Patent Application
20210228996
The present invention relates generally to interlocking bricks, blocks and toys.
Typical toy building blocks have male and female features which allow the blocks to be snap-fit together to create various structures. As one example, Lego® bricks are predominantly square or rectangular blocks that can be snap-fitted in multiple layers to form different shapes and structures. Most Lego® bricks are six-sided blocks having one or more studs protruding from only one of the six sides. The Lego® bricks also typically include one or more receptacles only on the opposite side of the brick, relative to the studs, which are configured to receive the studs of mating bricks. Typically, the bricks do not have studs or receptacles on the remaining four sides of the brick. Thus, toy blocks of this type can be stacked, but only in limited arrangements. They must be snapped together, directly atop one another.
Through hard work and ingenuity, the present inventors have developed a developmental aid and toy brick set that has many more configurations than are possible with traditional Lego® bricks, for example. The inventive toy blocks are not only capable of stacking wherein one block is positioned directly atop another block, but also has configurations that interconnect on adjacent sidewalls. The inventive toy blocks have a slidable interconnection rather than a snap-fit connection. Thus, the inventive toy blocks, once connected, are more securely connected than snap-fit blocks. Additionally, due to the particular peg and groove design, the inventive toy blocks are rotatable against one another once connected. These and other advantages make the present invention not only a fun and creative toy, but also require the use and development of fine motors skills as well as providing a sliding and twisting fidget outlet for children and adults alike.
In one aspect, the invention comprises a plurality of rectangular prism blocks, each comprising a rectangular top wall; a rectangular bottom wall opposite the top wall; a first rectangular sidewall adjacent the top wall and bottom wall and comprising two grooves or two pegs; a second square sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, and first sidewall comprising a groove or a peg; a third rectangular sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, and second sidewall comprising two grooves or two pegs; a fourth square sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, third sidewall, and first sidewall comprising a groove or a peg; wherein each groove extends along the respective sidewall within which it is disposed, from a corner wherein the top wall and the respective sidewall intersect to a corner wherein the bottom wall and the respective sidewall intersect, and wherein each peg is configured to be slidably received into a groove disposed on another block within the plurality of blocks.
In another aspect, the top wall and bottom wall do not comprise a peg or groove. In one aspect, a peg on a first block is slidably received into a groove on a second block to form interconnected blocks, the sidewall of the first block wherein the peg is disposed and the sidewall of the second block wherein the groove is disposed are flush. The interconnected first and second blocks may be rotatable when the sidewalls are flush.
In an aspect, at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall comprise structural elements. In another aspect, a peg of a first block in the plurality of blocks cannot be snap-fit into a groove of a second block in the plurality of blocks.
In an embodiment, each of the grooves comprise a recess extending inwardly into the sidewall. In another embodiment, each of the pegs comprise a cylindrical neck portion extending perpendicularly from the sidewall and a head portion comprising an inner cylindrical portion and an outer half-spherical portion, wherein the inner cylindrical portion of the head has a greater diameter than the cylindrical neck portion. In an embodiment, each of the grooves comprise a narrow portion which is adapted to receive the neck portion of the peg and a bulbous portion which is adapted to receive the head portion of the peg. The peg may be rotatable about its axis within the groove.
In an aspect, the invention comprises a plurality of cubic blocks comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall opposite the top wall; a first sidewall adjacent the top wall and bottom wall; a second sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, and first sidewall; a third sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, and second sidewall; a fourth square sidewall adjacent the top wall, bottom wall, third sidewall, and first sidewall; wherein at least two of the sidewalls comprise: a groove which extends along the respective sidewall within which it is disposed, from a corner wherein the top wall and the respective sidewall intersect to a corner wherein the bottom wall and the respective sidewall intersect, or a peg which is configured to be slidably received into a groove disposed on another block within the plurality of blocks.
In one aspect, the first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall each comprise a peg. In another aspect, the first sidewall, second sidewall, third sidewall, and fourth sidewall each comprise a groove. In still another aspect, the first sidewall comprises a peg and the third sidewall comprises a groove, and wherein the second sidewall and fourth sidewall do not comprise a groove or peg. In an aspect, the first sidewall comprises a peg, the second sidewall comprises a peg, the third sidewall comprises a groove, and the fourth sidewall comprises a groove.
Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
As shown in the figures, the inventive blocks may comprise a variety of shapes and configurations. For example, the blocks may have a square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration, in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, however, the blocks may have a triangular, pentagonal, circular, or any other cross-sectional configuration known in the art.
In an embodiment, a block of the present invention generally comprises a cube or a rectangular prism. The cube configuration may have a length, width, and height that are each equivalent. The rectangular prism configuration may have a length (L) that is larger than the width (W) and/or height (H) of the block (see
In an embodiment, each block of the present invention comprises six faces. In some embodiments, the faces comprise a top face 12, a bottom face 14, and four side faces 16. While the faces may be referred to herein as a top, bottom or side, it should be understood that any of the six faces of the block could comprise a top, bottom, or side face. Likewise, the top face and/or bottom face could be referred to as an end face.
In an embodiment, each block may comprise structural elements 18 which provide the block with rigidity and stability. In an embodiment, the structural elements 18 may comprise a repeating element. In a particular embodiment, the structural elements 18 may comprise repeating three-dimensional square or rectangular structures which are interconnected by one or more ribs 19. In an embodiment, the structural elements 18 may be visible on the bottom face 14 of the block. Likewise, in an embodiment, the structural elements 18 may be visible on the top face 12 of the block. In a particular embodiment, structural elements 18 are present on the bottom face 14 and the top face 12 of the block. In this embodiment, a middle wall 39 may be disposed between the bottom face 14 and the top face 12 of the block. The middle wall 39 may be solid, in an embodiment. The middle wall 39 may be disposed equidistance between the bottom face 14 and the top face 12 of the block, in an embodiment.
In an embodiment, looking at the bottom face 14 and/or the top face 12, each block may comprise a structural element 18 in each of the four corners (i.e. a corner structural element 18). Additionally, at least one structural element 18 may be disposed along each sidewall 16 between the corner structural elements 18 (a sidewall structural element 18). Further, a structural element 18 may be disposed in the center of the bottom face 14 (a center structural element 18). Each of the sidewall structural elements 18 may be interconnected to the center structural element 18 by one or more ribs 19. In the rectangular prism version of the blocks (see
As noted, in an embodiment, the structural elements 18 are visible on the bottom face 14 and/or the top face 12 of the block and may extend internally within the block, from the bottom face 14 and/or the top face 12, through the interior of the block, to the interior surface of the opposing block face or to the middle wall 39, as the case may be.
In some cases, such as in the case of the structural elements 18 disposed against a sidewall 16, the structural elements 18 may extend internally within the block, from the bottom face 14 and/or the top face 12, through the interior of the block, adjacent the sidewall(s) 16, to the interior surface of the top face 12, the bottom face 14, or the middle wall 39, as the case may be. In an embodiment, the bottom face 14 and/or the top face 12 of the block is otherwise open to the interior of the block and/or does not comprise a solid surface. In some embodiments, the block 10 is otherwise hollow. In a particular embodiment, both the bottom face 14 and the top face 12 are hollow other than the structural elements 18 and one or more ribs 19.
In an embodiment, each block of the present invention comprises at least one peg 22 and/or at least one groove 24. In some embodiments, particular blocks of the present invention comprise a plurality of pegs 22 and/or a plurality of grooves 24. In an embodiment, each of the blocks comprises at least one peg 22 or at least one groove 24. In an embodiment, the pegs 22 and grooves 24 of the invention are disposed within the sidewalls 16 of the blocks. In this embodiment, the top face 12 and the bottom face 14 of each block are flat and the blocks can be positioned flatly and stably on a surface on the top face 12 or the bottom face 14 of the block for review, identification, and/or building purposes.
Each of the pegs 22 of each block may be identically shaped and sized, in some embodiments. In other embodiments, some pegs 22 may have different shapes or sizes than other pegs 22, such that the user may have to use logic and/or other skills to determine which pegs 22 correspond with which grooves 24.
Likewise, each of the grooves 24 of each block may be identically shaped and sized, in some embodiments. In other embodiments, grooves 24 may have different shapes or sizes than other grooves 24, such that the user may have to use logic and/or other skills to determine which grooves 24 correspond with which pegs 22.
In an embodiment, the pegs 22 and grooves 24 are formed during the formation of the block itself. In an embodiment, any peg 22 corresponds to and can be used in any groove 24. In an embodiment, the pegs 22 each have a neck portion 26 and a head portion 28. In an embodiment, the neck portion 26 is affixed to or is integral with a sidewall 16 or top wall 12 of the block. In an embodiment, the neck portion 26 extends outwardly from the wall of the block, in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the sidewall to which it is affixed or integral with.
In an embodiment, the neck portion 26 is cylindrical, but any shape may be utilized herein. For example, the neck portion 26 could have an ovular, triangular, rectangular, or other cross section. Likewise, the neck portion 26, in an embodiment, may be solid, but in other embodiments, may be hollow. In an embodiment, the neck portion 26 may be shaped as a partial cylinder, wherein the cylindrical sidewall of the neck portion 26 is not continuous. In an embodiment, the neck portion 26 is narrower than that of the head portion 28. That is, the diameter of the neck portion 26 is less than that of the head portion 28.
In an embodiment, the head portion 28, like the neck portion 26, extends outwardly from the sidewall of the block to which it is affixed. In an embodiment, the head portion 28 of the peg 22 is convex. In an embodiment, the head portion 28 of the peg 22 may be bulbous in shape and configuration. The head portion 28 may be half-spherical or mushroom-shaped. In an embodiment, the head portion 28 comprises a half-spherical outer portion 29 and a cylindrical inner portion 27 (see
In an embodiment, the grooves 24 may comprise hollowed-out or recessed portions of the block. The grooves 24 may extend inwardly into the interior space of the block. In an embodiment, the grooves 24 are disposed in the sidewalls 16 of the blocks. In one embodiment, the grooves 24 may be disposed in the top wall 12 of the block. In an embodiment, the grooves 24 are longitudinal and extend centrally along the sidewall 16 of the block.
In an embodiment, the grooves 24 begin at one corner of the block (the location where two block walls are adjoined) and extend through a sidewall 16 to the opposite corner. For example, as shown in
In an embodiment, the grooves 24 have a similar shape or the same shape, but inverse, to that of the pegs 22. That is, the grooves 24 may comprise a narrow portion 31 and a bulbous portion 33. The narrow portion 31 may be disposed to receive the neck 26 of the peg 22. In an embodiment, the narrow portion 31 is sized slightly larger than that of the neck portion 26 of the peg, such that the neck portion 26 may slide through the narrow portion 31 of the groove 24.
In an embodiment, the narrow portion 31 comprises two walls 35 which are perpendicular to the sidewall 16 or top wall 12 from which it extends inwardly (see
The bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24 may be disposed to receive the head 28 of the peg 22. In an embodiment, the bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24 is sized slightly larger than that of the head portion 28 of the peg 22, such that the head portion 28 may slide through the bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24. In an embodiment, the bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24 is concave.
In an embodiment, like the head portion 28 of the peg 22, the bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24 may be half-spherical or mushroom-shaped. In an embodiment, the bulbous portion 33 comprises a half-spherical inner portion 36 and a substantially perpendicular portion 38, wherein the substantially perpendicular portion 28 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sidewall 16 or top wall 12 from which it extends (see
In an embodiment, the peg 22 is conformed to slide into the groove 24, starting from any intersection of two walls containing a groove 24. The head 28 of the peg 22 may be inserted into the bulbous portion 33 of the groove 24 while the neck 26 is inserted into the narrow portion 31 of the groove 24. The fit may be slidably secure. That is, the peg 22 may slide right to left or left to right, top to bottom or bottom to top, respective of the configuration of the block.
In an embodiment, the peg 22 cannot be press-fit or snap-fit into or out of the groove 24. In this embodiment, the head 28 of the peg 22 is too great to fit between the narrow portions 31 of the groove 24. In an embodiment, the peg 22 cannot be inserted into or pulled out of the groove 24 in a direction which is 90 degrees (or roughly 90 degrees) from the wall within which the groove 24 is disposed.
Due to the configuration of the peg 22 and groove 24 of the invention, once a peg 22 is inserted into a groove 24, one block may be twisted and/or rotated respective to its adjoining block. This is shown in
In an embodiment, a rectangular prism block may comprise two grooves 24 and/or two pegs 22 centered along the long sidewall of the block. The grooves 24 and/or two pegs 22 may be disposed equidistance from each other, the midsection of the block, and/or the corners of the block.
In an embodiment, grooves 24 interrupt certain structural features 18. Said alternatively, a groove 24 may replace one or more structural features 18. For example,
In an embodiment, a cubic block may comprise nine structural features 18 in an embodiment having no grooves (see
In another embodiment, a rectangular prism block may comprise eighteen structural features 18 in an embodiment having no grooves (see
In an embodiment, the invention comprises a kit having a variety of block shapes and configurations. For example, the kit may comprise cubic blocks having the following configurations, each with front and back faces being flat with only structural features disposed therein (shown in
In an embodiment, one block may connect to another block in multiple configurations (i.e. one peg may be inserted into several optional grooves). In addition, in the rectangular prism blocks, two pegs of one block may be inserted into two grooves of an adjacent block simultaneously. The number of possible connections between the various pegs and grooves are voluminous.
In an embodiment, the length, width, and depth of the cubic block may be approximately one inch. In an embodiment, the rectangular prism blocks may comprise a top wall, bottom wall, and two sidewalls that are approximately two inches in length and two sidewalls that are approximately one inch in length. Any size of the blocks is contemplated herein, however.
In an embodiment, the blocks may comprise different colors. In an embodiment, the color of the block corresponds to the shape or configuration of the block. For example, all blue blocks may be cubes with four pegs disposed on each of the four side faces. As another nonlimiting example, all red blocks may be rectangular prisms with two pegs on one sidewall and two grooves on the opposite sidewall.
In an embodiment, the blocks of the present invention comprise a rigid plastomeric material. In an embodiment, the material of the blocks may have some flexibility. However, the blocks should have a sufficient stiffness such that the pegs cannot be snap-fit into or out of the grooves and may only be inserted into or removed from the grooves slidably. The blocks of the invention may be thermoformed, injection molded, extrusion blow molded, vacuum formed, compression molded, three-dimensionally printed, or formed using any other methods known in the art.
In use, in an embodiment, two blocks may be selected among the various options. The peg of the first block may be inserted into the groove of the second block. The peg may slide into the groove such that the sidewall of the first block is flush against the sidewall of the second block. The peg may slide within the groove, maintaining the flush arrangement.
Likewise, the peg may rotate within the groove, allowing rotation of the blocks while maintaining the flush sidewall arrangement. In an embodiment, a third block may then be selected and a peg of the third block may be inserted into a groove of the first or second block. Additional blocks may be added in a similar manner. The user may create various structures using a plurality of the blocks and/or may use the interconnected blocks as fidget toys. In certain embodiments, the structures created using the blocks are moveable—i.e. a robot may be created which has movable arms. In an embodiment, the kit of blocks comprises an instruction manual which provides directions on certain blocks to select and interconnect to form certain structures.
The accompanying figures are provided for explanatory purposes and may not show all components described herein with respect to embodiments of the dispenser. In addition, those components that are illustrated are not necessarily drawn to scale. Thus, certain layers that are shown as the same thickness or thinner than other layers may actually be thicker than other layers, and so on.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
