US20140227938A1

US20140227938A1 - Building block unit, assembling structure and base having the same

Info

Publication number: US20140227938A1
Application number: US14/086,889
Authority: US
Inventors: Fang-Liang HUANG
Original assignee: CHIN TANG PAPERWARE Co Ltd
Current assignee: CHIN TANG PAPERWARE Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-02-08
Filing date: 2013-11-21
Publication date: 2014-08-14
Also published as: TWM457572U

Abstract

A base of a building block is provided, including a sheet body which has a plurality of regions, and a fold-line is formed between each two neighboring regions. The sheet body has at least one assembling hole and at least one assembling portion which are disposed respectively on two different regions of the sheet body. Therefore, the regions can be folded facingly along the fold-lines to form a building block unit which is a hollow polyhedron. A plurality of building block units can be assembled via the engagement of the assembling hole and the assembling portion. The base of the building block unit of the present invention is a sheet body, so it can save much space when being packaged or sold and users can assemble the building block unit by themselves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a building block unit as well as an assembling structure and a base of the building block unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Common building blocks are mainly composed of a plurality of building block units as disclosed in TW M426433, in which a bottom opening of a building block is disposed around an outer face of a stub of another building block to make a positioning groove of the building block correspond to and form with a positioning pole of another building block so as to pile up a plurality of building blocks.
However, the stud of this kind of building block is rectangular, so the assembly of building blocks is still limited by angle, and users can't pile up the building blocks as the way they like. Generally speaking, building blocks are integrally made of plastic; therefore, the building blocks will require more space during packaging or shipping, and it is inconvenient for users to store. Thus, the structures of the conventional building blocks still have room to improve.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a building block unit as well as an assembling structure and a base of the building block unit, which are beneficial for users to assemble and store.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a building block unit, wherein a main body is included.
The main body is polyhedral, and the main body has at least one assembling hole and at least one assembling portion which are respectively disposed on two different faces of the main body. The assembling portion has a cutting line which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends at different positions. A head portion is defined by the cutting line, and the connecting section between the head portion and the main body is formed with a neck portion, so the head portion is swingable relative to the main body. The assembling hole has an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion is smaller than that of the head portion, so the head portion can be stuckable in the engaging hole and won't fall off easily.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention also provides a building block assembling structure, including a plurality of above-mentioned building block units, wherein the width of the engaging portion of the assembling hole of each main body is smaller than the largest width of each head portion; hence, the head portion of the main body is swingable relative to the main body to be disposed through the assembling hole of other main bodies and stuck at the engaging portion of the assembling hole.
The present invention further provides a base of the building block, including a sheet body.
The sheet body has a plurality of regions, and a fold-line is formed between each two neighboring regions. These regions can be folded facingly along the fold-lines to form a hollow polyhedron. The sheet body has at least one assembling hole and at least one assembling portion, and the at least one assembling hole and the at least one assembling portion are respectively disposed on two different regions of the sheet body. The assembling portion has a cutting line which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends at different positions. A head portion is defined by the cutting line, and the connecting section between the head portion and the sheet body is formed with a neck portion, so the head portion is swingable relative to the sheet body. The assembling hole has an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion is smaller than that of the head portion, so the head portion can be stuckable at the engaging portion of the assembling hole.
Therefore, the present invention provides the building block unit as well as the assembling structure and the base of the building block unit. Users can assemble the base of the building block unit to form the building block unit, and a plurality of building block units can be assembled and piled up via the assembling portion and assembling hole. The present invention is entertaining for users, and it is convenient for users to store.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building block unit of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a partially-enlarged view of the building block unit of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the building block of the present invention from another perspective;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembling structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of a base of the building block of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the base of the building block of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the base of the building block of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the base of the building block of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are drawings showing an assembly of the first embodiment of the base of the building block of the present invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are drawings showing the assembly of a plurality of building block units of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a building block unit and an assembling structure of the building block unit, and the building block unit includes a main body 1.
The main body 1 is a polyhedron, and preferably, the main body 1 is a hollow polyhedron. The main body 1 has at least one assembling hole 2 and at least one assembling portion 3 which are respectively disposed on two different faces of the main body 1. More specifically, the main body 1 has correspondingly a first face 11 and a second face 12 and a plurality of lateral faces 13 connected to the first face 11 and the second face 12. The assembling hole 2 and the assembling portion 3 are respectively disposed on each two of the first face 11, the second face 12 and the lateral faces 13. Preferably, in this embodiment, the main body 1 is a hexahedron, and each face of the hexahedron is quadrilateral, but in other possible embodiments, the faces of the polyhedron could be in other shapes, such as triangular, circular, or the like. The main body could even be a cone. Preferably, the main body 1 can be made of paper (but not limited thereto). Consequently, the present invention is not only practical but also environment-friendly, and of course, the main body could also be made of other materials, such as plastic.
The assembling portion 3 has a cutting line 31 which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends at different positions. More specifically, the cutting line 31 is substantially an arc line, and a head portion 32 is defined by the cutting line 31 to be substantially arc-shaped. A neck portion 33 is formed at the connecting section between the head portion 32 and the main body 1 to enable the head portion 32 to be swingable relative to the main body 1. Preferably, the largest width of the head portion 32 is larger than the width of the neck portion 33, and a verge of the head portion 32 of the assembling portion 3 is substantially serrated (as shown in FIG. 1A).
The assembling hole 2 has an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion is smaller than that of the head portion 32, so the head portion 32 can be stuckable in the assembling hole 2 and won't fall off easily. In this embodiment, the assembling hole 2 is a circular hole whose largest width is between the largest width of the head portion 32 and the width of the neck portion 31, and the hole edge of the assembling hole 2 has the same structure as the verge of the head portion 32 and has substantially serrated shape (not shown).
In this embodiment, the main body 1 is formed with two assembling holes 2 and two assembling portions 3, 3′, and each of the two assembling holes 2 and each of the two assembling portions 3, 3′ are respectively disposed on each two of the first face 11, the second face 12 and the lateral faces 13. Preferably, in this embodiment, the assembling holes 2 are disposed on the first face 11 of the main body 1, and the assembling portions 3, 3′ are disposed on the second face 12 of the main body 1; the assembling holes 2 and the assembling portions 3, 3′ are disposed in corresponding positions and distributed in equal density. Preferably, each head portions 32, 32′ of each assembling portion 3, 3′ is swingable relative to the main body 1 around a corresponding axis, and the axes of the head portions 32, 32′ of the two assembling portions 3, 3′ extend in different directions. More specifically, when the head portions 32, 32′ of the assembling portions 3, 3′ are swung relative to the main body 1 along the neck portions 33, 33′, the head portions 32, 32′ of the two assembling portions 3, 3′ are swung in different directions. In other possible embodiments, the main body can be formed with one or more than two assembling hole(s) and assembling portion(s).
As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention further provides a building block assembling structure, including a plurality of building block units mentioned above. This embodiment uses two building block units to illustrate (but not limited thereto), and it is possible to include more than two building block units in other embodiments. Each building block unit includes a main body 1, 1′, wherein the width of the engaging portion of the assembling hole 2′ of the main body 1′ is smaller than the largest width of each head portion 32, 32′ of another main body 1; therefore, when the head portions 32, 32′ of the main body 1 are swung relative to the main body 1, the head portions 32, 32′ of the main body 1 can be disposed through and stuck at the engaging portion of the assembling hole 2 of the main body 1′. Preferably, the largest width of the assembling hole 2′ of the main body 1′ is between the largest width of each head portion 32, 32′ of another main body 1 and the width of each neck portion 33, 33′, so when the head portions 32, 32′ of the main body 1 are swung relative to the main body 1, they can be disposed through and stuck in the assembling hole 2′ of another main body 1′ and won't fall off easily. More specifically, because the main bodies 1, 1′ of each building block unit is a hollow polyhedron, wherein each head portion 32, 32′ of the main body 1 of a building block unit can be swung outward relative to the main body 1, stuck in one of the assembling holes 2′ of the main body 1′ of another building block unit and disposed in the main body 1′.
In practice, users can push the head portions 32, 32′ outward and make them get stuck in the engaging holes 2′ of another main body 1′ through the assembling holes 2 of the main body 1. Furthermore, the verges of the head portions 32, 32′ are serrated and the hole edges of the assembling holes 2′ are also serrated; therefore, when the head portions 32, 32′ are stuck in the engaging holes 2′, part of the verges of the head portions 32, 32′ will engage with the hole edges of the assembling holes 2′ to make the engagement of the head portions 32, 32′ and the assembling holes 2 more stable. More specifically, the assembling portions 3, 3′ of the main body 1 are distributed in equal density, and the assembling holes 2′ of another main body 1′ are distributed in equal density; hence, the main bodies 1, 1′ can be corresponding to each other and piled up, and the main bodies 1, 1′ can be fixed via the engagement of the assembling portions 3, 3′ and the assembling holes 2′.
Besides, since the directions of the head portions 32, 32′ swung are different, the directions of the engaging forces between the head portions 32, 32′ of the main body 1 of a building block unit and the assembling holes 2′ of another building block unit are different. Therefore, when each head portion 32, 32′ of the main body 1 of a building block unit is stuck in one of the assembling holes 2′ of another building block unit, the two building block units won't fall off from each other easily.
Given the above, the present invention provides the building block unit and the assembling structure of the building block unit. Through the assembling portion and the assembling hole of each of the building block unit, each two building block units can be assembled or combined to form the building block assembling structure, and it is easy for users to assemble and pile up the building block units. In addition, the building block unit is hollow, and the assembling portion is selectively swingable; thus, when users finish constructing the shape or structure they want, they can fold the assembling portions inward into the building block unit. Compared with the prior arts, the building block assembling structure piled up with the building block unit of the present invention looks good in appearance because there are no unnecessary studs.
As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention further provides a base of the building block unit, including a sheet body 4, wherein a plurality of regions is included. Each two neighboring regions are formed with fold-lines, and the regions can be folded facingly along the fold-lines to form a hollow polyhedron. More specifically, a plurality of regions of the sheet body 4 includes a first region 41, a second region 42, a connecting region 43, two first wing portions 44, a second wing portion 45, two third wing portions 46 and a fourth wing portion 47. Preferably, the first region 41 and the second region 42 are quadrilateral; the connecting region 43 is connected with the first region 41 and the second region 42; the two first wing portions 44 are respectively disposed at two corresponding ends of the first region 41 neighboring the connecting region 43; the second wing portion 45 is disposed at one end of the first region 41 corresponding to the connecting region 43; the two third wind portions 46 are respectively disposed at two corresponding ends of the second region 42 neighboring the connecting region 43; and the fourth wing portion 47 is disposed at one end of the second region 42 corresponding to the connecting region 43. More specifically, the shape of the two first wing portions 44 corresponds to that of the two third wing portions 46, and the shape of the second wing portion 45 corresponds to that of the fourth wing portion 47. Preferably, the sheet body 4 could be made of paper, but not limited thereto. The present invention is not only practical but also environment-friendly, and of course, the main body could also be made of other materials such as plastic.
Moreover, the connecting sections between each first wing portion 44 and the first region 41 and between the second wing portion 45 and the first region are respectively formed with at least one connecting slot 48. Preferably, the connecting sections between each first wing portion 44 and the first region 41 are formed with a plurality of connecting slots 48; the connecting section between the second wing portion 45 and the first region 41 is formed with a connecting slot 48; and one end of the third wing portion 46 relative to the second region 42 and one end of the fourth wing portion 47 relative to the second region 42 are respectively formed with at least one protruding portion 49 which will engage with the connecting slot 48. More specifically, the protruding portion 49 of the third wing portions 46 will be engaged with the connecting slot 48 of the first wing portions 41, and the protruding portion 49 of the fourth wing portion 47 will be engaged with the connecting slot 48 of the second wing portion 45. More clearly, each connecting slot 48 could be a cutting line which is substantially in U shape or inverse U shape, and in other embodiments, each connecting slot 48 could be a straight cutting line or an open hole. Each protruding portion 49 can be inserted into one of the connecting slots 48 to form the hollow polyhedral structure.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first region 41, a second region 42, a connecting region 43, two first wing portions 44, a second wing portion 45, two third wing portions 46 and a fourth wing portion 47 can be folded facingly along the fold-line, and then, the protruding portions 49 can be disposed through and stuck in the connecting slots 48 to form a main body 1 of the building block unit shown in FIG. 1. Regarding other embodiments, please refer to FIGS. 5 to 7. The number of the connecting slot 48 of the second wing portion 45′ can be changed in accordance with various requirements, and the number of the protruding portion 49 of the fourth wing portion 47′, 47″ can also be changed in accordance with various requirements; hence, the present invention can be folded to form various sizes of hollow polyhedra.
The sheet body 4 is formed with at least one assembling hole 5 and at least one assembling portion 6, and the assembling hole 5 and the assembling portion 6 are disposed on two different regions of the sheet body 4. In this embodiment, preferably, the sheet body 4 is formed with a plurality of assembling holes 5 and a plurality of assembling portions 6. Each assembling hole 5 is disposed on the second region 42 of the sheet body 1, and each assembling portion 6 is disposed on the first region 41. Each assembling portion 6 has a cutting line 61 which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends at different positions. Preferably, the cutting line 61 is an arc line, and a head portion 62 is defined by the cutting line 61 to be substantially arc-shaped. The connecting section between the head portion 62 and the sheet body 4 is formed with a neck portion 63 to enable the head portion 62 to be swingable relative to the sheet body 4. The assembling hole 5 has an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion is smaller than that of the head portion 62 so as to make the head portion 62 stuckable in the assembling hole 5. Preferably, the largest width of the head portion 62 is larger than the width of the neck portion 63, and the largest width of each assembling hole 5 is between the largest width of the head portion 62 and the width of the neck portion 63.
Please refer to FIGS. 10 and 11 for actual practice. Users can fold the structurally different sheet bodies 4, 4 a, 4 b and 4 c into various sizes of hollow polyhedra. The assembling portion 6 of each sheet body 4, 4 a, 4 b or 4 c is stuckable in the assembling hole 5′ of another sheet body 4, 4 a, 4 b or 4 c, and the assembling portion 6 can be folded inward into the interior of the hollow polyhedra formed by the sheet bodies 4, 4 a, 4 b and 4 c.
The structure of the base of the building block unit is simple and concise, so it is easy to manufacture and assemble the building block unit. Because the base of the building block unit is a sheet body, it doesn't need much space when the building block unit is packaged or sold. Furthermore, it is entertaining for users to assemble a building block unit.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been describe in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A building block unit, including:

a main body which is a polyhedron formed with at least one assembling hole and at least one assembling portion, the at least one assembling hole and the at least one assembling portion disposed respectively on two different faces of the main body, the assembling portion having a cutting line which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends in different positions, a head portion being defined by the cutting line, a connecting section between the head portion and the main body formed with a neck portion to enable the head portion to be swingable relative to the main body, the assembling hole having an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion being smaller than that of the head portion to enable the head portion to be stuckable at the engaging portion of the assembling hole.

2. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein a largest width of the head portion is larger than the width of the neck portion, and a largest width of the assembling hole is between the largest width of the head portion and the width of the neck portion.

3. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein the main body has corresponding first and second faces and a plurality of lateral faces connected to the first face and the second face, the main body is formed with a plurality of assembling holes and a plurality of assembling portions, and each of the assembling holes and each of the assembling portions are disposed respectively on two of the first face, the second face and the lateral faces.

4. The building block unit of claim 3, wherein the head portion of each assembling portion is swingable relative to the main body around a corresponding axis, and at least two axes of the head portions of two assembling portions extend in different directions.

5. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein the cutting line is substantially an arc line, and the head portion is substantially arc-shaped, and the assembling hole is a circular hole.

6. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein a hole edge of the assembling hole is substantially serrated.

7. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein a verge of the head portion of the assembling portion is substantially serrated.

8. The building block unit of claim 1, wherein the main body is a hollow polyhedron, the assembling hole and the assembling portion are respectively disposed on corresponding first and second faces of the main body, and the positions of the assembling hole and the assembling portion correspond to each other.

9. A building block assembling structure, including a plurality of building block units of claim 1, wherein the width of the engaging portion of the assembling hole of the main body is smaller than a largest width of the head portion of each main body so that the head portion of the main body is swingable relative to the main body and stuckable at the engaging portion of the assembling hole of one of the main bodies.

10. A base of the building block unit, including a sheet body having a plurality of regions, wherein a fold-line is formed between each two neighboring regions, the regions are foldable facingly along the fold-lines to form a hollow polyhedron, the sheet body is formed with at least one assembling hole and at least one assembling portion which are disposed at two of the regions of the sheet body, the assembling portion has a cutting line which is non-straight and has two corresponding ends at different positions, a head portion being defined by the cutting line, a connecting section between the head portion and the sheet body is formed with a neck portion to enable the head portion to be swingable relative to the sheet body, the assembling hole has an engaging portion, and at least the width of the engaging portion is smaller than that of the head portion to enable the head portion to be stuckable at the engaging portion of the assembling hole.

11. The base of the building block unit of claim 10, wherein a largest width of the head portion is larger than the width of the neck portion, the largest width of the assembling hole is between the largest width of the head portion and the width of the neck portion.

12. The base of the building block unit of claim 10, wherein a plurality of regions of the sheet body include a first region, a second region, a connecting region, two first wing portions, a second wing portion, two third wing portions and a fourth wing portion, the assembling hole and the assembling portion are respectively disposed on the first region and the second region which are quadrilateral, the connecting region is connected with the first and second regions, the two first wing portions are respectively disposed at two ends of the first region neighboring the connecting region, the second wing portion is disposed at one end of the first region corresponding to the connecting region, the two third wing portions are disposed at two ends of the second region neighboring the connecting region, the fourth wing portion is disposed at one end of the second region corresponding to the connecting region, the shape of the two first wing portions corresponds to that of the two third wing portions, the shape of the second wing portion corresponds to that of the fourth wing portion, the connecting sections between each first wing portion and the first region and between the second wing portion and the first region are respectively formed with at least one connecting slot, and one end of each third wing portion corresponding to the second region and one end of the fourth wing corresponding to the second region are respectively formed with at least one protruding portion engagable with the connecting slot.