WO1994026372A1

WO1994026372A1 - Building blocks

Info

Publication number: WO1994026372A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000246
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Raymond Turner
Original assignee: Arthur Raymond Turner
Priority date: 1993-05-11
Filing date: 1994-05-11
Publication date: 1994-11-24

Abstract

An amusement device comprises a hollow block (10) with inlet(s) (12, 13) and outlet (15) with a ramp (14) directing marbles, etc. to the outlet. Male connectors (12, 13) interconnect with female connectors (15, 73). Side exits (17, 19) may be provided. A base (38) may be provided on which to erect constructions. The block may be invertible with ramps (58, 59) leading to inlets/outlets with connectors (52, 53) operable either way. Male connectors may be provided with ridges (71) to provide an interference fit with female connectors.

Description

TITLE: 'BUILDING BLOCKS'

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to playthings for children, and, in particular, to an amusement device which can be interconnected with others of its kind in a manner to create a structure with a passageway therein for the passage therethrough of a play piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a variety of styles of building blocks by which structures may be assembled.

Such building blocks use various means by which to interconnect the blocks to help in establishing a stable structure. It is also known to provide construction elements by which to assemble raceways along which marbles and the like can be rolled. These construction elements are similarly provided with interconnection means by which individual elements may be joined together in a stable structure. However, the raceways are not able to be stacked to produce walls as can building blocks. And building blocks are generally only able to interconnect at set angles usually limited to in line and orthogonal orientations.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a form of plaything in which the assembly of amusement devices such as block like elements creates structures such as building towers, etc., with passageways therein through which a play piece (as herein below defined) can be allowed to pass. Other objects and various advantages will hereinafter become apparent.

NATURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention achieves its object in the provision of an amusement device for the construction of structures for the passage therethrough of a play piece under the influence of gravity, the play piece passing. in use, from an input to the amusement device to an outlet for passage of the play piece therefrom characterised in that the amusement device is stackable with others of its type with the outlet of an amusement device at a level above mated with the inlet of an adjoining amusement device at a level below.

A plaything comprised of amusement devices of the above defined character combines the concept of a building block with that of a marble raceways so that the user can experience both activities at the same time. In a preferred form of the invention the blocks are adapted geometrically to permit their interconnection at any chosen angle to increase the range of geometries of structures made of the blocks over what is usually possible.

The term amusement device is intended herein to encompass elements having the usual construction block attributes. The play piece which can be used in conjunction with the amusement device can be balls of a range of sizes (with consequent ,adjustment to the size of the amusement device to permit its passage). Marbles ball bearings, and ping pong balls are common elements which may serve as play pieces. In general, anything which rolls, tumbles or flows might be used as a play piece. The term should be read to include sand, water and the like, dice of various kinds (number of faces and varieties of marking), etc, which also might be made to flow, tumble or fall through a construction made of the amusement devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the nature of a basic block in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate exit blocks used in the present invention;

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate various forms of linearly extended blocks in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 9 to 14 illustrate various alternate geometrical block forms in accordance with the present invention; FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate various flat flanges and load carriers for use in the present invention;

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a flat form base which might be used in performance of the invention; FIGS. 19 to 22 show an alternate form of block in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a structure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 24 shows a half block; FIG. 25 shows a structure using the half block of FIG. 24; and

FIG. 26 is an elevation of a pyramid wall to show the sort of thing which can be built with the elements of the invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description is outlined an amusement device of a preferred type in which the device comprises building blocks to be used with a play piece which in this embodiment is a marble. Other more complex or different elements may be devised to express the invention with the same or a different play piece.

In production of a basic amusement device in accordance with the invention, two concepts are common to all its various forms. Firstly, the blocks are to interconnect to create block structures such as are created out of building bricks. Secondly, the blocks are to have a passage or passages therethrough, through which articles are able to pass, falling under gravity to freely pass into and out of the individual amusement devices or blocks and thereon through the structure comprised thereof.

In realising the above basic requirements, it is preferred that the basic amusement device be configured, as will become clear below, so as to interconnect with adjoining pieces at a range of angular dispositions beyond the usual straight through lay up or orthogonal joint of more conventional building bricks. By creating the amusement devices with circular ends and circular male/female connectors (as will become more clear below) , any angle of interaction is permitted between adjoining bricks. However, this is not limiting on the invention which in its basic form can have male/female connectors with non-circular geometries interconnecting at a limited number of angular dispositions.

In realising the above requirements, there are a range of options amongst which choices can be made in creating an amusement device in the form of a hollow block. The basic block might have a single inlet and single outlet. Alternately, it might have a single inlet with multiple outlets, or multiple inlets with single outlet. The block might have male/female connectors at each end with different proportions/dimensions/geometries at each end so that on interconnection of two blocks, their relative orientation is important. By this means, users can be forced to create structures where the flow path therethrough sweeps in one direction or way around or through the structure. The block could be made so as to be usable in an inverted disposition as well as in the upright mode. Various inlets may be blanked off so as further force attention to orientation during assembly. In FIGS. 1 to 3 is seen a basic form of a block 10 in accordance with the invention. The block 10 is seen in side elevation in FIG. 1, top plan view in FIG. 2 and bottom view in FIG. 3 with a base 11 and top 74 having a pair of upstanding circular flanges or male portions 12 and 13 each defining an opening into the hollow internal volume of block 10 wherein a ramp surface 14 slopes downwardly to an exit hole at 15. The ramp is, of course, an internal feature shown here as if the block is transparent, which it can be so that in use the marbles's passage can be seen. By this means, an object such as a marble inserted into the hollow of the block via either of the entries at 12 or 13 ends up passing out the hole 15. By making the base 11 of the block with a complementary shape to the top so that the two upstanding flanges 12 and 13 may be received therein and lock via an interference fit, the blocks become a construction toy of the building block type through which objects such as marbles can be rolled, with the marble passing through the structure via a path determined by the orientation of the individual blocks which determines whether their ramps 14 feed left or right in the sense of the drawing. In this embodiment, the two male connectors 12 and 13 have the same diameter so as to fit in either orientation, the male parts being received in the base 11 which can be provided with a circular flange 72 extended from the base wall to provide a good close fit all round the male connector. The male connectors might be provided with ribs such as 71 in FIG. 2 to better engage the female connector. Fitting ribs with a chamfered end to the male connector makes interconnection easier. These ribs are shown on various of the subsequent blocks, in FIGS. 4 to 8 and it should be clear to the reader that each time these ribs are optional. These ribs are not shown in FIG. 9 onwards and it should be clear that those blocks could use ribs. The hole 71 which becomes the female connector is blocked off from the internal volume of the block 10 by the ramp 14 of FIG. 1.

The block 10 might be made of any suitable material. However, a plastic moulded block in a clear or semi-transparent plastic is desirable so that progress of a marble or other like object or play piece can be followed by eye. To add to visual appeal, the plastic of individual blocks might be coloured in a range of colours across the spectrum to enable creation of colourful structures.

Because the block of FIG. 1 has circular ends with circular male/female connectors, these particular blocks assemble together at any desired orientation.

The block 16 of FIG. 4 is similar in structure to block 10 of FIG. 1 except that a cut out at 17 in its side wall enables an object entered into the block to roll out the opening or cut out. This block is useful at the base of a structure so that a marble fed thereto is freely retrieved at the bottom when it exits from the structure. Careful attention to internal geometry enables use of the block 18 at any point in a structure with a marble rolled thereto preferably passing into the opening of a block thereunder, escaping from the structure only when the block 18 is a base block so as to roll out on the floor or other base surface.

The block 18 of FIG. 5 is a single entrance/outlet, circular block which has a cut or opening 19 in its side wall. The difference in this block is that it is a half block, a straight through block, for use in structures when a straight vertical edge is required upwardly past a number of courses of blocks.

The block 20 of FIG. 6 is one and a half blocks in comparison with the basic block of FIG. 1. Block 20 has three entrances 21 to 33 with a fall from the left hand end as indicated by the arrow 24 to an end outlet in the base. Clearly this is an option only and blocks essentially having the same proportions might feed to an end or a centre outlet from all entrances or to each end from the centre inlet. The fall of the marble is indicated by similar arrows in subsequent drawings. It should be clear to the reader that in each case, what is indicated might be varied simply by changing the ramps inside the blocks. The blocks 25 and 26 of FIGS. 7 and 8 are double and treble the basic block in length with a ramp therein feeding to a single outlet at 27 and 28 respectively. Each block 25 and 26 has two entrances 29 and 30 in block 25, and 31 and 32 in block 26. The blocks of FIGS. 9 to 14, seen from above, illustrate schematically a variety of geometries with three or more inlets thereto and internal structures to cause a marble put therein to fall to any one of the outlets, which outlets are arranged, as in the two outlet basic block above, beneath the inlets with internal structures therein to divert marbles from a simple straight through flow. These types of block are useful in tying walls together in various combinations to increase the range of structures which can be assembled.

In FIG. 15 is seen a flat piece 33 with holes 34 to 36 therein to tie blocks together. The holes 34 to 36 fit over the male portions of blocks below to be clamped between the lower and upper blocks. To serve the purpose of a tie, the flat piece should be thin. In FIG. 16, the flat flange 37 is a spacer or washer.

Various structures such as towers can be assembled using the basic blocks described above with blocks interconnected in overlapping courses to create towers, walls, etc., with curved, straight and zig-zag walls as suit the user. As will be seen below, more elaborate structures with windows and doors are possible.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 is seen a flat base 38 over which a tower might be constructed with upstanding male portions 41 to 44 over which a basic block such as in FIG. 1 might be mounted with blocks added in a tower with two blocks per course. The male portions may have a top with a fall as indicated by sloping their upper surface as seen at 45 and 46 in FIG. 18. The flat base 38 may have two end walls 39 and 40 to catch and retain marbles fed down a tower constructed on the base. The base doubles as a means to give a tower greater stability and as a means to control the marble's exit, retaining them for easy retrieval and reuse. Clearly such a tray or box might be produced with a larger array of male connectors so as to enable much larger and more elaborate structures to be assembled over the same base.

In FIGS. 19, 21 and 22 is illustrated an alternate block 47. Male connector 48 fits female connector 51 on an adjoining block with male connector 50 in female connector 49 at the other end. As seen in the section of FIG. 21, two ramps 58 and 59 are provided so that the block works either way up with one inlet (or outlet) on each face leading to a single inlet (outlet) on the other. In stacking, male part 53 fits in female connector 52. The circular column block 60 of FIG. 20 and 24 might be used with these blocks with a male connector end 61 and female counterpart at the other. As described with reference to the earlier block a variation can be produced with a cut out to allow marbles to exit at the base of a building. In these blocks, a one way in/one way out structure exists as a consequence of wanting an inverted operability. Again, structures such as towers, walls, etc. , in a variety of geometries are possible with these types of blocks as with the previously described block.

FIG. 23 shows a house wall construction with door 64 and window 65 having column blocks such as at 66 in windows 65 at their sides for straight edges. Outlet blocks such as at 63 may be provided at points around the base wherever the design allows a marble to flow to. In FIG. 39 a column 62 of column blocks has an exit block 67 in its base. FIG. 24 shows details of a column block 67 with cylindrical wall 68 having male connector 69 to create columns as in FIG. 25 tied top and bottom by the above described basic block. Windows and doors might be established with special frames with female connectors in their base to overlay a course of blocks thereunder and a lintel at the top to support courses thereover. Floor plates with holes to slot over male connectors might be used to create multiple floored buildings.

In the above proposals, where a basic block is to work either way up, it will be seen that the internal ramps create a one way flow passage therethrough with single inlet/outlet at each face (top and bottom). If the block need not work inverted, then one ramp can be omitted to simplify construction and if the one flow passage structure is to be kept then one inlet, the one above the outlet, might be blocked off to make it necessary that the orientation of the blocks be kept in mind during assembly. Proper orientation can be forced by making the respective male/female connectors at each end of a block with different sizes so that the blocks can only be assembled one way. The effect of this is to establish flows one way around a structure. Alternately, the block may simply have two inlets and one outlet with one inlet feeding to the outlet directly and the other via the ramp to create a two flow type of block.

To avoid shattering and sharp edges, the blocks need only be made of a plastic not prone to those problems. In the blocks illustrated in the drawings, the blocks are provided with rounded ends so that the blocks may be joined in any relative angular disposition to enable walls to go around any chosen curve. This introduces greater flexibility into the way in which the blocks are used, breaking away from the orthogonal restrictions of other forms of blocks which involve a plurality of male/female connectors to restrict the interaction of adjoining blocks.

In the above described embodiments, the male/ female connectors are circular to permit joining at any relative angular orientation. However, the basic principles may be realised with other geometric forms in the connectors such as squares, hexagons, etc. , except that then the possible angular interactions are limited. However, buildings with marble raceways therethrough are equally possible.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An amusement device for the construction of structures for the passage therethrough of a play piece under the influence of gravity, the play piece passing, in use, from an input to the amusement device to an outlet for passage of the play piece therefrom characterised in that the amusement device is stackable with others of its type with the outlet of an amusement device at a level above mated with the inlet of an adjoining amusement device at a level below.

2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amusement device has its inlet positioned over a ramp within a hollow to direct the play piece falling thereon to the outlet.

3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the amusement device is a hollow body with side walls to direct the play piece and a sloped bottom surface to form the ramp therein.

4. An amusement device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the amusement device , has upper and lower enclosing surfaces extended generally in parallel planes to enclose a volume in the amusement device with the inlet in the upper surface and the outlet in the lower surface.

5. An amusement device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the amusement device is a hollow block-like body with inlet and outlet thereto interconnected by a flat ramp surface therein.

6. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the inlet and the outlet are provided with complementary connector elements by which a pair of amusement devices can be connected together with outlet aligned to inlet.

7. An amusement device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the inlet is surrounded by an upstanding flange engageable in the outlet of an adjoining like type amusement device.

8. An amusement device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the inlet and its flange are circular and the outlet engages therewith in an interference fit.

9. An amusement device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the flange has a plurality of axially extended outer ribs thereon which engage with the outlet of an adjoining amusement device.

10. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the amusement device has a plurality of outlets each with a ramp extended thereto from beneath the inlet.

11. An amusement device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the meeting of the ramps beneath the inlet is arranged to create an equal probability that a play piece passed through the inlet will pass to a particular outlet.

12. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the amusement device is moulded in a transparent plastic material.

13. A set of amusement devices including a plurality of amusement devices as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one member of the set has an outlet therefrom which opens in a side of the amusement device to permit exiting of the play piece therefrom.

14. A set of amusement devices as claimed in claim 13 wherein the inlets to the amusement devices have upstanding flanges for interconnection with outlets of adjoining pieces and generally planar connection pieces are provided with holes therein to interleave between adjacent joined pairs of amusement devices.

15. A set of amusement devices as claimed in claim 13 wherein a base plate is provided with upstanding flanges thereon to interconnect with amusement devices fitted thereto.

16. A set of amusement devices as claimed in claim 15 wherein the base plate has a peripheral rim to catch play pieces exiting from the amusement devices stacked above the base plate.

17. A set of amusement devices as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the plurality of amusement devices have inlets and outlets at modular spacings.

18. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the amusement device is comprised of a body of material with rounded faces at points whereat the device adjoins with others when stacked permitting interconnection at a range of angular dispositions.

19. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amusement device has upper and lower surfaces extended generally in parallel planes with at least one inlet in the upper plane and at least one outlet in the lower plane the upper and lower planes being provided with male and female interconnection elements whereby the amusement devices can be stacked and locked together.

20. An amusement device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the interconnection elements each comprise at least one circular flange projected off one of the upper and/or lower surfaces.

21. An amusement device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the circular flange surrounds either of an inlet or an outlet.

22. An amusement device as claimed in claim 21 wherein circular flanges exist around the inlets and the outlets, the flange or flanges on one surface being male connectors dimensioned to connect in an interference fit in the flange or flanges on the other surface.

23. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein there is a single inlet and multiple outlets.

24. An amusement device as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein there is a single outlet and multiple inlets.

25. An amusement device for the construction of structures for the passage therethrough of a play piece under the influence of gravity, the play piece passing, in use, from an input to the amusement device to an outlet for passage of the play piece therefrom characterised in that: the amusement device is able to be interconnected with others of its kind with outlets aligned with inlets; the amusement device is a hollow brick like body with a ramp therein directing play pieces falling therein to the outlet; and the amusement device is able to be interconnected with others at a continuous range of relative angles.

26. An amusement device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the amusement device is rounded at each end and interconnection means exists at each end concentric with the curve of the ends.

27. An amusement device as claimed in claim 26 wherein a circular male connector is received by a circular female connector.

28. An amusement device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the male connector is provided externally with a plurality of ridges which engage the female connector in an interference fit.