GB2217218A

GB2217218A - Transformable block toys

Info

Publication number: GB2217218A
Application number: GB8822591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Teruo Nikaido
Original assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1988-04-15
Filing date: 1988-09-27
Publication date: 1989-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-27
Also published as: GB2217218B; GB8822591D0; ES2010831A6; JPH01155497U

Abstract

A transformable block toy includes a main body segment and at least one movable segment movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to the main body segment. With the movable segment(s) retracted, the toy forms a building block, e.g. a disc, a triangular prism or a rectangular parallelepiped. With the movable segment(s) extended, the toy simulates a vehicle, e.g. a train, a car, a helicopter, a truck or a plane.

Description

DESCRIPTION TRANSFORMABLE BLOCK TOYS The present invention relates generally to block toys, and more specifically, to block toys which have movable parts which enable them to be transformable into vehicles.

Building blocks are a type of toy intended for play by young children. It has been observed that children playing with building blocks often use the blocks to enulate vehicles, such as automobiles, trains, airplanes, etc. These building blocks are usually in the form of basic geometric shapes, such as a cube, disc, polyhedron, trapezohedron, etc.

Building blocks of common geometric shape have not heretofore been physically transformable into other types of toys.

An object of the present invention is to provide building blocks of various geometric shapes which are transformable into vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building block toy which is transformable from a basic geometric shape to a shape which resembles a vehicle, such as an automobile, train, truck, airplane, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transformable block toy includes a body member having at least two substantially planar parallel outer surfaces and at least one movable segment of the body member which is movable between retracted and extended positions. The body member has a geometric shape when the movable body segment is in the retracted position and a vehicle shape when the body segment is in the extended position. The body member may have a variety of geometric shapes, including a cube, polyhedron, disc, trapezohedron, etc. The movable body segments conform to the geometric shape of the body member in the retracted position.

The invention may result in a toy which is durable, safe, and inexpensive to produce.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and wherein; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in a building block mode having a geometric shape; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 transformed into a vehicle; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in a building block mode and having a geometric shape; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 transformed into a vehicle; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in a building block mode and having a geometric shape;; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 transformed into a vehicle; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention in a building block mode and having a geometric shape; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of FIG. 7 transformed into a vehicle; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention in a building block mode and having a geometric shape; FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing steps for transforming the fifth preferred embodiment of FIG. 9 into a vehicle; and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of FIG. 9 transformed into a vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG.1 illustrates a transformable block toy or building block which has a body member 1 which has a basic geometric shape of a polyhedron. The body member 1 is preferably a trihedron made of two triangular body segments 2 and 3 which are pivotally connected by a pivotal joint (not shown) between opposing surf aces 2b of segment 2 and 3b of segment 3. Segment 3 is rotatably movable relative to segment 2 (or visa versa). When segment 3 is rotated 180 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the trihedron geometric shape is transformed into the shape of a vehicle (a train). Segment 3 is a right triangle having perpendicular surfaces 3c and 3d. Surface 3d of segment 3 is substantially coplanar with surface 2d of segment 2 when the body member 1 is in the geometric shape of FIG. 1.Also, surface 3e of segment 3 is coplanar with surface 2e of segment 2.

Together, surfaces 2e and 3e form a triangularly shaped outer surface of the body member 1 which is substantially planar and parallel to a triangularly shaped surface on the opposite side of the body member 1.

Surface 3c of segment 3 is provided with a recess 3a in which a rotatable member 4 is rotatably mounted. When the block toy is in the geometric shape shown in FIG. 1, the rotatable member 4 is rotated such that a planar surface 4b is substantially coplanar with surface 3c of the segment 3. When transforming the block toy to the shape illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotatable member 4 is rotated 1800 such that an opposite side surface 4c is substantially coplanar with surface 3c and a projection 4a extends upwardly from the surface 4c.

The directional arrow in FIG. 2 depicts the rotational movement of the rotatable member 4.

Retraction of the rotatable member back into segment 3 requires rotation in a direction opposite that of the directional arrow. Projection 4a is preferably pantograph-like in appearance.

As shown in FIG. 2, the body segments 2 and 3, each of which is basically wedge shaped, form in combination a nearly rectangular parallelopiped of which the forward end or tip is streamlined like a high speed train. A coupler 6 is recessed in the surface 3d of segment 3 when the block toy is disposed in the geometric shape of FIG. 1. When transforming the block toy to the vehicle mode of FIG. 2, the coupler 6 is pivoted outwardly from its recess 3d to enhance the image of a train.

Optionally, four wheels 2f are rotatably mounted in the segment 2. The wheels protrude slightly beyond the bottom surface of the segment 2 so that the block toy can be rolled on a floor or other suitable surface.

A whistle 5 may be provided in the nose of the train after transformation. Other train-like features may be formed in the two segments 2 and 3, such as a windshield 2g and windows 2h. These additional features may be made of separate pieces which are snap fitted into place, but all have surfaces which are substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the transformed structure.

However, the windows 2h are, as illustrated, slightly recessed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a building block in which a body member 7 has a substantially quadrahedron shape. Two movable segments 8 are pivotally connected to opposite sides of a main body segment 9 at upper forward and upper rearward portions thereof. The pivotal connection is facilitated by links 9b which are spring biased by springs (not shown) disposed in the links, such that the movable segments 8 are spring biased into both the retracted position shown in FIG. 3 and the extended position shown in FIG. 4. Due to the fact that the links 9b do not have a fixed rotational axis within the main body segment 9, a sliding action is facilitated in which the movable segments 8 are disposed in a flush position relative to the main body segment 9 in either the retracted or extended positions.

The quadrahedron-shaped building block of FIG. 3 is transformed into an automobile-shaped vehicle in which the links 9b form a part of the contoured outer surface of the automobile by fitting flush with horizontal surfaces spaced upwardly from the base of the vehicle.

A vertical passageway 9a which extends from the upper surface of the main body segment 9 to the lower surface slidably receives a sliding member 10, which is illustrated in FIG. 3 in a retracted position flush with the upper surface of the main body segment 9. When the building block is converted into an automobile, the sliding member 10 is caused to extend upwardly by pushing on the lower end thereof such that an upper end portion of the sliding member 10 extends beyond the upper surface of the main body portion 9. In this extended position, the upper end portion resembles an alarm lamp or "bubble" of a patrol car.

The bottom portion of the body member 7 rotatably supports four wheels 11 which extend slightly below the bottom surface, but are substantially flush with the rectangular outer surface 7a of the body member 7. Thus, the wheels 11 do not substantially detract from the overall quadrahedron shape of the block toy prior to transformation.

Basically, the movable segments 8 are foldable by virtue of each pivoting on its respective link 9b; while each link 9b pivotally moves relative to the main body segment 9. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, various other aspects of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 4 can be formed in the body segments, such as headlights and a grill formed on the forward movable segment 8, and a windshield which may be separately formed as a body panel and snapfitted into place during assembly. The wheels 11 may optionally be provided with a noise-making mechanism which creates a clicking sound as the wheels rotate.

The noise-making mechanism need only be provided with respect to one set of wheels.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention in which a building block includes a body member 12 which is substantially disc-shaped. Two substantially planar, parallel, circular outer surfaces 13a are spaced apart by a radial sidewall 13. A retractable member 15 has an outer surface which is substantially flush with the radial sidewall 13 of the body member 12 when formed in the disc-like geometric shape of FIG. 5. The retractable member 15 pivotally supports two, opposite side movable segments 16 which, in the retracted position of FIG.

4, have outer surfaces which are substantially flush with the circular outer surfaces 13a of the body member 12. From the retracted position of FIG. 5, the movable segments 16 are pivoted outwardly away from the surfaces 13a of the body member 12 until the outer surfaces of the movable segments 16 are substantially coplanar with the upper surface of the retractable member 15. Then, the retractable member 15 is pushed radially outwardly to achieve a position illustrated in FIG. 6. -The movable segments are helicopter rotors which are free to rotate by virtue of an upper portion of the retractable member 15 which is pivotally connected to a lower portion. The lower portion has an upper surface which is substantially flush with the radial sidewall 13 when the movable segments 16 are retracted and the retractable member 15 is extended outwardly.

Basically, the movable segments 16 become disposed on top of a helicopter-like body which was transformed from the disc-shaped body member 12.

A slot 13d formed in the radial sidewall 13 receives a tail section 17 of the helicopter and is pivotally mounted therein. The tail section 17 moves from the retracted position of FIG. 5 to the extended position of FIG. 6 by pivotal upward movement as indicated by the directional arrow in FIG. 6.

The movable segments or rotors 16 are fitted into recesses 14 formed in the circular side surfaces 13a of the body member 12. The surfaces 13a are also provided with recesses at bottom portions thereof for receiving foot elements 18 which pivot into the recesses in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 5, and are capable of pivoting 180 to provided flat support surfaces for the body member.

Basically, the foot elements 18 are foldable into retracted and extended positions. The body member 12 may also be provided with body parts which resemble other components of a helicopter, such as a windshield.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention in which a building block has a body member 20 which is substantially polyhedron-shaped. The body member 20 has a main body segment 21 and a movable segment 23 which, in FIG. 7, is in a retracted position such that the movable segment 23 and the main body segment 21 form a building block having the geometric shape of a quadrahedron. The body member 20 has two substantially planar, parallel outer surfaces 21a, each of which is formed collectively by outer surfaces of the movable segment 23. The main body segment 21 supports wheels 24 which are rotatably mounted in a bottom portion thereof.The wheels 24 have outer circumferential surfaces which allow the body member 20.to roll along an appropriate surface by virtue of the outer circumferential surface extending slightly beyond the bottom surface of the body member 20.

FIG. 8 illustrates the transformed building block now resembling a truck having a foldable arm which supports a bucket or gondola 23a at a distal end thereof. The movable segment 23 includes a plurality of pivotally connected sections which enable the movable segment 23 to be movable to infinite positions or folded in a retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 7, whereby outer surfaces of the movable segment 23 are substantially flush with outer surfaces of the body member 20. The bucket 23a has a cut-out portion 23b at a forward portion thereof which receives a pivotal projection 22 pivotally connected to the main body segment 21. In the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 7, the projection 22 is pivoted downwardly into the bucket 23a through the cut-out portion 23d.In the position illustrated in FIG. 7, an upper surface of the projection 22 is substantially flush with an upper surface of the body member 20. In the extended position illustrated in FIG. 8, the upper surface of the projection 22 becomes substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the body member 20.

Basically, the transformed vehicle is a fire truck in which the projection 22 is designed to resemble a warning light.

Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, wheels 24 are provided in a bottom portion of the body member to facilitate rolling of the body member in either the non-transformed shape or the transformed shape. The wheels have outer circumferential surfaces which extends slightly beyond the bottom surface of the body member 20 so as not to detract substantially from the building block nature of the body member when it is in its retracted, geometrically-shaped disposition.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which a building block 25 has a trihedron-shaped body. The trihedron-shaped body 25 has a main body segment 27 and a movable body segment 28. Opposite sides of the body 25 are substantially planar and parallel and have the shape of an equilateral triangle. The equilateral triangle is formed by coplanar outer surfaces of the two segments 27 and 28. Wings 26 are pivotally mounted on the opposite sides of the main body segment 27 such that in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 9, outer surfaces of the wings 26 are flush with outer surfaces of the main body segment 27 and the movable body segment 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the wings 26 pivot downwardly to a position which is substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces 27a of the body member 25.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the movable segment 28, after the wings 26 are pivoted downwardly, is pivoted rearwardly relative to the main body segment 27 until the bottom surface 28a of the movable segment 28 becomes substantially coplanar with an upper surface 27b of the main body segment 27 (see FIG. 12).

The pivotal movement of the movable segment 28 is facilitated by a link 31 which is pivotally connected to the main body segment 27 at one end and the movable body segment 28 at the other end. The link 31 is similar to that which is described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 and allows the movable segment 28 to pivot and slide into the extended position illustrated in FIG. 12. In the extended position, the two segments 27 and 28 form a fuselage of an airplane and thus is transformed into the shape of a vehicle.

The movable segment 28 includes a vertical tail 30 which extends outwardly from the bottom surface 28a. The vertical tail is receivable in a slot provided in the upper surface 27b of the main body portion 27 in the retracted position; in the extended position, the vertical tail extends upwardly at the tail portion of the fuselage. Horizontal tails 29 are pivotally connected to the movable segment 28 and pivot outwardly in the extended position illustrated in FIG. 12. In the retracted position, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the horizontal tails 29 are recessed into the movable segment 28.

Similar to the other embodiments, other features of an airplane may be formed in the outer surfaces of the body, such as, a windshield and passenger windows. Also, the bottom surface of the body 25 may be provided with wheels 32 which facilitate rolling of the body 25 along an appropriate surface. A noise making mechanism may be provided within the main body segment 27 such that when one of the wheels 32 rotates a clicking sound is generated similar to that which was described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly, the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be provided with a noise making mechanism activated by rotation of one or more of the wheels 24. These noise making mechanisms are generally known and a further description is not necessary to achieve an understanding of the present invention.

The various embodiments described above may be utilized as building blocks by using the outer parallel surfaces thereof when each embodiment is in the retracted position. The building blocks may be transformed into vehicular toys such as an automobile, airplane, truck, etc., by moving at least one movable segment of a main body.

The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the transformable block toys which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art based upon the disclosure herein, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and eguivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A transformable block toy comprising: a main body segment; and at least one movable segment movably connected to the main body segment and being movable between retracted and extended positions; the main body segment and the at least one movable segment forming a building block having geometric shape when the at least one body segment is in the retracted position and a vehicle when the at least one body segment is in the extended position, the building block in the retracted position having at least two substantially planar, parallel outer surfaces.

2 A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building block has a substantially polyhedron-shape in the retracted position and the vehicle has a substantially parallelopiped shape in the extended position.

3. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one movable segment is a wedge having two substantially planar, parallel, triangularly-shaped outer surfaces spaced apart by three contiguous side surfaces.

4. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the side surfaces has a recess in which a rotatable member is mounted, and an adjacent one of the side surfaces has a recess in which a pivotal member is mounted adjacent the rotatable member.

5. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotatable member has two opposite side surfaces, one of which has a projection extending outwardly therefrom which is receivable in the corresponding recess of the side surface.

6. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the pivotal member is receivable in the corresponding recess of the adjacent side surface.

7. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building block is substantially quadrahedron-shaped in the retracted position and the vehicle has an automobile shape in the extended position.

8. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main body segment has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the at least one movable segment comprises two pivotal members pivotally connected to the main body segment at a front and rear of the upper portion of the main body segment, the two pivotal members being movable between a first position adjacent the upper portion of the main body segment and a second position adjacent the lower portion of the main body segment.

9. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 8, further comprising linkage means, connected between the pivotal members and the main body segment for pivoting and sliding the pivotal members between the first and second positions.

10. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 8 or 9, further comprising a vertical central passageway extending through the main body segment and a slidable member slidably received in the vertical passageway and being movable so as to project an outer portion of the slidable member beyond an upper surface of the main body segment.

11. A transformable block toy as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the main body segment, each wheel having an outer peripheral surface which extends slightly beyond a bottom surface of the lower portion of the main body segment.

12. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building block has a disc-shape in the retracted position and the vehicle is a helicopter in the extended position.

13. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 12, wherein the disc-shaped building block has two parallel circular opposite side outer surfaces separated by a radial sidewall.

14. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one movable segment includes a tail section of the helicopter which is pivotally connected to the main body portion, and the radial sidewall has a recess in which the tail section is pivotal into and out of.

15. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one movable segment further includes a retractable member and two rotors rotatably mounted on the retractable member which is retractably received in the radial sidewall of the disc-shaped building block adjacent the tail section, the building block having recesses formed in the circular side surfaces and the two rotors are pivotal downwardly into the recesses.

16. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the at least one movable segment includes two supports, pivotally connected to the main body segment and being recessed in the circular side surfaces in a retracted position and extending downwardly to provide support for the helicopter in the extended position.

17. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building block is quadrahedron-shaped in.

the retracted position and the vehicle is a truck having a telescopic arm in the extended position.

18. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one movable segment includes an arm having a plurality of pivotally connected sections which are foldable onto the main body segment in the retracted position and extendable in the extended position.

19. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the arm has a proximal end pivotally connected to the main body segment and a distal end, the arm further including a bucket connected to the distal end thereof.

20. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a projection pivotally connected to the main body segment and being pivotally movable into the bucket when the arm is in the retracted, folded position and being pivotal into a projected position on top of the main body segment when the arm is in the extended position.

21. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 20, wherein the main body segment has an upper portion and a lower portion, and the projection is projectable from the upper portion, and the arm is retractable, foldable, and receivable on the lower portion of the main body segment.

22. A transformable block toy as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 21, further comprising a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the main body segment.

23. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the building block is polyhedron-shaped in the retracted position and the vehicle is an airplane in the extended position.

24. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 23, wherein the building block is a trihedron and the at least one movable segment is a triangular corner of the trihedron and the main body portion is a frustum formed by a remainder of the trihedron.

25. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 24, wherein the building block has two triangular opposite side surfaces separated by three contiguous sidewalls, and the at least one movable segment further includes first and second wings pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the building block, each being recessed into one of the two opposite side, triangularly-shaped surfaces when in the retracted position.

26. A transformable block toy as claimed in claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein the triangular upper portion of the trihedron further includes a fixed vertical tail which is recessable into the main body segment in the retracted position and horizontal tails pivotally mounted to the triangular upper portion of the trihedron and being pivotal outwardly in the retracted position.

27. A transformable block toy as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising at least one wheel rotatably mounted in the main body segment of the building block.

28. A transformable block toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, Figs. 5 and 6, Figs. 7 and 8 or Figs. 9 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.