GB2396569A

GB2396569A - Building blocks for a constructional toy or puzzle

Info

Publication number: GB2396569A
Application number: GB0230151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming-Hsien Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-24
Filing date: 2002-12-24
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Also published as: GB0230151D0

Abstract

Building blocks or elements are assembled from fifty five units. There are at least twelve of such building blocks, each block consisting of three, four or five units connected together. It is possible to arrange the blocks in such a way as to form a triangle, rectangle, a pyramid or any other geometric shape with or without a building block seat <B>20</B> which may have fifty five receiving slots, through holes or recesses <B>201</B> which may be concave. Each of the units of which the building blocks comprise are spheres or polyhedrons. The complete set of blocks forms a constructional toy or puzzle.

Description

Building Blocks The invention relates to building blocks, and particularly

to such building blocks assembled from a plurality of units.

In various available intellectual toys, a puzzle is an intellectual game using a plurality of chips to assemble a picture on a tray or a flat plate.

However, this kind of toy has limited variation, is often too monotonous and suits only younger children. It is generally not creative and fails to achieve a 10 preferred intellectual and entertaining effect.

For example, a tangram uses a plurality of chips to arrange or assemble a whole pattern. Although it has more variations and extends a user's imagination and creativity, its variations are limited on a plane and the example thereof is singular. After playing for a while, the user remembers the assembly 15 variations such that the intellectual effect of the game is lost.

In another example, a puzzle tray uses chips in different shapes to assemble a whole geometric pattern on a tray; as the tangram, the puzzle tray only arranges planar but not three-dimensional variations. Therefore, the climax of the game disappears after a certain playing time.

The difficulty of playing the abovementioned puzzle and tangram varies, but they are limited to the same kind of playing method. Therefore, it is hard to make the game more difficult to play. Although the puzzle tray has more variations, it is still limited on a plane. The issues of how to have dual methods 5 of playing the building blocks on a plane or to form a three-dimensional body, how to increase the interest and reduce the volume for easy carry are the main objectives of the present invention.

According to the invention there is provided building blocks assembled 10 from fifty-five units and each of the unit has three to five units, the units connect each other vertically or horizontally to form the following shapes, the first building block has four units with three of them arranged in tandem to connect with the fourth unit on the first unit thereof, the second building block has five units arranged vertically in two rows, wherein the left row 15 has two units in vertical tandem and the right row has three units in vertical tandem, the two left units connect with the lateral sides of the two units at the lower aspect of the right row, the third building block has five units arranged in two vertical rows, wherein the left row has only one unit and the right row has four units in vertical tandem, the left unit connects with 20 the lateral side of the first unit at the lower aspect of the right row, the

fourth building block has five units with four units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the second unit thereof connects with the fifth unit, the fifth building block has five units arranged in two horizontal rows, wherein the upper row has two units connected 5 horizontally and the lower row has three units connected horizontally the second unit of the upper row connects with the top of the first unit of the lower row, the sixth building block has three units with two units thereof in vertical tandem to form an upper row and the third unit connects with one of the unit of the upper row, the seventh building block has five units with 10 three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the two other units vertically connect with the third unit thereof, the eighth building block has five units arranged in three horizontal rows, wherein the upper row has only one unit, the middle row has two units connected horizontally and the lower row also has two units connected horizontally, the unit of the 15 upper row connects with the top of the second unit of the middle row, the first unit of the middle row connects with the top of the second unit of the lower row, the ninth building block has five units with three unit thereof arranged horizontally in tandem to form an upper row, wherein the fourth and fifth units connect respectively to the bottoms of the first and third units 20 of the upper row, the tenth building block has four units arranged in tandem

to form one row, the eleventh building block has four units arranged horizontally in tandem to form two rows; wherein both of the upper and the lower rows have two units respectively, the upper and the lower rows vertically connect with each other, the twelfth building block has five units 5 with three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a vertical row, wherein the fourth and the fifth units connect respectively with the top and bottom of the second unit of the row.

Using the present invention it is possible to provide building blocks 10 assembled by twelve building blocks in different shapes which have three to five small units respectively; wherein units may connect each other vertically at 90 or horizontally at 180 . Arranging the twelve building blocks forms a triangle, rectangle, a pyramid or any other geometric shape with or without a building block seat plate or paper which may have fifty-five receiving slots or 15 through holes for receiving fifty-five units of the twelve building blocks; each of the units is either a sphere or a polyhedron. The present invention simulates imagination thereby achieving the intellectual and entertaining effects.

To enable a further understanding of the technical contents of the present invention, the brief description of the drawings is followed by the

20 detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 is a drawing of the shapes of twelve blocks of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a triangular building block seat disposed with fifty-five concave slots; 5 Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of an assembly as an arrangement of the building block seat shown in FIG.2 and the twelve building blocks; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a square building block seat disposed with twenty-five concave slots; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a pyramid assembled as an arrangement 10 of the building block seat shown in FIG. 4 and twelve building blocks.

Referring to the drawings FIG. 1 shows the shapes of twelve building blocks (1-12) of the present invention; wherein, each of the building blocks (1 12) comprises three to five smaller units; the units connect each other vertically at 90 or horizontally at 180 ; the shapes of the units are either 15 spheres or polyhedrons as follows: The first building block (1) has four units 'A' with three of them arranged in tandem to connect with the fourth unit on the first unit thereof.

The second building block (2) has five units arranged 'B' vertically in two rows; wherein the left row has two units vertically in tandem and the right

row has three units vertically in tandem; the two left units connect with the lateral sides of the two units at the lower aspect of the right row.

The third building block (3) has five units 'C' arranged in two vertical rows; wherein the left row has only one unit and the right row has four units in 5 vertical tandem; the left unit connects with the lateral side of the first unit at the lower aspect of the right row.

The fourth building block (4) has five units 'D' with four units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the second unit thereof connects with the fifth unit.

10 The fifth building block (5) has five units 'E' arranged in two horizontal rows; wherein the upper row has two units connected horizontally and the lower row has three units connected horizontally; the second unit of the upper row connects with the top of the first unit of the lower row.

The sixth building block (6) has three units (F) with two units thereof in 15 vertical tandem to form an upper row and the third unit connects with o one of the unit of the upper row.

The seventh building block (7) has five units (G) with three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the two other units vertically connect with the third unit thereof.

The eighth building block (8) has five units 'H' arranged in three horizontal rows; wherein the upper row has only one unit, the middle row has two units connected horizontally and the lower row also has two units connected horizontally; the unit 'H' of the upper row connects with the top of 5 the second unit of the middle row; the first unit of the middle row connects with the top of the second unit of the lower row.

The ninth building block (9) has five units 'I' with three units thereof arranged horizontally in tandem to form an upper row; wherein the fourth and fifth units connect respectively to the bottoms of the first and third units of the 10 upper row.

The tenth building block (10) has four units 'I' arranged in tandem to form one row.

The eleventh building block (11) has four units 'K' arranged horizontally in tandem to form two rows; wherein both of the upper and the 15 lower rows have two units respectively; the upper and the lower rows vertically connect with each other.

The twelfth building block (12) has five units 'L' with three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a vertical row; wherein the fourth and the fifth units connect respectively with the top and bottom of the second unit of 20 the row.

The abovementioned twelve building blocks (1-12) can be arranged to provide a planar shape or to assemble a three-dimensional shape; wherein there are 19,997 kinds of planar arrangements and 2,472 three-dimensional assemblies; therefore, in total, the present invention comprises 22,469 kinds of 5 playing methods. The following are examples for a planar arrangement and a three-dimensional assembly.

1. Arranging a single layer on a plane: As indicated in FIG. 2, a building block seat (20) surface has 10[(1+10) À] = 55 concave slots, recesses or through holes (201) arranged in a right 10 triangle; the twelve building blocks (1-12) are arranged in the building block seat (20) ; the fifty-five units fill in the fifty-five concave slots (201), as shown in FIG. 3. The concave slots (201) can be replaced by through holes and the building block seat (20) can be replaced by a plate or a sheet of paper. In addition, the twelve building blocks (1-12) can be arranged into different planar 15 shapes even without the building block seat (20).

2. Arranging a three-dimensional pyramid: As indicated in FIG. 4, a building block seat (40) has 5 x 5 = 25 concave slots, recesses or through holes (401) arranged in a square; twelve building blocks (1-12) are arranged on the building block seat (40); furthermore, fifty 20 five units can be assembled to provide a five-layer and three-dimensional

pyramid. The concave slots (401) can be replaced by through holes and the building block seat (40) can be replaced by a plate or a sheet of paper. In addition, the twelve building blocks (1-12) can be arranged into different three dimensional shapes even without the building block seat (40).

5 The effectiveness of the present invention includes: 1. It converts a planar arrangement into a three-dimensional assembly.

2. It has simple and difficult assemblies suitable for users of different age groups.

3. It inspires the user's imagination and stimulates brainstorming.

10 4. It is attractive, challenging, full of edutainment and enhances people's mutual relationship.

5. It is variable, assembles multi-layer shapes and able to extend the building block play to the ultimate limit.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely 15 illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. Building blocks assembled from fifty-five units and each of the unit has three to five units; the units connect each other vertically or horizontally to form the following shapes: 5the first building block has four units with three of them arranged in tandem to connect with the fourth unit on the first unit thereof; the second building block has five units arranged vertically in two rows; wherein the left row has two units in vertical tandem and the right row has three units in vertical tandem; the two left units connect 10with the lateral sides of the two units at the lower aspect of the right row; the third building block has five units arranged in two vertical rows; wherein the left row has only one unit and the right row has four units in vertical tandem; the left unit connects with the lateral side of the first unit at the lower aspect of the right row; 15the fourth building block has five units with four units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the second unit thereof connects with the fifth unit; the fifth building block has five units arranged in two horizontal rows; wherein the upper row has two units connected horizontally and 20the lower row has three units connected horizontally; the second

unit of the upper row connects with the top of the first unit of the lower row; the sixth building block has three units with two units thereof in vertical tandem to form an upper row and the third unit connects with o 5 one of the unit of the upper row; the seventh building block has five units with three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a horizontal row and the two other units vertically connect with the third unit thereof; the eighth building block has five units arranged in three 10 horizontal rows; wherein the upper row has only one unit, the middle row has two units connected horizontally and the lower row also has two units connected horizontally; the unit of the upper row connects with the top of the second unit of the middle row; the first unit of the middle row connects with the top of the second unit of the lower row.

15 the ninth building block has five units with three unit thereof arranged horizontally in tandem to form an upper row; wherein the fourth and fifth units connect respectively to the bottoms of the first and third units of the upper row; the tenth building block has four units arranged in tandem to form 20 one row;

the eleventh building block has four units arranged horizontally in tandem to form two rows; wherein both of the upper and the lower rows have two units respectively; the upper and the lower rows vertically connect with each other; 5 the twelfth building block (12) has five units with three units thereof arranged in tandem to form a vertical row; wherein the fourth and the fifth units connect respectively with the top and bottom of the second unit of the row.

2. Building blocks assembled by fifty-five units according to Claim 1,

10 wherein the twelve building blocks provide planar and geometric shapes with a building block seat disposed with a plurality of concave slots, recesses or through holes on the surface thereof.

3. Building blocks assembled by fifty-five units according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the twelve building blocks stack multi 15 layer and three-dimensional shapes with a building block seat disposed with a plurality of concave slots on the surface thereof.

4. Building blocks assembled by fifty-five units according to any preceding Claim, wherein the shapes of the twelve building blocks are spheres or polyhedra.

5.An element for a constructional toy, comprising three to five units connected with each other in a desired array to provide the element.

6. Building blocks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

S

7. An element for a constructional toy, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A constructional toy, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.