Assembly for Toy Block, Toy Vehicle, and Toy Roadway Play

Abstract

An assembly and method for play upon a flat surface including a multiplicity of channeled road segments including cross intersection road segments, T intersection road segments, L road segments, straight road segments, and dead-end road segments; a plurality of blocks having a multiplicity of sides, each side bearing one of the road segments; and a toy road formed by, upon a horizontally abutting or side-to-side arrangement of the blocks upon the flat surface, an upturned plurality of the road segments; and including steps of providing a toy vehicle, placing the toy vehicle upon the toy toad, and moving the toy vehicle along the toy road.

Claims

1-4. (canceled)

5-11. (canceled)

12. A method for game play upon a flat surface, the method comprising steps of: (a) providing a multiplicity of road segment indicia; (b) providing a plurality of blocks having a multiplicity of sides, wherein each side among the multiplicity of sides bears one of the road segment indicia; (c) abuttingly arranging the blocks upon the flat surface so that road segment indicia borne upon the blocks' upturned sides form a toy road; (d) providing a toy vehicle fitted for play movement along the toy road; and (e) placing the toy vehicle upon the toy road and moving the toy vehicle therealong.

13. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 12 wherein the providing a multiplicity of road segment indicia step provides indicia selected from the group consisting of turn indicia, T intersection indicia, cross intersection indicia, dead-end indicia, and straight indicia.

14. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 13 wherein the step of abuttingly arranging the blocks upon the flat surface is preceded by a grid providing step wherein the grid includes a matrix of square block receiving spaces, and wherein each abuttingly arranged block is positioned within one of said spaces.

15. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 14 further comprising a step of providing at least a second toy vehicle, wherein the toy vehicle placing and moving steps further move the at least second toy vehicle, and wherein each toy vehicle moving step is performed by a game player among a group of a first game player and at least a second game player.

16. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 15 further comprising a step of providing a block orientation dice, wherein the first game player and the at least second game player alternatingly place one of the blocks upon the grid, and wherein, preceding each block placement, the game player placing said each block rolls the block orientation dice to determine the side of said each block which shall be upturned upon its placement upon the grid.

17. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 16 further comprising a step of providing a plurality of sculpture and pin mount combinations, wherein the providing a plurality of blocks step provides a plurality of sockets wherein each socket opens at one of the blocks' sides and wherein each socket is fitted for receiving one of said combinations' pins, and wherein the block orientation dice providing step provides a six sided dice bearing upon its sides indicia selected from the group consisting of cross intersection indicia, T intersection indicia, turn indicia, road dead-end indicia, straight road indicia, and pin receiving socket indicia.

18. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 17 further comprising steps of either providing a common six sided dice or providing a number spinner, wherein the first game player and the at least second game player alternatingly move their toy vehicles along the roadway, and wherein, prior to each game player's toy vehicle movement, said each game player rolls or spins said dice or spinner to determine a distance said each player's toy vehicle may be moved along the toy road.

19. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 18 wherein the grid providing step provides a substantially square grid having two pairs of opposing sides, wherein each game player among the first game player and at least second game player is positioned at one of said grid's sides, wherein said each game player attempts to configure the toy road to extend to a grid side opposite said each game player's grid side position, and wherein said each game player attempts to move said each game player's toy vehicle along the toy road to said each game player's opposite grid side.

20. The method for game play upon the flat surface of claim 19 further comprising a step of declaring a game winner, the game winner being the game player among the first game player and at least second game player whose toy vehicle first moves to said game player's opposite grid side.

21. A toy road assembly comprising: (a) a first cube having six faces; (b) a cross channel, a T channel, a straight channel, an L channel, and a dead end channel, said channels opening said cube at five of the six faces, wherein the cross channel has ends which further open said cube at four of the six faces, wherein the T channel has ends which further open said cube at three of the six faces, wherein the straight channel has ends which further open said cube at two of the six faces, wherein the L channel has ends which further open said cube at two of the six faces, and wherein the dead end channel has an end which further opens said cube at one of the six faces.

22. The toy road assembly of claim 21 wherein the first cube has twelve edges, wherein each end has a rectangular periphery comprising a floor end, a pair of wall ends extending upwardly from the floor end, and an opening which spans between upper ends of said wall ends, and wherein each edge among said twelve edges comprises one of said openings.

23. The toy road assembly of claim 22 further comprising a socket which further opens the first cube at a face other than one of said five of the six faces.

24. The toy road assembly of claim 23 further comprising a plurality of second cubes, each cube among the plurality of second cubes being configured substantially identically with the first cube.

25. The toy road assembly of claim 24 wherein the first and plurality of second cubes are arranged to align one of the first cube's ends with one of the second cubes' ends.

26. The toy road assembly of claim 25 further comprising a toy vehicle positioned for rolling motion at the aligned one of the first cube's end and one of the second cube's end.

27. The toy road assembly of claim 26 further comprising a toy road sign having a base, said base being received within the socket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the game blocks which is provided in accordance with the instant invention.

[0044] FIG. 2 presents an alternative view of the block of FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 depicts an assemblage of multiple renditions of the block of FIGS. 1 and 2, the view further showing provided toy vehicles, and toy buildings, signs and trees used in conjunction with such assemblage.

[0046] FIG. 4 presents a game board grid which is utilized in a structured game play mode of the instant invention.

[0047] FIG. 5 redepicts the game board grid of FIG. 4, the view of FIG. 5 showing game block and vehicle placements resulting from performance of the game play method steps of the instant invention.

[0048] FIG. 6 presents a game block orientation directing dice utilized in the structured game play mode of the instant invention.

[0049] FIG. 7 presents an alternate orientation of the die of FIG. 6.

[0050] FIG. 8 presents a common dice utilized in the structured game play mode of the instant invention.

[0051] FIG. 9 presents a spinner dial utilized in the structural game play mode of the instant invention.

[0052] FIG. 10 presents a block configured substantially identically with the FIG. 1 block.

[0053] FIG. 11 is an alternative view of the block of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND MODES OF GAME PLAY

[0054] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Drawing FIGS. 1-3, a game block which is preferably provided in accordance with the instant invention is referred to generally by Reference Arrow 1. The game block 1 is a substantially regular cube having sides between 1.0 and 2.25 square inches. The game block 1 has six sides 2, 10, 20, 28, 36, and 44, and five of the six sides are preferably configured to present indented or C channel configured road segments including a 90 turn or L channel 4,6,7,8, a T intersection channel 30,32,34, a + or cross intersection channel 38,40,42, a straight road channel 12,14,18, and a dead end road channel 22,24,26. As indicated in Drawing FIGS. 1 and 2, block face 2 of each block 1 includes an indented channel 4, such channel 4 having a floor 8 and side walls 6 and 7, such channel 4 curving 90 and preferably having roadway markings upon the channel floor 8. The face 36 of each block 1 preferably has a + or cross intersection configured channel 38, such channel 38 having a floor 42 bearing roadway markings and having side walls 40. Block face 10 has a straight road channel 12, such channel having a floor 18 bearing straight road markings and having side walls 14 and 16. Block face 20 has a roadway dead end channel 22, such channel having a floor 26 and a side wall 24. Finally, block face 28 has a T intersection channel 30, such channel having a floor 34 and having side walls 32.

[0055] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, upon placement of one of the blocks 1 within one of the grid spaces 63 of a square grid 62 appearing upon a game board 60, such block may be advantageously arranged to present upon its upturned face any one of fifteen differently oriented and configured road segments, they being four differently oriented 90 or L turns, four differently oriented T intersections, four differently oriented dead ends, two differently oriented straight road segments, and one + or cross traffic intersection.

[0056] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a multiplicity of, and preferably 42 game blocks are preferably provided, each game block preferably being configured substantially identically with each other game block. Each game block's ability to orient an upturned face to alternatively portray fifteen separate and discreet road segments, as described above, allows for such multiplicity of game blocks to be advantageously arranged in coordination with each other to form various interesting roadways or street paths. An example of such coordinating arrangement of the blocks appears in FIG. 3.

[0057] Referring further simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, a sixth side 44 of each of the game blocks 1 preferably presents a hollow socket 46 which may be utilized for mounting support of sculptural depictions of common cityscape and landscape features. Toy houses or building structures 48A,48B,48C,48D, miniature road signs 45, and trees 47 are examples of such features. Each such toy cityscape or landscape feature preferably has a downwardly extending mounting pin 50 which is fitted for receipt within each of the blocks' sockets 46.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, upon arranging the game blocks 1 to form a roadway as indicated in FIG. 3, and upon placements of buildings and other structures within sockets 46, as indicated in FIG. 3, children may advantageously engage in imaginative play upon the constructed roadways, such play including rolling provided miniature toy vehicles 52A and 52B upon and along the constructed streets.

[0059] To accommodate for the tendency of such toy vehicle play to disarrange the blocks 1, a game board 60 presenting a square grid of low ridges 62A may be provided, and the imaginative vehicle and blocks play may proceed while each block is nestingly secured within one of the defined block receiving spaces 63A. The outside edges or corners of the blocks 1 are preferably curved or relieved to avoid interference between the ridges 62A and the blocks, and to allow lateral sides of the blocks 1 to closely abut each other upon placements within adjacent spaces 63A.

[0060] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-3, the C channel configured road segments 4, 38, 14, 30, and 22 formed within the faces 2, 36, 10, 28, and 20 of the game blocks 1 are intended as being representative of and other common types of travel paths such as railroads or rail tracks, canals, and trails.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the block 103 of FIGS. 10 and 11 is configured similarly with other blocks described above. The block 103 has a first face 104, and a cross channel 105 extends into and is formed at such first face 104. Channel 105 opens the block 103 at such first face 104. The first face 104 has a substantially square periphery and the block 103 has a first edge 106, a second edge 110, a third edge 114, and a fourth edge 118, each of which is positioned at such periphery. The block 103 is further opened by the channel 105 at such channel's first end 108, at such channel's second end 112, at such channel's third end 116, at such channel's fourth end 120, with each of such channel end openings 108, 112, 116, and 120 being positioned at the square periphery of the first face 104. Such channel end openings 108, 112, 116, and 120 are respectively inwardly positioned (with respect to the first face 104) from the block's first, second, third, and fourth edges 106, 110, 114, and 118. Each of such channel end openings 108, 112, 116, and 112 performs its further opening of the block 103 function at four other block faces, each of which is perpendicular to or extends perpendicularly from face 104. Also, each of the instant invention's channel end block openings (e.g., the first opening 108) has a rectangular periphery which is indicated in dashed lines. The block 103 has twelve of such openings, and each such opening comprises a channel floor edge, a pair of opposing channel wall edges which extend upwardly from opposite ends of the channel floor edge, and an open space which spans between the upper ends of such channel wall edges. Each of the twelve edges of the block 103 comprises one of such rectangular periphery open space components.

[0062] The block 103 further has a second face 122 and the block is further opened by a T channel which extends into and is formed at such face 122. Like the first face 104, the second face 122 has a square periphery. In addition to the block's first, second, third, and fourth edges 108, 110, 114, and 118, the block has fifth, sixth, and seventh edges 126, 130, and 134, and each of such fifth through seventh edges is positioned at the periphery of the second face 122. In addition to the block's first, second, third, and fourth channel end openings 108, 112, 116, and 120, the block 103 is further opened by fifth, sixth, and seventh openings 128, 132, and 136. In a fashion similar to openings 108, 122, 116, and 120 at the ends of the cross channel 105, said fifth, sixth, and seventh openings, open the block 103 at the arm ends and stem end of the T channel 124. Also, similarly with the inward positionings of the first through fourth openings with respect to face 104, the fifth through seventh openings 128, 132, and 136 are positioned inwardly from face 122, and the fifth through seventh openings open the block 103 at three faces which are perpendicular to face 122.

[0063] The block 103 further has a third face 138 which, similarly with the first and second faces 104 and 122, has a square periphery. An L channel 140 is formed at and extends inwardly from the third face 138. Associated with such third face 138 and its L channel 140, the block 103 further has eighth and ninth edges 142 and 146, each of which is positioned at the square periphery of such third face 138. Also associated with such third face 138 and L channel 140, the block 103 further has eighth and ninth channel end openings 144 and 148 which further open the block at the two ends of such L channel 140. Consistently with the relative inward positionings of the first through seventh openings 108, 112, 116, 120, 128, 132, and 136 with respect to the faces 104 and 122, channel end openings 144 and 148 are positioned inwardly from or inwardly underlie the third face 138, and those openings reside at two block faces which are perpendicular to face 138.

[0064] The block 103 further has a fourth face 150 including a straight channel 152 which opens the block 103 at and extends inwardly from such face. Like all other faces of the block 103, the fourth face 150 has a square periphery. Similarly with the square periphery positionings of the block's first through ninth edges, the block 103 further has tenth and eleventh edges 154 and 158 which are positioned at the periphery of the fourth face 150. Tenth and eleventh channel end openings 156 and 160 are associated with both the fourth face 150 and the ends of the straight channel 152. Such channel ends 156 and 160 function to further open the block 103 at both ends of the straight channel 152. Similarly with all other channel end openings discussed above, the end openings 156 and 160 of the straight channel 152 are positioned inwardly from the fourth face 150, and they further open the block 103 at two perpendicular faces.

[0065] Other than the lower face of block 103 (which cannot be seen in either of the views of FIGS. 10 and 11), the block 103 has only one other face which has not been discussed above. For convenience of reference, such only one other block face is denominated the fifth face 162 of the block 103. Like all other block faces, the fifth face 162 has a square periphery. A dead end channel 164 is formed at and extends inwardly from such fifth face 162. As a result of the preferred geometric cube configuration of the block 103, such block can have one and only one other edge in addition to the eleven edges discussed above (i.e., edges 108, 110, 114, 118, 126, 130, 134, 142, 146, 154, and 158), and that one and only one other edge is, for the convenience of reference, denominated the block's twelfth edge 166. As indicated above, the block 103 has eleven channel end openings (i.e., the first through eleventh channel end openings 108, 112, 116, 120, 128, 132, 136, 144, 148, 156, and 160), and each of such eleven channel end openings is positioned at one and only one edge among the block's first through eleventh edges (i.e., block edges 106, 110, 114, 118, 126, 130, 134, 142, 146, 154, and 158). Such one and only one positioning relationship of the block's first through eleventh openings 108, 112, 116, 120, 128, 132, 136, 144, 148, 156, 160 with respect to the block's first through eleventh edges 106, 110, 114, 118, 126, 130, 134, 142, 146, 154, 158 constitutes a preferred configuration of the instant invention.

[0066] The instant invention's preferred provision of the 1:1 ratio of channel ends with respect to block edges may be understood by considering an undesirable alternative structural arrangement wherein any two of the openings among the first through eleventh channel end openings are positioned at any one of the edges among the block's first through eleventh edges. Such structural arrangement would cause two of the block's channels to include floor surfaces which do not extend to a block face. Just as holes or pits within the surface of real roads are undesirable, holes or pits within the floors of the instant inventive block's roadway channels are undesirable. The instant inventive block's preferred exclusive and 1:1 positioning relationship between the channel end openings and the block edges advantageously avoids such channel floor pits or holes, and allows each channel floor to completely extend to a perpendicular block face for smooth rolling communication of the toy vehicle with another adjacently placed block. In accordance with the invention, the dead end channel 164 positions its single channel end opening 168 (i.e., the block's twelfth and final channel end opening) at the block's twelfth and final edge 166. No other or additional type of vehicle conveying channel could be received into or formed at any of the six faces of the block 103 without precipitating or causing the undesirable floor hole or pit problem described above. In particular, it may be noted that the sixth or downwardly oriented face of the block 103 could not receive or include any vehicle motion accommodating channel because the block's third, eleventh, sixth, and twelfth openings (i.e., openings 116, 160, 132, and 168) respectively reside at the block's third, eleventh, sixth, and twelfth edges (i.e., edges 114, 158, 130, and 166). Thus, such sixth face is available only for uses such as socket support of structures such as road signs, as indicated above.

[0067] Each of the channel end openings 108, 11,2 116, 120, 128, 132, 136, 144, 148, 156, 160, and 166 is U configured, and each such U respectively opens at one of the block's edges 106, 110, 114, 118, 126, 130, 134, 142, 146, 154, 158, and 166.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in a structured mode of play which may be facilitated by the instant invention, a folding game board 60 may be provided, such game board having upon its upper surface a square grid 62 (or alternatively a raised square grid 62A), such square grid defining a multiplicity of block receiving squares 63 (or block receiving recesses 63A). The depicted game board 60 is intended as being representative of other suitably substituted flat play surfaces such as rigid boards, tray surfaces, and table tops.

[0069] According to a preferred mode of play, at least two game players may participate, one of the players being seated adjacent game board edge 64, and the other player being seated adjacent game board edge 66. As many as two other players may suitably play, they being seated along opposing lateral edges of the game board 60.

[0070] Referring to FIGS. 4-9, in addition to the game board 60, a multiplicity of substantially identical game blocks 1 are provided, a toy vehicle 52A,52B is provided for each player, and a common six sided dice 100 or number spinner 102 is provided. Referring in particular to FIGS. 6 and 7, a game block orientation directing dice 70 is also preferably provided, such dice 70 preferably being marked in a fashion which corresponds with the roadway segment bearing faces and socket face of the game blocks 1. Accordingly, dice face 72 has a + intersection indicia 74, dice face 76 has a T intersection indicia 78, dice face 80 has 90 turn or L indicia 82, dice face 84 has a socket indicia 86, dice face 88 has a road dead end indicia 90, and dice face 92 has a straight road section indicia 94. Suitably, though less desirably, one of the game blocks 1 itself may be alternatively thrown in the manner of dice in place of the block orientation directing dice 70.

[0071] Following seating of players about game board 60 as indicated above, the players may roll the common dice 100 or spin the number spinner 102 to determine who will play first, the player having the high dice roll or high spin playing first. Thereafter, the first player to play may draw one of the game blocks 1 and may throw the block orientation selecting dice 70 upon a flat table surface. In the exemplary event that such dice 70 shows upturned face 80 bearing 90 turn indicia 82, as indicated in FIG. 6, the player making such throw must place his or her first game block 1 upon a nearest square 63 of the game board 60, and such player must orient the game block to indicate either a right turn or a left turn at such nearest square. As indicated in FIG. 5, the game block denoted by Reference Arrow 1 has been selected to initially construct a right turn roadway path extending from such player's game board edge 64. Thereafter, such player may place his or her toy vehicle 52A within the channel of such initially placed game block 1.

[0072] In an alternative exemplary event that the throw of the orientation selecting dice 70 results in upturned face 84 bearing socket indicia 86, the player making such throw may, referring further simultaneously to FIG. 3, orient a game block 1 with face 44 and socket 46 upturned, and may engage one of the buildings 48A-48E therein, or may engage other structures such as trees 47 or road sign 45 therein. Thereafter, such player may place such game block within any of the unoccupied squares 63 upon the game board 60, provided that such placement does not cause the block to function as a road dead end. Placement of such structure supporting game block serves to exclude one of the squares 63 from becoming a part of a roadway matrix, and upon a game turn including such placement, no vehicle placement or vehicle movement is allowed.

[0073] In the event that a throw of dice 70 upturns dice faces 72, 76, 88, or 92, the player making the throw is required to orient his or her game block in a manner similar to that described above, all block placements being required to be consistent with construction of a common roadway.

[0074] Upon an opposing player's turn, the opposing player performs steps substantially identical to those performed by the first player, and play proceeds in an alternating fashion or in a continuous loop where there are more than two players. In a preferred mode of play, each player utilizes the common dice or the numbered spinner dial to determine a maximum number of blocks or spaces his or her vehicle may be moved along the constructed roadway during a play turn.

[0075] A game playing objective of each participating player is to both create a roadway path which spans from the player's side to an opposite side of the game board, and to perform incremental or block-to-block moves of his or her vehicle along such constructed path until the player's vehicle completely traverses the board and ultimately arrives at another player's opposite side. According to a preferred mode of play, a player whose vehicle first arrives at the other side of the board is designated as or is declared to be a game winner. Other game board starting points, and other final position objectives upon the game board are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

[0076] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles, and those skilled in the art may make modifications to the method steps of the invention including their identity, character, and sequence of performance without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.