US1191884A - Building-block. - Google Patents

Description

S. W". FINCH.

BUILDING BLOQK. .APPLlCATiON FILED FEB. 8. I916.

1,191,8, Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

S. W. FINCH.

BUILDING BLOCK- APPLICA'II'IO'N FILED FEB. 8, 1916.

Patented July 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

zw 25 r UNITED STATES PATENT 0m STANLEF W. FINCH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF'COL U MIBIA.

1 summits-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application .filed February 8, 1916. Serial No. 76,964.

To all whom itmay concern Be it known that I, STANLEY W. FINCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to toy building-blocks, and more particularly to the manner of connecting the same.

- The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a block adapted to the purposes of my invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of one form of the connector employed to hold two or more blocks together; Fig. 3 a perspective View.

of another form or design of block; Fig. 4 an end elevation of such block and one of the'connectors in its normal or expanded condition, illustrating the difference in the width of the slot and the connector; Fig. 5 a top plan view thereof Fig. 6 a view'similar to Fig. 4, showing the connector inserted, and in dotted lines a second superposed and connected block; Fig. 7 a top plan view similar to Fig. 5, with the connector inserted in the slot; Fig. 8 aperspective view of a square-faced block with two connectorstherein, illustrating the fact that the conne'ctor may be inserted either endwise or vlew showing the conhectorinserted in a sidewise'; Fig. 9 a sectional elevation of the block fshown in Fig. 8, illustrating more clearly-the manner in which it is grooved; Fig. 10 a sectional perspective of a particular or special form of block; Figs. 11 and 12 views illustrating modifications of such special form; Fig. 13 a perspective View of a varied form of the connector; Fig l4.a perspective view of a block having one-or more cylindrical sockets adapted more especially. to receive a modified form of connector;

Fig. 15 a perspective view of such modified "connector; Fig. 16-2. like view of a variation of the connector shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 an elevation of a block and a. connector prior to its insertion inthe block; Fig. 18 a plan thereof;'Fig. 19 a view similar to Fig. 17, with the connect-or inserted, a second block being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 20 a plan block; Fig: 21 an elevation of a-square-faced block with an inserted connector and a tri- 'b d Figs. 22 to 29, inclusive, P p ive views of various connectors embodying the underlying principles of myinvention.

The main object. of this invention is to produce a simple, strong and universal set of toy building-blocks, which may be economically produced and readily assembled by a child Without any special instructions as to their use.

The essence of the invention residesin the formation of the wooden connector, WhlCh may be compressed to reduce its thickness in the act of inserting or forcing it into the co6perating socket or recess in the block, the

pressure against the walls of the recess.

The connector is so formed that it may be Patented July 18, 1916. v

connector at all times maintaining a spring introduced into a socket or recess having thickness slightly in excess of the width of the slot or. socket into which it is to be inserted and has a slot or saw-kerf extending inwardly from each end, said kerfs being denoted by 5 and 6. Said slotsor kerfs extend from side to side of the body and project inwardly to such an extent that they pass or overlap,'so that the connectormay be compressed or reduced in thickness throughout its entire length. The normal thickness of the connector will be slightly greater than the width of the slot in the block, seeFigs. 4 and 5, and when inserted therein the kerf will close, see'Figs. 6 and 7, thereby exerting a pressure, due to the spring of the wood, suflicient to hold the connector in place.

The connectors may be inserted endwise or 'sidewise, see Fig. 8, the action being the.

same. The block in this figure and Fig. 9 is square in side-elevation, anda groove 7 extends entirely around the same.

In Figs. 10 and 12 I have disclosed a composite block, adapted, when connected, to

form what may be termed unit blocks, that is, blocks of the dimensions of that shown in Fig. 9 or, in the latter instance, correspond ing with the block in Figs. 1 and 3.- Said blocks (Figs. lO'and 12) are each formed of two elements (or blocks), 8 and 9, provided with complemental curved faces 10 and 11, said curved faces being provided with grooves 12 which merge into the other grooves extending about the sections. Said tangular' blocks, or said sections may be used separately but in conjunction with other blocks to produce various structures, as will be' readily understood.

In Fig. 11 a somewhat similar form is shown, the line of separation being produced nearer one corner of the block.

In Fig. 13 a connector is shown which, while having overlapping slots as before described, has an elliptical outline, with flat sides.

Many blocks, as 1 3 in Fig. 14:, now made have cylindrical sockets 14; and the connector may be readily adapted thereto. Thus, in Fig. 15 there is shown a block 15, of general cylindrical form, provided with two op- 'positely-disposed, longitudinallyextending,

flattened faces 16 and 17, with a slot or kerf 18 and 19 extending in respectively, from each end of the block, the slots overlapping and opening laterally through the flat faces 16 and 17.

In Fig. 16 a similar connector is shown, the overlapping slots 20 and 21 in this instance extending inwardly from the respective flatened faces, and extending from end to end of the block.

Under either of these forms it will be readily appreciated that the block may be compressed or narrowed slightly in the direction of its greatest diameter, or in other words upon the application of a slight pressure-on the opposite curved faces they will be brought closer together and the connector may then with ease and facility be introduced into the round socket 14. By having the opposite flat faces 16 and 17, and reducing the diameter by compression in a direction at substantially right angles thereto the cross area of the block is temporarily reduced and it may be readily positioned.-

In Figs. 17 and .18 the relative size of the socket 14 and the connector is shown, and in Figs. 19 and 20 the connector is illustrated as in place.

In Fig. 21 two blocks, one as 13 and a triangular one, 22, are illustrated with a connector in position.

In Fig. 22 a modified connector is shown, two. slots, as 23 and 24, extending in from one end, with two slots or kerfs 25 and 26 extending in from the other.

Fig. 23 shows the same number of slots,-

but on in'from the sides.

Figs. 24 and 25 show cemplemental end and side slot arrangements, the slots alternating. j 1

Figs. 26 and 27 showflfurther self-explaining modifications.

. In Figs. 28 and 29 the connector is shown as elliptical in cross-section, with three slots, the slots standing at right angles to the major axis of the ellipse and the minor axis of the body being slightly less than that of the opening into which the connector is to be inserted.

Compression of the block in the direction of its major axis will so reduce the cross area of the block that it may with ease and facility be inserted in the socket in the block.

While I have shown the slots in the various forms as parallel, it is tobe understood that it is not essential that they be exactly so, so long as they extend inwardly and overlap.

Under all these constructions the same compressible and springaction may be effected and the cross measurements of the connector readily reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a plurality of toy building blocks, each having a recesstherein for the reception of a connector; and a connector formed from a block of wood, with parallel slots extending lengthwise thereof, the slots overlapping at their inner ends.

2. In combination, a plurality of toy building-blocks, each having a recess therein for the reception of a connector; and a connector comprising a block of wood having inwardly-extending, substantially parallel, overlapping kerfs.

3. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body provided with overlapping, substantially parallel kerfs.

4. A connector for toy building blocks, comprising a body provided with inwardlyextending, substantially. parallel kerfs, the kerfs at their inner ends overlapping.

5. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion havin at least two oppositely-disposed, flattened aces with inwardly extending, lengthwise L disposed kerfs, the kerfs at their inner ends overlapping. v

6. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion having a diameter greater in one direction than in the other, with inwardly-extending, overlapping slots, said slots standing at an angle to the major diameter of the body.

7. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion having non-alining, substantially parallel, overlapping kerfs extending lengthwise thereof. 1

8. A connector for toy building-blocks,

comprising a body substantially circular in posed flattened, lengthwise-extending faces; and 'erfs formed in the block at right angles to said faces, the kerfs overlapping at their inner ends.

9. A connector for toy building-blocks, comprising a body portion provided with a kerf'extending inwardly from opposite ends or sides thereof, the kerfs lying in different substantially parallel planes, the inner ends of the kerfs being adjacent to each other.

10. A connector for toy building-blocks,

comprising a body portion having a plurality of oppositely-extending, ofi-set slots interposed solid portion intermediate the I ends thereof, said solid portion being sus-' ceptible of being fiexed'transversely to the direction of the slots, whereby the connector may be reduced in thickness when subjected to pressure in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the kerfs.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification.

STANLEY W. FINCH.

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