WO1994026372A1 - Blocs de jeu de construction - Google Patents

Blocs de jeu de construction Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994026372A1
WO1994026372A1 PCT/AU1994/000246 AU9400246W WO9426372A1 WO 1994026372 A1 WO1994026372 A1 WO 1994026372A1 AU 9400246 W AU9400246 W AU 9400246W WO 9426372 A1 WO9426372 A1 WO 9426372A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
amusement device
amusement
outlet
inlet
devices
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1994/000246
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur Raymond Turner
Original Assignee
Arthur Raymond Turner
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arthur Raymond Turner filed Critical Arthur Raymond Turner
Priority to AU66416/94A priority Critical patent/AU6641694A/en
Publication of WO1994026372A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994026372A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F7/00—Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
    • A63F7/22—Accessories; Details
    • A63F7/36—Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, i.e. constructional details of rolling boards, rims or play tables, e.g. frame, game boards, guide tracks
    • A63F7/3622—Specially shaped rolling boards for the balls, e.g. ball tracks
    • 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

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to playthings for children, and, in particular, to an amusement device which can be interconnected with others of its kind in a manner to create a structure with a passageway therein for the passage therethrough of a play piece.
  • Such building blocks use various means by which to interconnect the blocks to help in establishing a stable structure. It is also known to provide construction elements by which to assemble raceways along which marbles and the like can be rolled. These construction elements are similarly provided with interconnection means by which individual elements may be joined together in a stable structure. However, the raceways are not able to be stacked to produce walls as can building blocks. And building blocks are generally only able to interconnect at set angles usually limited to in line and orthogonal orientations.
  • the invention achieves its object in the provision of an amusement device for the construction of structures for the passage therethrough of a play piece under the influence of gravity, the play piece passing. in use, from an input to the amusement device to an outlet for passage of the play piece therefrom characterised in that the amusement device is stackable with others of its type with the outlet of an amusement device at a level above mated with the inlet of an adjoining amusement device at a level below.
  • a plaything comprised of amusement devices of the above defined character combines the concept of a building block with that of a marble raceways so that the user can experience both activities at the same time.
  • the blocks are adapted geometrically to permit their interconnection at any chosen angle to increase the range of geometries of structures made of the blocks over what is usually possible.
  • amusement device is intended herein to encompass elements having the usual construction block attributes.
  • the play piece which can be used in conjunction with the amusement device can be balls of a range of sizes (with consequent ,adjustment to the size of the amusement device to permit its passage).
  • Marbles ball bearings, and ping pong balls are common elements which may serve as play pieces. In general, anything which rolls, tumbles or flows might be used as a play piece.
  • the term should be read to include sand, water and the like, dice of various kinds (number of faces and varieties of marking), etc, which also might be made to flow, tumble or fall through a construction made of the amusement devices.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the nature of a basic block in accordance with the present invention
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate exit blocks used in the present invention
  • FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate various forms of linearly extended blocks in accordance with the invention
  • FIGS. 9 to 14 illustrate various alternate geometrical block forms in accordance with the present invention
  • FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate various flat flanges and load carriers for use in the present invention
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 show a flat form base which might be used in performance of the invention
  • FIGS. 19 to 22 show an alternate form of block in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a structure in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 24 shows a half block
  • FIG. 25 shows a structure using the half block of FIG. 24.
  • FIG. 26 is an elevation of a pyramid wall to show the sort of thing which can be built with the elements of the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
  • an amusement device of a preferred type in which the device comprises building blocks to be used with a play piece which in this embodiment is a marble.
  • a play piece which in this embodiment is a marble.
  • Other more complex or different elements may be devised to express the invention with the same or a different play piece.
  • the blocks are to interconnect to create block structures such as are created out of building bricks.
  • the blocks are to have a passage or passages therethrough, through which articles are able to pass, falling under gravity to freely pass into and out of the individual amusement devices or blocks and thereon through the structure comprised thereof.
  • the basic amusement device be configured, as will become clear below, so as to interconnect with adjoining pieces at a range of angular dispositions beyond the usual straight through lay up or orthogonal joint of more conventional building bricks.
  • the basic block might have a single inlet and single outlet. Alternately, it might have a single inlet with multiple outlets, or multiple inlets with single outlet.
  • the block might have male/female connectors at each end with different proportions/dimensions/geometries at each end so that on interconnection of two blocks, their relative orientation is important. By this means, users can be forced to create structures where the flow path therethrough sweeps in one direction or way around or through the structure.
  • the block could be made so as to be usable in an inverted disposition as well as in the upright mode.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 a basic form of a block 10 in accordance with the invention.
  • the block 10 is seen in side elevation in FIG. 1, top plan view in FIG. 2 and bottom view in FIG. 3 with a base 11 and top 74 having a pair of upstanding circular flanges or male portions 12 and 13 each defining an opening into the hollow internal volume of block 10 wherein a ramp surface 14 slopes downwardly to an exit hole at 15.
  • the ramp is, of course, an internal feature shown here as if the block is transparent, which it can be so that in use the marbles's passage can be seen.
  • an object such as a marble inserted into the hollow of the block via either of the entries at 12 or 13 ends up passing out the hole 15.
  • the blocks become a construction toy of the building block type through which objects such as marbles can be rolled, with the marble passing through the structure via a path determined by the orientation of the individual blocks which determines whether their ramps 14 feed left or right in the sense of the drawing.
  • the two male connectors 12 and 13 have the same diameter so as to fit in either orientation, the male parts being received in the base 11 which can be provided with a circular flange 72 extended from the base wall to provide a good close fit all round the male connector.
  • the male connectors might be provided with ribs such as 71 in FIG. 2 to better engage the female connector. Fitting ribs with a chamfered end to the male connector makes interconnection easier. These ribs are shown on various of the subsequent blocks, in FIGS. 4 to 8 and it should be clear to the reader that each time these ribs are optional. These ribs are not shown in FIG. 9 onwards and it should be clear that those blocks could use ribs.
  • the hole 71 which becomes the female connector is blocked off from the internal volume of the block 10 by the ramp 14 of FIG. 1.
  • the block 10 might be made of any suitable material. However, a plastic moulded block in a clear or semi-transparent plastic is desirable so that progress of a marble or other like object or play piece can be followed by eye. To add to visual appeal, the plastic of individual blocks might be coloured in a range of colours across the spectrum to enable creation of sparkling structures.
  • FIG. 1 Because the block of FIG. 1 has circular ends with circular male/female connectors, these particular blocks assemble together at any desired orientation.
  • the block 16 of FIG. 4 is similar in structure to block 10 of FIG. 1 except that a cut out at 17 in its side wall enables an object entered into the block to roll out the opening or cut out.
  • This block is useful at the base of a structure so that a marble fed thereto is freely retrieved at the bottom when it exits from the structure.
  • Careful attention to internal geometry enables use of the block 18 at any point in a structure with a marble rolled thereto preferably passing into the opening of a block thereunder, escaping from the structure only when the block 18 is a base block so as to roll out on the floor or other base surface.
  • the block 18 of FIG. 5 is a single entrance/outlet, circular block which has a cut or opening 19 in its side wall.
  • the difference in this block is that it is a half block, a straight through block, for use in structures when a straight vertical edge is required upwardly past a number of courses of blocks.
  • the block 20 of FIG. 6 is one and a half blocks in comparison with the basic block of FIG. 1.
  • Block 20 has three entrances 21 to 33 with a fall from the left hand end as indicated by the arrow 24 to an end outlet in the base.
  • blocks essentially having the same proportions might feed to an end or a centre outlet from all entrances or to each end from the centre inlet.
  • the fall of the marble is indicated by similar arrows in subsequent drawings. It should be clear to the reader that in each case, what is indicated might be varied simply by changing the ramps inside the blocks.
  • the blocks 25 and 26 of FIGS. 7 and 8 are double and treble the basic block in length with a ramp therein feeding to a single outlet at 27 and 28 respectively.
  • Each block 25 and 26 has two entrances 29 and 30 in block 25, and 31 and 32 in block 26.
  • the blocks of FIGS. 9 to 14, seen from above, illustrate schematically a variety of geometries with three or more inlets thereto and internal structures to cause a marble put therein to fall to any one of the outlets, which outlets are arranged, as in the two outlet basic block above, beneath the inlets with internal structures therein to divert marbles from a simple straight through flow.
  • These types of block are useful in tying walls together in various combinations to increase the range of structures which can be assembled.
  • FIG. 15 is seen a flat piece 33 with holes 34 to 36 therein to tie blocks together.
  • the holes 34 to 36 fit over the male portions of blocks below to be clamped between the lower and upper blocks.
  • the flat piece should be thin.
  • the flat flange 37 is a spacer or washer.
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 is seen a flat base 38 over which a tower might be constructed with upstanding male portions 41 to 44 over which a basic block such as in FIG. 1 might be mounted with blocks added in a tower with two blocks per course.
  • the male portions may have a top with a fall as indicated by sloping their upper surface as seen at 45 and 46 in FIG. 18.
  • the flat base 38 may have two end walls 39 and 40 to catch and retain marbles fed down a tower constructed on the base.
  • the base doubles as a means to give a tower greater stability and as a means to control the marble's exit, retaining them for easy retrieval and reuse.
  • Clearly such a tray or box might be produced with a larger array of male connectors so as to enable much larger and more elaborate structures to be assembled over the same base.
  • FIGS. 19, 21 and 22 is illustrated an alternate block 47.
  • Male connector 48 fits female connector 51 on an adjoining block with male connector 50 in female connector 49 at the other end.
  • two ramps 58 and 59 are provided so that the block works either way up with one inlet (or outlet) on each face leading to a single inlet (outlet) on the other.
  • male part 53 fits in female connector 52.
  • the circular column block 60 of FIG. 20 and 24 might be used with these blocks with a male connector end 61 and female counterpart at the other.
  • a variation can be produced with a cut out to allow marbles to exit at the base of a building.
  • FIG. 23 shows a house wall construction with door 64 and window 65 having column blocks such as at 66 in windows 65 at their sides for straight edges. Outlet blocks such as at 63 may be provided at points around the base wherever the design allows a marble to flow to.
  • a column 62 of column blocks has an exit block 67 in its base.
  • FIG. 24 shows details of a column block 67 with cylindrical wall 68 having male connector 69 to create columns as in FIG. 25 tied top and bottom by the above described basic block.
  • Windows and doors might be established with special frames with female connectors in their base to overlay a course of blocks thereunder and a lintel at the top to support courses thereover.
  • Floor plates with holes to slot over male connectors might be used to create multiple floored buildings.
  • the internal ramps create a one way flow passage therethrough with single inlet/outlet at each face (top and bottom). If the block need not work inverted, then one ramp can be omitted to simplify construction and if the one flow passage structure is to be kept then one inlet, the one above the outlet, might be blocked off to make it necessary that the orientation of the blocks be kept in mind during assembly. Proper orientation can be forced by making the respective male/female connectors at each end of a block with different sizes so that the blocks can only be assembled one way. The effect of this is to establish flows one way around a structure. Alternately, the block may simply have two inlets and one outlet with one inlet feeding to the outlet directly and the other via the ramp to create a two flow type of block.
  • the blocks need only be made of a plastic not prone to those problems.
  • the blocks illustrated in the drawings the blocks are provided with rounded ends so that the blocks may be joined in any relative angular disposition to enable walls to go around any chosen curve. This introduces greater flexibility into the way in which the blocks are used, breaking away from the orthogonal restrictions of other forms of blocks which involve a plurality of male/female connectors to restrict the interaction of adjoining blocks.
  • the male/ female connectors are circular to permit joining at any relative angular orientation.
  • the basic principles may be realised with other geometric forms in the connectors such as squares, hexagons, etc. , except that then the possible angular interactions are limited.
  • buildings with marble raceways therethrough are equally possible.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif de jeu comprend un bloc creux (10) équipé avec des orifices d'entrée (12, 13) et de sortie (15) et avec une rampe (14) dirigeant des billes, etc., vers l'orifice de sortie. Des connexions mâles (12, 13) s'ajustent avec des connexions femelles (15, 73). Des sorties latérales (17, 19) peuvent être ménagées. Une base (38), sur laquelle des constructions sont érigées, peut être prévue. Le bloc peut être retourné avec les rampes (58, 59) menant vers les entrées/sorties, à l'aide des connexions (52, 53) fonctionnant dans les deux sens. Les connexions mâles peuvent être équipées avec des arêtes (71) pour permettre un blocage lors de l'assemblage avec les connexions femelles.
PCT/AU1994/000246 1993-05-11 1994-05-11 Blocs de jeu de construction WO1994026372A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU66416/94A AU6641694A (en) 1993-05-11 1994-05-11 Building blocks

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPL875493 1993-05-11
AUPL8754 1993-05-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994026372A1 true WO1994026372A1 (fr) 1994-11-24

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ID=3776886

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1994/000246 WO1994026372A1 (fr) 1993-05-11 1994-05-11 Blocs de jeu de construction

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1994026372A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5564962A (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-10-15 Mac Molto, S.A. Modular track for toy cars
US6293800B1 (en) 1999-05-13 2001-09-25 John Robertson Educational and entertainment device
WO2006113741A2 (fr) * 2005-04-18 2006-10-26 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Interconnexion d'appareil a voie modulaire
US9409097B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2016-08-09 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Accessories to a modular pathway apparatus
WO2020129370A1 (fr) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-25 Ｔｏｓｈｉ Ｅｎｔｅｒｔａｉｎｍｅｎｔ株式会社 Corps de bloc et jouet de type bloc
USD889567S1 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-07-07 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Track configuration
US11478694B2 (en) * 2017-08-01 2022-10-25 Pike Brands, LLC Modular marble toy kit

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE445703C (de) * 1925-12-08 1927-06-16 Johanna Behrendt Geb Steiger Zusammensetzbare Kugelbahn
US3343793A (en) * 1960-09-29 1967-09-26 Waser Rudolf Track structure for toy vehicles
US3496669A (en) * 1966-02-01 1970-02-24 Horst Siggelkow Kit for constructing adjustable toy ball races
CH519346A (de) * 1969-10-27 1972-02-29 Volle Rolf Kugelbahnspiel-Baukasten
GB2096474A (en) * 1981-04-15 1982-10-20 Zaugg Andres Edwin A trackway construction set
US4553749A (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-11-19 Bender Robert L Toy and game apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE445703C (de) * 1925-12-08 1927-06-16 Johanna Behrendt Geb Steiger Zusammensetzbare Kugelbahn
US3343793A (en) * 1960-09-29 1967-09-26 Waser Rudolf Track structure for toy vehicles
US3496669A (en) * 1966-02-01 1970-02-24 Horst Siggelkow Kit for constructing adjustable toy ball races
CH519346A (de) * 1969-10-27 1972-02-29 Volle Rolf Kugelbahnspiel-Baukasten
GB2096474A (en) * 1981-04-15 1982-10-20 Zaugg Andres Edwin A trackway construction set
US4553749A (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-11-19 Bender Robert L Toy and game apparatus

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5564962A (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-10-15 Mac Molto, S.A. Modular track for toy cars
US6293800B1 (en) 1999-05-13 2001-09-25 John Robertson Educational and entertainment device
CN102671393A (zh) * 2005-04-18 2012-09-19 丘-芭-梅兹股份有限公司 相互连接的模块化通路装置
WO2006113741A3 (fr) * 2005-04-18 2007-03-08 Q Ba Maze Inc Interconnexion d'appareil a voie modulaire
US20070060012A1 (en) * 2005-04-18 2007-03-15 Andrew Comfort Interconnecting modular pathway apparatus
CN101208142B (zh) * 2005-04-18 2012-05-30 丘-芭-梅兹股份有限公司 相互连接的模块化通路装置
WO2006113741A2 (fr) * 2005-04-18 2006-10-26 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Interconnexion d'appareil a voie modulaire
JP2012213652A (ja) * 2005-04-18 2012-11-08 Q-Ba-Maze Inc 相互接続モジュール式パスウェイ装置
US8475226B2 (en) * 2005-04-18 2013-07-02 Q-Ba-Maze, Inc. Interconnecting modular pathway apparatus
CN102671393B (zh) * 2005-04-18 2015-01-07 丘-芭-梅兹股份有限公司 相互连接的模块化通路装置
US11117067B2 (en) 2005-04-18 2021-09-14 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Interconnecting modular pathway apparatus
US9409097B2 (en) 2012-07-11 2016-08-09 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Accessories to a modular pathway apparatus
USD889567S1 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-07-07 Q-Ba-Maze Inc. Track configuration
US11478694B2 (en) * 2017-08-01 2022-10-25 Pike Brands, LLC Modular marble toy kit
WO2020129370A1 (fr) * 2018-12-19 2020-06-25 Ｔｏｓｈｉ Ｅｎｔｅｒｔａｉｎｍｅｎｔ株式会社 Corps de bloc et jouet de type bloc

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