Modular toy play sets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10112120-B2
Application number	US-201615297038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2016
Priority date	Oct 18, 2016
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Toy play systems are disclosed. A toy play system may include a first toy play set having a first base. The first base may include opposed upper and lower sides, the upper side may include at least one play feature and the lower side may include a plurality of protrusions. The toy play system may further include a base connector which may have at least two coupling structures. At least a first coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. At least a second coupling structure of the at least two coupling structures may frictionally engage a second toy play set.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toy play system, comprising:
a first toy play set having a first base, the first base includes opposed upper and lower sides and a first side disposed between the upper and lower sides, the upper side includes at least one play feature, the lower side being a single unitary piece and a plurality of protrusions extends from the lower side; and
a base connector having at least two apertures, at least a first aperture of the at least two apertures receives a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions, and at least a second aperture of the at least two apertures receives a protrusion of a second toy play set having a second side, wherein the first side contacts the second side when the at least a first aperture receives the protrusion of the plurality of protrusions and the at least a second aperture receives the protrusion of the second toy play set.

2. The toy play system of claim 1 , wherein the base connector includes opposed first and second end portions, the first end portion includes the at least a first aperture, and the second end portion includes the at least a second aperture.

3. The toy play system of claim 2 , wherein the lower side includes a central portion that is free from protrusions such that a gap is defined between the plurality of protrusions.

4. The toy play system of claim 3 , wherein, when the at least a second aperture does not receive the protrusion of the second toy play set, the gap is sized to receive the second end portion of the base connector when the at least a first aperture of the first end portion frictionally engages a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.

5. The toy play system of claim 1 , wherein the lower side is defined by a plurality of edges, wherein the plurality of protrusions is arranged along one or more of the plurality of edges.

6. The toy play system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of protrusions is arranged along each of the plurality of edges.

7. The toy play system of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions includes an end surface that is configured to engage a support surface when the first toy play set is placed on the support surface.

8. The toy play system of claim 7 , wherein the end surface of each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is square-shaped.

9. The toy play system of claim 1 , wherein the base connector includes a frame having the at least two apertures.

10. The toy play system of claim 9 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of spaced ribs around each aperture of the at least two apertures.

11. The toy play system of claim 1 , wherein the first side is perpendicular to at least one of the upper or lower sides.

12. A toy play system, comprising:
a first toy play set having a first base, the first base includes opposed first upper and lower portions and a first side disposed between the first upper and lower portions, the first upper portion includes at least one first play feature, the first lower portion being a single unitary piece and a plurality of first protrusions extends from the first lower portion;
a second toy play set having a second base, the second base includes opposed second upper and lower portions and a second side disposed between the second upper and lower portions, the second upper portion includes at least one second play feature, the second lower portion being a single unitary piece and a plurality of second protrusions extends from the second lower portion; and
a base connector having a plurality of apertures, one aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive a first protrusion of the plurality of first protrusions, and another aperture of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive a second protrusion of the plurality of second protrusions, wherein the first side contacts the second side when the one aperture receives the first protrusion and the another aperture receives the second protrusion.

13. The toy play system of claim 12 , wherein the base connector includes opposed first and second end portions, the first end portion includes at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures that are configured to receive two first protrusions of the plurality of first protrusions of the first toy play set, and the second end portion includes at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures that are configured to receive at least two second protrusions of the second toy play set.

14. The toy play system of claim 13 , wherein the at least two apertures of the first end portion are configured to receive two adjacent first protrusions of the plurality of first protrusions, and the at least two apertures of the second end portion are configured to receive two adjacent second protrusions of the plurality of second protrusions.

15. The toy play system of claim 13 , wherein one aperture of the at least two apertures of the first end portion is configured to receive a first protrusion of the plurality of first protrusions of the first play set, and another aperture of the at least two apertures of the first end portion is configured to receive a second protrusion of the plurality of second protrusions of the second play set.

16. The toy play system of claim 15 , further comprising a third play set having a third base, the third base includes opposed third upper and lower portions, the third upper portion includes at least one third play feature, the third lower portion being a single unitary piece and a plurality of third protrusions extends from the third lower portion, wherein one aperture of the at least two apertures of the second end portion is configured to receive a third protrusion of the plurality of third protrusions.

17. The toy play system of claim 16 , further comprising a fourth play set having a fourth base, the fourth base includes opposed fourth upper and lower portions, the fourth upper portion includes at least one fourth play feature, the fourth lower portion being a single unitary piece and a plurality of fourth protrusions extends from the fourth lower portion, wherein another aperture of the at least two apertures of the second end portion is configured to receive a fourth protrusion of the plurality of fourth protrusions.

18. The toy play system of claim 12 , wherein the first lower portion is defined by a plurality of first edges, wherein the plurality of first protrusions are arranged along each of the plurality of first edges, and wherein the second lower portion is defined by a plurality of second edges, wherein the plurality of second protrusions are arranged along each of the plurality of second edges.

19. The toy play system of claim 12 , wherein the base connector includes a frame having the plurality of apertures.

20. The toy play system of claim 12 , wherein the base connector includes a plurality of spaced ribs around each aperture of the plurality of apertures, the plurality of spaced ribs configured to frictionally engage one or more of the first protrusion or the second protrusion.

Assignees

• Mattel Inc

Inventors

• Weidetz Erich W
• Samo Jebraeil

Classifications

• A63H33/08 Primary

  provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails · CPC title

• A63H33/042 Primary

  Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors · CPC title

• A63H33/086

  with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls · CPC title

• A63H33/42

  Toy models or toy scenery not otherwise covered (models or scenery for general purposes G09B) · CPC title

• A63H33/06 Primary

  to be assembled without the use of additional elements · CPC title