GB2205046A

GB2205046A - Assembly block toys

Info

Publication number: GB2205046A
Application number: GB08712191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwang Kyu Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-22
Filing date: 1987-05-22
Publication date: 1988-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-22
Also published as: GB8712191D0; GB2205046B

Abstract

For use in an assembly block toy in which receptacle-type unitary blocks having an open bottom and a hole formed in the side and/or in the upper part are joined by connecting means, a block which can be separated into a lower body A with its top open and provided with an upwardly facing engagement part 2 and a cover B provided with a cooperating downwardly facing engagement part 3. <IMAGE>

Description

BLOCK FOR ASSEMBLY BLOCK TOY The present invention relates to a block for an assembly block toy and to toys made therefrom.

Prior art blocks of this type are open at the bottom and have assembly holes at the side and at the top (as shown in Figure 3A to Figure 3E of the drawings) and can be used only for assembling simple models, not for a wide variety of complicated and diverse models. They are also not suitable for easy play by small-handed children because they are unitary and relatively bulky.

The present invention aims to provide blocks for an assembly block toy which will develop the creativity and intelligence of the children and improve their dexterity and interest by enabling them to separate the block into a cover and a body and then to assemble the separated parts into complicated and diverse models.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides, for use in an assembly block toy in which receptacle-type unitary blocks having an open bottom and a hole formed in the side and/or in the upper part are joined by connecting means a block which can be separated into a lower body and provided with an upwardly facing engagement part, and a cover provided with a cooperating downwardly facing engagement part.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a block according to the present invention showing how it is disassembled.

Figures 2A to 2E are exploded perspective views showing five alternative embodiments of the block according to the present invention.

Figures 3A to 3E are exploded perspective views-showing prior art blocks, the blocks being respectively square, semicircular, cylindrical, hemispherical, and square and cylindrical.

Figure 4 shows front views of various connecting means used for assembling blocks.

Figures 5A to 5J are illustrations of models assembled from blocks according to the present invention, the models being respectively of a dog (5A), an elephant (5B), an anemometer (5C), a microscope (5D), a camel (5E), a set of furniture for a reception area (5F), a robot (5G), a coffee cup (5H), a pair of spectacles (51) and a bicycle (5J).

Figures 6A and 6B are illustrations of models assembled from prior art blocks, Figure 6A showing a model of a sports car, and Figure 6B showing a model of a truck.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional perspective view of a block assembly of the present invention.

Figue 8 is a vertical sectional perspective view of a block assembly of the prior art.

Whereas in the prior art various inverted receptacle-type unitary blocks with the bottom open and with a hole (1) formed in the side and/or in the upper part are combined with various connecting means, such as large and small gears, rods, bolts, buts and washers, the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1 separates the unitary block into a square body (A) with its top open and a square cover (B) and forms an upwardly extending engagement part (2) on the sides of the square body (A) and a co-operating downwardly extending engagement part (3) on the square cover (B).

Figure 2A illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is composed of a square body (A) with its upper part open and with an upwardly extending engagement part (2) formed along its sides and a square-based semicircular cover (C) with a downwardly extending engagement part (3) provided by its inner face.

Figure 2B illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is composed of a cylindrical body (D) with its upper part open and an upwardly extending engagement part (2) extending around it and a circular cover (E) with a downwardly extending engagement part provided by its inner face.

Figure 2C illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is composed of a cylindrical body (D) with its upper part open and with an upwardly extending engagement part (2) extending around it and a hemispherical cover (F) with a downwardly extending engagement part (3) provided by its inner face.

Figure 2D illustrates a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is composed of a body (G) having a square lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion with its top open and an upwardly extending engagement part (2) extending around it, and a circular cover (E) with a downwardly extending engagement part (3) provided by its inner face.

Figure 2E illustrates a fifth alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is composed of a body (G) having a square lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion with its top open and an upwardly extending engagement part (2) extending around it, and a hemispherical cover (F) with a downwardly extending engagement part (3) provided by its inner face..

The following reference numerals and letters have the following means when used in the drawings: 20: Prior art square block (see Figure 3A) 21 : Prior art semicircular square-based block (see Figure 38) 22: Prior art cylindrical block (see Figure 3C) 23 : Prior art hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (see Figure 3D) 24: Prior art square and cylindrical block (see Figure 3G) 25 : Prior art triangular block g : Gear C : Connecting rod b1, b2, b3, b4, bug : Bolts b6: Headless connecting bolt b7 : Ring bolt n :Nut w : Washer The present invention can provide the form of a prior art square block (20) or semicircular square-based block (21) by selectively and exchangeably separating and combining the square body (A) and square cover (B) or square body (A) and square-based semicircular cover (C), as shown in Figure 2A.It can also provide not only the form of prior art cylindrical block (22) or hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (23) by selectively and exchangeably separating and combining the cylindrical body (D) and circular cover (E) or cylindrical body (D) and hemispherical cover (F), as shown in Figure 28 and Figure 2C, but also the form of prior art square and cylindrical block (24) and particular forms which prior art blocks cannot produce, by selectively and exchangeably separating and combining a body having a square lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion with its top open, and a circular cover (E) or a hemispherical cover (F), as shown in Figure 2D and Figure 2E.

Being composed of a body and a cover, a block of the present invention can use a body (A) or (D) or (G) and its cover (B) or (C) or (E) or (F) as a separate element, as compared with a prior art block formed as one body. Thus it is possible to assemble various new block toys which unitary prior art blocks have failed to achieve.

Whereas the prior art blocks could make only simple models such as a model of a sports car ora model of a truck, as shown in Figure 6A and Figure 6B, the blocks of the present invention can make relatively complicated and diverse models, as shown in Figure 5A to Figure 5J.

The models which can be made by the present invention are not of course limited to the models hereinabove illustrated. Children themselves can make more diverse toy models, exercising their ingenuity.

The prior art blocks cannot be used to assemble a cylindrical block (22) and a hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (23) so as to achieve free rotation, as shown in Figure B, because, in order to assemble a cylindrical block (22) and a hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (23), a bolt (b5) and a nut (n) connection must be achieved by inserting a relatively long bolt (bus) into an assembly hole (1) in the upper part of hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (23) and by tightening a nut (n) through the open bottom of globular cylindrical block (23) and then inserting a cylindrical block (22) into the lower part of hemisphericalended cylindrical block (23) so that the bolt (b5) may be exposed through an assembly hole (1') in the upper part of cylindrical block (22).On the other hand, the present invention permits the making of a model such as a rotary gun turret, as shown in Figure 7, by inserting a relatively short bolt (b2) into assembly holes (1)(1') in the circular covers (E)(E'), with a washer (w) and a nut (n) between circular covers (E)(E') and screwing a nut (n') onto bolt (b2) to assemble circular covers (E)(E') for free rotation and then assembling the cylindrical body (D) and hemispherical cover (F) on the circular cover (E), and the cylindrical body (D') on the circular cover (E').

In order to assemble a nut (n') with a bolt (by), with the prior art blocks, a hand must be put into the space within cylindrical block (22) and hemispherical-ended cylindrical block (23) so that the nut may be tightened; this is difficult for the small-handed children.

However, even small-handed children can easily assemble the nut and bolt using the present invention because cylindrical bodies (D)(D') and hemispherical cover (F) can be assembled on the circular covers (E)(E') after circular covers (E)(E') are assembled using a bolt (B2) and a nut (n).

In this way, the present invention has the effect of improving the ingenuity, dexterity and interest of children and developing their intelligence.

Claims

1. For use in an assembly block toy in which receptacle-type unitary blocks having an open bottom and a hole formed in the side and/or in the upper part are joined by connecting means, a block which can be separated into a lower body with its top open and provided with an upwardly facing engagement part, and a cover provided with a cooperating downwardly facing engagement part.

2. A block according to claim 1, wherein the lower body is quadrilateral and the cover is of quadrilateral-based semicircular shape.

3. A block according to claim 1, wherein the lower body is cylindrical and the cover is circular.

4. A block according to claim 1, wherein the lower body is cylindrical and the cover is hemispherical.

5. A block according to claim 1, wherein the body has a quadrilateral lower portion and a cylindrical upper portion, and the cover is circular-based.

6. A block according to claim 5, wherein the cover is hemispherical.

7. A block according to claim 1, wherein the lower body and the cover are both quadrilateral.

8. A block according to any preceding claim, wherein the downwardly facing engagement part fits over the upwardly facing engagement part.

9. A block according to any preceding -claim, wherein the engagement parts extend substantially completely around the lower part and the cover respectively.

10. A block for an assembly block toy substantially as shown in any of Figures 2A to 2E.

11. An assembly block toy comprising an assembly of blocks according to any preceding claim.

12. An assembly block toy substantially as shown in any of Figures SA to 5J.