GB2587214A

GB2587214A - Construction toy

Info

Publication number: GB2587214A
Application number: GB1913447.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: McAndrew Kenneth
Original assignee: China Industries Ltd
Current assignee: China Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-18
Filing date: 2019-09-18
Publication date: 2021-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-18
Also published as: EP4031260A1; US20220339552A1; GB2587214B; AU2020349643A1; WO2021053318A1; GB201913447D0

Abstract

A construction toy 1 comprising at least one prismatic-shaped housing 2. The housing 2 has a closed end 3 and an opposing open end 4. Two or more connection means 10 are located on an external surface 8 between the open end 4 and closed end 3. The housing 2 may comprise a polygon or a conic section shaped base 3. The external surface 8 may comprise one or more sections 8a,8b and the two or more connection means 10 may be located on said sections 8a,8b, preferably, each section 8a,8b comprises two connection means 10. Each section of the sections 8a,8b may be a portion of a side 5 of the housing 2. The connection means 10 may comprise male and female parts of a sliding dovetail joint 10. The toy 1 may comprise an ornamental component 14, such as a figurine, dimensioned to be located within an internal volume of the housing 2. Accordingly, the housing may comprise an ornamental component connection means such as an indentation in an internal surface 7 of the housing 2. The toy 1 may comprise a motion activated illumination arrangement 17 and one or more stickers 16 sensitive to UV light.

Description

1 Construction Toy 3 The present invention relates to a construction toy and in particular a stackable toy 4 comprising building blocks. The construction toy may further comprise figurines or models of an object.

7 Background to the Invention

9 An example of a construction toy known in the art are building blocks taking the form of a rectangular cuboid with a male connection means on a first surface and a commensurate 11 female connection means on an opposing second surface. Multiple building blocks can be 12 stacked upon one another with the male and female connection means reversibly 13 connecting the building blocks together. The building blocks typically have a single mode 14 of play which is the act of combining the blocks. Due to this single mode of play a user may quickly lose interest in the building blocks. In addition, this single mode of play is 16 limited in that there are only two surfaces of each building block which comprise a 17 connection means. In other words, this limits the possible structures that can be 18 constructed using the building blocks.

1 Other forms of toys known in the art are the numerous examples of figurines and models 2 of objects. Such toys may take the form of characters from a popular film or a miniature 3 replica of a classic car. These toys are typically small so can be easily lost and may 4 readily fall over such that they cannot be displayed.

6 Summary of the Invention

8 It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide a construction toy that 9 obviates or at least mitigates one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages of the toys known in the art.

12 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a construction toy 13 comprising at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing, the at least one prismatic 14 or cylindrical shaped housing having a closed end, an opposing open end, and two or more connection means located on an external surface between the open end and closed 16 end.

18 Most preferably, the at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing may comprise a 19 polygon or a conic section shaped base.

21 Most preferably, the external surface between the open end and closed end comprises 22 one or more sections.

24 Most preferably, the two or more connection means are located on the one or more sections.

27 Preferably, each section of the one or more sections comprises two of the two or more 28 connections means.

Preferably, each section of the one or more sections is a side of the housing.

32 Alternatively, each section of the one or more sections is a portion of a side of the housing.

34 Most preferably, the two or more connection means comprise a male part of a sliding dovetail joint and a female part of a sliding dovetail joint.

2 Most preferably, the male and female parts of the sliding dovetail joint extend linearly 3 across the external surface between the open end and closed end.

Preferably, the male part of the sliding dovetail joint is commensurate, and or forms an 6 interference fit, with the female part of the sliding dovetail joint.

8 Alternatively, the two or more connection means comprises: a groove and a slot joint; and 9 or a pin and a socket connection; and or a hook and a loop fastener; and or a re-closable fastening; and or any suitable alternative; and or combination thereof 12 Most preferably, the construction toy further comprises an ornamental component. The 13 ornamental component is dimensioned to be located within an internal volume of the 14 housing. The ornamental component may be located on an internal surface of the housing. The ornamental component may be located on an internal surface of a side of 16 the housing.

18 Optionally, the housing could comprise an ornamental component connection means. The 19 ornamental component connection means is an indentation in an internal surface of the housing. The ornamental component forms an interference fit with the indentation.

22 Alternatively, the ornamental component connection means may be a pin and a socket 23 connection; and or a hook and a loop fastener; and or a re-closable fastening; and or any 24 suitable alternative; and or combination thereof 26 Most preferably, the ornamental component is a figurine and or a model of an object.

28 Preferably, the construction toy further comprises an interactive arrangement. The 29 construction toy further comprises a motion activated illumination arrangement comprising a motion sensor and light. The motion sensor may comprise a capacitive sensor and or an 31 infrared sensor. Preferably, the light comprises a non-visible light source e.g. a UV light.

32 Most preferably, the light is activated and or deactivated in response to activation of the 33 motion sensor e.g. detecting motion and or the absence of motion.

1 Preferably, the construction toy further comprises one or more stickers. The one or more 2 stickers are sensitive to non-visible light. The one or more stickers are sensitive to UV 3 light.

Optionally, the construction toy further comprises a microphone, a vibration sensor, any 6 other input device or combination thereof. The construction toy further comprises a 7 speaker, a visible light, an LED, a vibration module, any other output device or 8 combination thereof.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a construction toy 11 comprising at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing, the at least one prismatic 12 or cylindrical shaped housing having opposed open ends and a motion activated 13 illumination arrangement.

Most preferably, the at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing comprises two or 16 more connection means located on an external surface between the opposed open ends.

18 Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement 19 the preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention or vice versa.

21 According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for 22 producing a construction toy comprising: 23 providing at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing having a closed end and an 24 opposing open end, and providing two or more connection means located on an external surface between the open 26 and closed end.

28 Most preferably, the method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing 29 an ornamental component. The ornamental component is dimensioned to be located within an internal volume of the housing. The ornamental component may be located on 31 an internal surface of the housing. The ornamental component may be located on an 32 internal surface of a side of the housing.

34 Most preferably, the method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing an interactive arrangement. The method for producing a construction toy further 1 comprises providing a motion activated illumination arrangement with a motion sensor and 2 light.

4 Most preferably, the method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing one or more stickers. The one or more stickers are sensitive to non-visible and or UV 6 light.

8 Embodiments of the third aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement the 9 preferred or optional features of the first and second aspects of the invention or vice versa.

11 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for 12 producing a construction toy comprising: 13 providing at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing having opposing open ends, 14 and providing a motion activated illumination arrangement within the at least one prismatic or 16 cylindrical shaped housing.

18 Most preferably, the method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing 19 two or more connection means located on an external surface between the open and closed end.

22 Embodiments of the fourth aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement the 23 preferred or optional features of the first, second and third aspects of the invention or vice 24 versa.

26 According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit of parts that can 27 be assembled to form a toy, the kit of parts comprising one or more construction toys in 28 accordance with the first and or second aspects of the present invention.

Most preferably, the kit of parts further comprises one or more ornamental components.

32 Preferably, the kit of parts comprises one or more stickers.

1 Optionally, the kit of parts further comprises a microphone, a vibration sensor, any other 2 input device or combination thereof. The kit of parts may further comprise a speaker, a 3 visible light, an LED, a vibration module, any other output device or combination thereof.

Embodiments of the fifth aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement the 6 preferred or optional features of the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the invention 7 or vice versa.

9 Brief Description of Drawings

11 There will now be described, by way of example only, various embodiments of the 12 invention with reference to the drawings, of which: 14 Figure 1 presents a perspective view of a construction toy in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 17 Figure 2 presents a perspective view of a toy comprising four interlocking construction toys 18 of Figure 1 in a first mode of play; Figure 3 presents a perspective view of a toy comprising the construction toy of Figure 1 21 and an ornamental component in a second mode of play; 23 Figure 4 presents a perspective view of the toy of Figure 3 in a third and fourth mode of 24 play.

26 In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and 27 drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale 28 and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and 29 features of embodiments of the invention.

31 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 33 An explanation of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 34 to 4.

1 Figure 1 depicts a construction toy 1 comprising a housing 2. The housing 2 takes the 2 form of a hollow right hexagonal prism with an open end and a closed end. More 3 specifically, the housing 2 comprises a hexagonal base 3 opposing a substantially similarly 4 dimensioned hexagonal opening 4. The housing 2 further comprises six substantially rectangular sides 5 connecting the hexagonal base 3 to the hexagonal opening 4.

7 It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the housing 2 could alternatively 8 take the form of any other right or oblique, uniform or irregular, prism or cylinder. In other 9 words, the housing 2 could have any polygon or conic section shaped base.

11 The hexagonal base 3 comprises an external surface 6 and an internal surface 7.

12 Similarly, each rectangular side 5 comprises an external surface 8 and an internal surface 13 9.

As depicted in Figure 1, the housing 2 further comprises a first connection means 10. The 16 first connection means takes the form of sliding dovetail joints 10 located on the external 17 surfaces 8 of the sides 5. More specifically, three of the external surfaces 8a each 18 comprise two male parts of a sliding dovetail joint or protrusions 11 and three of the 19 external surfaces 8b each comprise two female parts of a slide dovetail joint or depressions 12. The external surfaces 8 alternate between an external surface 8a 21 comprising two protrusions 11 and an external surface 8b comprising two depressions 12 22 about the hexagonal circumference of the housing 2. In other words, an external surface 23 8a comprising two protrusions 11 opposes an external surface 8b comprising two 24 depressions 12.

26 The protrusions 11 and depressions 12 have a truncated triangular cross-section 13 (i.e. 27 dovetail shape) extending linearly across external surface 8 of the side components 5, 28 from the hexagonal base 3 to the hexagonal opening 4. The protrusions 11 are 29 commensurate with the depressions 12.

31 The sliding dovetail joints 10 provides a means to interconnect multiple pods 2. For 32 example, Figure 2 depicts four interconnected housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. To connect a first 33 housing 2a to a second housing 2b, an external surface 8a comprising protrusions 10 of a 34 first housing 2a is aligned with an external surface 8b comprising depressions 12 of a second housing 2b such that the protrusions 11 can slide into the depression 12.

2 Figure 2 shows one arrangement of four interconnected housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d yet there 3 are numerous different ways of arranging the four housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d by aligning 4 different external surfaces 8 of the housings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. Arranging and connecting multiple housings 2, in other words, building an arrangement of multiple housings 2, 6 provides a first mode of play of the construction toy 1.

8 It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that instead of, or in addition to, the 9 sliding dovetail joints, the connection means 10 could take the form of groove and slot joints, pin and socket connections, hook and loop fastener, any re-closable fastening, any 11 suitable alternative and or combination thereof. Furthermore, it will also be appreciated 12 that the first mode of play can be achieved without a first connection means 10 as the 13 housings 2 could be placed upon one another.

The construction toy 1 further comprises an ornamental component 14 in the form of a 16 figurine as can clearly be seen in Figure 3. The figurine 14 is dimensioned such that it can 17 be located within an internal volume 15 of the housing, more specifically, on an internal 18 surface 7, 9 of a side component 5 or the base component 3 of the housing 2.

The figurine 14, as depicted in Figure 3, is placed in location. As an alternative, the 21 housing 2 could comprise a second connection means, in other words a figurine 22 connection means, in the form of an indentation in an internal surface 9 of the side 23 component 5 such that the figurine 14 is secured in position. The indentation being 24 commensurate with the footprint of the figurine 14 such that the figurine 14 forms an interference fit with the indentation. The second connection means could also take the 26 form of a pin and socket connection, a hook and loop fastener, any re-closable fastening, 27 any suitable alternative and or combination thereof 29 The construction toy 1 is a customisable means to collect, display and store one or more figurines 14, providing a second mode of play of the construction toy 1.

32 The construction toy 1 further comprises numerous stickers 16 which are, for example, 33 sensitive to non-visible light such as UV light and an interactive arrangement 17, which 34 takes the form of a motion-activated illumination arrangement. The motion activated illumination arrangement 17 comprises a motion sensor 18 and a light 19. As can be seen 1 in Figures 3 and 4, the motion sensor takes the form of an infrared sensor 18 and the light 2 takes the form of a UV light 19. It will be appreciated that the motion sensor 18 could 3 alternatively take the form of a capacitive sensor. Also, the light could take the form of any 4 non-visible light source.

6 The infrared sensor 18 is located at the hexagonal opening 4, on a side 5 of the housing 2.

7 The UV light 19 and stickers 16 are located on the internal surfaces 7, 9 of the housing 2.

9 When the UV light 19 is not illuminated, the stickers 16 are not visible. Conversely, when the UV light 19 is illuminated, the stickers 16 are visible. The UV light 19 is illuminated by 11 the sensor 18 detecting movement of an object proximal to the sensor 18, such as a user's 12 hand (not shown) swiping past the sensor 18. The UV light 19 may remain illuminated for 13 a pre-set period of time or alternatively it can be deactivated when the sensor 18 again 14 detects movement of an object proximal to the sensor 18.

16 The stickers 16 are a means of customising the housing 2, providing a third mode of play 17 of the construction toy 1. Activating (and deactivating) the UV light 19 by means of the 18 sensor 18, to reveal (and hide) to stickers 16 provides a fourth mode of play of the 19 construction toy 1.

21 As a further additional or alternative feature, the construction toy 1 may comprise a 22 microphone, a vibration sensor, any other input device or combination thereof. The 23 construction toy 1 may also comprise a speaker, a visible light, an LED, a vibration 24 module, any other output device or combination thereof. For example, when a microphone detects a sound, the microphone could also trigger a speaker to play a sound as well as 26 illuminating the UV light.

28 As another additional or alternative feature, the housing 2 may comprise a means to 29 distinguish between different variants of a figurine 14. More specifically, the housing 2 could detect different sized and or shaped footprints of the figurine 14 when located on an 31 internal surface 7, 9 to distinguish, for example, between figurines 14 representing 32 different characters of a story. Furthermore, the speaker output could be customised to 33 correspond to, for example, the voice of each character.

1 As an alternative to, or in addition to, the figurine 14, the construction toy 1 may comprise 2 a model of an object, such as a car, or any other type of ornamental component.

4 The construction toy 1 has numerous advantages as has numerous modes of play. A first mode of play of the construction toy 1 is arranging and interconnecting multiple housings 6 2, i.e. building a custom arrangement of housings 2. The interconnected housings 2 can 7 be disassembled for easy storage and reassembled into a different arrangement, providing 8 longevity in a user's interest in the construction toy 1. A second mode of play of the 9 construction toy 1 is a customisable means to collect, display and store numerous figurines 14 such that they are not lost, nor fall over and can be easily appreciated. A third 11 mode of play is customising the housing 2 and or figurine 14 with one or more stickers 12 such that the construction toy 1, for example, is themed according a character depicted by 13 the specific figurine 14 or even just to the user's preference. A fourth mode of play is 14 motion activating and deactivating a UV light to illuminate and hide the stickers upon the construction toy 1. The third and fourth modes of play provide interactive features which 16 can be changed and updated to increase the longevity in a user's interest in the 17 construction toy 1.

19 A construction toy is disclosed. The construction toy comprises at least one prismatic or cylindrical housing with a closed end and an open end, with two or more connection 21 means located on an external surface between the open end and closed end. The 22 construction toy may further comprise an ornamental component, stickers, a motion 23 activated illumination arrangement resulting in numerous modes of play of the construction 24 toy. Multiple housings of the construction toy act as building blocks. The construction toy acts as a means to collect, display and store numerous ornamental components. The 26 construction toy can be customised with stickers which can be revealed and hidden using 27 a motion activated illumination arrangement comprising an infrared sensor and UV light.

29 Throughout the specification, unless the context demands otherwise, the terms "comprise" or "include", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", "includes" or "including" will 31 be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the 32 exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Furthermore, unless the context 33 demands otherwise, the term "or" will be interpreted as being inclusive not exclusive.

1 The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration 2 and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise 3 form disclosed. The described embodiments were chosen and described in order to best 4 explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various 6 modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, further 7 modifications or improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of 8 the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 Claims 3 1. A construction toy comprising at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing, the 4 at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing having a closed end, an opposing open end, and two or more connection means located on an external surface between 6 the open end and closed end.8

2. A construction toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one prismatic or 9 cylindrical shaped housing may comprise a polygon or a conic section shaped base.11

3. A construction toy as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the external surface 12 between the open end and closed end comprises one or more sections.14

4. A construction toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two or more connection means are located on the one or more sections.17

5. A construction toy as claimed in claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each section of 18 the one or more sections comprises two of the two or more connections means.

6. A construction toy as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein each section of the one 21 or more sections is a side of the housing.23

7. A construction toy as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein each section of the one 24 or more sections is a portion of a side of the housing.26

8. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the two or more 27 connection means comprise a male part of a sliding dovetail joint and a female part of 28 a sliding dovetail joint, wherein the male and female parts of the sliding dovetail joint 29 extend linearly across the external surface between the open end and closed end.31

9. A construction toy as claimed in claims 8, wherein the male part of the sliding dovetail 32 joint is commensurate, and or forms an interference fit, with the female part of the 33 sliding dovetail joint.1

10. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the two or more 2 connection means comprises: a groove and a slot joint; and or a pin and a socket 3 connection; and or a hook and a loop fastener; and or a re-closable fastening; and or 4 any suitable alternative; and or combination thereof 6

11. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction 7 toy further comprises an ornamental component.9

12. A construction toy as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ornamental component is dimensioned to be located within an internal volume of the housing and the ornamental 11 component may be located on an internal surface of a side of the housing.13

13. A construction toy as claimed in claims 11 or 12, wherein the housing further 14 comprises an ornamental component connection means.16

14. A construction toy as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ornamental component 17 connection means is an indentation in an internal surface of the housing and the 18 ornamental component forms an interference fit with the indentation.

15. A construction toy as claimed in claims 13 or 14, wherein the ornamental component 21 connection means may be a pin and a socket connection; and or a hook and a loop 22 fastener; and or a re-closable fastening; and or any suitable alternative; and or 23 combination thereof.

16. A construction toy as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the ornamental 26 component is a figurine and or a model of an object.28

17. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction 29 toy further comprises a motion activated illumination arrangement comprising a motion sensor and light, wherein the light is activated and or deactivated in response to 31 activation of the motion sensor.33

18. A construction toy as claimed in claim 17, wherein the motion sensor comprises a 34 capacitive sensor and or an infrared sensor and the light comprises a non-visible light source and or a UV light source.2

19. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction 3 toy further comprises one or more stickers and the one or more stickers are sensitive 4 to non-visible light and or UV light.6

20. A construction toy as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the construction 7 toy further comprises a microphone, a vibration sensor, any other input device or 8 combination thereof and the construction toy further comprises a speaker, a visible 9 light, an LED, a vibration module, any other output device or combination thereof.11

21. A method for producing a construction toy comprising: 12 providing at least one prismatic or cylindrical shaped housing having a closed end and 13 an opposing open end, and 14 providing two or more connection means located on an external surface between the open and closed end.17

22. A method for producing a construction toy as claimed in claim 21, wherein the method 18 for producing a construction toy further comprises providing an ornamental component.

23. A method for producing a construction toy as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein the 21 method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing a motion activated 22 illumination arrangement with a motion sensor and light.24

24. A method for producing a construction toy as claimed in any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the method for producing a construction toy further comprises providing one or 26 more stickers.28

25. A kit of parts that can be assembled to form a toy, the kit of parts comprising one or 29 more construction toys as claimed in any of claims 1 to 20.