US20080268741A1 - Construction system - Google Patents

Construction system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080268741A1
US20080268741A1 US12/069,196 US6919608A US2008268741A1 US 20080268741 A1 US20080268741 A1 US 20080268741A1 US 6919608 A US6919608 A US 6919608A US 2008268741 A1 US2008268741 A1 US 2008268741A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
socket
component
construction
components
cylindrical body
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/069,196
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jeff Pinsker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ZOOB Corp
Original Assignee
INFINITOY Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by INFINITOY Inc filed Critical INFINITOY Inc
Priority to US12/069,196 priority Critical patent/US20080268741A1/en
Assigned to INFINITOY, INC. reassignment INFINITOY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PINSKER, JEFF
Publication of US20080268741A1 publication Critical patent/US20080268741A1/en
Priority to US12/816,173 priority patent/US20100248584A1/en
Assigned to ZOOB CORPORATION reassignment ZOOB CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: INFINITOY, INC.
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
    • A63H33/062—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements with clip or snap mechanisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to construction systems, and more particularly to construction systems including individual construction elements having ball and jaw connections.
  • the present invention is directed to a construction system which has individual construction elements or components which can be connected to each other by at least a ball-to-socket joint or a socket-to-socket joint.
  • a basic construction element has a body with a ball at one end and a socket at the other end, or balls at both ends, or sockets at both ends.
  • Other construction elements are contemplated which can have more than or less than two connectors for a single element.
  • a ball from one construction element or component can be removably inserted into the socket of another element.
  • the socket which will also be referred to as a jaw, has at least two petals separated by openings on either side of the petals.
  • the ball-to-socket joint may “lock” at orientations when at least one detent in the interior of the socket protrudes into at least one of a plurality of dimples on the ball. Due to the contour of the petals of the jaw, the available range of orientations in a ball-to-socket interconnection is at least two pi steradians.
  • the ball may incorporate a regular pattern of dimples that allows small well-controlled and reproducible reorientations of the connection to be made.
  • the elements may also interconnect in many ways, such as for example, two types of socket-to-socket connections where the longitudinal axes of interconnected elements are collinear.
  • a socket-to-socket connection the petals of one element connect with the petals of a second element.
  • a third type of socket-to-socket connection allows the elements to form a chain with the longitudinal axes of the elements being parallel and coplanar and orthogonal to the direction of the chain.
  • the elements may also be interconnected by having the socket of a first element grasp the body of a second element. With the socket-to-body connection, the longitudinal axes of the two elements are orthogonal and the angle between the symmetry plane of the first element and the longitudinal axis of the second element is continuously adjustable through 360 degrees.
  • a closed system can be formed by the connection of three elements.
  • the construction set may include elements of different size scales and elements having connectors of more than one size scale.
  • Components and connectors may be configured in size, construction and material properties to be used by younger children with less developed muscle strength and coordination.
  • the force required to join two components such as a ball into a socket may be limited and the force required to disengage the ball from the socket may also be limited.
  • Components may be sized so they can be gripped firmly with a child's full hand to exert a maximum amount of force for engaging one component into the mating parts of a second component.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a child playing with a construction system according to the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a construction component of a construction system.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates two construction components being joined together.
  • FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another construction component of a construction system.
  • FIG. 5 is an isometric view of two construction component joined together.
  • FIG. 1 shows components of a construction system according to the present disclosure in use by a child 12 at 10 .
  • Child 12 holds two construction components 100 A and 100 B and is preparing to assemble them together into a single unit. Components are sized to be fully grasped by the child's small hand. The child may hold a component in each hand, grasping them firmly to engage one to the other. Additional components are also shown that may be further assembled to an assembled unit.
  • a basic construction component 100 is shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the construction component 100 may be made of an elastomeric compound.
  • the construction component 100 has an elongated substantially cylindrical body 112 , with a socket or jaw 114 extending from body 112 at one end and a substantially spherical ball 116 attached to body 112 at a second end.
  • Socket 114 is attached to body 112 at one end by a neck 118 having a width less than the diameter of body 12 .
  • Ball 116 is also attached to body 112 by a neck 120 at the opposite end, neck 120 having a width less than the diameter of body 12 .
  • Necks 118 and 120 may be circular, oval, rectangular or other shape in cross section.
  • joining components 100 A and 100 B end to end is illustrated as part of forming various structures.
  • Ball 116 may be inserted into socket 114 using an applied force exerted by one hand pushing on component 100 A and the other hand pushing an opposing direction on component 100 B until the socket engages the ball.
  • child 12 may place one component on the floor and push the ball 116 into the socket by holding a second component with both hands and pushing down to insert the ball of the held component into the socket of the component on the floor.
  • Components may alternatively be joined by engaging the socket of component 100 A to the socket of component 100 B.
  • FIG. 3 at 200 shows first component 100 A including ball 116 A and second component 100 B including socket 114 B. Components 100 A and 100 B are not joined and are coming together with ball 116 A to be inserted into and engage socket 114 B.
  • components 100 A and 100 B have engaged each other with ball 116 A in socket 114 B.
  • Component 100 A is retained by component 100 B.
  • force may be applied to each component in opposite directions to overcome the retention force of socket 114 B.
  • Component 100 may be configured to operate with a set range of applied forces. Component 100 may engage ball 116 in socket 114 when an insertion or pushing force within a set range is applied to the components, deflecting the socket sufficiently to admit ball 116 . Component 100 may disengage ball 116 from socket 114 when a pulling force within a set range is applied to the components, overcoming the retention force of socket 114 and deflecting the socket so the ball moves out. This retention force maintains engagement between components during play.
  • Component sets may be engineered and configured for different age groups.
  • a first set of components may be configured with a range of extraction and engaging forces that is lower than a second set of components.
  • the first set of components may be engineered for preschool children that have not developed the muscle strength of school age children.
  • the second set of components may be engineered with higher extraction and engagement forces to be used by more developed school age children.
  • a third set of components may be engineered for applications where the assembled components must remain engaged when roughly handled such as an industrial application, student demonstration project or a museum hands on exhibit. These component sets may be engineered with even higher engagement and extraction forces.
  • Component materials may be selected, and mating parts configured, so as to be joined and parted with a limited amount of force, as may be exerted by a child. Deflecting parts of a socket designed for preschool children may deflect with a limited force as a result of element design, element thickness and/or the material composition. Component materials may be selected, at least in part, to limit sliding friction between surfaces so that on assembly, less applied force is required to assemble a component into a socket.
  • edges and edges of elements and components designed for use by preschool children may be configured to limit the amount of force required for assembly.
  • edges and corners of connectors and elements may be rounded with large radii to limit any “stubbing” of biased elements on contact to mating component elements.
  • the surfaces of mating elements may be textured in such a way as to limit the insertion and extraction force required to engage and/or disengage one component with a second component. Dimples, surface roughness, protrusions, smoothness or other surface features may be used to limit friction, stubbing and deflection of components to configure them for preschool children.
  • the components may be comprised of elastomeric compounds that include one or more of ABS, PVC, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, nylon, acrylic or other synthetic or natural material.
  • Components may be injection molded. Individual components may comprise more than one material. End elements of the component may be comprised of different material than the body of the component. Components may further incorporate structural features that are composed of metal or other material which may add structural strength and support to surrounding materials.
  • components may be made from wood, metal, glass, minerals, fiber or other material.
  • Components 100 may be sized for the appropriate age group as well as having engagement and extraction forces engineered for the age group.
  • body 112 may comprise a length from 3.5 inches to 5 inches and a diameter of 1.0 inches to 1.4 inches as designated at A and B, respectively.
  • Ball 116 may have a 1.3 inch to 1.9 inch diameter ball and necks 118 and 120 may have a 0.4 inch to 0.5 inch diameter as designated at C and D, respectively.
  • Socket 114 may have a 0.9 to 1.4 inch opening between petals of the jaw and a length of 1.3 inches to 1.9 inches as designated at E and F, respectively.
  • Ball 116 may include a plurality of small dimples on the surface.
  • the surface of the ball may be textured or smooth.
  • body 112 may comprise a length of 3.5 inches and a diameter of 1.0 inches as designated at A and B, respectively.
  • Ball 116 may have a 1.9 inch diameter ball and the necks may have a 0.5 inch diameter as designated at C and D, respectively.
  • Socket 114 may have a 1.0 inch opening between petals of the jaw and a length of 1.9 inches as designated at E and F, respectively.
  • FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration of a component 300 including a body 302 , a first socket 304 , a second body socket 306 and a ball 308 .
  • the body socket 306 is shown in the middle of body 302 and may be configured to accept the body of another component.
  • FIG. 5 shows the component 300 of FIG. 4 joined with a component 402 similar to component 100 of FIG. 2 .
  • Component 402 is engaged to the body socket 306 of component 300 .
  • the joined component 400 includes two sockets and two balls and may be used to build additional structures.
  • Component 300 may again be engineered for engagement and extraction forces compatible with and appropriate to a selected age group.
  • the described system and assemblies are examples and are not to be used as limitations.
  • the number of connectors may be more or fewer than those shown.
  • the orientation or position of connectors may vary from the examples. Any suitable configuration or combination of components presented, or equivalents to them that perform a similar function, may also be used.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)
  • Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)
  • Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)
US12/069,196 2007-02-09 2008-02-08 Construction system Abandoned US20080268741A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/069,196 US20080268741A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2008-02-08 Construction system
US12/816,173 US20100248584A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2010-06-15 Construction system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US90044307P 2007-02-09 2007-02-09
US12/069,196 US20080268741A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2008-02-08 Construction system

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/816,173 Continuation US20100248584A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2010-06-15 Construction system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080268741A1 true US20080268741A1 (en) 2008-10-30

Family

ID=39690671

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/069,196 Abandoned US20080268741A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2008-02-08 Construction system
US12/816,173 Abandoned US20100248584A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2010-06-15 Construction system

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/816,173 Abandoned US20100248584A1 (en) 2007-02-09 2010-06-15 Construction system

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (2) US20080268741A1 (uk)
EP (1) EP2114541A4 (uk)
CN (2) CN104014136A (uk)
PL (1) PL217191B1 (uk)
RU (1) RU2466766C2 (uk)
UA (1) UA100503C2 (uk)
WO (1) WO2008100417A2 (uk)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050257476A1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2005-11-24 Saidoo Paul D Suspended ceiling system
US20140148076A1 (en) * 2010-10-22 2014-05-29 Lego A/S Toy building set
USD794503S1 (en) * 2016-03-26 2017-08-15 Kamal Siegel Figurine neck joint
US9914068B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2018-03-13 Mattel, Inc. Toy structure kit with a connector and accessories
USD834105S1 (en) * 2017-06-01 2018-11-20 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Construction set element
USD931947S1 (en) * 2020-09-18 2021-09-28 Jierong Wang Connector piece for toy building set
USD982095S1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2023-03-28 Lego A/S Element for a toy building set
US20230381679A1 (en) * 2015-08-14 2023-11-30 Stickybones Inc. Animation puppet

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN201692659U (zh) * 2010-06-18 2011-01-05 王小勇 一种拼接玩具
CA2814318C (en) * 2010-10-22 2018-07-03 Lego A/S A toy building set
CN103256459A (zh) * 2013-04-27 2013-08-21 陈璇 活动摄像头
US9307746B2 (en) 2014-04-21 2016-04-12 Sportpet Designs, Inc. Rubber toy
CN106999786A (zh) * 2014-11-14 2017-08-01 美国扑克牌公司 卡牌连接器
EP4106896A4 (en) * 2020-02-20 2024-07-24 Studioweapon Music & Design Ltd CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM WITH CONNECTIBLE ELEMENTS AND METHODS THEREFOR

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4548590A (en) * 1983-05-17 1985-10-22 Green Anthony W Construction element
US5897417A (en) * 1995-12-11 1999-04-27 Primordial, Llc Construction system

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8701264U1 (de) * 1987-01-27 1987-07-23 Linhart, Jirka, 5223 Nümbrecht Biegbares, langgestrecktes Gelenkelement
US5769681A (en) * 1996-01-25 1998-06-23 Greenwood, Sr.; Donald Lee Open-ended toy construction system
US5752869A (en) * 1996-02-01 1998-05-19 Huff; Randolph W. Toy construction set
DE29607761U1 (de) * 1996-04-29 1997-08-28 Schwarz, Stephanie, 81479 München Steckbausatz
US5913706A (en) * 1997-01-03 1999-06-22 Connector Set Limited Partnership Articulated sectional toy figure
CN2341694Y (zh) * 1998-11-19 1999-10-06 天津顶盛塑料制品有限公司 多边形拼卡组合玩具
US6264522B1 (en) * 1999-12-07 2001-07-24 Marilyn M. Dickson Construction system
US6692332B2 (en) * 2002-02-25 2004-02-17 Stikfas Pte. Ltd. Toy figure having plurality of body parts joined by ball and socket joints
CA2577279A1 (en) * 2004-09-02 2006-03-16 Dane Scarborough Toy construction set method and apparatus
US7326100B2 (en) * 2005-02-18 2008-02-05 O'brien Gilford Marble building toy

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4548590A (en) * 1983-05-17 1985-10-22 Green Anthony W Construction element
US5897417A (en) * 1995-12-11 1999-04-27 Primordial, Llc Construction system

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050257476A1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2005-11-24 Saidoo Paul D Suspended ceiling system
US20140148076A1 (en) * 2010-10-22 2014-05-29 Lego A/S Toy building set
US9901842B2 (en) * 2010-10-22 2018-02-27 Lego A/S Toy building set
US9914068B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2018-03-13 Mattel, Inc. Toy structure kit with a connector and accessories
US20230381679A1 (en) * 2015-08-14 2023-11-30 Stickybones Inc. Animation puppet
USD794503S1 (en) * 2016-03-26 2017-08-15 Kamal Siegel Figurine neck joint
USD834105S1 (en) * 2017-06-01 2018-11-20 Mattel-Mega Holdings (Us), Llc Construction set element
USD931947S1 (en) * 2020-09-18 2021-09-28 Jierong Wang Connector piece for toy building set
USD982095S1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2023-03-28 Lego A/S Element for a toy building set

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN104014136A (zh) 2014-09-03
EP2114541A2 (en) 2009-11-11
UA100503C2 (uk) 2013-01-10
WO2008100417A3 (en) 2008-10-09
PL217191B1 (pl) 2014-06-30
EP2114541A4 (en) 2011-04-13
RU2009131574A (ru) 2011-03-20
PL389467A1 (pl) 2010-03-29
WO2008100417A2 (en) 2008-08-21
RU2466766C2 (ru) 2012-11-20
US20100248584A1 (en) 2010-09-30
CN101720247A (zh) 2010-06-02

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: INFINITOY, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PINSKER, JEFF;REEL/FRAME:021254/0361

Effective date: 20080618

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION

AS Assignment

Owner name: ZOOB CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INFINITOY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:031182/0371

Effective date: 20130908