GB2323542A

GB2323542A - Improvements in or relating to construction sets

Info

Publication number: GB2323542A
Application number: GB9706277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Keith Hardstaff
Original assignee: Polydron International Ltd
Current assignee: Polydron International Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-26
Filing date: 1997-03-26
Publication date: 1998-09-30
Also published as: GB9706277D0

Abstract

A child's construction set comprises a set of parts for assembly into structures which include one or more generally planar elements (10, Figure 1) each formed with at least one slot (12) which extends inwardly from an edge of the element, and one or more connecting elements (13, Figure 2) each of which is formed with a web portion 15 for insertion into the slot in a planar element, and locating portions 16 at each side of the web portion which are shaped to engage opposite faces of the planar element, to the side of the slot, when the web portion is received in the slot. The web portions and associated locating portions may be provided at different locations on the connecting element, so that the element can be simultaneously connected to a plurality of planar elements.

Description

"Improvements in or relating to construction sets" The invention relates to construction sets, primarily for use by children, of the kind where components of various shapes are designed to be directly connected together, without the use of fasteners, in order to assemble an infinite variety of different structures.

One known successful construction set of this kind is a simple interlocking system based on planar elements in the shape of regular octagons. The centre of each side of the octagon is formed with a slot which extends at right angles away from the edge towards the centre of the octagon. The width of each slot corresponds to the thickness of the element so that two elements may be interlocked at right angles by passing a slot on one element into a slot on another. Thus, each element may be connected to up to eight further elements arranged around its periphery thus allowing an infinite variety of structures to be built up from the elements.

The construction set includes tubular struts which may either be passed through a central aperture in an element or the end of which may engage over a circular hollow peg which upstands from one or both faces of an element.

The present invention sets out to provide an improved form of construction set where a greater variety of different types of component may be provided so as to increase the range and types of structure which can be assembled from the components, thus enhancing the play and educational value of the set to the child.

According to the invention there is provided a set of parts for assembly into structures which includes one or more generally planar elements each formed with at least one slot which extends inwardly from an edge of the element, and one or more connecting elements each of which is formed with a web portion for insertion into the slot in a planar element, and locating portions at each side of the web portion which are shaped to engage opposite faces of the planar element, to the side of the slot, when the web portion is received in the slot.

Such arrangement may provide a relatively rigid connection between the connecting element and the planar element, and the connecting element, depending on its exact shape, may lie in the same general plane as the planar element instead of being necessarily at right angles to it, as is the case in the known arrangement referred to above. However, the arrangement may be such that a connecting element may extend at right angles to a planar element, if required, as will be described.

Preferably the thickness ofthe web portion ofthe connecting element is such that it frictionally engages within the slot in the planar element. Preferably also the locating portions ofthe connecting element are so disposed as frictionally to engage the surfaces of the planar element.

The locating portions may comprise flange portions which extend laterally away from the sides ofthe web portion. At least the flange portions of the connecting element may be formed from resiliently flexible material and so disposed as to be urged by their resilience into frictional engagement with the opposite surfaces of the planar element.

The web portion of the connecting element may be formed with two flange portions extending in opposite directions from each side of the web portion for engagement with the adjacent face of the planar element. Flange portions may extend from opposite side extremities of the web portion. Thus in the case where two flange portions extend from each side of the web portion, the connecting element is generally H-shaped in cross section.

Preferably web portions and associated locating portions are provided at different locations on the connecting element, so that the element may be simultaneously connected to a plurality of planar elements. For example, the connecting element may be elongate, web and locating portions being provided at opposite ends of the elongate element. The elongate connecting element may be of generally constant cross sectional shape throughout its length, and in this case the elements may conveniently be formed by an extrusion process.

The planar element may be generally symmetrical in shape, apart from the slot or slots, and may have a generally regular peripheral edge. For example, the element may be generally in the form of a regular polygon.

There may be provided a plurality of slots spaced apart around the periphery of the planar element. Such slots may be spaced regularly apart. For example, where the planar element is in the form of a regular polygon there may be provided a slot extending inwardly from each edge of the polygon. The slot may extend inwardly at right angles from the mid point of each edge.

Preferably each slot has a width similar to the thickness of the planar element so that an edge portion of one element may be frictionally engaged within a slot on another element.

The set of parts may include at least two planar elements each of which is formed with a locking slot which extends from one edge of the element substantially halfway towards the opposite edge of the element, whereby two similar such elements may be interlocked with one another, fully overlapping with their general planes at right angles.

In this case the locking slot may be narrower than the thickness of each element, the portion of each element between the end of the slot and said opposite edge being reduced in thickness so that it may be received in the slot of another similar element when the two elements are interlocked with one another.

Said opposite edge of each planar element may also be formed with a shorter slot which is substantially in line with the locking slot but which extends less than halfway across the element. In this case the part of each element adjacent the outer edge of the locking slot may be cut away on each side of the locking slot, so that when two such elements are interlocked at right angles the cut away portions on one element allow a connecting element to be engaged with the shorter slot in the other element.

In any of the above arrangements, the connecting element may include an elongate channel of a width to receive in frictional engagement an edge portion of a planar element. The connecting element may be formed with two oppositely-facing parallel channels whereby two planar elements having edge portions engaged within the channels are substantially co-planar. Such arrangement will be the case if each connecting element is of substantially constant H-shaped cross section, as previously described.

Where a set of parts includes such connecting elements, the set may also include at least one half planar element, the shape of which corresponds approximately to one half of another type of planar element divided along a straight line, whereby when two such half elements are engaged with the channels on opposite sides of a connecting element, the two halves will make up substantially the shape of a whole planar element of said other type.

In any of the above arrangements there may be provided a planar element, of any of the kinds previously described, where the element has a line of reduced thickness extending from one edge to another of the element, so as to form a hinge whereby the part of the element on one side of the hinge may be folded at an angle to the part of the element on the other side of the hinge.

Also in any of the above arrangements, at least one planar element may be provided with a formation for frictional retention of a connecting element extending generally at right angles to the general plane of the planar element.

Such formation may comprise a shoulder assembly projecting from one or both faces of the planar element for engagement by a portion of a connecting element. For example, the shoulder assembly may comprise a plurality of spaced resiliently flexible elements projecting from the planar element and surrounding a region into which the connecting element may be introduced.

The region surrounded by the shoulder assembly may be formed with an aperture in the planar element through which the connecting element may be passed so that the connecting element projects from both sides of the planar element.

The planar elements and connecting elements of the set of parts may be formed from any suitable material, but they may be particularly suitable for manufacture from an appropriate plastics material.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of planar element; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an elongate connecting element; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a connecting element connected to a planar element; Figures 4-6 are plan views of further forms of planar element; Figure 7 is a sectional view of the element shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view of a modified version of the element shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a plan view of a further form of planar element; Figure 10 is a sectional view of the element shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a view of several planar elements and connecting elements and showing how they may be connected together to assemble a structure.

Figure 1 shows a planar constructional element similar to a kind which is used in a prior art construction set and which may also be used in a construction set according to the present invention. The element 10 comprises a plastics disc in the shape of a regular octagon having eight sides 11. Extending inwardly from the centre of each side 11, at right angles, is a slot 12. The width of each slot 12 is substantially the same as the thickness of the element 10. Accordingly, two elements 10 may be connected together at right angles to one another by interlocking two slots 12 so that the slot on one element embraces the thickness ofthe other element inwardly of the slot in that element.

The element 10 may be formed with a central aperture (not shown) through which a strut may be passed. In the existing construction sets assemblies generally had to be constructed by attaching together two elements of the kind shown in Figure 1 at right angles to one another, or by using struts also extending at right angles to the elements, or by attaching smaller planar elements formed with slots to cooperate with the slots 12.

According to the present invention a construction set comprises additional novel components which greatly extend the range of assemblies which can be constructed using the set.

An important new element of the construction set according to the invention is the connecting element 13 shown in Figures 2 and 3. The connecting element, which may be extruded from suitable plastics material, comprises a central web portion 14 having a thickened central section 15 the thickness of which is substantially the same as the width of the slots 12 in the planar elements 10.

Opposite sides of the web portion 15 are integrally formed with two opposed curved flanges 16. The flanges at opposite sides ofthe web portion 14 curve towards one another so that their free edges are spaced apart by a gap 17 which is substantially equal to the thickness of each planar element 10.

Either end of the connecting element 13 can then be attached to a planar element 10 by pushing the enlarged central portion 15 ofthe web 14 of the element into one of the slots 12 in the planar element 10, so that the flanges 16 bear against the opposite side faces of the element 10, as shown in Figure 3. The connecting element 13 then extends away from the planar element 10 and lies in substantially the same general plane as the element 10.

The construction set is provided with a number of elements 10 and a number of connecting elements 13 which may thus be connected together in a variety of ways to assemble a three dimensional structure by combining the attachment of connecting elements to planar elements with the attachment of planar elements to each other.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of planar element 18 which allows two such elements to be interlocked across their whole diameter, in fully overlapping relationship, instead of one element being connected to the edge of another. For this purpose the element 18 is provided, in addition to slots 19 ofthe same kind as the slots 12 of Figure 1, with a longer locking slot 20 which extends halfway across the diameter of the element 18. The slot 20 is narrower than the thickness of the element 18, but each surface ofthe element is formed with a shallow channel 21 which extends from the inner end of the slot 20 to the inner end of the opposite shorter slot 22 so as to reduce the thickness of the element 18, in this region, to the same dimension as the width of the slot 20.

Accordingly, two elements 18 may be interlocked with one another, at right angles across a diameter, by inserting the narrow locking slot 20 in one element into the corresponding locking slot in the other element, the sides of the slot 20 on each element passing along the channels 21 on the other element. The sides of the channels 21 partly embrace the edges of the slots 20 so as to hold the two elements firmly at right angles to one another.

In order to allow the end of a connecting element 13 to be attached to the slot 22 on each element, parts of the planar element 18 at the mouth of the locking slot 20 are cut away, as indicated at 23, to allow the end of the connector 13 to engage with the slot 22.

Figure 5 shows another form of planar element 24 which comprises substantially one half of the element 10 shown in Figure 1. In fact the narrower width of the element 24 is actually slightly less than half the width of the full element so that when the long straight edges 25 oftwo elements 24 are inserted in opposite longitudinal slots 17 of a connecting element 13, so as to abut the web portion 14, the two half elements will have an overall width equivalent to a whole element 10.

Figure 6 shows a further planar element 26 formed with slots 27 similar to the slots 12 ofthe element 10. In this case, however, the element is formed with a central aperture 28 of such a shape that a connecting element 13 may be passed through the aperture 28. In order to support the connecting element 13 as it extends through the aperture 28, the opposite surfaces of the element 26 are integrally formed with upstanding supports 29 which are spaced apart around the aperture 28. When another octagonal element is connected at right angles to the element 26, the spaces between the supports 29 allow the two elements to be fully slotted together, since the edge of the other element can pass between two of the supports 29.

Figure 8 shows in section a modified version 31 of the element 26 where the central aperture 28 is omitted and the upstanding supports 32 spaced around the central region ofthe element are higher than the supports 29. In use the end of a connector 13 can be pressed into the space between the supports 32 so as to engage the surface of the element 31 and thus be supported as it extends at right angles to the surface of the element.

The planar element 33 shown in Figure 9 is similar in overall shape to the element 10 of Figure 1, but comprises two halves 34, 35 connected by a thinner diametral strip 36 which thus serves as a flexible hinge. The two halves 34 and 35 of the element may thus be bent at any angle to one another.

It will be appreciated that the components shown in Figures 1-10 may be connected together in an infinite variety of combinations to assemble an infinite variety of different constructions. Figure 11 shows diagrammatically, by way of example, how some of the elements may be connected together.

Thus, Figure 11 shows two ofthe planar elements 10 connected together at right angles to one another, and also a hinged element 33 having one half35 connected to one of the elements 10 and the other half bent at right angles to receive another component of the construction set.

A connecting element 13 is attached to one of the planar elements 10 as previously described and two half elements 24 are inserted into the slots on opposite sides of the connecting element 13.

A further shorter connecting element 13 is connected to one of the half elements 24 so as to extend at right angles to the first connecting element 13, and receives on its end an element 31 of the kind shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 also shows two ofthe planar elements 18 interlocked together at right angles to one another and then attached to the end of one of the connecting elements 13.

A set of parts according to the invention may include any number of planar and connecting elements ofthe various kinds described and may also include other forms of element, which are not shown, for connection to the elements illustrated. The connecting elements 13 may be of any desired length. Although it is convenient for the connecting elements 13 to be of constant cross-sectional shape so that they may be formed by extrusion, the invention is not limited to such arrangement and connecting elements may be provided where only the ends, or one end, of the connecting element is shaped for attachment to the various planar elements, the part of the connecting element between the two appropriately shaped ends being of any other desired shape.

Although the planar elements and connecting elements are preferably formed from suitable plastics material, the invention does not exclude arrangements where the elements are formed from other materials, such as fibre board, wood or metal.

Claims

1. A set of parts for assembly into structures which include one or more generally planar elements each formed with at least one slot which extends inwardly from an edge of the element, and one or more connecting elements each of which is formed with a web portion for insertion into the slot in the planar element, and locating portions at each side of the web portion which are shaped to engage opposite faces of the planar element, to the side of the slot, when the web portion is received in the slot.

2. A set according to Claim 1 wherein the thickness of the web portion of the connecting element is such that it frictionally engages within the slot in the planar element.

3. A set according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the locating portions of the connecting element are so disposed as to frictionally engage the surfaces of the planar element.

4. A set according to any preceding claim wherein the locating portions comprise flange portions which extend laterally away from the sides of the web portion.

5. A set according to Claim 4 wherein the flange portions of the connecting element are formed from resiliently flexible material and so disposed as to be urged by their resilience into frictional engagement with the opposite surfaces of the planar element.

6. A set according to any preceding claim wherein the web portion of the connection element is formed with two flange portions extending in opposite directions from each side of the web portion for engagement with the adjacent face of the planar element.

7. A set according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the flange portions extend from opposite side extremities of the web portion such that in the case where two flange portions extend from each side of the web portion the connecting element is generally H-shaped in cross section.

8. A set according to any preceding claim wherein the web portions and associated locating portions are provided at different locations on the connecting element, so that the element can be simultaneously connected to a plurality of planar elements.

9. A set according to any preceding claim including at least two planar elements each of which is formed with a locking slot which extends from one edge of the element substantially half way towards the opposite edge of the element, whereby two similar such elements may be interlocked with one another, fully overlapping with their general planes at right angles.

10. A set according to Claim 9 in which the locking slot is narrower than the thickness of each element, the portion of each element between the end of the slot and said opposite edge being reduced in thickness so that it may be received in the slot of another similar element when the two elements are interlocked with one another.

11. A set according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the opposite edge of each planar element is also formed with a shorter slot which is substantially in line with the locking slot but which extends less than halfway across the element.

12. A set according to Claim 11 in which the part of each element adjacent the outer edge of the locking slot is cut away on each side of the locking slot, so that when two such elements are interlocked at right angles the cut away portions on one element allow a connecting element to be engaged with the shorter slot in the other element.

13. A set according to any preceding claim wherein the connecting element includes an elongate channel of a width sufficient to receive in frictional engagement an edge portion of a planar element.

14. A set according to Claim 13 in which the connecting element is formed with two oppositely-facing parallel channels whereby two planar elements having edge portions engaged within the channels are substantially co-planar.

15. A set according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the set also includes at least one half planar element, the shape of which corresponds approximately to one half of another type of planar element divided along a straight line, whereby when two such half elements are engaged with the channels on opposite sides of a connecting element, the two halves make up substantially the shape of a whole planar element of said other type.

16. A set according to any preceding claim also including a planar element, where the element has a line of reduced thickness extending from one edge to another of the element, so as to form a hinge whereby the part of the element on one side of the hinge can be folded at an angle to the part ofthe element on the other side ofthe hinge.

17. A set according to any preceding claim including at least one planar element which is provided with a formation for frictional retention of a connecting element extending generally at right angles to the general plane of the planar element.

18. A set according to Claim 17 wherein the formation comprises a shoulder assembly projecting from one or both faces of the planar element for engagement by a portion of a connecting element.

19. A set according to Claim 18 wherein the shoulder assembly is formed with an aperture in the planar element through which the connecting element may be passed so that the connecting element projects from both sides of the planar element.

20. A set of parts comprising or including any of the elements substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.