WO2010057227A1

WO2010057227A1 - A construction set and connectors therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2010057227A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2009/000099
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abel Chetty
Original assignee: Abel Chetty
Priority date: 2008-11-11
Filing date: 2009-11-11
Publication date: 2010-05-20
Also published as: ZA200907906B

Abstract

The invention relates to a construction set including a primary connector (10) having: a connector body (14), one or more first connecting formations (12) on the connector body for, along at least a first plane, releasably connecting to one or more construction members (18); and a plurality of second connecting formations (16) on the connector body (14) for releasably connecting primary connectors to one another, the second connecting formations (16) being orientated relative to each other such that the primary connectors (10) are connectable to one another in the first plane and/or in at least one plane other than the first plane.

Description

A CONSTRUCTION SET AND CONNECTORS THEREFOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a construction set and connectors therefor. More specifically, the invention relates to a construction set and connectors for constructing various imaginative forms through the connection of individual connectors, or the connection of individual connectors and construction members, the construction members being purpose built or from waste materials such as toilet rolls, napkin rolls and other types of paper rolls.

Construction sets for children are well known. These construction sets generally comprise a plurality of connectors and a plurality of construction elements adapted for connecting between the connectors. Further, the construction sets are generally expensive and only allow for the construction of space frame type structures and not the construction of planar structures such as walls.

Another disadvantage of known construction sets is their inability to hold reasonable loads, i.e. the weight of a small child. Many children are enthusiastic about building structures that they can themselves use, for example, doll houses, tables and chairs.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a construction set and connectors therefor that address the disadvantages of existing types of construction sets and connectors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a construction set including a primary connector having:

a connector body;

one or more first connecting formations on the connector body for, along at least a first plane, releasably connecting to one or more construction members; and

a plurality of second connecting formations on the connector body for releasably connecting primary connectors to one another, the second connecting formations being orientated relative to each other such that the primary connectors are connectable to one another along the first plane and/or in at least one plane other than the first plane.

The one or more first connecting formations may be extrusions defined in the connector body in which the construction members are receivable.

Alternatively, the connector body comprises one or more raised body portions with the one or more first connecting formations protruding outwardly there from, the construction members being receivable over the one or more first connecting formations to the point of abutment between the respective construction member and a limiting formation. Typically, the first connecting formations are one or more first connection members each having a first end for releasably attaching to the at least one raised body portion of the connector body and a second end for receiving the construction member there over. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the connector body may be made up of two or more pieces each having one or more first connecting formation sections and at least one raised body portion section, the two or more pieces being securable to one another such that the one or more first connecting formation sections and the raised body portion sections of each of the pieces co-operate to form the first connecting formations and the raised body portion of the connector body respectively.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector body may be made up of the raised body portion and two or more pieces, each of the pieces having one or more first connecting formation sections and being securable to one another by the raised body portion, the raised body portion being shaped and sized to move over the two or more pieces and lock them together, such that the one or more first connecting formation sections of each of the pieces co-operate to form the first connecting formations of the connector body. Preferably, the first connecting formations are friction type connecting formations. More preferably, the raised body portions of the connector body comprise a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the first connecting formations, thereby forming the limiting formation. More preferably, the primary connector is tubular in shape and the diameter of the connector body is larger than the diameter of the first connecting formations, such that the raised body portions of the connector body act as the limiting formation.

The second connecting formations may be a plurality of connecting apertures defined by the connector body of the primary connector, the plurality of apertures being spaced apart from one another axially and/or circumferentially along the connector body. Preferably, the connecting apertures are spaced apart from one another axially by a distance equal to or greater than the smallest outer dimension of the construction members, and circumferentially by at least 45 degrees.

Typically, the construction set further comprises a secondary connector comprising one or more secondary connecting formations projecting outwardly from a secondary central body, and further wherein the one or more secondary connecting formations of the secondary connector are engagable with the connecting apertures define by the connector body of the primary connectors, the secondary central body being partially receivable within recesses defined by the connector body and located proximate each connecting aperture such that the secondary connector, connected in use between primary connectors, is receivable within correspondingly positioned recesses in the connected primary connectors, thereby concealing the secondary connector and allowing the primary connectors to be connected in contact or close proximity to one another.

Preferably, the secondary connector is cylindrically shaped, comprising a disc shaped secondary central body and cylindrically shaped secondary connecting formations protruding axially from, and centrally from either side of the disc shaped secondary central body. More preferably, each of the free ends of the secondary connecting formations comprise retaining formations for engaging the connecting apertures defined in the primary connectors, and further wherein the leading faces of the secondary connecting formations are tapered for aiding the secondary connector formations in being pressed into the connecting apertures. Most preferably, the retaining formations are resilient retaining formations being co-operative with the primary connector to lock the secondary connector thereto, the secondary connector being removable from the primary connector on the application of a pulling force or using a special tool. In an alternative embodiment, the secondary connector is attached permanently to one or more connecting apertures in the primary connector for the purposes of making the construction set safe for young children. The secondary connector may also define a bore passing axially through the secondary connecting formations through which other components of the construction set are sized and shaped to fit through.

Generally, the construction set further includes one or more end caps being releasably attachable to the primary connector, the end caps being attachable either to the raised body portion directly or to the free ends of the first connecting formations. Typically, the end caps are attachable to the primary connectors by corresponding attachment formations on the end caps and the primary connectors in the form of clipping formations, threaded formations or friction fit formations. Preferably, the end caps comprise the second connecting formations for enabling connection thereof to other ends caps and/or other primary connectors. More preferably, each of the end caps are disc shaped and define an engaging formation adapted for receiving an implement for the purposes of tightening and/or loosening the end cap to or from the primary connector respectively.

The construction set may further include a means for clamping, the clamping means comprising a clamping rod, sized and shaped to pass through the construction members, primary connectors, secondary connectors and/or ends caps, and one or more clamping members being engageable with the clamping rod, such that a structure built from one or more construction members, primary connectors, secondary connectors and/or ends caps is capable or being clamped together between one or more clamping members engaged with the clamping rod. Generally, at least the end portions of the clamping rods are threaded and threadably engageable with the clamping members. Typically, the clamping members are nuts or snap clips. Preferably, the clamping rod and/or clamping members are manufactured from a metallic or plastic like material.

Further, the construction set may include a tertiary connector comprising a tertiary body and a plurality of connecting sockets on the tertiary body, the connecting sockets being engageable with the clamping rod and positionable at the intersections of crossing clamping rods. Preferably, the tertiary connector is from a group of connectors consisting of straight connectors, 135 degree bend connectors, 90 degree bend connectors, S-bend connectors, cross piece connectors and T-piece connectors.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the construction set also includes a reinforcing member, sized and shaped to fit within the construction members and to abut the inner walls thereof so as to prevent the construction members from collapsing under load. Generally, the reinforcing member comprises a central reinforcing body, defining a bore sized and shaped for allowing the clamping rod passage there through, and reinforcing arms extending outwardly from the reinforcing body and adapted to abut the inner walls of the construction member, the reinforcing member being retainable in the construction member by the force of friction acting between the reinforcing member and the inner walls of the construction member. Preferably, the central reinforcing body is tubular and the reinforcing arms extend radially outwardly there from. More preferably, the height of the reinforcing member is less than the height of the tubular construction member so as to allow the construction member to accommodate the reinforcing member and the first connecting formations of primary connectors connected thereto. The reinforcing member may either be integral with the construction members or releasably attachable to the construction members by corresponding attachment formations on the reinforcing members and the construction members.

Typically, the construction set further includes a cladding member being releasably attachable to the secondary connecting formations of the primary connectors and/or end caps, each of the cladding members comprising a planar-like body defining a plurality of connecting apertures spaced thereon to align with the secondary connecting formations. Generally, the planar-like body of the cladding member is manufactured from a flexible material. Alternatively, the planar- like body of the cladding member is rigid, the rigid body comprising of a tongue on at least one side and defining a correspondingly sized and shaped tongue receiving slot along at least one other side, such that the tongue of one cladding member is receivable within the slot of an adjacent cladding member so as to clad a structure built from the construction set by attaching interlocked cladding members to the structure. Preferably, the cladding members are releasably attachable to the second connecting formations by cladding clips receivable within aligned second connecting formations and apertures defined by the cladding members.

The primary connectors and the construction members are preferably hollow, of any cross- sectional shape and manufactured from any material. Also, the primary connectors and/or construction members may be transparent or translucent so as to create a glow effect when a means of illumination is passed there through. The construction members may be elements from used packaging material from the group consisting of toilet roll cores, napkin roll cores, cores of any other paper roll article, boxes, bottles, cans and the like. Alternatively, the construction set includes purpose built construction members, wherein the construction members, for example, are tubular in shape.

Preferably, the primary connector is from a group of connectors consisting of straight connectors, 135 degree bend connectors, 90 degree bend connectors, S-bend connectors, cross piece connectors and T-piece connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a primary connector for a construction set in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a 180 degree straight type primary connector;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an end type primary connector;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a 180 degree straight type primary connector connected to a toilet roll core;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a secondary connector for a construction set in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of primary connectors and secondary connectors in use in construction;

Figure 7 shows a top view of a number of different types of primary connectors;

Figure 8 shows a top view of a number of different types of tertiary connectors for a construction set in accordance with the invention; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a 6-way tertiary connector in use in construction;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of cladding members for a construction set in accordance with the invention;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a house structure constructed using the components making up the construction set and toilet roll cores;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a reinforcing member for a construction set in accordance with the invention, relative to a construction member;

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the reinforcing member position within the construction member; and

Figure 14 shows perspective views of a plurality of primary connectors in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A construction set, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a primary connector 10 comprising first connecting formations in the form of first connection members 12, a connector body 14 and second connecting formations in the form of connecting apertures 16 defined by the connector body 14. It will be appreciated that the first connecting formations 12 may be integral with the connector body 14 as illustrated in figure 2.

Referring now specifically to figure 1 and figure 4, the first connection members 12 are shaped and sized to be received within an open end of a construction member in the form of a toilet roll 18, and retained therein by the force of friction acting between the outer surface of the first connection members 12 and an inner surface of the toilet roll 18. The connector body 14, in the form of a raised body portion, doubles up as a limiting formation defining an abutting surface 19 against which a toilet roll 18, connected to the first connection members 12, is abuttable. For the purposes of describing the preferred invention, it will be appreciated that any reference to toilet roll 18 will be taken to mean the central core of a toilet roll, napkin roll or other roll of a similar nature, or any other type of tubular member, purpose built or otherwise.

Corresponding threaded attachment formations 2OA, 2OB on the first connection members 12 and on the inner bore of the connector body 14 respectively, enable a plurality of first connection members 12 to be interchanged with one another. This allows similar or differently shaped first connection members 12 to be connected to the connector body 14 so that the primary connector 10 can be used to connect the same or differently shaped and sized toilet rolls 18. It will be appreciated that the first connection members 12 may be releasably attachable to the connector body 14 by means other than threaded attachment formations, for example by clipping formations. Alternatively, the primary connector 10 is made up of two or more first connection members (not shown) and a connector body in the form of a ring shaped body portion (not shown), which is adapted to fit over and secure the two or more first connection members to one another such that in a secured position, the ends of the two or more first connection members extend outwardly from the ring-like connector body, and are capable of receiving construction members thereon. Where clipping formations are used, the connector body 14 preferably defines a second abutting surface (not shown) along its inner bore against which the first connection members 12 may abut.

The construction set preferably includes end caps. With specific reference to figure 3, and where an end type of primary connector 10 is required for construction, a first end cap 22 for replacing the first connecting formation 12 is engagable with the connector body 14. Where required, a second end cap 24 is engagable with the open end of the first connection member 12 as shown in figure 2. The first cap 22 and second cap 24 are preferably threadably attachable to the connector body 14 and the first connection member 12. Both caps 22, 24 define a central aperture 26 and an engaging formation in the form of a slot 28, the slot 28 being shaped and sized to receive a portion of a coin or other implement for tightening or loosening the caps 22, 24 to the connector body 14 or the first connection member 12 respectively. Although the end caps 22, 24 have been described and illustrated as being threadably attachable to the connector body 14 or the first connection member 12 respectively, it will be appreciated that other means of attaching the end caps 22, 24 may be used, for example clipping formations. Where clipping formations are used, the connector body 14 and/or the free ends of the first connection members 12 preferably define a third abutting surface (not shown) along their inner bores against which the end caps 22, 24 may abut. The second connecting formations in the form of connecting apertures 16 defined by the connector body 14 are preferably spaced apart from one another axially and/or circumferentially by at least 45 degrees along the connector body 14. It will be appreciated that many more connecting apertures than depicted in the figures may be defined by the connector body 14. The construction set further includes a secondary connector 32. With specific reference to figure 5 and figure 6, each connecting aperture 16 comprises of a smaller connecting aperture 16A, sized and shaped to receive the secondary connecting formations 30 of a secondary connector 32, and a larger recess aperture 16B, sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the secondary central body 34 of the secondary connector 32.

The secondary connector 32, in combination with the connecting apertures 16, connect adjacent primary connectors 10 together, in a side-to-side relationship relative to one another as shown in figure 6, such that toilet rolls 18 connected to the adjacent primary connectors 10 contact or come into close proximity with one another, thereby enabling the construction of planar structures, such as a wall for a house, as shown in figure 11. To enable connected primary connectors 10 to be positioned as close as possible to one another, the secondary central body 34 is receivable within the recess apertures 16B of connected primary connectors 10.

The secondary connector 32 further comprises a retaining formation in the form of a resilient lip 36, which is deformable for allowing the secondary connecting formations 30 to be pushed though the connecting aperture 16. Sloped or tapered faces on the resilient lip aid the entry of the secondary connecting formations 30 into the connecting apertures 16. Once pushed through, the resilient lip returns to its normal form and co-operates with the inner bore of the primary central body 14 so as to retain the secondary connector 32 therein. The secondary connector 32 is releasable from the connector body 14 by applying the necessary pulling force thereto. Alternatively, the retaining formation could be of a nature requiring a special tool to remove the secondary connector 32 from the primary connector 10. In another alternative embodiment, the secondary connector 32 could be integral with the primary connector 10, thereby making the construction set safer for smaller children to use.

As can be seen from the illustrations, the toilet rolls 18 are connectable to the primary connector 10 along a first lengthwise axis (or first plane) and the primary connectors are connectable to one another by the secondary connector 32 on at least one other second axis (or plane other than the first plane), allowing construction of 3 dimensional space frame and/or planar type structures.

Although the primary connector 10 has been illustrated and described with reference to a 180 degree straight connector for connecting two toilet rolls 18 on the first lengthwise axis, it will be appreciated that the primary connector 10 may take any form as illustrated in, but not limited by, figure 7. Preferably, the construction set is made up of a plurality of differently shaped primary connectors 10.

The construction set may also include a means for clamping a built structure. With specific reference to figure 9, the clamping means is in the form of clamping rods 38 and clamping members or nuts (not shown) engagable with the clamping rods 38. The clamping rods 38 may be of any length and comprise threaded portion at least at each of its two ends. The clamping rods 38 are sized and shaped to pass through the inner bores of the toilet rolls 18, the primary connectors 10, the second connecting formations 16 and the central bore 40 defined in the secondary connector 32 as illustrated in figure 5. Although the secondary connectors 32 are not shown in figure 5, it will be appreciated that the clamping rods 38 are required to pass through the central bore 40 defined in secondary connectors 32 being connected to the primary connectors 10 so as to attach to a tertiary connector 42, another component making up the construction set, positioned at the point at which the clamping rods 38 intersect.

With specific reference to figure 8 and figure 9, and as mentioned directly above, the tertiary connector 42 is used to connect the intersecting ends 44 of the clamping rods 38. The tertiary connectors 42 comprise of a tertiary connecting body 46, which body 46 defines one or more threaded sockets 48 threadably connectable to the intersecting ends 44 of the clamping rods 38. It will be appreciated that the clamping rods 38 and the tertiary connector 42 may be connected to one another by means other than threaded means, for example clipping means. If will be further appreciated that the tertiary connectors 42 may take any form as illustrated in, but not limited by, figure 8. Preferably, the construction set is made up a plurality of differently shaped tertiary connectors 42.

Preferably, the construction set comprises at least one of each of the components described herein. With specific reference to figure 12 and 13, the construction set further includes a reinforcing member 50. The reinforcing member 50 comprises of a tubular reinforcing body 52 defining a central bore 54, the central bore 54 being sized and shaped to allow the passage of the clamping rods 38 therethrough. Reinforcing arms 56, extend radially outwardly from the reinforcing body 52, the reinforcing arms 56 having an overall outer diameter substantially similar to the inner diameter of the toilet roll 18 into which the reinforcing member 50 is receivable. In use, the reinforcing member 50 is pushed into the toilet roll 18 and is retained therein by the force of friction acting between the reinforcing arms and the inner bore of the toilet roll 18. Although the reinforcing member 50 has been illustrated with four reinforcing arms 56, it will be appreciated that the reinforcing member 50 may comprise less or more reinforcing arms 56. The height of the reinforcing member 50 should be shorter than the height of the toilet roll 18 such that the first connecting formations 12 of the primary connector 10, together with the reinforcing member 50, may all be accommodated within the toilet roll 18 simultaneously. Also, the reinforcing member 50 may be directly attachable to the primary connectors 10 via threaded end members (not shown) positioned at each end of the reinforcing member 50.

With specific reference to figure 10 and figure 11 , the construction set further includes a cladding member 58. The cladding member 58 defines a plurality of apertures 60 through which the cladding member 58 can be connected to a structure as shown in figure 11. The cladding member 58 further includes a tongue portion 62 along one or more sides, which tongue portion 62 is receivable in a slot portion 64 defined along one or more sides of an adjacent cladding member 58. The cladding members 58 are used mainly for protecting the structure from the elements, i.e. rain, etc, and also to present a neatly finished structure.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the primary connector 10 may be formed in many other ways. For example, and with reference to a second preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 14, the primary connector 110 comprises a pair of connector body pieces 111 A and 111 B, each having one or more first connecting formation sections 112A₁ 112B and one or more raised body portion sections 114A, 114B. The body pieces 111A₁ 111 B are securable to one another to form a tubular connector body having one or more first connecting formations 112 and one or more raised body portions 114, wherein at least a face of the raised body portions 114 is a limiting formation 119 against which construction members receivable over the first connecting formations 112 are abuttable. The connector body pieces 111A and 111B may each comprise corresponding locating formations 113A, 113B for ensuring that they are corrected secured to one another.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the construction set may be used for educational purposes or arts and crafts projects where the toilet rolls 18 making up the structure may be painted and decorated. Also, the construction set may be used to build geometric shapes, such as doughnut shaped structure, puzzles or may be used for purposes other than the construction of toys.

Claims

1. A construction set including a primary connector having:

a connector body;

a plurality of second connecting formations on the connector body for releasably connecting primary connectors to one another, the second connecting formations being orientated relative to each other such that the primary connectors are connectable to one another in the first plane and/or in at least one plane other than the first plane.

2. A construction set according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first connecting formations are extrusions defined in the connector body in which the construction members are receivable.

3. A construction set according to claim 1 , wherein the connector body comprises one or more raised body portions with the one or more first connecting formations protruding outwardly there from, the construction members being receivable over the one or more first connecting formations to the point of abutment between the respective construction member and a limiting formation.

4. A construction set according to claim 3, wherein the first connecting formations are one or more first connection members each having a first end for releasably attaching to the at least one raised body portion of the connector body and a second end for receiving the construction member there over.

5. A construction set according to claim 3, wherein the connector body is made up of two or more pieces each having one or more first connecting formation sections and at least one raised body portion section, the two or more pieces being securable to one another such that the one or more first connecting formation sections and the raised body portion sections of each of the pieces co-operate to form the first connecting formations and the raised body portion of the connector body respectively.

6. A construction set according to claim 3, wherein the connector body is made up of the raised body portion and two or more pieces, each of the pieces having one or more first connecting formation sections and being securable to one another by the raised body portion, the raised body portion being shaped and sized to move over the two or more pieces and lock them together, such that the one or more first connecting formation sections of each of the pieces co-operate to form the first connecting formations of the connector body.

7. A construction set according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the first connecting formations are friction type connecting formations and further wherein the raised body portions of the connector body comprise a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the first connecting formations, thereby acting as the limiting formation.

8. A construction set according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the connector body is tubular in shape and the diameter of the connector body is larger than the diameter of the first connecting formations, such that a portion of the raised body portion is the limiting formation.

9. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second connecting formations are a plurality of connecting apertures defined by the connector body of the primary connector, the plurality of apertures being spaced apart from one another axially and/or circumferentially along the connector body.

10. A construction set according to claim 9, wherein the connecting apertures are spaced apart from one another axially by a distance equal to or greater than the smallest outer dimension of the construction members, and circumferentially by at least 45 degrees.

11. A construction set according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the construction set further comprises a secondary connector comprising one or more secondary connecting formations projecting outwardly from a secondary central body, and further wherein the one or more secondary connecting formations of the secondary connector are engagable with the connecting apertures defined by the connector body of the primary connectors, the secondary central body being partially receivable within recesses defined by the connector body and located proximate each connecting aperture such that the secondary connector, connected in use between primary connectors, is receivable within correspondingly positioned recesses in the connected primary connectors, thereby concealing the secondary connector and allowing the primary connectors to be connected in contact or close proximity with one another.

12. A construction set according to claim 11 , wherein the secondary connector is cylindrically shaped, comprising a disc shaped secondary central body and cylindrically shaped secondary connecting formations protruding axially from, and centrally from either side of the disc shaped secondary central body.

13. A construction set according to claim 12, wherein each of the free ends of the secondary connecting formations comprise retaining formations for engaging the connecting apertures defined in the primary connectors, and further wherein the leading faces of the secondary connecting formations are tapered for aiding the secondary connector formations in being pressed into the connecting apertures.

14. A construction set according to claim 13, wherein the retaining formations are resilient retaining formation being co-operative with the primary connector to lock the secondary connector thereto, the secondary connector being removable from the primary connector on the application of a pulling force or using a special tool.

15. A construction set according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the secondary connector is attached permanently to one or more connecting apertures in the primary connector for the purposes of making the construction set safe for young children.

16. A construction set according to claim 11 to 15, wherein the secondary connector defines a bore passing axially through the secondary connecting formations through which other components of the construction set are sized and shaped to fit through .

17. A construction set according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the construction set further includes one or more end caps being releasably attachable to the primary connector, the end caps being attachable either to the raised body portion directly or to the free ends of the first connecting formations.

18. A construction set according to claim 17, wherein the end caps are attachable to the primary connectors by corresponding attachment formations on the end caps and the primary connectors in the form of clipping formations, threaded formations or friction fit formations.

19. A construction set according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the end caps comprise the second connecting formations for enabling connection thereof to other ends caps and/or other primary connectors.

20. A construction set according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein each of the end caps are disc shaped and define an engaging formation adapted for receiving an implement for the purposes of tightening and/or loosening the end cap to or from the primary connector respectively.

21. A construction set according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the construction set further includes a means for clamping, the clamping means comprising a clamping rod, sized and shaped to pass through the construction members, primary connectors, secondary connectors and/or ends caps, and one or more clamping members being engageable with the clamping rod, such that a structure built from one or more construction members, primary connectors, secondary connectors and/or ends caps is capable or being clamped together between one or more clamping members engaged with the clamping rod.

22. A construction set according to claim 21, wherein at least the end portions of the clamping rods are threaded and threadably engageable with the clamping members.

23. A construction set according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the clamping members are from a group consisting of nuts and snap clips.

24. A construction set according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the clamping rod and and/or clamping members are manufactured from a metallic or plastic like material.

25. A construction set according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the construction set further includes a tertiary connector comprising a tertiary body and a plurality of connecting sockets on the tertiary body, the connecting sockets being engagebale with the clamping rods and positionable at the intersections of crossing clamping rods.

26. A construction set according to claim 25, wherein the tertiary connector is from a group of connectors consisting of straight connectors, 135 degree bend connectors, 90 degree bend connectors, S-bend connectors, cross piece connectors and T-piece connectors.

27. A construction set according any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the construction set further includes a reinforcing member, sized and shaped to fit within the construction members and to abut the inner walls thereof so as to prevent the construction members from collapsing under load.

28. A construction set according to claim 27, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a central reinforcing body, defining a bore sized and shaped for allowing the clamping rod passage there through, and reinforcing arms extending outwardly from the reinforcing body and adapted to abut the inner walls of the construction member, the reinforcing member being retainable in the construction member by the force of friction acting between the reinforcing member and the inner walls of the construction member.

29. A construction set according to claim 28, wherein the central reinforcing body is tubular and the reinforcing arms extend radially outwardly there from.

30. A construction set according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the height of the reinforcing member is less than the height of the tubular construction member so as to allow the construction member to accommodate the reinforcing member and the first connecting formations of primary connectors connected thereto.

31. A construction set according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the reinforcing member is integral with the construction members or releasably attachable to the construction members by corresponding attachment formations on the reinforcing members and the construction members.

32. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the construction set further includes a cladding member being releasably attachable to the secondary connecting formations of the primary connectors and/or end caps, each of the cladding members comprising a planar-like body defining a plurality of connecting apertures spaced thereon to align with the secondary connecting formations.

33. A construction set according to claim 32, wherein the planar-like body of the cladding member is manufactured from a flexible material.

34. A construction set according to claim 32, wherein the planar-like body of the cladding member is rigid, the rigid body comprising of a tongue on at least one side and defining a correspondingly sized and shaped tongue receiving slot along at least one other side, such that the tongue of one cladding member is receivable within the slot of an adjacent cladding member so as to clad a structure built from the construction set by attaching interlocked cladding members to the structure.

35. A construction set according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the cladding members are releasably attachable to the second connecting formations by cladding clips receivable within aligned second connecting formation and apertures defined by the cladding members.

36. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the primary connectors and construction members are hollow, of any cross-sectional shape and manufactured from any material.

37. A construction set according to claim 36, wherein the primary connectors and/or construction members are transparent or translucent so as to create a glow effect when a means of illumination is passed there through, or can be in any colour.

38. A construction set according to claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the construction members are elements from used packaging material from the group consisting of toilet roll cores, napkin roll cores, cores of any other paper roll article, boxes, bottles, cans and the like.

39. A construction set according to claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the construction set further includes purpose built construction members.

40. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the construction members are tubular in shape.

41. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the primary connector is from a group of connectors consisting of straight connectors, 135 degree bend connectors, 90 degree bend connectors, S-bend connectors, cross piece connectors and T- piece connectors.

42. A construction set according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the structures constructed using the construction set are strong, steardy and capable of holding at least the weight of a child.

43. A primary connector for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

44. A secondary connector for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

45. A tertiary connector for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

46. An end cap for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

47. A clamping member for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

48. A reinforcing member for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

49. A cladding member for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.

50. A construction member for a construction set substantially as herein described and illustrated.