GB2380422A

GB2380422A - Constructional toy element

Info

Publication number: GB2380422A
Application number: GB0113718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ernest Renner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-06
Filing date: 2001-06-06
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Also published as: GB0013572D0; GB0113718D0

Abstract

An element of a constructional toy comprises two elongate surfaces 2a and 2b, which meet at right angles along a main edge 4 of the element. Means such as a stud 6 and corresponding hole 8 are provided on each surface 2a and 2b for removably attaching the surface to a similar surface on an adjacent element. Means such as a stud 12 and corresponding hole 14 are also provided for removably attaching one element to an adjacent element so that the two respective main edges of the two elements are at right angles. The elements can be connected together to form square-shaped and cube-shaped constructions. The elements may have a recess (16 figure 2B), such that a square-shaped construction can hold a display element (20 figure 3). The elements may be pre-assembled into common arrangements of the elements to from a complex element. Such a complex element may be manufactured from several elements or integrally moulded.

Description

TITLE Constructional toy DESCRIPTION Technical Field The invention relates to a constructional toy and in particular to a constructional toy that allows the display of educational material.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides an element of a constructional toy comprising : two elongate, generally planar, outwardly facing surfaces, which meet at right angles along a main edge of the element; means on each outwardly facing surface for removably attaching the surface to a similar surface on an adjacent element; and means at each end of the element for removably attaching it to the end of an adjacent element such that the respective main edges of the two elements are at right angles.

The surface attachment means preferably comprises a pair of connectors near to the respective ends of the elongate surface. One of the pair of connectors may be a stud and the other of the pair of connectors may be a corresponding hole into which a stud of an adjacent constructional element can be press fitted. Alternatively, one of the pair of connectors may be a piece of"hook"fabric and the other of the pair of connectors may be a corresponding piece of"loop"fabric.

The element may have an end surface at each end of the main edge. The end surface should form an acute angle of 450 with the main edge, and should also form equal angles with the two outwardly facing surfaces.

The end attachment means are preferably located on the end surfaces of the element. The attachment means on one end surface of the element may be a stud and the attachment means on the other end surface of the element may be a corresponding hole into which an end stud on an adjacent element can be press fitted. Alternatively, the attachment means on one end surface of the element may be a piece of"hook"fabric and the attachment means on the other end surface of the element may be a corresponding piece of"loop"fabric. By fitting together a number of the elements using the surface and end attachment means, a variety of square and rectangular shapes can be constructed.

Ideally, the end attachment means should prevent relative rotation between adjacent elements when they are attached via the end stud of one element and the end hole of the other element. The end stud and end holes may therefore be non-circular, preferably triangular or rectangular in outline. The constructional elements may also have an elongate recess behind and facing away from the main edge.

The present invention further provides a kit of parts for a constructional toy comprising: a plurality of construction elements, each element comprising : two elongate, generally planar, outwardly facing surfaces, which meet at right angles along a main edge of the element; means on each outwardly facing surface for removably attaching the surface to a similar surface on an adjacent element; means at each end of the element for removably attaching it to the end of an adjacent element such that the respective main edges of the two elements are at right angles; and an elongate recess behind and facing away from the main edge; and

at least one generally planar display element, shaped and sized to be held between the recesses of four of the structural elements when those four structural elements are attached at their ends to form a square.

The display element is preferably square, and has a tab on each of its four edges for location in a recess of a structural element. The display element may also be formed from a stiff sheet and a flexible sheet, whereby the flexible sheet may be removably adhered to the stiff sheet so as to trap a piece of paper between the sheets.

At least one of the sheets should be transparent so the piece of paper can be viewed through it. The piece of paper could contain a picture, a letter of the alphabet, a number or any other educational material.

If desired, a plurality of the basic elements previously described may be pre-assembled in a non-removable manner in order to accelerate the construction process. In particular, four basic elements may be attached at their outwardly-facing surfaces to form a pre-assembled strut; or at their ends to form a pre-assembled square.

Twenty-four basic elements may be attached together to form a pre-assembled cube. Alternatively, a complex element may be integrally formed to match the external shape of such a pre-assembly.

Drawings Figure 1A is a front view of an element of a constructional toy according to the invention; Figure 1B is a top view of the element of Figure lA ; Figure 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line lC-lC of Figure 1B ; Figure ID is an end view of the left-hand side of the element of Figure lA ; Figure IE is an end view of the right-hand side of the element of Figure lA ;

Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure lA ; Figure 2B is an alternative cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure lA ; Figure 3 is an exploded view showing a number of the elements of Figure 1A connected together, along with a display element of a constructional toy according to the invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing how four of the elements in Figure 2A can be assembled to form a strut; Figure 5A is cross-section through a pre-formed strut equivalent to Figure 4; and Figure 5B is a side view of the pre-formed strut of Figure

5A.

Referring to Figures 1A to IE the element 1 of a constructional toy comprises a first elongate face 2a and a second elongate face 2b. The first and second elongate faces 2a and 2b are outwardly facing and meet at right angles along a main edge 4.

The first and second faces 2a and 2b are identical, both being provided with a stud 6 and a hole 8. The studs 6 and holes 8 are arranged such that at one end of the element 1, the first face 2a has a stud 6 whilst the second face 2b has a hole 8. Similarly, at the other end of the element 1, the first face 2a has a hole 8 whilst the second face 2b has a stud 6. The holes 8 are sized and shaped so as to tightly receive the studs 6 and thereby allow a number of such elements to be connected together as described below.

The element 1 also comprises a first end face lOa and a second end face lOb. The two end faces lOa and lOb are triangular in shape and are angled at 450 to the main edge 4. The first and second end faces lOa and lOb also form equal angles with the two faces 2a and 2b.

The first end face lOa is provided with a stud 12 and the second end face lOb is provided with a hole 14. The stud 12 is triangular in outline and the hole 14 is sized and shaped so as to tightly receive the stud 12 and thereby allow a number of such elements to be connected together as described below.

With reference to Figures 2A and 2B the element 1 may be either V-shaped or triangular in cross-section. In both cases the element 1 also comprises an elongate recess 16 which is behind, and facing away from, the main edge 4.

Both the elongate faces 2a and 2b and the end faces lOa and lOb are substantially rigid and are made from plastics material of a type which is suitable for children's toys.

The edges and corners of the element 1 should also be rounded so that the element is safe to use.

A pair of the above elements may be joined together in either of two ways. Firstly, the elements may be joined end-to-end with the stud 12 of the first element being press fitted into the hole 14 of the second element. The result is an L-shaped construction in which the main edges 4 of each element are at 900. Because the stud 12 is triangular in outline it prevents relative rotation of the two elements when they are joined together. A third and fourth element can then be added to form a square-shaped construction (Figure 3).

Secondly, the elements may be joined face-to-face with a stud 6 of the first element being press fitted into a hole 8 of the second element, and a stud 6 of the second element being press fitted into a hole 8 of the first element. A third element and fourth element can then be added to form a cross-shaped arrangement when looking end on, as shown in Figure 4.

The square-shaped construction created by joining four elements end-to-end can in turn be used to create a cube-shaped construction. This is achieved by joining the appropriate elements of six square-shaped constructions face-to-face. The cube-shaped constructions can then be used to create further constructions and so on. Two such cubes can be joined directly along a single"edge"of each cube in a diagonal configuration. In order to join two cubes with their square"faces"adjacent, it is necessary first to remove the square-shaped construction of four elements forming the"face"of one of the cubes.

With reference to Figure 3 the elements can also be used to hold a display element 20. The display element 20 is square and is sized to fit within a square-shaped construction of elements. In particular, the display element 20 has four tabs 22a to 22d which are received within the elongate recess 16 (Figures 2A and 2B) of each element. As shown in Figure 3, the display element 20 is inserted into the recesses 16 of the elements before the square-shaped construction of elements la to ld is completed.

The display element 20 is a laminate formed from a rigid sheet and a flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is transparent and is removably attached to the rigid sheet so that a piece of paper 26 can be inserted between the layers. Because the flexible sheet is transparent the smiley face design on the paper 26 is visible.

Alternatively, the display element 20 may be a single sheet which has already been pre-printed with a variety of different educational material.

The recesses 16 of the elements can be used to mount components other than the display elements 20, for example wheels to enable the building of a vehicle from the construction kit.

In order to accelerate the construction process using the elements of the invention, certain frequently used arrangements of the basic elements may be pre-assembled to form a complex element. Figure 4 illustrates how four of the basic elements of Figure 2A can be assembled via their outwardly-facing surfaces to form a strut that is cross-shaped in section. From Figure 3 it may be seen how four of the basic elements can be assembled via their ends to form a square. Six such squares, i. e. twenty-four basic elements, can be assembled to form a cube. Other frequently-used arrangements of two, three, four or more basic elements can readily be imagined.

It is possible to pre-assemble such complex elements in the factory such that they cannot be detached, for example using adhesives. Alternatively, and more simply, a complex element can be integrally moulded to match the shape of one of the aforementioned pre-assemblies.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate an integrally formed strut 30 that can be used in place of the strut assembly shown in Figure 4. In such an integrally formed complex element, there is no need to reproduce the shape of internal features such as the studs 6 and holes 8 that are connected together in Figure 4. Only the external shape of the assembly, including any unused attachment means, need be reproduced.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An element of a constructional toy comprising: two elongate, generally planar, outwardly facing surfaces, which meet at right angles along a main edge of the element; means on each outwardly facing surface for removably attaching the surface to a similar surface on an adjacent element; and means at each end of the element for removably attaching it to the end of an adjacent element such that the respective main edges of the two elements are at right angles.
2. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 1, wherein the surface attachment means comprises a pair of connectors near to the respective ends of the elongate surface.
3. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 2, wherein one of the pair of connectors is a stud and the other of the pair of connectors is a corresponding hole into which a stud on an adjacent element can be press fitted.
4. An element of a constructional toy according to any preceding claim, further comprising an end surface at each end of the main edge, each end surface forming an acute angle of 45 with the main edge and forming equal angles with the two outwardly facing surfaces.
5. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 4, wherein the end attachment means are located on the end surfaces of the element.
6. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 5, wherein the attachment means on one end surface of the element is a stud and the attachment means on the other end surface of the element is a corresponding hole

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into which an end stud on an adjacent element can be press fitted.
7. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 6, wherein the end stud and the end hole are shaped to prevent relative rotation between adjacent elements when they are attached via the end stud of one element and the end hole of the other element.
8. An element of a constructional toy according to claim 7, wherein the end stud and the end hole are triangular in outline.
9. An element of a constructional toy according to any preceding claim, further comprising an elongate recess behind and facing away from the main edge.
10. A kit of parts for a constructional toy comprising: a plurality of structural elements according to claim 9; and at least one generally planar display element, shaped and sized to be held between the recesses of four of the structural elements when those four structural elements are attached at their ends to form a square.
11. A kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein the display element is generally square, with a tab on each of its four edges for location in a recess of a structural element.
12. A kit of parts according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the display element comprises a stiff sheet and a flexible sheet, whereby the flexible sheet can be removably adhered to the stiff sheet to trap a piece of paper between the two sheets, at least one of the two sheets being transparent so that the piece of paper can be viewed through it.

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13. A complex element of a constructional toy, comprising a plurality of basic elements according to any of claims 1 to 9, non-removably attached at their outwardly-facing surfaces or at their ends to form a pre-assembly.
14. A complex element according to claim 13, comprising a pre-assembly of four basic elements attached together at their outwardly-facing surfaces to form a strut.
15. A complex element according to claim 13, comprising a pre-assembly of four basic elements attached together at their ends to form a square.
16. A complex element according to claim 13, comprising a pre-assembly of twenty-four basic elements attached together to form a cube.
17. A complex element of a constructional toy, the complex element being integrally formed to have an external shape that matches the external shape of a pre-assembly according to any of claims 13 to 16.
18. A constructional toy substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.