Joint Building Block Assembly for Swinging and Split Leg Motion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing joint building block toys lack the ability to achieve both forward/backward leg swinging and left/right leg splitting movements, limiting their play value and aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

A joint building block assembly with a unique connection structure allowing the limb building block to switch between upright, split, and leg lift states, featuring rotatable intermediate and limb building blocks with ball head and socket structures, providing 90° leg swinging and left/right splitting capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing joint building block toys use simple connection structures, then assembly is easy, but the range of motion is limited to forward/backward swinging only

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange of motionVSAvoidconnection structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure is divided into multiple functional components: a connection body with grooves, a rotatable intermediate building block with bosses, and a limb building block with spherical connection structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function (swinging, rotating, splitting) while working together to achieve comprehensive motion capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection structure incorporates multiple degrees of freedom with grooves arranged at different orientations and a rotatable intermediate block. This dynamic design enables the limb to perform not only forward/backward swinging but also left/right splitting movements and rotational motions, significantly expanding the range of motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If more building blocks are used to achieve complex movements, then motion capability improves, but the number of required blocks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion capabilityVSAvoidnumber of building blocks
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate building block serves multiple functions: it acts as a connector between the building block body and limb building block, provides rotational capability through its rotatable design, and enables splitting movements through its grooved structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical connection structure of the limb building block is designed to pass through the connection hole of the intermediate building block, creating a nested arrangement where the limb block can be inserted into and integrated with the intermediate block, forming a compact multi-functional joint assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the connection structure allows large amplitude movements, then play value increases, but stability during movement decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement amplitudeVSAvoidjoint stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The grooves in the connection body and corresponding bosses on the intermediate building block are designed to engage beforehand during movement. As the limb building block swings or splits, the bosses slide along the grooves and engage at predetermined positions, providing stability and limiting extreme movements while allowing large amplitude motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP4691588A1Joint building block assembly and toy
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SHANGHAI BLOKS TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4691588A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4691588A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4691588A1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

A joint building block assembly, including: a building block body (1), where two sides of the building block body are each provided with a first connection structure (11); an intermediate building block (2), provided with a second connection structure (21), assembled to the first connection structure (11) via the second connection structure, and rotatable relative to the building block body (1); and a limb building block (3), provided with a third connection structure (31) and assembled outside the intermediate building block (2) via the third connection structure, where when the limb building block (3) moves left or right relative to the building block body (1) to switch between an upright state and a split state, the intermediate building block (2) moves between a first position and a second position relative to the first connection structure (11) under a compressive force from the limb building block (3). A toy including the joint building block assembly can achieve both forward/backward leg swinging and left/right leg splitting movements.