Slide construction assemblies

• US 9,956,493 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sparkling Sky International Limited
• Original Assignee: Sparkling Sky International Limited
• Inventors: Hunts, Jr., Larry Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): NICONOVICH, ALEXANDER R
• Application Number:
  US15/594,051
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 446 85, 446 92, 446129, 446168, 446171, 104 53, 473570
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00391 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3662 modular, e.g. with connections between modules
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/28 using gravity , i.e. apparatus for rolling off the ball, e.g. a slope, ramp or slant
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/3622 Specially shaped rolling boards for the balls, e.g. ball tracks
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/02 Construction or arrangement of the trackway
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/071 the socket being integrally formed with a component to be fasted, e.g. a sheet, plate or strip
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material

Abstract

Assemblies combining a structure, such as a structure defined by magnetic connector pieces, with a slide assembly. In some embodiments, the slide assembly may comprise a plurality of slide pieces configured to be coupled together so as to define a slide configured to receive and direct one or more slideable pieces, such as balls, therein. The slide assembly may further comprise a plurality of slide coupling members configured to couple at least a subset of the plurality of slide pieces to the structure. The plurality of slide pieces may comprise a plurality of coupling joints configured to couple two adjacent slide pieces of the plurality of slide pieces together. Each of at least a subset of the plurality of coupling joints may be configured to be positioned at the same location in at least one dimension with respect to an adjacent structure piece upon being coupled with the structure.

Claims

1. A magnetic toy construction assembly,

comprising:

a plurality of magnetic connector pieces, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces is configured to be magnetically coupled with at least one adjacent magnetic connector piece so as to allow for construction of a structure; and

a slide assembly configured to be coupled with the structure, wherein the slide assembly comprises;

a plurality of slide pieces configured to be coupled together so as to define a slide configured to receive and direct one or more slideable pieces therein; and

a plurality of slide coupling members configured to couple at least a subset of the plurality of slide pieces to at least a subset of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces to allow the slide to be positioned adjacent to the structure, wherein the plurality of slide pieces comprises;

one or more angled slide pieces configured to direct the one or more slideable pieces downward;

one or more non-angled slide pieces configured to direct the one or more slideable pieces therein laterally; and

a plurality of coupling joints each configured to couple a first slide piece of the plurality of slide pieces to a second slide piece of the plurality of slide pieces, wherein each of the plurality of coupling joints is configured to be at least substantially centered in at least two dimensions with respect to an adjacent magnetic connector piece following assembly.

2. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of coupling joints is configured to couple a first angled slide piece of the one or more angled slide pieces with a first non-angled slide piece of the one or more non-angled slide pieces.

3. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more slideable pieces comprise balls configured to roll within the slide.

4. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the balls comprises a light, wherein each of the balls further comprises a motion sensor coupled with the light, and wherein the motion sensor is configured to activate the light while the ball is in motion within the slide.

5. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces comprises an opening.

6. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of coupling joints is configured to be at least substantially centered in at least two dimensions with respect to an opening of an adjacent magnetic connector piece following assembly.

7. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 6, wherein the opening comprises a rectangular opening.

8. The magnetic toy construction assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces comprises a square shape, and wherein each of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces comprising a square shape is configured to be magnetically coupled with adjacent magnetic connector pieces so as to define cube-shaped construction pieces for the structure.

9. A toy construction assembly, comprising:

a structure comprising a plurality of openings formed therein; and

a slide assembly configured to be coupled with the structure, wherein the slide assembly comprises;

a plurality of slide pieces configured to be coupled together so as to define a slide configured to receive and direct one or more slideable pieces therein; and

a plurality of slide coupling members configured to couple at least a subset of the plurality of slide pieces to the structure to allow the slide to be positioned adjacent to the structure, wherein the plurality of slide pieces comprises a plurality of coupling joints configured to couple two adjacent slide pieces of the plurality of slide pieces together, and wherein each of the plurality of coupling joints is configured to be at least substantially centered in at least one dimension with respect to an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings upon being coupled with the structure.

10. The toy construction assembly of claim 9, wherein the structure is defined by a plurality of connector pieces, wherein each of the plurality of connector pieces is configured to be coupled with at least one adjacent connector piece to define the structure.

11. The toy construction assembly of claim 10, wherein each of at least a subset of the plurality of connector pieces comprises a magnetic connector piece.

12. The toy construction assembly of claim 9, wherein the one or more slideable pieces comprise balls.

13. The toy construction assembly of claim 12, wherein the structure is defined by a plurality of connector pieces, wherein each of the plurality of connector pieces is configured to be coupled with at least one adjacent connector piece to define the structure, and wherein the plurality of coupling joints comprises:

a first subset of coupling joints configured to direct a ball down an angled slide piece; and

a second subset of coupling joints configured to receive a ball from an angled slide piece, wherein each of the coupling joints of the first subset and the second subset is configured to be coupled with an adjacent connector piece such that a center point or sharp transition point of a curve defined by the coupling joint is positioned at the same point relative to an adjacent connector piece of the structure.

14. The toy construction assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the coupling joints of the first subset and the second subset is configured to be coupled with an adjacent connector piece such that at least a portion of a ball positioned at the center point or sharp transition point is positioned at a central location relative to an adjacent connector piece of the structure.

15. The toy construction assembly of claim 9, wherein each of at least a subset of the plurality of coupling joints is configured to be at least substantially centered in at least two dimensions with respect to an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings upon being coupled with the structure.

16. A toy construction assembly, comprising:

a structure defined by a plurality of structure pieces; and

a slide assembly configured to be coupled with the structure, wherein the slide assembly comprises;

a plurality of slide pieces configured to be coupled together so as to define a slide configured to receive and direct one or more slideable pieces therein; and

a plurality of slide coupling members configured to couple the slide assembly to the structure, wherein the plurality of slide coupling members comprises;

one or more angled slide pieces configured to direct the one or more slideable pieces downward; and

a plurality of non-angled slide pieces configured to direct the one or more slideable pieces therein laterally, wherein each of the plurality of non-angled slide pieces is configured to be coupled with the structure such that each of the plurality of non-angled slide pieces directs the one or more slideable pieces along the slide in an at least substantially vertically central position relative to an adjacent structure piece.

17. The toy construction assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more angled slide pieces is configured to be coupled with an adjacent non-angled slide piece of the plurality of non-angled slide pieces at an at least substantially central location in at least two dimensions with respect to a structure piece of the plurality of structure pieces.

18. The toy construction assembly of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more angled slide pieces is configured to be coupled with an adjacent non-angled slide piece of the plurality of non-angled slide pieces at an at least substantially central location in three dimensions with respect to a structure piece of the plurality of structure pieces.

19. The toy construction assembly of claim 17, wherein the structure is defined by a plurality of magnetic connector pieces, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces is configured to be magnetically coupled with at least one adjacent magnetic connector piece so as to allow for construction of the structure, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic connector pieces comprises an opening, and wherein each of the one or more angled slide pieces is configured to be coupled with an adjacent non-angled slide piece of the plurality of non-angled slide pieces at an at least substantially central location with respect to an opening of an adjacent magnetic connector piece upon being coupled with the structure.

20. The toy construction assembly of claim 16, wherein the slide assembly and the structure pieces are configured such that at least a subset of the slide pieces are configured to be positioned at a consistent distance from an adjacent structure piece of the plurality of structure pieces upon assembly.