Construction element

A construction element, preferably a constructional toy, including a tubular body portion and, formed integrally with each of the opposite ends thereof, a pair of gripping jaws, each pair constituting a coupling portion. The constituent jaws of each pair are oppositely disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body portion and are separated by oppositely disposed peripheral coupling device. The tubular body portion is formed with longitudinally directed, angularly spaced-apart, first coupling device. Each pair of the gripping jaws of the construction element can embrace a body portion of a second construction element, with the jaws not extending beyond a median plane of the body portion of the second construction element, and with inner surfaces of the pair of jaws conforming to the outer surface of said body portion. The jaws are formed with second coupling device which can snap-fittingly mate with the first coupling device so as releasably to couple the first and the second construction elements together in a mutually orthogonal position. One pair of jaws of the first construction element being receivable within respective interstices of a pair of jaws of an aligned second construction element with the peripheral and second coupling device which can adapted snap-fittingly mate so as releasably to couple the two aligned elements together. Various complementary construction elements are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to constructional elements, and more 
particularly to a structural unit for use in the building of structures 
(both in the field of erecting buildings and in the field of toys), and to 
a set of constructional elements including such a unit. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A variety of construction elements is known, which are comprised of 
combinations of connector elements and structural elements which can be 
combined in various configurations to form composite structures. 
There are also known many various construction units wherein the same 
constructional element can serve as both the connector and the structural 
element. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,590 describes a construction element comprising a 
cylindrical body which has resiliently openable jaws at least at one end 
thereof. In a construction assembly the jaws are locatable between similar 
jaws of a further construction element in such a manner that the jaws of 
the respective elements lie in mutually transverse planes, and that the 
jaws of each element resiliently engage retention means provided on the 
other element. The jaws of each element may also be adapted to grip the 
cylindrical body of the other element or of a cylindrical part of another 
construction toy. 
It should be noted, however, that one cannot build a cross-like structure 
(which is usually needed for various constructions) using the basic 
construction element as disclosed and illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. 
4,548,590. The reason for such a limitation is the shape of the body and 
the corresponding shape of the jaws. In order to grip safely the 
cylindrical body of a first construction element, a pair of the jaws 
belonging to a second construction element should embrace the body of the 
first construction element more than by half of its circumference. It is 
understood that such an arrangement prevents the jaws of a third 
construction element from being attached to the first construction element 
in front of the jaws of the second element and, consequently, the second 
and the third construction elements cannot be aligned. On the other hand, 
should the jaws of such a construction element be made shorter, they would 
become unsuitable for gripping the smooth cylindrical body of another 
element. As a result of this contradiction, for building a cross-like 
structure the set of elements described in the U.S. patent is provided 
with an additional construction element shown in FIG. 10 which constitutes 
a ready-made cross-like connection. 
Another disadvantage of the assembly of the above U.S. Patent is that there 
is no possibility to connect coaxially a pair of the construction elements 
in such a manner so that one of the elements will be rotatable about the 
common axis, and at the same time will be reliably secured to the other 
element. It may also be added that the elements under discussion are not 
designed for providing tight fitting reliable connections therebetween, 
and therefore the assembly is intended rather for the use as a kit of 
constructional toys, but not as elements for the building purpose. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a construction 
element intended for constructing various structures with tightly fit 
connections; said element being free from the above mentioned 
disadvantages. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a set of construction 
elements including the above-mentioned construction element, serving as a 
basic one, and at least one type of a complementary element adapted to be 
used in conjunction therewith. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The above object is achieved by the present invention which provides a 
construction element comprising a tubular body portion and, formed 
integrally with each of the opposite ends thereof, a pair of gripping 
jaws, each pair constituting a coupling portion; the constituent jaws of 
each pair being oppositely disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of 
said body portion and being separated by oppositely disposed peripheral 
coupling means; said tubular body portion being formed with longitudinally 
directed, angularly spaced-apart, first coupling means; each pair of the 
gripping jaws being adapted to embrace a body portion of a second 
construction element with said jaws not extending beyond a median plane of 
the body portion of said second construction element, and with inner 
surfaces of said pair of jaws conforming to the outer surface of said body 
portion and being formed with second coupling means adapted snap-fittingly 
to mate with said first coupling means so as releasably to couple said 
construction elements together in a mutually orthogonal position; one pair 
of jaws of a construction element being receivable within respective 
interstices of a pair of jaws of an aligned construction element with said 
peripheral and second coupling means adapted snap-fittingly to mate so as 
releasably to couple said aligned elements together. Such a construction 
will be further called a basic construction element. 
According to one preferred embodiment of the basic construction element 
said first coupling means and said peripheral coupling means are shaped as 
ribs, said second coupling means being manufactured in the form of slots; 
said ribs and said slots corresponding to each other as mutually 
engageable male and female components; moreover, said first, second and 
peripheral coupling means being positioned in mutually orthogonal 
directions to each other. 
According to an alternative embodiment of the basic construction element, 
said first coupling means and said peripheral coupling means are shaped as 
slots, said second coupling means being manufactured in the form of ribs; 
said slots and said ribs corresponding to each other as mutually 
engageable male and female components. In this embodiment said first, 
second and peripheral coupling means are also positioned in mutually 
orthogonal directions to each other. 
The basic construction element may have said tubular body portion of a 
substantially cylindrical shape. 
Alternatively, the basic construction element may have the tubular body 
portion constituting a right prism having a cross-section in the form of a 
regular polygon with at least four sides; said first coupling means being 
positioned along longitudinal edges of said prism. 
The basic construction element may have the two pairs of gripping jaws 
arranged symmetrically as follows: the four gripping jaws, forming said 
coupling portions at the opposite ends of said tubular body portion, lie 
in two parallel planes. 
According to an alternative embodiment the four gripping jaws of the basic 
construction element may lie in four planes being pairwise mutually 
transverse. 
According to the most preferred embodiment of the basic construction 
element, its tubular body portion has a cylindrical shape and is provided 
with first coupling means in the form of eight ribs equally spaced from 
each other; each of the gripping jaws has on its inner surface one second 
engaging member in the form of a groove shaped correspondingly to said 
ribs; the inner surface of said gripping jaw being adapted to embrace 
substantially a quarter of the outer perimeter of said tubular body 
portion; said peripheral coupling means being manufactured in the form of 
ribs similar to said first coupling means. In this embodiment each of said 
pair of jaws is mounted on a flange perpendicularly extending from one of 
the opposite ends of the tubular body portion; said flange constituting an 
integral part of the construction element and having a pair of cut-outs 
positioned each in front of the peripheral coupling means. The flange is 
intended to serve as a stopper preventing both mutual rotation of the 
aligned construction elements when coupled together, and disconnection of 
the orthogonally connected construction elements due to slippage of one of 
the elements along the body portion of the other. 
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a set of 
construction elements (for example, a set of construction toys) comprising 
a plurality of the above-described basic construction elements. 
An extended set may include the basic construction element, and at least 
one type of a complementary element adapted to be used in conjunction 
therewith. 
According to one embodiment of the complementary construction element, it 
comprises a tubular body portion having at one of its ends a pair of 
integrally formed gripping jaws constituting a coupling portion; the 
gripping jaws being oppositely disposed with respect to a longitudinal 
axis of said body portion and being separated by oppositely disposed 
peripheral coupling means; said pair of gripping jaws being adapted to 
embrace a body portion of a second construction element with said jaws not 
extending beyond a median plane of the body portion of said second 
construction element, and with inner surfaces of said pair of jaws 
conforming to the outer surface of said body portion and being formed with 
second coupling means adapted snap-fittingly to mate with said first 
coupling means of the second construction element so as releasably to 
couple said construction elements together in a mutually orthogonal 
position; said pair of jaws of said complementary construction element 
being receivable within respective interstices of a pair of jaws of an 
aligned second construction element with said peripheral and second 
coupling means adapted snap-fittingly to mate so as releasably to couple 
said two aligned elements together. 
It should be mentioned that, the tubular body portion of the 
above-described complementary element may have a smooth outer surface, 
contrary to that of the basic construction element, where first coupling 
means are present. 
One of the modifications of the above-described complementary construction 
element is a connector, comprising the tubular body portion provided at 
each of its opposite ends with a pair of said gripping jaws; the length of 
the tubular body of the connector being chosen to be such as to allow the 
coupling of a pair of the basic construction elements placed parallelly 
(or perpendicularly) to each other as close as possible. It is understood 
that, due to rather short length of the tubular body portion, the first 
coupling means are needless in this embodiment, and therefore they may be 
absent. The connector, like the basic construction element, may be 
symmetric or asymmetric, i.e. its four gripping jaws may be manufactured 
so as to lie in two parallel plates, or in four planes being pairwise 
mutually transverse. 
Consequently, the connector may be used for securing a pair of the basic 
construction elements in three configurations: coaxially to each other, so 
that the first element forms continuation of the second; parallelly and in 
close proximity to each other; orthogonally and in close proximity to each 
other, thus creating a cross-like configuration not lying in one plane. 
However, the preferred function of the connector is to provide proximate 
connections between either parallelly or orthogonally placed basic 
construction elements; in such combinations the tubular body of the 
connector is placed perpendicularly to the tubular bodies of the basic 
construction element. 
It should be noted, that a great variety of other complementary 
construction elements may be designed for use in conjunction with the 
basic construction element. Since the main condition, which is to be 
complied with in each one of the complementary elements, is to be somehow 
engageable with or mating to the basic construction element(s), every one 
of the complementary construction elements comprises at least one portion 
which is engageable or mating either to the ribbed tubular body of the 
basic construction element, or to the pair of jaws thereof. 
For example, a complementary construction element is provided, comprising 
at least one cylindrical ending having on its side surface at least one 
annularly engaging member adapted snap-fittingly to mate with said second 
coupling means of the jaws of the basic element; said cylindrical ending 
being adapted to be inserted and rotatably gripped between the pair of 
jaws of the aligned basic element by interconnection between said 
annularly engaging member and the second coupling means. 
A further complementary construction element comprises a cylindrical body 
portion having such a length and a diameter as to enable the pair of jaws 
of said basic construction element to rotatably accommodate a half of the 
outer circumference of said cylindrical body portion, when said basic 
element and the cylindrical body of said complementary construction 
element are placed in a mutually orthogonal position. 
Yet another complementary construction element comprises at least one pair 
of gripping jaws shaped identically to that of said basic construction 
element, and being provided with said second and said peripheral coupling 
means, For example, the pair of gripping jaws may be interconnected 
(directly or via an intermediate member) with a plate which is adapted to 
serve as a base plate. 
Still further complementary construction element comprises a tubular body 
portion shaped identically to that of said basic construction element and 
having said first coupling means. 
A number of specific complementary elements will be described in the 
detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of a basic 
construction element 10 which may be manufactured from a plastic material. 
The element 10 comprises an tubular body portion 12 provided at each of 
its ends with a pair of diametrically opposite, axially extending gripping 
jaws 14 mounted on a flange 15. On the side surface of the tubular body 12 
there are situated eight longitudinal first coupling means 16 shaped as 
ribs, which are equally spaced one from another. The inner surface of the 
tubular body 12 is cylindrical. Each of the jaws 14 has at its inner 
surface 17 one groove 18 serving as a second coupling means; the direction 
of the grooves 18 being orthogonal to the direction of the ribs 16 of the 
tubular body. The inner surfaces 17 of each pair of the jaws 14 conform to 
the outer surface of the tubular body portion 12, in particular, the 
grooves 18 mate snap-fittingly with ribs 16 so as releasably to couple two 
mutually orthogonal basic construction elements in the manner which is 
illustrated in FIG. 3A. 
At each end portion of the tubular body 12 on its side surface there is 
further provided a pair of peripheral coupling means 20, generally shaped 
as ribs having the same profile as those marked 16. The ribs 20 are placed 
in such a manner as to separate the gripping jaws 14, and situated in the 
direction orthogonal both to the direction of the ribs 16 and to the 
direction of the slots 18. It is understood that, by means of the ribs 20 
and the slots 18 two aligned basic construction elements 10 may be 
releasably interconnected by inserting the jaws of one element between the 
jaws of the following one, and snap-fittingly clamping each of the grooves 
18 of the coupling four jaws on the corresponding rib 20 (see FIG. 3C). 
As has been mentioned above, each pair of the jaws 14 is integrally mounted 
on the flange 15 situated at the edge of the tubular body 12 and 
perpendicularly extending therefrom. Each of the flanges 15 has a pair of 
cut-outs which are positioned in front of the ribs 20. The flanges 15 
serve as stoppers both for the vertical (FIG. 3A) and the coaxial type of 
connection (FIG. 3C) between the basic construction elements. 
It should be added, that in an alternative embodiment the first coupling 
means may be shaped as grooves or slots, and the second coupling means--as 
ribs. 
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the cross-like vertical connection between the 
three basic construction elements 10, 10A and 10B. The pair of gripping 
jaws of each of the construction elements have such dimensions and shape, 
as to half-embrace and clampingly grip by their inner surface the tubular 
body of another vertically placed construction element (see FIG. 3B 
showing a cross-sectional view taken along line B--B in FIG. 3A). A pair 
of these construction elements (say, the elements 10A and 10) are 
vertically secured to each other by interconnection between the pair of 
the grooves 18A of the jaws belonging to the construction element 10A, and 
a pair of the ribs 16 belonging to the construction element 10. 
As one can see in the drawings 3A and 3B, two construction elements 10A and 
10B may be easily connected to the element 10 vertically and in front of 
each other due to the described shape and dimensions of their jaws, thus 
forming a cross-like structure. The flange 15 prevents the element 10A (as 
well as the element 10B) from disconnecting from the element 10, if the 
former is slid along the latter. 
FIG. 3C illustrates a side view of the coaxial type of connection between a 
pair of the basic construction elements 10 and 10A. The gripping jaws 14 
of the construction element 10 are introduced between similar jaws 14A of 
the adjacent aligned construction element 10A in such a way, that the 
grooves 18 and 18A of the four jaws respectively interconnect with the 
four ribs 20 and 20A of the two construction elements, thus releasably 
coupling them to each other. The flanges 15 and 15A, which are comprised 
each of a pair of spaced sections divided by two cut-outs, serve as 
stoppers for preventing mutual rotation of the construction elements 10 
and 10A, thus rendering rigidity to the coaxial connection shown in the 
drawing. 
In FIG. 4A and 4B two complementary elements 30 and 40 are illustrated, 
which can be used in conjunction with the basic elements described above. 
The complementary element 30 comprises a central body provided with two 
cylindrical endings 32, and each of them has on its side surface one 
annularly engaging member 34 in the form of a ring-like protrusion having 
the profile as that of the ribs 16 and 20 of the basic construction 
element. Each of the endings 32 of the element 30 can be inserted and 
releasably gripped between any pair of the gripping jaws 14 of the 
construction element 10 by interconnection between the annular protrusion 
34 and the grooves 18 of the jaws 14. The interconnection being such, that 
aligned to each other complementary element 30 and construction element 10 
are rotatable around their common axis and relative to each other. The 
diameter of the cylindrical inner surface of the construction element 10 
must have the diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the 
cylindrical ending 32, so as to ensure insertion thereof into the tubular 
body 12. 
FIG. 4B shows another modification of a complementary element 40, which 
comprises a central body and only one cylindrical ending 32; the second 
ending is shaped as a wheel 36 (a side elevation thereof is seen). 
FIG. 5 illustrates a combined element 50 constituting a tubular body 12 
provided at its first end with a pair of the jaws 14, and at second end 
with the cylindrical ending 32 having the annular member 34. 
In FIG. 6 there is shown a type of interconnection between the basic 
construction element 10 and the complementary element 40, connected in 
line to each other. The construction element 10 is aligned and connected 
to the complementary element 40 such that the grooves of the pair of jaws 
14 rotatably interlock with the annular protrusion 34 of the complementary 
element 40. The cylindrical ending 32 of the complementary element 40 may 
be partially inserted into the tubular body 12 of the construction element 
10. The degree of the insertion depends on the linear dimension of the 
ending 32. 
In FIGS. 7A and 7B there are illustrated two modifications of another 
auxiliary element serving as a connector. These connectors have each a 
smooth and short tubular body terminating with two pairs of the gripping 
jaws 14 equal to those described above. One can see that the connector 50 
illustrated in FIG. 7A is symmetric. i.e. it has jaws 14 at both ends of 
its tubular body 52, and the jaws lie pairwise in two parallel planes. The 
similar connector 60 shown in FIG. 7B is asymmetric, i.e the pairs of the 
jaws situated at different ends of its tubular body 62 lie in four planes 
being pairwise mutually transverse. It should be noted that, the basic 
construction element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may, of course, have its jaws 
arranged in the same manner as the connector 60. 
FIG. 8A illustrates how two parallelly placed basic construction elements 
10 and 10A can be secured to each other by the aid of the connector 50 
shown in FIG. 7A. One can see that the length of the tubular body 52 of 
the connector is as short as to allow the elements 10 and to be positioned 
and joined in close proximity to each other. 
FIG. 8B illustrates an orthogonal configuration formed by two basic 
construction elements 10, 10A and the connector 60 which is shown in FIG. 
7B. 
FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate another type of a complementary construction 
element, FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the complementary construction 
element 70 comprising a pair of jaws 14 mounted on a tubular body portion 
12 (not seen), which is secured, in turn, to a plate 72. The plate 72 may 
serve as a base plate for the whole element 70, and on the jaws 14 thereof 
one basic or complementary construction element may be mounted. The 
tubular body portion 12 can be seen in FIGS. 9B and 9C which are two 
different side views of the element 70. It should be appreciated that the 
portion 12 may be either ribbed or smooth, and may be connected to the 
base plate either vertically, or not, 
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a side view and a front view of yet another 
complementary construction element 80 similar to that shown in FIG. 5, but 
comprising two cylindrical endings 32 provided, respectively, at both ends 
of the tubular ribbed body 12. In principle, the tubular body may be 
manufactured without the longitudinal ribs, i.e. without the first 
coupling means. 
FIG. 11A shows still a further complementary element 80 which comprises a 
smooth tubular body 92 consisting of two interconnected tubular portions 
92A and 92B forming an obtuse angle between them, the body at each of its 
two ends is provided with the cylindrical ending 32. 
FIG. 11B illustrates another modification 100 of the complementary element 
shown in FIG. 11A. Two smooth tubular body portions 94A and 94B are 
interconnected so, as to form a T-shaped tubular body 94. The three ends 
of the T-shaped body 94 terminate with three cylindrical endings 32, 
respectively. A diameter of the tubular body portions 92A, 92B, 94A and 
94B is preferably such, that said tubular body portion can be 
half-embraced by and rotatably accommodated between the pair of jaws of 
the basic construction element placed in a mutually orthogonal position to 
said tubular body portion. One should appreciate, that the embodiments 
illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, instead of the smooth body portions, may 
optionally comprise ones with the longitudinal ribs forming the first 
coupling means. Each of these embodiments may also comprise both smooth 
and ribbed tubular body portions in combination. 
Since all the elements described above can be interconnected with each 
other, they may form a set, serving, for example, as a kit of construction 
toys.