ASSEMBLING TOY BLOCK

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembling toy block structure that is capable of easily performing a releasing operation for toy blocks coupled to each other with a relatively small force. The assembling toy block structure includes at least one or more polyhedron-shaped toy blocks assembled to each other to make a desired toy form and further includes generally cable-shaped clay blocks made of a material having flexibility with which they are freely bent and rigidity with which they are resistant to external forces after bent.

Claims

1. An assembling toy block structure comprising at least one or more polyhedral-shaped toy blocks (100) each having fastening grooves (10) formed on left and right sides thereof, each fastening groove (10) being open on top end thereof to form an opening (16), side female coupling protrusions (12) protruding from the fastening grooves (10) and each having at least one or more insertion portions (14) concavedly formed along the outer periphery thereof, a front male coupling protrusion (18) protruding from the front surface thereof, and at least one or more top female coupling protrusions (30) protruding from top thereof and each having at least one or more insertion portions (32) concavedly formed along the outer periphery thereof.

2. The assembling toy block structure according to claim 1, further comprising clay blocks (50) coupled to the at least one or more insertion portions (14) of the side female coupling protrusions (12), the at least one or more insertion portions (32) of the at least one or more top female coupling protrusions (30), or the front male coupling protrusion (18), each clay block (50) comprising: a metal wire (52) serving as a core and having rigidity so that the clay block (50) is kept bent; a PVC coating material (54) coated on the outer periphery of the metal wire (52); a cushion member (56) made of a silicone or resin material and covered along the outer periphery of the PVC coating material (54); and connection caps (58) made of an ABS material, coupled to both ends of the cushion member (56), and having coupling protrusions (60) protruding therefrom to allow the clay block (50) to be assembled to the toy block (100) or another clay block (50).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a whole configuration of an assembling toy block structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where two toy blocks of FIG. 1 are coupled to each other in such a manner as to be located horizontally on left and right sides.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the two toy blocks of FIG. 1 are separated from each other.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the two toy blocks of FIG. 1 are coupled to each other in such a manner as to be located vertically up and down.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of a clay block of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another structure of the clay block of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an assembling state of the clay blocks of FIG. 5.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an assembling state between the toy block and the clay block of FIG. 7.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another assembling state between the toy block and the clay block of FIG. 7.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an assembling state between the clay blocks of FIG. 7.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the toy blocks according to the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing yet another example of the toy blocks according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Hereinafter, an explanation on an assembling toy block structure according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawing.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a whole configuration of an assembling toy block structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, an assembling toy block structure according to the present invention includes at least one or more polyhedral toy blocks 100 and cable-shaped clay blocks 50 made of a flexible material freely bendable.

[0038] Each toy block 100 is molded to various shapes such as a right triangle, a square, etc. on the plane thereof, and according to the present invention, for example, the toy block 100 has the shape of the square.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where two toy blocks of FIG. 1 each having the shape of the square are coupled to each other in such a manner as to be located horizontally on left and right sides.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the toy block 100 has the shape of the square on the plane thereof in such a manner as to be open on a bottom end thereof to form a space portion 11 therein.

[0041] The toy block 100 has fastening grooves 10 concavedly formed on at least one surface of left and right sides thereof and side female coupling protrusions 12 formed protrudingly from the fastening grooves 10.

[0042] Each side female coupling protrusion 12 has at least one or more insertion portions 14 concavedly formed along the outer periphery thereof, and according to the present invention, three insertion portions 14 are formed. A front male coupling protrusion 18 protruding from the front surface of another toy block 100 to be assembled to the toy block 100 in a horizontal direction on the left and right sides is inserted into the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 by means of forced fitting, so that the two toy blocks 100 are assembled to each other in the horizontal direction on the left and right sides.

[0043] Each fastening groove 10 of the toy block 100, in which the side female coupling protrusion 12 is formed, is incised on a top end thereof to form an opening 16, and as shown in FIG. 3, if the toy block 100 having the front male coupling protrusion 18 is lifted up to allow the front male coupling protrusion 18 of the opposite side toy block 100 to the toy block 100, which is inserted into the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12, to be separated from the toy block 100, the front male coupling protrusion 18 is easily separated from the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 through the formation of the opening 16, so that the two toy blocks 100 assembled to each other can be easily separated from each other with a relatively small force.

[0044] In the conventional practice, the front male coupling protrusion 18 is inserted into the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 by means of forced fitting, and accordingly, it is hard that two toy blocks are separated from each other with a small force.

[0045] So as to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional practice, the assembling toy block structure according to the present invention is configured to have the front male coupling protrusion 18 inserted into the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 by means of forced fitting, so that the two toy blocks 100 assembled to each other are not easily separated from each other by means of a horizontally pulling force, and contrarily, the two toy blocks 100 are easily separated from each other by means of a vertically pushing force generated through the opening 16. Accordingly, the two toy blocks 100 can be easily separated from each other even by children who don't have enough force to separate them.

[0046] The toy block 100 has locking protrusions 20 protruding from four corners on top thereof. When the two toy blocks 100 are assembled up and down to each other, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking protrusions 20 are locked onto inner corners of the open bottom of the toy block 100 located up, so that the two toy blocks 100 are fixedly assembled up and down to each other.

[0047] Further, the toy block 100 has top female coupling protrusions 30 protruding from top thereof. Each top female coupling protrusion 30 has at least one or more insertion portions 32 concavedly formed along the outer periphery thereof, and according to the present invention, three insertion portions 32 are concavedly formed. The front male coupling protrusion 18 of another toy block 100 or coupling protrusions 60 formed on connection caps 58 of each clay block 50 as will be discussed later is (are) assembled to the insertion portions 32 of each top female coupling protrusion 30, so that at least one or more clay blocks 50 are connected to the two toy blocks 100 or one toy block 100 to provide various toy forms.

[0048] The clay blocks 50 serve to assemble the toy blocks 100 to each other in up and down, left and right, and front and back directions and thus to provide various toy forms in a process where a toy as a finished product is made.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of the clay block of FIG. 1.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, each clay block 50 is molded to the shape of the cable and is made of a material having flexibility with which it is freely bent to a desired form and rigidity with which the bent state is kept to some extent, without easily bent by an external force, and accordingly, the clay block 50 can be bent to the desired form to provide various forms.

[0051] The clay block 50 includes a metal wire 52, a PVC coating material 54 coated on the outer periphery of the metal wire 52, a cushion member 56 covered along the outer periphery of the PVC coating material 54, and the connection caps 58 coupled to both ends of the cushion member 56 and having the coupling protrusions 60 protruding therefrom to allow the clay block 60 to be assembled to the toy block 10 or another clay block 50.

[0052] The metal wire 52 serves as means for providing the flexibility for the clay block 50, with which the clay block 50 is easily bent, and the rigidity for the clay block 50, with which the clay block 50 is kept in the state being bent, and desirably, the metal wire 52 is made of aluminum.

[0053] The PVC coating material 54 is made of a PVC material to completely cover and protect the metal wire 52 in such a manner as to be perfectly bonded to the outer periphery of the metal wire 52 through specific bonding, thereby enhancing durability thereof and especially preventing separation or disconnection from the connection caps 58.

[0054] The cushion member 56 is made of a silicone or resin material and is molded to a solid or foamed form. The solid form feels tight, tender, good at a restoring force, and easy to handle. The foamed form feels soft and good at cushion, so that it keeps various forms made by a user's hand and easily restores to its original shape. The cushion member 56 may be made to various thicknesses in accordance with ages and play levels.

[0055] Each connection cap 58 is moldedly made of an ABS material and has at least one or more coupling protrusions 60 protruding from the front outer periphery thereof in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by a given distance.

[0056] If it is desired that the clay block 50 is assembled to the toy block 100 or another clay block 50, the coupling protrusions 60 of the connection cap 58 are fittedly coupled to the insertion portions 14 or 32 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 or the top female coupling protrusion 30 of the toy block 100 or fittedly coupled to the coupling protrusions 60 formed on the connection cap 58 of another clay block 50 in a zigzag manner, so that the clay block 50 can be assembled to the toy block 100 or another clay block 50.

[0057] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the clay block 50 constitutes its outer form with the cushion member 56, without any the PVC coating material 54 and the metal wire 52, and further has the connection caps 58 located on both ends of the cushion member 56. At this time, the clay block 50 is flexible, but does not have any rigidity. After the clay block 50 is disassembled, however, it can be automatically returned to its original shape by means of the elastic force of the cushion member 56, thereby enhancing conveniences in use.

[0058] As shown in FIGS.7 to 9, one side connection cap 58 of the clay block 50 is coupled to the side female coupling protrusion 12 or one top female coupling protrusion 30 of the toy block 100, thereby producing various forms, and if necessary, as shown in FIG. 10, one side connection cap 58 of the clay block 50 is coupled to the other side connection cap 58 of another clay block 50, thereby connecting the two clay blocks 50 to each other.

[0059] Now, an explanation on a method for assembling a desired toy using the assembling toy block structure according to the present invention will be given with reference to FIGS.1 to 10.

[0060] If the desired toy form is determined, first, the toy blocks 100 are one by one assembled to each other in up and down, left and right, and front and back directions to make the desired toy form.

[0061] So as to assemble the two toy blocks 100 to each other on the left and right sides, first, the front male coupling protrusion 18 protruding from one side of one toy block 100 is forcedly fitted to the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 formed in the fastening groove 10 on one side of another toy block 100. If it is desired that the two toy blocks 100 are separated from each other, at this time, one toy block 100 is taken and lifted up, so that the front male coupling protrusion 18 protruding from one side of one toy block 100 is easily separated from the insertion portions 14 of the side female coupling protrusion 12 on one side of another toy block 100 by means of the opening 16 formed on top end of the fastening groove 10. Accordingly, the two toy blocks 100 assembled to each other in the horizontal direction on the left and right sides can be easily separated from each other with the relatively small force.

[0062] So as to assemble the two toy blocks 100 up and down to each other, next, the locking protrusions 20 protruding from the four corners on top of the toy block 100 located down are locked onto inner corners of the open bottom of the toy block 100 located up, so that the two toy blocks 100 assembled up and down to each other can be firmly fixed to each other, without any deviation.

[0063] So as to provide various forms through the assembling of the clay block 50 to the toy block 100, further, the clay block 50 is bent to a desired form, and after that, the coupling protrusions 60 of one side connection cap 58 of the clay block 50 are fittedly coupled to the side female coupling protrusion 12 or the top female coupling protrusion 30 of the toy block 100, so that the clay block 50 can be fixedly assembled to the toy block 100. If necessary, further, the two clay blocks 50 are connected to each other by means of the connection caps 58, thereby providing the various forms.

[0064] On the other hand, FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the toy block 100 according to the present invention.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 11, a toy block 200 has the same structure as the toy block 100 as mentioned above, and desirably, the toy block 200 is open on bottom thereof and includes a space portion formed in the open bottom thereof, fastening grooves 110 formed on side surfaces thereof, a side female coupling protrusion 112 formed in each fastening groove 110, and an opening 116 formed on top end of the fastening groove 110. The toy block 200 has a shape of a right triangle on the plane thereof, and in addition to the square and the right triangle, of course, it is obvious that the toy block 200 may have various shapes.

[0066] Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the toy block 100 has top hollow cylindrical protrusions 1 formed on top thereof, without any locking protrusions 20 and the top male coupling protrusions 30, and contact reinforcement concave-convex portions 3 protruding from the inner periphery of each top hollow cylindrical protrusion 1.

EXPLANATIONS ON REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0067] 10: fastening groove

[0068] 12: side female coupling protrusion

[0069] 14: insertion portion

[0070] 16: opening

[0071] 20: coupling protrusion

[0072] 30: top female coupling protrusion

[0073] 32: insertion portion

[0074] 50: clay block

[0075] 52: metal wire

[0076] 54: PVC coating material

[0077] 56: cushion member

[0078] 58: connection cap

[0079] 60: coupling protrusion

[0080] 100: toy block