US3513590A

US3513590A - Blocks connectable by lateral sliding,including means for reducing sliding contact

Info

Publication number: US3513590A
Application number: US641820A
Authority: US
Inventors: Artur Fischer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-06-04
Filing date: 1967-05-29
Publication date: 1970-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1987-05-26
Also published as: DE1603304B2; DE1603304A1; DK115529B; FI47044C; NL6707525A; GB1167608A; ES139599Y; NO116710B; CH459853A; BE699173A; ES139599U; FI47044B; IL27761A; SE327938B; AT289604B

Description

May 26, 1970 A. FISCHER 3,5 90

BLOCKS CONNECTABLE BY LATERAL SLIDING, INCLUDING MEANS FOR REDUCING SLIDING CONTACT Filed May 29, 1967 United States Patent O 3,513,590 BLOCKS CONNECTABLE BY LATERAL SLIDING, INCLUDING MEANS FOR REDUCING SLIDING CONTACT Artur Fischer, 133 Gruenmettstetterstrasse, 7241 Tumlingen, Kreis Freudenstadt, Germany Filed May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 641,820 Claims priority, application Germany, June 4, 1966,

Int. Cl. A63h 33/08 US. C]. 4625 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A construction toy kit having blocks with mating undercut heads and grooves. The blocks are connected by lateral sliding of a head into a groove, and include contactreducing means projecting from the block face adjacent the head for preventing surface-to-surface contact of the face with a similar face on an other building block in response to mating engagement of the coupling means with complementary coupling means provided on such other building block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 'Ser. No. 595,071, filed on Nov. 17, 1966 and entitled Construction Kit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to building or assembly kits in general, and more particularly to toy building or assembly kits for the erection of replicas of buildings, vehicles and the like.

Building or assembly kits are known, for instance from my above-identified copending application and from others, in which a plurality of structural elements in form of building blocks are provided. These building blocks have male, female, or male and female coupling portions so that they can be connected to one another by mating of complementary coupling portions.

As set forth in the above-mentioned copending application, these coupling portions are in form of undercut grooves provided in one or more surfaces of the building blocks, and in form of complementary male coupling heads which are also undercut and project from one or more surfaces of the same or other building blocks. To effect connection of two blocks, a coupling head of one block is introduced into a groove of another, usually from an open end of the groove, and the coupling head is then shifted in the groove until the two blocks are in their desired relative positions.

During such shifting, experience has shown, undue friction develops between the juxtaposed surfaces of the two blocks, it being understood that these surfaces are tightly pressed against one another. Instead of smoothly gliding one on the other, the blocks therefore undergo a rather jerky motion which is undesirable and which is particularly pronounced if the two blocks are made from synthetic plastic material, as isusually the case. An improvement in this is thus clearly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides this desired improvement.

More particularly, the present invention very substan tially reduces the friction between the juxtaposed faces of blocks, which are connected as discussed above. It achieves thus reduction in friction by significantly reducing the area of contact between the juxtaposed surfaces.

Briefly stated, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a building block having a face; coupling ice means provide on the face; and friction-reducing means projecting from the face for preventing surface-to-surfacc contact of the face with a similar face on an other building block in response to mating engagement of the coupling means with complementary coupling means provided on such other building block.

The friction-reducing means is provided in form of projections which may have various configurations and whose surface portions which are to be in engagement with a surface of another block, are preferably convexly curved to further reduce the area of contacts.

The friction-reducing means in accordance with the present invention may be integral with the building block itself, or it may be provided on or integral with the coupling means. Also, it may be of the same material as the building block, or of a different material which may be the same as the material of the coupling means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned top-plan view of one side of a building block incrporating my invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates a somewhat modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an end view of an additional embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, showing two of the building blocks illustrated in FIG. 1 coupled together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be noted that these figures illustrate a building block 1 of polygonal cross-section and outline. Block 1 is provided in at least one side face thereof, with an undercut groove 2. It is also provided with a similar undercut groove 3 in one of its endfaces, and the cross-sectional configuration of groove 3 is identical with that of groove 2.

The opposite endface, indicated by the arrow A, is provided with an upwardly extending recess 4 in which there is received a complementarily configurated extension portion 6 of an undercut male coupling head 7, which is integral with the portion 6 and projects outwardly beyond the same and the endface in which it is secured, in fixed relationship thereto. The portion 6 is provided with a plurality of radially extending wings or ribs 8 (see FIG. 2) which prevent rotation of the portion 6 in the recess 4. The portion is in turn provided with a passage (not numbered) in which one end portion of a pin 5 is received, the other end portion thereof being received in an extension of the recess 4. To secure the pin 5and thereby the portion 6against working loose, the outer surface of pin 5 is provided with a plurality of sawtooth shaped ridges which, as illustrated, encircle the pin 5, but which might alternately also extend axially thereof.

Each of the wings 8 has, at its end which faces in direction of the coupling head 7, an abutment or engagement surface portion 9 which, as evident from FIGS. 1 and 2 both, is concavely rounded. The surface portions 9 constitute contact-reducing means according to the present invention. The depth to which the portion 6 with its wings 8 is inserted into the recess is so selected that the surface portions 9 project a slight distance beyond the endface in which the recess 4 is provided. In accordance with the invention I have found it advantageous that this distance be on the order of several hundreds of a millimeter, that is no less than 0.01 mm. and no more than 0.09 mm. (see FIG. 6). Adherence to this tolerance, in the manufacture of blocks embodying my invention, is simple particularly if, in forcing the portion 6 into the recess 4, the surface portions 9 on the one hand and the endface in which recess 4 is provided on the other hand, are engaged by the tool utilized for inserting and forcing the portion 6 into position.

I have also found it advantageous to make the building block 1 itself of a relatively hard synthetic plastic material, and to make the

portions

6 and 7 of a more elastic synthetic plastic material. Usual synthetic plastic material for the building block 1 may be polystyrol known under the trademark Luran and for the

portions

6 and 7 acetalcopolymerisat known under the trademark Hostaform C.

The embodiment in FIG. 3 is substantially similar to that in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that, Where in the preceding figures the projecting portions of the wings with the surface portions 9 extended radially of the head 7, in FIG. 3 the projecting portion with its abutment-surface portion 20 is of annular outline, surrounding the undercut coupling head 21 which is of quadratic cross-section. To obtain greater elasticity, the surface portion 20 may be discontinuous, the interruptions being clearly visible in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate still another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the coupling head 7a is here of circular cross-section, while the extension portion 6a with the wings 8a corresponds in configuration to the portion 6 with the Wings 8 in FIG. 1, as visible in FIG. 5. Unlike the block in FIG. 1, however, the block 1b in FIG. 5 is substantially quadratic and the distance between two opposite ones of its faces is so selected as to correspond to the combined embedded length of two of the portions 6a. Accordingly, therefore, block 1b is provided with two recesses corresponding to the recess 4 in FIG. 1, and one of the portions 6a is received in each of these recesses. Further, each end portion of the pin 5a is received in a passage of the respective portion 6a, thus connecting both portions 6a together. Except for these differences the embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponds to that in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6, finally, shows two building blocks connected to one another, with block 1 substantially corresponding to that shown in FIG. 1, and block 1a constituting the auxiliary block with which coupling is to be effected. Clearly, provision of the projecting surface portions 9 on the projection-which in this embodiment is of circular outlineresults in spacing between the juxtaposed endfaces of the blocks 1, 1a, although the distance is illustrated in exaggerated form for the sake of clarity, it being recalled that the actual distance is only a few hundreds of a millimeter.

Various possible modifications will be readily apparent. Thus, the pin 5 can be secured to the portion 6 via cooperating screw threads and be frictionally secured in the block 1--or vice versa. Further, the angular positions of the head 7 relative to the block endface can be made adjustable if the portion 6 is of circular cross-section without the wings 8, and if the pin 5 is threadedly secured to the portion 6. Evidently it is then highly advisable that the screw threads mate stiflly enough to prevent undesired rotation of portion 6 and head 7. If plastic is used, this is a simple matter, as is well known in the art.

Also, the pin 5 can be eliminated and the portion 6 be made cylindrical. In this case, saw-tooth shaped ridges corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 on the pin 5, can be provided on the portion 6 itself. It is also clear that the head 7 and the projections provided with the surface portions 9 can be made integral with the block,

rather than being joined thereto. If this is done on blocks which are used for special applications, the entire block with head and projections can be made of a materialsuch as a synthetic p1astic-which is different from that used for making the regular blocks to which the special block is to be connected. This facilitates sliding displacement of the blocks relative to one another.

It will be understood that each of the elements decribed above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of toys differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in building block, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. An assembly kit, comprising a first building block having a first face and provided thereon with first coupling means; a second building block having a second face; second coupling means provided on said second face, said first coupling means being an undercut groove and said second coupling means being an undercut coupling head in fixed relationship on said second block and receivable in said groove in coupling relationship only by sliding in a direction longitudinally thereof with freedom of said longitudinal sliding movement; and contactreducing means located in fixed relationship on said secand building block and projecting from said second face thereof for preventing surface-to-surface contact of said second face with said first face on said first building block in response to sliding engagement of said first and second coupling means.

2. In an assembly kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second coupling means is integral with said second building block.

3. An assembly kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact-reducing means comprises a plurality of projections radially spaced from said second coupling means and each having a surface portion spaced from and facing in the same direction as said second face of said second building block.

4. An assembly kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact-reducing means projects from said second face by a distance of at least 0.01 mm. and at most 0.09 mm.

5. An assembly kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact-reducing means comprises at least one projection having a surface portion spaced from and facing in the same direction as said second face of said second building block.

6. An assembly kit as defined in claim. 5, wherein said surface portion in convex.

7. An assembly kit as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection is an annular projection and surrounds said coupling head.

8. An assembly kit as defined in claim 7, wherein said annular projection is of circular outline.

9. An assembly kit as defined in claim 7, wherein said annular projection is of polygonal outline.

10. An assembly kit as defined in claim 1, said underout coupling head projecting from said second face and beyond said contact-reducing means thereon.

11. An assembly kit as defined in claim 10, wherein said second building block consists of one synthetic plastic material, and at least said coupling head consists of another synthetic plastic material.

12. An assembly kit as defined in claim 10, wherein said second face is provided with a recess extending inwardly therefrom; said second coupling means further comprising an extension portion extending rearwardly from said coupling head and received in said recess.

13. An assembly kit as defined in claim 12, wherein said extension portion has a cross-sectional area greater than that of said coupling head and is provided adjacent said head with an exposed surface which extends laterally beyond said coupling head and is located in the general plane of said second] face, said contact-reducing means being provided on said surface.

14. An assembly kit as defined in claim 12, wherein said recess is of other than circular cross-section, said extension portion having a cross-section complementary to that of said recess.

15. An assembly kit as defined in claim 12, wherein said recess is of a predetermined depth, said extension portion having a longitudinal extension shorter than said predetermined depth and having an end portion spaced from said coupling head, and said extension portion further comprising a pin secured in said end portion and projecting therefrom in the longitudinal direction of said extension portion.

16. An assembly kit as defined in claim 15, said end portion being provided with an internally screw-threaded passage extending inwardly thereof in longitudinal direction of said extension portion; and wherein said pin comprises an externally screw-threaded first end portion threadedly received in said passage, and a second end portion frictionally retained in said recess of said second face.

17. An assembly kit as defined in claim 15, wherein said pin is made from a material other than the material of said extension portion.

18. An assembly kit as defined in claim 17, wherein said material of said pin is a metallic material.

19. An assembly kit as defined in claim 15, said end portion being provided with a passage extending inwardly thereof in longitudinal direction of said extension portion; and wherein said pin is frictionally retained in said passage and said recess.

20*. An assembly kit as defined in claim 19, wherein said pin has an outer circumferential surface provided with a plurality of friction-promoting ridges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,803 8/ 1953 Andre 46-25 2,961,779 11/1960 Perry. 2,981,009 4/ 1961 Lindquist 4626 X 3,195,266 7/1965 Onanian 46-26 FOREIGN PATENTS 36,679 11/1965 Germany.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner