EP1827640A1 - Toy building kit - Google Patents

Toy building kit

Info

Publication number
EP1827640A1
EP1827640A1 EP05769180A EP05769180A EP1827640A1 EP 1827640 A1 EP1827640 A1 EP 1827640A1 EP 05769180 A EP05769180 A EP 05769180A EP 05769180 A EP05769180 A EP 05769180A EP 1827640 A1 EP1827640 A1 EP 1827640A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
units
toy building
pillar
building kit
kit according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05769180A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Georges Le Van
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Priority claimed from GB0416909A external-priority patent/GB0416909D0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1827640A1 publication Critical patent/EP1827640A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • A63H33/044—Buildings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to toy building kits; that is, kits for construc ⁇ ting toy buildings and the like.
  • toy building kits There are many varieties of toy building kits. At one extreme, there are simple sets of wooden blocks; one well-known type of set has shapes based on a 1x1x2 block but supplemented by pillars, triangles, and simple arches. There are also more elaborate systems, such as interlocking blocks such as Lego (RTM), and engineering-based systems such as Meccano (RTM). These are all highly modu ⁇ lar, based on very simple elements (though Lego in particular also has a large number of specialized shapes). There is also a variety of toy castles, which may be quite elaborate but which offer little or no scope for variation in their assembly.
  • the general object of the present invention is to provide a toy building kit which is directed primarily at allowing a wide variety of buildings (eg farms, houses, castles, etc) of reasonably life-like appearance to be constructed while using simple and easy constructional methods.
  • buildings eg farms, houses, castles, etc
  • a toy building kit comprising a plurality of interlocking base units, a plurality of pillar units which engage with sockets in the base units, and a plurality of wall units which engage between adja- cent pillar units.
  • the invention also provides the various individual components' of the kit.
  • the base units preferably comprise a set of I, L, T, and X pieces, and preferably have tongue and groove interlocking, preferably also with auxiliary double tongue pieces.
  • the pillar units are preferably of square cross-section with grooves down their sides. More than one height of pillar unit may be provided, and the pillar units may lock together to form extended units.
  • the engagement of the pillar units with the base units is preferably by means of plugs and sockets, and preferably with a snap action.
  • the wall units may be of more than one height, and of more than one width.
  • the wall units may include essentially 3 -dimensional complex wall deviss. Some wall units may incorporate integral pillars.
  • Fig. 1 shows the base units
  • Fig. 2 shows the pillar units
  • Figs. 3 A and 3B show details of the base and pillar unit engagement;
  • Fig. 4 shows a variety of simple wall units;
  • Figs. 5 and 6 show a variety of more complex wall units;
  • Figs. 7 and 8 show various auxiliary wall units.
  • Fig. 1 shows four basic base units 10-13, which may be referred to as I, L 5 T, and X units.
  • Each unit has either a tongue 15 or a groove 16 at the end of each extremity, the tongues fitting into the grooves so as the engage the units tightly together.
  • Each unit also has a socket 17, into which a pillar can be fitted, as described below.
  • the units are dimensioned such that when they are fitted together, the sockets form a square grid; that is, there is a fixed distance between any adjacent pair of sockets. (In other words, all the arms of the base units have the same length, measured from the sockets.) Also, the angles between a given socket and any adjacent sockets are either 90° or 180°.
  • the X base unit 13 has its two tongues on adjacent arms.
  • the number of tongues 15 equals the number of grooves 17; for the T unit 12, there are 2 grooves on adjacent arms and only one tongue.
  • This enables a great variety of layouts of base units to be constructed, including straight and zigzag lines, rectangles, interlocking rectangles, spurs from lines, and so o ⁇ .
  • the tongue ".groove ratio is slightly less than 1 : 1 (because of the T units), there will occasionally be situations where two meeting units both have grooves where they meet.
  • an auxiliary base unit 14 is provided, which can lock together meeting grooves on any of the main base units.
  • the base units can be made reversible, ie such that they can be turned over and have a socket on both sides. However, there is generally little advantage to this.
  • each arm can have grooves, with auxiliary base units 14 being used for all interlockings.
  • the tongues and grooves may be angular, like dovetails, rather than rounded as shown.
  • each arm can end in a groove and a tongue one beside the other. This will enable any arm to interlock with any other arm, and eliminate the need for any auxiliary base units.
  • each such unit contains ⁇ ing a 2-dimensional array of sockets.
  • the base will then be a smooth plane.
  • Such bases may be provided with tongues and grooves around their edges so that they may interlocks with other similar base units and/or single socket base units.
  • supplementary base units may be provided which interlock with the edges of such units and are sloped or feathered so that toy vehicles can easily be moved on and off the base units.
  • Fig. 2 shows two pillar units 20 and 21.
  • Each pillar has a square section with four grooves 22 running down the four sides.
  • Each pillar unit also has a peg at its bottom end which will engage with a socket of a base unit.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B show the peg and socket arrangement in more detail.
  • the pillar 20 has a blind hole 23 at its bottom end into which a peg 30 is inserted.
  • the peg locks itself into the pillar, and has a set of slightly flexible prongs 31 projecting downward.
  • the socket 17 is also a blind hole into which a cup-like insert 35 is inserted, locking itself into the hole.
  • the inner hollow 34 of the insert 35 receives the prongs 31.
  • the prongs 31 have ridges 36 and the insert 31 has a matching groove 37, so that the pillar locks firmly into position on the base unit but can be readily removed by a firm pull
  • pillar unit 20 and 21 There are preferably two sizes of pillar unit 20 and 21 as shown, through obviously only a single size, or more than two sizes, may be used if desired.
  • the pillar units can be provided with sockets matching the sockets 17 at their top ends, so that short pillar units can be combined to form longer pillar units.
  • Fig. 4 shows a typical range of wall units; a high castle wall unit 40, a low castle wall unit 41, a barred window unit 42, a barred gate unit 43, and an open gate unit 44. All these units have crenellations 45 along their top edges. These wall units all have the same width, which matches the distance between the sock- ets 17 in the base units when assembled. More precisely, the wall units will slide down between two adjacent pillar units, engaging in the grooves in the pillar units. Tf desired, double or multiple width wall units may also be provided.
  • Fig. 8 shows the corner of an assembled building.
  • a series of base units 65 (one L base unit and several I base units) are interlocked to form the base of the building.
  • Three tall pillar units 67 and a standard pillar unit 66 are engaged in the base units as shown.
  • Two high castle wall units 69 are inserted between the t ⁇ ill pillar units 67, and a low castle wall unit 68 is inserted between a tall pillar 67 and a standard pillar 66.
  • complex wall units such as the tower unit 50 of Fig. 5 may be provided.
  • This unit is essentially 3 -dimensional, as opposed to the essentially 2-dinesional simple wall units. It has the same width as the simple wall units, and is provided with ribs 51 which engage with the grooves in the pillar units. (It will be realized that when the tower is inserted in; a line of simple wall units, it will project slightly forward and considerably rearward of the adjacent wail units.)
  • Fig. 6 shows a further type of wall unit, a drawbridge unit 55.
  • this unit has integral pillars 57, which have pegs (not shown) at their bottom ends.
  • These pillars have grooves 58 on their sides and preferably on their rear faces (and optionally also on their front faces).
  • This unit will therefor engage with base units and allow wall units to be engaged with it.
  • the grooves 58 may extend to the tops of the pillar 57 or may, as shown, be of a height matching the height of standard wall units. In the latter case, the structure may be sufficiently flexible to allow the wall units to be inserted in place between the drawbridge unit and adjacent pillars, or the wall units can be engaged with the drawbridge unit and the pillars at their far ends added after that.
  • the system may also include wall extension units and floor and roof units.
  • Fig. 7 shows a gable wall extension unit 60, which will fit between a pair of pillars above a standard wall unit. This is intended for use with roof units 61; two such roof units will engage with two wall extension units, by means of extensions 62 and slots 63,
  • Fig. 8 shows the use of two floor units 70, which engage by means of extensions 71 into slots 72 in the appropriate wall units.
  • the various elements of the present system may be made of any convenient materials.
  • the main elements may typically be made of compressed cardboard, wood, plywood, fibreboard, or plastics materials; the plug and socket elements shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B will normally be made of plastics materials.
  • cap units may be provided for locking the top ends of the pillars together or to the wall units.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

A toy building kit comprises a plurality of interlocking base units, a plurality of pillar units which engage with sockets in the base units, and a plurality of wall units which engage between adjacent pillar units. The base units comprise a set of I, L, T, and X pieces with tongue avid groove interlocking, and with auxiliary double tongue pieces. The pillar writs have a square cross-section with grooves down their sides, may be of various heights, and may lock together to form extended units. The pillar units have snap action plug and socket engagement with the base units. The wall units may be of more than one height, and of more than one width, and may include essentially 3-dimensional complex wall units. Some wall units may incorporate integral pillars.

Description

Toy Building Kit
The present invention relates to toy building kits; that is, kits for construc¬ ting toy buildings and the like.
There are many varieties of toy building kits. At one extreme, there are simple sets of wooden blocks; one well-known type of set has shapes based on a 1x1x2 block but supplemented by pillars, triangles, and simple arches. There are also more elaborate systems, such as interlocking blocks such as Lego (RTM), and engineering-based systems such as Meccano (RTM). These are all highly modu¬ lar, based on very simple elements (though Lego in particular also has a large number of specialized shapes). There is also a variety of toy castles, which may be quite elaborate but which offer little or no scope for variation in their assembly.
The general object of the present invention is to provide a toy building kit which is directed primarily at allowing a wide variety of buildings (eg farms, houses, castles, etc) of reasonably life-like appearance to be constructed while using simple and easy constructional methods.
According to the invention there is provided a toy building kit comprising a plurality of interlocking base units, a plurality of pillar units which engage with sockets in the base units, and a plurality of wall units which engage between adja- cent pillar units. The invention also provides the various individual components' of the kit.
The base units preferably comprise a set of I, L, T, and X pieces, and preferably have tongue and groove interlocking, preferably also with auxiliary double tongue pieces. The pillar units are preferably of square cross-section with grooves down their sides. More than one height of pillar unit may be provided, and the pillar units may lock together to form extended units.
The engagement of the pillar units with the base units is preferably by means of plugs and sockets, and preferably with a snap action.
The wall units may be of more than one height, and of more than one width. The wall units may include essentially 3 -dimensional complex wall uniis. Some wall units may incorporate integral pillars.
A toy building kit embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which;
Fig. 1 shows the base units; Fig. 2 shows the pillar units;
Figs. 3 A and 3B show details of the base and pillar unit engagement; Fig. 4 shows a variety of simple wall units; Figs. 5 and 6 show a variety of more complex wall units; and Figs. 7 and 8 show various auxiliary wall units.
Fig. 1 shows four basic base units 10-13, which may be referred to as I, L5 T, and X units. Each unit has either a tongue 15 or a groove 16 at the end of each extremity, the tongues fitting into the grooves so as the engage the units tightly together. Each unit also has a socket 17, into which a pillar can be fitted, as described below. The units are dimensioned such that when they are fitted together, the sockets form a square grid; that is, there is a fixed distance between any adjacent pair of sockets. (In other words, all the arms of the base units have the same length, measured from the sockets.) Also, the angles between a given socket and any adjacent sockets are either 90° or 180°. The X base unit 13 has its two tongues on adjacent arms. For the I, L5 and X base units, the number of tongues 15 equals the number of grooves 17; for the T unit 12, there are 2 grooves on adjacent arms and only one tongue. This enables a great variety of layouts of base units to be constructed, including straight and zigzag lines, rectangles, interlocking rectangles, spurs from lines, and so oα. Since the tongue ".groove ratio is slightly less than 1 : 1 (because of the T units), there will occasionally be situations where two meeting units both have grooves where they meet. To lock such units together, an auxiliary base unit 14 is provided, which can lock together meeting grooves on any of the main base units.
In principle, it is possible for occasional sockets to be omitted in the grid formed when the base units are assembled. (This is equivalent to the inter-socket distances not all being the same but all being multiples of a basic inter-socket distance.) However, there is little to be gained by departing from the simple standard socket spacing. If wall units of more than one width are used, some sockets can simply be left without pillars, as discussed below.
The base units can be made reversible, ie such that they can be turned over and have a socket on both sides. However, there is generally little advantage to this.
Obviously the manner in which the base units interlock can be varied. Thus all arms can have grooves, with auxiliary base units 14 being used for all interlockings. The tongues and grooves may be angular, like dovetails, rather than rounded as shown. As another variant, each arm can end in a groove and a tongue one beside the other. This will enable any arm to interlock with any other arm, and eliminate the need for any auxiliary base units.
More broadly, instead of essentially single-socket base units, it is possible to use large square or rectangular interlocking base units, each such unit contain¬ ing a 2-dimensional array of sockets. The base will then be a smooth plane. Such bases may be provided with tongues and grooves around their edges so that they may interlocks with other similar base units and/or single socket base units. If desired, supplementary base units may be provided which interlock with the edges of such units and are sloped or feathered so that toy vehicles can easily be moved on and off the base units.
Fig. 2 shows two pillar units 20 and 21. Each pillar has a square section with four grooves 22 running down the four sides. Each pillar unit also has a peg at its bottom end which will engage with a socket of a base unit.
Figs. 3A and 3B show the peg and socket arrangement in more detail. As shown in Fig. 3A, the pillar 20 has a blind hole 23 at its bottom end into which a peg 30 is inserted. The peg locks itself into the pillar, and has a set of slightly flexible prongs 31 projecting downward. The socket 17 is also a blind hole into which a cup-like insert 35 is inserted, locking itself into the hole. The inner hollow 34 of the insert 35 receives the prongs 31. The prongs 31 have ridges 36 and the insert 31 has a matching groove 37, so that the pillar locks firmly into position on the base unit but can be readily removed by a firm pull
There are preferably two sizes of pillar unit 20 and 21 as shown, through obviously only a single size, or more than two sizes, may be used if desired. If desired, the pillar units can be provided with sockets matching the sockets 17 at their top ends, so that short pillar units can be combined to form longer pillar units.
Fig. 4 shows a typical range of wall units; a high castle wall unit 40, a low castle wall unit 41, a barred window unit 42, a barred gate unit 43, and an open gate unit 44. All these units have crenellations 45 along their top edges. These wall units all have the same width, which matches the distance between the sock- ets 17 in the base units when assembled. More precisely, the wall units will slide down between two adjacent pillar units, engaging in the grooves in the pillar units. Tf desired, double or multiple width wall units may also be provided.
Fig. 8 shows the corner of an assembled building. A series of base units 65 (one L base unit and several I base units) are interlocked to form the base of the building. Three tall pillar units 67 and a standard pillar unit 66 are engaged in the base units as shown. Two high castle wall units 69 are inserted between the tεill pillar units 67, and a low castle wall unit 68 is inserted between a tall pillar 67 and a standard pillar 66.
Obviously standard pillars could be used throughout, but the use of tall pillar units where appropriate results in a firmer and better looking construction.
In addition to the simple wall units of Fig. 4, complex wall units such as the tower unit 50 of Fig. 5 may be provided. This unit is essentially 3 -dimensional, as opposed to the essentially 2-dinesional simple wall units. It has the same width as the simple wall units, and is provided with ribs 51 which engage with the grooves in the pillar units. (It will be realized that when the tower is inserted in; a line of simple wall units, it will project slightly forward and considerably rearward of the adjacent wail units.)
Fig. 6 shows a further type of wall unit, a drawbridge unit 55. In addition to the panel portion 56 (with a movable drawbridge), this unit has integral pillars 57, which have pegs (not shown) at their bottom ends. These pillars have grooves 58 on their sides and preferably on their rear faces (and optionally also on their front faces). This unit will therefor engage with base units and allow wall units to be engaged with it. The grooves 58 may extend to the tops of the pillar 57 or may, as shown, be of a height matching the height of standard wall units. In the latter case, the structure may be sufficiently flexible to allow the wall units to be inserted in place between the drawbridge unit and adjacent pillars, or the wall units can be engaged with the drawbridge unit and the pillars at their far ends added after that.
The system may also include wall extension units and floor and roof units. Fig. 7 shows a gable wall extension unit 60, which will fit between a pair of pillars above a standard wall unit. This is intended for use with roof units 61; two such roof units will engage with two wall extension units, by means of extensions 62 and slots 63, Fig. 8 shows the use of two floor units 70, which engage by means of extensions 71 into slots 72 in the appropriate wall units.
The various elements of the present system may be made of any convenient materials. The main elements may typically be made of compressed cardboard, wood, plywood, fibreboard, or plastics materials; the plug and socket elements shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B will normally be made of plastics materials.
If desired, cap units (not shown) may be provided for locking the top ends of the pillars together or to the wall units.
In the claims, all references in parentheses to technical features are references within the meaning of EPC Rule 29(7), whether the reference are to individual features within specific figures or to complete figures, and are not to be taken as implying reliance on those features within the meaning of Rule 29(6).

Claims

Claims
1 A toy building kit comprising a plurality of interlocking base units, a plurality of pillar units which engage with sockets in the base units, and a plurality of wall units which engage between adjacent pillar units.
2 A toy building kit according to claim 1 wherein the base units comprise a set of 1, L3 T, and X pieces.
3 A toy building kit according to claim 2 wherein the base units have tongue and groove interlocking.
4 A toy building kit according to claim 3 wherein the base units further include auxiliary double tongue pieces.
5 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein the pillar units are of square cross-section with grooves down their sides.
6 A toy building kit according to claim 5 wherein the pillar units are of more than one height.
7 A toy building kit according to either of claims 5 and 6 wherein at least some of the pillar units lock together to form extended units.
8 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein the pillar units engage with the base units by means of plugs and sockets.
9 A toy building kit according to claim 8 wherein the pillar units engage with the base units with a snap action. 10 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein the wall units are of more than one height.
11 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein the wall units are of more than one width.
12 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein the wall units include essentially 3 -dimensional complex wall units.
13 A toy building kit according to any previous claim wherein some wall units incorporate integral pillars.
14 Any individual component of the toy building kit as defined in any previous claim.
15 Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).
EP05769180A 2004-07-29 2005-07-29 Toy building kit Withdrawn EP1827640A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0416909A GB0416909D0 (en) 2004-07-29 2004-07-29 Modular system for construction of toy buildings
GB0502719A GB0502719D0 (en) 2004-07-29 2005-02-10 Toy building kit
PCT/GB2005/002975 WO2006016111A1 (en) 2004-07-29 2005-07-29 Toy building kit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1827640A1 true EP1827640A1 (en) 2007-09-05

Family

ID=35355370

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05769180A Withdrawn EP1827640A1 (en) 2004-07-29 2005-07-29 Toy building kit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1827640A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2006016111A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1492560A (en) * 1921-04-04 1924-05-06 Claud M Hurd Toy building. block
US5036634A (en) * 1990-05-14 1991-08-06 Lessard Ronald R Knock down shelter and storage structure
WO1994020185A1 (en) * 1990-12-05 1994-09-15 Ferenc Svindt Framework made of modules which can be fitted into each other for making light constructions, in particular doll houses
ATE181849T1 (en) * 1993-11-03 1999-07-15 Distributions Muralex Inc THREE-DIMENSIONAL PUZZLE
US6645032B2 (en) * 2001-10-23 2003-11-11 Charles E. Barringer Erection set—posts and panels

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2006016111A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006016111A1 (en) 2006-02-16

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