Construction element and throwing toy made therefrom
First Claim
1. A flexible joint comprising:
- first and second lengths of flexible material each comprising means therein for defining a respective transverse opening therethrough capable of accommodating the passage of the other length of material,both of said opening defining means including elastic sidewall means for compressively surrounding said other length of material in its respective opening, andone of said lengths having said other length of material held in its respective opening with both of said openings cooperating such that the outer elastic sidewall means compressively collapses the inner elastic sidewall means to form a generally cruciform flexible joint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A construction element, which may be used in constructing flexible universal joints for a variety of geometrical structures such as assembly toys and in combination with rods to particularly construct a cube-octahedron throwing toy, is disclosed wherein the element comprises a section of elastic tubing having diametrically opposed cutouts at its center to form a transverse opening adapted to receive a similar piece of tubing or other member. By inserting one of such elements through the cutouts in another of the elements until the cutouts register, they may be compressively held together and form a universally flexible, self-centering, cruciform joint which can be connected to four rod-like members and used in combination with like elements and members in assembling various polyhedral structures such as the preferred embodiment of a manipulatable throwing toy. By virtue of their elasticity, more than two tube elements can be connected together into a single multielement joint or one or more can be connected to an alternate unitized cruciform joint embodiment.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A flexible joint comprising:
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first and second lengths of flexible material each comprising means therein for defining a respective transverse opening therethrough capable of accommodating the passage of the other length of material, both of said opening defining means including elastic sidewall means for compressively surrounding said other length of material in its respective opening, and one of said lengths having said other length of material held in its respective opening with both of said openings cooperating such that the outer elastic sidewall means compressively collapses the inner elastic sidewall means to form a generally cruciform flexible joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A flexible joint comprising:
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four arm members disposed in a cruciform arrangement; and cruciform hub means of elastic material integrally connecting said arm members for forming an actuable joint between them, said hub means having a thickness less than that of said arm members and joining with them in such manner that the inner ends of said arm members are tapered about their peripheries to merge with said hub means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A construction toy comprising the combination of:
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at least one generally cruciform flexible joint comprising; four arm members disposed in a cruciform arrangement; and cruciform hub means of elastic material integrally connecting said arm members for forming an actuable joint between them, said hub means having a thickness less than that of said arm members and joining with them in such manner that the inner ends of said arm members are tapered about their peripheries to merge with said hub means; and at least one rod-like member having at least one end which is held on the outer end of at least one of said arm members. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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9. A manipulatible toy comprising:
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twenty-four rod-like members of identical length; and twelve flexible joint means each containing four arm members for connecting said rod-like members into six squares and eight triangles, said joint means each comprising cruciform hub means of elastic material integrally connecting said arm members for forming an actuable joint between them, said hub means having a thickness less than that of said arm members, and joining with them in such manner that the inner ends of said arm members are tapered about their peripheries to merge with said hub means.
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10. A construction toy comprising the combination of:
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at least one generally cruciform flexible joint formed of; two lengths of flexible tubing, each comprising; means for defining an axial channel extending the length of said tubing; and means for defining diametrically opposed apertures in the walls of said tubing communicating with said axial channel to form a transverse opening through said tubing capable of accommodating the passage of the other length of flexible tubing, said opening defining means including elastic sidewall means for compressively surrounding said other length of tubing to hold it in said opening; one of said lengths of tubing having the other held in its opening with the two openings in such relationship that the outer elastic sidewall means compressively collapses the inner elastic sidewall means; and at least one rod-like member having at least one end whose width is slightly larger than that of said channels whereby said end may be compressively held therein.
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11. A manipulatible toy comprising:
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twenty-four rod-like members of identical length; and twelve flexible joint means each containing four legs for connecting said rod-like members into six squares and eight triangles, said joint means each comprising; first and second lengths of flexible material; and means in both of said lengths of material for defining a transverse opening therethrough capable of accommodating the passage of the other length of material, said opening defining means including elastic sidewall means for compressively surrounding said other length of material in said opening and one of said lengths having said other length of material held in said opening with said openings cooperating such that the outer elastic sidewall means compressively collapses the inner elastic sidewall means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A throwing toy comprising:
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a freestanding collapsible cube-octahedron comprising; twenty-four rod-like members of identical length; and twelve flexible joint means each containing four legs for connecting said rod-like members into a hollow configuration having six square and eight triangular faces; and means for engaging and holding said cube-octahedron preparatory to throwing it, comprising; handle means for gripping by a thrower; and skewering means, connected to said handle means and comprising substantially parallel edges and a rounded end remote from said handle means, for fitting into any of the faces of said cube-octahedron. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification