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The disclosure and prior art relates to modular block toy compatible panel devices and more particularly pertains to a new modular block toy compatible panel device for allowing panels, which are connectable in flat or three-dimensional shapes, to interact with toy blocks and function as a storage assembly.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising modular panels that have at least a portion of one surface that is compatible with common block toys. In particular embodiments, a given panel may have at least one connector or at least one connector portion for connecting to one or more other panels. The panels are modular in nature and can be used in a multitude of ways to create flat, upright, or three-dimensional structures.
In one embodiment the present invention includes a plurality of panels. Each of the panels includes a first surface, a second surface, and an edge extending between the first and second surfaces. Each of the panels has at least a portion thereof that is covered with a plurality of nubs. The nubs are configured to engage blocks. A plurality of connectors is provided and each of the panels has at least one connectors attached thereto and positioned on an associated edge thereof. The connectors releasably couple the panels together.
The present invention also relates to a storage unit assembled using at least one modular block-toy-compatible panel.
LEGO™, DUPLO™, and compatible blocks are world renown toys. Innovative products that interact and are compatible with these block toys are always welcomed by consumers. Products that further creative play and construction are especially welcomed.
The current invention describes modular panels that have a portion of at least one surface that is compatible with LEGO™, DUPLO™, and compatible blocks. The panels can be used separately or in combination to provide a relatively flat playing surface. The panels can also be placed on edge to be used as a backdrop for play, or assembled into three-dimensional structure, or any combination thereof. In addition, the three-dimensional structures can be used to conveniently store the LEGO™, DUPLO™, and compatible blocks within its chamber. Because of the modular nature of the panels, the uses and configurations are limited only by the user's imagination.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
Many products are designed to be compatible with traditional LEGO™, DUPLO™, and other compatible blocks. However, modular panels with at least a portion of one surface that is toy block compatible is not yet available to consumers. One example of such a panel 2 is shown in
As depicted, the panels 2 each have a first surface 4 and a second surface 6. The first surface 4 and the second surface 6 can be covered in nubs 8 that are compatible with LEGO™, DUPLO™, and other compatible blocks (an example of these blocks are indicated by reference number 100 in
As shown, the first surface 4 has large nubs 8L (see, for example,
Alternatively, the first surface 4 and the second surface 6 could have the same sized nubs 8 (both nubs 8L or both nubs 8S, for example). In addition, the size of nubs 8 need not have to be uniform on either or both of the first surface 4 or second surface 6. In other words, portions of either or both of the first surface 4 or the second surface 6 of a panel 2 may have some large nubs 8L and some small nubs 8S. The different sized nubs 8 can be distributed in a pattern (top half/bottom half, designs, or the like). What is shown in
The panels 2 are shown only as squares in
In the embodiments shown, each panel 2 has at least one connector 10. The connector 10 has a holder portion 12 and a snap-in portion 14. The holder portion 12 has two prongs 16 that are spaced a distance d apart, where the distance apart is essentially the same as the width w of the snap-in portion 14. The width w of the snap-in portion 14 may be slightly smaller than the distance d apart of the prongs 16 so as to facilitate removal to the snap-in portion 14 from the holder portion 12, but needs to be tight enough so as to not have the snap-in portion 14 come loose at inopportune times.
The edge 18 of the panel 2 may have divots 20 on either side of the snap-in portion 14 so as to accommodate the prongs 16 when the connector 10 is assembled. In addition, the snap-in portion 14 may have extensions 22 on either side that fit into corresponding recesses 24 on the prongs 16. While the connector 10 is being described as having bilateral symmetry (two divots 20, two extensions 22, etc.), the connector 10 could in fact have one side that was constructed differently than the other. In other words, one side of the connector 10 could be more permanently attached than the snap-in design described, while the other could be snap-in design as described.
In addition, each panel 2 will have at least one of a holder portion 12 or a snap in portion 14. The connector 10 is formed when two panels 2 are joined together by the holder portion 12 of a first panel 2 receives the snap in portion 14 of a second panel 2.
As shown in
The articular connector 10 shown allows for the panels 2 to be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled in various configurations. The connector 10 allows the panels 2 at an angle in relation to one another. The angle could be from −180 to 180 degrees, from −170 to 170 degrees, from −160 to 160 degrees, or from −150 to 150 degrees.
A storage unit 26 will have at least a portion of one face 28 (equivalent to the first surface 4 or second surface 6 of a constituent panel 2) with block toy compatible nubs 14. Each panel 2 of the storage unit 26 could equal one side 30 of a storage unit 26, but any given side 30 could be made from several panels 2. Thus, several smaller panels 2 could be assembled into a large storage unit 26. Alternatively, the panels 2 could be sized so as to create storage unit 26 of different sizes. One can imagine smaller sizes of panels 2 to be used to create storage units 26 to act as novelty items or larger sizes of panels 2 assembled into something akin to a toy chest.
The storage units 26 as described herein can be used to store popular block toys or other items while simultaneously providing a play surface for use with LEGO™, DUPLO™, and compatible blocks. Because of the ability to disassemble the panels 2 of the storage unit 26 consumers can be creative in building. In addition, because of the connector 10, consumers can mix and match various panels 2 create innumerable play surfaces. The panels 2 can be rearranged into any configuration, such as placing one or more panel 2 on edge to create a backdrop for play, among other uses. The modular nature of the panels 2 expand a user's creative options and as thus described has many functionalities.
The modular block-toy-compatible panels 2, and storage unit 26 assembled therefrom, may be constructed with any suitable material such as plastic, metal, or wood. In certain embodiments, the material used will be a plastic, such as, in one non-limiting example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
I hereby claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) incorporate herein U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/393,832 filed on Sep. 13, 2016.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62393832 | Sep 2016 | US |