GB2547276A

GB2547276A - Toy structural element and assembly for constructing a toy structure

Info

Publication number: GB2547276A
Application number: GB1602637.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Davies Christopher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-15
Filing date: 2016-02-15
Publication date: 2017-08-16
Also published as: GB201602637D0

Abstract

A toy structural element and assembly for constructing a toy structure is disclosed. The structural element 10 comprises at least one elongate pocket 11a,b which extends along the element, and a resiliently deformable rib member 13a,b disposed in the elongate pocket. The element further comprises a first fastening means disposed on a first side of the element and a second fastening means disposed on a second side of the element, the first and second fastening means being arranged to detachably couple together.

Description

TOY STRUCTURAL ELEMENT AND ASSEMBLY FOR CONSTRUCTING A TOY

STRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a toy structural element and a toy structural assembly for constructing a toy structure.

It is well known that children like to build structures within which they can play. For example, play houses and tents typically comprise a modular frame which is covered with a sheet to create an enclosure. However, the frame used with these houses and tens comprise a number of poles interconnected by connectors and the connectors limit the arrangement of poles and thus the shape of the resulting house.

We have now devised a structural element and assembly which obviates the requirement for separate connectors and which provides for a versatile configuration with other elements to facilitate the creation of bespoke toy structures.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a toy structural element for constructing a toy structure, the element comprising at least one elongate pocket which extends along the element, and a resiliently deformable rib member disposed in the elongate pocket, wherein the element further comprises a first fastening means disposed on a first side of the element and a second fastening means disposed on a second side of the element, the first and second fastening means being detachably couplable with a second and first fastening means respectively, of a further toy structural element.

In an embodiment, the first and second fastening means are distributed across the respective first and second sides of the element. The element may comprise a substantially planar element and the first and second fastening means may be disposed on opposing surfaces of the element, such as the front and rear surfaces. Alternatively, the first and second fastening means may be disposed on opposite sides of the same surface of the element, such either side of a longitudinal axis of the element.

In an embodiment, the or each resiliently deformable rib is removably insertable within the or each elongate pocket. The at least one pocket may be closable via a closure, such as a flap.

In an embodiment, the first and second fastening means are detachably couplable with each other.

In an embodiment, the element comprises at least two elongate pockets which extend in a substantially parallel arrangement. The at least two pockets are preferably arranged either side of a fold line of the element, about which the element can fold upon itself. The at least one fold line preferably extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the element. For example, in an embodiment comprising two pockets, then the fold line may extend along the longitudinal axis of the element. In this case, the longitudinal axis and thus the fold line comprises an axis of symmetry, such that the element can fold in half about the fold line. In alternative embodiments however, the element may comprise two fold lines, which separate three elongate pockets, for example.

In an embodiment, the first fastening means comprises a hook fastening portion of a hook-and-loop (VELCRO ®) type fastening arrangement and the second fastening means comprises a loop fastening portion of a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement.

In an embodiment, the element is preferably deformable and may be formed of a fabric or a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a toy structural assembly for constructing a toy structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, the assembly comprising a plurality of toy structural elements of the first aspect and at least one sheet for covering the toy structure.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is perspective view of toy structural element according to an embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy structural element illustrated in figure 1, in a second configuration;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the toy structural element comprising two fold lines;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the toy structural element comprising three fold lines; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a toy structural assembly comprising a plurality of structural elements illustrated in figure 1, configured to produce a structure.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a toy structural element 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention for constructing a toy structure 110. It is envisaged that the element 10 can be combined with other elements 10 and used by children to create a structural framework 110, which can then be covered with a sheet 120 to form an enclosure.

In an embodiment, the structural element 10 comprises a substantially planar pocket 11 formed between two sheets 12a, 12b of a fabric or plastics material for example, and is arranged to receive a resiliently deformable rib member 13, such as a resiliently deformable plastic or nylon rib, which imparts a support for the element 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket 11 is itself separated into two discrete, elongate pocket regions 11a, 11b, each of which is arranged to receive a separate rib 13a, 13b, by a fold line 14 which extends along a central, longitudinal axis of the element 10. The fold line 14 comprises a line of stitching for example, between the two sheets 12a, 12b of material and permits the element 10 to fold upon itself about the fold line 14.

The pocket regions 11a, 11b extend in a substantially parallel arrangement and are orientated substantially parallel to the fold line 14. However, the skilled reader will recognise that in an embodiment having only a single pocket, then the structural element 10 will not comprise any fold lines 14, and in an alternative embodiment, the element 10 may comprise further fold lines 14 orientated in a substantially parallel arrangement to form a plurality of pocket regions 11. In this respect, an element 10 comprising two fold lines 14a, 14b will permit the element 10 to fold upon itself to create a structural element 10 having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, as illustrated in figure 3 of the drawings, whereas three fold lines 14a-c will permit the element 10 to fold upon itself to create a structural element 10 have a substantially square cross-sectional shape, for example, as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings.

The element 10 further comprises a closure 15 or flap which is hingedly coupled to a periphery of the element 10 proximate an opening to the pocket or pocket regions 11, so that the flap 15 can be moved to open and close the opening to the pocket or pocket regions 11 to remove/insert ribs 13, for example.

The structural element 10 further comprises a first fastening means (not shown) distributed across a first side of the element 10 and a second fastening means (not shown) distributed across a second side of the element 10. The first and second fastening means may comprise any means which permit the first and second fastening means to couple together, such as hook and loop means respectively, of a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement. The first and second sides of the element may comprise a front and rear surface 16, 17 of the element 10, however, it is envisaged that the first and second sides may alternatively comprise either side of a fold line 14 upon the same surface of the element 10.

The first and second fastening means (not shown) permit the structural element 10 to detachably couple with other structural elements 10 so that a toy structure 100 can be constructed, while the ribs 13 disposed within the pockets or pocket regions 11 of the elements 10 impart a support to the overall structure 110. In this respect, the shape of the structure 110 formed is limited only by the imagination of the user.

Referring to figure 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a toy structural assembly 100 for constructing a toy structure 110. The assembly 100 comprises a pyramidal structure 110 of a plurality of structural elements 10 and a sheet 120 which can be draped over the structure 110 to form an enclosure within which children may play, for example. The structure 110 is formed by placing at least a portion of a first side 16 of one element 10 into contact with at least a portion of the second side 17 of a further element 10, so that the first and second fastening means (not shown) disposed on the respective sides 16, 17 can detachably couple together. Moreover, upon folding the elements 10 about the fold line 14 it is found that the resulting element 10 provides for a more rigid support to the structure 110.

The versatile nature of the elements 10 enables other shaped structures to be formed, including hemispherical and spherical structures, for example, owing to the resilient deformable nature of the ribs 13. In addition, upon removing the ribs or rib 13 from an element 10, then the resulting pocket or pocket regions 11 can be wrapped around an anchor point and held in position owing to the first and second fastening means (not shown) of the same element being brought into contact. Further structural elements 10 which include ribs 13 can then be secured to the anchored element to form other structures 110 which are secured in place.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the toy structural element and assembly provide for a simple yet versatile means of creating a structure.

Claims

1. A toy structural element for constructing a toy structure, the element comprising at least one elongate pocket which extends along the element, and a resiliently deformable rib member disposed in the elongate pocket, wherein the element further comprises a first fastening means disposed on a first side of the element and a second fastening means disposed on a second side of the element, the first and second fastening means being detachably couplable with a second and first fastening means respectively of a further toy structural element.

2. A toy structural element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening means are distributed across the respective first and second sides of the element.

3. A toy structural element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the element comprises a substantially planar element.

4. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second fastening means are disposed on opposing surfaces of the element.

5. A toy structural element according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second fastening means are disposed on opposite sides of the same surface of the element.

6. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each resiliently deformable rib is removably insertable within the or each elongate pocket.

7. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one pocket is closable via a closure.

8. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second fastening means are detachably couplable with each other.

9. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least two elongate pockets which extend in a substantially parallel arrangement.

10. A toy structural element according to claim 9, wherein the at least two pockets are arranged either side of a fold line of the element, about which the element can fold upon itself.

11. A toy structural element according to claim 10, wherein the at least one fold line extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the element.

12. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the first fastening means comprises a hook fastening portion of a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement and the second fastening means comprises a loop fastening portion of a hook-and-loop type fastening arrangement.

13. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the element is deformable.

14. A toy structural element according to any preceding claim, wherein the element is formed of a fabric or a plastics material.

15. A toy structural assembly for constructing a toy structure, the assembly comprising a plurality of toy structural elements according to any preceding claim and at least one sheet for covering the toy structure.