FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of fastener devices especially for reversible assembly of blocks, in pa rticular toy blocks. BACKGROUN D OF THE INVENTION

More than thirty years ago the inventor of this invention has invented and manufactured an assembly blocks toy set for assembly of structures. The assembly blocks were reversibly fastened to each other by a fastener device comprising a pin portion a nd a socket portion which were tightly embedded in a recess in the assembly block. The pin portion was compatible to the socket portion, so that two blocks were joint together by inserting the pin portion of one block into a socket portion in a nother block. The pin portion of the fastener device was elastic and comprised longitudinal slots on the penetrating portion, so when the pin was inserted into the socket, the pin was compressed by the pressure that was applied by the socket walls. The elasticity of the pin head and its ability to deform and compress rendered the pin fragile. In addition, each time the pin was inserted into the socket and pulled out, it was accompanied with compression and decompression which contributed to fatigue of the pin. As a result, the pin heads often broke.

As the assembly blocks are often used by young children, safety concerns dictate that the fastener device should be secured in the assembly device and should not dismantle into small parts.

Other assembly block toys are known from publications such as WO 2007/021090 and JP 2002/315974, neither one provides a solution to problems intra alia set forth above.

Accordingly there is a need to provide a solution to the drawbacks described above in addition to other advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a socket for a fastener device comprising a cylindrical wall having a top end and a bottom end, an inner surface comprising at least one protrusion, the cylindrical wall having a first inner diameter defined by the inner surface and a second inner diameter defined by the walls of the at least one protrusion being directed inwards (in the a bsence of a second protrusion, the second inner diameter is defined by the wall of the protrusion directed inward and the opposite inner surface of the cylindrical wall), and being smaller than the first inner diameter, wherein at least the portion of the socket bearing the at least one protrusion being elastic.

In another aspect, the invention provides a fastener device comprising a socket as defined above, and a fastening pin being compatible to insert into the socket and apply pressure on the at least one protrusion of the socket.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an assembly object comprising at least one of: a socket as defined above, a fastening pin as defined above, and a fastener device as defined above being accommodated in at least one recess in the assembly object wherein

a portion of the recess in the assembly object around the portion of the socket bearing the at least one protrusion is characterized by having a diameter larger than the diameter of the portion of the socket bearing the at least one protrusion when a pin is inserted into the socket defining a gap between the outer wall of the socket and the wall of the recess; and

at least a portion of the remaining recess is characterized by a diameter being fit to the diameter of the accommodated socket or pin. As a result, the assembly block can be reversibly assembled to another assem bly object similarly comprising the complementary socket, pin or the fastener device as defined above. In yet a further aspect the invention provides a method for manufacturing an assembly object comprising at least one of: a fastener device, two anchored sockets or two anchored pins, the method comprising the steps:

- obtaining a socket and a pin of a fastener device according to the invention, the socket comprising an anchoring element for anchoring the pin and the pin comprising an anchor for anchoring the pin into the anchoring element of the socket;

- obtaining a pre-assembly object comprising a recess in the body of the object having at least one opening on the side of the object and optionally crossing the pre-assem bly object from one side of the object to the opposite side of the object and having an opening on each opposite side of the block, the recess is adapted to accommodate a socket, a pin, a socket anchored to a pin, two anchored sockets or two anchored pins, the portion of the recess designed to be around the portion of the socket bearing protrusions when the socket is accommodated in the recess having a diameter larger than the outer dia meter of the socket in its deformed state when the pin is inserted in the socket; inserting a socket or a pin having an anchoring element into the a ppropriate recess being adapted to accommodate the socket or the pin;

- inserting a socket or a pin having an a nchor into the counter side of the recess adapted to accommodate the socket or the pin, until the anchor of the pin anchors in the a nchoring element of the socket

to obtain:

an assembly object comprising at least one of a fastener device, two anchored sockets wherein the anchor of the pin is irreversibly a nchored to the slot and the inserting portion of the pin is projected out of the assembly object.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a kit comprising a set of multiple assembly blocks according to the invention.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as em bodied in example sockets, pins, fastener devices, recesses and assembly objects, the invention is not limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the invention and the equivalents of the claims. However, the construction and method of operation of the invention together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the present invention and in order to exemplify how it may be implemented in practice, several embodiments are hereby described, which should be interpreted only as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying figures. It is noted that the sizes and scale of the embodiments presented in the figures are exemplary and non-limiting.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view schematic representation of a socket of a fastener device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view schematic representation of a socket of a fastener device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG.3 depicts a cross sectional schematic representation of a socket of a fastener device in accordance with FIG.1 and FIG.2 taken along line A-A.

FIG.4 depicts a cross sectional schematic representation of a socket of a fastener device in accordance with FIG.1 and FIG.2 taken along line B-B. FIG. 5 depicts a top view schematic representation of a socket of a fastener device including the forces applied on the protrusions of the socket by the fastening pin according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a three dimensional representation of a socket according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 depicts a side view schematic representation of a fastening pin of a fastener device according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 depicts a top view of the a nchoring side of the fastening pin according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the inserting side of the fastening pin according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 depicts a side view schematic representation of a fastener device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 depicts a cross sectional schematic representation of a recess according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 depicts a cross sectional schematic representation of a recess embedding a fastener device comprising an anchored socket and pin according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 depicts a cross sectional schematic representation of a socket embedding a fastener device comprising two sockets according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 depicts a three dimensional representation of an assembly block embedding fastener devices according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODI MENTS

The present invention provides a fastener device for fastening two assembly objects to each other, comprising a socket on one side coupled with a pin on the other side. The socket comprises an elastic portion comprising at least one protrusion on its inner walls. The portion of the pin being distal from the connection with its coupled socket is designed to insert into a socket of another fastener device. The portion of the pin coming in contact with the at least one protrusion has a diameter larger than the inner diameter defined by the at least one protrusion. Therefore, when the pin inserts the socket, it applies pressure on the at least one protrusion. The protrusions bend outwards in return, and the flexible surrounding wall of the socket responsively deform. At this stage, the pin is tightly, though reversibly, held in the socket. The fastener device resides in a recess of the accommodating assembly object except for the portion of the pin which is adapted to insert into a socket of another assembly object. The socket as well as the pin are fit tightly inside the recess of the object, except for portion of the socket bearing the protrusions which reside in a lumen large enough to enable the socket to fully deform upon insertion of a pin. Given that the socket can fully deform in the lumen and that the remaining portions of the socket, the pin and the recess are designed to secure the fastener device in the recess, the pressure of the pin of one assembly object on the protrusion of the socket of the other assembly object is sufficient to fasten two assembly objects in a reversible manner. Pulling the assembly objects apart with mild force to pull out the inserted pin from the socket disassembles the two objects. Therefore, the invention provides a durable socket for a fastener device, and further provides a fastener device being durable and safe for assembly objects com prising the same, especially as toy assembly blocks.

"fastener device" relates to a device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.

The term "socket" refers to a cylindrical or tube-like part, typically circular cylindrical, with two openings having a hollow interior (or lumen) into which another part, i.e., a pin can be fitted.

The term "pin" relates to a cylindrical piece having a width smaller than its length for holding or fastening parts together.

The term "protrusion" relates to a portion of the main structure which protrudes out of the surface to which it is attached to.

The term "fit" or "fitting" refers to having closely the same measurements within a margin of (+)(-)0.02m m. According to some embodiments, the assembly objects are assem bly blocks. According to some embodiment the assembly blocks are toy assembly blocks for children at different ages. According to some embodiments, the fastener device of the invention renders the objects that are fastened by the device safe for children. According to some embodiments, the fastener device is irreversibly embedded in the assembly block.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 6 depicting a socket of a fastener device according to a n em bodiment of the invention. The socket may also be designed in other forms such as a conical tube or a polygonal tube. The socket may optionally be collard, i.e. comprise a flange. The exemplary socket 10 of the fastener device has a wall 100 having a top end 102 and a bottom end 104, an outer side 110 which comes in contact with the surrounding of the socket and an inner surface 120 having at least one protrusion 130. The at least one protrusion 130 integrally extends from the inner wall 120 of the socket 100 inwards towards the center of the socket 100. The inner surface of the wall 120 together with the protrusions 130 define an inner lumen 140 of the socket 100. According to some embodiments, the socket further comprises a flange 112 about the orifice of the top end 102 of the socket 10. The flange 112 can be an integral extension of the wall 100 of the socket 10. The flange 112 can have any desired outer diameter 114 or height 116. The purpose of the flange 112 is to tightly fit in a portion 430 of a lumen 410 in the accommodating assembly object proximal to the opening of the recess and hold the socket 10 from falling out of the lumen 410 (See FIG. 11, infra).

In some embodiments, the socket 10 comprises at least two protrusions 130. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6, the inner surface of the wall 120 comprises four protrusions 130. The socket 10 has two inner diameters, the first inner diameter 132A is defined by the inner surface 120 of the wall 110 and the second inner diameter 132B is defined by the walls 134 of the at least one protrusion 130 which are directed inwards. Accordingly, the second inner diameter 132B is smaller than the first inner dia meter 132A. The wall 110 of the socket 10, or at least the portion 150 of said wa ll having the protrusions 130 on the inner side thereof, is elastic (i.e. flexible). According to some embodiments, the entire periphery of any section of the wall 150 bearing a protrusion 130 is elastic. According to some embodiments, essentially all the periphery of any section of the wall 150 bearing a protrusion 130 is elastic. According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the periphery of any section of the wall 150 bearing a protrusion 130 is elastic. According to some embodiments, the entire socket 10 is elastic.

According to some embodiments, the elasticity of the portion of the wall 150 having the protrusions 130 on its inner surface allows this portion to deform in shape when a compatible pin 22 (see Fig. 7) is inserted. The force which the pin 22 applies on the at least one protrusion 130 is distributed on the surrounding wall of the socket 150 and is translated to structural deformation of the portion of the wall 150. Due to the integrity of matter between the protrusion 130 and its vicinity, the force which is applied on the protrusion by a pin 22 having an outer diameter larger than the second diameter 132B is spread to the vicinity. Due to the elasticity of the portion of the wall 150, the wall can structurally deform in response to said pressure. As an outcome, the induced fatigue is also spread along the continuous periphery of the wall 150 bearing the protrusions, instead of building fatigue only on the protrusion 130 if the protrusion 130 was separated from the peripheral wa ll 150, for example, by longitudinal slots along the longitudinal sides of the protrusion 130.

In order to be able to deform, the wall of the section 150 bearing the at least one protrusion 130 needs to be thin enough. The thickness of the wall depends on the elasticity of the particular material used, the inner diameter 132A and the dimensions of the protrusions 130. A skilled artisan would know to fit the right wall thickness to the specific chosen design a nd material to accomplish the deformation that is required for this purpose.

Another requirement for the free deformation of the socket 10 is to have a gap providing sufficient space between the outer surface 120 in the section 150 of the wall and the wall of the confining lumen 410. According to some em bodiments, each protrusion 130 is continuously connected at least on one longitudinal side to the inner wall 120 of the socket. According to some embodiments, the integrity of the entire section 150 of the socket bearing the protrusions is fully mainta ined. According to some embodiments, said section 150 comprises slots. In these embodiments the at least one protrusion 130 is continuously connected to the peripheral wall 100 at least along 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% of the length of the connecting edge between the protrusion 130 and the inner surface 120 of the wall 100.

Accordi ng to some embodiments, at least one protrusion 130 is linear. According to some em bodiments, all protrusions 130 a re linear as depicted in FIGS, l to 6. However, the sha pe of the protrusion is not lim ited to a specific shape, accord ingly in some embodiments the shape of protrusion 130 is selected from m ultiple lines, wavy lines, circles, broken lines, zig zag, a spira l or combinations thereof as long as the at least one protrusion 130 functions as d istributing the pressu re a pplied by the inserted fastening pin 22 on the protrusion 130 to the adjacent wall 150 of the socket to affect a deformation in the structure of the wa ll 100 of the socket in the portion 150 bearing the protrusions 130. According to some em bod iments, the protrusion 130 is separated from other protrusions 130. According to some embod iments, the protrusions 130 are partially separated from each other a nd pa rtial ly con nected. According to some embodiments, the protrusions 130 are mostly sepa rated from each other and partially connected. According to some embod iments, the protrusions 130 are essential ly para llel to the main longitudina l axis of the socket 10. According to some embodiments, the protrusions 130 are parallel to the main longitudi na l axis of the socket 10. According to some em bodiments, the at least one protrusion 130 is ada pted to enable the fastening pin 22 to be inserted into the part of the lumen 140 su rrounding the protrusions 130. To this end, according to some em bodiments, the at least one protrusion 130 only slightly protrudes the inner lumen 140 of the socket 10, for exa mple, each protrusion 130 has a thickness (the dimension which protrudes into the lumen 140) of between 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm above the surface 120 of the inner wall. Accordi ng to some embodiments, the at least one protrusion has a th ickness of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 or 1.0 m m above the surface of the in ner wa ll 120 of the socket 10. According to some em bodiments, the thickness of the protrusion 130 is determined as a function of the thickness of the wall 100 of the socket 10. Accordi ng to some embodiments, the thickness of the protrusion 130 is between 1% to 30% of the thickness of the section 150 of the wal l 100. Accord ing to some embodiments, the thickness of the protrusion 130 is between 2% to 10% of the thickness of the section 150 of the wall 100. According to some em bod iments, the thickness of the protrusion 130 is at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% and at m ost 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, or 30% of the thickness of the section 150 of the wall 100. Accord ing to some embodi ments, the thickness of the protrusion 130 is 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, or 30% of the thickness of the section 150 of the wa ll 100.

Accordi ng to some embodiments, a long at least 80%, 90%, 95% of the length of the section 150 of the slot inner wa ll 120, or a long the entire length of the section 150 of the slot inner wa ll 120, the combined width of the at least one protrusion 130 a long a n inner peripheral line of the inner wall 120 of the socket 10 is between 1% to 80% , 3% to 70%, 5% to 60%, 10% to 60%, 15% to 60%, 10% to 50%, 15% to 50% or 20% to 40% Accordi ng to some em bodiments, the com bined width of the at least one protrusion 130 along a n inner peripheral line of the in ner wa ll 120 of the socket is at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or 10% and at most 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75% or 80% of the inner wa ll 120 a long the section 150 of the socket 100, except along peripheral lines in which longitudina l protrusions are connected by horizontal peripheral protrusions. Accordi ng to some embodiments, the socket 10 is cylindrical and the combined width of the at least one protrusion 130 covers at least 3°, 6°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, or 36°, and at most 40°, 45°, 50°, 55°, 60°, 65°, 70°, 75°, 80°, 85°, 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, 130°, 140°, 150°, 160°, 170°, 180°, 190°, 200°, 210°, 220°, 230°, 240°, 250°, 260°, 270°, 280° or 290° of any circumference of the inner surface 120 a long at least 80%, 90%, 95% of section 150 or the entire section 150 of the wall 110. According to some embodi ments, each one of the at least one protrusion 130 covers between 20° to 30° of any circumference of the inner surface 120 along section 150. According to some embodiments, section 150 com prises four to six equally separated longitudina l protrusions 130 having a width of 20° to 30°of the circumference of the inner surfa ce the inner surface 120.

Accordi ng to some embodiments, the at least one protrusion end facing the top end 102 through which the inserting pin 22 enters the socket 10, is smoothed by a gradient in order to ease the entry of the pin 22. According to some embod iments, the aforementioned gradient is a contin uous gradient. According to other em bodiments the gradient is a stepwise gradient.

Accordi ng to some em bod iments, the protrusions 130 sta rt from the edge of the in ner surface 120 of the socket 10. According to some embodiments, only a section of the socket 10 bears protrusions 130, i.e. section 150 bearing protrusions 130 on its inner surface 120 is on ly a section of the socket 10. The section 150 bearing the protrusions 130 on its inner surface 120 constitutes at least 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% of the tota l length of the socket 10.

The socket 10 should be made of a materia l that exhibits sufficient elasticity to enable the deformation of at least a portion of the wa ll 150, which bea rs the protrusions 130 on its inner surface 120. I n some em bodiments the entire portion 150 is elastic and capable of deform ing in response to pressure that is applied from the inserted fastening pin 22 on the protrusions 130. Reference is now made to FIG. 5 wherein the deformation of the socket 10 in response to the i nsertion of a fastening pin 22 (not shown) is illustrated by black thick arrows 160 a nd 170. The inserted fixating pin 22 comes in contact with the at least one protrusions 130. Without bei ng limited to theory, the pressure which is appl ied by the fixating pin 22 on each of the at least one protrusion 130, is translated to an outward deformation 160 of each protrusion and the portion of the wall 100 before it. As the overa ll circumference of rema ins constant, the deformation 160 is compensated by a n inward deformation 170 of a rcs of the inner surface 120 between the deformations 130. Consequently, section 150 of the socket wa ll 100 deforms a non-u niform manner, wherein the wall on the other side of a protrusion 130 is pushed outwards, pulling the sections of the wall 110 between the protrusions sideways to deform the periphery of the wall 110. In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6, having evenly distributed fou r longitudina l protrusions 130, the section 150 deforms into a quasi round-edged square tube in response to pressure from the inserted fixating pin 22. According to some embodiments, having at least two protrusions 130, the center of the section of the wall 100 between each two protrusions 130 deforms inwards. According to an embodiment, the inner surface of the wall 120 of a cylindrical tubular socket has three longitudinal protrusions being evenly separated about the circumference of the inner surface 120. In response to pressure from the inserted fixating pin 22 on the three protrusions the cylindrical tubular wall deform into a quasi- round edged triangle tube. According to an embodiment, the inner wall of a cylindrical tubular socket 120 has five longitudinal protrusions 130 being evenly separated about the circumference of the inner wa ll. In response to pressure from the inserted fixating pin 22 on the five protrusions 130 the cylindrical tubular wall deform into a quasi-pentagonal tube.

As mentioned earlier, the portion 150 of wall 100 bearing the protrusions 130 should be thin enough in order to deform in response to the pressure a pplied by the fixating pin 22. As an exam ple when the socket is made of polyacetal having an outer diameter of 6 mm, then the width of the wall at the section 150 can be between 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm (excluding the width contributed by the protrusion 130).

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 to 9. The fastener device 30 (see Fig. 10) of the invention further comprises a fastening pin 22 also interchangeably referred to as "the pin". The pin 22 can be hollow or filled, or partia lly hollow. In its most basic form, the fastening pin 22 of the fastener device 30 according to the invention is a straight cylinder, having a structure compatible with a lumen 140 of the fastening socket 10. According to some embodiments, the pin 22 has dimensions designed to apply pressure on the protrusions on the inner wall of the socket. According to some em bodiments, at least a portion 210 of the pin has a diameter being larger than the second inner diameter 132B of the socket 10 (defined by the walls of the at least one protrusion facing the center of the l umen) but eq ua l or smaller tha n the first inner dia meter 132A (defined by the inner wall of the socket). According to some em bodiments, at least a portion of the pin 22 has a d ia meter bei ng larger than the second inner dia meter 132B of the socket 10 but smal ler than the first inner dia meter of the socket 132A. The socket 10 a nd the fasten ing pi n 22 may fu rther comprise an anchoring element and an anchor, respectively, for a nchoring the hea d of the pin to the bottom end of the socket. FIGS. 1 to 6 depict an exemplary em bodiment of a n a nchoring element 180 of the socket 10. The a nchoring element 180 is designed as a one-way inlet having a diagonal (in some embod iments it may be round) wa ll 182 to let a flexible anchor head of a fastening pin to sl ide through the orifice of the socket while slightly bending against the diagonal wall of the anchoring element 180. The wall 184 of the a nchoring element facing the lumen 140 is perpendicular to the side wal l 110 and parallel to the bottom orifice, so once the anchor head of the pin passes the a nchoring element it returns to its relaxed state a nd is locked in the socket. According to a nother embodiment the anchori ng element of the socket is an inward bend of the orifice.

Accordi ng to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7-9 the fastening pin 22 has two ends, an inserting end 230 a nd an anchor end (interchangeably referred herein as a n "anchor") 240 connected by a shaft 250.

The ratio between the inserti ng end 230, the shaft 250 a nd the anchoring end 240 can be varied at will, as long as the portion 210 is position opposite the protrusion 130 when the fasteni ng pin 22 is fully inserted into the socket 10.

The inserting end 230 is designed to glide into the top end opening 102 of the socket 10 and fit inside the socket 10 to reach the section 150 of the socket 10 so that section 210 of the fastening pin, having a diameter larger tha n the second inner dia meter 132B defined by the i nner wall 134 of the at least one protrusion 130 would apply pressure on the at least one protrusion 130. At the same time, the diameter of section 210 should be smaller than the first inner dia meter of the socket 132A. To ease the insertion of the pin, section 220 of the fastening pin 22 is a tra pezoid shaped cylinder having diameters eq ual or smaller than the diameter of the second in ner dia meter 132B of the socket 10, wherein the smaller base of the trapezoid is the front edge 225 of the inserting end 220. The anchoring end 240 is designed to anchor into the bottom end 104 of the socket 10. In the particular em bodiment depicted in FIGS. 7 to 9, the anchoring end 240 comprises an anchor head 260 having a rounded 270 end to ease the sliding of the anchor against the diagona l wall 182 of the socket 10 upon its entry through the orifice of the bottom end 104 of the socket 10. In order to further ease the entry, the anchoring end further comprises a longitudinal slot 280 separating the anchor into two separate flexible parts, or tongues. The slot 280 enables the two anchor tongues 260 to slightly bend inwards toward the slot when they are pressed aga inst the diagonal wall 182 of the socket 10 while the anchor end 240 of the pin 22 is inserted into the bottom end 104 of the socket 10.

In some embodiments, the diameter of the anchor head 260 is smaller than the inner diameter of the socket 10 at the bottom end 104 (which is equal to either (1) to the first inner diameter of the inner surface 120 in case no protrusion 130 extends to the bottom end of the inner surface 120; or (2) in case at least two protrusions extend to the bottom end of the inner surface 120, then it is equal to the diameter defined by the at least one protrusion, or (3) if there is only one protrusion 130— equal to the diameter defined by the protrusion 130 and the inner surface 120) , in order to ease its entry into the socket 10, but larger than the inner diameter defined by the straight bottom 184, so that it remains in the socket 10 after its entry. Once the round wall of the anchor 260 surpasses the diagonal wall 182, the straight bottom 184 of the socket locks inside the two grooves 270. The end result is a socket 10 connected at its bottom end 104 to a pin 22 at the pin's anchoring end 240 to obtain a fastener device 30 having a fastening pin 22 on one side and a fastening socket 10 at the other end which are compatible with each other as depicted in FIG. 10.

According to some embodiments, the socket 10 comprises an anchor instead of an anchoring element. The anchor of the socket is compatible with the anchoring element of another socket. According to some embodiments, two sockets a re a nchored to each other thus providing a double ended socket. According to some embodiments, the pin 22 comprises a n anchoring element instead of an anchor. According to some embodiments, the anchoring element of the pin is compatible with the anchor of another pin. According to some em bodiments, two pins are anchored to each other thus providing a double ended pin. According to some embodiments, the bottom end of the socket comprises a pin and a pin comprises an anchoring element compatible to the anchor of the socket. According to some embodiments, the aforementioned socket and pin are anchored to each other to provide a fastener device.

The fastener device 30 of the invention comprises a socket 10 as defined above, a nd a pin 22 compatible with the socket 10 as described above. According to some embodiments, the fastener device 30 may comprise a pin 22 being anchored to the socket 30 as described above. The fastener device 30 is designed to have the socket 10 residing in a recess 40 in the assembly object. According to some embodiments, the fastener device 30 is designed to have a portion 250 of the pin 22 residing in a recess 40 in the assembly object 50. According to some embodiments, the fastener device 30 is designed to have the one end 250 of the pin 22 residing in a recess 40 in the assembly object 50 and having the inserting end 230 of the pin 22 projecting out of the assembly object 50. According to some embodiments, the fastener device 30 is designed to have the pin 22 anchored to the socket 10 inside a recess 40 of the assembly object 50. According to some em bodiments, the outer surface of the fastening pin 22 is smooth. According to some embodiments, the outer surface of the fastening pin 22 is carved or grooved.

The parts comprised in the fastener device 30 can be prepared from a ny material that confers the required elasticity for the deformation in response to pressure on the protrusions 130. According to some embodiments, the components of the fastener device 30 are made of thermoplastic resin. According to some embodiments, the fastener device 30 is prepared from polyacetal. The com ponents of the fastener device 30, i.e. the socket 10 a nd the pi n 22, can be prepa red by a ny method known in the art for prepa ring thermoplastic materia ls such as injection molding, extrusion, rotational molding and blow molding.

Accordi ng to some embodiments, the assem bly objects 50 of the invention are assembly blocks. The term "block" refers to a solid piece of a hard substance, such as wood, having one or more flat sides. The term "assembly block" refers to one of a set of sma ll wooden or plastic blocks, in a form of a cube, bar, sphere, or cylinder, used for constructing la rger structures by assembling two or more assem bly blocks together. Accordi ng to some em bodiments, the assem bly blocks are used as a build ing toy. Prior to obtaini ng the assem bly blocks of the invention, pro-blocks a re prepared. Therefore, according to another aspect, the invention provides pro-blocks for the manufacturing of the assembly blocks of the invention.

The term "pro-block" refers to a n assembly block before any fastener device, or any of its pa rts (i .e. the socket and/or the pin) a re em bedded in one of the recesses of the assembly block.

The pro-blocks of the invention com prise at least one recess in the body of the block having dimensions being com plementary to accommodate at least one of: the fastener device 30 of the invention (i.e. the com bination of the socket 10 a nd the fastening pin 22 of the invention wherein the socket 10 and the fastening pin 22 a re optional ly anchored to each other as explained a bove), the socket 10 of the invention or the fastening pin 22 of the invention and wherei n the dimensions of the recess 40 provide sufficient space for the accommodated socket 10 to deform upon insertion of a fastening pin 22 i nto the socket 10.

The recess for accommodating the fastener device com prises at least two coaxial lumens.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11 depicting a recess 40 comprising two lumens 410 and 420 in an assembly object 50 for accom modating a fastener device 30 comprising a n anchored socket 10 and pin 22 according to an em bodiment of the invention, a nd to FIG. 12 depicting the aforementioned recess accommodating the aforementioned fastener device.

The first lumen 410 starting from the face of the assembly block 50, having a length equal to the length of the socket 10 to be accommodated in the lumen 410 and a diameter being equal or at least equal to the largest diameter of the socket 10. According to some embodiments, such as the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 11 the largest diameter of the socket 10 is equal to the diameter 114 of the flange 112. According to some embodiments, the diameter of the first lumen 410 in the portion of the first lumen 430 being proximal to the opening on the face of the block 50 is equal to the largest diameter of the socket 10. According to some embodiments, the first lumen has a first diameter being proximal to the opening on the face of the block 50 which is equal to the largest diameter of the socket 10, and at least one other diameter around the portion 150 of the socket 10 bearing the at least one protrusion 130 being slightly larger than the diameter of the socket 10 and at least in some areas of the first lumen - being smaller than the diameter of the deformed socket after insertion of a fastening pin had it not been constrained in a lumen. As a result, the first lumen 410 is adapted to tightly fit the top end portion of the socket and adapted to leave sufficient space 440 for the portion 150 of the socket 10 bearing the inner protrusions 130 to deform upon insertion of a fastening pin 22. The second inner lumen 420 is coaxia l and continuous with the first lumen 410 and begins at the inner end 460 of the first lumen. The second lumen 420 has a diameter being smaller than the outer diameter of the bottom end 104 of the socket 10 and equal or larger than the larger of the diameters of the anchoring end 240 and the shaft 250 of the fastening pin 22. The second lumen 420 has a length equal to the length of the shaft 250 of the fastening pin 22.

According to some embodiments, when the socket has a flange 112 then the first lumen 410 has one diameter throughout the lumen being equal to the outer diameter 114 of the flange 112. According to some embodiments, when the socket 10 has a flange 112 then the first lumen 410 has one diameter equal to the outer diameter 114 of the flange 112 through a length of at least a portion of the length of the flange 112, adequate to tightly hold the flange, and a second diameter being larger tha n the first diameter providing a ga p between the recess 40 a nd the portion of the socket bearing the inner protrusions 150.

Accordi ng to some embodiments, the insertion end 230 of the pin 22 has a la rger diameter tha n the diameter of the shaft 250. As such, the diameter of the insertion end 230 of the pin 22 is larger than the diameter of the second lumen 420 which accordingly stops the inserting end 230 of the pin 22 from entering the recess 40. Therefore, once the pin 22 is irreversibly anchored to the slot 10 inside the recess 40, the i nserting end 230 of the pin 22 secures the fastener device 30 in the recess 40 by stopping the fastener device from evading the recess 40 through the openi ng of the first l umen 410. From the other end, the second lumen 420, having a sma ller diameter than the bottom end 104 of the socket, holds the fastener device 30 from being pulled out of the recess 40 th rough the opening of the second lumen 420. Thus, the assembly object 50 is provided with a secured and fixated fastener device 30. Accordi ng to som e em bodiments, the recess 40 further has a th ird inner lumen positioned between the first a nd the second lum ens, 410 and 420 respectively, having a diam eter being larger than the outer diameter of the portion 150 of the walls of the socket 10 having the protrusions 130 but sma ller than the outer diameter of the flange 112, and its length being at least the length of the protrusions 130 on the inner wall 120 of the socket 10.

After the fastener device 30 or one of its parts (i.e. the socket 10 a nd/or the fastening pin 22) are placed in the a ppropriate recess 40 within the pro-block, the assembly block of the invention is obta ined.

Thus, i n a nother aspect of the invention is provided a method for obtaining an assembly object comprising at least one fastener device 30, the method com prising the steps: obtaining a n a socket 10 and a pin 22 of a fastener device 30 accord ing to the invention, the socket 10 comprising a n a nchoring element 180 for anchori ng the pin 22 and the pin comprising an anchor 240 for anchoring into the anchoring element 180 of the socket 10;

- obtaining an pre-assembly object comprising a recess 40 in the body of the object having at least one opening on the side of the object and optionally crossing the pre-assembly object from one side of the object to the opposite side of the object and having an opening on each opposite side of the pre- assembly object. The recess 40 is adapted to accommodate a socket 10, a pin 22, a socket 10 anchored to a pin 22, two sockets anchored to each other, or two pins anchored to each other. According to some embodiments, the recess 40 is adopted to accommodate a socket 10 on one end and to accommodate the pin 22 on the other end; According to some embodiments, the recess 40 is adapted to leave a gap 440 between the recess wall 450 and the outer surface 150 of the socket 10 bearing protrusions 130 in the inner lumen 140 of the socket 10 and deforming outward toward the recess wall 450 in response to insertion of a pin 22.

inserting a socket 10 or a pin 22 having an anchor 240 into the appropriate recess being adapted to accommodate the socket 10 or the pin 22.

- inserting a socket 10 or a pin 22 having an anchor 240 into the appropriate side of the recess 40 adapted to accommodate the socket 10 or the pin 22, until the anchor of the pin 240 anchors in the anchoring element 180 of the socket to obtain:

an assembly object 50 comprising a fastener device 22 wherein the anchor 240 of the pin 22 is irreversibly anchored to the socket 10 and the inserting portion of the pin 230 is projected out of the assembly object 50. According to some embodiments, the order of the insertion of the part having the anchoring element and the part having the anchor is reversed.

According to some embodiments, the pre-assembly object is a pre-assembly block. According to another aspect the invention provides a kit comprising parts for preparing assembly objects, i.e., at least one pre-assembly objects and at least one of: a socket 10 and a fastening pin 22 according to the invention. According to some em bodiments, the assem bly object is an assem bly block.

The assembly blocks of the invention comprise at least one of: the fastener device 30 of the invention, the socket 10 of the invention or the fastening pin 22 of the invention. The at least one fastener device 30 is embedded in the compatible recess 40 within the assembly block. According to some embodiments, the assembly blocks 50 comprise two, three or four fastener devices 30. Plurality of fastener devices 30 confers higher degree of freedom for construction of complex structures from the assembly blocks. According to some embodiments, all the fastener devices 30 are positioned on the same side of the block having the same orientation, e.g. all the pins 22 are projecting from one face of the block a nd/or all the sockets 10 are positioned such, that all their top ends 102, into which the inserting portion 230 of the fastening pins 22 are inserted, face the same side. According to some embodiments, the fastener devices 30 are positioned on the long face of the assembly block. According to some embodiments, the vertical position of the fastener devices 30 with respect to the long axis of the assembly block, is at the center of the block, off the center of the block or a mixture of both.

Reference is now made to FIG. 14 wherein an assembly block 60 according to the invention and embedding four evenly separated fastener devices, having four inserting ends 230 projecting to the same direction. According to some embodiments, the inserting end can be straight conical or round. The inserting ends of the pins depicted in FIG. M are straight.

In embodiments wherein the fastener device is positioned away from the center of the block, care should be given not to position the fastener device to close to the edge of the side of the block, so that the remaining block material between the recess accommodating the fastener device and face of the block which is parallel to the long axis of the recess can sustain the pressure posed by the fastener device when it is fastened to another block at that position. According to some embodiments, the vertical position with respect to the long axis of the block of all the fastener devices is at the center of the block. According to some embodiments, the fastener devices are positioned with equal distances apart from each other along the face of the block they reside in. According to some embodiments, the fastener devices are positioned at varied distances apart from each other along the face of the block they reside in.

According to some embodiments, a single block comprises fastener devices on more than one face. According to some embodiments, a block comprises at least one fastener device on one face and at least on fastener device on a perpendicular face of the block. In embodiments wherein the fastener devices are perpendicular to each other, their vertical positioning should consider having a minimal vertical distance (with respect to the long axis of the block) at the crossing point between the at least two perpendicular recesses accommodating the perpendicular fastener devices. According to some embodiments, all the fastener devices on one face of the block are directed equally, i.e., all the sockets are facing one side and all the pins are directed to the other side. According to some embodiments, the fastener devices are directed to opposite directions. According to some embodiments, the fastener devices are directed to altering directions. A set of assembly blocks can comprise a variety of blocks according to the various embodiments described above, or it can be a homogenous set of one type of block.

Making reference to FIG. 13, According to some embodiments, the assembly block comprises a recess 48 which accommodates two sockets 10 and 12, one socket at each lumen 410 and 420 of the recess, respectively, instead of a socket at one end and a pin at the other end as previously described. To this end, one socket comprises an anchoring element 180 as described earlier, and the other socket, instead of the anchoring element, comprises an anchor end 240, similar to the one described earlier for the fastening pin. Accordingly, the recess 48 of the assembly block comprises two symmetrical coaxial lumens, 480 and 482 -the first lumen 480, for accommodating the socket 10 having the anchoring element 180, and the other lumen 482 accommodating the socket 12 comprising the anchor end 240. Both lumens 480 and 482 comply with the terms defined above for the first lumen of the recess designed to accompany the fastener device comprising a socket and a pin: having a length equal to the length of the socket and a diameter being equal or at least equal to the largest diameter of the socket. In embodiments where the socket has a flange, such as the flanges 112 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 - the diameter of the lumen is equa l to the outer diameter of the flange. According to some embodiments, between the two lumens is a peripheral protrusion 484 which blocks the sockets 10 and 12 from evading the recess 48 once they are a nchored to each other. According to some embodiments, the protrusion 484 is continuous around the periphery of the recess. According to some embodiments, the protrusion 484 is segmented around the periphery of the recess.

Having the two slots anchored to each other inside a recess of an assembly block, provides an assembly block susceptible to connection with two other assembly blocks via insertion of fastening pins which are embedded in those assembly blocks. The assem bly blocks are typically made of wood, but may alternatively be made of other types of materia ls such as plastic, rubber or metal. According to some embodiments, the assembly blocks of the invention are wooden assembly blocks. Examples of wood which are a ppropriate for making assembly block are Oak, Maple, Beech, Birch, Cedar, Poplar, Spruce, Pir and Pine but any type of wood customary in the field of wooden toys is proper. The manufacturing of the blocks and the drilling of the recesses is conducted according to ordinary methods well known in the art. Instructions for making the blocks can be found for example in Making Classic Wooden Toys ed. Scott Francis, Popular Woodworking Books (Cincinnati, Ohio).

According to another aspect of the invention is provided a kit comprising a set of assembly objects according to the invention. According to some embodiments, the kit comprises different types of assembly objects differing by shape, types of fastener devices which are embedded in the assembly objects. According to some embodiments, the kit is a kit of wooden blocks. According to some embodiments, the kit comprises instructions for using the assembly objects. List of embodiments:

1. A socket for a fastener device comprising a cylindrical wall having a top end and a bottom end, a n inner surface com prising at least one protrusion the cylindrical wall having a first inner diameter defined by the inner surface and a second inner diameter defined by the walls of the at least one protrusion being directed inwards a nd being smaller than the first inner diameter, wherein at least the portion of the socket bearing the protrusions being elastic.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the portion of the socket bearing at least one protrusion being elastic comprises the entire peripheral perimeter of the socket containing the protrusions in the inner wall of said portion.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the protrusions are adapted to enable a fastening pin to glide into the socket.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the second inner diameter is smaller tha n the outer diameter of the fastening pin.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the at least one protrusion is integrally connected to the wall of the socket.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the elastic portion is adapted to deform in response to pressure of the fastening pin on the at least one protrusion.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the thickness of the walls of at least a portion having the protrusions is adapted to enable the socket to deform in response to pressure of the fastening pin on the protrusions.

. The socket according to em bodiment 1 wherein the socket deforms most outwards along the sections of the wall along the at least one protrusion.

. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the socket further comprising a flange proximal to the top end of the socket.

0. The socket according to em bodiment 9 wherein the flange having an outer diameter being equal to a diameter of an opening of a recess in an object adopted to accommodate the socket.

1. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein at least a portion of the socket having the protrusions is characterized by an outer diameter being smaller than the diameter of the surrounding confining walls of a recess in the object adopted to accommodate the socket. 12. The socket according to embodiment 1 having a shape selected from an optionally collard cylindrical tube, a conical tube or an optionally collared polygonal tube.

13. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the socket is made of a thermoplastic resin.

14. The socket according to embodiment 1 wherein the socket is characterized by at least one of the following:

a . the socket is tubular;

b. the socket is made of polyacetal;

c. the width of the wall in the sections bridging between the protrusion is between 0.3 to 1.0 m m;

d. the flange is having an outer diameter of at least 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 or 0.6 m m bigger than the outer diameter of the portion of the socket having the protrusions.

15. The socket according to embodiment 1 further comprising an a nchoring element proximal to the bottom end the socket for anchoring an anchor of a fastening pin being compatible to the a nchoring element of the socket and comprising an insertion portion adapted to be inserted into the top end of the socket, wherein when the pin is anchored to the socket, the insertion portion of the pin is extending out of the socket.

16. The socket according to embodiment 15 wherein the anchoring element of the socket is an inward bend of the opening, being compatible to an anchor element of the pin comprising at least one longitudinal slot generating at least two flexible tongues a nd peripheral groove close to the opening of the pin allowing the accommodation of the inward bend of the socket.

17. A fastener device comprising a socket as defined in a ny one of embodiments 1 to 16, and a pin being compatible to insert the socket and apply pressure on the protrusions of the socket. 18. The fastener device according to embodiment 17 wherein the pi n com prising at least a portion having an outer diameter larger than the second inner diameter of the socket a nd equal or smaller than the first inner dia meter of the socket.

19. The fastener device according to embod iment 17 wherein the pin a diameter designed to apply pressure on the protrusions on the inner wall of the socket.

20. The fastener device accordi ng to em bodiment 17 wherein the socket com prises a n anchoring element and the pin comprises an a nchor, a n insertion portion a nd a shaft portion connecting the a nchor to the insertion portion, the pin being a nchored to the socket via the anchor and the a nchoring element, the insertion portion of the pin rem ains out of the socket, such that the insertion portion of the pin can be entered into a socket of a nother fastener device and the socket can receive a pi n from a separate similar fastener device.

21. The fastener device according to embodiment 17 wherein the portion of the pin being compati ble to insert the socket a nd a pply pressure on the protrusions comprises at least a portion having a larger outer diameter tha n the shaft portion and the anchor of the pin.

22. The fastener device according to em bod iment 21 wherein when the pin is anchored to the bottom end of the socket and the fastener device resides inside a recess of an accommodating object, then the pin a nd the socket are perma nently attached to each other.

23. An assembly object com prising a recess com prising a lumen accom modating a socket as defined i n any one of embodiments 1 to 17, a fastening pin as defined in em bodiments 17 to 22, or a fastener device as defined in embodiments 17 to 22, wherein a lumen around the portion of the socket bea ring at least one protrusion is characterized by a dia meter larger than the diameter of the portion of the socket when a pi n is inserted into the socket and any other l umen is characterized by a diameter being fit to the diameter of the accom modated pa rt.

24. The object of embodiment 23 wherein the recess com prising two coaxia l inner lumens wherein : a . a first lumen for accommodating the socket as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments comprising a first portion proximal to the opening of the recess having a diameter being fit to the diameter of the top end of the socket, a second portion having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the portion of the wall of the socket having protrusions when the pin is fully inserted in the socket, a nd length equal to the length of the socket;

b. a second inner lumen for accommodating a fastening pin as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments beginning at a depth equal to the length of the socket characterized by having a diameter being (i) smaller than the outer diameter of the bottom end of the socket (ii) smaller than the diameter of the inserting portion of the pin (iii) fit to the diameter of the shaft of the fastening pin connecting the anchoring end and the inserting end of the fastening pin; and having a length equal to shaft of the fastening pin.

25. The object according to em bodiment 24 wherein the recess is further comprising a third inner coaxial lumen positioned between the first a nd the second lumens, beginning at a depth sufficient for the first lumen to tightly hold the top end of the socket, and being characterized by a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the portion of the walls of the socket having the protrusions when the pin is fully inserted in the socket, and smaller than the outer diameter of the flange the length the being at least the length of the protrusions on the inner wall of the socket.

26. The object according to em bodiment 24 wherein the recess is further comprising a further lumen having a diameter beginning at the end of the second lumen, having a diameter being fit to the outer diameter of the insertion portion of the pin and having a length shorter than the insertion portion of the pin.

27. The object according to embodiment 23 wherein the recess is comprising a lumen having a diameter larger than the walls surrounding the fastener device around the section of the socket comprising the protrusions when the fastening pin resides in the recess.

28. The object according to embodiment 17 wherein the object is an assembly block. 9. The object according to embodiment 28 wherein the assembly block is made of wood.

0. An assembly object comprising an object as defined in a ny one of embodiments 23 to 29 and at least one of the socket as defined in any one of embodiments 1 to 16, the pin and the fastener device.

1. A wooden assembly block comprising a recess accommodating at least one of a fastener device, a socket, a pin as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments or combination thereof such that the wooden block can be reversibly assembled to another wooden block comprising at least one of a fastener device, a socket, a pin as defined in any one of the preceding embodiments or combination thereof.

2. The wooden block of embodiment 30 wherein the pin and the socket are secured in the recess.

3. The wooden block of embodiment 31 wherein the deformable portion of the socket is hidden within the recess.

4. A kit comprising wooden blocks as defined in embodiments 31 or 32.5. A method for obtaining an assembly object comprising at least one fastener device, the method comprising the steps: obtaining a socket and a pin of a fastener device according to the invention, the socket comprising an anchoring element for anchoring the pin and the pin comprising an anchor for anchoring into the a nchoring element of the socket; obtaining a pre-assem bly object comprising a recess in the body of the object having at least one opening on the side of the object and optionally crossing the pre-assembly object from one side of the object to the opposite side of the object and having an opening on each opposite side of the block, the recess is adapted to accommodate a socket, a pin, a socket anchored to a pin, two anchored sockets or two anchored pins, the portion of the recess designed to be around the portion of the socket bearing protrusions when the socket is accommodated in the recess having a diameter larger tha n the outer diameter of the socket in its deformed state when the pin is inserted in the socket; inserting a socket or a pin having an anchoring element into the a ppropriate recess being adapted to accommodate the socket or the pin;

inserting a socket or a pin having an anchor into the appropriate side of the recess adapted to accommodate the socket or the pin, until the anchor of the pin anchors in the anchoring element of the socket to obtain: a n assembly object comprising a fastener device wherein the anchor of the pin is irreversibly anchored to the slot and the inserting portion of the pin is projected out of the assembly object.