KNOCKDOWN STRUCTURAL TOYS

• US 3,640,018 A
• Filed: 05/18/1970
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Light
• Original Assignee: Stanley Light
• Inventors: Light, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Louis G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lever, J. Q.
• Application Number:
  US05/038,112
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 46/22,24,25,26,29 220/97
• US Class Current: 446/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/065 using elastic deformation A63H33/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/361 Modular elements with complementary shapes, interengageable parts or the like toy building blocks A63H33/04; building elements for walls E04B2/02
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/46 characterised by wear resisting parts, e.g. diamond inserts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/821 Stacking member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/45 Flexibly connected rigid members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/453 Flexible sleeve-type coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/5733 Plural opposed sockets

Abstract

A modular structural toy constituted by comparatively few basic elements with which may be combined a virtually limitless number of cylindrical members, such as waste beverage cans, for the assembly of all types of structures striking the imagination of a child or an adult. A cubical block is fitted with annular resilient retainers, preferably of flexible plastic material, on five faces thereof, wherefrom may be branched selectively in one or more desired directions, a plurality of the cylindrical members which are integrated at the juxtaposed ends by annular connectors having resilient lips which encompass the annular beads at the ends of the cylindrical members. A cylindrical projection extends from at least one face of the central block which is shaped with an annular bead resembling that on a can so that the block may be coupled closely adjacent to another block by one of the annular resilient retainers on the latter, or by one end of an annular connector. In order to compensate for differences in length of the cylindrical members or cans which may be used in the setting up of a structural assembly, annular adapters may be interspersed in the assembly, each of which may be fitted on one end thereof with a resilient annular lip for encompassing the circular bead at the end of a can while the opposite end thereof is formed with an outwardly extending rib conforming to the outline and dimension of a bead, whereby it may receive the annular lip of another adapter or an annular connector. The lengths of the adapters and/or connectors may be varied to provide an additional capability of controlling the composite length of the cylindrical structural members integrated by said adapters or connectors.

Claims

1. In a knockdown toy assembly, a. a cubical toy block adapted to have the beaded ends of cylindrical members connected selectively to a plurality of identically dimensioned faces of said block, b. at least one face of said block having a cylindrical projection permanently affixed thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and provided at its free end with an outwardly directed substantially rigid annular rib of a dimension and contour of the same order as the annular beads at the ends of said cylindrical members, c. each of the remaining faces of said cubical block having an annular projection permanently affixed thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and provided at its free end with an inwardly directed annular resilient lip of flexible material adapted to yieldingly engage the annular bead projecting outwardly on the lateral wall at the end of one of said cylindrical members, and d. said outwardly directed annular rib adapted to be detachably coupled to an adjacent structural element through the intermediary of an inwardly directed resilient annular lip on the latter, and said annular lips and rib permitting relative rotary movement between said cylindrical members adapted to be detachably connected to said annular lips, and said structural element adapted to be connected to said annular rib.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cubical block is hollow and of synthetic plastic material.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical members are beverage cans.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned structural element is a second cubical block having an annular projection, with the appurtenant resilient annular lip, on the face thereof adjacent to said cylindrical projection on said first-mentioned block, to bring the two of said blocks into close juxtaposition.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned structural element is an annular connector of resilient and flexible plastic material having said resilient lip on one end thereof and a similar resilient lip on the opposite end thereof adapted to engage the annular bead at the end of one of said cylindrical members.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said last-mentioned structural element is an annular adapter of flexible plastic material having said resilient lip on one end thereof and an outwardly directed rib at the opposite end thereof, said rib having a dimension and contour of the same order as those of the annular beads at the ends of said cylindrical members.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6, including an annular connector of resilient and flexible material having a flexible lip for encompassing the outwardly directed rib of said adapter.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of annular connectors of plastic material having flexible lips on the opposite ends theReof adapted to engage the annular beads at the juxtaposed ends of cylindrical members.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said annular connectors are each provided with a single radial protuberance for facilitating the engagement and disengagement thereof with the annular beads of said cylindrical members.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said radial protuberance extends outwardly an amount corresponding to substantially the extent of the depth of said cylindrical projection on the cubical block, so that a cylindrical member extending from the latter on a substantially horizontal surface, may be leveled.

11. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said annular connectors are of varying lengths for compensating for varying lengths of the cylindrical members.

12. A device as set forth in claim 8, including at least one annular adapter of flexible plastic material having a flexible lip on one end thereof and an outwardly directed rib at the opposite end thereof, said rib being of a dimension and contour of the same order as those of the annular beads at the ends of said cylindrical members, and adapted to be encompassed by the flexible lip of another juxtaposed annular adapter or annular connector.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said annular adapter is provided with a single radial protuberance for facilitating the engagement and disengagement thereof with elements coupled therewith.

14. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein each annular connector is provided with a circular web at substantially the midportion thereof to reenforce and to enhance the structural stability of the connector.

15. A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said annular adapter is provided with a circular web at substantially the midportion thereof to rigidify the unit and to enhance the strength thereof.

16. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical projection is provided on one face of said cubical block and said annular projections are provided on the remaining five faces thereof.

17. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the annular connector is of substantial length and is provided with a circular web adjacent to each resilient lip to reenforce and to enhance the structural stability of the connector.