Toy couplers including a plurality of block retaining channels

• US 9,399,177 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Creative Kids, LLC
• Original Assignee: Building Creative Kids, LLC
• Inventors: Cochella, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US14/962,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 446/85, 446/105, 446111-115, 446/124, 446/126, 446/128, 211/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/101 with clip or snap mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/102 using elastic deformation A63H33/101 takes precedence

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 the thickness of the block receivable within the channel so that the thickness is frictionally retained therein. In one embodiment, the clip includes a plurality of channels.

Claims

1. A building set, comprising:

a plurality of rectangular blocks including a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, each block including a thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends;

a plurality of rigid clips configured to engage the thickness of one or more of the blocks, each clip including a central body and a plurality of block engaging channels extending from the central body, each channel of the clip including;

a base disposed on the central body, the base defining a floor;

first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends of the blocks is receivable in a manner that the thickness of the block, whether fully inserted into the channel or only partially inserted into the channel, is retained by the thickness being frictionally engaged between the first and second extensions; and

wherein the extensions frictionally engage the thickness of the block received within one of the channels, frictionally coupling the clip to a block received within the extensions of a respective channel, frictionally coupling the clip to the block received within the respective channel such that only partial insertion of the thickness of the block into the channel towards the base defining an interior floor surface of the channel is needed to retain the block in the channel.

2. The building set of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of each of the first and second extensions of each channel define an angle relative to the floor of the base of each channel that is less than 90°

so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the block received within one of the channels, frictionally coupling the clip to a block received within the extensions of a respective channel.

3. The building set of claim 2, wherein the angle between at least a portion of the interior surface of each of the first and second extensions and the floor of the base is from about 85°

to less than 90°

.

4. The building set of claim 2, wherein the channel and the block provide a retaining force so that from about 1 lb to about 5 lbs of pull out force is required to pull the block out of the channel.

5. The building set of claim 2, wherein the interior surface of each extension includes:

a proximal portion adjacent to the floor that provides an angle relative to the floor that is less than 90°

; and

a distal portion adjacent to the proximal portion that provides an angle relative to the floor that is at least 90°

.

6. The building set of claim 1, wherein a width of the channel is narrowed along a portion thereof, the narrowing being from 1% to 10%.

7. The building set of claim 1, wherein the central body includes a centrally disposed cylindrical tunnel.

8. The building set of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of each extension includes:

a first portion adjacent to the floor that is perpendicular to the floor;

a second portion adjacent the first portion that provides an angle relative to the floor that is less than 90°

; and

a third portion adjacent the second portion that provides an angle relative to the floor that is perpendicular to the floor; and

a fourth portion adjacent to the third portion that is outwardly flared to provide an angle relative to the floor that is more than 90°

.

9. The building set of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of each extension includes a plurality of portions at different angles relative to the floor, so as to define one or more apexes along a given extension.

10. The building set of claim 1, wherein the one or more apexes protrude into the channel.

11. The building set of claim 1, wherein the interior surfaces of each extension are planar.

12. The building set of claim 1, wherein the interior surfaces of each extension are devoid of protrusions.

13. A building set, comprising:

a plurality of rectangular blocks each including a rectangular shape, each including a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, each block including a thickness defined between opposed faces;

a plurality of rigid clips configured to engage the thickness of one or more of the blocks at any location of said thickness between the first and second ends, along the first or second sides, or along the first and second ends, each clip including a central body and a plurality of block engaging channels extending from the central body, each channel of the clip including;

a base disposed on the central body, the base defining a floor;

first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces within the channel, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining the channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces of the blocks is receivable in a manner that the thickness of the block is retained by the thickness being frictionally engaged between the first and second extensions; and

wherein the extensions frictionally engage the thickness of a block received within one of the channels, frictionally coupling the clip to the block received within the respective channel, such that a plurality of blocks may be received within the same respective channel at the same time.

14. The building set of claim 13, wherein the block is retained within the channel whether the block is fully inserted into the channel or only partially inserted into the channel, so that only partial insertion of the thickness of the block into the channel towards the base defining an interior floor surface of the channel is needed to retain the block in the channel.

15. The building set of claim 13, wherein the channel and block are configured to allow a block retained in the channel of the clip to be retained in the channel at a selected one of various angles relative to the channel.

16. The building set of claim 13, wherein the channel and block are configured to allow a block retained in the channel of the clip to be retained in the channel with the block being inclined relative to the floor of the channel at a selected one of various incline angles relative to the floor of the channel.

17. The building set of claim 13, wherein the interior surfaces of each extension are devoid of protrusions formed thereon.

18. The building set of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of each of the first and second extensions of each channel define an angle relative to the floor of the base of each channel that is less than 90°

so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the block received within one of the channels, frictionally coupling the clip to a block received within the extensions of a respective channel.

19. The building set of claim 13, wherein the interior surface of each extension includes:

a proximal portion adjacent to the floor that provides an angle relative to the floor that is less than 90°

; and

a distal portion adjacent to the proximal portion that provides an angle relative to the floor that is at least 90°

.

20. The building set of claim 13, wherein a width of the channel is narrowed along a portion thereof, the narrowing being from 1% to 10%.