Abstract
A system of toy building block ball run components each having an integrally formed, recessed surface disposed in a portion thereof which defines a flat-bottomed or U-shaped passageway or ball run channel between sides of the block. Each component is made using a specific set of relationships in the dimensions of the building block and the ball run channels formed therein to allow broad combination of many components with one another and with other building blocks during creative play.
Claims
1. A unit based building block ball run system component comprising a building block including an integrally formed ball channel with a flat-bottom or U-shaped cross section and the following dimensional relationships using a given unit of length: the depth of the ball channel is one unit, the width of the ball channel is two units and is centered relative to the width of the building block, the height of the building block is two units, the width of the building block is four units, the length of the building block is any integer multiple of units, and which when stacked properly, two such components together create a tube whose opening has an approximately square cross-section with sides two units in length.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an example individual building block ball run basic component with a straight ball channel, according to the principles of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example individual building block ball run basic component with a curved ball channel, according to the principles of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 depicts a cross section of an individual building block ball run component as shown in FIG. 1, according to the principles of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 depicts a cross section of two building block ball run basic components, as shown in FIG. 1, stacked to form a tube whose opening has an approximately square cross-section, according to the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention is an improvement to the prior design and manufacture of ball run building blocks intended for creative play by children ages 3 and older. The invention comprises a system of toy building block ball run components each having an integrally formed, recessed surface disposed in a portion thereof which defines a flat-bottomed or U-shaped passageway or ball run channel between sides of the block. Each component is made using a specific set of relationships among the dimensions of the building block and the ball run channels formed therein to allow broad combination of many components with one another and with other building blocks and toys during creative play.
[0016] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict perspective views of two example individual building block ball run basic components along with labels for their respective dimensions, according to the principles of the present invention. Each component is made from a building block 1 of rectangular prism shape. Each component has an integrally formed, recessed surface disposed in a portion thereof which defines a flat-bottomed or U-shaped passageway or ball run channel 2 between sides of the block. The building blocks may be solid or hollow, and are usually made of a rigid material such as wood or plastic, but could be made of other suitable materials.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross section of the block shown in FIG. 1. and shows the specific set of relationships among the dimensions of the building block and the ball run channels formed therein. For any given unit of length, the depth of the ball channel Dc will be one unit. The width of the ball channel W.sub.C will be two units and will be centered relative to the width of the overall building block W.sub.B. The height of the building block H.sub.B will be two units. The width of the building block W.sub.B will be four units. The length of the block L.sub.B, shown in FIG. 1, will be any integer multiple of units.
[0018] FIG. 4, depicts a cross section of two building block ball run basic components, shown in FIG. 1, stacked to form a tube. As shown in FIG. 4, when stacked properly, two such basic components will together create a tube whose opening has an approximately square cross section with sides equal to two times the depth of the ball channel Dc.
[0019] It can be appreciated from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that although one example component has a straight ball channel and the other example component has a curved ball channel, both components share dimensions for depth of ball channel Dc, width of ball channel W.sub.C, height of block H.sub.B, width of block W.sub.B, and length of block L.sub.B. Coupled with the flat-bottom or U-shaped nature of the ball channel 2, this design not only allows the use of the building blocks in a similar manner to other ball run building blocks, but also extends the versatility and play value of the building block components by enabling additional configurations of blocks when building a ball run, and better enabling other creative uses of the blocks beyond a ball run, such as integration with other building blocks, as toy vehicle tracks, and as doll bridges, walkways, and furniture.
[0020] Additional building block ball run components of the system may vary from the basic component's dimensional relationships to accommodate interesting shapes and obstacles such as ramps, tunnels, bridges, funnels, curves, and intersections, but will have one or more ball channel openings on one or more faces of the block that align to those of the basic component.
