Removably adherable construction elements

Abstract

A set of three-dimensional construction elements which removably adhere to one another for use as a construction toy or as a decorative display structure. Surfaces of the elements are substantially covered with hook-and-loop fastener material in accordance with "surfacing patterns" which maximize inter-connection flexibility. The "3-point" surfacing pattern for rectangular prisms, and derivatives of the 3-point pattern for other shapes, provide a unified surfacing system which promotes ease of use. Derivative 3-point patterns may be determined by morphological transformations of a rectangular prism with a 3-point surfacing pattern. The 3-point pattern and its derivatives obey a set of surfacing guidelines which maximizes the number of ways of forming face-to-face, edge-to-face, and point-to-face connections. For an edge-to-face connection to perform optimally, both faces adjacent to the edge must be surfaced with the same fastener material to a minimum distance from the edge, the minimum distance being determined by the nap height of the fastener material and the angle at which the faces adjacent to the edge meet. Similarly, for a point-to-face connection to perform optimally, the surfaces adjacent to the point must be surfaced with a single fastener material to a minimum distance from the point, the minimum distance being determined by the nap height of the fastener material and the angle at which the surfaces adjacent the point meet. Rounded or beveled edges and points further increase the strength of edge-to-face and point-to-face connections. Elements may be solid or hollow, and may have rigid, semi-rigid, resilient, or poseable substrates. The color of the fastener material may be used to indicate the type of surfacing material and/or bond strength of the material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.