Building blocks and building block assemblies
11123651 · 2021-09-21
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
A63H17/262
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63H33/086
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A63H33/08
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A building block assembly (50) comprises a first module (50A) and a second module (50B) which are in detachable engagement, wherein the first module (50A) and the second module (50B) are mechanically connected and relatively rotatable about a rotation axis. The first module (50A) is a building block module comprising a first building block and a second building block which are snap fastened or press fastened to form a building block stack. The second module (50B) is mechanically retained by the first module (50A) in a retention state upon snap fastening of the first building block and the second building block in a connection direction defined by a connection axis which is coaxial with the rotation axis to form the building block stack.
Claims
1. A building block assembly comprising a first module and a second module which are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis which defines an axial direction, wherein the first module is a building block module comprising a first building block and a second building block which are snap fastened to form a building block stack, wherein the first building block comprises a first connection surface, a plurality of snap connectors on the first connection surface, and a first peripheral surface extending around the first connection surface and surrounding the rotation axis; and the second building block comprises a second connection surface, a plurality of snap connectors on the second connection surface, and a second peripheral surface extending around the second connection surface and surrounding the rotation axis; wherein the building block stack is mechanically retained by the second module upon snap fastening of the first building block and the second building block in a connection direction defined by a connection axis which is coaxial with the rotation axis; wherein the first connection surface of the first building block and the second connection surface of the second building block are in abutment contact at a connection plane when the first building block and the second building block are in snap-fit connection; wherein a gap is present between the building block stack and the second module to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; wherein the first module comprises a first retention portion having a first retention profile extending in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and the second module comprises a second retention portion having a second retention profile extending in the radial direction, and wherein the first retention portion and the second retention portion cooperate to form a retention means to contain relative axial movement between the first module and the second module in the axial direction within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; and wherein the first peripheral surface of the first building block defines a first partial retention portion, the second peripheral surface of the second building block defines a second partial retention portion on the second building block, and the first peripheral surface and the second peripheral surface cooperate to define the first retention portion and the first retention profile; and wherein the first partial retention portion and the second partial retention portion are stacked in a stacking direction along a stacking axis to form the first retention portion, the stacking axis being aligned with the rotation axis.
2. The building block assembly of claim 1, wherein the first module has axial ends and a first peripheral wall interconnecting the axial ends, wherein the first peripheral wall has an outer peripheral surface which is formed by the first peripheral surface and the second peripheral surface axially combined; wherein the second module has axial ends and a second peripheral wall interconnecting the axial ends, wherein the first retention portion has a first retention profile formed on the first peripheral wall, and the second retention portion has a second retention profile formed on the second peripheral wall, the second retention profile being complementary to the first retention profile.
3. The building block assembly of claim 2, wherein the axial ends of the first module comprise a first axial end having a first end surface and a second axial end having a second end surface, wherein a plurality of snap connectors are distributed on at least one of the first end surface or the second end surface, and wherein the snap connectors are distributed along a circular track and surround the rotation axis.
4. The building block assembly of claim 3, wherein the snap connectors are ball-shaped connectors.
5. The building block assembly of claim 3, wherein the second module comprises an inner peripheral wall, a cylindrical bore defined by the inner peripheral wall, and an outer peripheral wall surrounding the inner peripheral wall; and wherein a plurality of ball receptacles for receiving bearing balls is formed on the inner peripheral wall.
6. The building block assembly of claim 5, wherein the second module comprises a third building block and a fourth building block which are snap fastened to form a building block assembly, and wherein each one of the third building block and the fourth building block has a main body defining a cylindrical bore which is coaxial with the rotation axis.
7. The building block assembly of claim 6, wherein the second module surrounds the first module, wherein the first module comprises a main body having a circular inner aperture, and wherein a building block of the second module comprises a main body comprising a main panel having a top panel surface and bottom panel surface, an outer peripheral wall surrounding the main panel, a plurality of snap connectors formed on the top panel surface and a plurality of snap connectors formed on the bottom surface.
8. The building block assembly of claim 7, wherein the building blocks forming the first module and the second module are made of a rigid material, and wherein the first module and the second module are in loose fit.
9. The building block assembly of claim 3, wherein the second module comprises an inner peripheral wall, a cylindrical bore defined by the inner peripheral wall, and an outer peripheral wall surrounding the inner peripheral wall; and wherein a plurality of ball receptacles for receiving bearing balls is formed on the outer peripheral wall.
10. The building block assembly of claim 1, wherein the first building block comprises a second connection surface, a plurality of snap connectors on the second connection surface, and the first peripheral surface surrounding the plurality of snap connectors on the second connection surface.
11. The building block assembly of claim 1, wherein the first module has a first axial end, a second axial end, and a first peripheral wall interconnecting the first and second axial ends, and wherein a plurality of snap connectors are formed on one or both of the axial ends.
12. A building block assembly comprising a first module and a second module which are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis which defines an axial direction, wherein the first module is a building block module comprising a first building block and a second building block which are snap fastened to form a building block stack, wherein the building block stack is mechanically retained by the second module upon snap fastening of the first building block and the second building block in a connection direction defined by a connection axis which is coaxial with the rotation axis, wherein a gap is present between the building block stack and the second module to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; wherein the first module comprises a first retention portion having a first retention profile extending in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and the second module comprises a second retention portion having a second retention profile extending in the radial direction, and wherein the first retention portion and the second retention portion cooperate to form a retention means to contain relative axial movement between the first module and the second module in the axial direction within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; wherein the first retention portion comprises a first partial retention portion on the first building block and a second partial retention portion on the second building block, and wherein the first partial retention portion and the second partial retention portion are stacked in a stacking direction along a stacking axis to form the first retention portion, the stacking axis being aligned with the rotation axis; and wherein the second module has a first end surface on a first axial end, a second end surface on a second axial end, and a peripheral portion interconnecting the first axial end and the second axial end; wherein the peripheral portion comprises a peripheral wall having an inner peripheral surface and the second retention portion of the second module projects radially inwards from the inner peripheral surface and extends towards the rotation axis to define the second retention portion of the second module.
13. The building block assembly of claim 12, wherein the second retention portion of the second module defines a plane of protrusion which is orthogonal to the rotation axis, wherein the first retention portion of the first module comprises a peripherally expending channel which extends in a peripheral direction to surround the rotation axis, and wherein the channel and the protrusion are matched.
14. The building block assembly of claim 13, wherein the second retention portion comprises a peripherally extending rib projecting from the inner peripheral surface and extending radially inwards towards the rotation axis.
15. The building block assembly of claim 13, wherein the second retention portion comprises a plurality of protuberances and the protuberances are distributed along the inner peripheral surface and extend radially inwards to define a protrusion plane.
16. The building block assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of protuberances is an axis-symmetrical protrusion having a circular base and an axis of symmetry, wherein the axis of symmetry is a center axis passing through the circular base; and wherein the center axes of the plurality of protuberances cooperate to define a plane of symmetry of the second module.
17. The building block assembly of claim 12, wherein the second retention portion has a retention profile, and the retention profile has a maximum radial extent; and wherein the gap between the second module and the building block stack of the first module has a width which is between 1% and 5% of the maximum radial extent.
18. The building block assembly of claim 12, wherein a plurality of snap connectors is formed on at least one of the first end surface or the second end surface, and wherein the snap connectors are distributed in a circular track coaxial with and surrounding the rotation axis.
19. The building block assembly of claim 18, wherein the snap connectors on an end surface of the second module are distributed at uniform spacing.
20. A building block assembly comprising a first module and a second module which are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis which defines an axial direction, wherein the first module is a building block module comprising a first building block and a second building block which are snap fastened to form a building block stack, wherein the building block stack is mechanically retained by the second module upon snap fastening of the first building block and the second building block in a connection direction defined by a connection axis which is coaxial with the rotation axis, wherein a gap is present between the building block stack and the second module to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; wherein the first module comprises a first retention portion having a first retention profile extending in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and the second module comprises a second retention portion having a second retention profile extending in the radial direction, and wherein the first retention portion and the second retention portion cooperate to form a retention means to contain relative axial movement between the first module and the second module in the axial direction within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module about the rotation axis; wherein the first retention portion comprises a first partial retention portion on the first building block and a second partial retention portion on the second building block, and wherein the first partial retention portion and the second partial retention portion are stacked in a stacking direction along a stacking axis to form the first retention portion, the stacking axis being aligned with the rotation axis; and wherein the first retention portion of the first module comprises a peripherally extending channel, wherein the second retention portion of the second module comprises a peripherally extending rib, and wherein the peripherally extending channel forms a bearing race along which the peripherally extending rib is to slide to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module.
Description
FIGURES
(1) The disclosure is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
(2)
(3) FIG. 1A1 is an exploded view of the assembly of
(4) FIG. 1A2 is a perspective view taken from another axial end of the assembly of
(5) FIG. 1A3 is a plan view of the assembly of
(6) FIG. 1A4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12) FIG. 1D1 is a plan view of the module of
(13) FIG. 1D2 is a cross-sectional view of the module of
(14) FIG. 1D3 is a cross-sectional view of example module compatible to the module of FIG. 1D2,
(15)
(16)
(17) FIG. 2A1 is an exploded view of the assembly of
(18) FIG. 2A2 is a plan view of the assembly of
(19) FIG. 2A3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of
(20)
(21) FIG. 2B2 is a side elevation view of the building block module of
(22)
(23) FIGS. 2C2 and 2C3 are plan views taken from opposite axial ends of the module of
(24) FIG. 2D1 is a bottom view of the example building block of
(25) FIG. 2D2 is a bottom view of the example building block of
(26)
(27)
(28) FIG. 3A1 is an exploded view of the module of
(29)
(30)
(31)
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35) FIGS. 5C1, 5C2 and 5C3 are perspective and elevation views of the building block 580 of the building block module 50B, and
(36) FIGS. 5D1, 5D2 and 5D3 are perspective and elevation views of the building block 580 of the building block module 50B.
DESCRIPTION
(37) An example building block assembly 10 comprises a first module 10A and a second module 10B which are releasably fastened to form the assembly 10, as depicted in
(38) The first building block 110 comprises a main body having a first surface 112, a second surface 113 and a peripheral surface 114 extending between the first surface 112 and the second surface 113. Referring to FIGS. 1A1, 1A4, 1B, 1B1, and 1BC, a plurality of snap connectors 116 is formed on the first surface 112 to form a first connection means and define a first connection surface of the first building block 110. Each snap connector 116 comprises a connection portion having a coupling axis which is characteristic of the connection portion. The connection portion comprises an engagement portion having mechanical mating features for entering into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a matched corresponding connector. The first connection means of the first connection surface defines a connection direction along which the first connection means is to enter into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement means on a corresponding connection surface of a matched corresponding connector.
(39) One connector 117 or a plurality of connectors 117 is formed on the second surface 113 which is a second connection surface of the first building block 110, as depicted in FIG. 1B1. The connectors 117 are optionally press-fit connectors such as snap-fit connectors, but can be or can comprise other types of mechanical connectors having releasable engagement features.
(40) The first surface 112 is the top panel surface of a panel portion of the main body having a top panel surface and a bottom panel surface. The peripheral surface 114 is the outer peripheral surface of a peripheral portion of the main body, the peripheral portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface which surrounds the inner peripheral surface. The bottom panel surface and the inner peripheral surface of a peripheral portion of the main body cooperate to define an internal compartment of the main body. The connectors 117 project from the bottom panel surface and extend in an axial direction of the coupling axes of the connectors 117 to approach a transversal plane defined by the second surface 113. The second surface 113 is defined by the bottom edge of the peripheral wall portion of the main body. The bottom edge of the peripheral wall portion of the main body defines a main access aperture for entry into the internal compartment and to the connectors 117.
(41) In this example, each of the first surface and the second surface is an axis symmetrical surface in the form of a circular surface which is axis symmetrical about a center axis, and the center axis of the first surface and the second surface are coaxial. In some embodiments, each of the first surface and the second surface may be a substantially axis symmetrical regular polygon such as a square or a regular polygon having more than 4 equal sides. For example, the regular polygon may have, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, equal sides. The first surface and the second surface are preferably coaxial when the assembly is to operate as a rotation assembly.
(42) The peripheral portion is a radial outward projection which projects radially outwards from the outer periphery of the first surface 112. The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral portion extends axially downwards as it projects radially outwards to join the second surface 113 at an axial end of the first building block 110, as the second surface 113 is a radially enlarged surface compared to the first surface 112. The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral portion follows a curved profile to form a concaved peripheral portion as it extends from the first surface 112 towards the second surface 113. The outer peripheral surface changes from a curved profile to a straight profile as it extends further away from the first surface 112 to join the second surface 113. As depicted in
(43) The second building block 130 comprises a main body having a first surface 132, a second surface 133 and a peripheral surface 134 extending between the first surface 132 and second surface 133, as depicted in FIGS. 1A1, 1A4, 10, 101, plurality of snap connectors 136 is formed on the first surface 132 to form a first connection means and define a first connection surface of the second building block 130. Each snap connector 136 comprises a connection portion having a coupling axis which is characteristic of the connection portion. The connection portion comprises an engagement portion having mechanical mating features for entering into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a matched corresponding connector. The first connection means of the first connection surface defines a connection direction along which the first connection means is to enter into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement means on a corresponding connection surface of a matched corresponding connector, for example, the first connection means on the first surface 112 of the first building block 110.
(44) One connector 137 or a plurality of connectors 137 is formed on the second surface 133 which is a second connection surface of the second building block 130. The connectors 137 are optionally press-fit connectors such as snap-fit connectors, but can be or can comprise other types of mechanical connectors having releasable engagement features.
(45) The second surface 133 is the bottom panel surface of a panel portion of the main body having a top panel surface and a bottom panel surface. The peripheral surface 134 is the outer peripheral surface of a peripheral portion of the main body, the peripheral portion having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface which surrounds the inner peripheral surface. The bottom panel surface and the inner peripheral surface of a peripheral portion of the main body cooperate to define an internal compartment of the main body. The connectors 136 project from the bottom panel surface and extend in an axial direction of the coupling axes of the connectors 136 to approach a transversal plane defined by the first surface 132.
(46) The first surface 132 is defined by the bottom edge of the peripheral wall portion of the main body. The bottom edge of the peripheral wall portion of the main body defines a main access aperture for entry into the internal compartment and to the connectors 136.
(47) In this example, each of the first surface and the second surface is an axis symmetrical surface in the form of a circular surface which is axis symmetrical about a center axis, and the center axis of the first surface and the second surface are coaxial. In some embodiments, each of the first surface and the second surface may be a substantially axis symmetrical regular polygon such as a square or a regular polygon having more than 4 equal sides. For example, the regular polygon may have 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, equal sides. The first surface and the second surface are preferably coaxial when the assembly is to operate as a rotation assembly.
(48) The peripheral portion is a radial outward projection which projects radially outwards from the outer periphery of the first surface. The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral portion extends axially upwards as it projects radially outwards to join the second surface 133 at an upper axial end of the main body, as the second surface 133 is a radially enlarged surface compared to the first surface 132. The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral portion follows a curved profile to form a concaved peripheral portion as it extends from the first surface towards the second surface. The outer peripheral surface changes from a curved profile to a straight profile as it extends further away from the first surface 132 to join the second surface 133. As depicted in
(49) In this example, the main body of the first building block 110 and the main body of the second building block 130 are mirror symmetrical about the connection plane or identical. With the mirror symmetry, the first surface 112 of the first building block 110 and the first surface 132 of the second first building block 130 have same dimensions and are matched surfaces, the second surface 113 of the first building block 110 and the second surface 133 of the second building block 130 have the same dimensions and are matched surfaces, and the peripheral portions of the first building block 110 and the second first building block 130 are mirror symmetrical about the connection plane.
(50) The first connection means of the first building block 110 and the first connection means of the second building block 130 are matched and complementary snap connection means which are snap connectible to form a snap connection.
(51) In the example, the first connection means of the first building block 110 and the first connection means of the second building block 130 are snap joined with the corresponding first connection surfaces of the first building block and the second building block in abutment contact at the connection plane to form the example first module 10A. When the first building block 110 and the second building block 130 are snap joined, the first building block 110 and the second building block 130 are stack-connected with their corresponding first connection surfaces aligned with a common center axis and in abutment contact to form the connection plane.
(52) When the first connection means of the component building blocks of the assembly, that is, the first building block 110 and the second building block 130, are snap connected to form the assembly, the first connection means of the first building block 110 and the corresponding first connection means of the second building block 130 are snap connected with the first connection surfaces of the component building blocks in abutment. When in such an abutment state, the first connection means of the first building block is inside the internal compartment of the second building block 130, and the first connection means is also referred to as an internal connection means for ease of reference. On the other hand, the connection means on the second surfaces are for making external connection and will be referred to as an external connection means for ease of reference.
(53) Referring to
(54) The first module 10A comprises a first retention portion which is to cooperate with a second retention portion of the second module 10B to form the retention means of the assembly and to retain or maintain the first module 10A and the second module 10B in an interlocked but relatively rotatable relationship, as depicted more particularly in
(55) A first retention portion in this example has a first retention profile in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis and a second retention portion has a second retention profile in the radial direction. The first retention profile and the second retention profile are complementary profiles which cooperate to restrain or resist relative movement between the first module and the second module in the axial direction or to contain the relative movement within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module in the rotation direction. To facilitate rotatable retention in the aforesaid manner, that is to maintain the modules in interlocked relationship while permitting relative rotation in the rotation plane, the modules are slightly in a loose fit with a peripheral gap with a very tight tolerance.
(56) In an example, the building block assembly 10 is configured as a toy wheel having an outer diameter of, in unit of cm, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30 or more, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges, and the gap may be, in unit of mm, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.125, 0.15, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, 0.5, 1, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges.
(57) In general, the gap may relate to the maximum radial extent of the retention profile, in percentage terms, of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges.
(58) The first retention portion of the first module 10A is a peripherally extending retention means for retaining the second module 10B. The first retention portion is formed by stacked connection of the corresponding partial peripheral retention portions of the first building block 110 and the second building block 130 with the corresponding first connection surfaces of the first building block and the second building block in abutment contact. Referring to
(59) The example peripheral retention means of the first module 10A comprises a peripherally extending channel, or a peripheral channel in short. The peripheral channel is an elongate groove that extends radially with respect to the rotation axis and peripherally along a radial plane in a peripheral direction which is orthogonal to the rotation axis to surround the smaller one of the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral direction being orthogonal to the rotation axis. The channel has a retention profile in the radial direction.
(60) In this example, the retention profile is in the form of a radial indentation. The example indentation is a tapered indentation which tapers to narrow as the indentation extends radially inwards towards the rotation axis and has a rounded indentation end at its innermost radial end. As the indentation is tapered, the axial extent (with respect to the rotation axis) of the aperture of the indentation decreases as it extends inwardly towards the rotation axis. In this example, the retention profile proximal the rotation axis follows a concave curve which is symmetrical about the joining plane. A round retention profile, for example, a rounded retention profile or a curved retention profile would help reduce friction and improves relative rotatability. In some embodiments, the indentation may have a non-rounded profile, for example, an angular profile defined by some sides of a polygon without loss of generality. To enhance relative rotatability, the correspondence proximal surfaces of the correspond retention means of the first module 10A and the second module 10B are low friction surfaces, for example, are made of a low friction material such as ABS, PC, and/or polished to form smooth and low friction surfaces.
(61) In this example, the retention profile is uniform in the peripheral direction to facilitate complete circular revolutions about the rotation axis, the peripheral direction being tangential to the retention profile as depicted in FIG. 1D2. Where the relative rotation is to be limited to within an angular range smaller than 360 degrees, the uniform retention profile may extend only for a portion of the periphery of the first module 10A to limit the range of relative rotation.
(62) In this example, the peripheral channel forms a bearing race along which the peripheral rib is to slide to the peripheral channel to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module.
(63) A plurality of snap connectors is distributed on the first connection surface of the first building block and a corresponding plurality of snap connectors is distributed on the first connection surface of the second building block and the snap connectors on the first connection surfaces of the first building block and the second building block are to enter into snap engagement to form the first module.
(64) The snap connectors 116, 117, 136, 137 on the first connection surface of the example building blocks 110 and 130 are distributed in a circular manner and surrounds the rotation axis X-X′. In some embodiments, the first connection surface includes a snap connector having its coupling axis aligned with the rotation axis as an addition to the plurality of snap connectors or as a sole snap connector on the first connection surface. The snap connector on the rotation axis may be a ball connector having more than one coupling directions to permit more flexible connection.
(65) The snap connectors 116, 117, 136, 137 on the same first connection surface or on the same second connection surface are of the same gender. For example, the snap connectors 117 and 136 are female snap connectors and the snap connectors 116 and 137 are male snap connectors. In some embodiments, the snap connectors on a first connection surface or on a second connection surface can comprise both male snap connectors and female snap connectors. A connection surface comprising both male and female snap connections is a hybrid connection surface. A building block having a hybrid first connection surface is advantageous, since, for example, building blocks having identical hybrid first connection surfaces can be snap connected, and this would reduce the number of component or component first connection surfaces. The snap connectors 116, 117, 136, 137 on the first connection surface of the example building blocks 110 and 130 are distributed in a circle or at corners of a square. Where snap connectors are distributed with even or uniform spacing on a circle or where snap connectors are distributed on four corners of a square, and with adjacent snap connectors having opposite mating genders, a pair of identical hybrid connection surface can be snap joined.
(66) As a further example, where snap connectors are distributed with even or uniform spacing on a circle or where snap connectors are distributed on four corners of a square, and where the snap connectors are on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry, and the snap connectors on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry are of opposite mating genders, a pair of identical hybrid connection surface can be snap joined.
(67) When on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry are of opposite mating genders, the identical hybrid first connection surfaces can be snap connected. For example, where the building blocks 110 and 130 have identical hybrid connection surfaces snap connectors are distributed with even or uniform spacing on a circle or where snap connectors are distributed on four corners of a square, a pair of identical hybrid connection surface can be snap joined.
(68) The first module 10A is to cooperate with the second module 10B to form the example assembly 10 in which the first module 10A and the second module 10B are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis X-X′. The rotation axis is also a center axis of the assembly in this example such that the assembly 10 is axis symmetry about the rotation axis.
(69) The second module 10B comprises a main body having a first axial end 162, a second axial end 164 and a peripheral portion 166 interconnecting the first axial end and the second axial end, as depicted in
(70) The peripheral portion 166 includes a peripheral wall extending in a peripheral direction and following a circular path having a center axis which is coaxial with the center axis X-X′ of the first module 10A. The peripheral wall has an inner peripheral surface 166A and an outer peripheral surface 166B surrounding the inner peripheral surface. Each of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface is a cylindrical surface of cylinder having the center axis as the cylindrical axis and the radial separation distance between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface defines a radial thickness of the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall has a substantial uniform radial thickness along the axial direction except at the second retention portion. The peripheral wall has an axial extent, measured in an axial direction along the center axis, which is comparable to the axial extent of the first module 10A. The axial extent defines the width of the peripheral wall.
(71) The second module 10B comprises a second retention portion which is formed on the peripheral wall. The second retention portion has a second retention profile which is characteristic of the second retention portion. The second retention profile is matched and complementary to the first retention profile of the first retention portion of the first module 10A to facilitate relative rotation between the first module and the second module about a rotation axis which is coaxial with the center axis of the second module or at a small angular deviation to the center axis X-X′.
(72) In this example, the retention means is a peripheral protrusion which extends continuously along the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall in a peripheral direction to define a protrusion plane which is orthogonal to the center axis, the peripheral direction being a tangential direction to the circle defining the circular peripheral wall. The peripheral protrusion comprises a peripherally extending rib 168 which projects from the inner peripheral surface and extends radially inwards towards the center axis.
(73) Referring to FIG. 1D1, the inner periphery of the rib 168 defines a circular inner aperture. The inner aperture defines a maximum radial clearance extent of the second module 10B, and the maximum radial clearance extent is slightly larger than the radial extent of the first module 10A at the joining plane, the radial extent being a lateral extent defined by an axial plane containing the center axis as shown in FIG. 1D2.
(74) Referring to FIG. 1D2, the example retention profile of the rib 168 as an example of the second retention portion is in the form of a radial protrusion. The example protrusion is a tapered protrusion which tapers to narrow as the protrusion extends radially inwards towards the rotation axis and has a rounded protrusion end at its innermost radial end. As the protrusion is tapered, the axial extent (with respect to the rotation axis) of the protrusion decreases as it extends inwardly towards the rotation axis. In this example, the retention profile proximal the rotation axis follows a convex curve which is symmetrical about a radial dividing plane.
(75) With a round retention profile, for example, a rounded retention profile or a curved retention profile which is matched and complementary with the rounded profile of the first retention portion while having a small gap with a tightly controlled tolerance, inter-module friction will be reduced and relative rotatability improved. In some embodiments, the protrusion may have a non-rounded profile, for example, an angular profile defined by some sides of a polygon without loss of generality. To enhance relative rotatability, the exterior surface of the second retention portion may be polished and/or coated with PTE to form a low friction surface. In this example, the man body is integrally molded of a low friction thermoplastic such as ABS or PC.
(76) To form the assembly, a user may insert the first building block 110 into the second module 10B, for example, by inserting the first surface 112 of the first building block 110 into a first access aperture on the first axial end 162 of the second module 10B; to insert the second building block 130 into the second module 10B, for example, by inserting the first surface 132 of the second building block 130 into a second access aperture on the second axial end 164 of the second module 10B with the first connection means and the second alignment means aligned. By pressing the aligned first and second building blocks axially against each other while the connection means aligned, the first building block 110 and the second building block 130 are snap connected to form the example building block assembly 10A.
(77) The assembly may be connected to an outside structure by means of the connections means 117, 137 on one second surface or both second surfaces of the first and second building blocks. When the assembly is so connected and the outside structure is not rotatable, the second module 10B will rotate relative to the outside structure about the rotation axis when the non-rotating outside structure slides on a frictional surface. When the assembly is connected to an outside structure which is rotatable about the rotation axis of the assembly, with the second module 10B fixed or held on a frictional surface, the outside structure, for example, a wheel axle, will rotate relative to the second module 10B when the outside structure rotates about the rotation axis.
(78) In this example, the second module has an overall shape of a rubber tyre of a road vehicle so that the assembly resembles the overall impression of a wheel of the vehicle.
(79) When the first module 10A and the second module 10B are in relative rotation with the center axis as the rotation axis, the peripherally extending rib on the second module will slide along and guided by the peripherally extending channel of the first module. In operation, the peripherally extending channel resembles a bearing race and the peripherally extending rib resembles blade bearing or bearing blade.
(80) The example second module 10B is integrally formed as a single piece. In some embodiments, the second module may comprise a first building block and a second building block which are stacked to join at a connection plane CP-CP′, as depicted in FIG. 1D3. When the second module is formed from discrete building blocks, the first module can be an integral module or can comprise discrete block.
(81) A first module 10A1 can be formed by stacking the first building block 110 and the second building block 130 in a different manner. In this example configuration, the surface 113 of the first building block 110 is in abutment with the surface 133 of the second building block 130, as depicted in
(82) Referring to
(83) The first retention portion is to cooperate with a second retention portion of a corresponding second module to retain or maintain the first module 10A1 and the corresponding second module in an interlocked but relatively rotatable relationship.
(84) The first retention portion has a first retention profile in a radial direction, the radial direction being with respect to the rotation axis, and the second retention portion has a second retention profile in the radial direction. The first retention profile and the second retention profile are complementary profiles which cooperate to restrain or resist relative movement between the first module and the second module in the axial direction or to contain the relative movement within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module in the rotation direction. To facilitate rotatable retention in the aforesaid manner, that is to maintain the modules in interlocked relationship while permitting relative rotation in the rotation plane, the modules are slightly in a loose fit with a peripheral gap with a very tight tolerance.
(85) Likewise. the first retention portion of the example first module 10A1 is a peripherally extending retention means for retaining a corresponding matched second module. The first retention portion is formed by stacked connection of the corresponding partial peripheral retention portions of the component building blocks 110, 130, with the corresponding first connection surfaces of the component building blocks in abutment contact.
(86) Referring to
(87) The first retention portion has a characteristic retention profile and the retention profile of the first retention portion of the first module 10A1 is in the form of a radial protrusion. The example protrusion is a tapered protrusion which tapers to narrow as the protrusion extends radially outwards and away from the axial ends of the building block from which the protrusion begins. The tapered protrusion ends at the outermost radial end of the retention means where a flat end is formed. The axial extent (with respect to the rotation axis) of the protrusion decreases as it extends outwards away from the rotation axis.
(88) The retention profile of the protrusion in the radial direction is shown in
(89) An example corresponding second module suitable for cooperating with the example first module 10A1 would be similar to that of module 10B, except that the peripherally extending rib 168 is to be replaced by a peripherally extending channel. With the replacement of the peripherally extending rib by a peripherally extending channel, the radial thickness of the second module at its axial ends will be substantially larger than that of the module 10A to accommodate the radial extent of the channel. While the maximum radial extent of the module 10A is defined by the retention means, and more particularly the outer periphery of the peripherally extending channel 168, the maximum radial extent of the module 10A1 is defined by the radial extent of the peripheral rib of the module 10A1.
(90) The peripherally extending channel is devised to have a radial profile which is substantially matched with the radial profile of the protrusion of the first retention portion to retain or maintain the first module 10A1 and the corresponding second module in an interlocked but relatively rotatable relationship as described hereinbefore. To facilitate rotatable retention in the aforesaid manner, the first module 10A1 and the corresponding second module 10B are somewhat loosely fitted together so that a small gap is present between the first retention portion and the second retention portion, as described hereinabove, and the related description is incorporated by reference and to apply mutatis mutandis.
(91) When the first module 10A1 and the corresponding second module are in relative rotation with the center axis as the rotation axis, the peripherally extending rib on the first module 10A will slide along and guided by the peripherally extending channel of the second module. In operation, the peripherally extending channel is a continuous channel resembling a bearing race and the peripherally extending rib resembles and functions as a blade bearing or a bearing blade.
(92) The peripheral extending rib of the example modules 10A1, 10B is a continuous rib extending in the peripheral direction to cooperate with the continuous peripheral extending channel on a corresponding module to facilitate guided relative rotation in a rotation plane. In some embodiments, a plurality of discrete protrusions is formed as a retention portion to replace the continuous rib so that the second module comprises a second retention portion having discrete retention members distributed along the connection plane, which is also a retention plane.
(93) An example second module 10B1 which is matched with a corresponding first module having a continuous peripheral extending channel such as a first module of the same type as the first module 10A is depicted in
(94) The example protuberance 1681 is an axis symmetrical protrusion having a circular base which is integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral and a rounded top, the axis of symmetry being a center axis which passes through the circular base and intersects the rotation axis. The protuberance 1681 is a tapered protrusion which projects radially from the circular base and extends radially towards the rotation axis and having a retention profile which substantially matches, (that is, slightly loosely matches or matches with a small clearance), the retention profile of the first retention portion of a corresponding first module to facilitate retention and relative rotation in the aforesaid manner. Optionally, the protuberances 1681 are evenly distributed along the inner peripheral surface 168A1, with the center axes of the protuberances 1681 aligned in a radial plane which is preferably a radial plane of symmetry of the main body of the second module.
(95) Likewise, the continuous rib of the first module 10A1 may be replaced by a plurality of discrete protrusions in a similar manner to form a first module having a first retention portion comprising protuberances similar to the protuberance 1681 without loss of generality.
(96) A protuberance of a first retention portion or a second retention portion may not be axis symmetrical. For example, the protuberance may have a uniform retention profile in the peripheral direction without loss of generality. In the example of assemblies built from the first module 1010A1, 10B, the protuberance has a tapered radial profile. In some embodiments, the radial profile can be flared.
(97) An example building block assembly 20 depicted in
(98) The first module 20A comprises a first axial end, a second axial end and a peripheral portion interconnecting the first axial end and the second axial end, as shown in
(99) The second module 20B comprises a first building block 260, a second building block 280 which are snap fastened and joined on a connection plane, and a plurality of bearing balls which is trapped on the second module 20B.
(100) The second module 20B comprises a first axial end, a second axial end and a peripheral portion interconnecting the first axial end and the second axial end, as shown in
(101) The first module 20A has a radial extent which is just slightly smaller than the radial extent of the cylindrical bore of the second module 20B. The radial extent of the first module 20A is just slightly smaller than the radial extent of the cylindrical bore such that the first module 20A can pass through the cylindrical ball while in close abutment with the cylindrical bore.
(102) A plurality of bearing balls 500 is retained on the second module 20B. The plurality of bearing balls is retained by a corresponding plurality of ball receptacles 258 in the intermediate peripheral portion. Each bearing ball seats on the ball receptacle 258 and is freely rotatable relative to the ball receptacle and relative to the second module. An example bearing ball is made of steel, ABS or PC (polycarbonate). A major portion of the bearing ball is retained inside the intermediate peripheral portion. A minor portion of the bearing ball is outside the ball receptacle and protrudes outside the intermediate peripheral portion through the ball receptacle aperture. The portion of the bearing ball which protrudes outside the intermediate peripheral portion of the second module 20B is exposed and projects radially inwards from the inner peripheral wall 254 and extends radially inwards towards the rotation axis. The bearing ball is freely rotatable to facilitate low-friction relative rotation between the first module 20A and the second module 20B. In some embodiments, the bearing balls may be non-rotatable relative to the ball receptacle and/or the second module. The plurality of bearing balls forms a second retention portion of the building block assembly 20.
(103) The first building block 260 of the second module 20B comprises a main body having a first surface 262, a second surface 263, an intermediate peripheral portion defined between an inner peripheral wall 264 and an outer peripheral wall 265. Each of the inner peripheral wall 264 and the outer peripheral wall 265 extends between the first surface 262 and the second surface 263. The inner peripheral wall 264 extends along a circular track with the rotation axis as center of the circular track. The outer peripheral wall 265 is concentric with the inner peripheral wall 264 and extends along a circular track to surround the inner peripheral wall 264.
(104) A plurality of snap connectors 266 is formed on the first surface 262 of the first building block 260 to form a first connection means and define a first connection surface of the first building block 260. The snap connectors 266 are distributed along a circular track with equal or uniform spacing between adjacent snap connectors 266, this circular track being concentric with the inner peripheral wall 264. The snap connectors 266 are located about half-way between the inner peripheral wall 264 and the outer peripheral wall 265.
(105) Each snap connector 266 comprises a connection portion having a coupling axis which is characteristic of the connection portion. The connection portion comprises an engagement portion having mechanical mating features for entering into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement portion of a matched corresponding connector. The first connection means of the first connection surface defines a connection direction along which the first connection means is to enter into snap engagement with a corresponding engagement means on a corresponding connection surface of a matched corresponding connector.
(106) A plurality of partial ball receptacles 268 is formed on the inner peripheral wall 264. Each partial ball receptacle 268 is an indentation formed on the intermediate peripheral portion of the first building block 260. The indentation is formed as a recess or a cutout which extends between the first surface 262 and the inner peripheral wall 264. Each indentation is defined by a receptacle wall having a partial spherical surface for receiving a spherical ball to define the shape of the partial ball receptacle. The receptacle wall forms a first receptacle aperture on the first surface and a second receptacle aperture on the inner peripheral wall. The partial ball receptacle 268 is shaped and sized to receive a bearing ball such that when the bearing ball is received, a major portion of the bearing ball is inside the intermediate peripheral portion while a minor portion of the bearing ball is outside the intermediate peripheral portion and projects away from the inner periphery surface, with the bearing ball freely rotatable. In general, the partial ball receptacle 268 defines a receptacle for receiving a half spherical segment having a segment height larger than the spherical radius, with a bisection defining the half spherical segment approximately on the first surface 262. The partial ball receptacles are optionally distributed at a uniform spacing to promotion axis evenness and balance of the assembly. A partial ball receptacle is an example of a peripheral formation on the peripheral wall of the building block.
(107) The second building block 280 comprises a main body having a first surface 282, a second surface 283, an inner peripheral wall 284 and an outer peripheral wall 285. Each of the inner peripheral wall 284 and the outer peripheral wall 285 extends between the first surface 282 and the second surface 284 to define an intermediate peripheral portion 287. The inner peripheral wall 284 extends along a circular track with the rotation axis as center of the circular track and defines an inner aperture. Similar to the corresponding embodiments, the inner aperture is circular and defines a maximum radial clearance extent of the second module 20B. This maximum radial clearance extent is slightly larger than the radial extent of the first module 20A so that the first module can be mounted and retained inside the second module 20B with the first module 20A and the second module 20B relatively rotatable.
(108) The outer peripheral wall 285 is concentric with the inner peripheral wall 284 and extends along a circular track to surround the inner peripheral wall 284.
(109) A plurality of snap connectors 286 is formed on the first surface 282 of the second building block 280 to form a first connection means and define a first connection surface of the second building block 280. Each snap connector 286 has a connection portion having a characteristic coupling and an engagement portion having mechanical mating features characteristic of the connection portion. The first connection means of the second building block 280 is a matched counterpart connection means of the first connection means of the first building block 260 and are snap engageable to form a pair of snap engaged first connection means.
(110) The snap connectors 286 on the first connection surface 282 of the second building block 280 are distributed to correspond to the distribution of the snap connectors 266 on the first connection surface 262 of the first building block 260, and snap fasteners 266, 286 forming a pair of corresponding snap fasteners are coupling axes aligned with snap engageable engagement portions.
(111) The second surface 283 is the top surface of a panel portion having a top surface and a bottom surface which is underneath the top surface on an opposite axial side of the panel portion. The portion of this building block between the inner peripheral wall 284 and the bottom surface of the panel portion forms an internal compartment. The plurality of snap connectors 286 projects from axially downwards from the bottom surface of the panel portion and extend axially towards the first connection surface 282.
(112) A plurality of partial ball receptacles 288 is formed on the inner peripheral wall 284. The inner peripheral wall 284 is formed as a receptacle shelf on which the plurality of partial ball receptacles 288 is formed. The inner peripheral wall 284 is part of a shell wall which projects away from the bottom surface of the panel portion and extends axially towards the first connection surface 282. The plurality of partial ball receptacles is integrally formed as a corresponding plurality of ball receptacle indentations on the shell wall. The shell wall flares to widen as it extends away from the second surface 283 to define the partial ball receptacles. Likewise, the ball receptacles are shaped and dimensioned so that a minor portion of a bearing ball is exposed to a bore passing through the inner aperture defined by the inner peripheral wall 284. The shell wall thickness is optionally uniform and the shell wall follows a rippled profile as it extends in a peripheral direction to surround the inner aperture of the building block 280. The shell wall is a continuous wall in this example, but can be optionally non-continuous or broken. The substantially hollow building block results in a lower weight compared to the embodiments where the partial ball receptacles are formed as cutouts on a solid intermediate peripheral portion. This shell construction can be applied in place of the solid cutout option and vice versa without loss of generality.
(113) Likewise, each partial ball receptacle is an indentation formed on the intermediate peripheral portion 284. The indentation is formed as a recess which extends between the first surface 282 and the inner peripheral wall 284. The partial ball receptacle 288 has the same features and characteristics of the partial ball receptacle 268, and the description in relation of the partial ball receptacle 268 is incorporated herein and to apply mutatis mutandis to the partial ball receptacle 288 for succinctness. The partial ball receptacles 288 of the second building block 280 are distributed to correspond to the distribution of the partial ball receptacles 268 of the first building block 260 and have a manner of distribution which is the same or similar as that of the partial ball receptacles 268, and the manner of distribution of the partial ball receptacles 268 is incorporated herein and to apply mutatis mutandis to the distribution of the partial ball receptacles 288. The first building block 260 and the second building block 280 of the second module 20B are a pair of matched building blocks having matched first connection surfaces and matched first connection means that are snap connectable. When the matched building blocks 260, 280 are correspondingly aligned and snap connected, the corresponding matched first connection means are in snap engagement, the corresponding matched first connection surfaces are in abutment, the corresponding inner and outer peripheral walls are aligned and in abutment, and the corresponding partial ball receptacles 268, 288 are joined to cooperate to form the ball receptacles.
(114) When the matched building blocks 260, 280 are snap connected with the bearing balls in place and sitting squarely on the plurality of partial ball receptacles 268 or 288, the second module 20B is formed and the bearing balls are retained by the assembled ball receptacles. When in this assembled state, the portions of the bearing balls, that is, the minor portions of the bearing balls which project beyond the inner peripheral wall 258 and which project towards the rotation axis protrude radially inwards from the inner peripheral wall 258, are exposed.
(115) To assemble the building block assembly 20, the first module 20A is placed on a support surface with its first axial end facing upward. The first building block 260 of the second module 20B is then inserted into the first module 20A with its first connection surface 262 facing upwards. As the radial extent of the first module 20A is circular and just slightly smaller than the radial clearance of the cylindrical bore of the first building block 260, the first building block 260 can pass through the first module 20A and rest on the support surface, with the second surface of the first building block 260 flushed with the axial end of the first module 20A which is on the support surface. When the first building block 260 and the first module 20A are so aligned, the first connection surface 262 of the first building block 260 is flush with the first connection surface of the first building block or the connection surface of the first module 20A. When the surfaces are in this flush relationship, the bearing balls are placed on the partial ball receptacles 268. When the bearing balls are stable on the partial ball receptacles 268, the second building block 280 is inserted into the first module 20A, with its first connection surface 282 facing downwards and facing the first surface 262 of the first building block 260, and with their respective center axes aligned. Next, the first connection means on the first connection surfaces of the first 260 and second 280 building blocks are aligned and pressed together while the bearing balls are in place and the building block assembly 20 is formed.
(116) When in this assembled state, the exposed portions of the bearing balls, that is, the portions of the bearing balls which project beyond the inner peripheral wall and project towards the rotation axis will project into the interior of the first module. More specifically, the portions of the bearing balls which project beyond the inner peripheral wall and project towards the rotation axis will project into the interior of the peripheral extending channel the first module 20A.
(117) When in this assembled state, the portions of the bearing balls which project beyond the inner peripheral wall 258 and project into the interior of the peripheral extending channel of the first module 20A collectively define a second retention portion, with the peripheral extending channel of the first module 20A defining a first retention portion. The first retention portion and the second retention portion cooperate to form a retention means which restrains or resists relative movement between the first module and the second module in an axial direction of the rotation axis or to contain the relative movement within a tight tolerance while permitting relative rotation between the first module and the second module in a rotation direction defined by the rotation axis. The retention means also operates to maintain the first module 20A and the second module 20B in the retention state in which the first module and the second module are interlocked.
(118) In alternative embodiments, the ball receptacles are formed on the first module, the bearing balls are retained on the first module, and the peripheral extending groove is correspondingly formed on the second module.
(119) An example building block assembly 30 depicted in
(120) An example building block module 40 depicted in
(121) Apart from having radially projecting teeth on the outer peripheral walls, and that the outer peripheral walls have different radial extents, the first building block 460 and the second building block 480 have features which are substantially identical to the aforesaid first building block 260 and the aforesaid building block 280 and substantially identical inter-relationships, descriptions on and in relation to the aforesaid first and second building blocks and their relationship are incorporated herein and to apply mutatis mutandis without loss of generality and for the benefit of succinctness.
(122) An example building block assembly 50 depicted in Figures Sand 5A comprises a first module 50A and a second module 50B which are releasably fastened to form the assembly 50.
(123) The first module 50A and the second module 50B are relatively rotatable about a rotation axis. The first module 50A and the second module 50B are retained in the retention state by a retention means. When in the retention state, the first module 50A and the second module 50B are interlocked and maintained as a single assembly, with the first module 50A and the second module 50B relatively rotatable about the rotation axis.
(124) The first module 50A comprises a first axial end, a second axial end and a peripheral portion interconnecting the first axial end and the second axial end. The first module 50A is substantially identical to the module 10A and the description on and in relation to the module 10A is incorporated herein by reference.
(125) The second module 50B comprises a first building block 560, a second building block 580 which are snap fastened and joined on a connection plane, and a plurality of bearing balls which is trapped on the second module 50B. In addition, a plurality of bear ball receptacles 590 is formed on an exterior periphery of the second module 50B. The ball receptacle 590 is formed by combining a partial bear ball receptacle 568A on the building block 560 and a corresponding partial bear ball receptacle 588A on the building block 580. In this assembly 50, the building block connectors 566, 588 are the same type as those of the module 10A, that is, flat headed building block connectors 566, 588. Otherwise, the second module 50B is identical in description to module 20B and the description on and in relation to module 20B is incorporated herein reference and to apply mutatis mutandis to the module 50B unless the context requires otherwise, with reference numerals increased by 300 where appropriate or necessary.
(126) While the disclosure has made reference to various embodiments, the embodiments are as examples and should not be used to restrict the scope of the disclosure.
(127) For example, while the example assemblies are toy block assemblies for construction of toy wheels, toy gears, toy teethed wheel assemblies, the assemblies can be used to build other toy assemblies or non-toy assemblies.
(128) When used for toy applications as toy assemblies, the component building blocks have a typical radial extent (or width, or lateral extent) of between 1 cm and 15 cm and a typical axial extent (or thickness) or between 0.3 mm for a miniature block to 8 cm for what is called a mega block. For example, the radial extent can be, in units of cm, 1 for a miniature block, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 20, or more for a mega block, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges. For example, the axial extent can be, in units of cm, 1 for a miniature block, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, or more for a mega block, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges.
(129) When in toy applications, the component building blocks and/or their parts or components are made of ABS, PC, or other suitable strong thermoplastics having a high rigidity and a small degree of resilience to be slightly resiliently deformable to facilitate press-fit or snap-fit engagement.
(130) When for industrial uses, for example for modular construction of machines, buildings, structures, parts, the aforesaid values may be scaled up, in unit of times, by 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges; and the component building blocks may be made of strong thermoplastics, carbon fibers, fiber glass, or metals, or other moldable materials, having a high rigidity and a small degree of resilience.
(131) While assemblies of the building blocks have been described with reference to snap engagement or snap connection and snap connectors, the building blocks may be joined or connected by other press-fit mechanisms or methods without loss of generality where possible.
(132) While the disclosure has made reference to various embodiments, the embodiments are for example and should not be used to limit restrict the scope of the disclosure.
(133) For example, the example building blocks herein are toy building blocks for toy or toy-like applications and the building block assemblies are toy or toy-like building block assemblies. However, the building blocks herein can also be non-toy building blocks such as machine building blocks, construction building blocks such as tiles or bricks, and/or other industrial building blocks and the building block assemblies are modular built machines or machine parts, modular built structures, modular built structure parts, modular built structural parts, modular built fixture and/or fixture parts and/or fixture sub-assemblies.
(134) When used for toy applications as toy assemblies, the component building blocks have a typical radial extent (or width, or lateral extent) of between 1 cm and 15 cm and a typical axial extent (or thickness) or between 0.3 mm for a miniature block to 5 cm. For example, the radial extent can be, in units of cm, 1 for a miniature block, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 20, or more for a mega block, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges. For example, the axial extent can be, in units of cm, 1 for a miniature block, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, or more for a mega block, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges.
(135) When for industrial uses, for example for modular construction of machines, buildings, structures, parts, the aforesaid values may be scaled up, in unit of times, by 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, or a range or any ranges formed by a selected combination of any of the aforesaid values as limits of a range or limits of ranges; and the component building blocks may be made of strong thermoplastics, carbon fibres, fibre glass, or metals, or other mouldable materials, having a high rigidity and a small degree of resilience.
(136) While assemblies of the building blocks have been described with reference to snap engagement or snap connection and snap connectors, the building blocks may be joined or connected by other press-fit mechanisms or methods without loss of generality.
(137) While the example connectors described and depicted herein are snap connectors adapted for making snap-fit engagement, a connector herein can be a “press-fit” connector for making press-fit engagement or a “friction-fit for making press-fit engagement unless the context requires otherwise.
(138) In general, a snap-fit connector comprises an engagement portion having snap-fit mating features. The terms “snap”, “snap fit”, and “snap-fit”, are interchangeably used herein unless the context requires otherwise. The terms “fastener” and “connector” are also interchangeably used herein unless the context requires otherwise. In this description and specification, and when in relation to a connector or an engagement portion having a coupling axis, the terms “closely-fitted engagement” and “coupled engagement” are interchangeable, the axial direction is with respect to the coupling axis and the axial direction is along the coupling axis, and the radial direction is with respect to the coupling axis and the radial extent is in the radial direction, unless the context requires otherwise.
(139) The words “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, etc. are generic terms for ease of reference only and are not intended for indicate priority, order or sequence unless the context requires otherwise or specifies otherwise. Where there are conflicts in relation to the aforesaid generic terms, the conflicts are to resolve to give a meaning which is reasonable for interpretation where possible.
(140) While singular and plural terms are used herein, a singular term may apply mutatis mutandis to a plural situation and a plural term may apply mutatis mutandis to a single situation where the context permits or requires.
(141) TABLE-US-00001 Table of numerals 10 Building block assembly 10A First module 10B Second module 10A 110 First building block 130 second building block 112 First surface (first 132 First surface connection surface) 113 Second surface 133 Second surface 114 Peripheral surface 134 Peripheral surface 116 Connector 136 Connector 117 Connector 137 Connector 118 First partial peripheral 138 Second partial peripheral retention portion retention portion 119 Outer peripheral edge of 166A Inner peripheral surface retention portion 168 Peripherally extending rib X1-X1′ Center axis 168A1 Inner peripheral surface X2-X2′ Center axis 10A First module 20B Second module 210 First building block of 260 First building block of first module second module 230 Second building block of 280 second building block of first module second module 266 Snap connector on first 258 Inner peripheral wall surface 500 Bearing ball 285 Outer peripheral wall 260 First building block of 263 Second surface of first second module building block 262 First surface of first 264 Inner peripheral wall of building block first building block