WO2004035158A1

WO2004035158A1 - Game of patience and skill for children, comprising a plurality of combinable blocks

Info

Publication number: WO2004035158A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000670
Authority: WO
Inventors: Umberto Papini
Original assignee: Umberto Papini
Priority date: 2002-10-17
Filing date: 2002-10-17
Publication date: 2004-04-29
Also published as: AU2002353500A1

Abstract

A game for children of various ages, comprising a plurality of various mating blocks, each of which presents portions of figures on the sides contiguous to those intended to be mated, susceptible of being selected and combined to form complete three-dimensional subjects.

Description

"GAME OF PATIENCE AND SKILL FOR CHILDREN, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF COMBINABLE BLOCKS"

DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a game of patience and skill which is suitable for the ability of children of different ages.

Various packages containing different editions of the game can be made to be sold either separately or cumulatively.

Essentially, the game according to invention - for children of various ages - comprises a plurality of variably mating blocks, each of which presents portions of figures on the sides contiguous to those intended to be mated, susceptible of being selected and combined to form several figures or complete three-dimensional subjects utilizing a plurality of suitably combined blocks.

The blocks can be parallelepipeds of various dimensions with joining means which are the same for all. Blocks with curved surfaces can be included.

At least one part of the blocks presents, on four surfaces, portions of figures belonging to an equivalent number of entire three-dimensional subjects. The blocks can be reciprocally mated thanks to the presence of pins on one side and of corresponding mating seats for said pins on the other side.

. The invention will be better understood with reference to the description and the attached drawing which shows a practical non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More particularly, in the drawing: Figures 1 and 2 are two perspective views of a block belonging to game set;

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional subject during arrangement of a set of blocks, including the block shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is another perspective view of this partially arranged set; Figures 5 and 6 show a different type of block and a possible combination which can be obtained by using it;

Figures 7 and 8 show another similar conformation, which is equivalent to that shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figures 1 through 4 show a block 1 , presenting a plurality of pins 3 intended to mate with other blocks on the surface 1A (which is considered the upper surface) similarly as known games, such as that called "Lego™". The opposite surface 1 B (see Fig. 2) is hollow, the block being hollow and open on the side of surface 1 B; here the block presents internal appendixes 5 arranged to create mating seats for the pins 3 of a block to be applied with surface 1 A against the lower surface 1 B of another block, as shown in Fig. 2. Block 1 belongs to a plurality of blocks being chosen from a set of blocks, which can be assembled in a variety of ways and which in total forms a game of patience and skill. The lateral surfaces of the block 1 , indicated with reference 1C (in Figures 1 , 2 and 3), reference 1 D (in Figures 1 and 3) and reference 1E (in Fig. 2), and the other lateral face which is opposite to face 1 C, are all provided with a portion of a figure of one of three or four subjects, which can be completed and suitably arranged on four fronts of a set of blocks, as partially shown in Figures 3 and 4. In practice, one set of blocks, which forms the game package, may comprise the set of blocks which are needed to build (four) figures, i.e. three-dimensional subjects, using one of the faces of the set of blocks each time for forming one of the four figures, i.e. of the four three-dimensional subjects, susceptible of being formed with the set of blocks when arranged in the suitable fashion and which may consequently form one of the three-dimensional figures each time. The three-dimensional figures susceptible of being made by suitably composing the blocks 1 - whose size may be reciprocally different to form regular sets - may be represented by an insert belonging to the package and which may illustrate the multiple (i.e. three-dimensional) figures on the various faces for observing the figures which can be composed with the assembled blocks. The package may also not comprise the illustrations of the three-dimensional figures to be pbtained. This would make the game more challenging and suitable for older children who enjoy this type of game.

In the three-dimensional arrangement, the blocks on an edge will be provided with two portions of the same subject on two contiguous faces; this is shown in the drawing for the portions of figures on faces 1 C and 1 D of the block 1 (Figures 1 through 3). Other blocks present the four portions of figures belonging to four different three-dimensional figures.

Arrangements of different difficulty can be chosen according to the age for which the game packages are intended. Certain elements can be made more or less easily recognizable, e.g. for the presence of certain colors or color combinations, to suggest a subject to be composed to form a three- dimensional arrangement with the blocks to be chosen on a case-by-case basis and or by implementing other suitable devices to grade the difficulty of the game according to the request and the age for which each package is intended.

Obviously, this type of game equipment can be used to create reciprocally very different packages and to consequently create a plurality of packages for each age group which can be marketed and easily sold also in succession if the child is interested in - and consequently stimulated by - this type of game which involves particular patience and skill and is also capable of developing the intellectual capacity of children in certain age groups.

A wide range of subjects and figures can be chosen and obtained using different blocks in the same package. For example, two three- dimensional arrangements can be obtained using all the blocks in a package while two sets of blocks in the package may be separately used to create either one of two different three-dimensional figures with each set.

Figures 5, 6 and 7, 8 show arched-shaped blocks for creating three- dimensional arrangements which may also present curved surfaces, e.g. in correspondence with an instead of a right angle, for creating cylindrical structure or other shapes. In the particular case of Figures 5 and 7, arched elements are provided with an angular development of 120° and 90° respectively, to obtain, for example, structures such as that shown in Figures 6 and 8. In other words, reciprocally different packages of the same type with different three-dimensional subjects to be constructed can be easily marketed and used by the same child to obtain different results and possibly stimulate the child's imagination and intelligence, spurring the child's interest in the various possibilities offered by the various packages.

As shown in figures 1 through 3, the block 1 shown, is used to form the three-dimensional arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, in an angular position in which the faces 1 C and 1 D are used, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and in Figures 1 and 2. The same block can be used for other two three- dimensional configurations, by exploiting the face indicated with 1 E in Fig. 2 and the face opposite to 1 C, respectively.

Essentially, each block can be used for four three-dimensional figures using the four lateral faces while faces 1 A and 1 B are used for mating. Some lateral faces may also not be decorated. In principle, the blocks shown in

Figures 1 through 3 can be used to make four three dimensional arrangements.

Possible combinations for two different three-dimensional arrangements can be provided. The curved parts, like those shown in Figures 5 through 8 can be combined to prismatic blocks to exploit the flat and concave surfaces.

Special parts can be provided to form flat portions, such as roofs or terraces or the like; in this case, only faces 1 B are provided with housings, while faces 1 A are without pin 3.

It is understood that the drawing shows only one practical embodiment of the invention, the forms and arrangements of which may vary without thereby departing from the scope of the idea forming the basis of the invention.

Claims

1. A game for children of various ages, comprising a plurality of various mating blocks, each of which presents portions of figures on the sides contiguous to those intended to be mated, susceptible of being selected and combined to form complete three-dimensional subjects.

2. Game for children according to claim 1 , comprising several parallelepiped blocks of various dimensions.

3. Game for children according to claim 1 or 2, also comprising blocks with curved surfaces.

4. Game for children according to claim 2, in which at least one part of the blocks presents portions of figures belonging to an equal number of complete three-dimensional subjects on four surfaces.

5. Game for children according to claim 2, in which one block presents portions of the same three-dimensional subject on two continuous surfaces, this block being intended to be arranged along an edge of the three- dimensional subject.

6. Game for children according at least to claim 1 , in which the blocks can be reciprocally mated thanks to the presence of pins on one part and of corresponding seats for the pins on the other.

7. Game for children according at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises special parts, also without pins.

8. Game of patience and skill for children comprising a plurality of combinable blocks; essentially as described and illustrated for the specified purposes.