MODULAR LATTICE FOR MINIATURE LANDSCAPE

Abstract: A modular lattice substructure (4) for a playing structure, such as a toy building set (2), that includes frames (132) and columns (112). In one embodiment, the sides of the columns (12) have a prostrusion connector (44) removably attachable to a slot connector (50) in the ends of elongate beams (32) and the ends of elongate joists (62), the beams (32) and joists (62) forming the frame. In another embodiment, the column (212) includes four protrusion connectors (220) on an upper portion, and four receptive connectors on a lower portion. The frame (232) includes protrusion connectors (236) on an upper portion and receptive connectors on a lower portion. The protrusion connectors (236) on the frame are attachable to the receptive connectors on the columns, and vice-versa. In this manner, a single frame (232) can be attached to a plurality of columns (212), and a single column (212) can be attached to a plurality of frames (232) in order to form a modular lattice substructure for a playing structure.

Description: MODULAR LATTICE FOR MINIATURE LANDSCAPE Reference to Related Applications This is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 08/936,269, filed September 24, 1997, and Application Serial No. 08/957,858, filed October 27, 1997, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Field of the Invention The invention relates to substructures for toy building sets and, more particularly, to modular lattices supporting toy building sets. Background of the Invention In U.S. Patent No. 5,427,530, a portable water pollution model and method are disclosed that provide an improved device and method for simulating water pollution. This invention includes a portable simulated watershed model, including a simulated body of water and a simulated water pollution source; a simulated water pollutant, placeable on selected portions of the model; a simulated best management practice for pollution minimization, placeable on selected portions of the model; and a fluid dispenser capable of simulating rain over the watershed model. This invention further includes a method for simulating water pollution including providing a portable simulated watershed model, providing a simulated water pollutant, placing the simulated pollutant on selected portions of the model, providing a simulated best management practice, placing the simulated practice on selected portions of the model, and simulating rain over the model. In U.S. Patent No. 5,417,603, a playing structure includes a plurality of playing structure modules connectable together to form an array having a generally continuous, visually fluid, three-dimensional playing surface. Each playing structure module has a reversible top to allow the topography of the playing surface to be changed. The top of each playing structure module has a different three-dimensional topography on either side thereof. Each playing structure module may have a different or the same top. The playing surfaces have a colored landscape painted thereon to depict lakes, countrysides, roadways etc. and the like. The topography of the playing surfaces and the painted landscapes are designed so that the certain symmetries exist. In particular, when a plurality of playing structure modules are assembled to form an array and the tops of the playing structure modules are arranged to provide a playing surface having a continuous, visually fluid landscape, any one of or all of the tops can be reversed along a diagonal and the landscape of the resulting playing surface will still be continuous and visually fluid. This of course increases the number of different playing surfaces which can be created with the playing structure modules. In U.S. Patent No. 5,348,478, a modular terrain board is provided having a plurality of sections or terrain cell plugs which are held in place by a baseboard assembly having a corresponding plurality of cell receiving sections or cells formed therein. The terrain cell plugs can be easily removed to allow for quick and accurate reconfiguration of the terrain model. The terrain board has means for representing buildings, rivers, lakes, roads, and other topographical features. In U.S. Patent No. 5,326,267, model terrain accessories that are positioned for use on the surface of a miniature landscape are fabricated from a permanently flexible material, preferably polyvinyl chloride. These flexible accessories are realistically contoured models representing roads, streams, stream banks, earthworks, and walls, or segments thereof. These flexible accessories will conform to changes in surface elevation on any miniature landscape on which they are assembled. The flexible accessories fit together easily in an infinite variety of individual and group configurations, and can be easily removed from the landscape surface and reused when desired. U.S. Patent No. 5,251,900 discloses a puzzle formed of a plurality of puzzle pieces which, when assembled, create a self-standing, three-dimensional building structure. The puzzle pieces are of irregular, polygonal shape, but all puzzle pieces are flat, planar blocks. The blocks are releasably interlocked about a common plane with first, edgewise, complementary dovetail joints. For interlocking puzzle walls that are transverse to one another, second, straight U-shape, edgewise, complementary tenon and mortise joints are further provided edgewisely of those corner blocks for frictional interlocking. Thus, no separate pin, bent units or the like are required to anchor the corner portions of the three dimensional structure. The self-standing, enclosing structure is continuous, and shows a continuous image on its external face. U.S. Patent No. 5,011,411 discloses a method making a non-repetitive modular design. The design is created by assembling a plurality of substantially identical modules to cover a surface. Each module has the shape of a polygon, especially a regular polygon, such as a square. The design of each module is created in the following manner. First, one selects a set of points, disposed symmetrically around the midpoint of a side of the polygon, and duplicates the same pattern of points for the remaining sides. Then, one connects every pair of points with a line, such that the lines so drawn form a pattern which is not symmetrical around any imaginary straight line joining any pair of vertices of the polygon. The spaces between lines, or between one or more lines and one or more sides of the polygon, can be filled in with a color, or with any other design element. To make the final design, one provides a plurality of such modules, and arranges them, with random orientations, to cover a surface. The design is non-repetitive, and any orientation of the individual modules will produce a valid design. The appearance of the design is varied by changing the orientation of one or more of the modules. In general, the appearance of the overall design is quite different from that of each of the modules. The modules made according to the invention can be used as floor tiles, or they can be otherwise secured permanently to a solid substrate for decorative purposes. In U.S. Patent No. 4,992,069, the plug-in building blocks of a building set have protruding connecting pins and corresponding mating connecting sockets. In order that bendproof trusses can also be built, the building set has single-row connecting bars with two terminal pins, whose spacing from one another amounts to V2 times an integral multiple of the modulus, and girder elements, which at two bordering sides faces each have a single row of pins with modular spacing and parallel to these side faces each have a projection set back by the thickness of the connecting bar. In this way, stable, aesthetically appealing trussings can be built with the building set. In U.S. Patent No. 4,988,322, a toy building set for building tree-like models comprises a trunk element and a branch element. The trunk element comprises a trunk portion and projecting branches having coupling means spaced from the trunk portion. The branch element comprises a plurality of connecting bars, at whose ends coupling bushings are provided. These bushings are formed with primary and secondary coupling means respectively, so that the branch elements may be interconnected and connected with the trunk elements. Preferably, said bars have additional branching portions whose ends are provided with bushings similar to the coupling bushings. U.S. Patent No. 4,978,301 discloses a construction set suitable and safe for children of various ages comprising construction pieces and connector strips. The construction pieces have a semirigid planar construction with opposing major sides which have hook fastener material disposed on one side and loop pile fastener material disposed on the other. The fastener materials are of the type which adhere when pressed together. An outer border or margin area of the construction pieces is kept free of the fastener materials, to provide a tab or hem for separating attached pieces. The construction pieces have various shapes and sizes with which many designs and structures may be constructed. The connector strips have a similar construction to the construction pieces and are used to join adjacent construction pieces. The sides may include complementary colors and patterns. U.S. Patent No. 4,937,181 discloses an educational visual display system for teaching geography in which objects having some geographical or topographical significance, e.g., states of the Union, may be detachably affixed and arranged to demonstrate relationship between the objects. The system includes a primary background surface of iron velvet fabric material to which hook type fasteners may be detachably adhered, a plurality of primary objects having geographical significance and comprising a soft foam core with a layer of iron velvet fabric on one side and a plurality of hook type fasteners on the other side, the primary objects being arrangeable to represent in combination a larger geographical unit, and a plurality of secondary objects each having geographical or topographical significance and having hook type fasteners on one side thereof for being detachably affixable to the layer of iron velvet fabric of the primary objects. The iron velvet fabric and the hook type fasteners function as an attachment pair similar to hook and loop fasteners sold under the tradename VELCRO®. U.S. Patent No. 4,874,176 discloses a three-dimensional puzzle including puzzle pieces having discrete surfaces, at least one surface of which has a three- dimensional sculpted form whereby the sculpted surfaces in the aggregate upon assembly of the puzzle form a continuous three-dimensional pictorial representation. Abutting sides of the puzzle pieces may be interlocking or three-dimensional for conformal abutting relation with the sides of opposed puzzle pieces. Filler pieces are also provided underlying the puzzle pieces for elevating the sculpted surfaces of the puzzle pieces. The puzzle pieces and filler pieces may be disposed on a base which may have an edge containment whereby non-interlocking puzzle and filler pieces may be used. The puzzle and filler pieces may be vertically interlocked against lateral movement and with respect to the base by projections received in corresponding recesses. In U.S. Patent No. 4,846,750, a base for a building set is provided with coupling studs for mounting building blocks having corresponding coupling elements. The base is further provided with cavities contoured to receive at least some of the building blocks. The cavities preferably extend from the side opposite the side provided with the coupling studs. U.S. Patent No. 4,743,202 discloses a toy building block having on one face thereof at least one row of mechanical coupling pins and opposite thereto mechanical counter-coupling tubes for coupling said toy building block to a similar toy building block either with the row of said coupling pins parallel to a corresponding row of coupling pins of said similar block or perpendicular to said corresponding row. The toy building block includes first and second current paths connected to first and second contact areas respectively designed to establish electrical connection with first and second contact areas in a similar block. The first and second contact areas are disposed in first and second angular sectors about adjacent coupling pins. The angular sectors are offset from each other and do not overlap regardless of whether the building block row of coupling pins is parallel or perpendicular to the row of coupling pins of the similar block. U.S. Patent No. 4,715,832 discloses a building element of the type which contains current-carrying components placed in the electrically insulated building block. There are provided at least two current-carrying components with respective contact areas which are mutually- co-axially positioned. The building blocks can be intercoupled mechanically while establishing electrical connection between the respective current rails in the cooperating building elements, without any risk of short circuiting between the two current-carrying components, no matter how the building blocks are intercoupled mechanically. U.S. Patent No. 4,685,884 discloses a multitude of parts of three-dimensional shape have full edges and also edge segments adapted for abutment with like edges and edge segments of other parts. The parts additionally include non-abutting irregular or curved edges which may represent terrain contour lines or the bank of a body of water. Inclined areas on the parts are adjacent the irregular or curved edges and represent sloped terrain which is continuous with like inclined areas on other abutting parts. The inclined area of a part may be dispensed with to provide a vertical surface to simulate an escarpment. U.S. Patent No. 4,556,393 discloses a building block having side walls and a perpendicular front with two rows of coupling pins on one side of the front face and counter-coupling tubes on the other side for mechanically coupling two building blocks by means of a clamping action. In each row, each second coupling pin has an electrically conducting surface, while the coupling pins lying between these are electrically insulating. One row of conducting pins is displaced in the direction of the rows by one coupling pin from the adjacent row. On the other side of the front wall a contact bar is arranged which is connected electrically with the conducting coupling pins of an associated row. The bar has a contact area for producing electrical contact with a row of conducting coupling pins of an adjacent, coupled building block. U.S. Patent No. 4,461,116 discloses a connecting member comprising an elastically deformable, tubular plug slitted at the ends for interconnecting pairs of building components, which have coupling holes to receive the ends of the connecting member. Apertures are in the plug wall between the slits. The plug wall is formed with lengthwise extending clamping wedges between the apertures. The clamping wedges have inclined faces which slope towards the ends of the connecting member and cause the connecting member to be compressed at the center and be expanded at the ends when it is pressed into a pair of co-axial holes in adjacent building components. The connecting member may in particular be formed with an annular flange and end beads which fit in corresponding annular grooves in a pair of adjacent components. U.S. Patent No. 4,245,400 discloses a three dimensional toy having a base member showing a housing development with structural profile members mounted thereon which are secured by profile locking elements for constructing elevations of roadways, lots and surrounding terrain. The profile members and locking elements also serve as retaining walls for soil which, when shaped to conform to the contours of the profile members and locking elements and provided with living plants defines the topography of a living housing development. U.S. Patent No. 4,185,410 discloses a suspension device for slideable and pivotal suspension of a base plate for toy building sets or base boards for visual planning panels. One face of the base plate or board is provided with rows of coupling studs including a plurality of studs uniformly spaced apart in both longitudinal and transverse directions, and the suspension device includes a gripping member having inwardly projecting guides adapted to slide along the base plate between a pair of rows of projections and to support the base plate when suspended on a wall. The device is further provided with a hinge member pivotally mounted on top of the gripping member, so as to provide for pivotal movements of the base plate relatively to a wall on which the base plate is mounted by means of the slideable suspension device. U.S. Patent No. 4,176,493 discloses a rotatable element comprising a base plate and a disc pivotally mounted in a circular aperture in the base plate. A socket for a pivot on the disc is located at the bottom of the plate and is supported thereon by ribs integral with the socket and with four side walls at the bottom of the base plate. Four identical apertures in the bottom of the base plate are formed by the socket, the ribs and the side walls. Four engagement studs are provided on the top face of the disc and extend beyond the periphery thereof. The underface of these studs provides for slideable contact with the top face of the base plate during the rotation of the disc. In U.S. Patent No. 3,981,506, a plurality of parallelepiped blocks having varying heights, planar sides and a curved upper surface are connected together by special pin and hole interlocks randomly spaced in predetermined locations to form a three dimensional puzzle with at least a curved upper surface. Two or more puzzles can be made by initially assembling the blocks into a polyhedron with six rectangular faces and sawing along a predetermined path to separate the polyhedron into individual puzzles. In U.S. Patent No. 3,742,620, there is provided an apparatus for demonstrating the inter-relationship of a landscape, and the contour lines representing said landscape in two- and three-dimensional representation. A transparent plate is supported over and free from the model and contour lines connecting points of the same height on the model are drawn upon the said plate using a substantially ablative transfer material, said contour lines are transferred onto transfer receiving material slabs and layers of the material corresponding to the contour lines are produced by cutting along the contour lines. The contour slabs are then stacked upon each other to give a three-dimensional representation of the model. In a further modification, the contour slabs are colored in such a manner that at least adjacent slabs are of a different color. Upon compression of the contour model by a transparent plate, a two-dimensional contour representation is again visible. U.S. Patent No. 3,667,153 discloses the coupling of two plate-shaped elements by means of an interlocking arrangement formed along the edges of the elements. The locking members of one element are in resilient engagement with identical locking members on the other element, the thickness of the individual locking members being half the thickness of the element, and the members being staggered alternately to one side and the other of a plane through the center of the edge parallel to the side faces of the element. U.S. Patent No. 3,597,875 discloses toy building blocks of similar shape but constructed to different modules. The inner protrusions of the smaller blocks coact with the outer projections of the larger blocks. In U.S. Patent No. 3,597,858, there is provided a plurality of building elements dimensionally related to conform to a selected scale having interlocking socket and beaded joint portions which may be assembled into a wide variety of composite structures including scale model buildings. The socket joint portion is slotted for insertion of the beaded joint portion and firmly grips the beaded joint portion to hold the elements in particular angular relation while at the same time permitting substantial forced rotational and sliding movement between elements. One of the elements is a flat panel which may be of a variety of geometric shapes and another of the elements is a connector of preselected lengths having plural joint portions arranged in angular spaced relation to one another about a common midpoint. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a modular lattice substructure for a playing structure, such as a toy building set. The modular lattice substructure includes a planar frame in the shape of a polyomino and having four corners, each corner having an upper portion and a lower portion and a column connector thereon. A column is included having an upper portion and a lower portion. A first of the lower portion of the column and the upper portion of the column has a receptive connector thereon for removable attachment to a protrusion connector on the second of the lower portion and the upper portion of another of the columns. The column includes four frame connectors for attaching to four of the column connectors of four of the frames. One of the frame connector and the column connector is a protrusion connector for removable attachment to a receptive connector on the other of the frame connector and the column connector. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the frame is square- shaped. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the frame includes a plurality of beams extending between adjacent corners. In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the connector on the upper portion of the column is a protrusion connector and is clover leaf- shaped. In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, each of the corners of the frame has an upper portion and a lower portion. One of the lower portion and the upper portion has a receptive connector thereon, and the other of the lower portion and the upper portion of the frame has a protrusion connector thereon. The receptive connector on the one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the frame is for attaching to the protrusion connector on the second of the lower portion of the column and the upper portion of the column. The protrusion connector on the other of the lower portion and the upper portion of the frame is for attaching to the receptive connector on the first of the lower portion of the column and the upper portion of the column. In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, the column has four of the connectors on the upper portion thereof for attachment to the lower portion of four of the corners of four different of the frames. In this embodiment, the four connectors on the upper portion of the column may be protrusion connectors that are clover leaf-shaped. Preferably, the four connectors on the upper portion of the corners of the frame are also protrusion connectors and are clover leaf-shaped. The present invention further provides a modular lattice substructure for a playing structure having a plurality of planar frames and a plurality of columns having the features described. In a preferred embodiment of this modular lattice substructure, at least two of the plurality of planar frames are a polyomino of at least one more square in dimension than other of the planar frames in the plurality. Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is an exploded isometric view of the modular toy building set embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a isometric view of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an exploded isometric view of the lattice and base of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is an exploded isometric view of the lattice and terrain of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 5 is a isometric view of the column of the lattice of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a isometric view of the beam of the lattice of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 7 is a isometric view of the joist of the lattice of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 8 is an exploded isometric view of the column, beam, and joist of the lattice of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of the column, beam, and joist of the lattice of the modular toy building set of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 10 is an exploded isometric view of a second modular toy building set embodying the present invention; FIGURE 11 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a column for use in a lattice for the modular toy building of FIGURE 10; FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a column for use in a lattice for the modular toy building set of FIGURE 10; FIGURE 13 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a column for use in a lattice for the modular toy building set of FIGURE 10; FIGURE 14 is an isometric view of a frame that is combined with the column of FIGURE 11 to form a first embodiment of a lattice for a modular toy building set similar to that shown in FIGURE 10; FIGURE 15 is an isometric view of a frame that is combined with the column of FIGURE 12 to form a second embodiment of a lattice for a modular toy building set similar to that shown in FIGURE 10; FIGURE 16 is an isometric view of a frame that is combined with the column of FIGURE 13 to form a third embodiment of a lattice for a modular toy building set similar to that shown in FIGURE 10; FIGURE 17 is an isometric view of the column and frame of the lattice of the first embodiment of the modular toy building set, as is shown in FIGURES 11 and 14; FIGURE 18 is an isometric view of the column and frame of the lattice of the second embodiment of the modular toy building set as is shown in FIGURES 12 and 15; FIGURE 19 is an isometric view of the column and frame of the lattice of the third embodiment of the modular toy building set as is shown in FIGURES 13 and 16. FIGURE 20 is an exploded isometric view of a third embodiment modular toy building set embodying the present invention; FIGURE 21 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a column for use in a lattice for the modular toy building set of FIGURE 20; FIGURE 22 is an isometric view of the frame of a frame that is combined with the column of FIGURE 21 to form a lattice for the modular toy building set of FIGURE 20; and FIGURE 23 is an isometric view of the column and frame of the lattice of FIGURES 21 and 22. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIGURES 1-4, a first embodiment of a modular toy building set 2 is disclosed that includes lattice 4, base 6, terrain 8, and playing components 10. More specifically, lattice 4 supports, and is removably attachable to, base 6 as shown in FIGURE 3. In turn, base 6 supports, and is removably attachable to playing components 10. Lattice 4 also supports, and is removably attachable to terrain 8, as shown in FIGURE 4. The modular aspects of lattice 4, base 6, terrain 8, and playing components 10 allows a multitude of different configurations to be created with modular toy building set 2 while employing the same elements of lattice 4, base 6, terrain 8, and playing components 10. Lattice 4, base 6, terrain 8, and playing components 10 are preferably comprised of a synthetic polymer such as acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS). This synthetic polymer can be extruded or injection molded to form lattice 4, base 6, terrain 8, and playing components 10. Referring to FIGURE 5, column 12 of lattice 4 is shown in detail. Column 12 is substantially cubic in shape, but preferably has a height slightly greater than its width. Column 12 has four sides 14, a top 16, and a bottom 18. Male fittings 20 are preferably located on top 16 of column 12. Each male fitting 20 has a peripheral wall 22 and a center recess 24. Additionally, while male fittings 20 are shown on top 16 of column 12, male fittings 20 could, instead, be female fittings provided that the component to which top 16 of column 12 is to be attached has the appropriate mating fitting thereon. Similarly, as discussed throughout the rest of this description, wherever a female fitting (or conversely male fitting) is mentioned, a male fitting (or conversely a female fitting) can be employed in its stead as long as complementary fittings are present on components to be removably attached. Bottom 18 of column 12 preferably has a plurality of female fittings in the same configuration and orientation as the male fittings 20 on top 16 of column 12. The male fittings 20 on top 16 and the female fittings on bottom 18 of column 12 allow for secure, removable vertical stacking of a plurality of columns 12, as shown in FIGURE 4, in order to vary the height of lattice 4. " While male fittings 20 on top 16 of column 12 are substantially clover leaf in shape, the male fittings discussed herein, as well as the female fittings, can be of any shape that provides removable attachment of two components with a secure connection when attached. Each of sides 14 of column 12 preferably has a protrusion connector 26 thereon. Each protrusion connector 26 has a shaft 28, and a head 30 on the end of shaft 28. Protrusion connectors 26 are sized and shaped to mate with complementary slot connectors on other components in a manner further described below. Next, referring to FIGURE 6, beam 32 is an elongate preferably rectangular member having sides 34, top 36, bottom 38, and ends 40. Beam 32 preferably has a height less than the height of column 12. Top 36 of beam 32 preferably has a plurality of female fittings 42 thereon. Most preferably, female fittings 42 are located in the center of top 36 and on each end of top 36. Still referring to FIGURE 6, female fittings 42 are shown as having a substantially square cross section that has an interference fit with mating male fittings that can, for example, be clover leaf in shape. However, as stated above, female fittings 42 can have other shapes. Female fittings 42 can be employed to removably attach underground roadways 43, as shown in FIGURE 1, that are straddled by adjacent columns 12. Underground roadways 43 have mating male fittings on the under surface thereof and allow movement of underground vehicles, or "moles" that guide transport of surface road vehicles by magnetic interconnection. Again referring to FIGURE 6, bottom 38 of beam 32 has a plurality of female fittings thereon such that beam 32 can be supported by columns 12. A protrusion connector 44 is preferably centrally located on each of sides 34 of beam 32. Each protrusion connector 44 has a shaft 46 with a head 48 thereon. Protrusion connector 44 is removably attachable to a slot connector on a component to be removably secured in a manner further described below. Slot connector 50 is located in end 40 of beam 32. Slot connector 50 is an elongate opening having an entrance 52 in lower edge 54 of end 40 of beam 32. Entrance 52 is narrowed in relation to slot terminus 56 such that slot connector 50 can be generally described as being key hole in shape. Beam 32 is preferably at least partially hollow such that head stop 58 can be located within beam 32 adjacent entrance 52 of slot connector 50. Slot connector 50, and other slot connectors described below, while described herein as being an elongate key shaped slot, can generally be a receptive connector of any shape mateable with a complementary protrusion connector. Next, referring to FIGURE 7, elongate joist 62 is a preferably rectangular member having a length somewhat less than the length, and preferably less than half the length, of elongate beam 32. Joist 62 is an elongate preferably rectangular member having sides 64, top 66, bottom 68, and ends 70. Joist 62 preferably has a height less than the height of column 12. Bottom 68 of joist 62 has a plurality of female fittings thereon such that joist 62 can be supported by columns 12. Slot connector 80 is located in end 70 of joist 62. Slot connector 80 is an elongate opening having an entrance 82 in lower edge 84 of end 70 of joist 62. Entrance 82 is narrowed in relation to slot terminus 86 such that slot connector 80 can be generally described as being key hole in shape. Joist 62 is preferably at least partially hollow such that head stop 88 can be located in joist 62 adjacent entrance 82 of slot connector 80. Referring to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, the interconnection of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 with slot connector 50 of beam 32 and slot connector 80 of joist 62 is now described in further detail. The interconnection of the above protrusion connectors 26 and 44 with the above slot connectors 50 and 80 is the basis for the removable connection of column 12, beam 32 and joist 62 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. In this manner, column 12 can be connected to beam 32 and/or joist 62. Beam 32 can be connected to column 12 and/or joist 62 and joist 62 can be connected to column 12 and/or beam 32. In a first embodiment, head stop 58 of beam 32 and head stop 88 of joist 62 are absent. Head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 both have a width that is greater than the width of entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 and of entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. However, shaft 28 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and shaft 46 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 both have a width that is less than the width of entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 and of entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. Based on the above configurations, column 12 can be removably attached to beam 32 or joist 62 and beam 32 can be removably attached to another beam 32 or joist 62 by sliding shaft 28 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 or shaft 46 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 through entrance 52 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 or entrance 82 of slot connector 80 of joist 62 in a direction orthogonal (e.g., upwardly) to the longitudinal axis of beam 32 or joist 62. Because the width of head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and of head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 is greater than the width of entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 and of entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62, the beam 32 or joist 62 cannot be removed from column 12 or other beam 32 or joist 62 by pulling beam 32 or joist 62 along the longitudinal axis thereof. In another embodiment, head stop 58 of beam 32 and head stop 88 of joist 62 are present. Additionally, as shown in FIGURE 5, head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 both have a length "1" that is greater than the width of entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 and of entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. However, head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 and head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 both have a width "w" less than the width of terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. To removably attach beam 32 or joist 62 to column 12 or to removably attach beam 32 or joist 62 to another beam 32, joist 62 or beam 32 is first axially rotated 90° from the resting configurations shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 such that the width "w" of head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 or of head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 is parallel with the width of entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 or of entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. Head 30 of protrusion connector 26 or head 48 of protrusion connector 44 can thus pass through either entrance 52 to terminus 56 of slot connector 50 or entrance 82 to terminus 86 of slot connector 80. Joist 62 or beam 32 is then rotated 90° back to the resting configuration shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, thus locking column 12 or beam 32 with a beam 32 or a joist 62 since greater length "1" of head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 or of head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32 is now parallel with the lesser width of either entrance 52 and terminus 56 of slot connector 50 of beam 32 or entrance 82 and terminus 86 of slot connector 80 of joist 62. Head stop 58 of beam 32 or head stop 88 of joist 62 prevents further rotational movement of head 30 of protrusion connector 26 of column 12 or head 48 of protrusion connector 44 of beam 32. The above-described modular columns 12, beams 32 and joists 62, having varying heights and lengths, and facilitating both horizontal and vertical interconnection, allow for a multitude of lattice configurations having individual components orthogonally disposed with respect to each other. A second embodiment of a modular toy building set 102 is shown in FIGURES 10-19. Referring to FIGURE 10, modular toy building set 102 generally includes lattice 104, base 106, terrain 108, and playing components 110. More specifically, lattice 104 supports, and is removably attachable to, base 106. In turn, base 106 supports, and is removably attachable to playing components 110. Lattice 104 also supports, and is removably attachable to terrain 108. The modular aspects of lattice 104, base 106, terrain 108, and playing components 110 allows a multitude of different configurations to be created with modular toy building set 102 while employing the same elements of lattice 104, base 106, terrain 108, and playing components 110. Lattice 104, base 106, terrain 108, and playing components 110 are preferably comprised of a synthetic polymer such as acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS). This synthetic polymer can be extruded or injection molded to form lattice 104, base 106, terrain 108, and playing components 110. Referring to FIGURES 11-13, column 112 of the three embodiments of lattice 104 are shown in detail. Column 112 is substantially cubic in shape, but preferably has a height slightly greater than its width. Column 112 has four sides 114, a top (or upper portion) 116, and a bottom (or lower portion) 118. Male fittings 120 are preferably located on top 116 of column 112. Additionally, while male fittings 120 are shown on the upper end of top 116 of column 112, male fittings 120 could, instead, be female fittings provided that the component to which top 116 of column 112 is to be attached has the appropriate mating fitting thereon. Similarly, as discussed throughout the rest of this description, wherever a female fitting (or conversely male fitting) is mentioned, a male fitting (or conversely a female fitting) can be employed in its stead as long as complementary fittings are present on components to be removably attached. Bottom (or lower portion) 118 of column 112 preferably has a plurality of female fittings on its underside in the same configuration and orientation as the male fittings 120 on top 116 of column 112. The male fittings 120 on top 116 and the female fittings on bottom 118 of column 112 allow for secure, removable vertical stacking of a plurality of columns 112, in order to vary the height of lattice 104. While male fittings 120 on top 116 of column 112 are substantially clover leaf in shape, in FIGURES 11 and 12, and have triangular cross- sections with snap fit nubs 122 in FIGURE 13, the male fittings discussed herein, as well as the female fittings, can be of any shape that provides removable attachment of two components with a secure connection when attached. For example, the female fittings 119 on the under side of bottom (or lower portion) 118 of the embodiment of FIGURE 13 is comprised of a plurality of spaced apart fingers 124 that bound triangular- shaped openings in which male fittings 120 having triangular-shaped cross- sections on other columns 112 can fit. Additionally, each finger 124 has an opening 121 in its side shaped to receive snap fit nub 122 of male fittings 120. For all three embodiments, each of sides 114 of column 112 adjacent lower portion 118 preferably has a protrusion connector 126 thereon. Each protrusion connector 126 has a shaft 128, and a head 130 on the end of shaft 128. Protrusion connectors 126 are sized and shaped to mate with complementary receptive connectors on other components in a manner further described below. Note that the columns 112 of the embodiments of FIGURES 12 and 13 are substantially solid cubes with perpendicular protrusion connectors 126, while column 112 of the embodiment of FIGURE 11 has spaces 125 between upper portion 116 and lower portion 118 that are bounded by protrusion connectors 126, which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of column 112. Next, referring to FIGURES 14, 15 and 16, three embodiments of frames 132 are shown. In all three embodiments, frame 132 is preferably parallelogram in shape with four outer walls 133 and more preferably forms a polyomino, or a shape that is a square or is parallelogram formed from joined squares, and is most preferably square. Frame 132 has a height less than the height of column 112. The four corners 134 of frame 132 each have a receptive connector 136 therein. Intersecting stabilizing beams 138 interconnect opposite corners 134. Referring to the embodiment of frame 132 of FIGURE 14, a single square-shaped opening 140 in each corner 134 forms receptive connector 136. Opening 140 is perpendicular to the plane of frame 132. The diameter of opening 140 forming receptive connector 136 is slightly less than that of head 130 of protrusion connector 126 of column 112 of FIGURE 11, and is slightly greater than that of shaft 128 of protrusion connector 126 for removable snap fitting of column 112 of FIGURE 11 with frame 132 of FIGURE 14 as shown in FIGURE 17. Regarding the embodiment of frame 132 of FIGURE 15, the receptive connector 136 of each corner 134 includes a pair of C-shaped partial tubes 142 attached to the outer end of each stabilizing beam 138 at their inner ends and to the outer walls 133 of frame 132 at their outer ends. The interior diameter of each C- shaped partial tube 142 is slightly less than the diameter of head 130 of protrusion connector 126 of column 112 of FIGURE 12 for removable interference fitting of column 112 of FIGURE 12 with frame 132 of FIGURE 15, as shown in FIGURE 18. Head 130 of one of protrusion connector 126 of column 112 is slid into one of the C- shaped partial tubes 142 of frame 132 as column 112 is moved along its longitudinal axis with respect to frame 132. Two protrusion connectors 126 of column 112 mate with the two C-shaped partial tubes 142 of one of the corners 134 of frame 132. The interior ends of stabilizing beams 138 are connected to a parallelogram-shaped central seat 144 having a plurality of receptive connectors 146. In practice, the receptive connectors remain exposed. However, the receptive connectors 146 could be used for interconnection of frame 132 to additional structural elements. The embodiment of frame 132 of FIGURE 16 also has a parallelogram- shaped central seat 144 having a plurality of receptive connectors 146 for interconnection of frame 132 to additional structural elements. Central seat 144 is connected to the interior ends of stabilizing beams 138. The exterior ends of stabilizing beams 138 each have C-shaped brace 148 thereon that is connected to adjacent ones of outer walls 133. Each corner 134 has a pair of spaced apart edges that form vertical slot 150 that defines receptive connector 136. Each edge of corner 134 that defines slot 150 has a vertical groove 152 therein that is orthogonal to slot 150. These two vertical grooves 152 receive the peripheral edge 154 of head 130 (head 130 being substantially circular in cross-section) of protrusion connector 126 of column 112 of FIGURE 13 as head 130 of protrusion connector 126 is slid into slot 150, as shown in FIGURE 19. The above-described modular columns 112 and frame 132, having varying heights and lengths, and facilitating both horizontal and vertical interconnection, allow for a multitude of lattice configurations having individual components orthogonally disposed with respect to each other. A third embodiment of a modular toy building set 202 is shown in FIGURES 20-23. Referring to FIGURE 20, modular toy building set 202 generally includes lattice 204, base 206, terrain 208, and playing components 210. More specifically, lattice 204 supports, and is removably attachable to, base 206. In turn, base 206 supports, and is removably attachable to playing components 210. Lattice 204 also supports, and is removably attachable to terrain 208. The modular aspects of lattice 204, base 206, terrain 208, and playing components 210 allows a multitude of different configurations to be created with modular toy building set 202 while employing the same elements of lattice 204, base 206, terrain 208, and playing components 210. Lattice 204, base 206, terrain 208, and playing components 210 are preferably comprised of a synthetic polymer such as acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS). This synthetic polymer can be extruded or injection molded to form lattice 204, base 206, terrain 208, and playing components 210. Referring to FIGURES 21 and 23, column 212 of lattice 204 is shown in detail. Column 212 is substantially cubic in shape, but preferably has a height slightly greater than its width. Column 212 has four sides 214, a top (or upper portion) 216, and a bottom (or lower portion) 218. Protrusion connectors 220 are preferably located on top 216 of column 212. Additionally, while protrusion connectors 220 are shown on the upper end of top 216 of column 212, protrusion connectors 220 could, instead, be receptive connectors provided that the component to which top 216 of column 212 is to be attached has the appropriate mating fitting thereon. Similarly, as discussed throughout the rest of this description, wherever a receptive connector (or conversely protrusion connector) is mentioned, a protrusion connector (or conversely a receptive connector) can be employed in its stead as long as complementary fittings are present on components to be removably attached. Bottom (or lower portion) 218 of column 212 preferably has a plurality of receptive connectors on its underside in the same configuration and orientation as the protrusion connectors 220 on top 216 of column 212. The protrusion connectors 220 on top 216 and the receptive connectors on bottom 218 of column 212 allow for secure, removable vertical stacking of a plurality of columns 212, in order to vary the height of lattice 204. Receptive connectors also allow for attachment of column 212 to the center portion and to the corners of frame 232, as discussed further below. While protrusion connectors 220 on top 216 of column 212 are substantially clover leaf in shape, in FIGURES 21 and 23, the protrusion connectors discussed herein, as well as the receptive connectors, can be of any shape that provides removable attachment of two components with a secure connection when attached. Next, referring to FIGURES 22 and 23, frame 232 is shown. Frame 232 is preferably parallelogram in shape with four outer walls 233 that form beams between adjacent corners, and is more preferably polyomino in shape. Likewise, in other places in the description where a parallelogram is described for a frame shape, the pattern is more preferably a polyomino, and most preferably a square. These shapes permit multiple connecting patterns for the columns and the frames, permitting some columns to be skipped so that a roadway or other features can be added between columns, and the frames and columns will continue their regular repeating pattern. The arrangement thus gives the broadest amount of arrangements of the structures. By providing a plurality of frames, some of the frames of which are a polyomino of at least one more square in dimension than other of frames in said plurality, a user of the modular toy building set 202 can form wider openings under the terrain 208 for receiving roadways or other items. For example, the road frames 235, 237 shown in FIGURE 20 are either two times the size of the regular frames 232 (road frames 235 are two squares), or four times the size (road frames 237 are four squares). Some frames, because of the arrangement of the squares in the polyomino, may have more than four corners. The four corners 234 of frame 232 each have a protrusion connector 236 thereon. Intersecting stabilizing beams 238 interconnect opposite corners 234. Center portion 239 is located at the intersection of stabilizing beams 238 and preferably includes four clover leaf-shaped protrusion connectors 240. A single clover leaf-shaped protrusion in each corner 234 forms protrusion connector 236. The diameter of protrusion connector 236 is slightly greater than that of receptive connector 226 of lower portion 218 of column 212 of FIGURE 21, for removable snap fitting of column 212 of FIGURE 21 with frame 232 of FIGURE 22, as shown in FIGURE 24. Referring to FIGURE 23, each column 212 can be attached to a center portion 239 of a frame 232 by snap fitting of receptive connectors on lower portion 218 of column 212 into protrusion connectors 240 of center portion 239 of frame 232. Alternatively, column 212 can be secured to up to four adjacent frames 232 by snap fitting one of the four receptive connectors on lower portion 218 of column 212 with one of the protrusion connectors 236 on a corner 234 of four different frames 232. One of the columns 212 can also be attached on top of another column 212 by snap fitting one of the receptive connectors on the bottom of one of the columns onto the protrusion connector on top of another column. In this manner, the columns can be stacked to form a structure of a desired height. The above-described modular columns 212 and frame 232, having varying heights and lengths, and facilitating both horizontal and vertical interconnection, allow for a multitude of lattice configurations having individual components orthogonally disposed with respect to each other. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A modular lattice substructure for a playing structure comprising: a planar frame in the shape of a polyomino and having four corners, each corner having an upper portion and a lower portion and a column connector thereon; and a column having an upper portion and a lower portion, a first of said lower portion of said column and said upper portion of said column having a receptive connector thereon for removable attachment to a protrusion connector on the second of said lower portion and said upper portion of another of said columns, and four frame connectors for attaching to four of said column connectors of four of said frames, one of said frame connector and said column connector having a protrusion connector for removable attachment to a receptive connector on the other of said frame connector and said column connector. 2. The lattice substructure of Claim 1, wherein said frame is square- shaped. 3. The lattice substructure of Claim 1, wherein said frame comprises a plurality of beams extending between adjacent corners. 4. The lattice substructure of Claim 1, wherein said connector on said upper portion of said column is a protrusion connector and is clover leaf-shaped. 5. The lattice substructure of Claim 1, wherein each of said corners of said frame has an upper portion and a lower portion, one of said lower portion and said upper portion having a receptive connector thereon, and the other of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame having a protrusion connector thereon, the receptive connector on said one of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame for attaching to said protrusion connector on said second of said lower portion of said column and said upper portion of said column, and the protrusion connector on said other of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame for attaching to the receptive connector on the first of said lower portion of said column and said upper portion of said column. 6. The lattice substructure of Claim 5, wherein said column has four of said connectors on said upper portion thereof for attachment to said lower portion of four of said comers of four different of said frames. 7. The lattice substructure of Claim 6, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said column are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf- shaped. 8. The lattice substructure of Claim 7, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said comers of said frame are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf-shaped. 9. The lattice substructure of Claim 5, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said corners of said frame are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf-shaped. 10. A modular lattice substmcture for a playing stmcture comprising: a planar frame in the shape of a polyomino and having four comers, each comer having an upper portion with a protmsion connector thereon, and a lower portion with a receptive connector thereon; and a column having an upper portion and a lower portion, comprising: a protmsion connector on said upper portion of said column for removable attachment to either of (1) one of said receptive connectors on said lower portion of one of said comers of said frame and (2) a receptive connector on a lower surface on a different of said columns; and a receptive connector on said lower portion of said column for removable attachment to either of (1) one of said protmsion connectors on said upper portion of one of said comers of said frame and (2) a protmsion connector on a lower surface of a different of said columns. 11. The lattice substmcture of Claim 10, wherein said frame is square- shaped. 12. The lattice substmcture of Claim 10, wherein said frame comprises a plurality of beams extending between adjacent comers. 13. The lattice substmcture of Claim 10, wherein said protmsion connector on said upper portion of said column is clover leaf-shaped. 14. The lattice substmcture of Claim 10, wherein said column has four of said protmsion connectors on said upper portion thereof for attachment to said receptive connectors of said lower portion of four of said comers of four different of said frames. 15. The lattice substmcture of Claim 14, wherein said four protmsion connectors on said upper portion of said column and are clover leaf-shaped. 16. The lattice substmcture of Claim 10, wherein said four protmsion connectors on said upper portion of said co ers of said frame are clover leaf-shaped. 17. A modular lattice substmcture for a playing stmcture comprising: a plurality of planar frames, each in the shape of a polyomino, all of which have a common square upon which the polyominos are based, each of said frames having four comers, each comer having an upper portion and a lower portion and a column connector thereon, at least two of said plurality of planar frames being a polyomino of at least one more square in dimension than other of said planar frames in said plurality; and a plurality of columns, each comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, a first of said lower portion of each of said columns and said upper portion of each of said columns having a receptive connector thereon for removable attachment to a protmsion connector on the second of said lower portion of one of said columns and said upper portion of another of said columns, and four frame connectors for attaching to four of said column connectors of four of said frames, one of said frame connector and said column connector having a protmsion connector for removable attachment to a receptive connector on the other of said frame connector and said column connector. 18. The lattice substmcture of Claim 17, wherein each of said frames comprises a plurality of beams extending between adjacent comers. 19. The lattice substmcture of Claim 17, wherein said connector on said upper portion of each of said columns is a protmsion connector and is clover leaf- shaped. 20. The lattice substmcture of Claim 17, wherein each of said comers of said frames has an upper portion and a lower portion, one of said lower portion and said upper portion having a receptive connector thereon, and the other of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame having a protmsion connector thereon, the receptive connector on said one of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame for attaching to said protmsion connector on said second of said lower portion of one of said columns and said upper portion of one of said columns, and the protmsion connector on said other of said lower portion and said upper portion of said frame for attaching to said receptive connector on the first of said lower portion of one of said columns and said upper portion of one of said columns. 21. The lattice substmcture of Claim 20, wherein each of said columns has four of said connectors on said upper portion thereof for attachment to said lower portion of four of said corners of four different of said frames. 22. The lattice substmcture of Claim 21, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said columns are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf- shaped. 23. The lattice substmcture of Claim 22, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said comers of said frames are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf-shaped. 24. The lattice substmcture of Claim 20, wherein said four connectors on said upper portion of said comers of said frames are protmsion connectors and are clover leaf-shaped.

Inventors: BURNS WILLIAM S, CYRUS PETER, FRANKO RICH, BURNS, WILLIAM, S., CYRUS, PETER, FRANKO, RICH
Applicants: BURNS WILLIAM S, CYRUS PETER, FRANKO RICH, PARVIA CORP, BURNS, WILLIAM, S., CYRUS, PETER, FRANKO, RICH, PARVIA CORPORATION
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63H
IPC codes: A63H18, A63H33