A track ball steering building block
By incorporating angular turning and tilting grooves into the blocks, the lack of directional and height variations in the CUBORO system is addressed, enhancing the complexity of the maze tracks and the play experience while ensuring the stability and safety of the ball bearings.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KUBA MUWAN CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
The existing CUBORO system lacks blocks with defined directional changes and height gradients, which limits maze track design and game options.
Design a steering block for a ball bearing, comprising a rolling groove with a certain angle of rotation on the main body of the block, and equipped with an inclined slope. The bottom surface of the rolling groove matches the shape of the ball bearing and is provided with a limiting edge to ensure stable rotation and height change of the ball bearing.
It enables stable turning and gradual height changes of the ball on the blocks, enhancing the complexity and playability of the maze tracks, improving the interactivity and fun of the CUBORO system, while preventing the ball from falling off and ensuring safety and reliability.
Smart Images
Figure CN224345406U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of building block toy technology, specifically a steering building block with a ball bearing track. Background Technology
[0002] The CUBORO system is a maze-building system full of endless possibilities, composed of standardized building blocks with various pathways or tracks. These blocks can be combined horizontally and vertically to create various maze tracks for rolling balls. The CUBORO system promotes children's fine motor skills, spatial imagination, and creativity in a fun way. Despite the wide variety of building block elements and modular design, there are still limitations in the specific design of pathways or tracks, as well as the planning and play options of the CUBORO system. In particular, there is a lack of building blocks with defined directional changes and height gradients. Therefore, further improvement is necessary. Utility Model Content
[0003] The present invention aims to provide a steering block for ball bearings to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.
[0004] A ball bearing steering block designed for this purpose includes a block body with a rolling groove for the ball bearing to roll on it. The rolling groove is oriented at a certain angle and has an inclined slope.
[0005] The rolling groove is designed with a 90-degree arc-shaped turning direction.
[0006] The rolling groove is provided with a slope that gradually changes from top to bottom or from bottom to top.
[0007] The bottom shape of the rolling groove matches the outer shape of the ball.
[0008] The rolling groove is provided with a first opening and a second opening, which are respectively opened on adjacent sides of the block body. The height of the first opening is greater than or less than the height of the second opening.
[0009] The main body of the building block is a square block, and the upper surface and lower bottom surface of the main body of the building block are both horizontally extending surfaces, while the four sides of the main body of the building block are all vertically extending surfaces.
[0010] The upper surface, the lower bottom surface, and the four side surfaces are mutually transitioned by angles or arcs.
[0011] The rolling groove is disposed on the upper surface of the block body and its top is open, or the rolling groove is disposed inside the block body and its top is closed.
[0012] The side of the rolling groove is provided with a limiting edge for limiting the rolling of the ball.
[0013] The main body of the building block is made of metal or non-metal materials in one piece.
[0014] This invention, through structural improvements, incorporates a rolling groove on the main body of the building block that is angled and has an inclined slope. This allows the ball to turn while rolling upwards or downwards, defining the changes in the rolling direction and height of the ball. Consequently, when the main body of the building block is combined with other building blocks in the CUBORO system, more complex and varied maze tracks can be created, improving the planning and game options of the CUBORO system. This enhances the playability, interactivity, and fun of the CUBORO system. Furthermore, the ball will not fall off while rolling on the main body of the building block, ensuring safety and reliability. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first embodiment of the present utility model.
[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure from another perspective of the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 3 This is a top view of the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A top-down view.
[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A diagram showing the view from the right.
[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second embodiment of the present utility model.
[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention from another perspective.
[0022] Figure 8 This is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A top-down view.
[0024] Figure 10 for Figure 8 A diagram showing the view from the right. Detailed Implementation
[0025] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Example 1
[0027] See Figures 1-5 The guide block for the ball bearing includes a block body 100, on which a rolling groove 1 for the ball bearing to roll is provided. The rolling groove 1 is set at a certain angle and has an inclined slope.
[0028] In this embodiment, a rolling groove 1 with a certain angle of rotation and an inclined slope is provided on the block body 100. This allows the ball to rotate on the block body 100 while also rolling upwards or downwards, defining the change in the rolling direction and height of the ball. This enables the block body 100 to create more complex and varied maze tracks when combined with other blocks in the CUBORO system, improving the planning and game options of the CUBORO system, thereby enhancing its playability, interactivity, and fun. In addition, the ball will not fall off when rolling on the block body 100, ensuring safety and reliability.
[0029] The rolling groove 1 is designed with a 90-degree arc-shaped turning, thereby enabling the ball to roll in a 90-degree arc-shaped turning on the block body 100.
[0030] The rolling groove 1 is provided with a gradually changing slope from top to bottom or from bottom to top, thereby enabling the ball to roll on the block body 100 with a gradually changing height from top to bottom or from bottom to top.
[0031] The bottom shape of the rolling groove 1 matches the outer shape of the ball, thereby ensuring that the ball always acts on the rolling groove 1 during rolling, thus improving the rolling stability of the ball.
[0032] The rolling groove 1 is provided with a first opening 2 and a second opening 3. The first opening 2 and the second opening 3 are respectively opened on adjacent sides of the block body 100. The height of the first opening 2 is greater than or less than the height of the second opening 3.
[0033] In this embodiment, the first opening 2 is opened on one side of the block body 100, and the second opening 3 is opened on the right side of the block body 100 relative to the first opening 2. In addition, the height of the first opening 2 is greater than the height of the second opening 3.
[0034] The top-down, 90-degree arc-shaped right-turn setting of the rolling groove 1 can safely and smoothly guide the balls to roll along the designated track.
[0035] Specifically, the ball enters the rolling groove 1 through the first opening 2, and rolls to the right in a 90-degree arc from top to bottom along the trajectory of the rolling groove 1, and finally leaves the rolling groove 1 through the second opening 3.
[0036] The main body 100 of the building block is a square block. The upper surface and the lower bottom surface of the main body 100 of the building block are both horizontally extending surfaces, and the four sides of the main body 100 of the building block are all vertically extending surfaces.
[0037] The main block 100 is a square block with standardized dimensions, which allows it to be easily and precisely combined with other blocks in the CUBORO system in a stable and non-slip manner.
[0038] The top surface, bottom surface, and four sides are connected by angular or arc transitions.
[0039] In this embodiment, the upper surface, lower bottom surface, and four sides of the building block body 100 are chamfered to each other, and the chamfers are used to achieve a transition between each other, so as to improve the overall appearance of the building block body 100 and reduce the overflow, burrs, or rough edges of the building block body 100, thereby improving the safety of playing.
[0040] The rolling groove 1 is provided on the upper surface of the block body 100 and its top is open, or the rolling groove 1 is provided inside the block body 100 and its top is closed.
[0041] In this embodiment, the rolling groove 1 is recessed on the upper surface of the block body 100 and the top of the rolling groove 1 is open, which is simple to process and easy to produce.
[0042] The side of the rolling groove 1 is provided with a limiting edge 4 for limiting the rolling of the ball. The rolling groove 1 uses the limiting edge 4 on the side to limit the rolling of the ball to prevent the ball from falling off when rolling on the rolling groove 1.
[0043] The main body 100 of the building block is made of one piece of metal or non-metal material.
[0044] The main body 100 of the building blocks can be made of non-metallic materials such as wood, stone, and plastic, or it can be made of metallic materials such as stainless steel, iron, and copper.
[0045] Specifically, the block body 100 of this embodiment is made of FSC-certified beech wood, which can ensure the smooth rolling of the ball bearings and the high durability of the block body 100. Example 2
[0046] See Figures 6-10 The steering block of this track ball differs from the first embodiment in that:
[0047] The first opening 2 is located on one side of the block body 100, and the second opening 3 is located on the left side of the block body 100, opposite to the first opening 2. In addition, the height of the first opening 2 is greater than the height of the second opening 3.
[0048] The top-down, 90-degree arc-shaped leftward setting of the rolling groove 1 can safely and smoothly guide the balls to roll along the designated track.
[0049] Specifically, the ball enters the rolling groove 1 through the first opening 2, and rolls to the left in a 90-degree arc from top to bottom along the trajectory of the rolling groove 1, and finally leaves the rolling groove 1 through the second opening 3.
[0050] Other undescribed parts are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0051] The above describes the preferred embodiments of this utility model, illustrating and describing its basic principles, main features, and advantages. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this utility model as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A ball bearing steering block, comprising a block body (100), characterized in that: The block body (100) is provided with a rolling groove (1) for the rolling ball to roll. The rolling groove (1) is set at a certain angle and has an inclined slope.
2. The steering block of the track ball bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling groove (1) is configured with a 90-degree arc-shaped turning direction.
3. The steering block of the track ball bearing according to claim 2, characterized in that: The rolling groove (1) is provided with a slope that gradually changes from top to bottom or from bottom to top.
4. The steering block of the track ball bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom shape of the rolling groove (1) matches the outer shape of the ball.
5. The steering block of the track ball bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling groove (1) is provided with a first opening (2) and a second opening (3). The first opening (2) and the second opening (3) are respectively opened on adjacent sides of the block body (100). The height of the first opening (2) is greater than or less than the height of the second opening (3).
6. The steering block of the track ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The block body (100) is a square block. The upper surface and the lower bottom surface of the block body (100) are both horizontally extending surfaces, and the four sides of the block body (100) are all vertically extending surfaces.
7. The steering block of the track ball bearing according to claim 6, characterized in that: The upper surface, the lower bottom surface, and the four side surfaces are mutually transitioned by angles or arcs.
8. The steering block of the track ball according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that: The rolling groove (1) is disposed on the upper surface of the block body (100) and its top is open, or the rolling groove (1) is disposed inside the block body (100) and its top is closed.
9. The steering block of the track ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side of the rolling groove (1) is provided with a limiting edge (4) for limiting the rolling of the ball.
10. The steering block of the track ball according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main body (100) of the building block is made of metal or non-metal materials in one piece.