GB2181065A - Play board; constructional toy building - Google Patents

Abstract

Three separate play board sections A, B and C each depict different scenes. Moreover, they have respective opposite faces D, E and F, which depict yet further scenes. The various board sections can be disposed adjacent one another in different permutations, to build up various different overall scenes. There may be continuity of at least one common feature, e.g. road 10,12,16,20 between certain of the adjacent boards. A toy building (Figs. 3-5) is constructed of a floor panel, a roof panel and four wall panels. Opposite sides of each panel are differently marked so that the appearance of the building can be determined by selecting the orientations of the panels. Magnetic connecting means may be provided for the playboard sections or for the building panels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Play boards This invention relates to play boards.

Childrens play boards (including mats) are known, having a scene depicted thereon, usually in the form of a landscape. Children may use such play boards to play imaginative games with toys which are placed on the play boards. For example, a play board may have depicted thereon a scene of roads and countryside, on which a child may play with toy cars.

Known play boards may have certain limitations. For example, if made of a stiff material, they may occupy a lot of space. They only depict one scene, in which a child may eventually lose interest. Some play boards are double-sided, but this still provides only two scenes.

The present ivention aims to provide play boards which may be improved in these respects.

According to the present invention, there is provided a play board comprising a plurality of individual sections which are adapted to link with one another, each section having first and second scenes depicted respectively on its first and second opposite faces, the scenes being such that the sections may be linked together with said faces juxtaposed in a plurality of different permutations, in each of which said individual first and second scenes co-operate to build up a distinctive overall scene of the play board.

At least some of said first and second scenes preferably include a common feature such that, in respective juxtapositions of the respective sections, continuity of said common feature is afforded between the respective sections. Such a common feature may comprise a road, a river or stream, or an area of grass.

Said sections may be rectangular in shape.

Preferably, said sections have at least one dimension exceeding 500 mm.

Connections means is preferably provided, for connecting said sections to one another.

Such connections means may be magnetic.

In another aspect, the invention provides a toy building comprising a plurality of walls and a roof, each of which has a different colour and/or pattern depicted on each of its two opposite faces, the building being capable of dis-assembly and re-assembly with the walls and roof in different orientations, so as to present different exterior appearances to the building.

The walls and roof are preferably all separable from one another, such that they may re-assembled in any desired one of a plurality of juxtapositions.

The building may include a floor.

Preferably, magnetic connections means is provided, for connecting together the walls and roof and (if provided) the floor.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in plan view, first and second opposite faces of three play board sections; Figure 2 shows, in plan view, one possible permutation of the play boards shown in Fig.

1; Figure 3 shows, in elevation, side and end walls of a toy building; Figure 4 shows, in plan view, a floor and a roof of a toy building; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembled toy building.

The three play board sections that are shown in Fig. 1 have respective first faces A B and C, and respective second faces D, E and F. Thus, faces A and D are opposite faces of the first play board section, faces B and E are opposite faces of the second play board section, and faces C and F are opposite faces of the third playboard section.

Each play board section is rectangular in shape, and has a size of approximately 900 mm x 300 mm.

Each different face A to F depicts a different respective scene. Thus, face A depicts a harbour scene, having a harbour basin 2 within harbour walls 4. Face B depicts an airport scene, having a runway 6 and a helipad 8. Face C depicts a general landscape (not shown in detail), and incorporates a road 10.

Face D is a farm yard scene, having a road 12 and a lake 14. Face E is a general landscape scene, having a road 16 and a river 18.

Face F depicts a parking area, having a road 20. a car park 22 and a lorry park 24.

The 3 play board sections may be disposed adjacent to one another, in any desired juxtaposition, and each board having either of its two opposite faces disposed upwardly. Thus, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, the three faces C, B and F are disposed adjacent to one another, to build up a general airport scene. It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the road 20 on face F and the road 10 on face C are disposed adjacent respective portions of the runway 6 on face B, thereby to afford continuity of the respective parts.

Thus, a child may build up numerous different scenes, by selecting different permutations of the six play board section faces A to F.

Moreover, although a play board having substantial dimensions (e.g. 900 mm square) can be built up, storage of the board is greatly simplified, by the facility of separating the board into the smaller sections. Suitable means may be provided for positively connecting together the various board sections.

For example, there may be provided a plurality of magnetic strips which engage in respective apertures in the edges of the board sections, to hold the various sections together by magnetic forces.

It is particularly important to provide at least some of the faces A to F with features that are both and common and continuous, between the faces. Thus, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, the roads 10, 12, 16 and 20 provide continuity between the various sections when disposed adjacent to one another. Also, as is apparent from Fig. 2, the various portions of road may also link with the runway 6 on face B.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated scenes are by way of example only, and play boards embodying the invention may have sections which carry faces of various different scenes. For example, instead of showing an airport, face B may show a hoverport or a space station. Face C may show a moonscape rather than a landscape. Face D may provide a scene for a fort rather than a farm. Face E may depict park scenery.

If desired, the boards may incorporate electric lighting means-e.g. to the runway, harbour or roads.

The building 30 that is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 may be used with the play board of Fig.

1 and 2.

The building 30 comprises a pair of side walls 32 and 34, a pair of end walls 36 and 38, a roof 40 and a floor 42. These various parts are all separable, but may be connected together by suitable connection means-such as for example, magnetic strips. The various parts are so connected together to form the building 30 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Each of the walls roof and floor is of a different colour and/or pattern on each of its two opposite faces. Thus, the pattern on the underface of side wall 32 (which face is not visible in Fig. 3) corresponds to the pattern on the upper face of side wall 34 (which face is shown in Fig. 3), and vice versa. The same applies to the end walls 96 and 38, and to the roof 40 and floor 42. In fact, the roof 40 and floor 42 are, in this example, interchangeable.

It will thus be appreciated that the exterior appearance of the building 30 may be altered, by disassembling the various parts thereof, and re-assembling them in different orientations and/or juxtapositions. Thus, by way of example, the one building 30 may show an exterior appearance of either brickwork or wood, depending on the orientation of the walls and roof.

Thus, in addition to being able to build up various different scenes from the play board sections illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a child may be able to construct various different buildings of different exterior appearances, from buildings having features as shown generally in Figs. 3 to 5. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the simple shape illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 is only by way of example. Buildings may be provided, having various different shapes and sizes and exterior colours and/or patterns. By way of example, the building 30 illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 may have a size of 150 mmx75 mmx75 mm.

Each of the illustrated walls 32, 34 is formed with the respective door opening 33 and window opening 35.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification and/or drawings, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process disclosed herein.

Claims (15)

1. A play board comprising a plurality of individual sections which are adapted to link with one another, each section having first and second scenes depicted respectively on its first and second opposite faces, the scenes being such that the sections may be linked together with said faces juxtaposed in a plurality of different permutations, in each of which said individual first and second scenes co-operate to build up a distinctive overall scene of the play board.

2. A play board according to Claim 1, wherein at least some of said first and second scenes include a common feature such that, in respective juxtapositions of the respective sections, continuity of said common feature is afforded between the respective sections.

3. A play board according to Claim 2, wherein said common feature comprises a road.

4. A play board according to Claim 2, wherein said common features comprises a river or stream.

5. A play board according to Claim 2, wherein said common feature comprises an area of grass.

6. A play board according to any preceding claim, wherein said sections are rectangular in shape.

7. A play board according to any preceding claim, wherein said sections have at least one dimension exceeding 500 mm.

8. A play board according to any preceding claim, including connection means for connecting said sections to one another.

9. A play board according to Claim 8, wherein said connection means is magnetic.

10. A play board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A toy building comprising a plurality of walls and a roof, each of which has a different colour and/or pattern depicted on each of its two opposite faces, the building being capable of disassembly with the walls and roof in different orientations, so as to present different exterior appearances to the building.

12. A toy building according to Claim 11, wherein the walls and roof are all separable from one another, such that they may be reassembled in any desired one of a plurality of possible juxtapositions.

13. A toy building according to Claim 11 or 12, including a floor.

14. A toy building according to Claim 11, 12 or 13, including magnetic connection means for connecting together the walls and roof and (if provided) floor.

15. A toy building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.