Coupling Toy, System, and Kit

Abstract

A coupling toy, system, and kit is provided. In certain embodiments, the coupling toy may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface may have one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage one or more studs along a toy platform. In some embodiments, the top surface may be connected or coupled to a toy character, such as a human-like toy, an animal-like toy, a toy building structure, or a portion of a toy building structure. The coupling kit may comprise a toy platform having a top surface with one or more studs disposed in a parallel matrix, and at least one toy figure having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the toy figure may be connected to a toy character or a toy building structure. The bottom surface of the toy figure may comprise one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage the one or more studs.

Claims

1. A coupling toy, comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage one or more studs along a toy platform.

2. The coupling toy of claim 1, wherein the one or more recesses comprises four recesses quadrilaterally spaced so as to correspond to the one or more studs.

3. The coupling toy of claim 2, wherein the four recesses are partially cylindrical, the one or more studs are cylindrical, and a portion of each of the four recesses frictionally engages a portion of each of the one or more studs.

4. The coupling toy of claim 1, wherein the top surface is connected to a toy character.

5. The coupling toy of claim 1, wherein the top surface is connected to a toy building structure.

6. A coupling toy system, comprising a toy platform having one or more studs; at least one toy figure having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage the one or more studs.

7. The coupling toy system of claim 6, wherein the top surface is connected to a toy character or a toy building structure.

8. The coupling toy system of claim 6, wherein the one or more studs are cylindrical and disposed in a parallel matrix; and the one or more recesses are partially cylindrical.

9. The coupling toy system of claim 8, wherein the one or more recesses comprise four recesses.

10. The coupling toy system of claim 9, wherein the four recesses are quadrilaterally spaced.

11. The coupling toy system of claim 6, wherein the at least one toy figure comprises two toy figures.

12. The coupling toy system of claim 11, wherein the two toy figures are two shoes or two extremities connected to the toy character.

13. A coupling toy kit, comprising a toy platform having a top surface with one or more studs disposed in a parallel matrix; at least one toy figure having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is connected to a toy character or a toy building structure; and the bottom surface has one or more recesses sized to frictionally engage the one or more studs.

14. The coupling toy kit of claim 13, wherein the one or more studs are cylindrical and the one or more recesses are partially cylindrical.

15. The coupling toy kit of claim 13, wherein the one or more recesses comprises four recesses quadrilaterally spaced so as to correspond to the parallel matrix.

16. The coupling toy kit of claim 13, wherein the at least one toy figure comprises two toy figures connected to the toy character.

17. The coupling toy kit of claim 16, wherein the two toy figures comprise two shoes or two extremities.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a bottom, perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a front view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the coupling toy.

[0030] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling toy system and kit.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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

[0034] 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] 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.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a coupling toy 100 may comprise a top surface 110 and bottom surface 120. The bottom surface 120 may comprise one or more recesses 122, which may be sized to frictionally engage one or more studs along a toy platform (not shown in FIG. 1). Further views of the coupling toy 100 are shown in FIG. 2-9.

[0037] It is contemplated that the toy 100 may be made of any suitable material. For instance, the coupling toy 100 may be formed of plastic, rubber, ceramic, metal, wood, or a combination of the foregoing.

[0038] The bottom surface 120 may comprise a plurality of recesses 122. By way of example and not limitation, the bottom surface 120 may comprise four recesses 122. In another example, the bottom surface 120 may comprise six recesses 122. In yet another example, the bottom surface 120 may comprise eight recesses 122. It is to be understood that the bottom surface 120 may comprise any number of recesses 122 and should not be limited to the examples presented herein.

[0039] In one embodiment, including as shown in FIG. 2, the one or more recesses 122 may only extend through the bottom surface 120. In another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may extend to the top surface 110. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may extend through the top surface 110.

[0040] In accordance with some embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be any shape. In one embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be cylindrical. In another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cylindrical. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be domed. In another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially domed. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be cuboidal. In yet another embodiment, the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cuboidal.

[0041] In embodiments where the one or more recesses 122 may be cylindrical, domed, or cuboidal, the one or more recesses 122 may fully frictionally engage each or some of the one or more studs. On the other hand, in embodiments where the one or more recesses 122 may be partially cylindrical, partially domed, or partially cuboidal, for example, the one or more recesses 122 may frictionally engage a portion of each of the one or more studs.

[0042] In certain embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be distributed randomly among the bottom surface 120. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the one or more recesses 122 may be distributed uniformly among the bottom surface 120. By way of example and not limitation, the one or more recesses 122 may be distributed in a polygonal manner along the bottom surface 120. In another example, the one or more recesses 122 may be quadrilaterally spaced on the bottom surface 120. In yet another example, the recesses 122 may be triangularly spaced on the bottom surface 120.

[0043] It is contemplated that the height of the toy 100 may be at least the height of the one or more recesses 122. It is further contemplated that the width of the toy 100 may be at least the width of the one or more recesses 122. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, it is further contemplated that the width of the toy 100 may be greater than the width of the one or more recesses 122. Further, it is contemplated that the length of the toy 100 may be at least the length of or greater to the length of the one or more recesses 122.

[0044] In embodiments where the toy 100 may comprise one recess 122, the toy 100 may be equivalent to the width and the length of the one recess 122. It is to be further understood that the toy 100 may comprise an unequal number of recesses 122 and the length and the width of each of the unequal number of recesses 122 may be unequal in size. In still further of such embodiments, the toy 100 may comprise an equal number of recesses 122, which may be equal in both length and width.

[0045] A bottom, perspective view of the coupling toy 100 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling toy 100 may comprise an outer wall 101. In some embodiments, including that shown in FIG. 2, the one or more recesses 122 may extend through the outer wall 101. In other embodiments, the outer wall 101 may be contiguous and the one or more recesses 122 may be contained within the bottom surface 120.

[0046] With reference now to FIG. 3, the top surface 110 may comprise an opening 112, which may be configured to receive a toy character (not shown in FIG. 3). In this manner, the opening 112 may have coupling abilities. Suitable forms of coupling may include press fit, locking, push fit, and sliding. It is further contemplated that the opening 112 may be permanently coupled. Alternatively, the opening 112 may be removably coupled.

[0047] The opening 112 may be formed as virtually any shape that may accommodate the toy character. By way of example and not limitation, the opening 112 may be cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, the opening may be domed. In still other embodiments, the opening may be cuboidal.

[0048] FIG. 10 illustrates a coupling toy system and kit 400, which may comprise at least one toy figure 100, shown in better detail in FIGS. 1-9, and a toy platform 200. In certain embodiments, the toy figure 100 may engage the toy platform 200 along the bottom surface 120 and may further engage a toy character 300 along the top surface 110. In some of such embodiments, the toy figure 100 may frictionally engage the toy platform 200 and the toy character 300. In other of such embodiments, the toy figure 100 may non-frictionally engage the toy platform 200 and the toy character 300.

[0049] More particularly, the toy platform 200 may comprise one or more studs 210, which may be disposed along a top surface 201 thereof. In further embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be disposed along the top surface 201 and a bottom surface 202. In addition, the toy figure 100 may comprise one or more recesses 122, which may be sized and configured to engage the one or more studs 210.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may engage the one or more studs 210. As discussed previously, the one or more recesses 122 may be sized to fit the one or more studs 210. In one example, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth equal to the height of the one or more studs 210. In another example, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth greater than the height of the one or more studs 210. In other examples, the one or more recesses 122 may have a depth less than the height of the one or more studs 210.

[0051] The one or more studs 210 may be formed as virtually any shape. In some embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be cylindrical or partially cylindrical. In yet other embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be domed or partially domed. In further embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be cuboidal or partially cuboidal. In certain exemplary embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be the same shape as the one or more recesses 122. In alternate embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be a different shape than the one or more recesses 122.

[0052] In accordance with the varying shapes of the one or more studs 210 and the one or more recesses 122, the one or more recesses 122 may partially or fully engage the one or more studs 210. Moreover, the one or more studs 210 may be removably coupled to the one or more recesses 122. In other embodiments, the one or more recesses 122 may be permanently coupled to the one or more studs 210.

[0053] The one or more recesses 122 may be spaced along the bottom surface 120 so as to align with and couple to the one or more studs 210. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the one or more studs 210 may be equally distributed across the toy platform 200. Further, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a pattern along the toy platform 200. As one example, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a grid structure along the toy platform 200. In another example, the one or more studs 210 may be distributed in a parallel matrix.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, the top surface 110 may be coupled to the toy character 300. By way of example and not limitation, the toy character 300 may be in the form of a human. As another example, the toy character 300 may be an animal. In a further example, the toy character 300 may be a building or a portion a building, such as a column, a beam, or a support. the toy character 300 may be a plant. The toy character 300 may also be a fictional character. Moreover, the toy character 300 may be any form.

[0055] The toy character 300 may comprise a plurality of segments. As noted above, the toy character 300 may be human-like. By way of example and not limitation, in embodiments where the toy character 300 may be human-like, the plurality of segments may include a head, torso, legs, and arms. In such an example, the plurality of segments may be static. In another example, the plurality of segments may be movable in relation to one another.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 10, the toy character 300 may comprise two toy figures 100. For instance, as shown, the two toy figures 100 may be connected by the toy character 300. It is to be understood that in additional embodiments, the toy character 300 may comprise more than two toy figures 100.

[0057] In certain further embodiments, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise additional coupling elements. For example, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise one or more magnets. In yet another example, the coupling toy system and kit 400 may comprise one or more hook and loop fasteners. These coupling elements may further facilitate coupling of the toy figure 100 to the platform 200 or the toy figure 100 to the toy character 300.

[0058] It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of possible implementations. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

[0059] Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0060] 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, throughout this disclosure, the coupling toy, system, and kit is described as being connected to the toy character or the toy building structure. However, the coupling toy, system, and kit may be connected to virtually any type of toy. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited, except as by the appended claims.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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 coupling toy, system, and kit with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the coupling toy, system, and kit 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 coupling toy, system, and kit is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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 coupling toy, system, and kit.