CN111372666B

CN111372666B - Toy construction and use of such a toy construction set

Info

Publication number: CN111372666B
Application number: CN201880073397.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.J.艾什顿
Original assignee: Lego AS
Current assignee: Lego AS
Priority date: 2017-10-17
Filing date: 2018-10-11
Publication date: 2022-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-11
Also published as: WO2019076710A1; US20200330894A1; DK3697512T3; EP3697512A1; EP3697512B1; CN111372666A

Abstract

A toy construction set comprising a number of toy building blocks with one or more coupling knobs and coupling sockets, the coupling socket is adapted for releasable frictional engagement with a coupling knob on another building block in the toy construction set, and wherein the toy construction set further comprises a construction element comprising dual stabilizing straps, and the straps have a first stable shape and a second stable shape, in a first stable shape it is curved around a first axis of curvature extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip and at a distance from the first side of the strip, in the second stable shape it is curved about a second axis of curvature extending substantially perpendicularly to the first axis of curvature, and wherein the bi-stable band on a first side of the bi-stable band comprises a plurality of coupling knobs arranged in a uniform preferably square pattern, and wherein each coupling knob is adapted to frictionally engage with a coupling socket of another building block in the toy construction set.

Description

Toy construction and use of such a toy construction set

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a toy construction set comprising a number of toy construction blocks, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being provided with one or more coupling knobs arranged equidistantly in a uniform, preferably square, pattern, and the lower surface being provided with one or more coupling sockets adapted for releasable frictional engagement with coupling knobs on another construction block in the toy construction set.

Background

Nowadays, construction kits of the above-mentioned type exist in countless different embodiments, all of which are intended to provide new and interesting functionalities to the user.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction kit as described in the introduction and to provide the user with more options for constructing more different constructions with novel and interesting functions.

This is obtained by a toy construction set according to claim 1 and for example by using such a toy construction set as defined by claim 11 by using bi-stable construction elements/strips having a first and a second stable shape, wherein in a first stable shape it is curved around a first axis of curvature extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip and at a distance from a first side of the strip, and in a second stable shape it is curved about a second axis of curvature extending substantially perpendicularly to said first axis of curvature, and wherein the dual stabilizing band on a first side of the dual stabilizing band comprises a plurality of coupling knobs arranged in a uniform preferably square pattern, and each coupling knob is adapted to frictionally engage with a coupling socket of another building block in a toy construction set according to the invention.

It is therefore possible to construct a structure in which one or more building blocks of different sizes are mounted to the bi-stable strip and when the bi-stable strip is urged to change its shape from one stable position to another, this will then result in, for example, ejection of the building block from the bi-stable strip.

On the other hand, a bi-stable strap may be, for example, used as a slap bracelet (slap bractelet) that only allows building blocks covering only a row of single knobs on the bi-stable strap to remain attached to the bi-stable strap after it is slapped against a user's wrist or other body part. In this way, different and customized bracelet may be constructed, with a "single knob" piece similar to the decoration on the bracelet.

In this relationship, the longitudinal direction refers to the direction in which the stabilizing band has its greatest measure.

In a preferred embodiment, the second axis of curvature extends at a distance from the second opposite side of the double stabilizing strip in order to ensure as high a stability as possible of the two stable positions.

In this relation, the bi-stable strip may advantageously comprise a body made of a bi-stable metal strip.

Furthermore, the coupling knob may advantageously be made of a plastic material attached to the bistable metal strip by injection moulding.

In a preferred embodiment, the bi-stable metal strip is embedded in the plastic cover such that at least the edges of the strip are covered by the plastic cover. In this relation, the plastic cap may advantageously be injection molded onto the bi-stable metal strip such that the bi-stable metal strip is completely surrounded by the plastic cap, and wherein the plastic coupling knob is integrally molded with the plastic cap.

Preferably, the coupling knobs are arranged in one, two, three or even more rows extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bi-stable strip.

Furthermore, the length of the bi-stable strip measured in its longitudinal direction may advantageously be so long that the ends of the bi-stable strip in its longitudinal direction overlap when the bi-stable strip is in said second stable shape bent around the second axis of curvature. Thus, when the bi-stable strip is in its second stable position, it forms a closed loop. In this relationship, the length of the bi-stable band should also be such that it can be conveniently bent around a person's wrist when it forms a closed loop.

In this relationship, the row of knobs may terminate at a distance from one end of the dual stabilizing band in the longitudinal direction such that the first side of the dual stabilizing band abuts the second side of the dual stabilizing band when it is positioned in the second stable shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the number of toy building blocks comprises one or more building blocks which are devoid of coupling knobs and have only one coupling socket adapted to frictionally engage with only one coupling knob of the bi-stable band. Thus, the toy building set is particularly suitable for use as a bracelet, wherein the building element of the "one socket" may resemble a decorative stone, which may be attached to the bracelet even when it is transferred from one stable position to another.

Drawings

One or more embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a dual stabilizing band for a toy structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a building block of a toy construction according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the building block shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bi-stable strap of FIG. 1, but in a second stable position, with a building block attached;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of a different building element for a toy construction according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dual stabilizing band in the stabilizing position shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a bi-stable band 2, the bi-stable band 2 forming part of a toy construction according to the invention. In this embodiment, the bi-stable band is formed in the shape of a bracelet 2, with coupling knobs 3 arranged in two parallel rows on a first side 7 of the bracelet. In this embodiment the bracelet is made of a bistable metal band 11, as shown in figure 5. Such bi-stable metal bands are well known in the art and they provide the option of slapping the bracelet, for example on a person's wrist, when it is in its first stable position, as shown in fig. 1, in which the bi-stable metal band 11 keeps the bracelet straight and has a curvature about an axis of curvature (not shown in this figure) that extends along the longitudinal length of the bracelet, substantially parallel to the two rows of coupling knobs 3 arranged on the first side 7 of the bracelet, as shown in fig. 5.

By doing so, the bi-stable metal strip may be urged to transition from this first stable position to a second stable position, as shown in fig. 4, in which the bi-stable metal strip is bent about a second axis of curvature (not shown) that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of curvature.

In this embodiment the bistable metal strip 11 is provided with a cap 14 made of a soft and resilient plastic material, which cap 14 extends such that it covers the sharp edge 13 of the bistable metal strip 11.

In this embodiment, the cap 14 is injection molded onto the bi-stable metal strip 11, and thus, the aperture 12 extends through the cap 14 and into the bi-stable metal strip 11. In addition to these holes 12, the bistable metal strip 11 is in this embodiment completely enclosed in the cap 14, due to the need to position it in the correct position in the mould cavity of the injection moulding tool using retaining pins.

Figures 2 and 3 show a building block 1 which also forms part of a toy building set according to the invention. Such building blocks are well known in the art in various shapes and embodiments, each having an upper surface 4 with coupling knobs 3 arranged equidistantly in a square pattern, and a lower surface 5 with one or more sockets 6 arranged for frictional engagement with a coupling knob 3 on the upper surface of another such building element 1, or according to the invention a coupling knob 3 on a bracelet 2 as shown in fig. 1.

This is possible because the rows of coupling knobs 3 on the bracelet 2 are arranged according to the same square pattern as the coupling knobs 3 of the building element 1 shown in fig. 2.

In this way, the racket bracelet 2 can also be used as, for example, a catapult for pushing the building block 1 shown in fig. 2 and 3 away from the racket bracelet 2, if such a building element 1 is attached to a coupling knob 3 on the racket bracelet 2, after which the racket bracelet 2 is pushed from the first stable position shown in fig. 1 into the second stable position shown in fig. 4.

On the other hand, when a smaller building element 10 as shown in fig. 6 and having coupling sockets (not shown) arranged thereunder and only shaped to frictionally attach only the smaller building element 10 to a single coupling knob 3 on a racket bracelet is attached to the racket bracelet, this smaller building element may not be ejected from the racket bracelet 2 but rather stay on the racket bracelet as shown in fig. 4.

The dual stabilizing band/bracelet 2 thus offers the user different options to construct a structure with very different functions.

In this embodiment, the opposite ends 9 of the bracelet 2 are shaped without coupling knobs 3, so that the first side 7 and the second side 8 of the bracelet 2, having a length allowing the opposite ends to overlap, are in direct contact with each other.

Claims

1. A toy construction set comprising a number of toy construction blocks, each having an upper surface provided with one or more coupling knobs arranged equidistantly in a uniform, preferably square, pattern and a lower surface provided with one or more coupling sockets adapted for releasable frictional engagement with coupling knobs on another construction block in the toy construction set, and wherein the toy construction set further comprises a construction element comprising a bi-stable band, and the band has a first stable shape in which the bi-stable band is curved around a first axis of curvature extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the band and at a distance from a first side of the band, and a second stable shape in which the bi-stable band is curved around a second axis of curvature extending substantially perpendicular to the first axis of curvature, and wherein the bi-stable strip comprises a plurality of coupling knobs arranged in a uniform, preferably square, pattern on a first side of the bi-stable strip, wherein each coupling knob is adapted to frictionally engage with a coupling socket of a building block in a toy construction set,

wherein the opposite ends of the bi-stable band are shaped without a coupling knob such that the first and second sides of the bi-stable band having a length that allows the opposite ends to overlap are in direct contact with each other in the second stable shape.

2. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the second axis of curvature extends a distance from a second opposing side of the dual stabilizing band.

3. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the bi-stable band includes a body made of bi-stable metal strips.

4. The toy construction set of claim 3, wherein the coupling knob is injection molded onto a bi-stable metal strip.

5. The toy construction set of claim 4, wherein the bi-stable metal strip is embedded in a plastic cover.

6. The toy construction set of claim 5, wherein a plastic cap is injection molded onto the bi-stable metal strip such that the bi-stable metal strip is completely surrounded by the plastic cap, and the plastic coupling knob is integrally molded with the plastic cap.

7. The toy construction set of any one of the preceding claims 1-6, wherein the coupling knobs are arranged in one or more rows extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the double stabilizing strip.

8. The toy construction set of claim 7, wherein a length of the dual stabilizing band measured in a longitudinal direction of the dual stabilizing band is such that ends of the dual stabilizing band in the longitudinal direction overlap when the dual stabilizing band is in the second stable shape curved about a second axis of curvature.

9. The toy construction set of claim 8, wherein the row of knobs terminates at a distance from one end of the bi-stable band as viewed in the longitudinal direction such that a first side of the bi-stable band abuts a second side of the bi-stable band when it is positioned in the second stable shape.

10. The toy construction kit of claim 9, wherein the number of toy building blocks further comprises one or more building blocks having no coupling knob and only one coupling socket adapted for frictional engagement with only one coupling knob of the dual stabilizing band.

11. Use of a toy construction set according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, wherein the double stabilizing band is used as a bracelet and the building blocks are used as ornaments on the bracelet.