Toy building set

• US 6,213,839 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Interlego, AG (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Niels Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US09/156,190
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 446/490, 446/101, 446/128, 446/268, 446/314, 446/315
• US Class Current: 446/268
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/04 Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts

Abstract

A toy building set is disclosed which includes a first type of building element formed of relatively flexurally flexible portions and a second type of building element having gripping fingers facing each other and spaced a distance apart that corresponds to the outer diameter of the flexurally flexible elements. The first type of building element may thus be releasably secured between the gripping fingers.

Claims

1. A toy building set comprising a first building element and at least one second building element;

said first building element being configured as a substantially elongate, flexurally flexible element with a longitudinal direction and consisting of a number of alternately relatively flexurally flexible and relatively flexurally rigid portions, said relatively flexurally rigid portions being fixed to said flexible element and having a predetermined outer diameter transversally to the longitudinal direction,

said second building element having one or more gripping devices formed of two gripping fingers on which receiving surfaces are provided that face each other, said receiving surfaces being arranged at a distance from each other that corresponds to the predetermined outer diameter of the first building element and a gripping width whereby said first building element may be introduced into and releasably secured between the gripping fingers, whereby each relatively rigid portion extends uninterrupted longitudinally for at least a distance that corresponds to the gripping width of the receiving surfaces on the gripping fingers whereby the relatively flexurally rigid portions from coupling points for mounting said first type of building element along said second building element.

2. A toy building set according to claim 1, characterized in that the relatively flexurally flexible portions on the elongate, flexurally flexible element have a diameter which is smaller than the predetermined outer diameter.

3. A toy building set according to claim 1, characterized in that the relatively flexurally flexible portions on the elongate, flexible element are substantially circular-cylindrical with an outer diameter corresponding to the predetermined outer diameter of the elongate, flexurally rigid element, and wherein the receiving surfaces on the gripping fingers are constituted of substantially circular-cylindrical surfaces with common axis of symmetry.

4. A toy building set according to claim 2, characterized in that the elongate flexurally flexible element has at least two relatively flexurally flexible portions arranged at a distance from each other which exceeds the diameter for the relatively flexurally rigid portions.

5. A toy building set according to claim 1, characterized in that the elongate, flexible element consists of a flexurally flexible, elongate element which is of substantially even thickness, on which the relatively flexurally flexible portions of the elongate, flexible element are permanently mounted.

6. A toy building set according to claim 5, characterized in that the relatively flexurally rigid portions are made of a plastics material which is permanently moulded onto the flexurally flexible, elongate element which has a substantially even thickness.

7. A toy building set according to claim 1, characterized in that the toy building set further comprises a third type of elements provided with coupling studs, and that the elongate flexurally flexible element has two extremities, each of which being provided with a coupling means which is complementary to the coupling studs on the third type of elements, with a view to releasable mounting of the elongate, flexurally flexible element on the third type of elements.