Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DIAGONAL TOY PIECES AND THEIR CONNECTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to diagonal toy pieces for toy building sets, and their
connection. More specifically, the invention relates to composite toy pieces
formed
from connected diagonal toy pieces, and toy building sets including such
diagonal
and composite toy pieces.
Back.~round of the Invention
In U.S. Patent No. 5,427,530, a portable water pollution model and method
are disclosed that provide an improved device and method for simulating water
pollution. This invention includes a portable simulated watershed model,
including a
simulated body of water and a simulated water pollution source; a simulated
water
pollutant, placeable on selected portions of the model; a simulated best
management
practice for pollution minimization, placeable on selected portions of the
model; and
a fluid dispenser capable of simulating rain over the watershed model. This
invention further includes a method for simulating water pollution including
providing a portable simulated watershed model, providing a simulated water
pollutant, placing the simulated pollutant on selected portions of the model,
providing a simulated best management practice, placing the simulated practice
on
selected portions of the model, and simulating rain over the model.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,417,603, a playing structure includes a plurality of
playing structure modules connectable together to form an array having a
generally
continuous, visually fluid, three-dimensional playing surface. Each playing
structure
module has a reversible top to allow the topography of the playing surface to
be
changed. The top of each playing structure module has a different three-
dimensional
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topography on either side thereof. Each playing structure module may have a
different or the same top. The playing surfaces have a colored landscape
painted
thereon to depict lakes, countryside, roadways etc. and the like. The
topography of
the playing surfaces and the painted landscapes are designed so that certain
symmetries exist. In particular, when a plurality of playing structure modules
are
assembled to form an array and the tops of the playing structure modules are
arranged to provide a playing surface having a continuous, visually fluid
landscape,
any one of or all of the tops can be reversed along a diagonal and the
landscape of the
resulting playing surface will still be continuous and visually fluid. This of
course
increases the number of different playing surfaces which can be created with
the
playing structure modules.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,348,478, a modular terrain board is provided having a
plurality of sections or terrain cell plugs which are held in place by a
baseboard
assembly having a corresponding plurality of cell receiving sections or cells
formed
therein. The terrain cell plugs can be easily removed to allow for quick and
accurate
reconfiguration of the terrain model. The terrain board has means for
representing
buildings, rivers, lakes, roads, and other topographical features.
In U.S. Patent No. 5,326,267, model terrain accessories that are positioned
for
use on the surface of a miniature landscape are fabricated from a permanently
flexible material, preferably polyvinyl chloride. These flexible accessories
are
realistically contoured models representing roads, streams, stream banks,
earthworks,
and walls, or segments thereof. These flexible accessories will conform to
changes
in surface elevation on any miniature landscape on which they are assembled.
The
flexible accessories fit together easily in an infinite variety of individual
and group
configurations, and can be easily removed from the landscape surface and
reused
when desired.
U.S. Patent No. 5,251,900 discloses a puzzle formed of a plurality of puzzle
pieces which, when assembled, create a self standing, three-dimensional
building
structure. The puzzle pieces are of irregular, polygonal shape, but all puzzle
pieces
are flat, planar blocks. The blocks are releasably interlocked about a common
plane
with first, edgewise, complementary dovetail joints. For interlocking puzzle
walls
that are transverse to one another, second, straight U-shape, edgewise,
complementary tenon and mortise joints are further provided edgewisely of
those
corner blocks for frictional interlocking. Thus, no separate pin, bent units
or the like
are required to anchor the corner portions of the three dimensional structure.
The
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self standing, enclosing structure is continuous, and shows a continuous image
on its
external face.
U.S. Patent No. 5,011,411 discloses a method making a non-repetitive
modular design. The design is created by assembling a plurality of
substantially
identical modules to cover a surface. Each module has the shape of a polygon,
especially a regular polygon, such as a square. The design of each module is
created
in the following manner. First, one selects a set of points, disposed
symmetrically
around the midpoint of a side of the polygon, and duplicates the same pattern
of
points for the remaining sides. Then, one connects every pair of points with a
line,
such that the lines so drawn form a pattern which is not symmetrical around
any
imaginary straight line joining any pair of vertices of the polygon. The
spaces
between lines, or between one or more lines and one or more sides of the
polygon,
can be filled in with a color, or with any other design element. To make the
final
design, one provides a plurality of such modules, and arranges them, with
random
orientations, to cover a surface. The design is non-repetitive, and any
orientation of
the individual modules will produce a valid design. The appearance of the
design is
varied by changing the orientation of one or more of the modules. In general,
the
appearance of the overall design is quite different from that of each of the
modules.
The modules made according to the invention can be used as floor tiles, or
they can
be otherwise secured permanently to a solid substrate for decorative purposes.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,992,069, the plug-in building blocks of a building set
have protruding connecting pins and corresponding mating connecting sockets. I
n
order that bend-proof trusses can also be built, the building set has single-
row
connecting bars with two terminal pins, whose spacing from one another amounts
to
~ times an integral multiple of the modulus, and girder elements, which at two
bordering side faces each have a single row of pins with modular spacing and
parallel
to these side faces each have a projection set back by the thickness of the
connecting
bar. In this way, stable, aesthetically appealing trusses can be built with
the building
set.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,988,322, a toy building set for building tree-like models
comprises a trunk element and a branch element. The trunk element comprises a
trunk portion and projecting branches having coupling means spaced from the
trunk
portion. The branch element comprises a plurality of connecting bars, at whose
ends
coupling bushings are provided. These bushings are formed with primary and
secondary coupling means respectively, so that the branch elements may be
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interconnected and connected with the trunk elements. Preferably, said bars
have
additional branching portions whose ends are provided with bushings similar to
the
coupling bushings.
U.S. Patent No. 4,978,301 discloses a construction set suitable and safe for
children of various ages comprising construction pieces and connector strips.
The
construction pieces have a semirigid planar construction with opposing major
sides
which have hook fastener material disposed on one side and loop pile fastener
material disposed on the other. The fastener materials are of the type which
adhere
when pressed together. An outer border or margin area of the construction
pieces is
kept free of the fastener materials, to provide a tab or hem for separating
attached
pieces. The construction pieces have various shapes and sizes with which many
designs and structures may be constructed. The connector strips have a similar
construction to the construction pieces and are used to join adjacent
construction
pieces. The sides may include complementary colors and patterns.
U.S. Patent No. 4,937,181 discloses an educational visual display system for
teaching geography in which objects having some geographical or topographical
significance, e.g., states of the Union, may be detachably affixed and
arranged to
demonstrate relationship between the objects. The system includes a primary
background surface of iron velvet fabric material to which hook type fasteners
may
be detachably adhered, a plurality of primary objects having geographical
significance and comprising a soft foam core with a layer of iron velvet
fabric on one
side and a plurality of hook type fasteners on the other side, the primary obj
ects
being arrangeable to represent in combination a larger geographical unit, and
a
plurality of secondary objects each having geographical or topographical
significance
and having hook type fasteners on one side thereof for being detachably
affixable to
the layer of iron velvet fabric of the primary objects. The iron velvet fabric
and the
hook type fasteners function as an attachment pair similar to hook and loop
fasteners
sold under the trade name VELCRO~.
U.S. Patent No. 4,874,176 discloses a three-dimensional puzzle including
puzzle pieces having discrete surfaces, at least one surface of which has a
three-
dimensional sculpted form whereby the sculpted surfaces in the aggregate upon
assembly of the puzzle form a continuous three-dimensional pictorial
representation.
Abutting sides of the puzzle pieces may be interlocking or three-dimensional
for
conformal abutting relation with the sides of opposed puzzle pieces. Filler
pieces are
also provided underlying the puzzle pieces for elevating the sculpted surfaces
of the
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puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces and filler pieces may be disposed on a base
which
may have an edge containment whereby non-interlocking puzzle and filler pieces
may be used. The puzzle and filler pieces may be vertically interlocked
against
lateral movement and with respect to the base by projections received in
corresponding recesses.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,846,750, a base for a building set is provided with
coupling studs for mounting building blocks having corresponding coupling
elements. The base is further provided with cavities contoured to receive at
least
some of the building blocks. The cavities preferably extend from the side
opposite
the side provided with the coupling studs.
U.S. Patent No. 4,743,202 discloses a toy building block having on one face
thereof at least one row of mechanical coupling pins and opposite thereto
mechanical
counter-coupling tubes for coupling said toy building block to a similar toy
building
block either with the row of said coupling pins parallel to a corresponding
row of
coupling pins of said similar block or perpendicular to said corresponding
row. The
toy building block includes first and second current paths connected to first
and
second contact areas respectively designed to establish electrical connection
with first
and second contact areas in a similar block. The first and second contact
areas are
disposed in first and second angular sectors about adjacent coupling pins. The
angular sectors are offset from each other and do not overlap regardless of
whether
the building block row of coupling pins is parallel or perpendicular to the
row of
coupling pins of the similar block.
U.S. Patent No. 4,715,832 discloses a building element of the type which
contains current-carrying components placed in the electrically insulated
building
block. There are provided at least two current-carrying components with
respective
contact areas which are mutually- co-axially positioned. The building blocks
can be
intercoupled mechanically while establishing electrical connection between the
respective current rails in the cooperating building elements, without any
risk of short
circuiting between the two current-carrying components, no matter how the
building
blocks are intercoupled mechanically.
U.S. Patent No. 4,685,884 discloses a multitude of parts of three-dimensional
shape have full edges and also edge segments adapted for abutment with like
edges
and edge segments of other parts. The parts additionally include non-abutting
irregular or curved edges which may represent terrain contour lines or the
bank of a
body of water. Inclined areas on the parts are adjacent the irregular or
curved edges
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and represent sloped terrain which is continuous with like inclined areas on
other
abutting parts. The inclined area of a part may be dispensed with to provide a
vertical surface to simulate an escarpment.
U.S. Patent No. 4,556,393 discloses a building block having side walls and a
perpendicular front with two rows of coupling pins on one side of the front
face and
counter-coupling tubes on the other side for mechanically coupling two
building
blocks by means of a clamping action. In each row, each second coupling pin
has an
electrically conducting surface, while the coupling pins lying between these
axe
electrically insulating. One row of conducting pins is displaced in the
direction of
the rows by one coupling pin from the adjacent row. On the other side of the
front
wall a contact bar is arranged which is connected electrically with the
conducting
coupling pins of an associated row. The bar has a contact area for producing
electrical contact with a row of conducting coupling pins of an adjacent,
coupled
building block.
U.S. Patent No. 4,461,116 discloses a connecting member comprising an
elastically deformable, tubular plug slitted at the ends for interconnecting
pairs of
building components, which have coupling holes to receive the ends of the
connecting member. Apertures are in the plug wall between the slits. The plug
wall
is formed with lengthwise extending clamping wedges between the apertures. The
clamping wedges have inclined faces which slope towards the ends of the
connecting
member and cause the connecting member to be compressed at the center and be
expanded at the ends when it is pressed into a pair of co-axial holes in
adjacent
building components. The connecting member may in particular be formed with an
annular flange and end beads which fit in corresponding annular grooves in a
pair of
adjacent components.
U.S. Patent No. 4,245,400 discloses a three dimensional toy having a base
member showing a housing development with structural profile members mounted
thereon which are secured by profile locking elements for constructing
elevations of
roadways, lots and surrounding terrain. The profile members and locking
elements
also serve as retaining walls for soil which, when shaped to conform to the
contours
of the profile members and locking elements and provided with living plants
defines
the topography of a living housing development.
U.S. Patent No. 4,185,410 discloses a suspension device for slideable and
pivotal suspension of a base plate for toy building sets or base boards for
visual
planning panels. One face of the base plate or board is provided with rows of
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coupling studs including a plurality of studs uniformly spaced apart in both
longitudinal and transverse directions, and the suspension device includes a
gripping
member having inwardly projecting guides adapted to slide along the base plate
between a pair of rows of projections and to support the base plate when
suspended
on a wall. The device is further provided with a hinge member pivotally
mounted on
top of the gripping member, so as to provide for pivotal movements of the base
plate
relatively to a wall on which the base plate is mounted by means of the
slideable
suspension device.
U.S. Patent No. 4,176,493 discloses a rotatable element comprising a base
plate and a disc pivotally mounted in a circular aperture in the base plate. A
socket
for a pivot on the disc is located at the bottom of the plate and is supported
thereon
by ribs integral with the socket and with four side walls at the bottom of the
base
plate. Four identical apertures in the bottom of the base plate are formed by
the
socket, the ribs and the side walls. Four engagement studs are provided on the
top
face of the disc and extend beyond the periphery thereof. The underface of
these
studs provides for slideable contact with the top face of the base plate
during the
rotation of the disc.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,981,506, a plurality of parallelepiped blocks having
varying heights, planar sides and a curved upper surface are connected
together by
special pin and hole interlocks randomly spaced in predetermined locations to
form a
three dimensional puzzle with at least a curved upper surface. Two or more
puzzles
can be made by initially assembling the blocks into a polyhedron with six
rectangular
faces and sawing along a predetermined path to separate the polyhedron into
individual puzzles.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,742,620, there is provided an apparatus for
demonstrating the inter-relationship of a landscape, and the contour lines
representing said landscape in two- and three-dimensional representation. A
transparent plate is supported over and free from the model and contour lines
connecting points of the same height on the model are drawn upon the said
plate
using a substantially ablative transfer material, said contour lines are
transferred onto
transfer receiving material slabs and layers of the material corresponding to
the
contour lines are produced by cutting along the contour lines. The contour
slabs are
then stacked upon each other to give a three-dimensional representation of the
model.
In a further modification, the contour slabs are colored in such a manner that
at least
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adjacent slabs are of a different color. Upon compression of the contour model
by a
transparent plate, a two-dimensional contour representation is again visible.
U.S. Patent No. 3,667,153 discloses the coupling of two plate-shaped
elements by means of an interlocking arrangement formed along the edges of the
elements. The locking members of one element are in resilient engagement with
identical locking members on the other element, the thickness of the
individual
locking members being half the thickness of the element, and the members being
staggered alternately to one side and the other of a plane through the center
of the
edge parallel to the side faces of the element.
U.S. Patent No. 3,597,875 discloses toy building blocks of similar shape but
constructed to different modules. The inner protrusions of the smaller blocks
coact
with the outer projections of the larger blocks.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,597,858, there is provided a plurality of building
elements dimensionally related to conform to a selected scale having
interlocking
socket and beaded joint portions which may be assembled into a wide variety of
composite structures including scale model buildings. The socket joint portion
is
slotted for insertion of the beaded joint portion and firmly grips the beaded
joint
portion to hold the elements in particular angular relation while at the same
time
permitting substantial forced rotational and sliding movement between
elements.
One of the elements is a flat panel which may be of a variety of geometric
shapes and
another of the elements is a connector of preselected lengths having plural
joint
portions arranged in angular spaced relation to one another about a common
midpoint.
Summary of the Invention
From one aspect, the present invention provides a diagonal toy piece for a toy
building set, preferably a modular toy building set including an underlying
support
structure, or substructure, for supporting the diagonal toy piece and other
toy pieces.
The diagonal toy piece is a generally planar member having a top side and a
bottom
side, first and second outside edges having respective outer ends spaced from
one
another, and a diagonal edge joining the outer ends of the first and second
outside
edges. For mounting the diagonal toy piece on an underlying support structure,
the
bottom side of the toy piece has at least one attachment fitting removably
attachable
to the support structure. The attachment fitting is preferably spaced from the
diagonal edge of the toy piece.
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The diagonal toy piece can be joined with another, complementary diagonal
toy piece via a connector on its diagonal edge which is releasably connectable
to a
cooperating connector on the complementary diagonal toy piece.
Preferably, the first and second outside edges of the diagonal toy piece
diverge from one another toward their outer ends. The outside edges may meet
one
another at respective inner ends to give the toy piece a generally triangular
shape. In
embodiments where the diagonal toy piece is generally triangular, an
attachment
fitting removably attachable to the underlying support structure is preferably
located
at the apex of the triangle, where the inner ends of the outside edges meet.
It is preferred that the bottom side of the diagonal toy piece has a further
attachment fitting removably attachable to the underlying support structure,
whereby
the toy piece can be supported on the underlying support structure at two
spaced
apart points. The further attachment fitting, for example, may be located at
the
junction of the outside end of one of the outside edges and the diagonal edge.
Advantageously, the further attachment fitting may be spaced from the
connector on
the diagonal edge, whereby the attachment fittings and the connector, in
combination, provide three-point support for the diagonal toy piece, two
points of
support being provided by the underlying support structure, and the third
point of
support being provided by a complementary diagonal toy piece to which the
diagonal
toy piece is connected.
It is particularly preferred that the diagonal toy piece has two connectors
along its diagonal edge, releasably connectable to respective cooperating
connectors
on a complementary toy piece, the two connectors being located one at either
end of
the diagonal edge. In this way, the diagonal toy piece and the complementary
diagonal toy piece can readily provide mutual support for one another.
Whether the diagonal toy piece includes one, two, or even more connectors
along its diagonal edge, each connector preferably comprises one of a hook and
a
socket to releasably engage with the other of a hook and a socket on the
complementary diagonal toy piece.
From another aspect, the invention provides a composite toy piece including a
first diagonal toy piece and a second, complementary diagonal toy piece which
can
be joined along respective diagonal edges to form the composite toy piece.
Each
diagonal toy piece may include one or more of the features discussed above.
From further aspects, the invention provides a playing structure, such as a
toy
building set, including a support structure and a plurality of generally
planar toy
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pieces mountable on the support structure, including one or more of the
diagonal toy
pieces or composite toy pieces defined above.
Brief Description of the Drawing
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention
will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by
reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a modular toy building set embodying the
present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded isometric view of the modular toy building set of
FIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of a column for use in a lattice support
structure for the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a frame that is combined with the column
of FIGURE 3 to form the lattice support structure for the modular toy building
set of
FIGURE l;
FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of a plurality of columns and frames such as
is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, combined to form a portion of lattice support
structure for the modular toy building set of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of two diagonal toy pieces for use in the
modular toy building set of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a composite toy piece formed by
connecting the two diagonal toy pieces of FIGURE 6; and
FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the composite toy piece of FIGURE 7.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, an embodiment of a modular toy building
set 2 is disclosed that includes a lattice 4, a base 6, a terrain 8, and
playing
components 10. The base 6 includes tile bases 42 supporting an array of tiles
40,
including a number of composite tiles according to the present invention, as
explained in greater detail further below.
Considering the overall structure of the toy building set when erected to form
a landscape (for example as seen in FIGURE 1 ), the lattice 4 provides the
underlying
support structure which supports, and is removably attachable to, the base 6.
In turn,
the base 6 supports, and is removably attachable to the playing components 10.
The
lattice 4 also supports, and is removably attachable to the terrain 8. The
modular
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aspects of the lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain 8, and the playing
components 10
allows a multitude of different configurations to be created with the modular
toy
building set 2 while employing the same elements of the lattice 4, the base 6,
the
terrain 8, and playing components 10. The lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain
8, and the
playing components 10 are preferably comprised of a synthetic polymer such as
acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS). This synthetic polymer can be extruded
or
injection molded to form the lattice 4, the base 6, the terrain 8, and the
playing
components 10.
Referring to FIGURES 3 and 5, a column 12 of the lattice 4 is shown in
detail. The column 12 is substantially cubic in shape, but preferably has a
height
slightly greater than its width. The column 12 has four sides 14, a top (or
upper
portion) 16, and a bottom (or lower portion) 18. Protrusion connectors 20 are
preferably located on the top 16 of the column 12. Additionally, while the
protrusion
connectors 20 are shown on the upper end of the top 16 of the column 12,
protrusion
connectors 20 could, instead, be receptive connectors provided that the
component to
which the top 16 of the column 12 is to be attached has the appropriate mating
fitting
thereon. Similarly, as discussed throughout the rest of this description,
wherever a
receptive connector (or conversely protrusion connector) is mentioned, a
protrusion
connector (or conversely a receptive connector) can be employed in its stead
as long
as complementary fittings are present on components to be removably attached.
Bottom (or lower portion) 18 of column 12 preferably has a plurality of
receptive
connectors on its underside in the same configuration and orientation as the
protrusion connectors 20 on the top 16 of the column 12. The protrusion
connectors 20 on the top 16 and the receptive connectors on the bottom 18 of
the
column 12 allow for secure, removable vertical stacking of a plurality of the
columns 12, in order to vary the height of the lattice 4. Receptive connectors
also
allow for attachment of the column 12 to the center portion and to the corners
of a
frame 32 (FIGURE 4), as discussed further below. While protrusion connectors
20
on top 16 of column 12 are substantially clover leaf in shape in FIGURES 3 and
5,
the protrusion connectors discussed herein, as well as the receptive
connectors, can
be of any shape that provides removable attachment of two components with a
secure
connection when attached.
Next, referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the frame 32 is shown. Frame 32 is
preferably parallelogram in shape with four outer walls 33 that form beams
between
adjacent corners, and is more preferably polyomino in shape and most
preferably a
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square. A polyomino is a shape formed by connecting squares. These shapes
permit
multiple connecting patterns for the columns and the frames, permitting some
columns to be skipped so that a roadway or other features can be added between
columns, and the frames and columns will continue their regular repeating
pattern.
The arrangement thus gives the broadest amount of arrangements of the
structures.
By providing a plurality of frames, some of the frames of which are a
polyomino of
at least one more square in dimension than other of frames in said plurality,
a user of
the modular toy building set 2 can form wider openings under the terrain 8 for
receiving roadways or other items. For example, the road frames 35, 37 shown
in
FIGURE 2 are either two times the size of the regular frames 32 (road frames
35 are
two squares), or four times the size (road frames 37 are four squares). Some
frames,
because of the arrangement of the squares in the polyomino, may have more than
four corners. For example, a three square polyomino could be in the shape of
an "L".
The four corners 34 of frame 32 each have a protrusion connector 36 thereon.
Intersecting stabilizing beams 38 interconnect opposite corners 34. A center
portion 39 is located at the intersection of the stabilizing beams 38 and
preferably
includes four clover leaf shaped protrusion connectors 40. A single clover
leaf
shaped protrusion in each corner 34 forms a protrusion connector 36. The
diameter
of the protrusion connector 36 is slightly greater than that of a receptive
connector 26
of the lower portion 18 of the column 12 of FIGURE 3, for removable snap
fitting of
the column 12 of FIGURE 3 with the frame 32 of FIGURE 4, as shown in
FIGURE 5.
Referring to FIGURE 5, each column 12 can be attached to a center
portion 39 of a frame 32 by snap fitting of receptive connectors on the lower
portion 18 of the column 12 into the protrusion connectors 40 of the center
portion 39 of the frame 32. Alternatively, the column 12 can be secured to up
to four
adjacent frames 32 by snap fitting one of the four receptive connectors on the
lower
portion 18 of the column 12 with one of the protrusion connectors 36 on a
corner 34
of four different frames 32. One of the columns 12 can also be attached on top
ot~
another column 12 by snap fitting one of the receptive connectors on the
bottom of
one of the columns onto the protrusion connector on top of another column. In
this
manner, the columns can be stacked to form a structure of a lattice 4 having a
desired
height.
The above-described modular columns 12 and frame 32, having varying
heights and lengths, and facilitating both horizontal and vertical
interconnection,
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allow for a multitude of lattice configurations having individual components
orthogonally disposed with respect to each other. The resulting lattice 4 can
thus
provide an array of attachment nodes, provided by the upper portions of the
columns
12 and/or the frames 32, to which the base 6 and/or the terrain 8 can be
attached. In
the preferred embodiments, these attachment nodes coincide with nodes of a
regular
orthogonal grid, preferably having polyomino shape grid elements, most
preferably
square grid elements.
As can be best seen in FIGURE l, the base 6 provides the playing surface for
the playing components 10, and is formed from an array of tiles 40 supported
on tile
bases 42, which in turn are supported on the lattice 4. Each tile base 42 has,
on its
underside, attachment fittings matable with attachment fittings on the
attachment
nodes of the underlying supporting lattice 4, to securely hold the tile bases
in place.
In turn, the tiles 40 may have attachment fittings on their underside matable
with
attachment fittings on a top side of the tile bases. Additionally or
alternatively, the
tiles 40 themselves may have attachment fittings on their underside matable
with
attachment fittings on the attachment nodes of the lattice 4, in order that
they may be
directly attached to and supported on the lattice 4.
The tile bases 42, and the tiles 40, especially if directly mounted on the
lattice
4, are preferably polyomino in shape, based on the same orthogonal, preferably
square, grid elements as the attachment nodes of the lattice 4, so that they
may be
supported on four of the attachment nodes. In this way, in addition to
providing
excellent support for the base 6, a great deal of flexibility is possible in
the placement
of the tiles 40 and tile bases 42 on the underlying lattice 4. For instance,
many if not
all of the tiles and associated tile bases may be interchangeable with one
another to
provide a great variety of designs of the playing surface whilst utilizing the
same
components.
A tile 40 supported on a tile base can cover all of the top of the tile base
42,
for example when the tile 40 is to portray a section of grass, earth, water,
or
pavement that has a unitary depth. However, when a varied depth is desired,
such as
when a road, street, river bank, or lake shore is being portrayed, as shown in
FIGURE 1, tile 40a can cover only a portion of tile base 42 on which it is
supported,
such that tile 40a can portray a sidewalk, green belt, river bank, or lake
edge having a
height greater than the street, road, river, or lake depicted by the exposed
portion of
tile base 42.
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The tiles 40 can have patterns thereon, affixed by printing, painting,
contrast
plastic molding, photolithography or other methods known in the art. The
patterns
on patterned tiles 40 can represent, for example, sidewalks, paths, or
roadways.
Rotation of patterned tiles 40 in their horizontal plane on tile bases 42, or
on the
underlying lattice 4 when the tiles are mounted directly on the lattice,
allows
patterned tiles 40 to depict a multitude of different configurations of
sidewalks,
paths, or roadways.
In the example illustrated in the FIGURES, a majority of the tiles 40 are
formed in one piece and each present a consistent appearance on their upper
surface.
That is to say, each of these regular tiles is either a sidewalk-tile, a grass-
tile, or has
some other consistent surface configuration. However, to provide more
flexibility to
the configuration of the playing surface of the toy building set, a number of
tiles are
composite tiles SOa, SOb formed from two detachably connected diagonal tile
pieces,
described in more detail below. Diagonal tile pieces of a number of varied
surface
configurations may be provided with the toy building set, each being
detachably
connectable to any other diagonal piece. Since the two diagonal tile pieces of
each
composite toy piece may have different surface configurations, the use of
composite
tiles formed from a selected two of the diagonal pieces enables an even
greater
variety in design of the surface of a landscape built using the components of
the toy
building set.
For instance, as seen in FIGURE 1, four composite tiles SOa can be arranged
in a square to simulate a pond in the playing surface which has its banks
skewed, in
this example 45 degrees, relative to the edges of the regular tiles. This is
accomplished by selecting as one half of each composite tile, a diagonal tile
piece
52a designed to simulate water, and as the other half a diagonal tile piece
54a
designed to simulate grass, paving or the like, to represent the bank of the
pond.
Other non-aligned features can be included in the toy structure, in a similar
way, by
appropriate selection of the diagonal tile pieces making up each composite
tile.
A further use for a composite tile is illustrated at the base of the terrain
feature 8 in FIGURE 1. Here, composite tiles SOb are used to avoid the
necessity of
having the lower edge of the terrain follow the strict, orthogonal grid
provided by the
underlying support structure. One half of the composite tile SOb is a diagonal
tile
piece 52b selected to present a surface pattern, such as water, grass or the
like,
whereas the diagonal tile piece 54b forming the other half of the composite
tile has a
top surface carrying protrusion connectors 56 to which the terrain 8, or
indeed any
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other building component having suitable mating attachment fittings, may be
attached. In this way, the base of the hill formed by the terrain 8 is able to
cut
diagonally across the regular, orthogonal grid of attachment nodes provided by
the
underlying lattice 4, generating a more pleasing appearance.
An exemplary composite tile 50 is described in greater detail with reference
to FIGURES 6 and 7. The composite tile 50 is formed from two diagonal tile
pieces
52,54. As seen most clearly in FIGURE 6, each diagonal tile piece 52,54 is
generally
triangular in shape, more specifically taking the form of a right-angled
isosceles
triangle in the present example. Thus, each diagonal tile piece has two
straight,
outside edges 56 of substantially equal length, which extend perpendicularly
to one
another and meet at respective inner ends at the right-angled apex 58 of the
diagonal
tile piece. Respective outer ends 60 of the two outside edges 56 are joined by
a
straight, diagonal edge 62, forming the hypotenuse of the triangle opposite
the right-
angled apex 58.
On the underside 64 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54, two attachment fittings
66 are provided, each attachment fitting 66 being removably attachable to a
mating
attachment fitting on a respective attachment node of the underlying lattice
support
structure 4 of the toy building set 2, or on an underlying tile base 42. On
each
diagonal tile piece 52,54, one of the attachment fittings 66a is formed at the
right-
angled apex 58, where the two outside edges 56 meet. The other attachment
fitting
66b is formed at the junction of one of the outside edges 56a and the diagonal
edge
62 (at the left-hand end of the diagonal edge 62 of the rear diagonal tile 54,
and the
right-hand end of the diagonal edge 66 of the front diagonal tile 52 as seen
in
FIGURES 6 and 7).
In the preferred form described here, the attachment fittings 66 of the
diagonal tile pieces 52,54 take the form of receptive connectors engageable
with the
clover leaf protrusion connectors 20,36 on the upper portions 16 of columns 12
and/or the corners 34 of the frames 32 of the lattice 4. Specifically, in the
example
illustrated, the receptive connectors are square receptacles, providing a snap-
fit with
the clover leaf protrusion connectors. However, any suitably mating connectors
may
be used.
To accommodate the receptive connector at the junction between the diagonal
edge 62 and the outer end 60 of the one outside edge 56, the triangular shape
of the
diagonal tile piece is extended at that junction to form a square corner block
70. At
the other end 72 of the diagonal edge 62, where the diagonal edge 62 meets the
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opposite outside edge 56, the triangular shape of each diagonal tile piece
52,54 is
truncated, to be complementary in shape to the square corner block 70. In this
way,
when the two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 are brought together, with their
respective
diagonal edges 62 butted face to face, to form the composite tile 50, the
square corner
block 70 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54 interlocks with the truncated
corner of the
opposing diagonal tile 54,52 to give the composite tile 50 a continuous square
perimeter edge, as seen in FIGURE 7.
The two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 are joined to form the composite tile 50 by
cooperating connectors 76,78, located one at either end of the diagonal edge
62 of
each diagonal tile piece 52,54. Any of a number of cooperating connector
constructions may be used to secure this connection. The exemplary connector
arrangement illustrated is a hook 76 and socket 78 connector. More
particularly, the
square corner block 70 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54 has a D-shape
extension 80
adjacent the diagonal edge 62, forming a receptive socket 78 between an edge
82 of
the square corner block 70, a portion of the diagonal edge 62, and the D-shape
extension 80. The top surface of the D-shape extension 80 is stepped down
below
the upper surface 84 of the tile piece 52,54, to provide a shoulder 86. The
complementary, truncated corner 72 of each diagonal tile piece 52,54 has an
undercut
88 which compliments the shoulder 86 provided by the D-shaped extension 80,
and a
tongue 90 which depends downwardly from the outer end of the undercut 88 to
form
a hook connector 76 engageable in the socket 78 formed by the D-shape
extension
80.
As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the two diagonal tile pieces 52,54 can be
connected with one another by aligning the respective hook 76 and socket 78
connectors at either end of their respective diagonal edges 62, with the two
tiles
slightly skewed relative to one another so that the diagonal edges 62 can be
butted
against one another with the hook 76 on each tile piece 52,54 clear of its
respective
socket 78 on the other tile piece 54,52, and then twisting the tile pieces
52,54 relative
to one another (as indicated by arrows 92) to bring them into the same plane
and
hence bring the respective hooks 76 and sockets 78 into engagement with one
another, to securely, but detachably, connect the two diagonal tile pieces and
form a
square composite tile 50.
As can best be seen in FIGURE 8, when mounted on the underlying support
structure, whether it be a lattice 4, tile base 42 or other structure, with
the described
arrangement of attachment fittings and connectors, each diagonal tile piece
52,54 can
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be supported at three points: at two points where the attachment fittings 66a,
66b on
its underside 64 are supported by the underlying support structure 4, and at
its
truncated corner 72 where the hook connector 76 is supported by the socket
connector 78 of the adjacent diagonal tile piece of the composite tile 50. As
can be
seen in FIGURE 8, the socket 78 is connected to the opening for the attachment
fitting 66b. When the tongue 90 of the hook connector 46 extends into the
socket 78.
the hook connector 76 becomes a portion of the side wall of the attachment
fitting 66b. A protrusion connector 36 extends into the attachment fitting
66b, and
frictionally engages three walls of the attachment fitting 66b and the hook
connector 76. In this manner, the protrusion connector 36 helps to keep the
diagonal
tile pieces 52, 54 attached to form the composite tile 50. This connection can
provide
a very stable support for each diagonal tile piece 52,54, and hence the
overall
composite tile 50.
As discussed above, an advantage when using the diagonal tile pieces 52,54
of the present invention to form composite tiles 50, is that it is possible to
provide a
number of different diagonal tile pieces 52,54 with a variety of upper surface
84
configurations. This enables the formation of composite tiles with different,
selected
surface configurations on the two halves. For example, the composite tile 50
illustrated in FIGURE 7 includes one diagonal tile piece 52 having a plane top
surface 84a, and the other diagonal tile piece 54 is provided with a series of
protrusion connectors 96 on its top surface 98, for attachment to a further
tile piece,
terrain piece 8, or other component of the playing structure overlying it and
having
appropriate mating attachment fittings. Since the rear tile piece 54, as seen
in
FIGURES 6 and 7 is intended to be covered by a further component, such as
terrain
8, it can have a frame-like form as shown, without detracting from the
aesthetic
appearance of the completed toy landscape.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and
described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the
appended
claims.
