Automotive toy comprising flexible elements

• US 7,329,166 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Kroigaard, Olav, Hatting, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US10/491,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,954 Days
• Field of Search: 446/85, 446/90, 446/91, 446 93- 96, 446/454, 446/465, 446/470, 446/484, 446/127, 446/128, 446/434, 446/154, 446/88, 446/471, 446/456, 446/120, 446/122, 446/123, 446/124, 446/125, 446/460, 446/469, 403/150, 403/157, 403/286, 403/292, 403/294, 403/295
• US Class Current: 446/93
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/002 made of parts to be assembled
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/262 Chassis; Wheel mountings; Wheels; Axles; Suspensions; Fitting body portions to chassis
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/102 using elastic deformation A63H33/101 takes precedence

Abstract

An automotive toy (1) constructed from a number of toy building elements, of which a plurality are configured as functionality modules (2, 3, 4, 5), each of which being configured with technical means for performing a specific functionality in the automotive toy (1). In the automotive toy at least one flexible toy building element (18) is provided that is located between two functionality modules (2, 3, 4, 5), whereby this flexible toy building element (18) is caused to form a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules (2, 3, 4, 5).

Claims

1. An automotive toy comprising a number of toy building elements, from which at least two are configured as functionality modules each of which being configured with a means for performing a specific technical functionality in the automotive toy, and where one of said functionality modules is a motor module and one is a steering module, wherein at least one flexible toy building element made of a soft plastic or rubber material is provided, forming a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules, wherein the functionality modules are provided with protruding portions with transversal openings;

and that the flexible toy building elements are provided with second protruding elements with transversal openings, which second protruding elements are complementary with the protruding elements on the functionality modules; and

that the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected by means of pins that extend through the transversal openings in the protruding elements of both the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements, said flexible toy building element being located between and connecting at least the motor module and the steering module.

2. An automotive toy according to claim 1, wherein the functionality modules further comprise a radio-signal receiver module;

and that a remote controller with radio transmitter is provided.

3. An automotive toy according to claim 2, wherein the automotive toy is a toy car;

and that the functionality modules further comprise a battery module.

5. An automotive toy according to claim 1, wherein the flexible toy building elements are provided between all the functionality modules.

4. An automotive toy comprising a number of toy building elements, from which at least three are configured as functionality modules each of which being configured with a means for performing a specific technical functionality in the automotive toy, and where said functionality modules comprise a combined motor and steering module, a battery module and a radio-signal receiver module wherein at least one flexible toy building element made of a soft plastic or rubber material is provided that is located between each functionality modules, forming a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules wherein the functionality modules are provided with protruding portions with transversal openings;

and that the flexible toy building elements are provided with second protruding elements with transversal openings, which second protruding elements are complementary with the protruding elements on the functionality modules; and

that the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected by means of pins that extend through the transversal openings in the protruding elements of both the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements; and

wherein the automotive toy is a toy boat.

6. An automotive toy comprising a number of toy building elements, from which at least two are configured as functionality modules each of which being configured with a means for performing a specific technical functionality in the automotive toy wherein at least one flexible toy building element is provided that is located between at least two functionality modules, such that this flexible toy building element forms a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules;

wherein the functionality modules are provided with protruding portions with transversal openings; and

that the flexible toy building elements are provided with second protruding elements with transversal openings, which second protruding elements are complementary with the protruding elements on the functionality modules; and

that the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected by means of pins that extend through the transversal openings in the protruding elements of both the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements.

7. An automotive toy according to claim 6, wherein each of the pins is provided with a snap-engagement bead;

and the protruding elements on the functionality modules are configured with a counterboring at the transversal openings for receiving the snap-engagement bead of the pin.

8. An automotive toy according to claim 6, wherein each of the pins is provided with a grip at the one end.

9. An automotive toy comprising a number of toy building elements, from which at least two are configured as functionality modules each of which being configured with a means for performing a specific technical functionality in the automotive toy, and where one of said functionality modules is a motor module and one is a battery module, wherein at least one flexible toy building element made of a soft plastic or rubber material is provided, said flexible toy building element being located between and connecting at least the motor module and the battery module, forming a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules, wherein the functionality modules are provided with protruding portions with transversal openings;

and that the flexible toy building elements are provided with second protruding elements with transversal openings, which second protruding elements are complementary with the protruding elements on the functionality modules; and

that the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected by means of pins that extend through the transversal openings in the protruding elements of both the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements, wherein the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected.

10. An automotive toy according to claim 9, wherein the functionality modules further comprise a radio-signal receiver module;

and that a remote controller with radio transmitter is provided.

11. An automotive toy according to claim 9, wherein the flexible toy building elements are provided between all the functionality modules.

12. An automotive toy comprising a number of toy building elements, from which at least two are configured as functionality modules each of which being configured with a means for performing a specific technical functionality in the automotive toy, and where one of said functionality modules is a steering module and one is a battery module, wherein at least one flexible toy building element made of a soft plastic or rubber material is provided, said flexible toy building element being located between and connecting at least the steering module and the battery module, forming a flexible interconnection between the functionality modules, wherein the functionality modules are provided with protruding portions with transversal openings;

and that the flexible toy building elements are provided with second protruding elements with transversal openings, which second protruding elements are complementary with the protruding elements on the functionality modules, and that the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements are interconnected by means of pins that extend through the transversal openings in the protruding elements of both the functionality modules and the flexible toy building elements.

13. An automotive toy according to claim 12, wherein the functionality modules further comprise a radio-signal receiver module;

and that a remote controller with a radio transmitter is provided.

14. An automotive toy according to claim 12, wherein the flexible toy building elements are provided between all the functionality modules.