NL8101581A - Plastics toy building blocks - have complementary couplers on top and in bottom and side projections for fixing to bars, - Google Patents

Abstract

The block has a downwardly open rectangular hollow box shape with coupling elements projecting outwards from its upper surface (1) and complementary coupling elements (8-10) inside capable of engagement by the upper elements of an adjoining block. One or more sides (2-5) are provided with rod-shaped outward projections (11-14) capable of being secured to bars (not shown) to erect a three-dimensional lattice structure. The projections (11-14) may be in the form of round-section pins, which may be integral with the block and arranged at the intersections of the diagonals of the sides (2-5). The lattice bars may have their ends recessed to receive such pins.

Description

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1.

Business Foundation of the Fund for Social Institutions (SBF) 3271

Inventors: Cornelus M.J. HOOGENBOSCH in Neerbeek Cornells B. POLAND in Roosteren -1-

TOY BUILDING ELEMENT FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL BUILDING

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The invention relates to a toy building element comprising a box-shaped hollow body open to the underside of which the outside of the top wall is provided with primary coupling members and the underside of which is provided with secondary coupling members, such that if the underside of a building element is pressed on the outside of the top wall of another element, a coupling is created between the elements.

Such building elements are known, for example, from Dutch patents 97076 and 105076. Three-dimensional building is possible with these elements. However, for the construction of relatively large structures, large numbers of building elements are required, while the horizontal connection of columns constructed with these building elements also often encounters difficulties.

The object of the invention is to provide a toy building element of the aforementioned type with which the three-dimensional construction of relatively bulky structures can take place quickly without an excessive number of building elements being required and also offering the possibility of connecting building elements remotely in a horizontal sense.

This is obtained in that one or more side walls of the building element are provided with means for fastening rods belonging to a rod building system. With the building element according to the invention, therefore, on the one hand the special coupling properties and advantages of the known building elements can be retained, while on the other hand a connection is made with the special advantages offered by a rod building system. A rod building system is here understood to mean a building system with which constructions can be built using rods and coupling pieces. Such a system is e.g.

known from German Offenlegungsschrift 2651656.

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Preferably, the fasteners are arranged at the intersections of the diagonals of the rectangular side walls, because then the position of the element need not be taken into account during mounting.

8101581 -2-

A particularly preferred embodiment for the fasteners is that in which pins are arranged perpendicular to the side walls which fit clampingly in at least centrally arranged cavities at least on the ends of the rods.

5 The pins can form one whole with the building elements. This is particularly advantageous when manufacturing the building elements by injection molding.

For example, if the pins are to be manufactured from a different material than the rest of the construction element, the pins can also be clamped in openings which are arranged in the side walls. The openings are herein preferably provided with collars along their circumference, which can be arranged on the inside or outside of the side wall. These collars help to keep the pins in their perpendicular position to the side wall.

15 It is recommended to design the pins with a round cross section. It is then possible, in a horizontal sense, to make a rod connection between two elements which are mutually at varying angles.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

In the drawing is:

Fig. 1 is a perspective top view of a toy building element according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom view of the toy building element of FIG. 1; and

Fig. 3 a model of a building construction in which toy building elements according to the invention are used.

The construction element as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a box-shaped hollow body open to the bottom, with a top wall 1, 30, two long side walls 2, 3 and two short side walls 4, 5. The outside of the top wall has a number of primary coupling members designed as taps 6 and clamped on coupling to another element using the secondary coupling members 8, 9 and 10 designed as columns.

At the intersections of the diagonals of the side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5, pins resp. 11, 12, 13 and 14, which pins serve for attaching rods which are at least at their ends, provided with centrally arranged cavities in which the pins can be clamped. The rods belong to a rod construction system, the rods of which can be connected by means of simple coupling parts.

The building element, including the posts, is preferably made from one piece of plastic. However, if it is desired that the posts consist of a different material than the rest of the building element, the posts can also be fixed in openings provided for this purpose in the side walls, in which they are clamped and / or glued. It is then recommended to provide the building element around the openings with molded bushings or collars. The collars can be located on the inside of the side walls, but are preferably arranged on the outside thereof. Although the pins can have arbitrary radial cross-sections, it is advisable to take a round cross-section for this purpose, because this cross-section offers the most possibilities in terms of construction.

Fig. 3 shows a partially completed building construction in which use is made of toy building elements according to the invention and from which some advantages of these toy building elements are clearly apparent. From the base, marked with 15, consisting of 20 toy building elements 16 with only primary and secondary coupling members, the toy building elements according to the invention, which are indicated here with 17, are transferred to the building elements of a rod building system which, inter alia, the rods 18 and the coupling parts 19. When the spatially constructed rod construction is at the correct height, it is very easy to switch back to the toy construction elements with only primary and secondary coupling members 20 via the construction elements 21 according to the invention.

The length / width ratio of the box-shaped body of the toy builder aera is preferably equal to two.

It is also possible, instead of solid pins, to use hollow pins in which hollow bars may or may not be hollowed or over which hollow bars can be slid.

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Claims (8)

1. A toy building element comprising a box-shaped hollow body open to the bottom, the outside of the top wall of which is provided with primary coupling members and the underside of which is provided with secondary coupling members such that if the bottom side of a building element is pressed on the outside of the the top wall of another element creates a coupling between the elements, characterized in that one or more side walls of the element are provided with means for fastening rods belonging to a three-dimensional rod building system. Toy building element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means are located at the intersection of the diagonals of the rectangular side walls of the element. Toy building element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fastening means consist of pins arranged perpendicular to the side walls 15 and that the bars have a central cavity at least at their ends, in which the pins can be clamped. Toy building element according to claim 3, characterized in that the pins form one whole with the building element. Toy building element according to claim 3, characterized in that the pins are clamped in openings in the side walls of the element. 6. A toy building element according to claim 5, characterized in that the openings from which the pins can be clamped are provided with a circumferential collar on the inside, preferably the outside, of the side wall. A toy building element according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the pins have a round cross section. 8. Toy construction element as described and / or explained on the basis of the drawing. • s \ JJS / WCH 81015 8 1