Abstract:
A construction unit is disclosed as including a head, two legs with a space therebetween, a first arm and a second arm, in which the first arm includes a female end, the second arm includes a male end receivable within a female end of a first arm of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging the construction unit with the adjacent construction unit, and the head is receivable within a space between leg members of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging the construction unit with the adjacent construction unit.

Description:
[0001]     This invention relates to a construction unit and, in particular such units which are releasably inter-engageable to form articles of various shapes and configurations.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     There are in existence a large variety of construction units which may be engaged with one another according to the wish of the users. However, most such units are limited in the ways in which they may be inter-engaged with one another, thus limiting the use of such construction units.  
         [0003]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a construction unit in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a construction unit including a head member; at least two leg members with a space therebetween; at least a first arm member and a second arm member; wherein said first arm member includes a female end member; wherein said second arm member includes a male end member receivable within a female end member of a first arm member of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit; and wherein said head member is receivable within a space between leg members of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit.  
         [0005]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toy set including a plurality of construction units, wherein each said construction unit includes a head member; at least two leg members with a space therebetween; at least a first arm member and a second arm member; wherein said first arm member includes a female end member; wherein said second arm member includes a male end member receivable within a female end member of a first arm member of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit; and wherein said head member is receivable within a space between leg members of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit.  
         [0006]     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article constructed of a plurality of construction units, wherein each said construction unit includes a head member; at least two leg members with a space therebetween; at least a first arm member and a second arm member; wherein said first arm member includes a female end member; wherein said second arm member includes a male end member receivable within a female end member of a first arm member of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit; and wherein said head member is receivable within a space between leg members of an adjacent construction unit for releasably engaging said construction unit with said adjacent construction unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a construction unit according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the construction unit shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the construction unit shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]     FIGS.  6  to  43  show various manners in which two construction units as shown in  FIG. 1  may be releasably engaged with each other;  
         [0014]      FIG. 44  is a front view of a construct unit according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 45  is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in  FIG. 45 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 46  is a front perspective view of the construction unit shown in  FIG. 45 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 47  is a rear perspective view of the construction unit shown in  FIG. 45 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 48  is a front view of a construction unit according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 49  is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 48 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 50  is a front perspective view of the construction unit shown in  FIG. 48 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 51  is a coaster constructed of a number of the construction units as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 52  is a floor mat constructed of a number of the construction units as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 53  is a pen holder constructed of a number of the construction units as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 54  is a figurine dog constructed of a number of the construction units as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 55  is a chessboard and chess pieces constructed of a number of the construction units as shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 56  is an alternative configuration of the chessboard and chess pieces shown in  FIG. 55 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     A construction unit according to a first preferred embodiment of this is shown in FIGS.  1  to  5 , and generally designated as  100 . The construction unit  100  may be made of a plastics material, to allow flexibility and resilience during manipulation. The construction unit  100  is roughly in the shape of a human being, having a head  102 , a pair of arms  104 ,  106  joined with the head  102  via a neck  108 , and a pair of legs  110 ,  112  joined with the arms  104 ,  106  via a trunk  114 . Each of the legs  110  ends with a respective extremity portion  116  which is substantially square in cross-section, as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]     Referring in particular to FIGS.  1  to  3 , it can be seen that the head  102  is of a generally circular shape with a centre S, and a diameter d. Between the legs  110 ,  112  is a space  118  having a circular part with a centre T, and a diameter d. By way of such an arrangement, the head  102  of a construction unit may be fitted into the space  118  of another construction unit to allow the two construction units to be releasably engaged with each other.  
         [0029]     To allow for more ways in which a plurality of construction units  100  may be releasably inter-engaged with one another, the thickness of the construction unit  100 , k, is equal to (a) the width, k, of the extremity portion  116 , (b) the distance, k, between the two extremity portions  116 , (c) the width, k, of the trunk  114 , (d) the width, k, of the neck  108 , (e) the width, k, of the arm  104 , and (f) the width, k, of the arm  106 .  
         [0030]     The arm  104  has an end  120  which is a part regular hexagon, with a centre R. The arm  106  has an end  122  with an part circular outer periphery  124  and an inner part regular hexagonal space  126 , both with a centre at R. The diameter, d, of the circular periphery  124  of the end  122  is the same as the diameter, d, of the head  102 . The end  120  of the arm  104  is sized and configured to be fitted within the space  126  of the arm  106 . The width, k, of the entrance of the space  126  is also the same as the thickness, k, of the construction unit  100 .  
         [0031]     The line ST and the line PR intersect at the point Q at 90°, and the length of QT equals the length of SQ, and the length of RQ equals the length of QP.  
         [0032]     With such an arrangement, two and more construction units  100  may be releasably inter-engaged with one another in a large variety of manners, as shown in FIGS.  6  to  43  and briefly discussed below.  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 6 , the trunk  114  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 7 , the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the two extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0035]     In  FIG. 8 , the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 9 , the end  122  of the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other.  
         [0037]     In  FIG. 10 , the end  122  of the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is also shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , whereas in this arrangement, the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0038]     In  FIG. 11 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0039]     In  FIG. 12 , the two extremity portions  116  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit, in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0040]     In  FIG. 13 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 14 , an extremity portion  116  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0042]     In  FIG. 15 , the end  122  of the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being inter-engaged with the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0043]     In  FIG. 16 , the neck  108  of a construction unit construction unit  100  is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 17 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100  in an upside-down manner, in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other.  
         [0045]     In  FIG. 18 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other.  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 19 , the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 20 , a portion of the leg  110  of a construction unit  100 , which is near the trunk  114 , is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 21 , a portion of the leg  110  of a construction unit  100 , which is near the extremity portion  116 , is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0049]     In  FIG. 22 , the trunk  114  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged with the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0050]     In  FIG. 23 , the neck  108  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit, in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0051]     In  FIG. 24 , the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged with the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit, in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0052]     In  FIG. 25 , the head  102  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other. It can also be seen that the extremity portions  116  of the legs  110 ,  112  of the construction unit  100  are in abutment with the arms  104 ,  106  of the adjacent construction unit  100 .  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 26 , the end  122  of the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 27 , the leg  112  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged with the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0055]     In  FIG. 28 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0056]     In  FIG. 29 , the part where the arms  104 ,  106  of a construction unit  100  join each other is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , and vice versa, in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0057]     In  FIG. 30 , the neck  108  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are at an obtuse angle between each other.  
         [0058]     In  FIG. 31 , the head  102  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other.  
         [0059]     In  FIG. 32 , the neck  108  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0060]     In  FIG. 33 , the neck  108  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0061]     In  FIG. 34 , the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 35 , the end  122  of the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged with the trunk  114  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , and the trunk  114  of the adjacent construction unit  100  is engaged between the extremity portions  116  of the construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0063]     In  FIG. 36 , the trunk  114  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0064]     In  FIG. 37 , the arm  106  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0065]     In  FIG. 38 , an extremity portion  116  of a leg  112  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged with the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0066]     In  FIG. 39 , the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0067]     In  FIG. 40 , the end  120  of the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are parallel to and co-planar with each other.  
         [0068]     In  FIG. 41 , the head  102  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  118  between the legs  110 ,  112  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0069]     In  FIG. 42 , the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being received within the space  126  of the end  122  of the arm  106  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0070]     In  FIG. 43 , the arm  104  of a construction unit  100  is shown as being engaged between the extremity portions  116  of an adjacent construction unit  100 , in which the major surfaces of the two construction units  100  are perpendicular to each other.  
         [0071]     A construction unit according to a second preferred embodiment of this is shown in FIGS.  44  to  47 , and generally designated as  200 . As compared with the construction unit  100  discussed, the construction unit  200  differs in the following respects: 
    a. a head  202  of the construction unit  200  is of a generally regular hexagonal shape;     b. a space  218  between legs  210 ,  212  of the construction unit  200  is of a generally regular hexagonal shape; and     c. an end  222  of an arm  206  has a part hexagonal outer periphery  224 .    
 
         [0075]     By way of such an arrangement, a number of construction units  200  may also be releasably inter-engaged with one another in a large variety of ways.  
         [0076]     A construction unit according to a third preferred embodiment of this is shown in FIGS.  48  to  50 , and generally designated as  300 . As compared with the construction units  100 ,  200  discussed, the construction unit  300  differs in the following respects: 
    d. a head  302  of the construction unit  300  is of a generally regular pentagonal shape;     e. a space  318  between legs  310 ,  312  of the construction unit  300  is of a generally regular pentagonal shape; and     f. an end  322  of an arm  306  has a part pentagonal outer periphery  324 .    
 
         [0080]     Again, by way of such an arrangement, a number of construction units  300  may also be releasably inter-engaged with one another in a large variety of ways.  
         [0081]     A number of construction units  100  may be provided as toy pieces, allowing a player, e.g. a child, to build various toys by inter-engaging the construction units with one another other in various manners and ways. The same also applies to the construction units  200  and  300 .  
         [0082]     As shown in  FIG. 51 , a generally square coaster  400  is shown as being constructed of sixteen construction units  100 . In a larger scale, and as shown in  FIG. 52 , a floor mat  500  is shown as being constructed of a larger number of construction units  100 .  
         [0083]     While the coast  400  shown in  FIG. 51  and the floor mat  500  in  FIG. 52  are generally speaking two-dimensional articles, the construction units  100  may be inter-engaged with one another to form three-dimensional articles, e.g. a stationery item such as a pen holder  600  as shown in  FIG. 53 , and a figurine animal, such as a figurine dog  700  as shown in  FIG. 54 .  
         [0084]     The construction units  100  may be inter-engaged with each other, as shown in  FIGS. 55 and 56 , to form a chessboard  902 . The same construction units  100  may also act as the chess pieces  904  movable by a user on the chessboard  902  to occupy different positions, for playing a chess game. A distinct advantage of such an arrangement is that even in cases where a chess piece is lost, a construction unit  100  may be disengaged from the chessboard  902  to replace the missing chess piece  904 . On the other hand, when a chess piece  902  is captured, the winning player does not have to look for space for storing the chess piece  902 , but only has to engage the captured chess piece  904  with the chessboard  902  for storage.  
         [0085]     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0086]     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.