Group use toy structural construction set
First Claim
1. Group use toy structural construction set comprising:
- a. straight tubes, each having a tubular member body of resilient plastic, each of said tubes having at each end portion at least one saw-cut type slot through its wall parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof;
b. circular hoops, each having a tubular member body of resilient plastic, with the outside diameter of said tubular member body of said hoops being the same as that of said tubular member body of said tubes;
c. tubular member body-to-tube end connector means including C-shaped means for releasable external engagement with the tubular member body of one of said tubes or of one of said hoops and insertable means for releasable internal engagement with an end of one of said tubes;
d. tubular member body-to-tubular member body connector means including two C-shaped means for releasable external interengagement of said tubular member bodies of two of said tubes, two of said hoops, or one of said tubes and one of said hoops;
e. tube end-to-tube end connector means including at least two insertable means for releasable internal interengagement of of ends of a plurality of said tubes, with said interengagement occurring at a common junction point;
f. a wheel hub block having a plurality of equally spaced spoke holes disposed radially around the periphery of said hub block and with the axes of said spoke holes being in a common plane, said spoke holes having a depth and diameter sufficient to receive and frictionally hold said slotted ends of said tubes, said hub block also having an axle hole passing through its center and normal to said plane of said axes of said spoke holes, the diameter of said axle hole being slightly more than the outside diameter of said tubes, whereby said axle hole can pass one of said tubes as an axle so as to permit said hub block to be free to revolve around one of said tubes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A group use toy structural construction set comprising various lengths of a straight resilient plastic tubes with slotted ends, large size tubular member resilient plastic hoops, three basic types of tubular member connectors, and an optional wheel hub. The three basic types of connectors are used for releasable interengagement of: (a) tubular member body-to-tube end; (b) tubular member body-to-tubular member body; and (c) tube end-to-tube end. Connectors use identical clutching elements and identical frictional fitted plugs, with clutching elements designed to grasp and frictionally hold tubular member bodies, and plugs designed to be fitted into slotted tube ends and frictionally hold therein. Tubes and hoops have same outside diameter for tubular bodies. Hoops have overall diameters ranging up to those of a "hula" hoop, or about 36 in. (90 cms). Some connectors are fixed type, and some pivotal type, with latter having angular latitude advantage over former. Optional wheel hub element for set permits assembly of mobile structures. Relatively large stationary and mobile structures can be assembled by groups up to 25 persons, indoors or outdoors, with size of structures measuring up to 4 yds (4 mts) high and 6 yds (6 mts) long. Set elements are simple, safe, lightweight, easy to use, and require no tools for assembly. Tubes and hoops are standard trade items and are readily available. Connectors are strong, durable, versatile, and can be made essentially of resilient plastic. Construction set with assemblies has high educational and entertainment value, and can be a valuable medium for encouragement of cooperative thought and work efforts when used by large groups. A booklet in schematic and photographic form showing various possible structures that can be assembled is to accompany set.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. Group use toy structural construction set comprising:
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a. straight tubes, each having a tubular member body of resilient plastic, each of said tubes having at each end portion at least one saw-cut type slot through its wall parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; b. circular hoops, each having a tubular member body of resilient plastic, with the outside diameter of said tubular member body of said hoops being the same as that of said tubular member body of said tubes; c. tubular member body-to-tube end connector means including C-shaped means for releasable external engagement with the tubular member body of one of said tubes or of one of said hoops and insertable means for releasable internal engagement with an end of one of said tubes; d. tubular member body-to-tubular member body connector means including two C-shaped means for releasable external interengagement of said tubular member bodies of two of said tubes, two of said hoops, or one of said tubes and one of said hoops; e. tube end-to-tube end connector means including at least two insertable means for releasable internal interengagement of of ends of a plurality of said tubes, with said interengagement occurring at a common junction point; f. a wheel hub block having a plurality of equally spaced spoke holes disposed radially around the periphery of said hub block and with the axes of said spoke holes being in a common plane, said spoke holes having a depth and diameter sufficient to receive and frictionally hold said slotted ends of said tubes, said hub block also having an axle hole passing through its center and normal to said plane of said axes of said spoke holes, the diameter of said axle hole being slightly more than the outside diameter of said tubes, whereby said axle hole can pass one of said tubes as an axle so as to permit said hub block to be free to revolve around one of said tubes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification