Patent GB-422645-A (GB)
Title: An improved constructional building toy
IPC: A63H33/10
Filed: 1933-11-20
Abstract: 422,645. Constructional toys. PLIMPTON, C. B., 39, Hamilton Road, Wallasey, Cheshire. Nov. 20, 1933, No. 32235. [Class 132 (iii)] A constructional building toy comprises a base having a plurality of holes having vertical rods receiving between them panels having grooves or recesses along two vertical edges. In the construction shown model buildings are formed with a base plate 1 of plywood or moulded plastic material, with equi-distantly spaced holes 2 in which are inserted round rods 3 of various lengths engaging semicircular grooves on the edges of wall panels 4 recessed at the rear at 13 for lightness and for receiving the end of a panel at the end of a transverse wall. In an alternative construction shown in Fig. 3, the base is built up of sections 6 secured together by means of metal strips 7, secured within recesses 8 at the edges of the sections by small screws 9. The building is surmounted by a moulded one-piece roof 5, Fig. 5, having a tapered recess 10 or a series of tapered holes for the reception of the rods 3. The panels 4 are preferably of moulded plastic material, suitably coloured, and having their front faces lined in imitation of brickwork and can be in length any multiple of the pitch of the holes 3. Grooved doors and window frames, glazed or provided with transparent celluloid, and imitation window sashes can be provided of greater depth than the panels 4. As shown in Fig. 21, the doors and windows can be constructed for hingeing by providing them with a hole 22 engaging a rod 3. Corner pieces 17 of L-shape with a vertical hole at the corner are provided and the semicircular grooves at the edges may be replaced by steps 20 for engaging the rods 3, Fig. 20. The hole 19, Fig. 19, is shortened by the provision of a recess 21 in which is received a jig for guiding a drill to prevent it drifting. In order to prevent displacement of the panels 4, the rods 3 may be connected together at the floor levels of the building by an apertured horizontally disposed strip element or series of links or a single-piece floor element 25, Figs. 22 and 23, received within a horizontal recess 26 at the rear faces of the panels, such recess being produced by stepping the horizontal edges of abutting panels. In a modification instead of the panels being grooved they may be provided with metal looped lugs secured in the moulded plastic material of the panels or formed integrally with the panels if of sheet metal. The lugs may be staggered on opposite edges of the panels. Additional rods arranged horizontally may be provided, and in order to form angular dispositions of the walls the edges of some panels may be mitred or bevelled. The rods may be screwed into the holes in the baseplate or the feet of the rods may be headed to enter corresponding recesses in the undersurface of the base plate. A socketed member formed with an imitation gutter or with a ledge for holding the roof may be provided for spacing the tops of the rods. The roof may be built up of a number of spaced rods and panels. According to the Provisional Specification the base plate may be built up of tongued and grooved sections.