GB1267219A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,267,219. Toy. DART INDUSTRIES Inc. 8 Aug., 1969 [12 Aug., 1968], No. 39912/69. Heading A6S. [Also in Division G5] A toy comprises a hollow body having curved surface portions and a plurality of planar surface portions which are adjacent one another on the body, and formed with openings of differing geometrical shapes communicating with the interior of the hollow body, and which are capable of maintaining the toy in stable resting positions on any flat surface. The toy provides for the introduction of individual block members (through the openings in the planar surfaces) and storage therein, and comprises means to gain access to the interior of the hollow body for removing the blocks. In one embodiment, the toy comprises a hollow sphere 10 bearing flat surfaces 23 (Fig. 28) in which are openings of shapes corresponding to blocks 45, 50, 53, 55 which may thus be inserted into the sphere. The openings have upstanding and flared rims to aid alignment of the block with the opening. The sphere is formed of separable halves 11, 12 (Fig. 4) held together by a tensioned spring, e.g. shock cord 27, which is located inside interfitting tubes between handles 28 located in recesses 36. The cord is so fixed in hook members attached to the handles that rotation of the handles enables its tension to be so adjusted that the tubes are still in loose engagement when the hemispheres are pulled apart to the fullest extent of the cord, thus ensuring ease of re-engagement when tension is released. In another embodiment, the sphere is in one piece but is provided with a detachable lid to enable it to be emptied of blocks.