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US 7,364,487 B2Granted
Structure building toy
AssigneeCranium, Inc.
InventorsRoss Evans, Adam Tobin, Adam DeVito, Quillon Tsang, Joel Shrock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure building system is described that utilizes a mat, a set of connectors and a set of structural members to build a structure. In a preferred embodiment, magnetic coupling/connection may be used to connect the piece of the structure together. The system may also have one or more pieces of material that may be draped over the structure.
Claims15
A structure building apparatus, comprising:
- a mat having a plurality of connection areas with each connection area having a region for connection of a base connector to the connection area, the base connector including one or more pliable projections positioned above a parallel platform so that a friction fit is achieved when any of the connection areas of the mat is disposed therebetween;
- a set of structural members that may be connected to any of the connection areas of the mat;
- a set of connectors that couple the structural members to each other in order to build a structure using the mat, structural members and connectors;
- and
- wherein each structural member further comprises a connector mechanism at each end of the structural member and wherein the connector mechanism is inserted into the connector to connect the structural member to the connector.
2 more elements
A structure building apparatus comprising:
- a mat having a plurality of connection areas with each connection area having a region for connection of a base connector to the connection area, the base connector including one or more pliable projections positioned above a parallel platform so that a friction fit is achieved when any of the connection areas of the mat is disposed therebetween;
- a set of structural members that may be connected to any of the connection areas of the mat;
- and
- a set of connectors that couple the structural members to each other in order to build a structure using the mat, structural members and connectors;
- wherein the set of connectors further comprises one of the base connector, a six way connector connecting up to six structural members to each other and a five way connector connecting one or more structural members to the mat.
2 more elements
A structure building apparatus, comprising:
- a mat having a plurality of connection areas with each connection area having a region for connection of a base connector to the connection area, the base connector including one or more pliable projections positioned above a parallel platform so that a friction fit is achieved when any of the connection areas of the mat is disposed therebetween;
- a set of structural members that may be connected to any of the connection areas of the mat;
- a set of connectors that couple the structural members to each other in order to build a structure using the mat, structural members and connectors;
- a sheet of material having a porthole that may be placed over the structure to create an interior space of the structure;
- and
- one or more picture cards positionable in the porthole to customize an environment of the structure.
3 more elements
A structure building apparatus, comprising:
- a mat having a plurality of connection areas with each connection area having a region for connection of a base connector to the connection area, the base connector including one or more pliable projections positioned above a parallel platform so that a friction fit is achieved when any of the connection areas of the mat is disposed therebetween;
- a set of structural members that may be connected to any of the connection areas of the mat;
- a set of connectors that couple the structural members to each other in order to build a structure using the mat, structural members and connectors;
- and
- a sheet of material having a porthole that may be placed over the structure to create an interior space of the structure;
- wherein the porthole further comprises a mesh porthole.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.