Toy couplers including a plurality of block retaining channels
First Claim
1. A toy building kit, comprising:
- a plurality of building blocks, each comprising a first face, a second face, and a perimeter, the perimeter comprising a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, wherein a block thickness separates the first and the second faces along an entirety of the perimeter;
a plurality of connectors configured to frictionally retain the block thickness at any location about the perimeter, each of the connectors comprising a plurality of channels extending outward from a central body, each of the channels formed entirely of contiguous planar surfaces and comprising;
a base disposed upon the central body, the base defining a planar floor surface; and
a pair of substantially parallel extensions protruding from the base, the extensions defining a pair of planar interior surfaces, wherein;
the planar floor surface and the pair of the planar interior surfaces define the channel therebetween;
each of the planar interior surfaces defines a non-continuous elevation profile relative to a center of the channel such that the block thickness is frictionally retained within the channel when the first and the second faces of the blocks are disposed against the interior surfaces of the extensions, whether the blocks are partially inserted into the channel or fully inserted into the channel to the planar floor surface; and
the non-continuous elevation profile chamfers between only a base elevation and a crest elevation relative to the center of the channel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Building sets including a plurality of blocks and a plurality of clips configured to engage a thickness of one or more of the blocks. Each clip includes a base and first and second substantially parallel extensions extending from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which a thickness of a block is receivable. The width of the channel is substantially equal to and slightly less than the thickness of the block receivable within the channel so that the thickness is frictionally retained therein. The clip may include a magnet enclosed within the base so that the base of a first clip may be magnetically coupled to the base of another clip, and each clip may in turn be frictionally coupled to a block received between the extensions of the respective clip. In one embodiment, the clip includes a plurality of channels.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A toy building kit, comprising:
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a plurality of building blocks, each comprising a first face, a second face, and a perimeter, the perimeter comprising a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, wherein a block thickness separates the first and the second faces along an entirety of the perimeter; a plurality of connectors configured to frictionally retain the block thickness at any location about the perimeter, each of the connectors comprising a plurality of channels extending outward from a central body, each of the channels formed entirely of contiguous planar surfaces and comprising; a base disposed upon the central body, the base defining a planar floor surface; and a pair of substantially parallel extensions protruding from the base, the extensions defining a pair of planar interior surfaces, wherein; the planar floor surface and the pair of the planar interior surfaces define the channel therebetween; each of the planar interior surfaces defines a non-continuous elevation profile relative to a center of the channel such that the block thickness is frictionally retained within the channel when the first and the second faces of the blocks are disposed against the interior surfaces of the extensions, whether the blocks are partially inserted into the channel or fully inserted into the channel to the planar floor surface; and the non-continuous elevation profile chamfers between only a base elevation and a crest elevation relative to the center of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A play building set, comprising:
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a building block for frictional retention within a channel of a connector, the building block comprising a first face separated from a second face by a block thickness, the connector comprising; at least one base defining a planar floor surface; and a pair of extensions extending outward from the base to a pair of lateral edges, the extensions each having a planar interior surface, wherein the planar floor surface and the planar interior surfaces of the extensions combine to define a channel formed entirely of contiguous planar surfaces, the channel having a proximal portion adjacent to the planar floor surface and a distal portion adjacent to the lateral edges, each of the planar interior surfaces comprising a non-continuous elevation profile that chamfers between only a base elevation and a crest elevation extending toward a center of the channel, the channel having a variable width according to a location along or between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the channel, the variable width defining a pinch point within the channel at the crest elevation of the non-continuous elevation profiles such that the block thickness is frictionally retained within the channel when the first and the second faces of the building block are disposed within the channel and against the interior surfaces of the extensions, whether the building block is partially inserted into the channel or fully inserted into the channel to the planar floor surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of constructing a play building set, comprising:
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providing a building block having a first face, a second face, and a perimeter with a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, wherein a block thickness separates the first and the second faces about an entirety of the perimeter; providing a connector having a central body and a plurality of channels extending outward from the central body, each of the channels formed entirely of contiguous planar surfaces and comprising; a base disposed upon the central body, the base defining a planar floor surface; and a pair of substantially parallel extensions protruding from the base, the extensions defining first and second planar interior surfaces, wherein the planar floor surface and the first and the second planar interior surfaces define the channel therebetween, wherein each of the first and the second planar interior surfaces defines a non-continuous elevation profile that chamfers between only a base elevation and a crest elevation relative to a center of the channel, and wherein the non-continuous elevation profiles form a frictional pinch point when at the crest elevations within the channel; and partially inserting the building block into the channel in a manner that disposes the first and the second faces against the first and the second planar interior surfaces such that the block thickness is frictionally retained within the frictional pinch point when the first and the second faces of the block are disposed against the planar interior surfaces of the extensions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification