Toy construction block with ball-and-pan coupling made of particle foam

Abstract

Building block for a pluggable construction toy, comprising a monolithic body formed from an expanded particle foam, preferably from expanded polypropylene (EPP), with six outer surfaces, wherein the building block has on each outer surface alternatively either a spherical coupling projection (ball) or a corresponding receiving structure (cup), wherein the receiving structure comprises an opening (with guide / start chamfer), a constriction closer to the entrance and a locking recess located behind the constriction and provides material-appropriate compliance by means of rib fields, so that the elastic snapping in of the ball with the formation of a releasable holding torque and a rotatable and pivotable plug connection are enabled.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a children's toy in the form of pluggable construction blocks with ball-based coupling and associated connecting blocks, in particular large format and lightweight made of expanded particle foam (preferably EPP), for forming detachable, rotatable and swiveling connections. State of the art

[0002] Ball / socket couplings made of hard plastic are known, but require tight tolerances and rigid materials. Particle foam couplings often lack a defined holding torque, and known solutions are frequently multi-part and complex to assemble. Task

[0003] Provision of a simple, monolithic building block system that, despite material flexibility, provides reproducible snap-fit ​​connections with multiple orientations and is suitable for child-safe, large dimensions. Solution

[0004] The plan calls for a one-piece, cube-shaped building block made of EPP with six coupling positions (one on each outer surface). Each position is alternatively designed as a sphere or a pan.

[0005] The socket has an opening with a guide / run-on chamfer, a constriction near the inlet, and a locking recess behind the constriction. Ribbed sections are incorporated for material-appropriate compliance and stabilization, allowing for elastic expansion at the constriction during insertion and achieving a defined holding torque upon snapping into place. The ball remains rotatably / pivotably mounted in the locked position. Configurations with 0 to 6 balls per component (complementary sockets) are possible. Additional connector components are provided, whose balls are arranged exclusively at the ends to connect socket components: straight bar, angle (α), bend bar, and mushroom (with round cap). Advantages • Monolithic training → no deployments, low assembly effort. • Defined holding torque despite soft foam; quiet and child-safe. • Multiple orientation capability (rotational / swivel movement). • Tolerance robust due to ribbed fields on the pan (without additional components). • Lightweight construction thanks to EPP, magnet-free. Examples of implementation

[0006] Example 1 - 1 / 5 cube: Cube-shaped building block (7) with a sphere (1) on one outer face and five sockets (2) on the remaining faces. The socket includes a mouth (2a) with a guide chamfer (2d), a constriction (2b), and a locking recess (2c); rib fields (2f) provide flexibility / stability. During assembly, the constriction widens elastically; the sphere locks behind the constriction and can then be rotated.

[0007] Example 2 - 3 / 3 cube: Three spheres on mutually orthogonal outer faces; the remaining three faces support identical pans.

[0008] Example 3 - 0 / 6 cube: All six outer faces as pans; connection via building blocks with balls (cube variants or connectors).

[0009] Straight bar connector (8a): Linear connecting body with two end spheres (1) on a common longitudinal axis.

[0010] Angle connector (8b): Two legs with angle α (e.g. 90°), end balls (1) at the leg ends.

[0011] Bend rod connector (8c): Rod with small bend and lateral offset; end balls (1) at both ends.

[0012] Mushroom connector (8d): Lower coupling ball (1) and upper round cap (9) without coupling function (gripable shape). Industrial applicability

[0013] Mass production via molding / pressing processes for EPP; optional post-processing of the pans (smoothing / calibration). Use as a construction toy. Character description • Fig. 1: Perspective view of a cube-shaped building block (EPP) with a sphere (1) and pans (2) on the outer surfaces; view from above. • Fig. 2: Perspective view of a cube-shaped building block (EPP) with a sphere (1) and pans (2) on the outer surfaces; view from below. • Fig. 3: Front view of a pan (2) with mouth / opening (2a) and guide / run-on chamfer (2d). (No sphere is indicated in this figure.) • Fig. 4: Section through the pan (2): Narrowing (2b) as the narrowest point, resting recess (2c) behind it; rib fields (2f) for compliance / holding moment control; component body (7) hatched. • Fig. 5: Locked state (sectional view): Pan (2), sphere (1a) with attachment / neck on the support (1b) in section; sphere (1) uncut as a solid body; marked are 2b, 2c, 2d, 2f, 7; arrows indicate the rotational movement. • Fig. 6: Coupling set - socket (2) with engaged ball (1) in section; component body (7) hatched. • Fig. 7: Straight bar connector (8a) with two end balls (1) on a common axis. • Fig. 8: Angle connector (8b) with leg angle α and two end spheres (1) (non-collinear). • Fig. 9: Bend rod connector (8c) with small bend / offset and end balls (1). • Fig. 10: Mushroom connector (8d) with lower coupling ball (1) and upper round cap (9) without coupling function. Reference symbol list

[0014] ball (1) 1a Spherical body (sphere) 1b Attachment / Neck on the carrier 1c Center of sphere 1d Contact area of ​​the ball socket (2) 2a Mouth / Opening 2b Narrowing / Constriction 2c Resting area / Detent (behind the narrow point) 2d Leading / starting phase at the mouth 2f rib field(s) / web structure for compliance / holding torque control; component / material 7 building block bodies (monolithic, particle foam / EPP) connectors 8a Straight bar connector 8b Angle connector (angle α) 8c Bend rod connector 8d Mushroom Connector 9 Round cap (without coupling function) Geometry data α Angle between the legs (at 8b)

Claims

[1] Building block for a pluggable construction toy, comprising a monolithic body formed from an expanded particle foam, preferably from expanded polypropylene (EPP), with six outer surfaces, wherein the building block has on each outer surface alternatively either a spherical coupling projection (ball) or a corresponding receiving structure (cup), wherein the receiving structure comprises an opening (with guide / run-on chamfer), a constriction closer to the entrance and a locking recess located behind the constriction and provides material-appropriate compliance by means of rib fields, so that the elastic snapping in of the ball with the formation of a releasable holding torque and a rotatable and pivotable plug connection are enabled. [2] Building block according to claim 1, characterized by , that the number of spheres on the six outer surfaces is between 0 and 6 and the remaining outer surfaces have receiving structures. [3] Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the rib fields of the receiving structure are arranged in such a way that the area of ​​the constriction is specifically elastically deformable. [4] Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the mouth of the intake structure has a guide / start chamfer and a resting recess is provided behind the constriction. [5] Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the building block is magnet-free and has safety radii ≥ R3 mm on the outer edges. [6] Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the particle foam has a bulk density of 20-80 kg / m³ 3 exhibits and the largest building block dimension is 30-150 mm. [7] Building block according to claim 2, characterized by , that 0 spheres and 6 receiving structures are provided on the six outer surfaces (pan cubes). [8] Building block according to claim 2, characterized bythat 1 sphere and 5 receiving structures are provided on the six outer surfaces. [9] Building block according to claim 2, characterized by that 3 spheres and 3 receiving structures are provided on the six outer surfaces. [10] Building block according to claim 9, characterized by that the three spheres are arranged on mutually orthogonal outer surfaces. [11] Building block according to claim 8, characterized by that the five recording structures completely occupy the remaining five external surfaces. [12] Component according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by that all recording structures are identical. [13] Component according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by that all spherical projections provided on the building block are identical. [14] Coupling set comprising at least two components according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a component with a ball snaps together a receiving structure of another component. [15] Modular system with a plurality of building blocks according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that the building blocks can be combined with each other to form three-dimensional structures with pivoting and rotatable joints. [16] Connector block for a pluggable construction toy, comprising a monolithic connecting body formed from expanded particle foam, preferably EPP, with at least two spherical coupling projections arranged at opposite ends, wherein each sphere is designed to snap elastically into a receiving structure according to one of claims 1 to 5 and is held rotatably and / or pivotably in the locked state, and wherein the connecting body is magnet-free and has safety radii ≥ R3 mm. [17] Connector block according to claim 16, characterized by that the particle foam has a bulk density of 20-80 kg / m³ 3 exhibits. [18] Connector block according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized by , that the ball diameter is 10-60 mm and the center-to-center distance of adjacent balls is ≥ 40 mm. [19] Connector block according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by that the connecting body is a linear rod and the centers of the two spheres lie collinearly on a longitudinal axis (straight rod). [20] Connector block according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by , that the connecting body forms two legs enclosing a fixed angle α, wherein α is in the range 60°-150°, preferably 90°, and that a ball is located at each leg end (angle connector). [21] Connector block according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by , that the connecting body has a bend with lateral offset and end balls are arranged at the ends of the bending bar (bending bar). [22] Connector block according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by , that the connecting body has a lower coupling ball and an upper round cap without coupling function (mushroom connector). [23] Coupling set comprising at least one component according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and at least one connector component according to any one of claims 16 to 22. [24] Modular system with a plurality of building blocks according to claim 23, characterized by , that three-dimensional structures with swiveling / rotating joints can be built using the connector blocks.

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