditec company (www.kiditec.com) produces construction kits that contain blocks that are provided with holes, through which connection elements can be fitted, which are adapted to be screwed in directly into similar connection elements, and which can block blocks together without additional fittings. These connecting elements of the "bolt" type are provided with a small piece of thread at the end, away from the head, which does not run the entire length of the "bolt", and is loose in the opening. The connecting element must cooperate at this "end" with a nut-like element in order to be coupled / secured to the block through which the connecting element runs; this nut is integrated with the head of a following bolt, which has a threaded hole.

Many building systems are also relatively complex, especially for a child.

Toy construction systems are described in US 5,771,650, US 2008/045116, US 6,273,778 and US 3,069,805.

There is a need today for alternative building block or construction systems, which provide an answer to the limitations of the state of the art, and which are simple in design.

Summary of the invention

When terms such as "first", "second", "third" and so on are used, this does not necessarily mean that a consecutive or chronological order must be assumed.

The term "comprising" must be interpreted in such a way that it does not exclude other elements or steps.

The state of the art on which the approach of claim 1 is based has a connecting element for building blocks, which comprises a main part which is adapted to be received in a complementary hole present in a building block, and which at both ends of the main part is adapted to be coupled to the same connecting element without the use of an attachment by means of a first and a second coupling structure provided at these ends.

Some drawbacks and properties of the prior art connection elements have already been described above in the background section.

Furthermore, the connection structure, previously described under "Kiditec" technology, consists of a hard plastic and is not compressible by a child. It is also not elastically compressible or deformable such that the connection element can only be placed in a hole whose projection according to the direction of the axis of the hole, covers the transverse cross-section of the connecting element, in other words, the hole must be strictly wider than the dimensions, in particular width or diameter, of the connecting element, so that the latter can be inserted therein This also means, among other things, that the connecting element cannot be clamped in the hole of the corresponding building block, which also consists of hard plastic, and that the heads of the bolts protrude above the "surface" of the building block.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative which solves at least one or some of the above problems and is simple in design.

This is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

A connecting element for building blocks is described, which comprises a main part which is adapted to be received in a complementary hole present in a building block, and which is adapted at both ends of the main part to be coupled to the same connecting element without the use of an attachment. to be provided by means of a first and a second coupling structure at these ends, the first and the second coupling structures being adapted to be able to form a snap connection with the second and the first coupling structures of the same connecting element, respectively.

The coupling to the same connecting element can be carried out without the use of an attachment, i.e. two connecting elements according to the present invention can be coupled directly to each other; either by connecting the first coupling structure of the first element to the second coupling structure of the second element, or by connecting the second coupling structure of the first element to the first coupling structure of the second element, respectively. Different click connections can be used for this.

It is to be noted that a click connection is a connection that can be associated with a click sound and / or click sensation and / or click sensation and that such a connection differs from a clamp type or slide-in type connection, as is the case with the classic Lego blocks. The snap connection can preferably be released again by a child, but on the other hand is sufficiently strong to enable the construction of building blocks that are coupled to these connecting elements. Examples of click connections are, for example, push-button type connections. The first and the second coupling structures are preferably different. In embodiments of the present invention, the first and the second coupling structures are complementary. For example, one of the two coupling structures can be male and one of the two coupling structures female. Further specific examples of click connections and linking structures will be set forth in the detailed description. To establish the thoughts, reference may be made to a bullet and a hole which together form a snap-like connection, as an example of such a pair of complementary coupling structures.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first connection element is of the ball type and the second connection element is of the hole type.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first and the second coupling structures can together form a push-button type connection. It is to be noted that the coupling structures may also consist of more than one snap button structure or more than one part-click system. For example, two coupling systems of the male type can be arranged next to each other at one end of the connecting element, while at the other end two coupling structures of the female type can be provided which are aligned with the coupling structures of the male type. Other complementary structures can also be devised by those skilled in the art that are adapted to form a snap connection.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the main part is essentially non-elastically deformable in the axial direction, i.e. the connecting element is preferably not elastically deformable in the axial direction, when it undergoes forces corresponding to a stroke of a hammer carried out by a hammer. child in a typical construction toy activity. This feature is particularly advantageous when carpentry applications (applications in which the connecting element is driven with one or more strokes at one end of the element (first or second) into a corresponding opening. This process is essentially of a discontinuous nature) since a (elastic or non-elastic) deformable connecting element could make this carpentry activity impossible. For example, instead of being molded into the complementary hole of a building block, an elastically highly compressible connecting element could be bent or compressed, so that the connecting element cannot be inserted into the complementary hole, or not sufficiently easily, on the other hand, a non-elastically deformable but deformable connecting element deformed beforehand, "changing shape and thereby becoming incompatible with the complementary hole. Furthermore, the connecting element must not break or be damaged by forces corresponding to and of the magnitude of an impact of a small hammer handled by a child.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the main part is elastically deformable in the radial direction. This elastic deformation is preferably possible under forces of the order of the forces that a child can exert. These embodiments have the advantage that a connecting element can be arranged in a complementary hole by elastic deformation, and that this connecting element is subsequently retained in the hole, thanks to the elastic deformation. The main part can be manufactured for this purpose from a suitable plastic material such as a hard mousse or soft plastic, but the non-deformability of the main part in the axial direction is preferably preserved.

This can be done, for example, by providing a soft plastic or rather a hard mousse with an internal reinforcing element such as a metal or hard plastic pin connected to the mousse or semi-soft plastic and possibly also anchored in this material.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the main part is essentially hollow so that it is formed by a thin wall, which contains at least one lateral incision that extends the entire length of the main part. The incision can then start, for example, at the bottom of the main part and end at the top of the main part. This incision is preferably linear. This incision can also take other forms, although the strength of the connecting element should not be substantially affected here, which would be the case, for example, with a spiral incision that, as it were, spiral around the main part from the extreme to the extreme. other extreme. This latter example could lead to a connecting element that is elastically deformable in the axial direction, which is rather undesirable for carpentry applications. The linear incision is preferably also parallel to the central axis the or axis of symmetry of the connecting element and / or the main part.

According to preferred embodiments, the at least one lateral incision runs through the entire length of the element, in particular through the first and second coupling structures. These embodiments have the advantage that the coupling structures are also radially deformable, which leads to an elegant embodiment of a snap system.

The coupling structures are preferably non-deformable in the longitudinal direction of the main part or in the direction of the symmetry or axial axis of the main part. This under forces corresponding to the forces of a hammer stroke performed by a child on the connecting element with a typical toy hammer.

The main part, and consequently also the connecting element substantially, is preferably cylindrical. It preferably contains a smooth outer surface for carpentry applications, but it can also be threaded. This screw thread can then be used to fit into a corresponding screw thread of a building block. This screw thread can also be engraved in such a way that the connecting element can still be screwed into the complementary opening. The complementary opening can, on the other hand, also be provided with a thread which is complementary to the thread on the connecting element to sufficiently hold the connecting element in the opening. Other structures, different from the thread structure, but of the same type, allowing a connecting element to be screwed into an opening of a device are also possible. For example, the thread-like structure on the inside of a complementary hole of a building block can be provided with half-ball-like protrusions which co-act with a thread on the connecting element.

It is to be noted that the coupling structures can be provided as separate elements on the main part or as a part on the main part, which allows the coupling structures to consist of different materials than the main part or the rest of the main part. These embodiments, however, require a more complex production process, while also raising concerns regarding stability, long-term fixation, hammer resistance, etc., which are not present in connecting elements consisting of one material and essentially one single piece.

The male-type coupling structure can be of the ball type or can form an O-like (omega-like) structure or have some similar shape. The female coupling structure can be a structure that is complementary to this ball-type structure, but can be any structure that allows a snap connection to the male-type coupling structure.

For example, a ball can be received as a coupling structure in an opening of the other end of the same connecting element, of a suitable size that has a notch or circular edge, in which the ball clicks into place when it is placed in the female coupling structure. Other coupling mechanism structures that lead to click systems can be used by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the cylindrical main part is provided at its ends with a screw thread which is arranged inwards in the main part. This screw thread can be engraved into the outer wall of the main part in such a way that the main part and thus the connecting element allows to be fixed in an opening in a building block. This screw thread can be applied to the connecting element, being at both ends, it can for instance be one or two threads at each end of the connecting element, but the screw thread can also extend over the entire length of the connecting element.

The connecting elements according to the present invention can be constructed from different materials. They are preferably constructed from a suitable plastic material (e.g. polyethylene), plastic, a hard or soft foam material, hardboard, pressed fiber materials, etc., but other materials are not excluded. Since preferred embodiments of the present invention are related to toy applications, the materials are preferably compatible with current safety standards for toy materials.

The connecting elements according to embodiments of the present invention can be manufactured in different dimensions, without losing their essential properties. For example, a connecting element may have a length of, for example, about 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, but smaller or larger dimensions are equally possible. The cross-section of a connecting element can, for example, be approximately 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm. 9 mm, 10. mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm, but smaller or larger dimensions are equally possible.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the substantially cylindrical main part comprises a widening at one of the two ends.

The widening may take the form of a nut-like structure described in other embodiments of the present invention.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a building block is shown, which comprises at least one coupling structure adapted and adapted to be coupled to another building block or coupling trick, in which the coupling trick is located at the end of a connecting element, the connecting element arranged and being removably secured in a hole in the building block, and further according to embodiments of the present invention.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a building block is shown which comprises at least one substantially cylindrical hole that passes through the building block, in which the radius of the hole widens from a certain depth towards the outer surface of the building block, such that a limited annular recess exists "around the ends of a connecting element according to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention, if this connecting element were adapted to the hole, would be arranged completely in the hole and a main part with a height equal to the length of the hole.

Preferred embodiments of a device according to the present invention further comprise at least one opening or elongated groove provided in its surface adapted to form a snap connection with a male coupling structure of the connecting element according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The building blocks according to embodiments of the present inventions are preferably constructed from wood, or a suitable plastic material, polyethylene, plastic, a hard or soft foam material, hardboard, pressed fiber materials, etc., but other materials are possible as can be recognized by the craftsman. The building blocks can be cast or blown or manufactured by other techniques known to those skilled in the art, depending on the application.

In preferred embodiments, the building blocks comprise wood or consist of wood.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a combination of wood / plastic, wood / plastic, or (plastic or plastic) / (plastic or plastic) is used for the building block and the connecting element, respectively. In a set of building blocks, different building blocks may consist of different materials, which, however, are preferably adapted to cooperate with connecting elements which all have the same composition or relevant properties.

The building blocks according to embodiments of the present invention can be manufactured in various dimensions without losing their essential properties. For example, a building block can have a length of, for example, approximately 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 cm, a width of, for example, approximately 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 cm, and one. height corresponding to the dimensions of the associated connecting elements, for example 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, but smaller or larger dimensions are equally possible for the different dimensions. The holes present in the building blocks can also have different dimensions which, when supplied in a set together with the associated connecting elements, correspond to the dimensions of these connecting elements.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention an annular element is described, with a shape that is complementary to the annular recess in a stone as described in the third aspect of the present invention, and which is further provided with a coupling structure that is adapted for coupling to the screw thread of a connecting element according to the first aspect of the present invention in which screw thread is present near the ends of the connecting element when it is arranged in the annular recess. This annular element furthermore preferably comprises a structure on the surface that is oriented outwards when the annular element is arranged in the said annular recess which is adapted to interact with an elementary or adapted screwdriver with a flat head or crimp head or some different structure. Thus, the presence of two aligned incisions on either side of the hole formed by the annular element adapted to receive an ordinary flat-head screwdriver is sufficient to rotate the nut if it were not adapted to be placed at the end of a connecting element according to the present invention.

Therefore, in a fifth aspect of the present invention, a new type of screwdriver is provided for use with the annular element according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. This screwdriver opens onto a fork structure with two teeth, each tooth ending in a flat head, both flat heads being aligned and adapted to couple with an annular element according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a kit of building block type building blocks wherein each building block has at least one hole of the same predefined shape or diameter or cross-section, wherein the kit further comprises at least one connecting element according to an embodiment according to the invention. first aspect of the present invention that is adapted to be recorded. This recording can be done by, for example, inserting, carpentry or screwing in the connecting element in the holes.

In preferred embodiments of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the dimensions of the building blocks and connecting elements present in such a kit are chosen in a well-considered manner.

For example, the dimensions of the building blocks (which, for example, can also take the form of "building plates" or "building panels", but also other shapes), can always correspond or are whole multiples of a basic size. This provides the advantage that simple and frequent cube structures can be formed. The connecting elements can therefore have a length corresponding to this basic size or a multiple thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention, beam-shaped building blocks are provided, for example, that have a length that is twice the width and / or a height that corresponds to a third of the length. The connecting elements can be, for example, 3 basic units long and can then, for example, bind together three (or two or four or a different whole number of) building blocks (for example building panels) which each have a thickness (or height) which is a basic unit. Each of these 3 building panels can moreover fulfill its own function and / or for example consist of a different material or have different colors.

Also, building blocks can have heights (or thicknesses) that are, for example, a whole multiple of the base unit, while the connecting elements are only a single base unit long (or high).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a data storage medium is described which includes a program adapted to display a connection element according to the first aspect of the present invention on a screen when it is run on a computer.

Further aspects of the present invention are described in the subclaims. The properties of the subclaims, properties of one of the subclaims and one of the features of other subclaims can be combined and considered suitable for those skilled in the art, and not only in the specific combinations as defined by the claims.

Description of illustrative examples and drawings

The above and other advantageous features and objects of the invention will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the respective drawings.

The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

Reference symbols are selected to be the same for similar or the same elements or features in different figures or drawings.

The description of the aspects of the present invention is accomplished by means of specific embodiments and with reference to, but not limited to, certain drawings. The figures shown are only schematic and should not be construed as limiting. For example, certain elements or properties may be represented out of proportion or scale in relation to other elements.

Figures 1 to 16 show a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connecting element (1) comprises a main part (11), a first coupling structure (51) and a second coupling structure (52) which are preferably different, more preferably complementary. In this embodiment, at the top of the connecting element there is a male coupling structure of the ball type, while at the bottom a recess, the female coupling structure, is provided in the main part and thus in the connecting element with which the male coupling structure can connect. Figures 1 to 3 show a building block (2) which contains a hole (3) adapted to receive the connecting element (1). The connecting element (1) can be placed in the opening (3) simply by sliding it in, by carpentry or carpentry or by screwing it in if a thread or similar structures are provided on the outer wall of the main part of the connecting element and the inner wall of the hole in the building block.

.. In . 6 and 7. a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A connecting element '(1), similar to the connecting element of figures 4 and 5, is shown which comprises a main part (11), a male coupling structure (51) placed at the top of the main element and a female coupling structure (52) at the bottom of the main element. At the bottom of the connecting element. According to this embodiment, the main part of the connecting element is substantially hollow such that material and weight can be saved and such that the connecting element can undergo some elastic deformation in the radial direction below the opening corresponding to the female coupling structure. provided with a circular notch (521) adapted to receive the male coupling structure of the same connecting element by means of a snap connection Figures 8, 9 and 10 below show different embodiments of snap connections that can be used in the embodiments of the present invention. Figure 8 shows a single click connection between a single male connector structure and a female connector structure such as that for a snap button connection, and an alternative click connector is shown in the lower right, using multiple linearized male and female connector structures to establish the click connection. embodiments are not excluded, as one skilled in the art will recognize.

Figures 5 and 7 illustrate how a connecting element according to the present invention can be coupled to the same connecting element by causing the first coupling structure arranged at the first end of the main part of a first element to make a snap connection to a second coupling structure which is arranged at the other end of a second element, respectively.

In the left-hand figure 5, the male coupling structure is preferably elastically deformable in the radial direction.

Preferably, the female coupling structure is also elastically deformable in the radial direction. Figure 7 shows a similar embodiment, in which the connecting element is largely hollowed out, thus essentially hollow, and in which an annular notch is provided inside the wall in which the respective male coupling structure can snap into place. ........

It is to be noted that connection elements according to embodiments of the present invention exist that are not elastically deformable in the radial direction and that there are also connection elements that are elastically deformable in the radial direction of the connection element. By the axial direction of the connecting element is meant the axis of symmetry of the main part, or of the complete connecting element. The radial direction is then the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the connecting element. Figure 12 shows a connecting element according to the present invention which is made from a material that is resistant to a hammer blow of a toy hammer performed by, for example, a child. This . connecting element is non-deformable, neither elastic nor inelastic, in the axial direction, but is provided with a lateral incision (7) which extends over the length of the main part. The connecting element is furthermore also hollow on the inside, such that it can be compressed or elastically deformable in the radial direction. An advantage of this embodiment is that materials can be used that a priori are not deformable in the radial direction, but that are resistant to a hammer blow performed by a toy hammer by a child, while the connecting element is nevertheless elastically deformable in the radial direction and can therefore be placed in the opening or hole of a corresponding building block.

Coupling structures as described earlier are arranged on the connecting element.

Figure 13 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the connecting element comprises a lateral incision which extends over the entire length of the (substantially hollow) element, in particular over the first (51) and second (52) coupling structures. This embodiment has the further advantage that not only the main part of the connecting element is elastically deformable in the radial direction and can therefore be placed in a hole in a corresponding building block, but also that the coupling structures (51, 52) thanks to this lateral incision also are radially and elastically deformable, which simplifies the creation of a click system or which leads to a specific embodiment of a click system for use in combination with the present invention.

Figure 11 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, in which only the male coupling structure is provided with a lateral incision 7, while the main part does not comprise such an incision. This embodiment can occur when, for example, the main part can consist of an elastically deformable material, and in which this main part is connected to a male coupling structure that consists of a different material, which, for example, without being indented, is not elastically deformable in the radial direction .

Figures 17 to 23 show different cross-sections, for illustrative purposes only, and certainly not in a restrictive sense, of connecting elements according to the present invention or the corresponding holes in corresponding building blocks. Various other cross-sections of connecting element and / or holes are conceivable, as will be recognized by a person skilled in the art.

Figures 15 and 16 depict further embodiments of the present invention; a connecting element which is hollow on the inside, and which comprises a lateral incision which extends over the entire length of the connecting element, in particular the male and female, or the first and second, coupling structures. Thread (91) can be provided along the side of the first coupling structure, and thread (92) can be provided on the side of the second coupling structure. In alternative embodiments, the screw thread (9) can also extend completely from one end of the main part to the other end of the main part. It is to be noted that the term screw thread also refers to similar structures, being structures that enable the coupling of two elements, in particular structural steel and connecting element, by means of a screw movement. Other such structures may, for example, be structures made of half-balls located at appropriate locations of the connecting element adapted to be coupled to a thread on a corresponding building block. Or conversely, half-ball structures can be provided on the inner wall of a hole through a building block at appropriate locations such that they are adapted to receive the thread of a connecting element provided with it by means of a screw movement of the element. In preferred embodiments, the screw board is engraved in the side wall of the main part of the connecting element, such that the "enveloping" side wall is still. is always straight and the connecting element can therefore be used for carpentry applications, wherein the connecting element can be nailed by hammer strokes into a hole in a corresponding building block. The single or more threaded features have the advantage that new fastening systems for the connecting element according to the present invention can be developed, as will be described in further detail. This can be of particular interest if the connecting element is arranged in the hole in a corresponding building block, without any clamping relationship between the hole (the building block) and the connecting element, i.e. where the connecting element simply has to be pushed into the hole of the contains no intrinsic fixation with respect to the building block. It is to be noted that this screw thread can also be present in embodiments in which the connecting element does remain locked in the opening of a corresponding building block by clamping, when the screw thread is engraved inwards in the connecting element.

Figure 14 describes a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the connecting element comprises a main part which comprises a female coupling structure at the bottom and is furthermore provided with a male coupling structure, and wherein the main part is essentially cylindrical, further provided under ring-shaped flexible elements which are perpendicular to the side wall (for example perpendicular) These elements can provide a virtual magnifying effect for the connecting element in the sense that a connecting element that would slide through the corresponding opening without flaps can only be clamped in the same openings due to the presence of such flaps and can therefore be used for carpentry applications.

Figures 1 to ... 3, for example, illustrate the combination of a connecting element (1) with a complementary building block (2). It is to be noted that in the description of the various embodiments of the present invention, only one connecting element is sufficient to fill a full depth of a hole in a corresponding building block, but that, and that is also described later (cf. Figures 41). to 46), multiple connecting elements can be combined to bridge the depth of a hole in a corresponding building block. For example, three connecting elements can be combined to reach the full height of the hole. On the other hand, corresponding building blocks can be provided which correspond to a fraction of the length of the connecting elements. For example, two, three or four plate-shaped elements (building blocks) may exist that can be coupled per two, three, four around one connecting element according to the present invention.

Figure 24 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which a connecting element as described in figures 15 or 16 at the top is arranged in a corresponding building block which is adapted to have an annular notch (10) after inserting the connecting element in its surface corresponding to at least a part of the thread of the connecting element (typically one, two or three turns), both at the top and at the bottom of the hole. This notch can have the further advantage that the connecting elements are easier to remove from the building block in the case of a clamped connecting element. This also applies to any type of carpentry connection element according to embodiments of the present invention. The notch may include a flat incision or a curved (or in other words, partially formed by the flat or curved incision; see, for example, Figures 24, 25B, 26B).

The notch may also have a shape that is complementary to the shape of a flat nut of constant thickness and around side surface (see, e.g., Figures 25A and 26A). The notch can have a width, measured according to the surface of the building block, of, for example, more than 1 mm, more of 2 mm, more than 3 mm. A typical such width can preferably be 4 or 5 mm, but other, larger or smaller values are also possible.

The (maximum, in the case of, for example, figures 24, 25B, 26B) depth of the notch can, for example, be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, but smaller or larger values are also possible, as long as the (maximum) depth does not exceed half the thickness of the building block.

In figures 25A, 25B, 26A and 26B, further embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, preferably for use in combination with building blocks with notch around the holes as described for figure 24. In these embodiments, they are "connection elements". t (1) and the nut (13) for figure 24, as it were integrated at one of the two ends of the connecting element In the embodiment shown in figures 25A and 25B, this nut-type structure is integrated at the female end of the connecting element, in figures 26A and 26B for the female end.

The connecting elements illustrated in Figures 25A and 25B comprise a main part that is substantially cylindrical, but which further has a broadening diameter at the male end to thereby form an "integrated nut" -like structure, this "integrated nut" -like structure shape corresponding to the shapes described for the "nuts" of the other embodiments.

The connecting elements illustrated in Figs. 26A and 26B comprise a main part that is substantially cylindrical, but which further has a widening diameter at the female end to thereby form an "integrated nut" -like structure, this "integrated nut" -like structure has a shape corresponding to the shapes described for the "nuts" of the other embodiments.

Figure 28 shows an analogous embodiment in which the annular notch (10) in the stone around the ends of the connecting element that is arranged therein, rather has a round cavity complementary to a flat nut of constant thickness. The thread can. run through the entire outer wall of the connecting element in alternative embodiments.

According to embodiments of the present invention (not shown), a similar thread type structure is provided in place of threads, consisting of a number of half-balls or other unevennesses on the outer surface of the connecting element which are arranged at suitable locations so as to to be able to form a screw connection with a screw thread arranged on the inner wall of the hole of a corresponding building block.

The annular element (13), with a shape complementary to the annular recess, is described in Figs. 24 and 28, and may further be provided with a coupling structure adapted to connect to. .. the thread of a connecting element according to the present invention when it is arranged in the annular recess present in the building block, around the end of the connecting element arranged therein. This "nut", as the ring-shaped element can be called, contains on its surface intended to face the connecting element a screw thread (14) or a similar structure (15), such as the half-balls arranged on this surface.

These "nuts" can therefore be tightened on the ends of the connecting element according to embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 24 and 28.

It is to be noted that the connecting element preferably comprises a lateral incision that runs the entire length of the connecting element such that the connecting element is elastically deformable in radial direction and can be trimmed in the opening, the annular recess around the ends on the edge of the openings - in a building block can help to guide the connecting element to the hole. Once the connecting element is placed in the opening, either by carpentry or by insertion, or by screwing in, the "nuts" or annular elements can be arranged at these ends in the complementary recesses by screwing them onto the ends of the connecting element. In this way, the connecting element is more firmly placed in the device, for variants of the present invention in which this would still be necessary. could be a useful improvement of the fixation of the connecting element in the building block. Thus, when the connecting element is arranged in an opening (and which, for example, does not contain a lateral incision, is rather undeformable in the radial direction) and is simply pushed into the opening (3) of the stone (2), further fixation will be necessary by by means of this embodiment of the present invention.

It is to be noted that the "nut" further comprises a coupling structure which is arranged on the front of. the "nut" (being the surface of the "nut" exposed to the surface of the brick when placed in the notch of the building block) adapted to cooperate with a tool according to embodiments of the present invention invention explained below. For example, one or more notches may be provided in this surface which are aligned or directed towards the central axis of the "nut". Two aligned notches are sufficient (flat head) to allow a good screwing movement with the "nut" and thereby tighten the nut on the connecting element, but several notches such as four, two by two, at an angle of 90 ° (a crosshead) Aligned notches or other configurations of notches are conceivable as will be recognized by a person skilled in the art.

.. In figure. 31. A basic construction of building blocks and connecting elements according to embodiments of the present invention is depicted.

Advantages of the present invention can be recognized here. Being removable or selectively attachable of connecting elements that form, as it were, removable studs for a building block allows for several degrees of freedom of construction; for example, a second brick placed on a first brick by means of a snap connection could rotate around this snap connection and could form connections with angles between building blocks that differ from 0 ° and 90 ° as is often the case in the state of the art construction kits. Furthermore, since the connecting structures forming, as it were, removable studs in a building block, it is also possible to orient these connecting structures in both directions by, for example, having the male coupling structure protrude in a certain direction and sense in one hole and in an adjacent the male "coupling structure in the same direction, but in a different sense. Further, openings (3) may also be provided in different walls of the building block (2). The building block may take different shapes, volumes, and topologies. importantly, at least one hole is provided in such a building block adapted to receive a connecting element according to embodiments of the present invention Examples of such building blocks are shown at the bottom of Figures 32 to 37, but these are not to be considered limitatively It should be noted that different building blocks have surfaces that are in a All orientations are usable, or holes can be made in any surface of a building block, which means that an extensive range of degrees of freedom becomes available for constructions built with a basic construction package, contrary to "certain state of the art.

Figures 32 and 33 show building blocks according to embodiments of the present invention. The device contains at least one opening or an elongated groove (16) in its surface adapted to form a snap connection with a male coupling structure of the connecting element according to the present invention. Figure 32 shows a building block containing an elongated groove in which the male coupling structure of an annular element can be placed by means of a snap connection. Figure 33 depicts another device that includes openings (3) and further comprises an opening (17) of the female type adapted to receive the male coupling structure of a connecting element according to the present invention.

Further embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figures 29 and 30. In figure 29, a connecting element (1) y is provided in a building block (2) by means of a thread inside the brick and on the wall of the connecting element. In other embodiments, such as shown in Figure 30, the building block (e.g. brick shape, ball shape, etc.) may be hollow on the inside, and thread (or any equivalent structure) may be provided in the wall of this building block such that the connecting element provided with screw thread at the correct locations, near its ends or over the entire length, can be screwed into these walls and can be fixed in these walls. .....- ........-

Figures 38 to 40 depict an application of embodiments according to the present invention. A toy representing a duck is hereby built up of three building blocks (2, 2 ', 2' ') which are connected to each other by means of connecting elements according to embodiments of the present invention (1, 1', 1 ").

Figure 41 illustrates that multiple connecting elements (1) can be combined to bridge the full depth of a hole in a building block (2). On the other hand, it is illustrated in Figure 42 that multiple stones (2, 2 ', 2' ') can also be combined with only one connecting element according to embodiments of the present invention. This is further elaborated in figures 43 to 46. In these figures, two connecting elements according to the present invention are combined to bridge the full depth of the hole in the brick (2), the brick further comprising the annular recess around the inserted connecting elements in Figs. 44 to 46. Fig. 46 comprises a pair of connecting elements, each of which is threaded near each of its ends. Figures 43 and 44 show the same configuration in which the screw thread or similar structure is arranged over the entire length of each of the two connecting elements which together fill the hole through the brick. It is to be noted that a combination of connecting elements used to fill the thickness of a brick or the height of a hole through a brick may also be provided herein by means of carpentry, a screw action or simply by sliding it into a sufficiently large aperture, as explained for other embodiments of the present invention. Figure 41 illustrates that multiple connecting elements can also be used to fill one hole. It is to be noted that in commercial kits, connecting elements are preferably used from a single predefined dimension, which is in a fixed relationship with the dimensions of the building blocks supplied.

Figure 27 depicts a tool that can be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention, in which a "nut" is used to further secure the connection structure in an opening of the corresponding device. This tool can typically include a handle and a handle, and is of the screwdriver type. However, the shank is of the fork type wherein there are preferably two teeth which each open onto a flat head, and wherein both flat heads are aligned corresponding to notches in the corresponding surface of the "nut". This makes it possible to tighten the "nut" without being hindered by the central presence of the connecting element.

In the description of certain embodiments of the present invention, various features are "sometimes grouped in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of contributing to the understanding of one or more of the various inventive steps. This should not be interpreted as if all properties of the group are necessarily present to solve a specific problem .... Inventive aspects are not present in all properties of such group properties present in the description of a specific embodiment.

While some embodiments described herein include some but no other features included in other embodiments, combinations or features of different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention, and to form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

While the principles of the invention have been described above in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made by way of example only, and is not restrictive of the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

A connecting element for building blocks, which comprises a main part adapted to be received in a complementary hole present in a building block, and which is adapted at both ends of the main part to be coupled to the same connecting element without the use of an accessory be provided by means of a first and a second coupling structure at these ends, in which the first and the second coupling structures are adapted to be able to form a snap connection to the second and the first coupling structures of the same connecting element, in which the main part is elastically deformable in in the radial direction, the main part is substantially hollow so that it is formed by a thin wall, which further comprises at least one lateral incision extending the length of the main part, and in which the at least one lateral incision extends over the entire length of the element, in particular through the first and second ruptures. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling structures are different. A connecting element according to claim 2, wherein the first and second coupling structures are complementary. A connection element according to claim 3, wherein the first connection element is of the bulb type and the second connection element is of the hole type. A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second coupling structures can together form a connection that is of the snap type. A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main part is essentially non-elastically deformable in the axial direction. A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling structures are undeformable in the longitudinal direction of the main part. A connecting element according to any one of the preceding claims, with a main part that is cylindrical. A connecting element according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical main part is provided at its extreme parts with a screw thread which is arranged inwards in the main part. A connecting element according to claims 1 to 7, wherein the main part is substantially cylindrical, but broadens at one of the two ends near that end. A building block comprising at least one coupling structure adapted and adapted to be coupled to another building block or coupling structure, characterized in that the coupling structure is located at the end of a connecting element, the connecting element being arranged and being removably secured in a hole in the building block, and further according to one of claims 1 to 10. 12. A building block comprising at least one substantially cylindrical hole that passes through the building block, characterized in that the radius of the hole widens from a certain depth towards the outer surface of the building block, such that a limited annular there is a recess around the ends of a connecting element according to claim 9, if the latter were adapted to the hole, would be arranged completely in the hole and would have a main part with a height equal to the length of the hole. A building block according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising at least one opening or elongated groove in its surface adapted to form a snap connection to a first or second coupling structure of the connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 10. A ring-shaped element, with a shape that is complementary to the ring-shaped recess of claim 12, and further provided with a coupling structure adapted to engage with the thread of a connecting element according to claim 9 when it is mounted in the limited ring-shaped recess. A kit of building block type building blocks, wherein each building block has at least 1 hole of the same shape, characterized in that the kit further comprises at least one connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 10 adapted to be received and clamped in the holes.