Patent ID: 9056260
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A toy construction system comprising: a block component including a foam material defining a block peripheral edge, and at least two substantially similar connector components including a thermoplastic elastomeric resin; said connector components having each a connector-to-block coupling section for releasable coupling to said block component and a connector-to-connector coupling section for releasable coupling to another one of said connector components; said connector-to-block coupling section defining a connector block contacting surface for contacting said block component; said block component having a first block coupling aperture extending at least partially therethrough and intersecting said block peripheral edge, said first block coupling aperture having a substantially constant transversal cross-sectional configuration therealong, said first block coupling aperture having a first coupling aperture peripheral edge; said first coupling aperture peripheral edge defining a first peripheral edge retaining section made out of a substantially resiliently compressible material, said first peripheral edge retaining section being configured, sized and positioned so that when any one of said connector components and said block component are in a first component assembled configuration relative to each other, said connector block contacting surface substantially compresses at least a portion of said first peripheral edge retaining section to a retaining configuration for positively retaining the latter; and when said connector block contacting surface is spaced from said at least a portion of said first peripheral edge retaining section, the latter resiliently springs back to a first non-retaining configuration; said block component configured for releasable coupling only with said connector-to-block coupling section of said connector components, said block component configured for releasable coupling ultimately with another block component only with both said connector-to-block coupling section and said connector-to-connector coupling section of said connector components; said block component having a second block coupling aperture spaced apart from said block peripheral edge, said second block coupling aperture being of substantially constant transversal cross-sectional configuration therealong, said second block coupling aperture having a second coupling aperture peripheral edge; said second coupling aperture peripheral edge defining a second peripheral edge retaining section made out of said substantially resiliently compressible material, said second peripheral edge retaining section being configured, sized and positioned so that when any one of said connector components and said block component are in a second component assembled configuration relative to each other, said connector block contacting surface is surrounded by said second peripheral edge retaining section and said connector block contacting surface substantially compresses said second peripheral edge retaining section by moving radially outwardly said second peripheral edge retaining section all around said connector block contacting surface to a second edge retaining section all around said connector block contacting surface to a second retaining configuration for positively retaining the latter; and when said connector block contacting surface is spaced from said at least a portion of said second peripheral edge retaining section, the latter resiliently springs back to a second non-retaining configuration.