US1430557A - Child's block - Google Patents

Description

G. J. JERVIS.

CHILD'S BLOCK.

APPLICATION [ILED SEPT. 17, 1920.

Patented Oct 3, 1922 awumtoz v U?1 5. vilv v Q07" ss mm block.

Patented Oct. 3, i922.

inure GEORGE JOHNSON JERVIS, OF NEVI YORK, 11'. Y.

Application filed september 17,1920. Serial No. 410,900.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnonon JorrNsoN JER- vrs, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at New York, N. Y., have invented newand useful Childrens Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to blocks for the instruction and amusement of chil- 7 dren. V

V The main object is to provide a block or set of blocks suitable for the use of children,

'which are clean and safe to use, and unbreakable.

Another object is to provide a set of a few blocks "which are capable of being arranged in many different ways so as to suggest the outlines of many different articles, structures, animals, plants, etc.

The blocks are preferably formed of rubber,vulcanized' so as to be mediumhard. They should be hard enough to keep their shape and withstand rough usage, and yet they should be soft enough so that they are not brittle and do not have'edges which will cut or scratch. It is also preferable that the consistency be such that the surfaceis somewhat adhesive or rough like that of an eraser, so that two blocks when placed together will not tend to slide on one another. The composition may contain fiber if desired, or other substances commonly used in making rubber articles. 1

Fig. 1 shows a set of blocks with their preferred relative shapes and proportions.

Fig. 2 shows them arranged in .the outline of a tower or lighthouse.

Fig. 3 shows them arranged in the form of a ship.

Fig. 4: shows them arranged in the form of an airplane.

Fig. 5 shows part of form of a submarine. g

Fig. 6 shows them arranged in the form of a horse.

Fig. 7 shows part of them arranged in the form of a tree.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a single them arranged in the The block 10 is preferably atrapezoid of such shape and proportions as to constitute one-half of a hexagon, so that the sides and top are of the same length. The block 11 is a right angle triangle whose two sides are of the same length as the sides and top of the trapezoid. The blocks 12 and 13 are similar triangles, each being equal to one-half of the block 11. The block 14': is a rectangle whose length is preferably equal to the side of the trapezoid, and whose width is onehalf its length. There may be two blocks like 14: as shown in Fig. 2, or one of them may be divided into two parts 15 and 15' as shown in Fig. 1.

l have shown only a few of the many arrangements in which these blocks may be used. By providing a plurality of sets in different colors, it is. possible to produce a much larger variety of designs with contrasting colors.

The blocks being made of rubber are substantially unbreakable, and although they may have abrupt edges so as to be neat in appearance, they will not cut or scratch like stone or wooden blocks. They may be readily washed or cleaned without warping or splitting. Being more or less soft, there is no danger of a person being injured by being struck with them. The size shown in Fig. l, I have found to be a satisfactory size. Preferably none of the blocks is small enough to be swallowed.

I claim:

A set of blocks for the amusement and instruction ofchildren, comprising one block of trapezoidal outline, one block of triangular outline having two sides each of which is approximately the same length as the side of the first mentioned block, two smaller triangular blocks each of which has a base approximately equal in length to the length of aside of the first mentioned triangular block, and two rectangular blocks at least one of which has a length approximately equal to the length of the side of the first mentioned. triangular block, and a width of approximately half the same.

GEORGE JOHNSON J ERVIS.

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