WO2008043537A1

WO2008043537A1 - Set of blocks for construction game

Info

Publication number: WO2008043537A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/008801
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claudio Vicentelli
Original assignee: Claudio Vicentelli
Priority date: 2006-10-12
Filing date: 2007-10-10
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: ITMI20061958A1; US20100120322A1; EP2086661A1

Abstract

A set of blocks for constructing game assemblies for children. The set comprises basic block members (10) and complementary block members (11 ) that can be magnetically anchored and assembled each other; each basic block member (10) has a hollow body (18) comprising lateral faces having flat and/or shaped coupling surfaces. In turn, the complementary block members (11) comprise a hollow body (16) having lateral coupling surfaces matching with the coupling surfaces of the basic block members (10). Magnetic elements (14, 20) are fixedly or movably positioned in each basic and complementary block member (10, 11) to enable the anchorage and the assembling of the block members (10,11) during the construction of the game. The block members (10, 11) have dimensions suitable to be easily gripped with the hands by a children, and may be provided with differently coloured surfaces to offer different tactile, visual and sound sensations during the game.

Description

SET OF BLOCKS FOR CONSTRUCTION GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to the children games field, and in particular relates to a set of magnetically anchorable game block members, variously shaped and conformed to enable them to be easily assembled and to construct structurally simple games, capable of providing different visual and/or tactile and/or sound sensations, also contributing towards enabling a child to develop manual skills and acquire elementary information, during the construction of a game.

In the field of game construction, for some time it has been suggested to make use of magnetically anchorable modular elements, substantially consisting of bars and ball shaped elements of limited dimensions, which can be assembled in various ways to create simple and/or complex reticulated structures; magnetic modules of this type are illustrated for example in EP-A-1.370.334, US-A-1.535.035, US-A-2.970.388 and US-A-6.622.727. While on the one hand these modular elements offer a firm magnetic anchorage and enable the construction of structures of any shape and size, stimulating creative abilities during the game, they are not wholly suitable for use by very young children, who do not yet possess sufficient manual skills and sufficient creative abilities; in fact, in the construction of a game with modules of this type, it is necessary to ensure a precise positioning and a correct orientation of the magnetic polarities of the various elements which make up the game, in order to obtain a structurally stable assembly having the desired shape.

For these and other reasons, the modular magnetic elements of this type prove to be unsuitable for use by children of ages equivalent to or less than three or four years, or slightly older.

US-A-1.236.234, US-A-5.409.236, EP-A-0.051.576, WO-A-03/063993, WO-A-04/062760 and EP-A-1.559.464 suggest the use of various types of magnetic blocks comprising a hollow body, incorporating one or more magnets ca- pable of allowing an easy anchorage in correspondence with one or more coupling surfaces.

In general, they suggest the use of magnetically anchorable modular elements substantially consisting of cubes or blocks having three-dimensional shapes delimited exclusively by substantially flat coupling surfaces, which re- quire a precise positioning between modules and a correct orientation of the magnetic polarities, or are provided with fixed or movable magnets shaped and disposed to enable the coupling substantially between identically shaped modular blocks.

The possibilities of composition and of magnetic coupling between blocks is therefore extremely limited and conditional upon the same geometrical shape of the blocks, as well as upon the characteristics of the coupling surfaces.

The manual skills and gripping of the blocks are poorly stimulated; moreover, the flat shape of the coupling surfaces and the disposition of the magnets are such as to make it difficult to correctly position and magnetically couple the blocks, in particular by children devoid of experience and specific knowledge. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a set of magnetically as- semblable block members, having geometrically simple shapes and appropriately conformed coupling surfaces, capable of allowing a facilitated magnetic anchorage, and the utmost freedom and versatility in the construction of simple or complex game assemblies, by assembling modular block members of a same and/or of different types.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a set of block members that can be magnetically anchored to one another, as mentioned previously, having such geometrical shapes and dimensions as to facilitate and stimulate the clamping with the hands.

A still further object is to provide a set of block members comprising a system of magnetic elements conformed and disposed to allow a stable anchorage and a different positioning between blocks, without requiring particular expedients and/or skills.

A still further object is to provide a set of block members for the construction of assemblies for games, whereby it is possible to transmit a plurality of educational information and visual, tactile and/or sound stimuli to children, also enabling them to learn shapes, colours and/or other elementary characteristics of the blocks, during the game. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and still further objects can be achieved by means of a set of block members, magnetically anchorable to one another, according to claim 1. In particular, according to the invention, a set of magnetically anchorable blocks for the construction of game assemblies is provided, in which each block comprises a hollow body having peripheral wall surfaces, and magnetic anchoring elements inside a seat of the hollow body, the magnetic elements being arranged close to the wall surfaces to generate magnetic anchoring forces in an assembled condition of the blocks, characterised in that the set of blocks comprises: basic block members having a hollow body provided with at least one lateral face conformed with at least one flat coupling surface, and at least one shaped coupling surface; and complementary block members having a hollow body provided with coupling surfaces matching with the coupling surfaces of basic block members; in that the hollow bodies of the basic and complementary block members, in correspondence with said coupling surfaces, comprise at least one magnetic anchoring element in a respective housing seat.

According to a further feature of the invention, both the basic block members and the complementary block members may have flat coupling surfaces which entirely extend on corresponding lateral faces.

The block members of the set, or some of them, may also be provided with a covering of soft elastomeric material, or have faces and/or coupling surfaces of a same and/or different colours. Each of the magnetic elements can be fixedly or freely movable, and/or rotatingly housed in its own seat, thereby providing particularly stable and extremely versatile magnetic coupling conditions, as well as the possibility of generating a pleasant sound or noise by shaking the block members themselves.

The use of additional block members, variously conformed and shaped to imitate an animal, a living creature and/or an object in general, associable with the complementary block members, increases the possibility of creating different combinations and configurations of assemblies during the game. For the purpose of the present invention "magnetic element" indifferently means either a magnetically active element, such as a permanent magnet, or an inductively magnetisable element, such as a ferromagnetic piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and further features of the set of blocks according to the invention, will be more clearly evident from the following description of several preferential embodiments, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first cube-shaped basic block member, having flat and concave coupling surfaces; Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second parallelepiped-shaped basic block member;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a third cube-shaped basic block member, having flat, concave and convex coupling surfaces on different lateral faces;

Figure 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a first disk-shaped complementary block member;

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 7-7 of figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a second disk-shaped complementary block member;

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 9-9 of figure 8; Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 10-10 of figure 9, for a first embodiment;

Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional view similar to that of figure 10, for a second embodiment; Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a third semi-spherical complementary block member;

Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 13-13 of figure 12;

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a fourth semi-spherical complementary block member; Figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 15-15 of figure 14;

Figure 16 shows a cross-sectional view along the broken line 16-16 of figure 15;

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a fifth spherical-shaped complementary block member; Figure 18 shows a cross-sectional view in a vertical plane of the spherical block member of figure 17;

Figure 19 shows a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane of the spherical block member of figure 17;

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a sixth cylindrical-shaped comple- mentary block member;

Figure 21 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 21-21 of figure 20;

Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 22-22 of figure 21 ;

Figure 23 shows a perspective view of a seventh cylindrical-shaped complementary block member; Figure 24 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 24-24 of figure 23;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of a possible combination of basic and of complementary block members of the previous figures, in an assembled condition; Figure 26 shows a perspective view of a fourth basic block member;

Figure 27 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 27-27 of figure 26;

Figure 28 shows a perspective view of a fifth basic block member;

Figure 29 shows a perspective view of a sixth basic block member;

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of a seventh basic block member; Figure 31 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 31-31 of figure 30;

Figure 32 shows a perspective view of an eighth semi-cylindrical complementary block member;

Figure 33 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 33-33 of figure 32;

Figure 34 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 34-34 of figure 33; Figure 35 shows a perspective view of a further combination of basic and of complementary block members of the previous figures;

Figure 36 shows a perspective view of an eighth cube-shaped basic block member;

Figure 37 shows a cross-sectional view along the line 37-37 of figure 36; Figure 38 shows a perspective view of another semi-spherical complementary block member;

Figure 39 shows a cross-sectional view of a tenth cylindrical complementary block member;

Figure 40 shows the perspective view of an assembly comprising an addi- tional block member, in combination with several complementary block members;

Figure 41 shows an exploded cutaway view of the assembly of figure 40;

Figure 42 shows an exploded and cross-sectional cutaway view of an as- sembly comprising a second additional block member;

Figure 43 shows an exploded and cross-sectional cutaway view of an assembly comprising a third additional block member;

Figure 44 shows a perspective view of an assembly comprising a fourth additional block member; Figure 45 shows an exploded and cross-sectional view of the assembly of figure 44. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned previously, the invention concerns a set of modular block members magnetically anchorable to one another for constructing game assem- blies for children, comprising basic block members 10 and complementary block members 11 , appropriately shaped with suitable wall surfaces comprising flat and/or shaped coupling surfaces, whereby it is possible to create any game assembly, in an extremely easy and creative way.

The basic block members can have a hollow body of any geometrical shape, for example cubic, prismatic, polyhedral or other types, provided they are delimited by one or more lateral faces having flat and/or shaped wall surfaces for matching with coupling surfaces of block members of a same or different type.

In turn the complementary block members can have any geometrical shape having flat or shaped coupling surfaces which match with the coupling surfaces of one or more types of basic block members of the set according to the invention.

The basic block members can have a modular dimension, or be a multiple of a modular dimension, for example ranging from 5 to 10 cm or more to be eas- ily grasped by the hands.

With reference to the figures 1 and 2, a description will be now given of a first preferential embodiment of a basic modular block member 10 according to the invention.

In the example under consideration, the basic modular block member, in- dicated as a whole by the reference number 10.1 , comprises of a hollow body, of a substantially cubic shape, having lateral faces each of which, or part thereof, have a first flat wall surface 12 and a second shaped wall surface 13 for coupling with the wall surfaces of lateral surfaces of block members forming part of a same set. In the example of figures 1 and 2, the flat coupling surface 12 of each face of the cube completely surrounds a concave shaped coupling surface 13, in the form of a spherical cap; from figures 1 and 2 it can also be seen that the shaped surfaces 13, belonging to two opposite faces of the cube, are axially aligned with one another. In the case of figure 1 a cube-shaped basic block member 10.1 is shown; however, as mentioned previously, the basic block member 10 can be of any geometrical shape, having completely flat lateral faces or provided with flat coupling surfaces 12 in combination with concave and/or convex shaped coupling surfaces 13, which extend from one or from both sides of the flat coupling sur- faces of each face of the block member 10.1.

The basic block member 10.1 is also provided with a system of magnetic elements, variously disposed and housed in corresponding seats inside the hollow body 18 of the basic block member, close to the wall surfaces to generate magnetic attraction and/or repulsion forces with respect to magnetic elements inside other basic block members 10 and/or complementary block members 11 in an assembled condition as shown further on.

In particular, as shown in the example of figure 2, in correspondence with each concave coupling surface 13, the hollow body 18 of the block member 10.1 comprises internal seats 15 for housing a magnetic or magnetisable element 14 for anchoring to other blocks; the magnetic anchoring element 14 can either be a ferromagnetic material which is magnetisable by induction, or preferably a permanent magnet, for example in the form of a disk or a small cylinder having opposite polarities N and S on two opposite faces according to its longitudinal axis. The magnetic element 14 can be fixedly housed in its seat 15 or freely movable, as shown, with the possibility to rotate around itself and in space, to automatically orientate any one of the two N and S polar faces towards the coupling wall surface 13, depending upon the polarity of the magnet of another block member 10 or 11 brought into contact; in this connection, it is necessary to point out that the space between the seats housing the magnets must be such as to prevent a reciprocal influence between magnets belonging to a same block.

Figure 3 shows a second basic block member 10.2, multiple of the basic block member 10.1 of figure 1 ; therefore in figure 3 the same reference numbers of figure 1 have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts. Also in the case of figure 3, the basic block member 10.2 comprises a hollow body 18 having on each lateral face, or part thereof, at least one flat coupling surface 12, and one or more shaped coupling surfaces 13, two in the case shown. The hollow body 18 of the block member 10.2, in correspondence with the shaped coupling surfaces 13, will have internal seats for housing magnetic elements, in a way wholly similar to that shown in the cross-section of figure 2; here again, all the magnetic elements of the block member 10.2, or part thereof, may comprises a permanent magnet, or a ferromagnetic element. Figures 4 and 5 show the example of a third basic block member 10.3, again comprising a hollow body 18 of a substantially cubic shape, like the example of figures 1 and 2; therefore the same reference numbers have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts. The example of figures 4 and 5 differs from the example of figures 1 and 2 as far as one of the shaped coupling surfaces is concerned.

In fact, while in the example of figures 1 and 2 all the shaped surfaces 13 are of a concave type, since in practice they are in the form of a spherical cap which extend in a direction facing inside the hollow body 18, with respect to the flat coupling surface 12, in the case of figures 4 and 5 the shaped coupling sur- face, which in the two figures is facing upwards, is now in the form of a convex surface 13', or more in general a surface which extends towards the outside of the block, in an opposite way to that of the remaining concave surfaces 13.

The examples taken into consideration up till now substantially concern basic block members 10 of two specific types, one with a hollow body 18 of a substantially cubic shape, and the other one in the form of a square-based parallelepiped block. However, the shape and/or dimensions of the basic block members 10 can vary and be of any type, for example of prismatic or polyhedral type or of any other geometrical shape, provided that part or all of the lateral faces comprises the combination of at least one flat coupling surface, and at least one concave and/or convex or differently shaped coupling surface, according to need.

The form of the shaped coupling surfaces can also be of any kind, other than the cap of the previous figures. It is also pointed out that one or more basic block members 10 of the set may have shaped coupling surfaces of a same type on all or part of their lateral faces; likewise, the basic block members may have shaped coupling faces of different types, concave and/or convex, in any way disposed and/or combined in a same block. As mentioned previously, this invention also comprises the case in which a basic block member has one or more lateral faces having a flat coupling surface which extends over the entire face.

Figures 6 and 7 show a first type of a complementary block member 11 magnetically anchorable to one or two basic block members of a same or different types, or to other complementary block members of different shapes.

The complementary block member 11.1 comprises a disk-shaped hollow body 16 having an annular flat surfaces 17' on peripheral edges; the body 16 on the two lateral faces is provided with a convex shaped coupling surface 17, for example in the form of a spherical cap coaxially arranged to annular surface 17', which perfectly matches with a concave coupling surface 13 of a basic block member 10. To allow a magnetic anchorage between basic block members 10 and complementary block members 11 , the latter also comprise magnetic elements which can consist either of permanent magnets or of ferromagnetic elements, magnetisable by induction by a magnet of another block member closely brought in contact to the previous one.

Again, the magnetic elements can be shaped and disposed in any way in the hollow body 16 of the complementary block member 11 , and in any number in relation to the shape and dimensions of the block itself, or for other specific requirements. In the example of figures 6 and 7, the complementary block member 11.1 comprises, for example, a first disk-shaped magnet 14, or of any other suitable shape, housed in an internal seat 15 close to a wall surface, in a way similar to the magnets 14 of the basic block members 10.

Optionally, the complementary block member 11.1 can comprise an elon- gated magnet 20 of another type, for example in the form of a cylinder to allow the magnetic anchorage to other blocks by the same magnet 20 in at least two diametrically opposite points, or in several angularly spaced apart points along the cylindrical wall surface of the hollow body 16.

In the example of figures 6 and 7 the magnet 20 is in the form of a bar or elongated magnetic element, for example of cylindrical shape, which extends diametrically for a length equivalent to or slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the hollow body 16, so as to enable a simultaneous coupling in two diametrically opposite points, and rotate.

As an alternative to, or in substitution of the linearly-shaped magnetic element 20, the latter could be of any geometrical shape, of such kind as to allow a magnetic anchorage in a plurality of points of the cylindrical surface; for example it could be cross-shaped or star-shaped, suitable for allowing the magnetic coupling to other block members in several angularly spaced apart points of the cylindrical wall surface of the body 16.

The magnetic element 20 can also consist of a single magnet, or one or more magnets having magnetic poles in contact with a ferromagnetic core element suitable for conducting the flux; for example may comprise an intermediate ferromagnetic core between two magnets, or in the form of a polar extension at one end of a magnet; other possible conformations of the magnetic element 20 cannot be excluded.

In the example of figures 6 and 7 the magnet 20 lies in a plane at right angles to the central axis of the block member 11.1 ; consequently the magnet 20 can be fixedly housed in the hollow body 16, without any possibility of moving, or angularly rotatable according to said central axis. The angular rotation of the magnet 20 can take place along a pre-established ach of a circle, providing suitable stop means inside the body, or the magnet 20 can be freely rotatable by 360° in both rotational directions.

Figures 8 and 9 show a second complementary block member 11.2, also disk-shaped, which differs from the block member 11.1 of the previous figures due to a different disposition of the magnetic anchoring elements 14 and 20.

Therefore, once again in figures 8, 9 and in the cross-sections of figures 10 and 11 , the same reference numbers of figures 6 and 7 have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts. The solution of figures 8 and 9 differs from the solution of figures 6 and 7 in that now two or more magnets 14 are disposed in their respective seats 15 peripherally and in angularly spaced apart positions along the cylindrical wall of the hollow body 16. In this second case, as shown, the magnet 20 is disposed in a respective seat 21 which extends, coaxially to the body 16, between the two convex coupling surfaces 17. The length of the magnet 20 can be equivalent to that of the seat 21 to enable it to be fixedly housed, without any possibility of movement; alternatively, the magnet 20 can be shorter in length than the seat 21 , to allow it to perform a certain axial movement.

Still in the case of figures 8 and 9, as shown in the cross-sectional view of figure 10, all the magnets 14, or part thereof, can be housed in peripheral seats 15, with the possibility of rotating and freely moving around themselves in pre- established directions, or can be fixedly housed. Conversely, according to the example of figure 11 , the peripheral seats 15 can angularly extend along a certain ach of a circle, for example along an ach of 90°, more or less, in relation to the number of magnets 14 used or other requirements. In any case, adjacent seats 15 must be spaced apart from one another by an angle sufficient to prevent any influence or interference between magnets of the block. As a further development of the various examples of the figures from 8 to

11 , it is possible to eliminate the central magnet 20, providing in its place the two central magnets 14 of the example of figures 6 and 7.

The examples of figures from 6 to 11 have always shown disk-like complementary block members 11.1 and 11.2 having a circular shape; however, other possible disk-shapes for the complementary block member 11 cannot be excluded; for example, the body 16 could have the shape of a polygonal disk. Consequently, for the purposes of this description, the term "disk-shaped" is understood to mean a substantially flat body having circular or polygonal peripheral walls tangent to a reference circle.

Figures 12 and 13 show the solution of a third complementary block member 11.3; also in the case of figures 12 and 13, the same reference numbers of the previous figures have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts. In this case the block member 11.3 comprises a semi-spherical hollow body 16, having a first flat coupling surface 22, forming the base of the semi- sphere, and a second semi-spherical coupling surface 23.

More precisely, in correspondence with pre-established angular positions of the semi-spherical coupling surface 23, the body 16 of the block comprises seats 15 for housing fixed or freely movable magnets 14, in the way previously mentioned.

The block member 11.3 also comprises a central magnet 20 of elongated shape, housed in a seat 21 which axially extends between the two coupling surfaces 22 and 23. Figures 14, 15 and 16 show the solution of a fourth complementary block member again of a semi-spherical shape; consequently, also in this case the same reference numbers of figures 12 and 13 have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts. The semi-spherical block member 11.4 of figures 14, 15 and 16 differs from the semi-spherical block 11.3 of figures 12 and 13 exclusively due to the fact of comprising a magnet 14 housed in its respective seat 15, centrally arranged to the flat coupling surface 22 and to the spherical coupling surface 23, in place of the single elongated magnet 20 of the previous example. Also in this case the magnets 14 can be fixed or freely movable and/or may ro- tate in their housing seat under the effect of external magnetic fields.

Figures 17, 18 and 19 show the solution of a fifth complementary block member 11.5 in the shape of a sphere; here too, the same reference number of the previous figures have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

Once again, the complementary block member 11.5 comprises a hollow body 16 having a plurality of seats 15 for housing an equivalent number of magnets 14.

In the case shown, the spherical block member 11.5 comprises eight seats 15 for a corresponding number of magnets 14, disposed in angularly spaced apart positions along two different meridian lines; however, the number of magnets 14 and/or their disposition could be any, always maintaining an angular space between seats 15 of such length as to prevent any interference between adjacent magnets.

Figures 20, 21 and 22 show the solution of a sixth complementary block member 11.6 of cylindrical shape, in some ways similar to the disk-shape of the complementary block member 11.1 of figures 6 and 7; consequently, also in this case the same reference numbers have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

The block member 11.6 also comprises a hollow body 16 delimited by a cylindrical peripheral surface, which axially extends between two flat wall sur- faces 25 and 26 on the lateral faces of the cylinder. Magnets 14 are housed fixedly or freely movable in respective seats 15 inside the hollow body 16, in central positions axially aligned with the body 16.

Similarly to the case of figures 6 and 7, an elongated magnet, for example in the form of a bar 20 is disposed to diametrically extend to the peripheral wall of the body 16; once again, the magnet 20 can freely rotate by an angle ranging from 0° to 360°, or fixedly housed.

Figures 23 and 24 show the solution of a seventh complementary block member 11.7, also of cylindrical shape; consequently, the same reference num- bers have been used again to indicate similar or equivalent parts for the hollow body 16, the magnets 14 with their respective seats 15; in that case the magnet

20 is axially directed in the respective seat 21.

The basic block members 10 and the complementary block members 11 , taken into consideration up till now, have been described purely by way of ex- ample and do not exhaust all the numerous possible forms, for the purposes of this invention.

It was pointed out that the geometrical shapes of the basic block members 10 can be any, as long as they are provided with one or more lateral faces having flat coupling surfaces and concave and/or convex shaped coupling sur- faces, which conform to similarly shaped coupling surfaces of basic block members 10 of the same or of different types, and/or of complementary block members 11 as previously defined.

In the same way, the complementary block members 11 can be of any shape, different from that of the examples shown, as long as they are provided with one or more coupling surfaces, which conform to similarly shaped coupling surfaces of complementary block members 11 of a same or other type, and/or of basic block members 10.

It is also pointed out that the disk, cylindrical, semi-spherical and spherical shapes of the complementary block members 11 of the previous examples can have polyhedral peripheral surfaces having faces tangent to a reference circle and/or to a hypothetical reference sphere, for the same purposes previously mentioned.

Figure 25 shows an example of one of the numerous possible construc- tions of a game assembly obtainable by the combination of basic block members 10 and complementary block members 11 of the previous figures forming part of a set of block members according to the invention.

In particular, the assembly of figure 25 comprises two basic cube-shaped block members 10.1 , disposed one on top of the other, with the interposition of a spherical block member 11.5 magnetically anchored to the basic block members 10.1.

Magnetically anchored above the upper cubic block member 10.1 is a disk-shaped block member 11.1. Conversely, magnetically anchored on one side of the lower cubic block member 10.1 is a composition comprising two semi- spherical block members 11.3 and an intermediate cylindrical block member

11.7.

The assembly could be implemented by adding other basic and/or complementary block members of a same or of different types, variously positioned in relation to one another; a characteristic common to all the possible assem- blies, deriving from the features of each individual block member, or from the presence of several coupling surfaces and of several magnetic anchoring elements, consists in the possibility of moving and/or differently orienting the block members of the assembly in relation to one another, in order to change the shape and characteristics of the construction. This stimulates creativity and promotes useful learning of different geometrical shapes and of certain basic principles of magnetism. In fact, in the event of block members comprising fixedly housed magnets, with one of the two N and S polarities orientated towards a coupling surface, whenever another block member with fixed magnets is brought close to them, the latter could be subject to attraction or repulsion forces, depending on whether different or identical facing polarities are opposed to one another.

With reference to the remaining figures from 26 to 34, a description will now be given of other possible forms of basic block members 10 and of com- plementary block members 11.

Figures 26 and 27 show the embodiment of a fourth basic block member 10.4 of a substantially cubic shape, having differently shaped coupling surfaces with respect to the previous examples.

The basic block member 10.4 also comprises a hollow body having lateral coupling faces, and a plurality of magnets 14 housed in respective seats 15 in correspondence with and close to the various coupling surfaces.

In particular, as shown in figure 26, the block member 10.4 comprises a flat coupling surface 27, on two opposite sides of the body, while on each of the remaining four sides the block member 10.4 is provided with two elongated flat surfaces 28 on the longitudinal sides, which parallely extend to the side edges of a corresponding face; between the flat surfaces 28 a concave coupling surface 29 extends, said surface 29 having an arch shaped cross outline for matching, for example, with a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical coupling surface of a comple- mentary block member as explained further on, or for coupling with a spherical or semi-spherical complementary block, in that the concave and/or convex surfaces of the various block members have the same radius of curvature.

Figure 28 shows a fifth solution of a basic block member 10.5, partly comparable to the basic block member 10.4 of the previous figures; conse- quently also in figure 29 the same reference numbers of figure 27 have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

The basic block member 10.5 differs from the basic block member 10.4 in that the previous flat surfaces 27 on the two opposite faces orthogonally arranged to the longitudinal axis of the body have now been replaced by two flat surfaces 28 and by a concave surface 29 which extend parallel to a cross axis in a direction at right angle to the longitudinal axis or direction of the concave surfaces 29 of the remaining four faces of the block.

Figure 29 shows a sixth solution of a basic block member 10.6, also of a substantially cubic shape, in certain ways again comparable to the basic blocks of figures 26 and 28; therefore also in figure 29 the same reference numbers of the previous figures have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

The basic block member 10.6 of figure 29 differs from the basic block member 10.4 of figure 26, in that it comprises a flat coupling surface 30 which totally extends on one side face parallel to the longitudinal axis of the block 10.6, along which the concave surfaces 29 extend.

It is also pointed out that in all these examples, one or more concave surfaces 29 can be replaced by flat or convex surfaces; lastly, the length of the basic block members 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 in the direction of the longitudinal axis parallel to the concave coupling surfaces 29 of the lateral faces, could be shorter or longer than that of the other two axes.

Figures 30 and 31 show a seventh solution of a basic block member 10.7, again comprising a hollow body having magnetic anchoring elements in correspondence with the flat peripheral faces 30; therefore also in figures 30 and 31 the same reference numbers of the previous examples have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

According to the example under consideration, the hollow body of the block member 10.7 is provided exclusively with flat coupling surfaces 30 on all the faces, except one; the latter in turn comprises four flat coupling surfaces 31 at the corners, coplanar with one another, and shaped coupling surfaces 32, for example concave shaped surfaces, crossing one another according to two orthogonal directions.

An elongated magnetic element 20 extends centrally between the shaped coupling surface 32 on one face of the block, and a flat coupling surface 30 on the opposite face.

Optionally, in addition to the magnetic element 20, the block member 10.7 can comprise one or more magnetic elements 14, in respective seats 15, on the remaining lateral faces 30, or part thereof, as shown.

Figures 32, 33 and 34 show an eighth solution of a complementary block member 11.8; also in this case the same reference numbers of the previous examples have been used to indicate similar or equivalent parts.

The complementary block member 11.8 comprises a semi-cylindrical hollow body 16, delimited by a flat coupling surface 33 on one side, by flat coupling surfaces 34 at both ends, and by a semi-cylindrical coupling surface 35 on the other side, having for example the same radius of curvature as the concave surface 32 of the basic block member 10.7 of figures 30 and 31.

Again in the example under consideration, the block member 11.8 comprises a plurality of magnets 14, movably or fixedly housed in respective seats 15 disposed in one or more positions of its coupling surfaces 33, 34 and 35, or part thereof, as shown.

Figure 35 shows, by way of example, one of the several possible constructions or assemblies obtainable with the basic block members and complementary block members previously described; therefore, also in figure 35 the same reference numbers have been used to indicate similar or equivalent blocks.

The subsequent figures from 36 to 39 show other examples of basic block members 10 and complementary block members 11 , comprising further characteristics according to the invention. In particular, figures 36 and 37 show a cube-shaped basic block member

10.1 , having a modified structure compared to the basic block member 10.1 of figures 1 and 2, in that the hollow body comprises two parts 16' and 16" defining, on each of or some lateral faces, a respective flat coupling surface 12 and concave surface 13. The example of figures 36 and 37 differs from the example of figures 1 and 2 in that each of the shaped coupling surfaces 13 is now provided by separate cup-shaped elements, having a seat 15 for a respective magnetic element 14.

The cup-shaped elements defining the shaped coupling surfaces 13, ac- cording to a complementary characteristic of the invention, can all be of the same colour and/or of different colours, as indicated by numerical references 13' and 13" in figure 36.

Lastly, figures from 36 to 39 show a further characteristic, consisting in providing both the basic block elements 10 and the complementary block ele- ments 11 , or part thereof, with a covering 36 of soft material, for example rubber or elastomeric material over moulded to the rigid plastic material of the hollow body of each block; in this case too, the covering 36 can be of the same colour for all the blocks of the set or of different colours.

In particular, in the case of the cubic block member 10.1 of figures 36 and 37, a covering 36 has been moulded on the flat surfaces of all the lateral faces; conversely, in the case of the semi-spherical block member 11.3 of figure 38, the covering 36 is in the form of an annular element along the peripheral edge, that separates the flat coupling surface 22 on a face from the shaped or semi- spherical coupling surface 23 on the other face. Lastly, in the case of the example of the cylindrical complementary block member 11.6 of figure 39, the covering 36 has been formed on the lateral surface.

What has been described for the examples of figures 36-39 obviously applies for any basic and/or complementary block member, regardless of its shape and of the other characteristics of the blocks.

The figures from 40 to 45 show some possible examples of auxiliary block members, that can be used as decorative elements for the basic and complementary block members previously described, to construct the shape for exam- pie of an animal, a doll, a living creature or in general a generic object.

In particular, the figures 40 and 41 show the use of an auxiliary block member 40.1 shaped to imitate a "puffer fish", magnetically anchorable to a semi-spherical complementary block member 11.3.

In the case of figures 40 and 41 , the auxiliary block member 40.1 again comprises a hollow body 41 shaped in the form of the upper part of puffer fish, closed from below by a flat surface 42 for coupling with the flat surface 22 of a semi-spherical complementary block member 11.3.

The auxiliary block member 40.1 also comprises a magnet 20, or as an alternative a magnet 14 (not shown) for anchoring to the magnet 20 or 14 (not shown) of the complementary block member 11.3.

As shown in figure 40, the semi-spherical block member 11.3, in turn can be placed on top of a second semi-spherical block member 11.3 identical to the first, with the semi-spherical opposite surfaces in contact with each other, thereby enabling a certain rocking movement of the puffer fish. Figure 42 shows the example of a second auxiliary block member 40.2, again tending to imitate the puffer fish of the previous figures.

In this case, the auxiliary block member 40.2 has a hollow semi-spherical body 41 , open towards the bottom, having a semi-spherical body coupling surface 43, provided with a magnetic anchoring element, for example a magnet 14 or of magnetisable material, capable of magnetically anchoring with a magnet 20 or 14 of a complementary block member, which in the example of figure 42 is in the form of a spherical block, obtained by the combination of two semi-spherical block members 11.3. Figure 43 shows a solution in certain ways similar to that of figure 42, with the difference that the auxiliary block member 40.3 now comprises mechanical anchoring means, for example in the form of an annular rib 44 which snaps and engages into a circular groove 45 of a complementary spherical block member 11.5. Figures 44 and 45, also by way of example, show a fourth solution of an auxiliary block member 40.4 again tending to imitate an animal, for example a small crab.

Also in the case of figures 44 and 45, the auxiliary block comprises a hollow body 41 , having a seat 46 for a semi-spherical complementary block mem- ber 11.3, to complete the crab. The auxiliary block member 40.4 also comprises a magnetic element 14 for anchoring with a magnet 20, or 14 (not shown), of the complementary block member 11.3.

From what has been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be clear that the invention is primarily addressed to a set of block mem- bers, comprising basic block members 10 and complementary block members 11 , magnetically anchorable and combinable with one another, in the construction of game assemblies for children.

The basic block members 10 and the complementary block members 11 can be of any desired shape, provided it is suitable for allowing the reciprocal magnetic anchorage between corresponding flat and/or shaped coupling surfaces.

The invention also comprises auxiliary block members 40 for decorative purposes, appropriately shaped to imitate animals, dolls, living creatures or ob- jects and/or imaginary creatures, provided with suitable magnetic and/or mechanical anchoring means for anchoring to basic and/or complementary block members.

Consequently, other modifications or changes may be made to the shape and/or structure of the various blocks, and to the shape, disposition and/or char- acteristics of the magnetic and/or mechanical anchoring means, and to other characteristics of the blocks themselves, without thereby departing from the claims.

Claims

1. A set of magnetically anchorable blocks for the construction of game assemblies (10; 11), in which each block comprises a hollow body (18; 16) having peripheral wall surfaces (12, 13; 17; 22, 23; 25, 26; 27-29; 30-32; 33-35), and magnetic anchoring elements (14; 20) inside a seat of the hollow body (18; 16), the magnetic elements (14; 20) being arranged close to the wall surfaces to generate magnetic anchoring forces in an assembled condition of the blocks (10; 11), characterised in that the set of blocks comprises: basic block members (10) having a hollow body provided with at least one lateral face conformed with at least one flat coupling surface (12), and at least one shaped coupling surface (13); and complementary block members (11) having a hollow body provided with coupling surfaces (17; 22,23; 25, 26) matching with the coupling surfaces (12, 13) of basic block members (10); in that the hollow bodies (18) of the basic and complementary block members (10), in correspondence with said coupling surfaces (12, 13), comprise at least one magnetic anchoring element (14) in a respective housing seat.

2. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block member (10) has a flat coupling surface (12; 22; 27; 30; 33; 34) totally ex- tending on at least one lateral face.

3. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block (10) is polyhedral in shape.

4. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block (10) is cube-shaped.

5. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block (10) has different flat coupling surfaces (12-34) and differently shaped coupling surfaces (13; 16; 23; 29; 32; 35) on several lateral faces.

6. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the shaped coupling surfaces (13-35) comprise concave and/or convex coupling surfaces.

7. The set of blocks according to claim 6, characterised by comprising concave and/or convex coupling surfaces (23).

8. The set of blocks according to claim 6, characterised in that the basic block member (10) comprises a concave coupling surface having a partially cy- lindrical shape (29), on at least one lateral face.

9. The set of blocks according to claim 8, characterised in that said partially cylindrical coupling surface (29) is oriented according to a longitudinal axis of the basic block member (10).

10. The set of blocks according to claim 8, characterised in that said par- tially cylindrical coupling surface (29) is oriented according to a transversal axis of the basic block member (10).

11. The set of blocks according to any one of the previous claims, 1 to 10, taken separately or in combination, characterised in that the basic block member (10) has a plurality of concave coupling surfaces (29; 32), differently shaped and/or orientated according to one or more axes of the basic block member (10).

12. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block member (10) comprises a plurality of coplanar flat coupling surfaces (28) on at least one lateral face, and at least a first and a second partially cylindrical coupling surface (29), oriented in directions at right angles with each other.

13. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block member (10) comprises a seat (15; 21) for housing a magnetic anchoring element (14, 20) in a central position of each coupling surface.

14. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that each of the magnetic anchoring elements (14, 20) is fixedly and/or freely movable and/or rotatable in its housing seat (14; 21).

15. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the basic block member (10) is provided with a coating (36) of soft or elastomeric material.

16. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the flat and/or shaped coupling surfaces of the basic block member (10) are of a same colour.

17. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the shaped coupling surfaces of the basic block member (10) are of a colour differing from a colour of the flat coupling surfaces.

18. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that part of the shaped coupling surfaces are of a first colour, and the remaining part of the shaped coupling surfaces are of at least a second colour.

19. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the complementary block member (11) comprises a first and a second shaped coupling surface (17; 22, 23; 25, 26) on opposite sides of the hollow body (16), first and a second magnetic anchoring elements (14; 20) being provided in housing seats (15, 21), aligned to a longitudinal axis of the body extending between said shaped coupling surfaces (17; 22, 23; 25, 26).

20. The set of blocks according to claim 19 characterised in that each of said magnetic anchoring elements (14; 20) is fixedly and/or freely rotatable or movable in its housing seat (15; 21).

21. The set of blocks according to claim 19 characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises an elongated magnetic element (20) extending in a plane at right angles to said longitudinal axis.

22. The set of blocks according to claim 21 , characterised in that said elongated magnetic element (20) is fixedly or freely rotatable supported according to said longitudinal axis.

23. The set of blocks according to claim 22, characterised in that said elongated magnetic element (20) is freely rotatable along a pre-established angle.

24. The set of blocks according to claim 22, characterised in that said elongated magnetic element (20) is freely rotatable along an angle of 360°.

25. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the com- plementary block (11) comprises first and second shaped coupling surfaces (17) on opposite sides of the hollow body, and an elongated-shaped magnetic anchoring element (20) which extends according to a longitudinal axis between said shaped coupling surfaces (17).

26. The set of blocks according to claim 25, characterised by comprising at least a second magnetic anchoring element (14) in correspondence with a peripheral wall surface (16) of the hollow body of the complementary block (11).

27. The set of blocks according to claim 26, characterised in that said second magnetic element (14) is fixedly or freely rotatable and/or movable in a housing seat (15).

28. The set of blocks according to claims 25 and 26, characterised in that said second magnetic element is freely rotatable in its arch shaped seat (15), coaxially arranged to the hollow body of the complementary block (11).

29. The set of blocks according to claim 28, characterised in that said second magnetic element (14) is freely rotatable in a seat (15) extending along an ach of a circle.

30. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises a first flat coupling surface (17¹) and a second semi-spherical coupling surface (17), and in that an elongated-shaped magnetic element (20) extends between said flat and semi-spherical coupling surfaces (17, 17¹).

31. The set of blocks according to claim 30, characterised by comprising a plurality of additional magnetic anchoring elements (14), in correspondence with said semi-spherical coupling surfaces (17), said additional magnetic elements (14) being angularly spaced apart and peripherally disposed around the elongated magnetic element (20).

32. The set of blocks according to claim 31 , characterised in that the additional magnetic elements (14) are fixedly and/or freely movable and/or rotatable in respective housing seats (15).

33. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises a first flat coupling surface (22) and a second semi-spherical coupling surface (23), and a plurality of magnetic anchoring elements (14) in correspondence with said flat and semi-spherical coupling surfaces (22, 23).

34. The set of blocks according to claim 33, characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises a first and a second magnetic anchoring element (14), aligned to a longitudinal axis extending between said flat and semi-spherical coupling surfaces (22, 23), and additional magnetic anchoring elements (14), angularly spaced apart and peripherally disposed around said longitudinal axis.

35. The set of blocks according to claim 34, characterised in that the magnetic anchoring elements (14) are fixedly disposed or freely movable and/or rotatable in respective housing seats (14).

36. The set of blocks according to claim 33, characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises an elongated magnetic anchoring element (20), extending between said flat and semi-spherical coupling surfaces (22, 23), and additional magnetic anchoring elements (14), fixedly disposed and/or movable and/or freely rotatable in respective peripherally housing seats (15).

37. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises a spherical body (16) having a spherical coupling surface, and a plurality of magnetic anchoring elements (14) peripherally arranged in different angular positions of the spherical coupling surface.

38. The set of blocks according to claim 37, characterised in that the magnetic anchoring elements (14) are fixedly disposed and/or freely movable and/or rotatable in respective housing seats (15).

39. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the body of the complementary block member (11) has a peripheral wall surface having a longitudinal axis, and flat coupling surfaces in parallel planes at right angles to said longitudinal axis and in that an elongated magnetic anchoring element extends parallely to said flat coupling surfaces (25, 26).

40. The set of blocks according to claim 39, characterised in that said elongated magnetic element (20) is angularly orientable and freely rotatable in a plane at right angle to said longitudinal axis.

41. The set of blocks according to claim 40, characterised in that the elongated magnetic element (20) is rotatable by an angle equivalent to or smaller than 360°.

42. The set of blocks according to claim 39 characterised in that the com- plementary block (11) comprises an additional magnetic anchoring element (14) in correspondence with each flat coupling surface (25, 26).

43. The set of blocks according to claim 42, characterised in that each additional magnetic anchoring element (14) is fixedly or freely movable and/or rotatable in a housing seat (15).

44. The set of blocks according to claim 39, characterised in that the body of the complementary block (11) comprises a cylindrical peripheral surface (16).

45. The set of blocks according to claim 39, characterised in that the body of the complementary block member (11) comprises a polygonal-shaped peripheral surface.

46. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the body of the complementary block member (11) comprises a peripheral surface having a longitudinal axis and flat coupling surfaces (25, 26) at right angles to said longitudinal axis, an elongated magnetic element (20) being coaxially arranged and extending between said flat coupling surfaces (25, 26).

47. The set of blocks according to claim 46, characterised by comprising a plurality of additional magnetic elements (14) in angularly spaced apart positions of said peripheral surface.

48. The set of blocks according to claim 47, characterised in that each additional magnetic element (14) is fixedly and/or freely movable and/or ro- tatable in a housing seat (15).

49. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised in that the complementary block (11) comprises a flat coupling surface (33) and a semi- cylindrical coupling surface (35) extending along a longitudinal axis, between two end flat coupling surfaces (34), and magnetic anchoring elements (14) arranged in correspondence with said coupling surfaces (33, 34, 35).

50. The set of blocks according to claim 49, characterised in that each of said magnetic anchoring elements (14) is fixedly and/or freely movable and/or rotatable in a housing seat (15).

51. The set of blocks according to claim 1 , characterised by comprising auxiliary decorative block members (40) in combination with complementary block members (11), and in that the auxiliary block members (40) and the complementary block members (11) comprise engageable and disengageable anchoring means (14; 20; 44; 45).

52. The set of blocks as claimed in claim 51 , characterised in that the auxiliary block members (40) and the complementary block members (11) comprise magnetic anchoring means (14; 20).

53. The set of blocks according to claim 51 , characterised in that the complementary block members (11) and the auxiliary block members (40) com- prise mechanical anchoring means (44, 45).

54. The set of blocks according to claims 1 or 51 , characterised in that the magnetic anchoring elements (14, 20) comprise permanent magnetic elements, ferromagnetic elements, or their combinations.