US3303604A - Building toy - Google Patents

Building toy Download PDF

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Publication number
US3303604A
US3303604A US343721A US34372164A US3303604A US 3303604 A US3303604 A US 3303604A US 343721 A US343721 A US 343721A US 34372164 A US34372164 A US 34372164A US 3303604 A US3303604 A US 3303604A
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United States
Prior art keywords
notch
units
unit
features
structural units
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US343721A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert G Mote
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US329670A external-priority patent/US3303640A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US343721A priority Critical patent/US3303604A/en
Priority to NL6414396A priority patent/NL6414396A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3303604A publication Critical patent/US3303604A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D02—YARNS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; WARPING OR BEAMING
    • D02G—CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, OR YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS
    • D02G3/00—Yarns or threads, e.g. fancy yarns; Processes or apparatus for the production thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • D02G3/22—Yarns or threads characterised by constructional features, e.g. blending, filament/fibre
    • D02G3/32—Elastic yarns or threads ; Production of plied or cored yarns, one of which is elastic
    • D02G3/328—Elastic yarns or threads ; Production of plied or cored yarns, one of which is elastic containing elastane
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S52/00—Static structures, e.g. buildings
    • Y10S52/09—Structure including reclaimed component, e.g. trash
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/55—Member ends joined by inserted section
    • Y10T403/555—Angle section

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a building toy for young children comprised of structural units which interfit together in numerous and varied Ways. More particularly, the invention relates to such a toy in which the structural units are preferably made from empty milk cartons of the waxed cardboard variety.
  • milk cartons or simply cartons typical of which are the 1- and Z-quart mil-k cartons commonly seen in supermarkets and other grocery stores.
  • These cartons are presently classified and treated by seller and buyer alike as throwaway containers of the same category a's empty tin cans, beer bottles, etc.
  • I have now discovered a meansof converting such cartons into structural units suitable for the building toy purposes of this invention.
  • the advantages of this are two-fold; namely (1) the conversion of a heretofore useless discard product into a useful item, and (2) the provision of a new and useful-toy.
  • My toy structural units can be made in various ways, one such being the cutting of milk cartons to appropriate shapes as taught herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. carton or other origin, are characterized by cooperatively mating features permitting them to be assembled into structures of a great variety of sizes and shapes.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a possible assembly of structural units exemplary of the units of this invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a view of the assembly, mostly in section, taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the assembly taken along line 3--3 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, with hidden-line delineation of certain features not otherwise visible, of a structural unit in accordance with this invention
  • end flap means for interlocking connection with another unit having cooperating end flap means.
  • the coupling means comprise snugly interfitting male members and receptive female members so disposed as to permit connective relationship between the units in fulfillment of the purposes of the invention.
  • the definitive geometry of the cooperating male and female parts of my structural units is unique in my experience, and permits connective assembly of the units in a way hitherto unknown insofar as I am aware.
  • the male and female features of my structural units are each reducible to one of three-basic forms, here considered, for the previously disoused reasons, in a context assumptive of derivative mutilation of milk cartons.
  • the preferred milk cartons for conversion to structural units in accordance with the teachings herein are those of the conventional rectangular parallelepiped shape, and, to resort to redundancy for the sake of emphasis, having fiat ends.
  • milk cartons of other shapes, (so long as they have square cross-sections) are equally applicable for the indicated purpose, exemplary of such cartons being those with gabled pouring ends of the type familiarto all.
  • the notch cut is V-shaped in profile, sloping inwardly from points on a line passing perpendicularly through the longitudinal axis and two diagonal corners of .a milk carton to dihedral intersection at the oppositely diagonal corners of the carton.
  • the dihedral points of the notch cut on said oppositely diagonal corners of the milk carton fall on a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carton, and the angle of intersection of the sloping planes delineative of said notch cut intersect at an angle of 90.
  • This angle permits straddling interfit between the notch cut of one unit and a dihedral corner of another unit, as well as mating relationships with units having single side-notch and half-notch cuts, as will presently be explained.
  • the notch cut results in the formation of two ears of right triangular pyramidal shape projecting outwardly from the valley of the cut and terminating in apices disposed at opposite diagonal corners of the carton, as shown at 9 and 11 on FIGURE 4. It will, of course, be apparent that only two of the pyramidal walls of each ear are real, the third one, in each instance, being merely an imaginary planar surface coexistent with the sloping lines of the cut in the appropriately situated walls of the milk carton.
  • the single side-notch cut is of a V-shaped profile, extending half-way through a milk carton in the transverse direction, with the open end of the V disposed along a first dihedral corner thereof, and the closed end of the V coexistent With a line perpendicularly disposed with respect to the axis of the carton, and joining the two dihedral corners nearest said first dihedral corner of said carton.
  • the V-shape of the single side-notch out has a channel angle of 90, thereby permitting a structural unit with such a cut to snugly cradle a second structural unit in perpendicularly transverse relationship thereto, with the dihedral corner of the latter in mating repose within the channel groove of said out.
  • the single side-notch cut is of precisely the right size to snugly receive the notch-cut end of a structural unit so defined.
  • the tips of the ears of the notch-cut .of the latter or male unit should be so oriented as to enter the single side-notch cut of the other, or female, unit at its widest, as seen in profile, end.
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates the I resulting mating interfit between the ears of male unit 15 and the inner walls of female unit 19.
  • the male and female structural features making it possible to couple my units together in the above-indicated way are preferably so sized as to assure a relatively tight cult for small children to put the units together and take fit therebetween, although not so tight .as to make it diffiwalls penetrated by the latter.
  • Structural units with optimum male and female tolerances are made with relatively little difficulty from hollow starting materials such as empty milk cartons. It is again emphasized, however, that my toy structural units can be made from materials other than empty milk cartons or the like. It is even within the scope of the invention to provide such units of solid, rather than hollow, construction, except for the necessary openings and internal hollows of the proper sizes and shapes to satisfy the requirements taught herein. It is also within the scope of the invention to utilize structural units of mixed hollow and solid construction, so long as they are designed to interfit in a manner, and thus perform functions in accordance with this invention.
  • the half-notch cut is the equivalent of half of a single sidenotch cut occurring in either one of the dihedral carton This manner of description is employed as a technique to more easily and quickly paint a verbal picture of the visual interrelation of the two involved types of cut, and hence, it is hoped, promote faster and keener sensual appreciation thereof.
  • the half-notch cut is entirely different from, rather than merely a fractional part of, the single side-notch cut, as will soon become apparent.
  • the primary function of a half-notch cut is to serve as a receptive opening for one of the ears of a structural unit with a notch cut, and thereby provide another means of coupling my units together.
  • one ear of the former is inserted into the halfnotch cut of the latter as far as it will go to an angle of about 45, as measured between the axis of the carton with the notch cut (male unit) and the plane of the wall of the other carton (female unit) dihedral with the wall pierced by the half-notch cut and adjacent the wide end of said cut.
  • a symmetrical portion of the former including one ear and anintegrally adjacent segment in the mirror image shape of said ear, is engulfed in the cavityof the latter.
  • the fully inserted ear of the male unit bears flatly, around its notch-cut edges, against the inner surface of the wall of the'female unit previously identified as that dihedral with the wall penetrated by the half-notch cut and adjacent the wide end of said cut, and the dihedral corner of the male unit extending from the tip of its inserted ear is snugly cradled in the V-shaped peripheral edges of the half-notch cut converging from its wide end.
  • the tip of the inserted ear extends inside the female unit approximately to the line of intersection between the wall against which said ear bears and the wall opposite and parallel to that penetrated by the half-notch cut.
  • FIGURE 6 shows, in FIGURE 6, the wide end 21 of a half-notch cut in a female unit and a wall 23 of'such a unit against the inner surface of which the ear of a male unit bears when the two units are coupled in the manner here taught.
  • the drawings further show, in FIGURES 1 and 2, an. eared male unit 25, inserted to the fullest extent in a female unit 27, FIG- URE 2 revealing, at 29, the abutting relationship between the ear of the former and the appropriately adjacent inner wall of the latter.
  • the interlocking means comprises two or more, but preferably two, pairs of cooperating semi-circular flaps, each pair representing two units and each flap being sprung outwardly to a sufficient extent (but only to such an extent) to permit insertion of its cooperating counterpart flap thereunder. It will be apparent that here, as in the case of the other interlinking features of this invention, any number of structural unit combinations can be adapted to interlock in the prescribed manner, there being nothing critical about the number of pairs of such interlocking units.
  • a structural unit can be of wholly male character, such as that of FIGURE 4 (notch-cut on both ends) or FIG- URE 5 (notch-cut on one end only); of wholly female character, such as those shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, or units having two or three single side-notch cuts each; or of hermaphroditic character, having both male and female features.
  • the preferred spacing arrangement for the involved semi-circular flaps is one of symmetry along a diagonal of the square unit end, with each flap describing an arc segment of the same radius around a center located on the diagonal.
  • Two flaps, such as described, are shown at 31 and 33 on FIGURE 7. It will be observed that the flaps extend in mutually opposite directions from the diagonal on which their are centers are located, the reason for which will be apparent from an understanding of the manner in which they cooperate with flaps on other units to perform their interlocking function.
  • FIGURES 2 and 7 illustrate, the flaps on opposite sides of the center of any common line therethrough (typically a diagonal of the square end of a structural unit) extend in opposite directions, respectively, from said line. The reason for this will be apparent from an understanding of the manner in which the subject interlocking means functions.
  • An optional feature of my invention is the provision of intermediate longitudinal slots, which may be wholly or partially V-shaped, in the sloping end edges of theear walls of notch-cut units, as illustrated by FIGURE 5.
  • FIGURE 1 shows one of the many possible assemblies, or aggregative structures, which can be built from the structural units of this invention. While the FIGURE 1 structure is of relatively uncomplicated character by comparison with any of the almost infinite number of substantially more complex structures possible of achievement with my structural units, it is felt to be sufiiciently inclusive of the various interfitting and interlinking means encompassed by the present invention to comprehensively teach the fundamentals requisite thereto.
  • the lowermost support member of the pictured structure is a vertically disposed unit 34 having a flat base which rests upon a supporting surface (not shown) and a notch cut defining the shape of its upper end.
  • Unit 35 supports the two previously mentioned female units 17 and 19 in transverse cradling relationship as shown, said units being joined end to end by flap fastening means such as those formerly described and illustrated at 31 and33 on FIGURE 7.
  • Female units 17 and 19 in turn support two male units 13 and 15, which are inserted respectively therein in the manner shown and previously described in detail. From FIG- URE 1, considered in conjunction with FIGURES 2 and 3 and the foregoing descriptive material, the interfitting relationship and orientation of each unit relative to pertinent others is clear.
  • unit 37 Disposed in direct vertical alignment above unit 35, is another unit 37 having a notch-cut figuration at each end and being similar in appearance to the FIGURE 4 unit.
  • the notch cut in the lower end of unit 37 straddles the midpoint of end-to-end joined units 17 and 19 in such fashion that the tips of its defining ears meet the upwardly extending tips of the ears on unit 35.
  • Cradled in the upper notch cut of unit 37 is a female unit 27, of previous discussion, with a half-notch cut in its forwardly facing upper side.
  • the two notch cuts in unit 37 are diagonally corresponding (so that both are simultaneously silhouetted against a common planar background) and female unit 27 reposes in the upper notch cut in parallelism to the co-extensive axes of end-connected units 17 and 19.
  • Partially inserted within the half-notch cut in unit 27 is a male unit 25 marking the peak of the structure.
  • the toys basic units will be hereinafter claimed in language of a more definitive character than was used in the aforesaid description.
  • tubes which are square in cross section, the term tubes, as presently contemplated, being intended to encompass tubular members of nonelongate form, as well as such members enclosed at one or both ends.
  • the toy unit feature heretofore referred to as a ,notch cut will be claimed as a notch defined by end surfaces lying entirely in two planes, said two planes intersecting each other at a right angle, the line of intersection of said two planes being in a first axial plane containing two diametral corners of the tube of notch incidence and being perpendicular to a second axial plane containing theother two diametral corners of said tube, said first axial plane bisecting said right angle, whereby two male tube segments symmetrical about said first axial plane are formed.
  • milk cartons are connotative of structural configuration and construction materials consistent with milk cartons, and not function.
  • milk cartons is meant cartons of the type used as milk containers regardless of their actual use (which may be for containing orange juice, fruit punch, etc.).
  • milk cartons of this invention have been previously identified as being of the waxed cardboard variety, that languagewas used for convenience only and was never intended to be construed in a literal or limitative sense.
  • milk cartons as employed above and in the claims following hereinafter includes not only those of the waxed cardboard variety but equivalent ones, such as the more recently employed plastic- In fact, the latter containers are perhaps superior to the older-waxed cartons for purposes of my invention.
  • a building toy comprising a plurality of structural units characterized by at least two features which make mating interfit between said units and consequent assembly thereof into aggregates possible, said features being so distributed as to permit such unitinterfit and aggregative assembly;
  • said structural units being tubes which are square in cross-section;
  • At least one of said features being a notch in at least one of said tubes, said notch being defined by end surfaces of walls of said one tube, said end surfaces lying entirely in two planes, said two planes intersecting each other at a right angle, the line of intersection of said two planes being in a first axial plane containing two diametral corners of said one tube and being perpendicular to a second axial plane containing the other two diametral corners of said one tube, said first axial plane bisecting said right angle, whereby two male tube segments symmetrical about said first axial plane are formed;
  • a building toy in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that at least one notch defining tube wall portion of at least one of the male tube segments formed by a notch as defined in sub-paragraph (b) has a shallow cut running from its edge for a distance less than the depth of the aforesaid notch, said cut also running substantially parallely to the axis of the structural unit tube of its incidence.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
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US343721A 1963-12-11 1964-02-10 Building toy Expired - Lifetime US3303604A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US343721A US3303604A (en) 1963-12-11 1964-02-10 Building toy
NL6414396A NL6414396A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1963-12-11 1964-12-10

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US329670A US3303640A (en) 1963-12-11 1963-12-11 Method of producing composite elastic yarn
US343721A US3303604A (en) 1963-12-11 1964-02-10 Building toy

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US3303604A true US3303604A (en) 1967-02-14

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NL (1) NL6414396A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4008932A (en) * 1973-10-02 1977-02-22 Stamicarbon B.V. Structural element
US4257207A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-03-24 Cubit Corporation Construction system
US4302897A (en) * 1980-03-07 1981-12-01 Deckys Jonas E Modular display system
US4310994A (en) * 1979-10-16 1982-01-19 Autonomics, Inc. Complementary geometric modules
US4365454A (en) * 1979-02-21 1982-12-28 Cubit Corporation Construction system
USD404091S (en) 1996-09-30 1999-01-12 Robert Nizza Building block
US6203015B1 (en) * 1999-02-26 2001-03-20 Lynn D. Yarbrough Puzzle and method of assembly
US20070000203A1 (en) * 2003-02-07 2007-01-04 Toshiaki Yamada Block
US20120022561A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2012-01-26 Milux Holding S.A. apparatus for treating gerd
NL1041966A (nl) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-08 3Dmail Constructiemethode met ronde en vierkante kokers.

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2147237A (en) * 1937-03-22 1939-02-14 Bluthardt Edwin Toy building block
US2425729A (en) * 1942-08-15 1947-08-19 Sherbinin William N De Toy block
US2440836A (en) * 1946-03-18 1948-05-04 Oscar E Turngren Building construction and units
US2446179A (en) * 1946-11-12 1948-08-03 Harry W Harnquist Toy building block
US2805516A (en) * 1955-01-18 1957-09-10 Palm Felix Milk carton convertible to a toy
US3009283A (en) * 1957-10-15 1961-11-21 Laird B Gogins Toy building construction

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2147237A (en) * 1937-03-22 1939-02-14 Bluthardt Edwin Toy building block
US2425729A (en) * 1942-08-15 1947-08-19 Sherbinin William N De Toy block
US2440836A (en) * 1946-03-18 1948-05-04 Oscar E Turngren Building construction and units
US2446179A (en) * 1946-11-12 1948-08-03 Harry W Harnquist Toy building block
US2805516A (en) * 1955-01-18 1957-09-10 Palm Felix Milk carton convertible to a toy
US3009283A (en) * 1957-10-15 1961-11-21 Laird B Gogins Toy building construction

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4008932A (en) * 1973-10-02 1977-02-22 Stamicarbon B.V. Structural element
US4257207A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-03-24 Cubit Corporation Construction system
US4365454A (en) * 1979-02-21 1982-12-28 Cubit Corporation Construction system
US4310994A (en) * 1979-10-16 1982-01-19 Autonomics, Inc. Complementary geometric modules
US4302897A (en) * 1980-03-07 1981-12-01 Deckys Jonas E Modular display system
USD404091S (en) 1996-09-30 1999-01-12 Robert Nizza Building block
US6203015B1 (en) * 1999-02-26 2001-03-20 Lynn D. Yarbrough Puzzle and method of assembly
US20070000203A1 (en) * 2003-02-07 2007-01-04 Toshiaki Yamada Block
US8449345B2 (en) * 2003-02-07 2013-05-28 Tadatorayohsiten Co., Ltd. Building blocks
US20120022561A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2012-01-26 Milux Holding S.A. apparatus for treating gerd
US10653543B2 (en) * 2008-01-29 2020-05-19 Peter Forsell Apparatus for treating GERD
NL1041966A (nl) * 2016-07-01 2018-01-08 3Dmail Constructiemethode met ronde en vierkante kokers.

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Publication number Publication date
NL6414396A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1965-06-14

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