Patent Application
20050075036
This description relates to toy blocks.
Interlocking toy blocks nurture a child's creativity by allowing the child to build objects and structures of interest to the child. By simply snapping the toy blocks together, a child can create both simple and complex structures.
In one general aspect, a toy block includes a base assembly and a rack slidably attached to the base assembly. The rack, which defines a longitudinal axis, includes a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth, each of which extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The rows of teeth are oriented such that interaction between the first row of teeth and a first rotating member causes the first rotating member to rotate about an axis that is not parallel to an axis about which a second rotating member rotates when interacting with the second row of teeth.
Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the first row of teeth may include a series of protrusions or a series of recesses. The rack may include a depth stop for defining a range of movement for the rack along the longitudinal axis. A biasing member may be positioned between the rack and the base assembly to bias the rack towards a rest position.
The lower surface of the base assembly may include one or more recesses for releasably coupling the base assembly to an adjacent toy assembly, and an upper surface of the base assembly may include one or more protrusions for the same purpose.
The base assembly may include one or more accessory brackets for releasably attaching an accessory (e.g., a bucket and bracket assembly, a saw blade and arm assembly, or a pincher arm assembly) to the base assembly. An accessory may have a gear assembly for meshing with one of the rows of teeth of the rack, and the accessory bracket may be positioned to permit such meshing.
The accessory brackets may be cylindrical protrusions configured to allow the accessory to pivot about the axis of the cylindrical protrusion. The accessory may include an opening sized and positioned to surround the cylindrical protrusion and position the gear assembly to mesh with a row of teeth.
Further, the accessory bracket may be an axial pivot point configured to allow the accessory to pivot about the axis of the axial pivot point. The accessory may include an axle sized and positioned to interact with the axial pivot point and position the gear assembly to mesh with a row of teeth.
A cover assembly may be releasably attached to the base assembly and positioned on top of the accessory brackets to secure the accessories to the accessory brackets. The cover assembly may include one or more protrusions for releasably coupling adjacent toy blocks.
The rack may include a third row of teeth extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The third row of teeth may be oriented such that interaction between the third row of teeth and a third rotating member causes the third rotating member to rotate about an axis that is parallel to the axis about which the first rotating member rotates when interacting with the first row of teeth.
The toy block may include a pushrod having a longitudinal slot, and the rack may include a protrusion for slidably engaging the longitudinal slot of the pushrod.
In another general aspect, a toy block includes a base assembly and a rack slidably attached to the base assembly and defining a longitudinal axis. The base assembly includes at least one accessory bracket for releasably attaching an accessory to the base assembly, such that the accessory may interact with the rack.
Implementations may include one or more of the features noted above.
Other features will be apparent from the following description, including the drawings, and the claims.
Referring to
Rack 14 includes depth stops 20 that limit the travel of rack 14 within base assembly 12 to define a range of movement for rack 14. A plunger 22 at the end of rack 14 extends from the base assembly 12 and includes a concave portion 23 shaped to permit the rack to be pushed comfortably by the thumb of a user. As a force is applied to rack 14 in the direction of arrow 24, rack 14 moves until depth stops 20 strike wall 26 of base assembly 12. Similarly, as a force is applied to rack 14 in the direction of arrow 28, rack 14 moves until depth stops 20 strike wall 30 of base assembly 12.
Toy block 10 also includes a spring 32 that biases rack 14 in direction 28. In other implementations, spring 32 may be replaced by another resilient, compressible member, such as a piece of compressible rubber or foam, or a stretchable member, such as, for example, a rubber band. The direction and strength of the bias applied to rack 14 may be varied by modifying the type and position of the resilient member or the stretchable member. As shown, spring 32 is positioned between depth stop 20 and wall 26 to cause the rack 14 to be biased in the direction of arrow 28. Alternatively, a compressible member may be positioned between depth stop 20 and wall 30 or a stretchable member may be positioned between depth stop 20 and wall 26 to bias the rack in the direction of arrow 24.
Rack 14 includes multiple sets or rows of teeth 36, 38, and 40 that are positioned in a linear fashion along the rack in a direction of longitudinal axis 16. Typically, two of these rows of teeth (e.g., rows 36 and 40) are positioned in the same plane about axis 16 and on opposite sides of the rack 14. Therefore, rows of teeth 36 and 40 are typically spaced 180° apart around axis 16. Row of teeth 38, which is typically perpendicular to rows 36 and 40, is defined by a series of recesses, such that the area between a pair of recesses defines a single tooth of the row of teeth 38. In particular implementations, each of the rows of teeth 36, 38, and 40 may be formed from a series of protrusions (e.g., rows 36, 40) or from a series of recesses (e.g., row 38).
Rack 14 has a generally rectangular cross-section, with a longitudinal top surface (in which row 38 is defined) and two longitudinal side surfaces (on which row 36 and row 40 are respectively defined). In other implementations, the cross section may be another shape, such as a square, a triangle, a circle, or a hemisphere.
Base assembly 12 typically includes an upper portion 42 that covers resilient member 32 and locks rack 14 within base assembly 12. Base assembly 12 additionally includes accessory brackets 44, 46, and 48 for releasably attaching accessories (to be discussed below) to base assembly 12. Accessory brackets 44 and 46 are cylindrical protrusions that allow the accessories to pivot about the axes 45 and 47 of the cylindrical protrusions while interfacing with the rows of teeth 36 and 40. The accessory bracket 48 provides axial pivot points that allow the accessories to pivot about an axis 49 defined between the axial pivot points while interfacing with the row of teeth 38.
As rack 14 is moved (with respect to base assembly 12) in the direction of arrow 24, arms 50 and 52 pivot about brackets 44 and 46 respectively, such that tips 58 and 60 of arms 50 and 52 spread apart. Further, as rack 14 is moved (with respect to base assembly 12) in the direction of arrow 28, arms 50 and 52 pivot about brackets 44 and 46, respectively, such that tips 58 and 60 move towards each other.
Referring also to
Cover assembly 55 and upper portion 42 of base assembly 12 include protrusions (e.g. protrusions 56, 58, and 60) that allow the toy block 10 to be temporarily connected with other adjacent toy blocks.
Referring also to
The recesses and protrusions of the toy block 10 and compatible blocks are sized so that an interference fit is created whenever the protrusions of a first toy block are pressed into the recesses of a second toy block.
Referring also to
Referring also to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As described above, a single toy block with a rack assembly allows for interconnection with and manipulation of numerous accessories, such as the pincher arms of
While the rack is described above as including three rows of teeth, other configurations are possible, such as configurations including two or four rows of teeth. Additionally, while the third row of teeth is described above as being essentially perpendicular to the first two rows of teeth, other configurations are possible. For example, the third row of teeth may be positioned at a 45° angle with respect to either of the other two rows of teeth.
The toy block 10 may be included as part of a set of building blocks. At least some of the other building blocks may be configured to couple to the protrusions or recesses of the toy block 10.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
