WO2007101290A1

WO2007101290A1 - Construction system

Info

Publication number: WO2007101290A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000304
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Levi
Original assignee: Toy Polloi Pty Ltd; P Falk & Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-08
Filing date: 2006-03-08
Publication date: 2007-09-13

Abstract

A construction system including at least one connector element (12, 14) and at least one connecting element, said at least connector element having a plurality of first parallel slots (32, 34, 36), said at least one connecting element, in use, being held within one of said plurality of first parallel slots in a predetermined orientation.

Description

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

This invention relates to a construction system and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a construction toy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction system which is simple and easy to use.

According to the present invention there is provided a construction system including at least one connector element and at least one connecting element, said at least one connector element having a plurality of first parallel slots, said at least one connecting element, in use, being held within one of said plurality of first parallel slots in a predetermined orientation.

Preferably said at least one connecting element is flat and of a predetermined shape. It is preferred that said at least one connector element is substantially spherical in shape and has a flat base. The flat base may include a magnet for attachment to a magnetic surface. At least two connector elements may be provided, each of having a flat base and a magnet to allow said at least two connector elements to be coupled together.

In a practical embodiment said at least one connector element has a plurality of second parallel slots at an angle to said plurality of first parallel slots. The invention provides a construction system which forms a construction toy containing a plurality of said at least one connecting elements, said plurality of connecting elements being selected from arms, legs, heads, wings and other objects or appendages to complete construction of a toy. The at least one connector element may be formed of a plastics material whilst said at least one connecting element may be formed from a flat pliable material.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a construction toy made in accordance with the invention showing the construction toy fully assembled;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the construction toy shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the connector elements of the construction toy shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a connector element that can be used in the construction toy shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 6 is perspective view of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an underneath view of a third embodiment of a connector element that can be used in the construction toy shown in Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 8 is a front view of Fig. 7.

Throughout this specification the same reference numerals have been used to identify similar integers in the various embodiments to reduce repetition of description. In Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a construction toy 10 formed of a number of elements. The embodiment shows a pair of connector elements 12, 14 and a number of connecting elements 16-30. Each of the connecting elements 16-30 are of predetermined shapes and are formed from a flat material, for example, cardboard, plastics material or any other suitable pliable material. Although not shown, the connecting elements 16-30 may be printed with various features, for example, the connecting element 28 may have facial features printed thereon. As depicted, the connecting elements are blank to allow the constructor to draw or paint their own features on each connecting element. The number and shape of the connecting elements 16-30 can vary and various compilations thereof can be mixed and matched by the constructor. The invention is not limited to the number and shapes of connecting elements shown in this embodiment. The embodiment shows an angel having an upper torso formed by connection element 12, a lower torso formed by connection element 14, wings formed by connecting elements 16, 18, a dress formed by connecting elements 20, 22, arms formed by connecting elements 24, 26, a head formed by connecting element 28 and a crown formed by connecting element 30. The connector elements 12, 14 are typically formed from a plastics material and in this embodiment have a substantial spherical shape. Although it is convenient to have the connector elements with a spherical shape, the connector elements could be of any shape. Each connector element 12, 14 have a number of parallel slots 32, 34, 36 for reception therein of a part of connecting elements 16-30. The slots 32-36 are of width to provide a frictional engagement with connecting elements 16-30. Although three slots 32-36 are shown in this embodiment, the invention is not limited to three slots, as the number may vary depending on requirements. The connector elements 12, 14 have a flat base 38 which allows the connector elements to be coupled together, for example, Velcro^®, glue, magnets, BIu Tack^® or any other suitable coupling method. The embodiment depicts two connector elements 12, 14 but the invention can use one connector element or more than two connector elements.

In use, the constructor can assemble the construction toy 10 in any manner. In Figs. 1 and 2, the constructor has inserted arms 24, 26 and head 28 in slot 36 of connector element 12. The crown element 30 has been inserted in slot 34 whilst the wings 16, 18 are located in slot 32. The pair of dress elements 20, 22 has been inserted into respective slots 32, 36 of connector element 14. Connector elements 12, 14 have been coupled together with their flat bases 38 abutted together, for example, by magnets. The orientation and positioning within slots 32-36 of the connecting elements 16-30 can be moved into any desired location or position, for example, arm element 26 could be angled upwardly to indicate a waving action of the arm element 26. The invention is simple to construct a suitable character and can be readily used by persons with minimum dexterity, for example, young children.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of connector element 12, 14. In this embodiment a further set of parallel slots 40, 42 are provided which are, as shown, substantially transverse to slots 32-36. The number and orientation of slots 40, 42 could be varied in the design of construction toy 10, for example, at 45°. This embodiment provides additional flexibility for positioning the connecting elements 16- 30. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of connector element 12,14. In this embodiment a magnet 44 is inserted into a complementary recess 46 in the flat base 38. Magnet 44 is typically mounted flush with flat base 38 to provide a uniform surface for co-operation with a similar connector element as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The construction toy 10 could also be used as a "fridge magnet" if magnet 44 is directly applied to a magnetic surface.

From the above description of the various embodiments it is evident to the man skilled in the art may make changes to the construction toy 10. The various elements can be sold as a particular set or include multiple elements to provide a large possible collection of assembly ideas. The connector elements 12, 14 can be flat without a lot of depth as opposed to the bulk of a spherical shape. A square, rectangular, triangular or other shape may be used. The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:-

1. A construction system including at least one connector element and at least one connecting element, said at least one connector element having a plurality of first parallel slots, said at least one connecting element, in use, being held within one of said plurality of first parallel slots in a predetermined orientation.

2. The construction system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one connecting element is flat and of a predetermined shape.

3. The construction system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one connector element is substantially spherical in shape and has a flat base.

4. The construction system of claim 3, wherein said flat base includes a magnet for attachment to a magnetic surface.

5. The construction system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least two connector elements are provided, each of said connector elements having a flat base and a magnet to allow said at least two connector elements can be coupled together.

6. The construction system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one connector element has a plurality of second parallel slots at an angle to said plurality of first parallel slots.

7. The construction system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said construction system forms a construction toy containing a plurality of said at least one connecting elements, said plurality of connecting elements being selected from arms, legs, heads, wings and other objects or appendages to complete construction of a toy.

8. The construction system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein three parallel slots are provided.

9. The construction system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one connector element is formed of a plastics material.

10. The construction system of any one the preceding claims, wherein said at least one connecting element is formed from a flat pliable material.

11. A construction system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.