Patent Publication Number: US-5421270-A

Title: Base panel for building blocks

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is designated as a continuation of the application of the same inventor, having Ser. No. 07/901,957, filed on Jun. 22, 1992, now abandoned, being a continuation-in-part application of application having Ser. No. 07/780,624, filed on Oct. 23, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,424; and a continuation-in-part application of application having Ser. No. 07/651,508, filed on Feb. 6, 1991, still pending, said applications being owned by a common assignee. 
     The subject matter of this patent application is related to an comprises a continuation-in-part of the Letters Patent application upon the invention of Ray G. Kelly and Sharon A. Turnbough pertaining to Utility/Activity Table and Activity Board Therefor, Ser. No. 07/780,624, filed on Oct. 23, 1991, and also includes a continuation-in-part of the design patent application filed upon the invention of Ray G. Kelly pertaining to Utility And/Or Activity Table, Ser. No 07/651,508, filed on Feb. 6, 1991; both of said applications being assigned to a common assignee. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to base panels for use with building blocks. 
     Nurseries, kindergarten classrooms, and the like often have building blocks for the, children to play with. Generally H-shaped blocks such as are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,535 to Larws are often used in these classrooms. The H-shaped building blocks of the &#39;535 patent work well with the panel shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,904, also to Larws. The Larws panel is a generally square panel with a plurality of square openings forming a grid pattern. The H-shaped blocks are received in the panel openings to be supported by the panel. However, when the blocks of the &#39;535 patent are used with the panel of the &#39;904 patent, the geometry of the Larws panel allows the blocks may extend over the panel&#39;s edge. This exposes sharp corners and edges on which children may be scratched or otherwise injured. 
     Other patented structures, of the prior art, showing related devices are disclosed in the patent to Zander, U.S. Pat. No. 3,274,727, in addition to the patent to Lin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,091. Other types of building block structures are shown in the patent to Larws, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,786, while the German patent No. 1,140,500, shows related building block structures. These are examples of known prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of this invention is to provide a panel which limits the sharp corners and edges that are exposed. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a table top surface, that may also be used as a cover for stacked items, and which includes a plurality of spaced openings into building block structures may be inserted and developed. 
     Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following disclosure and accompanying drawings. 
     In accordance with the invention, generally stated, a base panel for blocks is provided. The base panel has a top surface, edges defining the perimeter of said surface, a circumferential wall extending downwardly from the edges, and a plurality of bores defining a grid in said surface. The bores are square, each side of having a dimension X. The distance between each bore is no greater than 1/2X, and the distance between an outer edge of the bores and the edges of the panel is at least X. The panel also includes a well formed in the surface for storing blocks. An upwardly extending rim surrounds the well. 
     The base panel rests on a support. The support includes a frame of the same shape of the top surface and legs depending from the frame. The frame is sized so that the frame is adjacent on inner side of the panel wall when the panel is placed on the support means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panel assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the panel assembly; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a panel of the assembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the panel; and 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the panel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the Figures, a panel assembly 1 includes a panel 3 and a support 5. The panel 3 includes a top surface 6 having a circumferential wall 7 which depends downwardly from the edge 9 of the surface. A plurality of bores 11 are formed in parallel rows and columns to form a grid in surface 6 defined by dividers D. Bores 11 are preferably blind bores, but may be through bores or configured aperatures. Bores 11 are square in shape, each side of the bore having a dimension X which is preferably about 0.75 inch. The distance between neighboring rows and columns is preferably about 1/2X or 0.375 inch, to allow a block B to straddle the divider D between bores 11. The distance between the edges of bore 11 and the edge 9 of surface 3 is at least X, i.e., the same size as bore 11. Thus, a block cannot straddle the space between the bore and the edge and no sharp edges are presented around the wall 7 which may scratch or otherwise injure a child. 
     A well 13 is formed in the center of surface 6 and can be used to store blocks. Well 13 is surrounded by an upwardly extending wall 15, which effectively deepens well 13. 
     All edges of surface 3 are rounded so that no sharp edges or corners exist on which children can injure themselves. The edges 9 are beveled as at 17 to further decrease the sharpness of the corner of surface 3. 
     Surface 3 rests on support 5 and may be removed therefrom for cleaning, storage, etc. Support 5 has a frame 19 which is shaped complimentary to the inside of surface wall 7. Frame 5 is sized so that surface 3 may easily be placed over frame 19, but so that surface 3 will not move when on frame 19. A plurality of legs 21 depend from frame 19. Legs 21 may have wheels or rollers 23, as are shown. 
     It is just as likely that the base panel of this invention, for use in combination with building blocks, can likewise be applied to a series of stacked items, such as the plurality of cots as shown in FIG. 1 of the co-pending application having Ser. No. 07/780,624, and which contents of said co-pending application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Numerous variations, within the scope of the appended claims, will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.