GB2307869A

GB2307869A - Block toy

Info

Publication number: GB2307869A
Application number: GB9525236A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi-Ching Tung
Original assignee: TUNG CHI CHING
Current assignee: TUNG CHI CHING
Priority date: 1995-12-09
Filing date: 1995-12-09
Publication date: 1997-06-11
Also published as: GB9525236D0

Abstract

A block toy including a plurality of block elements respectively made of flat shape, and a plurality of swivel connector, each block element (10, Figure 1) having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of peripheral sides, a plurality of pins at the top side, a plurality of pin holes at the bottom side, a plurality of first retaining grooves (14) equiangularly spaced from one another and respectively disposed in parallel with the peripheral sides, and a plurality of second retaining grooves (13) respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining grooves to the border, each swivel connector having two reversed base elements 21 turnable about an axle 22, each base element having an axle housing at one end mounted around the axle, a retainer plate 213 at an opposite end for fitting into one first retaining groove, a pin 211 at one side for fitting into one pin hole, and a pin hole 212 at an opposite side for receiving on pin.

Description

TITLE: BLOCK TOY This invention relates to block toys, and relates more particularly to such a block toy which is comprised of a plurality of slotted, polygonal block elements with pins and pin holes for connection with one another, and a plurality of swivel connectors for allowing the block elements to be turned relative to one another.

A variety of block toys have been disclosed, and have appeared on the market. These block toys commonly comprise a plurality of block elements having pins and pin holes for connection with one another in limited directions. The commonly drawback of conventional block toys is that when block elements are connected together, they cannot be turned relative to one another to change the angular position. Therefore, conventional block toys provide less variation.

The present invention provides a block toy which permits the block elements to be connected with one another in all directions and, which permits the block elements to be turned relative to one another when they are connected with one another by swivel connectors.

According to the present invention, the block toy comprises a plurality of block elements respectively made of flat shape, and a plurality of swivel connector, each block element having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of peripheral sides, a plurality of pins at the top side, a plurality of pin holes at the bottom side, a plurality of first retaining grooves equiangularly spaced from one another and respectively disposed in parallel with the peripheral sides, and a plurality of second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots to the border, each swivel connector having two reversed base elements turned about an axle, each base element having an axle housing at one end mounted around the axle, a retainer plate at an opposite end for fitting into one first retaining slot, a pin at one side for fitting into one pin hole, and a pin hole at an opposite side for receiving on pin.

FIG. 1 shows the top side structure of a square block element according to the present invention; FIG. 2 shows the bottom side structure of the square block element shown in Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a top plain view of the square block shown in Figure 1; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3; FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a swivel connector according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the swivel Connector shown in Figure 6; FIG. 8 is a front plain view of the swivel connector shown in Figure 6; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8; FIG. 10 shows a plurality of square block elements connected in a stack according to the present invention;; FIG. 11 shows a plurality of square block elements connected with one another in different directions according to the present invention; FIG. 12 shows two square block elements connected together by a swivel connector according to the present invention; FIG. 13 shows four square block elements connected with one another on the same plane by a respective swivel connector according to the present invention; FIG. 13A shows a plurality of square block elements connected with one another at different elements by swivel connectors according to the present invention; FIG. 14 shows two square block elements connected together by a swivel connector and turned relative to each other according to the present invention;; FIG. 15 shows a plurality of square block elements connected with one another by swivel connectors into the form of a polygonal configuration according to the present invention; FIG. 16 shows a rectangular block element according to the present invention; FIG. 16A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 16; FIG. 17 shows a triangular block element according to the present invention; FIG. 17A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 17; FIG. 18 shows a pentagonal block element according to the present invention; FIG. 18A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 18; FIG. 19 is a hexagonal block element according to the present invention; FIG. 19A is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 19; and FIG. 20 shows a plurality of pentagonal block elements and hexagonal block elements connected with one another by swivel connectors according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates a first working view of the present invention; and FIG. 22 illustrates a second working view of the present invention.

For the purpose to promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alternations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the block element, referenced by 10, is made of flat, square shape having a center pin 111 and four corner pins 11 at the top side, a center pin hole 121 and four corner pin holes 12 at the bottom side, four elongated first retaining slots 14 equiangularly spaced around the center of the block element and respectively disposed in parallel with the four peripheral sides, and four second retaining slots 13 respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots 14 to the border.

Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, when a unit length r is used for measuring the size of the square block element 10, the length of each peripheral side is 16r, the thickness is 2r, the diameter of the pins 11 and 111 is 2r, the diameter of the pin holes 12 and 121 is 2r, the depth of the pin holes 12 and 121 is lr, the width of the second retaining slots 13 is 2r, the depth of the second retaining slots 13 is 2.5r, the depth of the first retaining slots 14 is 0.5r, the width of the first retaining slots is 4r. Furthermore, the four corners of the square block element 10 are circularly chamfered of size 2r.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the swivel connector, referenced by 20, comprises of two reversed base elements 21 and and an axle 22. The base element 21 fits the second retaining slot 13 in width, having an axle housing 23 at one end, a retainer plate 213 at an opposite end, which fits the first retaining slot 14, a pin 211 at one side, and a pin hole 212 (see Figure 9) at an opposite side. The size of the pin 211 is equal to that of the pins 11 and 111. The size of the pin hole 212 is equal to that of the pin holes 12 and 121. The axle 22 is inserted into the axle housings 23 of the two reversed base elements 21, permitting the reversed base elements 21 to be respectively turned about the axle 22.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, when the aforesaid unit length "r" is used for measuring the size of the swivel connector 20, the width of the reversed base elements 21 is 2r, the length of the reversed base elements 21 is 2.5r, the thickness of the reversed base elements 21 is 2r, the width of the retainer plate 213 of each base element 21 is 4r, the length of the retainer plate 213 is 0.5r, the thickness of the retainer plate is 2r, the outer diameter of the axle housing 23 is 2r, the diameter of the pin 211 is 2r, the height of the pin is Ir, the diameter of the pin hole 212 is 2r, the depth of the pin hole 212 is lr, the distance between the pins 211 of the two reversed base elements 21 is 6r.

According to the aforesaid dimensional statement, the pins 11, 111 and 211 fit the pin holes 12, 121 and 212; the retainer plate 213 fits the first retaining slots 14; the base elements 21 fit the second retaining slots 13; the thickness of the square block element 10 fits the second retaining slots 13.

Referring to Figure 10, by fitting the pins 11 and 111 of one square block element 10 into the pin holes 12 and 121 of another, a plurality of square block elements 10 are connected in a stack.

Fig. 11 shows a plurality of square block elements connected with one another in different directions. As illustrated, the square block element 10A is connected to the upper right corner of the square block element 10B, the square block element 10C is connected to the upper left corner of the square block element 10B, the square block element 10D is perpendicularly connected to the square block element 10C at the top, the square block element E connected to the square block B at the bottom and overlapped on a part of the square block element B, the square block element G is connected to the square block element E by the square block element F, the square block element F is perpendicularly connected between the square block element E and the square block element G.

Referring to Figures from 12 to 15, as indicated, the pins 11, 111 and 211 fit the pin holes 12, 121 and 212, the retainer plate 213 fits the first retaining slots 14, the base elements 21 fit the second retaining slots 13, and the thickness of the square block element 10 fits the second retaining slots 13. Therefore, a plurality of square block elements 10 can be connected into any of a variety of forms.For example, two square block elements 10 can be connected together by a swivel connector 20, as shown in Figure 12; four square block elements 10 can be connected with one another on the same plane by swivel connectors 20, as shown in Figure 13; a plurality of square block elements 10 can be connected together at different elevations by swivel connectors 20, as shown in Figure 13A; two square block elements 10 can be hinged by one swivel block 20 and turned relative to each other, as shown in Figure 14; a plurality of square block elements 10 can be connected with one another by swivel connectors 20 into the form of a polygonal configuration, as shown in Figure 15.

Referring to Figures 16 and 16A, the block element, referenced by 11, is made of rectangular shape having two pins 11 at one side near the two opposite ends, two pin holes 12 at an opposite side corresponding to the pins 11, an elongated first retaining slot 14 longitudinally disposed in the middle, and a second retaining slot 13 perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slot 14 to the border.

Referring to Figures 17 and 17A, the block element, referenced by 102, is made of triangular shape having three pins 11 at one side in the three angles, three pin holes 12 at an opposite side corresponding to the pins 11, three elongated first retaining slots 14 respectively disposed in parallel with the three peripheral sides, and three second retaining slots 13 respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots 14 to the border.

Referring to Figures 18 and 18A, the block element, referenced by 103, is made of pentagonal shape having five pins 11 at one side in the five angles, five pin holes 12 at an opposite side corresponding to the pins 11, five elongated first retaining slots 14 respectively disposed in parallel with the five peripheral sides, and five second retaining slots 13 respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots 14 to the border.

Referring to Figures 19 and 19A, the block element, referenced by 104, is made of hexagonal shape having six pins 11 at one side in the six angles, six pin holes 12 at an opposite side corresponding to the pins 11, six elongated first retaining slots 14 respectively disposed in parallel with the six peripheral sides, and six second retaining slots 13 respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots 14 to the border.

Referring to Figure 20, a plurality of pentagonal block elements 103 and hexagonal block elements 104 can be connected with one another by swivel connectors 20 into the configuration of a soccer ball.

The invention is naturally not limited in any sense to the particular features specified in the forgoing or to the details of the particular embodiment which has been chosen in order to illustrate the invention.

Consideration can be given to all kinds of variants of the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example and of its constituent elements without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. This invention accordingly includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A block toy comprising a plurality of block elements for connection with one another, and a plurality of swivel connectors for connecting said block elements together for allowing them to be turned relative to one another, wherein: each block element is made of flat shape having a top side, a bottom side, and a plurality of peripheral sides, comprising a plurality of pins at the top side, a plurality of pin holes at the bottom side corresponding to said pins, a plurality of first retaining grooves equiangularly spaced from one another and respectively disposed in parallel with the peripheral sides, and a plurality of second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from said first retaining slots to the border, the pins on one flat block element being for fitting into the pin holes on another flat block element for allowing said flat blocks to be connected with one another; said swivel connectors each comprises two reversed base elements and and an axle, each base element fitting said second retaining slots in width, having an axle housing at one end mounted around said axle, a retainer plate at an opposite end for fitting into one first retaining slot on one block element, a pin at one side for fitting into one pin hole on one block element, and a pin hole at an opposite side for receiving one pin of one block element or another base element of one swivel connector.

2. The block toy of claim 1 wherein said flat block elements are made of rectangular shape, each comprising two pins at one side near two opposite ends, two pin holes at an opposite side, an elongated first retaining slot longitudinally disposed in the middle, and a second retaining slot perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slot to the border.

3. The block toy of claim 1 wherein said flat block elements are made of triangular shape having a top side, a bottom side, and three peripheral sides, each comprising three pins at the top side in the three angles, three pin holes at the bottom side corresponding to the pins, three elongated first retaining slots equiangularly spaced from one another and respectively disposed in parallel with the three peripheral sides, and three second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots to the border.

4. The block toy of claim 3 wherein each triangular block element further comprises a fourth pin disposed at the center of the top side and a fourth pin hole disposed at the center of the bottom side.

5. The block toy of claim 1 wherein said flat block elements are made of square shape having a top side, a bottom side, and four peripheral sides, each square block element comprising five pins respectively disposed in the four corners, five pin holes at the bottom side corresponding to the pins, five first retaining slots equiangularly spaced from one another and respectively disposed in parallel with the five peripheral sides, and five second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots to the border.

6. The block toy of claim 5 wherein each square block element further comprises a fifth pin at the center of the top side, and a fifth pin hole at the center of the bottom side.

7. The block toy of claim 1 wherein said flat block elements are made of pentagonal shape having a top side, a bottom side, and five peripheral sides, each pentagonal block element comprising five pins at the top side in the five angles, five pin holes at the bottom side corresponding to the pins, five elongated first retaining slots respectively disposed in parallel with the five peripheral sides, and five second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots to the border.

8. The block toy of claim 7 wherein each pentagonal block element further comprises a sixth pin at the center of the top side, and a sixth pin hole at the center of the bottom side.

9. The block toy of claim 1 wherein said flat block elements are made of hexagonal shape having a top side, a bottom side, and six peripheral sides, each hexagonal block element comprising six pins at the top side in the six angles, six pin holes at the bottom side corresponding to the pins, six elongated first retaining slots respectively disposed in parallel with the six peripheral sides, and six second retaining slots respectively and perpendicularly extended from the first retaining slots to the border.

10. The block toy of claim 9 wherein each hexagonal block element further comprises a seventh pin at the center of the top side, and a seventh pin hole at the center of the bottom side.