Children's building block

Abstract

 Described is an injection moulded children's building block, designed as a toy for all types of large size and different format children's construction. It consists of a block (figure 1) having a surface with several interior walls, and an independent crossbar (figure 2) which incorporates a rectangular section and a flexible wedge (2.1) at one end.
The crossbars (figure 2) fit into the side wall slots (1.3) of the block, in order to join up the blocks together so that flat surfaces are formed which will then fit face to face into other similar flat surfaces by means of vertical spigots (1.6) located on the inside wall of the blocks on which there are slots or cut out guides (1.4), a groove which allows the block to be folded in two (1.2), and several openings to allow the fitting of decorative pieces to the outside surface of the block.

Description

[0001] The utility model herein refers to a building block for children's construction, made of plastic and having a configuration and method of operation designed so as to permit all the necessary functions for the different parts of any construction to be brought together in a single piece.

[0002] The application of the utility model herein is as a toy for all types of children's construction, essentially of large dimensions, play houses of all sizes, shapes or styles, castles, play pens, scenery, dividers, etc.

[0003] The fitting system is a male female type, and is carried out by an independent crossbar which is manually fitted into side slots (1.3) of two blocks, thus securing one to the other. A set of blocks together form a flat surface, the inside face of which will fit onto the inside face of another similar flat surface with the same number of blocks, forming a strong secure double wall without the irregularities of the inner walls of the blocks.

[0004] The openings (1.1) on the surfaces of the blocks allow the fitting of decorative pieces of multiple shapes, colours or sizes, imitating bricks, stones, tiles, different types of wood and other types of covering.

[0005] The grooves on the inner surface of the block (1.4) marked vertically, horizontally and diagonally, are to allow the block to be cut into different parts which can be adapted to the gable ends, doors, windows, and the ends of the walls or roof.

[0006] The groove marked on the central axis of the outside of the block (1.2), allows the block to be folded at the middle to either side so as to obtain the interior and exterior corners of the walls or roof. The spaces (1.8) opened up in the centre of each of the three walls perpendicular to this groove allow the block to be folded inwards.
These two processes of cutting and folding, and the three herein above mentioned fitting systems, characterize the method of operation of the herein utility model.

[0007] With regard to its shape, the herein utility model consists of a body of two elements, a block (figure 1), and crossbar (figure 2), made of injection moulded plastic.

[0008] The block (figure 1) has a square or rectangular configuration with four side walls that are perpendicular to the surface and located at the edge of the piece, and two inner walls which cross at the centre of the block and divide it into four equal squares or rectangles. Each of these walls has two vertical slots opened up at a 1/4 and 3/4 distance along the length of the wall, and two perpendicular extensions (1.5) which connect each slot to another similar slot having sizes and shapes which permit the fitting of the crossbars.
The crossbars (figure 2) have a rectangular shape with sizes that fit into the wall slots and have incorporated at one end a flexible wedge (2.1) which fastens on to or loosens the crossbars of the respective slots in order to join or separate the blocks.
The vertical spigots (1.6) and the raised bars (1.7)on the inside of the four side walls of the block respectively on the right and the left of each slot permit that when joining together two blocks or two flat surfaces of blocks face to face, the vertical spigots of one block are inserted between the raised bars of the other block and vice versa.
The following is a description, to be taken merely as a guide and should not be considered as limiting in character in any way whatsoever, of a part of the structure of the block and the crossbar as illustrated in the attached drawings the figures in which represent:
Figure 1,a perspective view of the inside face of the block with 16 openings (1.1), 4 side walls and two inner walls, 12 perpendicular extensions (1.5), 24 vertical slots (1.3), 4 slots (1.4), 8 vertical spigots (1.6), several raised bars (1.7), and 3 central spaces in three walls (1.8).
Figure 2, a perspective view of the crossbar, with a flexible wedge for fastening (2.1) and a fixed handling and fastening point (2.2).
The materials, dimensions and layout of the elements can undergo alterations as long as the said alterations do not alter the model in essence.
With regard to predecessors, no other product similar to the utility model herein exists, as is presented in this description.

Claims

1. Children's building block, consisting of a body of two elements, a block (figure 1) and crossbar (figure 2) made of plastic, which fit together to allow the joining and fastening of several blocks to each other from all of the side walls of the block to form flat surfaces of different sizes and shapes intended for the construction of play houses and other large dimension children's constructions, characterized by the Block (figure 1) being formed as a square or rectangular piece with equidistant openings (1.1) over all of its surface, incorporating a groove (1.2) on the outside face which folds the block in two, and incorporates on its inner face four grooves (1.4) or cut out guides marked vertically horizontally and diagonally, four side walls perpendicular to the surface located on the edges of the piece, and two inner walls which cross at the centre and divide the block in four equal squares or rectangles.

2. Children's building block, in accordance with the previous claim, characterized by each of the walls incorporating two vertical slots (1.3) opened up at a 1/4 and 3/4 distance along its length and two perpendicular extensions (1.5) connecting each slot to another identical slot of a size and shape that allow the fitting of the crossbars (figure 2), two vertical spigots (1.6) protruding from each of the four side walls and placed at the right of each slot and several raised bars (1.7) on the inner side of each of the four side walls and placed on the left of each slot, and a slight space (1.8) which divides in the middle each of the three walls perpendicular to the central groove of the outside face of the block.

3. Children's building block, in accordance with the claims 1 and 2, characterized by a Crossbar (figure 2) being constituted of a rectangular piece of size and shape which adapts to the slots of the walls of the block (figure 1) and, incorporating at one end a flexible wedge (2.1) for fastening, incorporating at the other end a raised fixed point (2.2) for handling and fastening.

Drawing