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US 12,636,588 B1Granted
Squeeze connectors for foam construction noodles
AssigneeImaginNoodles, LLC
InventorChristopher Gerard Gallagher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Squeezable connector for connecting two playset components together includes a body having at least two arrowhead tips. Each arrowhead tip has an expanded form in which it is retainable in connection with a respective playset component and a narrowed form in which it is insertable into and removable from the respective playset components through a portal therein. Each arrowhead tip is squeezable from the expanded form to the narrowed form, and when the manually squeezing or compressive force is released, it returns to its original, uncompressed state.
Claims20
A connector that enables two playset components to be connected together, comprising:
- a body having first and second arrowhead tips and first and second elongate, opposed side walls,
- said first and second elongate side walls being spaced apart from one another,
- said first elongate side wall having a first end connected to said first arrowhead tip and a second end opposite the first end connected to said second arrowhead tip,
- said second elongate side wall having a first end connected to said first arrowhead tip and a second end opposite the first end of said second elongate side wall connected to said second arrowhead tip,
- each of said first and second arrowhead tips having an expanded form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is retainable in connection with a respective one of the playset components and a narrowed form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is insertable into and removable from the respective one of the playset components through a portal therein,
- each of said first and second arrowhead tips being squeezable from the expanded form to the narrowed form by pressing said first and second elongate side walls toward one another, whereby each of said first and second arrowhead tips returns to the expanded form from the narrowed form upon release on the pressing of said first and second elongate side walls toward one another, and
- wherein said body has only said first and second arrowhead tips, one at each of two opposite ends of said body and said first and second arrowhead tips are oriented in opposite directions, and
- wherein said body further comprises a first rib extending outward from said first elongate side wall in a direction perpendicular to said first elongate side wall, a second rib extending outward from said second elongate side wall in a direction perpendicular to said second elongate side wall, and a respective pad at an outward end of each of said first and second ribs, whereby pressing said respective pads inward causes said first and second elongate side walls to be pressed toward one another and said first and second arrowhead tips to be squeezed from the expanded form to the narrowed form.
5 more elements
A connector that enables two playset components to be connected together, comprising:
- a body having first and second arrowhead tips and first and second elongate, opposed side walls,
- said first and second elongate side walls being spaced apart from one another,
- said first elongate side wall having a first end connected to said first arrowhead tip and a second end opposite the first end connected to said second arrowhead tip,
- said second elongate side wall having a first end connected to said first arrowhead tip and a second end opposite the first end of said second elongate side wall connected to said second arrowhead tip,
- each of said first and second arrowhead tips having an expanded form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is retainable in connection with a respective one of the playset components and a narrowed form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is insertable into and removable from the respective one of the playset components through a portal therein,
- each of said first and second arrowhead tips being squeezable from the expanded form to the narrowed form by pressing said first and second elongate side walls toward one another, whereby each of said first and second arrowhead tips returns to the expanded form from the narrowed form upon release on the pressing of said first and second elongate side walls toward one another, and
- wherein said body further comprises a first elongate pad extending alongside said first elongate side wall and a second elongate pad extending alongside said second elongate side wall, said first and second elongate pads being opposite one another,
- whereby pressing said first and second elongate pads inward causes said first and second elongate side walls to be pressed toward one another and said first and second arrowhead tips to be squeezed from the expanded form to the narrowed form.
5 more elements
A connector that enables two playset components to be connected together, comprising:
- a body having a first arrowhead tip and a pair of opposed first and second elongate side walls each connected at one end to said first arrowhead tip,
- said body having a second arrowhead tip and a pair of opposed third and fourth elongate side walls each connected at one end to said second arrowhead tip,
- each of said first and second arrowhead tips having an expanded form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is retainable in connection with a respective one of the playset components and a narrowed form in which each of said first and second arrowhead tips is insertable into and removable from the respective one of the playset components through a portal therein,
- wherein said first and second arrowhead tips are laterally spaced apart from one another and oriented in a common direction, and
- wherein said body further comprises a flat intermediate body portion connected at one edge to said first elongate side wall and at an opposite edge to said third elongate side wall to laterally space said first and second arrowhead tips apart from one another.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.