JP2777556B2 - Block toys - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a block toy, and more particularly, to connecting a plurality of block bodies in an arbitrary direction without restricting the connecting direction by bringing respective flat portions constituting the block body into contact with each other. The present invention relates to a block toy that can create a wide variety of connected structures.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, block toys are formed by fitting and connecting irregularities formed on each block body to each other, or a magnet is provided on one block body, and a magnetic body is provided on the other block body. A method of connecting them by magnetic force has been developed.

[0003] Of the conventional block toys described above, the one formed by fitting the unevenness formed on each block body to each other and connecting them is restricted in the direction of connection, so that the structure formed by the connection is naturally limited. Was something. In addition, even when one block body is provided with a magnet and the other block body is provided with a magnetic body, the direction of connection is similarly regulated, so that the structure formed by the connection is naturally limited. .

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a block toy utilizing a magnet, wherein a plurality of blocks can be magnetically connected in any direction without any restriction on the connection direction. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a block toy capable of creating various connection structures.

[0005]

As a result of diligent studies, the present inventor has found that a permanent magnet is provided inside each of the plurality of flat portions of at least one block constituting the block toy, and a right angle to the corresponding flat portion. It has been found that the above-mentioned object of the present invention can be achieved by housing it rotatably around an imaginary axis.

That is, the present invention relates to a block toy comprising a plurality of blocks which can be magnetically connected to each other,
At least one block includes a block body having a plurality of flat portions, a magnet holding portion formed inside each of the flat portions, and a flat portion corresponding to the magnet holding portion inside the magnet holding portion. Length or width on a plane parallel to the flat surface, stored rotatably around a imaginary axis perpendicular to
A block toy comprising a permanent magnet having an N pole and an S pole at positions on opposite sides of the direction , and in the block toy, at least one block has a block body having a plurality of flat portions; A magnet holder disposed inside the flat portion and forming a magnet holding portion parallel to the corresponding flat portion; and an imaginary perpendicular to the corresponding flat portion in the magnet holding portion of the magnet holder. There is provided a block toy comprising a permanent magnet rotatably housed around an axis.

According to the block toy of the present invention, when the respective flat portions of the plurality of block bodies abut against each other, the plurality of block bodies can be arbitrarily connected without restricting the connection direction in any of the flat portions. Can be linked.
However, depending on the orientation of the magnets located inside the plane part of each of the two blocks to be connected, N
The poles-N poles or the S poles-S poles may be located close to each other. Even in this case, when the two flat portions are brought close to each other or brought into contact with each other, the magnet inside the block rotates due to the repulsive force between the same magnetic poles and the attracting force between the different magnetic poles, and the different magnetic poles attract each other. Two blocks can be connected. Needless to say, the magnetic force of each magnet is set to such a degree that an infant, who is an object using the block toy of the present invention, can easily separate the blocks connected by the magnetic force.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments of the present invention. In the block toy of the present invention, the block body of each block is made of a plastic material, preferably polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS.
It is made by injection molding or the like from a plastic material such as resin. Since the block toy of the present invention is particularly intended for young children, in order to prevent harmful microorganisms and the like from growing on the surface of the block body, antibacterial substances harmless to infants, such as zinc oxide, etc. It is preferable to form each block body using an antibacterial plastic material to which the above antibacterial agent is added.

Also, in order to increase the interest of infants in block toys and develop the imagination of infants, each block body is made of a plastic material of a different color in various shapes such as a cube, a rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, and the like. It is preferable to make a triangular prism and a shape combining those shapes and a curved surface.

Regarding the shape of the permanent magnet that can be used in the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the shape of the permanent magnet, such as a bar, a flat plate, and a disk, as long as the permanent magnet can be rotatably housed in the magnet holding portion inside the flat portion of the block body. Absent. However, inside the block body, imagination perpendicular to the flat part corresponding to the magnet holding part
To facilitate the rotation of the axis around the permanent magnet of the above, the
Position opposite the length or width direction on a plane parallel to the plane
It is preferable to use magnets with N and S poles respectively
Particularly preferred is the use of a disk-shaped permanent magnet in which the north pole and the south pole are located on diametrically opposite positions . Also,
From the viewpoint of magnetic force and formability, it is preferable to form a disk-shaped permanent magnet using anisotropic ferrite.

It is also known that a magnetic member, for example, a thin iron plate, is provided inside each permanent magnet, so that the magnetic force of the permanent magnet is significantly increased. Rather than using a permanent magnet alone to obtain a predetermined magnetic force, the use of a combination of such magnetic materials can greatly reduce manufacturing costs. When using a disk-shaped permanent magnet as described above, it is preferable to use a disk made of a magnetic material having substantially the same diameter as the disk-shaped permanent magnet in a form magnetically attracted to the inside of the disk-shaped permanent magnet. preferable.

Various methods are conceivable for forming the magnet holding portion inside the plurality of flat portions of at least one block. For example, to make assembly work easier,
A magnet holder is formed using a magnet holder, the magnet holder being capable of rotatably storing a magnet. Further, the magnet holder is formed from a flexible or bendable plastic material by injection molding or the like so that the plurality of magnet holders corresponding to the plurality of plane portions are connected to each other. In this case, it is preferable that the magnet holder has a similar shape which is slightly smaller than the shape of the corresponding block main body including a plurality of flat portions in the bent state.

[0013] By doing so, the permanent magnet is inserted into each magnet holding portion of the magnet holder, and the magnet holder insertion opening of the block main body (usually, the block main body is formed in a shape where one flat portion of the block main body is missing). When the magnet holder is inserted into the block main body, the magnet holder is held in the block main body in contact with the inner surface of the block main body. Thereafter, the block is completed by closing the magnet holder insertion opening.
Since the magnet is used, care must be taken to keep the block toy of the present invention away from magnetic or magnetic products such as video tapes, cash cards, and floppy disks.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of the present invention will be more specifically described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cubic block of one of the block toys according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of two blocks of the block toy according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Then, a state is shown in which the magnets are rotatably housed inside and the respective flat portions are brought close to each other. FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing respective blocks of the block toy according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a triangular prism block of a block toy according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a magnet holder used in the triangular prism block in a developed manner. Yes, Figure 7
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG.

The block body 1 shown in FIG. 1 is one cubic block constituting a block toy. The block body 1 is formed by six plane portions 2,
A magnet holding part 3 is formed inside the six plane parts 2. Further, a permanent magnet 4 having a short plate shape and rotatable in the magnet holding portion is accommodated in the magnet holding portion 3.

One end of the permanent magnet 4 is an N pole, and the other end is an S pole.
It is a pole. Therefore, as shown by arrow a in FIG.
When one flat portion 2 of the block 1 is brought close to and adjacent to one flat portion 2 'of the other block 1', the permanent magnets 4 and 4 rotatably housed in the magnet holding portions 3 and 3 ' The north and south poles of the 'are attracted to each other and rotate within the magnet holders 3 and 3', so that both blocks 1 and 1 'are connected to each other by contact with the plane portions 2 and 2'. .

However, depending on the orientation of the permanent magnets 4 and 4 ', NN's and SS's may be located close to each other. Even in that case, by bringing both flat parts close to each other or abutting,
The permanent magnets 4 and 4 'rotate in the magnet holding portions 3 and 3', respectively, due to the repulsive force between the same magnetic poles and the attracting force between the different magnetic poles, and the different magnetic poles attract each other as shown in FIG. 1 and 1 'are in contact with each other at plane portions 2 and 2' and are interconnected.

With the blocks having the basic structure as described above, the blocks can be easily connected indefinitely in any direction through their plane portions. As shown in FIGS. The block main bodies 11 and 21 are formed in an arbitrary shape, and the magnet holding parts 13 and 23 are similarly formed inside the plane parts 12 and 22. Although not disclosed, the magnet holding parts 13 and 23 are not disclosed. If permanent magnets are housed in the inside as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to create a connection body having various types of structures depending on the connection state of each block.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the construction of a triangular prism-shaped block of a block toy according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, a triangular prism-shaped block will be described as a representative example.However, in other shapes, for example, a cubic shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a cylindrical shape, and a block in which those shapes are combined with a curved surface, the principle is also described. It is exactly the same.

The block main body 31 has three flat portions 32 on the inside of which disk-shaped permanent magnets 34 to be described later are opposed to each other, and a triangular plate 3 forming one side wall.
6 is removed to form an insertion opening 36A for a magnet holder 37 described later. Incidentally, the insertion opening is not limited to the surface of 36A shown in the figure, and instead, the triangular prism-shaped block main body 3 is used.
Of course, any one of the other flat portions 32 may be used.

As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the magnet holder 37 is initially formed in a flat plate shape by injection molding using the same thermoplastic resin as the block body 31. That is, the substrate 38 is divided into three portions 38-1 and 38-2 corresponding to the three flat portions 32 via the bent portions 39.
And 38-3. Each of the portions 38-1, 38-2, and 38-3 has a circular opening 40 formed substantially at the center thereof, and has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34.

A circular flange 41 is formed around the circular opening 40, and the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 is supported on the flange 41. A low cylindrical portion 42 is erected from the outer peripheral edge of the circular flange 41. This cylindrical part 4
The diameter of 2 is slightly larger than the diameter of the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 42 acts as a guide for the rotation of the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34.

A tab 43 protrudes from the free edge of the substrate portion 38-3, and a projection 44 is formed on the tab 43. On the other hand, a small hole 45 is formed between the free end edge of the substrate portion 38-1 and the cylindrical portion 42.

In assembling the block, first, the substrate portions 38-1 and 38-3 of the magnet holder 37 are bent at the bent portions 39.
6, the tab 43 is inserted into the small hole 45 as viewed in FIG. 6, and the projection 44 acts as a stopper, so that the magnet holder maintains the triangular prism shape. The magnet holder 37 assembled in this manner has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to that of the block body 31, and the insertion port 36A
The magnet holder 37 is slightly smaller than the block body 31 so that the magnet holder 37 can be inserted into the block body 31 from below, and after insertion, the magnet holder 37 contacts the inner surface of the block body 31 and does not move. Having.

A disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 is provided in each cylindrical portion 42,
A thin disk-shaped magnetic plate 35 having substantially the same diameter as this is placed on the flange 41. Disc-shaped plate 35
Is made of a magnetic material, it is attracted to the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 and is integrated with the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 to be rotatable about an imaginary axis perpendicular to the corresponding plane portion 32. (Holding unit) 42. Since the inner diameter of the circular flange 41 is smaller than the diameter of the disk-shaped plate 35, the disk-shaped plate 35 and the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 do not fall out of the cylindrical portion 42 through the opening 40. Note that the opening 40 is not essential in the present invention, and the bottom of the magnet holding portion may be dish-shaped. However, providing the opening 40 is more cost effective in terms of material,
It is preferable from the viewpoint of the rotation of the permanent magnet.

The magnet holder 37 containing the disk-shaped plate 35 and the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 in the respective cylindrical portions 42 is inserted into the block main body 31 through the magnet holder insertion opening 36A. At this time, in order to prevent the disk-shaped plate 35 and the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 from dropping from the cylindrical portion 42 of the lower substrate portion 38-2, the disk-shaped plate 35 and the disk-shaped permanent magnet 34 are supported from below, or It is preferable to use a jig using a magnet to attract the magnet from above.

After the magnet cert 37 is inserted into the block body 31, the triangular plate 36 is attached to the holder insertion opening 3 with an adhesive.
By fixing the holder insertion opening 36A to the edge of 6A, that is, the edge of the three flat portions 32, the triangular block is completed. In the above description, the case where the block main body has a triangular prism shape was described as a representative, but the magnet holder used when the block main body is, for example, a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped is, for example, two substrates shown in FIG. Using these, bend them into a U-shape and combine them,
It can be used as a planar magnet holder. or,
Similarly, in the case where the block body is cylindrical or another shape, the principle of the magnet holder shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to match with the shape of each block main body.

The basic structure of the block toy of the present invention can be applied to, for example, assembling of a simulated building, assembling of a robot or a doll, or assembling of a toy such as a ship or a car. , And all block toys useful for assembling such a structure can be said to belong to the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

[0029]

Since the block toy of the present invention has the above-described structure, a plurality of blocks can be connected without being restricted in any direction, and an assembling structure having various structures can be created. Since it can be used, it is possible to obtain an effect as an educational toy that enhances the creativity of infants.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block toy according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 2 shows one of the block toys according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Partial sectional view of one block.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one block of a block toy according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one block of a block toy according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a triangular prism-shaped block of a block toy according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an expanded plan view showing a magnet holder used in a triangular prism-shaped block of the block toy according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1 ': Block body 2, 2': Flat part 3, 3 ': Magnet holding part 4, 4': Permanent magnet 11: Block 12: Flat part 13: Magnet holding part 21: Block 22: Flat part 23: Magnet holder

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mutually block toy composed of a magnetically consolidation possible plurality of blocks, at least one block, the block body having a plurality of flat portions, are formed on the respective inner flat portion a magnet holder, the magnet retaining portion, rotatably accommodated about the axis on the perpendicular imaginary to the plane portion corresponding to the magnet holder, flat
Position on the opposite side of the length or width direction on the plane parallel to the surface
And a permanent magnet having an N pole and an S pole respectively . 2. A permanent magnet, block toy according to claim 1 which is a plate-shaped or disk-shaped permanent magnet. 3. The inner surface of the permanent magnet is substantially the same as the permanent magnet.
The block toy according to claim 2, wherein a magnetic body having the same diameter is magnetically attached . 4. A block toy comprising a plurality of blocks which can be magnetically connected to each other, wherein at least one block is disposed inside a block body having a plurality of flat portions and corresponding to the block body having a plurality of flat portions. A plurality of magnet holders forming a magnet holding part parallel to the plane part, and are rotatably housed in the magnet holding part of the magnet holder around an imaginary axis perpendicular to the corresponding plane part. A block toy comprising a permanent magnet. Wherein said plurality of magnets holders are connected, the linked magnetic holder, according to claim 4 having a substantially similar cross-sectional shape to the shape of the block body formed by a corresponding plurality of flat portions Block toys. 6. The block toy according to claim 4 , wherein the permanent magnet is a flat or disk-shaped permanent magnet. 7. An inner surface of the permanent magnet is substantially the same as the permanent magnet.
The block toy according to claim 6 , wherein a magnetic body having the same diameter is magnetically attached .