US3882630A - Structural element for composable toy constructions - Google Patents

Structural element for composable toy constructions Download PDF

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Publication number
US3882630A
US3882630A US395878A US39587873A US3882630A US 3882630 A US3882630 A US 3882630A US 395878 A US395878 A US 395878A US 39587873 A US39587873 A US 39587873A US 3882630 A US3882630 A US 3882630A
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United States
Prior art keywords
transverse
elongated body
longitudinal
span
transverse dimension
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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
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US395878A
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English (en)
Inventor
Natale Bianco
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Brabo Matic SpA
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Brabo Matic SpA
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    • 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
    • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
    • A63H33/088—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with holes
    • 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
    • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
    • A63H33/084—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with grooves

Definitions

  • the element may serve as a supporting stick for UNITED STATES PATENTS Ice cream- 2,712,200 7/1955 Dearling 46/28 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures STRUCTURAL ELEMENT FOR COMPOSABLE TOY CONSTRUCTIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to composable structural elements for toy constructions.
  • Such known structural elements can be joined to each other only in a limited number of mutual positions of the elements with respect to each other so that the number of possible constructional combinations is limited. Furthermore, the configuration of such known elements has limitations in respect to the constructional combinations.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a structural element for composable toy constructions adapted to increase the number of mutual positions in which a plurality of elements may be joined together thereby increasing the number of constructional combinations.
  • Another object is to render the structural element dimensionally transformable and of modular character.
  • Another object if to make it of an overall simple configuration, light in weight and of reduced manufacturing costs, durable and reliable in use.
  • a structural element for composable toy constructions comprising an elongated body characterized in that the body has spaced apart land portions defining a first transverse dimension of the element and arranged in regular intervals over the length of the elongated body and recessed portions therebetween defining a second transverse dimension of the element, the land portions each having a first longitudinal extension thereof and the recessed portions each having a second longitudinal extension thereof, the elongated body further comprising a series of apertures spaced apart over the length of the elongated body, said apertures each having a longitudinal span corresponding to said first transverse dimension, said apertures having in at least one intermediate portion thereof a transverse span corresponding to said second transverse dimension.
  • FIG. I shows a perspective view of the structural element
  • FIG. 2 shows a section according to IllI of FIG. 1 in an enlarged scale
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show examples of structural elements obtained by transformation from the basic structural element shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show some examples of constructional compositions obtainable by the structural element.
  • the structural element generally indicated at 1 comprises a flat elongated body 2 having spaced apart land portions 3, defining a first transverse dimension A of the element.
  • the land portions 3 are arranged at regular intervals of the apertures 5 spaced apart from each other over the length of the elongated body 2.
  • the apertures have a longitudinal span E, the magnitude of which is equal to the magnitude of the first transverse dimension A.
  • the apertures 5 each have in an intermediate portion at least one transverse span F, the magnitude of which is equal to the magnitude of said second transverse dimension B.
  • the apertures 5 are formed of two crossing longitudinal and transverse slots, numbered 6 and 7 respectively, and it will be noted that the flat elongated body 2 has a thickness G which corresponds to the gap H of the slots 6 and 7, so that the body 2 may be inserted into the slot 6. It will be further noted that the cross-like aperture 5 is located approxiamtely in the center of each of the land portions 3. It will be further noted that the magnitudes of the second transverse dimension B, the first longitudinal extension C, the transverse span F and the second longitudinal extension D are equal with respect to each other. It will be further noted that the first transverse dimension A and the longitudinal span E are also equal in magnitude.
  • a plurality of structural elements may not only be joined together by side by side positioning, so that the lands 3 of one element are inserted in the recesses 4 of the other elements, but the joining of the elements may be in positions transverse to each other and even the elements may intersect each other, since the gap H of the slots correspond to the thickness G of the elongated body and the span E corresponds to the first transverse dimensions A of the elongated body 2.
  • the mutually intersecting elements may form cross-pieces or bridges of the composable toy construction.
  • the lateral joining of the elements may be effected with the main surfaces of the flat body 2 arranged perpendicular to each other.
  • the elongated flat body 2 is preferably made of resilient plastic material. It will be further appreciated that one end of the structural element terminates with its aperture open as shown at the right end of FIG. 1, whereas the opposite end terminates with the free recessed portion, as shown at the left end of FIG. 1. In this way, opposite ends of structural elements may be joined together in an aligned relationship, thereby extending the length of the structural element.
  • the structural element presents at regular intervals cross-sections with breakoff notches 8, which may be on one side only or on both sides of the element.
  • the break-off notches may be arranged either at the recessed portion of the element 1 or at the land portions. It is thereby possible to breakoff easily the structural element at desired points, thereby obtaining modular units in order to increase the possible constructional combinations.
  • the structural element may be also used as a supporting rod or core for instance for ice-cream sticks, which after the consumption of the ice-cream may be used as a structural element for toy constructions.
  • a structural elementifor composable toy constructions comprising a substantially flat elongated body having spaced apart land portions defining a first transverse dimension of the element and arranged in regular intervals over the length of the elongated body and recessed portions therebetween defining a second transverse dimension of the element, the land portions each having a first longitudinal extension thereof and the recessed portions each having a second longitudinal extension thereof, the elongated body further comprising a number of cross-shaped apertures spaced apart over the length of the elongated body and each defined by a longitudinal and a transverse slot, said cross-shaped apertures each having a longitudinal span having a magnitude equal to said first transverse dimension and a transverse span having a magnitude equal to said second transverse dimension, said first longitudinal extension being equal to saidtransverse span and said second w longitudinal extension being equal to said second transverse dimension.
  • said second longitudinal extension, said transverse span and said second transverse dimension are all equal to each other, the magnitude of said first transverse dimension beingequal to the magnitude of 1 said longitudinal span.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
  • Excavating Of Shafts Or Tunnels (AREA)
US395878A 1972-09-14 1973-09-10 Structural element for composable toy constructions Expired - Lifetime US3882630A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2310172 1972-09-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3882630A true US3882630A (en) 1975-05-13

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US395878A Expired - Lifetime US3882630A (en) 1972-09-14 1973-09-10 Structural element for composable toy constructions

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US (1) US3882630A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE804811A (enrdf_load_html_response)
CA (1) CA984149A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE2346207A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
ES (1) ES195387Y (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR2200027B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB1435360A (enrdf_load_html_response)
LU (1) LU68421A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL7312603A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (33)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3988854A (en) * 1973-08-02 1976-11-02 Bartz Richard O Stackable elements with lateral connector
US4046408A (en) * 1973-08-03 1977-09-06 Steven Ausnit Omni-directional fastener
US4267681A (en) * 1975-04-16 1981-05-19 Dunlop Limited Resilient structures
US4270304A (en) * 1977-12-02 1981-06-02 Sofer Nancy C Flush-fitting toy building blocks
USD285948S (en) 1983-12-01 1986-09-30 Creative S.r.l. Toy construction piece
US4740188A (en) * 1986-07-31 1988-04-26 Coster Theo M S Toy construction element
US4761902A (en) * 1987-01-20 1988-08-09 John F. Hoffman Universal picture support assembly and method
US4821438A (en) * 1987-01-20 1989-04-18 Albert L. Jeffers Universal picture support assembly having glass retaining clips
US4970839A (en) * 1990-01-12 1990-11-20 Arnon Lavi Assembly elements and decorative panel formed therewith
US5281181A (en) * 1992-08-26 1994-01-25 Steven Carl Pelluer Construction set
USD394091S (en) 1997-01-07 1998-05-05 Stuart Parry Toy construction piece
USD403028S (en) 1998-01-08 1998-12-22 Rokenbok Toy Company Beam in a building structure providing paths of movement for a toy vehicle
US5853313A (en) * 1996-04-16 1998-12-29 Patent Category Corp. Constructional toy with deformable joints
US5938496A (en) * 1996-04-16 1999-08-17 Patent Category Corp. Constructional pieces with deformable joints
US6032825A (en) * 1998-02-10 2000-03-07 Guthrie; Christopher L. Lid for holding a frozen confection over a cup
US6554678B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2003-04-29 Emerging Playthings, Inc. Sculptural toy
US20040122429A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-06-24 Mark Phillips Provisional bone plate
US20050166519A1 (en) * 2004-01-02 2005-08-04 Chiung-Hsuan Tung Building block element
US20060173458A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-08-03 Micah Forstein Bone fracture fixation system
USD526522S1 (en) * 2004-02-13 2006-08-15 Foamex L.P. Mattress topper
USD527563S1 (en) * 2004-02-13 2006-09-05 Foamex L.P. Mattress topper
US20070162015A1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2007-07-12 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Orthopaedic bone plate
US20080207082A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2008-08-28 Timothy John Warner Construction Kit
USD747421S1 (en) * 2014-07-21 2016-01-12 Michael James Connor, JR. Component for a toy construction set
US20170304741A1 (en) * 2016-04-22 2017-10-26 Rodney A. Weems Nestable building blocks
USD813318S1 (en) * 2017-03-30 2018-03-20 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD813317S1 (en) 2017-03-30 2018-03-20 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD815216S1 (en) 2017-03-30 2018-04-10 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD820359S1 (en) * 2017-04-25 2018-06-12 Brett A. Deemer Toy construction connector kit
USD885494S1 (en) * 2018-12-15 2020-05-26 Shanghai Putao Technology Co., Ltd. Building block with a double male cross hole
USD897451S1 (en) 2017-07-06 2020-09-29 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD938527S1 (en) * 2019-10-29 2021-12-14 Mechanism Inc. Compliant beam
US20220203254A1 (en) * 2020-12-30 2022-06-30 Gracewood Management, Inc. Interlocking building block toy

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8324469U1 (de) * 1983-08-25 1983-12-08 Walton Masters Werbeagentur GmbH, 8000 München Zusammensetzspiel

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2712200A (en) * 1952-09-24 1955-07-05 Harry S Dearling Shape-retaining interlocking toy element
US3007279A (en) * 1958-09-15 1961-11-07 James S Merritt Company Splitting severable construction stick
US3663717A (en) * 1970-12-28 1972-05-16 Borden Inc Interlockable confection bars
US3748778A (en) * 1972-09-27 1973-07-31 A Ellies Interlockable sticks for confections

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2712200A (en) * 1952-09-24 1955-07-05 Harry S Dearling Shape-retaining interlocking toy element
US3007279A (en) * 1958-09-15 1961-11-07 James S Merritt Company Splitting severable construction stick
US3663717A (en) * 1970-12-28 1972-05-16 Borden Inc Interlockable confection bars
US3748778A (en) * 1972-09-27 1973-07-31 A Ellies Interlockable sticks for confections

Cited By (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3988854A (en) * 1973-08-02 1976-11-02 Bartz Richard O Stackable elements with lateral connector
US4046408A (en) * 1973-08-03 1977-09-06 Steven Ausnit Omni-directional fastener
US4267681A (en) * 1975-04-16 1981-05-19 Dunlop Limited Resilient structures
US4270304A (en) * 1977-12-02 1981-06-02 Sofer Nancy C Flush-fitting toy building blocks
USD285948S (en) 1983-12-01 1986-09-30 Creative S.r.l. Toy construction piece
US4740188A (en) * 1986-07-31 1988-04-26 Coster Theo M S Toy construction element
US4761902A (en) * 1987-01-20 1988-08-09 John F. Hoffman Universal picture support assembly and method
US4821438A (en) * 1987-01-20 1989-04-18 Albert L. Jeffers Universal picture support assembly having glass retaining clips
US4970839A (en) * 1990-01-12 1990-11-20 Arnon Lavi Assembly elements and decorative panel formed therewith
US5281181A (en) * 1992-08-26 1994-01-25 Steven Carl Pelluer Construction set
US5853313A (en) * 1996-04-16 1998-12-29 Patent Category Corp. Constructional toy with deformable joints
US5938496A (en) * 1996-04-16 1999-08-17 Patent Category Corp. Constructional pieces with deformable joints
US6116981A (en) * 1996-04-16 2000-09-12 Patent Category Corp. Constructional pieces with deformable joints
AU723718B2 (en) * 1996-04-16 2000-09-07 Patent Category Corporation Constructional toy with deformable joints
USD394091S (en) 1997-01-07 1998-05-05 Stuart Parry Toy construction piece
USD403028S (en) 1998-01-08 1998-12-22 Rokenbok Toy Company Beam in a building structure providing paths of movement for a toy vehicle
US6032825A (en) * 1998-02-10 2000-03-07 Guthrie; Christopher L. Lid for holding a frozen confection over a cup
US7846189B2 (en) 1998-03-31 2010-12-07 Zimmer, Inc. Orthopaedic bone plate
US20070162015A1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2007-07-12 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Orthopaedic bone plate
US6554678B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2003-04-29 Emerging Playthings, Inc. Sculptural toy
US20080207082A1 (en) * 2002-09-13 2008-08-28 Timothy John Warner Construction Kit
US20040122429A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2004-06-24 Mark Phillips Provisional bone plate
US20090171398A1 (en) * 2002-12-20 2009-07-02 Zimmer, Inc. Provisional bone plate
US7963979B2 (en) 2002-12-20 2011-06-21 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Provisional bone plate
US7736365B2 (en) * 2002-12-20 2010-06-15 Zimmer Technology, Inc. Provisional bone plate
US20050166519A1 (en) * 2004-01-02 2005-08-04 Chiung-Hsuan Tung Building block element
USD526522S1 (en) * 2004-02-13 2006-08-15 Foamex L.P. Mattress topper
USD527563S1 (en) * 2004-02-13 2006-09-05 Foamex L.P. Mattress topper
US20060173458A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-08-03 Micah Forstein Bone fracture fixation system
US20090312760A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2009-12-17 Zimmer, Inc. Bone fracture fixation system
US8740905B2 (en) 2004-10-07 2014-06-03 Zimmer, Inc. Bone fracture fixation system
USD747421S1 (en) * 2014-07-21 2016-01-12 Michael James Connor, JR. Component for a toy construction set
US20170304741A1 (en) * 2016-04-22 2017-10-26 Rodney A. Weems Nestable building blocks
USD815216S1 (en) 2017-03-30 2018-04-10 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD813317S1 (en) 2017-03-30 2018-03-20 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD813318S1 (en) * 2017-03-30 2018-03-20 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD928890S1 (en) 2017-03-30 2021-08-24 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD820359S1 (en) * 2017-04-25 2018-06-12 Brett A. Deemer Toy construction connector kit
USD897451S1 (en) 2017-07-06 2020-09-29 Chrome Cherry Design Studio (Pty) Ltd Tape forming a toy building block base
USD885494S1 (en) * 2018-12-15 2020-05-26 Shanghai Putao Technology Co., Ltd. Building block with a double male cross hole
USD938527S1 (en) * 2019-10-29 2021-12-14 Mechanism Inc. Compliant beam
US20220203254A1 (en) * 2020-12-30 2022-06-30 Gracewood Management, Inc. Interlocking building block toy
US11491414B2 (en) * 2020-12-30 2022-11-08 Gracewood Management, Inc. Interlocking building block toy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES195387U (es) 1975-01-16
FR2200027B1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1974-11-08
GB1435360A (en) 1976-05-12
BE804811A (fr) 1974-01-02
NL7312603A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1974-03-18
FR2200027A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1974-04-19
ES195387Y (es) 1975-06-01
LU68421A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1973-12-14
CA984149A (en) 1976-02-24
DE2346207A1 (de) 1974-03-28

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