US20150038047A1 - Building set - Google Patents

Abstract

A building set and method of play include a base piece and building blocks. The building blocks have an end face and a longitudinal side with planar exterior walls spaced apart at a first width. A first building block has a first connector type with two parallel planar members extending from the end face. The planar members include a rib along an outward face, and are configured to have a snug fit into the first width of another block. A second building block includes a second connector type located on either the end face of the second building block or a top surface of the base. The second connector type has a circular arrangement of pressure hinges, where the other of the end face of the second building block or the top surface of the base has a protrusion configured to be detachably inserted into the pressure hinges.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/859,939 filed on Jul. 30, 2013 and entitled “Building Set”, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
BACKGROUND
• Toy structures that are collapsible or destructible have long been a source of entertainment for children. For example, buildings and ships have been configured to break apart when a projectile impacts the object. Some collapsible structures have been incorporated into skills games, where the method of game play and the themes or features of the game spark a child's imagination and provide continued engagement of the game to add to its play value.
• One video game line made available for the IPHONE®, IPAD® and ANDROID™ mobile devices by the Finland-based developer ROVIO MOBILE LTD is entitled ANGRY BIRDS®. As a player enters a level in the ANGRY BIRDS video game, the device displays a structure appearing to be made from various materials including wood, glass or ice and stone. Various-sized and -shaped green pigs appear within the structure. The structure scrolls off-screen and a slingshot with a queue of various-sized, -shaped, and -colored birds scrolls on-screen. The birds serve as projectiles for the slingshot to be launched against one side of the structure. The player launches each bird projectile by touching the mobile device screen with a finger, dragging the finger across the screen to simulate pulling back the projectile in the slingshot pocket, and lifting the finger from the screen to launch the projectile. Additional properties particular to each projectile may be activated by tapping the screen while the bird projectile is in flight. The goal is to knock over the green pigs, either by the projectile birds directly or with portions of the collapsing structure. A bonus area with golden eggs was made available in a later chapter release of the game. Golden eggs hidden throughout the game unlock other levels and features.
• In some versions of the game, images of wooden crates labeled with “TNT” are interspersed in the structure. When struck, the wooden crate explodes and destroys objects within a short radius and sends objects within a larger radius flying. In other versions of the game, a space theme is utilized in which gameplay involves planets and other galactic objects, and projectiles are affected by varying amounts of gravity. While the game play of ANGRY BIRDS is fanciful and engaging, it is limited to a single-player virtual world with simulated physics. Furthermore, the ANGRY BIRDS video game lacks the excitement and challenge of a tangible skills game apparatus and methods associated therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary building set;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of building blocks with a first connector type, in one embodiment;
• FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the building blocks ofFIG. 2, coupled together;
• FIG. 4 provides a front view of the building blocks ofFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a second connector type;
• FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a base piece having protrusions related to the second connector type ofFIG. 5;
• FIGS. 7A-7B show a bottom view of a target piece and a side view of a target support piece, in one embodiment; and
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the components fromFIG. 8, assembled together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• A physical game set based on the ANGRY BIRDS video game is described in Ho et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 2012/0286475, entitled “Launching Toy Game”, published Nov. 15, 2012, owned by the assignee of the present application and incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. In Ho et al., a skills game includes a game set with a deck of cards, various-shaped building blocks, a projectile launcher, projectiles, and target pieces. Players take turns selecting a card, building structures, launching projectiles, and knocking down targets. The building blocks are stackable, or may be placed or balanced upon each other without immediately falling off. In one embodiment of Ho, the building blocks have slight protrusions and slight recesses on their bodies. The protrusion on one block may loosely fit within a recess of another block to create a loose frictional fit, to aid in joining or stacking the blocks to create a structural formation.
• In the present disclosure, a collapsible building set is disclosed in which building blocks are configured to allow for stable construction of a structure, yet allow the blocks to “break off” or “break apart” upon impact, such as from a projectile. For the purposes of this disclosure, the building blocks may also be referred to as bricks or connectors. The ability of the blocks to be temporarily secured, but yet be detachable upon application of an external force, enhances the play value by allowing new and creative types of building configurations to be made. The connectable blocks also may increase the difficulty of collapsing the play structure, thereby increasing amusement value for the user. The blocks may be utilized as a stand-alone play item, or may be used as part of a game set.
• FIG. 1 shows a building set100 in one embodiment.Building set100 includes abase110 onto which a plurality ofbuilding blocks120 are coupled,primary targets130 andbonus target pieces140 mounted ontovarious building blocks120, aprojectile launcher150, andprojectiles160. Theprojectile launcher150, configured as a slingshot in this embodiment, is configured to launchprojectiles160. Projectilelauncher150 may be configured as other types of launching devices, such as a catapult or trebuchet. Projectilelauncher150 is capable of storing energy and then transferring the stored energy to theprojectiles160, using, for example, a spring or an elastic or rubber band. In this embodiment,primary targets130 are shaped as spherical pigs,projectiles160 are shaped as spherical birds, andbonus targets140 are shaped as a planar star or planar eggs. Other figures and shapes of these pieces are possible.
• During play, a user attempts to launch theprojectiles160 onto the constructed formation ofbuilding blocks120 to hitcertain target pieces130 or140 and/or to knock down the formation ofbuilding blocks120. Players may use a free style of play, such as to target specific components or to destruct the entire assembly as desired. In other embodiments, players may use a game method of play as described in Ho et al., in which cards may provide instructions or “missions” describing particular objects to hit within building set100. The cards may also describe a particular formation to build with thebricks120. Players are then awarded points for accomplishing their missions.
• FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view ofbuilding blocks200aand200bhaving a first type of connector.Building blocks200a/bhave alongitudinal side210 bordered by twoexterior walls220.Exterior walls220 are planar and are spaced apart by a width ‘W’, as measured from the interior faces ofwalls220. At an end oflongitudinal side210 is anend face230, from which twoplanar members240 extend.Planar members240 are plates having arib250 on their outward faces, and aconcave arc260 on their edge opposite ofend face230. In this embodiment, tworibs250 are on eachplanar member240, one near each lateral edge and running approximately perpendicular to theend face230.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show perspective and front views, respectively, of thebuilding bricks200a/bcoupled together, where theplanar members240 of onebrick200ahave been inserted betweenwalls220 of anotherbrick200b.Planar members240 are configured to have a snug fit within width ‘W’ oflongitudinal side210, so thatbrick200ais stably connected tobrick200b.That is, the combination of the spacing betweenplanar members240 and the thickness ofribs250 is designed such that thebuilding brick200acan slide intolongitudinal side210 with some frictional engagement, while still being able to be separated from itsmating brick200bwhen impacted by a projectile. This snug fit allows thebricks200aand200bto be coupled together at various angles relative to the ground, as shown inFIG. 1, and remain stable. By allowing the building blocks200 to be stacked or constructed in non-orthogonal configurations relative to the direction of gravity, the types of imaginative structures that can be created is increased. Note that inFIG. 3, the space betweenwalls220 is open along the length ofside wall210, such that another brick200 can be placed anywhere along its length. This variability in placement further enhances the creative play opportunities for a user. In other embodiments, the space betweenwalls220 may be open only in certain portions, such as to create specific compartments into which another brick200 may be inserted.
• Returning toFIG. 2, thecurved arc260 assists in the ability of the brick structure to break apart, by allowing a small amount of flexure toplanar members240. The lateral spacing of the tworibs250 provides stability to the coupling betweenbricks200aand200b,while limiting the amount of friction. That is, having tworibs250 contact thewall220 of a connecting brick eases the detachability compared to having the entire surface ofplanar member240 engagewall220. In other embodiments, more than two ribs may be present, or differently-shaped raised features such as bumps may utilized instead of or in addition to ribs.
• FIG. 5 shows a second type of connector for stably but releasably coupling building bricks into a structure. InFIG. 5,building brick300 has anend face310 with multiple flexural tabs, which shall be referred to as pressure hinges320, arranged in a circle to form anopening330. Four hinges320 are shown in this embodiment, but other quantities such as two or more are possible. The hinges320 are recessed in this embodiment, so thatend face310 may be flush with an interfacing surface. In other embodiments, thehinges320 need not be recessed. Thecircular opening330 formed by pressure hinges320 is sized to receiveprotrusions410 ofFIG. 6, similar to a snap fit. The hinges320 flex slightly outward asprotrusions410 are inserted intoopening330, and then retract to retain the curved outer surfaces ofprotrusions410. In this embodiment,protrusions410 are on atop surface420 of abase piece400; however, protrusions may also be on a surface of another building block. Also, although the pressure hinges320 are located on thebuilding block300 and theprotrusions410 are located on the base400 inFIGS. 5 and 6, in other embodiments, these male and female connector components may be reversed.
• InFIG. 6,base400 has anon-planar surface420 onto which building components are to be mounted. In the embodiment shown, thesurface420 is convex and resembles a lunar surface. Other types of surfaces and scenery are possible, such as a hilly countryside, a graded roadway, or a craggy cliff. Thesurface420 in various embodiments may be curved, stepped, linearly angled, or spiraled. In further embodiments,surface420 may be planar and have an angle of 0° or more relative to the ground. Building blocks are enabled to be securely coupled to a non-planar or angled surface due to the first and second types of connectors described above. The ability to build structural formations on an irregular supporting surface provides new and creative play opportunities for a user.
• The parallel plate connectors ofFIGS. 3-4 and the hinge connectors ofFIGS. 5-6 may be provided in various combinations on building blocks in a play set. For example, a building block may have plate connectors on both of its opposite ends, or may have a plate connector on one end and a hinge connector on the opposite end, or may have hinge connectors on both ends (e.g., male on one end and female on the other, or male-male, or female-female). In other embodiments, a hinge or plate connector may be incorporated onto a longitudinal side wall of a brick instead of or in addition to the connectors being on its end faces. These various combinations allow for even further creative play in constructing building formations.
• The target pieces in a building set may also utilize the first connector (FIGS. 3-4) and second connector (FIGS. 5-6) types to secure them to the building blocks. InFIG. 7B, atarget support piece500 has asurface510 from which a mountingpost520 vertically extends. Twoplanar members540 are underneathsurface510, withplanar members540 havingribs550 andarcuate cutout560 similar to thebuilding blocks200a/bofFIG. 2.Target piece570 ofFIG. 7A has ahole575 into which post520 may be inserted. Thus, as shown inFIG. 8,target piece570 may be coupled tobuilding block580 viasupport piece500. In use, a projectile may be aimed attarget piece570, and thetarget piece570 may be detached frombuilding block580 when force from the projectile ontarget piece570 pulls planar members540 (and consequentlysupport piece500 withtarget piece570 on it) out ofblock580. In other embodiments, the second connector type of pressure hinges may be replace theplanar members540 ontarget support piece500.
• While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. These and other modifications and variations to the present invention may be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is more particularly set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the invention.

Claims (18)

What is claimed is:

1. A building set apparatus comprising:

a base piece having a top surface; and

a plurality of building blocks, wherein each of the building blocks comprises a longitudinal side and an end face at an end of the longitudinal side, wherein the longitudinal side comprises planar exterior walls spaced apart from each other at a first width;

wherein a first building block in the plurality of building blocks further comprises a first connector type having two parallel planar members extending from the end face, wherein the planar members comprise a rib along an outward face of the planar member, and wherein the planar members are configured to have a snug fit into the first width of another block in the plurality of building blocks;

wherein a second building block in the plurality of building blocks further comprises a second connector type, wherein the second connector type is located on either the end face of the second building block or the top surface of the base, the second connector type having a circular arrangement of pressure hinges, and wherein the other of (i) the end face of the second building block or (ii) the top surface of the base comprises a protrusion configured to be detachably inserted into the circular arrangement of the pressure hinges.

2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein first connector type and the second connector type are configured such that the plurality of building blocks are stably connected together using the first connector type or the second connector type, and wherein the building blocks can be detached upon impact from a projectile.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein each planar member comprises an arcuate cutout at an edge opposite the end face.

4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the base has a non-planar surface on which the pressure hinges or the protrusion are formed.

5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the rib extends along a line that is approximately perpendicular to the end face.

6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first building block comprises the first connector type on a first end face and the second connector type on a second end face opposite the first end face.

7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first building block comprises the first connector type on a first end face and the first connector type on a second end face opposite the first end face.

8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first width extends along a full length of the longitudinal side such the planar members of another block may be inserted at any location along the full length.

9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a target support piece, wherein the target support piece comprises at least one of the first connector type or the second connector type, and wherein the target support piece has a mounting surface configured to receive a target piece.

10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a target piece adapted for placement about the plurality of building blocks;

a projectile; and

a projectile launcher adapted to launch the projectile at the target piece.

11. A method of game play with components of a building set, the method comprising:

selecting a card, the card including illustrations of a base piece, a plurality of building blocks and a target piece;

constructing a structural formation from the base piece, the plurality of building blocks and the target piece; and

launching a projectile from a projectile launcher at the target piece within the structural formation;

wherein each of the building blocks comprises a longitudinal side and an end face at an end of the longitudinal side, wherein the longitudinal side comprises planar exterior walls spaced apart from each other at a first width;

wherein a first building block in the plurality of building blocks comprises a first connector type having two parallel planar members extending from the end face, wherein the planar members comprise a rib along an outward face of the planar member, wherein the planar member comprises an arcuate cutout at an edge opposite the end face, and wherein the planar members are configured to have a snug fit into the first width of another brick;

wherein a second building block in the plurality of building blocks comprises a second connector type, wherein the second connector type is located on either the end face of the second building block or a top surface of the base, the second connector type having a circular arrangement of pressure hinges, and wherein the other of (i) the end face or (ii) the top surface of the base comprises a protrusion configured to be detachably inserted into the circular arrangement of pressure hinges.

12. A building block comprising:

a longitudinal side, wherein the longitudinal side comprises planar exterior walls spaced apart from each other at a first width;

an end face at an end of the longitudinal side; and

two parallel planar members extending from the end face, wherein the planar members comprise a rib along an outward face of the planar member, and wherein the planar members are configured to have a snug fit into the first width of another building block.

13. The building block ofclaim 12, wherein the snug fit between the planar members and the first width is configured to enable two building blocks to be stably connected together, and wherein the building blocks can be detached upon impact from a projectile.

14. The building block ofclaim 12, wherein each planar member comprises an arcuate cutout at an edge opposite the end face.

15. The building block ofclaim 12, wherein the rib extends along a line that is approximately perpendicular to the end face.

16. The building block ofclaim 12, wherein the first width extends along a full length of the longitudinal side such the planar members of another block may be inserted at any location along the full length.

17. A building block comprising:

a longitudinal side, wherein the longitudinal side comprises planar exterior walls spaced apart from each other at a first width;

an end face at an end of the longitudinal side; and

a pressure hinge type connector located on the end face, wherein the pressure hinge type connector comprises either (i) a circular arrangement of pressure hinges or (ii) a protrusion configured to be detachably inserted into the circular arrangement of the pressure hinges.

18. The building block ofclaim 17 wherein the pressure hinge type connector is configured such that two building blocks are stably connected together using the pressure hinge type connector, and the building blocks can be detached upon impact from a projectile.

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