Patent ID: 6280282
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: A63H,Y10S

Abstract:
In a toy building set of the type which includes a plurality of building members each including at least one coupling mechanism for coupling with similar coupling mechanisms in other building members, the improvement comprising a coupling mechanism including:a proximal portion; anda distal portion connected to the proximal portion, the distal portion including at least one flexible locking element configured to be releasably locked with a plurality of similar flexible locking elements in the distal portions of other similar coupling mechanisms when the distal portion of the coupling mechanism is pushed toward the proximal portions of the other coupling mechanisms to deform the flexible locking elements from an undeformed state to a deformed state to produce locking forces in a locked position, the coupling mechanism being detachable from the other coupling mechanisms by applying a sufficient force pulling the coupling mechanism apart from the other coupling mechanisms to deform the flexible locking elements to overcome the locking forces produced by the flexible locking elements in the deformed state and return the flexible locking elements to the undeformed state in the unlocked position,wherein the distal portion includes a longitudinal trunk oriented in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the proximal portion includes a resilient member resiliently biasing the longitudinal trunk in the longitudinal direction, the resilient member being deformable to permit movement of the longitudinal trunk generally along the longitudinal direction between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position.