GB2490549A

GB2490549A - Construction set

Info

Publication number: GB2490549A
Application number: GB1107621.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Norman
Original assignee: Robosynthesis Ltd
Current assignee: Robosynthesis Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-06
Filing date: 2011-05-06
Publication date: 2012-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-06
Also published as: GB2490549B; GB201107621D0

Abstract

A construction set comprises a plurality of elements mutually co-operable to produce at least one assembly, the elements comprising a plurality of connectors 10 each including a disc 11 provided on each side thereof with a respective axial projection 12 (the projection 12 may include the combination of sleeve 15 and post 13). The free end of the projection 12 is provided with two mutually orthogonal pairs of parallel grooves 17 each able to receive part of the disc 11 of another one of the connectors. The free end of the projection is additionally provided with a male bayonet coupling means 18 co-operable with female bayonet coupling means of another element of the set to produce a releasable locked connection therewith, namely female bayonet coupling means 19 at the periphery of the disc 11 of another connector, whereby the connectors can be connected in mutually orthogonal relationship or female bayonet coupling means (33, figure 10) of an adapter (30), whereby the connector and adapter can be connected in coaxial relationship.

Description

CONSTRUCTION SET

The present invention relates to a construction set and has particular reference to the interconnection of components of such a set.

Construction sets are known in various forms for constructing assemblies or subassemblies in which the constituent parts have differing angular and rotational relationships so as to form complex modular structures in two and three dimensions. Such assemblies or subassemblies can be, for example, essentially static constructions such as models, support structures and mounts or movable or mobile constructions such as robotic assembly and fabrication tools or self-propelled robots for various purposes. A construction set focussed on allowing creation of assemblies and subassemblies with such capabilities is disclosed in International Patent Specification WO 2008/093028. In the case of the set disclosed in this specification, however, the components of the set, although interconnectible in a variety of relationships, mostly require separate locking elements to fix or lock the interconnections. This contributes additional cost and complexity to assemblies and subassemblies formed from the components.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a construction set which, based on the principles of WO 2008/093028, provides an integrated facility for maintaining or fixing the associations established by interconnection of components of the set.

A supplementary object of the invention is creation of a multi-purpose connection facility for the components in which one form of fixing arrangement can be employed for fixing different kinds of components of the set in interconnected relationships.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following

description.

According to the present invention there is provided a construction set comprising a plurality of elements mutually co-operable to produce at least one assembly, wherein the elements comprise a plurality of connectors each comprising at least one disc provided on at least one side thereof with an axial projection, the free end of the projection being provided with at least one groove for receiving part of the disc of another connector and 4-4 with male or female bayonet coupling means co-operable with, respectively, female or male bayonet coupling means of another element of the set to produce a releasable locked connection therewith.

Such a construction set incorporates connectors of the basic kind disclosed in WO 2008/093028, in that instance a disc -in preferred embodiments of WO 2008/093028 two spaced-apart interconnected coaxial discs -with oppositely directed axial projections each having at the free end thereof a groove or groove for receiving a part or parts of the disc or discs of another such connector. The interengagement of groove and disc part is preferably frictional. Two connectors can thus be interconnected in a mutually orthogonal relationship, preferably with one of the connectors in a selectable rotational setting with respect to the other one of the connectors. In addition to this basic connection capability, however, each connector in the case of the present invention is provided at the free end of either or each axial projection with bayonet coupling means, whether male or female, capable of co-operation with complementary bayonet coupling means of another element of the construction set to provide a releasable locked connection with that element, thus a locked connection which is achieved without resort to additional or separate locking elements. The other element can be another connector, including, for example, a connector with the disc thereof engaged in the relevant groove, or a quite different kind of element also forming part of the set.

Preferably, the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection at the or each side of the disc is male bayonet coupling means comprising at least one protruding locking member. The locking member, such as pin, can be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, but preferably substantially square or oblong so as to maximise surface-to-surface contact area. A pin represents a simple form of male member which can be readily provided by, for example, injection-moulding integrally with the respective connector. The or each protruding member of the male bayonet coupling means thus constitutes a part thereof receivable in the co-operating female bayonet coupling means.

The at least one locking member preferably protrudes into the at least one groove at the associated end of the axial projection, in which case, if co-operable female bayonet coupling means are provided at the or each disc of each connector, a connector with a disc received in the groove of another connector can be locked in position by engagement of the locking member in that female bayonet coupling means. The utility of the e connectors and the scope for producing locking connections can be enhanced if the free end of the axial projection is provided with a plurality of grooves and the male bayonet coupling means comprises a respective locking member protruding into each of those grooves. In that case it is advantageous if the plurality of grooves comprises a pair of grooves extending parallel to one another, so that, for example, a connector with two discs or two axially connected connectors with single discs can be secured by engagement of its or their discs in the two grooves and fixed in place by interaction of the locking members, which protrude into those grooves, with female bayonet coupling means at the discs.

Moreover, if the plurality of grooves comprises a further pair of grooves extending perpendicularly to the grooves of the first-mentioned pair it is then possible for a connector with two discs or for two axially aligned single-disc connectors to be connected, and locked in place, in a selectable one of a plurality of two mutually orthogonal positions by engagement of parts of the discs in one or other of the two groove pairs. For preference, the grooves communicate with one another to form a well for seating another element of the set, whereby the connection possibilities for components of the set are further enhanced.

In a construction of the male bayonet coupling means optimised with respect to stability of the locked connection the male bayonet coupling means comprises a plurality of the locking members, the members being disposed at substantially equidistant spacings on a circular path concentric with the axis of the disc. The interconnection of two elements in the set is thus locked by interengaging male and female parts -namely the locking members in the case of the male parts -disposed at regular intervals so that tilting of the interconnected elements relative to one another is prevented or, at least, resisted.

For preference, the plurality of locking members comprises at least one pair of members extending in substantially mutually opposite directions, which represents a basic arrangement for a stable coupling. It is advantageous if the locking members of the or each pair are disposed substantially parallel to, but at least in part one on each side of, a diameter of the circular path. This disposition of the locking members may assist progressive interengagement of the co-operating male and female bayonet coupling means when, in particular, the elements concerned are connected together by relative rotation.

For preference, the or each locking member has at one side thereof detent means for detenting with part of co-operating female bayonet coupling means to fix the member in position. The detent means preferably comprises a detent profile, such as a depression, for example a concavity, which receives a protrusion, for example a convexity, of co-operating female bayonet coupling means. The disposition of the depression and protrusion can, of course, be reversed.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection is male bayonet coupling means and the disc is provided with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of another one of the connectors to produce a locked connection therewith. This construction allows two connectors to be connected together by interaction at an end of the axial projection of one connector and at a disc of another connector, for example -in the case disposition of the male bayonet coupling means in association with a groove or grooves such as described further above -when the disc of the latter connector is received in a groove of the axial projection of the former connector.

In this embodiment, the female bayonet coupling means comprises at least one recess for receiving at least a part of the male bayonet coupling means, for example a protruding locking member in the case of construction of the male bayonet coupling means as outlined in the foregoing. Advantageously, the at least one recess has an entry-and-exit portion extending substantially radially inwardly from the periphery of the disc and, at a spacing from the periphery, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the disc. The entry-and-exit portion and the communicating locating portion of each such recess form, in effect, a generally right-angled guide path so that the received part of the male bayonet coupling means can be inserted into the entry-and-exit portion and then turned, by relative rotation of the two connectors concerned, so as to move into the locating portion. In the case of locking of a disc of one connector in a groove of another connector, the disc of the first connector can be pushed into the groove so that the part of the male bayonet coupling means -if arranged as described above to protrude into the groove -of the second connector can be received in the entry-and-exit portion of the recess and the first connector can then be turned so that the part transfers into the locating portion of the recess.

The entry-and-exit portion of the at least one recess preferably has a substantially zigzag course, which provides a labyrinth form of entrance for the part of the male bayonet

S

coupling means entering the respective recess and thus progressive retention of the part in the recess. It is particularly advantageous if the entry-and-exit portion of the at least one recess can be entered or exited from either side of the disc, since in that case, if the disc has an axial projection on each side, the female bayonet coupling means at the disc can be constructed at least with respect to the entry-and-exit portion for co-operation with male bayonet coupling means engaging from either side of the disc.

The locating portion of the at least one recess can be formed by a segment of a channel in the disc on the at least one side thereof and the associated entry-and-exit portion by a radial passage in the disc between the circumference thereof and the radially outer wall of the channel.

For preference, the radially outer wall of the channel has in the locating portion of the at least one recess detent means for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means to retain that part in the locating portion. The detent means preferably comprises a detent profile, such as a protrusion, for example a convexity, which engages in a depression, for example a concavity, of the received part of the male bayonet coupling means. The disposition of such a protrusion and depression can obviously be reversed.

In order to permit engagement of male bayonet coupling means with the female bayonet coupling means from either side of the disc it is advantageous if the female bayonet coupling means comprises at least one recess on each side of the disc and the disc has a respective channel on each side to provide the segment forming the locating portion of the at least one recess at that side and a common slot to provide the radial passages forming the entry-and-exit portions of both the at least one recess on one side and the at least one recess on the other side. In effect, two separate bayonet coupling points respectively accessible from the two sides of the disc are provided at essentially the same radial location, offering the advantage that they can be formed in part by the common slot; this is then available for other coupling functions. The slot preferably has a zigzag cross-section whereby the radial passages are conjoined, but offset in the circumferential direction of the disc.

The female bayonet coupling means preferably comprises a plurality of such recesses spaced around the periphery of the disc, as a consequence of which, for example, a m connector with a part of its disc received in a groove of another connector can be connected therewith and locked in position in a selectable one of a plurality of different angular positions each associated with a respective one of the recesses. It is advantageous in this respect if the recesses are substantially equidistantly spaced, so that the selectable angular spacings are correspondingly regularly spaced.

The utility of the connectors may be enhanced if the axial projection comprises a post and a sleeve surrounding the post at a radial spacing therefrom, the sleeve having the at least one groove and the post having the male or female bayonet coupling means. If the post is tubular, it can serve to receive part of another element of the set and either or both of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of such a post can function to provide a friction couple with such an element. The post can in that case be located in the centre of the afore-mentioned well.

In this connector configuration the manufacture of the connectors, particularly if injection-moulded from plastics material or otherwise formed from mouldable material or machined from the solid, may be facilitated by employing a multi-pad construction in which, when the disc is provided with a respective such axial projection on each side thereof, the sleeves of the projections are formed integrally with the disc and the posts of the projections are formed by post members constructed separately from the sleeves and connected with one another and the disc within a passage through the disc. In that case, costs can be saved if the post members are of substantially identical construction.

For preference, each of the post members is connected with the respective other post member by integral snap-action clip connecting means, a connecting method of this kind providing a positive and secure form of interconnection able to resist loads to a sufficient degree in axial and rotational directions of the assembled post members. In one advantageous embodiment the clip connecting means of each post member comprises a plurality of integral resilient clip arms extending from one end of the post member and a corresponding plurality of notches formed in the post member at an outer circumference thereof and intermediate the arms, the notches receiving the clip arms of the respective other post member by snap engagement. The two post members are simple to interconnect by pushing them together under splaying deformation of the arms. Moreover, a geometrically optimised arrangement with uniform distribution of connection forces is achieved by the disposition of the arms and notches in, in effect, alternation around each post member.

Each of the arms of each post member preferably has at the free end thereof a locking nose engageable in a re-entrant portion of the associated notch of the respective other post member to prevent axial separation of the post members. This feature ensures that the post members can adequately resist axial separation forces so that the post remains intact in normal use of the connector.

The integrated interconnection facility of the post members can additionally be employed to retain the posts in the sleeves. In particular, the disc can comprise a disc member provided with radially inwardly extending webs terminating at spacings to define the passage through the disc by their radially inward ends and the post members can then be connected with the disc member by way of an enlargement of each notch in each post member and an associated further notch contiguous therewith in the respective other post member, the webs engaging at their inner ends in the notch enlargements and further notches and being locked in position when the post members are connected together.

The ends of the webs are thus sandwiched between parts of the post members, specifically edge surfaces bounding the notch enlargements, the further notches and sides of the arms, and immovably locked in place.

The scope for user assembly of components of the construction set and thus saving of production costs can be enhanced if each connector is supplied in the set in disassembled form.

In another preferred embodiment, the elements of the set further comprise at least one adapter for joining together a respective pair of the connectors with the discs thereof in substantially coaxial relationship. Pairs of connectors are thus interconnectible in coaxial relationship by adapters which are preferably present in the set in a number sufficient to allow interconnection of connectors to assemble an axial group of any desired length.

Thus, for example, depending on the ultimate form of the envisaged assembly, connectors can be connected together in multiple discrete pairs or in one or more subassemblies composed of two, three, four or however many axially aligned connectors.

For preference, the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc of each connector is male bayonet coupling means and the at least one adapter is provided on each of two opposite sides thereof with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair to produce a locked connection therewith. The adapter is thus positionable between two connectors to be joined together and offers female bayonet coupling means to the male bayonet coupling means of two juxtaposed coaxial connectors, whereby the connectors can be joined to form a rigid subassembly inclusive of the adapter.

In a convenient construction of the adapter the female bayonet coupling means on each side of the adapter comprises recesses for receiving parts of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair, in which respect it is desirable if the parts of the male bayonet coupling means of each connector are received in respective recesses -whether two, three, four or more in number -uniformly spaced around the axis of the axial projection so that the joined-together connectors cannot tilt relative to the axis.

The adapter preferably comprises an annular body and the recesses are arranged around the body in two coaxial circular tracks, the recesses in each track serving to receive parts of the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair. An adapter of this construction can be compact in size and permit joining together of the two connectors concerned in end-to-end relationship, i.e. with ends of the axial projections of the two connectors in abutment.

The recesses in each of the tracks are, for preference, substantially equidistantly spaced, as a consequence of which, in the case of an appropriate format of the male bayonet coupling means of the connectors to be joined, each connector can be connected with the adapter in a selectable one of a plurality of different rotational settings.

For preference, each recess in each of the tracks is disposed at the inner circumference of the annular body and has an entry-and-exit portion extending from a respective end of that body and, at a spacing from that end, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the body. The entry-and-exit portion and communicating locating portion of each recess thus define a guide path with, in effect, a right-angled change in direction, whereby the received part of the relevant male bayonet coupling means can, for joining purposes, be inserted into the entry-and-exit portion and then turned to transfer into the locating portion, thus a relative displacement followed by a relative rotation of the adapter and the respective connector.

In order to increase self-locking of the adapter and the pair of connectors it is advantageous if the locating portions of the recesses in each of the tracks extend from the associated entry-and-exit portions generally around the annular member in a direction opposite to the locating portions of the recesses in the respective other one of the tracks.

Consequently, the male bayonet coupling means of one connector of the pair will interact with one set of recesses by relative rotation of the connector and adapter in a sense opposite to that required for interaction of the male bayonet coupling means of the other connector with the other set of recesses.

For preference, a wall of the locating portion of each recess in each of the tracks has detent means, for example a detent profile, for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair to retain that part in the locating portion. It is advantageous in that case if the material of the adapter and/or of the connectors has a degree of resilient flexibility so that the parts of the male bayonet coupling means received in the recesses can forcibly override the detent profiles, which then function to provide detent locking.

In a preferred construction, the annular body comprises a drum provided at the ends thereof with annular flanges of substantially equal diameter, the entry-and-exit portions of the recesses in the two tracks being formed in the drum and in the flanges and the locating portions solely in the drum. In this construction, the flanges can, for example, locate in wells at the ends of the axial projections of the pair of connectors to be joined, so that the adapter has a firm seat in each connector. Similarly, end sections of the axial projections can seat in the central passage bounded by the drum and flanges.

Manufacture of t he adapter can be simplified if the flanges are formed by annular members constructed separately from the drum and connected therewith by snap-action connecting means. The relatively complex waisted shape of the adapter can thus be reduced to the significantly more basic shapes of two annular members and a drum, which can be produced by mould tools with less complicated forms of mould cavity. Ease of manufacture is further assisted if the annular members are of substantially identical construction.

The snap-action connecting means is preferably provided by two sets of oppositely directed resilient arms of the drum engaged by snap action in rebates formed in the annular members at the inner circumferences thereof. The three parts of this multi-part adapter can thus be securely interconnected by simple pressing together and snapping of the arms of the drum into place at the annular members.

A further possibility of intercoupling components of the set, independently of or in conjunction with the bayonet coupling facility, can be realised if the axial projection on the at least one side of the at least one disc of each connector has an axial coupling bore and the elements of the set further comprise at least one coupling member having a first coupling part for coupling with any one of the connectors by insertion in the coupling bore thereof and a second coupling part for coupling with another element of the set. The coupling bore can, for example, be surrounded concentrically by the bayonet coupling means at the axial projection so that two separately or conjunctively usable coupling systems are present on either or each side of the disc of each connector, which may considerably extend the capabilities of the set with respect to the coupling of the connectors with one another or with other compatible elements of the set.

In order to fix the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member in place in a connector the wall of the coupling bore preferably has either an annular bead or an annular groove and the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a peg insertable into the bore and provided on its circumference with either an annular groove receiving the bead, or an annular bead receivable in the groove, of the bore to secure the peg therein against axial displacement, but to permit rotation, relative to the axial projection. Such a bead-and-groove detent coupling can be produced by forcibly pressing the connector and coupling member together and may, if desired, be released by, for example, use of an implement to lever the two components apart. In that case it is advantageous if the peg is formed by a tube of resilient material slotted to allow resilient contraction on insertion of the peg into the coupling bore thereby to facilitate reception of the bead in the groove.

In one form of the at least one coupling member the second coupling part thereof is substantially the same as the first coupling part, but with an opposite orientation, and can be coupled with another element of the set. The coupling member can thus be of substantially symmetrical construction with respect to a radial plane intermediate the pegs of the two coupling parts and fitted to a connector by way of either peg. The rigidity of a thus-produced coupling together of two connectors or of a connector and another type of element in the set may be increased if the at least one coupling member is provided between the first and second coupling parts with an annular abutment for contact with annular abutment surfaces of elements coupled by the coupling member.

If the coupling capability offered by the coupling member is to be employed in conjunction with the bayonet coupling facility, use can be made of the previously mentioned adapter, which for that purpose then has a central passage able to accommodate the at least one coupling member so as to allow insertion of the pegs of the first and second coupling parts of the at least one coupling member into coupling bores of a pair of connectors joined by the adapter. The preferred assembly sequence requires fitting of the adapter to a first one of the connectors, in particular by engagement of the male bayonet coupling means of the first connector with one of the female bayonet coupling means of the adapter, insertion of the peg of one coupling part of the coupling member into the coupling bore of the axial projection of the first connector, and fitting of the second connector to the coupling member, in particular by insertion of the peg of the other coupling part of the coupling member into the coupling bore of the axial projection of the second connector with partial interengagement of the male bayonet coupling means of the second connector and the other female bayonet coupling means of the adapter. Since the two connectors, when coupled by the coupling member, are capable of rotation relative to the coupling member and to each other, the partial interengagement can be completed by an appropriate relative rotation.

In another form of the coupling member usable in a case where the at least one disc of each connector is provided with a channel-shaped slideway extending around the axial projection, the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises -instead of a further peg -an arcuate projection slidably engageable in the slideway. The slideway and arcuate projection are so arranged that when the peg of the coupling member is retained in the coupling bore of the axial projection of a first connector the arcuate projection can engage in the slideway in the disc of a second connector positioned with part of its disc received in the at least one groove at the free end of the axial projection of the first connector. If the disc has female bayonet coupling means and the axial projection has male bayonet coupling means protruding into the groove as outlined in the preceding description, the two bayonet coupling means can be interengaged by relative rotation of the connectors -albeit about mutually orthogonal axes -with sliding of the arcuate projection in the slideway. The two connectors are thus coupled together by the interengaged male and female bayonet coupling means with the coupling member functioning as a stabilising component lending rigidity to the resulting assembly.

For preference, the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a further arcuate projection extending in a direction opposite to that of the first-mentioned arcuate projection and slidably engageable in the slideway of another connector. If the or each axial projection of each connector has at least one pair of parallel grooves as previously described, discs of two connectors can be inserted into the parallel grooves of a third connector and locked in position by interengagement of bayonet coupling means of the connectors so that the first two connectors are in coaxial relationship with one another and orthogonal relationship with the third connector. The assembly of three connectors can be stabilised by the coupling member having its arcuate projections engaged in the slideways of the discs of the two first connectors and its peg inserted in the coupling bore of the axial projection of the third connector. Moreover, the arcuate projections of at least one further coupling member can be engaged in the slideways of the discs of the two first connectors at a radial position angularly displaced relative to the first-mentioned coupling member and the peg of the further coupling member inserted into the coupling bore of the axial projection of a fourth connector, the axis of which can be coincident with that of the third connector or include therewith an angle of between 90 and 180 degrees. If additional coupling members are employed, two more connectors can be incorporated in similar manner in the assembiy, which can thus be composed of a totai of three to six connectors.

The versatility of the construction set in creation of diverse assembles and subassemblies is thus considerably extended.

When, in particular, assemblies or subassemblies of multiple coaxial and/or orthogonal connectors are created it can be advantageous to provide stiffening additional to that achieved by the various forms of coupling intrinsic to the connectors themselves and to other components, such as the adapter and coupling member. Accordingly, in a further embodiment the elements of the set further comprise at least one connecting panel connectible with at least one of the connectors, such a panel acting as both an additional connecting element and a stiffening body. To enable connection of the panel, the disc of each connector preferably has at least one slot at its periphery and the at least one panel has a rib engageable in the at least one slot. The slot can also double as the entry-and-exit portion of the recess of female bayonet coupling means as described further above.

For preference, the panel has a plurality of ribs engageable in the slots of the discs of a plurality of connectors so that it can be used in conjunction with assemblies and subassemblies of connectors, in which case it is advantageous if the plurality of ribs comprise first ribs extending in a first direction and second ribs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, so that co-operation with both coaxial and mutually orthogonal connectors is possible.

The disc preferably has a plurality of slots around its periphery, the or each rib being engageable in any one of the slots. Consequently, the panel can engage with the disc at a selectable one of a plurality of different positions respectively corresponding with the slots.

The range of use of the panel can be significantly enhanced if it is adapted for use with the afore-described coupling member, in particular by providing the panel with at least one coupling bore for receiving the peg or one of the pegs of the at least one coupling member, the wall of the coupling bore of the panel having an annular groove for receiving the bead, or an annular bead for engaging in the groove, of the peg. A secure interlocking arrangement of connector, coupling member and panel can thus be achieved. The panel preferably has a plurality of such coupling bores in spaced-apart arrangement for receiving the pegs of a plurality of such coupling members. In that case, when the panel has a plurality of ribs as described above, the coupling bores can be defined by tubular members interconnected by the ribs. The panel can then have a material-saving lattice construction.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector constituting a first element of a construction set embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevation, to enlarged scale, of the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two such connectors, again to enlarged scale by comparison with Fig. 1, coupled together in mutually orthogonal relationship; Fig. 4 is a detail view, to a further enlarged scale, of the coupling region in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one part, in particular a disc, of a modified form of the connector with a multi-part construction; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing all the parts, namely the disc and Iwo identical post members, of the modified connector; Fig. 7 is a perspective view, to enlarged scale, of one of the post members from one end; Fig. 8 is a perspective view, to enlarged scale, of the post member of Fig. 7 from the other end; Fig. 9 is a side view, to enlarged scale, of the two post member in interconnected state with schematic illustration of part of the disc; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an adapter constituting a second element of a construction set embodying the invention, together with the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but to enlarged scale, with the adapter connected with the connector; Fig. 12 is a side view, to enlarged scale, of the adapter; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of the adapter with a multi-part construction; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of two connectors joined together in coaxial relationship by such an adapter; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of three connectors and an adapter in a pre-assembly relationship, wherein two of the connectors can be joined together in coaxial relationship as shown in Fig. 14 and the two joined connectors can be connected to the third connector in orthogonal relationship corresponding with Fig. 3; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a first form of coupling member constituting a third element of a construction set embodying the invention, together with the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 17 is a perspective view, to enlarged scale and primarily from one side, showing the coupling member of Fig. 16 coupled to the connector; Fig. 18 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 16, but showing the coupling member coupled to the connector and additionally the adapter of Fig. 10 connected with the connector in the same way as in Fig. 11; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a second form of coupling member constituting a fourth element of a construction set embodying the invention, together with the connector of Fig. 1, to which the coupling member is coupled; Fig. 20 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 19, but showing a second connector to which both the connector and coupling member of Fig. 19 are coupled to produce an assembly; Fig. 21 is a perspective view, to smaller scale, of the assembly of Fig. 20 additionally with a coupling member of the first form and a further coupling member of the second form; Fig. 22 is a perspective view of an extended assembly incorporating the assembly of Fig. 21, the assembly being extended by two further connectors coupled with the additional coupling members shown in Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a locking panel constituting a fifth element of a construction set embodying the invention; Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the locking panel of Fig. 23 connected with one form of assembly of the connectors with use of a coupling member of the first form; and Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the locking panel of Fig. 23 connected with another form of assembly of the connectors with use of a coupling member of the second form.

Referring now to the drawings there are shown different components of a construction set comprising a plurality of elements able to be interconnected in a variety of relationships to construct assemblies and subassemblies, including, for example, structures forming bodies of robots. The set is composed of a plurality of at least one kind of element, but in practice will contain pluralities of several different kinds of elements. In this context, however, the term "set" is to be understood as extending to a selectable agglomeration of elements for a defined purpose, thus, for example, the elements present in type and number for constructing an assembly or a subassembly to a specific or preconceived design.

A core element of the set, namely a connector 10, is shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The connector 10, which can be injection-moulded in or more parts from a polymer imparting overall stability of shape, but a degree of resilience, to the moulded article, comprises a disc 11 with two parallel faces and a cylindrical circumferential surface defining its periphery.

Disposed on each side of the disc, thus on each face, is a respective axial projection 12, the projections being identical in shape and size and coaxial. The common axis of the projections 12 is coincident with the axis A of symmetry of the disc 11.

In another embodiment (not illustrated) the connector can comprise two spaced-apart coaxial discs linked by a connecting body, in which case a respective axial projection of the same kind is provided on each of the two mutually remote side of the two discs.

Each axial projection 12 is formed by a tubular post 13 having a cylindrical outer circumferential surface and a similarly cylindrical inner circumferential surface, the latter bounding a receiving or coupling bore 14 within the post and having an annular bead 14a (the purpose of which is explained later), and by a sleeve 15 surrounding the post at such a radial spacing therefrom as to form a seating well between post and sleeve. The sleeve also has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface. The axial length of the sleeve 15 from the plane of the associated face of the disc 11 is greater than the similarly calculated axial length of the post 13, so that the free end face of the post is recessed relative to that of the sleeve.

The tubular posts 13 of the two mutually opposite axial projections 12 continue into the interior of the disc and merge into one another within the interior, where, in order to save weight and material, the disc 11 has a cavity and is connected with the posts 13 -in effect, respective axial lengths of a single tubular body -by four radially inwardly directed and equidistantly spaced webs 16 located in the cavity.

Each axial projection 12 is provided at its free end with two pairs of mutually parallel grooves 17, the grooves of each pair being perpendicular to the grooves of the respective other pair. Each groove 17 has a partly arcuate base with a radius of curvature corresponding with that of the disc 11 and is bounded at one side by a wall formed by a cut-out in the sleeve and on the opposite side discontinuously by a juxtaposed lineal section of the post 13 and, at spacings from the post, by sleeve end faces also formed by the cut-out. The form of the grooves is apparent from, inter alia, Figs. I and 3. The width of each groove substantially corresponds with the axial length, i.e. thickness, of the disc 11 and is intended for reception of a selectable part of the periphery of the disc 11 of another such connector 10 as shown in Fig. 3, the thus-interengaged connectors 10 being disposed in a mutually orthogonal relationship with intersecting, mutually perpendicular axes A. Connector interengagement in this manner is also described in WO 2006/013028.

The groove width is preferably marginally less than the disc width to provide an interference fit allowing, under resilient yielding of the constituent material, frictional relative rotation, i.e. rotational sliding of the disc 11' in the host groove 17 of the disc 11 under frictional resistance.

Although two pairs of grooves 17 are present in each axial projection 12 in the illustrated embodiment, one pair of grooves or just a single groove can equally well be provided, with, necessarily, concomitant reduction in the utility of the connector in the sense of the range of interconnection possibilities. It is preferred, however, if the groove arrangement in the connector 10 on one side of the disc 11 is essentially in mirror image to that on the other side, particularly with respect to angular disposition about the axis A, so as to allow assemblies of connectors with symmetrical dispositions of elements.

Each of the connectors 10 is provided with bayonet coupling means, at the very least with either male bayonet coupling means or female bayonet coupling means, but in the illustrated embodiment one of each kind. The bayonet coupling means enable a locked connection of the connector with another such connector or with another element of the construction set to be achieved. In this respect it will be appreciated that although the interengagement of connectors shown in Fig. 3 may be self-maintaining to a degree due to the engendered friction, the interconnection as such is not locked and not capable of resisting separating forces beyond a certain, relatively low, level. In the prior art, therefore, use is made of various forms of separately constructed locking devices co-operable with connectors assembled in both mutually orthogonal and coaxial relationships so as to lock the interconnections and resist component separation. In the case of the present invention, however, integrated bayonet coupling means are provided so that interconnected elements of the construction set can be locked together without resort to separate locking devices, whereby savings in cost and time and simplified assembly procedures can be achieved.

As shown in, in particular, Figs. 1 to 4 the axial projection 15 on each side of the disc 11 of each connector 10 is provided with integrally formed male bayonet coupling means 18, specifically on the circumferential surface of the post 13 adjacent to its end face. The disc 11 itself is provided at its periphery with female bayonet coupling means 19. The male bayonet coupling means 18 provided on the post 13 is co-operable with the female bayonet coupling means of another connector or of another form of element in the set, such as that described further below with reference to Figs. 10 to 15. Similarly, the female bayonet coupling means 19 provided at the disc 11 is co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means 18 of another connector.

The male bayonet coupling means 18 at the post 13 of each connector 10 has the form of projecting locking members consisting of pins 20 of square or oblong cross-section extending outwardly of and arranged equidistantly around the circumference of the post.

Two pairs of pins 20 are provided, the pins of each pair projecting in substantially mutually opposite directions and generally perpendicularly relative to the pins of the respective other pair. The pins 20 are so angularly disposed around the disc axis A that each pin protrudes approximately centrally into a respective one of the grooves 17, in particular to the extent of about a third of the groove width. The pins 20 of each pair have a radially offset arrangement such that they extend one on each side of a diameter of the post 13.

The offset arrangement of the pins 20 is readily evident in Figs. 1 and 3 and the purpose of the offsets is explained further below. It should be noted, however, that the male bayonet coupling means 18 of one post 13 is in mirror image to the male bayonet coupling means 18 of the other post 13, so that the pins 20 at the end of one post are offset in opposite sense in relation to the pins 20 at the end of the other post.

Each pin is provided at its underside, that is to say the side facing the disc 11, with a detent profile 21. This profile is formed, as shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, of an adjoining convexity and concavity and co-operates with detent profiles of female bayonet coupling means of other components of the set, as outlined further below, to ensure that interengaged male and female bayonet coupling means remain locked in an interengagement end setting. The manner of co-operation of the respective detent profiles is also explained further below.

The female bayonet coupling means 19 at the periphery of the disc 11 of each connector is provided by a plurality of recesses 22 equidistantly spaced around the periphery on each side of the disc. Each recess 22 is dimensioned and arranged so as to be capable of receiving a respective one of the pins 20 of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of another one of the connectors and consequently functions as an individual female bayonet coupling point. Each recess 22 has an entry-and-exit portion 22a extending radially inwardly from the periphery of the disc 11 and a locating portion 22b which communicates with the radially inner end of the entry-and-exit portion 22a and extends for a short distance around the disc, in particular on an arc concentric with the disc circumference.

The locating portions 22b of the recesses 22 on each side of the disc 11 are formed by segments of a circular channel 23 arranged on that side to extend at a spacing from and concentrically with the disc circumference. A smaller-diameter circular channel-shaped slideway 24 is formed concentrically with each channel 23, the purpose of the slideway 24 being explained further below. The channel 23 has an additional coupling function as described further below. The entry-and-exit portions 22a of the recesses on each side of the disc 11 are formed by radial passages in the disc between its circumference and the radially outer wall of the channel 23 at that side. Recesses 22 on opposite sides of the disc are associated in pairs so that two female bayonet coupling points are provided at substantially the same radial position, specifically a position encompassed by a small segment of the disc. The radial passages forming the entry-and-exit portions 22a of such a pair of associated recesses 22 are provided by parts of a respective one of a plurality of radially extending slots 25 in the disc, each slot extending entirely through the disc and additionally acting as a receptacle for a part of another form of element in the set. The slot thus has a dual-purpose connecting function similarly to the channel. As evident in Figs. I to 3, each slot 25 has a zigzag shape in cross-section, whereby the axial passages forming the respective entry-and-exit portions 22a are offset relative to one another in circumferential direction of the disc. The offset ensures that, regardless of which side of the disc 11 is used for interconnection purposes by way of the bayonet coupling means, a coupled element can have the same rotational setting in relation to the disc when a bayonet coupling is produced by relative rotation of the component in one sense on one side of the disc and in an opposite sense on the other side of the disc.

Present in the locating portion 22b of each recess is a detent profile 26 which is formed on the outer circumferential wall of the respective channel 23 and which co-operates with the detent profile 21 of a male bayonet coupling means pin 20 received in the locating portion.

The detent profile 26 has the form of a convexity, in particular a ridge, receivable in the concavity of the detent profile 21 after overriding the convexity of that profile, preferably under resilient deflection of the material of either or both of the connectors participating in the interengagement of the respective bayonet coupling means 18 and 19. As previously indicated, this locks the connectors relative to one another in an interengagement end setting of the bayonet coupling means concerned. The locked interconnection of the connectors 10 is, however, readily releasable by relative movement of the connectors, since the curved surfaces of the detenting concavity and convexity function as mutually camming surfaces in the overriding process for both detenting and release from detenting.

It should be noted that the detent profiles 26 are so positioned on the two sides of the disc that, insofar as the profiles are determinative of the particular channel segments forming the locating portions 22b of the recesses 22, the locating portions 22b extend from the associated entry-and-exit portions 22c in one sense on one side of the disc and in the opposite sense on the other side of the disc.

In order to achieve symmetry in the construction of assemblies and subassemblies, the pins 20 of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of each projection 12 and recesses 22 of the female coupling means 22 of each disc 11 are, as evident from Fig. I, arranged in an angular relationship in which each pin projects substantially parallelly to a respective alternate one of the recesses 22.

The locations of male bayonet coupling means and female bayonet coupling means in each connector can, with appropriate redesign of each kind of bayonet coupling means, be interchanged. In that case, the disc 11 may be provided with male bayonet coupling means in the form of, for example, protrusions provided at the periphery of the disc to extend in the same directions as the axial projections 12. Correspondingly, each axial projection 12 may be provided with female bayonet coupling means in the form of suitably shaped recesses in the grooves 17, namely recesses with entry-and-exit portions communicating with locating portions which each extend generally perpendicularly with respect to the associated entry-and-exit portion.

The capability of the connectors 10 to be interconnected by interaction of the respective male and female bayonet coupling means 18 and 19 and the procedure for doing so are largely self-evident from the foregoing description. Referring specifically to Figs. 3 and 4, which show two connectors 10 coupled together in mutually orthogonal relationship with the afore-mentioned intersection and mutual perpendicularity of the respective axes A, the provision of equidistantly spaced recesses 22 around the circumference of each disc 11 allows coupling of one connector to the other in one of a plurality of selectable relative rotational (angular) relationships. In the illustrated embodiments the total of eight recesses on each side of the disc allows angular relationships of the connectors at intervals of 45 degrees. The interconnection of the connectors 10 as shown in Fig. 3 is achieved by engagement of part of the disc 11 of one of the connectors in one of the grooves 17 of the other connector in such an orientation of the disc 11 of the former connector that one of the recesses 22 of its female bayonet coupling means 19 receives, in its entry-and-exit portion 22a, one of the pins 20 of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of the latter connector. When the engaged disc 11 is pushed fully home in the groove, thus into contact with its base, the connector with that disc is rotated relative to the other connector to cause the received pin 20 to transfer into the locating portion 22b of the recess 22.

Movement of the pin 20 into the locating portion is accompanied by interaction of the associated detent profiles 21 and 26 to produce a detented interengagement as described in the foregoing and thus fixing of the locked connection, produced by the bayonet coupling, of the two connectors. The orientation of the pins 20 offset relative to a radial arrangement has the result that the detent profiles 21 and 26 engage progressively, i.e. the convexity or ridge of the profile 26 moves progressively into the concavity of the profile 21, which assists the detenting process. Once fully detented, the convexity or ridge of the profile 26 is parallel with the concavity of the profile 21 and a greater expenditure of force is required for release of the detent by reverse movement of the interengaged parts by comparison with that required to produce the detenting.

The location of the pin 20 in the locating portion 22b of a recess 22 is shown in enlarged scale in the detail view of Fig. 4.

The orthogonal coupling of the connectors depicted in Fig. 3 is merely one example of the available interconnection possibilities. The intercoupled connectors 10 have, on mutually remote sides of the respective discs, unused axial projections 12 with grooves 17 and male bayonet coupling means 18 available for further coupling functions and the discs of the connector similarly have unused female bayonet coupling points available for further coupling functions, The slideways 24, coupling bores 14 in the posts 13, and slots 25 contributing to formation of the female bayonet coupling points also offer further coupling possibilities able to be exploited in extensions of the basic subassembly of Fig. 3. A significant aspect, however, is the locked coupling of the connectors 10 produced by the interengaged bayonet coupling means without resort to separately constructed securing components.

Advantages with respect to the production cost of components of the set can be achieved by a multi-part construction of the connector 10, an example of which is depicted in Figs. 5 to 9. Apart from simplification of mould tools if the connector is composed of several, less complicated parts, the connector can be supplied on the market in broken-down form so that assembly is left to the buyer. In the multi-part form shown in Figs. 5 to 9, which is relevant specifically to a connector 10 with a disc 11 provided with axial projections 12 on both sides, the sleeve 15 of each axial projection is formed integrally with the disc 11, as are the webs 16 in the cavity of the disc. However, the posts 13 of the two axial projections 12 are formed by two identical post members I 3a which are constructed separately from one another and from the disc 11 and which are connected within the cavity with one another and also with the webs 16.

The two post members 13a are shown in separated state in Figs. 6 to 8 and in interconnected state in Fig. 9. The post members 13a, which each carry at one end the male bayonet coupling means 18 of the associated projection, thus the four pins 20, are connected together by integral snap-action clip connecting means in a passage in the disc 11, specifically a passage defined discontinuously by free ends of the webs 16 (Figs. 5 and 6). The clip connecting means comprises two equidistantly spaced resilient clip arms 13b extending from the end of each post member 13a opposite the end thereof with the pins 20 and two equidistantly spaced notches 13c formed in the circumferential surface of the post member between the arms. The arms 1 3b and notches 1 3c are thus arranged in alternation around each post member. The shape and disposition of the arms 1 3b on and notches 13c in the two post members are identical so that the arms of each post member are engageable in the notches of the respective other post member, in particular by snap action. Each arm I 3b has at its free end a locking nose engageable in a re-entrant portion of the associated notch I 3c, as shown in Fig. 7, to resist axial separation of the two post members.

The post members 13a are connected with the webs 16 in the disc cavity by way of enlargements of the notches I 3c -thus extensions of the notches in a direction around the circumference of each post member beyond the area corresponding with the area of the clip arm 13b -and further notches 13d formed in the respective other post member and contiguous with the enlargements. Each notch enlargement and contiguous further notch together correspond with the area of the free end of a respective one of the webs 16 and receive that free end, as indicated by the hatched area in Fig. 9. The free end of each web 16 can thus be sandwiched between the post members 13a, in particular confined by post member edges bounding the respective notch enlargement and the contiguous further notch.

The assembly procedure for the multi-part connector 10, starting with the combined disc and sleeve component shown in Fig. 5, is evident from Fig. 6. Firstly, one of the post members I 3a is inserted from one side of the disc 11 into the passage defined in the disc by the free ends of the webs 16 so that the free ends of the webs engage, in part, in the enlargements of the notches I 3c and the further notches I 3d of that post member. The other post member 1 3a is then inserted into the passage from the other side of the disc 11 under engagement of the clip arm 1 3b of both post members in the respective notches I 3c and engagement of the remaining parts of the free ends of the webs in the enlargements of the notches 13c and the further notches 13d of that other post member. In this action the clip arms 1 3b are slightly deformed at one side as their locking noses ride along the circumferential surfaces of the post members until congruent with the re-entrant portions of the notches, whereupon the resilience of the clip arms causes them to fully snap into the notches to achieve the assembled construction shown in Fig. 9, inclusive of confinement of the free ends of webs 16 and thus simultaneous connection of the post members 13a not only with each other, but also with the disc 11 by way of its webs. The interconnections of the parts of such a composite connector are capable of withstanding sufficiently high loads in rotational and axial directions, in particular loads equal to or beyond the shear or separation loads able to accepted by the bayonet coupling means.

A further element of the construction set is shown in Figs. 10 to 15, namely an adapter 30 designed to co-operate with the bayonet coupling means, in particular the male bayonet coupling means 181 of a pair of connectors 10 to join the connectors in coaxial relationship.

The adapter 30 can be an injection-moulded plastics material component, again a plastics material of stable form, but with a small degree of resilience. The adapter 30 comprises an annular body formed by a drum 31 provided at the two opposite ends thereof respectively with two radially outwardly extending equal-diameter flanges 32. The diameter of each flange 32 is such that the flange can seat snugly in the well present in each axial projection 12 of each connector 10, thus the region between the post 13 and sleeve 15 of that projection. The post 13 in that case extends in the passage through the annular body, i.e. the interior of the drum 31.

In order to join two connectors, the adapter 30 is provided on two opposite sides thereof, thus the two ends of the drum 31, with respective female bayonet coupling means 33 co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means 18 of either axial projection 12 of either connector. The female bayonet coupling means 33 on each side of the adapter 30 comprises a set of recesses 34 able to receive the pins 20 of one such male bayonet coupling means 18. The two sets of recesses 34 are arranged in two coaxial circular tracks of the same diameter, with the recesses in each track -numbering eight in the illustrated embodiment -being equidistantly spaced and disposed in approximately the same radial positions as the recesses in the respective other track. The dispositions of the eight recesses 34 of each set are coincident with those of the four pins 20 in each male bayonet coupling means 18 in such a manner that all four pins are simultaneously engageable in any four equidistantly spaced ones of the eight recesses 34. The interengagement of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of a connector 10 with either one of the female bayonet coupling means 33 of the adapter 30 thus takes place at four equidistantly spaced points to ensure optimum stability in the connector-to-adapter relationship.

In similar manner to the female bayonet coupling means 19 of the disc 11 of the connector each recess 34 of each female bayonet coupling means 33 of the adapter 30 has an entry-and exit portion 34a extending from the respective end of the annular body of the adapter parallel to the axis of the drum and a locating portion 34b communicating with the entry-and exit portion at a spacing from that end of the body and extending generally around the drum, thus in its circumferential direction. The entry-and-exit portion 34a of each recess of one set of recesses is aligned with the entry-and-exit portion 34a of a respective one of the recesses of the other set of recesses, but the locating portions 34b communicating with the entry-and-exit portions 22a of the two sets of recesses extend in mutually opposite circumferential directions as apparent from, in particular, Fig. 12. The locating portions 34a of the recesses 34 of the two sets are separated from one another by a median band of the drum 31, which is otherwise composed of oppositely directed webs separating the recesses. The drum thus has a skeletal structure. In detail, the entry-and-exit portion 34a of each recess is defined by a respective slot extending through the annular body in the respective one of the flanges 32 and into the drum 31 and the locating portion 34b by a continuation of the slot in the drum.

As is evident from Figs. 10 to 12, connection of the adapter 30 to each of the pair connectors 10 to be joined takes place by seating of the adapter in the well of an axial projection 12 of each connector with simultaneous entry of the pins 20 of the associated male bayonet coupling means 18 into the entry-and-exit portions 34a of four of the recesses 34 of the respectively co-operating female bayonet coupling means 33. Relative rotation of the adapter 30 and each connector 10 then causes each pin 20 to move into the locating portion 34b of the relevant recess 34. The oppositely directed orientations of the locating portions 34b of the two sets of recess 34 has the result that the two connectors are, in relation to one another, rotated in opposite sense in the interengagement process of the two sets of male and female bayonet coupling means 18, 33 thereby to produce a self-locking effect, In similar manner to the female bayonet coupling means 19 of the disc 11, each recess 34 of each female bayonet coupling means 33 of the adapter 30 has a detent profile 34, in particular on a wall bounding the locating portion 34b of the recess, co-operable with the detent profile 21 of the pin 20 received in the relevant locating portion.

The detent profile 34 has the same form as the detent profile 26, thus a convexity or ridge able to detent in the concavity of the detent profile 21. Detenting, and release from detenting, again preferably take place under resilient yielding of the material of the adapter and/or connector.

The adapter 30 can be employed to join two connectors 10 in coaxial relationship of their discs 11 as shown in Fig. 14, wherein the axial length of the adapter 30, the depths of the wells in the connector axial projections 12 and the relationships of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of the connectors and the female bayonet coupling means 33 of the adapter are selected so that the connectors joined by the adapter are in end-to-end abutment at the free end faces of the respective sleeves 15. This contributes to stabilisation of the interconnected state. Two connectors thus joined can be coupled to an orthogonally disposed third connector by engagement of their discs in the grooves 17 in either one of the axial projections 12 of the third connector, as indicated by Fig. 15. In this respect the adapter 30 is dimensioned in terms of axial length so that the discs 11 of two connectors 10 joined by the adapter will have the same spacing as the grooves 17 of a parallel pair of the grooves.

Fig. 15 shows merely a basic form of subassembly, which can be extended in various ways and in various directions with further interacting connectors and/or adapters.

Similarly, the afore-described multi-part construction of the connector 10, the adapter 30 can be of multi-part construction as shown by way of example in Fig. 13. In this instance the flanges 32 of the drum 31 are formed by two identical annular members 36 constructed separately from and connected with the drum by snap-action connecting means. The connecting means are formed by two sets of oppositely directed resilient arms 37 which extend from the median band in the drum skeletal structure and bound parts of the recesses 34 as evident in Fig. 13. Each of the annular members 36 is provided at its inner circumference in the region of the entrance of a respective one of the slots forming the recesses 34 with a rebate 38 in which a respective one of resilient arms 37 engages by snap action. The drum 31 can thus be constructed with the arms 37 of each set splayed outwardly by comparison with the assembled state of the adapter shown in Fig. 13. Each set of arms 37 is then compressed to permit alignment with the rebates 38 and the compression released to permit the arms to snap into the rebates under bias. Other assembly methods are equally possible, including -with suitable cam shaping of interengaging surfaces of the arms 37 and rebates 38 -relative rotation of the drum 31 and each annular member 36 after initial insertion of the arms into the slots in the annular members. Co-operating detent means are preferably provided in the zones of engagement of the arms 37 in the rebates 38 to resist relative axial movement and/or relative rotation of the drum 31 and annular members 36 after assembly has been achieved.

A further element of the construction set comprises a coupling member 40 in the form shown in Figs. 16 to 18 or a coupling member 50 in the form shown in Figs. 19 to 21. Both forms of coupling member make use of the coupling bore 14 present in the tubular post 13 forming part of each axial projection 12 of the disc 11 of the connector 10. For this purpose the inner circumferential surface of the post, thus the wall of the bore 14, has the afore-mentioned annular bead 14a, which is disposed at a spacing from the free end of the post. In another embodiment (not illustrated), an annular groove can be provided instead of the bead.

The coupling member 40 or 50 has a first coupling part for coupling with any one of the connectors 10 by insertion into its coupling bore 14 and a second coupling part for coupling with another element of the set, particularly, but not exclusively, with another connector. The first coupling part of the coupling member 40 or 50 comprises a tubular peg 41 or 51, respectively, dimensioned with respect to diameter to be a snug fit in the coupling bore 14. The peg 41 or 51 has a defined axial length from a base end thereof and is provided with an annular groove 42 or 52, respectively, at a spacing from its base which substantially corresponds with the above-mentioned spacing of the bead 14a from the free end of the post 13. If the bore 14 has a groove rather than a bead, the peg 41 or 51 correspondingly has a bead rather than a groove.

The coupling member 40 or 50 is preferably an injection-moulded component of plastics material having a resilient property. In order to allow engagement of the bead 14 at the wall of the bore 14 in the groove 42 or 52 of the peg 41 or 51, respectively, the peg is formed with a plurality -four in the illustrated embodiment -of slots 43 or 53 permitting diametral contraction or compression of the peg under an axial force exerted on the free end of the peg by the bead during insertion of the peg into the bore. As soon as the bead and groove approach alignment, the former engages in the latter under resilient return of the peg to its relaxed state, whereby the peg is anchored in the bore and the coupling member 40 or 50, as the case may be, is firmly secured against separation from the connector 10 in the axial direction of the bore and peg. The intercoupled state of coupling member and connector is shown in Fig. 17. However, the interengagement of the bead and groove is not sufficient to preclude relative rotation, albeit against some frictional resistance, of the two coupled elements. The retained capability of relative rotation is important with respect to permitting coupling to further elements in circumstances where relative rotation may be needed to, in particular, complete a bayonet coupling.

The two forms of coupling member 40 and 50 differ with regard to, in particular, the nature of the second coupling part. In the case of the coupling member 40, the second coupling part is formed by a further peg 44 identical with the first-mentioned peg 41, but opposite in orientation, as shown in Fig. 16. The further peg 44 accordingly serves for insertion into the coupling bore 14 of another connector 10, whereby two connectors can be connected together in coaxial relationship. The two pegs 41 and 44 of the coupling member 40 are separated at their respective bases by an intermediate flange 45, the shoulders of which define abutment surfaces each engageable with a corresponding abutment surface of a respective one of the connectors 10, in particular the end face of the post 13 of the connector. The thickness or axial length of the flange 45 is equal to substantially twice the axial extent of recessing of the free end face of the post 13 of each connector relative to the free end face of the surrounding sleeve 15, with the consequence that in the coupled state of the connectors the space between juxtaposed end faces of the posts 13 coupled by the pegs 41 of the coupling member 40 is occupied by the flange 45 and the two connectors are in end-to-end abutment at the relevant pair of sleeves 15.

Although the coupling interaction of the peg 41 or 44 with the post 13 of a connector 10, i.e. the mutual detenting of groove 42 and bead 14a, resists axial separation of the two components under the application of axial forces up to a predetermined level, separation may nevertheless be carried out by insertion of a levering implement, such as a screwdriver tip, between the mutually contacting abutment surfaces of the flange 45 and post 13 and levering, such as by twisting the tip. The sleeves 15 of each connector have recesses at junctions of the grooves 17 allowing access of such an implement. In this regard it is to be noted that the level of resistance to an axial separating force can be predetermined by the choice of constituent material of, in particular, the coupling member or 50, the wall thickness of the peg 41 or 44 and/or the depths and/or cross-sectional shapes of the bead 14a and groove 42 or 52.

The coupling member 40 can be used not only by itself to produce a coaxial interconnection of two connectors 10, but also in conjunction with the adapter 30. A phase of such conjunctive use is shown in Fig. 18. The axial passage of the annular member of the adapter 30 is of sufficient diameter to accommodate the coupling member 40 so that the concentric relationship of adapter 30 and coupling member 40 shown in Fig. 18 can be achieved. Since the coupling member 40 and connector 10 in coupled state are relatively rotatable there is no impedance of the required relative rotation of adapter 30 and second connector to complete the coaxial assembly.

The procedure of producing such a coaxial assembly of two connectors 10 with combined use of an adapter 30 and a coupling member 40 comprises filling the adapter to a first one of the connectors with partial interengagement of the respective male bayonet coupling means 18 and female coupling means 30 and rotating the adapter relative to the first connector to complete the interengagement and generate a locked interconnection of adapter and connector. The coupling member 40 is filled to the same connector, either before or after filling of the adapter 30, by insertion of its peg 41 or 44 into the coupling bore 14 of the connector to produce interengagement of the bead 14a and groove 42, whereby the partial assembly illustrated in Fig. 18 is achieved. The second connector 10 is now coupled with both the adapter 30 and coupling member 40 simply by aligning the pins 20 of the male bayonet coupling means 18 of one of its projections 12 with the recesses 34 of the co-operating female bayonet coupling means 33 of the adapter and by pressing the second connector towards the first connector, which moves the other peg 41 or 44 of the coupling member into the coupling bore 14 of the second connector and the pins 40 into the entry-and-exit portion 34a of the recesses 34 until aligned with the associated locating portions 34b, in the course of which a detenting connection of the further bead 14a and groove 42 is produced. The second connector 10 can now be rotated relative to the first connector 10 and to the adapter 30 disposed in locked connection therewith so as to move the pins 20 into the locating portions 34b to complete the interengagement of the male and female bayonet coupling means. The resulting coaxial assembly of the connectors by way of both the adapter 30 and the coupling member 40 is particularly stable in relation to externally applied axial, transversal, torsional and bending loads.

In the case of the coupling member 50 shown in Figs. 19 to 21, the second coupling part has an entirely different form and purpose, the object of which is to produce connection of two connectors in orthogonal rather than coaxial relationship. Rather than a second peg, the coupling member 50 is provided at the base of the peg 51 with second coupling means in the form of at least one arcuate projection 54, in the illustrated embodiment two mutually oppositely directed arcuate projections. Each arcuate projection 54 is designed for sliding engagement in a slideway 24 of the disc 11 of any one of the connectors 10, for which reason the arc of each projection 54 has a radial spacing from its centre of curvature substantially equal to the radius of the slideway 24 and the width (thickness) of the projection substantially corresponds with the width of the slideway. The arcuate projections 54 are carried by arcuate members 55, each of which has the same radius of curvature as that of the sleeve 15 of each connector 10 and is intended to engage the sleeve outer circumference. The arcuate members 55 are in turn are carried by a correspondingly curved support block 56 at the base of the peg 51. The peg 51 projects away from the convex sides of the arcuate projections 54 and arcuate members 55 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the arcuate projections 54 project away from the members 55. Analogously to the flange 45 of the coupling member 50, the support block 56 of the coupling member 50 defines, at its side associated with the base of the peg, an abutment surface co-operable with the end face of a post 13 having the bore 21 in which the peg 51 is received.

The coupling member 50 can be used to, in particular, stabilise the connection of two connectors 20 in orthogonal relationship as shown in Fig. 20. Initially and as shown in Fig. 19, one of the arcuate projections 55 of the coupling member 50 is engaged in the slideway 24 in one side of the disc 11 of a first connector 10, the coupling member being disposed at any radial position of the disc and capable of movement around the disc into any other position. In the engaged state of the arcuate projection 54, the arcuate member carrying it engages the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve 15 of the projection at that side of the disc 11. The combination of first connector 10 and coupling member 50 can now be connected with a second connector 10 by simultaneous insertion of the peg 51 into the coupling bore 14 in the post 13 of one of the projections 12 of the second connector and insertion of part of the disc 11 of the first connector into one of the grooves 17 in the axial projection 12, the latter action producing -with an appropriate rotational setting of the disc of the first connector -entry of the pin 20 protruding into that groove into an entry-and-exit portion 22a of one of the recesses 22 in the periphery of the disc of the first connector. In the course of pushing the coupling member 50 and connectors 10 together to effect the insertion, the bead and groove of, respectively, the coupling bore 14 and the peg 51 interengage to produce a connection of the coupling member and second connector which is locked with respect to relative displacement axially of the peg. In that state the pin 20 engaged in the recess 22 will be aligned with the locating portion 22b of the recess. This locating portion is, of course, formed by a segment of the channel 23 concentric with the slideway 24 receiving the engaged one of the arcuate projections 54 of the coupling member 50. Accordingly, rotation of the first connector relative to the second connector to rotationally move the disc 11 of the former in the receiving groove 17 of the latter will move the pin 20 into the locating portion 22b and produce detenting interaction of the co-operating detent profiles 21 and 26 respectively of the pin and the locating portion.

The two connectors are thereby locked against further relative rotation, which up to the point of interaction of the detent profiles was both permitted and positively guided by sliding of the engaged arcuate projection 54 in the slideway 24 of the first connector. The resulting subassembly of mutually orthogonal connectors as shown in Fig. 20 has an inherently high level of stability due to coupling together of the connectors at two spaced-apart points.

Since the coupling member 50 has two arcuate projections 54 and the slideways 24 of the disc 11 of each connector 10 provide multiple coupling locations, extended assemblies of connectors can be produced using further coupling members 50 and also coupling members 40, as shown by way of example in Figs. 21 and 22. In Fig. 21 a further coupling member 50 has been engaged with the disc of the first connector 10 on the same face of the disc as the other engaged coupling member 50, but in a diametrically opposite position, and a coupling member 40 has been engaged in the axial projection 12 of the first connector again at the same face of the disc. Two further connectors can now be incorporated in the assembly, as shown in Fig. 22. The procedures for connecting the two further connectors will be evident from the foregoing description. The assembly shown in Fig. 22 presents numerous further connection possibilities through the multiple unused connecting points at the exposed axial projections and disc peripheries.

Another form of element of the construction set is shown in Figs. 23 to 25, in particular a locking panel 60, which is designed to interact with the connectors 10 directly by way of the slots 25 in their discs 11 and indirectly by way of a peg 41 or 51 of the coupling member 40 or 50, respectively. The panel 60 comprises an oblong panel member 61 provided with a plurality of parallelly arranged spaced-apart tubular members 62, in this case three tubular members arranged in a line, connected with one another and with the panel member by a cruciform arrangement of ribs 63 disposed in planes parallel with the axes of the tubular members. The panel member 61 has a partly skeletal structure with the tubular members 62 and ribs 63 located in overlapping circular cut-outs in the panel member.

Each of the tubular members 62 of the panel 60 defines a coupling bore 64 having substantially the same diameter as the peg 41 of the coupling member 40 or peg 51 of the coupling member 50 and able to receive either peg in close fitting relationship. Each coupling bore 64 has on its wall an annular bead 65 similar to the bead 14a in the coupling bore 14 of a connector 10 and co-operable with the groove 42 of the coupling member 40 or the groove 51 of the coupling member 50 in the same manner to produce a detent coupling.

Each of the ribs 63 of the panel 60 has a thickness substantially corresponding with the width of each of the slots 25 in the discs 11 of the connectors 10 and is engageable in a selectable one of the slots for the purpose of assisting with interconnection and stabilising of an assembly of connectors, for which purpose typically a plurality of the ribs will be engaged in a corresponding plurality of the slots of different connectors. It is self-evident that the geometric disposition of the tubular members 62 and ribs 63 is correlated with the dispositions of the disc slots 25 and axial projections 12 of the connectors 10 both individually and in the achievable coaxial and orthogonal assemblies.

It should be noted that the locking panel can be scaled up in size, in particular with greater numbers of tubular members in various grid arrangements and correspondingly adapted numbers and dispositions of ribs.

Fig. 24 shows co-operation of the locking panel 60 with an assembly of four connectors 10, namely a first pair of coaxially arranged connectors joined together by an adapter 30 and/or coupling member 40 and a second pair of coaxially arranged connectors disposed on opposite sides of the first pair and orthogonally with respect thereto. A coupling member 40, which is additional to any coupling member 40 employed to couple together the connectors 10 of the first pair, is engaged by one of its pegs 41 and 44 in the coupling bore 21 of the post 13 of the exposed projection 21 of one of the connectors of the first pair and by the other one of its pegs 41 and 44 in the centre one of the three tubular members 62 of the panel 60. The pegs 41 and 44 of the coupling member 40 enter into a locked connection with the assembly of connectors 10 and the panel 60 by way of the interengaged beads and grooves of the pegs and coupling bores concerned. The ribs 63 directly connected with the centre one of the tubular members 62 are located at a spacing from the surfaces of the connector assembly and accordingly do not participate in the interconnection process. The ribs 63 outlying the two outer tubular members 62, in particular the outlying ribs forming part of the line of ribs in the length direction of the panel member 61, on the other hand engage in mutually aligned slots 25 of the discs 11 of the connectors of the second pair thereby to produce a rigid unit with increased resistance of the assembled connectors to, especially, bending and separating forces.

Fig. 25, by contrast, illustrates co-operation of the locking panel 60 with an assembly of three connectors 10, namely first and second connectors joined together by an adapter 30 and/or a coupling member 40 and a third connector 10 connected to the first and second connectors at one side and in orthogonal relationship. The panel 60 is arranged on a side of the first and second connectors opposite the third connector, in particular with the panel member 61 parallel to the disc of the third connector. In this instance and by way of example, an end one of the three linearly arranged tubular members 62 participates in the connection process by way of a coupling member 50. The coupling member 50 is arranged with its arcuate projections 54 engaged in the slideway 24 at the mutually facing sides of the discs 11 of the coaxially coupled first and second connectors 10 in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 22 and with its peg 51 received in the coupling bore 64 of the mentioned end one of the tubular members 62. The groove 52 of the peg 51 and the bead 65 of the bore 64 of that member 62 interengage to produce a locked connection. Two of the ribs 63 of the panel 60, in particular those connected with the mentioned end one of the tubular members 63 and extending in the length direction of the panel member 61, engage in the mutually aligned slots 25 of the discs 11 of the first and second connectors 10, thus producing, in the same way as described with reference to Fig. 24, a rigid unit with enhanced resistance to loads liable to disrupt the assembly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a wide range of co-operation of the elements in the set, even in its most basic form of simply a plurality of connectors, is possible and that only a small and arbitrary selection of possible assemblies has been illustrated and described. These assemblies are achievable with use of the integrated male and female bayonet coupling means, whereby the connectors can be connected together in both coaxial and orthogonal relationships by the bayonet coupling means and, in the case of the coaxial relationship, in conjunction with a simple adapter. The connector construction, with one or more axial projections at the disc, additionally provides a location for a coupling bore by which the range of coupling possibilities can be extended with the use of additional coupling members.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A construction set comprising a plurality of elements mutually co-operable to produce at least one assembly, wherein the elements comprise a plurality of connectors each comprising at least one disc provided on at least one side thereof with an axial projection, the free end of the projection being provided with at least one groove for receiving part of the disc of another connector and with male or female bayonet coupling means co-operable with, respectively, female or male bayonet coupling means of another element of the set to produce a releasable locked connection therewith.
2. A set according to claim, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc is male bayonet coupling means comprising at least one protruding locking member.
3. A set according to claim 2, wherein the at least one locking member protrudes into the at least one groove at the associated end of the axial projection.
4. A set according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the axial projection is provided with a plurality of grooves and the male bayonet coupling means comprises a respective locking member protruding into each of those grooves.
5. A set according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a pair of grooves extending parallel to one another.
6. A set according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a further pair of grooves extending perpendicularly to the grooves of the first-mentioned pair.
7. A set according to claim 6, wherein the grooves communicate with one another to form a well for seating another element of the set.
8. A set according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the male bayonet coupling means comprises a plurality of the locking members, the members being disposed at substantially equidistant spacings on a circular path concentric with the axis of the disc.
9. A set according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of locking members comprises at t C, least one pair of members extending in substantially mutually opposite directions.
10. A set according to claim 9, wherein the locking members of the or each pair are disposed substantially parallel to, but at least in part one on each side of, a diameter of the circular path.
11. A set according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the or each locking member has at one side thereof detent means for detenting with part of co-operating female bayonet coupling means to fix the member in position.
12. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc is male bayonet coupling means and the disc is provided with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of another one of the connectors to produce a locked connection therewith.
13. A set according to claim 12, wherein the female bayonet coupling means comprises at least one recess on either or each side of the disc for receiving at least a part of the male bayonet coupling means.
14. A set according to claim 13, wherein the at least one recess has an entry-and-exit portion extending substantially radially inwardly from the periphery of the disc and, at a spacing from the periphery, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the disc.
15. A set according to claim 14, wherein the locating portion of the at least one recess is formed by a segment of a channel in the disc on the at least one side thereof and the associated entry-and-exit portion by a radial passage in the disc between the circumference thereof and the radially outer wall of the channel.
16. A set according to claim 15, wherein the radially outer wall of the channel has in the locating portion of the at least one recess detent means for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means to retain that part in the locating portion.
17. A set according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the female bayonet coupling -s) means comprises at least one recess on each side of the disc and the disc has a respective channel on each side to provide the segment forming the locating portion of the at least one recess at that side and a common slot to provide the radial passages forming the entry-and-exit portions of both the at least one recess on one side and the at least one recess on the other side.
18. A set according to claim 17, wherein the slot has a zigzag cross-section whereby the radial passages are conjoined, but offset in the circumferential direction of the disc.
19. A set according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the female bayonet coupling means comprises a plurality of such recesses spaced around the periphery of the disc.
20. A set according to claim 19, wherein the recesses are substantially equidistantly spaced.
21. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial projection comprises a post and a sleeve surrounding the post at a radial spacing therefrom, the sleeve having the at least one groove and the post having the male or female bayonet coupling means.
22. A set according to claim 21, wherein the disc is provided with a respective such axial projection on each side thereof, the sleeves of the projections being formed integrally with the disc and the posts of the projections being formed by post members constructed separately from the sleeves and connected with one another and the disc within a passage through the disc.
23. A set according to claim 22, wherein the post members are of substantially identical construction.
24. A set according to claim 23, wherein each of the post members is connected with the respective other post member by integral snap-action clip connecting means.
25. A set according to claim 25, wherein the clip connecting means of each post member comprises a plurality of integral resilient clip arms extending from one end of the post member and a corresponding plurality of notches formed in the post member at an outer circumference thereof and intermediate the arms, the notches receiving the clip arms of the respective other post member by snap engagement.
26. A set as claimed in claim 25, wherein each of the arms of each post member has at the free end thereof a locking nose engageable in a re-entrant portion of the associated notch of the respective other post member to prevent axial separation of the post members.
27. A set according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the disc comprises a disc member provided with radially inwardly extending webs terminating at spacings to define the passage through the disc by their radially inward ends and the post members are connected with the disc member by way of an enlargement of each notch in each post member and an associated further notch contiguous therewith in the respective other post member, the webs engaging at their inner ends in the notch enlargements and further notches and being locked in position when the post members are connected together.
28. A set according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein each connector is supplied in the set in disassembled form.
29. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elements of the set further comprise at least one adapter for joining together a respective pair of the connectors with the discs thereof in substantially coaxial relationship.
30. A set according to claim 29, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc of each connector is male bayonet coupling means and the at least one adapter is provided on each of two opposite sides thereof with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair to produce a locked connection therewith.
31. A set according to claim 30, wherein the female bayonet coupling means on each side of the adapter comprises recesses for receiving parts of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair.
32. A set according to claim 31, wherein the adapter comprises an annular body and the recesses are arranged around the body in two coaxial circular tracks, the recesses in each track serving to receive parts of the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair.
33. A set according to claim 32, wherein the recesses in each of the tracks are substantially equidistantly spaced.
34. A set according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein each recess in each of the tracks is disposed at the inner circumference of the annular body and has an entry-and-exit portion extending from a respective end of that body and, at a spacing from that end, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the body.
35. A set according to claim 34, wherein the locating portions of the recesses in each of the tracks extend from the associated entry-and-exit portions generally around the annular member in a direction opposite to the locating portions of the recesses in the respective other one of the tracks.
36. A set according to claim 34 or claim 35, wherein a wall of the locating portion of each recess in each of the tracks has detent means for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair to retain that part in the locating portion.
37. A set according to any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the annular body comprises a drum provided at the ends thereof with annular flanges of substantially equal diameter, the entry-and-exit portions of the recesses in the two tracks being formed in the drum and the flanges and the locating portions solely in the drum.
38. A set according to claim 37, wherein the flanges are formed by annular members constructed separately from the drum and connected therewith by snap-action connecting means.
39. A set according to claim 38, wherein the annular members are of substantially identical construction.
40. A set according to claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the snap-action connecting means is provided by two sets of oppositely directed resilient arms of the drum engaged by snap action in rebates formed in the annular members at the inner circumferences thereof.
41. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial projection on the at least one side of the at least one disc of each connector has an axial coupling bore and the elements of the set further comprise at least one coupling member having a first coupling part for coupling with any one of the connectors by insertion in the coupling bore thereof and a second coupling part for coupling with another element of the set.
42. A set according to claim 41, wherein the wall of the coupling bore has an annular bead and the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a peg insertable into the bore and provided on its circumference with an annular groove receiving the bead to secure the peg in the bore against axial displacement, but to permit rotation, relative to the axial projection.
43. A set according to claim 42, wherein the wall of the coupling bore has an annular groove and the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a peg insertable into the bore and provided on its circumference with an annular bead receivable in the groove to secure the peg in the bore against axial displacement, but to permit rotation, relative to the axial projection.
44. A set according to claim 42 or claim 43, wherein the peg is formed by a tube of resilient material slotted to allow resilient contraction on insertion of the peg into the coupling bore thereby to facilitate reception of the bead in the groove.
45. A set according to any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member is substantially the same as the first coupling part, but with an opposite orientation, and can be coupled with another element of the set.
46. A set according to claim 45, wherein the at least one coupling member is provided between the first and second coupling parts with an annular abutment for contact with annular abutment surfaces of elements coupled by the coupling member.
47. A set according to clam 45 or claim 46 when appended to any one of claims 29 toI38, wherein the at least one adapter has a central passage able to accommodate the at least one coupling member so as to allow insertion of the pegs of the first and second coupling parts of the at least one coupling member into coupling bores of a pair of connectors joined by the adapter.
48. A set according to any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the at least one disc of each connector is provided with a channel-shaped slideway extending around the axial projection and the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises an arcuate projection slidably engageable in the channel.
49. A set according to claim 48, wherein the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a further arcuate projection extending in a direction opposite to that of the first-mentioned arcuate projection and slidably engageable in the slideway of another connector.
50. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elements of the set further comprise at least one connecting panel connectible with at least one of the connectors.
51. A set according to claim 50, wherein the disc has at least one slot at its periphery and the at least one panel has a rib engageable in the at least one slot.
52. A set according to claim 51, wherein the panel has a plurality of ribs engageable in the slots of the discs of a plurality of connectors.
53. A set according to claim 52, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise first ribs extending in a first direction and second ribs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
54. A set according to any one of claims 51 to 53, wherein the disc has a plurality of slots around its periphery, the or each rib being engageable in any one of the slots.
55. A set according to any one of claims 50 to 54 when appended to any one of claims 42 to 49, wherein the panel has at least one coupling bore for receiving the peg or one of the pegs of the at least one coupling member, the wall of the coupling bore of the panel having an annular groove for receiving the bead, or an annular bead for engaging in the groove, of the peg.
56. A set according to claim 55, wherein the panel has a plurality of such coupling bores in spaced-apart arrangement for receiving the pegs of a plurality of such coupling members.
57. A set according to claim 55 when appended to claim 52 or claim 53, wherein the coupling bores are defined by tubular members interconnected by the ribs.* Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:- 1. A construction set comprising a plurality of elements mutually co-operable to produce at least one assembly, wherein the elements comprise a plurality of connectors each comprising at least one disc provided on at least one side thereof with an axial projection, the free end of the projection being provided with at least one groove for receiving part of the disc of another connector and with male or female bayonet coupling means co-operable with, respectively, female or male bayonet coupling means of another element of the set to produce a releasable locked connection therewith.2. A set according to claim 1, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc is male bayonet coupling means comprising at least one protruding locking member.3. A set according to claim 2, wherein the at least one locking member protrudes into the at least one groove at the associated end of the axial projection.4. A set according to claim 3, wherein the free end of the axial projection is provided with a plurality of grooves and the male bayonet coupling means comprises a respective locking member protruding into each of those grooves.5. A set according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a pair of grooves extending parallel to one another.6. A set according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of grooves comprises a further pair of grooves extending perpendicularly to the grooves of the first-mentioned pair.7. A set according to claim 6, wherein the grooves communicate with one another to form a well for seating another element of the set.tee tea 8. A set according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the male bayonet coupling means comprises a plurality of the locking members, the members being disposed at substantially equidistant spacings on a circular path concentric with the axis of the disc. I.e.9. A set according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of locking members comprises at *1 es * S CC C t C,least one pair of members extending in substantially mutually opposite directions.10. A set according to claim 9, wherein the locking members of the or each pair are disposed substantially parallel to, but at least in part one on each side of, a diameter of the circular path.11. A set according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the or each locking member has at one side thereof detent means for detenting with part of co-operating female bayonet coupling means to fix the member in position.12. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc is male bayonet coupling means and the disc is provided with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of another one of the connectors to produce a locked connection therewith.13. A set according to claim 12, wherein the female bayonet coupling means comprises at least one recess on either or each side of the disc for receiving at least a part of the male bayonet coupling means.14. A set according to claim 13, wherein the at least one recess has an entry-and-exit portion extending substantially radially inwardly from the periphery of the disc and, at a spacing from the periphery, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the disc.15. A set according to claim 14, wherein the locating portion of the at least one recess is formed by a segment of a channel in the disc on the at least one side thereof and the associated entry-and-exit portion by a radial passage in the disc between the circumference thereof and the radially outer wall of the channel.16. A set according to claim 15, wherein the radially outer wall of the channel has in the locating portion of the at least one recess detent means for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means to retain that part in the locating portion.17. A set according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the female bayonet couplingSmeans comprises at least one recess on each side of the disc and the disc has a respective channel on each side to provide the segment forming the locating portion of the at least one recess at that side and a common slot to provide the radial passages forming the entry-and-exit portions of both the at least one recess on one side and the at least one recess on the other side.18. A set according to claim 17, wherein the slot has a zigzag cross-section whereby the radial passages are conjoined, but offset in the circumferential direction of the disc.19. A set according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the female bayonet coupling means comprises a plurality of such recesses spaced around the periphery of the disc.20. A set according to claim 19, wherein the recesses are substantially equidistantly spaced.21. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial projection comprises a post and a sleeve surrounding the post at a radial spacing therefrom, the sleeve having the at least one groove and the post having the male or female bayonet coupling means.22. A set according to claim 21, wherein the disc is provided with a respective such axial projection on each side thereof, the sleeves of the projections being formed integrally with the disc and the posts of the projections being formed by post members constructed separately from the sleeves and connected with one another and the disc within a passage through the disc.23. A set according to claim 22, wherein the post members are of substantially identical construction. *6 * * 14 * 4.24. A set according to claim 23, wherein each of the post members is connected with the respective other post member by integral snap-action clip connecting means. **.*..* * b 25. A set according to claim 24, wherein the clip connecting means of each post member comprises a plurality of integral resilient clip arms extending from one end of the post member and a corresponding plurality of notches formed in the post member at an * * }.outer circumference thereof and intermediate the arms, the notches receiving the clip arms of the respective other post member by snap engagement.26. A set as claimed in claim 25, wherein each of the arms of each post member has at the free end thereof a locking nose engageable in a re-entrant portion of the associated notch of the respective other post member to prevent axial separation of the post members.27. A set according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the disc comprises a disc member provided with radially inwardly extending webs terminating at spacings to define the passage through the disc by their radially inward ends and the post members are connected with the disc member by way of an enlargement of each notch in each post member and an associated further notch contiguous therewith in the respective other post member, the webs engaging at their inner ends in the notch enlargements and further notches and being locked in position when the post members are connected together.28. A set according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein each connector is supplied in the set in disassembled form.29. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elements of the set further comprise at least one adapter for joining together a respective pair of the connectors with the discs thereof in substantially coaxial relationship.30. A set according to claim 29, wherein the bayonet coupling means at the free end of the axial projection on the at least one side of the disc of each connector is male bayonet coupling means and the at least one adapter is provided on each of two opposite sides thereof with female bayonet coupling means co-operable with the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair to produce a locked connection therewith.31. A set according to claim 30, wherein the female bayonet coupling means on each side of the adapter comprises recesses for receiving parts of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair.32. A set according to claim 31, wherein the adapter comprises an annular body and the recesses are arranged around the body in two coaxial circular tracks, the recesses in each track serving to receive parts of the male bayonet coupling means of a respective one of the connectors of the pair.33. A set according to claim 32, wherein the recesses in each of the tracks are substantially equidistantly spaced.34. A set according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein each recess in each of the tracks is disposed at the inner circumference of the annular body and has an entry-and-exit portion extending from a respective end of that body and, at a spacing from that end, a locating portion communicating with the entry-and-exit portion and extending in a direction generally around the body.35. A set according to claim 34, wherein the locating portions of the recesses in each of the tracks extend from the associated entry-and-exit portions generally around the annular member in a direction opposite to the locating portions of the recesses in the respective other one of the tracks.36. A set according to claim 34 or claim 35, wherein a wall of the locating portion of each recess in each of the tracks has detent means for detenting interaction with a received part of the male bayonet coupling means of the respective one of the connectors of the pair to retain that part in the locating portion.37. A set according to any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the annular body comprises a drum provided at the ends thereof with annular flanges of substantially equal diameter, the entry-and-exit portions of the recesses in the two tracks being formed in the drum and the flanges and the locating portions solely in the drum.38. A set according to claim 37, wherein the flanges are formed by annular members constructed separately from the drum and connected therewith by snap-action connecting means.39. A set according to claim 38, wherein the annular members are of substantially identical construction.40. A set according to claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the snap-action connecting means is provided by two sets of oppositely directed resilient arms of the drum engaged by snap action in rebates formed in the annular members at the inner circumferences thereof.41. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the axial projection on the at least one side of the at least one disc of each connector has an axial coupling bore and the elements of the set further comprise at least one coupling member having a first coupling part for coupling with any one of the connectors by insertion in the coupling bore thereof and a second coupling part for coupling with another element of the set.42. A set according to claim 41, wherein the wall of the coupling bore has an annular bead and the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a peg insertable into the bore and provided on its circumference with an annular groove receiving the bead to secure the peg in the bore against axial displacement, but to permit rotation, relative to the axial projection.43. A set according to claim 42, wherein the wall of the coupling bore has an annular groove and the first coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a peg insertable into the bore and provided on its circumference with an annular bead receivable in the groove to secure the peg in the bore against axial displacement, but to permit rotation, relative to the axial projection.44. A set according to claim 42 or claim 43, wherein the peg is formed by a tube of resilient material slotted to allow resilient contraction on insertion of the peg into the coupling bore thereby to facilitate reception of the bead in the groove.45. A set according to any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member is substantially the same as the first coupling part, but with an opposite orientation, and can be coupled with another element of the set.46. A set according to claim 45, wherein the at least one coupling member is provided between the first and second coupling parts with an annular abutment for contact with annular abutment surfaces of elements coupled by the coupling member.47. A set according to clam 45 or claim 46 when appended to any one of claims 29 toI38, wherein the at least one adapter has a central passage able to accommodate the at least one coupling member so as to allow insertion of the pegs of the first and second coupling parts of the at least one coupling member into coupling bores of a pair of connectors joined by the adapter.48. A set according to any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the at least one disc of each connector is provided with a channel-shaped slideway extending around the axial projection and the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises an arcuate projection slidably engageable in the channel.49. A set according to claim 48, wherein the second coupling part of the at least one coupling member comprises a further arcuate projection extending in a direction opposite to that of the first-mentioned arcuate projection and slidably engageable in the slideway of another connector.50. A set according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elements of the set further comprise at least one connecting panel connectible with at least one of the connectors.51. A set according to claim 50, wherein the disc has at least one slot at its periphery and the at least one panel has a rib engageable in the at least one slot.52. A set according to claim 51, wherein the panel has a plurality of ribs engageable in the slots of the discs of a plurality of connectors.53. A set according to claim 52, wherein the plurality of ribs comprise first ribs extending in a first direction and second ribs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.54. A set according to any one of claims 51 to 53, wherein the disc has a plurality of slots around its periphery, the or each rib being engageable in any one of the slots.55. A set according to any one of claims 50 to 54 when appended to any one of claims 42 to 49, wherein the panel has at least one coupling bore for receiving the peg or one of the pegs of the at least one coupling member, the wall of the coupling bore of the panel having an annular groove for receiving the bead, or an annular bead for engaging in the groove, of the peg.56. A set according to claim 55, wherein the panel has a plurality of such coupling bores in spaced-apart arrangement for receiving the pegs of a plurality of such coupling members.57. A set according to claim 55 when appended to claim 52 or claim 53, wherein the coupling bores are defined by tubular members interconnected by the ribs.