Patent ID: 6089941
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
A panel system in combination with a construction toy set, where the construction toy set comprises a plurality of connector elements, each formed of a resilient structural plastic material and comprising a plurality of radially disposed open-sided sockets, each said socket comprising a spaced-apart pair of gripping arms arranged symmetrically with respect to a radially extending axis, outer portions of said gripping arms being formed with axially extending opposed grooves arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis, portions of said gripping arms inward of and adjacent to said axially extending grooves being formed with opposed ribs disposed transversely of said axis and projecting into the space between said gripping arms, said construction toy set further comprising a plurality of rod elements of predetermined lengths provided at opposite ends thereof with integral rod tip sections comprising generally cylindrical portions sized and shaped for lateral snap-fit assembly between grooved portions of an opposed pair of gripping arms of a connector element, said rod tip sections further having, closely adjacent an end extremity thereof, an annular groove defining an end flange sized and shaped for lateral reception between opposed ribs of a pair of gripping arms to lock said rods against movement relative to said gripping arms in the direction of said axis, and said panel system comprises(a) a panel member formed of a one-piece molding of structural plastic material, said panel member including:(i) a thin, flat plate-like central portion defining a panel plane and bounded by at least three side edges, which side edges define panel corner regions,(ii) integral rod tip elements at each corner region projecting outward from said corner regions and having axes lying substantially in said panel plane,(iii) each said rod tip element having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of said rod tip sections and being sized and shaped for lateral snap-fit assembly between an opposed pair of gripping arms of a connector element,(b) first and second ones of said connector elements being attached to first and second ones of said rod tip elements of said panel member, respectively, and(c) one of said rod elements being connected between both said first and second connector elements.