ABS Interlocking Bricks

History: The concept of plastic interlocking blocks began in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen (1891–1958), a carpenter from Billund, Denmark, who began making wooden toys in 1932. In 1934, his company began to use the trademark derived from the Danish phrase leg godt [lɑjˀ ˈkʌt], which means “play well”. So afraid of competition, the “leg godt – play well” group will prosecute people for using their trademarked name, even in reference.

The last significant patent for “leg godt – play well“ bricks expired in 1978. Since then, competitors have produced blocks of similar dimensions and design that can be connected with “leg godt – play well” bricks.

“Leg godt – Play well” still dominate the market and continue to be extremely overpriced, with annual profits of over $1.8 billion, many of their modern sets are of very poor quality in design, with many fragmentary, abstract smaller sets, and with a move, away from individual universal blocks, to construct a satisfying puzzle, to incorporating large specific pieces designed for a single set, done in order to reduce the number of small parts and increase profits, this reduces the enjoyment for the builder.

Many competitors now exist producing interlocking blocks, some of these companies produce blocks of equal quality, these competitors, producing equal quality blocks, now produce sets offering far better value for money, selling similar genre sets that, for a lot less cost, often include additional features, such as motorised and remote controlled, or with lighting included as standard with many models.

Material: ABS- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a very tough, very durable, opaque thermoplastic and amorphous polymer, used in a wide variety of manufacturing, it is non-toxic, with no known adverse health effects reported as a result of long exposure to the material. The plastic does not leach, nor is it carcinogenic. ABS typically has a 50-year lifespan.

ABS has a safe temperature range between -20 °C to 80 °C (-4 °F to 176 °F). If ABS plastic is submerged it in boiling water, it will soften the plastic, causing it to easily become misshapen.

All plastic based products get some damage from UV light. ABS plastic colours will begin to fade, then start yellowing when exposed to UV light or excessive heat, which causes photo-oxidation of polymers that breaks polymer chains and causes the plastic to yellow and become brittle.

ABS plastic is classified as a combustible material and has a relatively low resistance to fire. It tends to melt and burn, releasing potentially toxic fumes.