Toy construction member
By designing a complementary locking structure of protrusions and grooves in the toy building components and using elastic parts for connection, the problems of weak interlocking and single construction direction of existing building blocks are solved, and multi-directional stable connection and model structure diversity are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511255625.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2016-08-12
- Filing Date
- 2017-08-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing building blocks have weak interlocking between similar parts, making them easy to detach, and their construction direction is limited, which restricts the diversity of model structures.
The design incorporates toy building blocks with protrusions and complementary-shaped grooves. The protrusions and grooves are connected by elastic components to form a complementary locking structure, allowing for assembly and disassembly in multiple directions and enhancing interlocking stability.
It achieves stable connection of building blocks in multiple directions, improves the interlocking strength between components, and enhances the diversity and stability of the model structure.
Smart Images
Figure CN121243787A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. 201780048621.9, filed on August 10, 2017, entitled "Toy Building Element". TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to toy building elements, such as building toy blocks or bricks or elements used in model construction. BACKGROUND
[0003] Building toys are popular with children and adults. Users persistently seek new projects and it is desirable to provide new toy building elements that enable new and unique items to be built.
[0004] Prior building elements have typically been limited to bricks, and many prior building bricks provide only weak interlocking between similar parts, making them prone to disconnection, particularly when used for a long time and worn. It is thus also desirable to provide toy building bricks with strong interlocking features that resist disconnection.
[0005] Prior building elements have also been limited to building in only one direction, typically the vertical upward direction (i.e. one element on top of another). This limits the possible diversity of model constructions.
[0006] Examples of the present invention seek to address or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of prior building bricks. SUMMARY
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toy building element having a body with at least one protrusion extending therefrom and at least one complementary shaped recess formed therein, each protrusion and each recess being formed with complementary locking formations configured such that, when a building element is assembled to another similar building element by engaging a protrusion of one element in a recess of the other, the locking formations contact and pass over each other, wherein the recess is at least partially formed by a resilient member that is resilient to resist the locking formations passing over each other to resist assembly and disassembly.
[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the building element is configured such that the resilient member is compressed as the locking formations pass over each other and substantially stress free when the locking formations are not passing over each other, the locking formations being positioned such that the resilient member is substantially stress free when similar building elements are fully interconnected.
[0009] Preferably, the locking formations of each protrusion are formed near the tip or distal point thereof, and the locking formations of each recess are formed near the outermost point thereof. The locking formations can typically be annular.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a toy construction element having a body with at least one protrusion extending therefrom and a plurality of complementary shaped recesses formed therein, said recesses extending along at least two different axes and being configured to receive a corresponding protrusion of a similar element to enable similar construction elements to be interconnected in three dimensions.
[0011] The element can be configured to interlockingly engage with similar elements.
[0012] Preferably, the protrusions and / or recesses are formed with a snap interlocking feature. The snap interlocking feature can comprise complementary locking formations formed on each protrusion and each recess, said locking formations being configured to pass over one another as a protrusion of one element is received in a recess of another element when similar elements are assembled, wherein said recesses are at least partially formed by a resilient member which is resilient to withstand the passing of the locking formations during assembly and disassembly.
[0013] The element is preferably configured such that the resilient member is compressed as the locking formations pass over one another and substantially stress free when the locking formations are not passing over one another, said locking formations being positioned such that the resilient member is substantially stress free when similar elements are fully interconnected.
[0014] The described element can be in the form of a cube or rectangular prism and can be formed from a plurality of unitary formed cubes, each outer surface of the cube having a protrusion or recess formed thereon. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be further described with reference to the drawings, but which will be by way of non-limiting examples only.
[0016] Figure 1 A 3D orthographic view of a toy construction element according to an embodiment of the present application.
[0017] Figures 2 and 3 are Figure 1 cross-sectional views of the element of Figure 1.
[0018] Figure 4 Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of a plurality of interengaged elements, each element being according to the element of Figure 1 , 2 and 3.
[0019] Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of a toy construction element according to another embodiment of the present application.
[0020] Figure 7 Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of a plurality of interengaged elements, each element being according to the element of Figures 5 and 6.
[0021] Figure 8 A 3D orthographic view of a toy construction element according to another embodiment of the present application.
[0022] Fig. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of toy construction elements according to the present application. Figure 8
[0023] Figure 11 are cross-sectional views of a plurality of intermeshing elements, each element being according to the element of Figure 8 Figs. 9 and 10.
[0024] Figure 12 and 13 are perspective views of toy construction elements according to another embodiment of the present application.
[0025] Figure 14 are front views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0026] Figure 15 are left side views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0027] Figure 16 are right side views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0028] Figure 17 are top views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0029] Figure 18 are bottom views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0030] Figure 19 are rear views of the elements of Figure 12 and 13
[0031] Figure 20 and 21 are perspective views of toy construction elements according to another embodiment of the present application.
[0032] Figure 22 are front views of the elements of Figure 20 and 21
[0033] Figure 23 are left side views of the elements of Figure 20 and 21
[0034] Figure 24 are right side views of the elements of Figure 20 and 21
[0035] Figure 25 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy building member according to a preferred embodiment of the present application. Figure 20 Fig. 2 is a top view of the member of Fig. 1. 21 Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the member of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the member of Fig. 1.
[0036] Fig. 5 is a rear view of the member of Fig. 1. Figure 26 Fig. 6 is a side view of the member of Fig. 1. Figure 20 Fig. 7 is a top view of the member of Fig. 1. 21 Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the member of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a front view of the member of Fig. 1.
[0037] Fig. 10 is a rear view of the member of Fig. 1. Figure 27 Fig. 11 is a side view of the member of Fig. 1. Figure 20 Fig. 12 is a top view of the member of Fig. 1. 21 Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the member of Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is a front view of the member of Fig. 1.
[0038] Fig. 15 is a rear view of the member of Fig. 1. Figure 28 Fig. 16 is a 3D orthographic view of an assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application. Fig. 17 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 16.
[0039] Fig. 18 is a 3D orthographic view of another assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 29 Fig. 19 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a 3D orthographic view of another assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application.
[0040] Fig. 21 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 20. Figure 30 Fig. 22 is a 3D orthographic view of another assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 29 Fig. 23 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is a 3D orthographic view of another assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application.
[0041] Fig. 25 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 24. Figure 31 Fig. 26 is a 3D orthographic view of another assembly constructed from toy building members according to an embodiment of the present application. 32 Fig. 27 is a close-up view of the assembly of Fig. 26. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Referring to Fig. 1, a toy building member 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. The member is configured for engagement with similar members 10 to form an assembly. Figure 1 The member 10 has a member body 12 with at least one protrusion 14 extending therefrom and at least one complementary shaped recess 16 formed therein. In the embodiment shown, a single protrusion 14 and five recesses 16 are provided, although other embodiments will be described further below.
[0043] Figure 1
[0044] As more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the protrusion 14 and each recess 16 are formed with complementary locking formations in the form of a bulge 18 on their surfaces. Thus, the protrusion 14 has an outwardly extending bulge 18 formed on its outer surface, while each recess 16 has a bulge 18 extending inwardly from the inner surface of each recess 16. The two bulges 18 are configured to contact and pass over each other as the protrusion 14 of one member 10 is received in the recess 16 of another like member. To improve the retention of the interconnection between like members 10, each recess 16 is at least partially formed by a resilient member 20 that is resilient to enable the bulges to pass over each other during the connection of like members 10 and to resist the disconnection of like members 10.
[0045] In alternative embodiments, the protrusion 14 can be provided with a resilient member 20. In another alternative embodiment, both the protrusion 14 and the recess 16 can be provided with a resilient member 20.
[0046] The members 10 are configured such that, as the bulges 18 pass over each other, the resilient member 20 is stressed, and when the bulges 18 have passed over each other, the stress is substantially eliminated. As the protrusion 14 of one member 10 is received in the recess 16 of a like member 10, the resilient member 20 is stressed and flexes to enable the locking formations to pass over each other. Once engaged and the locking formations have passed over each other, the resilient member 20 at least substantially eliminates / releases the stress. To enable the interlocked members 10 to be separated from each other, the resilient member 20 is stressed while the members 10 are being separated, and once separated, the stress is released.
[0047] The bulges 18 are positioned such that, when like members 10 are fully interconnected, the resilient member 20 is substantially stress free. Fully interconnected means that the protrusion 14 is fully received in the corresponding recess 16 such that like members 10 are engaged in a rest position in which the opposing faces of the members 10 are in contact or in close proximity to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the bulge 18 of each protrusion 14 is formed adjacent its most distal point, and the bulge 18 of each recess 16 is formed adjacent its most outer point, i.e. away from the innermost or bottom of the recess 16. In alternative forms, the bulges 18 can not be provided on the recess 16 or the protrusion 14, but rather, a groove can be provided at a location adjacent the presently illustrated bulge location for receiving the bulge 18 of the corresponding recess 16 or protrusion 14.
[0048] The described arrangement provides resistance to holding like members 10 together without the resilient member 20 being substantially permanently strained or in a substantially constant state of stress, which can lead to fatigue and a decrease in holding performance over time. The protrusion 14 can also be complementarily shaped to the recess 16 in a close fit manner to provide a degree of frictional engagement that resists the disconnection between like members 10.
[0049] In the illustrated form, the protrusions 14 take the form of generally hollow cylinders having a radial bulge 18 formed near the distal end. The recesses 16 are similarly generally hollow cylinders having a radial bulge 18 formed near the outermost end.
[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the bulges 18 are generally annular, it being appreciated that they can take other shapes and can be made, for example, from a plurality of individual elements or protuberances.
[0051] The described protrusions 14 and recesses 16 provide a snap- interlocking feature, it being appreciated that in some embodiments the members 10 are formed without such a feature. For example, the members can simply have a member body with at least one protrusion extending therefrom and a plurality of complementary shaped recesses formed therein, the recesses extending along at least two different axes and being configured to receive corresponding protrusions of a like member for three-dimensional interengagement of like building members. Such embodiments can also be provided with the above-described type of snap- interlocking feature or complementary locking feature.
[0052] The members 10 enable a plurality of like members 10 to be interconnected or assembled into a structure, such as that shown in Figure 4 .
[0053] For fun or convenience, or to enable assembly of more complex structures, the members can be provided with different numbers of protrusions, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, as can be seen, a member 110 is formed with three protrusions 114 and three recesses 116. A plurality of like members 110 can also be interconnected or assembled into a structure, such as that shown in Figure 7 .
[0054] The protrusions 114 and recesses 116 of the members 110 can be provided with the complementary locking feature described above.
[0055] It is appreciated that other configurations of members are possible, such as a member having two protrusions and four recesses or having four protrusions and two recesses.
[0056] Alternatively, at least one face of a member can be devoid of protrusions or recesses and can be blank, provided with alternative structural connections, or simply provided with decorative features.
[0057] It should also be recognized that the component body can take many shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, the component body is a rectangular prism or cube, i.e., a solid body with six rectangular faces perpendicular to each other. The component body may or may not have rounded edges. The component body can be a cuboid or a cube. In other embodiments, the component body can take other geometric shapes, some of which will be regular shapes while others will be irregular. For example, the shape may be selected from, but is not limited to, the group consisting of: parallelepiped, sphere, pyramid, prism, cone, cylinder, or pedestal shape.
[0058] although Figures 1-7 The embodiment shown has a single protrusion 14 or groove 16 on each face, and the component may also have multiple protrusions 14 or grooves 16 or combinations thereof on each face. To facilitate this, the component body may be a rectangular cube or may be formed from multiple integrally formed components.
[0059] Figures 8-11 One embodiment is shown in which the size of member 210 is approximately two times that of the top Figure 1 The size of the component shown is given. Thus, component 210 is formed of a plurality of integrally formed cubes, each of which has at least one protrusion 214 or groove 216 formed on its outer surface.
[0060] Component 210 in Figure 8 The uppermost surface shown has two protrusions 214. Figure 8 The bottommost surface shown has two grooves 216 (not shown), two grooves 216 on one main side, two protrusions 214 (not shown) on another main side, a single protrusion 214 (not shown) at one end, and a single groove 216 at the other end, for a total of five protrusions 214 and five grooves 216. In other embodiments, the number of protrusions 214 and grooves 216 may vary.
[0061] The protrusion 214 and the groove 216 of component 210 may be provided with a complementary locking structure as described above.
[0062] Figures 9 and 10 show the protrusion 214 and the groove 216 configured as described above, and from... Figure 11 As can be seen, multiple components 210 can also be connected to each other or assembled into a component. Although the diagram shows only components 210, the structure may also include other configured components such as components 10 and 110 described above. Figures 28-32 The illustrations also show multiple components of the present invention interconnected or assembled into various different structures for illustrative purposes. Figure 28 The structure shown illustrates, for example, multiple components 110 and 210 connected together.
[0063] Although not shown, the above principles can be extended to building elements of a size of more than three Figure 1 of the size of the elements shown in the figures.
[0064] The described embodiments are preferably formed from thermoplastic material using injection molding. By configuring the building elements so that they are identical, the building elements can be manufactured in batches, thereby greatly reducing manufacturing costs. Although physical embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be appreciated that it can also be implemented in digital form via digital embodiments.
[0065] Digital embodiments can include a video game, a web page, a computer game or a mobile phone app. It should be appreciated that in such embodiments, the method of assembling the building elements can be virtually identical or similar to the way in which the building elements are physically assembled.
[0066] It should be appreciated that "similar" elements herein refer to elements of any embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, it is of course possible for elements 10, 110, 210 to engage with each other.
[0067] The foregoing embodiments have been described by way of example only, modifications within the scope of the disclosed invention are possible. For example, although referred to as building toys, the described elements can be used in building structures that are complex, time consuming and not strictly considered to be "toys".
[0068] Throughout this specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
[0069] Any prior publication (or information derived from it) referred to herein or the incorporation of any known matter is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour concerned by virtue of its publication or otherwise.
[0070] List of Reference Numerals
[0071] 10 toy building element
[0072] 12 element body
[0073] 14 protrusion
[0074] 16 recess
[0075] 18 bulge
[0076] 20 resilient member
[0077] 110 toy building element
[0078] 112 element body
[0079] 114 protrusion
[0080] 116 recess
[0081] 118 bulge
[0082] 120 resilient member
[0083] 210 toy construction element
[0084] 212 element body
[0085] 214 protrusion
[0086] 216 recess
[0087] 218 bulge
[0088] 220 resilient member
Claims
1. A toy construction element having a body with at least one protrusion and a plurality of complementary shaped recesses formed therein, said body comprising a flat face, each of said at least one protrusion and said recesses being at least partially formed by a hollow, elongated and elastic cylindrical wall, proximal ends of said wall of each of said at least one protrusion and said recesses being interconnected within a common interior of said body, each of said walls extending outwardly from said common interior location, said recesses extending along at least two different axes and being configured to receive a corresponding protrusion of a similar element to enable three-dimensional interconnection of similar elements, said at least one protrusion and said recesses being formed with snap interlocking means for interlocking engagement between similar elements, said snap interlocking means comprising complementary locking formations formed on said at least one protrusion and said recesses, wherein: said complementary locking formations comprise an annular bulge extending radially outwardly from an outer surface in the vicinity of a distal end of said at least one protrusion and an annular bulge extending radially inwardly from an inner surface in the vicinity of a distal end of a corresponding recess; at least one side of said body is substantially hollow, said at least one protrusion extending from said common interior location of said body through said substantially hollow side of said body; the cylindrical wall of at least one of said recesses extends from said common interior location of said body to a level of a corresponding flat face and is spaced apart therefrom by a continuous annular space provided radially outwardly of a distal end of the cylindrical wall, such that during assembly and disassembly of similar construction elements, the cylindrical wall is elastically flexible toward said continuous annular space to allow passage of said annular bulge; upon insertion of a protrusion of a toy construction element into a recess of a similar toy construction element, the inserted protrusion is configured to elastically flex inwardly and / or the corresponding recess is configured to elastically flex outwardly to allow the corresponding annular bulges to pass over one another to interconnect the similar toy construction elements.
2. The toy construction element of claim 1, configured such that, upon interconnection of similar elements, the corresponding cylindrical wall of said at least one protrusion and / or said recess is stressed as said annular bulges pass over one another and the stress is substantially relieved when said annular bulges are not passing over one another.
3. The toy construction element of claim 1, in the form of a unit shape comprising one of: a cube, a parallelepiped, a sphere, a prism, a cone, a cylinder or a calyx.
4. The toy construction element of claim 3, formed as an assembly of a plurality of said unit shapes.
5. The toy construction element of any one of claims 1-4, formed from a plurality of unit cubes, each outer surface of said unit cubes having a protrusion or a recess formed thereon.
6. The toy construction element of any one of claims 1-4, represented in digital form.
7. The toy construction element of any one of claims 1-4, implemented by computer software running on a fixed, portable and / or hand-held computing device.