WO2017069686A1

WO2017069686A1 - Connector and toy system comprising a plurality of such connectors

Info

Publication number: WO2017069686A1
Application number: PCT/SE2016/051007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik THORSTENSSON
Original assignee: Strawbees Ab
Priority date: 2015-10-22
Filing date: 2016-10-18
Publication date: 2017-04-27
Also published as: SE1551367A1; CN208591542U

Abstract

Connector for a toy system, where two connectors are adapted to be interconnected to each other by a longitudinal flexible straw, where the connector comprises a central portion and at least one connecting portion, where the central portion is provided with a circular hole having a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the straw, where a connecting portion is adapted to be inserted into a straw. By combining a plurality of connectors and a plurality of straws, different constructions can be obtained. The advantage of the invention is that a cost-effective connector is obtained, by which different straw designs can be built in an easy way.

Description

Connector and toy system comprising a plurality of such connectors

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connector, which is adapted to be used to interconnect a plurality of connectors with straws, in order to build different structures. The connectors will, together with straws, form a toy system which allows a user to design and build open structures in an easy and fun way. The connector can also be used for building structures using cardboard, where different cardboard pieces are attached to each other by the use of a plurality of connectors.

BACKGROUND ART

There exists several different building and construction system, where a few different pieces can be assembled together to form different objects. Some systems form solid structures, e.g. the once using different building blocks. Other form an open structure by assembling beams or pins to each other such that a frame is obtained. Beams may be assembled using screws and pins may be assembled using specific connecting means, having predefined angles for the pins. In order to obtain different sizes, the beams and pins are available in predefined lengths. In these systems, all parts are comprised in the system and are adapted for that specific system.

It is also possible to build structures using material that is actually intended for other uses. One popular method is to build structures using spaghetti which are either glued together using hot melt adhesive (HMA), also known as hot glue, or attached to each other using a soft material, e.g. marshmallows. It is also common to build structures using drinking straws, which may also be assembled to each other using hot glue. One drawback with these methods is that the structure cannot be disassembled such that the parts used for the structure can be reused. Another drawback is that it is difficult to modify the structure when a problem occurs. A further drawback is that it is difficult to provide movable joints when the parts are glued together.

Another known building method include cardboard and glue or tape. A further known system uses connector elements that are stamped out of a thin plastic sheet, where the connector elements are adapted to be interconnected by straws. Due to the single-sided stamping tools used for the connector elements, the upper and lower edges of a connector element will be provided with different radiuses, where the upper edges will be somewhat rounded and where the lower edges will be somewhat pointed. The tolerances of the stamped connector elements will further be relatively large. This system will function relatively well, but the relatively low precision of the connector elements causes some malfunction.

Some of these known building systems consist of several parts that are specific for that system. In some known building methods, the structure cannot be modified. There is thus room for an improved connector element for building toy structures.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION An object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved connector for a toy system. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toy system comprising a plurality of such connectors and a plurality of straws.

The solution to the problem according to the invention is described in the characterizing part of claim 1 and in claim 14 regarding the system. The other claims contain advantageous embodiments and further developments of the connector. In a connector for a toy system, where two connectors are adapted to be interconnected to each other by a longitudinal flexible straw having an outer diameter, the object of the invention is achieved in that the connector comprises a central portion and at least one connecting portion, where the central portion is provided with a circular hole having a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the straw, where a connecting portion is provided with a stem, a waist and a tip, where the tip is provided with an insertion section and a rear section, where the width of the insertion section is smaller than the diameter of the hole, where the width of the rear section is larger than the diameter of the hole, where the width of the waist is smaller than the diameter of the hole, and where the width of the stem is larger than the diameter of the hole, and where the outer edges of the connector and the inner edge of the hole are provided with a radius, where the radius of the edges is the same and is less than 0,5 mm, and where the connector is injection moulded.

By this first embodiment of the connector according to the invention, the connector can be used to interconnect two connectors with a longitudinal circular tube, e.g. in the form of a drinking straw. The drinking straw is preferably a straw having a common standardized diameter, such as straws found in fast food restaurants and straws which can be found in retail stores in large, low-cost packages. In this way, a cost-effective toy building system can be provided, where the connectors and the straws can be used repeatedly and where an assembled structure can be modified or disassembled in an easy way. Due to the injection moulding of the connectors, a high precision is obtained. Since all edges have a well- defined radius and that the radius is the same for all edges, assembly using the connectors is simplified.

A straw is attached to a connector by pushing the connector into the straw. The rounded edges allow the connector to slide into a straw in an easy way. Since the end of the tip is smaller than the inner diameter of the straw, the straw will be deformed by flattening the straw such that the connecting portion of the connector fits inside the flattened straw. At the same time, the straw tries to resume the circular shape, such that a tension is created inside the straw, which pushes on the side edges of the connecting portion. In this way, the straw will be held to the connector. It is further possible to improve the hold of the straw to the connector by using another connector. By treading the other connector over the straw by inserting the straw through the hole of the central portion and by pushing the other connector towards the first connector such that the other connector will rest at the waist of the first connector, the straw will be securely locked to the first connector. This will prevent the straw from displacing from the first connector, even if the straw is pulled at. The hole of the central portion is preferably arranged centrally in the central portion.

A further advantage is that joints that are either fixed or rotatable can be obtained. In this way, a structure comprising movable elements can be obtained. A rotatable joint may either be obtained by inserting a straw through the hole in the central portion or may be obtained by positioning the waist of a connector in the hole of the central portion. A fixed joint is obtained by pushing the connector through the hole of the central portion such that the hole rests at the stem of the connector.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the tip of the connector is provided with grooves which are inclined with respect to a centre line of a connecting portion. The grooves will in this way form a V-shape in the tip of the connection portion. The grooves are preferably provided on both sides of the tip of the connector. The advantage of the grooves is that the grooves allows the outer parts of the tip to flex somewhat in a sideway direction, which will make it easier to insert a tip of a first connector through a central hole in another connector. By rotating the first connector somewhat when the tip is to be inserted into the hole of another connector, the outer parts of the tip will bend sideways which reduces the force required to inert the first tip through the hole of the other connector. The grooves will also simplify the insertion of a connector into another type of hole, e.g. into a hole cut in a cardboard.

The connector is preferably flat, but it would also be possible to let the central portion be somewhat thicker in order to increase the stability of the central portion. It would also be possible to let the connecting portion be somewhat thicker towards the central axis of the connecting portion. The advantage of a flat connector is that it minimizes the required material. A further advantage is that it is possible to bend the connector at any desired position of the connector. The connector is preferably less than 2,0 mm, and more preferably less than 1 ,0 mm thick. A suitable thickness may e.g. be 0,75 mm. Such a thickness gives a good balance between the flexibility and stiffness of a connector.

The edges of the connector are provided with a radius, both the outer edges of the connector and the inner edge of the central hole. The radius of the edges is the same for all edges. The radiuses of the edges allow a connector to enter a straw or the central hole of another connector in an easy and reliable way. The connector is preferably injection moulded, such that it is possible to obtain rounded edges on both sides of the connector. In comparison, a cut connector will receive sharp edges, which makes the insertion more difficult. The radius of the edges is preferably less than 0,5 mm, and more preferably less than 0,25 mm, depending on the thickness of the connector. The radius should be less than half the thickness of the connector in order to provide a smooth side surface of the connector. The material of the connector is preferably polypropylene, which allows the connector to be bent several times without breaking. The connector is preferably adapted to be used with straws having an outer diameter of 6 mm or a quarter inch. Such standard straws are easily obtainable in larger quantities in retail shops and are available in different colours and lengths, and are also available with a bendable goose-neck. Such a straw is further easy to cut to a desired length by using a scissors.

The connector may be provided with more than one connecting portion. Depending on the designed structure that is to be built, connectors provided with two or more connecting portions are possible. Connectors provided with one, two, three or five connecting portions are most suitable when building different structures, even if four, six or more connecting portions are possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will be described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the embodiments that are shown in the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an example of a connector having two connecting portions according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows an example of a connector having three connecting portions according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows an example of a connector having five connecting portions according to the invention, and

Fig. 5 shows an example of two connectors assembled with a straw according to the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention with further developments described in the following are to be regarded only as examples and are in no way to limit the scope of the protection provided by the patent claims. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention. The connector is to be used in a toy system, where two connectors can be interconnected to each other by a longitudinal flexible straw, e.g. a drinking straw, which has an outer diameter D. The outer diameter D of the straw may e.g. be 6 mm or a quarter inch, but it is also possible to adapt the connector to straws having other outer diameters. The connector 1 comprises a central portion 2 having a circular hole 8, where the hole preferably is arranged centrally in the central portion and where the circular hole 8 is provided with an inner diameter d which is larger than the outer diameter D of the straw to be used.

The connector is preferably flat, but it would also be possible to let the central portion be somewhat thicker in order to increase the stability of the central portion and the connecting portion. It would also be possible to let the connecting portion be somewhat thicker towards the central axis of the connecting portion, or to taper the connecting portion somewhat towards the central portion. The advantage of a flat connector is that it minimizes the required material used in the connector. A further advantage is that it is possible to bend the connector at any desired position of the connector. The connector is preferably less than 2,0 mm, and more preferably less than 1 ,0 mm thick, and may e.g. have a thickness of 0,8 mm. Such a thickness gives a good balance between the flexibility and stiffness of a connector. By letting the connector be flat and relatively thin, it is easy to bend the connecting portion in order to create joints having any desired angle. The connecting portion is preferably bent at the intersection between the central portion and the connecting portion, but it is possible to bend the connector at any position if required. By e.g. bending the central portion at the middle and thereafter inserting a straw through the central hole, the friction between the central hole and the straw will increase, which is of advantage for some designs. The connector is further provided with at least one connecting portion 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 which is adapted to be inserted into a straw. A connecting portion 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 is provided with a stem 9, a waist 10 and a tip 1 1 . The tip 1 1 is provided with an insertion section 12 and a rear section 13. The width of the insertion section 12 is denoted wi and is smaller than the diameter d of the hole 8 and also smaller than the inner diameter of a straw into which the insertion section is to be inserted. In this way, the insertion section can pass through the hole 8 or the edge of the straw.

The tip is tapered towards the rear section 13, where the width w₂ of the rear section 13 is larger than the diameter d of the hole 8 and also larger than the inner diameter of a straw into which the insertion section is to be inserted. The rear section will thus prevent another connector to fall of the insertion section, when another connector rests at the waist section of a connector. The rear section will also be wider than the diameter of a straw, such that the inner surface of a straw will bear against the rear section. The straw will be flattened by the tip when the tip is inserted into the straw, and the straw will flex back such that a force from the straw acts on the rear section. This will allow the straw to be held by the connector. The width w₄ of the stem 9 is also larger than the diameter d of the hole 8 or of a straw. This straw will be held by the stem in the same way as the straw is held by the rear section. When a stem is inserted into the hole of another connector, the stem will bear against the inner side of the hole, and the outer edges of the stem and/or the inner edge of the hole will deform somewhat, such that one connector is held in a non-rotatable way by another connector.

The width w₃ of the waist 10 is smaller than the diameter d of the hole 8. In this way, a connector can be held by another connector in a movable manner, by letting the waist rest in the central hole 8.

A straw is attached to a connector by pushing the connector into the straw. The straw tries to resume its circular shape, such that a tension is created inside the straw, which pushes on the side edges of the connecting portion. In this way, the straw will be held to the connector. It is possible to improve the hold of the straw to the connector by using another connector. By treading the hole of another connector over the straw by inserting the straw through the hole of the central portion and by pushing the other connector towards the first connector such that the other connector will rest at the waist of the first connector, the straw will be securely locked to the first connector. In this position, the inner side of the hole will push the straw inwards at the waist such that a higher force acts on the rear section and on the stem of the connector. This will prevent the straw from displacing from the first connector, even if the straw is pulled at.

In an example of the invention, the tip 1 1 of the connector is provided with grooves 16 which are inclined with respect to a centre line 17 of a connecting portion 3. The grooves will in this way form a V-shape in the tip of the connection portion. The grooves are preferably provided on both sides of the tip of the connector. The advantage of the grooves is that the grooves allows the outer parts of the tip to flex somewhat in a sideway direction, which will make it easier to insert a tip of a first connector through a central hole of another connector. By rotating the first connector somewhat when the tip is to be inserted into the hole of another connector, the outer parts of the tip will bend sideways which reduces the force required to inert the first tip through the hole of the other connector. The grooves will also simplify the insertion of a connector into another type of hole, e.g. into a hole cut in a cardboard. The edges of the connector are provided with a radius, both the outer edges 14 of the connector and the inner edge 15 of the central hole 8. The radiuses of the edges allow a connector to enter a straw or the central hole of another connector in an easy and reliable way. The connector is preferably injection moulded, such that it is possible to obtain rounded edges on both sides of the connector. In comparison, a cut connector will receive sharp edges, which makes the insertion more difficult. The radius of the edges is preferably less than 0,5 mm, and more preferably less than 0,25 mm, depending on the thickness of the connector. The radius should be less than half the thickness of the connector in order to provide a smooth side surface of the connector. The material of the connector is preferably polypropylene, which allows the connector to be bent several times without breaking. The connector is preferably adapted to be used with straws having an outer diameter of 6 mm or a quarter inch. Such standard straws are easily obtainable in larger quantities in retail shops and are available in different colours and lengths, and are also available with a bendable goose-neck. Such a straw is further easy to cut to a desired length by using a scissors.

The described connector 1 is provided with a single connection portion 3. Such a connector can be inserted into each end of a straw, and provides a type of modular building element. With this type of building element, all types of structures can be built. By combining two or more connectors side by side and inserting a further connection portion through the holes of the connectors, a joint having two or more branches is obtained. By letting the opening of a connector rest at the waist of the further connector, a movable joint is obtained. By letting the opening of a connector rest at the stem of the further connector, a fixed joint is obtained.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a connector having two connecting portions 3, 4. The connecting portions are here divided by 180 degrees, i.e. they are arranged opposite each other at the central portion. This type of connector will provide a connector that can be used for an angled connection of straws by bending one or both of the connecting portions with respect to the central portion. The connector can also be used to provide longer building elements by extending a straw in a longitudinal direction. Fig. 3 shows another example of a connector having three connecting portions 3, 4, 5. The connecting portions are here divided by 120 degrees. This type of connector will provide a connector that can e.g. be used for a corner connection in a rectangular design of straws by bending all of the connecting portions by 45 degrees respect to the central portion, or for a corner connection in a triangular design of straws by bending all of the connecting portions by 60 degrees respect to the central portion.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a connector having five connecting portions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The connecting portions are here divided by 72 degrees around the central portion. This type of connector can be used e.g. when more ball-shaped structures are built, or when several straws are to be connected.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a structure where two connectors are assembled with a straw according to the invention. In the lower part of the figure, a connector 1 having a single connecting portion is attached to a straw 18 by inserting the connecting portion 3 into the flattened end of the straw. The outer diameter D of the straw is in the shown example approximately 6 mm or a quarter inch. The width w₂ of the rear section 13 and the width w₄ of the stem 9 is here approximately 8,5 mm, which ensures that the flattened straw and the connecting portion are securely held together. The width wi of the insertion section 12 is in the shown example smaller than the inner diameter of the straw 18. The width w₃ of the waist 10 is smaller than the diameter d of the hole 8, and is in the shown example approximately 6,3 mm. It is also possible that the width w₂ of the rear section is smaller than the width w₄ of the stem 9. This will make it easier to insert a insertion section through a central hole, and will at the same time allow a straw to be securely held by the stem.

In the upper part of the figure, a connector 1 having three connecting portions is attached to the same straw 18 with a first connecting portion. This connector is attached to another straw with a second connecting portion. Further straws and connectors may be added in order to build a structure.

By the use of inventive connector, it is possible to build different structures having movable joints and where different parts can rotate around an axle, here in the form of a straw. One or more connectors can rotate around a straw when the straw is inserted through the central opening in a connector. A single connector can also rotate around another connector when the waist of a connector is inserted through the central hole of another connector. It is also possible to use a plurality of connectors to build other structures. A connector is e.g. well suited for assembling structures from cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard. In such a structure, cardboard pieces are cut out in a desired shape. Holes are made in the cardboard pieces, round holes if a rotatable joint is desired and flat holes if a fixed joint is desired. A connector is inserted through two or more cardboard pieces and a second connector is used to lock the connector by pushing the central hole onto either the waist or the stem of the first connector. In this way, different cardboard structures can be built.

The invention is not to be regarded as being limited to the embodiments described above, a number of additional variants and modifications being possible within the scope of the subsequent patent claims. The connector may have different sizes and may be made from any suitable material. Other shapes are also possible. Also the central portion may be provided with different shapes. REFERENCE SIGNS

1 : Connector

2: Central portion

3: First connecting portion

4: Second connecting portion

5: Third connecting portion

6: Fourth connecting portion

7: Fifth connecting portion

8: Hole

9: Stem

10: Waist

1 1 : Tip

12: Insertion section

13: Rear section

14: Outer edge

15: Inner edge

16: Groove

17: Centre line

18: Straw

Claims

1. Connector (1) for a toy system, where two connectors are adapted to be interconnected to each other by a longitudinal flexible straw having an outer diameter (D), characterized in that the connector (1) comprises a central portion (2) and at least one connecting portion (3, 4, 5, 6, 7), where the central portion (2) is provided with a circular hole (8) having a diameter (d) which is larger than the diameter (D) of the straw, where a connecting portion (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) is provided with a stem (9), a waist (10) and a tip (11 ), where the tip (11 ) is provided with an insertion section (12) and a rear section (13), where the width (w-i) of the insertion section (12) is smaller than the diameter (d) of the hole (8), where the width (w₂) of the rear section (13) is larger than the diameter (d) of the hole (8), where the width (w₃) of the waist (10) is smaller than the diameter (d) of the hole (8), and where the width (w₄) of the stem (9) is larger than the diameter (d) of the hole (8), and where the outer edges (14) of the connector (1) and the inner edge (15) of the hole (8) are provided with a radius (n), where the radius (n) of the edges (14, 15) is less than 0,5 mm, and where the connector (1 ) is injection moulded.

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole (8) is arranged centrally in the central portion (2).

3. Connector element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tip is provided with grooves (16) which are inclined with respect to a centre line (17) of a connecting portion (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

4. Connector element according to claim 3, characterized in that the tip is provided with grooves (16) on both sides of the connector.

5. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector (1 ) is flat.

6. Connector element according to claim 5, characterized in that the thickness of the connector is less than 2,0 mm, and more preferably less than 1,0 mm.

7. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radius (n) of the edges (14, 15) is less than 0,25 mm.

8. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width (w₂) of the rear section (13) is smaller than the width (w₄) of the stem (9).

9. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector is made in polypropylene.

10. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector is adapted to be used with straws having an outer diameter (D) of 6 mm or a quarter inch.

11. Connector element according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector is provided with two connecting portions (3, 4).

12. Connector element according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connector is provided with three connecting portions (3, 4, 5).

13. Connector element according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connector is provided with five connecting portions (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

14. Toy system, comprising a plurality of connectors according to any of claims 1 to 13, and a plurality of straws (18).