Patent Grant
11813544
Toys, for example, toy kits which include parts that are assembled to form a 3-dimensional (3-D) object are known. However, many of these toy kits contain parts that can only be assembled into a predetermined 3-D object. Additionally, these toy kits may contain mainly uniform parts which can be more easily produced than parts having varying sizes.
Various embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
In the following description, various embodiments will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it should be noted that the embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Embodiments and techniques described herein are directed to a system and techniques for assembling 3-dimensional (3-D) objects which may include modular toy structures (e.g., vehicles, structures, animals, robots, and/or any suitable shape and/or structure that can be imagined) as well as the components that can be used to build the 3-D items in accordance with this disclosure. The components can include different components for building the 3-D items. For example, the components can include supports and connectors that can be assembled together to form trusses. The supports and/or the connectors can be different shapes and sizes. For example, the supports can have different widths and/or lengths that can be used to build different modular toy structures (e.g., toy structures with different shapes and/or different sizes). In some examples, multiple 3-D items can be combined to form a larger 3-D item. For example, multiple structures can be combined to form a larger structure.
Turning now to a particular example, in this example, a modular toy structure kit includes supports and connectors. The supports can include openings through which the connectors can be inserted. The connectors can be used to connect the supports to form one or more modular toy structures.
Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, the reader should understand that other ways and/or methods may be used to implement the various embodiments. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims.
Turning now to the figures,
In various embodiments, the supports 102 can have the same dimensions (e.g., the same length and/or thickness) as one another. For example, the supports 102 can have the same length. However, the supports 102 may have different dimensions. For example, one or more of the supports 102 may be longer, shorter, wider, or narrower than one or more of the other supports 102. Additionally or alternatively, the connectors 104 can have the same dimensions (e.g., the same length and/or the same cross-section diameter) as one another. However, the connectors 104 can have different dimensions. For example, one or more of the connectors 104 may be longer, shorter, wider, or narrower than one or more of the other connectors 104 and/or one or more of the connectors 104 may have a different cross-section (e.g., a different size and/or shape).
In further embodiments, the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be or include multiple materials. For example, the supports 102 can be or include a first material and the connectors 104 can be or include a second material. Additionally or alternatively, the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can each be made of or include multiple types of materials. In some embodiments, the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be one or more colors. For example, the supports 102 can be a first color and the connectors 104 can be a second color. Additionally or alternatively, the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can each include multiple colors.
In various embodiments the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be selected to build a pre-determined modular toy structure 100. The supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be packed into a kit. For example, as discussed in reference to
As shown in
The connection areas 106 can be separated by a distance 212. The distance 212 can be dependent on the length 208. For example, the connection areas 106 can be 1 inch from the end of the supports 102. However, the distance 212 may be independent from the length 208 of the connectors 104. For example, the distance 212 can be 6 inches.
In some embodiments, the support 102 can include markings 214 (e.g., text or a logo). The marking 214 can be positioned on, for example, the central portion 206. However, the marking 214 can be positioned on any suitable area of the support 102. The supports 102 can additionally or alternatively include measurement labels 215. The measurement labels 215 can include markings which equate to different lengths. For example, a first marking can show a millimeter and a second marking can show a centimeter (e.g., 10 millimeters). However, the measurement labels 215 can be any suitable unit of measurement. In various embodiments, the measurement labels 215 can be used to show distances between features of the support 102. For example, the measurement labels 215 can show the distance between the connection areas 106.
In various embodiments, the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be manufactured using a 3-D printer. For example, computer-generated models of the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 can be generated and sent to a 3-D printer. The 3-D printer can manufacture the supports 102 and/or the connectors 104 based on the computer-generated models. Examples of supports 102 manufactured using a 3-D printer are shown in
Turning to
The connector 104 can have a length 508. The length 508 can be between 1 inch and 12 inches, inclusive (e.g., 1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 6 inches, 9 inches, and/or 12 inches). In various embodiments, the length 508 can be substantially the same as the width 210 of the support 102. For example, the length 508 can be substantially the same as the width 210 such that the connector 104 can be fully inserted into the opening (e.g. to seal the opening). In further embodiments, the connector 104 can include a lip that can engage with an outer surface of the support 102.
In some embodiments, the connector 104 can have a circular and/or an elliptical cross-section, however, the connector 104 can have a cross-section that is any suitable shape (e.g., square, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal). For example, as shown in
In various embodiments, the connectors 104 can include surface features 702. As shown in
Turning to
Turning to
The wheels 1102 can have a radius 1206 that is a different size for different wheels 1102. The radius 1206 can vary such that different sized wheels 1102 can be used with the modular toy structure 1100. For example, the modular toy structure 1100 can include two front wheels 1102 that have a smaller radius 1206 than two back wheels 1102. The opening 1202 can remain the same size (e.g., to receive the connectors 104 and/or the axels 1104) while the radius 1206 of the wheels 1102 changes. For example, a first wheel 1102 with a larger radius 1206 than a second wheel 1102 can have the same size opening 1202 as the second wheel 1102. Similarly, the wheels 1102 can have various thicknesses 1208. The thickness 1208 of the wheel 1102 can change the size of the rolling surface 1204. For example, a wheel 1102 with a larger thickness will have a larger rolling surface 1204.
Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the various embodiments. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present disclosure. Thus, while the disclosed techniques are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims. For example, it should be noted that the supports may have additional shapes, such as a square or rectangular shape with four openings proximal to each of the four corners, a triangular shape with three openings each proximal to one of the corners thereof, and so on. In addition, the supports may be T-shaped, cross-shaped, C-shaped, and so forth, and may have openings proximal the ends thereof, and further may have one or more openings between the openings at the ends thereof.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosed embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is intended to be understood within the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.
Various embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. Variations of those embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate and the inventors intend for the disclosure to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 102013001528 | Sep 2013 | DE |
| 2993472 | Jan 2014 | FR |
| Entry |
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| PCT/US2021/053380, “International Search Report and Written Opinion,” dated Jun. 29, 2022, 11 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230104009 A1 | Apr 2023 | US |
