CN110869099B

CN110869099B - Toy component set with articulated connectable elements

Info

Publication number: CN110869099B
Application number: CN201880020121.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 彼得·艾伦·菲什
Original assignee: Kemia Co ltd
Current assignee: Kemia Co ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-21
Filing date: 2018-03-21
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-21
Also published as: WO2018171615A1; EP3600585B1; TW201842954A; CA3056012A1; AU2017100326A4; RU2757445C2; CA3056012C; RU2019131420A; EP3600585A4; CN110869099A; RU2019131420A3; EP3600585A1

Abstract

A component playset and an interlock are provided. The construction toy set (10) includes a plurality of interlocking elements. Each of the plurality of interlocks includes at least one connecting member (12). Each connecting member (12) includes a pivot hub (20), the pivot hub (20) having a first surface (22) and an opposing second surface (24). A plurality of detents (30) are formed in both surfaces (22, 24) of the pivot hub (20). Two yoke arms (32) are coupled to each pivot hub (20). A protrusion (44) extends from the inner surface (36), the protrusion (44) being sized to be received by one of the plurality of detents (30). The yoke arms (32) are separated by gap spaces (34, 46). Each of the plurality of clearance spaces (34, 46) is sized to receive and retain a pivot hub (20) of another interlock, wherein the pivot hubs (20) on all interlocks are uniform in shape and size.

Description

Toy component set with articulated connectable elements

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a partially-filed application of pending international application with application number PCT/US2016/058320 filed on 21/10/2016 claiming the benefit of U.S. patent application No. 14/922,105 filed on 23/10/2015 (U.S. patent No. 9,782,688, now published). The present application also claims priority from australian innovation patent No. 2017100326 filed on 21/3/2017.

Background

1. Field of the invention

In general, the invention relates to toy component elements designed to be interconnected in a chain. More particularly, the present invention relates to toy construction elements that, once interconnected in an assembly, are movable relative to other connectors.

2. Description of the prior art

Toy component sets having interconnected plastic parts are well known in the toy industry. Most of these component groups are designed as statically interconnected blocks. These components are in the form of blocks

A series of component blocks is an example. Still other sets of components have components interconnected at joints. In this way, the components may be interconnected to form a flexible chain. Such a set of components is exemplified by U.S. patent No. 5,172,534 to Milner, entitled channable Building Blocks.

The component toy design of U.S. patent No. 5,172,534 has been commercialized and is under the trademark makrolon for the past two decades

And (4) selling.

Trademarks are now owned by KMA Concepts (the present applicant).

A large portion of the play value of a series of toys is that the various elements are interconnected to create a flexible chain. Each element acts as a link in the chain. Thus, any one component can only be connected to two other components, one behind and one in front. The resulting chains can be bent and transformed into various shapes, but the shapes available are limited. Furthermore, there is little structural integrity at the interconnection points between the toy elements. As a result, large chain structures have a tendency to bend and collapse under their own weight if assembled into many three-dimensional shapes.

The present invention is an improvement over the toy design shown in U.S. patent application No. 5,172,534. In a refinement, the structure of the toy elements is changed so that interconnection of more than three elements is achieved. In this manner, the set of toy components is not limited to forming a flexible chain. Instead, the toy building element may create a three-dimensional construct in which the elements travel in various different directions from a common point. The integrity of the linkage between the elements is also improved so that the large construct retains its constructed form. This enables the set of toy components to be assembled into an infinite number of shapes and ensures that the components within the building body can be adjusted as required. The improved design is described and claimed below.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is a toy component assembly comprising a plurality of interlocking elements. Each of the plurality of interlocks includes at least one connecting member. The number of the plurality of connecting members may vary between respective ones of the plurality of interlocking elements.

Each connecting member includes a pivot hub. The pivot hub has a first surface and an opposing second surface separated by a common sidewall. The first surface and the second surface are parallel.

A plurality of detents are formed in both the first and second surfaces of the pivot hub. The plurality of detents are arranged in a radial pattern.

A first yoke arm is coupled to the pivot hub. The first yoke arm has a first inner surface and a first outer surface. The first inner surface and the first outer surface are oriented perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface of the pivot hub.

A first protrusion extends from a first inner surface of the first yoke arm. The projection is sized to be received by one of the plurality of detents. Likewise, a second yoke arm extends from the pivot hub. The second yoke arm has a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the second inner surface and the second outer surface are disposed perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface of the pivot boss.

The first gap space separates the first inner surface of the first yoke arm from the second inner surface of the second yoke arm. If there is more than one connecting member in the piece, there are also additional interstitial spaces between the connecting members. Each of the plurality of clearance spaces is sized to receive and retain a pivot hub of another piece, wherein the pivot hubs on all of the plurality of pieces are uniform in shape and size.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which is to be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a component playset having multiple component types, wherein each component type shares the same connecting component;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first component type comprising a connecting member;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first component type;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first component type;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second component type comprising two connecting members;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second component type;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembly containing different component types; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of a complete construct containing different component types.

Detailed Description

The component toy system of the present invention comprises a variety of components. The different components may be embodied in a variety of ways. However, each of the plurality of components shares a common connecting member. The number of connecting members varies from component to component. For purposes of illustration and description, only a few exemplary component structures are shown. The components shown represent some of the best modes contemplated by the present invention. However, the components shown are merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting in interpreting the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Referring to fig. 1, exemplary components forming a component playset 10 are shown. All of the components in the set 10 have one or more connecting members 12. The connecting members 12 are all identical. However, different parts have different numbers of connecting members 12 molded together.

The first component 14 in the construction toy set 10 includes a single connecting member 12. The structure of the connecting member 12 is described later. The second component 16 of the construction toy set 10 includes two connecting members 12. In fig. 1, two connecting members 12 are shown connected side-by-side. However, other orientations may be used. The subsequent component 18 may include any number (N) of connecting members 12, wherein all of the connecting members 12 are integrated into a single component. The construction of the connecting member 12 is the same in all the

components

14, 16, 18. The only difference in the

components

14, 16, 18 is the number of connecting members 12 formed as a single component.

Referring to fig. 2, 3 and 4, a first component 14 is shown that contains a single connecting member 12. The connecting member 12 has a pivot hub 20. Pivot hub 20 has two

surfaces

22, 24 on opposite sides of pivot hub 20 and extending in parallel planes. The two

parallel surfaces

22, 24 are mirror images of each other and are interconnected by a polygonal side surface 26. The two

parallel surfaces

22, 24 are spaced apart by the thickness of the pivot boss 20, which corresponds to the width of the polygonal side surface 26. A circular cylindrical recess 28 is formed on both of the

parallel surfaces

22, 24 adjacent to the center of the

parallel surfaces

22, 24. The two cylindrical recesses 28 are concentric and spaced apart by the remaining thickness of the pivot boss 20.

A plurality of radial detents 30 are also formed in each

parallel surface

22, 24 around the cylinder recess 28. The radial detents 30 surround the cylinder recess 28 in a radial pattern, with at least one radial detent 30 occurring every 15 to 90 degrees around the recess 28.

Two yoke arms 32 extend from pivot hub 20. The two yoke arms 32 extend in parallel planes that are perpendicular to the

surfaces

22, 24 of pivot hub 20. The two yoke arms 32 are separated by a gap space 34. The clearance space 34 is sized to receive the pivot boss 20 of the other connecting member 12 with a slight interference fit. Thus, the clearance space 34 between the two yoke arms 32 is equal to or only slightly less than the width of the pivot boss 20.

Each yoke arm 32 has an inner planar surface 36 and an opposing outer planar surface 38. The inner planar surface 36 faces the interstitial space 34. The outer planar surface 38 faces away from the interstitial space 34. The inner planar surface 36 and the outer planar surface 38 from the two yoke arms are parallel. Two inner post extensions 40 extend from the two inner planar surfaces 36 of yoke arms 32 into clearance space 34. Likewise, two outer cylindrical extensions 42 extend from the two outer planar surfaces 38 of yoke arms 32 away from gap space 34. Both the inner cylinder extension 40 and the outer cylinder extension 42 are sized to be received in the cylinder recess 28 of the other connecting member 12.

In addition, elongated projections 44 extend from the inner planar surfaces 36 of the yoke arms 32 into the clearance space 34. An elongated protrusion 44 extends radially from the inner cylinder extension 40. The elongated projection 44 is sized to be received by the radial detent 30 of the other connecting member 12.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, it can be seen that the second component 16 is formed when the two connecting

members

12A, 12B are connected together. When the two connecting

members

12A, 12B are joined together, a second clearance space 46 is formed between the yoke arms 32 of the different connecting

members

12A, 12B. The clearance space 46 between the connecting

members

12A, 12B is the same as the clearance space 34 between the yoke arms 32 of any one single connecting member. Thus, a component comprising two connecting

members

12A, 12B will create three interstitial spaces. Each

clearance space

34, 46 is sized to engage the pivot hub 20 of another component. If the component has (N) number of connecting members 12, the same component will have (N +1) number of gap spaces.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8 in conjunction with the previous figures, it can be seen that the connecting member 12 between any two components may be mechanically interconnected. The connecting members 12 are interconnected by passing the pivot bosses 20 of the connecting members 12 of the first component through the

clearance spaces

34, 46 between the yoke arms 32 on the other component. After contact, there is a slight interference fit. Thus, the two yoke arms 32 on one component must spread apart slightly to allow passage of the pivot boss 20 from the other component. When the pivot hub 20 enters one of the

clearance spaces

34, 46, either the inner post extension 40 or the outer post extension 42 of one component snaps into the post recess 28 of the pivot hub 20 of a different component.

Once the components are interconnected, a joint connection is formed such that the connecting member 12 from a first component can rotate relative to the connecting member 12 of another component and vice versa. As the connecting member 12 of the first component rotates relative to the connecting member 12 of the second component, the elongated protrusions 44 on the yoke arms 32 rotate into and out of the various radial detents 30 on the pivot hub 20. This resists any rotational movement and requires a threshold force to be applied between the components to rotate one component relative to the other. The elongated protrusion 44 creates an audible snap noise when moving from one radial detent 30 to the other radial detent 30 as one part moves relative to the other. It will thus be appreciated that the cylinder recess 28 is a feature on the first component that inter-engages with the cylinder extension 40 of the second component. Likewise, the radial detents 30 on the first member are features that interengage with the elongated projections 44 of the second member. This creates a strong, stable interconnection that does not detach or rotate on its own, but can be easily detached and rotated by deliberate manual manipulation.

The components having one connecting member 12 may be interconnected to form a long chain. At any point, a larger component having multiple connecting members 12 may be added to the assembly. This provides the ability to expand the assembly into multiple chains extending in multiple directions. As can be seen from fig. 7 and 8, by combining a part having one connecting member 12 with a part having a plurality of connecting members 12, a complicated shape and structure can be established. The interconnection of the radial detents 30 and the elongated projections 44 prevents the engaged connection between any two components from moving under the weight of the assembly. This enables large assemblies to be built without destabilizing the assembly.

It is understood that the embodiments of the invention shown and described are exemplary only, and that numerous changes to the embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A component playset including a plurality of interlocks, wherein each of the plurality of interlocks includes at least one connecting component, each connecting component comprising:

a pivot hub having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are parallel;

a plurality of detents formed in both the first surface and the second surface of the pivot hub, wherein the plurality of detents are arranged in a radial pattern;

a first yoke arm coupled to the pivot hub, wherein the first yoke arm has a first inner surface and a first outer surface, wherein the first inner surface and the first outer surface are disposed perpendicular to the first surface of the pivot hub;

a first protrusion extending from the first inner surface of the first yoke arm, wherein the first protrusion is sized to be received by one of the plurality of detents;

a second yoke arm coupled to the pivot hub, wherein the second yoke arm has a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the second inner surface and the second outer surface are disposed perpendicular to the first surface of the pivot hub; and

a first clearance space separating the first inner surface of the first yoke arm from the second inner surface of the second yoke arm, wherein the first protrusion extends into the first clearance space, and wherein the first clearance space is sized to receive and retain the pivot hub, wherein

Some of the plurality of interlocks include a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member and the second connecting member being connected together as a single piece,

a second clearance space is disposed between the first and second link members, wherein the second clearance space is sized to receive and retain the pivot hub.

2. The set of construction toy sets of claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of interlocking elements include a different number of the at least one connecting member.

3. The set of component toys of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of post recesses concentrically formed in said first surface and said second surface of said pivot hub.

4. The component playset of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of post extensions extending from both the first inner surface and the first outer surface of the first yoke arm, wherein the plurality of post extensions are sized to be received by the plurality of post recesses.

5. The component playset of claim 4, wherein the plurality of post extensions further extend from both the second inner surface and the second outer surface of the second yoke arm, wherein the plurality of post extensions are sized to be received by the plurality of post recesses.

6. The toy building set of claim 1, wherein the pivot hub has a polygonal side surface separating the first surface and the second surface.

7. A building element playset including a plurality of interlocking elements, wherein at least some of the plurality of interlocking elements include at least two connecting elements, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements includes:

a pivot hub having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are disposed in parallel;

a first gap space separating the first inner surface of the first yoke arm from the second inner surface of the second yoke arm, wherein the first gap space is sized to receive and retain the pivot hub, wherein

The at least two connecting members including a first connecting member and a second connecting member, each connecting member having a coplanar first surface on the pivot hub,

wherein a second clearance space is disposed between the first and second connection members, wherein the second clearance space is sized to receive and retain the pivot hub.

8. The set of component toys of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of detents formed in both said first surface and said second surface of said pivot hub, wherein said plurality of detents are arranged in a radial pattern.

9. The component playset of claim 8, further comprising a first protrusion extending from the first inner surface of the first yoke arm, wherein the protrusion is sized to be received by one of the plurality of detents.

10. The toy building set of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of stud recesses formed concentrically in the first and second surfaces of the pivot hub.

11. The component playset of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of post extensions extending from both the first inner surface and the first outer surface of the first yoke arm, wherein the plurality of post extensions are sized to be received by the plurality of post recesses.

12. The set of component toys of claim 11, wherein said plurality of post extensions further extend from both a second inner surface and said second outer surface of said second yoke arm, wherein said plurality of post extensions are sized to be received by said plurality of post recesses.

13. An interlock for a construction toy set, the interlock comprising:

a first pivot hub;

a second pivot hub;

a first yoke arm coupled to the first pivot hub;

a second yoke arm coupled to the first pivot hub;

a third yoke arm coupled to the second pivot hub;

a fourth yoke arm coupled to the second pivot hub;

a first clearance space separating the first yoke arm from the second yoke arm, wherein the first clearance space is sized to receive and retain the first pivot hub;

a second clearance space separating the second yoke arm from the third yoke arm, wherein the second clearance space is sized to receive and retain the first pivot hub; and

a third clearance space separating the third yoke arm from the fourth yoke arm, wherein the third clearance space is sized to receive and retain the first pivot hub.

14. The interlock of claim 13 wherein said first, second, third and fourth yoke arms extend in parallel along a common direction.