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
• • 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
  • A63H33/062—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements with clip or snap mechanisms

Definitions

• the invention relates to construction toy elements having several assembly possibilities and to a construction toy using these elements.
• the play elements according to the invention can be used for the realization of children's playgrounds.
• playgrounds are intended for communities of children who practice physical activities in schools or communities.
• Playgrounds are sets of different elements that aim to develop the motor skills of users such as children. They make it possible to develop the practice of walking, balance, simple or difficult movements.
• the invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing construction elements which are easy to assemble in different ways, which makes it possible to increase the possibilities of travel.
• a first object of the invention is a building play element capable of being associated with other similar elements at least by interlocking, formed by the assembly of several cylinders, the upper end of each cylinder having a diameter less than that of said cylinder over a predetermined height, the lower end having a recess of the same diameter and height as the upper end of said cylinder, so that an upper end of cylinder can fit into one end lower cylinder, characterized in that it comprises at least three cylinders of the same dimensions, each cylinder being connected to another cylinder by at least one arm, the longitudinal axis of each arm being perpendicular to the axes of revolution of said cylinders, the longitudinal axes of the arms forming an angle of 90 ° between them.
• the lateral face (s) of the arms, parallel (s) to the axes of said cylinders has (have) a curved shape complementary to the external shape of said cylinders.
• the length of the arms and the curved shape of their lateral faces can be such that a cylinder of the same diameter as said cylinders can be inserted inside the angle formed by three cylinders linked together by arms, a small clearance remaining between the inserted cylinder, said cylinders and the arms.
• the center of symmetry of the cylinder inserted between said three cylinders may be aligned with the centers of symmetry of two of the cylinders, and located equidistant from these two centers of symmetry.
• the cylinders of the elements placed side by side are thus regularly spaced in one direction and joined in another direction, which allows children walking on the upper ends of the cylinders to choose more or less difficult routes.
• the dimension of the arms along the axis of revolution of the cylinders is less than or equal to half the height of a cylinder.
• the arms of an element can then be connected to the cylinders on the lower half or on the upper half of said cylinders.
• the element according to the invention comprises five cylinders connected two by two by four arms, one of the cylinders being connected to the other four.
• the element according to the invention comprises four cylinders connected in chain by three arms.
• the cylinders may also have a cavity passing through them along their axis of revolution.
• each cylinder is closed by a disk of complementary shape, so that the lower external surface of the cylinder is flat.
• the disc can also be used as a non-slip.
• the element rests on the ground and can be used as a non-slip when the child climbs on the cylinder or the set of cylinders.
• the material used to make the disc can be flexible or rigid or the disc can include a device creating a musical note, which makes it possible to vary the sensations felt by the user.
• a second object of the invention is a construction set characterized in that it comprises connecting elements making it possible to connect the cylinders of one or more elements as described above.
• the connecting element comprises at least two identical connecting rings, the internal diameter of each ring being equal to the diameter of the upper end of a cylinder, the thickness of said ring being equal to the height of said upper end of a cylinder.
• the connecting element comprises two connecting rings connected by a flat arm of substantially rectangular shape.
• the arm between the two connecting rings has other shapes.
• the two connecting rings are located in parallel and separate planes.
• the connecting element is a rod capable of being inserted into the cavity of a cylinder along the axis of revolution of said cylinder.
• the elements can thus be connected to each other by resting on the lateral faces of their cylinders.
• the connecting element is a flexible rod, the rigid ends of which are capable of being inserted into the cavity of the cylinder along the axis of revolution of said cylinder.
• the elements thus connected rest on their lower or upper ends and the flexible rods can form arches above or below which children can pass.
• the connecting element is a thin flat plate comprising cylindrical cavities intended to receive the lower end of the cylinders of the elements.
• This thickness is for example substantially identical to the thickness of the upper end of the cylinder.
• FIG. 1 shows a top view of a building element according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a top view of a building element according to a second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 shows a top view of a building element according to a third embodiment of the invention
• - Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a cylinder of a building element, the cylinder being inverted;
• - Figure 5 shows a top view of two construction elements according to the first embodiment of the invention placed side by side
• - Figure 6 shows a front view of two construction elements according to the first embodiment of the invention, nested one inside the other;
• FIG. 7 shows a top view of two construction elements according to the first embodiment of the invention, placed head to tail one on the other;
• FIG. 8 shows a side view of two construction elements according to the first embodiment of the invention, connected by a rod-shaped connecting element;
• FIGs 9 to 11 show a top view of different embodiments of a connecting element;
• FIG. 12 shows in perspective another embodiment of a connecting element.
• FIG. 1 represents an element 1 of a construction set capable of being associated with other similar elements at least by interlocking.
• Element 1 is formed by the assembly of several cylinders 2.
• each cylinder 2 has a diameter less than that of said cylinder 2 over a predetermined height.
• each cylinder 2 has a recess 5 of the same diameter and height as the upper end 3 of said cylinder 2, so that an upper end 3 of cylinder. 2 can fit into a lower end 4 of cylinder 2, the dimensions of all the cylinders 2 being identical.
• a cylinder 2 is shown in Figure 4.
• lower end means the end intended to rest usually on the ground or on a flat surface.
• upper end is meant the other end of cylinder 2.
• the upper 3 and lower 4 ends of a cylinder 2 are generally full in order to allow a child to walk on it.
• the cylinders 2 have a cavity 6 passing through them entirely along their axis of revolution.
• the element 1 comprises at least three cylinders 2 of the same dimensions, each cylinder 2 being connected to another cylinder 2 by at least one arm 7, the longitudinal axis of each arm being perpendicular to the axes of revolution of said cylinders , the longitudinal axes of the arms 7 forming an angle of 90 ° between them.
• the axes of revolution of the cylinders 2 connected together are parallel to each other, the upper ends 3 of the cylinders 2 being located in the same plane perpendicular to the axes of revolution.
• the element 1 comprises 3 cylinders 2 connected two by two by two arms 7.
• the elements 1 according to the invention may also include more than three cylinders connected to each other.
• each arm 7 shows an element 1 with four cylinders 2 connected two by two by three arms 7.
• the longitudinal axis of each arm 7 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent arm 7.
• the cylinders 2 are arranged in a broken line.
• the embodiment of Figure 3 comprises five cylinders 2.
• a central cylinder is connected to the other four cylinders 2 by arms 7 perpendicular two by two.
• the lateral faces 8 of the arms 7, parallel to the axes of said cylinders 2 have a curved shape complementary to the external shape of said cylinders 2.
• the length of the arms 7 and the curved shape of their lateral faces 8 are such that a cylinder 2 of the same diameter as said cylinders 2 can be inserted inside the angle formed by three cylinders 2 connected together by arms 7, a small clearance remaining between the inserted cylinder, said cylinders and the arms.
• the curved shape of the lateral faces 8 of the arms 7 then follows the contour of the inserted cylinder 2 as shown in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 5 shows several elements 1 with three cylinders 2
• the cylinders 2 are regularly spaced in the directions parallel to the longitudinal axes of the arms 7, and almost in contact with each other the others in the directions oriented at 45 ° relative to the longitudinal axes of the arms 7.
• the dimension of the arms 7 along the axis of revolution of the cylinders 2 is less than or equal to half the height of a cylinder 2.
• the arms 7 can be connected to the cylinders 2 on the lower half or on the upper half of said cylinders 2.
• the upper 3 and lower 4 ends of the cylinders also make it possible to fit the elements 1 one on the other as shown in FIG. 6.
• each cylinder 2 It is possible to close the lower end 4 of each cylinder 2 with a disc (not shown) of complementary shape to the recess 5, so that the lower external surface of the cylinder 2 is flat, facilitating the progression of the user. .
• These discs can for example be used when the elements 1 are located in the head-to-tail position.
• the elements 1 described above can be used in a construction game to form a motor skills course for children, or as a simple construction game.
• This construction set includes connecting elements 9 enabling the cylinders 2 of the same element 1 or of several elements 1 to be connected together.
• the connecting element 9 comprises at least two identical connecting rings 10, the internal diameter of each ring 10 being equal to the diameter of the upper end 3 of a cylinder 2, the thickness of said ring 10 being equal to the height of said upper end 3 of a cylinder.
• the rings 10 can be linked together by a flat surface filling the spaces between the cylinders 2.
• the connecting element 9 comprises two connecting rings 10 connected by a flat arm 11 of substantially rectangular shape.
• the arm 11 between the two rings 10 can be of curved shape (FIG. 10) or of S shape (FIG. 10).
• Its upper surface can also be curved (not shown) or else a curved part can be fitted onto the upper surface of the arm 11.
• the two connecting rings 10 are located in parallel and distinct planes, as shown in FIG. 12.
• Such connecting elements 9 thus make it possible to create inclined planar or curved surfaces for connecting elements 1 located at different heights, or to connect an element 1 to the ground (figure 12).
• the connecting element 9 is a rod 12 capable of being inserted into the cavity 6 of a cylinder 2 along the axis of revolution of said cylinder.
• Elements 1 resting on the lateral surfaces of their cylinders 2 can thus be connected by one or more rods 12. These rods 12 can also be used while the elements 1 rest on their lower 4 or upper 3 ends.
• the cylinders 2 can also be connected by one or more flexible rods (not shown), the rigid ends of which are capable of being inserted into the cavity 6 along the axis of revolution of a cylinder 2.
• the connecting element 9 is a flat plate (not shown) of small thickness comprising cavities or cylindrical holes intended to receive the lower end 4 of the cylinders 2 of the elements 1.
• These plates may be made of a flexible non-slip material preventing the elements 1 from slipping.
• the cavities or holes can be placed in a variety of ways in order to obtain arrangements of various elements.
• the construction set can also include cylinders 2 alone or elements formed by two cylinders 2 connected by an arm 7 (not shown) in order to allow the arrangements to be varied.
• the different elements 1 and 9 used as motor skills are of a sufficiently rigid material to be able to support the weight of the users.

Landscapes

• Toys (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
• Floor Finish (AREA)
• Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8854591

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2000
  • 2000-09-22 FR FR0012109A patent/FR2814375B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-09-21 ES ES01972183T patent/ES2240521T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-21 AU AU2001291972A patent/AU2001291972A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-21 DE DE60109628T patent/DE60109628T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-09-21 CA CA002423204A patent/CA2423204A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-09-21 AT AT01972183T patent/ATE291474T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-09-21 IL IL15504001A patent/IL155040A0/xx unknown
  • 2001-09-21 EP EP01972183A patent/EP1322392B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-21 WO PCT/FR2001/002946 patent/WO2002024294A1/fr active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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