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US 5,472,365 AGranted
Polygon attachment system for constructing polyhedra
OwnerRichard J. Engelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A geometric toy construction system has a multiplicity of flat, regular polygonal construction panels interengageable edge-to-edge by means of shared but separate intervening cylindrical axles positioned parallel to the edges of the panels and attached thereon, thereby enabling the building of two- and three-dimensional constructions. One axle enables up to six panels to be snap-fit into position about the axis of their commonly shared axle.
Claims11
A geometric toy construction system, said system comprising:
- substantially flat, substantially planar construction panels of polygonal shape, each of said panels terminating at three or more straight peripheral edges;
- said edges approximately equal in length to dimension "A" identified as first panel edges, otherwise, others of said edges approximately equal in length to dimension ##EQU6## identified as second panel edges, each said edge having a center point;
- substantially cylindrical shaped solid axles, each said axle having a longitudinal axis with opposite ends oriented in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said axle, each said axle having a radius;
- said axles equal in length to a first standard length identified as first axles, otherwise, others of said axles are equal in length to a second standard length identified as second axles;
- socket means formed on said ends of said axles for selectively connecting and disconnecting said panels to said axles;
- hook means formed on said edges of said panels for selectively connecting and disconnecting said panels to said axles;
- said hook means including one pair of hooks integral with and extending outward from all edges of said panels;
- said hooks positioned symmetrically about said center point of said edges;
- each of said hooks having a body generally perpendicular to the edge of said panel, but in the plane of said panel, said body terminating in a claw-like protuberance extending perpendicular from said body towards said center point of said edge;
- said hooks formed on said first panel edge identified as a first hook set;
- said first hook set being separated by a distance equal to the first standard length;
- said hooks formed on said second panel edge identified as a second hook set;
- said second hook set being separated by a distance equal to the second standard length;
- means formed between said hooks for partially receiving the body of said axles;
- said means consisting of a recessed edge identified as a recess;
- said recess having a depth slightly greater in length than said radius of said axle;
- said first and said second standard distances being selected to enable the connection of said first axles with said first hook set and said second axles with said second hook set;
- said connection of said panels with said axles being accomplished by positioning said axles parallel to said edges and centered in between said pair of hooks then forcing said axles into contact with said recess thereby forcing said hooks to seize said axles by snapping said protuberances into said socket means.
15 more elements
A geometric toy construction system comprising:
- a) a plurality of substantially flat, substantially planar construction panels of various polygonal shapes capable of being connected together to form a plurality of polyhedral shapes, each said panel having at least three peripheral edges, each said edge having a center point;
- b) a substantially cylindrical-shaped connector axle having a longitudinal axis with opposite recessed ends oriented in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said connector axle, each axle having a radius;
- c) said recessed ends being a socket for selectively connecting and disconnecting said adjoining panels to said connector axle;
- d) a pair of outward extending hooks disposed on each said peripheral edge capable of selectively connecting and disconnecting said panel to said connector axle sockets, said pair of hooks being spaced apart approximately equal to the length of said connector axle and approximately equal distance from said center point of said peripheral edge, each said hook having a claw-like protuberance that extends perpendicular therefrom towards said center point of said peripheral edge;
- e) a recess located along said peripheral edge between said hooks capable of partially receiving said connector axle, said recess having a depth slightly greater in length than the radius of said connector axle, and;
- f) whereby said panels may be connected together to form said polyhedral shape by aligning said recesses on said adjacent panels and positioning one said connector axle between said recesses and interengaging said pair of hooks on each said adjacent panel into said sockets on said connector axle.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.