Modular toy

• US 4,599,077 A
• Filed: 07/11/1984
• Issued: 07/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Etablissements Amyot S.A.
• Original Assignee: Frederic Rubach, Michel Vuillard
• Inventors: Vuillard, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US06/629,712
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 446/85, 446/88, 446/93, 446/94, 446/95, 446/96, 446/102, 446/104, 446/124, 446/128, 446/457, 446/459, 446/469, 446/470, 446/471, 273/58 D, 273/58 E, 273/58 F, 280/1.188, 280/1.189, 280/1.194, 280/1.201, 280/208, 280/206, 280/207, 280/205
• US Class Current: 446/85
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/002 made of parts to be assembled
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 7/02 by pushing or drawing

Abstract

A modular toy, comprising a base module (10) and various accessories. The base module comprises a circular side plate (11) supporting a stationary axle (12) on which are mounted two semi-spherical elements (13, 14) maintained in position by lateral tips (15) and (16) integral with the extremities of the axle (12). The central side plate (11) and the tips (15 and 16) are provided with tube-like connection means (21), into which may be inserted clips provided on the various accessories. This device allows a child to create a miniature playland by means of an infinite number of accessories adaptable to one or several base modules.

Claims

1. A modular toy having at least one composite base module comprising

(a) a central circular plate (11), disposed normal to its central axis, supported on a fixed axle (12) which is coaxial with said central axis, integral with said central circular plate and extending axially on either side of said plate, said central circular plate (11) being provided with a pair of rotatable end elements (13, 14) respectively mounted on either side of said central circular plate for free rotation on said fixed axle, each rotatable end element having a central recess area wherein said fixed axle projects thereinto, the diameter of said central circular plate being smaller than the diameter of said rotatable elements;

(b) a plurality of openings (21) regularly disposed on the periphery of said central circular plate (11) and arranged for selective attachment of accessories to said central circular plate, so that said composite base module can provide different toys by selectively attaching different accessories to sid openings (21) of said central circular plate (11), wherein said base module may be displaced by rolling on said rotatable end elements (13,

     14); and

(c) retaining tips (15,

     16) being fixed at the extremities of sid fixed axle (12), encompassed by said central recess areas and arranged so that said tips maintain said rotatable end elements (13,

     14) in position for free rotation on said fixed axle (12), wherein said retaining tips further provide openings (21) for connecting accessories to said base module; and

said rotatable end elements consist of semi-spherical elements (13,

     14) mounted on either side of said central circular plate (11).

2. The toy according to claim 1, wherein at least two circular plates (31, 32) are supported on a common fixed axle (33) with at least one intermediate element (36) arranged between said two circular plates, and said rotatable end elements (34, 35) are respectively mounted on the end portions of said axle (33).

3. The toy according to claim 2, wherein said rotatable end elements (34, 35) are semi-spherical and said intermeidate element is cylindrical.

4. The toy according to claim 1, comprising accessories (41-45) adapted for attachment to said base module and each provided with at least one clip (61, 71) adapted for engagement in one of said openings (21, 38, 62) to thereby ensure connection of the corresponding accessory.

5. The toy according to claim 4, wherein said accessories comprise propulsion means (50) in a case (51).

6. The toy according to claim 5, wherein said propulsion means has its own source of energy and a drive means.