Construction Craft with Connectable Base Plates
A toy construction craft utilizing construction elements including modular building blocks comprises a base plate usable with a template that directs the user to create a scene and/or usable with a base joiner that enables multiple base plates to be removably connected to form a larger playing surface. The base plate comprises a flat base and an outer flange. The flat base includes a substantially planar building surface configured with forward-facing coupling studs for being interconnected with toy building elements having complementary coupling means, and the flat base includes rearward-facing protrusions that can interface with the template and/or with the base joiner. Additional optional accessories and specialized blocks are also provided, including one or more graphic segments and a frame.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/649,202 that was filed on Jul. 13, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,2272,352), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/202,882 filed on Aug. 9, 2015, which are both incorporated herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to toy construction crafts, and, more particularly, to an assembling system and method comprising a base plate for receiving building blocks, a template that includes guidance indicia to aid in placement of the building blocks to achieve a three-dimensional image, and attachable accessories including a base joiner for attaching multiple base plates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToy construction crafts have an artistic and educational appeal as well as presenting an intellectual challenge. One type of construction craft is a three-dimensional (3-D) puzzle that utilizes puzzle pieces of varying thicknesses (some thinner and some thicker) and varying shapes to form a 3-D pictorial illustration. Other 3-D construction crafts are composed of associated elements that are assembled according to a pattern provided in a separate paper booklet.
Additionally, the playing surface area is limited in a construction craft that uses a base plate, due to the limitation of the size of the base plate front surface. At times a larger surface is desirable.
Though conventional toy construction crafts may serve to meet particular requirements, there remains the need for a new, innovative construction set that engages and entertains, while challenging the child's imagination and skills.
Accordingly, there is a need for a construction craft that provides new construction elements along with an innovative method of assembly, thereby increasing the interest, entertainment, and educational value of the toy to the child user.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a construction craft which provides for attachment of modular building blocks to form an assembled composition and which provides for joining multiple base plates to form a larger playing surface.
The construction craft presents a 3-D puzzle and incorporates additional construction elements to amuse the user by presenting further complexities to be solved by following the assembly instructions. The construction elements are affixed to or adhered to the finished assemblage, thus producing a completed construction creation that is vertically displayable, such as on a wall. After completion of the construction craft, the construction elements may also be detached, providing repeat play value.
The displayable construction craft comprises multiples ones of the following construction elements: a base plate, a template (which may be a sheet for placement below a transparent base plate or may be incorporated into the base plate), a base joiner, building elements including modular building blocks attachable to the base plate that create a 3-D constructed area, one or more graphic segments providing background or adding artistic enhancement to the 3-D constructed area, and, preferably, a frame for consolidating the other construction elements. The building elements may optionally, additionally include specialized platform-topped building blocks with associated ornamental platform elements and pop-out decorative pieces.
The base plate is configured with upwardly-extending projections or male studs for receiving building elements with female coupling structures corresponding to, and attachable to, the male studs. The base plate comprises a flat base with forward-facing base studs on the playing surface and an outer flange. In an embodiment of the invention, a base joiner is included that allows multiple base plates to be connected to form a larger playing surface.
The template is configured with at least one designation area of guidance indicia. In the aspect in which the template is a discrete sheet positioned below the base plate, each guidance indicium is viewed through the transparent base to inform the user through at least a numeral designation as to the height of the designated modular block or blocks that will be used on that particular projection. Preferably, a particular guidance indicium disposed below a particular projection also informs the user through a color designation of the proper color of the particular designated modular block to attach to the particular projection. The combination of multiple ones of the designated blocks forms the 3-D portion of the artistic composition, while the graphic segment(s) augments the overall composition, such as by providing background graphics. In this aspect with a separate template sheet, the first template sheet is exchangeable with other template sheets that provide directions for different designed patterns. Thus, in this aspect, the base plate is usable with multiple templates.
In the aspect in which the template is incorporated into the base plate, the guidance indicia function the same, but are inscribed, printed, imprinted or otherwise displayed on the base plate itself. In this aspect, the designated pattern is incorporated into the base plate, so to construct a different design, a different base plate that incorporates guidance indicia designating the different design is required.
The graphic segment or graphic segments are fitted around or adjacent to the constructed 3-D portion of the artistic composition.
The frame secures the base plate, discrete template, and graphic segment in place to allow the completed artistic composition to be built. Upon completion, an optional hanger also allows the user to conveniently hang the construction craft.
This construction craft provides unique integrated construction elements with a new method of assembly that utilizes more imagination and ingenuity than traditional two or three-dimensional puzzles and that, when completed, provides a more aesthetically pleasing artistic creation than traditional building block assemblages. Therefore, the educational and entertainment value are increased over conventionally provided puzzles and construction crafts.
Advantages of the construction craft include the dimensionality of the complex finished art, the interesting mixed-media combinations of graphics with building blocks and other building elements, and the interesting yet straightforward method of assembly. The method of combining the colored images of the graphic segments with building elements is unique and enables the overall created artwork to be a smaller size than it could otherwise be without losing image details, which would occur if a constructed composition were to be built entirely of building blocks giving a bitmap effect. Optional building elements include flat platform-topped blocks that can receive flat-bottomed ornamental platform elements to add yet another artistic medium, adding to the creative aspect of the invention.
Additional advantages are provided by the base joiner, which allows multiple base plates to be connected to increase the playing surface. The connected base plates can also be disconnected to minimize storage space and shipping costs.
An object of the present invention is to provide a craft that enhances currently available construction crafts that utilize base plates and modular building blocks, thereby increasing interest, educational, and entertainment value.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments which follow.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONShown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a construction craft integrating multiple construction elements. The construction elements include multiple ones of the following: a base plate 120, a template 110, a graphic segment 130, a frame 150, a separable hanger 140, a base joiner 500, and building elements 200. The building elements 200 include standard modular building blocks 101 and, optionally, pop-up decorative pieces 303 and/or platform-topped blocks 145 with associated ornamental platform elements 149, which cooperate to create the design of the 3-D structure 105.
The construction craft herein presented provides an activity or craft that, when assembled, creates a dimensional work of art or dimensional artistic composition or creation that can be vertically displayed. The construction craft herein presented additionally and optionally provides a base joiner element that is usable to connect multiple base plates 120 to increase the playing surface.
Five embodiments are presented. The first four embodiments include the base plate 120, template 110 configured with guidance indicia 113 (
The fifth embodiment includes at least multiple base plates 120 and at least one base joiner 500.
The second embodiment is shown in
The third embodiment is shown in
The fourth embodiment is shown in
The fifth embodiment of
Turning to
The base plate 120 comprises a rigid or partially rigid sheet or flat base that provides a substantially planar building surface arranged with a number of upwardly-protruding male coupling studs 125 for being interconnected with toy building elements 200 having complementary female coupling structures 135. The male coupling studs 125 are preferably arranged on the same side of the base plate 120 in equidistant rows.
In the aspect in which the template 110 is a discrete template sheet, shown in
The standard toy modular blocks 101 are preferably formed of plastic material. They are configured with downward-opening female coupling structures 135 configured to fit onto the male studs 125 and are configured with upwardly-extending studs 125 that can accommodate a downward-opening female coupling structure 135 of another modular block 101. The female coupling structures 135 are sized and configured to coordinate with the male studs 125, but may be in any of a variety of shapes. For example, the female coupling structures 135 may be open cells (as seen in the modular building blocks 101 of
In the aspect shown in
In an example, if there is a blue square that includes a number “3” on the template sheet 110 that is immediately below a particular stud 125 on the transparent base plate 120, the user selects (as seen in
In some aspects, the guidance indicia 113 may have both the number designation (indicating to the user how high to stack the blocks) and color designation (indicating to the user what colors of blocks to stack) on one side of the template sheet 110. In other aspects, the template 110 may have guidance indicia 113 on both the top and bottom, such as a number designation on the top of the template sheet 110 and a color designation on the bottom surface of the template 110, or vice versa. In another aspect, the guidance indicia 113 may only provide numerical designations.
In the aspect in which the template 110 is integrated into the base plate 120, the guidance indicia 113 functions in the same manner.
The graphic segment 130 is preferably a flat sheet (such as cardboard, paperboard, or laminated paper) with a decorative graphic printed, embedded, embossed, imprinted, adhered to, or otherwise embellishing the top surface of the graphic segment 130. The graphic segment 130 may be a single segment, but may be formed of multiple segments, as seen in
Turning to the second embodiment of
The exploded view of
The pop-up decorative piece or pieces 303 are building elements that are attachable to modular blocks 101 that are already attached to the base plate 120; they add an elevated graphical or illustrative presentation that enhances the artistic design of the construction craft. The pop-up decorative pieces 303 are preferably formed of cardboard or paperboard that may or may not be laminated or may be formed of printed or unprinted plastic. The preferably full-color graphical adornment of the top surface of the pop-up decorative pieces 303 may be achieved by printing, imprinting, inscribing, embossing, adhering of a graphical decal or label, lamination with graphics, or otherwise embellishing the top surface.
The pop-up decorative piece 303 is designed to fit between two horizontal layers of modular blocks 101. In one aspect, when a pop-up decorative piece 303 goes between two horizontal layers of modular blocks 101, it is configured with attachment holes defined by hole edges 313 (
In this third embodiment, the clear plastic base plate 120 is configured with upward projections 125 and with multiple alignment holes 305, which could be in or near the corners of the base plate 120. One alignment hole 305 is shown in
In this embodiment, the template sheet 110 is shown with an unnumbered and undesignated border 114 and with a designation area 310 displaying guidance indicia 113. In another aspect, the template sheet 110 need not be integrated into the construction craft but may merely be placed beside the construction craft unit and used as an instruction manual. In another aspect, the template 110 is integrated into the base plate 120 with the color and numeral designations applied directly to the base plate 120, which then does not need to be clear.
In
The detail of
The frame hanging feature 151 shown in the back view of
To use the third embodiment of the invention, the user first assembles construction elements to create a foundational play surface structure onto which the removable and replaceable building elements 200 will be attached to create the artistic composition. To create the foundational structure, the user places lower frame 175 onto a surface for support, and then places the template sheet 110 into the frame recess 309 (
The user then looks at the guidance indicium 113 within the designation area 310 of template sheet 110 below a particular stud 125 to determine which modular block 101 is designated by the guidance indicium 113 to fit the pre-determined design. For example, a block 101 of the correct height and color is designated. This step is repeated with the other guidance indicia 113, adding blocks 101 as needed to complete the 3-D block construction 105 (
The fourth embodiment, which presents a third aspect of the frame and two specialized blocks (a separable hanger 140 and a platform-topped block 145 with an associated ornamental platform element 149), is shown in
The rear surface of the base plate 120 is configured with edge protuberances 127 (
After installing the template sheet 110 by slipping the internal holes 119 over the protuberances 129, preferably a securing member 144 is attached to the end of each of the protuberances 129. The securing member 144 is a cap-like element with an internal receiving area configured to fit the external surface of the protuberance 129. The securing member 144 may be formed of rigid plastic, flexible plastic, rubber, rubber-like material, or the like.
Additionally, the base plate 120 is configured with a hanger receiver 123 that receives a separable hanger 140. The hanger receiver 123 comprises a base plate coupling member, and the separable hanger 140 comprises a complementary hanger coupling member. In the figures, the hanger receiver 123 is illustrated as two male coupling members formed of outwardly-protruding pegs, and the separable hanger 140 is illustrated with two female coupling structures 135 (
To accommodate the coupling of the separable hanger 140 to the hanger receiver 123 of the base plate, the template sheet 110 may be configured with a hanger provision cutout 112 defined by hanger provision edges 111 (
In addition to the hanger coupling members shown as female coupling structures 135, the separable hanger 140, best seen in
The fourth embodiment also provides a specialized type of building block, which is the platform-topped block 145 that is best seen in
The top surface 146 of a platform block 145 is designed and configured to receive an ornamental platform element 149. The ornamental platform element 149 to be received by the top surface 146 has an upper surface 156 that is decorative. Preferably the ornamental platform element 149 is rigid or semi-rigid, so it will hold its shape when attached to the platform block 145. Preferably the upper surface 156 displays a full-color graphic. In one aspect the ornamental platform element 149 may be a vinyl decal or vinyl sticker displaying a color graphical image and having a removable backing protecting an adhesive layer, which is adhered to the surface 146. In another aspect, the ornamental platform element 149 may be a laminated cardboard, paperboard, or plastic sheet that is adhered to the surface 146 by adhesive. In one aspect a glue dot may be placed on the surface 146 to adhere the ornamental platform element 149.
The ornamental platform elements 149 provided in a single construction craft kit may be similar in shape, or as seen in
To use the fourth embodiment of the invention, the user first assembles construction elements to create a foundational play surface structure onto which the removable and replaceable building elements 200 will be attached to create the artistic composition. To create the foundational structure, the user places the template sheet 110 under the base plate 120 and slips the internal holes 119 over the protuberances 129 and slips the edge protuberances 127 over the edge holes 117 with alignment notches 115 aligned with alignment element 124. A securing member 144 is attached to the distal end of each of the protuberances 129. The graphic element 130 is then situated into the back of the frame 150 with alignment element 134 aligned with a corresponding alignment element inside the frame 150. The transparent plastic base plate 120 and attached template 110 is then snapped into the back of the frame 150 by engaging complementary coupling members 128, 158 (
The created foundational play surface structure is then complete. The user then attaches modular building blocks 101 (as designated by the guidance indicia 113), platform blocks 145 (as designated by guidance indicia 113 or by accompanying instructions), and any pop-up decorative pieces 303 of the particular pre-determined design, as described above. The associated ornamental platform elements 149 are then attached to the platform 147 via removal of a sheet covering an adhesive back and attachment of the adhesive back to the top surface 146, via the attachment of a glue dot to the top surface 146 and adherence of an associated ornamental platform element 149 to the glue dot, or via other attachment means.
The base plates 400 and the base joiner 500 are frictionally engageable and disengageable to allow the user to quickly and easily connect and disconnect multiple base plates 400.
The base plates 400 of the fifth embodiment generally have the same configuration as the base plates 120 of the first four embodiments with the addition of a frictional engagement mechanism that interacts with a correlating frictional engagement mechanism of the base joiner 400. In one exemplary aspect, the frictional engagement mechanism is a rearward-facing internal protuberance 129 that is disposed near a corner of the base plate 400 but within the outer flange, which is designated as a rearward-facing corner protuberance 420. In this aspect, the base joiner 500 comprises a receiving void 520 defined by receiving void wall 521 (
Optionally, but preferably, when the base joiner 500 is used to join two or more base plates, the base plates are not elevated, but the flanges remain in the same plane as before the connection by the base joiner 500. This allows the bottom of the flanges to continue to contact the flat surface upon which it is to rest, such as the tabletop, floor, desk, etc. To facilitate this, in an aspect of the invention, a set of corner slots 410 defined by corner slot edges 411 are disposed a short distance from the corner of the base plate. One of the set of corner slots 410 is disposed within a first flange, and the other of the set of corner slots 410 is disposed within an adjacent second flange. In this aspect a support structure 510 (
One or more additional support structures 530 may be disposed within the base joiner 500 to add stability to the piece.
To connect multiple base plates using a single base joiner 500, two to four base plates 400 are obtained. The base plates 400 are aligned with their corners adjacent to each other and the rearward surfaces facing up. Then the base joiner 500 is positioned with the base joiner voids 520 aligned above the corresponding corner rearward-facing protuberances 420. The support structures 521 are simultaneously aligned with the corner slots 410. Then the base joiner 500 is pushed toward the flat base of the base plate with the rearward-facing protuberance 420 frictionally engaging with the joiner void walls 521, while simultaneously the support structures 521 are slid into the corner slots 410.
Though illustrated as a four-sided base plate, the base plate in any of the embodiments may have three or more sides. Though the receiving void wall 521 is shown as defining an open receiving void 520 to allow the base joiner 500 to be reversable. However, this is not required; the receiving void 520 may have one closed end.
The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. The mirror image of each design is also disclosed.
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims
1. A construction craft utilizing modular building blocks each of which has a male stud and a complementary, opposing female coupling structure, comprising:
- a transparent base plate comprising a flat base having at least three outer edges, an outer flange, multiple forward-facing base studs, and multiple rearward-facing protuberances; wherein said base studs extend upwardly from said flat base, are integrally formed with said flat base, and are configured to receive said block female coupling structure; wherein said rearward-facing multiple protuberances extend rearwardly from said flat base and are integrally formed with said flat base; and
- a template sheet sized and configured to be received below said base plate and having at least one area of designation configured with guidance indicia comprising multiple guidance indicium; wherein said template sheet is configured with internal alignment holes defined by internal alignment hole edges; wherein each of said internal alignment holes will accommodate one of said rearward-facing multiple protuberances; and wherein said guidance indicia provides information to indicate a height of at least one of said modular building blocks that is designated to be attached to said particular one of said base studs; and wherein, upon placement of multiple designated ones of said modular building blocks on ones of said base studs, a three-dimensional block construction structure is created.
2. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, wherein said guidance indicium is associated with a particular one of said base studs and comprises a number on a colored field, indicating both said height and a color of said of at least one of said modular building blocks that is designated to be attached to said particular one of said base studs.
3. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pop-up decorative piece having a decorative top surface; wherein said pop-up decorative piece is attachable to said construction craft.
4. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a thin pop-up decorative piece having a decorative top surface and having multiple attachment holes defined by attachment hole edges extending vertically through said thin pop-up decorative piece; wherein said attachment holes have a larger diameter than the diameter of said male stud of said modular building block; and wherein the spacing between said attachment holes corresponds to the spacing between said base studs of said base plate.
5. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a frame having a rear portion configured to accommodate said template sheet and said base plate.
6. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a platform block having an upper platform with flat top surface and having an opposing lower female coupling structure that is complementary to said base studs of said base plate.
7. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a base joiner configured with multiple receiving voids each defined by a void wall; wherein:
- a portion of said outer flange extends along each of said outer edges of said flat base;
- a flange corner is formed where two of said portions of said outer flange meet;
- one of said multiple rearward-facing protuberances is disposed near said flange corner; and
- one of said multiple receiving voids is configured to receive said one of said multiple rearward-facing protuberances disposed near said flange corner.
8. The construction craft, as recited in claim 7, wherein:
- said flange is configured with at least two slits defined by slit edges;
- said at least two slits are disposed near said flange corner;
- said base joiner comprises support structures disposed between each of said multiple receiving voids; and
- each of said at least two slits are configured to removably receive one of said support structures of said base joiner.
9. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a separable hanger having a back configured with a keyhole and having at least two hanger female coupling structures configured to receive one of said multiple rearward-facing protuberances.
10. The construction craft, as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one graphic segment.
11. A construction craft utilizing modular building blocks each of which has a male stud and a complementary, opposing female coupling structure, comprising:
- a base plate comprising a flat base having at least three outer edges, an outer flange, multiple forward-facing base studs, and multiple rearward-facing protuberances; wherein said base studs extend upwardly from said flat base, are integrally formed with said flat base, and are configured to receive said block female coupling structure; wherein said rearward-facing multiple protuberances extend rearwardly from said flat base and are integrally formed with said flat base; wherein a portion of said outer flange extends along each of said outer edges of said flat base; wherein flange corners are formed where two of said portions of said outer flange meet; wherein one of said multiple rearward-facing protuberances is disposed near said flange corner; and
- a base joiner comprising at least two void walls defining at least two receiving voids; wherein each of said receiving voids removably accommodates said one of said multiple rearward-facing protuberances disposed near said flange corner.
12. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, wherein:
- said flange is configured with at least two slits defined by slit edges;
- said at least two slits are disposed near said flange corner;
- said base joiner comprises support structures disposed between each of said at least two receiving voids; and
- each of said at least two slits are configured to removably receive one of said support structures of said base joiner.
13. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, wherein:
- said base joiner comprises four void walls defining four receiving voids; and
- said base joiner comprises four support structures.
14. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, wherein said base is substantially transparent; and further comprising a template sheet sized and configured to be received below said base plate, having alignment holes extending vertically through said template sheet defined by alignment hole edges configured to receive said rearward-facing protuberances, and having at least one area of designation configured with guidance indicia comprising multiple guidance indicium; wherein, when said template sheet is positioned below said base plate, each guidance indicium is positioned under a particular one of said base studs and each guidance indicium provides information to indicate both a height and a color of at least one of said modular building blocks that is designated to be attached to said particular one of said base studs; wherein, upon placement of multiple designated ones of said modular building blocks on correlating ones of said base studs, a three-dimensional block construction structure is created.
15. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising at least one graphic segment having a decorative top surface and configured to extend beyond said base plate outer flange.
16. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a pop-up decorative piece having a decorative top surface; wherein said pop-up decorative piece is attachable to said construction craft; and wherein said pop-up decorative piece, upon attachment to said construction craft, extends past said outer flange of said base plate.
17. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a thin pop-up decorative piece having a decorative top surface and having multiple attachment holes defined by attachment hole edges extending vertically through said thin pop-up decorative piece; wherein said attachment holes have a larger diameter than the diameter of said male stud of said modular building block; and wherein the spacing between said attachment holes corresponds to the spacing between said base studs of said base plate.
18. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a frame having a rear portion configured to accommodate said template sheet, said base plate, and said at least one graphic segment.
19. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising:
- a platform block having an upper platform with flat top surface and having an opposing lower female coupling structure that is complementary to said base studs of said base plate;
- an ornamental platform element having a flat bottom surface and a decorative top surface; and
- an attachment means for attaching said ornamental platform element to said flat top surface of said platform block.
20. The construction craft, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a separable hanger having a back configured with a keyhole and having at least two hanger female coupling structures; wherein said base plate is configured with at least two rearwardly-facing male coupling structures complementary to said at least two hanger female coupling structures.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 29, 2019
Publication Date: Aug 22, 2019
Inventor: Margo Sheryl Chazen (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 16/398,223