GB2145341A - An interlock toy - Google Patents

Abstract

An interlock toy comprises a plurality of plates (10) having parallel faces and projections (12) and recesses (14) provided along the edges, the projections (12) being adapted to interlock in the recesses (14) thereby to interconnect the plates (10). A plurality of the plates (10) are rectangular or square in plan view. The arrangements of projections (12) and/or recesses (14) along two opposite edges are similar. Triangular plates may be provided. The face(s) of each plate may bear part of a picture to be completed in the manner of a jig-saw puzzle. A plate may have a water-repellant layer and serve as a mat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An interlock toy The present invention relates to an interlock toy comprising a plurality of plates each having parallel faces and projections and recesses provided along the edges thereof, the projections being adapted to interlock in the recesses of a similar plate thereby to interconnect the plates.

Such an interlock toy is known, for instance, from DE-OS 2 324 136 and DE-OS 1 913 383. What the known interlock toys ofthistype have in common is that in each plate, opposite parallel edges have formations of projections and recesses which are complementary, rather than identical. This has the consequence that, if two identical plates are so arranged, relative to each other, that the formations on adjacent edges of the plates are not complementary and thus so that the two plates cannot be joined by bringing these two edges together, one plate must be turned either by 90" in one direction or by 1800 in the other direction before it can be connected to the other plate.The user will be thus confronted with these alternative modes of rotation if two plates lie next to each other either with their projections or with their recesses facing each other, i.e. if the formations of projections and recesses along the two adjoining sides of the two plates are mirror images of each other instead of being complementary with one another. If the plates are positioned thus unfavourably with respect to each other, the rotational alternatives described make the handling of the plates very disadvantageous, particularly for small children up to the age 21/2 years.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved an interlock toy such that the handling of the plates will be greatly facilitated as compared with the known toys referred to, particu larly for small children.

According to the invention, there is provided an interlock toy comprising a plurality of genrally rectangular or square plates having parallel faces and projections and recesses provided along the edges, the projections of each said plate being adapted to interlock in the recesses of another said plate to interconnect the plates, and wherein, in each said plate, the arrangements of projections and/or recesses along two opposite edges are similar.

In this manner it can be ensured that to assemble two plates, if the adjoining edges of the two plates are not already complementary, one plate must be rotated by a maximum of 90" in either direction.

Neither direction of rotation is than more unfavour able than the other. This means that the handling of the interlock toy according to the invention is greatly facilitated, particularly for small children with whom the slightest facilitations in handling or playing will have an immense effect. It should be kept in mind that with small children, up to the age of 21/2 or 3 yeats, the assembly of bricks or the like is largeiy a question of chance. For this reason even the minutest improvement in ease of handling will increase the changes of the child's success enor mously, thus providing a much greater experience of success for the child.

The plates preferably are made of a material which is inherently resilient, such as plastics, cardboard, or the like to guarantee the interlocking action between the projections and the recesses. This will also make it possible to build houses, towers, castles, ships, and the like structures of relatively great stability using a toy according to the invention.

Preferably, the projections and recesses are rectangular.

Compared with the dove-tail cross section suggested by DE-OS 2324 136 for projections and recesses, the design of the projections and recesses to be rectangular in shape has the advantage that the plates can be interconnected without clearance when positioned at an angle with respect to each other.

An interlock toy according to the invention may also comprise plates which, in plan view, each have the shape of an isosceles right-angled triangle, the catheti, i.e. the two sides other than the hypotenuse, of which have each a length equal to the length of the one of the edges of one of the rectangular, or preferably square plates. In each such triangular plate, preferably one cathetus has a projection, while the other has a recess, the projection or recess corresponding with the projections and recesses of the rectangular or preferably square plates. in this manner it is possible to assemble, without difficulty, structures comprising both triangular plates and rectangular and/or square plates. Using the triangular plates, it is also possible to build houses having gable roofs or ships hulls and the like.

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 7 is a plan view of a square plate forming part of a toy embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a triangular plate, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the connection of a triangular plate and a square plate.

The basic elements of an interlock toy, as shown in plan in Figures 1 and 2, comprise a plate 10 which is generally square in plan view and a plate 10' which is triangular in plan view. The plates preferably are made of cardboard or plastics sheet of a thickness of from about 0.5 to 1.0 mm. The length of each edge of the square plate 10 may be from 8 to 10 cm.

In the square plate shown in Figure 1, a first pair of opposite edges, namely that shown uppermost and that shown lowermost in Figure 1, have each a projection 12 extending therefrom, in the middle of the respective edge, whilst the other pair of opposite edges, namely that shown at the extreme left and that shown at the extreme right, have each a recess 14 in the middle of the respective edge.

The form of the recesses and projections is such that a projection 12 will fit tightly in a recess 14oman identical plate, with the edges thus interconnected terminating in the same places, i.e. the formation of the recessed edge is complementary with that of the edge with the projection. The plate is symmetrical about two mutually perpendicular axes in its plane, one lying parallel with and midway between the upper and lower edges in Figure 1 and the other lying midway between the edges at the extreme right and the extreme left in Figure 1 and parallel with the same. The projections and recesses are, as shown, generally rectangular in form. In the arrangement shown, each edge has only one projection 12 or only one recess 14.However, it is possible for each edge to be provided with two or more projections or recesses i.e. to be castellated, provided that the formation of projections and recesses on one set of opposite edges is complementary with the formation on the other set of opposite edges, so that the projections on each edge of the square plate can fit tightly in the recesses in an edge, identical with the adjacent edge of the square plate, of an identical plate. Preferably, in this case also, each square plate exhibits symmetry about the corresponding mutually perpendicular axes.

As already mentioned, the interlock toy also comprises plates 10' of the kind shown in Figure 2 and each being configured as an isosceles rightangled triangle, in plan view. The catheti, i.e. the sides other than the hypotenuse, of the triangle have each a length which equals the length of one of the edges of the square plate 10 shown in Figure 1.The one cathetus (i.e. side other than the hypotenuse) has a projections 12, while the other one is formed with a recess, in accordance with the projection 12 and recesses 14 of the square plate 10 shown in Figure 1.That is to say the side of plate 10' having the projection 12 can interlock with a side of plate 10 having a recess 14, with the projection 12 fitting tightly in the recess 14 and the interlocking edges of the plates 10 and 10' terminating at the same positions, and likewise, the side of plate 10' having the recess 14 can interlock with a side of plate 10 having a projection 12, with the projection 12 fitting tightly in the recess and the interlocking edges of the plates 10 and 10' terminating at the same positions.

In this manner the plates 10 and 10' according to Figures 1 and 2 can be combined in the manner shown in Figure 3 to represent, for instance, a gable roof or a ship's hull. The plates according to Figures 1 and 2 may be interconnected either in a common plane or at an angle with respect to each other. An interlock toy may comprise at least two plates of the kind shown in Figure 2 and six plates as illustrated in Figure 1 so that a house having a gable roof can be assembled. This combination of plates may comprise a basic set, which can be added to by adding further plates of one or the other type.

The plates may include cut-outs or slots (not shown) each having dimensions corresponding to the cross section of a projection 12, such cut-outs being set inwardly from the edges of the plates, whereby an approximately rectangular combination of the plates will be possible also within the outer margin of the same.

If the plates are made of cardboard, paper mat or similar material their edges may be reinforced, at least in the area of the projections and recesses, by being compressed or by being provided with a coating of plastics, varnish, or the like. This will preserve the inherent resiliency of the plates to guarantee continued clamping action between the projections and the recesses even after frequent use.

Preferably the plates are manufactured by punching out of a web of material, and where the material is cardboard or paper mat, reinforcement of the edges by compression may be carried out during or immediately after punching the plates out of the web, for example by using a punching tool having portions adapted to provide the desired compression. In this way the plates can be manufactured economically.

Whilst the embodiment of the invention described has been described in the contex of a child's toy, plates of the form described, particularly the square plate, may be used as a beer or wine mat.

If the plates are made of a matted material orfelt, preferably one flat surface of each plate is laminated with a plastic film or coated with a water-repellant layer. This will be the surface on which something is printed or painted. In this manner it is warranted that this side will not be affected by water, beer, or wine, and the like if the plate is being used as a beer mat or the like.

If desired both surfacess of a plate may carry some painting or imprint and be lined or coated with a water-repellant layer, as already mentioned. The imprint may be different on both sides, and the imprint on any one plate may form part of a picture which extends across a plurality of plates when they are appropriately interconnected, in a manner similar to a jigsaw puzzle.

The plates may be provided on at least one flat surface thereof with a layer characterised by its affinity to colouring matter so that children will be able to draw on itwith crayonsorthe like.

At least one surface of the plates also may carry the imprint of a family game, cross word puzzle, or the like.

Claims (12)

1. An interlock toy comprising a plurality of generally rectangular or square plates having parallel faces and projections and recesses provided along the edges, the projections of each said plate being adapted to interlock in the recesses of another said plate to interconnect the plates, and wherein, in each said plate, arrangements of projections and/or recesses along two opposite edges are similar.

2. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rectangular plates are generally square.

3. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 1, in which the plates are made of a material which is inherently resilient, to maintain the interlocking action between the projection and the recesses.

4. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said material is plastics.

5. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 2 wherein said material is cardboard.

6. An interlock toy as claimed in any preceding claim in which the projections and recesses are rectangular.

7. An interlock toy as claimed in any preceding claim which further comprises at least one plate which, in plan view, each has the shape of an isosceles right-angled triangle, the catheti of which have each a length equal to the length of an edge of the rectangular.

8. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 7, in which one cathetus of the or each said triangular plate has a projection and the othe cathetus has a recess in correspondence with the projections and recesses of the rectangular plates.

9. An interlock toy as claimed in any preceding claim in which the edges of the plates are reinforced at least in the area of the projections and or recesses.

10. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 9 wherein said plates are of cardboard and are so reinforced by being compressed.

11. An interlock toy as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said plates are so reinforced by being coated with plastics or varnish.

12. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.