Modeling kit including connectors and geometric shapes, and methods of making and using same

A method, comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of corrugated cardboard forms,
• obtaining a plurality of connectors, each connector being formed from a
• thermoplastic or thermoset material and comprising:
• a rigid central body,
• an arm extending outwardly from the central body, the arm including an elastically flexible first arm portion, and an elastically flexible second arm portion, each arm portion having a first end connected to the central body and a distal end spaced from the first end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, the first arm portion and the second arm portion each having a length in a direction from the first end to the distal end, a height in a direction from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a thickness in the direction from the first side surface to the second side surface, the inner surface of the first arm portion being generally parallel to the inner surface of the second arm portion when the connector is not in use, and first and second gripping teeth formed at the distal end of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, respectively, on the inner surface thereof, each of the first and second gripping teeth having at least one of (a) a terminal end surface having a convex profile when viewed from a direction normal to the first side surface, and (b) a flat terminal end surface, wherein the first and second gripping teeth are positioned at the same distance from the central body, the terminal end surfaces of the first and second gripping teeth being spaced from one another in an amount between 0.04 inches and 0.12 inches,
• each of the first and second gripping teeth having a length in the range of 0.03 inches to 0.07 inches and having a thickness, wherein the length of each of the first and second gripping teeth extends parallel of the length of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, and the thickness of each of the first and second gripping teeth extends parallel to the thickness of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, and
• connecting the plurality of corrugated cardboard forms to one another using the connectors, wherein a portion of each form is inserted between at least one set of the first and second gripping teeth of at least one connector in a direction parallel to the outward direction of the arm through a gap formed between the first and second gripping teeth,
• wherein the first and second gripping teeth do not touch any other gripping teeth while connecting the plurality of forms to one another.

A building model connector set, comprising:

• a plurality of flat corrugated cardboard forms, and
• a plurality of connectors configured to removably connect to the corrugated cardboard forms, each connector being formed from a thermoplastic or thermoset material and comprising:
• a rigid central body having a thickness,
• an arm extending outwardly from the central body, the arm including an elastically flexible first arm portion and an elastically flexible second arm portion, each arm portion having a first end connected to the central body and a distal end spaced from the first end, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, the inner surface of the first arm portion being generally parallel to the inner surface of the second arm portion when the connector is not in use, the first arm portion and the second arm portion each having a length in the range of 0.4 inches to 0.7 inches in a direction from the first end to the distal end, a height in the range of 0.05 inches to 0.07 inches in a direction from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a thickness that is the same as the thickness of the central body and is in the range of 0.2 inches to 0.5 inches in the direction from the first side surface to the second side surface, the second arm portion being spaced from the first arm portion in a direction parallel to the height of the first and second arm portions,
• the first arm portion including
• a first gripping tooth protruding from the distal end of the first arm portion having at least one of
• (a) a terminal end surface having a convex profile when viewed from a direction parallel to the thickness of the first arm portion, and (b) a flat terminal end surface,
• a second gripping tooth protruding from the distal end of the second arm portion having at least one of
• (a) a terminal end surface having a convex profile when viewed from a direction parallel to the thickness of the second arm portion, and (b) a flat terminal end surface, the terminal end surfaces of the first and second gripping teeth being spaced from one another in an amount between 0.04 inches and 0.12 inches,
• each of the first and second gripping teeth having a length in the range of 0.03 inches to 0.07 inches and having a thickness of 0.26 inches, which is equal to, or less than, the thicknesses of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, wherein the length of each of the first and second gripping teeth extends parallel of the length of the first arm portion and the second arm portion, and the thickness of each of the first and second gripping teeth extends parallel to the thickness of the first arm portion and the second arm portion,
• the first and second gripping teeth being the only gripping teeth on the first and second arm portions, being positioned at the same distance from the central body and configured to removably engage with a corrugated cardboard form.