Patent ID: 7666054
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. An offset matrix system for the structural integration of a rod and connector construction toy set with a brick-type construction set, where (a) the rod and connector set includes a plurality of shapes and sizes of connectors, each having a hub and a plurality of rod-engaging sockets disposed radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hub, with said sockets having base walls spaced a uniform distance “D” from the hub axis, and with the rods being provided in a progression of lengths L (b) said brick-type construction set includes one or more brick-type construction elements forming a matrix of upwardly projecting studs spaced apart on a consistent basis longitudinally and transversely at a center-to-center spacing “C” of approximately 0.315 inch, (c) said brick-type construction elements being formed with a plurality of vertically oriented adapter sockets positioned centrally between sets of four studs, such that all of the adapter sockets are spaced longitudinally and laterally from each other at a distance of approximately C*S center to center, where S is a positive integer greater than zero, (d) a plurality of said adapter sockets being spaced apart a distance no greater than 2*C from the nearest adjacent adapter socket, which comprises (e) a plurality of matrix adapter elements engageable with said adapter sockets, (f) each matrix adapter element being a unitary molding of plastic material and comprising a pair of spaced-apart, vertically oriented mounting stems having free end portions shaped and sized for a close fit axially into a pair of adapter sockets, and a horizontally oriented offset rod integrally joined with upper ends of said mounting stems, (g) said free end portions of said mounting stems having vertical axes spaced apart a distance of C*S (h) said offset rod being of a length according to the before mentioned progression L (i) said mounting stems being integrally joined in upper portions thereof with intermediate portions of said offset rod, such that end portions of said offset rod extend beyond said mounting stems on both sides sufficiently to enable connections with a connector element at each end, (j) said offset rod having a rod axis and said rod axis being offset laterally from the axes of said free end portions by a distance “O” which is less than the spacing distance C, whereby in an assembly of rod and connector elements and brick-type construction elements, an opposed pair of said matrix adapters are inserted in spaced-apart pairs of adapter sockets, with the offset orientation of each matrix adapter of an opposed pair thereof being a mirror image of the opposing matrix adapter, such that the offset rods of both matrix adapters are positioned in parallel relation and alternatively will be spaced closer together than the free end portions of the opposed pairs of mounting stems or farther apart than the opposed pairs of mounting stems by a distance equal to 2*O, such that the respective rod ends of the offset rods are spaced apart a distance closely approximating a distance 2D+L