US20090130947A1 - Toy building set - Google Patents
Toy building set Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090130947A1 US20090130947A1 US11/990,909 US99090906A US2009130947A1 US 20090130947 A1 US20090130947 A1 US 20090130947A1 US 99090906 A US99090906 A US 99090906A US 2009130947 A1 US2009130947 A1 US 2009130947A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pins
- toy building
- building set
- projections
- insertable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000011449 brick Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 47
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
- A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
- A63H33/086—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a toy building set of the type comprising a plurality of modular molded elements made of a synthetic material, so-called “bricks”, which can be linked together by friction fit to build tridimensional models representing fancy figures or real objects such as buildings, vehicles, items of furniture, as well as animals, plants, etc.
- the toy building sets of the above type are generally packed in cartons containing a predetermined number of bricks.
- the simplest bricks typically have a prismatic profile with a square or rectangular contour and, although they may differ from one another for size and shape, they have the common feature of being provided with projections on one base, which are shaped to fit into corresponding recesses formed on one opposite base.
- certain bricks may have only one base provided with projections or recesses.
- the toy building sets have evolved over the years, with the production of a variety of assorted bricks having more and more complex shapes specifically intended for creating predetermined profiles.
- these bricks have a limited polyvalence and high manufacturing costs due to their complexity and to the wide range of different shapes.
- a further object of the invention is to provide the above toy building set with a case which can be used as integral part of the toy.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of a brick belonging to a toy building set according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a plan view from below of the brick of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the brick of FIG. 1 along line III-III;
- FIG. 4 is a view in cross section of the brick of FIG. 1 along line IV-IV;
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a case for the toy building set according to the invention.
- a toy building set according to the invention is based on interconnectable modular elements or bricks of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4 .
- Said bricks 10 each have a substantially square, flat contour 10 with two interconnectable, opposite main faces.
- One first face 12 has a thin peripheral frame 13 surrounding a square hollow 14 defining a corresponding, square convex area 16 on the opposite face 18 .
- Four hollow, square-profiled pins 20 rise from the bottom of hollow 14 and are arranged in square. The ends of the pins lie at the level of peripheral frame 13 .
- Convex area 16 has a salient, peripheral edge 21 , which is insertable with a friction fit into hollow 14 of another brick, as well as four salient seats 22 which are aligned to pins 20 and have a complementary square profile, thereby allowing interconnection of bricks arranged on top of each other by inserting the pins of one brick into the seats of another brick.
- peripheral frame 13 is bent at right angles dowstream and is shaped to define interconnectable lateral profiles.
- two adjacent side faces 26 , 28 of the brick are each provided with a wide central projection 30 , 32
- the other two adjacent side faces 34 , 36 are each provided with two spaced, lateral projections 38 , 40 , between which one of the central projections 30 , 32 of another brick is insertable with a friction fit.
- the sizes of, and the distances between, the various interconnectable profiles are multiple of a modular length L, thereby providing a wide range of possible configurations.
- the width of each of the lateral projections 38 , 40 is equal to L, and the distance between the external side end of the lateral projection and the nearest corner is also equal to L ( FIG. 1 ).
- the width of each of the central projections 30 , 32 is equal to 3 L, and the distance between the side ends of the central projection and the respective nearest corners is equal to 2 L ( FIG. 1 ).
- the heigth of edge 24 is constant along the perimeter of the brick and is equal to L ( FIG. 3 ).
- the length of the side of square hollow 14 is equal to 5 L ( FIG.
- the bricks are preferably made of a low density, synthetic material.
- two bricks 10 may be linked together both laterally, with a central projection 30 , 32 of one brick inserted between two side-by-side lateral projections 38 , 40 of another brick, and on top of each other, with pins 20 of one brick inserted in seats 22 of another brick.
- two bricks may be linked together at right angles in a T configuration, with either a central projection 30 , 32 or two side-by-side, lateral projections 38 , 40 of one brick inserted in the gaps defined by projections 20 in square hollow 14 on first face 12 .
- FIG. 5 shows a case that is specifically shaped to house a plurality of bricks of the above type and which can be used as an integral part of the toy building set.
- the case comprises a flat shell 50 having a rectangular profile, on which an identical upturned shell 50 ′ acting as a cover is connectable.
- shell 50 has four plugs 56 b and four holes 58 a , 58 b at its respective four corners, which are arranged to cooperate with a friction fit with the plugs and the holes of another shell rotated of 180°.
- two plugs 56 a at the opposite ends of one of the short sides of the shell are arranged nearer to the edge than the holes 58 a in the same area, while the two plugs 56 b at the opposite ends of the other short side of the shell are arranged farther from the edge then the holes 58 b in the same area.
- Main base 60 of shell 50 has three cross-shaped grooves 62 aligned along the longitudinal axis of the shell, as well as eight rectilinear grooves 64 a , 64 b along the periphery of the shell, with three rectilinear grooves 64 a aligned along each of the long sides, and one rectilinear groove 64 b aligned along each of the short sides.
- the grooves on the shell also are sized on the basis of the modular length L, thereby allowing a wide range of possible configurations.
- the width of the cross-shaped grooves and of the rectilinear grooves is equal to L.
- the length of each of the two sides of the cross-shaped grooves 62 , as well as the length of each of the rectilinear grooves 64 a , 64 b is equal to 5 L. This allows a brick 10 to be connected at right angles to the shell by fitting two lateral projections 38 , 40 into one of the sides of the cross-shaped grooves 62 or into one of the rectilinear grooves 64 a , 64 b .
- the distance between the ends of two adjacent cross-shaped grooves 62 and between the ends of two adjacent rectilinear grooves 64 a is equal to 3 L. This allows a brick 10 to be connected at right angles to the shell by fitting two side-by-side lateral projections 38 , 40 astride two adjacent cross-shaped grooves 62 or two adjacent rectilinear grooves 64 a.
Abstract
A toy building set comprising interconnectable bricks, each brick having a substantially square, flat contour with two opposite main faces, a first face having a substantially square hollow having four projections rising from its bottom, a second face having four seats aligned to the pins, in which the pins of another brick are insertable with a friction fit. Two first side faces have respective central projections extending therefrom, and two second side faces have two lateral projections extending therefrom, between which one central projection of another brick is insertable with friction fit.
Description
- The present invention relates to a toy building set of the type comprising a plurality of modular molded elements made of a synthetic material, so-called “bricks”, which can be linked together by friction fit to build tridimensional models representing fancy figures or real objects such as buildings, vehicles, items of furniture, as well as animals, plants, etc.
- The toy building sets of the above type are generally packed in cartons containing a predetermined number of bricks. The simplest bricks typically have a prismatic profile with a square or rectangular contour and, although they may differ from one another for size and shape, they have the common feature of being provided with projections on one base, which are shaped to fit into corresponding recesses formed on one opposite base. Alternatively, certain bricks may have only one base provided with projections or recesses.
- As known, in relation to bricks having a relatively simple profile, the known toy building sets only allow the bricks to be linked together on top of each other or side by side. This deficiency considerably affects the versatility of the toy and the creative possibilities offered thereby.
- The toy building sets have evolved over the years, with the production of a variety of assorted bricks having more and more complex shapes specifically intended for creating predetermined profiles. However, these bricks have a limited polyvalence and high manufacturing costs due to their complexity and to the wide range of different shapes.
- Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a toy building set based on a brick having a relatively simple profile and shaped in such a way as to have high polivalence and modularity, with possibility of multilateral connections, with the bricks linked together on top of each other or side by side, as well as of transversal or “T” connections.
- It is another object of the invention to provide the brick with a profile which allows substantially solid (i.e., without hollow areas) flat surfaces to be formed simply by linking together a plurality of bricks side by side.
- It is a further object of the invention to provide the above brick with a high degree of safety in relation to the use of the toy by children.
- A further object of the invention is to provide the above toy building set with a case which can be used as integral part of the toy.
- The above objects and other advantages, which will better appear below, are achieved by the toy building set having the features recited in claim 1, while the dependent claims state other advantageous features of the invention.
- The invention will be now described in more detail with reference to a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment shown by way of non limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view from above of a brick belonging to a toy building set according to the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a plan view from below of the brick ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of the brick ofFIG. 1 along line III-III; -
FIG. 4 is a view in cross section of the brick ofFIG. 1 along line IV-IV; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a case for the toy building set according to the invention. - A toy building set according to the invention is based on interconnectable modular elements or bricks of the type shown in
FIGS. 1-4 . Saidbricks 10 each have a substantially square,flat contour 10 with two interconnectable, opposite main faces. Onefirst face 12 has a thinperipheral frame 13 surrounding asquare hollow 14 defining a corresponding,square convex area 16 on theopposite face 18. Four hollow, square-profiledpins 20 rise from the bottom of hollow 14 and are arranged in square. The ends of the pins lie at the level ofperipheral frame 13. - Convex
area 16 has a salient,peripheral edge 21, which is insertable with a friction fit into hollow 14 of another brick, as well as foursalient seats 22 which are aligned topins 20 and have a complementary square profile, thereby allowing interconnection of bricks arranged on top of each other by inserting the pins of one brick into the seats of another brick. - The
edge 24 ofperipheral frame 13 is bent at right angles dowstream and is shaped to define interconnectable lateral profiles. In particular, two adjacent side faces 26, 28 of the brick are each provided with a widecentral projection lateral projections central projections - Preferably, the sizes of, and the distances between, the various interconnectable profiles are multiple of a modular length L, thereby providing a wide range of possible configurations. In particular, the width of each of the
lateral projections FIG. 1 ). The width of each of thecentral projections FIG. 1 ). The heigth ofedge 24 is constant along the perimeter of the brick and is equal to L (FIG. 3 ). The length of the side ofsquare hollow 14 is equal to 5 L (FIG. 4 ), and the length of the side ofpins 20 is equal to L (FIG. 3 ). The distance between the mutually facing side faces ofpins 20 is equal to L, and the distance between the side faces facing outwardly ofpins 20 and the peripheral surface of square hollow 14 is also equal to L (FIG. 4 ). - The bricks are preferably made of a low density, synthetic material.
- In use, two
bricks 10 may be linked together both laterally, with acentral projection lateral projections pins 20 of one brick inserted inseats 22 of another brick. Furthermore, two bricks may be linked together at right angles in a T configuration, with either acentral projection lateral projections projections 20 in square hollow 14 onfirst face 12. -
FIG. 5 shows a case that is specifically shaped to house a plurality of bricks of the above type and which can be used as an integral part of the toy building set. - The case comprises a
flat shell 50 having a rectangular profile, on which an identicalupturned shell 50′ acting as a cover is connectable. In particular,shell 50 has fourplugs 56 b and fourholes 58 a, 58 b at its respective four corners, which are arranged to cooperate with a friction fit with the plugs and the holes of another shell rotated of 180°. To this purpose, two plugs 56 a at the opposite ends of one of the short sides of the shell are arranged nearer to the edge than the holes 58 a in the same area, while the twoplugs 56 b at the opposite ends of the other short side of the shell are arranged farther from the edge then theholes 58 b in the same area. -
Main base 60 ofshell 50 has threecross-shaped grooves 62 aligned along the longitudinal axis of the shell, as well as eightrectilinear grooves 64 a, 64 b along the periphery of the shell, with three rectilinear grooves 64 a aligned along each of the long sides, and onerectilinear groove 64 b aligned along each of the short sides. - The grooves on the shell also are sized on the basis of the modular length L, thereby allowing a wide range of possible configurations. In particular, the width of the cross-shaped grooves and of the rectilinear grooves is equal to L. The length of each of the two sides of the
cross-shaped grooves 62, as well as the length of each of therectilinear grooves 64 a, 64 b, is equal to 5 L. This allows abrick 10 to be connected at right angles to the shell by fitting twolateral projections cross-shaped grooves 62 or into one of therectilinear grooves 64 a, 64 b. Furthermore, the distance between the ends of twoadjacent cross-shaped grooves 62 and between the ends of two adjacent rectilinear grooves 64 a is equal to 3 L. This allows abrick 10 to be connected at right angles to the shell by fitting two side-by-sidelateral projections adjacent cross-shaped grooves 62 or two adjacent rectilinear grooves 64 a.
Claims (10)
1-9. (canceled)
10. A toy building set comprising interconnectable bricks, said bricks each having a substantially square, flat contour, and further having:
two opposite main faces, a first one of which has a substantially square hollow having at least two pins rising from a bottom of said hollow, and a second one of which has at least two seats aligned to the pins, in which the pins of another brick are insertable by a friction fit,
two first side faces each having a central projection extending therefrom,
two second side faces each having two lateral projections extending therefrom, between which one central projection of another brick is insertable with a friction fit.
11. The toy building set of claim 10 , comprising four of said pins arranged in square and four of said seats aligned to the pins.
12. The toy building set of claim 10 , wherein said pins and said seats have complementary square profiles.
13. The toy building set of claim 10 , wherein said second main face has a salient edge insertable with a friction fit into the square hollow of another brick.
14. The toy building set of claim 10 , wherein the shortest distance between the side faces of two adjacent pins is substantially equal to the thickness of said lateral projections and central projections, whereby said lateral projections and central projections are insertable at right angles with a friction fit between adjacent pins.
15. The toy building set of claim 10 , wherein the shortest distance between the side faces of each of the pins and the inner, peripheral surface of the square hollow is substantially equal to the thickness of said lateral projections and central projections, whereby said lateral projections and central projections are insertable at right angles with a friction fit between the pins and the peripheral inner surface of the square hollow.
16. The toy building set of claim 10 , further comprising a flat shell having a rectangular profile, to which an identical, upturned shell is connectable to contain a plurality of bricks, and having a plurality of grooves in which said lateral projections and central projections are insertable at right angles with friction fit.
17. The toy building set of claim 16 , wherein at least one of said grooves is cross-shaped.
18. The toy building set of claim 10 , wherein at least one of said grooves is rectilinear.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000600A ITTO20050600A1 (en) | 2005-09-02 | 2005-09-02 | BUILDING GAME, MADE UP OF TWO MODULAR ELEMENTS MADE OF LOW DENSITY PLASTIC MATERIAL |
ITTO2005A000600 | 2005-09-02 | ||
PCT/EP2006/008024 WO2007025646A1 (en) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-08-14 | Toy building set |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090130947A1 true US20090130947A1 (en) | 2009-05-21 |
Family
ID=37311873
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/990,909 Abandoned US20090130947A1 (en) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-08-14 | Toy building set |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090130947A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1922126A1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITTO20050600A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007025646A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180099232A1 (en) * | 2016-06-03 | 2018-04-12 | So Yeong Choi | Self-assembly block toy set |
US11358071B1 (en) * | 2020-12-30 | 2022-06-14 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Building block toy |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2331166B1 (en) * | 2007-06-12 | 2010-09-24 | Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya | GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTION GAME. |
US20150037773A1 (en) * | 2011-10-06 | 2015-02-05 | Cesar Quirarte Catano | Tissue-Simulation Device for Learning and Training in Basic Techniques of Laparoscopic, Endoscopic or Minimally-Invasive Surgery |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1608273A (en) * | 1924-07-26 | 1926-11-23 | Paul R Glasgow | Building block |
US3566531A (en) * | 1962-06-09 | 1971-03-02 | Heinz Hasel | Mating blocks having beaded studs and resilient sidewalls |
US4792319A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1988-12-20 | Svagerko Daniel E | Building blocks |
US5022885A (en) * | 1989-10-10 | 1991-06-11 | Lyman Ronald L | Toy construction set featuring radiating face and complementary edge connectors |
US5215490A (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-06-01 | Charles A. Szoradi | Building block set of tenon engaging edge connecting members |
US5975977A (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1999-11-02 | Silverlit Technology Ltd | Toy building construction kit |
US6086444A (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2000-07-11 | Connector Set Limited Partnership | Block-type construction toy |
US6447360B1 (en) * | 2000-04-26 | 2002-09-10 | Soren Christian Sorensen | Interconnection of toy building elements in a releasable restraining engagement |
US20030082986A1 (en) * | 2001-10-25 | 2003-05-01 | Wiens Benjamin I. | Snap-fit construction system |
US20060228980A1 (en) * | 2005-04-08 | 2006-10-12 | Eric Hammond | Hinged connector for multi-part construction toy |
US20080146114A1 (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2008-06-19 | Ettore Fulgenzi | Toy Building Set |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1212537A (en) * | 1967-11-08 | 1970-11-18 | Keith Broughton Shackleton | Constructional toy |
CA1222869A (en) * | 1983-03-30 | 1987-06-16 | 284215 Alberta Limited | Connectable polygonal construction modules |
CA2337238A1 (en) * | 1998-07-27 | 2000-02-10 | Eric G. Mcintosh | Building block |
SE0100117D0 (en) * | 2001-01-16 | 2001-01-16 | Stefan Fard Taheri | Weedo |
SK9322002A3 (en) * | 2002-06-25 | 2004-01-08 | Pavol Sandor | A simple set of constructional elements |
-
2005
- 2005-09-02 IT IT000600A patent/ITTO20050600A1/en unknown
-
2006
- 2006-08-14 US US11/990,909 patent/US20090130947A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-08-14 WO PCT/EP2006/008024 patent/WO2007025646A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-08-14 EP EP06776834A patent/EP1922126A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1608273A (en) * | 1924-07-26 | 1926-11-23 | Paul R Glasgow | Building block |
US3566531A (en) * | 1962-06-09 | 1971-03-02 | Heinz Hasel | Mating blocks having beaded studs and resilient sidewalls |
US4792319A (en) * | 1987-07-08 | 1988-12-20 | Svagerko Daniel E | Building blocks |
US5022885A (en) * | 1989-10-10 | 1991-06-11 | Lyman Ronald L | Toy construction set featuring radiating face and complementary edge connectors |
US5215490A (en) * | 1991-09-17 | 1993-06-01 | Charles A. Szoradi | Building block set of tenon engaging edge connecting members |
US5975977A (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1999-11-02 | Silverlit Technology Ltd | Toy building construction kit |
US6086444A (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2000-07-11 | Connector Set Limited Partnership | Block-type construction toy |
US6447360B1 (en) * | 2000-04-26 | 2002-09-10 | Soren Christian Sorensen | Interconnection of toy building elements in a releasable restraining engagement |
US20030082986A1 (en) * | 2001-10-25 | 2003-05-01 | Wiens Benjamin I. | Snap-fit construction system |
US20080146114A1 (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2008-06-19 | Ettore Fulgenzi | Toy Building Set |
US20060228980A1 (en) * | 2005-04-08 | 2006-10-12 | Eric Hammond | Hinged connector for multi-part construction toy |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20180099232A1 (en) * | 2016-06-03 | 2018-04-12 | So Yeong Choi | Self-assembly block toy set |
KR101866659B1 (en) * | 2016-06-03 | 2018-06-12 | 최소영 | Self-assembly block toy set |
US11358071B1 (en) * | 2020-12-30 | 2022-06-14 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Building block toy |
US20220203255A1 (en) * | 2020-12-30 | 2022-06-30 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Building block toy |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITTO20050600A1 (en) | 2007-03-03 |
EP1922126A1 (en) | 2008-05-21 |
WO2007025646A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GIOCHI PULITI S.R.L., ITALY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FULGENZI, ETTORE;REEL/FRAME:020606/0497 Effective date: 20080215 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |