EP0379033B1 - Toy-building block system - Google Patents

Abstract

The toy building block system comprises building blocks having at least one surface, which is provided in the manner of a grid with grooves, in which at least one second building block can be inserted in a clamping manner. To achieve an aesthetically attractive appearance and to implement outside wall designs which deviate from the grid dimension, provision is made for the individual blocks to have catch tongues (5) which can be inserted in the catch grooves (2) and project over the lateral boundary edges (6) of the associated building block side walls (4), the catch tongues (5) being elastically deflectable and having a slightly smaller dimension (R') in relation to the grid dimension (R) of the catch grooves (2), and at least two catch tongues (5) being provided on one block. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is directed to a toy component system comprising components with at least one surface which is provided in a grid-like manner with grooves into which at least one second component can be inserted by clamping, the individual elements having locking tongues which can be inserted into the locking grooves and which extend over the lateral ones Boundary edges of the associated component side walls protrude, and at least two locking tongues are provided on one element.

Such component systems are known in the form of building blocks, the building blocks being essentially cuboid, and in each case one surface of the building blocks having the groove grid and a surface lying opposite one another being limited only by the outer contour of the hollow building block by 180 °. This means that the outer wall of the module engages in the grooves of the other module when plugged together. Accordingly, the outer walls of the blocks must the pitch of the grooves both in terms of the groove spacing and Angle that the grooves enclose to each other, ie usually 90 °, correspond. Therefore, other components can be placed loosely at any angle on the grooved surfaces, but a snap connection is only possible if adjacent elements are aligned or have an angle corresponding to the grid angle.

From DE-PS 20 58 066 a connector system for toy modules is known, in which connector receptacles are arranged on all side surfaces of certain so-called core modules. To form a locking connection, e.g. provided that the grid dimension for the center distance corresponds to the length of the edge of a basic element which is extended by twice the thickness of the sheathing plates. Building blocks that are intended to meet this constructive requirement do not meet the aesthetic requirements that are generally placed on such toy elements, so that the desired play appeal is not achieved.

From DE-PS 11 56 688 it is known to produce a plug connection in that an elastically deformable tongue is arranged in a groove-shaped recess, which protrudes beyond the base body of a block, and which is arranged in the groove with a game corresponding to its thickness is. When two such modules are put together, the two tongues are elastically deformed and then fill the grooves of the modules to be connected, which are in contact with one another completely so that a clamping connection is created.

From DE-PS 11 06 222 a module with locking knobs on one side is known, which has two locking tongues in its inner cavity, which are arranged parallel to each other, and which are elastically deformable when attached to the knobs.

From DE-PS 27 04 204 it is known to provide mutually projecting strips to achieve a locking connection on opposite sides of clamping grooves, so that when inserting components with corresponding clamping tongues in these grooves, these clamping tongues undergo a twist, whereby the cohesion of the blocks is guaranteed.

In a further known module system, the modules have round clamping knobs arranged on at least one side in a grid, which form corresponding groove-like channels between them in which the boundary walls of a corresponding, internally hollow toy module can be inserted. This system thus corresponds to the plug-in system recognized at the beginning, but here the clamping grooves are not linear but delimited by round knobs.

A toy component system corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 can be found in DE-B-12 94 865 as the closest prior art. Here, components made of a box shape open on one side and made of plastic are used, which are provided with a large number of coupling elements consisting of locking tongues and insertion grooves. The insertion grooves are arranged in the box bottom. The connecting pins protruding from the box opening in a form-fitting manner in the insertion grooves are formed on the inside of opposing walls delimiting the box opening.

Since the locking tongues are formed directly on the side walls of the building blocks in this component system, these side walls must be arranged parallel to the grid system formed by the coupling elements. In addition, the fastening of the latching tongues on the model block is sensitive to breakage, since the connecting surface is parallel to that which occurs when two model blocks are connected Pressure forces. The open side of the box-like terminal block is also very jagged.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to develop a plug-in system for toy elements in which the preferred visible surfaces, which carry the locking grooves, are as flat and continuous as possible Appearance, and in which elements can be connected to one another within a clamping plane, the outer walls of which deviate from the grid dimension of the clamping grooves and end with the plane of the boundary surfaces having the clamping grooves.

This object is achieved in that the latching tongues that can be inserted into the latching grooves are elastically deflectable and have a slight undersize compared to the grid dimension of the latching grooves.

The elastic deformation of at least one latching tongue is therefore essential for the latching effect sought according to the invention. As a rule, in order to achieve a latching effect, it will be provided that at least two latching tongues running parallel to one another are provided, which ensure an elastic deflection of the latching tongues when assembling components. In principle, however, this can also be achieved with only one latching tongue, if other locking devices are provided opposite it instead of a latching tongue, which exert a holding force parallel to the latching surface, such as pins engaging in bores or overlapping outer walls or the like. If a modular locking connection is desired, it is usually advantageously provided that at least two mutually perpendicular locking tongue pairs are provided.

The configuration according to the invention ensures that the plug-in elements which are connected to one another are reliably clamped, a very appealing aesthetic effect being achieved in that the outer edges of the outer boundary walls lie flat on the upper side of the surfaces carrying the locking grooves. As a result, any geometries of the side surfaces can also be realized, in particular the side surfaces need not follow the grid dimension of the locking grooves either in their mutual spacing or in their angular position to one another.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that two latching tongues, each enclosing an angle of 90 °, directly adjoin one another.

On the one hand, it can be provided that the latching tongues extend from such a line of contact to the lateral boundary walls of the respective element, while free latching tongues are arranged in the area between the connecting line.

Alternatively, it is possible that the latching tongues, which are at an angle of 90 ° to one another, are each arranged in a cross shape, longitudinal slots being left free between adjacent latching tongue crosses of this type.

With both of the above-mentioned alternatives, sufficient locking elasticity is ensured despite the arrangement at an angle of 90 ° to one another.

It is preferably provided that a pin is arranged in the intersection area of two locking tongues arranged at an angle of 90 ° to one another, which protrudes slightly beyond the lower edge of the locking tongues.

These slightly protruding pins make it easier to plug components together, since when the locking tongues are moved over the surface of a component, the slightly protruding pins get caught on the intersection areas of grooves, so that an exact pushing together is facilitated.

The elements of the type in question can be designed, for example, as building blocks, such a building block then having a continuous boundary surface on one side surface that is only interrupted by the latching grooves, the four side surfaces perpendicular to this being designed to be smooth, and wherein on the first-mentioned surface the locking tongues protrude diametrically opposite side.

Furthermore, plate-like components can be provided, which are either designed as described above or only have a top surface with locking grooves.

Compatible with such a modular system or independently of it, toy elements such as e.g. Furniture or the like can be provided, the outer, limiting side walls of which correspond to the grid dimension of the locking grooves. Such game elements can then be used in a manner known per se in the surfaces provided with locking grooves.

It is preferably provided that the wall thickness of the side walls in the engagement area of the locking grooves, i.e. up to a height corresponding to the depth of the locking grooves, correspond to half the width of the locking grooves and are otherwise designed with a larger wall thickness. This makes it possible to play such game elements, e.g. Furniture to be placed directly adjacent to each other, since the side walls of two different play elements can engage in one and the same locking groove.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines bausteinartigen Grundelements,
• Fig. 2a und 2b zwei verschiedene Ausführungsformen des in Fig. 1 dargestellten Elements von unten gesehen,
• Fig. 3a und 3b den Ausführungsformen nach Fig. 2a und 2b jeweils entsprechende Seitenansichten,
• Fig. 4 die Ausbildung einer Sichtfläche mit Rastnuten aus zwei in Fig. 1 dargestellten Elementen,
• Fig. 5 eine Aufsicht auf eine Fig. 4 entsprechende Fläche mit Rastnuten bei einem plattenförmigen Element,
• Fig. 6 eine Fig. 5 entsprechende Aufsicht einer Mehrzahl von zusammengefügten Elementen mit nicht rechtwinklig verlaufenden Seitenwänden,
• Fig. 7 einen teilweisen Schnitt durch ein in Fig. 5 dargestelltes plattenförmiges Element, in welches unmittelbar zueinander benachbart zwei Spielelemente, wie z.B. Möbelstücke, eingesteckt sind und
• Fig. 8 eine vergrößere Darstellung des Ausschnitts VIII in Fig. 7.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show

• 1 is a perspective view of a modular base element,
• 2a and 2b two different embodiments of the element shown in Fig. 1 seen from below,
• 3a and 3b the side views corresponding to the embodiments according to FIGS. 2a and 2b,
• 4 shows the formation of a visible surface with locking grooves from two elements shown in FIG. 1,
• 5 is a plan view of a surface corresponding to FIG. 4 with locking grooves in a plate-shaped element,
• 6 a top view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a plurality of joined elements with side walls not running at right angles,
• Fig. 7 is a partial section through a plate-shaped element shown in Fig. 5, in which two game elements, such as pieces of furniture, are inserted immediately adjacent to each other and
• 8 is an enlarged view of section VIII in FIG. 7.

A modular basic element shown in FIG. 1 has an upper side 1, which is broken through by locking grooves 2, the partial surfaces 3 thus formed, however, lying one below the other in a uniform plane and together giving a flat impression.

The locking grooves each have a uniform mutual spacing R measured from the center thereof, two groups of locking grooves 2 running at right angles to one another being provided. This creates partial areas 3 with an edge length N ent speaking the locking groove spacing R reduced by the width B of a locking groove or with an edge length of N / 2.

The interior of the element shown in FIG. 1 is hollow and is delimited by smooth side surfaces 4.

In the interior of the element, latching tongues 5 are arranged such that - as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3 - they protrude beyond the lower edge 6 of the side walls 4 approximately in accordance with the depth T of a latching groove 2, in practice somewhat less. Two locking tongues parallel to each other have a distance R 'measured from center to center, which has a slight undersize compared to the distance between the locking grooves 2 or their pitch.

As a rule, each component, e.g. 1, groups of locking tongues 5 are arranged on the component shown in FIG. 1, which have an angle of 90 ° to one another corresponding to the angle of the grooves 2.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2a, two latching tongues 5 abut each other vertically standing and extend from the abutting line to the nearest side wall 4. Along the abutting line runs a pin 7 which protrudes slightly above the lower edge of the latching tongues 5, so that when the locking tongues are moved over the surface of an adjacent component, a centering effect is achieved by the pin 7 remaining at the intersection of locking grooves 2. Between two Adjacent pin 7 is a free-standing locking tongue 5 separated by slots 8.

In contrast, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2b, the latching tongues overlap each other in a cross shape. A pin 7 is again provided in the section line area. The mutually aligned sections of the locking tongues 5 are separated from each other in the middle between two pins 7 by a slot 5 '.

2 and 3 in particular that the length S of the side walls 4 does not necessarily have to be correlated with the grid dimension R or R '. Only in the case of building block-like elements which are intended to be able to be inserted close together in the locking grooves 2 of a surface 1, the protrusion of the side walls 4 over the closest, parallel locking tongue 5 may not exceed R / 2, i.e. half of the grid dimension.

As shown in FIG. 6, however, round or oblique configurations of the side walls 4 can also be realized while maintaining the grid of the locking grooves 2 and the locking tongues 5, which nevertheless allow the side walls 4 to lie flush. For example, the side walls 4 can be bent or run at a 45 ° angle relative to the locking grooves 2.

FIG. 4 shows how two stacked, described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 Basic elements complement each other to form a continuous surface while maintaining the basic grid.

Instead of the module-like elements shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, one-piece elements with an edge length corresponding to the multiple of the basic element shown in FIG. 1 or, if appropriate, also a half thereof can of course also be realized. 5 shows such a plate-shaped element 9, the edge length of which is 8R. If such an element, which can also be provided within the scope of the invention, is only used as a base plate for the construction of further elements, it is possible to dispense with the provision of latching tongues projecting downwards in the interior.

On a plate-shaped element 9, as shown in FIG. 5, not only can modular elements according to FIGS. 1 to 4 be attached by means of their latching tongues 5, but also other game elements, if these have side walls 10, the lower edges 11 of which are at a minimum distance according to the free spacing of the locking grooves 2 in the engagement area.

As shown in Fig. 7 and enlarged in Fig. 8, such game elements, such as furniture, on their underside over a height approximately corresponding to the groove depth T a reduced wall thickness, which corresponds to approximately half the groove width B, so that the Side walls 10 of two such game elements 12 can be inserted into one and the same locking groove 2, wherein then the outer walls 13 of these elements 12 lie flush against one another. The projecting outer edge 14 lies on the upper side 1 of the element 9, so that when viewed from the side there is an aesthetic, flush impression.

Claims (9)

1. Toy building-block system comprising building blocks with at least one surface provided with grooves in the way of a grid and into which at least a second building block can be clampingly inserted, the individual blocks having locking tongues (5) insertable into the locking grooves (2) and which project over the limiting edges (6) of the associated building-block side walls (4), and at least two locking tongues (5) being provided on an block, characterized in that the locking tongues (5) are elastically deflectable and are slightly undersized ( spacing R′) in relation to the grid dimension (R) of the locking grooves (2).
2. Toy building-block system according to claim 1, characterized in that in each case two locking tongues (5) including an angle of 90° are directly contiguous to each other.
3. Toy building-block system according to claim 2, characterized in that, proceeding from a contact line with a second locking tongue arranged at an angle of 90°, the locking tongues (5) extend towards the limiting side walls (4) of the respective block, free locking tongues (5) being arranged in the area between such adjacent angle arrangements.
4. Toy building-block system according to claim 3 characterized in that the locking tongues (5) positioned at an angle of 90° relative to each other are arranged crosswise, longitudinal slots (5′) being left free between two such adjacent locking-tongue crosses.
5. Toy building-block system according to claim 2, characterized in that a pin (7), which slightly projects over the bottom edge of the locking tongues (5), is arranged where two locking tongues (5) arranged at an angle of 90° cross each other.
6. Toy building-block system according to claim 1, characterized by an element of building-block-type structure, a continuous limiting surface only interrupted by the locking grooves (2) being formed on a limiting surface (1), the four side walls (4) vertical to this effect being smooth, and the locking tongues (5) projecting from the internal cavity of the element over the free limiting edges (6) of the side walls (4) on the side diametrically opposite to the surface (1) mentioned first.
7. Toy building-block system according to claim 1, characterized by a plate-shaped building block, on the top side of which a plurality of locking grooves (2) is formed.
8. Toy building-block system according to claim 1, characterized by a toy element (12), such as a furniture component, a house component or the like, of which the external limiting side walls (10) correspond to the grid dimension (R) of the locking grooves (2).
9. Toy building-block system according to claim 8, characterized in that in the area of engagement of the locking grooves (2), i.e. up to a height corresponding to the depth (T) of the locking grooves (2), the side walls correspond in wall thickness to half the width (B/2) of the locking grooves (2) and are, for the rest, designed with a greater wall thickness (W).

Images