U.S. patent number 3,854,237 [Application Number 05/303,524] was granted by the patent office on 1974-12-17 for toy building block.
Invention is credited to Richard Bert Loth.
United States Patent |
3,854,237 |
Loth |
December 17, 1974 |
TOY BUILDING BLOCK
Abstract
Each block of a set of blocks is formed as a cube with an
integrally connected half cube section, so that, two blocks can be
nested together to form a rectangle. Each block may be hollow and
provided with a dowel receiving aperture in each plane surface.
Short dowels or pins may be lodged in adjacent apertures to
removably fasten adjacent blocks together.
Inventors: |
Loth; Richard Bert (Barrington,
RI) |
Family
ID: |
23172515 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/303,524 |
Filed: |
November 3, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
33/108 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/10 (20060101); A63H 33/04 (20060101); A63h
033/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/16,17,25,26,24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peshock; Robert
Assistant Examiner: Lever; J. Q.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Werner; William Frederick
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A set of blocks, each block of which comprises a geometric
figure having eight sides, a back side square in shape and having
an area with a selected unit of measure, a top side square in shape
and at right angles to said back side and having an area equal to
the area of said back side, a bottom opposite and parallel to said
top side and at right angles to said back side, rectangular in
shape and equal to twice the area of said top side, a platform
face, square in shape and equal in area to said top side, parallel
and opposite to said bottom, an end wall opposite and parallel to
said back side and located at right angles to said top side and
platform face, said end wall being rectangular in shape and having
an area approximately two-thirds of the area of said back side, to
provide a recess area in said block, a front wall parallel to said
back side and end wall and at right angles to both said platform
face and bottom, a left side perpendicular to both said top side
and bottom and a right side opposite and parallel to said left
side.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of apperatures are
provided, at least one in each of the eight sides.
3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said toy building block is
hollow.
4. A set of blocks, each block of which comprises the structure of
claim 2, wherein a set of blocks form elements of a modular unit
wherein said blocks nest together, dowel pins aligned and
insertable in adjacent apertures of parallel blocks to removably
secure said blocks together, whereby a multiplicity of different
patterns can be formed.
Description
This invention relates to modular design blocks and, more
particularly, to a set of blocks of novel construction which can be
nested together to form a multiplicity of different patterns.
An object of the present invention is to provide a set of blocks
for easy construction, and taking apart by children, so they can
create an infinite variety of designs and thereby exercise creative
ability and amusement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide blocks for
building furniture and the like, which is light in weight, for easy
handling by children, strong, and inexpensive to manufacture,
without limitation as to the material used to fabricate the
blocks.
Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part
and be pointed out in part in the following specification and
claims.
Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference
refer to like parts:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two blocks nested together;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blocks of FIG. 1, shown taken
apart;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 3--3 of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing a
structure which may be made by connecting a plurality of blocks of
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, showing another structure
which may be made by connecting a plurality of blocks of the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dowel or connecting pin.
Referring to the drawings, the new and improved toy building block
comprises a geometric modular figure having eight sides, generally
indicated by reference numeral 10. A back side 11, square in shape
and having an area created by a selected unit of measure, which may
be approximately (by way of explanation and not limitation) 12
inches on each side of the square when used as children's furniture
and approximately 3 inches on each side of the square when used as
a building block. A top side 12 square in shape and at right angles
to said back side 11 and having an area equal to the area of said
back side 11. A bottom 13 opposite and parallel to said top side 12
and at right angles to said back side 11, rectangular in shape and
equal to twice the area of said top side 12. A platform face 14,
square in shape and equal in area to said top side 12, parallel and
opposite to said bottom 13. An end wall 15 opposite and parallel to
said back side 11 and located at right angles to said top side 12
and platform face 14. Said end wall 15 being rectangular in shape
and having an area approximately two thirds of the area of said
back side 11, to provide a recess area of cut-out in said block 10.
A front wall 16 parallel to said back side 11 and end wall 15 and
at right angles to both said platform face 14 and bottom 13. A left
side 17 perpendicular to said top side 12, and bottom 13, platform
face 14, end wall 15, back side 11 and front wall 16. A right side
18 opposite and parallel to left side 17.
A plurality of aperatures 20 are provided with at least one
aperature in each of the eight sides. A dowel or pin 21 is adapted
to be inserted into two adjacent aperatures 20 as shown in FIGS. 4
and 5.
Building block 10 may be fabricated from any structural material.
When plastic is used and the module block 10 molded, a core may be
used to provide a hollow area or chamber 25, as shown in FIG.
3.
In use, a multiple number of blocks 10 as shown in FIG. 2, may be
nested as shown in FIG. 1 or blocks 10 may be arranged in creative
fashion as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with pins 21 removably inserted
in aligned aperatures to removably secure the blocks 10
together.
Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present
invention by way of example, it should be realized that structural
changes could be made and other examples given without departing
from either the spirit or scope of this invention.
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