Assembly and toy to be assembled using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly ( 100 ) for selectively coupling the portions between the parts of a toy configured of a plurality of parts which are coupled to one another. The present invention comprises: a housing ( 110 ) defining an installation space (S) therein; and a coupling block ( 130 ) rotatably inserted in the installation space (S), and having a plurality of cantilever-shaped coupling pieces ( 140 ), at least a portion of which project outward from the installation space (S), wherein a coupling head ( 145 ) is disposed to project at one end of each of the coupling pieces ( 140 ) to thereby reduce the space between two adjacent coupling pieces ( 140 ). Thus, according to the present invention, through resilient deformation of the coupling pieces ( 140 ) of the assembly ( 100 ), parts are assembled together without the use of magnets in order to provide a relatively safe toy for infants. Also, due to the omission of magnetic parts, the manufacturing cost of the assembly ( 100 ) can be reduced.

1 . An assembly unit used for coupling components together, comprising:
 a housing having defined therein an installation space; and   a coupling block rotatably accommodated in the installation space, wherein the coupling block comprises a plurality of cantilever-shaped coupling pieces, at least a portion of each of the coupling pieces protruding from the installation space, wherein   coupling heads protrude from predetermined ends of the coupling pieces that face an outside of the installation space such that a space between the coupling pieces is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling heads on the coupling pieces protrude in a direction toward a center of the installation space and concurrently protrude in opposite directions so as to face each other, whereby a space between a pair of adjacent coupling heads of the coupling heads is smaller than a greatest cross-section of the coupling heads. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a gear section is provided on an edge of an outer surface of the coupling block into which the coupling pieces extend, the gear section being configured to engage with a gear section of a counterpart housing at a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the gear section is formed around an edge of an exit of the installation space, a width of the gear section decreasing in a direction toward one end that protrudes most. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the coupling block comprises:
 a disk-shaped block body corresponding to the installation space;   the plurality of cantilever-shaped coupling pieces protruding from one surface of the block body; and   the coupling heads protruding from the exposed predetermined ends of the coupling pieces in the direction toward the center of the installation space.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly unit according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the coupling heads of the coupling block has a curved outer surface, a cross-section of each of the coupling heads and a degree by which each of the coupling heads protrudes toward the center of the installation space increasing in a direction from an outermost upper end of the housing which protrudes outward to a lower end which faces a fixed end of a corresponding coupling piece of the coupling pieces. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the cross-section of each of the coupling heads of the coupling block has a shape of an arc, a width of the arc decreasing in a direction toward one end which protrudes most toward the center of the installation space. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly unit according to  claim 7 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the coupling heads which faces the block body of the coupling block comprises an inclined surface or a curved surface. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the bottom surface of each of the coupling heads which faces an inner circumference of the installation space comprises a curved surface corresponding to the inner circumference of the installation space. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing is cylindrically shaped, and wherein the disk-like shape of block body of the coupling block corresponds to that of the installation space. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the block body of the coupling block has a connecting rib which connects fixed ends of the plurality of coupling pieces. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly unit according to  claim 11 , wherein a shield plate which prevents the coupling block from being separated is coupled with a portion of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the shield plate is inserted and coupled through a coupling slit which is formed in the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the coupling slit of the housing comprises a pair of coupling slits, wherein the shield plate is inserted through one of the coupling slits, and one end of the inserted shield plate is fastened to the other one of the coupling slits. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the shield plate comprises coupling protrusions on an outer circumference thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing has a press-fit rib on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly toy comprising a plurality of components which form parts of a human, an animal or an object,
 wherein the components are to be selectively coupled with each other such that a variety of shapes or postures is formed by replacing some of the components or changing a coupling structure of the components,   wherein the components comprise assembly units having an equal configuration and are coupled with each other by fitting,   wherein the components comprise body, limb and head parts of the human or the animal, whereby a posture or an expression of the human or animal or a type of the animal is varied through replacement of the individual components, and   wherein each of the assembly units comprises:   a housing having defined therein an installation space; and   a coupling block rotatably accommodated in the installation space, wherein the coupling block comprises a plurality of cantilever-shaped coupling pieces, at least a portion of each of the coupling pieces protruding from the installation space.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly toy according to  claim 17 , wherein coupling heads protrude from predetermined ends of the coupling pieces so as to reduce a space between the two coupling pieces, whereby a pair of assembly units are coupled with each other as the coupling pieces of one assembly unit are elastically deformed by the coupling heads of the counterpart assembly unit while the coupling heads of the counterpart assembly unit are being inserted between the coupling heads. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly toy according to  claim 17 , wherein a gear section is provided on an edge of an outer surface of the coupling block into which the coupling pieces extend, the gear section being configured to engage with a gear section of a counterpart housing at a predetermined angle. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly toy according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling block comprises:
 a disk-shaped block body corresponding to the installation space;   the plurality of cantilever-shaped coupling pieces protruding from one surface of the block body; and   the coupling heads protruding from the exposed predetermined ends of the coupling pieces in a direction toward a center of the installation space, thereby reducing a space between the two coupling pieces.   
     
     
         21 . The assembly toy according to  claim 20 , wherein each of the coupling heads of the coupling block has a curved outer surface, wherein a cross-section of each of the coupling heads and a degree by which each of the coupling heads protrudes toward the center of the installation space increasing in a direction from an outermost upper end which protrudes outward to a lower end which faces a fixed end of a corresponding coupling piece of the coupling pieces, and wherein the cross-section of each of the coupling heads of the coupling block has a shape of an arc, a width of the arc decreasing in a direction toward one end which protrudes most toward the center of the installation space. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly toy according to  claim 21 , wherein a shield plate which prevents the coupling block from being separated is coupled with a portion of the housing.