US20100203797A1

US20100203797A1 - Constructional building set comprising building elements with object container, and such building elements

Info

Publication number: US20100203797A1
Application number: US12/367,512
Authority: US
Inventors: Ajmal M. M. Beg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-07
Filing date: 2009-02-07
Publication date: 2010-08-12

Abstract

A constructional building element comprising a top face, a plurality of side walls extending downwardly from the top face, a plurality of coupling studs which are arranged on the top face, a plurality of cavities arranged in a two-dimensional periodical pattern at the bottom of the building element to receive coupling studs in frictional engagement and at least one container with opaque external surface and opening to accomadate favorite objects which cannot be easily joined. The object container with opaque external surface can be frictionally releasable from the building element. The object container with opaque external surface accomodates a surface area with coupling studs/cavities to frictionally engage with favorite objects. The building element may accommodate multiple containers with opaque external surfaces. The object container with opaque external surface may have tray to accommodate favorite objects.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a constructional building set which makes it easier to build toy models using favorite objects which are difficult to join together.

BACKGROUND

Person especially children love ideas/images of models which are made of their favorite objects. For example, some children like an idea of building a house of their favorite candies. Other children may like idea/image of a house made of colorful crayons, tree branches, tree leaves, pebbles or grass. Other children may like idea/image of a fire brigade engine made of flowers. Some of these favorite objects may be difficult to be joined together to form models. For instance, it is not easy to join together candies to build a model of house. Similarly, it is not easy to join together flowers to build a fire brigade engine made of flowers. It is also not easy to join together tree leaves to form a wall of leaves. Therefore, there is a need of constructional building set with building elements which enables a person to build a models using his/her favorite objects when his/her favorite objects cannot be engaged together easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of frame of a building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is top plan view of frame of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is bottom plan view of frame of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a perspective view of cover for object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of frame of a building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is bottom plan view of frame of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 a perspective view of cover for object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 a perspective view of releasable top area of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 a perspective view of building element without the releasable top area according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 a perspective view of cover for object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 a perspective view of cover for object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of cover for object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of object container of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a side view of frame of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a top view of frame of building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a constructional building set with at least one building element that is characterized in that it has a top face, a plurality of side walls extending downwardly from the top face, a plurality of coupling studs which are arranged on the top face, a plurality of cavities arranged in a two-dimensional periodical pattern at the bottom of the building element to receive coupling studs in frictional engagement and a container with opaque external surface and opening. According to another aspect of the invention, such container with opaque external surface can be frictionally releasable from the building element. According to another aspect of the invention, such container with opaque external surface has a surface area with coupling studs/cavities to frictionally engage with favorite objects. According to another aspect of the invention, the building element according to this invention has multiple containers with opaque external surfaces. According to another aspect of the invention, containers with opaque external surface has tray to accommodate favorite objects.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a building element according to present invention. This exemplary embodiment of building element is particularly useful as a wall element to build toy buildings. Building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention consists of three sub-elements; frame 10, two object containers 41 which frictionally engage with frame 10 and a cover 51 which covers opening of object container 41. FIG. 1 is the perspective view of frame 10. FIG. 2 is the top plan view of the frame 10. FIG. 3 is the bottom plan view of the frame 10. The frame 10 comprises a top face 11, a plurality of side walls 13, a support wall 14, guide ribs for object container 16, a plurality of coupling studs 12 which are arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern on the top face 11 and a bottom 15 which has plurality of cavities 32 arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern to receive the coupling studs 12 from other building elements in frictional engagement. A cavity 32 is realized by guide ribs for coupling studs 34 and inner walls 35 on the bottom of the frame 10 on which these guide ribs for coupling studs 34 are positioned. FIG. 4 illustrates object container 41. Object container 41 has multiple walls 42 which are opaque and has also a bottom 46. Multiple walls 42 and bottom 46 realizes a three-dimensional space 45 within the object container 41. Object container 41 has opening 47, through which a person can put in his/her favorite objects such as candies inside the object container 41. The same opening 47 can be used to remove favorite objects from the object container 41. Object container 41 has multiple slots 44 on its walls 42 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs of frame 16. FIG. 5 illustrates a cover 51. Opening 47 of the object container 41 can be covered with this cover 51. Object container 41 has slots 43 in which this cover 51 can slide. Cover 51 has space 54 for nails on its external surface to make it easier to move cover 51 into slots 43. Cover 51 has a cover opening 52 and a stopper 53 to cover the cover opening 52. The cover opening 52 is useful when pouring liquids inside the object container while cover 51 is covering the opening 47 of the object container 42. This feature 52 increases the number of ways object container can be used to build models. For instance, water can be poured inside the object container 41 and frozen. This object container 41 then can frictionally engage into frame 10 and can be used as an ice wall.
FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a building element according to present invention. This exemplary embodiment of building element is particularly useful as a roof element to build toy buildings. Building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention consists of three sub-elements; frame 60, object container 80 which frictionally engage with frame 60 and a cover 91 which covers opening of object container 80. FIG. 6 is the perspective view of frame 60. FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the frame 60. Frame 60 comprises a top face 61, a plurality of side walls 63, guide ribs for object container 66, a plurality of coupling studs 62 which are arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern on the top face 61 and bottom 65 which has a plurality of cavities 72 arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern to receive the coupling studs 62 from other building elements in frictional engagement. A cavity 72 is realized by guide ribs for coupling studs 74 and inner walls 75 on the bottom of the frame 60 on which these guide ribs for coupling studs 74 are positioned. Bottom of the frame 65 also has support walls 73. FIG. 8 illustrates object container 80. The object container 80 has bottom 86 and multiple walls 82 which are opaque. Multiple walls 82 and bottom 86 realizes a three-dimensional space 85 within the object container 41. Object container 41 has opening 87, through which a person can put in his/her favorite objects such as candies inside the object container 80. The same opening 87 can be used to remove favorite objects from the object container 80. Object container 80 has multiple slots 84 on its walls 82 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs for frame 66. FIG. 9 illustrates a cover 91. Opening 87 of the object container 80 can be covered with this cover 91. Object container 91 has slots 83 through which, this cover 91 can slide. Cover 91 has space 92 for nails on its external surface to make it easier to move cover 91 into slots 83. Cover 91 has a cover opening 92 and a stopper 93 to cover the cover opening 92. The cover opening 92 is useful when pouring liquids inside the object container while cover 91 is covering the opening 87 of the object container 80. This feature 92 increases the number of ways object container can be used to build models. For instance, water can be poured inside the object container 80 and frozen. This object container 80 then can frictionally engage into frame 60 and be used as a roof covered with ice. Object container 80 can be filled with straws and then frictionally engaged into frame 60 and used as a hay roof.
FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a building element 100 according to present invention. This exemplary embodiment of building element is particularly useful as a wall element to build toy buildings. Building element 100 comprises a top face 101, a plurality of opaque side walls 103, a plurality of coupling studs 102 which are arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern on the top face 101 and bottom 104 which has a plurality of cavities arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern to receive the coupling studs 102 from other building elements in frictional engagement. These cavities on bottom 104 are on the same pattern as illustrated in cavities 32 in FIG. 3. On the side walls 105 of the building element 100 are openings 104 leading to a three-dimensional space 106. In one exemplary usage of this building element 100, material such as wooden sticks are inserted from opening 104 into three-dimensional space 106 and piled up on top of one another to form a wall made of wooden logs.
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a building element according to present invention. This exemplary embodiment of building element is particularly useful as a wall element to build toy buildings. Building element according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention consists of two sub-elements; top part 110 and bottom part 120 which frictionally engage with one another. FIG. 11 is the perspective view of the top part 110 and FIG. 12 is the perspective view of the bottom part 120. Top part 110 comprises a top face 111, a plurality of side walls 115, a plurality of coupling studs 112 which are arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern on the top face 111, a space for nails 114 and bottom 116 which has two coupling studs 113 which frictionally engages with cavities 123 of the bottom part. Bottom part 120 contains a three-dimensional space 124 surrounded by opaque walls 121 and bottom 122. Bottom 122 has cavities arranged in a two-dimensional periodic pattern to receive the coupling studs 112 from other building elements in frictional engagement. These cavities on bottom 122 are on the same pattern as illustrated in cavities 32 in FIG. 3. In one exemplary usage of bottom part 120, mud is filled in the three-dimensional space 124 and bottom part 120 and top part 110 are frictionally engaged to form a mud wall.
Three-dimensional space which contains favorite objects can have different way of implementation. FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary object container 131 which can frictionally engage with frame 10 in FIG. 1. Object container 131 has multiple walls 132 which are opaque and a bottom 136. Multiple walls 132 and bottom 136 realizes an empty three-dimensional space 135 within the object container 131. Object container 131 has opening 137, through which a person can put in his/her favorite objects such as candies inside the object container 131. The same opening 137 can be used to remove favorite objects from the object container 131. Object container 131 has multiple slots 134 on its walls 132 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs of frame 16. Three-dimensional space 135 is divided in two sections by an internal wall 138. Division of three-dimensional space 135 into two sections 1350 1351 allows having two different kinds of favorite objects in each section. For example, one section 1350 can be filled with pebbles and the other section 1351 is filled with wood sticks. This object container 131 then can frictionally engaged into frame 10 and be used as a wall whose one side has look of stones wall and the other side has look of wooden wall. FIG. 14 illustrates a cover. Opening 137 of the object container 131 can be covered with this cover 141. Object container 131 has slots 133 in which this cover 141 can slide. Cover 141 has space 144 for nails on its external surface to make it easier to move cover 141 into slots 133. Cover 131 has a cover opening 142 and a stopper 143 to cover the cover opening 52.
FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an object container 151 which can frictionally engage with frame 10 in FIG. 1. Object container 151 has multiple walls 152 which are opaque and a bottom 158. One wall 1520 has an opening 1521 which can be covered by opaque cover 161 as illustrated in FIG. 16 by sliding cover 161 through slots 156. Cover 161 has space 162 on its external surface for nails. Object container 151 also an inner wall 154 which has small holes 159 spatially distributed on its surface. These holes 159 can be used to attach different favorite objects. Object container 151 has multiple slots 157 on its walls 152 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs of frame 16. In an exemplary usage of the object container 151, stems of natural flowers are inserted in holes 159 to form a surface full of flowers. The object container 151 then frictionally engaged into frame 10 and used as an exterior surface of a vehicle, ship or used as a wall element for building toy buildings.
FIG. 17 illustrates another exemplary implementation of an object container 171 which can frictionally engage with frame 10 in FIG. 1. Object container 171 has multiple walls 172 which are opaque and a bottom 178. One wall 1720 has an opening 1721 which can be covered by an opaque cover 161 as illustrated in FIG. 16 by sliding cover 161 through slots 176. Cover 161 has space 162 on its external surface for nails. Object container 171 also an inner wall 174 which has coupling studs 178 spatially distributed on its surface. These coupling studs 178 can be used to frictionally engage different favorite objects. Object container 171 has multiple slots 177 on its walls 172 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs of frame 16 illustrated in FIG. 1. In an exemplary usage of the object container 171, coupling studs 178 frictionally engage with plastic shell models and space between cover 161 while being engaged with object container 171 and inner wall 174 is filled with sand. The object container 171 then frictionally engaged into frame 10 and used as a wall element with shells and used to build a sand castle.
FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an object container 181 which can frictionally engage with frame 10 in FIG. 1. Object container 181 has multiple walls 182 which are opaque and a bottom 186. Each of front walls 1820 has opening 1821 which can be covered by an opaque cover 191 as illustrated in FIG. 19 by sliding cover 191 through slots 186. Cover 191 has space 192 on its external surface for nails. Object container 181 also has inner wall 183 which divides the internal space of object container 181 into two parts. Object container 181 has multiple slots 187 on its walls 182 which can frictionally engage with the guide ribs of frame 16 in FIG. 1. FIG. 20 illustrates a tray 201 with cavity 202. This cavity 202 can be filled with favorite objects, covered with cover 191 and then slided through slots 186. In an exemplary usage of the object container 181, tray 201 is filled with chopped pieces of grass. The object container 181 then frictionally engaged into frame 10 and used as an exterior surface of a vehicle, ship or used as a wall element for building toy buildings. FIG. 21 illustrates a tray 211 with round shaped cavities 212. Round shaped cavities 212 can be filled with round objects such as medals, covered with cover 191 and then slided through slots 186. The object container 181 then frictionally engaged into frame 10 and used as a piece of decorated wall which can frictionally engaged with other building elements contained in the constructional building set.
Building elements illustrated so far, do not have subareas for top face and subareas for bottom. Building element contained in a constructional building set can also have subareas for top face and bottom surface. FIG. 22 show illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a frame 221 being part of a building element according to present invention. FIG. 23 is the top plan view of this frame 221. The frame 221 comprises a top face 222, plurality of side walls 224 extending downwardly from the top face 222, a plurality of coupling studs 223 arranged in two-dimensional periodic pattern on the top face 222, space for object container 240 and a plurality of cavities 225 arranged in two-dimensional periodic pattern to accommodate coupling studs 223 from other building elements. The top face 222 has three subareas 237 238 239. Two coupling stud subareas 237 239 has each four coupling studs arranged in two-dimensional pattern. Third subarea 238 is without any coupling stud. All subareas 237 238 239 have different heights h1 310, h2 320 and h3 330 respectively. The space between side walls 234 extending downwardly also has three subareas 226 227 228 each of which are at height h4 340, h5 350 and h6 360 respectively. Only two subareas 226 228 have cavities 225.
It is to be understood that while the detailed description describes the present invention, the foregoing description is for illustrative purpose and does not limit the scope of the present invention which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, arrangements and equivalents will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such other embodiments, arrangements and equivalents are within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A building element for a constructional building set comprising:

a. a top face.

b. a plurality of side walls extending downwardly from the top face.

c. a plurality of coupling studs which are arranged in a two-dimensional periodical pattern on the top face

d. a plurality of cavities arranged in a two-dimensional periodical pattern between the side walls to receive the coupling studs in frictional engagement

e. at least one object container.

2. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container can frictionally engage with the said building element.

3. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has a plurality of three dimensional spaces for objects.

4. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has a cover.

5. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has inlet/outlet for fluids.

6. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container can sustain freezing temperature.

7. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has at least one surface with cavities to engage objects.

8. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has at least one surface with holes to engage objects.

9. A building element according to claim 1, wherein said object container has at least one surface with coupling studs to engage objects.

10. A building element according to claim 1, wherein top face area of the said building element is comprised of multiple subareas.

11. A building element according to claim 1, wherein the said cavities to accommodate said coupling studs are positioned in different subareas.

12. A construction building set containing at least one building element according to claim 1.

13. A construction building set according to claim 12 which contains a literature with information about different arrangements of the building elements.