US 5,199,919 A · Construction toy system

Abstract

A construction toy system comprises a variety of molded plastic connector elements, arranged to be joined with rod-like struts, to form complex structural units. In the most basic form, the connector elements of the invention have one or more angularly related strut-receiving recesses, each arranged for lateral snap-in reception of a flanged strut. When a strut is snapped in place, it is held firmly against lateral and axial movement. A plurality of single socket connector elements can be connected with a succession of crosswise oriented strut elements to form an articulated structure, either endless or finite in length. Connector elements also may be joined to form connector assemblies with provision for mounting struts in several planar directions, to form a right angle corner structure, for example, or a Tee-shaped structure. To advantage, the construction toy set includes strut elements in graduated sizes according to a predetermined length progression, such that one standard size can serve as the hypotenuse of a right isosceles triangle formed with struts of a smaller size. This enables complex structures to be assembled using right triangular subunits. The struts may be assembled into and/or removed from structures of a substantially rigid character, because of the ability to effect lateral snap-in insertion of the struts. Also disclosed is a simple Device for joining a strut and a connecting element for rotation in unison.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A construction toy system of the type comprising a plurality of connector elements and rod-like strut elements formed of molded plastic material and removably joinable with other elements to form a coherent structure, wherein at least certain of the connector elements comprise

(a) a socket-forming section disposed on a predetermined defined socket axis and having open sides,
(b) said socket-forming section comprising a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel cantilever mounted gripping arms symmetrically arranged with respect to said socket axis and defining said socket axis,
(c) said gripping arms being formed with first interlock means co-axial with said socket axis to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element aligned with said socket axis,
(d) second interlock means formed in said socket-forming section to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element in a predetermined axial position along said socket axis,
and wherein at least certain of said strut elements comprise
(e) elongated rod-like members formed with opposite end portions and intermediate portions integrally joining said end portions,
(f) said opposite end portions being provided with first and second interlocking means for cooperative engagement with the first and second interlocking means of said connector element, whereby the respective first interlocking means hold a strut element in coaxial alignment with said defined socket axis and the respective second interlocking means hold a strut element in predetermined axial position on said socket axis,
(g) each pair of gripping arms defining between them an open-sided, socket co-axial with said defined socket axis, and
(h) said arms being resiliently separable to accommodate lateral snap-in reception of an end portion of a strut element from an open side of said socket forming section, in a direction transverse to said socket axis, whereby said strut element is firmly placed and positioned in fixed relation to said socket-forming section.

6 more elements

(a) a socket-forming section disposed on a predetermined socket axis,
(b) said socket-forming section comprising a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel cantilever mounted gripping arms symmetrically arranged with respect to said socket axis,
(c) said gripping arms being formed with first interlock means to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element aligned with said socket axis,
(d) second interlock means formed in said socket-forming section to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element in a predetermined axial position along said socket axis,
and wherein at least certain of said strut elements comprise
(e) elongated rod-like members formed with opposite end portions and intermediate portions integrally joining said end portions,
(f) said opposite end portions being provided with first and second interlocking means for cooperative engagement with the first and second interlocking means of said connector element, whereby the respective first interlocking means hold a strut element in coaxial alignment with said socket axis and the respective second interlocking means hold a strut element in predetermined axial position on said socket axis,
(g) each pair of gripping arms defining between them an open-sided, axially disposed socket, and
(h) said arms being resiliently separable to accommodate lateral snap-in reception of an end portion of a strut element in a direction transverse to said socket axis, whereby said strut element is firmly spaced and positioned in fixed relation to said socket-forming section,
(i) said gripping arms being formed with rib-like projections extending transverse with respect to the socket axis and projecting inward toward the socket axis,
(j) said strut element being formed, in a predetermined area between its ends, with opposed longitudinally extending grooves,
(k) said strut element being yieldably received in said socket in an orientation disposed at 90.degree. to the socket axis, with said rib-like projections being received in an opposed pair of said grooves,
(l) whereby said strut element is non-rotatably gripped by said connector element with said strut element disposed parallel to said hub axis.

10 more elements

In a construction toy system of the type utilizing a plurality of struts and connector elements for engaging the ends of said struts, an improved connector element which comprises

(a) a central core defining a central axis of said connector element,
(b) a plurality of strut-receiving sockets arranged generally radially about said core,
(c) said core and sockets forming a connector of generally flat configuration and of predetermined thickness,
(d) an open-sided recess in one side of said connector element, extending to said central axis and having a width equal to the thickness of the connector element,
(e) said open-sided recess receiving a second connector element to form a composite connector element having strut-receiving sockets radiating in two planes,
(f) said open-sided recess being defined by a pair of spaced-apart, parallel guide walls for receiving the second connector element, said guide walls having detent means therein cooperating with detent means on the second connector element to retain an assembled pair of connector elements in joined relation.

3 more elements

A construction toy system of the type utilizing a plurality of struts and connector elements for engaging the ends of said struts, which comprises

(a) a central core defining a longitudinal axis of said connector element,
(b) a plurality of (n) strut-receiving sockets arranged around said core about uniformly spaced radial axes and defining a plane,
(c) said axes being spaced apart at 180/(n) degrees, where n is an integer between 2 and 8,
(d) said sockets each comprising a pair of spaced-apart gripping arms, extending in the direction of the radial axis of said socket, and an end wall defining radially outwardly opening socket,
(e) said gripping arms having inwardly extending strut-locking projections thereon,
(f) said struts having annular grooves adjacent their end extremities adapted for the reception of said locking projections,
(g) said gripping arms having radially oriented, concave gripping portions thereon for engagement with a strut and accommodating lateral snap-in assembly of a strut into a socket,
(h) said sockets and said core defining a connector element having generally flat, spaced-apart axial end faces and forming a connector element of predetermined thickness, and of a diameter substantially greater than said predetermined thickness,
(i) a pair of spaced-apart parallel guide walls extending radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis and defining an open sided recess,
(j) said guide walls being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined thickness, whereby said connector element may be joined with a second connector element to form a multi-planar assembly providing strut-receiving sockets in two right-angularly related planes.

7 more elements

A pulley/wheel combination for use in a construction toy system, which comprises,

(a) a circular wheel-like element having a rim portion and a hub portion,
(b) said hub portion having an hub opening for receiving an axle-forming strut element,
(c) said wheel-like element having a drive opening located a predetermined distance radially outward from the center of said hub portion, for the reception of the drive lug of a connector element mounted on an axle-forming strut element received in said hub opening,
(d) said wheel-like element having an outwardly facing annular groove in said rim portion,
(e) said connector element including a socket-forming section disposed on a predetermined socket axis,
(f) said socket-forming section comprising a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel cantilever mounted gripping arms symmetrically arranged with respect to said socket axis,
(g) said gripping arms being formed with first interlock means to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element aligned with said socket axis,
(h) second interlock means formed in said socket-forming section to interlock with a strut element for releasably but firmly holding a strut element in a predetermined axial position along said socket axis,
(i) each pair of gripping arms defining between them an open-sided, axially disposed socket, and
(j) said arms being resiliently separable to accommodate lateral snap-in reception of an end portion of a strut element in a direction transverse to said socket axis, whereby said strut element is firmly spaced and positioned in fixed relation to said socket-forming section,
(k) said gripping arms being formed with rib-like projections extending transverse with respect to the socket axis and projecting inward toward the socket axis,
(l) said strut element comprising an elongated rod-like member formed with opposite end portions and intermediate portions integrally joining said end portions,
(m) said opposite end portions being provided with first and second interlocking means for cooperative engagement with the first and second interlocking means of said connector element, whereby the respective first interlocking means are adapted to hold a strut element in coaxial alignment with said socket axis and the respective second interlocking means are adapted to hold a strut element in predetermined axial position on said socket axis,
(n) said strut element being formed, in a predetermined area between its ends, with opposed longitudinally extending grooves,
(o) said strut element being yieldably received in said socket in an orientation disposed at 90.degree. to the socket axis, with said rib-like projections being received in an opposed pair of said grooves,
(p) whereby said strut element is non-rotatably gripped by said connector element with said strut element disposed parallel to said hub axis.
(q) said connector element being formed with an integral, laterally extending drive lug received in said drive opening, whereby said wheel-like element and said strut element are connected for rotation in unison.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Construction toy system

Life of this patent

Construction toy system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29