Abstract:
A set of toy building blocks has several different basic block shapes with multiple numbers of each shape. Each block has a magnetic base at one end that enables the block to be attached magnetically to the base end of another block. Further, each block has one-half of a mechanical connection at its other end that is complemental to certain of the connectors on other blocks in the set. The mechanical connectors at one end of the blocks and the magnetic couplings at the other, together with a variety of different shapes, preferably of abstract form, permit a wide variety of toy structures to be created and erected in accordance with the child&#39;s imagination and creativity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/270,069 filed Feb. 20, 2001, titled “Interfacing Toy Building Blocks,” said Provisional Application being hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to toy building blocks that a child can quickly and easily releasably join together to create structures and objects of various shapes and sizes as an expression of the child&#39;s imagination and creative spirit. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     Toy building blocks that interlock with one another so children can construct and create various types of toy structures, creatures, and other things are well known in the art. Many have enjoyed significant commercial success. However, conventional blocks tend to have rather common, symmetrical shapes that leave little to the imagination. 
     The present invention contemplates providing a set of abstractly shaped toy blocks that assume a number of different “organic” shapes and forms and which, despite such unusual configurations, are adapted to be selectively and releasably joined together either by mechanical interfitting connections or by magnetic attraction. In a preferred form of the invention, several block shapes are contemplated, and each shape is replicated several times over to provide a complete set that contains multiple numbers of the several different shapes. 
     Each block has one-half of a particular mechanical interfitting connection at one end and one-half of a magnetic coupling at its other end. Several different types of interconnections are provided, with certain blocks having one-half of the interconnection and others the remaining half. All blocks are provided with magnetic ends, but some of the blocks have magnetic ends of one polarity and others have magnetic ends of the opposite polarity so some blocks repel one another while others attract one another. In a preferred form of the invention, the magnetic end of each block has a substantially flat base so that each block can be free-standing, if desired, when oriented with its base resting upon a supporting surface. In the alternative, the flat bases of any two blocks may be applied in face-to-face engagement with one another so as to attach the two blocks together magnetically when their polarities are mutually opposite. 
     The blocks are preferably constructed from a synthetic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride to present a firm, smooth feel that is pleasing to the touch and comfortable to handle. The polyvinyl chloride material has a slight compressibility and resilience that is beneficial when the interfitting ends of some of the blocks are snapped together so as to maintain a relatively secure interconnection. Yet, the blocks can be easily snapped apart by young hands. 
     One of the blocks has, as its preferred form, a shape that is abstractly suggestive of a stooped or hunched over man, having a main trunk portion that projects from the flat base, a stooped or angled over neck at the upper end of the trunk, and an arcuately contoured head or bulb at the outer end of the neck. A second abstractly shaped block is suggestive of a cup or goblet, having a lower, generally conical trunk projecting from a flat base, a neck at the upper end of the trunk, and a cup at the upper end of the neck that is configured complementally to the bulb of the man style block so that the bulb can be interfitted within the cup to form a releasable, mechanical connection between the two pieces. The fit between the bulb and the cup is such as to permit the bulb to be rotated fairly freely such that the two pieces can be disposed at any number of different oblique angles relative to one another. 
     A third style of block is abstractly suggestive of a tripod and presents a generally conical trunk projecting upwardly from a flat base, a neck portion at the upper end of the tapering trunk, and an inverted tripod at the upper end of the neck. The three different legs of the tripod are provided with bulbs at their distal ends that are complementally shaped with respect to the receiving cup of the cup style block. Thus, any selected one of the legs may be interfitted into the cup to establish a releasable interconnection between the two pieces, which can also be rotated freely as in a ball and socket joint. Webbing between the legs of the tripod is so configured that the tripods of two different pieces can be snapped into interfitted relationship with one another to establish a releasable interconnection of the two pieces. The tripods can also serve as a means of supporting the block on a flat supporting surface, if desired. 
     A fourth style of block is abstractly suggestive of a tooth and has a generally cylindrical trunk that rises from the flat base, capped by a series of axially projecting, symmetrical, laterally spaced, tapered teeth. When the teeth of one block are interfitted between the teeth of another, the two blocks are interconnected by the teeth against rotation relative to one another. All of the blocks may be supplied in various colors to enhance their aesthetic appeal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a collection of perspective views of four different styles of toy blocks constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a stooping man block from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a stooping man block; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a stooping man block; 
     FIG. 5 is an opposite side elevational view of a stooping man block; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a stooping man block; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a stooping man block illustrating a magnet of one polarity in the base of the block; 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of another stooping man block illustrating a magnet of the opposite polarity in the base of the block; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a cup style block from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of a cup block; 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of a cup block; 
     FIG. 12 is an opposite side elevational view of a cup block; 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a cup block; 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a tripod style block from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a tripod block; 
     FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view of a tripod block; 
     FIG. 17 is an opposite side elevational view of a tripod block; 
     FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a tripod block; 
     FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of a pair of tripod blocks interconnected to one another by interfitting their legs together; 
     FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of a tooth style block from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 21 is another side elevation view of a tooth block rotated 45° from the position of FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is a top plan view of a tooth block; 
     FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a pair of tooth blocks interconnected with one another; 
     FIG. 24 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the magnetic end of a typical block in accordance with the present invention illustrating details of construction; 
     FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a man block and a cup block mechanically interfitted together; 
     FIG. 26 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cup block and a tripod block mechanically interfitted together; 
     FIG. 27 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a pair of tripod block mechanically interfitted together; and 
     FIG. 28 is a perspective view of one exemplary structure out of a countless number of possible structures that can be formed by interconnecting and magnetically coupling together toy blocks in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a set of blocks includes four different styles of blocks, a full set including multiple copies of each style. As shown in FIG. 1, the four exemplary styles include a stooping man style block  10 , a cup style block  12 , a tripod style block  14 , and a tooth style block  16 . As will be seen, each of these pieces has one-half of a mechanical interfitting connection at one end and one-half of a magnetic coupling at the other end so that the pieces may be joined together in countless combinations and configurations, limited only by the child&#39;s imagination and creativity. 
     The man block  10  comprises an abstractly shaped body having a flat base  18  at one end, a trunk  20  projecting upwardly from base  18 , a reduced dimension neck  22  projecting from trunk  20 , and a head or bulb  24  located at the distal end of neck  22 . Trunk  20  tapers very gradually toward neck  22  and is provided with a pair of generally flat opposite sides  26  and  28 , a slightly rounded back  30 , and a slightly rounded front  32 . Neck  22  slopes upwardly and forwardly at an oblique angle from the upper end of trunk  20  so as to dispose bulb  24  in forwardly overhanging relationship to the front  32  of the body. 
     Bulb  24  is somewhat teardrop-shaped, having its largest width at the upper outboard end thereof while its lower inboard end tapers somewhat symmetrically inwardly to a reduced diameter at the junction with neck  22 . Bulb  24  comprises one-half of a mechanical connection formed when bulb  24  is interfitted into a mating component as will be discussed below. 
     The body of man block  10  is integrally molded from a suitable synthetic resinous material such as toy grade polyvinyl chloride, the characteristics and composition of such material being well understood by those of ordinary skill in this art. Advantageously, the block  10  may be injection molded and provided with a smooth, solid, yet slightly resilient body. A suitable pigment may be added for increased appeal. A recess  34  in base  18  (FIG. 24) fixedly receives a disc magnet  36  that is secured in place by a suitable layer of bonding material  38 . Disc magnet  36  is flush with the exposed surface of base  18  and comprises one-half of a magnetic coupling formed when the bases of two of the blocks are brought into face-to-face engagement with one another. 
     Although the magnetic coupling can take several different forms including, for example, a simple magnet in one-half of the coupling and a ferrous metal component in the other half, in one preferred form of the invention the coupling comprises two magnets having mutually opposite polarities. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, two of the disc magnets  36   a  and  36   b  comprise the separate halves of a magnetic coupling and are of mutually opposite polarity, each of the magnets having a suitable indication of its polarity such as, for example, a dot  37  on the magnet  36   a  and a smooth dot-free surface on the magnet  36   b.  It is to be understood that, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, a number of the man blocks  10  will be provided with magnetic bases that are of one polarity, while another group of the man blocks  10  will be provided with bases of opposite polarity. Thus, a pair of the man blocks  10  may be magnetically coupled together at their bases, provided only that one of the bases is positive and the other is negative. 
     Depending upon the strength of the magnets used, it may be necessary or desirable to somewhat reduce the weight of the block  10 . This may be accomplished, for example, by providing a void or hollow space (not shown) internally of the block, such as within its trunk adjacent the recess  34 . The size and shape of any such recess must be such as to avoid adversely impacting the structural integrity and strength of the product, however. Desirably, the strength of the magnets is such as to permit young children to easily disconnect the magnets from one another and yet securely hold a pair of the blocks together. 
     A second piece in the set is the cup block  12  which, like the man block  10 , has one half of a magnetic coupling at one end and one half of a mechanical connection at another end. Cup block  12  has a flat base  40 , a trunk  42  projecting upwardly from base  40  that takes the form generally of an asymmetrical cone, a neck  44  of reduced dimensions projecting upwardly from the upper end of trunk  42 , and a cup  46  disposed at the upper distal end of neck  44 . Although the surface of trunk  42  is substantially arcuate throughout a full 360° degrees thereof, trunk  42  still presents a pair of opposite sides  48  and  50 , a back  52 , and a front  54 . It will thus be seen that the body of cup block  12  leans slightly toward side  48  as neck  44  projects upwardly from trunk  42  at a slight lean angle from side-to-side. Additionally, neck  44  leans slightly forwardly at an oblique angle so as to position cup  46  out into overhanging relationship with the front  54  of trunk  42 . 
     Cup  46  has a socket  56  that is configured to complementally and matingly receive a connecting bulb such as bulb  24  of man block  10  (see FIG. 25, for example). The configuration of socket  56  is such that bulb  24  is snugly received and held therein when man block  10  and cup block  12  are interconnected, yet bulb  24  is free to rotate within socket  56  such that the rotative positions of the two blocks can be varied with respect to one another. Preferably, when bulb  24  is inserted into socket  56 , there is a slight snap fit, achieved in part by the relative configurations of bulb  24  and socket  56  and in part by the nature of the material from which the blocks are constructed. In this respect, it is desirable that such material be slightly compressively resilient so that the walls of cup  46  can yield slightly as necessary to accommodate the bulb  24  as it is inserted into place. 
     Like the man block  10 , cup block  12  is integrally molded from a suitable synthetic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride and has a magnet bonded within a recess such as the magnet  36  and recess  34 . Also like the man block  10 , cup block  12  is preferably provided in multiples within a set of the blocks, certain of those cup blocks having magnetic bases of one polarity and others having magnetic bases of the opposite polarity. Thus, pairs of the cup blocks  12  can be attached together at their bases  40  when the bases are of opposite polarity. 
     A third style is the tripod block  14 , which has one-half of a magnetic coupling at one end and one-half of a mechanical connection at the other end. The body of tripod block  14  includes a flat base  58 , a generally symmetrically conical trunk  60  projecting upwardly from base  58 , a neck  62  projecting from the upper end of trunk  60 , and a tripod  64  projecting from the distal end of neck  62 . Three legs  66 ,  68  and  70  diverge from the upper end of neck  62  toward outermost ends that are configured in the shape of bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  respectively. 
     Each of the bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  is configured complementally to the socket  56  of cup  46  of cup block  12  such that any selected one of the bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  may be releasably snapped into cup  46  (see, for example, FIG.  26 ). It will be seen, therefore, that bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  are substantially of the same configuration as the bulb  24  of man block  10 . 
     The two legs  68  and  70  of tripod  64  are offset from one another approximately 180° degrees. On the other hand, the third leg  66  is offset from legs  68  and  70  by only approximately 90° degrees. Moreover, leg  66  is somewhat longer than legs  68  and  70  and projects from neck  62  at a shallower angle than legs  68  and  70 . Notwithstanding the fact that leg  66  is longer than legs  68 ,  70  and projects at a shallower angle, the outermost ends of bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  lie in a common plane that is close to being parallel with the plane of base  58 . Consequently, when tripod block  14  is inverted with its base  58  up and the bulbs of the tripod  64  resting upon a level supporting surface, the base  58  is likewise almost or at least substantially level so as to provide a convenient and stable platform from which to erect variously shaped structures that rise from base  58 . 
     Like the previously described blocks, tripod block  14  has a recess in its base that fixedly receives a magnet to which other blocks having bases of an opposite polarity may be attached. It is contemplated that multiples of the tripod blocks  14  will be included in each set of blocks, some having bases of one polarity and others of the opposite polarity such that a pair of the tripod blocks can be magnetically attached together at their bases when opposite polarities are selected. 
     In one preferred form of the invention, legs  66 ,  68  and  70  are so configured that tripods  64  of adjacent tripod blocks may be mutually interconnected as shown in FIGS. 19 and 27 wherein the legs of one tripod are interdigitated between the legs of the other. Preferably, webbing  78  between the various tripod legs is configured, arranged and dimensioned such that when the legs of the two tripods are interdigitated, there is a relatively snug fit therebetween without excessive looseness or relative rotation permitted. The enlarged nature of bulbs  72 ,  74  and  76  at the outer ends of legs  66 ,  68  and  70  relative to the somewhat narrower inner ends of such legs is helpful in obtaining a light snap fit when the two tripod blocks are forced axially into interfitting engagement with one another. 
     As with the previously described blocks, the tripod style block  14  is preferably integrally molded from a synthetic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride. In one preferred form, tripod block  14 , like the others, is essentially solid, except perhaps for certain void areas (not shown) which may be provided adjacent or at the trunk to provide weight control. The slightly compressively resilient nature of tripod legs  66 ,  68  and  70 , coupled with the nature of the material used for tripod block  14 , helps in establishing a snap fit interconnection of a pair of tripods into one another. 
     While in a preferred form of the invention the tripods can be interengaged in any selected one of three rotative positions, it will be appreciated that when the tripods are interengaged with the long legs  66  diametrically opposed to one another, the flat bases  58  of the two interengaged blocks become disposed in substantially parallel relationship to one another. This provides a number of benefits and construction opportunities. 
     The fourth style of block in the set is the symmetrical tooth block  16  which, like the other previously described blocks, is adapted for magnetic coupling at one end and mechanical connection at the other end. The body of tooth block  16  includes a flat base  80 , a generally cylindrical trunk  82  projecting upwardly from base  80 , and a group of axially extending, symmetrical, laterally spaced apart, tapered teeth  84  at the upper end of trunk  82 . In one preferred form of the invention, fourteeth are provided at substantially equally spaced intervals about the circumference of trunk  82 . Each tooth  84  tapers to a generally pointed tip  86  that is rounded off or blunted to avoid the presence of a sharp corner. Each tooth is somewhat prism-shaped, having an outermost curved face  88  and a pair of generally flat, triangular, upwardly converging inner faces  90  and  92 . Notches  94  are defined between the spaced apart teeth  84 . 
     Like the previously described blocks, tooth blocks  16  are preferably integrally molded from a synthetic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride and are substantially solid throughout. Furthermore, each is provided with an inset magnet, with certain of the tooth blocks having magnets of one polarity and others having magnets of the opposite polarity so that a pair of the tooth blocks can be attached together magnetically at their bases. In addition, a pair of the tooth blocks can be mechanically interconnected at their opposite ends by inserting the teeth  84  of one block into the notches  94  of the other. In one preferred embodiment, the teeth and notches are so configured that the two blocks do not lock up against axial displacement; however, they do preclude relative rotation of the blocks due to the interfitting nature of the teeth and notches. 
     Various polymeric based compositions are suitable for making the blocks of the present invention. Particularly suitable is a composition containing approximately 67.00% by weight suitable polyvinyl chloride resin, approximately 24.00% by weight suitable plasticizer, approximately 3.50% by weight suitable stabilizer, approximately 3.50% by weight suitable epoxy, approximately 1.00% by weight suitable processing addivitves, approximately 0.50% by weight suitable lubricant, and approximately 1.00% by weight suitable modifier. One particularly preferred polyvinyl chloride resin is available from Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan under the trade designation TK-1000. One particularly preferred plasticizer is phthalate, such as available under the trade designation JAYFLEX DINP from Exxon Chemical Company. A particularly preferred stabilizer is MARK CZ 123 available from Witco Vinyl Additives GmbH of Lampertheim, Germany. A particularly preferred epoxy is epoxidised soya bean oil available from Ciba-Geigy Corporation of Tarrytown, N.Y. under the trade designation IRGAPLAST 39 or from Witco Vinyl Additives GmbH of Lampertheim, Germany under the trade designation DRAPEX 39. The processing additives, lubricant and modifier may be selected from a wide variety of brands and sources, as well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the material from which the blocks are made has a Shore hardness of about 90 to about 95 durometer on the A scale. 
     Operation 
     The abstractly shaped blocks of the present invention can be combined in any number of creative ways to allow and encourage children to express themselves freely. Animals, creatures, people, and structures of various shapes and sizes can all be formed, limited only by the imagination. One very simple structure, representing no entity in particular, is illustrated in FIG. 28 to provide but one example of how the blocks of the present invention can be mechanically interconnected or magnetically coupled together, or both. 
     Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as 3 hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.