US3921330A

US3921330A - Framed rods with blocks forming a mosaic toy

Info

Publication number: US3921330A
Application number: US310385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hieronimus Robert Drieze
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-31
Filing date: 1972-11-29
Publication date: 1975-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-25

Abstract

This disclosure teaches a toy which includes a frame having a base on which rods are arranged vertically in a row and are spaced from each other. A large number of blocks depend from the rods and surfaces on one side of the blocks combine to form puzzle-like shapes and patterns of different colors. The blocks are mounted between adjacent rods. The blocks also can be provided with relief on the surfaces thereof. In one embodiment, the blocks are provided with a single opposing pair of grooves sized to accomodate adjacent rods. In another embodiment, the blocks are provided with grooves on all of their edges, thereby enabling the blocks to be disposed between adjacent rods in any of four orientations.

Description

United States Patent 1 [111 3,921,330

Drieze 1 1 Nov. 25, 1975 l l FRAMED RODS WITH BLOCKS FORMING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICAJLIONS A MOSAIC TOY [76] Inventor: Hieronimus Robert Drieze,

Haaksbergerstraat 219-221, Enschede, Netherlands [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 310,385

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 31, 1972 Germany 7220330[U] Sept. 2, 1972 Germany 7232502[U] [52] US. Cl 46/16; 35/73; 273/157 R; 273/D1G. 27 [51] Int. Cl? A63H 33/12 [58] Field of Search 273/157 R; 35/73; 46/16 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 364,465 6/1887 Ashborn 273/157 R 1,960,216 5/1934 Schacht 273/157 R 1,997,501 4/1935 Sweney 1 273/157 R 3,302,311 2/1967 Israel 273/157 R UX Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Baxley [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure teaches a toy which includes a frame having a base on which rods are arranged vertically in a row and are spaced from each other. A large number of blocks depend from the rods and surfaces on one side of the blocks combine to form puzzle-like shapes and patterns of different colors. The blocks are mounted between adjacent rods. The blocks also can be provided with relief on the surfaces thereof. In one embodiment, the blocks are provided with a single opposing pair of grooves sized to accomodate adjacent rods. In another embodiment, the blocks are provided with grooves-on'all of their edges, thereby enabling the blocks to be disposed between adjacent rods in any of four orientations.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,921,330

US. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet20f3 3,921,330

US. Patant Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,921,330

FRAMED RODS WITH BLOCKS FORMING A MOSAIC TOY CROSS REFERENCE This application is based on German application G 72 330.6 filed May 31, 1972 and on German application G 72 32 502.1 filed Sept. 2, 1972.

INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a toy which is particularly intended for small children, about in the age group of three years old, which develops manual dexterity, a sense of shapes and colors and a skill in simple combinations.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a toy is characterized by a frame having a base on which rods of equal cross section and of the same height are arranged vertically .in a row and are spaced equally apart, and by a large number of blocks of the same area, the width alone of which or the width and height of which correspond to the spacing between the rods, and which have on their narrower sides at least two grooves facing each other, each of which surrounds half of one of the rods. The blocks can also be provided with grooves on all their narrower sides and have square surfaces and the bars may be of round, square, oval or rectangular cross section. The blocks are provided on the surfaces of one side with puzzle-like shapes and patterns of different colors, while the other side usually is a solid color. The blocks can also be provided with a relief on one surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in further detail below with reference to the drawings showing various illustrative embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a block of the toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another version of a block for the toy of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a design card for one block pattern.

FIG. 6 shows various examples of combinations of blocks.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, rods 2 are arranged vertically at an equal distance apart on a base having the shape of a thick, flat strip of wood 1. These rods are of equal height and have the same cross section. The overall arrangement has approximately the appearance of a very large, coarse comb with teeth arranged far apart. Between the rods 2, blocks 3 are arranged. These blocks 3 are so developed that their outer surfaces have the same dimensions. The surfaces are preferably square.

The height therefore corresponds to the width of the block, while the thickness or depth can be substantially less; it is, however, at least approximately twice as large as the diameter of the rods 2. At at least two narrower sides which are opposite each other, the blocks 3 are provided with grooves 4. These grooves have such dimensions that they extend halfway around the rods 2, so that in each case two adjoining blocks 3 together with the adjoining grooves completely surround a rod 2 and the outer surfaces of the blocks 3 directly adjoin each other.

All spaces between the rods 2 are filled with blocks 3 to the full height. The blocks 3 are introduced from above into the spaces between the rods 2 by, so to say, threading the opposing grooves 4 onto adjacent rods 2. Another embodiment of blocks as shown in FIG. 4 is provided on all of its narrow sides with grooves which half surround the rods 2. In the case of these blocks, introduction between the rods 2 can be effected in any manner; they can be inserted between the rods with one side facing downward or else with an immediately adjoining side tilted downward. Of course, such blocks have square outer surfaces on both sides corresponding to FIG.'4, or the shape remaining between the grooves is square and corresponds in the dimensions of the side lengths thereof to the free space between two adjoining rods. In contradistinction to this, blocks in accordance with FIG. 3 can be developed also as flat rectangles or as high rectangles, the length of the side of the base surface corresponding in each case to the distance between two rods 2 and the height being as desired. If the blocks 3 have outer surfaces which are other than square, it is important, however, for the heights of the outer surfaces of all the blocks to be the same, or else to be in a given ratio to each other, so that when using all the blocks in the spaces between the rods 2, a uniform upper closure is obtained.

On their outer surfaces, the blocks may be provided with a simple colored pattern merely on one side. An illustrative distribution and arrangement of this patterning can be noted from the accompanying pattern cards shown in FIG. 5. There are concerned here the simplest possible and easily noted geometrical shapes, for instance the diagonal division of the square into two areas and different coloring of these two areas, so as to result in two triangles; coloring of the entire surface in a single color; inscribing of a 90 sector with one side of the square as radius, and also different coloring of the areas thus produced; inscribing of a circle in the square having a diameter equal to the side of the square, or the inscribing of a plurality of smaller circles located one within the other. The blocks having these different shapes in different colors on an outer surface can then be assembled in various manners in the fashion of a puzzle, the shapes and colors on one outer surface of the block which are not used in the specific case being turned on their back, so that a solid colored background is provided as framing for the combined form. In this way there can be assembled not only preestablished forms but also new forms created by the free exercise of imagination.

FIG. 6 shows different possibilities for the use of the blocks and the development of figures or pictures by combination of the different geometrical forms on the outer surface of the blocks.

When constructing a given shape, it is not only necessary to develop a certain manual dexterity in order to introduce the blocks correctly into the spacings between the individual rods, but it is also necessary to develop for the assembly a specific system since, in order to develop a picture, it is necessary in all cases to commence with the lowermost blocks and build up the picture from this, so that the child must think over the precise sequence in which the individual blocks are to be arranged in the lowermost row and then in the next row, and further in the higher rows. By means of this childs toy, a large number of different skills on the part of the child are furthered and developed.

Instead of or in addition to the different coloring and patterning of the blocks on at least one outer surface thereof, a relief-like shaping can also be imparted to the blocks; in this way one furthermore serves to develop the childs tactile sense, and it is furthermore possible for this toy to be used even by blind children.

i The above-described simple geometrical shapes can, for instance, be set off at different heights from each other at their dividing lines on the surfaces of the blocks which are of different colors, so thatthese shapes canea'sily be detected by sense of touch and combined correspondingly into patterns, shapes or figures uponassembly. The advantage of the childs toy in accordance with the invention-resides also in the fact that as many different combinations as desired are possible since the blocks are of identical shape at the adjoining edges, and therefore do not dovetail into each other. Merely the colors and shapes arranged on the surfaces of the blocks need be brought into relationship to each other, resulting in a large number of possible variations. Once a pattern has been constructed, a firm connection can be obtained by the mechanical connection via the grooves and rods and the assembly will not immediately fall apart when moved.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising in combination the following:

a frame having a base on which rods of the same cross section are arranged vertically in a row at equal distances each from another thereof,

a large number of parallelepipedic blocks each having a square face with a length substantially equal to the distance between adjacent of the rods and each block having four sides,

each of the blocks having a groove on each of its sides, each of which groove is disposable to half surround one of the rods,

each of the blocks provided on its face with puzzle like patterning of different coloring.

Claims

1. A toy comprising in combination the following: a frame having a base on which rods of the same cross section are arranged vertically in a row at equal distances each from another thereof, a large number of parallelepipedic blocks each having a square face with a length substantially equal to the distance between adjacent of the rods and each block having four sides, each of the blocks having a groove on each of its sides, each of which groove is disposable to half surround one of the rods, each of the blocks provided on its face with puzzle-like patterning of different coloring.