GB2417434A - A construction element for use in building models and shapes - Google Patents
A construction element for use in building models and shapes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2417434A GB2417434A GB0418591A GB0418591A GB2417434A GB 2417434 A GB2417434 A GB 2417434A GB 0418591 A GB0418591 A GB 0418591A GB 0418591 A GB0418591 A GB 0418591A GB 2417434 A GB2417434 A GB 2417434A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- jaws
- construction element
- construction
- jaw
- elements
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 69
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/042—Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
- A63H33/062—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements with clip or snap mechanisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
- A63H33/065—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements using elastic deformation
Landscapes
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
A construction element for use in building models and shapes comprises at least one set of resiliently openable jaws 2 located thereon and is adapted in use to be located either between a set of jaws 2 on a similar construction element or around the body of a similar construction element. When the jaws 2 are located between the jaws 2 of a similar construction element, the jaws 2 are arranged in mutually transverse plane so that the centre point 14 of each set of jaws 2 aligns. When connected in this manner excessive compressive stress may be detected using indicator 13 and recorded for future analysis. When the jaws 2 are located around the body of a similar construction element the centre point 14 of the jaw 2 is aligned with the centreline (15, fig 3) through the body of the similar construction element. Receiving means (10, fig 4) may also be present to receive gear wheels (11, fig 4).
Description
A CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT
The present invention relates to a construction element adapted in use to be joined to other similar or identical construction elements to build models or shapes. The construction element of the present invention is, in particular, adapted for use in the construction of complex models and shapes where, for example, gear systems or moving parts are required.
There are a number of construction elements in existence adapted for use in the construction of models and shapes. European Patent No 0 127 397 of the present applicant describes a construction element having a jaw which can be located in a similar jaw of a further construction element to provide a substantially rigid interconnection that is mechanically resistant to separation by sideways applied forces. However this prior construction element is not suitable for the manufacture of complex models and shapes requiring, for example, gear systems or moving parts.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction element that can be used in complex model making whilst still being resistant to separation by sideways applied forces and whilst still achieving a rigid interconnection between two construction elements.
Accordingly the present invention provides a construction element comprising a body having: at least one set of resiliently openable jaws located thereon and adapted in use to be located either between a set of jaws located on a further construction element with the jaws of the respective construction elements arranged in mutually transverse planes or around the body of a further construction element and wherein the centre point of the or each set of jaws aligns with the centre point of the set of jaws on the further \ construction element or with the centreline through the body of the further construction element.
The construction element described allows the achievement of common centring at each join between two construction elements, which then allows the introduction of gears, and moving parts into the models and shapes constructed. Gears and moving parts cannot be introduced unless common centring is achieved and the present invention achieves this common centring without the need to introduce additional non-standard components. The present invention ensures that however the standard components are put together common centring is achieved.
The construction element is preferably provided with a jaw-engaging portion adapted in use to receive a portion of the set of jaws. The engagement of the set of jaws and the jaw-engaging portion provides rigid connection of two construction elements, which is important in the making of models. However, the engagement between the set of jaws and the jaw engaging portion is releasable to allow models to be taken apart.
Preferably the set of jaws is shaped to have an open end between free ends of side portions extending away from the body. Preferably there are two side portions extending away from the body and the set of jaws is substantially "U" shaped.
Preferably the jaw-engaging portion comprises a groove positioned on the body or on the set of jaws. Most preferably the jaw-engaging portion is provided on an area of the set of jaws adjacent the body.
The set of jaws preferably comprises a first portion adapted to engage with a jaw-engaging portion of a further construction element when the elements are secured together with the set of jaws of one element engaging with those of another element. The set of jaws preferably further comprises a second portion adapted to receive a body of a further construction element.
The first portion may comprise free ends of side portions of the set of jaws. The side portions are most preferably each provided with an inwardly extending lug, preferably positioned close to the free ends of the side portions, to engage the jaw-engaging portion of a further construction element.
The second portion is preferably located between the first portion and the body and is of a suitable configuration to receive the body of a further construction element. In a most preferred embodiment the body of the construction element is cylindrical and the second portion of the set of jaws is suitably curved to receive a cylindrical body. The second portion is configured to resiliently receive a body and therefore the curve of the second portion may be greater than semi-circular or alternatively the curve of the second portion may be semi-circular, greater than or less than semi-circular and the second portion may be provided with one or more inwardly extending lugs to resiliently hold the body in place within the second portion.
The body of the construction element may be any suitable shape and size and may have one or more sets of jaws located thereon. For example the body may be elongate and may have a set of jaws located at one or both ends thereof. The body may also or alternatively have one or more sets of jaws extending from other points along the body. The body may have portions extending therefrom on which one or more sets of jaws are located. The body may be provided with means to receive additional components such as wheels or components of a gear system.
The construction element of the present invention preferably further includes a compression indicator.
If a joint is exposed to excessive tension it is clear that this has happened as the joint fails and the components disengage at that point meaning that it is easy to see which joint failed. If a joint is exposed to excessive compressive stress this often goes unnoticed until the flexing of the stressed joint causes failure in a different joint, it is not then possible to see which joint was subjected to stress.
The compression indicator preferably comprises a groove or set of grooves situated on the body or on the set of jaws and distanced further from the first portion of the set of jaws than the jaw-engaging portion.
In use if a joint between the set of jaws on one construction element and those of a further construction element is subjected to excessive compressive stress the first portion of the set of jaws of one element will be forced out of the jaw engaging portion of the further element and will be forced into the groove of that further element. Therefore, when the model fails due to compressive stress it is possible to see which joint was under stress, as the set of jaws will be engaged in the groove rather than the jaw-engaging portion.
The construction elements are manufactured from any suitable resilient material by any suitable process. Most preferably the construction elements are manufactured from Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) by injection moulding.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the drawings in which:
-
Figure 1 shows a side view of a set of jaws and portion of the body of a construction element of the present invention; Figure 2 shows how the set of jaws of figure 1 achieves common centring when two or more construction elements are joined together end to end; Figure 3 shows how the set of jaws of figure 1 achieves common centring when two or more construction elements are joined together by a set of jaws engaging a body; Figure 4 shows the arrangement of construction elements of Figure 2 in use with a set of gears; and Figures 5a and 5b shows the compressive stress indicator of the present invention.
Figure 1 shows a portion of a construction element comprising a body 1 and a set of jaws 2. A jaw-engaging portion 3 is situated on the set of jaws 2 and a compression indicator 13 is situated on the body 1 close to the set of jaws 2.
The body 1 is elongate and cylindrical in shape. The set of jaws 2 is located on one end of the body 2 extending therefrom.
The set of jaws 2 is substantially "U" shaped having a base portion 4 secured to the body 1 and two side portions 5, 6 extending from the base portion 4. The set of jaws 2 includes a first portion that comprises the free ends 5a, 6a of the side portions 5, 6. Each of the free ends 5a, 6a is provided with an inwardly extending lug 7, 8.
-
The set of jaws 2 also includes a second portion that comprises means 9 to receive the body of a further construction element. The means 9 to receive the body of a further construction element is a curved portion and the curved portion generally semi-circlular and is provided with a pair of inwardly extending lugs 16 to ensure that the body is resiliently received and held, rather than simply placed, in the means 9 to receive a body of a further construction element. The second portion of the set of jaws is positioned between the first portion and the base portion 4 extending from the base portion 4.
The j aw-engaging portion 3 comprises a set of grooves positioned opposite each other on an area of the set of jaws 2 adjacent the body 1 and being of a suitable size to receive the lugs 7, 8 extending from the free ends 5a, 6a of the side portions 5, 6.
The set of jaws 2 is sized such that the centre point 14 of the set of jaws aligns with the centreline through the body of a further construction element when the set of jaws 2 receives a body 1 of a further construction element. The size of the set of jaws 2 is also such that when the set of jaws receives a further construction element by engagement of the set of jaws 2 of one construction element with those of a further element the centre points 14 of each set of jaws 2 align with each other. This is shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3 where like parts with Figure 1 are given like reference numbers.
Figure 2 shows four construction elements joined together by co-operation of the sets of jaws 2 of adjacent elements. Each construction element has a body 1, a set of jaws 2 provided at each end of the body 1 and a jaw engaging portion 3. The body 1 of each element is provided with two circular receiving means 10 to receive components such as wheels or gears.
The elements are joined together end to end by positioning of the sets of jaws 2 of adjacent elements in planes transverse to each other and pressing them together such that the lugs 7, 8 of the free ends 5a, 6a of the side portions 5, 6 of a set of jaws 2 of one element engage the jawengaging portion 3 of an adjacent element.
It can be clearly seem from Figure 2 that the centre points 14 of the two joined sets of jaws 2 align and give rise to a common centre which allows a set distance between the receiving means 10 to be achieved when the elements are joined by co-operation of the sets of jaws.
Figure 3 shows a number of construction elements joined together by receipt of the body 1 of a construction element within the set of jaws 2 of an adjacent element. Each construction element has a body 1, a set of jaws 2 provided at each end of the body 1 and a jaw-engaging portion 3.
The elements are joined together by pressing the body 1 of one element into the second portion of the set of jaws 2 of a further element such that the body 1 is resiliently received in the means 9 to receive the body of a further construction element and is resiliently held in place in the means 9. It can be clearly seem from Figure 3 that the centre point 14 of the set of jaws aligns with the centre line 15 through the body of the element that it received to maintain common centring.
Figure 4 shows the importance of common centring of construction elements of the present invention in the use of gear systems. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of a number of construction elements as described in Figure 2. Gear wheels 11 have then been inserted into the receiving means 10 and the provision of common centring allows the gear wheels to co-operate together.
Claims (4)
1 A construction element comprising a body having at least one set of resiliently openable jaws located thereon and adapted in use to be located either between a set of jaws located on a further construction element with the jaws of the respective construction elements arranged in mutually transverse planes or around the body of a further construction element and wherein the centre point of the or each set of jaws aligns with the centre point of the set of jaws on the farther construction element or with the centreline through the body of the further construction element.
2 A construction element as claimed in Claim 1 wherein common centring is achieved when standard components are put together.
3 A construction element as claimed in Claim 1 wherein when elements are connected in mutually transverse planes excessive compressive stress can be detected and recorded for future analysis.
4 A construction element substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-5b of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0418591A GB2417434B (en) | 2004-08-20 | 2004-08-20 | A construction element |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0418591A GB2417434B (en) | 2004-08-20 | 2004-08-20 | A construction element |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0418591D0 GB0418591D0 (en) | 2004-09-22 |
| GB2417434A true GB2417434A (en) | 2006-03-01 |
| GB2417434B GB2417434B (en) | 2009-03-25 |
Family
ID=33042373
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0418591A Expired - Fee Related GB2417434B (en) | 2004-08-20 | 2004-08-20 | A construction element |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2417434B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2426213A (en) * | 2005-05-20 | 2006-11-22 | Shoptaugh Philip L | Toy construction system with jaw components |
| KR20230000538A (en) * | 2021-06-25 | 2023-01-03 | 김정수 | Connecting mechanism used in rod-type prefabricated toys |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB191309628A (en) * | 1913-04-24 | 1913-08-14 | Henry Charles Harrison | Improvements in Toy Building Elements. |
| GB669495A (en) * | 1949-09-29 | 1952-04-02 | Eric James Davenport | Improvements in or relating to constructional toys |
| DE2720641A1 (en) * | 1976-05-11 | 1977-11-17 | Reobyn Bv | Construction toy kit for children - consists of tubular sections with clamps, plug and retainer elements (NL 15.11.77) |
| GB1585825A (en) * | 1976-07-14 | 1981-03-11 | Murphy C | Constructional toys |
-
2004
- 2004-08-20 GB GB0418591A patent/GB2417434B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB191309628A (en) * | 1913-04-24 | 1913-08-14 | Henry Charles Harrison | Improvements in Toy Building Elements. |
| GB669495A (en) * | 1949-09-29 | 1952-04-02 | Eric James Davenport | Improvements in or relating to constructional toys |
| DE2720641A1 (en) * | 1976-05-11 | 1977-11-17 | Reobyn Bv | Construction toy kit for children - consists of tubular sections with clamps, plug and retainer elements (NL 15.11.77) |
| GB1585825A (en) * | 1976-07-14 | 1981-03-11 | Murphy C | Constructional toys |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2426213A (en) * | 2005-05-20 | 2006-11-22 | Shoptaugh Philip L | Toy construction system with jaw components |
| GB2426213B (en) * | 2005-05-20 | 2009-11-11 | Shoptaugh Philip L | Toy construction system with jaw components |
| KR20230000538A (en) * | 2021-06-25 | 2023-01-03 | 김정수 | Connecting mechanism used in rod-type prefabricated toys |
| KR102656930B1 (en) * | 2021-06-25 | 2024-04-12 | 김정수 | Connecting mechanism used in rod-type prefabricated toys |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2417434B (en) | 2009-03-25 |
| GB0418591D0 (en) | 2004-09-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20130820 |