Patent ID: 7267598
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A multi-part construction toy set accommodating the building of hybrid structures including rod and connector type substructures joined with block type substructures and which includes (a) a plurality of connector elements formed of plastic material and comprising a hub-like section and a plurality of socket-forming sections extending radially from said hub-like section, (b) said socket-forming sections each comprising a pair of spaced-apart gripping arms symmetrically arranged with respect to a socket axis extending from and perpendicular to a hub axis extending through said hub-like section, (c) said gripping arms having opposed surfaces for gripping a rod element in alignment with the socket axis and having abutment surfaces restricting axial movement of a rod element engaged by said gripping arms, (d) a plurality of rod elements each having rod end portions comprised of an end flange and a neck portion adjacent to said end flange and of smaller diameter than said end flange, and said rod end portions being receivable by lateral snap-fit insertion into said socket-forming sections to enable multi-part rod and connector assemblies to be constructed, (e) said plurality of connector elements each being formed with said socket-forming sections positioned a predetermined distance “D” from the hub axes thereof which said distance “D” is common to each connector element, (f) said rod elements being provided in a progression of“n” rods L (g) a plurality of building block elements formed of plastic material and of rectangular configuration and each having a generally flat, rectangular top wall and generally flat, rectangular side and end walls joined with edges of said top wall and defining a generally open bottom, (h) a plurality of pairs of generally cylindrical studs projecting upward from said top wall, said studs being uniformly spaced laterally and longitudinally of said top wall and positioned to have frictional internal engagement within the open bottom of a similar block positioned above to enable multi-block assemblies to be constructed, characterized by (i) said building block elements including one or more adapter blocks to enable fixed position interconnection between block assemblies and rod and connector assemblies, (j) said adapter blocks being of generally rectangular configuration and including a plurality of pairs of studs having uniform spacing laterally and longitudinally, closely corresponding to the spacing of studs of other building block elements, (k) said adapter blocks being of a shape and of external dimensions corresponding to said building block elements and each being formed with one or more vertically oriented adapter sockets uniformly spaced from adjacent pairs of studs projecting upward from said top wall, (l) said adapter sockets including tubular sleeves open at said top wall and extending downwardly therefrom, (m) said construction toy set including one or more adapter rods each including a stem portion receivable within and closely confined in fixed position by said tubular sleeves for rigidly supporting said adapter rods in said adapter blocks, (n) said adapter rods each including a rod end portion, adjacent to said stem portion, arranged to project vertically upward from said adapter block, (o) said adapter rod end portions corresponding in size and shape to rod end portions of said rod elements and adapted for lateral snap-in engagement with one of said connector elements to join said one of said connector elements interlockingly to said adapter block, (p) the transverse spacing between adapter sockets of an adapter block, and between adapter sockets of a plurality of adapter blocks positioned in laterally and/or longitudinally adjacent contact, being a combined function of two times the predetermined distance “D” and the lengths L (q) at least certain of said rod elements being of a length to extend a distance from one adapter block to a second adapter block positioned adjacent to or spaced from said one adapter block.