US3834067A

US3834067A - V-shape blocks having flanges and notches for stacking

Info

Publication number: US3834067A
Application number: US00037593A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Koleczek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-05-15
Filing date: 1970-05-15
Publication date: 1974-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-10

Abstract

Toy building blocks which are, generally, V-shaped in crosssection and have locking notches in the lower sidewall edges thereof for permitting them to be stacked atop one another. Some blocks may include flanges projecting from the sidewalls adapted to support the lower edges of others. Still other blocks may be angular or curved instead of straight. The locking notches may have means adapted to receive and secure wheels to the blocks.

Description

Unlted States Patent 1111 3,834,067 Koleczek Sept. 10, 1974 V-SHAPE BLOCKS HAVING FLANGES AND 2,078,709 4/1937 Hecht 46/16 x 3,224,137 12/1965 Wright et a1 46/17 X 76 T lf l i l k 16531 S D220,877 6/1971 Tigerman 46/25 UX t 1 ggggg figf L 91607 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed May 15 1970 439,159 4/1912 France 46/24 [21] Appl. No.: 37,593 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay 52 US. 01. 46/25, 46/24 [57] AFSTRACT 51 1m. 01 A63h 33/08 TOY bulldmg blocks whlch generally, V'ShaPed [58] Field of Search 46/30 31 29 25 26 cross-section and have locking notches in the lower 46/21 sidewall edges thereof for permitting them to be stacked atop one another. Some blocks may include [56] References Cited flanges projecting from the sidewalls adapted to support the lower edges of others. Still other blocks may UNITED STATES PATENTS be angular or curved instead of straight. The locking SE1 25 3 notches may have means adapted to receive and se- 1e s 1,601,401 9/1926 List 46/25 ux cure Wheels to the blocks 1,690,178 11/1928 Reeves 46/21 X 11 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures V-SIIAPE BLOCKS HAVING FLANGES AND NOTCHES FOR STACKING This invention relates, in general, to toy building blocks and, in particular, to toy building blocks which are easily and compactly nestable for storage.

Numerous difierent types of building blocks for children are presently available, and each type generally offers certain advantages and features different from the others. Also, most children prefer one type of building blocks over the others, for one reason or another.

Regardless of the type of building blocks a child might prefer, it is usually necessary for him to have a large number of them so that he can build various different types of structures. In the usual case, storage is a problem because of the enormous amount of space required to store a large number of the blocks. Expense also is a factor when purchasing the blocks, particularly if a large number of them are being purchased to satisfy a childs desires. Then too, most conventional blocks are of a design which limits the types of structures and designs which can be created.

The toy building blocks of the present invention are easily and compactly nestable so that storage presents few, if any problems. The blocks also can be easily and inexpensively formed so that the purchase price of even a large number of them can be held at a reasonably low price. The design is such that numerous different structures, designs and even objects resembling trains, cars and the like can be created, all of which adds to the enjoyment which a child can have in playing with the blocks.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention ro provide improved toy building blocks.

Another object is to provide improved toy building blocks which are easily and compactly nestable for storage.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an end plan view and a side plan view of a toy building block exemplary of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view generally illustrating the manner in which a number of the blocks can be stacked atop one another;

FIG. 4 is an end plan view generally illustrating the manner in which the blocks can be nestably stacked;

FIG. 5 is a view generally illustrating the proportional relationship of the blocks and the locking notches therein;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are end plan and perspective views, respectively, of a block exemplary of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are end plan and side plan views, respectively, of a block having a slightly different crosssectional configuration;

FIGS. I0 and I l are end plan and side plan views, rcspcctivcly, of still another cross-sectional configuration of the blocks;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are top plan and side plan views, respectively, of a square-comer toy building block;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are top plan and side plan views, respectively, of a curved-comer toy building block;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective views generally illustrating the manner in which an axle and wheels can be removably affixed to the blocks.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a toy building block 10 exemplary of the invention, and it can be seen that the block 10 is simply an elongated length of material which is V-shaped in cross-section, having a pair of

sidewalls

11 and 12 connected at their upper edges to form the apex of the V- shape. In use, the V-shaped block 10 is, of course, normally inverted so that it stands on the edges of the two

sidewalls

11 and 12. The apex of the V-shaped block 10 preferably is slightly round or arcuate in shape, as illustrated, and means are provided at the side wall lower edges to seatingly receive the upper connected side wall edges of blocks placed therebelow. To provide such means, each of the two sidewalls l1 and 12 has at least two spaced-apart locking notches l3 and 14 in the lower edge thereof which are correspondingly shaped so that the apex of another like block 10 can seat within them. The locking notches 13 in each of the

side walls

11 and 12 are oppositely aligned one another, as are the locking notches 14, so that the apex of another block 10 will seat in an aligned pair of the

locking notches

13, or 14, in the sidewalls l1 and 12. When seated in this fashion, the two blocks 10 are perpendicular to one another.

The toy building blocks 10 can be formed in numerous different lengths and heights, so that a large variety of different size blocks can be provided which, of course, permits a whole host of different structures and designs to be created. As an example, the blocks 10 can be provided in lengths of 4, 6, 8, l0 and 12 inches, and in heights which vary from approximately /2 to 2 inches or more. The blocks 10 also can be fabricated of many different materials such as, for example, plastic, paper pulp, fiberboard and the like, and in many different colors, if desired. A preferred material is a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene which is fairly strong and fairly rigid, since plastics of this type are easily molded and are relatively inexpensive.

Regardless of the length or height of the blocks 10, there is a minimum proportional relationship which must be maintained in order that the blocks 10 have the greatest versatility. For example, in referring to FIG. 5, the distance b between the centerlines of the

locking notches

13 and 14 should be at least equal to the spread or distance a between the

sidewalls

11 and 12 so that two blocks 10 can be placed with the lower edges of the sidewalls abutting one another, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the apexes thereof will still seat in the respective pairs of locking notches l3 and 14in another block 10 seated atop them. If the spacing between these locking notches l3 and 14 is less than this minimum, the apex of one of the bottom blocks will not seat in one of the

locking notches

13, or 14, of the top block. In such a case, the stacked blocks will be unstable. The spacing or distance b between these locking notches can be greater than the spread or distance a between the

sidewalls

11 and 12, in which case, the blocks 10 can be stacked as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The length between the centerlines of the locking notches l3 and 14 and the respective edges of the blocks preferably, but not necessarily, are at least equal to one-half the spread or distance a between the

sidewalls

11 and 12. With this relationship, the opposite edges of the top block, as in FIG. 5, do not extend or overlap the outermost edges of the two outboard sidewalls of the bottom blocks, and the blocks can be stacked more attractively and more uniformily. Also, the distance or length 0 at each of the opposite edges of the blocks 10 preferably are of equal dimensions but, again, they need not be.

If a variety of different size blocks 10 are provided, from the above it can be seen that each of the difierent size blocks preferably has a minimum length which is equal to two times the spread or distance a between the

sidewalls

11 and 12 of another block of the same size. While different length and different height blocks can be provided, the angle a between the

sidewalls

11 and 12 preferably and advantageously is the same on all of the blocks. Such an arrangement permits all of the different size blocks to be easily and compactly nested, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Of course, if the angle 01" is maintained the same on only the blocks of the same dimensions, a number of nested stacks of the different size blocks can be formed, for storing them. In most cases, the angle a will not vary to the degree that all of the different size blocks cannot be stacked in a nested relationship, by nestably stacking the smaller blocks atop the larger blocks. The fact that the angle a is different for different size blocks does, however, have the advantage that the blocks can be easily and quickly nestably stacked, for storage and ready identification of the different size blocks. In the case of blocks of a long length, it may be advantageous to provide a number of spaced-apart notches in each of the two side walls thereof so that they can be stacked atop both blocks of the same size as well as blocks of smaller heights and lengths, to thereby provide still greater versatility.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there are illustrated a number of blocks which can be like the blocks 10, however, the blocks 20 have an outwardly extending flange 21 on each of its sidewalls l1 and 12. These flanges 21 are substantially parallel to the supporting surface for the blocks, and form support platforms for supporting a third block atop and parallel to a pair of lower blocks, as illustrated in FIG. 6. v

These flanges 21 can be provided by simply cutting and scoring the

sidewalls

11 and 12 in a fashion such as to permit them to be pressed out of the material forming the

sidewalls

11 and 12, as generally illustrated. Alternatively, they can be either affixed to or be molded integrally with the

sidewalls

11 and 12.

In all other respects, the blocks 20 can be like the blocks 10. While the flanges 21 do provide an additional feature and extend the versatility of the blocks, it is apparent that they prevent the blocks from being nestably stacked as compactly as the blocks 10.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated still another shape which the blocks can assume. In this case, the

sidewalls

11 and 12 flow and merge with one another in a fashion such as to provide an apex which is far closely resemble the cross-section of, for example, a quanset hut rather than an inverted V. The locking

notches

13 and 14, of course, are correspondingly shaped to seatingly receive these more rounded apexes, as can be seen in FIG. 9.

As indicated in phantom, these blocsk of FIGS. 8 and 9 likewise can have outwardly extending flanges 21 provided on the sidewalls thereof, for forming a support platform, as in the case of the blocks shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated a block having still another cross-sectional configuration. In this case, the

sidewalls

11 and 12 each are angularly bent to form two sidewall sections which are at different angles so that the cross-section generally resembles the crosssection of an umbrella tent. The upper sidewall sections preferably are at an angle with respect to one another such that a relatively pointed apex is formed, while the lower sidewall sections should extend generally parallel to one another. Blocks of this configuration likewise can have outwardly extending flanges 21, shown in phantom thereon in FIGS. 10 and 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, a square corner and a round or curved-corner block also can be provided. These corner blocks likewise can be of a crosssectional configuration corresponding to any one of those described above. The

sidewalls

11 and 12 of the comers have an appropriate number of locking

notches

13 and 14 in them, to permit the corners to be stacked atop other comer or other straight blocks. These corners also permit the blocks to be lined up end-to-end to form various structures and designs such as, for example, a train or a fortress of a square, rectangular or circular shape.

The blocks further can be of a design which permits wheels and axles to be affixed to them to form various movable objects resembling cars, trains and the like. A block of this type is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, and it can be seen that one manner in which this can be accomplished is by forming a circular-shaped axle receiving aperture 26 in open communication with the locking

notches

13 and 14. An axle having a pair of wheels affixed to it can then be inserted within these apertures 26, as generally illustrated in FIG. 17. Preferably these apertures 26 are formed such that a pair of opposed nibs 27 are provided, between which the axle must be snap-actingly inserted so as to removably affix the axle within the apertures 26.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, amont those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and certain changes may be made in the above article. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Now that the invention hasbeen described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A plurality of toy building blocks each being of a unitary construction and having a pair of generally rectangular-shaped sidewalls of substantially the same dimensions which are permanently joined together at the upper edges thereof and are angularly disposed with respect to one another and have their lower edges generally parallel so as to have a cross-section which generally resembles an inverted V, wherein each of said plumore rounded. Blocks of this configuration mroe rality of blocks has an outwardly extending flange on the outer surface of each of said sidwalls, said flanges being disposed substantially parallel to siad lower edges said flanges forming a support platform whereby a third block may be stacked between and atop two others of said blocks by seating the lower edges of its sidewalls on one of said flanges on each of said two other blocks when said two other blocks are in adjacent relation with their said edges parallel; said lower edges of each said block having means to seatingly receive the upper connected sidewall edges of at least two others of said blocks disposed beneath and perpendicular thereto and adjacent to each other, said means comprising at least two pairs of aligned locking notches in said lower edges, each said pair being correspondingly formed to receive said connected edges of one other block.

2. The toy building blocks of claim 1, wherein all of said blocks are identical to one another.

3. The toy building blocks of claim 2, wherein the angles between the pair of sidewalls of each of said plurality of toy building blocks are equal, to thereby permit said toy building blocks to be nestably stacked atop one another.

4. The toy building blocks of claim 3, wherein the minimum spacing between the centerlines of said two pairs of aligned locking notches is at least equal to the spacing or distance between the lower edges of said pair of sidewalls of one of said toy building blocks.

5. The toy building blocks of claim 4, wherein the distances between the centerlines of said pairs of locking notches and the end edges of said blocks adjacent said respective pairs are at least equal to one-half the height of said blocks.

6. The toy building blocks of claim 1, including a plurality of blocks of different lengths, the angles between the pair of sidewalls of each of said plurality of blocks being equal, whereby said plurality of blocks can be nestably stacked atop one another.

7. The toy building blocks of claim 6, wherein the minimum spacing between the centerlines of said two pairs of aligned locking notches is at least equal to the spacing or distance between the lower edges of said pair of sidewalls of one of said blocks.

8. The toy building block of claim 7, wherein the distances between the centerlines of said pairs of locking notches and the end edges of said blocks adjacent said respective pairs are at least equal to one-half the height of said blocks.

9. The toy building blocks of claim 1, including a plurality of blocks of different lengths and heights.

10. The toy buildng blocks of claim 8, wherein the angles between the sidewalls of each of said blocks of the same length and height are equal.

11. The toy building blocks of claim 9, wherein the angles between the sidewalls of all of said plurality of blocks are equal.

Claims

1. A plurality of toy building blocks each being of a unitary construction and having a pair of generally rectangular-shaped sidewalls of substantially the same dimensions which are permanently joined together at the upper edges thereof and are angularly disposed with respect to one another and have their lower edges generally parallel so as to have a cross-section which generally resembles an inverted V, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has an outwardly extending flange on the outer surface of each of said sidwalls, said flanges being disposed substantially parallel to siad lower edges said flanges forming a support platform whereby a third block may be stacked between and atop two others of said blocks by seating the lower edges of its sidewalls on one of said flanges on each of said two other blocks when said two other blocks are in adjacent relation with their said edges parallel; said lower edges of each said block having means to seatingly receive the upper connected sidewall edges of at least two others of said blocks disposed beneath and perpendicular thereto and adjacent to each other, said means comprising at least two pairs of aligned locking notches in said lower edges, each said pair being correspondingly formed to receive said connected edges of one other block.