Including Element Having Plural Bosses For Forming Single Joint Patents (Class 446/128)
  • Patent number: 11970873
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a load bearing ledger fitting, a modular header beam, a perimeter safety deck, a multi-purpose bearing plate, and a mega-shore bearing plate of an integrated construction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apache Industrial Services, INC
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Chevis
  • Patent number: 11964216
    Abstract: A surface grid panel assembly includes a grid panel and a plurality of attachment studs formed thereon. The grid panel includes a plurality of first and second grid members intersecting with each other. The attachment studs are spacedly protruded from top surfaces of the first and second grid members of the grid panel, wherein one or more attachment elements are adapted for detachably coupling with the attachment studs to couple the attachment elements on the grid panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Xudong Feng
  • Patent number: 11813543
    Abstract: A toy construction robotics system including a robotics control unit, the robotics control unit comprising: a housing comprising coupling elements configured for releasably interconnecting the robotics control unit with cooperating toy construction elements; a processor comprising programmed instructions; a plurality of I/O-ports connected to communicate with the processor; a plurality of separate light emitters arranged in a two-dimensional array on a front side of the housing, each of the light emitters being operable in response to instructions from the processor so as to produce at least two different indicator states; wherein the light emitters are aligned with respect to the I/O-ports such that each of the I/O-ports has an associated light emitter next to it. The light emitters may be operable, in response to instructions from the processor, to produce a machine readable code encoding data in respect of the robotics control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LEGO A/S
    Inventors: René Christensen Wellejus, Bjarke Holt Pedersen, Kevin Nørby Andersen, Ralph Hempel, Pelle Normann Brix
  • Patent number: 11617372
    Abstract: An interlocking baked food brick has a top surface with a first stud and a bottom surface with a first recess. The first stud is aligned with the first recess. When one brick is placed on another brick, the first stud of the lower brick fits into the first recess of the upper brick to form an interlocking structure. The interlocking baked food brick may be a waffle or a cake. The interlocking baked food brick may be made in a heated mold. The mold may have a top plate with a base cavity and a recess projection located in the base cavity. The bottom plate may have a bottom cavity and a stud cavity located in the bottom cavity. The recess projection may be aligned with the stud cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SCS Direct Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Ebersold, Rilin Cao
  • Patent number: 11613886
    Abstract: The Pixel Block builds a wide range of useful constructions such as tables, chairs, and houses, with the modularity in three-dimensional space to make a universe of objects with a versatility similar to that of a pixel on a computer screen. It has a basic cylindrical shape that is as long as it is wide and deep to occupy a basic cube space. It is a versatile and useful geometric building block comprised of snaps, screws, nobs, magnetic forces, and combinations of these interfaces to assemble into constructions comprised of multiple copies of the Invention. On one end of the cylinder is a protruding screw that is also a hook and a snap, that can fit into itself and into each of five other sides of the cylinder. Once assembled into a shape, the Invention can be locked in place with spheres or with cylinders inside the Invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Jonathan Hendrik Van Ee
  • Patent number: 11491410
    Abstract: Toys having interchangeable parts are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a toy includes two or more toy components or modules that can be releasably coupled together. Each toy component can include a (i) a body defining a sound-reflecting chamber having an opening and (ii) a fastener assembly coupled to the body. The fastener assembly can include a base and a fastener positioned in a recess of the base. The base can be positioned over the opening of the sound-reflecting chamber and coupled to the body. The fastener is configured to generate sound when the fastener is engaged to and/or disengaged from the mating fastener of another toy component, and the sound-reflecting chamber is configured to reflect the sound out of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Funko, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Carsello
  • Patent number: 11472112
    Abstract: In order to provide a composite object that can be produced at high quality and low cost using a 3D printer, a composite object includes: a first object obtained by assembling one or at least two assemblable toy blocks; and a second object constituted by one or at least two parts produced through 3D printing, and configured to be attached to the first object so as to cover at least a portion except for part of a surface thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to produce an object at high quality and low cost using a 3D printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ANALYTICWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Kimio Momose, Hirotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11291279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a suitcase, including a case body and a plurality of wheel assemblies. The case body has a cuboid shape and includes a front portion, a rear portion, a plurality of top cylindrical projections, at least one bottom tubular projection, and four sidewalls. The rear portion is connected to the front portion. The top cylindrical projections are on the rear portion and protrude outwardly. The bottom tubular projection is on the rear portion and protrudes outwardly in the opposite direction of the top cylindrical projections. The sidewalls surround the bottom tubular projection. There is a space between the bottom tubular projection and the sidewalls. The wheel assemblies are connected to the case body by closely engaged the wheel assemblies to the top cylindrical projections, or by closely engaged the wheel assemblies in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FON DA TECH CO, LTD
    Inventor: Yung-Ting Liu
  • Patent number: 11273386
    Abstract: A multidimensional front-and-back-sides-freely-buildable building block toy construction set includes a first module and a second module. The first module is provided with a single, a single column of, two columns of or multiple columns of first coupling short posts on a front side, and is provided with a concave surface on a back side. Multiple columns of protruding second coupling short posts are disposed on the concave surface. The second coupling short posts are distributed as follows: columns: uniformly distributed in the same columns as the first coupling short posts on the front side, and in the middle equally dividing two adjacent columns; rows: in the same columns as the first coupling short posts on the front side, each of the second coupling short posts is alternately arranged with the first coupling short posts, and is located in the middle equally dividing two first coupling short posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI PAI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shanjun Deng, Ye Xiao
  • Patent number: 10994218
    Abstract: An assembly set includes a base member that has a pair of cylindrical parts and a connection part, a connector member, and a rod member. Each of the cylindrical parts has a first columnar protrusion protruding from one end and a first cylindrical boss portion positioned within the cylindrical part. The first protrusion of another base member is fitted between an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part and the first boss portion. The rod member has a pair of coupling parts fitted into the connector member and a rod part connecting the pair of coupling parts. The connector member has a second columnar protrusion fitted into the first boss portion and a pair of second cylindrical boss portions into which the coupling parts are fitted to swingably hold the rod member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Masako Kogure
  • Patent number: 10786748
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of building block toys and provides a multi-dimensional building set of building block toys, including: a first module, a front side of the first module has a single first coupling short post or a single column, two columns or multiple columns of first coupling short posts, and a back side of the first module has a concave surface, there are multiple columns of convex second coupling short posts in the concave surface and there are a plurality of ribs on sidewalls of the concave surface; the second coupling short posts are distributed as follows: column: the columns are uniformly distributed in the same columns as the first coupling short posts on the front side and located in a middle position between two adjacent columns; line: in the same columns as the first coupling short posts on the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI PUTAO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shanjun Deng, Ye Xiao
  • Patent number: 10617968
    Abstract: A building block of six female sides wherein each side of the block is adapted to accept a male side of a second different block. The first block is made up of a cross form comprised of tubular projections, a skeleton block form, and connection components connecting the cross form to the skeleton block form. The second different blocks are made up of at least four generally cylindrical projections extending normally outward from the base plate of the block that may be inserted into any of the six sides of the first block and interconnect by frictional engagement. These blocks can be interconnected and assembled into a block structure that has both a finished outward appearance in which each outermost side of every block is customizable and provides internal passageways for adding structural elements, wiring, lighting or anything else needed to run through the blocks and block structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Joshua Davis
  • Patent number: 10343079
    Abstract: A toy building brick system includes a base brick having a cubic shape such that the base brick comprises six outer walls. The base brick has an open interior and each of the outer walls comprises a female receiver such that six female receivers are formed in the base brick. In this manner, the base brick defines an all-female brick. A plurality of inserts is provided and each of the inserts is removably engaged with one of the female receivers such that an outer surface of each of the inserts faces outwardly of the open interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Semling, Dustin A. Barwald, Marc-Henry Wakim, Joshua M. Cherry, Joseph Schmitt, Akon Lee, Jim Law
  • Patent number: 10307685
    Abstract: An assembly-toy chassis building element for a toy vehicle is configured for being non-rotatably connected to another chassis element of the toy vehicle. The chassis element has a top side, two side walls, two end walls and compatible coupling components disposed at opposite ends of the chassis element for enabling the chassis element to be rotatably coupled to another such chassis element. The top side and/or at least one end wall of each chassis element is disposed and configured for connection to an intermediate building element that is adapted, either alone or in combination with at least one other intermediate building element, to effect a non-rotatable end-to-end connection with another such chassis element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Soren Christian Sorensen
  • Patent number: 10130894
    Abstract: The invention relates to planarly connectable toy bricks comprising an unilaterally open, box-like hollow body and plug-in pins at the bottom outer side and bottom domes on the bottom inner side. In order to achieve increased frictional force both plug-in pins on the upper side of the toy brick and bottom domes on the bottom side of the toy brick are designed as an n-rectangular straight prism having parallel and equally long side edges. Ribs are designed as double-webbed retaining protrusions, the plug-in pins have through-holes of different shapes at the bottom as well as stabilizing webs which extend between the retaining protrusions and parallel thereto. A click system is provided, which ensures that user has apart from the visual and haptic perception an acoustic perception of the completion of the clamping of two toy bricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Inventor: Joachim Peiler
  • Patent number: 10112120
    Abstract: Toy play systems are disclosed. A toy play system may include a first toy play set having a first base. The first base may include opposed upper and lower sides, the upper side may include at least one play feature and the lower side may include a plurality of protrusions. The toy play system may further include a base connector which may have at least two coupling structures. At least a first coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. At least a second coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a second toy play set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Erich W Weidetz, Jebraeil Samo
  • Patent number: 9947249
    Abstract: A sign frame incorporates a plurality of segments each selected from straight, curved or hinged segments that are interchangeable and are telescopically connected to adjacent segments. The selection of curved and straight segments may provide for customization of the sign size, while selection of hinge segments can be integrated with other segments to provide a hinge support for the sign and sign frame and for convenient attachment to a pole or post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Timothy Mark Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9849398
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a base section configured such that, taking the unit edge length D1 to be 1 and a cube expressed as 1×1×1 to be one unit size, the base section has a parallelepiped shape in which one or more 1-unit sizes are conjoined, and is composed of an open, hollow face taken to be the bottom, four lateral walls 3B, and a roof 3A; and cylindrical projections having a cylindrical shape and provided on the outer face of one or more of the roof 3A and the lateral walls 3B, with a diameter D2 being equal to or greater than 0.4 but less than 0.6 with respect to the unit edge length D1, and a height being (1?diameter)×(0.4 to 0.5 inclusive).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kawada Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeru Saigo, Shinichi Yanagida
  • Patent number: 9564070
    Abstract: A backlighting system for a cabinet sign may include a plurality of panels. Each panel includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) attached to the panel. The diode has a box sign depth factor of less than about 1.4. An integrated circuit may also be located on the panel. A wire physically connects adjacent panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Marc Nall, Kevin Carpenter, Koushik Saha, Chenyang (Kevin) Li, Ronald K. Brengartner, Jr., Xin (Bill) Wang, Tomislav J. Stimac
  • Patent number: 9555921
    Abstract: The present invention includes a portable, snap-together cooler and methods for providing a portable, snap-together cooler. The cooler may include six panels, wherein each of the panels includes connector elements that snap onto other connector elements to assemble the cooler. Each of the six panels may include attachment elements that may be used to secure each of the panels onto at least one other panel when the panels are stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: PROSPORTS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John E. Cronin, Nick Reasner
  • Patent number: 9539519
    Abstract: The disclosure refers to a lid in the form of a building block, including a side wall, top surface with an internal wall and an external wall, the base of the lid, one or more male pins and one or more female openings, with their longitudinal axes placed in a direction that is essentially parallel to the internal section of the side wall provided with a lid fixing element to the package to be closed, in which one or more male pins have an external diameter of (4.8±0.1) millimeters, of (6.5±0.1) millimeters, or of (9.4±0.2) millimeters, and one or more female openings which have an internal diameter of (4.8±0.1) millimeters, of (6.5±0.1) millimeters or of (9.4±0.2) millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Vilma da Silva Araujo Baptista
    Inventor: Vilma da Silva Araujo Baptista
  • Patent number: 9500215
    Abstract: Provided are a link mechanism which is variously combined, assembled and disassembled, and a universal coupler including the same. The link mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plate and a coupling piece. The plate has a flat plate shape and a thickness and includes a plurality of coupling holes formed to pass therethrough, the coupling holes have the same size and shape and are disposed at a interval in at least one of a column direction and a row direction. The coupling piece is inserted into the coupling holes of two or more plates to couple two or more plates to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROBOTIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byoung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9364767
    Abstract: A child building block is provided having a collapsible structure that is formed of a flat sheet material and is erected into a cuboid shape having connector elements to remain stable and for adjoining adjacent building blocks during fort construction. When the sheet material is connected and the block is erected, the block forms an upper surface having a pair of upstanding protrusions thereon, a pair of side walls, and a pair of end walls that are perpendicularly attached with an open lower. Adjoining edges of the block are secured using a simple push tab and tab receiving area. The upstanding protrusion of the block upper surfaces fits within the open lower of a corresponding block member positioned thereover. Finally, adjacent blocks can be aligned with one another and secured together, allowing construction in a grid pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventors: Olivia Fox, Seth Ian Fox
  • Patent number: 9345981
    Abstract: Special multidimensional spacing for building elements of a toy construction system are described herein. Various coupling elements and configurations are described providing combinations of building elements in standard and offset alignments. In addition, special building elements provide various multidimensional alignments between standard building elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Salvatore F. Lama
  • Patent number: 9186591
    Abstract: A toy spinning top with a displaceable platform 11 on which an object can be placed, such as a figure, and wherein the spinning top comprises means for displacing the platform 11 relative to the spinning top and at such rate that the object is ejected off the platform 11. The platform 11 is arranged to be movable in the body part by means of a forcible guide 14, 15 which, at least on a stretch of the forcible guide 14, 15, is configured such that the platform 11 can be caused to rotate only about the axis of rotation 4 relative to the spinning top simultaneously with it moving upwards or downwards along the axis of rotation 4 seen relative to the use situation in which the spinning top rotates about its essentially vertical axis of rotation 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: LEGO A/S
    Inventor: Klaus Elias Nielsen
  • Patent number: 9149733
    Abstract: A toy brick comprising: a body part with one or more sidewalls extending around the outer periphery of the toy brick which at least partially define an interior of the toy brick and extend from a bottom face to a top portion of the body part, and an elongated rib arranged interiorly on one of the one or more sidewalls. The elongated rib extends at least partially between the bottom face towards the top portion of the body part and the elongated rib is, upon interconnection with another toy brick, configured to be in abutment on coupling means with the other toy brick, the width of the elongated rib, in a central portion in-between the bottom face and the top portion and parallel to the sidewall accommodating the elongated rib, is greater than the width of the elongated rib near its ends parallel to the sidewall accommodating the elongated rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: LEGO A/S
    Inventor: Preben Kraag Henriksen
  • Publication number: 20140227937
    Abstract: A toy block, configured to be assembled with a mating block, having four sidewalls, is herein provided. The toy block comprising, where applicable, at least one Stud, at least one recessed portion, Bottom Posts Semi-circle Posts, Rib Pairs, a plurality of Edge Stoppers, and a plurality of Corner Stoppers. The Studs, and the recessed portion are provided at the top side, and at the bottom side of the toy block respectively. When one of the studs of the mating toy block is inserted in one of the recessed portions of the toy block, each one of the engaged studs of the mating toy block have its sidewall abutting against eight abutment points in its corresponding recessed portions of the said toy block, such that the toy block is grasped with the mating toy block at the engaged Studs of the mating toy block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Cheng Pai-Chen
  • Patent number: 8790151
    Abstract: A toy construction base plate configured to receive a toy construction and having a collapsible handle, which allows the construction to be built on the base plate on a flat play surface, after which the handle may be deployed from the base plate to allow a user to hold and play with the toy construction. The handle may be deployed by, for example, pivoting with respect to a support member of the base plate and pivoting above, below, or to the side of the toy construction. The handle may also be used as a stand to hold a construction above a play surface. The toy construction may be made of interlocking stackable blocks and the support surface of the base plate may be configured to receive the interlocking stackable blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: MEGA Brands Inc.
    Inventors: Vic Bertrand, Alexandre Huneau, Réal Laurent Lanoix, Yanick Tremblay
  • Publication number: 20140179195
    Abstract: A toy combination includes a plurality of children's building blocks, each of the building blocks having a ferromagnetic material, and a wand with at least a portion that is magnetic, the wand capable of attracting the plurality of children's building blocks. The wand may have end lower ends in a variety of configurations to pick up the building blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Steven D. Kramer
  • Patent number: 8715030
    Abstract: The toy building block has a top board, four sideboards, an open bottom and four holding spaces. The top board includes multiple rectangular protrusions and each protrusion has four side surfaces, four recesses and four positioning posts. The recesses are formed respectively in the side surfaces of the protrusion. Each positioning post is formed between two adjacent recesses of two adjacent side surfaces of the protrusion. Each sideboard includes multiple ribs. Each holding space is formed between two adjacent ribs of two adjacent sideboards. To assemble the toy building blocks, the open bottom of one toy building block is used to cover the protrusions of another toy building block to make the holding spaces of the one toy building block hold the positioning posts of another toy building block. Thus, the toy building blocks are securely assembled against rotation relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Hsiao-Chieh Chin
  • Patent number: 8690631
    Abstract: A toy building block of a type which may be interconnected with similarly configured blocks has a hollow box-shaped structure having a top with cylindrical stud coupling members, and sides which together with the top define a downwardly opening cavity into which the cylindrical studs of a like configured block may be inserted for frictional interconnection. One or more integrated circuit chips are embedded within the molding material of the block, and leads incorporated within the block studs and sides provide electrical interconnection between blocks when like configured blocks are brought into frictional interengagement. In a described embodiment, components of a digital video recording system are apportioned to different blocks which when interconnected provide the complete system functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Debasish Nag
  • Publication number: 20140051321
    Abstract: The use of a faucet adapted to receive toy construction building blocks so that they can be used to decorate a faucet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin Whitfield Kelly, Colin Wesley Woodall
  • Patent number: 8628374
    Abstract: An expandable toy building element being interconnectable with one or more other toy building elements is disclosed having one or more coupling connectors adapted to interconnect the expandable toy building element with another toy building element. The expandable toy building element has a hollow first end component with an open, distal end so as to define a first internal cavity, a hollow second end component with an open, distal end so as to define a second internal cavity; and a translation element acting to expandably connect the first end component to the second end component. The expandable toy building element is expandable between a compact position and at least one expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Spin Master Ltd.
    Inventor: David Lewis McDonald
  • Patent number: 8524076
    Abstract: A fluid purification unit includes a case including a hollow and a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow to flow a fluid inside into the hollow and outside from the hollow, the case including combining protrusions formed on a first face and concave portions formed on a second face opposite to the first face, each of the combining protrusions having a first cross sectional area and being regularly arranged in a first direction and at a first interval and each of the concave portions having a second area corresponding to the first cross sectional area and being arranged at a second interval corresponding to the first interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Segi Environment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Hae Yang
  • Patent number: 8517789
    Abstract: A toy brick includes a housing adapted for releasable engagement to at least one other toy brick and having at least one translucent portion, at least one lighting device arranged inside the housing and adapted to generate light viewable through the at least one translucent portion, at least one battery arranged inside the housing and electrically connected to the at least one lighting device, and at least one switch arranged inside the housing and operable from outside the housing to illuminate the at least one lighting device. The at least one switch can be a motion-activated switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Jason Barber
  • Patent number: 8468957
    Abstract: A multi-orientation stacking riser includes a main section; a protruding mating section extending from one surface of the main section; and a recessed mating section formed in an opposite surface of the main section, and wherein the recessed mating section accommodates insertion of a protruding mating section of an identical stacking riser in at least first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Whitmor, Inc.
    Inventors: Milton D. Ruiz, Sandy Felsenthal
  • Patent number: 8459410
    Abstract: A modular step stool system according to various embodiments can include a plurality of stepping blocks comprising a first stepping block and a second stepping block configured to support a user's body weight. A plurality of interlocking elements is interposed between the first stepping block and the second stepping block for horizontally and vertically interconnecting and interlocking at least the first and second stepping blocks to form a raised step platform. Some of the plurality of interlocking elements include sub-couplings which are configured to provide simultaneous horizontal and vertical interconnections. Some embodiments of the device include raised walls configured within the side walls and corner tabs inserted within the corners of the stepping blocks and configured having a profiled selected based upon the shape of the sub-couplings to facilitate stacking and interconnections in at least one of a horizontal, a vertical, a perpendicular, and an offset configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Kinder Pal, LLC
    Inventors: Goli Parvizian, Ken Sowers
  • Publication number: 20130115849
    Abstract: A building block as an integral unit and formed complete by a single injection moulding process, having six faces with adjacent faces substantially perpendicular to one another and with at least two faces adapted to enable detachably interlocking engagement, by interlocking means, with a similar face of another building block or with one having similar conceptual design. Additionally the walls of the building block have substantially similar and uniform thickness. in a preferred embodiment, the building block (1) is substantially cubical in shape and with any of the six faces adapted to enable detachably interlocking engagement, by interlocking means in the form of spigots (20) and suitably positioned and matching sockets (21), with any of the faces of another substantially similar building block (1) or with one sharing substantially similar conceptual design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Wang Han Yap
  • Publication number: 20120071061
    Abstract: A toy block for a snap-fit type construction system is disclosed herein. The toy block includes a first surface. The toy block also includes a plurality of first knobs projecting from and perpendicular to the first surface. The toy block also includes a second surface intersecting and perpendicular to the first surface. The toy block also includes a plurality of second knobs projecting from and perpendicular to the second surface. The first plurality of knobs and the second plurality of knobs have similar shapes and sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Scott Smith, Brad Trine
  • Patent number: 8105128
    Abstract: A toy building element includes side walls, a top having an upper surface that extends from the side walls, and a plurality of projections extending upward from the extensive upper surface, an open bottom and an interior. The interior is accessible through the open bottom for receiving a plurality of projections of another building element of a set of toy building elements. The interior includes a plurality of hollow members that extend downward from a respective portion of the extensive upper surface that is disposed between two of the projections; and the hollow members are open to the extensive upper surface. The hollow members partition the interior into regions in which a plurality of projections of another building element is received; and the regions of the building element are disposed directly below the projections of the same building element for receiving the projections of the other building element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Soren Christian Sorensen, Jens Ole Sorensen
  • Patent number: 7980914
    Abstract: Described are variations of a residential splash-pad system and kit for installation thereof. A system can comprise a residential water pump, a water filter, a water distribution valve, nozzles, a controller, and a drain. Some variations can include a heater, an ozonator, a ball valve, a three-way valve, an above-ground water feature, and/or a pool. The components can be compatible with and ready for installation in a system with each of the other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Luke A. Blais, Walter Brett Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7882674
    Abstract: Molded concrete building blocks consisting of three block walls and block webs so located as to provide an increased path through the width of the block to reduce transmission of thermal and acoustic energy. The blocks may incorporate features, e.g., male projections and female recesses or an offset inner wall, so that mortar may not be required for assembly. The blocks may be configured so that interior apertures may be vertically aligned when the blocks are assembled in courses, providing adaptability to structure enhancing reinforcement and insulation materials, and to interior wall installation of wiring and plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventors: Joseh H. Craven, Sara Craven, Frank L. McKenzie
  • Patent number: 7789727
    Abstract: A novelty device and the associated method of fabricating component parts of the novelty device. The novelty device has at least one protrusion that is made from an elastomeric material. The protrusion has a distal end. A hole is disposed through the protrusion proximate its distal end. A secondary object is provided. The secondary object is made from a rigid material. The secondary object defines an interior space. Sounding elements are disposed within the interior space of at least some of the secondary objects. The sounding elements are free moving and produce noise within said secondary objects when said novelty device is manually shaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventors: Mark J. Chernick, Webb T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7581357
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, or kit, of injection molded panels having integrated connectors which combine to form an enclosure, commonly in the form of a utility shed. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic to interlock with one another without the need for separate I-beam connectors. The ends of the wall panels have cavities to accept both roof and floor outwardly projecting locking bosses for interlocking cooperative engagement which serve to rigidly connect the components together. The symmetry of the wall, roof, floor and door components also minimizes component shapes and simplifies enclosure construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Suncast Corporation
    Inventors: Jed C. Richardson, Lyle A. Rosine, Rob Stein, Robert Kopp, Michael Uffner, Torrence Anderson
  • Patent number: 7553209
    Abstract: Toy-building elements including various combinations of the following features: a top having a broad surface and at least one projection or ball-shaped coupler extending above the broad surface; an interior having contact surfaces that are accessible through an open bottom and are adapted for effecting a releasable restraining engagement with an interconnectable projection or ball-shaped coupler on a second toy-building element; at least one sidewall including at least one groove for effecting a releasable restraining engagement with a tongue in a sidewall of another toy-building element; at least one sidewall including at least one tongue for effecting a releasable restraining engagement within a groove in a sidewall of still another toy-building element; and at least one sidewall including an axel-shaped or ball-shaped coupler for effecting a variably positional engagement with an interconnectable coupler in yet another toy-building element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Inventor: Soren Christian Sorensen
  • Publication number: 20090017716
    Abstract: A construction system is disclosed and which includes a first construction element defining a plurality of connecting units which have a spacing measurement x; and a second construction element connected to the first construction element, and oriented at an angle ? relative to the first construction element, and which further defines a plurality of connecting units having a spacing measurement y, and wherein the spacing measurement y approximately equals the spacing measurement x divided by the cosine of ?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Marzetta, Kriston M. Broxson, Levi R. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20080311819
    Abstract: A toy building set with toy building elements with coupling means for releasably interconnecting the toy building elements, which further comprises outer and inner toy building elements with a longitudinal direction. The inner toy building elements are receivable in the outer toy building elements, and the inner toy building elements are slideable in the outer toy building elements along their parallel longitudinal directions. The outer toy building elements can be interconnected in their longitudinal directions to form a composite outer toy building element, and the inner toy building elements can be interconnected in their longitudinal directions to form a composite inner toy building element that can be slideably received in the composite outer toy building element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: LEGO A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Andersen
  • Publication number: 20080220690
    Abstract: A toy building system with function bricks adapted to perform a function in response to a mechanical trigger action; sensor bricks with a sensor adapted to produce an output in response to a mechanical trigger action; and logic bricks with an input responsive to a sensor brick output and adapted to perform a logic function on the sensor brick output and to produce a logic output. The sensor brick output and the logic brick output are arranged in a first uniform manner relative to the coupling means, and the sensor output action and the logic output action are of uniform physical nature. The logic brick input and the function brick input are arranged in a second uniform manner relative to the coupling means. The function brick input is responsive to a logic brick output and adapted to perform the function in response to a logic brick output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Gaute Munch
  • Patent number: 7416166
    Abstract: The present invention is a unitary piece block formed of polymers (such as polystyrene or other high strength polymer) by a single injection molding step which are assembled into a recreational vehicle leveler. The invention ramp provides four sets of four connectors at a top of a floor plate, which are adapted to interlock in cavity structures formed within a cavity on the underside of the block. Two adjacent blocks are secured together by applying to their top surfaces the securing cavity structure of an underside of a third such block. Such blocks can be stacked in an interlocking manner to reduce storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Inventor: Anne Shaw
  • Publication number: 20080146114
    Abstract: The toy building set comprises interconnectable modular elements that include flat, substantially square bricks, each having two opposite, substantially square main faces, of which a first one is shaped with an array of recesses. Two first, adjacent, narrow side faces bear tabs projecting at right angles from the respective side faces. Two second, adjacent, narrow side faces bear forks projecting from the respective side faces so that the tabs of an adjacent brick can be inserted therein. Each fork is of a size and shape such that it is insertable in one of the recesses with a tight fit. The modular elements also comprise disc-shaped, peripherally toothed bricks, each having transverse openings in which the forks are insertable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Ettore Fulgenzi