US3822487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alphabet block display and toy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-15
•
Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1993-03-15
Abstract
Abstract Alphabet letters and other symbols are constructed in relatively large three-dimensional block form. The block symbols are provided with connecting means in the form of elongated connecting rods cooperating with mated recesses or sockets formed within the letter blocks. The sockets are arranged on each of the blocks so that the symbols, such as letters of the alphabet can be arranged in vertical, horizontal and/or front to back word displays. The block letters or symbols are provided with recesses or sockets particularly arranged to receive the inter-connecting rods so that nonsensical arrangements of the blocks, such as an upside down letter, are precluded. As an educational toy, this helps the child assemble the letter blocks into a meaningful word pattern, or at least into a display in which letters of the alphabet are properly oriented.
Inventors
- 👤 G Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:57
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/0098; G; G09; G09B; G09B1/00; G09B1/32; G09B1/40; G09B17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A set of three-dimensional blocks, each of said blocks being shaped in the form of an alphabet letter, number or other symbol; each said block having recess means; a plurality of elongated connecting members, the ends of said connecting members being matingly removably received in said recess means to structurally interconnect said blocks, said recess means being disposed on said blocks to receive said connecting members from the sides, front, back, top and bottom of said blocks such that the alphabet letters, numbers or other symbols represented thereby may be selectively arranged in horizontal, vertical and/or front-to-back arrays.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A set of three-dimensional blocks, each of said blocks being shaped in the form of an alphabet letter, number or other symbol; each said block having recess means; a plurality of elongated connecting members, the ends of said connecting members being matingly removably received in said recess means to structurally interconnect said blocks, said recess means being disposed on said blocks to receive said connecting members from the sides, front, back, top and bottom of said blocks such that the alphabet letters, numbers or other symbols represented thereby may be selectively arranged in horizontal, vertical and/or front-to-back arrays.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The set of blocks of claim 1, wherein at least certain of said recess means and said connecting members are formed to structurally constrain the interconnection of said blocks to cause the letters, numbers or other symbols represented thereby to be disposed in an upright orientation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The set of blocks of claim 1, wherein said recess means and elongated members structurally interconnecting said blocks are constructed to maintain said blocks in spaced apart relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The set of blocks of claim 1, said block recess means comprising side recesses, front and back recesses, and top and bottom recesses, said side recesses being uniformly spaced from the base of each block either above or below mid-height thereof so that all such blocks which are horizontally interconnected via said side recesses by said elongated members must be in a proper upright orientation to dispose the bases of said blocks in a common plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The set of blocks of claiM 4, said front and back recesses being uniformly spaced from the base of each block at a different elevation relative to said side recesses such that all blocks which are interconnected via said front or back recesses by a connecting member must be connected to the front or back recess of another block in order to dispose the bases of all such interconnected blocks in said common plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The set of blocks as defined in claim 5, said front and back recesses of each of said blocks being uniformly disposed either above or below mid-height of said blocks such that all blocks which are interconnected by said elongated members via said front or back recesses must be in proper upright orientation to dispose the bases of said blocks in said common plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The set of blocks as defined in claim 4, said top and bottom recesses extending into said blocks and terminating at ends uniformly spaced in the vertical dimension from the bases of said block irrespective of the actual height of each symbolically shaped block such that the bases of a group of horizontally interconnected blocks vertically stacked on top of another group of horizontally interconnected blocks are disposed in a common plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The set of blocks as defined in claim 1, said recess means comprising a plurality of recesses disposed to receive said connecting members in three different and mutually orthogonal directions corresponding to horizontal, vertical and front-to-back arrangements of said blocks, at least certain of said connecting members having at least one substantially planar surface longitudinally thereof, and at least certain of said recesses having a complementary planar surface matingly engagable with an end portion of said member surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The set of blocks of claim 8, said member surface being an index surface and said complementary recess surface being uniformly oriented relative to the base of each block so as to cause the symbols represented by said blocks to assume an upright orientation and the bases of said blocks to assume parallel planes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The set of blocks in claim 9, said certain connecting members having triangular cross-sections and said recesses having mated triangular cross-sections, one of the sides of said triangular cross-sections being different from the other sides so as to define said index surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2493435A
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US2514808A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |