GB2100997A - Construction toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A construction toy kit comprises elongate tubular elements (11) and connectors (12). Some of the connectors (12, 12a, 12b) comprise an elongate stem (13) with arms (14) protruding from the stem, whilst connector (12c) comprises arms radiating from a hub. A spindle (16), which makes a sliding fit in a central aperture (15) in the connector (12c), enables arrangements to be constructed which comprise rotating parts. The connectors are readily deformable plastically and the elements are resiliently flexible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICittON Construction toy The invention relates to a construction toy which is a kit of the kind comprising elongate tubular elements and connectors upon which the elements can be mounted. A number of elements can be connected by the connectors in a multiplicity of arrangements so that the user can construct a variety of different assemblies with the parts of the kit.

According to an aspect of the invention, at least one connector of a toy of the kind referred to comprises an elongated stem and a plurality of arms projecting from the stem, the arms being suitable for insertion into respective open ends ofthe tubular elements.

An example of a construction toy kit embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an assembly constructed using components ofthetoy.

The toy comprises a number of elongate, rectilineartubular elements 11 and a number of connectors 12 for connecting the tubular elements together. The drawing illustrates some examples of connectors of the toy and ways in which these connectors are used.

The elements 11 are formed of a resiliently flexible material so that an element can be bent to form part of an assembly. Thermoplastics are suitable materi als for the elements 11. In their unstressed condition, these elements are rectilinear and substantially cylindrical. The elements can readily be deformed by finger pressure to adopt a non-rectilinear configuration or so that the cross-sectional shape is noncircular. The elements may comprise common drinking straws, and one or more plastically deformable components such as pipe cleaners can be inserted in a straw to hold the straw in a bent configuration.

Connectors 12, 12a and 12b shown in the drawing comprise elongate stems 13. Arms 14 protrude from each stem at respective positions which are spaced apart along the stem. The arms on one side of the stem are spaced at regular intervals and some arms on each side are mutually parallel. An arm protrudes from each end of the stems of connectors 12, 12a and 12.

It will be understood that the length of the stem varies considerably for different connectors. The length of the stem is generally a plurality of times greaterthan the length of an arm. The ratio ofthe thickness of the material of which a connector is formed to the length of an arm lies within the range 1:8to 1:12. The ratio of the width of a stem to the length of an arm lies within the range 2:3 to 2:5. The distance between adjacent arms on some connectors, for example connector 12, is approximately the same as the width of an arm.

The connectors may suitably be formed of an alloy of aluminium. The connectors are readily deformable plastically; that is, connectors can be bent manually so that the material is stressed beyond the elastic limit and becomes ductile without easily yieldin).

Significant bending stresses a connector beyond the elastic limit.

Tubular elements 11 are connected together by inserting arms of the connectors into end portions of the tubular elements. Insertion is assisted by the presence of a rounded end on each arm. The width of each arm is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the elements 11 so that, by resilient deformation of an end portion of an element, an arm of a connector can be received in that end portion with a sliding fit and the tubular element will grip the arm. Such deformation of the tubular elements is within the elastic limit. The length of the arms of the connectors is typically within the range 5mm to 20mm and in the illustrated example, the arms are approximately lOmm in length.

Connectors without arms can be used to connect tubular elements end-to-end and to stiffen the tubular elements. Other plastically deformable components, for example pipe cleaners, can be inserted in the tubular elements to stiffen them and to hold them in a bent configuration.

Both the tubular elements and the connectors can be bent or twisted manually and can be cut with a pair of domestic scissors. The stems of connectors may define bights and include corresponding narrow portions which can easily be bent, twisted or cut.

The example of connector 1 2a shown in the drawing comprises arms 14 protruding from one side of the stem 13 which extend substantially orthogonally of the length of the stem. Arms on the other side of the stem protrude in a direction which is intermediate of the longitudinal extent of the stem and of a direction orthogonal to the length of the stem; the arms define an angle with the stem which is approximately 65". The arms on respective sides of the stem are substantially parallel. It will be appreciated that components with parallel arms set at various angles to the stem can be manufactured.

The example of connector 125 shown in the drawing comprises a stem 13 with pairs of arms protruding at regular intervals along each side ofthe stem.

The component is so formed that pairs of arms on each side of the stem are situated opposite each other to form sets of four arms so that the component is symmetrical about an axis in the stem. The arms of each pair diverge from a point adjacent the edge ofthe stem and define different angles with the stem of the component. In the example shown, one arm of each pair defines an angle with the stem which is approximately half that defined by the other arm, the angles being approximately 20 and 40 respectively.

The connectors 1 2c shown in the drawing define respective central apertures 15. A spindle 16 is a sliding fit in each aperture. The spindle enables arrangements to be constructed which comprise rotating parts. For example one or more wheels can be fitted on a spindle and held by a nut and bolt arrangement or other retaining means so that the kit can be used to construct a model vehicle. Eight arms radiate from a central hub of a connector 1 2c. The centre of the aperture coincides with the centre of the hub and of the connector. Whereas in the illustrated example an aperture is formed in a circular hub of a connector, connectors can be formed wherein one or more apertures are contained in an elongated stem.

The drawing illustrates an assembly in which a selection of connectors and tubular elements from the kit are used. The kit contains a number of connectors which have a variety of different dimensions and numbers of arms. Furthermore, there are included connectors having arms which protrude from the stems at various angles and in various arrangements. A wide variety of assemblies can be constructed using the parts of the kit.

Claims (10)

1. A construction toy which is a kit comprising a number of elongate tubular elements and a number of connectors upon which the elements can be mounted and wherein at least one connector ofthe kit comprises an elongate stem and a plurality of arms projecting from the stem, the arms being suitable for insertion into respective open ends of the tubular elements.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein arms of the connector project from opposite sides of the stem.

3. A toy according to either preceding claim wherein arms of the connector define an acute angle with a longitudinal axis of the stem.

4. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein arms of the connector project in respective different directions from the same side of the stem.

5. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein at least one arm of the connector projects from an end of the stem.

6. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein the connector is of substantially plate-like form.

7. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein the connector is readily deformable plastically.

8. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein a connector contains an aperture for receiving a spindle.

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

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein or in the accompanying drawing.