GB2274789A

GB2274789A - A construction kit

Info

Publication number: GB2274789A
Application number: GB9301732A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Shun Pui Chiu
Original assignee: Ngai Keung Metal and Plastic Manufactory Ltd
Current assignee: Ngai Keung Metal and Plastic Manufactory Ltd
Priority date: 1993-01-29
Filing date: 1993-01-29
Publication date: 1994-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-29
Also published as: HK47796A; GB2274789B; GB9301732D0

Abstract

The construction kit comprises a plurality of elongate parts 10, 11 and 12 each having at least one pair of opposed recesses 14 extending across the part. One of the recesses 14 of each pair has at least one, and typically four, studs 15 projecting from the base of the recess and the other recess has a corresponding number of complementary sockets 16 for receiving as a friction fit the stud or studs of another part with the two parts extending transversely to one another. The kit may further include triangular roof supporting members (13, Figure 7) to enable a log cabin to be constructed. The kit is generally for use as a toy but with larger components, it may be used to construct a building for use in garden or playground. <IMAGE>

Description

A Construction Kit - - This invention relates to a construction kit, and more particularly but not exclusively a toy construction kit.

According to the present invention there is provided a construction kit comprising a plurality of elongate parts each having at least one pair of opposed recesses extending across the part in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the part, one of the recesses of the or each pair of recesses having a stud projecting from the base of the recess and the other recess having a complementary socket for receiving as a friction fit the stud of another part with the two parts extending transversely to one another.

Preferably, at least some of the parts have at least two pairs of opposed recesses spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the part.

Typically, some of the parts have a single pair of recesses, some of the parts have two pairs of opposed recesses and some of the parts have three pairs of opposed recesses.

Advantageously, said one recess has a plurality of spaced apart studs projecting from its base and said other recess has a plurality of complementary sockets.

Conveniently, some of the parts have one or more sockets (or studs) in one end surface for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) in the base of said one (other) recess of another part.

Preferably, the kit further comprises two generally triangular roof supporting members, each having a base and two inclined sides, the base having two spaced recesses each provided with one or more sockets (or studs) for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) of said parts and the inclined sides each having sockets (or studs) for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) of a plurality of said parts.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one part of a constructionn kit according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of another part of the construction kit, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing some of the parts connected together, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a first stage of construction of a building using the construction kit, and Figures 5 to 7 are perspective views showing subsequent stages of construction of the building.

Referring now to the drawings, the construction kit shown therein comprises elongate, cylindrical parts 10, 11 and 12 and generally triangular parts 13.

The parts 10 have a single pair of opposed recesses 14.

The parts 11 have two pairs of opposed recesses 14 adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of the parts.

The parts 12 have three pairs of opposed recesses 14, two of which are adjacent to opposite ends, respectively, of the parts and the other of which is intermediate the ends of the parts. The recesses 14 extend transversely across the parts 10, 11 and 12 so as to be open at opposite ends.

The parts 10, 11 and 12 have two opposed right cylindrical portions 10a, 11a, and 12a, respectively, and two raised flat portions lOb,, 11b, and 12b, respectively, in which the recesses 14 are provided.

One recess of each opposed pair of recesses has at least one and typically, as shown, four studs 15 projecting from its base, the studs 15 being preferably of circular crosssection and having their centres located at the four corners of an imaginary square. The other recess of each opposed pair has four complementary sockets 16 for receiving as a friction fit the studs 15 of another part with the two parts extending transversely to one another (as shown in Figure 3).

Some of the parts, particularly parts 10 and 11, may have four sockets 16 (or studs 15) in an end surface for cooperation with the studs 15 (or the sockets 16) in the base of one of the recesses 14 of another part (as shown in Figure 3).

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the parts 13 each have a base 17 and two inclined sides 18. They also have a short flat top surface 19 parallel to the base 17. The base 17 has two recesses 20 provided with four sockets 16 (or studs 15). The sides 18 each have four sets of four sockets 16 (or studs 15) and the top surface 19 has a single set of four sockets 16 (or studs 15).

All parts 10, 11, 12 and 13 are moulded from plastics material.

Figures 4 to 7 show how it is possible to construct a building resembling a log cabin using the construction kit described above. The parts 12 form side wal.ls and the roof of the building. The parts 11 form end walls of the building. The parts 10 are used to define window openings and the parts 14 support the roof and define gable ends of the building.

The construction kit is generally for use as a toy but if the components are made to a larger scale it would be possible to construct a building for use in a garden or playground.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In particular, for example, there may be only a single stud and single socket in the recesses. In this case, the stud and socket could be larger than those shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. A construction kit comprising a plurality of elongate parts each having at least one pair of opposed recesses extending across the part in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extent of the part, one of the recesses of the or each pair of recesses having a stud projecting from the base of the recess and the other recess having a complementary socket for receiving as a friction fit the stud of another part with the two parts extending transversely to one another.

2. A construction kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said parts have at least two pairs of opposed recesses spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the part.

3. A construction kit as claimed in -claim 2, wherein some of the parts have a single pair of recesses, some of the parts have two pairs of opposed recesses and some of the parts have three pairs of opposed recesses.

4. A construction kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said one recess has a plurality of spaced apart studs projecting from its base and said other recess has a plurality of complementary sockets.

5. A construction kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one recess has four studs and said other recess has four complementary sockets.

6. A construction kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein some of the parts have one or more sockets (or studs) in one end surface for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) in the base of said one (other) recess of another part.

7. A construction kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising two generally triangular roof supporting members, each having a base and two inclined sides, the base having two spaced recesses each provided with one or more sockets (or studs) for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) of said parts and the inclined sides each having sockets (or studs) for cooperation with the stud (socket) or studs (sockets) of a plurality of said parts.

8. A construction kit comprising a plurality of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A building constructed from a construction kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.