WO2017066733A1

WO2017066733A1 - Toy construction set

Info

Publication number: WO2017066733A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/057265
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Bird
Original assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
Priority date: 2015-10-17
Filing date: 2016-10-17
Publication date: 2017-04-20
Also published as: US20170106309A1

Abstract

A toy construction set includes at least one rigid peg building element that includes a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element; at least one rigid grid building element including a grid coupling system; and at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system. The grid coupling system includes a plurality of coupling elements arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure. The coupling elements are configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements of a building element external to the toy figure construction set. The panel coupling system includes at least a panel coupling element configured to be removably attachable to one or more of the grid coupling element of the at least one rigid grid building element and the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement.

Description

TOY CONSTRUCTION SET

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 62/243,010, filed on October 17, 2015 and titled TOY CONSTRUCTION SET, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a toy construction set having a panel building element.

BACKGROUND

Persons of all ages enjoy playing and interacting with toys and building elements. Toy construction sets are made up of a plurality of building elements, which include coupling mechanisms such as studs or recesses of specific heights and placement to enable

interconnection with other building elements.

SUMMARY

In some general aspects, a toy construction set includes at least one rigid peg building element that includes a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element; at least one rigid grid building element including a grid coupling system, the grid coupling system comprising a plurality of coupling elements arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure, the coupling elements being configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements of a building element external to the toy figure construction set; and at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system, the panel coupling system comprising at least a panel coupling element configured to be removably attachable to one or more of the grid coupling element of the at least one rigid grid building element and the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the panel building element can be compressible. The panel building element can be made of a bulk material. The panel building element can include one or more of felt and foam.

The panel building element can be incompressible. The panel building element can be made of a bulk material of plastic or metallic-coated plastic. The panel coupling element can define a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening. The at least one peg coupling element can include a peg region having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the circular opening and a shaft adjacent to and extending from the peg region and having a shaft diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening. The peg region can be pushed through the circular opening, at least part of the peg region pushes into the radial cutout to deform the panel in the area around the circular opening until the peg region clears the circular opening and the shaft is seated within the circular opening. The peg region can include a ball attached to the shaft. The peg region can include a stud attached to a base that extends from the shaft.

The panel building element can yield to pressure or weight. The panel building element can be self-supporting, soft, elastically deformable, and made of a form-stable material.

The coupling elements of the one rigid grid building element can include one or more of studs and recesses, wherein the recesses are sized to interfit with the studs via a non-snap frictional engagement. The coupling elements of the at least one rigid grid building element can include coupling elements arranged in a grid, the center of any of the coupling elements being separated from the center of the nearest coupling element by a center-to-center spacing, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element includes at least a plurality of panel coupling elements separated relative to each other by a distance that is an integer multiple of the center-to- center spacing.

The at least one rigid peg building element can include a plurality of rigid peg building elements, each rigid peg building element including the coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element.

In other general aspects, a toy construction set includes at least one rigid peg building element that includes a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element having a peg region attached to a shaft, the diameter of the peg region being larger than the diameter of the shaft; at least one rigid grid building element including a coupling system that includes a plurality of coupling elements that are arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure, the coupling elements being configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements of a building element external to the toy figure construction set; and at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system, the panel coupling system comprising at least a panel coupling element that defines a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening, wherein the circular opening has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the peg region and the shaft diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the panel coupling system can be configured to be removably attachable to either the coupling element of the at least one rigid grid building element or the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement.

The at least one flexible panel building element can be pre-perforated, pre-scored, or pre- creased. The at least one flexible panel building element can be configured to be perforated, scored, or creased in a pre-determined manner.

The at least one of the rigid peg building elements can be a double rigid peg building element that includes two peg coupling elements arranged at opposite ends of the shaft. One of the peg coupling elements of the double rigid peg building element can be a ball that extends from the shaft and the other of the peg coupling elements of the double rigid peg building element can be a stud attached to a base that extends from the shaft. Each of the peg coupling elements of the double peg building element can be a ball that extends from the shaft in opposite directions. The double rigid peg building element can include a plate that extends transversely from the shaft and is positioned between the two peg coupling elements.

In other general aspects, a toy construction set includes a plurality of rigid peg building elements, each rigid peg building element including a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element having a peg region attached to a shaft, the diameter of the peg region being larger than the diameter of the shaft; and at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system that includes at least a panel coupling element configured to be removably attachable to the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element includes a panel coupling system that includes at least a panel coupling element that defines a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening, wherein the circular opening has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the peg region and the shaft diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening.

Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the panel coupling system of the at least one flexible panel building element can include at least a grid of panel coupling elements that are arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure, each panel coupling element being configured to couple to a mating coupling element of a building element external to the toy figure construction set. DRAWING DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a toy construction set including a peg building element, a grid building element, and a panel building element;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary toy construction set in a closed state;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary toy construction set of Fig. 2 in an opened state;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary panel building element;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary grid building element;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary panel building element and peg building element including a close-up view of a portion of the panel building element;

Fig. 7A is a side and perspective view of an exemplary peg building element and an exemplary panel building element in a disconnected state;

Fig. 7B is a side and perspective view of the peg building element and the panel building element of Fig. 7A in a partially connected state;

Fig. 7C is a side and perspective view of the peg building element and the panel building element of Fig. 7 A in a connected state;

Figs. 8A-13A are perspective views of exemplary peg building elements;

Figs. 8B-13B are side views of the peg building elements of Figs. 8A-13A, respectively;

Fig. 14A is a perspective view of exemplary panel building elements and exemplary peg building elements;

Fig. 14B is a side cross-sectional view of the panel building elements connected to one of the peg building elements of Fig. 14 A;

Fig. 15A is a perspective view of a portion of an exemplary panel building element and exemplary peg building elements in which the peg building elements are not connected to the panel building element; Fig. 15B is a perspective view of the portion of the panel building element and the peg building elements of Fig. 15A in which the peg building elements are connected to the panel building element; and

Figs. 16 and 17 are perspective views of exemplary peg building elements.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to Fig. 1, a toy construction set 100 includes at least one peg building element 105, at least one grid building element 110, and at least one flexible panel building element 115.

The peg building element 105 can be made of a rigid material such as plastic. The peg building element 105 includes at least one coupling system 120 that includes at least one peg coupling element 125.

The grid building element 110 can be made of a rigid material such as plastic. The grid building element 110 includes a grid coupling system 130. The grid coupling system 130 includes a plurality of coupling elements 135 A-F arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure. The coupling elements 135 A-F are configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements (for example, recesses) of a building element external to the toy figure construction set 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the coupling elements 135 A-F are shaped as studs arranged in a 2x3 grid on the grid building element 110.

As also shown in Fig. 1, it is possible for the coupling elements to be shaped as recesses. For example, the grid building element 110 includes a set of coupling elements 140 A-F on its underside, the coupling elements 140 A-F being defined as recesses between posts 145 A and 145B and the walls 150A-D of the grid building element 110. The recess coupling elements 140 A-F are sized to mate with the stud coupling elements 135 A-F by way of a non-snap interference friction fit. Like the arrangement of the studs 135 A-F in a 2x3 grid, the recess coupling elements 140 A-F are also arranged in a 2x3 grid.

The flexible panel building element 115 includes a panel coupling system 155. The panel coupling system 155 includes at least one panel coupling element 160 A. As shown in Fig. 1, the panel coupling system 155 includes four panel coupling elements 160A-D though more than four or fewer than four coupling elements 160A-D are possible and in a different configuration or arrangement. The panel coupling element 160A is configured to be removably attachable to one or more of the grid coupling element 135 A of the at least one grid building element 110 and the at least one peg coupling element 125 of the peg building element 105 via a frictional engagement. In this way, the peg building element 105 is used to connect various other building elements (which can be grid coupling elements 110 or panel building elements 115) to panel building elements 115, as shown in the examples of Figs. 2 and 3.

As discussed in greater detail below, the peg building element 105 can be engaged with the panel coupling system 155 of the panel building element 115 so that the peg building element 105 is fixed in place on or in the panel building element 115. Once the peg building element 105 is attached or fixed in or on the panel building element 115, the peg building element 105 can then be used to attach other panel building elements or grid building elements to the panel building element.

The panel building element 115 can be made of a bulk material that is compressible, which means that it can be compacted in volume. The panel building element 115 can yield to pressure or weight. For example, the panel building element 115 can be made out of a lightweight, porous, soft, spongy material such as foam. As another example, the panel building element 115 can be made out of a fabric of matted, partly compressed fibers (for example, synthetic fibers) such as a felt material.

In the example of Fig. 1, the panel building element 115 has a larger and structural design; which means that it can be used to build larger sets and form walls and structures such as houses. It is possible, as shown later, for the panel building element 115 to be smaller or larger in size, and/or to be more decorative in design. For example, the panel building element 115 can be in the shape of a flower petal. Both examples are shown and described herein.

Some examples of panel building elements 115 can be found in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2 shows a construction set 200 in a closed state in which a set of larger structural panel building elements are arranged adjacent each other to form an internal cavity that houses toys and building elements. Fig. 3 shows the construction set 200 in an open state in which the larger structural panel building elements are arranged apart or separated from each other to expose the internal toys and building elements of the construction set 200.

In these examples, there are two types of panel building elements 115, one type of which is made of foam and the other type of which is made of felt. The foam building element is self- supporting, elastically deformable, and made of a form-stable material. A self-supporting material is stable while resisting gravity and/or lateral loads. Exemplary foam panel building elements are labeled in Figs. 2 and 3 as follows: 215A-E. Exemplary felt panel building elements are labeled in Figs. 2 and 3 as follows: 217A-H. Additionally, in these examples, there are larger structural panel building elements such as building elements 215B, 215C, 215D, 215E, 217D, 217F, and 217G in additional to smaller and/or more decorative panel building elements such as building elements 215 A, 217A, 217B, 217C, 217E, and 217H.

The construction set 200 also includes peg building elements, examples of which are labeled as 220A-E. The construction set 200 also includes grid building elements, example of which are labeled as 210A-D. The peg building element 220A is used to attach the panel building element 215 A to the panel building element 217D. The peg building element 220B is used to attach the panel building element 217B to the panel building element 217D. The peg building element 220C is used to attach the panel building element 217C to the panel building element 217D. The peg building element 220D is used to attach the panel building element 217E to the panel building element 217F. Additionally the studs on the grid building element 21 OA are engaged within a set of panel coupling elements on the panel building element 217D such that the studs pass through the panel coupling elements on the panel building element 217D and frictionally engage the recesses of the grid building element 210B.

Referring also to Fig. 4, in other implementations, the panel building element 115 can be made of a material that is incompressible yet flexible. For example, panel building element 415 can be made of plastic or a metallic-coated plastic. In this example, the panel building element 415 is pre-perforated, pre-scored, or pre-creased along lines 417A-D so that a user can bend the panel building element 415 along the lines 417A-D. The flexible panel building element 415 can be perforated or creased in a pre-determined manner. The panel building element 415 includes a panel coupling system having at least one panel coupling element such as coupling element 460A, which is an opening defined within a sheet of material that makes up the panel building element 415.

Referring to Fig. 5, an exemplary grid building element 510 is shown. The coupling elements of the grid building element 510 include coupling elements 535 arranged in a grid (for clarity, only coupling elements 535 A and 535B are labeled in Fig. 5). The center of any of the coupling elements 535 is separated from the center of the nearest coupling element by a center- to-center spacing Sec. In some implementations, the panel building element 115 includes at least a plurality of panel coupling elements 160A-D separated relative to each other by a distance that is an integer multiple of the center-to-center spacing Sec. An example of such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 6 in some implementations, an exemplary panel building element 615 includes a panel coupling system 655 that includes one or more panel coupling elements 660 A, each panel coupling element 660 A defines an opening 661 (that can be circular or rounded in shape) and at least one radial cutout 662 extending into the panel building element 615 from the opening 661. In this example, the panel coupling element 660 A includes four radial cutouts 662, 663, 664, 665 extending into the panel building element 615 from the opening 661. A diameter Dl of the opening 661 is smaller than a widest diameter D2 of the peg coupling element 125. The cutouts 662, 663, 664, 665 define panel regions 670, 671, 672, 673 that are able to move out of a plane of the panel building element 615 to make room for the peg coupling element 125 of the peg building element 120 without tearing, ripping, or damaging the material of the panel building element 615. The panel regions 670, 671, 672, 673 return to the plane of the panel building element 615 after the peg coupling element 125 clears the opening 661 (as described in greater detail below). The panel region 670 is defined between the cutouts 662 and 663; the panel region 671 is defined between the cutouts 663 and 664; the panel region 672 is defined between the cutouts 664 and 665; and the panel region 673 is defined between the cutouts 665 and 662.

The widest diameter of the peg coupling element 125 is in a peg region 680, and the peg coupling element 125 also includes a shaft 685 adjacent to and extending from the peg region 680 along a longitudinal axis AL. The diameter D2 of the peg region 680 is larger than an extent D3 (which can be a diameter of a circular cross section) of the shaft 685. Moreover, the extent D3 of the shaft 685 is less than or equal to the diameter Dl of the opening 661 so that the shaft 685 sits within the opening 661 and enables the panel regions 670, 671, 672, 673 to return to the plane of the panel building element 615 after the peg region 680 clears the opening 661.

The peg building element 120 also includes a plate 690 that extends transversely

(perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis AL) from the shaft 685 and is positioned at another region or end of the shaft 685 from the peg region 680. The plate 690 has an extent (or diameter) D4 taken along the transverse plane that is larger than the extent D3 of the shaft 685 and is larger than a diameter Dl of the opening 661. In this way, the peg building element 120 remains seated within the opening 661 after the peg region 680 is pushed through the opening 661 because the plate 690 has a larger extent D4 than the diameter Dl of the opening 661.

Referring to Figs. 7A-7C, an exemplary peg building element 720 is shown being pushed through an opening 761 of a panel coupling element 760 A of a panel building element 715. The engagement motion occurs generally along the longitudinal axis AL of the peg building element 720. In this example, the panel building element 715 is a generally decorative and non-structural design of a flower petal. In Fig. 7 A, the peg building element 720 and panel building element 715 are not yet physically engaged and in this example, the panel regions 770, 771, 772, 773 of the panel building element 715 are in a general plane of the panel building element 715.

As a peg region 780 of the peg building element 720 is pushed through the opening 761, at least part of the peg region 780 pushes into the radial cutout(s) to deform the panel building element 715 in the area around the opening 761. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7B, the panel regions 770, 771, 772, 773 defined between the radial cutouts are moved out of the plane of the panel building element 715. In this example, the plane of the panel building element 715 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis AL. It is alternatively possible for the plane of the panel building element 715 to be oriented in a direction that is not generally perpendicular if the peg building element 720 is pushed through the opening 761 along a different direction.

In Fig. 7C, the peg region 780 clears the opening 761 and the shaft 785 of the peg building element 720 is seated within the opening 761. As shown in Fig. 7C, the panel regions 771, 771, 772, 773 return or move back to the plane of the panel building element 715 and are no longer deformed. Moreover, plate 790 of the peg building element 720 is positioned on one side of the panel building element 715 and the peg region 780 is positioned on another side of the panel building element 715 so that the peg building element 720 remains secured within the panel building element 715. It should be noted that although the peg building element 720 is secured within the panel building element 715 in Fig. 7C, it is possible to move the peg building element 720 relative to the panel building element 715 as long as the shaft 685 remains within the opening 661. Moreover, it is possible to remove the peg building element 720 by pulling the peg building element 720 out of the opening 661 in a direction opposite to that shown in Figs. 7 A and 7B; by pulling on the peg building element 720, the panel regions 770, 771, 772, 773 are moved out of the plane of the panel building element 715 until the peg region 680 clears the opening 661 and returns to the state shown in Fig. 7 A.

As shown in the example of Figs. 6 and 7A-C, the peg region 680, 780 includes a ball attached to the shaft 685, 785, respectively.

Other exemplary implementations of designs of the peg building element 120 are shown in Figs. 8A-13B. For example, as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, the peg regions 880A, 880B can be generally faceted circular balls.

As an example, as shown in Figs. 11 A and 1 IB, the peg building element 1120 includes two peg regions 1180A, 1180B that extend from respective shafts 1185 A, 1185B along longitudinal axis AL and also includes a plate 1190 that extends transversely from the axis AL between the two peg regions 1180 A, 1180B. The plate 1190 is in the shape of a flower petal.

As a further example, as shown in Figs. 12A and 12B, the peg building element 1220 includes more than two peg regions; specifically, the peg building element 1220 includes four peg regions 1280A, 1280B, 1280C, 1280D, each extending from a respective shaft 1285A, 1285B, 1285C, 1285D.

As another example, as shown in Figs. 13 A and 13B, the peg region 1380 includes a stud 1381 attached to a base 1382 that extends from the shaft 1385. The stud 1381 is configured to interfit with the recesses of the grid building element, for example, the recesses 140A-F of the grid building element 110 of Fig. 1, or recesses of other grid building elements of the construction set 100.

In some implementations, such as shown in Figs. 7A-7C, the peg building element 720 includes a peg region 780 that has a ball and a stud 781 on another end of the shaft 785, the stud being attached to a base 782.

As shown in greater detail in Figs. 14A and 14B, the peg coupling element 1420 can be used to secure or hold at least two (and, in this example, three) panel building elements 1415A, 1415B, 1415C together by sliding the peg region 1480 (which is in the shape of a ball in this example) through the various openings of the respective panel coupling elements of the respective panel building elements 1415A, 1415B, 1415C until the peg region 1480 clears all of the openings. As shown, the plate 1490 at the other end of the shaft 1485 is on one side of the panel building elements 1415A 1415B, 1415C while the ball region 1480 is at the other side of the panel building elements 1415A 1415B, 1415C. The frictional engagements between the various building elements discussed herein are such that the building elements can be connected, disconnected, and reconnected repeatedly and without harming or destroying the building elements. Once connected, in some implementations, the building elements can be held together with an interference fit. For example, the fit between the studs and recesses of grid building elements 110 are interference fits; the fit between a panel coupling element 160A-D and a stud of a grid building element 110 can be an interference fit; and the fit between a panel coupling element 160A-D and a peg coupling element 125 of the peg building element 120 can be an interference fit. An interference fit is a friction fit or frictional engagement in which the mechanical coupling or fastening between the coupling elements is achieved by friction after the coupling elements are pushed together, mated, seated, or otherwise mutually engaged. The interference fit also may involve a purposeful interference or deformation of one or more of the coupling elements when they are coupled, fastened, pushed together, or otherwise mutually engaged (such as, for example, the deformation of the panel regions 670, 671, 672, 673). Thus, the interference fit can be achieved by shaping the two coupling elements so that one or the other, or both, slightly deviate in size or form from their nominal dimension and one or more of the coupling elements slightly interferes with the space that the other is taking up.

In one example, the degree or strength of an interference fit is sometimes referred to as "clutch." The amount of clutch provides an indication of the forces used to combine and/or separate the coupling elements to or from each other. The degree or amount of contact between the coupling elements when coupled directly can correlate to the amount of clutch provided. In addition, the number of points of contact between the coupling elements can determine the amount of clutch. For example, there may be three, four, five or more points of contact between a male stud (such as stud 465) and a female recess (such as coupling system 445), where more points of contact provide more clutch. With regard to female coupling elements, the point of contact can be referred to as a "point of clutch" or a "frictional engagement point."

The engagements between the building elements can occur without any snap fit action. In other words, there is no purposeful deformation along a first direction before a relaxing back along a second direction that is antiparallel with the first direction during the connection of the building elements. For example, the engagement between studs and recesses of grid building elements 110 can occur without any snap fit action. Additionally, in some implementations, when connected, the building elements can rotate relative to one another about the connection axis in the plane that is perpendicular to the connection axis. The building elements can rotate through 360 degrees of motion in the plane without becoming disconnected from each other. For example, after the peg building element 120 is connected to the panel coupling element 160 A, the peg building element 120 can rotate relative to the panel building element 115.

The distances are within a standard tolerance. Thus, the distances are considered to be in system if they are within the tolerance needed to obtain the needed interference fit.

Any of the building elements discussed above can include one or more coupling elements. Coupling elements of standard building elements can include male coupling elements, for example, in the form of a coupling stud, and female coupling elements, for example, in the form of a coupling recess that is sized to receive the coupling stud. The male and female coupling elements can have a first coupling size. For example, the first coupling size of a standard coupling stud (that is on a surface of a building element, such as a plate or brick) is defined by an outside diameter of 4.88 mm and a height of 1.80 mm, and the coupling recesses are sized to have an interference fit with the coupling studs of the same size. There can be different types and configurations of female recesses that mate with the first coupling size. For example, in some configurations, the recesses may be circular, partially circular with flats on multiple sides, square, or pronged to name a few. The recesses may have varying depths;

however, a minimum depth may be provided to ensure proper coupling with the male stud via an interference fit. Additional configurations for recesses that provide different alignment possibilities between building elements are described below in greater detail.

Coupling elements, for example, a male stud of a standard building element of the toy construction system, can be arranged in the uniform two-dimensional array structure on the surface of a building element which allows for easy coupling (and de-coupling) with the similarly arranged female recesses of another building element. Typically, the building elements are referred to by the array formed on the surface of the building element. Thus, a 3 x 4 building element has 12 male coupling elements, for example, studs, arranged in four columns by three rows.

As shown in Figs. 15A and 15B, a toy construction set 1500 includes at least one peg building element 1505 A, 1505B and at least one flexible panel building element 1515. Each peg building element 1505 A or 1505B includes at least one coupling system 1520 that includes at least one peg coupling element 1525. The peg building element 1505 A or 1505B can also include a grid coupling system that includes studs and/or recesses such as those described and used in the grid building element 110. For example, the peg building element 1505 A includes studs 1535A and 1535B. The studs on peg building element 1505B are not visible in Figs. 15A and 15B as they are engaged within recesses of a grid building element 1510. The peg building element 1505 A includes at least one peg coupling element 1525 A and the peg building element 1505B includes at least one peg coupling element 1525B.

The flexible panel building element 1515 includes a panel coupling system 1555. The panel coupling system 1555 includes at least one panel coupling element 1560A, 1560B. The panel coupling element 1560A, 1560B is configured to be removably attachable to one or more of grid coupling elements (for example, the studs 1535 A, 1535B) and peg coupling elements 1525 A, 1525B of the peg building element 1505 A, 1505B via a frictional engagement.

The peg building elements 1505 A and 1505B combine the features of the peg building element 105 (the peg coupling element) with the features of the grid building element 110 (the grid coupling elements) to enable more versatility in building and construction with the panel building element 115, 1515.

Referring to Fig. 16, in other implementations, a peg building element 1605 includes a peg coupling element 1625 A and a grid coupling system such as a set of studs 1635 A, B, C, D. Referring to Fig. 17, in other implementations, a peg building element 1705 includes a peg coupling element 1725 A attached to a shaft 1785 that is curved.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A toy construction set comprising:

at least one rigid peg building element that includes a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element;

at least one rigid grid building element including a grid coupling system, the grid coupling system comprising a plurality of coupling elements arranged in a uniform two- dimensional array structure, the coupling elements being configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements of a building element external to the toy figure construction set; and at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system, the panel coupling system comprising at least a panel coupling element configured to be removably attachable to one or more of the grid coupling element of the at least one rigid grid building element and the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement.

2. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the panel building element is

compressible.

3. The toy construction set of claim 2, wherein the panel building element is made of a bulk material.

4. The toy construction set of claim 2, wherein the panel building element includes one or more of felt and foam.

5. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the panel building element is

incompressible.

6. The toy construction set of claim 5, wherein the panel building element is made of a bulk material of plastic or metallic-coated plastic.

7. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the panel coupling element defines a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening.

8. The toy construction set of claim 7, wherein the at least one peg coupling element comprises a peg region having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the circular opening and a shaft adjacent to and extending from the peg region and having a shaft diameter that is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening.

9. The toy construction set of claim 8, wherein when the peg region is pushed through the circular opening, at least part of the peg region pushes into the radial cutout to deform the panel in the area around the circular opening until the peg region clears the circular opening and the shaft is seated within the circular opening.

10. The toy construction set of claim 8, wherein the peg region comprises a ball attached to the shaft.

11. The toy construction set of claim 10, wherein the peg region comprises a stud attached to a base that extends from the shaft.

12. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the panel building element yields to pressure or weight.

13. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the panel building element is self- supporting, soft, elastically deformable, and made of a form-stable material.

14. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the coupling elements of the one rigid grid building element include one or more of studs and recesses, wherein the recesses are sized to interfit with the studs via a non-snap frictional engagement.

15. The toy construction set of claim 14, wherein the coupling elements of the at least one rigid grid building element include coupling elements arranged in a grid, the center of any of the coupling elements being separated from the center of the nearest coupling element by a center- to-center spacing, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element includes at least a plurality of panel coupling elements separated relative to each other by a distance that is an integer multiple of the center-to-center spacing.

16. The toy construction set of claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid peg building element comprises a plurality of rigid peg building elements, each rigid peg building element including the coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element.

17. A toy construction set comprising:

at least one rigid peg building element that includes a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element having a peg region attached to a shaft, the diameter of the peg region being larger than the diameter of the shaft;

at least one rigid grid building element including a coupling system that includes a plurality of coupling elements that are arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure, the coupling elements being configured to couple to a plurality of mating coupling elements of a building element external to the toy figure construction set; and

at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system, the panel coupling system comprising at least a panel coupling element that defines a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening, wherein the circular opening has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the peg region and the shaft diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening.

18. The toy construction set of claim 17, wherein the panel coupling system is configured to be removably attachable to either the coupling element of the at least one rigid grid building element or the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement.

19. The toy construction set of claim 17, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element is pre-perforated or pre-creased.

20. The toy construction set of claim 17, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element is configured to be perforated or creased in a pre-determined manner.

21. The toy construction set of claim 17, wherein at least one of the rigid peg building elements is a double rigid peg building element that includes two peg coupling elements arranged at opposite ends of the shaft.

22. The toy construction set of claim 21, wherein one of the peg coupling elements of the double rigid peg building element is a ball that extends from the shaft and the other of the peg coupling elements of the double rigid peg building element is a stud attached to a base that extends from the shaft.

23. The toy construction set of claim 21, wherein each of the peg coupling elements of the double peg building element is a ball that extends from the shaft in opposite directions.

24. The toy construction set of claim 21, wherein the double rigid peg building element includes a plate that extends transversely from the shaft and is positioned between the two peg coupling elements.

25. A toy construction set comprising:

a plurality of rigid peg building elements, each rigid peg building element including a coupling system that includes at least one peg coupling element having a peg region attached to a shaft, the diameter of the peg region being larger than the diameter of the shaft; and

at least one flexible panel building element including a panel coupling system that includes at least a panel coupling element configured to be removably attachable to the at least one peg coupling element of the rigid peg building element via a frictional engagement, wherein the at least one flexible panel building element includes a panel coupling system that includes at least a panel coupling element that defines a circular opening and at least one radial cutout extending into the panel from the circular opening, wherein the circular opening has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the peg region and the shaft diameter is less than or equal to the diameter of the circular opening.

26. The toy construction set of claim 25, wherein the panel coupling system of the at least one flexible panel building element includes at least a grid of panel coupling elements that are arranged in a uniform two-dimensional array structure, each panel coupling element being configured to couple to a mating coupling element of a building element external to the toy figure construction set.