JPH0218871B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to block toys.

Block toys generally consist of a plurality of blocks each having a protrusion and an insertion opening, and the protrusion of one block is inserted into the insertion opening of another block to create a large number of blocks. This allows it to be assembled into any shape, such as an airplane, ship, or automobile.

However, in conventional block toys, there are various methods for connecting two blocks, but basically the fitting method is between a circular protrusion and a circular insertion opening, or a circular projection and a square insertion opening. When inserting a circular protrusion into a square outlet, the outer surface of the protrusion and the inner surface of the outlet must be in full contact, so it must be inserted firmly. In some cases, they fit together tightly and cannot be easily removed, and furthermore, the contact parts tend to wear easily, and when worn, they come off easily. On the other hand, when inserting a circular protrusion into a square outlet, the outer surface of the protrusion and the inner surface of the outlet come into contact at only four points, so a strong fit cannot be obtained and it is easy to slip out. There was a drawback.

In addition, as another conventional block toy, a circular protrusion is fitted into a semi-cylindrical socket with a circular upper half and a square lower half in cross-section. Things made like this (Jikko 55-
8640 (see Japanese Publication No. 8640), and one in which a circular protrusion fits into an insertion opening having an elastic plate-like part and a pair of protrusions (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1973-
(Refer to Publication No. 28658). However, in the former block, when the insertion port and the protrusion are fitted together, they come into contact at the entire upper semicircle and at one point below, making it possible to obtain a strong fitted state. The drawback was that a large amount of force was required to pull out the protruding portion. On the other hand, the latter block toy can be easily inserted and removed due to the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped part, but since the insertion opening and the outer surface of the protruding part only make elastic contact at three points, the fitting strength is still sufficient. The disadvantage was that it was not possible to obtain

Furthermore, most of the conventional block toys had protrusions inserted into all the blocks that made up the block toy, but in such block toys, the protrusions were exposed on the outer surface when the blocks were assembled. As a result, it also had the disadvantage of spoiling the beauty of its appearance.

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional art, and includes one or more unit outlet forming bodies each having a cross-sectional shape of a regular octagon with at least six sides and a predetermined height. The first unit is arranged in a lattice shape and joined together to form a plug-in port forming body, with a cylindrical portion protruding from the upper surface of each unit plug-in port forming body.
and a second block having an insertion opening having a regular octagonal cross-sectional shape and at least six sides, and having an arbitrary outer shape different from the outer shape of the first block, and the second block is fitted. When the inner surface of the side wall of the unit outlet forming body of the first block or the outlet of the second block contacts the outer surface of the cylindrical part and holds the cylindrical part at at least six points, it can be easily inserted and removed. This is a block toy that has a strong fit and is geometrically beautiful when assembled, including the sides of a regular octagonal prism, and furthermore, when assembled, a part of the outer surface can be shaped into any desired shape. is intended to provide.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show surface blocks (second blocks) constituting a block toy according to an embodiment of the present invention, and these blocks are used as appearing on the outer surface during assembly. FIG. 1 shows a first surface block 1, and this first surface block 1 has a side length l.
The insertion port 2 is formed by opening the insertion port 2 in the bottom surface 1a of a cube, and the cross section of the insertion port 2 is a regular octagon with a vertical distance l-2t between two opposing sides. The second surface block 3 shown in FIG. 2 has a columnar shape with a height l having a fan-shaped base with a radius l and a center angle of 90°, and the bottom face 3a of this block 3 has the above-mentioned insertion hole. Section 2 is formed. In addition, the third surface block 4 shown in FIG.
It has a pentahedral shape with 4d having the same fan shape as the side surface of the second surface block 3, and the insertion opening 2 is also formed on the bottom surface 4f of this block 4.

Further, the fourth surface block 5 shown in FIG. 4 is formed by integrally providing an ear-shaped protrusion 5a on the first surface block 1, and the fourth surface block 5 shown in FIG. The surface block 6 is formed by shaping a dog's face into a cube having a side length of 2L, and by opening two of the above-mentioned insertion ports 2 in the lateral direction on the back wall 6a. A sixth surface block 7 shown in FIG. 6 is made by integrating two of the second surface blocks 3 by joining their side walls, and has a tail-shaped protrusion 7a on the upper surface.
It is formed by integrally protruding.

Figures 7 to 10 show connecting blocks (first block) constituting the block toy of this embodiment.
shows. The L-shaped connecting block 8 shown in FIG. 7 is formed by integrally protruding a cylindrical portion 10 on the upper surface 9a of a hollow octagonal column 9 which is a unit outlet forming body. The cross-sectional outer shape of this hollow octagonal column 9 is a regular octagon with a vertical distance l between two opposing sides, and the inner cross-sectional shape is a regular octagon similar to the cross-sectional outer shape, which is smaller by the wall thickness t. The inner surface of the octagonal column 9 forms an insertion opening 2 similar to the above-mentioned surface block. Further, the height of the hollow octagonal column 9 is equal to the above-mentioned length l. Further, the height h of the cylindrical portion 10 is smaller than the depth of the insertion port 2, and its outer diameter is a size l that can fit into the inner surface of the insertion port 2.
-2t.

The 2×1 type connecting block 11 shown in FIG. It is formed by integrally protruding the cylindrical portion 10. 2× shown in Figure 9
The type 2 connecting block 12 is connected to the hollow octagonal column 9.
All the outer walls 13a and all the joint walls 13b of the side walls of a hollow composite octagonal prism are arranged in two horizontally and two vertically in a lattice shape, and the adjacent side walls are joined and integrated. A hollow polygonal column 13 which is an insertion port forming body having two inner walls 13c is formed, and a hollow unit polygonal column 1 of this hollow polygonal column 13 is formed.
It is formed by closing the upper surface of the space surrounded by 4 and integrally protruding a cylindrical portion 10 from the upper surface of each hollow unit polygonal column 14. The inner surface of the hollow unit polygonal column 14 has a regular octagonal shape of 7.
The insertion opening portions 15, 2 have a shape having one side or eight sides. The 6×4 type connecting block 16 shown in FIG. 10 is formed in the same manner as the 2×2 type connecting block 12 described above, but this block 16 has six hollow octagonal columns 9 in the horizontal direction and six hollow octagonal columns 9 in the vertical direction. 4 blocks are arranged and connected in a grid pattern, and this block 16
The inner surface of each hollow unit polygonal column 14 has a regular octagonal shape of 6
Inlet part 1 having a shape of 7 sides or 8 sides
The numbers are 7, 15, 2.

FIG. 11 shows an L-shaped block 18 constituting the block toy of this embodiment.
The hollow octagonal column 9 is joined to the back wall of the hollow hexagonal column 19 and integrated. The above hollow hexagonal column 1
The cross-sectional outline of 9 is a regular octagon with a vertical distance l between the two sides where the upper half faces each other, and the center line 19 passing through the midpoint of the two sides.
This is the upper half 19b when cut at a, and the lower half is the lower half 19c when cut at the center line 19a passing through the midpoint of two opposing sides of a square with side length l.
It has a hexagonal shape (see FIG. 12a), and its inner cross-sectional shape is a hexagonal shape similar to the cross-sectional outer shape, which is smaller by the wall thickness t. The inner surface of this hollow hexagonal column 19 forms a regular octagonal insertion opening 17 having six sides.

Next, the effects will be explained.

Figure 13 and 14 using this block toy.
To assemble the dog model shown in the figure, first connect the 6x4 type connecting blocks 16-1 and 16-2 by shifting them one position in the horizontal direction in Figure 13, and then connect the remaining four cylinders of block 16-2. Type 1 connection block 8 is attached to part 10.
-1 (the other three blocks are not visible in the diagram) and connect these blocks 16-1, 16-2, 8
-1 forms the body 20. Next, attach 2x1 type connecting blocks 11- to the four corners of the lower surface of the fuselage 20
1, 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 are sequentially connected to form the legs 21, and 2×2 type connecting blocks 12-1, 12- A neck 22 is formed by joining 2. L-shaped blocks 18-1 (the other block is not visible in the figure) are connected to the two front cylindrical parts 10 of this neck 22 with the cylindrical parts 10 facing forward, and the cylindrical parts of both blocks 18-1 are connected. 5th on 10
A type 1 connecting block 8-1 is connected to the two cylindrical parts 10 on the rear side of the neck 22.
2 (the other block is not visible in the figure), and a fourth block is connected to the columnar part 10 of both blocks 8-2.
The surface blocks 5-1 and 5-2 are attached to their protruding parts 5.
A are connected to the left or right, and the head 23 is formed by these blocks. and body 20
Cylindrical portions 1 at four corners of the cylindrical portions 10 with exposed upper surfaces
0 has the third surface block 4-1, 4-2, 4
-3 and 4-4 are connected, and a sixth surface block 7 is connected to the two cylindrical portions 10 at the center of the rear end, and a second surface block 3 is connected to the remaining cylindrical portion 10 on the outer periphery. , and the central cylindrical part 10
The first surface block 1 is connected to the first surface block 1. In this way, a dog model as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 can be assembled.

In the block toy of this embodiment as described above, the blocks are connected by fitting the cylindrical portion 10 with the insertion opening portions 17, 15, 2, each having a regular octagonal shape having at least six sides. , the inner surfaces of the insertion ports 17, 15, 2 and the cylindrical portion 1
As shown in FIG. 12 a, b or c, the cylindrical part 10 contacts with the outer surface of 0 at 6 points A to F, 7 points G to M, or 8 points N to U, as shown in FIG. 12 a, b or c. Even if it is formed to a certain size, there is no surface contact unlike in the case of conventional circular-to-circular fitting, so it can be easily inserted and removed, and there is almost no wear even after long-term use. Furthermore, unlike contact at only four points as in the case of fitting a circle and a square, a strong fitted state can be maintained for a long time.

Furthermore, since the surface blocks 1, 3 to 7 are provided as blocks that appear on the outer surface during assembly, the cylindrical portion 10 can be prevented from being exposed on the outer surface during assembly, and the outer shape of the surface blocks 1, 3 to 7 can be Since it can be made into any shape, it is possible to assemble a model that closely resembles the shape of a dog, as in the above assembly example, and an even more beautiful appearance can be obtained.

Furthermore, since the connecting blocks 8, 11, 12, 16 and the L-shaped block 18 are formed using hollow hexagonal columns 19 or hollow octagonal columns 9, the overall shape of the blocks when assembled is similar to that of many regular octagons. Containing the outer surface of a prism, it can obtain a geometrically beautiful appearance, which can strongly attract children's interest and cultivate children's aesthetic sense.

Furthermore, in the conventional block described in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-8640, when it is assembled, its appearance becomes a series of flat and curved surfaces, giving an impression of being flexible and feminine. The above actual public school 45th century
In the block described in the -28658 publication, the appearance when assembled is simply a continuous plane, but in the block toy of this example, unlike the block toys described in the above two publications, the ridgeline of the regular octagonal prism is By making them continuous, a beautiful geometric shape can be obtained that gives a solid, sharp, and masculine impression.

It should be noted that the block toy of the above embodiment is provided with the first to sixth surface blocks as the surface blocks, which have an insertion opening portion in the shape of a regular octagon having at least six sides, and Any other shape may be used as long as the block has an outer shape different from the outer shape. Further, in the above embodiment, an L-shaped block and a 1-type or 6×4-type block are provided as connecting blocks, but all of these blocks are not necessary, and any number of arbitrary blocks may be provided. Alternatively, the L-shaped block may not necessarily be provided.

As described above, according to the block toy of the present invention,
From a plurality of main blocks (first blocks) having a protruding part made of one or more cylindrical parts and an insertion opening part forming body consisting of one or more unit insertion opening parts fitting with the cylindrical part. In a block toy that can be assembled into any shape such as an airplane, a ship, a car, etc. by inserting the protruding part of one main block into the unit insertion part forming body of another main block, the above-mentioned unit insertion part The formed body has a cross-sectional internal shape of a regular octagon with at least six sides, and has a fitting structure in which the inner surface of the side wall contacts the outer surface of the cylindrical part and holds the cylindrical part at at least six points when mated. Moreover, since an auxiliary block (second block) having the same structure as the fitting structure and having an optional outer shape different from the outer shape of the main block is provided at the insertion opening, it is not only easy to insert and remove. , the blocks can be firmly fitted together, a geometrically beautiful shape can be obtained when assembled, and the outer surface can be formed into an arbitrary shape.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 6 show surface blocks constituting a block toy according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figures 1 a and b are front and bottom views of the first front block, Figures 2 a, b, c and d are front, side, bottom and perspective views of the second front block; Figures 3a, b, c and d are front, side, bottom and perspective views of the third surface block;
Figures a, b and c are front, side and bottom views of the fourth surface block; Figures a, b and c are front, side and rear views of the fifth surface block; Figures a, b and c are front, side and bottom views of the sixth surface block, Figures 7 to 1.
Figure 0 shows a connecting block constituting the above-mentioned block toy, Figures 7 a, b and c show a front view, top view and bottom view of the type 1 connecting block, and Figures 8 a and b.
and c are the front view, top view, and bottom view of the 2×1 type connecting block, and Figures 9a, b, and c are the front view, top view, and bottom view of the 2×2 type connecting block, and the first
Figures 0 a and b are a plan view and a bottom view of a 6x4 type connecting block, Figures 11 a, b, c, and d are a plan view of an L-shaped block constituting the block toy.
A rear view, a side view, and a bottom view. Fig. 12a is a plan view for explaining the fitted state of the hollow hexagonal column and the cylindrical part, and Fig. 12b is a plug having seven sides with a regular octagonal internal cross-sectional shape. FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining the fitted state between the opening and the cylindrical part; FIG. The figure is a side view of an example of the assembly of the block toy, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13. 1, 3 to 7... surface block (second block), 2, 15... insertion port, 8, 11, 12,
16... Connection block (first block), 9
...Hollow octagonal prism (unit insertion opening forming body), 1
0... Cylindrical part, 13... Hollow polygonal column (insertion port forming body), 19... L-shaped block.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plug-in port forming body in which one or more unit plug-in port forming bodies each having a regular octagonal cross-sectional shape with at least six sides and a predetermined height are arranged in a lattice pattern and joined together. and a cylindrical part that protrudes from the upper surface of each unit outlet forming body and has an outer shape that can fit with the unit outlet forming body; and at least six sides having an internal cross-sectional shape of a regular octagon. a second block having an arbitrary outer shape different from the outer shape of the first block;
and a block, and when mated, the inner surface of the side wall of the unit insertion port forming body of the first block or the insertion port of the second block contacts the outer surface of the cylindrical portion and holds the cylindrical portion at at least six points. A block toy characterized by the following features: