Toy block with rack assembly

Abstract

A toy block includes a base assembly and a rack slidably attached to the base assembly. The rack, which defines a longitudinal axis, includes a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth, each of which extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The rows of teeth are oriented such that interaction between the first row of teeth and a first rotating member causes the first rotating member to rotate about an axis that is not parallel to an axis about which a second rotating member rotates when interacting with the second row of teeth.

1 . A toy block comprising: 
 a base assembly having an upper surface and one or more cylindrical coupling protrusions protruding from the upper surface, wherein the coupling protrusions are adapted for releasably attaching the toy block to another toy block; and    a rack slidably attached to the base assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the rack including:    a first row of teeth, wherein the teeth extending in a direction generally parallel perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the first row of teeth runs in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; and    a second row of teeth, wherein the teeth extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the second row of teeth runs in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       2 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the first row of teeth include a series of protrusions.  
   
   
       3 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the first row of teeth include a series of recesses.  
   
   
       4 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the rack includes a depth stop for defining a range of movement for the rack along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       5 . The toy block of  claim 4  further comprising a biasing member attached to the rack and the base assembly to bias the rack towards a rest position.  
   
   
       6 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein a lower surface of the base assembly includes one or more recesses for releasably coupling to an adjacent toy assembly.  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the base assembly includes accessory brackets for releasably attaching an accessory to the base assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The toy block of  claim 8  further comprising an accessory including a gear assembly for meshing with one of the rows of teeth of the rack, wherein the accessory brackets are cylindrical protrusions configured to allow the accessory to pivot about a central axis of the cylindrical protrusion, and the accessory includes an opening sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical protrusion with the gear assembly positioned to mesh with a row of teeth.  
   
   
       10 . The toy block of  claim 8  further comprising an accessory including a gear assembly for meshing with one of the rows of teeth of the rack, wherein the accessory bracket is an axial pivot point configured to allow the accessory to pivot about the axis of the axial pivot point, and the accessory includes an axle sized and positioned to interact with the axial pivot point and position the gear assembly to mesh with a row of teeth.  
   
   
       11 . The toy block of  claim 8  further comprising a cover assembly, releasably attached to the base assembly and positioned on top of the accessory brackets, for securing the accessories to the accessory brackets.  
   
   
       12 . The toy block of  claim 11  wherein the cover assembly includes one or more protrusions for releasably coupling the cover assembly to another toy blocks.  
   
   
       13 . The toy block of  claim 8  wherein the accessory is chosen from the group consisting of a bucket and bracket assembly, a saw blade and arm assembly, and a pincher arm assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The toy block of  claim 21  wherein: 
 the rack includes a third row of teeth extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the third row of teeth is oriented such that interaction between the third row of teeth and a third rotating member causes the third rotating member to rotate about an axis that is parallel to the axis about which the first rotating member rotates when interacting with the first row of teeth.    
   
   
       15 . The toy block of  claim 1  further comprising a pushrod having a longitudinal slot, wherein the rack includes a protrusion for slidably engaging the longitudinal slot of the pushrod.  
   
   
       16 . A toy block comprising: 
 a base assembly having an upper surface and one or more cylindrical coupling protrusions protruding from the upper surface, wherein the coupling protrusions are adapted for releasably attaching the toy block to another toy block; and    a rack having a row of teeth, the rack being slidably attached to the base assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the teeth extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the row of teeth runs in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;    wherein the base assembly includes at least one accessory bracket for releasably attaching an accessory to the base assembly in a position such that the accessory can interact with the rack.    
   
   
       17 . The toy block of  claim 16  further comprising an accessory releasably attached to the base assembly, the accessory including a gear assembly wherein: 
 at least one accessory bracket is a cylindrical protrusion configured to allow the accessory to pivot about the axis of the cylindrical protrusion; and    the accessory includes an opening sized and positioned to receive the cylindrical protrusion and position the gear assembly to mesh with the row of teeth.    
   
   
       18 . The toy block of  claim 16  further comprising an accessory releasably attached to the base assembly, the accessory including a gear assembly wherein: 
 at least one accessory bracket is an axial pivot point configured to allow the accessory to pivot about the axis of the axial pivot point; and    the accessory includes an axle sized and positioned to interact with the axial pivot point and position the gear assembly to mesh with the row of teeth.    
   
   
       19 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the rack further includes a row of recesses, the row of recesses extending in a direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       20 . The toy block of  claim 1  wherein the row of recesses is located between the first row of teeth and the second row of teeth.  
   
   
       21 . The toy block of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first rotating member; and    a second rotating member,    wherein the rows of teeth are oriented such that interaction between the first row of teeth and the first rotating member causes the first rotating member to rotate about an axis that is not parallel to an axis about which the second rotating member rotates when interacting with the second row of teeth.