Take apart toy structure

A toy construction kit is provided which includes, as basic building elements, a plurality of tubular elements having transverse throughbores routinely spaced along their length and routinely spaced about their periphery at relative displacements of 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees. Rod-like elements are also provided for insertion through the transverse bores and may be secured therethrough by bolts screwed into threaded recesses in the ends of the rods. Deformable circular planar connectors are provided to which the rods may be joined through the use of the bolts. A connector has a plurality of flanges or ears about its periphery each of which has a circular opening for permissive joinder of the rods thereto. The rods may eminate from the connector at various angles to thus enable the construction of various geometric forms. Tubular elements are also provided for insertion into the ends of the basic tubular elements to thus join two of those elements into an unitary member; rods are bolted through the assembly to secure the joint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to playground and scaffolding type apparatus and 
more particularly to apparatus useful in constructing many types of 
outdoor and indoor play equipment and creative structures as well as other 
types of three-dimensional structural arrays. 
This invention further relates to structural elements of an apparatus which 
may be dismantled and rearranged as desired into other types of structures 
using various geometric relationships among the elements of the apparatus, 
including geodesic designs. 
The present invention relates to a toy construction set which will 
stimulate the ingenuity, imagination and creativity of children. The user 
will form a mental image of a structure to be built and may then construct 
such structure which will develop his skill or cleverness in design and 
model construction. One may readily construct a basic structure and 
subsequently more complex three-dimensional structures. 
PRIOR ART 
A wide variety of construction toys or kits have been developed over the 
years; however, they are primarily small models such as the well-known 
Tinker Toy sets. Larger units are available for use in constructing large 
apparatus for use in school and municipal playgrounds as well as backyards 
for exercise and play. Heretofore, such apparatus was usually constructed 
of metal or wood in the well-known geometric relationship to form a 
permanently fixed three-dimensional structure upon which children could 
climb and upon which swings, slides and other events were suspended. Prior 
art devices have predominantly been of a solid type of construction which 
limited the usage of the device to the events originally built into the 
apparatus. Little or no provision was made for the ingenuity of the 
participants in the design or function of such apparatus since structural 
alteration of the apparatus was difficult or impossible once construction 
of the apparatus was completed. Such apparatus, while occupying the time 
and having at least some beneficial effects on the participants, did 
little or nothing toward stimulating the creative thoughts and abilities 
of the participants. Furthermore, no provision was made to properly 
accommodate the changing needs of a growing family or community. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,416 to Munger et al. provides an apparatus that may be 
assembled or reassembled into different geometic shapes; however, the 
variations are limited to right angle construction principles without 
offering a means whereby various elements thereof may be joined at varying 
angles or to permit a plurality of elements thereof to join at a common 
junction. 
Yet another example of a prior art play apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat 
No. 2,704,667 to Sanders. While this structure permits its members to have 
angular relationships one to the other, the angles are predetermined and 
may not be varied by the user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention, toy construction elements are provided 
for forming basic composite structural members including geodesic designs 
and for joining the elements together to form rigid three-dimensional 
structures. The toy construction elements of the present invention permit 
their use in the formation of various forms of structural units. The 
elements of the resulting structures may have myraid relative angular 
displacement. 
Tubular support members are provided which have varied transverse bores or 
throughbores. Tubular rods may be inserted through these holes and secured 
therethrough by bolts which screw into threaded recesses in the ends of 
the rods. The rods may be joined together to form arrays of rods which 
eminate from their juncture at various angles. The connector which joins 
or acts to join the rods together is a circular planar plastic member 
having a series of flanges or ears about the periphery thereof. The 
flanges or ears have circular holes therethrough which receive a bolt for 
securing the rods thereto by screwing the bolt into the threaded recesses 
in the end of the rods. Thus, the rods are joined to a single member which 
permits the rods to be moved or rotated into myraid angular relationships 
to thus permit the user to construct varied and unusual structural 
configurations. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe durable and 
quality support system which will provide an apparatus which may be 
readily assembled into almost unlimited designs and embodiments for use as 
play apparatus. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a connector which 
may be used to join structural members of the present invention into 
various angular arrays. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a quality 
construction toy which will provide a creative building challenge to its 
user. 
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a play 
apparatus which has the inherent capacity to be altered and re-arranged to 
present varying challenges to a child's growing coordination and muscular 
development. A related important object is to provide a structural 
apparatus which has a sufficiently simple method of construction for the 
user to design and construct his own apparatus from elements which may be 
readily dismantled and re-arranged by the user to suit particular needs 
and aspirations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, 
there are shown in the drawings and will here be described in detail 
preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, 
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of 
the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention 
to the embodiments illustrated. 
The precise shapes and sizes of the components herein described are not 
essential to the invention unless otherwise indicated, since the invention 
is described with only reference to embodiemts which are simple and 
straight forward. 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is disclosed a perspective view of a tubular 
support element according to the present invention. A plurality of tubular 
members 2 are used or may be used in constructing a structure. Tubular 
members 2 are of a length determined by the user. Transverse bores or 
throughbores 4 are spaced at regular intervals along the length of tubular 
member 2. Transverse bores 4 pass through the longitudinal axis 6 of 
tubular member 2. Transverse bores 8 also pass through the longitudinal 
axis 6 and are displaced 90 degrees from transverse bores 4. Transverse 
bores 10 also pass through the longitudinal axis 6 of tubular member 2 and 
are displaced 45 degrees from transverse bores 4. Tubular member 2 thus has 
throughbores relative to each other at 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 
degrees. 
Tubular member 2 is made of a rigid material such as plastic which is both 
lightweight and sturdy. The particular diameter of tubular member 2 and 
the particular length of tubular member 2 may be varied to suit the needs 
of the intended user. 
FIG. 2 discloses a tubular member 12 similar to tubular member 2 disclosed 
in FIG. 1, however, it has transverse bores disposed along the length 
thereof at 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees as shown by transverse 
bores 14, 16, 18 and 20 respectively. 
FIG. 3 discloses a rod 22 of tubular construction having a recessed 
threaded portion 24 at each end. While the rod 22 is preferrably of 
tubular construction, it may, of course, be solid in construction. The 
diameter of rod 22 is less than the diameter of transverse bores 4, 8, 10, 
14, 18, and 20 disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, rod 22 may be inserted 
through the transverse bores and secured therethrough by the insertion of 
bolt 26 disclosed in FIG. 9. 
Bolt 26 is disclosed in FIG. 9. It has a hexigonial head 28 with a recess 
30 therein for receiving a screwdriver should one desire to use a 
screwdriver as opposed to turning the bolt with one's hands. Threads 32 
are provided along the shank of the bolt and have a pitch conforming to 
the pitch of the recessed threaded portions 24 of rod 22 disclosed in FIG. 
After a rod 22 has been inserted through a transverse bore of tubular 
members 2, the bolt is screwed into the recessed portion 24 of rods 22 to 
prevent that end of the rod from being removed from tubular member 2 or 
12. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a plurality of rods 22 are disclosed inserted into 
tubular members 2 or 12. The particular angle and location of the rods are 
determined by the placement of the respective rod into a transverse bore 
having the location and/or angle desired. The tubular support members may 
have, as previously discussed, transverse bores disposed at varying 
angular and linear displacements limited only by the imagination or desire 
of the user. 
FIG. 5(a) disclosed a top view of what is referred to as a star connector; 
FIG. 5(b) is a side view. This particular structural member is made of 
deformable plastic. Star connector 34 is a circular deformable planar 
plastic member which has a plurality of flanges or ears 36 about the 
periphery thereof. Each flange or ear has a circular opening 38 
therethrough. There is also a circular opening 38 through connector 34 at 
its center. The diameter of circular openings 38 are smaller than the 
diameter of rods 22 such that the rod 22 will not pass through the 
circular openings 38. 
The diameter of shank or shaft 32 of bolt 26 (FIG. 9) is smaller than the 
diameter of circular opening 38. In use, the bolt 26 is inserted through 
circular opening 38 and screwed into the threaded recess portions 24 or 
rods 22 to thus secure the end of the rod to the connector. A plurality of 
rods may be joined to the connector. Since the connector is made of a 
deformable or pliable material, the rods may be caused to have various 
angular displacements relative to each other and yet be securely and 
firmly attached or secured to a single structural member. The rods may 
have varying lengths from that which maybe considered a nut to whatever 
one may desire. 
FIG. 6 discloses a tubular member 40 having a diameter less than the 
diameter of tubular members 2 or 12. The general configuration of tubular 
member 40 is the same as the general configuration of the tubular member 2 
or 12 with which it is to be used. In use, tubular member 40 is inserted 
internal to tubular member 2 or 12 to thus join two pieces of tubular 
members 2 or 12 together. Once tubular member 40 is inside the two tubular 
members to be joined together, a rod 22 may be inserted through the 
transverse bores of the tubular members to join them securely into a 
mating relationship. Should the user desire to merely join two pieces of, 
for example, tubular members 2 together while not having a rod 22 
extending therefrom, he may select a rod having a length commensurate with 
the diameter of tubular member 2 and insert it through tubular member 2 and 
then screw a bolt 26 into both threaded portions 24 at the ends of rod 22. 
FIG. 7 is a detailed view of star connector 34 having a plurality of rods 
22 secured thereto by bolts 26. As can be seen from this detail, rods 22 
may eminate from the connector at varied angles to permit the user to form 
geometric configurations not available with state-of-the-art toys. The rods 
are not limited to planar array but enjoy the ability to dispose themselves 
in a three-dimensional array are totally unrelated angles. The flanges or 
ears are capable of being rotated or twisted up and down and from side to 
side. 
FIG. 8 discloses a geodesic configuration of rods 22 joined together 
through the use of connector 34. The detail view of the connector shown in 
FIG. 7 can be seen at various junctures in FIG. 8. The flexible use of 
connector 34 can readily be appreciated from FIG. 8 wherein not all of the 
flanges of a connector need be used at any one time. It should be noticed 
that the central opening in connector 34 is not shown in use in FIG. 8; 
however, it is used as disclosed in FIG. 10 at 50. 
FIG. 10 discloses a perspective view of a structure made from the use of 
the various elements of the present invention. This Figure is intended to 
demonstrate the various uses of the connector, the rods and the tubular 
support members in what is then an unitary structure. 
It may be readily seen from the above discussion of the embodiments shown 
that a practically inexhaustible number of play equipment forms may be 
constructed from the elements of this invention. The practically limitless 
possibilities of play apparatus construction permits the users to construct 
their own equipment in any ingenious fashion they desire. The structure is 
so simple that a group of people can easily assemble a device of their 
choosing in a relatively short period of time yet result in an extremely 
durable and sturdy type of play apparatus construction. The advanatages 
presented by this type of structure, of course, make its application to 
public playgrounds and schoolyards extremely desirable. The sturdy and 
aesthetically pleasing structures which result from use of this invention, 
furthermore, are desirable for public facilities due to their low cost and 
durability. Many other uses for the apparatus disclosed herein will be 
readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
The elements of this invention need not by cylindrical but may be square, 
triangular or irregular in cross sections. However, the cylindrical shape 
adds to the invention from the aesthetic point of view and has certain 
advantages in production as well as being more challenging to the 
developing physical abilities of participants. In addition, round members 
provide a more comfortable and safe play apparatus than square timbers or 
members since no flats and sharp edges are present. 
Many other modifications within the scope and spirit of this invention will 
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.