US3591973A - Toy building kit - Google Patents

Toy building kit Download PDF

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Publication number
US3591973A
US3591973A US16754A US3591973DA US3591973A US 3591973 A US3591973 A US 3591973A US 16754 A US16754 A US 16754A US 3591973D A US3591973D A US 3591973DA US 3591973 A US3591973 A US 3591973A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
kit
groove
exposed
section
cross
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US16754A
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English (en)
Inventor
Artur Fischer
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication of US3591973A publication Critical patent/US3591973A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • A63H33/082—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 dovetails

Definitions

  • Such coupling heads each comprise a first portion which projects from the respective structural element and which is provided on its free end remote from the structural element with a second portion resembling a section severed from a sphere in a plane which is at least substantially parallel to the general plane of the exposed face.
  • the present invention relates generally to toy building kits, and more particularly to toy building kits having matingly engageable male and female coupling portions.
  • the female coupling portions are'in form of an elongated undercut grooves
  • the male coupling portions are in form of coupling projections or coupling heads which are matingly receivable in these undercut grooves, and which are similarly undercut. They have a neck or first portion projecting from the respective element on which they are provided, and carrying at its fee end a head or second portion which is of polygonal cross section, usually quadratic.
  • connection effected between structural elements provided with such coupling portions is good. lt has been found, however, that the insertion and moving lengthwise of a male coupling portion configurated in this manner, into a groove which is undercut and which is intended to mate, presents difficulties for children, particularly for relatively young children. With male coupling portions so constructed it is evident that the entire width of the coupling portion will immediately fill the inlet end of the groove when insertion is attempted. This means that the male coupling portion must be properly aligned with respect to the inlet end, that is to the cross section of the groove, requiring a degree of skill which frequently is not yet possessed by smaller children.
  • the distance between the surface from which the coupling head projects and the area of the coupling head which, when inserted into an undercut groove, contacts the inner circumferential surface of the groove is slightly smaller than the distance between the surface in which the groove is provided and the portion of the inner circumferential surface which will be contacted by the coupling head when the same is inserted.
  • the coupling heads are rather small, a young child finds it difficult to align the coupling head with reference to the elongation of the undercut groove in the manner necessary to effect the entry of the coupling head into the open end of the groove. In fact, it is frequently observed that the smaller child does not even real ize that such alignment is necessary.
  • the coupling heads are larger it is easier for the child to realize that such alignment is necessary, but the danger of tilting or skewing of the coupling head with reference to the groove on insertion into the same then exists.
  • an object of the invention to provide an improved toy building kit having cooperating undercut male and female coupling portions, and wherein the male coupling portions can be readily and without any skill inserted into the female coupling portions, with the aforementioned difficulties relative to tolerance variations and dimensional variations due to swelling of the material being avoided while the coupling portions yet provide for a tight connection between connected structural elements.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide such a kit wherein the cooperating male and female coupling portions can be readily manipulated by even small children having as yet little manipulative skill and inadequately developed coordination.
  • a toy building kit which, briefly stated, comprises a first structural element having a plurality of exposed surfaces and being provided in at least one of these with at least one undercut groove.
  • a second structural element has a plurality of exposed faces and is provided on at least one of the exposed faces with at least coupling head which is matingly engageable with the undercut groove.
  • the male coupling head comprises a first portion projecting from the exposed face and has a free end remote from the latter.
  • a second portion of the male coupling head is provided on and projects from this free end and resembles a section severed from a sphere in a plane which is at least substantially parallel to the general plane of the exposed face.
  • a coupling head so configurated abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the undercutgroove only in a region which is relatively near to the exposed surface from which the groove extends inwardly.
  • the cross section of the secondportion at least is circular.
  • the cross section of the first portion or neck of the coupling projection may be circular or generally rounded, but it may also be polygonal, for instance quadratic. Because of the particular configuration of the second portion which, as pointed out, is circular in cross section, insertion of the coupling projection into the open end of an undercut coupling groove provides for self-alignment of the coupling projection with reference to the groove, because immediately upon insertion it is not the entire width of the second portion which fills the groove, but only after the second portion is received half way in the open end will its full or entire width fill the open end of the groove.
  • the circular outer periphery of the second portion will provide for gradual alignment of the coupling projection with reference to the open end of the groove as the second portion is being inserted thereinto.
  • the part-spherical configuration of the second portion assures that the coupling projection can be introduced without any manipulative skill and with little force into the open end of the groove even if it is desired that the relationship between the groove and the coupling projection be such that the two connected structural elements be urged into abutment with one another.
  • the free end face of the second portion faces away from the face of its structural element on which the coupling projection is provided. It is located in the aforementioned plane which is at least substantially parallel to the general plane of the exposed face and is thus is a position in which it includes with the part-spherical outer surface of the second portion a relatively acute angle. Because of this the margin of the second portion in the region of the juncture between this end face and the part-spherical outer surface of the second portion is yieldable and thus permits a compensation for dimensional variations or tolerance variations.
  • the ability to yield which is desired for the second portion may be enhanced by making the end face of the second portion concavely curved in the direction towards the exposed face on which the coupling projection is provided.
  • the part-spherical outer surface of the second portion is to contact the inner circumferential surface bounding the groove only in the region near the exposed surface in which the groove is provided.
  • the present invention is particularly advantageous with respect to rather large coupling projections whose size and massive configuration would not ordinarily provide -particularly in materials such as wood-the necessary yieldability which is desired.
  • the two elements be capable of being rotated with reference to one another about an axis defined by the first portion, then the neck or first portion may be generally rounded, such as of circular cross section. If, on the other hand, such rotation is to be prevented than it is desirable for the cross section of the first portion to be polygonal, preferably quadratic.
  • FIGURE is a diagrammatic illustration showing one embodiment of the invention.
  • reference numeral 1 identifies a first structural element, of which a building kit may comprise any desired number. It has a plurality of exposed faces at least one of which is provided with a projecting male coupling portion or coupling projection 2 which is still to be described in more detail.
  • Reference numeral 4 identifies a further structural element of which the toy building kit may also comprise a desired number and which is provided with a plurality of exposed surfaces at least one of which is provided with an undercut elongated groove 3 of substantially circular cross section, as illustrated.
  • any of the structural elements I and 4 may be provided with both the coupling projections 2 and the undercut grooves 3.
  • the coupling head 2 will be seen to be matingly received in the undercut groove 3 through whose open end it has been inserted. It comprises a first portion or neck 6 which projects from the exposed face 5 of the element 1 and which is formed at its free end remote from the exposed face 5 with a head or second portion 7 resembling a segment cut from a sphere on a line which is located in a plane extending in substantial parallelism with the exposed face 5.
  • the portion 7 are to be initially configurated as a sphere, the particular illustrated configuration of the portion 7 is obtained by severing the sphere in a plane extending in parallelism or at least substantial parallelism with the exposed face 5 and removing the remainder of the sphere, leaving only the illustrated segment behind which constitutes the portion 7.
  • This portion 7 is provided with an end face 8 facing away from the exposed face 5. It will be seen that the portion 7 engages the inner circumferential surface 10 of the groove 3 only in a region 9 which is near the exposed surface 8 of the structural element 4.
  • the first portion or neck 6 is of circular cross-sectional configuration and contacts the edges 11 of the groove which are bounded by planar surface portions.
  • the inner circumferential surface of the groove 3 can also be in form of planar surface portions without detracting from the concept according to the present invention.
  • the desired advantages of the present invention are achieved also if the head or second portion 7 deviates slight-but not significantly-from the partspherical configuration which has been illustrated in the FIGURE. In erecting certain model constructions it may be desirable or advantageous to arrest coupled structural elements in certain locations with reference to one another.
  • the cross-sectional configuration of the portion 6 is circular as in the exemplary embodiment herein discussed, the elements l and 4 can be freely turned with reference to one another whereas, if the cross-sectional configuration of the portion 6 is polygonal preferably quadraticany turning movement of the elements l and 4 with reference to one another is entirely precluded.
  • a first structural element having a plurality of exposed surfaces; at least one undercut groove provided in at least one of said exposed surfaces; a second structural element having a plurality of exposed faces; and at least one coupling head provided on at least one of said exposed faces and matingly engageable with said undercut groove, said coupling head comprising a first portion projecting from said exposed face and having a free end remote from the latter, and a second portion provided on and projecting from said free end and resembling a section severed from a sphere in a plane which is at least substantially parallel to the general plane of said exposed face.
  • said second portion having a planar surface directed away from said exposed face.
  • kit as defined in claim 1, said second portion having an endface directed away from said exposed face and being concave in direction towards the same.
  • kit as defined in claim 1, said first portion having a polygonal cross section.
  • kit as defined in claim 1 said first portion having a rounded cross section 8.
  • the cross section of said first portion is circular.
  • said groove comprising an outer slot-shaped portion extending inwardly from said one exposed surface and being bounded by two transversely spaced outer surface portions, and an inner portion bounded by an inner circumferential surface portion making with said outer surface portions and being of divergent-convergent cross section in direction inwardly away from said outer portion; and said second portions being configurated so as to contact said inner surface portion only in the region of the juncture of the same with said outer surface portions.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
US16754A 1969-03-07 1970-03-05 Toy building kit Expired - Lifetime US3591973A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1911650A DE1911650C3 (de) 1969-03-07 1969-03-07 An einem Spielbaustein angeordneter Verbindungszapfen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3591973A true US3591973A (en) 1971-07-13

Family

ID=5727443

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16754A Expired - Lifetime US3591973A (en) 1969-03-07 1970-03-05 Toy building kit

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (1) US3591973A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5111551B1 (fr)
AT (1) AT315691B (fr)
BE (1) BE746831A (fr)
BR (1) BR7017249D0 (fr)
CH (1) CH505635A (fr)
DE (1) DE1911650C3 (fr)
DK (1) DK126972B (fr)
FR (1) FR2037502A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1298639A (fr)
HU (1) HU164231B (fr)
IE (1) IE33739B1 (fr)
IL (1) IL34017A (fr)
NL (1) NL145145B (fr)
SE (1) SE340975B (fr)
YU (1) YU32033B (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4764143A (en) * 1985-09-19 1988-08-16 Daniel Low Assembly toys for joining cylindrical objects
US4822315A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-04-18 Ben Gal Ofer Toy construction apparatus
US20170274295A1 (en) * 2016-03-24 2017-09-28 UBTECH Robotics Corp. Toy assembling apparatus
CN109529376A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-29 福州天之谷网络科技有限公司 一种玩具插接组件的基础元件及玩具插接组件
CN109529377A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-29 福州天之谷网络科技有限公司 一种玩具插接组件的基础元件
USD895024S1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2020-09-01 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Construction set element
US10953340B2 (en) 2018-03-09 2021-03-23 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Toy construction element

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3484983A (en) * 1966-05-20 1969-12-23 Artur Fischer Power unit for toy building kit
US3513590A (en) * 1966-06-04 1970-05-26 Artur Fischer Blocks connectable by lateral sliding,including means for reducing sliding contact
US3513589A (en) * 1965-06-04 1970-05-26 Artur Fischer Building toy with rigid carriers provided with cooperating undercut male and female coupling portions

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB112500A (en) * 1917-01-09 1918-01-09 Hubert Alexander Gill An Improved Flux for use in Brazing Cast Iron and other Metals.

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3513589A (en) * 1965-06-04 1970-05-26 Artur Fischer Building toy with rigid carriers provided with cooperating undercut male and female coupling portions
US3484983A (en) * 1966-05-20 1969-12-23 Artur Fischer Power unit for toy building kit
US3513590A (en) * 1966-06-04 1970-05-26 Artur Fischer Blocks connectable by lateral sliding,including means for reducing sliding contact

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4764143A (en) * 1985-09-19 1988-08-16 Daniel Low Assembly toys for joining cylindrical objects
US4822315A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-04-18 Ben Gal Ofer Toy construction apparatus
US20170274295A1 (en) * 2016-03-24 2017-09-28 UBTECH Robotics Corp. Toy assembling apparatus
US10029187B2 (en) * 2016-03-24 2018-07-24 UBTECH Robotics Corp. Toy assembling apparatus
USD895024S1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2020-09-01 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Construction set element
US10953340B2 (en) 2018-03-09 2021-03-23 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Toy construction element
CN109529376A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-29 福州天之谷网络科技有限公司 一种玩具插接组件的基础元件及玩具插接组件
CN109529377A (zh) * 2018-12-28 2019-03-29 福州天之谷网络科技有限公司 一种玩具插接组件的基础元件

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2037502A5 (fr) 1970-12-31
NL145145B (nl) 1975-03-17
DE1911650B2 (de) 1978-08-17
DK126972B (da) 1973-09-10
SE340975B (fr) 1971-12-06
IE33739B1 (en) 1974-10-16
DE1911650C3 (de) 1979-04-12
DE1911650A1 (de) 1970-09-17
HU164231B (fr) 1974-01-28
GB1298639A (en) 1972-12-06
IE33739L (en) 1970-09-07
NL7003258A (fr) 1970-09-09
BR7017249D0 (pt) 1973-02-27
IL34017A0 (en) 1970-05-21
AT315691B (de) 1974-06-10
CH505635A (de) 1971-04-15
YU32033B (en) 1974-02-28
JPS5111551B1 (fr) 1976-04-12
YU52170A (en) 1973-08-31
BE746831A (fr) 1970-08-17
IL34017A (en) 1974-10-22

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