IL98620A

IL98620A - Construction toys

Info

Publication number: IL98620A
Application number: IL9862091A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Cohen Arie; Rishon Le Zion
Priority date: 1991-06-25
Filing date: 1991-06-25
Publication date: 1994-02-27
Also published as: IL98620A0

Description

CONSTRUCTION TOYS Prof. Arieh Cohen liiD n'TN 'ana C: 12151 12151ari.coh 8feb93 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to construction toys generally and more particularly to construction toys formed of semi-rigid web material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A great variety of construction toys are known. Generally, they are not formed of web material but rather comprise three dimensional objects which are injection molded of plastic or the like.

In the field of packaging, as opposed to toys, it is well known to create cartons from paper blanks which are configured to constitute interlocking portions. Examples of packages which are constructed in this way appear in U.S. Patents 2,373,423; 2,688,431 and 3,272,421.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a construction toy formed of semi-rigid web material.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a construction toy formed of semi-rigid web material and including a plurality of construction elements each including at least one interlocking portion formed of semi-rigid web material arranged for interdigitated engagement with a corresponding interlocking portion of another construction element.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interlocking portion comprises at least three edge projections separated by at least two empty spaces.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, interdigitated engagement of first and second interlocking portions is produced by placing a central one of the at least three edge projections of a first interlocking portion along one surface of a corresponding central one of three edge projections of a second interlocking portion and by placing adjacent edge projections on both sides of the central one of the first interlocking portions along a corresponding opposite surface of adjacent edge projections on both sides of the central one of the second interlocking portion.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, interdigitated engagement is further provided by causing relative travel of the first and second interlocking portions towards each other along. the empty spaces between the projections.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the construction elements may all be flat. Alternatively, the construction elements may be essentially three dimensional defining a plurality of generally planar surfaces which are integrally formed or joined together.

Interlocking portions may be formed on one or more edges of each planar surface.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the empty spaces extend generally perpendicular to the edge of the planar surface. Alternatively, the empty spaces may extend at an angle to the edge of the planar surface.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the empty spaces are merely slits. Alternatively, the empty spaces define cut-out portions. The cut out portions may be rectangular or alternatively of angled shapes and need not all be uniform along a given edge.

Intergiditated engagement between construction elements may be between identical construction elements or between different configurations of construction elements. Two or three dimensional structures may be constructed by such engagement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figs. 1A, IB, 1C, ID and IE are pictorial illustrations of five different configurations of construction elements constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are pictorial illustrations of four different configurations of construction elements constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a pictorial illustration of interdigitated engagement of a pair of construction elements of the type illustrated in Fig. 1A; Fig. 4 is a pictorial illustration of interdigitated engagement of a pair of construction elements of the types illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B; and Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C are simplified pictorial illustrations of three examples of structures that can be constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1A - IE, with respectively illustrate five typical embodiments of construction elements constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each of the construction elements comprises web material, typically plastic sheet which is preferably bendable but nevertheless resistant to permanent creasing and compression in the plane of the material. A preferred material is PVC.

In each of embodiments of Figs. 1A - IE, the construction element includes at least one planar section, indicated by reference numeral 10, which is, in turn, formed with at least one interlocking portion 12 disposed along an edge 14 thereof.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1A - IE, the interlocking portion is defined by a plurality of empty spaces 16, extending generally perpendicular to edge 14 and thus defining a plurality of finger elements 18, extending generally perpendicular to edge 14. These finger elements of one construction element are interdigitated with corresponding finger elements on an interlocking portion of another construction element to join the two construction elements together in generally mutually planar, removable engagement, as will be described hereinbelow.

Fig. 1A illustrates a construction element comprising a single planar section 10 and having interlocking portions 12 formed on each of its four edges, each interlocking portion having four perpendicular empty spaces 16 defining five adjacent finger elements 18. Fig. IB illustrates a right angle construction element comprising a pair of relatively narrow planar sections 10, each having a single interlocking portion 12. The embodiment of Fig. IB may be formed of an integral piece of material which is permanently creased or alternatively of two pieces of material which are joined.

Fig. 1C is similar to Fig. IB, but illustrates a right angle construction element wherein the planar sections 10 are generally square and each include three interlocking portions 12. Fig. ID illustrates a right angle construction element including three planar sections 10, each including three interlocking portions. Fig. IE illustrates a right angle construction element including four planar sections 10, each including three interlocking portions 12. The construction elements of Figs. ID and IE may be integrally molded or formed of plural sub-elements joined together by welding, adhesive or any other suitable means.

Interlocking engagement of two interlocking portions 12 is illustrated in Fig. 3, which shows two construction elements of the type illustrated in Fig. 1A. It can be seen that in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, interdigitated engagement of first and second interlocking portions 12 of respective construction elements 30 and 32 is produced by placing a central one 34 of at least three edge projections, i.e. finger elements, of a first interlocking portion along one surface of a corresponding central one 36 of three edge projections of a second interlocking portion and by placing adjacent edge projections 38 and 40 on both sides of the central one 34 of the first interlocking portion along a corresponding opposite surface of adjacent edge projections 42 and 44 on both sides of the central one of the second interlocking portion. Similarly, the process may be repeated with the two external projections. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, interdigitated engagement is further provided by causing relative travel of the first and second interlocking portions towards each other along the empty spaces 16, as shown, such that the finger elements 18 overlap by an amount approximately equal to the length of the empty spaces 16, as shown by arrows 17 in Fig. 3. It is seen from a consideration of Fig. 3, that when in interdigitated engagement in accordance with the present invention, the two planar sections 10 are in generally coplanar orientation.

Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate examples of constructions which can be realized in accordance with the present invention using the construction elements of Figs. 1A -IE.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A - 2D, which respectively illustrate four typical embodiments of construction elements constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each of the construction elements comprises web material, typically plastic sheet which is preferably bendable but nevertheless resistant to permanent creasing and compression in the plane of the material. A preferred material is polycarbonate plastic.

In each of embodiments of Figs. 2A - 2D, the construction element includes at least one planar section, indicated by reference numeral 50, which is, in turn, formed with at least one interlocking portion 52 disposed along an edge 54 thereof.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 2A - 2D, the interlocking portion is defined by a plurality of empty spaces 56, some of which extend generally perpendicular to edge 54 and some of which extend at acute angles with respect thereto.

In contrast with the embodiment of Figs. 1A - IE, in the embodiment of Figs. 2A - 2D, the empty spaces are generally wide empty spaces and may have non-uniform widths, as shown, thus defining cut-outs of differing configurations, separated by respective finger elements 58, which may have corresponding nonuniform widths.

The finger elements of one construction element are interdigitated with corresponding finger elements on an interlocking portion of another construction element to join the two construction elements together in generally mutually planar, removable engagement, as will be described hereinbelow.

Fig. 2A illustrates a construction element comprising a single planar section 50 and having interlocking portions 52 formed on each of its two edges, each interlocking portion having four cut-outs 56 defining five adjacent finger elements 58. Fig. 2B illustrates a right angle construction element comprising a pair of relatively narrow planar sections 50, each having a single interlocking portion 52. The construction element of Fig. 2B may be formed of an integral piece of material which is permanently creased or alternatively of two pieces of material which are joined.

Fig. 2C illustrates a right angle construction element including three planar sections 50, each including five interlocking portions. Fig. 2D illustrates a right angle construction element including four planar sections 50, each including four interlocking portions 52. The construction elements of Figs. 2C and 2D may be integrally molded or formed of plural sub-elements joined together by welding, adhesive or any other suitable means.

Interlocking engagement of two interlocking portions 52 of respective construction elements shown in Figs. 2A and 2B is illustrated in Fig. 4. It can be seen that in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, interdigitated engagement of first and second interlocking portions 52 of respective construction elements 60 and 62 is produced by placing a central one 64 of at least three edge projections, i.e. finger elements, of a first interlocking portion along one surface of a corresponding central one 66 of at least three edge projections of a second interlocking portion and by placing adjacent edge projections 68 and 70 on both sides of the central one 64 of the first interlocking portion along a corresponding opposite surface of adjacent edge projections 72 and 74 on both sides of the central one of the second interlocking portion. Similarly, the process may be repeated with the two external projections. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, interdigitated engagement is further provided by causing relative travel of the first and second interlocking portions towards each other along the empty spaces 56, as shown by arrows 57, such that the finger elements 58 overlap by an amount approximately equal to the length of the empty spaces 56, as shown in Fig. 4. It is seen from a consideration of Fig. 4, that when in interdigitated engagement in accordance with the present invention, the two planar sections 50, whose interlocking portions are joined, are in generally coplanar orientation.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims

98620/3 C L A I M S

1. A construction toy comprised of a plurality of construction elements made from semi-rigid resilient plastic sheets, each element including at least one planar section having three or more flat projections separated from one another by empty spaces, said elements adapted for coplanar interdigitated interlacing of the flat projections of one element with the flat projections of another element, wherein at least two non-adjacent projections from one element press on one surface of said another element, and at least one projection from said one element, positioned between the two non-adjacent projections, presses on the other surface of said another element for flatly overlapping therewith, said interlaced projections having resistance to planar withdrawal from the overlapped position, without the application of force, due to friction resulting from the resistance by said flat semi-rigid resilient plastic sheet material to permanent creasing and compression.

2. A construction toy according to Claim 1, wherein said at least three flat projections are separated by at least two cuts.

3. A construction toy according to claims 1-2, wherein said interdigitated, coplanar interlacing is produced by placing a central one of the at least three flat projections of a first construction element along one surface of a corresponding central one of the at least three flat projections of a second construction element and by placing adjacent flat projections on both sides of the central one of the first construction element along the opposite surfaces of adjacent flat projections of both sides of the central one of the second construction element.

4. A construction toy according to claims 2-3, wherein the interdigitated coplanar interlacing is further provided by causing relative travel of the first and second construction 98620/4 elements towards each other along the cuts, and unlacing is provided by pulling the interlaced construction elements away from each other alojig the cuts.

5. A construction toy according to claims 1-4, wherein some of said construction elements are flat and some of said construction elements comprise two to four planar sections arranged at angles to each other, each of said two to four planar sections having at least three flat projections adapted to be flexed in a manner so as to permit interdigitated, coplanar interlacing with corresponding flat projections of another construction element.

6. A construction toy according to claims 1-5, wherein said construction elements are essentially three dimensional, defining a plurality of generally flat surfaces.

7. A construction toy according to claims 2-6, wherein said cuts extend non-perpendicular to the edge of said construction element.

8. Construction element according to claims 2-7, wherein said cuts comprise slits.

9. A construction toy according to claims 2-8, wherein said cuts comprise cut-outs.

10. A construction toy according to claims 1-9, wherein interdigitated engagement is provided between identical construction elements.

11. Λ construction toy according to claims 1-10, wherein some of said construction elements ares flat and have two to four sides, each having at least three flat projections.

12. A construction toy according to claim 5, wherein said 98620/3 angles are right angles.

13. A method of using a construction oy according to any of the previous claims comprising interlocking two or more of said construction elements in a single plane by placing a central one of the at least three flat projections of a first construction element along one surface of a corresponding central one of the at least three flat projections of a second construction element and by placing adjacent flat projections on both sides of the central one of the first construction element along the opposite surfaces of adjacent flat projections on both sides of the central one of the second construction element.

14. A method according to claim 13 including unlocking said construction elements from each other by pulling them apart in a direction along said plane. For the Applicant,