US2092687A - Block toy - Google Patents

Description

- Sept; -7, 1937. w. o. YANcEY' 2,092,687

BLOCK TOY Filed June 17 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Se t. 7, 1937. w. o. YANCEY BLQCK TOY Filed June 17, 1956 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 IMWMWA MgL/AM O xf/l/Cf/ BmcK William 0. Yancey,

Sanl'Francisco, Calif.

Application June 17, 1936, Serial No. 85,792

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in toys and has particular reference to block toys.

The principal object of this invention is to devise a plurality of blocks which may be assembled so as to form a wheel toy, such as an articulate streamlined train, consisting of two or more cars.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which will teach a child to assemble articles in proper sequence.

A further object is to produce a toy wherein the blocks may have a certain significance when viewed from one side, and then. when viewed from another, may carry indicia representing birds, animals, characters, or letters.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is, a side elevation of a plurality of my blocks assembled to form a train;

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the blocks removed and partly in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a roof block;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the body blocks;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the abutting roof blocks where the cars are hinged;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my blocks;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the circular engine blocks;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the engine body blocks and the supporting rails;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a modified form of block; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of block showing the manner in which it is assembled into the train structure.

Building blocks have always been considered beneficial to a childs welfare in that they are amusing to play with, educational, in that blocks usually carry indicia thereon which familiarizes the child with various objects and which also trains the eye in positioning blocks one upon another.

Applicant has, therefore, devised an arrangement wherein a plurality of blocks of various shapes may be assembled so as to produce a train. It is a well known fact that-children of both sexes enjoy trains, particularly when at the building block stage.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate the base blocks of two cars, the car 5 having wheels 1, and the car 6 having wheels 8. These base blocks may be hinged one to the other in any convenient manner. Upon each base block are parallel rails, as shown at 9 and H. Pegs l2 and [3 may be positioned adjacent opposite ends of the cars and serve to position end blocks l4 and I6 and I4 and I6 respectively. Intermediate body blocks 23 are provided. These blocks I6 and 23 are provided with grooves I'I adjacent each corner thereof so as to receive the rails 9 and the down-turned ends 18 and [9 of the roof blocks 2|. These roof blocks have a groove 22 formed therein, parallel with the length of the base blocks; the roof blocks 2| and 2| have their ends concaved and convexed respectively to permit the cars to pivot, and the same is. also true of the base blocks 5 and 6. Body blocks are positioned between the blocks l4 and I6 and are fastened in the same manner so as to engage the rails 9 and II and to also position the roof blocks thereon. A cord 24 has one end secured to the fronting of the base block and has its opposite end secured to the rear of the base block. This cord may be tightened in any desired manner or may consist of a rubber band. Thus, when the blocks are all assembled upon the car, the same will be held, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the modified form, shown in Figs. 6 to 10,

the same construction is employed, and, therefore, the same numerals are used, the only difierence being that by varying the contour of the blocks, I may produce a different shaped outline 'to the train. For instance, in Fig. '7, I have shown circular blocks 25, which, when assembled upon blocks 26, effect a boilerlike appearance; and by sawing the blocks diagonally, as shown in Fig. 9, I can assemble them so that they have the appearance of braces built into the car structure. This same manner of holding the blocks together is employed in both the preferred and modified form.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a prefered example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base block, a pair of parallel rails positioned on said base block, end blocks removably secured to said base block, body blocks interposed between said end blocks, said body blocks engaging said rails, roof blocks positioned on said end blocks and said body blocks, and means for holding said blocks to said base block.

2. In a device of the character described, a base block, a pair of parallel rails positioned on said base block, end blocks removably secured to said base block, body blocks engaging said rails, roof blocks positioned on said end blocks and said body blocks, means for holding said blocks to said base block, said means including a groove formed in said end blocks and said roof blocks and extending parallel with the length of said base block, and a cord passed therethrough and its ends secured to said base block.

3. In a toy of the character described, a pair of base blocks hingedly secured one to the other, end blocks secured to each of said base blocks, intermediate blocks interposed between said end blocks, parallel rails mounted on said base blocks and serving to slidably position said intermediate blocks, and flexible means secured to the opposite ends of each of said base blocks and overlying all of said blocks for the purpose of maintaining said blocks in contact with said base blocks.

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