Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
  • A63H33/10—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled by means of additional non-adhesive elements
  • A63H33/12—Perforated strips or the like assembled by rods, bolts, or the like

Definitions

• the invention relates to a construction set, preferably a toy set, which comprises building members and coupling members.
• planar toys comprise mainly planar elements, while the elements of spatial toys are bodies with three dimensions.
• One of the most popular planar constructional toys is the so called Marklin-toy, which has perforated metal lamina as building members, metal-screws as coupling members and auxiliary members /e.g. wheels/ made also of metal.
• the members can be mounted by means of tools only /e.g. pliers, fork wrench, screw driver/. This toy is used mainly for assembling machines /e.g. cars, cranes, etc./.
• a spatial building toy has been placed on the market with the trade-name Matador. It has a set of membersconsisting of bodies of most common basic geometrical types made of wood /Such types are cubes, prisms, bricks and cylinders/. There are holes provided in the members and the members are interconnected by means of wood pins. The mounting of the members inevitably requires the use of various tools, first of all a hammer and pliers. This toy can be used also mainly for the assembling of machines, vehicles /airplanes, cars, helicopter/.
• the drawback of this system lies in that it also helps developing a technocratic attitude.
• a spatial building toy known designed for developing manual skill and sense of proportion of children in the age of 1-3 years which comprises basic geometrical bodies as constructional members, mainly rounded cylinder segments or rectangular prisms, and all of these members comprise a central bore by means of which they can be assembled on a vertical rod.
• This toy is disadvantageous in the sense that it has only very limited variational possibilities.
• the object of the invention is to provide a construction set which can be used for assembling spatial bodies e.g. spatial toy figures in which the assembling operation does not require any tools whatso-ever, and which can develop children's manipulating ability, creativity, which can offer free scope to phantasy and has a large variability and can develop artistic instinct, too.
• a construction set which can be used preferably as a toy set, which comprises building members and coupling members in which according to the present invention the building members comprise: disc members with a diameter forming a basic size, the disc members have a common thickness which form a basic thickness which is at least one sixth and at most one third of the basic size, the disc members have respective central throughgoing holes with a common diameter which forms a basic diameter and it is at least one sixth and at most one third of the basic size; elongated members with shapes symmetrical both to the longitudinal and transversal axes thereof, the elongated members have a common width which is substantially equal to the basic size, and they have a common thickness substantially equal to the basic thickness, and the contour lines of the elongated elements in their end regions approach respective semi-circles which has diameters substantially equal to the basic size, there are respective throughgoing holes in the end regions of the elongated members which have diameters substantially equal to the basic diameter, the centre points of the holes lie in the longitudinal axes in
• the coupling members comprise: threaded bolts with an outer diameter loosely fitting in the holes which have their diameter equal to the basic diameter, and the length of these bolts is at least about three times as long as the basic thickness; and nuts for engagement with the bolts, the outer size of the nuts is smaller than the basic size and greater than the half of the basic size, and the thickness of the nuts is at most as great as the basic thickness.
• contour lines in the end regions of the elongated members are formed by linear sections osculating the semi-circles. It is preferable if the nuts are circular and their width is substantially equal to the basic thickness.
• the elongated members have lengthswhich are multiples of the basic size.
• the building members comprise connecting members which have a width and height substantially equal to the basic size and the length thereof is at least equal to the basic size, and the connecting members are symmetrical relative to at least one symmetryc plane and comprise pairs of end planes normal to the symmetryc plane and a planar face normal to the end planes, and a connecting member each comprises at least two threaded bores with diverging axes for receiving and engaging said bolts.
• each of the connecting members are formed by a semi-cylinder with a diameter equal to the basic size and by a rectangular prism attached integrally to the semi-cylinder.
• the connecting members define three threaded bores which have axes mutually normal to each other and which intersect each other in the middle of the connecting member.
• the building members comprise additional e longated members which have a common thickness which is substantially equal to the basic thickness
• the shape of the additional elongated members is similar to that of the elongated members mentioned hereinabove but they have a common width which is substantially twice as great as the basic size
• the additional elongated members also define in their end regions respective throughgoing holes which are substantially as large as the holes of the normal elongated members and their centre points lie in the longitudinal axes of the members in a distance from the outermost points which is substantially equal to the half of the basic size.
• the difference compared to this latter embodiment lies in, that the throughgoing holes are twice as far from the outermost points of the members, that is, their distance is equal to the basic size.
• the building members comprise additional disc members which have a diameter twice as large as the basic size and they have central holes with diameters substantially as large as the basic diameter, and the thickness of these disc members is substantially equal to the basic thickness.
• the building members comprise semi-circular members with a diameter which is about twice as large as the basic size and which has a thickness which is substantially equal to the basic thickness, and each of the semi-circular members comprises at least one bore with a diameter equal to the basic diameter.
• the building elements mainly the elongated mem bers comprise further throughgoing holes with diameters substantially equal to the basic diameter and which are arranged in the central axes or symmetrically relative to the axes.
• the coupling members comprise a cylinder with a diameter equal to the basic size or equal to the double of the basic size, and this cylinder is at least as long as the basic size and has a central bore with a size substantially as large as the basic diameter.
• This bore can be a throughgoing bore or a threaded bore.
• This cylindrical member can be used as a distance keeper or as a coupling element or as a building element.
• the basic size referred to hereinabove is at least 25 mm but it is most preferable if the basic size is in the region of 50 mm.
• Fig. 1 shows a disc member
• Figs. 2-7 show a set of elongated members
• Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of Fig. 1
• Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a connecting member comprising a semi-cylinder and a rectangular prism
• Fig. 10 shows a coupling member made of a cylinder
• Figs. 11 and 12 show additional building members made of half discs
• Figs. 13 and 14 show two embodiments of further disc members
• Figs. 15 and 16 show further elongated members with different hole arrangement
• Fig. 17 shows a further disc member with a double diameter compared to that shown in Fig. 1
• Figs. 18-20 show additional elongated members having double size compared to those shown in Figs. 2-4;
• Figs. 21-27 show various embodiments of threaded bores used as coupling members;
• Fig. 23 shows a circular nut used for engagement with the threaded bolts;
• Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken along lines B-B of Fig. 28;
• Fig. 30 shows a distance keeping member;
• Fig. 31 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 30;
• Figs. 32-35 show a set of elongated members comprising different kinds of holes along their longitudinal axes;
• Fig. 36 shows a further disc member;
• Figs. 37-40 show further embodiments of elongated members with double size.
• Figs. 41-46 show various configurations which can be assembled by means of the members shown in Figs. 1-40.
• member 1 which has a diameter a which forms a basic size for the construction set.
• the radius r of the disc is equal to a/2.
• a throughgoing central circular hole 8a is made in the disc 1 which has a diameter D and a thickness v.
• the diameter D forms a basic diameter for thewhole set and a thickness v forms a basic thickness. It is preferable if the basic diameter D is equal or substantially equal to the basic thickness v. It is also preferable if the thickness v is about a quarter of the basic size a.
• the sides of the elongated member can be made of appropriate arc sections.
• the end regions of the elongated members can be formed by linear sections which extend tangentially to the semi-circles.
• This embodiment is shown in Fig. 3 with the ashed lines.
• the elongated members have respective pairs of throughgoing holes 8a at their end regions, and the distance between the outermost points of the members and the central points O of the throughgoing holes 8a is equal to the half of the basic size a i.e. a/2.
• the diameter of the throughgoing holes 8a is equal to the basic diameter D.
• the geometrical relationships relating to the elongated members are shown in Fig. 2 only. Figs.
• FIG. 9 shows a connecting member 9 which can be used as an intermediate coupling member between the individual elements in the set, and by means of the application of the connecting member 9 the number of configurations which can be made by the construction set can be increased significantly.
• the connecting member 9 comprises a rectangular prism I and a half cylinder II which parts are united to form a single integrated body. It can be seen in Fig. 9 that the width and the height of the connecting member 9 are both equal to the basic size a as well as its length which also conforms to this size. With these dimensions the connecting member 9 fits harmonically in the other members of the set, shown in Figs. 1-8.
• the connecting member 9 comprises three threaded holes 8b, which have mutually perpendicular axes which cross each other in the centre of the connecting member 9. These axes can be considered as a spatial coordinate-system.
• the mouthes of the holes 8b lie in three different surfaces of the connecting member 9. With the geometrical relationships shown in Fig. 9 it can be seen that the distance between the centre points O of the holes 8b and the nearest planar surface of the member is equal to the half of the basic size a.
• the threaded holes 8b have a diameter d which conforms to the diameter of threaded bolts shown in Figs. 21-27, whereby these bolts can be screwed in the holes 8b.
• Fig. 10 shows a cylinder 10 which can be used either as a coupling member or as a distance keeper.
• the diameter of the cylinder 10 is equal to the basic size a and its length is also just as large.
• There is provided a central bore or two central bores in the cylinder 10 which can be threaded bores 8b with a diameter d or throughgoing holes with a diameter D. When threaded bores are made in the cylinder 10, the threaded bores can be screwed therein.
• Figs. 11 and 12 show two semi-circular members 11 and 12 which have a thickness equal to the basic thickness v.
• the diameter of the semi-circular members 11 and 12 is twice as great as the basic size a, that is, their radius is just equal to the basic size.
• Near to a corner of the member 11 there is provided a throughgoing hole 8a which has a centre point O which lies in both directions in a distance of a/4 from the corner point S.
• the semi-circular member 12 shown in Fig. 12 the difference lies in, that the centre point of the throughgoing hole lies in the symmetry-axis of the member and the distance between the centre point and the linear section of the member 12 is equal to a/2.
• the diameter of these holes is equal to the basic diameter D.
• Figs. 13 and 14 show disc members 13 and 14 with a thickness equal to the basic thickness.
• the diameter of the discs is twice as great as the basic size a.
• the disc member 13 comprises four throughgoing holes 8a with a diameter D, one of them is arranged centrally while the remaining three holes are arranged in the apex points of a regular triangle. The radial distance between these apex points and the centre of the disc is equal to the half of the basic size a.
• the disc member 14 shown in Fig. 14 comprises three throughgoing holes 8a arranged in the apex points of a isosceles triangle show that two of these points are in a distance of 3/4a from the centre point O of the disc 14, while the distance between the remaining hole and the centre point is a/2.
• the elongated member 16 comprises also three throughgoing holes with a diameter of D, two of them are arranged in the longitudinal axis x symmetrically to the transversal axis y and the third hole is arranged in the axis y.
• the distance between the axis y and the first two holes is equal to the basic size a, while the distance between the axis x and the third hole is equal to 3/4a. It can be observed that the three centre points of the holes in the members 15 and 16 fall in the apex points of respective isosceles triangles.
• the thickness of the members 15 and 16 is equal to the basic thickness v.
• Figs. 17-20 show further members 17-20 which can complement the members shown in Figs. 1-16 to make the construction set more versatile.
• the disc 17 has a diameter twice of the basic size a and this double size is equal to the width of the elongated element 18-19 and 20, however, the length of the elongated elements remains an integer multiple of the basic size a.
• the disc 17 comprises a central hole with a diameter D, and the diameter of the semi-circles at the end regions of members 18-20 is the double of the basic size.
• the elongated members 18-20 comprise respective pairs of throughgoing holes arranged in their longitudinal axis x and the central point of these holes are in a distance of a from the nearest end points of the member. It can be seen that for the elongated members 18-20 the previously described rules are valid according to which the distance between the end points and the centres of the throughgoing holes is the half of the width of the members.
• the basic geometrical relationships have been illustrated only in connection with member 18. The thickness of these members is equal to the basic thickness.
• Figs. 21-29 show the embodiment of the coupling members used in the construction set.
• Threaded bolts 21-27 shown in Figs. 21-27 which have an outer diameter d and length 1 1 ... 1 n which are an integer multiple of the basic width d.
• the diameter d is selected so that it should be loosely fitted in the basic diameter D of the throughgoing holes 8a.
• the length of the shortest threaded bolt 21 designated by 1 1 is four times as long as the basic thickness v.
• Figs. 28 and 29 show disc-shaped nuts 28 which can be the thickness of the nut 28 is equal to the basic thickness v, while the outer diameter E is smaller than the basic size a.
• Figs. 30 and 31 show distance rings 29 made preferably of a resilient plastic material with a length substantially equal to the basic thickness v and an outer diameter F somewhat greater than the basic diameter.
• short threaded cylinders can be used as distance keeping members.
• Figs. 32-35 show elongated members 40, 50, 60 and 70 which are similar to the members 4-7 shown in Figs. 4-7, the only difference lies in that in addition to the holes 8a at the two end regions they are provided with additional holes with diameters D, which additional holes are arranged in the longitudinal axis x of the members.
• the elongated member 40 which has a length 4a and a width a comprises a third hole in the middle of its body i.e. where the transversal axis y crosses the longitudinal axis.
• the distance between the medium hole and the two holes at the end regions is designated by e in which a ⁇ e ⁇ 2a.
• the elongated member 50 with a length 5a also comprises three holes, two at the end regions and one in the middle. The distance between the middle hole and the other holes is equal to 2a.
• the elongated member 60 shown in Fig. 34 comprises five holes arranged in such a way that the two outermost holes are in a distance of a/2 from the two end points of the member, the two next holes are arranged with a distance a inner relativ to the outermost holes, and the fifth hole in the middle is from a distance e from its neighbouring holes, in which 2a > e > a.
• the elongated member 70 shown in Fig. 35 comprises two pairs of holes, the inner pair of holes are arranged with a distance a from the outer pair. As it can be seen in the drawings the position of each hole is defined with the position of its centre point O as illustrated in Fig. 32.
• Figs. 37-40 show elongated members 180, 190, 200, 210, respectively which are similar to the members shown in Figs. 18-20, and their width is the double of the basic size a, their length is an integer multiple of the basic size.
• These elongated member also comprise respective holes at their end regions with a diameter equal to the basic diameter D, these holes have centre points falling on the longitudinal axis. The distance between the centre points of these holes and the nearest end points of the members is equal to the half of the basic distance a. The thickness of these members is equal to the basic thickness v.
• Figs. 41-46 show a number of exemplary toy constructions which can be assembled by using the members shown in Figs. 1-40.
• Fig. 41 shows a crocodile-like model made of elongated members 2-5 and of coupling members.
• the coupling members have not been designated by reference numbers. It can well be understood that by loosing the coupling members and by turning or rotating the elongated members followed by the fastening of the coupling members the configuration of Fig. 41 can be converted into a practically unlimited number of shapes, vary ing between a linear line section and a wheel-like completely bended form.
• Fig. 42 shows a cat-figure which is sitting in the position shown by the full line, and if three of its component members are turned in the position shown by the d ash line the cat will be standing.
• the members 2, 3, 4; 11 and 16 have been used to make the desired shape.
• Figs. 43-45 show a cow-figure in three different positions, whereby it will be clear how many positions can be realized by the construction set according to the invention even within the same general configuration.
• the cow-figure has been made by the members 1, 2, 3, 5; 11, 15, 16, 17 and 19 and by the appropriate number of coupling members.
• Fig. 46 shows a dog-like body in which connecting members 13 have also been used, and one of the connecting members 13 can be seen in the drawing.
• the members 1, 4, 6, 17 have been used for this configuration and in addition to these elements a member 20' has also been used which is similar to the elongated member shown in Fig. 20, but it has now a length of 6a.
• the figure shown in Fig. 46 can be considered by a child not only as a dog, but as a small couch or a box-like figure and it can also be considered as a bird shiluette.
• the large number of possible explanations makes it clear that the construction set according to the invention offers a wide field for the phantasy of the child whereby his or her creational ability will be developed.
• the elements of the set are easy to manufacture and the set itself can be packed and circulated in appropriate compact units.
• the invention can not be limited to the preferable embodiments explained and illustrated hereinabove and it can be modified and changed without departing from the essence and spirit thereof. It should be emphasized that wood is considered to be the most appropriate material for the various elements of the construction set, however, the application of other materials such as appropriate plastic materials can also be useful.

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• 1983
  • 1983-01-28 BR BR8307686A patent/BR8307686A/pt unknown
  • 1983-01-28 WO PCT/HU1983/000004 patent/WO1984002853A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1983-01-28 US US06/666,087 patent/US4589853A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1983-01-28 JP JP58500484A patent/JPS60500481A/ja active Pending
  • 1983-01-28 EP EP19830900435 patent/EP0134781A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1983-02-07 CA CA000421001A patent/CA1197100A/en not_active Expired
• 1984
  • 1984-09-20 FI FI843693A patent/FI843693A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1984-09-27 NO NO843875A patent/NO843875L/no unknown

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