U.S. patent application number 10/482787 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for building block.
Invention is credited to Bauder, Hans-Jorg.
Application Number | 20040194407 10/482787 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7690588 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040194407 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bauder, Hans-Jorg |
October 7, 2004 |
Building block
Abstract
Set of building elements containing building blocks (1) having a
body (2) in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, whose
underside is provided with recesses (5) and whose top surface is
provided with projections (3) having a lateral surface in the form
of a surface of revolution at the intersections of an imaginary
square grid, the configuration being such that such a building
block (1) can be connected in clamping engagement with another
building block (1') of the set of building blocks by engagement of
its projections (3) in the recesses (5) provided on the underside
of the other building block (1'). The invention provides that the
set of building elements contains one or more building blocks (1)
where the projections (3) occupy only a part of the intersections
of the imaginary square grid.
Inventors: |
Bauder, Hans-Jorg;
(Muhlacker, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Orum & Roth
53 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago
IL
60604-3606
US
|
Family ID: |
7690588 |
Appl. No.: |
10/482787 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 4, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP02/07404 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/503 ;
52/561 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/086 20130101;
A63H 33/108 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/503 ;
052/561 |
International
Class: |
E04C 001/39 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2001 |
DE |
101 32 423.5 |
Claims
1. A set of building elements containing building blocks having a
square body, whose underside is provided with recesses and whose
top is provided with projections, the projections having a lateral
surface in the form of a surface of revolution at the intersections
of an imaginary square grid, the configuration being such that a
first such building block can be connected in clamping engagement
with a second building block of the set of building elements by
engagement of its projections in the recesses provided on the
underside of the other building block, the set of building elements
containing one or a plurality of building blocks comprising the
projections which occupy only two diagonally arranged intersections
of the imaginary square grid and where at least four intersections
of the imaginary square grid so that two building blocks, which are
mutually connected by engagement of a single projection of the
first such building block in a first recess of the second building
block, can be rotated one relative to the other due to the fact
that the second building block can be moved over an intersection of
the imaginary square grid of the first building block, which
intersection neighbours the engaging projection and is not occupied
by a projection.
2. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1, wherein the
projections have a cylindrical lateral surface.
3. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1 wherein the
projections are hollow.
4. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1 wherein the
building blocks are configured as boxes open at their bottom.
5. The set of building elements as defined in claim 4, wherein the
inner lateral surfaces of the building block are provided with ribs
extending in the direction from the top to the bottom, which serve
to connect two building blocks by clamping engagement.
6. The set of building elements as defined in claim 4, wherein
cylinders are provided inside the box, on the underside of the wall
from which the projections start out, at the centers of the
imaginary square grid, said cylinders serve to connect two building
blocks by clamping engagement.
7. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1, wherein the
building blocks (1) have a closed and substantially plane top
outside the projections (3).
8. The set of building elements as defined in any of claims 1,
wherein one or a plurality of building blocks which comprise a hole
instead of a projection on at least one intersection of the
imaginary square grid, and one or a plurality of pins matching the
holes and having a lateral surface whose outer diameter conforms to
the outer diameter of the projections.
9. The set of building elements as defined in claim 8, wherein the
holes are blind holes.
10. The set of building elements as defined in claim 9, wherein the
pins are cylindrical.
11. The set of building elements as defined in claim 8, wherein the
hole is a through-hole and the pin comprises a stop that limits the
depth of penetration of the pin.
12. The set of building elements as defined in claim 11, wherein
the pin comprises two cylindrical sections of different
diameters.
13. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1, wherein the
building blocks (1) are made from a plastic material.
14. The set of building elements as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a construction plate provided with projections having a
lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution, located at
the intersections of an imaginary square grid, the design of the
projections being such that the construction plate can be connected
with a building block of the set of building elements by clamping
engagement of its projections in the recesses in the underside of
the building block, and that at least four intersections of the
imaginary square grid are provided on the construction plate and
the projections of the construction plate occupy only a part of the
intersections of the imaginary square grid so that a building block
connected with the construction plate by engagement of a single
projection of the construction plate in one of its recesses can be
rotated relative to the construction plate due to the fact that it
can be moved over an intersection of the imaginary square grid of
the construction plate, which neighbours the engaging projection
and which is not occupied by a projection.
15. Building block for use in a set of building elements as defined
in claim 1 having a square body, whose underside is provided with
recesses and whose top surface is provided with projections having
a lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution at the
intersections of an imaginary square grid, the configuration of the
recesses and projections being such that such a building block can
be connected in clamping engagement with a second building block of
the set of building elements by engagement of its projections in
the recesses provided on the bottom of the second building block
that projections of which occupy only two diagonally arranged
intersections of the imaginary square grid, four intersections of
the imaginary square grid are provided on the building block, so
that when a single projection is engaged in a recess of the second
building block of the set of building elements, the building block
can be rotated relative to the latter around the engaging
projection in that the second building block can be moved over an
intersection of the imaginary square grid of the first building
block, which neighbours the engaging projection and which is not
occupied by any projection.
16. (Cancelled)
17. The set of building elements as defined in claim 4 wherein said
cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by cooperation with
said ribs.
18. The set of building elements as defined in claim 5 wherein
cylinders are provided inside the box, on the underside of the wall
from which the projections start out, at the centers of the
imaginary square grid, said cylinders serve to connect two building
blocks by clamping engagement.
19. The set of building elements as defined in claim 18 wherein
said cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by cooperation
with said ribs.
20. The set of building elements as defined in claim 5 wherein the
projections have a cylindrical lateral surface and are hollow and
the building blocks are configured as boxes open at their
bottom.
21. The set of building elements as defined in claim 20, wherein
one or a plurality of building blocks comprise a hole instead of a
projection on at least one intersection of the imaginary square
grid, one or a plurality of pins matching the holes have a lateral
surface whose outer diameter conforms to the outer diameter of the
projections, the holes are blind holes and the pins are
cylindrical.
Description
[0001] The present invention claims priority to PCT International
Application Number PCT/EP02/07404 filed Jul. 4, 2002 and German
Application Number 101 32 423.5 filed Jul. 4, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a building block for use as
part of a set of building elements, and to a corresponding
construction plate. Building blocks and sets of building elements
are known, and are commercially available, as toy building blocks
for example under the "Lego" trade name. Building blocks of that
kind can be joined to structures by means of projections provided
on the top of one such building block, which engage recesses
provided in one or more other building blocks in clamping
engagement.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Beside the known Lego building blocks, other similar
building blocks are also available.
[0006] FR 2,336,956 A1, for example, discloses building blocks that
differ from the known Lego building blocks substantially in that
the underside of the described building blocks, instead of being
provided with recesses, exhibit a free inner space enclosed by
sidewalls. Correspondingly, the top of such building blocks is
provided with projections only at its edge or, in the case of
larger blocks, on which smaller building blocks can be fitted,
along the contours of such smaller building blocks. EP 0,379,389 A1
further discloses building blocks which are provided with both
projections and recesses for engagement in projections of a
matching building block, on their top, their underside and their
sidewalls as well. Finally, DE-OS 1,603,572 A describes building
blocks which have two projections on their top and two matching
recesses at their underside.
[0007] Now, it is the object of the present invention to extend the
range of creative applications permitted by such sets of building
elements.
[0008] This object is achieved by a set of building elements having
the features defined in the claims, and by a building block having
the features defined in the claims, all intended for use in a set
of building elements. Advantageous further developments of the
invention are the subject-matter of the claims.
[0009] While in the case of known building blocks, forming part of
sets of building elements, upper projections are provided at all
intersections of an imaginary square grid, a set of building
elements according to the invention contains one or more building
blocks where two of those intersections remain free from such
projections. This idea is equally ingenious and simple as the idea
underlying the known system of the building blocks as such. While
known building blocks only permit rigid connections by engagement
of the projections of the one building block in the recesses of the
other building blocks, the use of the building block according to
the invention as part of a set of building elements now allows, in
addition to such rigid structures, rotatable structures or
structures with rotating or pivoting elements to be realized. This
is so because when the building block according to the invention is
connected with another building block, whether of conventional
design or of a design according to the invention, by engagement of
a single rotationally symmetrical projection, then the two building
blocks can be rotated one relative to the other about such
projection and the matching recess in the other building block. The
angle available for rotation depends on the number and position of
the remaining projections on the lower building block, which are
not so engaged and clamped. In the case of known building blocks,
the remaining projections of the lower building block prevent in
this case rotation of the building blocks one relative to the
other, presenting an obstacle to the sidewalls of the upper
building block. In the case of a building block according to the
invention, however, two of four projections are missing, whereby
rotation of one building block relative to the other is rendered
possible. If only two projections, placed on a diagonal line of the
imaginary square grid, are provided on the lower building block,
rotation by approximately 360.degree. is possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The building blocks according to the invention can be
combined with advantage with the known building blocks.
Accordingly, a set of building elements containing one or more
building blocks according to the invention permits a much greater
variety of structures to be realized than a set of building blocks
consisting exclusively of known building blocks. Accordingly, it is
now possible with a given number of building blocks to realize much
more combinations and a greater variety of interesting and
different structures. Advantageously, children's imagination is
stimulated more strongly, and the building blocks gain in interest
as toys for children of a larger age-group.
[0011] Structures with rotatable or pivoting elements, of the kind
that can be realized with the building blocks according to the
invention, can be used with advantage also in other fields. For
example, the building blocks according to the invention easily
permit the realization of a structure comprising a cable entry
whose diameter can be exactly adjusted to the required width by
simple rotation of one or more of the building blocks.
[0012] According to an advantageous further development of the
invention it is provided that the projections have a cylindrically
shaped lateral surface. This feature provides the advantage to
increase the retaining force of the clamping connection.
[0013] According to another advantageous further development of the
invention the projections are hollow. This feature advantageously
leads to material savings.
[0014] Another advantageous further development of the invention
provides that the building blocks are designed as boxes open at
their underside. This advantageously reduces the material required
for the production of a building block. Another advantageous
further development of the invention provides in this connection
that the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the building block are
provided with ribs serving to connect two building blocks by
clamping engagement. This feature provides the advantage to
increase the stability of a building block and the holding force of
a clamping connection between two building blocks. Another
advantageous further development of the invention provides that
cylinders are provided inside the box, on the underside of the wall
from which the projections start out, at the centers of the
imaginary square grid, which cylinders serve to connect the
building blocks by clamping engagement, especially in co-operation
with the before-mentioned ribs. Centers of the imaginary square
grid mean in this connection those points which are found at the
center, i.e. the intersection of the diagonal lines of the grid. If
the projections of a building block are in engagement with the
bottom of another building block, then a clamping effect is
achieved not only by the sidewalls, and the ribs provided thereon,
but also by the respective cylinder. This advantageously increases
the holding force of the clamping connection.
[0015] According to another advantageous further development of the
invention, the building blocks have a closed and substantially
plane top outside their projections. This feature provides the
advantage to simplify production of the building blocks.
[0016] According to an alternative advantageous further development
of the invention, the set of building elements contains one or more
building blocks which exhibit, on at least one of the intersections
of the imaginary square grid, a hole instead of a projection, and
one or more pins matching the holes and having a lateral surface
whose outer diameter conforms to the outer diameter of the
projections. This feature provides the advantage that by combining
pins with building blocks according to the invention, it is
possible to produce building blocks which exactly have the desired
number of projections necessary for realizing a given structure. It
is then possible, at desire, by fitting the pins in the holes, to
create a greater number of projections and to thereby increase the
holding force of the clamping connection between two building
blocks, or else to make a structure rotatable by leaving the holes
open. This advantageously further increases the number of possible
combinations of the number of building blocks in a set of building
elements and makes the set of building blocks even more interesting
for children. Another advantageous further development of the
invention provides in this connection that the holes are configured
as blind holes. This feature provides the advantage to limit the
depth of engagement of the pins. Preferably, the relevant pins have
a cylindrical configuration.
[0017] An alternative advantageous further development of the
invention provides in this connection that the holes are
through-holes and that the pins are provided with a stop that
limits the depth of penetration of the pins. This feature provides
the advantage to reduce the production effort and the material
input for the production of the building blocks. Another
advantageous further development provides in this connection that
the pin comprises two cylindrical sections of different diameters.
This feature provides the advantage that the holes can be given a
smaller diameter and that once a pin has been fitted, so as to form
a projection, the holes are no longer visible.
[0018] According to an advantageous further development of the
invention, the building blocks are made from a plastic material.
This feature provides the advantage to permit the building blocks
to be produced at low cost.
[0019] According to one advantageous further development of the
invention, the set of building elements contains a construction
plate, provided with projections, having a lateral surface in the
form of a surface of revolution, located at the intersections of an
imaginary square grid, the design of the projections being such
that the construction plate can be connected with a building block
of the set of building elements by clamping engagement of its
projections in the recesses at the underside of such building
block, and that the projections of the construction plate occupy
only a part of the intersections of the imaginary square grid. Such
a set of construction elements advantageously permits the
realization of structures which are rotatably mounted on, or which
comprise elements rotatably mounted on, the construction plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Further details and advantages of the invention will be
explained by reference to an embodiment of the invention, as
illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a building block according to the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a building block;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a rigid structure
composed of three building blocks according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a rotatable structure
composed of three building blocks according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the structure illustrated in FIG.
4;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the structure of FIGS. 4 and 5,
in its rotated position;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the structure of FIGS. 4 to 6 in
another rotated position;
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a rear view of a building block according to
the invention;
[0029] FIG. 9 shows a flexible wall built up from building blocks
according to the invention;
[0030] FIG. 10 shows the wall illustrated in FIG. 9, curved to the
shape of an S;
[0031] FIG. 11 shows the wall illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the
shape of a ring;
[0032] FIG. 12 shows the wall illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, in
straight condition;
[0033] FIG. 13 shows another wall made from building blocks
according to the invention, consisting of two mutually rotatable
sections;
[0034] FIG. 14 shows the wall illustrated in FIG. 13 in rotated
condition; and
[0035] FIG. 15 shows another wall made from building blocks
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The building block 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a cuboid body
2 with two hollow cylindrical projections 3 on its top. The length
of such projections 3 can be freely selected within broad limits so
that the projections can be configured at desire as short knobs or
bosses, or as long pins. The projections 3 serve to connect two
building blocks 1, 1', as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4, by
clamping engagement of at least one of the projections 3 of the
building block 1' in recesses provided at the underside of the
other building block 1.
[0037] Contrary to the prior art, not all, but only some of the
intersections of an imaginary square grid of the building block 1
illustrated in FIG. 1 are occupied by projections 3. In the
illustrated configuration, the building block 1 has exactly two
projections 3, and these are arranged diagonally opposite one to
the other. This advantageously provides the possibility to combine
a plurality of such building blocks for the purpose of creating
rotatable structures or structures comprising rotatable or pivoting
elements. It is an essential aspect in this connection that the
projections 3 have a lateral surface in the form of a surface of
revolution, a cylindrical shape of the projections 3 being
especially advantageous for establishing a reversible clamping
connection.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the building block illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0039] The building blocks known heretofore only permit the
realization of rigid structures; the realization of rotatable
structures is not possible with prior art building blocks. The
described building blocks 1 of course also allow the realization of
rigid structures--also in combination with the known building
blocks--, in which case two projections 3 provide almost the same
reliability of the clamping connection between two building blocks
1 as four or more projections 3 according to the prior art. An
example of such a rigid structure is illustrated in FIG. 3. The
user has the choice of joining either identical components 1, or
components 1' with differently arranged, or a different number of,
projections 3.
[0040] FIG. 4 now shows a cross-section of a rotatable structure.
In this example, the lower building blocks 1 have two projections
3, arranged diagonally opposite each other, while the upper
building block 1' is provided with a single projection only, the
number of projections 3 of the upper building block 1' being of
course without relevance for the rotating capability of the
structure. FIG. 5 shows a top view of the same structure. In this
case, the two lower components 1 are movable one relative to the
other. The structure comprises two axes of rotation, each being
defined by a projection 3 of the lower building block 1 engaging a
recess in the upper building block 1'. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the
structure of FIGS. 4 and 5 in a rotated position, which has been
achieved by rotation of the lower building blocks 1 relative to the
upper building block 1', from their original position illustrated
in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0041] The building blocks 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 have
square tops.
[0042] FIG. 8 shows the underside of the described building blocks
1, 1'. The building blocks are configured as hollow boxes, and the
inner surfaces of their sidewalls are reinforced by ribs 6 which
coact with the cylinder 7 to establish the clamping connection.
Inside the box, at the underside of the wall from which the
projections 3 extend, the building block 1 is provided with a
cylinder 7 arranged at the center of the imaginary square grid. In
the case of larger building blocks, there are then correspondingly
more centers of the imaginary square grid, with a cylinder 7
arranged at each such center. Thus, a building block with a square
top and four intersections of the imaginary square grid has one
such cylinder 7 at its center, while a larger rectangular building
block has a correspondingly greater number of cylinders 7. When a
projection 3 engages the bottom of another building block, the
projection 3 is clamped between the inner lateral surfaces by ribs
6, extending in the direction from the top to the bottom, and the
cylinder 7 so that a clamping connection is achieved between two
building blocks.
[0043] FIG. 10 shows a wall built up from building blocks according
to the invention. While known building blocks only permit the
realization of rigid or straight walls, or walls arranged at right
angles, the building blocks according to the invention also permit
the realization of flexible walls. This is so because the
individual building blocks can be rotated one relative to the
other, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7, whereby the wall in its
entirety can be rendered flexible and can be given the curved shape
illustrated in the drawing. FIG. 10 shows the wall illustrated in
FIG. 9 in a slightly more curved S-shape. As can be seen in FIG. 11
such walls may even be formed into a ring. In FIG. 12, the wall
illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 is shown in straight condition. It
will be seen, when comparing FIGS. 4 and 6, that the possibility to
rotate the individual building blocks one relative to the other
allows a change in length of the wall to be realized. The
configurations illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 are different in
length by a factor equal to root of 2.
[0044] Another wall built up from building blocks according to the
invention is illustrated in FIG. 13. That wall comprises two
sections A and B, which can be rotated one relative to the other
about an axis S. FIG. 14 shows the wall of FIG. 13 in rotated
condition such that the sections A and B extend at a right angle
one relative to the other. It is thus possible to configure a
section of the wall as a door. FIG. 15 shows another wall built up
from building blocks according to the invention, with a plurality
of axes of rotation.
* * * * *