GB2049450A

GB2049450A - Toy construction kits

Info

Publication number: GB2049450A
Application number: GB8014583A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-11
Filing date: 1980-05-02
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: IT1131442B; AU5772780A; SE8002616L; IT8021849A0; FR2455913A1; NL8001709A; DK160080A; AU517894B2; BE883125A

Abstract

A toy construction kit comprises construction elements 1, 1a connecting elements 2 and locking elements 6, each construction element having at least one pair of intersecting bores 4 extending through it and each connecting element 2 being slidably insertable into the bores and having at least one screw-threaded bore 5 extending through it. Each locking element 6 has and screw-threaded portion and a portion 7 which is slidably engageable in the bores 4 so that when a connecting element 2 has been inserted into one bore 4 of one construction element 1, a locking element can be inserted through a bore of an other construction element 1a and screwed into the threaded bore 5 of the connecting element 2 until the other portion 7 of the locking element engages with the bore of the other construction element 1a. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to toy construction kits This invention relates to a toy construction kit for assembling toy models, consisting of rectangular construction elements, preferably made of wood, having bores as junction points and connecting pieces which engage in the bores and connect the construction elements.

In known construction kits of the above type these construction elements are usually connected by means of cylindrical connecting pieces which, when inserted into the bores of the construction elements, do not achieve a connection that is resistant to being pulled. Further, the scope for extending the construction is considerably limited because the junction points of the construction elements are formed only by one bore. In order to obtain stable toy models, it is also known to join the construction elements to one another using screws and nuts. A connecting method of this type is very complicated, however, and also takes up a great deal of space.

To solve these problems, connecting pieces have been proposed of which the outer diameters correspond to the diameter of the bore, and which have at least one portion of narrow cross-section, over which a wedge element can be pushed from the direction of the free bore after the portion of narrow-cross-section has been moved to the point of intersection of the bores.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide, as alternatives and/or as a supplement to the method of connection just referred to, scope for connecting the elements in a manner which takes up little space and which permits a firm bracing and also a fastening of the construction elements in which the construction elements can be twisted relative to one another.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved in that a junction point is formed at least by two bores of equal diameter, which intersect with their central axes at right angles, that the connecting piece can be inserted into one of the bores, the connecting piece having an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bore and having a transverse bore with an internal screw thread at right angles to its longitudinal direction, into which a screw bolt that has a corresponding external screw thread, a cylin drical collar having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the connecting piece, and a head, may be screwed.

To make a connection, the connecting piece is pushed into one of the bores in the construction element forming the junction point until the transverse bore with the internal screw thread is located at the point of intersection of the bores and is also aligned with the still free bore of the junction point.

Thereafter, the two construction elements to be connected together are placed one on top of the other in such a manner that the bore of the one construction element is aligned with the free bore of the construction element having the connecting piece. By inserting and screwing in the screw bolt, the two construction elements are fastened together, the cylindrical collar arranged on the screw bolt serving to centre the construction element to be joined on. The bracing of the two construction elements with the head of the screw bolt can be adjusted by a suitable tightening moment of the screw bolt. Thus, both a connection in which the two construction elements can still be turned relative to one another, and a connection in which the two construction elements are firmly pressed against one another, are possible.

The solution according to the invention also permits fastenings to construction elements or to points on construction elements which do not have bores as junction points. This is achieved by an arrangement of construction elements such that a guide means for a further construction elements is formed. After the insertion of the further construction element into this guide means corresponding to the cross-section of the construction element, this construction element can be fixed in the guide means with a connecting piece and a screw bolt, which is to be screwed into the connecting piece.

Advantageously, the head of the screw bolt can be knurled, or be provided with a slot, or is polyhedral for the attachment of a tood for turning it. As a result of this design, very strong braced connections can be achieved for the construction of stable toy models.

The two end faces of the construction elements can with advantage, have an end bore extending beyond the first junction point. This construction enables construction elements to be joined on at the end faces to form extensions, and T-shapes and angle shapes.

The dimensions of the construction elements, the lengths of the connecting pieces and the distance between the junction points of the construction elements can with advantage be graduated according to the same modular dimensions. By adhering to these modular dimensions, the scope of use of the construction elements is increased, as it is possible to achieve equal lengths of rod with different additions of construction elements.

The present invention also provides a toy construction kit comprising a plurality of construction elements, a plurality of connecting elements and a plurality of locking elements, each construction element being of rectangular cross-section and having at least one pair of bores extending through it between respective parallel faces, the bores of the or each pair lying at right angles to, and intersecting each other, each connecting element being slidably insertable into any one of the said bores and having at least one screw-threaded bore extending through the element at right-angles to its longitudinal axis, and each locking element having an externally screw-threaded portion and a portion which is slidably engageable in any one ofthe said bores, wherein, when a connecting element has been inserted into one bore of a pair of intersecting bores in a construction element with its, or one of its screw-threaded bores lying at the intersection of the pair of bores that construction element can be fastened to another construction element or to another part of the kit having a through-going bore equal in diameter to any of the said bores by inserting a locking element through a or the bore of the said other construction element or the said other part of the kit and into the other bore of the said pair of bores and screwing the threaded portion into engagement with the threaded bore of the connecting element until the other portion of the locking element engages with the bore of the said other construction element or part.

A toy construction kit constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows building blocks and other construction elements of the kit connected to form part of a model, Figure 2 shows, insection, the connection of a building block and another construction element of the kit, and Figure 3 shows a screw bolt of the kit in perspective view.

Referring to the drawing, and first of all to Figure 1, construction elements 1, 1a, 1b and lcofdifferent forms are assembled together by means of connecting elements 2 and locking elements 6 to form part of a model. All the construction elements are of rectangular cross-section, the elements 1, ib being in the form of prismatic blocks, beams or rods each with at least one pair of identical bores 3 extending through the block between respective parallel faces, the bores of each pair lying at right-angles to, and intersecting each other, and each pair lying in a plane parallel to the end faces of the block.

In order to provide scope for attaching construction elements at their end faces, one or both end faces of the construction elements 1, 1 b, additionally has a bore 4 which extends from that face at right angles to the plane(s) of the intersecting bores 3 and to a point on that side of the closest pair of intersecting bores 3 remote from that face.

The distances between parallel faces of the con struction elements 1, 1b and the distances between the pairs of intersecting bores 3 are equal or multiples of each other.

To connect (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) a construction element 1 to an element lain the form of a strip, a cylindrical connecting element 2, of which the outer diameter corresponds to the dia meter of the bore, is inserted into one of a pair of intersecting bores 3. Each connecting element 2 has a screw-threaded transverse bore 5, lying at right angles to the axis of the element. The connecting element 2 is so positioned in the said one bore 3 that its transverse bore 5 is aligned with its intersecting bore 3.

A connecting element 6, in the form of a screw bolt, is then passed through a bore in the element la and is screw threadedly engaged with the bore 5. To facilitate centering and/or alignment of the elements to be fastened together, the connecting element 6 has a cylindrical collar 7, the outer diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bores in those elements. The connecting element 6 also has a head 8 which allows the construction elements to be fastened together firmly. Alternatively, it is possible, by tightening the bolt less firmly, to fasten two construction elements together so that they can twist relative to each other.

By using a locking element 6 having a longer threaded shank and/or with a wider collar 7 two construction elements 1, 1b can also be fastened together by inserting a connecting element 2 into a bore 3 or 4 of one construction element, passing the locking element through a bore 3 or 4 of the other construction element and engaging it in the threaded bore 5 of the connecting element.

A further method of connection, which is especially advantageous when a construction element has no bores, or has a portion (like element 1 b) without bores is also rendered possible by forming a guide means, using different construction elements, for the element having no, or a portion with no bores.

For that purpose, one of the construction elements 1c is U-shaped, the width of the gap between the arms of the U corresponding to the thickness of the construction element 1b to be inserted. The element 1 C is fastened to the element 1 (see Figure 1) by passing an axle 9 through bores 3 in the element 1.

The construction element 1b is then inserted in the guide means - formed between the end of the element 1 and the base of element 1c - and a connecting element 2 inserted into a bore 3 of the base of element 1 C. A locking element 6 is then inserted through another bore 3 in the base of element 1 C and threaded through the threaded bore 5 of the connecting element 2, until its end engages the side face of the element 1c. In this manner, a transverse connection is possible at any part of the construction element 1b. which has no bores.

The head 8 of the locking element 6 illustrated in Figure 3 is hexagonal to allow a tool, for example a spanner two engage and turn it.

Claims

1. A toy construction kit comprising a plurality of construction elements, a plurality of connecting elements and a plurality of locking elements, each construction element being of rectangular crosssection and having at least one pair of bores extending through it between respective parallel faces, the bores of the or each pair lying at right angles to, and intersecting each other, each connecting element being slidably insertable into any one of the said bores and having at least one screwthreaded bore extending through the element at right-angles to its longitudinal axis, and each locking element having an externally screw-threaded portion and a portion which is slidably engageable in any one of the said bores, wherein, when a connecting element has been inserted into one bore of a pair of intersecting bores in a construction element with its, or one of its screw-threaded bores iying at the intersection of the pair of bores that construction element can be fastened to another construction element orto another part of the kit having a through-going bore equal in diameter to any ofthe said bores by inserting a locking element through a or the bore of the said other construction element or the said other part of the kit and into the other bore of the said pair of bores and screwing the threaded portion into engagement with the threaded bore of the connecting element until the other portion of the locking element engages with the bore of the said other construction element or part.

2. A kit as claimed in claim 1, in which each locking element has a head adjacent to its said other portion and remote from its screw-threaded portion.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each locking element is in the form of a bolt.

4. A kit as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which the head of each locking element is knurled, or has a slot or is polyhedral in form.

5. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or two co-axial bores are provided in each construction element the or each of which extends at right angles to a plane or planes containing the pair or pairs of intersecting bores of that element and from a respective one of two parallel faces of that element and to a point on that side of the intersecting bores remote from that face.

6. A toy construction kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distance between parallel faces of the construction elements, the length of each connecting element and the distance between the intersections of pairs of bores in a construction element having two or more pairs of intersecting bores are equal or multiples of each other.

7. Atoyconstruction kit for assembling toy models consisting of rectangular construction elements having bores as junction points and connecting pieces which engage in the bores and connect the construction elements, wherein a junction point is formed at least by two bores of equal diameter, which intersect with their central axes at right angles, the connecting piece can be inserted into one of the bores, the connecting piece having an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bore and having a transverse bore with an internal screw thread at right angles to its longitudinal direction, into which a screw bolt having a corresponding external screw thread, a cylindrical collar corresponding in diameter to the outer diameter of the connecting piece, and a head, may be screwed.

8. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which at least the construction elements of the kit are made of wood.

9. A toy construction kit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawing.