CN112041040A

CN112041040A - Building block and building block set for marble track and marble track with the building block or building block set

Info

Publication number: CN112041040A
Application number: CN201880089126.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: K·于利希
Original assignee: Minbo Caston Ltd
Current assignee: Minbo Caston Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-11
Filing date: 2018-12-07
Publication date: 2020-12-04
Also published as: DE202018000191U1; EP3723880A1; WO2019115400A1

Abstract

The invention provides a building block for a marble track and a marble track (10) with the building block. In particular, it is proposed that the slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) are designed for coupling to further building blocks of a corresponding design of the marble rail (10), wherein the slot-like building blocks have coupling studs and coupling holes for a force-fitting, clip-on connection to one another. The slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) have a ball slot (72) with a first slot end (74A) and a second slot end (74B), and have coupling sections (70) at the two slot ends (74A, 74B) laterally offset from the ball slot (72), each of which is provided with at least one coupling bead (80) and/or at least one coupling opening (82). The slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) have, between the slot ends (74A, 74B), an intermediate section (76) between the coupling sections (70) on the end sides, which intermediate section has no coupling bead and preferably no coupling bore.

Description

Building block and building block set for marble track and marble track with the building block or building block set

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of marble tracks consisting of individual building blocks, i.e. to the field of marble tracks which can be built up in a flexible manner, in which a marble groove is formed by a plurality of different building blocks which are positioned relative to one another in such a way that they jointly form the marble groove along which a marble or other rollable element can subsequently roll.

Background

Such a marble rail is known from EP 2384797B 1. A marble track system is also known under the trademark "Hubelino" which has a relationship with the marble track object of the invention herein.

Such a marble track, as well as a marble track according to the invention, can be assembled in a manner known, for example, from toy systems LEGO and DUPLO. The building blocks have for this purpose coupling studs at the upper side and/or coupling holes at the lower side, the arrangement of which follows a horizontal two-dimensional grid with constant basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The coupling bore is designed to receive the coupling cam in a force-fitting manner in a clamping manner. The known system and preferably also the system according to the invention have, in addition to a uniform horizontal basic dimension, a uniform standard height dimension.

The systems known to date can also be improved with regard to the stability of the system, the flexibility and the interest of possible construction methods.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to reduce the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object on which the invention is based is achieved firstly by a trough block for a marble rail, which is designed for coupling to other blocks of a corresponding design of the marble rail. The slot-like building block has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs and downwardly directed coupling holes, which follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling holes are designed to receive coupling studs of the same kind as the coupling studs of the slot-like building block in a force-fitting, clamping manner.

The slot-type building block has a ball slot with a first slot end and a second slot end, wherein coupling sections are provided at one or preferably both slot ends laterally offset from the ball slot, each of which coupling sections is provided with at least one coupling bead and/or at least one coupling hole.

The slot-like building blocks have an intermediate section between the coupling sections on the end sides, which intermediate section is free of coupling lugs and free of coupling bores.

In the case of the inventive trough block, it is therefore provided that the trough block has a coupling section at one or both ends of the ball trough, at least on one side of the trough, which can be fastened to the lower block of the ball rail by means of a coupling hole and/or allows the block to be inserted into the trough block to be mounted by means of at least one coupling bead. Particularly good retention at the underlying building block can be achieved if the coupling section or coupling sections on the underside have coupling holes laterally offset from the ball grooves. This shows that the stability is significantly higher than if such coupling holes were provided just below the ball grooves.

If the coupling section or coupling sections on the upper side have coupling beads laterally offset from the ball grooves, these coupling beads can then serve as fastening means for the structure arranged above the groove-like building blocks. Such fastening means can also be realized by additional building blocks in addition to the groove-like building blocks. But by integrating into the channel block, the structural stability is greatly improved.

Furthermore, both the coupling bore on the lower side of the coupling section and the coupling bead on the upper side of the coupling section are suitable for connecting the groove-like building blocks abutting against one another at the end to one another. This allows a high degree of stability to be achieved, which prevents the marble rolling between the building blocks from being undesirably deflected and disturbed. The connection can be created in particular by means of an arc-shaped part which is mounted on the coupling cams of the two slot-like building blocks. The coupling possibility of the slot blocks according to the invention also allows, in particular, the connection of several slot blocks to form a common stable bridge.

The coupling section may have a height of a standard height dimension, which is preferably also the height of the ball groove and the groove block as a whole. Particularly preferred, however, are embodiments in which the coupling section has a small height, in particular one third and two thirds of the standard height dimension. This allows for multiple slot-like blocks to be interconnected by other inserted blocks that do not protrude in the height direction beyond the ball slot and slot-like blocks as a whole.

It is also possible to design at least one coupling section of the slot-like block laterally offset from the ball slot and preferably all coupling sections of the slot-like block such that the coupling sections are arranged spaced apart from the deepest plane of the slot-like block in the vertical direction. This can be achieved in particular by a coupling section which has a height (without coupling lugs) of only one third of the standard height dimension and is spaced apart from the upper side of the block (without taking into account the coupling lugs there) and from the lower side of the block by one third of the standard height dimension. The advantage of this embodiment is that coupling blocks can be placed above and/or below a relatively flat coupling section in order to establish a coupled connection with an adjacent recess block without the total height of the recess block together with this coupling block thereby exceeding the height of the individual recess block.

The ball groove extends between at least two groove ends, wherein the ball groove extends according to the invention over the central section, in the region of which no coupling openings and in particular no coupling cams are provided. This intermediate portion has a length of at least a single basic dimension, preferably at least twice the basic dimension and particularly preferably at least four times the basic dimension, with reference to the median line of the ball groove.

The middle part may seem to consist only of the ball groove itself, since there are no beads arranged laterally to the ball groove. The trough-like building block can in particular have a cross section transverse to the direction of extent of the ball trough in this central section at least in sections, which cross section is formed exclusively by a trough cross section of substantially uniform material thickness, wherein the trough cross section is preferably circular segment-shaped or half-shell-shaped.

A groove cross section with a substantially uniform material thickness is also understood when the material thickness does not vary by more than 30% or when the material thickness is less than 2 mm here.

The intermediate section aesthetically imparts a high degree of portability to the building block, wherein this is also functionally important. The finer middle section is advantageous because it is desirable to have the ball track visually follow the path of the ball as completely as possible, since one can look at the plane below the ball track as one goes through the middle section.

The inventive trough-like building block preferably has coupling sections on both sides of the ball trough at least one trough end, preferably at both trough ends, which coupling sections are provided with at least one coupling bead and/or at least one coupling bore. The slot-like building blocks can in particular be of symmetrical design and have one or two coupling sections at each end of the ball slot, each of which is of mirror-symmetrical design. The symmetrical construction facilitates the construction of such a marble track by a child.

The coupling sections on both sides of the ball groove are preferably connected to one another at the bottom by connecting sections and are equipped with coupling bores, so that they allow both a coupling offset laterally from the ball groove and a coupling below the ball groove.

Such coupling sections on both sides of the ball groove and connected at the underside again increase the stability, since the fixing of the groove-like blocks to the underlying structure can be carried out in the region of the more protruding beads of the underlying structure. Furthermore, the building block also achieves a higher internal stability, since it may not be so easy to remove the coupling section from the original groove section that delimits the ball groove.

In particular, it is preferred that exactly one coupling bead is provided at the coupling section on the upper side of the slot block, wherein preferably at both slot ends, on both sides of the ball slot, a coupling section is provided with exactly one coupling bead.

Although it is advantageous to provide two coupling beads on each side of the ball groove at the upper side. However, in a conventional embodiment, the slot-like building blocks according to the invention are mounted with their ends abutting each other, so that they provide two juxtaposed coupling lugs via a coupling section with a coupling lug each to build up further building blocks and to stably connect two slot-like building blocks.

However, it is also possible for at least one coupling section to be provided with at least two coupling cams. Thus, for example, two coupling cams can be provided in each case in the direction of extension and/or transversely to the direction of extension, so that 1 x 2, 2 x 1 or 2 x 2 coupling cams are provided at the upper side of the coupling section for building further building blocks.

The channel block may be configured as a straight track block so that it has a linear extension projected on a horizontal plane. If the slot-like block has coupling sections on both sides at both ends of the ball slot, a bone-like shape of the block is produced overall.

The ball grooves of such a straight road block may have a uniform level. The ball grooves may alternatively have a level which varies from one groove end to the other, in particular a continuously decreasing or increasing level. In this context, it is continuously understood that the building blocks do not have an uphill section and a downhill section, but rather have either only an uphill section and if appropriate a flat section or only a downhill section and if appropriate a flat section. However, it is also possible for the straight-path building blocks to have a descending and ascending level, singly or repeatedly, in the direction of extension of the ball grooves. Thus, for example, a hill or a valley can be provided, during which the marbles are slowed down and then accelerated again, or are accelerated first and then slowed down again.

The trough block can be designed as a curve block, wherein the curve block has an extension which is bent through 90 ° with reference to a horizontal plane.

Like the straight path blocks described, such curved blocks have a uniform level or a level which varies from one slot end to the other, in particular a level which decreases continuously or decreases and increases singly or repeatedly along the extension of the ball slot.

In the case of a curved building block, it is also possible for the ball groove to be designed as a steep curved groove with an outer groove wall which extends beyond an inner groove wall. The groove base can have a uniform or slightly raised level in the central section. In a curve block with a downhill slope, a steep curve configuration may be particularly advantageous.

In a particular embodiment of the slot-like building block according to the invention, it can be provided that the intermediate section without the coupling cams and coupling openings is designed as a flexible intermediate section which allows plastic and/or elastic deformation without damage, by means of which the coupling sections at the two slot ends can be positioned in at least two possible relative positions which are offset from one another by at least a single basic dimension in the longitudinal or transverse direction. In this way, the arrangement can also be carried out in a relative position which is offset in the vertical direction by at least one standard height dimension relative to one another.

The flexible intermediate part can be selected by the material, but in particular the desired flexibility is achieved by bilateral and preferably alternating incisions in the intermediate part. It is thus possible to use such slot blocks flexibly to at least a limited extent in such a way that the coupling sections at the two ends can be fixed to the underlying structure in different relative positions in the height direction or in the transverse direction. When flexible enough, the trough block can be selectively used as a straight path block or a curved path block.

In a particular embodiment of the inventive trough block, at least one of the coupling sections in the region of the trough end has a coupling overhang (Kopplungs berhang) which extends beyond the trough end in the direction of extension and has at least one coupling bead and/or at least one coupling bore.

Such coupling suspension structure thus extends beyond the ends of the ball grooves at the respective ends. It allows for direct coupling to the next channel block at the coupling section of an adjacent channel block via at least one coupling stud and coupling hole, thus eliminating the need for a separate coupling block.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous if at least one second coupling section of the slotted building block has a shape in the region of the same or opposite slot ends, in particular with a recess, which is suitable for coupling the coupling bracket, so that the coupling bracket can be coupled to this second coupling section with flush connection of the ball slots.

In this case, a first variant can be considered in which the two coupling sections at the same slot end have a coupling bridge and in which the two coupling sections at the other slot end have a recess or a recess for accommodating the shape or recess defined by them. In contrast, in a second variant, the two coupling sections at the same slot end are of opposite design, which results in the two coupled slot blocks engaging each other in the coupling region and being supported from below. This improves the stability of the coupling.

A design of the inventive trough block with coupling sections is also possible, in which the coupling sections have a coupling bridge in the region of the two trough ends. The coupling bridges of the two contact sections have at least one coupling bead and/or at least one coupling hole.

Such a trough block with a two-sided coupling suspension structure can be used particularly advantageously as a final element in a gap defined by other trough blocks. The coupling bridges on both sides particularly preferably have coupling holes pointing downwards. Two coupling bridges are provided at the two groove ends, particularly preferably on both sides of the ball groove. Corresponding to such a trough block with a coupling suspension on both sides at both ends of the trough, it is also possible, within the framework of a block set, to provide a trough block without a coupling suspension at both trough ends, but with a shaped coupling section which at both trough ends allows the trough blocks with the coupling suspension on both sides to be coupled directly with the formation of a common trough.

In addition and in particular as an alternative to the aforementioned recess-type building blocks, the invention also relates to a recess-type building block for a marble rail, which is designed for coupling to a correspondingly designed further building block of the marble rail, wherein the recess-type building block for this purpose has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs and downwardly directed coupling bores, which follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling bores are designed for the force-fitting, clamping-like accommodation of coupling studs of the same kind as the coupling studs of the recess-type building block.

Such a trough block has a ball slot with a first slot end and a second slot end corresponding to the above-mentioned trough block. In this case, a coupling region with a coupling projection is provided in particular at the first slot end, which coupling projection extends beyond the end of the ball slot in alignment with the ball slot with reference to a horizontal plane and is arranged in the vertical direction below the ball slot, wherein the coupling projection has at least one coupling bead for coupling further slot-like blocks.

The slot-like building blocks have correspondingly at the second slot end a further coupling region with coupling holes below the ball slots, which are arranged in such a way that they can be coupled to the coupling lugs of structurally identical slot-like building blocks with flush connection of the respective ball slots.

The described construction provides a building block which can be constructed extremely narrow on the one hand, since the building block does not necessarily have the coupling sections described above in addition to the ball grooves, but the building blocks can still be coupled directly to one another, so that the ball grooves can be built up quickly and excessively strong deviations between the ball grooves of adjacent groove-like building blocks are avoided by the direct coupling of the groove-like building blocks.

Although this embodiment can in principle also be used in slot-like blocks with coupling cams or coupling holes continuously from one slot end to the opposite slot end, it is advantageous if such slot-like blocks also have, in the manner described above, an intermediate section between the coupling regions on the end sides, which intermediate section has no coupling cams and preferably no coupling holes. As explained above, the length of this intermediate section preferably corresponds at least to a single base size and particularly preferably to a multiple base size.

In such a trough-like building block with the central section without coupling projections and preferably without coupling bores, it is particularly advantageous to design the coupling region in such a way that, when connecting building blocks of identical construction, the coupling region forms a common coupling region which has two downwardly directed coupling bores one behind the other in the direction of extent of the ball trough, wherein the common coupling region preferably also has two coupling bores side by side transversely to the direction of extent of the ball trough and thus has a total of four coupling bores.

The common coupling region with a preferred number of coupling holes of exactly 2 x 2 is considered to be particularly advantageous, since for supporting such coupling regions, columns consisting of very common building blocks with coupling holes of 2 x 2 on the upper side can be used in an aesthetically particularly attractive manner.

All coupling openings of the common coupling region are particularly preferably formed by only one of the groove blocks.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a set of building blocks for a marble rail, wherein the set of building blocks has lower and upper trough building blocks. The lower slot-like building block is designed for coupling to a correspondingly designed further building block of the marble rail, wherein the lower slot-like building block has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs and downwardly directed coupling bores for this purpose, and wherein the lower slot-like building block has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling bores for this purpose, wherein the coupling bores and the coupling studs also follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, and wherein the coupling bores are designed for the force-fitting, clamping-like accommodation of coupling studs of the same kind as the coupling studs of the lower slot-like building block.

The groove type building blocks at the lower part are provided with marble grooves which are open upwards, and the groove type building blocks at the upper part are provided with marble grooves which are open downwards.

The coupling cams at the lower slot-like building blocks and the coupling holes at the upper slot-like building blocks are arranged relative to the corresponding ball grooves of the slot-like building blocks in such a way that they permit a force-fitting coupling of the slot-like building blocks, by means of which force-fitting coupling the ball grooves are at least partially aligned and form a circumferentially closed tube structure.

The block set is thus suitable for constructing a tube from two parts, the lower part of the tube being formed by the lower channel block and the upper part of the tube being formed by the upper channel block, each of which has a ball groove. The coupling lugs on the lower slot block and the coupling holes on the upper slot block can connect the slot blocks in such a way that a circumferentially closed tube structure is formed. This tube structure is particularly interesting at the points where the pins of the ball grooves become particularly fast and might otherwise be thrown out of the track.

The closed pipe structure preferably has a substantially circular clear cross section, wherein the clear cross section is particularly preferably formed by substantially identical portions of the lower and upper trough block.

The lower slot-like building block is preferably designed with a coupling section on the end side corresponding to the slot-like building block explained above. The upper recess-like building block is preferably constructed in accordance with the above-described lower recess-like building block, except for the coupling bore which points in the direction of the recess opening and the coupling bead which points in the opposite direction, and if necessary with the optional features described there.

The coupling bead and the coupling bore can be arranged at the groove block in such a way that the ball groove forms a tube structure which is shorter than the ball groove or at least the longer of the ball grooves. Advantageously, however, the lower and upper slot-like building blocks have ball grooves of the same extent and length and the coupling cams and coupling holes are arranged in such a way that a circumferentially closed tube structure of this extent and length is created by coupling the slot-like building blocks.

The circumferentially closed tube structure preferably has a length corresponding at least to four times the basic dimension.

In a particular embodiment, the two groove-like building blocks have a level which changes from one groove end to the other, in particular a continuously rising or falling level or a single or repeated falling and rising level along the extension of the ball groove. Forming the tube structure is advantageous especially at such level differences, because here the risk of the marbles being thrown out is especially great.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a building block set for a ball track, having a slot-type building block and a recess building block, wherein the slot-type building block and the recess building block are designed for coupling to a further building block of corresponding design of the ball track, wherein the slot-type building block for this purpose has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs and downwardly directed coupling bores, and the recess building block for this purpose has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling bores, wherein the coupling bores and the coupling studs also follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction, respectively, and wherein the coupling bores are designed for the force-fitting, clamping accommodation of the same type of coupling studs as the coupling studs of the slot building block.

The channel block has a ball channel with a first channel end and a second channel end. The slot-type building block also has at least one coupling section which is horizontally offset beside the ball slot and at least one coupling lug is arranged at the coupling section.

The engagement blocks are coupled by means of their coupling bores in a force-fitting manner to the coupling sections of the groove blocks.

According to one variant, the engagement block also has a rigid engagement section which is arranged in a positionally fixed manner relative to its coupling opening and which, when connected to the slot block, projects into the ball groove, so that the movement of the ball in the ball groove is influenced by the rigid engagement section.

The engagement block is shaped in such a way that it can be simultaneously fastened with at least one coupling hole to a coupling bead of the groove block and with an engagement section extending downward into the ball groove via the ball groove wall in order to influence the movement of the ball there.

The engagement block optionally has a bearing section, at which an engagement element, which is also part of the block set, is mounted in a movable manner, wherein the engagement element is mounted in a movable manner in such a way that it protrudes into or beyond the ball groove and influences the movement of the ball in the ball groove.

The engagement block is formed in such a way that it allows a movable support of the preferably one-piece engagement element, by means of which the engagement element can be moved between different positions, so that the movement of the ball is influenced by the engagement element and/or the ball moves the engagement element.

The bearing section can be formed in particular by a preferably cylindrical bore, in which the shaft projection of the engagement element is supported, or by a cylindrical section, which projects into the bore of the engagement element.

The recess-type building blocks are preferably designed with end-side coupling sections corresponding to the above-explained recess-type building blocks. Such a coupling section on the end side can be used as a mounting point for the engagement of a building block. When coupling sections with coupling lugs are provided on both sides of the ball groove, it may be advantageous to fasten the interlocking blocks on both sides in order to increase the stability of the installation. For this purpose, the engagement block preferably has coupling holes on both sides of the engagement section or bearing section, which coupling holes can be coupled to coupling lugs of the groove block on both sides of the ball groove.

In the case of an engagement block with a movable engagement element, it may also be expedient to provide two engagement blocks, each of which provides a bearing section for a common engagement element, so that a bearing section is provided on both sides of the ball groove for the movable mounting of the engagement element.

Different specific embedding blocks are proposed in the following:

the engagement block can be designed as a jump block and as such a jump block, a jump surface at the engagement section is provided, which rises in the direction of extension of the ball groove when the engagement block is coupled to the groove block. The engagement section of such an engagement block thus forms a rolling surface for the ball, by means of which the ball is lifted from the ball groove and is free to fly for a predetermined distance.

Such a diving platform block may be particularly advantageously combined with a trough block having a downward slope, so that the marble also experiences an acceleration before the diving platform member.

The trough block may also be configured as a switch block, wherein a ball trough extends between a first trough end and a second trough end and at least one third trough end. The marble can thus be selectively turned from one of the groove ends to one of the other two groove ends.

The engagement block for mounting on the switch block forms an adjusting block, wherein the bearing section preferably extends vertically at the adjusting block and thus allows a horizontal pivoting movement of the movable engagement element. This engagement element serves as a deflection portion and, when the engagement block is coupled to the slot block with the engagement element fitted, projects into the ball groove or beyond the ball groove, thus, depending on its position, effecting a movement of the ball from the first groove end in the direction of the second or third groove end.

The slot blocks may also be used in the opposite manner so that from the two slot ends, the marble always rolls toward the third slot end. In this case, the engagement blocks can be omitted.

In a further embodiment, the engagement block can also be designed as a bearing block for supporting the rotor forming the engagement element, which bearing block, when the engagement block is coupled to the slot block, projects into the ball groove in such a way that it can be rotated continuously in the same direction by balls which run through the ball groove in the same direction.

Such a rotor may be used for purely aesthetic purposes. However, it is also possible to functionally use the rotor in such a way that, for example, a ball rolling along a ball groove moves the rotor in such a way that the rotor releases the ball at another point in order to continue rolling.

The invention also relates to a building block set comprising at least two slotted building blocks having coupling sections with coupling bridges by means of which the slotted building blocks can be coupled directly to one another so that their ball grooves lie flush against one another. These channel blocks preferably correspond to the channel block configuration described above with the coupling suspension structure.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a set of building blocks of the following type: the building block set has at least one first and at least one second slotted building block having a ball slot with first and second slot ends, respectively. The slot-like building blocks are designed for coupling to one another, wherein the first slot-like building block has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs for this purpose, and wherein the second slot-like building block has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling bores for this purpose. The coupling holes and the coupling beads are arranged in a horizontal two-dimensional grid having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively. The coupling opening at the second slot-like block is designed to receive the coupling cam of the first slot-like block in a force-fitting, clamping manner.

The first block of this block set has at both slot ends a coupling region with a coupling projection, which extends through the respective end of the ball slot in alignment with the ball slot with reference to a horizontal plane and is arranged vertically below the ball slot, wherein the coupling projection has at least one coupling lug for coupling a further block at both sides. The second slot-like building block has at both slot ends a coupling region with coupling bores pointing downwards below the ball slots, which are arranged in such a way that they can be coupled to the coupling cams of the coupling projections of the first slot-like building block with flush connection of the respective ball slots.

The two interconnected modules of the modular slot system can thus be directly coupled to one another by means of a correspondingly designed coupling region in such a way that the projecting coupling lugs in the coupling region of the first modular slot system are pressed into the coupling openings in the coupling region of the second modular slot system. However, by arranging the corresponding coupling holes or coupling beads below or in alignment with the ball grooves, an extremely narrow construction can be achieved.

Longer ball grooves, which should be formed of more than just two slotted blocks, may be formed by attaching additional blocks, corresponding to the first or second slotted block, to the corresponding ends in an alternating arrangement.

Also suitable for such nested slot-like building blocks are those which preferably have, in the manner already described above, an intermediate section between the coupling regions on the end sides, which intermediate section is free of coupling lugs and preferably free of coupling openings.

As already explained above, the building blocks to be used according to the invention are designed in the form of LEGO or DUPLO building blocks, which involve the use of coupling studs and coupling holes and their clamping fit.

The building blocks are furthermore preferably directly compatible with one of these systems, so that the underlying structure can be built up from the building blocks of these or similar systems. The base size is 8 mm for compatibility with LEGO systems and 16 mm for compatibility with DUPLO systems. Coupling beads with a cylindrical basic shape with an outer diameter of 4.8 mm for compatibility with LEGO and 9.6 mm for compatibility with DUOLO are preferred.

The largest clear width of the ball groove, transversely to the direction of extent, is preferably between 1.6 and 2 times the basic dimension, so that the width of the groove-like block with two coupling sections arranged on both sides of the ball groove at the groove end corresponds to four times the basic dimension.

The standard height dimension preferably corresponds to LEGO or DUOLO being either 9.6 mm or 19.2 mm. The coupling section preferably has, offset from the ball groove, this standard height dimension or one third of this standard height dimension as height (without coupling bead).

As in the known LEGO and DUPLO systems, the building blocks are preferably made entirely or predominantly of plastic, in particular ABS, polycarbonate or polyamide.

The different building blocks are preferably one-piece bodies which cannot be disassembled without damage according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a marble rail having a plurality of blocks which have at least partially a marble groove, wherein the blocks are designed to be coupled to further blocks of corresponding design of the marble rail, wherein the blocks have a plurality of upwardly directed coupling beads and/or downwardly directed coupling holes for this purpose, wherein the coupling beads and the coupling holes follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling holes are designed to receive the coupling beads in a force-fitting, clamping manner.

The inventive marble rail comprises at least one building block or at least one building block set according to the type described above.

Such a marble track typically has at least one marble, and preferably a plurality of marbles. Although the use of said building blocks with spherical balls is the first field of use of the invention, alternatives are also conceivable, so that for example non-circular rolling bodies or other movable bodies, such as miniature vehicles or the like, can be used.

Drawings

Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the subsequent description of preferred embodiments of the invention which are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a marble track built from a single building block, wherein the base of the marble track is hidden in FIG. 2 for easier understanding;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show straight lower slotted blocks of a marble track;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a straight lower trough block with a downhill marble track;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show straight lower slotted blocks of a marble track with alternative coupling sections;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show straight upper slotted blocks of a marble track;

FIG. 7 illustrates the coupling of lower and upper channel blocks to form a circumferentially closed tubular structure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a straight lower channel block with a flexible middle section;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the lower trough block of a marble track with a wide 90 turn;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a recessed building block below a marble track with a narrow 90 turn and a downhill slope;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show the underlying slotted block of a ball track with a narrow 90 turn and an alternative coupling section;

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a trough block above a marble track with a narrow 90 turn and a downhill slope;

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a trough block above a marble track with a wide 90 turn; and is

FIGS. 14A and 14B show building blocks configured as a jump stand building block;

FIG. 15 illustrates the coupling of a diving platform block to an underlying trough block;

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate scarf blocks provided with a rotor;

FIG. 17 illustrates the coupling of the scarf block to the underlying channel block;

FIGS. 18A and 18B show lower trough blocks configured as switch blocks;

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate a block configured as a trim block provided with a pivotally movable turn block;

FIG. 20 illustrates the coupling of the adjustment block to the switch block;

FIGS. 21-24 illustrate alternative slotted blocks having coupling sections at least partially provided with coupling suspension structures;

FIG. 25 shows two slotted building blocks with a coupling spanning structure in a coupling shape;

FIG. 26 shows a slotted block that can be coupled to another slotted block below a ball slot by means of a flush coupling protrusion offset from the previous slotted block;

FIG. 27 illustrates how slotted building blocks of the type shown in FIG. 26 can be interconnected without separate coupling elements;

FIG. 28 shows two trough-type building blocks that are intended for common use and are constructed with different, but identical ends on both sides;

FIG. 29 shows the two slot-like building blocks of FIG. 28 in a connected state;

FIG. 30 shows a slot block with coupling sections configured as wings and not extending to the underside of the slot block;

FIG. 31 shows a trough block with coupled suspension structures on both sides;

FIG. 32 shows a trough block which is provided with smaller coupling sections on both sides and which can interact in particular with the trough block of FIG. 31.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 shows a marble track 10 comprised of a base plate 20 and a superstructure of individual building blocks mounted on the base plate. Superstructure 30 is shown without substrate 20 in fig. 2 for better understanding.

The different building blocks and base are interconnected by coupling systems commonly known from different toy systems such as LEGO and DUPLO, among others. The building blocks have downwardly directed coupling holes or upwardly directed coupling cams, which form a convenient clamping coupling with one another and can therefore be joined together securely with little effort, but can also be separated again easily by a child. The coupling holes and the coupling beads are separated from one another by the basic dimension G (8 mm in the case of LEGO) or an integral multiple of G in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, following the basic grid. Most of the building blocks shown have a height that corresponds to a standard height dimension (9.6 mm in the case of LEGO).

The superstructure 30 of the marble track is assembled from a number of different building blocks, some of which involve slotted

building blocks

100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 240, 220 with an upwardly open marble slot. The

other building blocks

130, 190, 250 form a cover for the ball slot. The

other building blocks

210, 230 or the engagement building block 200 with the

attachments

214, 234 are again arranged in such a way that they cooperate with the ball 40 in the ball groove. A plurality of

additional blocks

50, 60, 62 form a substructure or superstructure below or above the beaded trough block.

As can be seen with reference to fig. 2, most building blocks with an upwardly open ball groove or a downwardly open ball groove are constructed such that they have a bone-like shape. At both ends and respectively on both sides of the ball groove, the coupling section is connected to an elongated middle section formed only by the walls of the ball groove.

The coupling bores and coupling cams are provided, in particular, at the coupling sections of the substantially bone-shaped slot-like building blocks. This allows such slot-like building blocks to be coupled to one another by connecting

blocks

60, 62 mounted from below or from above and thus to establish a secure connection which, in a manner which can also be seen clearly from fig. 2, allows an elongated bridge to be built.

The particular marble track 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is exemplary only to illustrate the assembly of blocks and sets of blocks in accordance with the present invention. The building blocks and building block sets according to the invention are particularly advantageous in the case of marble tracks which are nested in larger and higher dimensions.

The building blocks of the marble rail 10 and additional building blocks that can be used additionally here are explained in detail with the aid of the following figures.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a simple slotted block 100 having a linear ball slot 72. In the region of the

ends

74A, 74B of the ball groove 72, coupling sections 70 are provided on both sides of the ball groove 72, which coupling sections each have a coupling bead 80 pointing upwards and a coupling bore 82 pointing downwards. These coupling sections 70 have a base area corresponding to the square of the base dimension G and a height corresponding to the standard height dimension H. At the lower side, the coupling sections 70 are connected to one another by the connecting section 71, so that four coupling holes 82 each are provided here at each end.

In the intermediate section 76 between the coupling section and the connecting

section

70, 71 on the end side in the direction of extension, the building blocks are configured to be elongate and essentially consist only of the walls which directly form the ball grooves. A convenient and clear way of constructing with these channel blocks 100 is thus achieved.

The coupling cams 80 offset relative to the ball grooves 72 on the top side are particularly well suited for coupling the groove-like building blocks to one another and furthermore provide coupling points in order to be able to build up a structure together with further simple building blocks, by means of which the higher level of the groove-like building blocks can be placed. The external coupling holes 82 offset from the ball grooves 72 on the underside of the slot block 100 allow the slot block to be particularly securely fastened to a substrate or other underlying structure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another type of recessed building block 110. The trough blocks also form a straight line when projected onto a horizontal plane. However, the ball grooves 72 of this block are provided with a downslope, so that the coupling sections 70 are offset from each other by a standard height unit H at the opposite ends of the slot block 110. The marble 40 coming out from the left with reference to fig. 4A thus accelerates in the marble groove 72.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an alternative slotted block 120 that is also configured to be straight and flat as the slotted block 100. However, the coupling sections 70 are each provided with two coupling cams 80, which may be advantageous in individual cases for attaching additional elements such as a ramp, which will be explained below.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an upper slot block 130 having the same length and basic shape as the slot block 100 of FIGS. 3A and 3B. However, the ball groove 73 is open at the bottom, so that the slot block 130, unlike the slot block 100, has four upwardly pointing coupling cams 80 at each end, but only two downwardly pointing coupling holes 82.

This block is initially configured to cooperate with a recessed block corresponding to recessed block 100. FIG. 7 illustrates how the channel blocks are spliced together so that the channel blocks form a circumferentially closed tube. This tube can be used in particular there in a marble track 10, where the marble 40 would be particularly fast or uncontrolled, to avoid ejection of the marble 40 therefrom.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a special channel block 140 that is particularly characterized by a two sided cutout 78 in the middle section 76 of the ball channel. This allows for flexible insertion of these slotted building blocks. The coupling sections 70 can therefore be coupled to the underlying building blocks at both ends offset from one another in the basic grid. It is also possible, corresponding to that shown in fig. 2, to use such flexible slotted building blocks as bends and to fix the coupling sections 70 on the underlying structure rotated by 90 ° relative to one another.

Fig. 9A and 9B show a trough block which is rigidly designed with a 90 ° bend and which, in addition, corresponds in terms of its coupling section 70, for example, to the trough block 100 of fig. 3A and 3B.

10A and 10B in turn show a curve block 160, where this curve block is provided with a downhill slope similar to the trough block 110. This also relates to accelerating a curve.

Fig. 11A and 11B show an alternative embodiment in which two coupling cams 80 are provided for the coupling section 70, in turn, in accordance with fig. 5A and 5B.

FIGS. 12A and 12B and 13A and 13B show, similarly to FIGS. 6A and 6B, upper slot blocks 180, 190 with downwardly open ball slots 73, which are intended to be plugged onto correspondingly shaped lower slot blocks 150, 170 to form together tubular slots.

Fig. 14A and 14B show a snap-in block 200 having two fastening sections 206 with coupling lugs 80 and coupling holes 82. Between the fastening segments 206, engagement segments 202 are provided, which are formed in one piece with these fastening segments and which provide a ramp surface 203 shaped according to a ramp pattern.

As can be seen from fig. 15, this jump block 200 is installed as intended on a groove block, such as groove block 110, which is provided with a downward slope, in order to engage in the ball groove 72 in such a way that the ball 40 can be lifted out of the ball groove and a jump can be carried out.

Fig. 16A and 16B show two engagement blocks 210, each of which has a bearing section 212 provided as a through-opening. This bearing section is used to support an engagement element 214 in the form of a rotor by means of a shaft section 215 mounted here. The overall composite structure formed by the engagement blocks 210 and the engagement elements 214 in the form of rotors can be mounted on a slot-like block in the manner illustrated in fig. 17, so that the balls rolling along the slot-like block here further rotate the rotor.

FIGS. 18A and 18B show a slotted building block 220 in the form of a switch building block. The ball slot 72 of this block 220 thus has not only a first slot end 74A and a second slot end 74B, but also an alternative third slot end 74C. In addition, this switch block 220 is also configured with end-side coupling sections 70 on both sides or between ball grooves 72, as in the previous blocks. In order to be able to turn at this switch block, it is guided further, as is the ball from the groove end 74A, with an engagement block 230, which is shown in fig. 19A and 19B and which now forms an adjusting block with a vertical bearing section 232. In this case, an engagement element 234 in the form of a deflection element is provided, which can be pivoted in a limited manner relative to the building block 230. By its special shaping, this diverter element pivots the ball about to reach the switch, so that the ball alternately diverts to the slot ends 74B and 74C. Other deflecting elements are also possible, which are pivoted manually in order to permanently deflect the ball toward one of the two groove ends 74B and 74C.

As shown in fig. 20, the composite structure formed by the engagement block 230 and the engagement element 234 attached thereto is inserted between the groove ends 74B, 74C on the switch block 220, in order to obtain a steerable switch overall.

Fig. 21 to 25 show further lower slot-

like building blocks

300, 310, 320, 330, which are distinguished in particular in that their coupling section 70 has, in part, a coupling bridge 73 which projects beyond the ball slot 72 in the direction of extension.

In the case of the slot block 300 of FIG. 21, two coupling suspension structures 73 are provided on the same side of the slot block 300. On the opposite side, the coupling cams 80 are then mounted slightly deeper, so that the coupling bridges of the same coupling blocks 300 can abut one another with a flush connection of the ball grooves 72 due to the deepened arrangement of the coupling cams 80. Fig. 25 shows such a connection.

In the case of the slot-like building block 310 of FIG. 22, a coupling suspension 73 is provided at both ends of the ball slot 72, above at one end and below at the other end. The coupling cam 80 is lowered at the front end and the coupling hole 82 is raised at the rear end, so that a plurality of such building blocks can be connected to one another again in a flush connection with the ball grooves and the coupling to the coupling cam 80 and the coupling hole is carried out at different heights. This improves stability.

In the case of the slot-like building block 320 of fig. 23, the coupling sections are arranged corresponding to the slot-like building block 310, wherein two coupling sections 70 of different configuration are then arranged at each slot end. The identical slot-like building blocks 320 can thus be connected such that they support one another from below in the coupling region.

In the case of the slot-like building block 330 of fig. 24, coupling sections 70 with coupling bridges 73 are again provided at the two ends of the ball slot 72, wherein these coupling bridges are designed in such a way that the rear coupling section 70 completely covers the front coupling section 70 in a non-stepped manner when coupling identical building blocks.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show a slot block 340 that, unlike the previously described slot blocks, does not have coupling sections on either side of the ball slot 72. Rather, the slot-like block instead has coupling

regions

77A, 77B in the region of the two slot ends 74A, 74B, respectively, wherein the

coupling regions

77A, 77B are designed for coupling under the ball slot 72.

As can be seen from fig. 26, the coupling region 77B is designed for this purpose such that it has a coupling projection 75 which is arranged vertically below the ball groove 72 and extends beyond the end of the ball groove 72. At the upper side of this coupling projection 75, a coupling bead 80 is provided. Correspondingly, a further coupling region 77A having a smaller height and a coupling hole 82 is provided at the lower side.

FIG. 27 shows how multiple identically configured recessed blocks 340 can be spliced together. By inserting the coupling region 77A of one block 340 into the coupling projection 75 of another block, a direct and stable connection of the blocks 340 is achieved without additional blocks being required. Since lateral coupling projections corresponding to the aforementioned groove-like blocks can thus also be dispensed with, a construction is produced in which the block 340 forming the ball groove is virtually no wider than the ball groove 72 itself.

By way of a specific embodiment of the

coupling regions

77A, 77B, it is achieved that the common coupling region 77C has a lower side which is formed solely by the coupling region 77B and which has a coupling bore 82 of 2 x 2 corresponding to its lower dimension. This is considered advantageous because this common coupling region can be inserted flush in an aesthetically advantageous manner onto a block or a column which has a square or cylindrical circular cross section and has an upper end face with a 2 × 2 coupling bead.

A similar superstructure is implemented with a building block set depicted in FIG. 28. This set of blocks includes two differently configured slotted

blocks

350, 360.

The two

slot blocks

350, 360 have a ball slot 72 with two slot ends 74A, 74B, respectively, for the slot block 340. Coupling

regions

77A, 77B are provided at the two slot ends, wherein, in contrast to the slot block 340, the

coupling regions

77A, 77B of the two blocks are identically formed at the respective ends.

The slot block 350 has two identical coupling regions 77B, each having a coupling projection 75, on the upper side of which a coupling cam 80 is arranged. The slot block 360 likewise has two identical coupling regions 77A, which have a smaller height than the coupling regions 77B in each case in accordance with the coupling regions 77A of the slot block 340 and are provided on the underside with coupling bores 82.

The slot-

like building blocks

350, 360 can thus be spliced alternately one after the other in accordance with fig. 29, so that a stable coupling possibility is achieved without further coupling blocks.

A special variant possibility is illustrated by means of the

building blocks

370, 380, 390 from fig. 30 to 32.

Block 370 according to FIG. 30 is a variation of block 300 of FIG. 21. In particular, the coupling section 70 does not extend to the lowermost plane of the building block 370, but rather is spaced apart therefrom. This aspect allows for the placement of the slotted block 370 in a slightly sunken arrangement relative to the surrounding structure. Furthermore, this embodiment also allows, after the coupling of two identically constructed block systems 370, the coupled sections connected thereto to be reinforced with additional coupling elements under high loads, for example in the case of longer bridge sections without supporting struts, which increase the overall height of the structure compared to the isolated block systems.

The block 380 according to FIG. 31 is a variant of the block 370 according to FIG. 30. In this case, the coupling section 70 is formed identically at the two slot ends 74A, 74B of the slot 72 and therefore has two coupling bridges 73 at each end, corresponding to the rear end of the building block 370 from fig. 30. Although these types of building blocks of identical construction cannot be assembled directly one after the other in order to form a uniform ball groove, such building blocks can be advantageous, since they can be inserted as the final bridge element as the last element into the recess left for this purpose, for example.

They can also be combined in particular alternately with the building blocks 390 corresponding to FIG. 32. This slot block 390 is likewise a slot block with a ball slot 72 and coupling sections 70 at both slot ends 74A, 74B. The coupling section 70 is formed in unison at both ends and in unison with the front end of the building block 370 from fig. 30.

Similar to the principles explained for the

building blocks

350, 360,

building blocks

380, 390 may also be used alternately accordingly. However, several slot-like blocks 390 can also be used in such a way that they are connected by complementary coupling blocks which couple the coupling sections 70 of two successively positioned slot-like blocks 390 to one another on the underside and/or on the upper side.

Claims

1. A slotted block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) for a marble track (10) having the following features:

a. the trough-type building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) is designed for coupling to a correspondingly designed further building block of a marble rail (10), wherein the trough-type building block has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs (80) and downwardly directed coupling bores (82) for this purpose, which follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimension (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling bores (82) are designed for the force-fitting, clamping accommodation of coupling studs (80) of the same kind as the coupling studs (80) of the trough-type building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390), and a non-positive fit

b. The slotted building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) has a ball slot (72) with a first slot end (74A) and a second slot end (74B), and

c. the slot-type building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) have coupling sections (70) at both slot ends (74A, 74B) laterally offset from the ball slot (72), each coupling section being provided with at least one coupling bead (80) and/or at least one coupling hole (82), and

d. the slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) have a central section (76) between the coupling sections (70) on the end side, which central section is free of coupling studs and preferably free of coupling bores.

2. The slot building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of claim 1 with the following additional features:

a. the slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) have at least one slot end (74A, 74B), preferably at both slot ends (74A, 74B), on both sides of the ball slot (72), a coupling section (70) which is provided with at least one coupling bead (80) and/or at least one coupling opening (82).

3. The slot building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of claim 2 with the following additional features:

a. the coupling sections (70) are connected to one another on both sides of the ball groove (72) on the underside and are equipped with coupling bores (82) in such a way that they allow both the laterally offset accommodation of coupling beads from the ball groove (72) and the accommodation of coupling beads (80) below the ball groove (72).

4. Slot-type building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) according to any of claims 1 to 3 with the following additional features:

a. at least one coupling section (70) is provided on its upper side with exactly one coupling bead (80), wherein preferably at both groove ends (74A, 74B) one coupling section (70) with exactly one coupling bead (80) is provided on each side of the ball groove (72).

5. The trough block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. at least one coupling section (70) is provided with at least two coupling cams (80).

6. The trough block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. the intermediate part (76) without the coupling bead and the coupling bore has at least in sections a cross section transverse to the direction of extent of the ball groove (72) which is formed exclusively by a groove cross section of substantially uniform material thickness, wherein the groove cross section is preferably circular segment-shaped or shell-shaped.

7. The trough block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. the central part, which is free of the coupling bead (80) and the coupling bore (82), has a minimum length in the direction of extent of the ball groove (72) which is twice the basic dimension (G), preferably at least four times the basic dimension (G).

8. The trough block (100, 110, 120, 140, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. the trough blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 300, 310, 320, 330) are configured as straight-path blocks with a straight extension with reference to a horizontal plane,

preferably with one of the following additional features:

b. the ball grooves (72) have a uniform level, or

c. The ball groove (72) has a level which varies from one groove end (74A) to the other groove end (74B), in particular a continuously decreasing or increasing level or a singly or repeatedly decreasing and increasing level along the extension of the ball groove (72).

9. The trough block (150, 160, 170) of any of claims 1-7 with the following additional features:

a. the trough blocks (150, 160, 170) are configured as curve blocks with an extension bent 90 in the horizontal direction,

preferably with one of the following additional features:

b. the ball grooves (72) have a uniform level, or

c. The ball groove is designed as a steep curve groove with an outer groove wall which exceeds the inner groove wall, or

d. The ball groove (72) has a level which varies from one groove end to the other, in particular a level which decreases continuously or decreases and increases singly or repeatedly along the extension of the ball groove.

10. The trough block (140) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. the intermediate part, which is free of the coupling bead and the coupling bore, is designed as a flexible intermediate part which allows a damage-free deformation by means of which the coupling section can be positioned at the two slot ends in at least two possible relative positions which are offset from one another in the longitudinal or transverse direction by at least a single basic dimension (G),

preferably with the additional features:

b. the ball groove has increased deformability in the middle section by cutouts (78) on both sides.

11. The trough block (300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380) of any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. at least one of the coupling sections (70) has a coupling web (73) in the region of the slot ends (74A, 74B), said coupling web extending beyond the slot ends (74A, 74B) in the direction of extension and

b. the coupling suspension structure (73) has at least one coupling bead (80) and/or at least one coupling opening (82).

12. The trough block (300, 310, 320, 330) of claim 11 with the following additional features:

a. at least one second coupling section (70) in the region of the same or other slot ends (74A, 74B) has a shape which is suitable for coupling similar slot-like building blocks with a coupling section (70) having the coupling web (73), so that the coupling web (73) can be coupled to this second coupling section with a flush connection of the ball slot (72).

13. The trough block (380, 390) of claim 11 with the following additional features:

a. the coupling section (70) has a coupling overhang (73) in the region of the two slot ends (74A, 74B), and

b. the coupling suspension (73) of the two contact sections (70) has at least one coupling bead (80) and/or at least one coupling hole (82).

14. The trough block (370, 380, 390) according to any of the preceding claims with the following additional features:

a. at least one coupling section (70) which is laterally offset from the ball groove (72) is designed in such a way that it is arranged at a distance from the deepest plane of the groove-like building block in the vertical direction.

15. A channel block (340) for a marble track (10) with the following features:

a. the trough-type building block (340) is designed for coupling to a further building block of a corresponding design of the marble rail (10), wherein the trough-type building block has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs (80) and downwardly directed coupling holes (82) for this purpose, the coupling studs and the coupling holes following a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling holes (82) are designed for the force-fitting, clamping-like accommodation of coupling studs (80) of the same kind as the coupling studs (80) of the trough-type building block (340), and

b. the channel block (340) has a ball channel (72) with a first channel end (74A) and a second channel end (74B), and

c. the slot-type building block (340) has a coupling region (77B) with a coupling projection (75) at a first slot end (74B), which extends beyond the end of the ball slot (72) in alignment with the ball slot (72) with reference to a horizontal plane and is arranged below the ball slot (72) in the vertical direction, wherein the coupling projection (75) has at least one coupling bead (80) for coupling to a further slot-type building block (340), and

d. the recess-type building blocks (340) have, at the second recess end (74A), a coupling region (77A) with coupling holes (82) below the ball recesses (72), which are arranged in such a way that they can be coupled to coupling lugs (80) of coupling lugs (75) of recess-type building blocks (340) of identical construction, with flush connection of the respective ball recesses (72).

16. The trough block (340) of claim 15 with the following additional features:

a. the slot-like building block (340) has an intermediate section (76) between the coupling regions (77A, 77B) on the end side, which intermediate section is free of coupling lugs and preferably free of coupling bores.

17. The trough block (340) of claim 15 or 16 with the following additional features:

a. the coupling regions (77A, 77B) are designed in such a way that, when building blocks of identical construction are connected, they form a common coupling region (77C) which, in the direction of extent of the ball groove (72), has two downwardly directed coupling bores (82) one after the other, the common coupling region (77C) preferably also having two coupling bores (82) one next to the other transversely to the direction of extent of the ball groove (72) and thus a total of four coupling bores (77C).

18. A set of building blocks for a marble rail (10) with the following features:

a. the building block set has lower and upper slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190),

b. the slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190) are designed for coupling to further building blocks of a corresponding design of a marble rail (10), wherein the lower slot-like building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs (80) and downwardly directed coupling holes (82) for this purpose, and wherein the lower slot-like building block (130, 180, 190) has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling holes (82) for this purpose, wherein the coupling holes (82) and the coupling studs (80) also follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimension (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, and wherein the coupling holes (82) are designed for the press-fit accommodation of the lower slot-like building block (130, and the lower force-transferring block (80) are designed for the press-fit, 180. 190) of coupling beads (80) of the same kind, and

c. the lower slot building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) has an upwardly open ball slot (72) and

d. the upper channel blocks (130, 180, 190) have downwardly open ball channels (73), and,

e. the coupling studs (80) at the lower slot block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) and the coupling holes (82) at the upper slot block (130, 180, 190) are arranged relative to the respective ball grooves (72, 73) of the slot blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190) such that they permit a force-fitting coupling of the slot blocks by which the ball grooves (72, 73) are at least partially co-directional and form a circumferentially closed tube structure.

19. The set of building blocks of claim 18 with the following additional features:

a. the lower slot-like building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390) is constructed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

20. A set of building blocks according to claim 18 or 19 with the following additional features:

a. the lower and upper slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190) have ball slots (72, 73) of the same direction of extension and length, so that a circumferentially closed tube structure of the direction of extension and length is created by the coupling of the slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190).

21. A set of building blocks according to any one of claims 18 to 20 with the following additional features:

a. the circumferentially closed tube structure has a length corresponding at least to four times the basic dimension (G).

22. A set of building blocks according to any one of claims 18 to 21 with the following additional features:

a. two slot-like building blocks (110, 160, 170; 130, 180, 190) have a level which varies from one slot end (74A) to the other slot end (74B), in particular a continuously rising or falling level, or a singly or repeatedly falling and rising level along the extension of the ball slot (72, 73).

23. A set of building blocks for a marble track with the following features:

a. the building block set has a groove building block (120, 220) and a scarf building block (200, 210, 230), and

b. the slot-type building block (120, 220) and the engagement building block (200, 210, 230) are designed for coupling to a further building block of a corresponding design of a marble rail (10), wherein the slot-type building block (120, 220) for this purpose has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs (80) and downwardly directed coupling holes (82) and the engagement building block (200, 210, 230) for this purpose has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling holes (82), wherein the coupling holes (82) and the coupling studs (80) also follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimensions (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, and wherein the coupling holes (82) are designed for the non-positive, clamping accommodation of coupling studs (80) of the same kind as the coupling studs (80) of the slot-type building block (120, 220), and

b. the channel block (120, 220) has a ball channel (72) with a first channel end (74A) and a second channel end (74B), and

c. the groove-shaped building blocks (120, 220) have at least one coupling section (70) which is arranged next to the marble track and on which at least one coupling bead (80) is arranged, and

d. the engagement blocks (200, 210, 230) can be coupled to the coupling sections (70) of the groove blocks (120, 220) in a force-fitting manner by means of their coupling holes (82), and

e. the engagement block (210, 230) has a rigid engagement section (202) which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the coupling opening (82) thereof and which, when connected to the slotted block, projects into the ball groove (72) and thus influences the movement of the ball (40) in the ball groove (72) by means of the rigid engagement section (202), or the engagement block (210, 230) has a bearing section (212, 232) on which an engagement element (214, 234) is movably supported, wherein the engagement element (214, 234) is movably supported such that it projects into the ball groove (72) or projects out of the ball groove (72) influences the movement of the ball in the ball groove.

24. The set of building blocks of claim 23 with the following additional features:

a. the lower slot-like building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190) are constructed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12.

25. A set of building blocks according to claim 23 or 24 with the following additional features:

a. the engagement blocks (200, 210, 230) have coupling holes (82) on both sides of the engagement section (202) or the bearing section (212), which can be coupled to coupling lugs (80) of the groove blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190) on both sides of the ball groove (72).

26. A set of building blocks according to any one of claims 23 to 25 with the following additional features:

a. the engagement block (200) is designed as a jump-table block and has a jump-table surface (203) at an engagement section (202), which, when coupled to the slot-type block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190), rises in the direction of extension of the ball slot (72).

27. A set of building blocks according to any one of claims 23 to 25 with the following additional features:

a. the trough block (220) is configured as a switch block, wherein the ball trough (72) extends between a first trough end (74A) and a second trough end (74B) and at least one third trough end (74C), and

b. the engagement block (230) is designed as a setting block, wherein the bearing section (232) extends vertically and allows a horizontal pivoting movement of a movable engagement element (234) which, when the engagement block (230) is coupled to the slot block (220), projects as a deflection into the ball groove (72) or beyond the ball groove (72) and thus, depending on its position, facilitates a movement of the ball (40) from the first groove end (74A) in the direction of the second or third groove end (74B, 74C).

28. A set of building blocks according to any one of claims 23 to 25 with the following additional features:

a. the engagement block (230) is designed as a bearing block for supporting a rotor forming the engagement element (214), which bearing block, when the engagement block (210) is coupled to the slot block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220, 300, 310, 320, 330, 370, 380, 390; 130, 180, 190), projects into the ball slot in such a way that it can be continuously rotated in the same direction by means of a ball (40) which passes through the ball slot (72) in the same direction.

29. A set of building blocks for a marble track with the following features:

a. the building block set has at least two slotted building blocks (300, 310, 320, 330) with coupling sections (70) with coupling bridges (73) by which the slotted building blocks can be directly coupled to one another so that their ball grooves (72) lie flush against one another,

preferably with the additional feature of:

b. at least two slot-like building blocks (300, 310, 320, 330) each constructed as claimed in one of claims 11 to 14.

30. A set of building blocks for a marble rail (10) with the following features:

a. the building block set has at least one first channel building block (350) and at least one second channel building block (360), and

b. the slot-like building blocks (350, 360) are designed for coupling to one another, wherein the first slot-like building block (350) has a plurality of upwardly directed coupling studs (80) for this purpose, and wherein the second slot-like building block (360) has a plurality of downwardly directed coupling holes (82) for this purpose, wherein the coupling holes (82) and the coupling studs (80) also follow a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimension (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, and wherein the coupling holes (82) of the second slot-like building block (360) are designed for the force-fitting, clamping accommodation of the coupling studs (80) of the first slot-like building block (350) and

c. the channel blocks (350, 360) each have a ball channel (72) with a first channel end (74A) and a second channel end (74B), and

d. the first slot-type building block (350) has at both slot ends (74A, 74B) in each case one coupling region (77B) with a coupling projection (75) which extends beyond the end of the ball slot (72) in alignment with the ball slot (72) with reference to a horizontal plane and is arranged in the vertical direction below the ball slot (72), wherein the coupling projection (75) has in each case at least one coupling bead (80) for coupling a further slot-type building block (360) on both sides, and

e. the second slot-like building block (360) has at both slot ends (74A, 74B) in each case one coupling region (77A) with a coupling bore (82) below the ball slot (72), which coupling bores are arranged in such a way that they can be coupled to the coupling bead (80) of the coupling projection (75) of the first slot-like building block (350) with flush connection of the respective ball slot (72).

31. The set of building blocks of claim 30 with the following additional features:

a. at least one of the slot-like blocks (350, 360) has an intermediate section (76) between the coupling regions (77A; 77B) on the end side, which intermediate section is free of coupling lugs and preferably free of coupling bores.

32. A set or block according to any preceding claim having at least one of the following features:

a. the base dimension (G) is 8 mm or 16 mm, and/or

b. The coupling bead has a cylindrical basic shape and preferably has an outer diameter of 4.8 mm or 9.6 mm, and/or

c. The clear width of the groove of the at least one groove-like building block is at least partially between 1.6 times and 2.0 times the basic dimension (G) transversely to the direction of extension and/or

d. The trough-type building blocks are made of plastic.

33. A marble track (10) with the following features:

a. the marble track (10) has a plurality of building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220; 130, 180, 190) at least partially having a marble slot (72), and

b. the building blocks (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220; 130, 180, 190) are designed for coupling to further building blocks of a corresponding design of a ball track (10), wherein the building blocks have a plurality of upwardly directed coupling beads (80) and/or downwardly directed coupling holes (82) for this purpose, the coupling holes and the coupling beads following a horizontal two-dimensional grid arrangement having the same basic dimension (G) in the longitudinal and transverse directions, wherein the coupling holes (82) are designed for the non-positive, clamping accommodation of the coupling beads (80), and wherein the coupling holes (82) are designed for the non-positive, clamping accommodation of the coupling beads (80) and

c. the marble rail (10) comprises at least one building block (100, 110, 120, 140, 150, 160, 170, 220; 130, 180, 190) according to one of claims 1 to 11 or at least one building block set according to one of claims 12 to 24.

34. The marble track of claim 33 with the following additional features:

a. the marble track (10) has at least one marble (40).