GB2307420A

GB2307420A - Constructional system

Info

Publication number: GB2307420A
Application number: GB9624600A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Valerie Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-27
Filing date: 1996-11-27
Publication date: 1997-05-28
Also published as: GB9524207D0; GB9624600D0

Abstract

A constructional system includes a hollow element 10 having a number of apertures in its surface in order to allow insertion and retention of elongate rods or poles in a number of different orientations. The hollow member may be frustoconical. The rods or poles can be used to couple together a number of hollow elements in order to allow construction of a wide variety of structures. Accessory members such as displays or signs, hooks, handles, pulleys, wheels, rotors and so forth may be provided to further broaden the range of structures that can be constructed. One embodiment of the constructional system is in the form of a toy. An alternative embodiment is in the form of a system of road furniture in which substantially conical hollow elements may replace traditional traffic cones and have the added advantage of being easy to couple together to form continuous and robust barriers or bases with a large enclosed surface area, in order to stably support road signs (Figure 12a).

Description

"Constructional System" This invention relates to a constructional system and especially but not exclusively to a constructional system comprising a plurality of different elements which can be coupled together in many different configurations.

Several types of constructional toy are presently available including those which comprise a plurality of blocks which by virtue of their construction may be releasably coupled to one another, and those which include substantially flat plates, sheets or rods, which may be coupled together by means of threaded nut and bolt members.

However, such known toys may include small parts which may be hazardous to small children. Those which do not include small parts are frequently not sufficiently flexible in use to provide interest to both young and older children.

Many types of portable road furniture, including traffic cones and temporary signs, suffer from a lack of stability. It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to mitigate this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a constructional system comprising a hollow element provided with a plurality of apertures in its surface, said apertures connecting the inside and the outside of the hollow element.

Preferably, said element includes an edge or surface thereof, arranged substantially in a single plane, adapted to form a base plane upon which said element is adapted to stand stably.

Preferably, said hollow element is shaped such that planar cross sections of said element parallel to said base plane are of smaller diameter than said base plane and the dimensions of said parallel planes decrease with increasing distance from said base plane.

Preferably, said tapered hollow element is substantially frustoconical.

Alternatively, said hollow element may be shaped as a prism.

Preferably, said apertures are substantially circular.

Alternatively, said apertures may be substantially square or rectangular. Apertures of different shapes may be provided on a single hollow element.

Preferably, each of a first plurality of said apertures is of a first size and each of a second plurality of said apertures is of a different size.

Preferably, each of said second plurality of apertures is of a substantially larger size than each of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, the hollow element is substantially open at its base plane.

Preferably, there is provided at least one pole member adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one of said second plurality of apertures of said hollow element.

Preferably, said pole member has cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each of said second plurality of apertures.

Preferably, said pole member is substantially tubular.

Preferably, said pole member is substantially cylindrical.

Preferably, said pole member has an axial internal bore having cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, said pole member has at least one diametric through bore having cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, there is provided at least one rod member adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one of said first plurality of apertures of said hollow element.

Preferably, said rod member has cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, there is provided a plurality of hollow elements which may be releasably coupled by one or more rod members and/or pole members extending therebetween.

Preferably, there is provided at least one platform member comprising a generally flat member having connection means to engage said hollow elements, rod members and/or pole members.

Preferably, said platform member is adapted to be supported by hollow elements, rod members and/or pole members.

Preferably, there are provided a plurality of platform members each being adapted to be coupled to at least one other platform member.

Preferably, said connection means comprises holes or indentations in said platform member.

Preferably said first plurality of apertures in said hollow element are arranged such that a rod member may pass through at least two of said apertures of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, said first plurality of apertures is arranged so that a rod member passing through a first one of said first plurality of apertures may pass through any one of a number of other apertures of said first plurality of apertures.

Preferably, there is provided at least one accessory member which may be in the form of a windmill member, a handle member, a hook member, a pulley member, a wheel member or a display member and is adapted to be coupled to said hollow element, said pole member and/or said rod member.

Said constructional system may be in the form of a toy, especially a constructional toy, or may be in the form of a system of road furniture.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l is an embodiment of an element of a constructional system according to the present invention in the form of a toy comprising a hollow frustoconical element; Figs. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are cross sectional views of the hollow element of Fig.l.

Fig.3 shows an embodiment of a pole member; Fig.4 shows an embodiment of a rod member; Fig.5 is a perspective view of frustoconical hollow elements connected by rod members; Figs. 6a to 6f show accessory members in the form of a windmill member, a handle member, a hook member, a pulley member, a wheel member and a display member, respectively; Figs. 7a and 7b show a plan view of a platform member and a side view of the platform member supported on hollow elements; Figs. 8a to 8j show further constructions formed from an embodiment of a constructional system according to the present invention in the form of a toy; Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of an element of road furniture in accordance with the present invention;; Figs. lOa and lOb illustrate the embodiment of Fig. 9 in use as a temporary sign base; Fig. 11 illustrates the embodiment of Fig. 9 provided with a detachable lamp; Figs. 12a and 12b illustrate the embodiment of Fig. 9 in use as an element of a continuous barrier; and Fig. 13 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of Fig. 9 With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of a constructional system according to the present invention in the form of a toy comprises a hollow element 10 in the form of a frustoconical shell 20 made of a robust but slightly resilient material having a narrow, open, top end 25 defined by a top edge 26, and a wide, open, base end 30 defined by a base edge 31.

The hollow element 10 includes fourteen smaller apertures 101 to 114, each having a smaller diameter (slightly greater than 1 cm in a preferred embodiment in which the frustoconical shell has a height of about 15cm and a base circumference of about 21cm) and eight large apertures 201 to 208 each having a larger diameter (slightly greater than 2cm in the preferred embodiment). The apertures are arranged in 4 vertically spaced apart rows, a bottom row illustrated by the cross section shown in Fig 2a, a lower middle row illustrated by the cross section shown in Fig 2b, an upper middle row illustrated by the cross section shown in Fig 2c and a top middle row illustrated by the cross section shown in Fig 2d. Each row comprises two larger apertures spaced diametrically apart, and a number of smaller apertures spaced regularly between the larger apertures.

The diameter of the top open end 25 is substantially the same as that of the larger apertures 201 to 208.

A collection of several, or many, such frustoconical hollow elements may keep young children entertained for some time, since they can be lined up to demarcate areas, stacked, placed in formation, used to support flat objects and so forth. Hollow elements may be made from a plastics material and be of various colours in order to enhance their appearance.

Although a frustoconical hollow element is illustrated, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be of many other shapes, including but not limited to prisms of triangular, rectangular or other cross sections, tetrahedra, pyramids and truncated tetrahedra or pyramids.

Fig. 3 shows, in partial cross section, a cylindrical pole member, generally designated 300, having an axial through bore 301 and first, second, and third diametric through bores 302, 303, 304 of the same diameter as said axial through bore. The external diameter of the pole member 300 is approximately 2 cm enabling it to pass through, but to fit snugly in, the larger apertures 201-208 of the hollow element 10 and also the open top end 25 of hollow element 10. The axial through bore 301 and the diametric bores 302, 303, 304 are of similar diameter to the smaller apertures 101114 of the hollow element 10.

Fig. 4 shows in partial cross section a cylindrical rod member 400. The rod member 400 is hollow and open ended and has an outer diameter of approximately 1 cm allowing it to slidingly pass through, but fit snugly in, the smaller apertures 101-114 of the hollow element 10, and the axial through bore 301 and diametric bores 302, 303, 304 of the pole member 300.

Pole members 300 and rod members 400 may be of a variety of lengths and may be used to couple hollow elements 10 together. An example comprising first, second, third and fourth hollow elements 1OA-1OD, respectively, each corresponding to the hollow element 10 illustrated in Fig.l coupled together by eight rod members 400A - 400H is shown in Fig.5.

It will be appreciated that a rod member 400 may pass diametrically through a given hollow element 10, that is through each of two diametrically opposed apertures, may pass through apertures which are in the same row but which are not diametrically opposed, or may pass through apertures which are not in the same row.

These various configurations are possible because the smaller apertures 101-114 are slightly larger in diameter than the rod members 400 and because the hollow elements 10, are formed from a resilient material and may be slightly deformed in the region of an aperture upon forcing of a rod member 400 into said aperture, or upon reorientation of a rod member 400 after insertion into the aperture.

Thus with several hollow elements 10 and several rod members 400, a very large number of structural permutations will be available.

Pole members 300 may also be used to couple hollow elements 10 to each other, by insertion of a given pole member 300 into one of the large apertures 201-208, or the open top end 25, of each of more than one element 10.

In addition, pole members 300 and rod members 400 may be coupled together by insertion of a rod member 400 into the axial bore 301, or into one of the diametric bores 302, 303, 304 of a pole member 300. Thus many configurations are possible, for example, two pole members 300 may be coupled together by a rod member 400, two rod members 400 may be coupled together by a pole member 300, or a pole member 300 may be "locked" into a hollow element by a rod member passing through two smaller apertures of the hollow member 10 and a diametric bore of the pole member 400.

Figs 6a to 6f show accessory members in the form of a windmill member 610, a handle member 620, a hook member 630, a pulley member 640 which is provided with an annular groove (not shown) adapted to engage a rope, a wheel member 650, and a display member 660 adapted to display a circular surface in a plane parallel to the axis of a pole member 300 to which it is adapted to be coupled. A given accessory member is adapted to be coupled to a hollow element 10, a pole member 300, or a rod member 400 by coupling means. The coupling means may be in the form of a coupling lug 61, 62, 63 the outer edge of which is adapted to engage the inner edge of an aperture in a hollow element 10 or an axial bore 301 or diametric bore of a pole member 300 or rod member 400.Alternatively, the coupling means may be in the form of a coupling aperture 64, 65 the inner edge of which is adapted to engage the outer surface of a pole member 300 or rod member 400 or part of the outer surface of a hollow element 10.

Figs. 7a and 7b show a platform member 800 which is adapted to be supported by a plurality of frustoconical hollow elements 10. The platform member 800 is generally planar and circular and is provided with four holes 801, 802, 803, 804 each having a diameter of about 4.5 cm and each being adapted to be placed over the top end 25 of a hollow element 10, and to engage the frustoconical surface of the hollow element approximately half way between the top edge 26 and the base edge 31. Such a platform member 800 may thus be supported, in a substantially horizontal position, by two or preferably three or four hollow elements 10.

The platform member also includes a number of 2 cm and 1 cm apertures, adapted to engage pole members 300 and rod members 400.

Figs. 8a to 8f illustrate schematically several examples of constructions that may be built using a combination of hollow elements 10, pole members 300, rod members 400, and accessories.

Figs. 8j to 8k show a plurality of roadway members 850 each adapted to connect to two other roadway members, the pathway being supported by pole members 300 or rod members 400 coupled to hollow elements 10. Clearly many other constructions, including buildings, could be formed from the described toy.

The described embodiment thus provides a frustoconical hollow element 10, a collection of which would be an interesting plaything for a young child. Subsequent and sequential addition of pole and rod members 300, 400, accessories, a platform member, roadway members 850 and so forth provides a toy of increasingly great flexibility.

Many variations of the sizes and shapes of the various described parts of a toy according to the present invention may be envisaged and such variations should not be considered as departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, a game could be provided in which a number of substantially planar platforms or sheets of material are supported by frustoconical elements so as to form a structure having several vertically spaced apart tiers.

Such a game could have as its aim the withdrawal of the frustoconical elements one-by-one without causing the collapse of the structure. Eventually withdrawal of an element would cause the structure to collapse ending the game (or that episode of the game). A game of this type could be played with relatively large frustoconical elements (i.e. about 20 to 30cm tall) and could be suitable for playing on the floor. A tabletop version using smaller elements is also envisaged.

Embodiments of road furniture in accordance with the present invention shown in Figs. 9, 10a, lOb, 11, 12a, 12b and 13. The constructional principles are similar to those described above with reference to the toy.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a constructional system in accordance with the present invention in the form of an element of road furniture, and more specifically a traffic cone 910. Such a cone 910 might be 30cm to 120cm tall and include an annular base member 931 for extra stability. (Similar base members are known per se from existing traffic cones and may be formed integrally with the cone or separately.) The cone 910 is provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures of which four, 901, 902, 903, 904 are shown in Fig. 9 and a plurality of circular apertures of which five 911, 912, 913, 914, 915 are shown in Fig. 9.The rectangular and circular apertures are arranged so that plank members 920 (see Fig. 12a) having rectangular cross section and pole members 930 (see Fig. 12b) having circular cross section may be releasably attached to one or more cones 910 and may be used to releasably couple together two or more cones 910. The plank members 920 or pole members 930 may be provided with marks or signs such as arrows or chevrons, highreflective panels and/or may be entirely coated with a highly-reflective, and preferably retro-reflective, surface. Cones 910 may also be provided with a highly reflective or retro-reflective surface.

An embodiment of a cone 910 in accordance with the present invention may also be provided with a top aperture 940 at is apex. The top aperture 940 may be similar in dimensions to the circular apertures 911, 912, 913, 914, 915 provided on the cone 910. The purpose of the top aperture 940 is to allow the cone 910 to receive a post member 950 for support of a sign 951A, 951B. In this way a single cone 910 may act as a sign base. Alternatively, any number of cones 910 may be connected together by pole members 930 or plank members 920 so as to provide a base structure with any desired base area, enabling a very stable base to be constructed. This eliminates or mitigates the common problem of temporary road signs being blown over by the wind.The cones may be provided with one or more internal features (not shown) or sockets adapted to receive a post member 950 so that the post member is retained both by the internal features or sockets and also by the edge of the top aperture 940 in order to provide increased support. In addition, the cones 910 and signs 951A, 951B may be provided with a number of apertures in order to reduce surface area presented to the wind.

The top aperture 940 is also adapted to receive a lamp 960 or reflector as shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows a further embodiment 990 having rectangular and square apertures and illustrates how pole or plank members (or analogous members with square cross section) may be attached.

The embodiment of the invention in the form of road furniture thus provides a flexible system which has the advantages of traditional traffic cones in addition to being configurable to form continuous barriers, sign bases and so forth.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A constructional system comprising at least one hollow element provided with a plurality of apertures in its surface, said apertures connecting the inside and the outside of the hollow element.

2. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said hollow element includes an edge or surface thereof, arranged substantially in a single plane, adapted to form a base plane upon which said element is adapted to stand stably.

3. A constructional system as claimed in either preceding Claim, wherein said hollow element is shaped such that planar cross sections of said element parallel to said base plane are of smaller area than said base plane.

4. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the dimensions of said parallel planes decrease with increasing distance from said base plane.

5. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said tapered hollow element is substantially frustoconical.

6. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said hollow element is shaped as a prism.

7. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said apertures are substantially circular, square or rectangular.

8. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein apertures of different shapes are provided on a single hollow element.

9. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein said apertures are provided in a surface which, when the hollow element stands on its base plane, is upwardly extending.

10. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said apertures are arranged in a number of rows.

11. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said apertures are arranged in a number of substantially horizontal rows.

12. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein there are provided in the hollow element at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture.

13. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 12, wherein each first aperture is of a first size and each second aperture is of a second, different, size.

14. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 13, wherein each second aperture is of a larger size than each first aperture.

15. A constructional system as claimed in 2 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the hollow element is substantially open at its base plane.

16. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the top edge of the frustoconical element defines one of said apertures.

17. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 16 when dependent on Claim 12, wherein the top edge forms one of said second apertures.

18. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is provided at least one pole member adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one aperture of said hollow element.

19. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 18 when dependent on Claim 12, wherein said at least one pole member is adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one second aperture of said hollow element.

20. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said pole member has cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each second aperture.

21. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 20, wherein said pole member is substantially tubular.

22. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 21, wherein said pole member is substantially cylindrical.

23. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 19 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein said pole member has an axial internal bore having cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions each first aperture.

24. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 19 or claim dependent thereon, wherein said pole member has at least one diametric through bore having cross sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each first aperture.

25. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein there is provided at least one rod member adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one aperture of said hollow element.

26. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 25 when dependent upon Claim 12, wherein said at least one rod member is adapted to be removably accommodated in at least one first aperture of said hollow element.

27. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 26, wherein said rod member has cross-sectional dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of each first aperture.

28. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 27, wherein there is provided a plurality of hollow elements which are releasably couplable by one or more rod members and/or pole members extending therebetween.

29. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 28 when dependent upon Claim 2, wherein said hollow elements are adapted to be couplable so that the base planes of a plurality of coupled elements are substantially coplanar.

30. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein there is provided at least one platform member having a generally flat upper surface and having connection means to engage at least one hollow element.

31. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 29 or Claim 30 when dependent thereon, wherein there is provided at least one platform member having a generally flat upper surface and having connection means to engage rod members and/or pole members.

32. A constructional system as claimed in either of Claims 30 or 31, wherein said platform member is adapted to be supported by hollow elements, rod members and/or pole members.

33. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 30 to 32, wherein there are provided a plurality of platform members each being adapted to be coupled to at least one other platform member.

34. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 30 to 33, wherein said connection means comprises holes or indentations in said platform member.

35. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 26 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein there is provided, in a hollow element, a plurality of first apertures arranged such that a rod member may pass through at least two of said plurality of first apertures.

36. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 35, wherein said plurality of first apertures is arranged so that a rod member passing through one of said first apertures may pass through any one of a number of other first apertures.

37. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein there is provided at least one accessory member which is in the form of a windmill member, a handle member, a hook member, a pulley member, a wheel member or a display member and is adapted to be coupled to said hollow element.

38. A constructional system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said constructional system is in the form of a toy.

39. A constructional system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 37, wherein said constructional system is in the form of a system of road furniture.

40. A constructional system as claimed in Claim 39, wherein at least one hollow element is in the form of a traffic cone having apertures in the inclined surface thereof.

41. A constructional system as claimed in either of Claims 39 or 40, wherein rod member and/or pole members are in the form of barriers.

42. A constructional system including a hollow element as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

43. A constructional system as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.