WO2000006278A1 - Building block - Google Patents
Building block Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000006278A1 WO2000006278A1 PCT/CA1998/000729 CA9800729W WO0006278A1 WO 2000006278 A1 WO2000006278 A1 WO 2000006278A1 CA 9800729 W CA9800729 W CA 9800729W WO 0006278 A1 WO0006278 A1 WO 0006278A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- dovetail
- building block
- block
- blocks
- grooves
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- A63H33/086—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 primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
-
- 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
- A63H33/082—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 dovetails
Definitions
- This invention pertains to building blocks, and in particular to building blocks which are structured for connection both vertically, i.e. between adjacent courses of blocks, and horizontally.
- LEGO (trademark) blocks have mating posts and recesses on their top and bottom sides respectively for attachment of blocks in vertically adjacent courses, as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,005,282 Christiansen. Since such blocks do not have any side connecting means, it is not possible to attach them side-by-side in a single layer, in order to create a span, for example to construct a horizontal roof or beam. Blocks having side connecting means are known, but they are adapted only to attach blocks horizontally that are also connected vertically, and are not adapted to construct weight-bearing horizontal structures.
- the invention provides a building block having novel side connecting means for attaching blocks side-by-side in a manner permitting the construction of weight-bearing spanning structures.
- the building blocks of the invention are adapted for use both as toy building blocks and as full-size construction blocks, for use in, for example, the construction of garages, sheds, etc.
- "building block” accordingly includes both relatively small blocks for use as toys and relatively large blocks for use in construction.
- the blocks according to the invention have conventional upper and lower connecting means, such as LEGO-type posts and recesses, for connecting adjacent courses of blocks together.
- the side connecting means are mating male and female dovetails on opposed walls of the blocks which extend from the upper end of the block partway down its side. The dovetails of adjacent blocks interlock so as to attach the blocks together side-by-side.
- the blocks also have a pair of mating ribs and grooves on each side wall which assists in stabilizing the block against twisting motion as between adjacent horizontally-connected blocks.
- FIGs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a building block according to the invention
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a building block of Figs. 1 and 2 from its lower side;
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a half-length building block
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the half-length block of Fig. 4 from its lower side;
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view on the longitudinal mid-hne of the blocks of Figs. 1 and 4 connected together horizontally;
- Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the longitudinal mid-line of three blocks connected together.
- Fig. 8 is a top plan view showing three blocks connected together, forming a corner.
- a building block 10 has a generally parallelepiped configuration, having an upper end 12, lower end 14, and four vertical side walls, namely two long side walls 16, 18 and two short side walls 20, 22, which are half the length of the long side walls.
- the block 10 has connecting means at its upper and lower ends for connecting vertically adjacent courses of blocks together which is essentially the same as that used for LEGO blocks.
- Upper end 12 has eight posts 24 which are squat and cylindrical in shape and are sized and spaced so as to connect in a press fit with recesses in the lower end of the block.
- posts 24 which are squat and cylindrical in shape and are sized and spaced so as to connect in a press fit with recesses in the lower end of the block.
- three hollow cylindrical projections 26 extend vertically downward to the plane formed by the lower edge of the side walls of the block.
- Web elements 28 extend between the respective cylindrical projections 26 and between the cyhndrical projections 26 and the inner surfaces 30 of the side walls 16, 18, 20, 22.
- the cylindrical projections 26 and the inner surfaces 30 of the side walls together form receptacles to receive and hold posts 24, in order to hold two vertically adjacent blocks, or blocks in two vertically adjacent courses of blocks, together. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that the block 10 has eight such recesses, sized to snugly hold posts 24 of a block.
- Side wall 22 of block 10 has male dovetail 32, i.e. a dovetail rib, in the center thereof, extending from top end 12 about halfway down the side wall 22.
- Opposed side wall 20 has female dovetail 34, i.e. a dovetail groove, in the center thereof, extending about halfway down the side wall 20.
- the female dovetail 34 is the same height as the male dovetail 32, and the male and female dovetails are of a mating size and configuration such that male dovetail 32 can slide into and fit snugly within female dovetail 34 of an adjacent block, with lower wall 36 of male dovetail 32 abutting lower wall 38 of female dovetail 34 when the male and female dovetails are interconnected and the top ends 12 of the horizontally connected blocks are at the same level.
- a pair of ribs 40 protrude from side wall 22, one on either side of male dovetail 32, and extend vertically from the top end 12 about halfway down the side wall 22.
- Ribs 40 are rectangular in cross-section.
- Opposed side wall 20 has a pair of grooves 42 therein, extending about halfway the side wall 20 and being of the same height as ribs 40.
- the ribs 40 and grooves 42 are of a mating size, position and configuration such that ribs 40 can slide into and fit snugly within grooves 42 of an adjacent block, with lower wall 44 of ribs 40 abutting lower wall 46 of grooves 32 when the ribs 40 and grooves 42 are interconnected, and with the male dovetail 32 and female dovetail 34 of the adjacent blocks being connected.
- Opposed side walls 16 and 18 have a similar arrangement of male and female dovetails, ribs and grooves, except that since side walls 16, 18 are twice the length of side walls 20, 22, side wall 18 is provided with two male dovetails and four ribs and side wall 16 is provided with two female dovetails and four grooves.
- side wall 18 has two male dovetails 48 thereon, identical in configuration to male dovetail 32, and two pairs of ribs 50, identical in configuration to ribs 40; and side wall 16 has two female dovetails 52, identical in configuration to female dovetail 34, and two pairs of grooves 54, identical in configuration to grooves 42.
- each male dovetail 32, 48 and its accompanying pair of ribs 40, 50 respectively, and the spacing of each female dovetail 34, 52 and its accompanying pair of grooves 42, 54, is identical so that blocks 10 can interconnect by the attachment of a side wall 20 to a side wall 22, or by a side wall 18 to a side wall 16, or one or two blocks 10 can attach by a short side wall 20 or 22 to a long side wall 18 or 16 respectively.
- ribs 40, 50 and grooves 42, 52 are rectangular in cross-section, and are oriented normal to the plane of their respective side walls, they do not interlock so as to prevent two attached blocks from becoming separated by a longitudinal pulling force.
- the function of ribs 40, 50 and grooves 42, 52 is to resist twisting movement between horizontally attached blocks. The extent to which such twisting could occur is in part determined by the size and configuration of male dovetails 32, 48 and female dovetails 34, 52. Where such male and female dovetails are relatively small, and the mating ribs and grooves are not present, a twisting force could cause some relative rotational movement of horizontally attached blocks. This is prevented by the presence of ribs 40, 50 and grooves 42, 52. It will be apparent that the relative twisting movement can also be reduced or prevented by other means, for example by having more than one dovetail connection between the blocks, or by increasing the dimensions of the dovetails.
- Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a half-length block 56, which is similar in structure to full length block 10 but is one-half its length.
- Block 56 is made to interfit with block 10 and is square in plan view with sides equal in length to the short sides 20, 22 of block 10.
- elements of block 56 corresponding to like elements of block 10 are identified by the same numbers marked by a prime.
- Block 56 has upper end 12', bottom end 14' and two pairs of opposed side walls 20', 22'.
- the side connecting means comprises male dovetails 32' and female dovetails 34', and paired ribs 40' and grooves 42', which attach a block 56 to another block 56 or to a full-length block 10, in the same manner as described above with respect to the attachment of two full-length blocks 10.
- the side-by-side attachment of half-length and full-length blocks is shown in Figs. 6 and 8.
- Male dovetail 32' and ribs 40' interfit with female dovetail 34 and grooves 42 respectively of a full length block
- male dovetail 32 and ribs 40 interfit with female dovetail 34' and grooves 42' of a half-length block 56.
- Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the longitudinal mid-line of the blocks.
- Male dovetail 32 of block 10 is interlocked with female dovetail 34' of block 56.
- the lower wall 36 of male dovetail 32 abuts the lower wall 38' of female dovetail 34.
- This abutment, and the abutment between the lower walls of ribs 40 and grooves 42' prevents block 10 from being moved vertically downward relative to block 56. It is this feature that permits the blocks to be used to build a horizontal structure that spans a space without intermediate support.
- the half-length block can be used in a corner location, at the end of a course of blocks, in either of two orientations to permit a second course extending at a right angle from the first course to extend in either of two directions.
- half-length block "A” is attached by female side “B” to male side “G” of block 10, with male side “C” of block “A” facing downwards (in the view of Fig. 8).
- a course of blocks can be built attached to and extending downward from this male side "C”.
- block "A” can be oriented 90° counterclockwise to the orientation shown in Fig.
- Building blocks according to the invention are preferably made of plastic by means of injection molding. Suitable plastics for the toy blocks include polypropylene and ABS; for the construction block, recycled plastic can be used.
- a full-length building block 10 is approximately 4" in length, 2" in width and 7/8" in height; alternatively, for a larger size toy block, the dimensions are approximately two and one-half times this size.
- the full-length block 10 is approximately 20" in length, 10" in width and 5V ⁇ " in height.
- the heights of the male and female dovetails and of the ribs and grooves can be greater or less than that illustrated; they need not extend approximately halfway down the sides of the blocks.
- the male and female connecting means to attach blocks in vertically adjacent courses can be any of various configurations and need not be the LEGO-type connectors illustrated herein.
- the dovetail and rib and groove connectors can be put on only the end walls 20, 22 of the blocks, leaving the two side walls smooth, if it is desired to build walls having smooth surfaces.
Landscapes
- Toys (AREA)
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU85259/98A AU8525998A (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
JP2000562121A JP2002521161A (ja) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | 組付けブロック |
CA002337238A CA2337238A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
BR9815963A BR9815963A (pt) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Bloco de edificação. |
EP98936048A EP1112113A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
PCT/CA1998/000729 WO2000006278A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
US09/124,026 US6050044A (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-29 | Building block |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CA1998/000729 WO2000006278A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
US09/124,026 US6050044A (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-29 | Building block |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2000006278A1 true WO2000006278A1 (en) | 2000-02-10 |
Family
ID=4173312
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CA1998/000729 WO2000006278A1 (en) | 1998-07-27 | 1998-07-27 | Building block |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1112113A1 (ja) |
JP (1) | JP2002521161A (ja) |
CA (1) | CA2337238A1 (ja) |
WO (1) | WO2000006278A1 (ja) |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008049952A1 (es) * | 2006-10-23 | 2008-05-02 | Ancomap Dos, S.L. | Pieza prefabricada para ejecución de paramentos |
CN102553262A (zh) * | 2011-12-29 | 2012-07-11 | 东莞和佳塑胶制品有限公司 | 两件式组合积木 |
EP2590718A1 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2013-05-15 | Lin, Tsz Chung | Building blocks |
WO2013097131A1 (zh) * | 2011-12-29 | 2013-07-04 | Lin Chia-Yen | 两件式组合积木 |
KR20160085775A (ko) * | 2013-11-12 | 2016-07-18 | 드미트리 안드레비치 소콜로프 | 건축 키트 구성요소(변형들) 및 건축 키트 |
WO2018015902A1 (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2018-01-25 | Chan Tang | Building blocks and building block assemblies |
WO2019182548A1 (ru) * | 2018-03-21 | 2019-09-26 | Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Торговый Дом "Литар-Украина" | Элемент конструктора |
EP3615160A4 (en) * | 2017-04-26 | 2020-05-06 | Wong, Yeung | CONSTRUCTION GAMES AND CONSTRUCTION GAME ASSEMBLIES |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7517269B2 (en) | 2003-08-12 | 2009-04-14 | Parvia Corp. | Building element for constructing a modular substructure |
ITTO20050600A1 (it) * | 2005-09-02 | 2007-03-03 | Giochi Puliti S R L | Gioco di costruzioni, costituito da due elementi modulari realizzati in materiale plastico a bassa densita' |
GB2438837A (en) | 2006-06-06 | 2007-12-12 | Rabah Aggar | Interlocking toy bricks |
KR200449456Y1 (ko) * | 2008-08-05 | 2010-07-12 | 주식회사 세스영어 | 유아용 소프트 놀이블록 |
KR20130129948A (ko) * | 2010-10-21 | 2013-11-29 | 레고 에이/에스 | 완구 조립 세트 |
DK3074104T3 (en) | 2013-11-28 | 2018-12-10 | Lego As | BUILDING PLATE FOR A TOY BUILDING KIT AND A TOY BUILDING KIT WITH SUCH A BUILDING PLATE |
KR101896144B1 (ko) | 2015-10-12 | 2018-09-07 | 장문석 | 조립식 완구블럭 |
KR101695597B1 (ko) * | 2016-07-01 | 2017-01-11 | 이상오 | 완구용 블록 |
KR102575199B1 (ko) * | 2023-03-15 | 2023-09-06 | 주식회사 이공오스튜디오 | 마감패널 |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL274942A (ja) * | ||||
US3005282A (en) | 1958-01-28 | 1961-10-24 | Interlego Ag | Toy building brick |
GB919001A (en) * | 1960-02-05 | 1963-02-20 | Irma Fabrikerne As | A model building element |
CH588608A5 (en) * | 1974-10-07 | 1977-06-15 | Thurnheer Ulrich | Toy or full size house building blocks - have interlocking horizontal tongues and grooves and vertical dovetails |
WO1986001738A1 (en) * | 1984-09-20 | 1986-03-27 | Cha Yung Shin | A fabricated toy block |
WO1993004749A1 (en) * | 1991-09-03 | 1993-03-18 | Ole Gram A/S | Building element especially for toys |
-
1998
- 1998-07-27 CA CA002337238A patent/CA2337238A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-07-27 JP JP2000562121A patent/JP2002521161A/ja active Pending
- 1998-07-27 WO PCT/CA1998/000729 patent/WO2000006278A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-07-27 EP EP98936048A patent/EP1112113A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL274942A (ja) * | ||||
US3005282A (en) | 1958-01-28 | 1961-10-24 | Interlego Ag | Toy building brick |
GB919001A (en) * | 1960-02-05 | 1963-02-20 | Irma Fabrikerne As | A model building element |
CH588608A5 (en) * | 1974-10-07 | 1977-06-15 | Thurnheer Ulrich | Toy or full size house building blocks - have interlocking horizontal tongues and grooves and vertical dovetails |
WO1986001738A1 (en) * | 1984-09-20 | 1986-03-27 | Cha Yung Shin | A fabricated toy block |
WO1993004749A1 (en) * | 1991-09-03 | 1993-03-18 | Ole Gram A/S | Building element especially for toys |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008049952A1 (es) * | 2006-10-23 | 2008-05-02 | Ancomap Dos, S.L. | Pieza prefabricada para ejecución de paramentos |
EP2590718A1 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2013-05-15 | Lin, Tsz Chung | Building blocks |
EP2590718A4 (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2014-05-07 | Tsz Chung Lin | MODULAR |
CN102553262A (zh) * | 2011-12-29 | 2012-07-11 | 东莞和佳塑胶制品有限公司 | 两件式组合积木 |
WO2013097131A1 (zh) * | 2011-12-29 | 2013-07-04 | Lin Chia-Yen | 两件式组合积木 |
KR20160085775A (ko) * | 2013-11-12 | 2016-07-18 | 드미트리 안드레비치 소콜로프 | 건축 키트 구성요소(변형들) 및 건축 키트 |
KR102020304B1 (ko) | 2013-11-12 | 2019-09-10 | 드미트리 안드레비치 소콜로프 | 건축 키트 구성요소(변형들) 및 건축 키트 |
WO2018015902A1 (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2018-01-25 | Chan Tang | Building blocks and building block assemblies |
CN109414625A (zh) * | 2016-07-19 | 2019-03-01 | 陈腾 | 构件块和构件块组件 |
EP3615160A4 (en) * | 2017-04-26 | 2020-05-06 | Wong, Yeung | CONSTRUCTION GAMES AND CONSTRUCTION GAME ASSEMBLIES |
WO2019182548A1 (ru) * | 2018-03-21 | 2019-09-26 | Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Торговый Дом "Литар-Украина" | Элемент конструктора |
US11602700B2 (en) | 2018-03-21 | 2023-03-14 | Limited Liability Company Trade House “Lytar-Ukraine” | Construction set element |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2002521161A (ja) | 2002-07-16 |
EP1112113A1 (en) | 2001-07-04 |
CA2337238A1 (en) | 2000-02-10 |
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