Building blocks

Abstract: This invention relates to building blocks. Many toy building blocks are known but most are limited in the manner in which they can be put together. The present invention seeks to provide a building block (1) which can be assembled with other such building blocks (1) in a number of orientations. The present invention provides a building block (1) (hereinafter called "the first block") of cuboid shape having 6 faces (3) adapted to allow any of its faces to interlock together with any of the faces (3) of another substantially identical block (1) (hereinfafter called "a second block").

Description: This invention relates to building blocks. Many toy building blocks are known but most are limited in the manner in which they can be put together. British Patent Application No. 2103947 describes a cuboid building block, the faces of which can be interlocked with the faces of other identical blocks in one relative orientation only. British Patent No. 1212537 also describes a cuboid building block. The faces of the block can be interlocked with the faces of other identical blocks in two different orientations but the interlocked faces are spaced from each other so that it is not possible to attach a third block to two already connected blocks in a position to overlie each equally. The present invention seeks to provide a building block which can be assembled with other such building blocks in a number of orientations. In accordance with the invention, a building block (hereinafter called "the first block") of cuboid shape has six faces, each face having interlocking means comprising a regular array of projections and recesses by means of which any face of the first block may be interlocked with any face of a second such block (hereinafter called "the second block") with the projections of one face being received in the recesses of the other face selectively in one of at least two orientations, a first orientation in which a face of the second block fully overlies a face of the first block and a second orientation in which half of a face of the second block overlies half of a face of the first block, characterised in that the projections and recesses are so dimensioned and arranged that in each orientation, the faces of the blocks, or overlying portions thereof, abut each other. In a preferred embodiment each face of the building block may further be interlocked to a face of the second block in a third orientation in which one quarter of the face of the second block overlies one quarter of the face of the first block. Preferably each face has a first interlocking means in two diagonally opposite quarters thereof and a second interlocking means in the other two diagonally opposite quarters thereof. In the first orientation the first and second interlocking means of one of the faces are interlocked with the second and first interlocking means of the other face. In the second orientation half of the face of the second block, which overlies half of the face of the first block, has one of the first interlocking means and one of the second interlocking means, the overlaid half of the face of the first block having one of the second interlocking means and one of the first interlocking means, and the first interlocking means of the halves of the faces are interlocked with the second locking means of the helves of the faces. In the third orientation one of the quarters of one of the faces of the second block having one of the first or second interlocking means overlies one of the quarters of the first block having one of the second or first locking means, the first locking means being interlocked with the second locking means. Suitably each face has a relatively projecting portion in two diagonally opposite quarters thereof and a relatively recessed portion in the other two diagonally opposite quarters thereof. Preferably there is an aperture centrally located in each of the faces. Preferably there is a hole in each of the projecting portions and a peg member on each of the recessed portions, the holes and the peg members being sized and located such that the respective peg member or members may enter the respective hole in each of the above described orientations. Preferably the peg members are shaped to be a tight fit in the holes. Preferably the peg members project from the recessed portions to the same height as the projecting portions so that the block will sit flat. Preferably the peg members have a length greater than the depth of the holes whereby the inserted end of the peg members will project within the building block beyond the depth of the respective hole. If the peg member is made sufficiently large or if the holes taperingly narrow from the end which the peg members are to enter, compression of the peg members may occur when they are inserted into the hole and that portion which projects within the building block beyond the depth of the building block may resile with time to improve the integrity of the resultant connection. The orientation of the projecting portions and recessed portions on the faces is preferably such that the faces of the building block which are adjacent at each edge of the building blocks are mirror images of one another. The building block is preferably comprised of six identical plates which interfit to form the building block with one side of each of the plates constituting one face of the building block. Preferably there is a flange projecting from the opposite side at each of two opposite edges, an abutment on the opposite side adjacent each of the other two edges, a projecting or a recess on or in each of the flanges and a recess or a projection in or on the opposite side adjacent said each of the other two edges; the arrangement being such that the plates may snap-fittingly engage with one another to form the building block. Preferably the projection comprises a ramp surface to facilitate such snap-fitting engagement. Preferably each face of the building block presents one of three colours and the colours are engaged such that when in said first and third orientations an assemblage of such blocks will present a single colour on each side of the assemblage. Edges of the building block, apices of the building block, edges and holes and edges of the projecting portions and recessed portions may be chamfered if desired. A specific construction of a plate and a building block in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the building block. Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the building block showing plates from which the building block is formed. Figure 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating ways of assembling building blocks. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of parts of two building blocks when in interengagement. The building block 1 shown in Figure 1 is cuboid and has 6 identical faces. The building block 1 is formed from 6 identical plates 2. Each of the plates 2 has a face 3 which defines, in use, one of the faces of the block 1 and an opposite side 4. On the face 3 of each plate 2 in diagonally opposite quarters are projecting portions 21 and 22 and in the other diagonally opposite quarters there are recessed portions 23 and 24. A central aperture 26 is located in the face 3. That aperture 26 removes a major area of potential weakness. Further, the aperture 26 may be used to receive objects such as string, a pencil or a flower. Located on the recessed portions 23 and 24 are projections 27 and 28. Located in the projecting portions 21 and 22 are recesses 31 and 32. The projections 27 and 28 and the recesses 31 and 32 are chamfered as shown. The projections 27 and 28 are the the same height as projections 21 and 22 so that the block can sit flat and can be put on another block in non-interlocking relation if desired. On the opposite side 4 of each plate 2 there are two upstanding flanges 33 and 34 which are at opposite edges. Also on the opposite side 4 are abutments 36 and 37. Recesses 38 and 39 are also provided in the opposite side 4. The flanges 33 and 34 are the same width as the gap between the flanges to stop parts sliding. Ramplike projections 41 and 42 are located on the flanges 33 and 34. The plates 2 are assembled together as is best seen in Figure 2 and in particular it is to be noted that the ramplike projections 41 and 42 are received in the recesses 38 and 39 and the flanges 33 and 34 abut against the abutments 36 and 37. When all 6 plates are assembled to one another the building block so formed is strong. It is particularly desirable that the plates 2 are coloured and that 3 colours are used with opposite plates on opposite sides of the cuboid being of the same colour. This arrangement permits various attractive colour possibilities in assembly. Such colour will also aid assembly. The form of the above described building block enables it to be assembled with other such blocks in a number of ways. As shown in Figure 3, blocks may be in a first orientation which is a full face orientation, a half face orientation or a quarter face orientation (not shown in Figure 3). Blocks may be added on all sides of any one block to build such a structure as is desired. By joining blocks in the aforesaid first and third orientations, the colours presented to an observer looking in a particular direction will be the same if joined faces are of the same colour. The use of colours can aid assembly of blocks in the aforesaid first and third orientations. It is to be noted that the projections 27 and 28 are sized to be compressed on entering the recesses 31 and 32 so that with time they will resile at 41 to improve locking. The plates 2 can be easily formed by injection moulding using a tool which splits at only one level. The plates 2 have no undercuts so as to make for easy tooling.

Claims: A building block (1) (hereinafter called "the first block") of cuboid shape having six faces, each face (3) having interlocking means comprising a regular array of projections (27, 28) and recesses (31, 32) by means of which any face of the first block may be interlocked with any face of a second such block (hereinafter called "the second block") with the projections of one face being received in the recesses of the other face selectively in one of at least two orientations, a first orientation in which a face of the second block fully overlies a face of the first block and a second orientation in which half of a face of the second block overlies half of a face of the first block, characterised in that the projections and recesses are so dimensioned and arranged that in each orientation, the faces (3) of the blocks (1), or overlying portions thereof, abut each other. A building block as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each face (3) thereof may further be interlocked to a face of the second block selectively in a third orientation in which one quarter of the face (3) of the second block (1) overlies one quarter of a face of the first block. A building block as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein each face has first interlocking means (21, 22, 31, 32) in two diagonally opposite quarters thereof and second interlocking means (23, 24, 27, 28) in the other two diagonally opposite quarters thereof. A building block as claimed in Claim 3 wherein in the first orientation the first (21, 22, 31, 32) and second (23, 24, 27, 28) interlocking means of one face are interlocked with the second (23, 24, 27, 28) and first (21, 22, 31, 32) interlocking means of the other face and wherein, in the second orientation, the half of the face (3) of the second block, which overlies half of a face of first block has one of the first interlocking means and one of the second interlocking means, the overlaid half of the face (3) of the first block having one of the second interlocking means and one of the first interlocking means, and the first interlocking means of the halves of the faces are interlocked with the second locking means of the halves of the faces. A building block as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2 wherein in the third orientation one of the quarters of one of the faces (3) of the second block having one of the first or second interlocking means overlies one of the quarters of the first block having one of the second or first locking means, the first locking means being interlocked with the second locking means. A building block as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein each face has a relatively projecting portion (21, 22) in two diagonally opposite quarters thereof and a relatively recessed portion (23, 24) in the other two diagonally opposite quarters. A building block as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein there is an aperture (26) centrally located in each of the faces (3) A building block as claimed in either Claim 6 or 7 wherein there is a hole (31, 32) in each of the projecting portions (21, 22) and a peg member (27, 28) on each of the recessed portions, (23, 24), the holes and the peg members being sized and located such that the respective peg member(s) may enter the respective hole(s) in each of the orientations. A building block as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the peg members (27, 28) are shaped to be a tight fit in the holes (31, 32). A building block as claimed in Claim 8 or 9 wherein the peg members (27, 28) project from the recessed portions (23, 24) to the same height as the projecting portions (21, 22) so that the block will sit flat. A building block as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the peg members (27, 28) have a length greater than the depth of the holes (31, 32) whereby the inserted end of the peg members will project within the building block (1) beyond the depth of the respective hole. A building block as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising six identical plates (2) which interfit to form the building block (1) with one side (3) of each of the plates constituting one face of the building block. A building block as claimed in Claim 12 wherein there is a flange (33, 34) projecting from the opposite side of each plate from that which constitutes a face at each of two opposite edges thereof, an abutment (36, 37) adjacent each of the other two edges, a projection (41, 42) or a recess (38, 39) on or in each of the flanges and a recess (38, 39) or a projection (41, 42) in or on the opposite side adjacent each of the other two edges; the arrangement being such that the plates may snap-fittingly engage with one another to form the building block. A building block as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the projection (41, 42) comprises a ramp surface to facilitate such snap-fitting engagement. A building block as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein each face (3) of the building block presents one of three colours, opposite plates on opposites sides of the cuboid being of the same colour.

Inventors: BEERENS CORNELIS JOHANNES MARI, BEERENS, CORNELIS JOHANNES MARIA
Applicants: BEERENS CORNELIS J, BEERENS, CORNELIS JOHANNES MARIA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A63H33
IPC codes: A63H33