US20170014727A1

US20170014727A1 - Joint brick for building block

Info

Publication number: US20170014727A1
Application number: US14/801,866
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsai-Ti Chen; Hero Lee
Original assignee: T-Fun Co Ltd
Current assignee: T-Fun Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-17
Filing date: 2015-07-17
Publication date: 2017-01-19

Abstract

A joint brick for a building block is pivotally connected between the building blocks to work as a joint of the limbs. The joint brick includes two side plates and two axial post disposed between the side plates to be pivotally connected with engaging recesses of other building blocks. When the axial posts disposed at a top end and a bottom end of the joint brick are pivotally connected with other building blocks, the limbs can substantially swing, extend and bend relative to each other to make playing the building blocks more convenient and more interesting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a joint brick for a building block, such as Lego bricks and Mega Bloks bricks, and more particularly, to provide a joint brick pivotally connected between the building blocks to work as a joint of a limb.
2. The Prior Arts
Building blocks are toys that can train hand eye coordination, enhance the development of intelligence and develop children's imagination and creativity. Therefore, the building blocks are popular and widely favored by the consumers. Currently, the most successful construction toy in the world is generally considered to be the Lego bricks, which are manufactured by The Lego Group, a company having a history of 50 years and based in Denmark. The Lego Group not only has the most customers and the largest market share in the world but also has the largest forum, creators and players. Therefore, Lego become a synonym for the building blocks. Because many patents of Lego expire, a lot of toy companies manufacturing the building blocks, such as Mega Bloks based in Canada, adopt the interlocking structure of studs and engaging recesses of Lego bricks. Thus, the building blocks manufactured by the competing companies have designs, structures, and interlocking structure very similar to the Lego bricks.
There are unlimited and various ways to play the building blocks. The building blocks have various shapes, such as a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a cylinder, etc. and have variety of colors. Thus, the children can connect the building blocks having various shapes, sizes and colors to form buildings, vehicles, airplanes, ships, robots, insects, animal and the like, thereby developing children's imagination and creativity and providing entertainment. The interlocking structure of the conventional building blocks is stacking them in the vertical direction. Thus, the building block includes studs disposed at a top thereof and engaging recesses disposed at a bottom thereof. The engaging recesses disposed at the bottom corresponding to the studs disposed at the top can be engaged with the studs with interference fit. The building block can be engaged with the engaging recesses of another building block by the studs or can be engaged with the studs of another building block by the engaging recesses. In order to enhance the appearance of the connected building blocks, the Lego Group and Mega Bloks also market a building block having a decoration portion, and the decoration portion is shaped in a smooth, curved or special contour to reduce or omit the studs of the building block. Furthermore, the decoration portion is formed at a side of the building block opposite to the engaging recess and this type of building block takes advantage of the engaging recesses to assemble to the most exterior of the connected building blocks. Thus, the decoration portion is exposed to the exterior and encases the studs inside to enhance the appearance.
In summary, the convention building blocks use studs and engaging recesses to connect the building blocks together. However, the interlocking structure of the conventional building blocks still has some disadvantages. For example, when assembling the building blocks to form a robot having movable limbs (hands or legs), an insect or an animal and the like, the conventional stud-and-engaging-recess interlocking structure can not achieve that the limbs can substantially swing, extend or bend relative to each other. If redesigning the interlocking structure of the conventional building block and making it different from the conventional designs, the usage types of the building blocks would be changed and the application would also increase. However, these topics are not disclosed yet. As such, a joint brick for building blocks is disclosed by the applicant for providing a solution in accordance with the foregoing disadvantages of the conventional designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a joint brick for a building block, and particular to a joint brick pivotally connected between the building blocks to work as a joint of a limb. Therefore, the joint brick according to the present invention overcomes the disadvantage of the conventional building blocks which use the studs and engaging recesses to connect the building blocks with each other and thus can not substantially swing, extend and bend between the building blocks that work as limbs.
In order to achieve the objective, a joint brick according to the present invention includes two side plates and two axial posts disposed between the two side plates.
When connecting the building blocks to form robots having movable limbs (upper limbs or lower limbs), insects or animals, etc, both ends of the joint brick are respectively acted as a top end and a bottom end due to the two axial posts respectively located at both ends of the joint brick. When connecting the building blocks, another building block having engaging recesses is provided at the top end of the joint brick and the engaging recess of the building block is engaged with the axial post disposed at the top end of the joint brick, so that the building block can swing around an axis of the axial post disposed at the top end of the joint brick. Similarly, another building block having engaging recesses is provided at the bottom end of the joint brick and the engaging recess of the building block is engaged with the axial post disposed at the bottom end of the joint brick, so that the building block can swing around an axis of the axial post disposed at the bottom end of the joint brick. As such, the joint brick and the building blocks connected at both ends of the joint brick can substantially swing, extend and bend relative to each other, which greatly improve convenience and interest of assembling the building blocks.
Accordingly, the joint brick pivotally connected between the building blocks to work as a joint of a limb not only can achieve the objective of the present invention but also has a very simple structure. The joint brick according to the present invention only needs two side plates and two axial posts. Thus, it greatly reduces the cost of manufacture. Assembling the building blocks with the joint bricks according to the present invention is quite simple and easy, which make playing the building blocks more interesting.
According to the technical feature of the structure mentioned above, an outer wall of the axial post includes a cylindrical surface and a ridge portion disposed on the cylindrical surface, projected in a radial direction of the axial post and extended parallel to an axis of the axial post. Due to the positional relationship between the cylindrical surface and the ridge portion, the cross section of the axial post has a contour of a water drop. The axial posts are located at positions adjacent to corners of the side plates. When the inner surface of the engaging recess of another building block is pivotally rotated along the cylindrical surface of the axial post of the joint brick, the ridge portion of the axial post can stop the relative rotation at the outer edge portions disposed at the recess opening of the engaging recess, thereby limiting the engaging recess of the building block pivotally rotating along the cylindrical surface of the joint brick. Therefore, the angle that the other building block swings relative to the joint brick is limited and the other building block is controlled to swing in a predetermined range.
According to the technical feature of the structure mentioned above, an engaging shaft is provided between the side plates to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block. Therefore, the engaging shaft is disposed between the axial posts, so that the engaging shaft of the joint brick can be engaged with another building block having the engaging recesses. Thus, the building block is fixed with the engaging shaft of the joint brick by the engaging recess and provides the encasing function for the joint brick. Moreover, the building block may further include a decoration portion disposed at a side opposite to the connected joint brick to work as an exterior structure of the robot, the insect, the animal, and the like. Therefore, the appearance of the connected building blocks can be changed according to the designs of the decoration portion. It makes connecting the building blocks easier, more convenient and more fun.
According to the technical feature of the structure mentioned above, the axial posts and the engaging shaft are located at apexes of a triangle. The ridge portions of the axial posts are pointed toward the engaging shaft, respectively. Moreover, a portion of the engaging shaft is projected out of peripheries of the side plates. When connecting the building blocks to form the robot having upper or lower limb, the joint brick working as an elbow or a knee of the robot, the engaging shaft working as the front of the elbow or the knee, the other building blocks working as the upper arm, the lower arm, the thigh or the shank of the robot, the ridge portion of the axial post can limit the swing directions of the upper arm, the lower arm, the thigh or the shank due to the ridge portion of the axial post pointing toward the engaging shaft. This technical feature prevents the upper arm, the lower arm, the thigh or the shank from swinging to the front of the elbow or the knee, which is an abnormal state such as a bone dislocation. Therefore, the joint brick can simulate the normal activities of the upper limb and the lower limb.
According to the technical feature of the structure mentioned above, the outer wall of the joint brick is further provided with at least one stud to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block or at least one engaging recess to be engaged with the stud of the building block. Thus, the stud or the engaging recess of the joint brick can be engaged with another building block having the engaging recess or the stud. The building block can be engaged with the stud or the engaging recess disposed at the side plate of the joint brick by engaging recess or the stud of the building block. Thus, the building block provides the encasing function for the outer walls of the side plates of the joint brick. The building block may further include a decoration portion disposed at a side opposite to the connected joint brick to work as an exterior structure of the robot, the insect, the animal, and the like. Therefore, the appearance of the connected building blocks can be changed according to the designs of the decoration portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a joint brick according to the present invention and building blocks in use;

FIG. 2 is an explosive view showing the joint brick and the building blocks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explosive view showing the joint brick and the building blocks of FIG. 2 in another viewing angle;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the joint brick and the building blocks of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the joint brick and the building blocks of FIG. 4 in use;

FIG. 6 a perspective view showing the joint brick according to the present invention, conventional building blocks and knee bricks; and

FIG. 7 is a partially explosive view showing the joint brick, the building blocks and the knee bricks of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a joint brick 1 for a building block according to the present invention include two side plates 10, a first axial post 11 disposed between the two side plates 10 to be pivotally connected with an engaging recess of the building block and a second axial post 12 disposed between the side plates 10 to be pivotally connected with the engaging recess of the building block. The first axial post 11 and the second axial post 12 are disposed at corners of the side plates 10, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 4, an outer wall of the first axial post 11 includes a cylindrical surface 111 and a ridge portion 112 disposed on the cylindrical surface 111, projected in a radial direction of the first axial post 11 and extended parallel to an axis of the first axial post 11. An outer wall of the second axial post 12 includes a cylindrical surface 121 and a ridge portion 122 disposed on the cylindrical surface 121, projected in a radial direction of the second axial post 12 and extended parallel to an axis of the second axial post 12. Due to the positional relationship between the cylindrical surfaces 111, 121 and the ridge portions 112, 122, cross sections of the first axial post 11 and the second axial post 12 have a contour of a water drop.
An engaging shaft 13 is provided between the side plates 10 to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block. The engaging shaft 13 is disposed between the first axial post 11 and the second axial post 12, and the first axial post 11, the second axial post 12 and the engaging shaft 13 are located at apexes of a triangle. Preferably, the ridge portion 112 of the first axial post 11 and the ridge portion 122 of the second axial post 12 are pointed toward the engaging shaft 13, respectively. Moreover, a portion of the engaging shaft 13 is preferably projected out of peripheries of the side plates 10.
When connecting the building blocks to form robots having movable limbs (hands or legs), insects or animals, etc, both ends of the joint brick 1 are respectively acted as a top end and a bottom end due to the first axial post 11 and the second axial post 12 respectively located at the top end and the bottom ends of the joint brick 1. A first embodiment of the present invention gives an example that the building blocks are assembled to form a limb (a movable lower or upper limb) of a robot. A thigh brick 2 having engaging recesses 21 is provided at the top end of the joint brick 1, and the engaging recess 21 disposed at the bottom end of the thigh brick 2 is engaged with the first axial post 11 disposed at the top end of the joint brick 1. The engaging recess 21 of the thigh brick 2 can be a conventional engaging recess. The engaging recess 21 is shaped in a groove and provided with a recess opening 22 and two outer edge portions 23 disposed at two sides of the recess opening 22, so that the thigh brick 2 can swing around the first axial post 11 disposed at the top end of the joint brick 1.
Similarly, a shank brick 3 having conventional engaging recesses 31 is provided at the bottom end of the joint brick 1, and the engaging recess 31 disposed at the top end of the shank brick 3 is engaged with the second axial post 12 disposed at the bottom end of the joint brick 1, so that the shank brick 3 can swing around the second axial post 12 disposed at the bottom end of the joint brick 1. Therefore, the joint brick 1 and the thigh brick 2 and the shank brick 3 connected at both ends of the joint brick 1 can substantially swing, extend and bend relative to each other. Playing the building blocks with the joint bricks according to the present invention would be more convenient and fun.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the inner surface of the engaging recess 21 of the thigh brick 2 is pivotally rotated along the cylindrical surface 111 of the first axial post 11 of the joint brick 1, the ridge portion 112 of the first axial post 11 can stop the relative rotation at the outer edge portions 23 disposed at the two sides of the recess opening 22 of the engaging recess 21 of the thigh brick 2, thereby limiting the engaging recess 21 of the thigh brick 2 pivotally rotating along the cylindrical surface 111 of the first axial post 11. Therefore, the angle that the thigh brick 2 swings relative to the joint brick 1 is limited and the thigh brick 2 is controlled to swing in a predetermined range. Similarly, when the inner surface of the engaging recess 31 of the shank brick 3 is pivotally rotated along the cylindrical surface 121 of the second axial post 12 of the joint brick 1, the ridge portion 122 of the second axial post 12 can stop the relative rotation at the outer edge portions 33 disposed at the two sides of the recess opening 32 of the engaging recess 31 of the shank brick 3, thereby limiting the engaging recess 31 of the shank brick 3 pivotally rotating along the cylindrical surface 121 of the second axial post 12. Therefore, the angle that the shank brick 3 swings relative to the joint brick 1 is limited and the shank brick 3 is controlled to swing in a predetermined range.
Understandably, when connecting the building blocks to form the robot having lower limbs, the joint brick 1 working as a knee of the robot, the engaging shaft 13 working as the front of the knee, the thigh brick 2 and the shank brick 3 respectively working as the thigh and the shank of the robot, the ridge portion 112 of the first axial post 11 and the ridge portion 122 of the second axial post 12 can respectively limit the swing directions of the thigh and the shank (as shown in FIG. 4) due to both of the ridge portion 112 of the first axial post 11 and the ridge portion 122 of the second axial post 12 pointing toward the engaging shaft 13. As such, the thigh brick 2 and the shank brick 3 respectively swing toward a direction opposite to the engaging shaft 13 as shown in FIG. 5. The arrangement of the ridge portion 112, 122 and the outer edge portion 23, 33 prevents the thigh brick 2 and the shank brick 3 from swinging to the front of the knee, which is an abnormal state such as a bone dislocation. Therefore, the joint brick 1 can simulate the normal activities of the thigh and the shank. Similarly, the joint brick 1 can also used in the upper limb to simulate the normal activities of the upper arm and the lower arm.
Accordingly, the joint brick 1 can be pivotally connected between the building blocks to work as a joint of the limb. The joint brick 1 only need the first axial post 11, the second axial post 12 and two side plates 10. The structure of the joint brick 1 is quite simple and thus the manufacturing cost can be reduced. To assemble the building blocks is also simple and easy, which makes playing the building blocks more fun. The joint brick 1 according to the present invention overcomes the disadvantage of the conventional building blocks which use the studs and the engaging recesses to connect the building blocks with each other and thus can not substantially swing, extend and bend between the building blocks that work as limbs.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the joint brick 1 is further engaged with a front knee brick 4 having a conventional engaging recess 41. The engaging recess 41 of the front knee brick 4 is engaged with the engaging shaft 13 of the joint brick 1 and outer edge portions 43 disposed at two sides of the engaging recess 41 are inserted into the space between the two side plates 10, thereby connecting the front knee brick 4 with the joint brick 1. The front knee brick 4 also provides an encasing function for the front of the joint brick 1. The front knee brick 4 may further include a decoration portion 40 disposed at a side opposite to the engaging recess 41 to work as an exterior structure of the robot, the insect, the animal, and the like. Therefore, the appearance of the connected building blocks can be changed according to the designs of the decoration portion 40. It makes connecting the building blocks easier, more convenient and more interesting.
Furthermore, the outer wall of the side plate 10 of the joint brick 1 is further provided with at least one stud 14 to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block or at least one engaging recess to be engaged with the stud of the building block. Thus, the stud 14 or the engaging recess disposed at the outer wall of the side plate 10 of the joint brick 1 can be engaged with a conventional engaging recess 51 or a stud of a side knee brick 5 as shown in FIG. 7. As such, the side knee brick 5 can be connected with the stud 14 or the engaging recess of the side plate 10 of the joint brick 1 by the engaging recess 51 or the stud thereof, thereby fixing the side knee brick 5 with the joint brick 1. The side knee brick 5 also provides the encasing function for the outer walls of the side plates 10 of the joint brick 1. The side knee brick 5 may further include a decoration portion 50 disposed at a side opposite to the engaging recess 51 to work as an exterior structure of the robot, the insect, the animal, and the like. Therefore, the appearance of the connected building blocks can be changed according to the designs of the decoration portion 50.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A joint brick for a building block, comprising:

two side plates; and

axial posts disposed between the side plates, each axial post having an outer wall formed with a cylindrical surface configured for pivotally connecting with a recess opening of an engaging recess of the building block, the cylindrical surface having a ridge portion projected out of the cylindrical surface in a radial direction of the axial post, the ridge portion extended in an axial direction of the axial post;

wherein the ridge portion blocks an outer edge portion of the recess opening to limit an angle that the building block can pivotally swing relative to the joint brick around the axial post when the axial post is connected with the building block through the recess opening.

2. (canceled)

3. The joint brick according to claim 1, wherein the axial posts are disposed at positions adjacent to corners of the side plates.

4. The joint brick according to claim 1, further comprising an engaging shaft disposed between the side plates to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block, wherein the engaging shaft is disposed between the axial posts.

5. The joint brick according to claim 4, wherein the positions of the axial posts and the engaging shaft are arranged as a triangle.

6. The joint brick according to claim 5, wherein the ridge portion of each axial post is pointed toward the engaging shaft so that two building blocks pivotally connected respectively with two axial posts can only swing toward each other and away from the engaging shaft.

7. The joint brick according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the engaging shaft is projected out of peripheries of the side plates.

8. The joint brick according to claim 5, wherein a portion of the engaging shaft is projected out of peripheries of the side plates.

9. The joint brick according to claim 1, wherein an outer wall of the side plate includes at least one stud to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block.

10. The joint brick according to claim 4, wherein an outer wall of the side plate includes at least one stud to be engaged with the engaging recess of the building block.

11. The joint brick according to claim 1, wherein an outer wall of the side plate includes at least one engaging recess to be engaged with a stud of the building block.

12. The joint brick according to claim 4, wherein an outer wall of the side plate includes at least one engaging recess to be engaged with a stud of the building block.

13. The joint brick according to claim 1, wherein the axial post has a cross section shaped in a water drop.

14. The joint brick according to claim 4, wherein the axial post has a cross section shaped in a water drop.

15. The joint brick according to claim 9, wherein the axial post has a cross section shaped in a water drop.