US2446179A - Toy building block - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 3, 1948. w, HARNQUIST 2,446,179

TOY BUILDING BLOCK Filed Nov. 12, 1946 //V l/ENTO/Q H a rry W. Harnquist CM! id'ln-d'rw qi ArroRiveys Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

2,446,179 'roY BUILDING'BILOCYK Harry W. HarnquishRockford, 111.

Application November 12, 1946, Serial No. 709,383 7 Claims. (61.46-25) This invention relates to blocks to be used as a toy and combined with other blocks of the same or different shape to form various designs.

One object is to provide a block having V- shaped recesses at opposite side margins shaped to interlock with the complemental portions of other blocks and be supported thereby even in overhanging relation.

The invention also resides in the novel shape of the block sides to permit effective interlocking of the blocks in a wide variety of relationships, thereby adding to the versatility of the block in constructing different designs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved toy block.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view.

Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating the manner of stacking the blocks to form typical designs.

The improved toy building block constituting the present invention may be of any desired size and made solid or hollow and formed out of wood, metal, plastic, or other suitable material. As shown in the drawings, the block comprises a piece of substantially uniform thickness, preferably about of an inch, having opposite fiat parallel sides ill and flat parallel ends H Which are spaced apart to make the block about 2 inches hig Opposite end portions of the block form truncated equilateral triangles l2 of equal size with their apexes integrally joined at IS. The ends ll of the block form the bases of these triangles whose sides M preferably make an included angle of 90 degrees with each other. The sides M of the different triangles on either margin of the block thus define a right angular vshaped notch. Thus, when two of the blocks are interfitted as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with two sides M of the different blocks lying face to face, the longitudinal axes I 5 will be parallel and the overhanging triangular end portions l2 will be of the same length and thus adapted to interlock in a similar way with additional blocks.

Means is formed on the recessed sides of the blocks to engage with the corners of the triangles or with the means on an adjacent block to lock the two blocks firmly together either when they are disposed on their sides as shown in Fig. 3, or vertically as shown in Fig. 4. Herein, this interlocking means is formed at the roots of the triangular notches in the block sides, and comprises rectangular lugs l6, preferably integral with the block and projecting outwardly from points of intersection of the side surfaces 14. These lugs, which only need to be wide enough to avoid danger of breakage, are in this instance about of an inch long and have opposite parallel sides I! which are parallel to the end surfaces H of the blocks. Since the lugs I6 are equidistant from the lugs ll, two blocks may be interfitted with any side M of one block lying against any side of the other block, in which relation a lug It on either block will be in engagement with the end II of the other block. The two blocks are thus locked positively against relative tilting and remain so interlocked in all positions, even when the supporting block with its axis I5 disposed verticall as shown in Fig. 4 is turned in a vertical plane through more than a half revolution.

This method of interlocking permits the blocks to be stacked together in various ways, on their sides as shown in Fig. 3, with their axes disposed vertically as shown in Fig. 4, or at any intermediate angle. The locking is so effective as to permit relatively rough handling of a completed design without danger of the assembled blocks falling apart. If desired, the versatility of the blocks in permitting the building of diiferent designs may be increased still further by combining them with square blocks or cubes l8 as shown in Fig. 3, the latter having slots l9 to receive the lugs l6 and permit the sides of the cube to come into full contact with the block sides M.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral triangles of equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposed parallel to each other, the included angle at the apex of each triangle being substantially ninety degrees, and rectangular projections extending outwardly and parallel to said triangle bases at the bottoms of the V-shaped notches defined by the sides of said triangles.

2. A toy building block of substantially uniform thickness having fiat parallel ends and v-shaped recesses in opposite sides each formed by two flat surfaces intersecting said ends, and rectangular lugs of similar size integral with said block and projecting from opposite side edges thereof at the apexes of said recesses, said lugs having opposite parallel sides paralleling said block ends.

3. A toy building block having its opposite side margins recessed to form substantially right angular V-shaped notches, and an outwardly extending projection at the apex of at least one of said notches.

4. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral triangles of equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposed parallel to each other, and a rectangular lug projecting outwardly from the side of the block at the apex of the V-notch therein, opposite sides of said lug paralleling the bases of said triangles.

5. A toy. building. block comprisingjltwotruncated equilateral triangles of equal size-'- rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposed parallel to each other, and a rectangular lug pro J'ecting outwardly from the side of the block..at the apex of the V-notch therein.

cated equilateral triangles of equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposed parallel to each other, the included angle at the apex of each triangle being substantially ninety degrees.

7. A toy building block comprising two truncated equilateral triangles of equal size rigidly joined at their apexes with their bases disposed parallel to each other, and a rectangular lug pro- .i'ectiilgoutwandly; from; the; side ofithe block at the a-pex'of thew-notch therein: said bases of the respective triangles being disposed parallel to and spaced equidistant from the corresponding sidelsurfaoes of said lug.

15 6. A toy building block comprising two: tnun-- HARRY W. HARNQUIST.

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