US 5,061,219 A · Construction toy

Abstract

A construction toy is disclosed, which includes as principle components a hub-like connector having one or more gripping sockets, and structural elements, typically of strutlike configuration, having end portions specially configured to be received in the gripping sockets. The gripping sockets are comprised of pairs of gripping arms, formed of deflectable plastic material. Outer portions of the gripping arms are provided with concave grooves adapted for lateral, snap-in assembly of a structural element having complimentary cylindrical connector portions. The gripping arms also are provided, near their inner ends, with locking projections arranged to interlockingly mate with annular recesses provided near the ends of the structural elements. The end extremities of the structural elements comprise end flanges, which are received in an end cavity formed at the closed end of the gripping socket, in part by an end wall of the socket and in part by the locking projections. The novel arrangement of gripping socket and structural element allows lateral snap-in assembly of the structural elements with the connector elements, with the assembled elements being secured against both lateral and axial disassembly. The structural elements are also provided with portions of "X-shaped" cross section, enabling them to be snapped into the gripping recesses and retained therein in an orientation at 90.degree. to the normal orientation. An adapter arrangement is also disclosed, whereby the construction toy may be interfaced with other conventional construction toys.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A construction toy of the type comprising a plurality of hub-like connector elements and a plurality of structural elements adapted to be removably engaged with said connector elements to form a composite structure, characterized by

(a) said connector elements including a plurality of opposed pairs of integral, outwardly extending and spaced apart gripping arms,
(b) each of said pairs of gripping arms defining an axis and being adapted to receive an end extremity of a structural element aligned along said axis,
(c) said structural elements having an axis and having adjacent said end extremity an annular groove coaxial with the last mentioned axis and defining an end flange,
(d) each of the gripping arms of a pair thereof being formed with a locking projection extending into the space between said gripping arms and being of a size and shape to be received in the annular groove of a structural element to lock the element against movement in the direction of its axis,
(e) each of the gripping arms of a pair thereof further having concave recesses extending in a direction parallel to the axis of said arms and adapted to closely embrace end portions of a structural element on opposite sides thereof to confine said structural element against lateral movement relative to said gripping arms,
(f) said gripping arms being formed of a material having at least limited resilience to enable the gripping arms of a pair thereof to be elastically deflected to accommodate lateral insertion of a structural element into the space between a pair of gripping arms.

3 more elements

(a) each connector element having at least one open-ended recess for receiving and retaining a structural element by its end,
(b) each said recess having an inner end wall and a pair of spaced-apart side walls defining an axis extending between said side walls,
(c) integral locking projections extending inwardly from each of said side walls,
(d) said locking projections being spaced from said inner end wall and defining with said end wall a first locking chamber,
(e) said side walls being formed with concave grooves therein extending from said locking projections toward the open end of said recess,
(f) said concave grooves being generally coaxial with said axis, and an opposed pair of said grooves defining a second locking chamber,
(g) at least one end portion of said structural elements being shaped to be confined within a generally cylindrical envelope,
(h) said end portion defining an axis of said structural element and having a locking flange at the end extremity, receivable laterally within said first locking chamber and being locked therein against movement in the direction of the axis of said structural element,
(i) said end portion further having an annular groove immediately adjacent and partly defining said locking flange,
(j) said annular groove being adapted to receive said locking projections when said structural element is inserted laterally into said open ended recess,
(k) said concave grooves being shaped and positioned to closely receive portions of the cylindrical envelope of said structural element, and
(l) said side walls being elastically deflectable to accommodate lateral insertion of said structural element into said recess.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Construction toy

Life of this patent

Construction toy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14