EP1434635B1 - Elements d'assemblage en forme de balles - Google Patents

Elements d'assemblage en forme de balles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1434635B1
EP1434635B1 EP02781158A EP02781158A EP1434635B1 EP 1434635 B1 EP1434635 B1 EP 1434635B1 EP 02781158 A EP02781158 A EP 02781158A EP 02781158 A EP02781158 A EP 02781158A EP 1434635 B1 EP1434635 B1 EP 1434635B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
elements
ball
connection
connection means
cutout
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
EP02781158A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1434635A1 (fr
Inventor
Arne Egholm Jensen
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Arne Egholm Design
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Arne Egholm Design
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/08—Dolls of flat paper to be cut-out, folded, or clothed
    • 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
    • A63H33/062—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements with clip or snap mechanisms

Definitions

  • 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.
  • first connection means comprises openings in the outer surface of the ball element
  • 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.
  • the first and second connection means can be turnable after connection.
  • each connection turnable 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the inside connection means has an undercut for achieving snap action 2.
  • 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.
  • Fig. 2a 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Connecting Device With Holders (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Système de construction de jeu comprenant des éléments de construction (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602), lesquels éléments (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) sont formés pour des constructions tridimensionnelles, lesquels éléments comprennent des premiers (2, 104, 204, 304, 530, 630) et seconds (112, 212, 312, 418, 420, 532, 632, 634) moyens de connexion, lesquels éléments sont connectables dans plusieurs directions en même temps, où les éléments de construction (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) sont au moins partiellement en forme de balles, où les éléments comprennent au moins des premiers moyens de connexion (2, 104, 204, 304, 404, 530, 630) au niveau de la surface de balle (106, 206, 306, 406, 506, 606), lesquels éléments de balle comprennent au moins une découpe (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608), laquelle découpe (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608) possède une surface intérieure (110, 210, 310, 410, 410, 610) conçue pour coïncider avec un autre élément en forme de balle (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602), laquelle découpe comprend des seconds moyens (1, 112, 212, 312, 412, 532, 632) pour la connexion, caractérisé en ce que les premiers moyens de connexion (104, 204) comprennent des ouvertures dans la surface extérieure (106, 206) de l'élément de balle (102, 202) où les seconds moyens de connexion (112, 212) placés dans la découpe (108, 208, 308, 408, 508, 608) de la balle comprennent une protubérance (118, 218), laquelle protubérance coïncide avec les ouvertures dans les premiers moyens de connexion.
  2. Système de construction de jeu selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les premiers (2, 104, 304, 530, 630) et seconds moyens (1, 112, 212, 312, 412, 532, 632) pour la connexion sont rotatifs après la connexion.
  3. Système de construction de jeu selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la connexion des premiers (2, 104, 204, 304, 530, 630) et seconds moyens (1, 112) pour la connexion entraîne un déclic.
  4. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les premiers moyens de connexion (104, 204, 304) comprennent des ouvertures dans la surface extérieure (106, 206, 306) de l'élément de balle (102, 202, 302) laquelle ouverture comprend au moins une protubérance circulaire (320) où des seconds moyens de connexion placés dans la découpe de la balle comprennent une protubérance (318), laquelle protubérance (318) est réalisée sous forme de tube (320), l'ouverture (322) duquel tube coïncide avec la protubérance (318) dans les premiers moyens de connexion.
  5. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les premiers moyens de connexion comprennent un matériau magnétique (530, 630) dans la surface extérieure de la balle, où les seconds moyens de connexion placés dans la découpe (508, 608) de la balle comprennent des moyens magnétiques (532, 632, 634), lesquels moyens magnétiques (532, 632, 634) coïncident avec le matériau magnétique (530, 630) dans les premiers moyens de connexion.
  6. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que l'élément comprend au moins un actionneur, lequel actionneur fait tourner les seconds moyens de connexion, lequel actionneur est activé par des moyens de commande, lesquels moyens de commande communiquent avec d'autres éléments comprenant des moyens de commande.
  7. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que l'élément comprend au moins un ordinateur, lequel ordinateur comprend des moyens de communication pour une communication avec des moyens de commande dans d'autres éléments ou avec des moyens de commande externes, lequel ordinateur commande le fonctionnement d'au moins un actionneur.
  8. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que les éléments comprennent des moyens pour la détection de position d'actionneurs où un signal comprenant des informations de position est transmis à au moins des éléments connectés, lequel signal est communiqué à au moins un élément comprenant un ordinateur.
  9. Système de construction de jeu selon une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que les éléments comprennent des moyens de production d'énergie sous forme d'éléments solaires électriques placés sous la surface de l'élément, lesquels éléments comprennent des moyens pour le stockage d'énergie, et lesquels éléments comprennent des moyens pour l'alimentation en énergie pour des éléments environnants.
EP02781158A 2001-10-05 2002-10-04 Elements d'assemblage en forme de balles Expired - Lifetime EP1434635B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK200101458 2001-10-05
DKPA200101458 2001-10-05
PCT/DK2002/000667 WO2003031010A1 (fr) 2001-10-05 2002-10-04 Elements d'assemblage en forme de balles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1434635A1 EP1434635A1 (fr) 2004-07-07
EP1434635B1 true EP1434635B1 (fr) 2009-06-03

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EP02781158A Expired - Lifetime EP1434635B1 (fr) 2001-10-05 2002-10-04 Elements d'assemblage en forme de balles

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EP (1) EP1434635B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE432755T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60232532D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003031010A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20061958A1 (it) * 2006-10-12 2007-01-11 Claudio Vicentelli Set di blocchi per la costruzione di giochi

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2737443A1 (de) * 1977-08-19 1979-02-22 Fischer Artur Dr H C Solarzelle fuer einen konstrukionsbaukasten
US5743786A (en) * 1996-05-30 1998-04-28 Lindsey; Alan Balloon face polyhedra
WO1998031607A1 (fr) * 1997-01-20 1998-07-23 Software & Consulting Services N.V. Contenant/bloc de construction a double usage
JP2001525716A (ja) * 1997-05-19 2001-12-11 クリエイター・リミテッド プログラム可能な組立玩具
NL1008204C1 (nl) * 1998-02-05 1999-08-06 Albertina Bulsink Stapel-systeem hol/bolvormen.
US6264522B1 (en) * 1999-12-07 2001-07-24 Marilyn M. Dickson Construction system
CA2370624A1 (fr) * 2001-01-26 2002-07-26 Leon Lazerman Structure modulaire

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003031010A1 (fr) 2003-04-17
ATE432755T1 (de) 2009-06-15
DE60232532D1 (de) 2009-07-16
EP1434635A1 (fr) 2004-07-07

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