MODULAR UNIT FOR FORMING CONSTRUCTIONS FOR TOY USE Technical field

This invention relates to a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use. More specifically, the term modular unit refers to systems for construction of toys for children having modular blocks which can be associated with each other to form different types of constructions.

Background art

In effect, it is known that these modular systems for forming constructions comprise blocks of various sizes and colours.

Each block, which is usually obtained by moulding in shapes, comprises at least one shaped base body, usually cubic or parallelepiped in shape having a first face equipped with one or more radial protrusions arranged according to a certain predetermined order and with variable geometrical shapes such as, for example, cylindrical or polyhedral. The body has a second face, normally opposite the first, wherein there are seats which can be coupled with the protrusions of another body with a cubic or parallelepiped shape.

These blocks can therefore be assembled stably to each other to form various types of constructions for toy use for children, such as houses, castles, etc.

At present, these modules or pieces are obtained, as mentioned above, by plastic moulding in suitable dies.

However, this technology results in several drawbacks.

The first of these drawbacks is due to the large size of the blocks during packaging. Basically, the greater the number of parts necessary for assembling a construction, the larger is the package which must contain the blocks. A second drawback, linked to the first, is the overall cost of a complete kit for a certain construction due both to the number of blocks and the complexity of the package which must contain them.

A third drawback is due also to the fact that the modules made of plastic, if dispersed, are harmful to the environment.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a modular unit forming constructions for toy use which can use a reduced space during packaging.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use which is able to combine logical assembly sequences with the toy use for which it is designed.

These aims are fully achieved by a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use according to this invention as characterised in the appended claims.

More specifically, the modular unit for forming constructions for toy use according to the invention comprises a first body with a prismatic shape, formed by a first blank made of foldable material having a central portion with four sides, which defines, in use, the upper side of the first body, and equipped with a pair of through slits for each side, in such a way as to delimit a central zone of it.

Again according to the invention, the first blank has a wing protruding from each side of the central portion and comprising, each, three different consecutive parts defined by transversal pre-folds to form, in use, corresponding sides of the first body, and a base flat lower edge of the first body.

Again according to the invention, lower edge delimits a hollow central compartment of the first body having a first space.

Also according to the invention, the modular unit comprises a second body with a prismatic shape, smaller than the first body, formed by a second blank made of foldable material having a central portion with four sides, which defines, in use, the upper side of the second body.

Also according to the invention, the second blank has a wing for each side of the central portion, which defines, in use, a side of the second body.

Again according to the invention, each wing of the second body has a protrusion protruding from the free side of the wing and designed for coupling stably by slotting into a corresponding pair of slits present on the upper side of the first body to define the complete the modular unit formed by the two superposed bodies. The second body has, in use, a shape and a size such that it is matchingly shaped to be housed in a central compartment of a first body forming another similar modular unit.

The modular unit composed in this way allows an extremely practical construction component to be obtained, starting from flat blanks made of paper material, and which is able to generate different types of toy constructions of various kinds, from the easiest to the most complex.

The use of flat blanks, at least at the start, allows a twofold advantage provided by the reduced size of the components, and hence a package which is extremely convenient and economical, as well as making the assembly of the component a game in itself.

Brief description of the drawings

This and other features will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying tables of drawings, in which: - Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a variant embodiment of a modular unit for forming constructions for toy use according to the invention; - Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second body forming part of the modular unit of Figures 1 and 2;

- Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a third body forming part of the modular unit of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 illustrates a top plan view of a first blank with a flat shape forming a first body of the modular unit of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 6 illustrates a top plan view of a second blank with a flat shape forming a second body of the modular unit of Figures 1 to 3;

- Figure 7 illustrates a top plan view of a variant embodiment of the first blank with a flat shape forming a first body of the modular unit of Figure 2;

- Figure 8 illustrates a top plan view of a third blank with a flat shape forming a third body of the modular unit of Figures 2 and 4;

- Figures 9 to 1 1 illustrate perspective views of a corresponding succession of steps for the formation of the second body starting from the second blank;

- Figures 12 and 15 illustrate perspective views of a corresponding succession of steps for associating the second body on the first blank in flat form;

- Figures 16 to 22 illustrate perspective views of a corresponding succession of steps for the formation of the first body starting from the first blank;

- Figure 23 illustrates a perspective view of a step for associating one of the two second bodies to the variant embodiment for the formation of the second body starting from the second blank;

- Figures 24 to 26 illustrate perspective views of a corresponding succession of steps for the formation of the third body starting from the third blank;

- Figures 27 to 37 illustrate perspective views of a corresponding succession of steps for the formation of the variant embodiment of the first body starting from the first blank to which are associated two second bodies. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particular to Figures 1 to 4, the modular unit according to this invention, labelled 100 in its entirety, is used for forming constructions for toy use.

More specifically, this modular unit allows, by a series of couplings of two or more modules, complex constructions to be obtained.

According to the invention, the modular unit 100 comprises a first body 1 with a prismatic shape, formed by a first blank (see Figures 5 or 7) made of foldable material having a central portion 2 with four sides, which defines, in use, the upper side of the first body 1 .

The central portion 2 is equipped with a pair of through slits 3, 4 for each side, in such a way as to delimit a central zone of it.

According to the invention, the first blank has a wing 5, 6 protruding from each side of the central portion 2. Each wing 5, 6 comprises three different consecutive parts defined by transversal pre-folds to form, in use, corresponding sides of the first body 1 , and a base flat lower edge 7 of the first body 1 . The lower edge 7 delimits a hollow central compartment 8 of the first body 1 having a first space.

Again according to the invention, the modular unit 100 comprises a second body 9 with a prismatic shape, smaller than the first body 1 , formed by a second blank made of foldable material having a central portion 10 with four sides, which defines, in use, the upper side of the second body 9.

Again according to the invention, the second blank has a wing 1 1 , 12 for each side of the central portion 10, which defines, in use, a side of the second body 9. Each wing 1 1 , 12 of the second body 9 having a protrusion 13 protruding from the free side of the wing 1 1 , 12 (preferably positioned at the centre of the free side) and designed to couple stably by slotting into a corresponding pair of slits 3, 4 present on the upper side of the first body 1 to define the complete modular unit 100 formed by the two superposed bodies 1 and 9. The second body 9 has, in use, a shape and a size such that it is matchingly shaped to be housed in a central compartment 8 of a first body 1 forming another similar modular unit (see Figures 5 and 6).

Preferably, the first and second blank are initially in a flat form.

Preferably, the first and the second blank are made of paper material.

Again preferably, the first and second are obtained from cardboard or paperboard.

Alternatively, the first and the second blank can be obtained from plastic materials, even recycled ones, with a thin thickness that can be folded.

Preferably, each protrusion 13 of the second body 9 is formed by a connecting stretch with the wing 1 1 , 12 and a head stretch having a width L13 greater than the extension S of the pairs of slits 3, 4.

In light of this, each protrusion 13 is designed with at least two transversal creases to allow the entrance of the protrusion 13 into a first slit 3 and an exit from the head stretch from the other slit 4, in a direction opposite to the direction of entrance into the first slit 3 (see Figures 14 and 15).

It should be noted that the two slits 3, 4 of each pair are positioned parallel to each other.

Substantially, the pairs of slits 3, 4 define a quadrangular zone about the centre of the shape of the central portion 2.

It should be noted, preferably, the protrusion 13 is inserted initially in the slit 4.

Preferably, a first pair of wings 5 of the first blank (opposable to each other) comprises a first part close to the central portion 2 equipped with foldable stiffening side flaps 14;

- a second intermediate part of it, defining, in use, the lower edge 7, having a central portion delimited, for every lateral end, by a foldable stiffening tab 15 protruding from the end of the first part of the wing 5; and

- a third part of it, having two foldable stiffening side flaps 16 and a foldable stiffening head flap 17.

It should be noted that the extension in length of the second intermediate part of the pair of side wings 5 determines the width of the lower edge 7. Preferably, the second pair of wings 6 of the first blank (opposable to each other) comprises the outermost part of each wing 6 having two foldable stiffening side flaps 18 and a foldable stiffening head flap 19.

Also in the second pair of wings 6, the extension in length of each of the second intermediate parts determines the width of the lower edge 7 (equal to that present on the first pair of side flaps 5).

The flaps described on the various parts of each wing 5 or 6 are folded, during assembly, by at least a right angle to allow a stiffening of the structure and a locking in the correct position also thanks to the contact with the adjacent wings.

It should be noted that the second blank has a pair of wings 1 1 , each wing provided with a pair of stiffening side flaps 20.

The composition of the first blank determines the formation of a first body 1 , mounted, with a cubic shape (Figure 1 ).

It should be noted that the composition of the second blank determines the formation of a second body 1 , mounted, with a cubic shape (Figure 1 to 3).

In a variant embodiment (Figures 2, 7 and 8), the first body 2 has a prismatic shape formed by a first blank made of foldable material (again with an initial flat shape as in the solution described above) having a central portion 2 with four sides and rectangular in shape with two long sides and two short sides.

In light of this, the central portion 2 forms, in use, the upper side of the first body 1 which has a parallelepiped shape.

It should be noted that the central portion 2 is equipped with two series of pairs of through slits 3, 4, in such a way as to delimit corresponding zones of its surface, the centre of which is equidistant from the centre of the rectangle formed by the central portion 2.

In light of this, the protrusions 13 of a corresponding second body 9, 9' can be coupled by slotting into each set of slits 3, 4.

As shown in Figure 4, the parallelepiped shape of the first body allows the assembly of two second bodies 9, 9' equidistant from each other. According to the variant embodiment mentioned, the modular unit 100, comprises a third body 21 with a prismatic shape formed by a third blank defining, in use, a partition wall housed centrally in the compartment 8 defined by the first body 1 so as to obtain two half compartments 8, 8' both having a first identical space (Figures 8, 26, 37).

This configuration allows two different second bodies to be housed in the relative half compartments.

Preferably, in this variant embodiment, each wing 5 of the first blank protruding from the short sides of the central portion 2 has its part close to the corresponding short side equipped with a pair of stiffening side flaps 14 with an extension S14 in length at least equal to half of the extension S2 of the longer side of the central portion 2.

Preferably, each flap 14 has an extension S14 greater than half the extension S2 of the longer side of the central portion 2.

In light of this, each flap 14 is equipped, at its free end, with slotting into locking slots 22, in use, on a portion of the third body 21 .

That structure allows the third body 21 to be stabilised inside the half compartments 8, 8' of the first body 1 during assembly.

Preferably, the second pair of side wings 6 in this solution has each third part outermost relative to the central portion 2 equipped with a central slot

28 which divides the third part into two half-parts.

The slot 28 allows each wing 6 to fold to form the wall of the first body 1 without interfering with the third body 21 .

In light of this, the central slot 27 is equipped, at the innermost end, with a tab 29.

Preferably, the third blank comprises at least one rectangular lower supporting base 23, in use, and two side wings 24 protruding from the corresponding long sides of the base 23 forming, in use, the partition walls. In light of this, each wing 24 has a pair of slots 25, 26 open and made close to the short sides of the base 23. The slots 25 and 26 are configured to be coupled, in use, with the corresponding snap-on locking slots 22 present on the corresponding stiffening flap 14 of the wings 5 of the first body 1 (see Figures 29 and 30) and with the tab 28 of each wing 6 during folding.

The third blank has a wing 24 provided with an extension flap 27 defining, in use, an inner side of the third body 21 in contact with the inner surface of the central portion 2.

This invention also provides a method for assembling the modular unit 100 for the formation of constructions for toy use.

The method comprises the following steps (see Figures 9 to 22):

- preparing a first blank made of paper material and with a flat shape;

- preparing a second blank made of paper material and with a flat shape;

- folding the wings 1 1 , 12 of the second blank to form a second body 9 with a prismatic shape;

- joining the second body 9 to the central portion 2 of the first blank by coupling the protrusions 13 of the second blank into the pairs of slits 3, 4 present on the central portion 2 of the first blank;

- folding each wing 5, 6 of the first blank along the pre-folds to form, in sequence, the outer side of the first body 1 , the lower edge 7, and an inner locking side of the wing 5 or 6 with the adjacent wing 6 or 5 and with the inner part of the central portion 2 to form the first body 1 .

In the variant embodiment illustrated in Figures 23 to 37, wherein the first blank has the central portion 2 with a rectangular shape and provided with two series of pairs of slits 3 and 4, there are the following further steps: - preparing and folding a further second blank to form a further second body

9' with a prismatic shape;

- preparing a third blank before the step of folding the wings 5 and 6 of the first blank;

- folding the third blank to form a third body 21 defining a partition wall with a prismatic shape, having a series of open slots 25, 26 made in the outer wings 24 of the third body 21 ; - resting the third body 21 over the central portion 2 of the first blank to separate the two series of slits 3, 4 engaged by the protrusions 13;

- folding each wing 5 and 6 of the first blank along the pre-folds to form, in sequence, the outer side of the first body 1 , the lower edge 7, and an inner locking side of the wing 5 or 6 with the adjacent wing 6 or 5 and with the inner part of the central portion 2;

- coupling by slotting two pairs of ends of stiffening flaps 14 into the open slots 25, 26 present on the third body 21 during the folding of the wings 5 protruding from the short sides of the central portion 2.