US20040194407A1 - Building block - Google Patents

Building block Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040194407A1
US20040194407A1 US10/482,787 US48278704A US2004194407A1 US 20040194407 A1 US20040194407 A1 US 20040194407A1 US 48278704 A US48278704 A US 48278704A US 2004194407 A1 US2004194407 A1 US 2004194407A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
building
projections
building block
building blocks
square grid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/482,787
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English (en)
Inventor
Hans-Jorg Bauder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GmbH
Original Assignee
HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=7690588&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US20040194407(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GmbH filed Critical HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GmbH
Assigned to HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GMBH reassignment HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BAUDER, HANS-JORG
Publication of US20040194407A1 publication Critical patent/US20040194407A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
    • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
    • A63H33/086—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/10—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled by means of additional non-adhesive elements
    • A63H33/108—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled by means of additional non-adhesive elements with holes

Definitions

  • 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.
  • FR 2,336,956 A1 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.
  • 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.
  • DE-OS 1,603,572 A describes building blocks which have two projections on their top and two matching recesses at their underside.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the building block according to the invention 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.
  • 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.
  • 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° is possible.
  • 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.
  • children's imagination is stimulated more strongly, and the building blocks gain in interest as toys for children of a larger age-group.
  • Structures with rotatable or pivoting elements can be used with advantage also in other fields.
  • 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.
  • the projections have a cylindrically shaped lateral surface. This feature provides the advantage to increase the retaining force of the clamping connection.
  • the projections are hollow. This feature advantageously leads to material savings.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the holes are configured as blind holes.
  • This feature provides the advantage to limit the depth of engagement of the pins.
  • the relevant pins have a cylindrical configuration.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • FIG. 1 shows a top view of a building block according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a side view of a building block
  • FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a rigid structure composed of three building blocks according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a rotatable structure composed of three building blocks according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows a top view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 shows a top view of the structure of FIGS. 4 and 5, in its rotated position
  • FIG. 7 shows a top view of the structure of FIGS. 4 to 6 in another rotated position
  • FIG. 8 shows a rear view of a building block according to the invention
  • FIG. 9 shows a flexible wall built up from building blocks according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10 shows the wall illustrated in FIG. 9, curved to the shape of an S
  • FIG. 11 shows the wall illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the shape of a ring
  • FIG. 12 shows the wall illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 , in straight condition
  • FIG. 13 shows another wall made from building blocks according to the invention, consisting of two mutually rotatable sections
  • FIG. 14 shows the wall illustrated in FIG. 13 in rotated condition
  • FIG. 15 shows another wall made from building blocks according to the invention.
  • 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 .
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • FIG. 2 shows a side view of the building block illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • 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 .
  • FIG. 4 now shows a cross-section of a rotatable structure.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the building blocks 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 have square tops.
  • 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.
  • the building block 1 is provided with a cylinder 7 arranged at the center of the imaginary square grid.
  • 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 .
  • 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.
  • FIG. 13 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.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)
  • Sewage (AREA)
US10/482,787 2001-07-04 2002-07-04 Building block Abandoned US20040194407A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10132423A DE10132423C5 (de) 2001-07-04 2001-07-04 Baustein
DE10132423.5 2001-07-04
PCT/EP2002/007404 WO2003004123A1 (de) 2001-07-04 2002-07-04 Baustein

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040194407A1 true US20040194407A1 (en) 2004-10-07

Family

ID=7690588

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/482,787 Abandoned US20040194407A1 (en) 2001-07-04 2002-07-04 Building block

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20040194407A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1406710B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE337841T1 (de)
CA (1) CA2451162C (de)
DE (2) DE10132423C5 (de)
WO (1) WO2003004123A1 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090036808A1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2009-02-05 Yong-Ho Ki Apparatus for head acupressure using air pressure
US20170159348A1 (en) * 2015-03-23 2017-06-08 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Inc. Thermal break for use in construction
US20190234067A1 (en) * 2015-03-23 2019-08-01 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Inc. Thermal Break For Use In Construction

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2360733C1 (ru) * 2008-06-04 2009-07-10 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Белгородский государственный университет" Способ получения композиционного сорбента для очистки и концентрирования биологически активных антоцианов из растительного сырья
DE202017000197U1 (de) 2017-01-16 2017-04-20 Michael Thiemke Modulares Bausteinsystem

Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US57461A (en) * 1866-06-19 1866-08-28 L. Bartlett David Improved brick
US1668328A (en) * 1926-07-30 1928-05-01 Bertha L Martien Educational game board
US3405479A (en) * 1966-04-01 1968-10-15 Playskool Mfg Company Toy building block
US4306372A (en) * 1980-09-15 1981-12-22 Lin Wen Ping Building block set
US4678192A (en) * 1986-01-02 1987-07-07 Campbell Bruce E Manually assembled puzzle apparatus
US4744780A (en) * 1986-02-06 1988-05-17 Tyco Industries, Inc. Adapter block
US4880384A (en) * 1989-02-03 1989-11-14 Murphy Kevin C Braille teaching apparatus
US5421135A (en) * 1993-06-29 1995-06-06 Concrete Shop, Inc. Interlocking building blocks
US5683283A (en) * 1994-03-18 1997-11-04 Ideal Ideas, Inc. Construction blocks for extended support structures
US5725411A (en) * 1994-03-25 1998-03-10 Ideal Ideas, Inc. Construction beam block toy with selective angular interlock
US6029974A (en) * 1998-11-06 2000-02-29 Povitz; Cary Block puzzles assembly
US6050873A (en) * 1997-07-14 2000-04-18 Reisman; Ron Toy building blocks
USD430231S (en) * 1999-02-08 2000-08-29 Soren Christian Sorensen Toy building element
US6162059A (en) * 1999-03-16 2000-12-19 Murphy; Kevin Problem solving skills development system using tactile recognition
US6679780B1 (en) * 2002-10-18 2004-01-20 Sywan-Min Shih Polyomino piece for games
USD512108S1 (en) * 2004-03-01 2005-11-29 Youth Toy Enterprise Co., Ltd. Building block
US7063587B1 (en) * 2005-02-04 2006-06-20 Youth Toy Enterprise Co., Ltd. Building block

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1603572U (de) 1949-11-10 1950-03-23 Franz Bergmann Einlegerhaube fuer dreschmaschinen.
FR1472378A (fr) * 1966-03-11 1967-03-10 Lego System As Procédé de fabrication de dispositifs ou maquettes à un ou plusieurs circuits électriques et éléments pour sa mise en oeuvre
DE1603573A1 (de) * 1966-08-12 1970-06-04 Erwin Seckelmann Bauspielzeug
FR2336956A1 (fr) * 1976-01-02 1977-07-29 Garnier Ets Jeu de construction
JPH0347290A (ja) * 1989-01-20 1991-02-28 Cornelis J M Beerens 組立ブロック
FR2679253B1 (fr) * 1991-07-15 1994-09-02 Pasteur Institut Proteines de resistance a la cycloheximide. utilisation comme marqueur de selection par exemple pour controler le transfert d'acides nucleiques.
TW436310B (en) * 1999-01-15 2001-05-28 Interlego Ag A building element for a toy building set

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US57461A (en) * 1866-06-19 1866-08-28 L. Bartlett David Improved brick
US1668328A (en) * 1926-07-30 1928-05-01 Bertha L Martien Educational game board
US3405479A (en) * 1966-04-01 1968-10-15 Playskool Mfg Company Toy building block
US4306372A (en) * 1980-09-15 1981-12-22 Lin Wen Ping Building block set
US4678192A (en) * 1986-01-02 1987-07-07 Campbell Bruce E Manually assembled puzzle apparatus
US4744780A (en) * 1986-02-06 1988-05-17 Tyco Industries, Inc. Adapter block
US4880384A (en) * 1989-02-03 1989-11-14 Murphy Kevin C Braille teaching apparatus
US5421135A (en) * 1993-06-29 1995-06-06 Concrete Shop, Inc. Interlocking building blocks
US5683283A (en) * 1994-03-18 1997-11-04 Ideal Ideas, Inc. Construction blocks for extended support structures
US5725411A (en) * 1994-03-25 1998-03-10 Ideal Ideas, Inc. Construction beam block toy with selective angular interlock
US6050873A (en) * 1997-07-14 2000-04-18 Reisman; Ron Toy building blocks
US6029974A (en) * 1998-11-06 2000-02-29 Povitz; Cary Block puzzles assembly
USD430231S (en) * 1999-02-08 2000-08-29 Soren Christian Sorensen Toy building element
US6162059A (en) * 1999-03-16 2000-12-19 Murphy; Kevin Problem solving skills development system using tactile recognition
US6679780B1 (en) * 2002-10-18 2004-01-20 Sywan-Min Shih Polyomino piece for games
USD512108S1 (en) * 2004-03-01 2005-11-29 Youth Toy Enterprise Co., Ltd. Building block
US7063587B1 (en) * 2005-02-04 2006-06-20 Youth Toy Enterprise Co., Ltd. Building block

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090036808A1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2009-02-05 Yong-Ho Ki Apparatus for head acupressure using air pressure
US20170159348A1 (en) * 2015-03-23 2017-06-08 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Inc. Thermal break for use in construction
US9903149B2 (en) * 2015-03-23 2018-02-27 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Thermal break for use in construction
US20190234067A1 (en) * 2015-03-23 2019-08-01 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Inc. Thermal Break For Use In Construction
US10787809B2 (en) * 2015-03-23 2020-09-29 Jk Worldwide Enterprises Inc. Thermal break for use in construction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1406710B1 (de) 2006-08-30
CA2451162A1 (en) 2003-01-16
DE50208015D1 (de) 2006-10-12
EP1406710A1 (de) 2004-04-14
WO2003004123A1 (de) 2003-01-16
DE10132423C1 (de) 2002-11-21
CA2451162C (en) 2009-09-08
ATE337841T1 (de) 2006-09-15
DE10132423C5 (de) 2005-07-28

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: HJB ROLLING MILL TECHNOLOGY GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BAUDER, HANS-JORG;REEL/FRAME:015488/0369

Effective date: 20031212

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION