GB2098495A - Stacking toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A stacking toy comprises a plurality of blocks (1) having side walls on which picture patterns, numerals and/or characters are displayed. A first snap mechanism (9) is provided at one end face of each block (1) and a second snap mechanism is provided at the other end face of each block. The arrangement is such that adjacent blocks (1) may be snapped together at a predetermined rotational orientation by engagement of the first snap mechanism (9) of one block (1) with the second snap mechanism of the other block whereby the side walls of the engaged blocks are flush with each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stacking toy The present invention relates to a stacking toy.

There have previously been known a number of intellectual training toys such as jig-saw puzzles in which infants try to arrange a plurality of pieces into a predetermined pattern, numeral, of character; and cubic toys including a plurality of blocks in which infants try to arrange the blocks so that the sides of the blocks display a predetermined pattern.

The aforementioned conventional intellectual training toys require only easy actions such as selection of pieces or blocks and arrangement of them by the infant so that the infants are less interested in playing with such toys. Furthermore, the conventional toys have disadvantages in that their maintenance and arrangement is troublesome and it is easy to lose them.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an intellectual training toy in which the aforementioned disadvantages are overcome, infants are more interested in the toy, maintenance and arrangement is easy, and there is less chance of loss.

In accordance with the present invention, a stacking toy comprises a plurality of blocks having side walls on which indicia are displayed; a first snap mechanism at one end face of each block; and a second snap mechanism at the other end face of each block, the arrangement being such that adjacent blocks may be snapped together at a predetermined rotational orientation by engagement of the first snap mechanism of one block with the second snap mechanism of the other block whereby the side walls of the engaged blocks are flush with each other.

Perferably, each block includes a cover portion; and a body portion to which the cover portion is connected, the body portion having a cavity therein, and wherein the first and second snap mechanisms are provided one on the axially outer surface of the cover portion and the other on an axially outwardly facing surface of the body portion opposite to the cover portion. Such a toy has a simple structure which is readily manufactured and suitable for mass production at low cost.

The cover portion may be separable from the body portion. Furthermore, it is particularly convenient if the cover and body portions are made of a plastics material.

Preferably, the first snap mechanism includes a circular cavity resilient engagement members being provided along the inner periphery of the cavity with one member for each side wall, the members being movable in a radial direction, and an engagement portion being provided at a radially inner surface of each engagement member; and the second snap mechanism includes a circular projection which, in use, is fitted into the circular cavity of the first snap mechanism, engagement portions being provided at the outer periphery of the projection whereby the side walls of adjacent blocks are flush with each other when the engagement portions of the first snap mechanism of the one block are engaged with the engagement portions of the second snap mechanism of the other block.

This arrangement enables connection and separation between blocks and rotation and stopping of them to be readily performed with comparatively weak forces.

The engagement portions of the first and second snap mechanisms may comprise cooperating projections and recesses.

Preferably, each block has a regular polygonal cross-section which enables any pair of blocks to be engaged in a variety of relative orientations in all of which adjacent side walls of each block will be flush. Furthermore, it is preferable if each block is right sided.

Two examples of a toy in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a plan view of one example having two connected blocks; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover portion illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the body portion illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the body portion illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1, showing the connection between the two adjacent blocks of Figure 1 when in the fixed position indicated by solid lines in Figure 1; Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion 7 prior to full engagement between the two blocks shown in Figure 6;; Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1, showing the connection between the two adjacent blocks of Figure 1 when in the fixed position indicated by chain lines of Figure 1; Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the portion 8 of Figure 8 prior to the full engagement between the two blocks shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the axially inner side of a cover portion of a second example; and, Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to Figure 6, showing the connection between two blocks, one of which has the cover portion illustrated in Figure 10.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a pentagonal crosssection square pillar or block which is the main building block of the intellectual training toy. It is apparent that the square pillar 1 may have a polygonal cross-section other than a pentagon if desired.

Each square pillar 1 may be made of any suitable material but is preferably made of a plastics material. In order to simplify formation of the pillars each has a body portion 3 and a separable cover portion 2. The body portion 3 is hollow to save material and to reduce weight.

As is apparent from Figure 2, the cover portion 2 comprises a pentagonal plate 4 which is formed with a central circular cavity 5. Five recessed portions 7 are formed in a wall 6 of the circular cavity 5, each recessed portion 7 extending towards the mid point region of a respective side of the plate 4. Slits 12 are formed in and extend towards the sides of, a back wall 8 of each recessed portion 7. As shown in Figure 5, a lower portion of the back wall 8 extends in a substantially horizontal and radially inward direction while a tip end thereof extends vertically to form a stand piece 9. The inner peripheral walls of the stand pieces 9 are aligned with the wall 6 of the circular cavity 5.

The radially inwardly facing surface of each stand piece 9 is provided with a pair of projections 10 to provide a groove 11 therebetween.

The body portion 3 is provided at one end with a pentagonal opening 13 corresponding with the cover portion 2. The cover portion 2 is fitted into and joined with the opening 13 by suitable means. Indicia (not shown) in the form of picture patterns, numerals, characters or simply coloured surfaces are provided on side walls 14 to 18 of the body portion 3. As shown in Figure 4 the body portion 3 includes an integral bottom plate 20 which carries a circular projection 1 9 having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the circular cavity 5 of the cover portion 2. A circular groove 22 into which the projections 10 of the stand pieces 9 of the cover portion of another block are fitted in use is formed in an outer peripheral wall 21 of the circular projection 19.

The circular groove 22 is divided into five subsidiary grooves by ribs 23 at positions corresponding to each vertical centre line of the side walls 14 to 18.

In order to explain more easily the connection between the pillar 1 and a pillar 1', parts of the lower pillar 1' corresponding to the upper pillar are denoted by like numerals, to which primes have been added.

Figure 6 shows the connection between the square pillars 1 and 1' in which the sides 14 to 18 of the upper square pillar 1 are flush with those of the lower pillar 1'. In this case, the ribs 23 of the circular projection 19 on the bottom plate 20 of the upper square pillar 1 are fitted into grooves 11' of the stand pieces 9' of the square pillar 1' so that relative rotation between the square pillars 1 and 1' is prohibited.

Figure 7 shows the pillars 1 and 1' just before they reach the fully engaged position shown in Figure 6. At this stage, the projections 10, of the stand piece 9' are abutted against an outer surface of the circular wall 21 of the circular projection 1 9. The stand piece 9' is temporarily moved in a radially outward direction on being biased by the circular wall 21. Thereafter, on moving the pillars 1, 1', further towards each other, the projection 10' snaps into the circular groove 22 and simultaneously the rib 23 locates in the groove 11'. The upper and lower pillars 1 and 1' are thus converted in the manner shown in Figure 6.

On assembly the square pillar 1 may be rotated relatively to the lower pillar 1' by 36 as indicated by chain lines in Figure 1. In such a situation, the projections 10' of the stand piece 9' of the square pillar 1' are located in the circular groove 22 of the square pillar 1 and the ribs 23 of the pillar 1 may slide along the inner surface of the circular wall 21' of the circular cavity 5' as shown in Figure 8. Thus the pillar 1 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise into the position indicated by solid lines in Figure 1.

Figure 9 shows the pillars 1, ' just before they reach the position shown in Figure 8. At this stage the stand piece 9' is temporarily moved outwardly in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 7.

Thereafter the stand piece 9' returns to the position shown in Figure 8.

In order to separate the pillars 1 and 1', a force is applied to one of the pillars in an axial direction. One or more stand pieces 9' are temporarily moved in an outward direction so that the projections 10 may be removed from the circular groove 22. Separation of the square pillars can thus easily be accomplished.

In order to change the correspondence of upper and lower side walls, the square pillar 1 is rotated relatively to the square pillar 1'. One or more stand pieces 9', as necessary, is pressed outwardly to enable the ribs 23 to be moved from one groove 11' to an adjacent groove 11'. In this manner, the player can let any one of the side walls 14 to 18 of the upper square pillar 1 correspond to any one of side walls 14' to 18' of the lower square pillar 1'.

The picture patterns, numerals, and characters displayed on the side walls 14 to 18 and 14' to 18' may be used for intellectual training of infants. Easy assembly and disassembly of the toy stimulates the infant's interest. Loss of any components of the toy can be avoided since the components of the toy may be stored while assembled to each other.

Another example of a cover 32 is shown in Figures 10 and 11. For simplicity of the explanation, 30 has been added to the reference numerals of parts similar to those of the cover 2 and specific description of these parts is omitted.

The cover 32 is provided with flexible circular walls 36 corresponding to the circular wall 6 of the cover 2. The flexible circular walls 36 are encircled by a groove 25. Provision of elasticity to the circular walls 36 like stand pieces 39 makes it easier to connect, separate and/or rotate the square pillars 1, 1'.

In both of these examples the upper pillar 1 is locked to the lower pillar 1' by the fact that the ribs 23 of the bottom plate 19 are fitted to the grooves 11 of the cover 4. In the examples, the ribs 23 and grooves 11 are formed at positions corresponding to the vertical centre line of each side wall 14 to 18. However, the position of the ribs 23 and grooves 10 are not limited to this position. In other words, the position of the ribs 23 and grooves 10 is such that the side walls of the upper square pillar 1 are flush with those of the lower square pillar 1' when the ribs 23 fit to grooves 10.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A stacking toy comprising a plurality of blocks having side walls on which indicia are displayed; a first snap mechanism at one end face of each block; and a second snap mechanism at the other end face of each block, the arrangement being such that adjacent blocks may be snapped together at a predetermined rotational orientation by engagement of the first snap mechanism of one block with the second snap mechanism of the other block whereby the side walls of the engaged blocks are flush with each other.

2. A toy according to claim 1 in which each block includes a cover portion; and a body portion to which the cover portion is connected, the body portion having a cavity therein, and in which the first and second snap mechanisms are provided one on the axially outer surface of the cover portion and the other on an axially outwardly facing surface of the body portion opposite to the cover portion.

3. A toy according to claim 2, wherein the cover portion is separable from the body portion.

4. A toy according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the cover portion and the body portion are each made of plastics material.

5. A toy according to any of the preceding claims, in which the first snap mechanism includes a circular cavity resilient engagement members being provided along the inner periphery of the cavity with one member for each side wall, the members being movable in a radial direction, and an engagement portion being provided at a radially inner surface of each engagement member; and in which the second snap mechanism includes a circular projection which, in use, is rotatably fitted into the circular cavity of the first snap mechanism, engagement portions being provided at the outer periphery of the projection whereby the side walls of adjacent blocks are flush with each other when the engagement portions of the first snap mechanism of the one block are engaged with the engagement portions of the second snap mechanism of the other block.

6. A toy according to claim 5, in which the engagement portions of the first and second snap mechanism comprise cooperating projections and recesses.

7. A toy according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to either of the examples shown in Figures 1 to 9, or Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.