Toy construction set

• US 7,316,598 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith S. Lock
• Original Assignee: Keith S. Lock
• Inventors: Lock, Keith S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci; John A.
• Application Number:
  US11/205,973
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 446/85, 446/108, 446/111, 446/113, 446/121, 446/122, 446/126
• US Class Current: 446/126
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/102 using elastic deformation A63H33/101 takes precedence

Abstract

A toy construction set including a plurality of elongated tubular elements each including first and second ends having identical outside diameters. A plurality of differently configured connectors each include a plurality of connecting legs having ends with identical inside diameters sized to closely mate and providing releasable engagement with the tubular elements. The connectors are individually configured to have preferably up to eight (8) connecting legs variously oriented one to another and radially extending from a focal point wherein the toy construction set is used to assemble a three-dimensional structure including a plurality of tubular elements releasably connected to a plurality of connectors.

Claims

1. A toy construction set comprising:

a plurality of elongated tubular elements each including first and second ends having identical outside diameters;

a plurality of connectors each differently configured one to another and including a plurality of connecting legs having connecting ends each having identical inside diameters sized to closely mate and providing releasable engagement with said tubular elements;

a first one of said plurality of connectors being configured as an elbow having two of said connecting ends oriented at up to 90 degrees one to another;

a second one of said plurality of connectors being configured to include only three divergently extending legs each having one of said connecting ends;

a third one of said plurality of said connectors being configured to include four divergently extending legs each having one of said connecting ends;

said toy construction set being used to assemble a three-dimensional structure including a plurality of said tubular elements releasably connected to a plurality of said connectors;

each of said connecting legs of each of said plurality of connectors having a central longitudinal axis, all of said axes of each said connector intersecting at a central focal point defined thereby;

at least one of said connectors including a central aperture at said focal point sized to equal said inside diameter for releasable connection with said tubular elements;

said legs of one said connector being spaced radially one to another and oriented at a common acute angle to the central axis.

2. A toy construction set as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth of said plurality of said connectors being configured to include six divergently extending legs each having one of said connecting ends;

said fourth connector including a portion of said legs lying in a first plane and a remainder of said legs lying in a second plane oriented at an acute angle to said first plane.

3. A toy construction set as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

releasable snap-on connectors configured for interconnection between closely spaced tubular elements of adjacent three-dimensional structures.

4. A toy construction set comprising:

a plurality of elongated straight tubular elements each including first and second ends having identical outside diameters;

a plurality of connectors each differently configured one to another and including at least three connecting legs having connecting ends each having identical inside diameters sized to closely mate and providing releasable engagement with said tubular elements;

each of said connecting legs of each of said plurality of connectors having a central longitudinal axis, all of said axes of each said connector intersecting at a central focal point defined thereby;

at least one of said connectors including a central aperture passing through said focal point and sized to equal said inside diameter for releasable connection with said tubular elements;

said legs of at least one said connector spaced radially one to another and oriented at a common acute angle to the central axis thereof.

5. A toy construction set as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

one said connector including a portion of said legs lying in a first plane and a remainder of said legs lying in a second plane oriented at an acute angle to said first plane.

6. A toy construction set comprising:

a plurality of elongated tubular elements each including first and second ends having identical outside diameters;

a plurality of connectors each differently configured one to another and including a plurality of connecting legs having connecting ends each having substantially identical inside diameters sized to closely mate and providing releasable engagement with said tubular elements;

a first one of said plurality of connectors being configured as an elbow having two of said connecting ends oriented at up to 90 degrees one to another;

a second one of said plurality of connectors being configured to include only three divergently extending legs each having one of said connecting ends;

a third one of said plurality of said connectors being configured to include four divergently extending legs each having one of said connecting ends;

said toy construction set being used to assemble a three-dimensional structure including a plurality of said tubular elements releasably connected to a plurality of said connectors;

each of said connecting legs of each of said plurality of connectors having a central longitudinal axis, all of said axes of each said connector intersecting at a central focal point defined thereby;

at least one of said connectors including a central aperture passing through said focal point and sized to equal said inside diameter for releasable connection with said tubular elements;

said legs of at least one said connector evenly spaced radially one to another and oriented at a common acute angle to the central axis thereof.

7. A toy construction set comprising:

a plurality of elongated tubular elements each including first and second ends having identical outside diameters;

a plurality of connectors each differently configured one to another and including a plurality of connecting ends having identical inside diameters sized to closely mate and providing releasable engagement with said tubular elements;

said toy construction set being used to assemble a three-dimensional structure including a plurality of said tubular elements reasonably connected to a plurality of said connectors;

a plurality of panels each of different geometry shape and configured for reasonable engagement to said tubular elements which form a perimeter similarly shaped to that of one said panel;

said releasable engagement including opposing tubular snap-on connectors formed as a part of, and positioned along at least two opposing edges of each perimeter of said panels and being configured for snap over interconnection over closely spaced tubular elements of adjacent three-dimensional structures.