Toy building systems including adjustable connector clips, building planks, and panels
First Claim
1. A building set, comprising:
- one or more planks, at least one of which includes a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, the at least one plank including a thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends;
one or more connector clips, at least one of the connector clips including a clip body and a plank engaging channel, the channel of the clip including;
a base defining a floor;
first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces of the plank is receivable, a width of the channel being substantially equal to the thickness of the plank that is receivable within the channel so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the plank received within the channel, frictionally coupling the connector clip to a plank received within the channel; and
a mating protrusion extending from the clip body, the mating protrusion being sized and shaped for receipt into a corresponding hole or recess of another connector clip, a plank, or a hub that removably receives and retains one or more connector clips.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Building sets including one or more blocks or planks and one or more connector clips configured to engage a thickness of the planks. Various types of planks, as well as various types of connecting clips may be provided, so as to provide open-ended building characteristics to users. Some connector clips may include a mating protrusion allowing the connector clip to be coupled to a hole or receptacle of another connector clip, or hub for connector clips, or into a hole of a plank. Such clips may be pivotable relative to the structure coupled to as a result of the mating protrusion connection. The building sets may provide proportional dimension characteristics between the planks and various connector clips, hubs, etc. One or more button connector clips may be provided with one or more panels, allowing panels to be integrated into the structural framework created with the connector clips and planks.
183 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A building set, comprising:
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one or more planks, at least one of which includes a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, the at least one plank including a thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends; one or more connector clips, at least one of the connector clips including a clip body and a plank engaging channel, the channel of the clip including; a base defining a floor; first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces of the plank is receivable, a width of the channel being substantially equal to the thickness of the plank that is receivable within the channel so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the plank received within the channel, frictionally coupling the connector clip to a plank received within the channel; and a mating protrusion extending from the clip body, the mating protrusion being sized and shaped for receipt into a corresponding hole or recess of another connector clip, a plank, or a hub that removably receives and retains one or more connector clips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A building set, comprising:
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one or more planks, at least one of which includes a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, the at least one plank including a thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends; one or more first connector clips, at least one of the connector clips including a clip body and a plank engaging channel, the channel of the clip including; a base defining a floor; first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces of the plank is receivable, a width of the channel being substantially equal to the thickness of the plank that is receivable within the channel so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the plank received within the channel, frictionally coupling the connector clip to a plank received within the channel; and wherein the at least one plank includes a hole formed through the thickness between the faces; and wherein at least one of the first connector clips comprises a mating protrusion extending from the clip body, the mating protrusion being sized and shaped for receipt into the hole of the at least one plank. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A building set, comprising:
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one or more planks, at least one of which includes a first face, an opposing second face, a first side, an opposed second side, a first end, and an opposed second end, the at least one plank including a thickness defined between opposed faces, opposed sides, or opposed ends; one or more first connector clips, at least one of the connector clips including a clip body and a plank engaging channel, the channel of the clip including; a base defining a floor; first and second substantially parallel extensions, each including interior surfaces, the extensions extending distally from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which the thickness defined between opposed faces of the plank is receivable, a width of the channel being substantially equal to the thickness of the plank that is receivable within the channel so that the extensions pinch the thickness of the plank received within the channel, frictionally coupling the connector clip to a plank received within the channel; and wherein the at least one plank includes a hole formed through the thickness between the faces; and further comprising a button connector clip comprising a mating protrusion extending from a button connector clip body, the mating protrusion being sized and shaped for receipt into a hole of a plank and/or another connector clip, the button connector clip further comprising one or more channels formed into the button connector clip body opposite from the mating protrusion of the button connector clip. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification