Amusement devices: toys – Construction toy
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-08-28
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Construction toy
C446S901000, C446S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280282
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to toy building sets and, more particularly, to coupling mechanisms for releasably coupling toy building members together for forming buildings, vehicles, action figures, and the like.
Toy building sets including modular toy building members are known. An example is the Lego™ system having building blocks that are coupled together by a mating connection involving the insertion of a protruded portion of one building block into a slot of another block. Other types of coupling mechanisms employing snap-in connection, cables, or the like have been proposed to provide improved flexibility of construction and allow more complex structures to be formed. Some of the coupling mechanisms tend to be complicated and expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to toy building sets having toy building members with versatile coupling mechanisms. Specific embodiments of the invention include toy coupling mechanisms that are simple and easy to use, provide reliable connections, and are inexpensive to manufacture.
An aspect of the present invention is directed to a toy building set of the type which includes a plurality of building members each including at least one coupling mechanism for coupling with similar coupling mechanisms in other building members. The improvement comprises a coupling mechanism including a proximal portion and a distal portion connected to the proximal portion. The distal portion includes at least one flexible locking element configured to be releasably locked with a plurality of similar flexible locking elements in the distal portions of other similar coupling mechanisms when the distal portion of the coupling mechanism is pushed toward the proximal portions of the other coupling mechanisms to deform the flexible locking elements from an undeformed state to a deformed state to produce locking forces in a locked position. The coupling mechanism is detachable from the other coupling mechanisms by applying a sufficient force pulling the coupling mechanism apart from the other coupling mechanisms to deform the flexible locking elements to overcome the locking forces produced by the flexible locking elements in the deformed state and return the flexible locking elements to the undeformed state in the unlocked position.
In some embodiments, the distal portion includes a longitudinal trunk, and a plurality of flexible locking elements distributed around and along the longitudinal trunk and extending outwardly from the longitudinal trunk. The plurality of flexible locking elements may include slender branches. At least some of the slender branches may be generally straight and angled generally toward the proximal portion.
In specific embodiments, the distal portion includes an enlarged member near the distal end. The enlarged member may be generally spherical. The proximal portion may include at least one locking recess for releasably capturing enlarged members of other similar coupling mechanisms of other similar building members in the locked position.
In some embodiments, the distal portion includes a longitudinal trunk oriented in a longitudinal direction. The proximal portion includes a resilient member resiliently biasing the longitudinal trunk in the longitudinal direction. The resilient member is deformable to permit movement of the longitudinal trunk generally along the longitudinal direction between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. The resilient member may resiliently bias the longitudinal trunk toward the fully retracted position in some embodiments, and toward the fully extended position in other embodiments. The resilient member may include a spring.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toy building member includes a core, and a plurality of connecting members having proximal ends coupled with the core. Each connecting member extends from the proximal end to a distal end away from the core. Each connecting member includes a plurality of flexible locking elements disposed between the distal end and the proximal end and extending outwardly.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a toy building member includes a core, and a plurality of connecting members including proximal portions having proximal ends coupled with the core. Each connecting member extends from the proximal end to a distal portion having a distal end away from the core. Each connecting member includes an enlarged member near the distal end.
In some embodiments, the proximal portion of each connecting member includes a resilient member which is deformable to permit movement of the distal end toward and away from the proximal end. In other embodiments, a resilient member is disposed between the core and the plurality of connecting members. The resilient member is deformable to permit movement of the connecting members toward and away from the core.
The core may include a plurality of sectors which are displaceable relative to each other. In specific embodiments, the plurality of sectors are resiliently biased toward a plurality of engagement positions relative to each other, and are movable between the plurality of engagement positions.
In a specific embodiment, the core includes a magnetic material having a first charge, and the enlarged member of each connecting member includes a magnetic material having a second charge opposite from the first charge.
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Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Francis Faye
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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