TOY BLOCKS FOR CHILDREN

Abstract

The present invention relates to toy blocks for children including: a plurality of block bodies 10 molded from a synthetic resin material; edge connection parts 11 extended from each block body 10 in such a manner as to be molded unitarily to each block body 10, each edge connection part 11 having a size corresponding to each edge connection part 11 of another block body 10; and coupling means 20 adapted to maintain the edge connection parts 11 of the two block bodies 10 in the state of being connected to each other on the same line as each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to toy blocks for children, and more particularly, to toy blocks for children that are easily assembled to each other and freely extended to a variety of three-dimensional structures, thereby permitting the creative range of the children to be broadened and also permitting the intelligence and excitement of the children to be more developed.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, assembly type toy blocks are toys having a plurality of unit blocks having various shapes assembled to each other and disassembled from each other through direct manipulation of children, which provides the excitement and accomplishment to the children and further develops the creativity and intelligence of the children.

According to conventional assembly type toy blocks, a plurality of fitting protrusions are formed on the top surfaces of the unit blocks, and a plurality of grooves are formed on the underside surfaces of the unit blocks in such a manner as to insert the fitting protrusions thereinto.

In this case, however, the top surfaces of the respective unit blocks are coupled just to the underside surfaces of the unit blocks corresponding thereto so as to make a given structure, which causes the three-dimensional effect of the structure to be reduced and further makes the children feel bored easily.

So as to avoid such problems, accordingly, there have been toy blocks as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,019 and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-141302 wherein given three-dimensional structures can be made using regular triangular elements and regular square elements.

In these prior art, however, the elements are connected to each other by inserting the abutment face of each element into the abutment face of the opposite element thereto.

Accordingly, a desired one three-dimensional structure is built by connecting the elements, but it is impossible to build a variety of structures through the extension and changes of the elements, which makes children feel bored easily while they are playing with the blocks.

Besides, in the process of completing the three-dimensional structure, the respective neighboring blocks form the corners of the three-dimensional structure.

That is, for example, if a structure of a regular hexahedron is built up, the end edges of the two blocks positioned perpendicularly thereto are placed on the corners of the structure, such that the structure has the two edges of the two blocks positioned on one corner thereof.

Hence, the contour of the completed structure does not appear clearly, which makes the degree of completion of the structure lowered.

DISCLOSURE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide toy blocks for children that are capable of being extended from neighboring block bodies connected to each other so as to built up a three-dimensional structure having a variety of shapes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide toy blocks for children that are capable of building up a three-dimensional structure having a variety of shapes, thereby developing the children's interesting and intelligence.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide toy blocks for children that are capable of being assembled and disassembled easily through the direct manipulation of the children, thereby providing the easiness in use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide toy blocks for children that are capable of being clearly made in the contour of the corners of a completed three-dimensional structure, thereby enhancing the degrees of understanding and completion of the structure and greatly improving the merchantability of the product.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there are provided toy blocks for children including: a plurality of block bodies molded from a synthetic resin material; edge connection parts extended from each block body in such a manner as to be molded unitarily to each block body, each edge connection part having a size corresponding to each edge connection part of another block body; and coupling means adapted to maintain the edge connection parts of the two block bodies in the state of being connected to each other on the same line as each other.

According to the present invention, preferably, each block body has generally sharp peak points formed at center positions where the corner references of the structure are formed, in the state where the corresponding edge connection parts are assembled to each other.

According to the present invention, preferably, each coupling means comprises a contact plate mounted on the end of each edge connection part and having a space portion formed therein and a permanent magnet mounted inside the space portion so as to be self-attached to the permanent magnet mounted inside the space portion of another edge connection part through a magnetic force generated therefrom.

According to the present invention, preferably, each coupling means comprises a projection protruded from the end of each edge connection part and a connection member having a locking groove formed on both ends thereof in such a manner as to insert the projections of the neighboring edge connection parts thereinto.

According to the present invention, preferably, the space portion into which the permanent magnet is mounted is molded to a larger size than the permanent magnet, such that the permanent magnet is freely rotated inside the space portion.

According to the present invention, preferably, the permanent magnet has a cylindrical shape and has polarities divided along the circumferential direction.

According to the present invention, preferably, the number of edge connection parts formed on each block body is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

According to the present invention, preferably, the number of edge connection parts formed on each block body is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

Advantageous Effect

According to the present invention, the toy blocks for children are capable of extending a given three-dimensional structure in such a manner as to connect each edge of the block body with each edge of another block body.

Accordingly, the toy blocks for children according to the present invention can built up the three-dimensional structure having a variety of shapes, thereby developing the children's interesting and intelligence.

Further, when the three-dimensional structure is completed after the block bodies are assembled, a single contour line is formed on each corner of the structure, thereby enhancing the degrees of understanding and completion of the structure and greatly improving the merchantability of the product.

In addition, the toy blocks for children according to the present invention are capable of being assembled and disassembled easily through the children, thereby providing the easiness of the manipulation.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example where toy blocks for children according to the present invention are assembled to each other.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the assembled state of the toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the assembled state of the toy blocks for children according to the present invention, which is partially cut.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of coupling means of the toy blocks for children according to the present invention, which is partially cut.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pyramid example made by connecting a plurality of block bodies to each other in the toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an example where the plurality of square and triangular block bodies are assembled to each other, which is partially cut.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing another example of the coupling means of the toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the coupling means of the toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing another example of the plurality of block bodies in the toy blocks for children according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion “A” in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, an explanation on toy blocks for children according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawings.

According to the present invention, a plurality of block bodies 10 are molded from a synthetic resin material, and as shown, they have the shape of a regular square or regular triangle having a given thickness. Further, each block body 10 has edge connection parts 11 extended by a given length toward each edge therefrom in such a manner as to be molded unitarily thereto.

Also, the bock bodies 10 have the regular square or triangular shape, as shown, but they may be made in the shapes of regular pentagon to regular octagon.

The edge connection parts 11 of one block body 11 are molded to a size corresponding to the edge connection parts 11 of other block bodies 11.

That is, as shown, one of the edge connection parts 11 of one side block body 11 and one of the edge connection parts 11 of the other side block body 11 corresponding thereto on the same line as each other come close to each other at a position where they cross each other and are connected to form one extended edge or a corner of a structure.

Moreover, coupling means 20 is needed to maintain the edge connection parts 11 of the two block bodies 10 in the state of being connected to each other on the same line as each other.

The coupling means 20 has a contact plate 22 mounted on the end of each edge connection part 11 and having a space portion 23 formed therein and a permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 so as to be self-attached to the permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 of another edge connection part 11 through a magnetic force generated therefrom.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the contact plate 22 is formed unitarily with the end of each edge connection part 11, and the contact plate 22 has the space portion 23 formed therein and the permanent magnet 21 having a cylindrical shape mounted in the space portion 23.

The permanent magnet 21 is mounted to a smaller size than the space portion 23, thereby being freely rotated inside the space portion 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the permanent magnet 21 has polarities N and S divided along the circumferential direction with respect to the center axis thereof.

Accordingly, as the contact plates 22 of the block bodies 10 come close to each other, the permanent magnets 21 inside their space portions 23 are freely rotated and self-attached to each other at the different polarity positions from each other.

As another example of the coupling means 20 in the toy blocks according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the coupling means 20 has a projection 24 protruded from the end of each edge connection part 11 in such a manner as to connect the projection 24 with the projection 24 of the neighboring edge connection part 11 in a state of being spaced apart from each other by means of a connection member 25.

The connection member 25 has locking grooves 26 formed on the centers of both sides thereof so as to fittedly lock the projections 24 thereinto.

Accordingly, since all of the block bodies 10 and the connection members 25 molded from the synthetic resin material have given elasticity, in a state where the projection 24 and the locking groove 26 are positioned to correspond with each other, if a slight force is applied to them, the projection 24 is insertedly locked to the locking groove 26 with a click sound.

Through the way where the projections 24 formed on the ends of the edge connection parts 11 are insertedly locked to the locking grooves 26 formed on both sides of the connection member 25, the edge connection parts 11 of the block bodies 11 come close to each other at a position where they cross each other and are connected to form one extended edge or a corner of a structure.

Further, if it is desired to separate the block bodies 10 from the connection members 25, a slight force is applied to a direction where the edge connection parts 11 are escaped from the connection members 25, such that the projections 24 are escaped and separated from the locking grooves 26 through the elasticity of the plastic material.

On the other hand, each block body 10 has generally sharp peak points 12 formed at center positions where the corner references of the structure are formed in the state where the corresponding edge connection parts 11 are assembled to each other.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 9, after the edge connection parts 11 of the plurality of block bodies 10 are connected to each other on the linear lines by means of the coupling means 20, the respective peak points 12 are contacted to each other to the form of a point on the same position as each other.

In this state, when the angles of the two block bodies 10 are changed, for example, in a perpendicular relation to each other so as to obtain a desired structure, the respective peak points 12 form the respective reference points.

At this time, the respective edge connection parts 11 form the corner lines of the completed three-dimensional structure.

In case where the block body 10 has a regular triangular shape, the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on the respective edges is three, which are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

In case where the block body 10 has a regular square shape, the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on the respective edges is four, which are formed toward the regular square positions.

According to the present invention, the toy blocks for children can be made to the three-dimensional structure having a variety of shapes and can be also assembled in the state where the edge connection parts 11 are connected to each other on one linear line toward the edge direction or the corner position in a convenient and accurate way, thereby permitting the children to play with them with easiness.

Further, the contour of the corners of the desired three-dimensional structure can be clearly formed, thereby enhancing the degrees of understanding and completion of the three-dimensional structure and greatly improving the merchantability of the product.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. Toy blocks for children comprising:

a plurality of block bodies 10 molded from a synthetic resin material;

edge connection parts 11 extended from each block body 10 in such a manner as to be molded unitarily to each block body 10, each edge connection part 11 having a size corresponding to each edge connection part 11 of another block body 10; and

coupling means 20 adapted to maintain the edge connection parts 11 of the two block bodies 10 in the state of being connected to each other on the same line as each other.

2. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein each block body 10 has generally sharp peak points 12 formed at center positions where the corner references of the structure are formed, in the state where the corresponding edge connection parts 11 are assembled to each other.

3. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein each coupling means 20 comprises a contact plate 22 mounted on the end of each edge connection part 11 and having a space portion 23 formed therein and a permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 so as to be self-attached to the permanent magnet 21 mounted inside the space portion 23 of another edge connection part 11 through a magnetic force generated therefrom.

4. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein each coupling means 20 comprises a projection 24 protruded from the end of each edge connection part 11 and a connection member 25 having a locking groove 26 formed on both ends thereof in such a manner as to insert the projections 24 of the neighboring edge connection parts 11 thereinto.

5. The toy blocks for children according to claim 3, wherein the space portion 23 into which the permanent magnet 21 is mounted is molded to a larger size than the permanent magnet 21, such that the permanent magnet 21 is freely rotated inside the space portion 23.

6. The toy blocks for children according to claim 3, wherein the permanent magnet 21 has a cylindrical shape and has polarities divided along the circumferential direction.

7. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

8. The toy blocks for children according to claim 1, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

9. The toy blocks for children according to claim 2, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

10. The toy blocks for children according to claim 3, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

11. The toy blocks for children according to claim 4, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

12. The toy blocks for children according to claim 5, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

13. The toy blocks for children according to claim 6, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is three, and they are formed toward the regular triangular positions.

14. The toy blocks for children according to claim 2, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

15. The toy blocks for children according to claim 3, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

16. The toy blocks for children according to claim 4, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

17. The toy blocks for children according to claim 5, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.

18. The toy blocks for children according to claim 6, wherein the number of edge connection parts 11 formed on each block body 10 is four, and they are formed toward the regular square positions.