US3570169A

US3570169A - Constructional toy with slotted interfitting parts

Info

Publication number: US3570169A
Application number: US818246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodor Jacob
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-22
Filing date: 1969-04-22
Publication date: 1971-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-16

Abstract

A CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF SLOTTED AND UNSLOTTED INTERFITTING PARTS OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES. SOME OF SAID PARTS ARE IN THE FORM OF FLAT MEMBERS HAVING OPEN-ENDED SLOTS, WHEREAS OTHER ARE HOLLOW BASE MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH SLOT-SHAPED RECESSES. ALL PARTS ARE SO CONTRIVED THAT EDGE PORTIONS OF THE FLAT MEMBERS CAN BE FITTED INTO SAID OPEN-ENDED SLOTS IN OTHER FLAT MEMBERS OR INTO SAID SLOT-SHAPED RECESSES IN THE BASE MEMBERS.

Description

T. JACOB March 16, 1971 CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY WITH SLQTTED INTERFI'ITING PARTS Filed April 22, 1969 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

FIG.8

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B O r R MW Em m T yugmmm his ATTORNEY5 T. JACOB 3,570,169

ERFITTING PARTS March 16, 1971 CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY WITH SLOTTED INT Filed April 22, 1969 ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Theodor JACOB y in? hisATTORNEYS- United States Patent Ofice Patented Mar. 16, 1971 3,570,169 CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY WITH SLOTTED INTERFITTIN G PARTS Theodor Jacob, 110 Kinzigheimer Weg, Hanau am Main, Germany Filed Apr. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 818,246 Int. Cl. A63h 33/00 US. C]. 46-16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A constructional toy with a large number of slotted and unslotted interfitting parts of different shapes and sizes. Some of said parts are in the form of flat members having open-ended slots, whereas other are hollow base members provided with slot-shaped recesses. All parts are so contrived that edge portions of the flat members can be fitted into said open-ended slots in other fiat members or into said slot-shaped recesses in the base members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a constructional toy comprising a large number of slotted interfitting parts which can be assembled in a variety of different ways to construct a multitude of assemblies of different configurations.

Conventional toys of this kind all consist of disc-shaped parts or units of similar kind, and the variety of the configurations that can be assembled is strictly limited. Moreover, the assembly of specific models is generally impossible because suitable connecting an dstructural elements are not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to eliminate these limitations. More particularly, it is the object of the present invention to include in a toy stable, arbitrarily shaped base members that are provided with slot-shaped recesses and that have at least one face enabling them to stand firmly on a level surface such as a table top.

To attain these objects the present invention provides a constructional toy of the above specified kind which comprises a large number of interfitting parts in the form of fiat coupling members of different design and sizes, each provided with at least two open-ended slots; flat rectangular and triangular plate members provided with open-ended slots cut into all their peripheral edges; fiat threeand four-armed cross-shaped members, likewise provided with open-ended slots out into their edges; and cube-shaped, pyramidal, cylindrical and brick-shaped hol low base members provdied with slot-shaped recesses in their surfaces, said interfitting parts being so contrived that edge portions of the fiat members can be fitted into said open-ended slots in other fiat members or into said slot-shaped recesses in the base members.

The slots and slot-shaped recesses may be of different lengths.

Preferably the slots in the flat members will all be openended, but some of the fiat members may also be provided with the slot-shaped recesses.

Other members may be disc-shaped or elongated elements provided with terminal enlargements at the end of constrictions for insertion into the open-ended slots of other members.

Yet another modification may be a coupling member provided with an open-ended slot at one end and a pin with an enlarged head at the other end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ln order that the nature of the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of interfitting parts the invention proposes to provide are illustratively shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show three fiat coupling members of different shapes provided with open-ended slots;

FIG. 4 shows the manner in which these members and slotted circular members can be fitted together to form an assembly;

b FIGS. 5 and 6 show two elongated flat coupling memers;

FIG. 7 shows a flat strap-shaped coupling member;

FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b illustrate an unslotted disc-shaped member;

FIG. 9 shows a fiat square member;

FIG. 10 shows a fiat triangular member;

FIG. 11 shows a flat three-armed cross;

FIG. 12 shows a flat four-armed cross;

FIG. 13 shows a flat square member;

FIG. 14 shows a flat coupling member provided with an open-ended slot and a pin;

FIG. 15 shows a cube-shaped base member;

FIG. 16 shows a four-sided pyramidal base member;

FIG. 17 shows a cylindrical base member, and

FIG. 18 shows a bar-shaped base member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

flat coupling members

1, 2 and 3 are provided with open-

ended slots

1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 3a, 3b. The reference numeral 4 denotes slotted circular discs of knovm configuration.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show elongated fiat coupling members 5 and 6 formed with portions narrowed by recesses 6a and 5a. The two coupling members 5 and 6 each have terminal enlargements 7 and 7a at the end of constrictions adapted to fit into the open-ended slots of members of other configurations.

FIG. 7 shows an elongated flat coupling member 8 with open-ended

axial slots

8a and 8b at its ends.

FIGS. 8, 8a and 8b illustrate a flat disc-shaped member 9 lacking slots but provided with

holes

9a and 9b.

The flat square or rectangular member 10 shown in FIG. 9 is formed with open-ended slots 10a cut into its edges all round.

FIG. 10 shows a similar member 11 of flat triangular shape with open-ended slots 11a cut into its edges.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flat three-armed cross 12 with openended slots 12a. A four-armed similar cross 13 with openended slots 13a is shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows a flat square structural member 14 in which open-ended slots 14a and 14b of different depths are provided.

FIG. 14 illustrates a fiat coupling member 15 provided with an open-ended slots 15a at one end and formed with a pin 15b with an enlarged head at the other end.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cube-shaped base member 16 provided with slot-shaped recesses 16a in its surfaces.

FIG. 16 is a base member 17 of pyramidal shape with slot-shaped recesses 17a, whereas FIG. 17 is a cylindrical base member 18 with slot-shaped recesses 18a.

Finally, FIG. 18 shows a slab-shaped member 19 with slot-like recesses 19a.

Preferably all the

base members

16, 17, 18, and 19 are hollow.

What is claimed is:

1. A constructional toy comprising a large number of interfitting parts in the form of (a) fiat coupling members of different design and sizes,

each provided with at least two open-ended slots;

(b) flat rectangular and triangular plate members provided =vvith open-ended slots cut into all their peripheral edges;

(0) flat threeand four-armed cross-shaped members,

likewise provided with open-ended slots cut into their edges; and

(d) cube-shaped, pyramidal, cylindrical and brickshaped hollow base members provided with slotshaped recesses in their surfaces, said interfitting parts being so dimensioned that edge portions of the fiat members can be fitted into and retained in said openended slots in other flat members or fitted into and retained in said slot-shaped recesses in the base members.

2. A toy according to claim 1, also comprising coupling members provided with an open-ended slot at one end and a pin With an enlarged head at the other end.

3. A toy according to claim 1, also comprising square fiat plate-shaped members with open-ended slots of different depths cut into their edges.

4. A toy according to claim 1, also comprising a member in the form of an unslotted perforated disc.

4 5. A toy according to claim 1, also comprising unslotted elongated coupling members formed with terminal enlargements at the end of constrictions for insertion into the open-ended slots of other members.

5 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,371,619 3/1921 Greenstreet 4625 FOREIGN PATENTS 794,583 9/1935 France 4626 LOUIS G. MANCENE, 'Primary Examiner 5 I. Q. LEVER, 111., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 46-31