Toy construction set
AssigneeLovevery, Inc.
InventorsStephen Blaise Lawless, Jacob Douglas Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A toy construction set includes an elongated path segment having side surfaces and an upper surface extending between the side surfaces and an elevated path segment support having two spaced-apart legs with inner surfaces facing each other. A shelf extends from the inner surfaces, and the legs define a space of sufficient width above the shelf to receive the elongated path segment. The shelf is configured to support the received elongated path segment in a locally elevated position with the elevated path segment support standing on its legs on a horizontal support surface (128).
Claims16
A toy construction set comprising:
- an elongated path segment having side surfaces and an upper surface extending between the side surfaces, the elongated path segment having orthogonal overall dimensions of length, width and thickness, with the length being greater than the width, which is greater than the thickness, the width being a distance between the side surfaces;
- an elevated path segment support having two spaced-apart legs with inner surfaces facing each other, and a shelf extending from the inner surfaces, the legs defining a space therebetween of sufficient width above the shelf to receive the elongated path segment therein, the shelf being configured to support the received elongated path segment in a locally elevated position with the elevated path segment support standing on its legs on a horizontal support surface,
- wherein the elevated path segment support further comprises a ridge extending outwardly from the inner surface of each leg in a region of each leg below the shelf;
- and
- a second elevated path segment support, wherein the elevated path segment support is a first elevated path segment support, and wherein the ridge of the first elevated path segment support is configured to connect with a groove of the second elevated path segment support such that the first elevated path segment support is stackable with the second elevated path segment support,
- wherein each leg of the elevated path segment support has an outer surface that is concave,
- wherein the outer surface of each leg defines a groove,
- and
- wherein the inner surfaces of the legs are convex in a region of each leg above the shelf, and
- wherein the inner surfaces of the legs are arranged with respect to the width of the elongated path segment such that rotating the elevated path segment support with respect to the elongated path segment with the elongated path segment received between the inner surfaces of the legs will cause the inner surfaces of the legs to bear against the side surfaces of the elongated path segment to brace the elongated path segment against the elevated path segment support within 30 degrees of elevated path segment support rotation from an orientation perpendicular to the elongated path segment.
A method of assembling a toy construction set, the method comprising:
- stacking a first elevated path segment support onto a second elevated path segment support, each of the first and second elevated path segment supports having two spaced-apart legs with inner surfaces facing each other, and a shelf extending from the inner surfaces, wherein the stacking comprises connecting two first grooves, each of the grooves defined by an outer surface of each leg of the first elevated path segment support, to two second ridges extending outwardly from the inner surface of each leg of the second elevated path segment support;
- inserting an elongated path segment above the shelf of the first or second elevated path segment supports, in a space of sufficient width defined between the legs such that a portion of the elongated path segment rests on the shelf;
- and
- rotating the first or second elevated path segment support that is supporting the elongated path segment with respect to the elongated path segment, thereby securing the elongated path segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.