Improvements in Toy Building Blocks.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Toy Building Blocks.
I, VINCENZ LOOs of the town of Olbernhau in the Kingdom of Saxony and
German Empire, Inventor do hereby.declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to improvements in Toy building blocks by means of
which the separate blocks can be connected with each other in such a manner that
portable structures can be formed of thein. Instead of the ordinary loose blocks
of cubical form which are placed beside and upon each other, the building block
according to my invention consists of small boards and blocks of various forms so
that portable structures may be formed which take the shape of different objects
and articles, the object of the invention being the instruction of a child while at
play and the awakening and promoting of his innate powers of intuition.
The various forms which the improved blocks will take are shown in Figs. 1. 2.
3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, reference to which will clearly explain the
nature of my invention.
In Figs. 1 and 2 are shown two blocks a and b which are square in cross section
while in Fig. 3 the block c is of oblong shape.
Fig. 4 shows a small board d which may be of any suitable shape or size and
may have the slots as shown.
The block a is on each of its four sides provided with a groove extending its full
length, while the block c is provided with the same groove on the two narrow
sides only. The body of the block b has no grooves, but like the blocks a and c
its ends are provided with cross-shaped recesses or mortices.
Now if it is intended to construct or build a toy house, the blocks a and b form
the beams, pillars and posts while the boards & serve as a filling. A house con-
structed or built in this manner forms a good imitation of the object it represents,
and has moreover the great advantage of being firmly connected and consequently
portable, so that it may be used for various purposes such as a bird-cage etc.
Not only structures or buildings but many other articles of daily use may be
formed or built of the blocks, according to the age and degree of education of
the child.
In order to instruct and teach a child, all kinds of objects and articles can be
formed, such as Letters, Knives, Combs, Spades etc., the small boards forming for

page_text: instance the blade in a knife, the teeth in a comb, the arms, head and legs in
human figures and heads and legs in figures of animals.
For children of a more advanced age, the toy-building-block affords a still
greater field for a more independent employment, as the small boards d may be
replaced or substituted by fret work so that boys for instance can make the
ornamental parts of bird-cages, Swiss cottages etc. themselves.
The grooves in the blocks a. b. c are intended to receive the boards which are
of the thickness of veneer, or of the thickness generally used for fret work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
A toy building block for constructing firmly connected and consequently
portable structures or buildings consisting of the building blocks a, b, c of quad-
ratic or rectangular cross section which said blocks are provided with lateral
grooves and cross-shaped recesses at their head ends, the said grooves and recesses
serving to receive small boards d of various forms substantially as described and
for the purposes set forth.