GB2469301A

GB2469301A - Toy construction set

Info

Publication number: GB2469301A
Application number: GB0906072A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivica Vlahovic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-08
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2010-10-13
Also published as: GB2469543B; GB2469543A8; GB2469543A; GB0917495D0; GB0906072D0

Abstract

A toy construction set comprises a number of tiles/blocks 1 connectable to each other using snap-type connectors 2. The tiles/blocks 1 may be provided with apertures along their side edges such that a connector 2 may slot into the apertures and snap engage with corresponding formations within the tiles/blocks 1. The connectors 2 may comprise four slopping extended arms 4 have hook like additions 5, which lock onto corner ridges in the internal structure of the tiles/blocks 1. The lock between each tile/block 1 and connector 2 is not permanent. When a tile/block 1 needs to be released pressure is applied such that the arms 4 of the connector 2 flex disengaging the hooks 5 from the corner ridges within the structure of the tiles/blocks, thus disconnecting the tiles/blocks for each other.

Description

Tiling with reversible tiles Construction with reversible tiles, blocks, bricks and skeletal structural pieces This invention relates to tiles, blocks, bricks and skeletal structural pieces which make tiling patterns and 3D structures.

It is still common practice, that educational and specially dedicated 2D tiles are assembled into patterns by placing them next to each other.

A user of educational or other game tiles may have experienced utter despair having his beautifully assembled creation disturbed by a clumsy move.

To overcome this the present invention proposes a tile, block, brick and skeletal structures which interlink by corresponding connectors allowing many sided connectivity, creating firm bonds between them capable of withstanding rough treatment, and being used in horizontal, vertical as well as angular patterns or structures Examples of the invention will now be described by accompanying drawings.

-Figure 1 shows two reversible tiles 1, which interlink horizontally, edge to edge, by means of inserting an angular connector 2. The angular connector 2 is positioned perpendicular in relation to the two adjoining tiles. The angular connector 2 slots perpendicular into the central apertures 3 on the adjacent tiles.

-Figure 2 shows that the angle on the connector needs to be predetermined, having either a wide entry angle or a narrow entry angle. The wide angled connector 2 has two elongated arms 4, which slope sideways to the central line of the connector 2.

The slopping arms 4 are equipped with two hook-like additions 5. When the connector arms slide along the narrow entry slot they are compressed inwardly inside the internal structure of the tile. Upon reaching the middle section of the tile, the arms of the connector expand outwardly, the hooks locking onto the ridges of internal diagonal corners of the tile. A click follows to denote that the locking arms have settled into the designated spaces. The lock between the tile and the connector is not permanent. When a tile needs to be separated from the connector, and a reasonable pressure applied, the two hooks on the connector arms get disengaged.

The extended arms with hooks can vary in length and width. Thus the power of the interlocking action can be regulated. Long and thin arms on the connector will make interlocking action easier.

The diagonal width of the connector provides additional strength to the central line.

-Figure 3 shows the internal structure of a square tile with four connectors 2 in situ.

-Figure 4 Extra width 6 can be added to the central line of the connector 2.

-Figure 5 shows a variant type of the connector 2, where the locking arms are part of the central spine of the connector 2, Other variations are inclusive.

-Figure 6 shows four corners of a square structure joined together diagonally to form a unified, singular piece. Add covers to complete the square tile.

Centrally unified corners of the pentagonal structure 10, is sandwiched between the top and bottom covers 9, to form a pentagonal tile.

-Figure 7 shows a corner piece from the interlocking component of a square tile, which has been split into two parts 11 having rounded edges at any one of these angles 45, 50 or 60 degrees. If one of these two parts 11 is lifted 12, and then lowered down it will engage the lower part with a click.

-Figure 8 shows two identical square pieces with corner sections split into halves diagonally 14. Yet when one of these pieces is positioned on top of the other, the top piece will engage the lower piece. This tile does not need gluing or fusing at all. The added advantage is that just one piece of the pair needs to be made.

-Figure 9 shows two identical square pieces with pegs 15 and two corner pieces with matching holes. When one of these square pieces is turned over to cover the other piece, the two pieces will bond with a click.

-Figure 10 shows two identical pieces They will lock together to form a square tile.

-Figure 11 shows two identical square based pieces with the corners split at an angle. The increased length of the locking edge will increase the locking power between the two segments.

-Figure 12 shows two identical square based pieces, each corner being split into two parts and a central slotting piece provided. This pair forms a square tile.

-Figure 13 shows a tile having a unified flexible locking piece 19 with four joined pairs of locking arms.

-Figure 14 The unified locking piece is fixed in the centre of the square base by a central square peg 20 to stop rotation.

Figure 15 shows three constituent parts forming an equilateral triangle tile.

The middle layer 22 has two extended locking arms added to two sides of the triangle 23. An entry slot is positioned on the third side of the equilateral triangle.

-Figure 16 shows an equilateral tile made up of the three constituent parts.

-Figure 17 shows a rhombus made up of three constituent parts 23.

-Figure 18 shows an isosceles triangular piece with the angle marked 54 degrees.

The middle section 24 of the isosceles triangular piece has two connectors and an entry slot, forming an isosceles triangular tile 25.

-Figure 19 shows a five way connection around point P with five isosceles triangles forming a pentagon.

-Figure 20 shows an equilateral triangle made up of three parts.

-Figure 21 shows a six way connection with 6 interlocked equilateral triangles around point P 26, forming a hexagon.

-Figure 22 shows a corner tile for 2 D tiling patterns.

-Figure 23 shows the middle layer of an edge tile with two entry slots and a pair of locking arms added to the opposite sides.

-Figure 24 shows three other variants.

A tile with two pairs of locking arms 27.

A tile with three pairs of locking arms 28.

A tile with four pairs of locking arms 29.

-Figure 25 shows a square tile with two circular inserts 30, added to it for interlinking with other tiles with circular covers. The pattern extends by adding more tiles with circular covers. Similar tiles with curved, regular or irregular, inserts can be included.

A circular tile 31 connects to another square tile, which have circular inserts.

The tile 32 connects to a circular tile and other square tiles.

-Figure 26 shows a 3D connector 2 having a groove 33 on the central line which enables it to bend and interlink with other tiles at any desired angle.

-Figure 27 shows corners 34 of a square tile which provide wide entry slots for angular connectors having wide central diagonal for added stability.

-Figure 28 shows a square cover 35 with slopping sides of 45 degrees. thus making angular connections with other tiles much firmer.

36 shows the internal structure, three layers put together.

The complete tile 37 could have either a single or double covers with slopping sides of 45 degrees.

-Figure 29 shows a cube put together by using flexible connecters and six reversible tiles. Six tiles with slopping sides of 45 degrees could be used as well.

Two unified corner pieces 38, 39 with a partition between them could be paired together to form a tile with dual entry 40 for linking with the other solids.

-Figure 30 shows a square cover for a tile with slopping sides of 54 degrees 41.

42 shows the internal structure of a tile with slopping sides of 54 degrees. 43 shows the complete tile, which could be equipped with either a single or double covers having slopping sides of 54 degrees, and by linking five of these tiles a pentagonal structure could be obtained.

-Figure 31 shows the internal structure 44 of a tile with slopping sides of 60 degrees.

The complete tile could have either a single or double covers with slopping sides of degrees 45, and by linking six of these tiles a hexagonal structure could be obtained.

-Figure 32 shows a three layered block. The middle layer is sandwiched by two thick covers. 46 shows the complete block for 3D construction.

-Figure 33 shows a block with dual entries to provide tough connections between solids.

-figure 34 shows two middle layers joined together to form a brick with six wide angled entry slots.48 shows the complete brick.

-Figure 35-shows a corner block with one slopping face of 45 degrees.

-shows a corner block with one slopping face of 60 degrees -Figure 36 shows a corner block for a cube which has two corner locking pieces fixed onto it. By joining together four identical corner blocks a cube can be obtained with apertures for cross connection on top and bottom faces, and a single aperture on each of the four remaining faces.

-Figure 37shows the middle layer 49, of an arch block sandwiched by two thick covers.

-Figure 38 shows the complete arch block.

-Figure 39 shows a curved arch block.

-Figure 40 shows the complete arch made up of seven arch blocks.

-Figure 41 shows a wide angled connector having perforated circular holes positioned at the lower end of extended arms, thus aiding the arms to bend inwardly..

-Figure 42 shows a wide angled connector having a groove along its central line for 3D angular construction.

-Figure 43 shows the middle layer of a structural piece for skeletal construction having slopping ends of 45 degrees.

-Figure 44 shows the middle layer of a structural piece for skeletal 3 D construction having slopping sides of 60 degrees.

-Figure 45 shows a 3 way connection piece for 3D skeletal construction.

-Figure 46 shows a 4 way connection piece for 3D skeletal construction.

-Figure 47 shows the middle layer of a 6 way connection skeletal piece.

-Figure 48 shows a narrow angled connector. It allows more entry slots on a skeletal piece.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Reversible tiles, blocks, bricks and skeletal structural pieces including variant types, interlink by means of inserting wide or narrow angled connectors to their sides with wide or narrow angled apertures, thus creating firm many sided bonds in horizontal, vertical, angular patterns and 3D skeletal structures.
2. Reversible tiles, blocks, bricks and skeletal structural pieces including variant types, according to claim 1, have wide or narrow angled entry slots in the internal structures, thus many sided connectivity is achievable.
3. Wide or narrow angled connectors, including variant types, according to claim 1, having predetermined angles, are equipped with moving or non moving constituent parts, using hook like additions, which aid compression of hooks, when slotted into the wide or narrow angled apertures of a tile, block and skeletal structural pieces, including variant types, and expand allowing the hooks to lock onto the corner ridges in the internal structures of a tile, block, brick as well as skeletal structural pieces.
4.The width of the angled connector, according to claim 3, along the central diagonal, parallel to the edge of a tile, reinforces the bond between a tile and a connector, thus making many sided connections more stable.