Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A toy building set
The invention relates to a toy building set comprising a number of toy
building
elements that can be interconnected to form large structures, said toy build-
ing set comprising
- a first type of toy building elements that are configured with at least
two projecting parts that are provided with aligned, transversal open-
ings;
- a second type of toy building elements that are configured with at least
one projecting part provided with a transversal opening; and
- a pin,
wherein the at least one projecting part on the second type of toy building
elements islare configured for being positioned between the at least two pro-
jecting parts on the first type of toy building elements, whereby the transver-
sal openings are caused to be aligned, and the pin is configured such that it
can be mounted in the transversal openings for interconnecting the toy build-
ing elements.
EP-A2-0 294 080 teaches panels that can be interconnected to form large
2 o structures, such as play houses, boxes for toys, cases, etc. The panels
are
provided with laterally protruding parts provided with transversal openings
parallel with the panel's side. Two panels can be arranged side-by-side in
such a manner that their respective protruding parts fit between each other,
such that the transversal openings are caused to be aligned. A pin can sub-
sequently be displaced into the transversal openings and thereby couple the
two panels to each other as a hinge joint.
The pins that are taught in that disclosure fit loosely into the protruding
parts
of the panels, and they are kept in place by means of three-dimensional cor-
3 o ner elements that are snapped onto the lowermost, horizontal pins. If
these
corner elements are not used, it is highly likely that the pins drop from the
protruding parts of the panels during playing or other handling of the
structure
thus built.
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2
The object of the invention is to provide a toy building set with toy building
elements of the type described above that can, in a simple manner, be cou
pled by means of a strong and stable joint and that ensures that the pins
used do not unintentionally drop from the protruding parts of the toy building
elements when two toy building elements are interconnected.
This is obtained by configuration of the toy building set described above such
that the pin is provided with at least one snap-engagement bead at a dis-
tance from the one end thereof, which distance corresponds essentially to
1 o the width of a distally arranged, protruding part on the first type of toy
building
elements.
Hereby it is obtained that the pin that interconnects the two types of toy
build-
ing elements remain secure in their locking position, since it will be
possible
to remove it only by exerting a certain pressure or pull in the pin.
In the preferred embodiment the width of the at least one protruding part on
the second type of toy building elements corresponds essentially to the dis-
tance between the at least two protruding parts on the first type of toy build-
2 o ing elements, such that the two toy building elements cannot be displaced
considerably laterally in the axial direction of the pin when they are
intercon-
nected. Hereby a particularly rigid interconnection is obtained. However, ac-
cording to particular embodiments a certain clearance can be provided be-
tween the protruding parts of the toy building elements, which clearance al-
lows the toy building elements to be shifted slightly in the axial direction
of
the pin. This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the toy building set
is used for outdoors playing, where there is a risk of soil, sand and the like
to
wedge between the toy building elements. The provision of a certain clear-
ance between the toy building elements minimises the risk of these small
3 o particles becoming firmly stuck.
According to the preferred embodiment at least the distally arranged through-
going openings in the first type of toy building elements are provided with a
counterboring for receiving the snap-engagement bead of the pin. Hereby it
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is obtained that the snap-engagement bead has a free space into which it
can expand after having passed through the transversal opening in the pro-
truding part of the first type of toy building elements.
Advantageously the pin can be provided with a slotting in the area around the
snap-engagement bead, such that a clasping of the pin in this area is ob-
tained when it is displaced through the transversal opening in the protruding
part of the first type of toy building elements.
1 o Besides, the pin can be provided with an expanded portion at the same end
as the snap-engagement bead, whereby it is ensured that the pin is not dis-
placed too far into the transversal openings with an ensuing risk of it being
displaced all the way there through.
In order to facilitate removal of the pin when the toy building elements are
to
be separated again, it may advantageously be provided with a grip at the
same end as the expanded portion. A particularly simple embodiment of the
grip can be obtained by configuring it like a spherical element mounted in
extension of the pin. Other configurations of the grip are, of course, perceiv-
2 0 able.
In some cases it is desirable that the pin does not extend beyond the outer
contours of the toy building elements when they are assembled, and for use
in such cases the expanded portion of the pin can be configured with a plane
end face, while simultaneously at least one distally located, transversal open-
ing in a protruding portion of the first type of toy building elements is/are
pro-
vided with a counterboring that is able to absorb the expanded portion of the
pin. Hereby the end face of the pin will be situated at the same level as the
outer contour of the toy building elements when the toy building elements are
3 o interconnected, and there are thus no protruding parts that could prevent
other elements from being located closely adjoining the interconnected toy
building elements.
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The protruding parts on both the first type of toy building elements and on
the
second type of toy building elements can advantageously be provided with
pairs of transversal openings that are configured for being, in pairs, aligned
and interconnected by means of two pins. Such pairs of interconnections al-
low that a rigid joint is provided, whereas interconnection by use of only one
pin forms a hinge joint that allows the toy building elements to rotate
relative
to each other about the pin.
If, additionally, at least some of the toy building elements are manufactured
1 o from a soft and flexible material, flexible interconnections between
several
toy building elements can be obtained. If, for instance, a soft and flexible
toy
building element is positioned between two hard toy building elements, the
flexible toy building element will allow a certain angulation between the hard
toy building elements. This is particularly interesting if the toy building
ele-
ments are used for games where they are exposed to high loads, the flexible
toy building elements being able to receive stresses without being broken.
Such high stresses will typically occur if the toy building set is used for
out-
door playing that is often more rough than indoor playing.
2 o The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to
the
drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a schematical view of two toy building elements and an associ-
ated pin for a toy building element according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the toy building elements shown in Figure 1 in
interconnected state; and
Figure 3 shows alternative embodiments of two toy building elements and
3 o associated pins for a toy building set according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows two toy building elements 1,2 and a pin 3 for a toy building
set according to the invention. The toy building elements 1,2 are merely
shown schematically as they may each individually be provided with addi-
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tional coupling means, eg in the form of further protruding parts with trans-
versal openings or optionally with coupling studs and their complementary
skirts.
5 The first toy building element 1 is of a first type that is configured with
two
protruding parts 4,4' that are provided with aligned, transversal, circular
openings 5,5'. Counterborings 6 are provided to both sides of the openings
5,5' and the functioning thereof will be described below. The second toy
building element 2 is of an alternative type that is configured with one pro-
1 o truding part 7 that is also provided with a transversal, circular opening
8. The
width of the protruding part 7 on the second toy building element 2 corre-
sponds essentially to the distance between the two protruding parts 4,4' on
the first toy building element 1, and the transversal openings 5,5',8 are con-
figured such in the toy building elements 1,2 that they can be caused to be
l5 aligned with each other when the protruding part 7 on the second toy
building
element 2 is arranged between the two protruding parts 4,4' on the first toy
building element 1.
In the embodiment shown the pin 3 has a circular cross section with a diame-
2 o ter that corresponds essentially to or is slightly smaller than the
diameter of
the transversal openings 5,5',8 on the toy building elements 1,2 . The pin 3
can therefore be displaced essentially without friction through the
transversal
openings 5,5',8 when the two toy building elements 1,2 are interconnected as
will be described below.
The pin 3 has an essentially cylindrical shape, it being, however, rounded at
the one end and provided with and expanded portion or collar 9 at the other
end. At the same end, a spherical grip 10 is also provided. At a distance L
from the collar 9 a snap-engagement bead 11 is provided that extends ra-
3 o dially from the pin 3. The distance L corresponds to the width B of the
pro-
truding part 4 on the first toy building element 1. The pin 3 is generally con-
figured as a massive element, but in the area around the snap-engagement
bead 11 it is provided with a transversal slotting 12, whereby a certain defor-
mation of the pin 3 is allowed in this area.
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When the toy building elements 1,2 are interconnected, the protruding part 7
on the second toy building element 2 is located between the protruding parts
4,4' on the first toy building element 1, such that the transversal openings
5,5',8 are caused to be aligned. The pin 3 is subsequently displaced into the
transversal openings 5,5',8 - the rounded end first. This is accomplished es-
sentially without friction until the snap-engagement bead 11 abuts on the pro-
truding part 4 on the first toy building element 1. Further pressure on the
pin
3 causes the snap-engagement bead 11 to be squeezed together, the slot-
1o ting 12 being clasped together, and the pin 3 may, while under friction, be
displaced further until the collar 9 abuts on the protruding part 4 on the
first
toy building element 1. In this final position the snap-engagement bead 11
has passed through the protruding part 4, and the counterboring 6 in the pro-
truding part 4 causes the snap-engagement bead 11 to be freely expandable
again, whereby the pin 3 is caused to snap-engage with the protruding part 4.
The interconnection between the first and the second toy building element
1,2 is shown in a sectional view in Figure 2 that shows the protruding parts
4,4',7 and the pin 3. It appears clearly how the pin 3 is in snap-locking en-
2 o gagement with the protruding part 4, the collar 9 being in abutment on the
one side thereof, whereas the snap-engagement bead 11 is in abutment on
the other side thereof. The remaining part of the pin 3 extends through the
transversal openings 5', and 8 in the protruding parts 4' and 7, and in this
manner it interconnects the two toy building elements 1,2 to form a hinge
joint.
As opposed to the prior art hinge joints for use in toy building sets the, pin
3,
however, is secured in a simple manner and essentially without friction
against falling out.
In order to facilitate withdrawal of the pin 3 when the two toy building ele-
ments 1,2 are once again to be separated, a spherical grip 10 is provided at
the one end of the pin. A pull in this grip 10 will cause the snap-engagement
bead to be clasped together by the transversal opening 5, and the pin 3 can
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be withdrawn, following which the toy building elements 1,2 can be separated
from each other.
The pin 3 can also be dismounted by exerting a pressure on its rounded end,
eg by use of another pin, instead of pulling the spherical grip 10.
Figure 3 shows alternative embodiments of toy building elements for a toy
building set according to the invention. A first and a second toy building ele-
ment 101,102 are shown that can be interconnected by means of identical
l o pins 103.
The toy building element 101 is shown as a comparatively massive unit pro-
vided with protruding parts 104,104',104" that are each provided with pairs of
transversal openings 105,105',105" provided with counterborings 106 in the
same manner as the toy building element 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Be
tween the protruding parts 104,104',104" braced beads 113 are provided. As
it is also outlined the toy building element 101 is provided with
corresponding
coupling means on the not shown side, and therefore the toy building ele
ment 101 may also be a constituent of a large structure constructed by
2 o means of the toy building elements in the toy building set.
The toy building element 102 is also constructed with oppositely oriented
coupling parts in the form of protruding parts 107,107' that are provided with
transversal openings 108,108'. The protruding parts 107,107' each has a
2 5 width that corresponds to the distance between the protruding parts
104,104',104" on the toy building element 101 and, besides, they are config
ured such that their transversal openings 108,108' can be caused to be
aligned with the transversal openings 105,105',105" in the protruding parts
104,104',104" of the toy building element 1. Also the toy building element 102
3 o is provided with pairs of protruding parts 107,107'.
For interconnecting the toy building elements 101 and 102, two identical pins
103 are used. Like the pin 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of the pins 103
is cylindrical with an expanded part or collar 109 and a snap-engagement
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bead 111 at a distance from the collar 109 that corresponds to the width of
the protruding part 104 on the toy building element 101. Also, each of these
pins is provided with a transversal slotting 112 that allows the pin to be
squeezed together in the area at the snap-engagement bead 111.
During interconnection of the first and the second toy building elements 101
and 102, the pairs of protruding parts 107,107' of the second toy building
element 102 are positioned between the pairs of protruding parts
104,104',104" of the first toy building element 101, whereby the transversal
openings 105, 105',105",108,108' are caused to be aligned. Now, the pins
103 are displaced into the transversal openings 105,105',105",108,108', until
their collars 109 abut on the protruding part 104 on the first toy building
ele-
ment 101, while simultaneously the snap-engagement beads 11 engage with
the opposite side of the protruding part 104.
When two pins are used, as shown in figure 3, a complete locking between
the two toy building elements 101,102 is accomplished, when they are inter-
connected.
2o As will appear from Figure 3, the pins 103 are not provided with any grip
for
withdrawing the pins 103 when the toy building elements 101,102 are to be
separated. Quite conversely, they are only provided with a collar 109 whose
height corresponds to the depth of the counterboring 106, such that the ends
of the pins 103 are plane with the lateral face of the toy building element
101
when mounted. Hereby it is obtained partly that other toy building elements
can be arranged closely adjoining the toy building element 101, and partly
that the risk of unintentional withdrawal of the pin 103 is minimized. The
pins
103 can be dismounted by their being pressed out from the opposite end, eg
by use of a corresponding pin.
The toy building elements 1,2,101,102 and the pins 3,103 are preferably
made of a hard plastics material. According to a particular embodiment, how-
ever, one or more toy building elements, eg the toy building element 102, can
be manufactured from a flexible and soft material, such as rubber in order to
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thereby enable construction of structures that comprise flexible joints. Such
flexible joints may also be provided by attachment of a flexible material on a
hard toy building element by casting, whereby this combined toy building
element comprises both hard and soft protruding parts.
The use of flexible joints are particularly interesting when there is a risk
of the
structure thus constructed being exposed to heavy loads, the flexible toy
building elements being able to receive such heavy loads and thereby con-
tribute to avoiding that the toy building elements or their interconnecting
1 o means are destroyed.
The toy building element according to the invention preferably comprises toy
building elements of both the first and the second type in various sizes,
which
means that different structures can be constructed. The number of protruding
parts on both the first and the second type of toy building elements can thus
be varied, as is also shown in Figures 1 and 3. In a corresponding manner
the toy building set according to the invention also comprises pins in various
lengths so as to be adapted to the various dimensions of the toy building
elements.
The toy building elements may comprise ordinary building blocks as shown in
Figures 1 and 3, whereby it is possible to construct various structures. How-
ever, they may also comprise the so-called functionality elements that enable
integration of various functionalities in the structure thus constructed. For
in-
stance, one of the toy building elements could be provided with an electromo-
tor, another with a battery box, a third with a control unit, etc.
Interconnection
of such functionality elements enables construction of eg automotive cars,
robots, and the like. Functionality elements other than those listed are, of
course, possible.
