Adapter block

• US 4,744,780 A
• Filed: 02/06/1986
• Issued: 05/17/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Industries, Inc. (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Volpe, Leo S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US06/826,826
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 446/120, 446/128, 446/111, 446/126, 446/125, 446/121, 403/300, 403/305
• US Class Current: 446/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/086 with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/57 Distinct end coupler

Abstract

An adapter for interconnecting hollow toy building blocks having a generally cylindrical primary projection extending outwardly therefrom comprises a housing which is generally square in cross section, having two interconnected pairs of generally parallel sidewalls defining first and second open ends for receiving the blocks to be interconnected. The adapter further includes one generally cylindrical tubular member substantially within the center of the housing, the cylindrical tubular member extending generally parallel to the sidewalls and being supported by at least one flange member extending inwardly from one of the sidewalls, the flange member being generally parallel to and of substantially the same height as the sidewalls. The projections on the blocks to be interconnected are inserted into the space between the sidewalls and the cylindrical tubular member from each end, respectively, so that the sidewalls and cylindrical tubular member cooperate to grip and hold the projection to interconnect the two blocks facing each other.

Claims

1. An adapter for interconnecting hollow toy building blocks, each block including a first end having an end wall with an inner surface and an outer surface which includes at least one generally cylindrical primary projection extending outwardly therefrom and sidewalls extending generally outwardly from and encompassing the inner surface to define a second generally open end, some of the blocks including at least one generally cylindrical secondary projection extending outwardly from the inner surface of the first end wall, generally parallel to the sidewalls, the blocks being normally interconnected with the first end of one block engaging the second end of another block, the primary projection of the one block extending into the open second end of the other block and engaging at least one of the sidewalls, the secondary projection, or both, on the other block to provide a gripping force for holding the blocks together, the adapter comprising a housing generally square in cross section and including at least two interconnected pairs of generally parallel sidewalls defining first and second generally open ends, the sidewalls having a height not less than twice the height of the primary projections on the blocks, the adapter further including at least one generally cylindrical tubular member extending along an axis generally parallel to said sidewalls, said tubular members being of substantially the same height as the housing sidewalls and being positioned substantially within the center of the housing, the cylindrical tubular member being supported by at least two flange members extending inwardly from two of the sidewalls and each of said flanges extending generally parallel to one of the sidewalls, whereby the first housing end is adapted for engaging the first end wall of one block with the primary projection on the one block extending into the housing and engaging with an interference fit two of the housing sidewalls and the cylindrical tubular member to provide three points of contact between the primary projection on the one block and the adapter, and the second housing end is adapted for engaging the first end wall of another block with the primary projection on the other block extending into the housing and engaging with an interference fit two of the housing sidewalls and the cylindrical tubular member to provide three points of contact between the primary projection on the other block and the adapter to interconnect the blocks with their respective first end walls facing each other, the cylindrical tubular member being formed so that the cylindrical tubular member rather than the housing sidewalls may deflect radially inwardly when engaged by one or more of the primary projections.

2. The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the housing sidewalls has a lateral center and wherein the cylindrical tubular member is supported by four flange members, one flange member extending inwardly from the lateral center of each of the housing sidewalls, the flange members being substantially the same height as the housing sidewalls.