TOY CONSTRUCTION KIT AND TILE

Abstract

A construction toy kit and tile are provided for a low-profile interlocking toy. The construction toy kit contains a plurality of tiles, each comprising two parallel plates connected to one another by a sidewall. A support structure is disposed in a cavity defined by the parallel plates and sidewall to simultaneously prevent each plate from flexing relative to one another and reduce the overall weight of the tile. A plurality of coupling studs extend outward from an outer surface of the tile and configured to enable each tile to couple, mate, or mesh with at least one other tile in the kit, according to various embodiments defining the type, size, and arrangement of coupling studs.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A toy tile comprising: a first plate having at least one edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface, a. at least one coupling stud extending outward from the outer surface of the first plate; b. a second plate having at least one edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface; c. at least one side wall extending between the first and second plates; and d. a support structure interposed between the inner surfaces of each of the first and second plates.

12. The toy tile of claim 11, wherein the second plate comprises a means for coupling with the at least one coupling stud, wherein the means for coupling is selected from a group consisting of a recess, at least one coupling stud, or combinations thereof.

13. The toy tile of claim 11, wherein the at least one side wall is integrated with the at least one edge of the first plate.

14. The toy tile of claim 11, wherein the support structure is integrated into a central portion of the second plate and configured to extend inwards toward the inner surface of the first plate.

15. (canceled)

16. The toy tile of claim 11, wherein the support structure is defined by a shape selected from a group consisting of a line, stadium, parallelogram, triangle, circle, or combinations thereof.

17. The kit of claim 11, wherein the at least one coupling stud comprises a wall defining a hollow.

18. The toy tile of claim 17, wherein the hollow extends from a distal surface of the at least one coupling stud towards the outer surface of the first plate, wherein the hollow comprises a means for locking the at least one coupling studs configured for mating.

19. An interlocking toy tile comprising: a first plate having at least one edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface; a. at least one coupling stud extending outward from the outer surface of the first plate; b. a second plate having at least one edge, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the outer surface of the second plate comprising a means for coupling selected from a group consisting of a recess, at least one coupling stud, or combinations thereof; c. at least one side wall extending between the first and second plates; and d. a support structure integrated into a central portion of the second plate and configured to extend inwards to the inner surface of the first plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the tile having a 4×4 coupling stud configuration.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of the tile having a 4×4 solid coupling stud configuration.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a rectangular tile.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of a square tile comprising a recess.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a top view of one embodiment of the tile comprising a support structure and a 4×4 configuration of coupling studs.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the tile comprising a support structure and a 2×4 configuration of coupling studs.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the tile shown in FIG. 5.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the tile comprising a support structure and a recess.

[0044] The disclosed embodiments may be better understood by referring to the figures in the attached drawings, as provided below. The attached figures are provided as non-limiting examples for providing an enabling description of the method and system claimed. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without some of the details included in order to provide a thorough enabling description of such embodiments. Well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0045] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.

[0046] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus

[0047] The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements or signals, electrically, mechanically or otherwise. Two or more electrical elements may be electrically coupled, but not mechanically or otherwise coupled; two or more mechanical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled; two or more electrical elements may be mechanically coupled, but not electrically or otherwise coupled. Coupling (whether mechanical, electrical, or otherwise) may be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.

[0048] The term “equal” and the like should be broadly understood as being within defined tolerances that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Having summarized various aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to that which is illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one exemplary embodiment of a tile 100 may comprise a first plate 110, a second plate 120, and a sidewall 102 connecting the first plate 110 and the second plate 120. The first plate 110 may comprise at least one coupling stud 130. In this exemplary embodiment, the tile 100 is shaped as a square and comprises 16 tiles arranged in a four stud by four stud (“4×4”) configuration.

[0051] The first plate 110 may be parallel to the second plate 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the sidewall 102 may extend from at least one edge 104 of the first plate 110 to the second plate. It is contemplated that the sidewall 102 may be continuous along the entire first plate 110, however, it may be provided in segments as necessary or desired.

[0052] The first plate 110 may comprise at least one coupling stud 130. In some embodiments, the at least one coupling stud 130 may take any variety of shapes and forms. For the sake of brevity, however, certain clarifying examples will be discussed with reference to the figures. In addition, the number of coupling studs shall not be limited. For instance, in some embodiments, the at least one coupling stud 130 may be an even number of coupling studs 130, though this is not necessary to practice the invention. In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first plate 110 may comprise sixteen coupling studs 130 as a squared number of equally spaced coupling studs dispersed across an outer surface 112 of the first plate 110. As further examples and without limitation, the first plate 110 may comprise two, four, six, eight, ten, twenty, forty, ninety-six, or one-hundred-forty-four or even more coupling studs 130. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that these numbers are provided for example and without limitation, and that other numbers of studs are available in the present invention.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment reflected in FIG. 1, the at least one coupling stud 130 may comprise a wall 134 defining a hollow 132 extending from the distal end of the at least one coupling stud 130 to the outer surface 112 of the first plate 110. In some exemplary embodiments, the wall 134 may comprise a means for locking coupling studs 138.

[0054] The wall 134 defining the hollow 132 of at least one coupling stud 132 may be a non-uniform diameter. For example, and without limitation, the wall 134 may have a greater diameter at the distal end than at the proximate end. In some exemplary embodiment, the proximate end of the hollow 132 may comprise a means for locking coupling studs 138 operative to improve mating between the tiles. The means for locking coupling studs 138 may, for example and without limitation, be a latch, groove, hook, and/or pincher.

[0055] It is contemplated that the second plate 120 may comprise at least one coupling stud 130. In instances where the second plate 120 comprises at least one coupling stud 130 it may be symmetrical to the at least one coupling stud 130 on the first plate 110. It is further contemplated that in instances where the second plate 120 comprises an equal number of the at least one coupling stud 130 as the at least one coupling stud 130 on the first plate 110, the at least one coupling stud 130 on the second plate 120 may be offset from the at least one coupling stud 130 on the first plate. In another embodiment, the second plate 120 may comprise a different number of the at least one coupling stud 130 as shown on the first plate 110.

[0056] In some embodiments, the at least one coupling stud 130 may be solid rather than hollow. It is contemplated that a solid coupling stud 130 may be operative to mate with the hollow 132 in the at least one coupling stud of FIGS. 1 and 2. As a clarifying example, an exemplary solid coupling stud may be sized such that the diameter of such at least one coupling stud 130 is operative to engage with the wall 134 defining the hollow 132 in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, a solid coupling stud 130 of FIG. 1 may securely yet removably frictionally engage with the wall 134 of FIG. 1.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 1, the at least one coupling studs 130 on one tile 100 may be configured to mesh with the at least one coupling studs 130 on another tile 100. For example, the space between the at least one couplings stud 130 on one tile 100 may be operative to engage an outer portion of any wall defining any of the at least one coupling studs on another tile. It is further understood that to mesh, the at least one coupling stud 130 may be solid as shown in FIG. 2, comprise a hollow 132 as shown in FIG. 1, or a combination thereof.

[0058] It is contemplated that in the construction toy kit, at least one of the plurality of tiles may be operative to couple with at least one of the plurality of tiles. For example, and without limitation, the at least one of the plurality of tiles may be operative to mate with at least one of the plurality of tiles. The at least one of the plurality of tiles may further be operative to mesh with at least one of the plurality of tiles. It is understood that, one tile in the kit may be operative to mate with another tile in the kit, but may not mate with all tiles in the kit. Additionally, one tile in the kit may be operative to mesh with another tile in the kit, but may not mesh with all tiles in the kit. It is contemplated that by having a plurality of coupling options present in one kit, a user may be exposed to a plurality of different connection forms rendering the tiles and kit beneficial for learning and creativity.

[0059] Alternative bottom perspective views of certain embodiments of tiles comprising the kit are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It should be noted that an exemplary rectangular tile is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary second plate 320 may be flat. FIG. 4, however, shows as an alternative, that the second plate, such as that of the exemplary square tile 100 first shown in FIG. 1, may define a recess 436 as, concurrently or alternatively, a support structure (which will be discussed below) and means for coupling one of the plurality of tiles in the construction toy kit to another one of the plurality of tiles. In FIG. 4 the recess 436 is shown as a square, however, such recess may be any shape such as, without limitation rectangle, circle, stadium, triangle, or any other desirable shape. The recess 436 may be of a depth equal to the height of the at least one coupling stud 130. It is further contemplated, that in some embodiments, the recess 436 may be of a depth less than the height of the at least one coupling stud 130. In another embodiment, the recess 436 may be of a depth greater than the height of the at least one coupling stud 130. In some embodiments, the depth of the recess 436 may be equal to the height of the sidewall 102 such that the recess terminates on the first plate 410 of the tile.

[0060] The recess 436 may have an outer dimension less than the outer dimension of the tile 400. In certain exemplar embodiments, the outer dimension of the recess 436 may be sized such that it is operative to engage with the at least one coupling stud on at least one of the plurality of tiles in the construction toy kit. As a clarifying example, the recess 436 may be sized such that at least one coupling stud of another tile may frictionally contact a wall or boundary defining the recess 436.

[0061] The recess 436 may further comprise an embossed design. The embossed design may, for example and without limitation, comprise an image, letter, pattern, or other design.

[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tile 500 comprising sixteen coupling studs 530 arranged in a 4×4 configuration, a first plate 510, and a support structure 540 interposed between the first plate 510 and a second plate (obscured from view). More particularly, the first and second plates are composed of transparent material that provides a view of the support structure interposed therein. FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a tile 600 comprising a support structure 640 interposed between a first plate 510 and a second plate (obscured from view), the tile 600 comprising eight coupling studs 630 arranged in a two stud by four stud (“2×4”) configuration.

[0063] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate alternative exemplary embodiments of a tile comprising a support structure interposed between the first plate and the second plate configured to provide structural support to the plates. The structural support may, for example, increase the tensile, compressive, sheer strength, or combinations thereof of the tile while reducing the overall weight and necessary material. That is, providing a support structure reduces any need of providing a solid tile to reduce flexion and possible breakage of each of the plates.

[0064] The support structure may be in any shape suitable to provide support to the plates. For example and without limitation, the support structure may be a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, stadium, beam, or any other suitable shape. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the support structure 640 may mimic the shape as the tile 500. However, it is contemplated that the shape of the support structure may be different than the shape of the tile.

[0065] It is contemplated the density of the support structure may vary. For example, and without limitation, the density of the support structure may be 100% such that it is a solid structure. As a further example, the density of the support structure may be 20% in order to reduce necessary material and weight. In such embodiments when the density is less than 100% it is contemplated that the infill may be a variety of patterns. The patterns may, for example and without limitation, be honeycomb, grid, line, truss, contour, point, or web. A person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other infill patterns, as known in the art, are available in the present invention and the foregoing are provided as examples only.

[0066] The support structure may be centered, such that the tile and the support structure are concentric. It is contemplated that the support structure may have smaller dimension than the outer dimensions of the tile. Some support structures may be sized such that their dimensions are in a range inclusive of 99% and 1% of the outer dimensions of the tile. In certain exemplary embodiments, the support structure may have dimensions such that they are in a range inclusive of 75% and 25% of the outer dimensions of the tile or 60% and 50% of the tile.

[0067] Additionally, in some embodiments, the support structure may define the recess 436 shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] Exploded views of tile 100 are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrating exemplary internal structures and surfaces. More particularly, FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the tile shown in FIG. 5. It is contemplated that the second plate 520 and the first plate 510 as shown in FIG. 7 may be separate pieces which have been adhered to one another by, for example and without limitation, melt processing, glue, or press fit.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 7, support structure 540 may be integrated, in one non-limiting embodiment, into a central portion of the second plate 520 and configured to extend inwards toward the inner surface 714 of the first plate 510. In another embodiment, the first plate 510 may further comprise the support structure 540 that extends inwards towards the inner surface 724 of the second plate 520. In such an embodiment, the support structure 740 may comprise multiple components of the first plate 110 and second plate 120 wherein when combined the support structure 540 is created.

[0070] FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of a tile 800 comprising sixteen coupling studs 830 arranged in a 4×4 configuration, a support structure 840, and a recess 836 defined by the support structure 840. The support structure 840 may fully define the recess 836 such that the recess 836 terminates at the inner surface 814 of the first plate 810. The recess 836 may terminate at any point along the support structure 840. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, not shown, the support structure may define a recess on the first and second plate of a tile such that the tile comprises an opening.

[0071] It is contemplated that the tile as shown in any embodiment may be made out of any suitable material. In one exemplary embodiment the tile may be made out of plastic, such as without limitation, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, polystyrene, or polypropylene. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate all types of plastic that may be used in the present invention.

[0072] The tile may be made of transparent, translucent, or opaque material. In instances where the tile comprises a support structure, the transparent or translucent material may allow the support structure to be viewed through the material. The tile may further comprise a combination of the aforementioned materials.

[0073] A toy construction kit may comprise any combination of the tiles discussed above.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0074] While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the construction toy kit and tile may comprise other forms of couplings not disclosed here. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).

[0075] The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

[0076] Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the toy construction kit and tile with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the toy construction kit and tile to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system, method and apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the toy construction kit and tile is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

[0077] While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the method, system, and apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

[0078] While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the method, system, and apparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the toy construction kit and tile.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0079] While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the construction toy kit and tile may comprise other forms of couplings not disclosed here. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claim(s).

[0080] The teachings disclosed herein may be applied to other systems, and may not necessarily be limited to any described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.

[0081] Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the toy construction kit and tile with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the toy construction kit and tile to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed system, method and apparatus. The above description of embodiments of the toy construction kit and tile is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

[0082] While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the method, system, and apparatus are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible for which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.

[0083] While certain aspects of the method and system disclosed are presented below in particular claim forms, various aspects of the method, system, and apparatus are contemplated in any number of claim forms. Thus, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the toy construction kit and tile.