EP1434635B1

EP1434635B1 - Ball-formed connection elements

Info

Publication number: EP1434635B1
Application number: EP02781158A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arne Egholm Jensen
Original assignee: Arne Egholm Design
Current assignee: Arne Egholm Design
Priority date: 2001-10-05
Filing date: 2002-10-04
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-04
Also published as: DE60232532D1; EP1434635A1; WO2003031010A1; ATE432755T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toy construction system comprising construction elements, which elements are formed for three-dimensional constructions, which elements comprise first and second means for connection, which elements are connectable in more directions at the same time. The scope of this invention is to create a toy construction system which is simple and easy to use, and which makes it possible to build structures with a constructional freedom in three dimensions. This can be achieved with a construction system as described in the introduction if the system comprises at least partly ball-formed construction elements where the elements may also comprise at least first connection means at the ball surface, which ball may comprise at least one cutout, which cutout has an inside surface designed for being in registration with another ball-formed element, which cutout comprises second connection means. ln this way it can be achieved that it will be possible to make constructions in at least six different directions from each ball element. This makes it possible for children or others who are playing with this toy to construct elements with three- dimensional structures where only the imagination of the playing person limits the possibilities. It will always be possible to continue building further on an existing model, and in this way it opens for spontaneous artistic values in playing. This invention also leads to minimal materials consumption in that the elements are optimized due to the form of the elements. This leads to a simple and inexpensive production.

Description

The present invention relates to a toy construction system comprising construction elements, which elements are formed for three-dimensional constructions, which elements comprise first and second means for connection, which elements are connectable in more directions at the same time, where the construction elements are at least partly ball-formed, where the elements comprise at least first connection means at the ball surface, which ball elements comprise at least one cutout, which cutout has an inside surface designed for being in registration with another ball-formed element, which cutout comprises second means for connection.
Toy construction systems comprising ball-formed elements are well-known in the art such as from US 2002/115373 A1 . It is typically systems where balls are connected by beams or tubes. These systems cannot build compact constructions such as a closed surface. They are limited in performance in that small parts are necessary for connection of the elements. The use of small parts is critical because it makes the use more difficult, and there is risk that small children may swallow the parts.
US 6,2645,22B1 describes a construction system including one or more body members each having one or more apertures extending through a body wall to a cavity forming a socket. Each body member further has one or more balls spaced-apart from the body and attached to the body by an arm. The body wall and/or ball is formed of a flexible and resilient material, and the ball is sized slightly larger than the aperture to connect two body members together by inserting the ball of one member through the aperture of another. The system may include rod members having opposite ends and spherical-shaped balls formed on each end, disk members having an annular groove and open in a radially-facing direction to receive balls, a base member, and/or decorative members.
US 4,199,894 describes a solar collector, particularly as a power source for a toy model assembled from structural elements of a kit, said solar collector having a supporting member, at least one solar cell mounted on the supporting member, mechanical connecting elements arranged on the supporting member for mechanically connecting the latter with another structural element of the toy model, and electrical connecting elements also arranged on the supporting member for electrically connecting the solar cell with other solar cells. The electrical connecting elements may connect the solar cells with one another in parallel and/or in series. The supporting member may be plate-like. The electrical connecting elements may be arranged on two opposite side faces of the supporting member and may include two pairs of plugs and/or sockets.
The scope of this invention is to create a toy construction system which is simple and easy to use, and which makes it possible to build structures with a constructional freedom in three dimensions.
This can be achieved with a construction system as described in the introduction if the first connection means comprises openings in the outer surface of the ball element where the second connection means placed in the cutout of the ball comprises a protrusion, which protrusion is in registration with the openings in the first connection means.
In this way it can be achieved that it will be possible to make constructions in at least six different directions from each ball element. This makes it possible for children or others who are playing with this toy to construct elements with three-dimensional structures where only the imagination of the playing person limits the possibilities. It will always be possible to continue building further on an existing model, and in this way it opens for spontaneous artistic values in playing. This invention also leads to minimal materials consumption in that the elements are optimized due to the form of the elements. This leads to a simple and inexpensive production.The use of an opening in the surface of the ball element is a very cheep and very effective solution and it causes the ball element to be in registration with each construction element that comprises a protrusion in a correct dimension for connection with one of the openings.
The first and second connection means can be turnable after connection. By making each connection turnable a three-dimensional construction will attain a freedom in movement in an unbelievably high number of directions. This leads to a variable and spontaneous construction for children playing with ball elements. This seems to be an entirely new function because traditional bricks do not comprise the turnable function.
The connecting of first and second means can lead to a click. The click function gives information to the playing child that the connection is correct and the child can continue to the next element, and the child may feel this click as a success and be inspired for further playing.
The first connection means can comprise openings in the outer surface of the ball element which opening comprises at least one circular protrusion where second connection means placed in the cutout of the ball comprises a protrusion, which protrusion is made in the form of a tube, the opening of which tube is in registration with the protrusion in the first connection means. In this way a much more stable construction can be built, and the connection between ball elements may be more stable because the connecting elements may have a larger dimension. In the same way it is possible that multiple different surfaces are in contact with this connection.
The first connection means may comprise magnetic material in the outer surface of the ball where the second connection means placed in the cutout of the ball comprises magnetic means, which magnetic means is in registration with the magnetic material in the first connection means. The use of magnets and magnetic material makes it possible to make a connection everywhere on the surface of the ball element. This means that the construction is no longer limited only a fixed number of directions. The use of magnets will also lead to a click as soon as there is a kind of contact between the surfaces. The magnet as such can be hidden and totally embedded in plastic materials so that the magnets themselves are not visible at the surface. Also the magnetic material which may be soft iron are placed under for example a plastic surface.
The element can comprise at least one actuator, which actuator rotates the second connection means, which actuator is activated by control means, which control means are communicating with other elements comprising control means. By using an actuator, for example in the form of an electromotor, it will be possible to make rotation between the construction elements. The turning of one element may lead to a beam being rotated, which beam is connected to the rotating element. But the beam as such can comprise other elements with actuators so that the beam itself can be turned in different directions. In principle, in this way a robot could be built.
The element can also comprise at least one computer, which computer comprises communication means for communication with control means in other elements or with external control means, which computer controls the operation of at least one actuator. In this way it is possible to build a robot where different actuating means are communicating with at least one control element comprising a computer. Intelligent robots could be built by using this ball element and as such it is only a question of programming to build for example dogs or cats which can walk over the floor.
Further the elements can comprise means for detection of the positions of actuators where a signal comprising position information is transmitted to at least connected elements, which signal is communicated to at least one element comprising a computer. By using detectors for acquiring position information it is possible for a computer-controlled unit to make the correct movement of different rotating elements.
The elements may also comprise energy-producing means in the form of electrical solar elements placed under the surface of the element, which element comprises means for energy storage, and which element comprises means for energy supply for surrounding elements. By placing energy-producing means in the ball elements, it will be possible to charge the batteries placed in the elements so that the ball elements are ready for use after an hour of standstill, preferably in the sun, but also indoor there will be a positive charging of the batteries. Of course the ball element will be more effective if there is another possibility for external charging of the batteries in the case of running out of power.
In the following the invention will be further described with reference to the drawings where

Figs. 1a-1d show a first possible ball element,
Figs. 2a- 2d show another possible ball element,
Figs. 3a-3b show ground elements,
Figs. 4a- 4b show other connection elements,
Figs. 5a-5c show the same ball elements as Figs. 1a-1d,
Fig. 6 shows one possible ball element seen from the outside,
Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the ball element shown in Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 shows one possible construction made by combining ball elements,
Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment seen from the outside,
Fig. 10 shows a cross-section of the ball element shown in Fig. 9,
Fig. 11 shows one possible combination of ball elements,
Fig. 12 shows another possible combination of the ball elements,
Fig. 13 shows a plan view of another possible form of the ball elements,
Fig. 14 shows a cross-section of the ball elements in Fig. 13,
Fig. 15 shows one possible combination of ball elements,
Fig. 16 shows a plan view of a further alternative embodiment,
Fig. 17 shows a cross-section of the ball elements shown in Fig. 16,
Fig. 18 shows one possible combination of the ball elements in Fig. 16,
Fig. 19 shows another possible combination of the elements in Fig. 16,
Fig. 20 shows a ball element with magnetic connection,
Fig. 21 shows a cross-section of a possible combination of the ball elements in Fig. 20,
Fig. 22 shows a further embodiment with magnetic connection means,
Fig. 23 shows a cross-section of a combination of the ball-formed elements in Fig. 22,
Fig. 24 shows one possible combination of the elements shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 1a shows the ball-formed element with the first connection element, with an external connection element 1, the bottom of a cutout in the ball, and with internal connection elements on the outside of the ball.
Fig. 1b shows a cross-section of the ball-formed element, the external connection element has an undercut for reaching a snap action 1. Likewise, the inside connection means has an undercut for achieving snap action 2.
The connection means are made in the simplest way. The inside connection means are formed as recess rings in the outer shell of the ball-formed element, which recess rings in the outer connection means can be in registration by snap action over the inner connections (Fig. 1c, 1). The outer connection means are made in a simple way in the shell around the cutout. (Fig. 1c, 1).
Fig. 1d shows elements snapped together, shown at an angle of 45°.
Fig. 2a shows ball-formed elements with two openings with outside connection means, and nine inside connection means.
The ball-formed elements can comprise one or more outside connection elements and one or more inside connection elements.
The element in Fig. 2a can be seen in cross-section in Fig. 2c.
Ball-formed elements as those shown in Fig. 2 can be combined to a compact wall as shown in Fig. 2d. This is a new and surprising function using ball-formed elements. This function is possible with this simple construction where the two openings with outside connection means are snapped in two directions to inside connection means at the same time.
Fig. 3a shows a ball-formed element which is connected to a flat element comprising an inside connection element formed like the outer form of the ball element. The ball-formed elements can be connected to every element comprising inside connection elements.
Fig. 3b shows a flat element comprising more inside connection means.
Fig. 4 shows a flat element comprising an outside connection means like the opening or the cutout in the ball-formed element.
Fig. 4b shows a flat element comprising outside connection means, which means are connected to the outside of a ball-formed element at the inside connection means.
In this way each element comprising outside connection means in the opening can be connected to the connection means at the outside the ball elements.
Fig. 5a shows a cross-section of a ball-formed element. The figure shows in principle how elements can be formed by combining two injection-moulded elements. By producing these parts, it is possible to combine the two parts to three different elements, by combining two top parts 1 to a ball and by combining two bottom parts to a ball-formed element comprising two openings. A third combination is seen in Fig. 5a where the top 1 and bottom are combined to an element with one opening.
Fig. 5b shows a ball-formed element, which element is blow-moulded in one process and the element is a closed hollow element.
Fig. 5c shows a cross-section of a ball-formed element, which element is solid, moulded from a foamed material, which material can be soft and light.
Fig. 6 shows a ball element 102, which element comprises connection means 104 in the form of holes in the surface 106 where the ball element 102 has a cutout 108 with a surface 110 in registration with the outer surface of another element where the cutout 108 also comprises connection means 112, which connection means 112 can be connected to the connection means 104.
Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the element as shown in Fig. 6. A number of openings 104 in the surface 106 are shown. Here the cutout 108 is also shown with the surface 110, which surface 110 is ball-formed where a cutout 108 comprises connection means 112, which connection means comprises a protrusion 118, which is flexible and is designed for connecting to one of the openings 104.
Fig. 8 shows how the connection of the ball elements shown in Figs. 6 and 7 takes place in practice.
Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment where the reference numbers for the same elements as mentioned earlier have been increased by 100, and no further description of these elements is deemed necessary. Fig. 9 differs in that there is a second cutout in the ball element 214 which comprises a protrusion 216.
Fig. 10 shows a cross-section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 with the second cutout 214 and the protrusion 216.
Fig. 11 shows one possible combination of elements shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
Fig. 12 shows an alternative combination of the elements shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
Fig. 13 shows an alternative embodiment where the reference numbers have been increased by 100 from the Figs. 10-12, and only the differences will be described here. The opening 304 comprises a protrusion 320 and the second connection means are now formed of a protrusion 318, which comprises an opening in the middle 322, which opening is in registration with the protrusion 320 from a second element.
Fig. 14 shows a cross-section of Fig. 13 with the protrusion 320 and the further protrusion 318 and the opening 320. In Fig. 14 all protrusions 320 are combined in a central connection point placed in the centre of the ball element.
Fig. 15 shows one possible combination of elements shown in Figs. 13 and 14.
Fig. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of the element shown in Figs. 13-15. The numbers in Fig. 16 have been increased by 100, and only differences will be mentioned.Fig. 16 comprises a further cutout 422 with the protrusion 424 with a hole in the middle 426.
Fig. 17 shows a cross-section of the ball element shown in Fig. 16, and here the surface 422 of the cutout in the ball element can be seen with the protrusion 424 with the hole 426.
Fig. 18 shows one possible combination of the elements shown in Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 19 shows another possible combination of the elements shown in Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 20 shows an alternative embodiment in that the ball element 502 has a surface 506 and a cutout 508 where the surfaces on the ball element on both the outer surface 506 and the surface in the cutout 508 are without any holes or protrusions.
Fig. 21 shows a cross-section of a number of combined elements 502 where a magnetic material 530 is placed under the surface 506 and where a magnet 532 is placed under the surface in the cutout 508. The magnet 532 pulls the element together in that the magnetic field is in registration with the magnetic material 530.
Fig. 22 shows an alternative to Figs. 20 and 21 in that it comprises a further cutout 622, which cutout is made in combination with an extra magnet 634.
Fig. 24 shows a combination of the ball elements from Fig. 22.
Fig. 25 shows a combination of different elements.
This invention is not limited to elements shown, this invention can comprise a combination of different construction elements. Some elements can be mechanically connected, other elements are magnetically connected. Elements containing both mechanical and magnetic connection means can be part of this invention. In some elements a number of magnets might be placed under the ball shell for reaching magnetic effects.

Claims

Toy construction system comprising construction elements (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602), which elements (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) are formed for three-dimensional constructions, which elements comprise first (2, 104, 204, 304, 530, 630) and second (112, 212, 312, 418, 420, 532, 632, 634) connection means, which elements are connectable in more directions at the same time, where the construction elements (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) are at least partly ball-formed, where the elements comprise at least first connection means (2, 104, 204, 304, 404, 530, 630) at the ball surface (106, 206, 306, 406, 506, 606), which ball elements comprise at least one cutout (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608), which cutout (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608) has an inside surface (110, 210, 310, 410, 410, 610) designed for being in registration with another ball-formed element (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602), which cutout comprises second means (1, 112, 212, 312, 412, 532, 632) for connection, characterized in that the first connection means (104, 204) comprises openings in the outer surface (106, 206) of the ball element (102, 202) where the second connection means (112, 212) placed in the cutout (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608) of the ball comprises a protrusion (118, 218), which protrusion is in registration with the openings in the first connection means.
Toy construction system according to claim 1, characterized in that first (2, 104, 304, 530, 630) and second means (1, 112, 212, 312, 412, 532, 632) for connection are turnable after connection.
Toy construction system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that connecting first (2, 104, 204, 304, 530, 630) and second means (1, 112) for connection leads to a click.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the first connection means (104, 204, 304) comprises openings in the outer surface (106, 206, 306) of the ball element (102, 202, 302) which opening comprises at least one circular protrusion (320) where second connection means placed in the cutout of the ball comprises a protrusion (318), which protrusion (318) is made in the form of a tube (320), the opening (322) of which tube is in registration with the protrusion (318) in the first connection means.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the first connection means comprises magnetic material (530, 630) in the outer surface of the ball, where the second connection means placed in the cutout (508, 608) of the ball comprise magnetic means (532, 632, 634), which magnetic means (532, 632, 634) is in registration with the magnetic material (530, 630) in the first connection means.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the element comprises at least one actuator, which actuator rotates the second connection means, which actuator is activated by control means, which control means are communicating with other elements comprising control means.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the element comprises at least one computer, which computer comprises communication means for communication with control means in other elements or with external control means, which computer controls the operation of at least one actuator.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the elements comprises means for detection of position of actuators where a signal comprising position information is transmitted to at least connected elements, which signal is communicated to at least one element comprising a computer.
Toy construction system according to one of the claims 1-8, characterized in that the elements comprise energy-producing means in the form of electrical solar elements placed under the surface of the element, which elements comprise means for energy storage, and which elements comprise means for energy supply for surrounding elements.