Toy block, a toy block connecting element and a toy block element for producing a toy block

Abstract

Toy block ( 1 ) comprising a sidewall ( 2 ) with an inner surface and an outer surface ( 3 ) intended for abutment against a surface of a corresponding toy block, said sidewall ( 2 ) comprising a through hole ( 4 ) for receipt of a catch portion ( 7 ) of a connecting element ( 6 ) and a recess ( 5 ) in said outer surface ( 3 ) adjacent the through hole ( 4 ), and said toy block ( 1 ) comprising a catch for engaging and holding the catch portion ( 7 ) of a connecting element ( 6 ), said catch being situated in the interior of the toy block ( 1 ) in a distance from said inner surface, and at least one of said recess ( 5 ) and said through hole ( 4 ) is non-circular, toy block connecting element ( 6 ) for such a toy block ( 1 ) and toy block element ( 11 ) for producing such a toy block ( 1 ).

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . Toy block comprising
 a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface intended for abutment against a surface of a corresponding toy block, said sidewall comprising   a through hole for receipt of a catch portion of a connecting element and   a recess in said outer surface adjacent the through hole and   said toy block comprising a catch for engaging and holding the catch portion of a connecting element   wherein said catch is situated in the interior of the toy block in a distance from said inner surface, and   at least one of said recess and said through hole is non-circular.   
     
     
         23 . Toy block according to  claim 22 , wherein said distance from said inner surface to said catch is at least 1 mm. 
     
     
         24 . Toy block connecting element for interconnecting toy blocks, comprising
 a central flat portion with two opposite surfaces and a circumference,   a catch portion for engagement with a catch of the toy block rising from at least one of said surfaces,   wherein at least one of the cross section of catch portion and the circumference of the flat portion is non-circular and   said catch portion comprises at least one catch leg, said catch leg comprising at least one engagement means on an outer section of the catch leg opposite said central flat portion.   
     
     
         25 . Toy block connecting element according to  claim 24 , wherein said catch portion comprises at least two catch legs, at least one of said catch legs comprising at least one projection on an outer section of the catch leg opposite said central flat portion. 
     
     
         26 . Toy block element for producing a toy block according to  claim 22  wherein it comprises a circumferential wall comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and an open edge adapted to be joined with an open edge of a corresponding toy block element, said circumferential wall being cylindrical adjacent the open edge having a generator direction, said wall comprising adjacent its open edge in its outer surface at least one recess, said recess comprising a bottom, and a through hole in said bottom, said hole opening into the open edge, at least one of said recess and said through hole being non-semicircular, said toy block element further comprising at least one first leg portion extending parallel to the generator direction to a level in a vicinity of a level of the open edge to provide at least part of a catch of a toy block. 
     
     
         27 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , wherein said first leg element is resilient and flexible in a direction perpendicular to said generator direction. 
     
     
         28 . Toy block element according to  claim 26  further comprising at least one second leg portion extending parallel to the generator direction to a level in a vicinity of a peripheral point of the through hole opposite said open edge to provide part of a catch of a toy block. 
     
     
         29 . Toy block element according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first leg portion and said second leg portion comprises a transversal portion extending over at least part of the distance between the inner surface of the circumferential wall and the respective leg portion. 
     
     
         30 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one of said recess and said through hole being non-semicircular is shaped substantially as a halved cross. 
     
     
         31 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one of said recess and said through hole being non-semicircular comprises a first and a second recess leg extending substantially in parallel with said open edge and separated by a third recess leg extending substantially perpendicular to said open edge. 
     
     
         32 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , further comprising a base wall, said base wall being merged in at least one of a curve and an angle with the circumferential wall opposite said open edge, wherein said base wall comprises at least one recess, said recess comprising a bottom and a through hole in said bottom, at least one of said recess and said through hole being non-circular, at least one third leg portion rising from the base wall adjacent said through hole into an interior of the toy block to provide at least part of a catch of a toy block. 
     
     
         33 . Toy block element according to  claim 32 , wherein said third leg is being resilient and flexible in a direction perpendicular to said generator direction. 
     
     
         34 . Toy block element according to  claim 32 , wherein said base wall further comprises at least one fourth leg portion rising from the base wall adjacent said through hole to provide part of a catch of a toy block. 
     
     
         35 . Toy block element according to  claim 34 , wherein said fourth leg portion further comprises a transversal portion. 
     
     
         36 . Toy block element according to  claim 32 , wherein the at least one of said recess and said through hole in said base wall being non-circular is shaped substantially as a cross. 
     
     
         37 . Toy block element according to  claim 34 , wherein said first, second, third and/or fourth leg portion further comprises at least one adjacent element adapted to support said first, second, third and/or fourth leg portion. 
     
     
         38 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , wherein at least a part of said circumferential wall and/or of said base wall is curved. 
     
     
         39 . Toy block element according to  claim 26 , wherein the toy block element is moulded in one piece. 
     
     
         40 . Toy block comprising two toy block elements according to claim  26 , said toy block elements being joined together by their respective open edges. 
     
     
         41 . Toy block according to  claim 40 , wherein said joining together of said toy block elements is accomplished by welding, preferably ultrasonic sealing. 
     
     
         42 . Toy building set comprising
 a plurality of toy blocks, said toy blocks having one or more different outer shapes, and   a plurality of toy block connecting elements,   wherein each toy block comprises a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface intended for abutment against a surface of a corresponding toy block, said sidewall comprising
 a through hole for receipt of a catch portion of a connecting element and a recess in said outer surface adjacent the through hole and said each toy block further comprising a catch for engaging and holding the catch portion of a connecting element 
 wherein said catch is situated in the interior of the toy block in a distance from said inner surface, and 
 at least one of said recess and said through hole is non-circular; and 
   wherein the toy block connecting elements each comprise a central flat portion with two opposite surfaces and a circumference, and a catch portion for engagement with a catch of the toy block rising from at least one of said surfaces,
 wherein at least one of the cross section of catch portion and the circumference of the flat portion is non-circular and said catch portion comprises at least one catch leg, said catch leg comprising at least one engagement means on an outer section of the catch leg opposite said central flat portion. 
   
     
     
         43 . Toy building set comprising
 a plurality of toy blocks wherein each toy block comprises two toy block elements for producing a toy block comprising a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface intended for abutment against a surface of a corresponding toy block, said sidewall comprising
 a through hole for receipt of a catch portion of a connecting element and a recess in said outer surface adjacent the through hole and said each toy block further comprising a catch for engaging and holding the catch portion of a connecting element
 wherein said catch is situated in the interior of the toy block in a distance from said inner surface, and 
 
 at least one of said recess and said through hole is non-circular; 
   wherein the toy block elements each comprise a circumferential wall comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and an open edge adapted to be joined with an open edge of a corresponding toy block element, said circumferential wall being cylindrical adjacent the open edge having a generator direction, said wall comprising adjacent its open edge in its outer surface at least one recess, said recess comprising a bottom, and a through hole in said bottom, said hole opening into the open edge, at least one of said recess and said through hole being non-semicircular, said toy block element further comprising at least one first leg portion extending parallel to the generator direction to a level in a vicinity of a level of the open edge to provide at least part of a catch of a toy block and wherein the toy block elements are joined together by their respective open edges, said toy blocks having one or more different outer shapes; and   a plurality of toy block connecting elements,
 wherein the toy block connecting elements each comprise a central flat portion with two opposite surfaces and a circumference, and a catch portion for engagement with a catch of the toy block rising from at least one of said surfaces, 
 wherein at least one of the cross section of catch portion and the circumference of the flat portion is non-circular and said catch portion comprises at least one catch leg, said catch leg comprising at least one engagement means on an outer section of the catch leg opposite said central flat portion.