EP0506707B1 - Spielbaukasten - Google Patents

Spielbaukasten Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0506707B1
EP0506707B1 EP91900290A EP91900290A EP0506707B1 EP 0506707 B1 EP0506707 B1 EP 0506707B1 EP 91900290 A EP91900290 A EP 91900290A EP 91900290 A EP91900290 A EP 91900290A EP 0506707 B1 EP0506707 B1 EP 0506707B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
block
hinge means
building block
male
face
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91900290A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0506707A1 (de
Inventor
Robert John 37 Gibraltar Lane Stone
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nottingham Group Ltd
Original Assignee
EJ Arnold and Son Ltd
Nottingham Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EJ Arnold and Son Ltd, Nottingham Group Ltd filed Critical EJ Arnold and Son Ltd
Publication of EP0506707A1 publication Critical patent/EP0506707A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0506707B1 publication Critical patent/EP0506707B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
    • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
    • A63H33/086—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to building blocks. More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to an educational toy to teach different aspects of mathematics to children of all ages.
  • a multi-faced building block adapted for assembly to produce a plurality of shapes by connecting a number of said building blocks, said block including male hinge means at a first edge of a face of said block and female hinge means at a second edge of said face opposite and parallel with said first edge, whereby two said blocks can be joined hingedly by connecting the male hinge means of one block to the female hinge means of the other block, and characterised in that the arrangement of the male hinge means and the female hinge means relative to said face of the block permits the block to be joined fixedly in face to face relation to a second said block having a substantially identical arrangement of male and female hinge means, by connecting both the male and female hinge means of one block to the female and male hinge means, respectively, of the other block.
  • a building block according to the pre-characterising part of this invention is known from GB-A-2160114. Reference is also made to FR-A-2149982 which shows a further design of building block toy.
  • the building block of the present invention may be in the shape of a triangular prism, preferably an isosceles triangular prism and, more preferably a right-angled isosceles triangular prism.
  • the prism preferably has square faces lying between the short sides of the triangular faces.
  • the male and female hinge means may be located on the edges of the face which joins the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle faces, whereby two substantially identical building blocks can be joined fixedly to form a cube.
  • the male and female hinge means may be located on the edges which define the ends of the hypotenuse.
  • the hinge axis lie parallel to the edges which define the ends of the hypotenuse.
  • the building block may have a female face connection means on one face defining one of the equal sides of the isosceles triangle, and a male face connection means on the other face defining the other of the equal sides of the isosceles triangle.
  • the male hinge means may comprise a pair of oppositely extending protrusions and the female hinge means may comprise a pair of oppositely extending recesses adapted to be engaged by the protrusions with a snap fit.
  • the protrusions may extend towards one another and the recesses may open away from one another.
  • a building block 10 of plastics material is shaped generally in the form of a right-angled triangular prism.
  • the building block has a pair of essentially square faces 11, 12 and a rectangular face 13 defining the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle.
  • the building block has two end faces 14, 15 which are, in their general shape, right-angled isosceles triangles.
  • the block 10 is provided with male hinge means 20 at one edge defining the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangular faces 14, 15 and female hinge means 21 at the other edge defining the hypotenuse of the triangular faces 14, 15.
  • the male hinge means 20 consist of a pair of nibs 22 between which extends a space 23, conical protrusions 24 extending from the nibs 22 towards one another.
  • the female hinge means 21 consist of a rib 25 having conical recesses 26 in end faces thereof.
  • the shape of the blocks and positioning of the male and female hinge means 20, 21 is such that two such blocks 10 can be joined together by engagement of the male and female hinge means of one block with respective female and male hinge means of the second block to form a cube, as shown in Figure 6.
  • the respective rectangular faces 13 face towards one another, the faces 13 being very slightly recessed to ensure that there is no balking when the male and female hinge means are moved into engagement.
  • the block 10 is provided with face connection means, there being a socket 30 provided in the square face 11 and a spigot 31 extending from the square face 12 the spigot of one block 10 is engageable with the socket 30 of another block 10 with a snap fit, the engagement profiles of the spigot 31 and socket 30 being shown in more detail in Figure 5.
  • the spigot 31 is essentially cylindrical but with an annular engagement rim 32 near its free end.
  • the socket 30 has an inwardly extending annular engagement rib 33 such that the annular rim 32 of the spigot 31 engages the annular rib 33 of the socket 30 with a snap fit.
  • both the annular rim 32 and annular rib 33 have chamfered profiles to allow ease of entry of the spigot into the socket and, furthermore, to allow relative ease of disengagement of the spigot from the socket since the blocks are designed to be engaged and disengaged relatively easily, but still allow sufficient strength of engagement to form a stable connection.
  • a cube is formed having two planar faces, two faces having a spigot 31 extending therefrom and two faces including sockets 30.
  • the Figure 6 cube formed from two blocks 10 allows the blocks 10 to form part of a structure with existing cubes available under our Trade Mark MULTILINK, which cube have in their faces sockets with the same profile as the sockets 30 of the blocks 10 and spigots with the same profile as the spigots 31 of the blocks 10.
  • the blocks 10 provide substantially increased flexibility and adaptability to the MULTILINK cubes in that the blocks 10 can be face-to-face connected with the existing cubes and, with two blocks 10 connected together at one hinge, a hinge connection is provided but alternatively with both hinge connections made, a cube is formed. It will be appreciated that a large variety of structures is thus possible.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)
  • Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
  • Forms Removed On Construction Sites Or Auxiliary Members Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
  • Hinges (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Vielflächenbauklotz (10), angepaßt zum Zusammenbau, um eine Vielzahl an Formen herzustellen, durch Verbinden einer Anzahl der Bauklötze, wobei der Klotz umfaßt männliche Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (20, 24) an einer ersten Kante einer Fläche (13) des Klotzes und weibliche Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (21, 26) an einer zweiten Kante der Fläche gegenüberliegend und parallel zu der ersten Kante, wobei zwei der Klötze drehgelenkig zusammengefügt werden können durch Verbinden der männlichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (20, 24) eines Klotzes mit den weiblichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (21, 26) des anderen Klotzes, und dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anordnung der männlichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (20, 24) und der weiblichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen (21, 26) relativ zu der Fläche (13) des Klotzes dem Klotz ermöglicht, fest zusammengeführt bzw. verbunden zu werden in einer gegenüberliegenden Beziehung zu einem zweiten Klotz, der eine im wesentlichen identische Anordnung der weiblichen und männlichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen besitzt, durch Verbinden beider, der männlichen und weiblichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen des einen Klotzes mit den jeweils weiblichen und männlichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen des anderen Klotzes.
  2. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Bauklotz (10) in Form eines dreieckigen Prismas ist.
  3. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 2, wobei das dreieckige Prisma ein gleichschenkeliges dreieckiges Prisma ist.
  4. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 3, wobei das gleichschenkelige dreieckige Prisma ein rechtwinkeliges gleichschenkliges dreieckiges Prisma ist.
  5. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 4, wobei das Prisma quadratische Flächen (11, 12) liegend zwischen den kurzen Seiten der dreieckigen Flächen hat.
  6. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 5, wobei die männlichen (20, 24) und weiblichen (21, 26) Drehgelenkeinrichtungen angeordnet sind auf den Kanten der Fläche (13), welche die Hypotenuse der rechtwinkligen Dreiecksflächen verbindet, wobei zwei im wesentlichen identische Bauklötze fest zusammengeführt werden können, um einen Würfel zu bilden.
  7. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 6, wobei die männlichen (20, 24) und weiblichen (21, 26) Drehgelenkeinrichtungen angeordnet sind auf den Kanten, welche die Enden der Hypotenuse definieren.
  8. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Drehgelenkachsen parallel zu den Kanten, welche die Enden der Hypotenuse bilden, liegen.
  9. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Bauklotz umfaßt eine weibliche Flächenverbindungseinrichtung (30) auf einer Fläche definierend eine der gleichen Seiten des gleichschenkligen Dreiecks, und männliche Flächenverbindungseinrichtungen (31) auf der anderen Fläche definierend die andere der gleichen Seiten des gleichschenkligen Dreieckes.
  10. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 1, wobei die männlichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen ein Paar sich gegenüber erstreckende Vorsprünge (24) umfassen.
  11. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 10, wobei die weiblichen Drehgelenkeinrichtungen ein Paar sich gegenüber erstreckende Aushöhlungen (26) umfassen, angepaßt zum Eingreifen mit den Vorsprüngen (24) mit einer Schnappassung.
  12. Bauklotz nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Vorsprünge (24) sich zueinander erstrecken und die Aushöhlungen (26) voneinander weg öffnen.
EP91900290A 1989-12-18 1990-12-18 Spielbaukasten Expired - Lifetime EP0506707B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB898928504A GB8928504D0 (en) 1989-12-18 1989-12-18 Building block
GB8928504 1989-12-18
PCT/GB1990/001971 WO1991008811A1 (en) 1989-12-18 1990-12-18 Building block

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0506707A1 EP0506707A1 (de) 1992-10-07
EP0506707B1 true EP0506707B1 (de) 1995-03-08

Family

ID=10668095

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91900290A Expired - Lifetime EP0506707B1 (de) 1989-12-18 1990-12-18 Spielbaukasten

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0506707B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0732820B2 (de)
AT (1) ATE119424T1 (de)
AU (1) AU641201B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2070999C (de)
DE (1) DE69017714T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2069271T3 (de)
GB (1) GB8928504D0 (de)
WO (1) WO1991008811A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19823689C2 (de) * 1998-05-27 2000-07-20 Axel Mehnert Zerlegbarer Spielbaustein aus zellulosehaltigem Material
FR2834649B1 (fr) * 2002-01-11 2004-03-19 Ange Prados Module articule

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3662486A (en) * 1970-02-04 1972-05-16 Edward J Freedman Polyhedral amusement and educational device
BE787313A (fr) * 1971-08-09 1973-02-08 Dart Ind Inc Jeu de construction a base de blocs creux
CA1222869A (en) * 1983-03-30 1987-06-16 284215 Alberta Limited Connectable polygonal construction modules
US4606732A (en) * 1984-06-15 1986-08-19 Ronald Lyman Interlocking toy building blocks with interconnecting, releasable hinges
AU5342886A (en) * 1985-03-18 1986-09-25 Stahl, R. Three-dimensional interlocking cube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0506707A1 (de) 1992-10-07
ATE119424T1 (de) 1995-03-15
CA2070999C (en) 1995-05-09
DE69017714D1 (de) 1995-04-13
AU641201B2 (en) 1993-09-16
AU6897491A (en) 1991-07-18
GB8928504D0 (en) 1990-02-21
ES2069271T3 (es) 1995-05-01
CA2070999A1 (en) 1991-06-19
DE69017714T2 (de) 1995-09-07
JPH0732820B2 (ja) 1995-04-12
WO1991008811A1 (en) 1991-06-27
JPH05501215A (ja) 1993-03-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4145149A (en) Angle plate connector for tubular members
US4523418A (en) Modular construction system
US5209693A (en) Toy block set with diverse flexible connectors on opposing ends
EP0379389B1 (de) Baustein
US5482491A (en) Block assembly
CA2156450C (en) Modular track for toy cars
EP0215727B1 (de) Spielzeug zum Verbinden zylindrischer Gegenstände
US4685892A (en) Toy construction set
US4551110A (en) Rotatable cam for use in a toy construction set
US5372450A (en) Flexible joint connector
PL170691B1 (pl) Zabawka konstrukcyjna PL PL PL PL PL PL
US5458495A (en) Building block having opposing male and female hinge elements for connection to like elements on another like block
US4941611A (en) Toy roadway tile
US5704186A (en) Construction element
CA2304253A1 (en) A toy building set
KR20060050513A (ko) 조립된 블록
US20080175656A1 (en) Snap-fit connection and construction system
WO1991013663A1 (en) A system of structural form bodies
US6126506A (en) Multi-block structure with multiple rail configuration and pivot means
WO2016170378A2 (en) Set of construction elements and construction assembly
US6142847A (en) Reflective I-rail interconnector
KR20040037261A (ko) 장난감 축조 세트
US5725411A (en) Construction beam block toy with selective angular interlock
WO2000021628A1 (en) A toy building set
EP0506707B1 (de) Spielbaukasten

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920605

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19930921

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19950308

Ref country code: DK

Effective date: 19950308

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19950308

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 119424

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19950315

Kind code of ref document: T

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: NOTTINGHAM GROUP LIMITED

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69017714

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19950413

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2069271

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20011206

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20011212

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20011219

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20011228

Year of fee payment: 12

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20011228

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20020103

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20020104

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20020109

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20020214

Year of fee payment: 12

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021218

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021218

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021219

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021231

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021231

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021231

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *NOTTINGHAM GROUP LTD

Effective date: 20021231

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030701

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030701

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20021218

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20030701

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030901

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20021219

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20051218