TOY BUILDING BLOCK

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/384,254 for TOY BUILDING BLOCKS, filed on Sep. 18, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to toys such as building blocks that can be releasibly connected to one another.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

Lego® toy building structures include bricks and panels with a plurality of projections called knobs. In a standard Lego® system, the knobs are spaced apart longitudinally and transversely by a distance of approximately 8.0 mm (0.315 inch). A standard Lego® brick for general use is measured as 8×8 mm and has a single knob on it which measures Ø4.8 mm×1.6 mm high. The opposite side of a standard Lego® brick has a receiving hole to accommodate a knob. Now, when Lego® bricks are placed on top of one another or on a Lego® plate, they cause friction. To reduce friction and to make building easier, a slight gap is allowed between bricks. This gap or space measures about 0.2 mm. Subtract the 0.2 mm and the actual size of the smallest standard Lego® brick is 7.8×7.8 mm. To get the size of any standard Lego® brick, multiply the number of knobs in one direction by 8 mm and subtract 0.2 mm. This will give you the actual size for that dimension. The formula goes like this: n×8−0.2=actual brick size. So for example, a 4×4 standard Lego® brick is 4 knobs wide and 4 knobs long. Multiply each set by 8 and you get 32×32 mm. Subtract 0.2 mm from each one and the actual Lego® brick size is 31.8×31.8 mm.

In summary, the invention is a toy block for a snap-fit type construction system. The toy block includes a first surface. The toy block also includes a plurality of first knobs projecting from and perpendicular to the first surface. The toy block also includes a second surface intersecting and perpendicular to the first surface. The toy block also includes a plurality of second knobs projecting from and perpendicular to the second surface. The first plurality of knobs and the second plurality of knobs have similar shapes and sizes.

A plurality of different embodiments of the invention is shown in the Figures of the application. Similar features are shown in the various embodiments of the invention. Similar features have been numbered with a common reference numeral and have been differentiated by an alphabetic suffix. Also, to enhance consistency, the structures in any particular drawing generally share the same alphabetic suffix even if a particular feature is shown in less than all embodiments. Similar features are structured similarly, operate similarly, and/or have the same function unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification. Furthermore, particular features of one embodiment can replace corresponding features in another embodiment or can supplement other embodiments unless otherwise indicated by the drawings or this specification.

FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 show an exemplary first surface 12 and an exemplary plurality of first knobs 14 integrally-formed with respect to one another, forming a first panel 16. “Integrally-formed” refers to the fact that in the exemplary embodiment the first surface 12 and the plurality of first knobs 14 are formed together rather than being formed separately and then subsequently joined. The term defines a structural feature since structures that are integrally-formed are structurally different than structures that are comprised of subcomponents formed separately and then subsequently joined. “Integral” means consisting or composed of parts that together constitute a whole and thus encompasses structures of more than one part wherein the parts are either integrally-formed or formed separately and then subsequently joined. The exemplary first knobs 14 are Lego®-style knobs.

The exemplary first panel 16 also includes a plurality of first projections 18 extending from an opposite side of the first panel 16 relative to the plurality of first knobs 14. See FIGS. 1-3 and 5. The exemplary first panel 16 also includes a plurality of second projections 20 extending from an opposite side of the first panel 16 relative to the plurality of first knobs 14. The first and second projections 18, 20 of the first panel 16 engage projections of a second panel to releasibly engage the first panel 16 and the second panel together. For example, the first projections 18 of the first panel 16 engage the second projections of the second panel. Similarly, the second projections 20 of the first panel 16 engage the first projections of the second panel.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first and second projections 20 are shaped differently from one another. The first projections 18 are cylindrically-shaped in cross-section and the second projections 20 are I-shaped in cross-section. During assembly of two panels, each of the second projections 20 of the first panel 16 is urged between two of the first projections 18 of a second panel when the first panel 16 is connected to the second panel. The gap between two projections 18 and the width of each projection 20 can be selected so that the second projection 20 is pressed between two projections 18, to enhance the likelihood that two panels will remain connected together. The exemplary arrangement thus allows the number of first projections 18 (such as three) to be different than the number of second projections 20 (such as two). Other approaches to joining two panels can be applied in alternative embodiments of the broader invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a toy block 10 for a snap-fit type construction system. The toy block 10 includes a first surface 12. The toy block 10 also includes a plurality of first knobs 14 projecting from and perpendicular to the first surface 12. The toy block 10 also includes a second surface 24 intersecting and perpendicular to the first surface 12. The first and second surfaces 12, 24 intersect along an edge 26. The toy block 10 also includes a plurality of second knobs 28 projecting from and perpendicular to the second surface 24. The plurality of first knobs 14 and the plurality of knobs 28 have similar shapes and sizes. The exemplary second surface 24 and second knobs 28 are integrally formed with respect to one another as a second panel 30.

Like the first panel 16, the second panel 30 can include a plurality of first projections and a plurality of second projections extending from an opposite side of the second panel 30 relative to the plurality of second knobs 28. Alternatively, the first surface 12 and the second surface 24 can be integrally formed with respect to one another. Six panels could be combined to form a 3-dimensional geometric shape, such as the cube shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, all of the structural features of the cube shown in FIG. 3 can be integrally formed.

In addition to the first and second panels 16, 30, the toy block 10 can be formed from four other similar panels. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a third panel 32 can be releasibly engaged with the first and second panels 16, 30. The third panel 32 can define a third surface 34 intersecting and perpendicular to both of the first and second surfaces 12, 24. The third surface 34 can intersect the first surface 12 along an edge 38. The third surface 34 can intersect the second surface 24 along an edge 40. The third panel 32 can also include a plurality of third knobs 36 projecting from and perpendicular to the third surface 34.

As shown in FIG. 7, the toy block 10 can be formed from four, fifth, and sixth panels 42, 44, 46. The fourth panel 42 can be releasibly engaged with the second panel 30, the third panel 32, the fifth panel 44, and the sixth panel 46. The fifth panel 44 can be releasibly engaged with the first panel 16, second panel 30, the fourth panel 42, and the sixth panel 46. The sixth panel 46 can be releasibly engaged with the first panel 16, the third panel 32, the fourth panel 42, and the fifth panel 44.

The fourth panel 42 can include a fourth surface 48 intersecting and perpendicular to the third surface 34. A plurality of fourth knobs 50 can project from and be perpendicular to the fourth surface 48. The fifth panel 42 can include a fifth surface 52 intersecting and perpendicular to the third surface 34. A plurality of fifth knobs 54 can project from and be perpendicular to the fifth surface 52. The sixth panel 42 can include a sixth surface 56 intersecting and perpendicular to the third surface 34. A plurality of sixth knobs 58 can project from and be perpendicular to the sixth surface 56. The plurality of first knobs 14 and the plurality of second knobs 28 the plurality of third knobs 36 and the plurality of fourth knobs 50 the plurality of fifth knobs 54 and the plurality of sixth knobs 58 have similar shapes and sizes, all can be Lego® style knobs.

The toy block 10 can be one member of a snap-fit type construction system. Such a system can also include a receiver structure 60 as shown in FIG. 8. The receiver structure 60 can include a panel portion 62 and a plurality of first receptacles 64 defined on a first side of the panel portion 62. The receiver structure 60 can also include a plurality of second receptacles defined on a second side of the panel portion 62. The second receptacles are not shown in FIG. 8, but can be similar to the first receptacles 64. Each of the first and second receptacles can be operable to receive any one of the first knobs 14, the second knobs 28, the third knobs 36, the fourth knobs 50, the fifth knobs 54, and the sixth knobs 58. FIG. 9 shows the receiver structure 60 engaged with the toy block 10. FIG. 9 also shows a second receiver structure 60a engaged with the toy block 10 and with a second toy block 10a. The receiver structure 60, the toy block 10, the second receiver structure 60a, and the second toy block 10a are releasibly engaged with one another.

Embodiments of the invention can be practiced wherein interconnecting toy blocks and/or interconnecting panels used to form toy blocks are differently shaped. For example, FIG. 10 shows a toy block 10b including a first panel 16b of hexagonal shape and a second panel 30b of square shape. FIG. 11 shows a toy block 10c including a first panel 16c of triangular shape and a second panel 30c of square shape. The differently shaped panels can have different numbers of knobs, as shown by comparing the first panels 16b and 16c in FIGS. 10 and 11.

These differently shaped arrangements also accommodate different relationships among the various surfaces bearing knobs. In FIG. 10, a second surface 24b of the second panel 30b intersects but is not parallel to a third surface 34b of a third panel 32b. FIG. 11 also shows a second surface 24c of the second panel 30c intersects but is not parallel to a third surface 34c of a third panel 32c.

FIG. 12 shows a toy block 10d in which panels are arranged to form coplanar surfaces. The hexagonal toy block 10b shown in FIG. 10 is modified to a toy block 10d in FIG. 12 by adding additional square panels. For example, individual panels defining surfaces 24d, 66d, 68d, 70d are releasibly engaged together such that the surfaces 24d, 66d, 68d, 70d are coplanar. Other sides of the toy block 10d are similarly-shaped, resulting in a generally cylindrical toy block.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the “invention” as that term is used in this document is what is claimed in the claims of this document. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other inventions in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.