Soft block for game playing and educating toddlers or children, and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a soft block for play or education of children. The soft block includes a block body formed from expandable polypropylene (EPP), and a coating substance formed from silicone rubber material, which covers the entire surface of the block body. A male coupler and a female coupler are formed on the top surface and bottom surface, respectively, of the block body. A first magnet is built into the male coupler, and a second magnet is built into the female coupler. The coating part covers the entire surface of the block body having the first magnet and the second magnet built therein.

1 . A soft block for play or education of children, the soft block comprising:
 a block body made of expandable polypropylene (EPP); and   a coating part made of silicone rubber,   wherein the block body has a male coupler and a female coupler formed on a top surface and a bottom surface, respectively, thereof, wherein a first magnet is built into the male coupler and a second magnet is built into the female coupler so that the second magnet can be combined with a first magnet of another soft block by magnetic attraction, and wherein the coating part covers the entire surface of the block body having the first magnet and the second magnet built therein.   
     
     
         2 . The soft block according to  claim 1 , wherein the block body has a density of 0.02 to 0.06 g/cc, and the coating part has a tensile strength that is 4.4 to 55 times stronger than that of the block body. 
     
     
         3 . A method for manufacturing a soft block for play or education of children, the method comprising:
 preparing a block body made of expandable polypropylene (EPP); and   forming a coating part on the entire surface of the block body using silicone rubber,   wherein the block body has a male coupler protruding from the top surface thereof and a female coupler that is recessed from the bottom surface thereof and is shape-matched with the male coupler,   wherein the block body is manufactured through molding of EPP foam, and   wherein a first magnet and a second magnet are insert-molded within portion of the block body at which the male and female couplers are to formed, when the molding of the EPP foam is performed.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the forming of the coating part on the surface of the block body is performed by inserting the block body into an injection mold and injecting liquid silicone rubber into the injection mold so that the liquid silicone rubber is applied to the surface of the block body. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the block body has a density of 0.02 to 0.06 g/cc, and the coating part has a tensile strength that is 4.4 to 55 times stronger than that of the block body.