Education and demonstration – Physical education – Developing or testing coordination
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-23
2001-05-15
Rimell, Sam (Department: 2166)
Education and demonstration
Physical education
Developing or testing coordination
C446S076000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231345
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shape fitting toy which includes: blocks having a plurality of different shapes from each other, and a block selection part having a plurality of block passing holes each of which has a shape corresponding to one of the blocks having a plurality of different shapes and can pass only a corresponding one of the blocks therethrough.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the following shape fitting toy is known.
A conventional shape fitting toy comprises: blocks having shapes of a cylinder, triangle pole, and a rectangular parallelopiped; and a container having a plurality of block passing holes each of which has a shape corresponding to one of the blocks having the shapes and can pass only a corresponding one of the blocks. The block passing holes have a circular shape for passing a cylindrical block, triangular shape for passing a triangle pole block, and a quadrangular shape for passing a rectangular parallelopiped block.
In order to play with such a shape fitting toy, in a first manner, for example, if a triangle pole block is selected as a block first, and a block passing hole having a shape which corresponds to the shape of the end surface of the triangle pole block, that is, the block passing hole having a triangular shape similar to and a little larger than the shape of the end surface of the triangle pole block, is selected. Then, the end surface of the triangle pole block is faced to the corresponding block passing hole and the direction or position of the end surface of the triangle pole block is made correspond to that of the block passing hole. With keeping this state, the block is passed through the block passing hole.
In a second manner, for example, first, the block passing hole having a triangular shape is selected as one of the block passing holes and thereafter a block having a shape which corresponds to the block passing hole having a triangular shape, that is, a triangle pole block, is selected. Then, the end surface of the triangle pole block is faced to the corresponding block passing hole and the direction or position of the end surface of the triangle pole block is made correspond to that of the block passing hole. With keeping this state, the block is passed through the block passing hole. When the selected block is a cylindrical block, or when the selected block passing hole is a cylindrical hole, it is unnecessary to make correspond the direction or position of the end surface of the block to that of the block passing hole after facing the end surface of the block to the corresponding block passing hole.
According to the shape fitting toy, when using a triangle pole block or a rectangular parallelopiped block, in order to pass a block through the corresponding block passing hole, two operations of a figure selection and a direction or position correspondence are required. That is, it is necessary not only to select a block passing hole having a shape which corresponds to the selected block or to select a block having a shape which corresponds to the selected block passing hole but also to face the end surface of the block to the corresponding block passing hole and to make correspond the direction or position of the end surface of the block to that of the block passing hole.
Although such a shape fitting toy is suited as an intellectual toy for children who have reached a certain age, it is too difficult for a baby, an intellectually handicapped person, a sightless person or the like to play it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made in view of the above problems.
It is an object of the invention to provide a shape fitting toy suitable for the ability of a baby or the like.
That is, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the shape fitting toy comprises: a plurality of blocks having different types of shapes from each other, and a block selection part having a plurality of block passing holes each of which has a shape corresponding to one of the blocks having a plurality of different shapes and can pass only a corresponding one of the blocks, wherein each of the different types of shapes is selected from a group consisting of a sphere and various types of regular polyhedrons.
Preferably, the plurality of blocks having different shapes comprise a spherical block and a regular polyhedral block. The plurality of blocks having different shapes may consist of a spherical block and a regular polyhedral block, and may further comprise a block having another different shape.
The plurality of blocks having different shapes may comprise plural types of regular polyhedral blocks in which numbers of surfaces thereof are different from one another. The plurality of blocks having different shapes may consist of plural types of regular polyhedral blocks, and may further comprise a block having another different shape.
The plurality of blocks having different shapes may comprise at least two blocks selected from the group consisting of a spherical block, a tetrahedral block having an equilateral triangular surface and a regular hexahedral block. The blocks may consist of at least two blocks selected from the group consisting of a spherical block, a tetrahedral block and a regular hexahedral block, and may further comprise a block having another different shape.
The plurality of blocks having different shapes may comprise a spherical block, a regular tetrahedral block and a regular hexahedral block. The blocks may consist of a spherical block, a regular tetrahedral block and a regular hexahedral block, and may further comprise a block having another different shape.
The plurality of blocks having different shapes consist of a spherical block, a regular tetrahedral block and a regular hexahedral block.
According to the shape fitting toy of the invention, the block can be passed through the corresponding block passing hole from any one of at least 3 sides or positions of the block. Therefore, if a child or the like can make correspond a block to the block passing hole therefor, the block can be passed through the block passing hole easily by placing the block on the block selection part in the vicinity of the block passing hole and by rotating the regular polyhedral block a little if necessary.
In the case of a tetrahedral block having an equilateral triangular surface, when the block passing hole is formed in an equilateral triangular shape, the tetrahedral block can be also passed through the block passing hole easily by directing an apex opposite to the equilateral triangular surface, to the block passing hole, without directing the equilateral triangular surface to the block passing hole. In particular, if the surfaces other than the equilateral triangular surface are isosceles triangle having the same size, it is possible to pass the tetrahedral block through the corresponding block passing hole more easily.
Preferably, the block passing holes are formed in a container for receiving the blocks therein. According to such a shape fitting toy, because of having a container for receiving the blocks therein, it is possible to clean up the used blocks in order easily.
The container preferably comprises: a cylindrical main body which has openings at both ends and is bent in an L-shape, and the block selection part which covers an end opening of the cylindrical main body. The container may further comprise a block entrance and exit part which covers the other end opening of the main body and has a disc-shaped plastic plate in which a through hole is formed at the center thereof and a large number of slits are formed from the through hole in a radial manner. Preferably, the container further comprises a supporting portion which is attached to the main body to keep the container in a standing-up state.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the shape fitting toy comprises: a plurality of blocks having different shapes which comprise having different shapes comprise a spherical block, a regular tetrahedral block and a regular hexah
Itakura Hitoshi
Yamazaki Tomohiro
Rimell Sam
Staas & Halsey , LLP
Tomy Company Ltd.
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