Patent Publication Number: US-2003234488-A1

Title: Multiple game block assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] The applicant hereby claims benefit from U.S. provisional application for patent No. 60/389,953, filed Jun. 20, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention concerns game blocks for children, more particularly to multiple game block assemblies with pictorial representations thereon.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Game blocks are well known and widely used as entertainment and/or educational tools for children. The blocks often include pictorial representations attached thereto that are easily recognizable by children, such as cartoons and the like. The skills required assembling the blocks aids in developing pattern recognition skills, hand/eye coordination and depth perception. The object of many of the presently available game blocks is to assemble the blocks in a predetermined arrangement to produce a finished pictorial image.  
       [0004] Several designs of game blocks exist, although they suffer from a number of problems. Disadvantageously, the block puzzles require that the blocks be assembled on a horizontal plane and within the confines of a container to reduce displacement during assembly. This appears to greatly limit the opportunity to the user to develop fine motor skills. In addition, many of the games appear to be limited to single use and/or single themes and thus the level of the user&#39;s interest may be limited. Moreover, the single theme aspect of the available designs may limit the skill development once an initial level of skill is exceeded.  
       [0005] Thus there is a need for an improved block puzzle assembly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention reduces the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a multiple game block assembly that is inexpensive to manufacture using inject die technology using readily available materials. Advantageously, the puzzle is pictorial in nature, and also may be made language specific and therefore is accessible to many users worldwide. In addition, the puzzle does not rely on a container to prevent the individual blocks from straying; instead the puzzle uses a system of interlocks to maintain integrity of the puzzle. Furthermore, the interlocking nature of the blocks develops basic fine motor skills and allows the user to complete the puzzle in the vertical and horizontal planes. Advantageously, this may be used as part of a rehabilitation program for users who have lost coordinational dexterity. To achieve the aforesaid advantages, there is provided a novel template recognition card that may include several images, which match the completed puzzle. The blocks can be easily adapted to a three-dimensional puzzle for more advanced users. Using the multiple images, the user has access to a variety of different education and play themes to escalate and challenge the skills of the user.  
       [0007] Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multiple game block puzzle comprising: a plurality of interlocked block members, each block member having first, second, third and fourth block member edges defining a first surface; and a first pictorial image including a first plurality of partial pictorial images, each partial pictorial image corresponding to a portion of the first pictorial image, the first partial pictorial images being attached to the first surface of each one of the block members, the first partial pictorial images being aligned along at least two block member edges to match the first pictorial image to a first reference copy thereof.  
       [0008] Preferably, the puzzle includes a second pictorial image including a second plurality of partial pictorial images, each partial pictorial image corresponding to a portion of the second pictorial image, the second partial pictorial images being attached to a second surface of each one of the block members. The second pictorial image matches a second reference copy thereof.  
       [0009] Preferably, the first pictorial image is different than the second pictorial image.  
       [0010] Preferably, the first and second reference copies are each separate reference cards. The first and second reference copies are attached to first and second sides of a single reference card.  
       [0011] Preferably, the reference cards include a grid of intersecting guide lines corresponding to the respective first, second, third and fourth edges of the block members of the first and second pictorial images. The intersecting lines define copies of each of the first and second partial pictorial images.  
       [0012] Preferably, the block members further include third and fourth surfaces, each third and fourth surface being blank and disposed orthogonal to the first and second surfaces. Each of the block members includes first and second interlocking surfaces. The first interlocking surface includes four male projections and the second interlocking surface includes four female receivers sized and shape to engage the male projections.  
       [0013] Preferably, a pair of capping strips are interlocked with a first final row and a second final row of interlocked block members. Each of the first and the second final rows includes three block members, each of the three block members being double the length of each block member in a penultimate row adjacent the first and second final row. One of the capping strips includes a female receiver portion extending along the entire length of the capping strip to receive the combined male projections on the first final row of three block members. The other capping strip includes a plurality of male projections disposed in a parallel arrangement along the entire length of the capping strip to engage the combined female receivers on the second final row of three block members. Each of the capping strips includes first and second blank surfaces.  
       [0014] Preferably, the plurality of block members are interlocked to form a first wall. The plurality of block members are interlocked to form at least two separate walls. The plurality of block members are interlocked to form four separate walls, each of the walls contacting each other and being disposed orthogonal to each other to form a four-sided structure, the walls defining an inner space. At the intersecting walls, one of a third or fourth block member surfaces is disposed orthogonal to the first or second pictorial images and includes an end portion of the first or second pictorial images.  
       [0015] Preferably, the four-sided structure includes a base plate interlocked with the four second final rows of each of the walls. The structure further includes a roof portion, which engages the four first final rows of each of the walls. The roof portion includes an engaging portion to cooperate with the male projections of the four first final rows of each of the walls.  
       [0016] According to another aspect of the first embodiment, there is provided a multiple block game puzzle assembly kit, comprising: a plurality of interlockable block members, each block member having first, second, third and fourth block member edges defining a first surface; and a first pictorial image including a first plurality of partial pictorial images, each partial pictorial image corresponding to a portion of the first pictorial image, the first partial pictorial images being attached to the first surface of each one of the block members, the first partial pictorial images being alignable along at least two block member edges to match the first pictorial image to a first reference copy thereof. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, wherein:  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multiple game block assembly in a partially assembled configuration;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a template;  
     [0020]FIG. 2 a  is a perspective view of an alternative template showing two themes;  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game block assembly of FIG. 1 in a near assembled configuration; and  
     [0022]FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a three-dimensional multiple game block assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0023] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multiple game block puzzle is illustrated generally at  10 . Broadly speaking, the puzzle  10  includes a plurality of interlocked block members or blocks  12 , a first pictorial image  14 , a reference copy  16  and two capping strips  18 ,  20 .  
     [0024] Each block member  12  is typically a generally cubic, although other may also be used. The block members  12  include four front block member edges  22 , which define a first surface  24 , four rear block member edges  26 , which define a second surface  28  and two end surfaces  30 ,  32 .  
     [0025] In this embodiment, the first pictorial image  14  includes a first plurality of partial pictorial images  34 , which are individually attached to the first surfaces  24  of each block  12 . The plurality of partial images  34  are portions of the first pictorial image  14  and when assembled together, correspond to the completed first pictorial image  14 .  
     [0026] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, for greater variety in the number of puzzles available to the user, a second pictorial image  36  may be used and attached to the second surface  28  of the assembled blocks  12 . Like the first pictorial image  14 , the second pictorial image  36  includes a second plurality of partial pictorial images  40 . Each of the partial pictorial images  40  corresponds to a portion of the second pictorial image  36  and is attached to the second block surface  28 . Typically, the partial pictorial images  34 ,  40  are adhered to the block surfaces  24 ,  28  using pad printing, silk screen or other printing techniques known to those skilled in the art. The second pictorial image  36  matches a second reference copy  42  thereof. If two puzzles are included are to be used, the first and second pictorial images  14 ,  36  are different and match the corresponding images on the reference copies  16 ,  42 .  
     [0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, the first or second partial pictorial images  34 ,  40  are aligned along at least two block member edges  22  or  26  to match the first pictorial image  14  to the first reference copy  16  thereof.  
     [0028] As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2 a,  the first and second reference copies  16 ,  42  may be supplied on separate reference cards (memory challenge or referral theme cards)  13 , although the copies may also be used on a single card, the pictorial images being attached to each side of the card.  
     [0029] The reference cards  13  include an exact copy of the pictorial image. The copy includes a grid of intersecting guide lines  44  corresponding to the edges  22 ,  26  of the block members  12  of the pictorial image. The intersecting lines  44  define copies of each of the first and second partial pictorial images  34 ,  46  and are used by the user to align the partial pictorial images  34 ,  46  along their corresponding block edges  26  to match the reference copy. The reference card may be used as a template onto which the puzzle  10  is assembled to completion, or it may be used located away from the blocks  12  to aid in developing hand and eye coordination skills.  
     [0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the blocks&#39;  12  blank surfaces  30 ,  32  are disposed orthogonal to the first and second surfaces  24 ,  28 . The blocks  12  include top and bottom interlocking surfaces  50 ,  52 . The top interlocking surface  50  has four male projections  54  extending away from the block  12  and towards the corresponding bottom interlocking surface  52  of an adjacent block  12 . The bottom interlocking surface  52  has four female receivers  56  sized and shaped to lockingly engage the male projections  54  to hold the blocks  12  together.  
     [0031] The blocks  12  are typically connected together in a horizontal or vertical plane and are connected together to form a wall  58 . A final top and a final bottom row  60 ,  62  of blocks  12  are provided and are easily recognizable to the user because they are typically double the lengths of the individual blocks  12  that make up the core portion of the wall  58 . In the puzzle  10  shown in FIG. 3, the final rows  60 ,  62  each includes three block members that are adjacent to corresponding penultimate rows  64 ,  66 .  
     [0032] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the capping strips  18 ,  20  are interlocked with the final top row  60  and the final bottom row  62  of interlocked block members  12 . One of the capping strips  18  includes a female receiver portion  68  extending along the entire length of the capping strip  18  to receive the combined male projections  54  on the final top row  60  of three block members  60 . The other capping strip  20  includes a plurality of male projections  70  disposed in a parallel arrangement along the entire length of the capping strip  20  to engage the combined female receivers  56  on the final bottom row  62  of three block members  12 . Each of the capping strips  18 ,  20  includes first and second blank surfaces  72 ,  74 .  
     [0033] Operation  
     [0034] Typically, the puzzle  10  is provided as a multiple block game puzzle kit to be assembled by the use, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. The kit includes a number of the blocks.  12  with one or more theme pictorial images  14 ,  36  and the corresponding number of reference cards  13 . Instructions for use maybe printed on the back of one of the reference cards  13  or may be included as an instruction sheet if only one reference card is used. For the two-dimensional puzzle, a corresponding number of capping strips  18 ,  20  are included. The user typically places the reference card  13  onto a surface and begins to arrange, align and interlock the blocks  12  according to the grid lines  44  and the portions of the pictorial images  34 ,  40  on the reference card  13 . When the user or the teacher is satisfied that the completed pictorial image exactly matches the image on the reference card  13 , the two capping strips  18 ,  20  are locked in place. The puzzle  10  may be quickly disassembled and, if desired, the second pictorial image be used to complete the puzzle according to the second reference picture.  
     [0035] Pictorial images may be cartoon images and the like, which are easily recognizable and entertaining to children. The images may also include various adult orientated themes if the puzzle is used as part of a rehabilitation program or for patients with learning disabilities. In addition, the puzzle, if desired, can be designed to be intellectually challenging to adults by increasing the complexity of the puzzle.  
     [0036] Alternatives  
     [0037] For children with more advanced skills, a three-dimensional version of the puzzle  100  may be used. The puzzle  100  is constructed and used in essentially the same way as the puzzle  10 , with the appropriate number of reference cards. The salient features of the three-dimensional puzzle will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. Typically, the three-dimensional version of the puzzle  100  is a four-sided house-like structure  102 , which may be incorporated into many play/educational activities.  
     [0038] A number of blocks  104  may be used in batches and interlocked to form at least two separate walls  106 . The blocks  104  are interlocked to form four separate walls  106  and arranged on a base plate  108  to form the four-sided structure  102 . The walls  106  contact each other at the corners and are disposed orthogonal to each other with an inner space  110  located between the walls  106 . At the intersection  112  of each of the walls  106 , one block member surface  114  is disposed orthogonal to a first or second pictorial image  116 ,  118  and includes an end portion of the first or second pictorial images  116 ,  118 . The base plate  108  is interlocked with four bottom final rows  120  of each of the walls  106 .  
     [0039] A roof portion  126  engages the four top final rows  128  of each of the walls  106  and includes an engaging portion  136  to cooperate with the male projections  130  of the four top final rows  128  of each of the walls  106 .