Interlego Ag

Lego A/s

Octavio Aps

Erik Bach

Kaj Svejstrup Mikkelsen

Philip M Kushner

Carsten Peter Michaelsen

Allan Toft

Jan Ryaa

Kim Pagel

Carsten R&oslash;n

Hans Damg&aring;rd Nielsen

Thomas Gjørup

Erik Fuglsang

Erling T Dideriksen

Hans Madsen

Flemming Wittrup

Morten Rydder

Jorgen P Gronbjerg

Thomas Gjorup

A toy building element comprising primary coupling means that extend from a top wall and comprise a cavity that contains secondary coupling means that are configured for being able to cooperate frictionally with the primary coupling means on a neighbouring element in a number of friction areas. According to the invention there are also primary locking means that are situated at the end of notches in the primary coupling means, wherein the locking means are configured for snap-lockingly engaging with secondary locking means in the cavity of a neighbouring element in same locking areas that are situated outside said friction areas, in which the secondary locking means are elastically resilient in directions in parallel with the top wall of the building element and are substantially elastically relieved in an interconnected position. The coexistence of friction- and snap-locking means entails is that the element yields a far higher coupling force than the known elements, that cold flow is almost eliminated, and that the element is compatible with the known elements.

Toy building element

A computer-implemented method of generating a digital representation of a user-defined construction element connectable to pre-manufactured toy construction elements of a toy construction system, each pre-manufactured toy construction element comprising a number of coupling elements for coupling the pre-manufactured toy construction element with one or more other pre-manufactured toy construction elements of said toy construction system, the method comprising determining one or more positions for placement of one or more coupling elements to be included in the user-defined construction element; generating, responsive to input by a user indicative of a user-defined shape, a digital representation of a user-defined construction element, the user-defined construction element comprising said one or more coupling elements at said determined one or more positions; providing the digital representation for automated production of said user-defined construction element.

Method and system for designing and producing a user-defined toy construction element

A toy building set comprising box-shaped building elements that have, in the horizontal plane, dimensions that are integer multiples of a horizontal module (L), and, in the vertical direction, a height (H) which exceeds the horizontal module. The building elements have a tubular opening at a first face. Elements are provided that have a tenon that can be introduced into the tubular opening. At its free end, the tenon is flexible and has protruding edges ( ) for snap-effect with the second end of the tubular opening, and the tenon has a protruding portion ( ) that serves to ensure that the tenon can be introduced only so deeply into the tubular as corresponds to the horizontal module (L). The building set comprises building elements ( ) with coupling studs ( ) on the top face and a cavity ( ) with a tubular coupling means ( ), whereby two such elements are able to interconnect with coupling studs ( ) in contact with the sides of the cavity ( ) and the tubular member ( ). The tube has internal edges ( ) whereby a tenon can be introduced into the tubular member with snap-effect with the internal edge in the tube.

Toy building set with interconnection by means of tenons with snap

A toy building set of building elements ( ) having coupling studs ( ) and cavities ( ) to receive coupling studs ( ) in frictional engagement. The cavity ( ) accommodates guide means ( ) which are adapted to contact coupling studs ( ) with a lower friction, and which thereby preferably have a guiding function. This ensures that small and large toy building elements may be built together with a desired coupling force and with a desired friction.

Toy building set

A toy building set comprising a plurality of building elements which each are provided with hinge parts, first and second types of hinge parts being shaped complementarily in such a manner that the hinge parts on two building elements may be interconnected releasably so that they form a hinge link between the building elements. The first type of hinge parts is provided with a toothing arranged at a specific distance from the common hinge axis, and the second type of hinge parts comprises a first group which is provided with a toothing arranged at the specific distance from the common hinge axis and a second group of hinge parts which is not provided with such a toothing, said toothings on the first type of hinge parts and on the first group of the second type of hinge parts being directed oppositely to each other in such a manner that they engage each other when the hinge parts are interconnected.

A toy building set comprising a plurality of building elements which each are provided with hinge parts, a first type of hinge parts comprising a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped shaft part of a building element, a second type of hinge parts comprising a claw device consisting of two elastic fingers extending outwards from a building element at a distance from each other, so that the two elastic fingers between them form a track which is narrowed at the distal end of the fingers with respect to the building element, so that the rod-shaped shaft part may be pressed into the track through the narrowed part of the track, said hinge parts additionally comprising a third type of hinge parts being provided with a shaft stud which has an external diameter corresponding to the thickness of the rod-shaped shaft part.

A toy building, such as a doll's house with associated fittings (,), said toy building comprising a bracing structure (,) and a number of substantially planar wall elements (,), and wherein the bracing structure (,) and the wall elements (,) are provided with coupling means (,) for releasably receiving the wall elements (,) in the bracing structure (,) of the toy building, and wherein the wall elements (,) and the fittings (,) are provided with complementary coupling means (,) intended for mounting of the fittings (,) on the wall elements (,).

Toy building with associated fittings

A building set for a toy building comprising a number of building module frames (1,1a,1b,2) and a plurality of fittings (10,17,18), and wherein each of the building module frames (1,1a,1b,2) comprises a bottom plate (3,4,19) with a superstructure that defines the walls and ceiling of the building module frame (1,1a,1b,2), and wherein each bottom plate (3,4,19) is provided with coupling means (12) for interconnecting adjoining building module frames (1,1a,1b,2). By arranging the coupling means (12) on the top surface of the bottom plate (3,4,19) and by arranging the coupling means (12) to be releasably interconnected with complementary coupling means (11) on the underside of the fittings (10,17,18), a stable and secure coupling is obtained that possesses much holding force without much force being required to interconnect the building module frames.

Building set for a toy building

A toy building system for the construction of e.g. in-door settings and furniture element groupings, comprising a number of substantially box-shaped fittings (1,2,3) with a top surface, a bottom surface and a number of lateral walls, comprising a front with furniture-like functional parts, such as doors, shelves, etc., and a back (4) with coupling means (5,6) and wherein each fitting (1,2,3) has at least two functionally identical coupling means (5,6), said coupling means (5,6) comprising coupling means (5) that protrude a distance from the back (4) of the fitting (1,2,3), and wherein the coupling means (5,6) are arranged at a mutual modular distance and provided in such a manner that the fittings (1,2,3) may be interconnected back (4) to back (4) in at least two different positions relative to each other.

Toy building system

A building set for a toy building comprising a number of building modules (1) which each defines a space, said building modules (1) being so designed that they may be stacked or arranged next to each other as desired for the construction of single- or multi-storey toy buildings, and having means (6,7) for releasably engaging with one or more wall elements (5) in the sides of the building modules (1) irrespectively of the mutual positioning of the building modules (1). Since the columns (3) support girders (4) which define the periphery of the top plane of the building modules, said girders (4) being so arranged that unimpeded access to the building module interior (1) is provided, it is now possible to construct toy buildings with more different plan arrangements compared to the prior art without impeding the access to the building module interiors.

Growing community of inventors

Billund, Denmark

Erik Bach