Several Flexible Strip Having Nestable Cup Elements Thereon

Abstract

An elongate strip of stiff flexible sheet material having formed therein a row of openings and provided with a plurality of bounding walls upstanding from the strip and each extending about a respective opening. The strips may be frictionally connected by nesting the bounding walls of one strip in the opening of another.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a toy construction of the type described, which is extremely simple in structure and capable of an infinite variety of unique configurations and assemblages, limited only by imagination, and which is extremely easily configured and combined in any desired relationship for absorbing and education play by children of widely different ages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is economical to manufacture, conveniently collapsible to occupy a minimum of space for shipment and storage, relatively light in weight and easily handled by even small children, and uniquely attractive in appearance for continued and repeated usage over long periods of time.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toy construction of the present invention in a selective combinative arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the toy construction of the present invention in another embodiment of use configured to simulate an animal.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the toy construction of the present invention in the configuration of letters.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view illustrating the toy construction of the present invention in a combinative configuration simulating a man.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a toy construction of the present invention configured to form a bracelet.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the toy construction of the present invention in the configuration of headwear.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, there is illustrated therein a halo or headdress, generally designated 20, and configured by the combination of a plurality of toy elements of the instant invention, namely the elements 21, 22 and 23. The elements 21, 22 and 23 may all be substantially identical, each including an elongate, generally rectangular strip of stiff flexible sheet material as at 21a, 22a and 23a. Each strip 21a, 22 a and 23a is formed with a longitudinally arranged series or row of equally spaced, generally congruent, noncircular openings, as at 21b, 22b and 23b, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 21b, 22b and 23b are each of rectangular configuration and arranged in side-by-side parallel relation with respect to each other, having their sides parallel to the longitudinal and end edges of their associated strips 21a, 22a and 23a.

Extending about each of the openings 21b, 22b and 23b, in peripheral bounding relation therewith and upstanding from the associated strip are respective bounding walls 21c, 22 c and 23c. The bounding walls 21c, 22c and 23c are thus of generally rectangular configuration, and each bounding wall is convergent or tapering in the direction away from its respective strip 21a, 22a and 23a. Extending across the upper or outer end of each bounding wall 21C. 22c and 23c is an upper, end wall or top, as at 21d, 22d and 23d, respectively. The end or top walls 21d, 22d and 23d thus serve to effectively cover and close the openings 21b, 22b and 23b of the respective strips. In addition to the outwardly tapering or convergent configuration of the generally rectangular bounding walls 21c, 22c and 23c, they may be provided with outwardly extending depressions or grooves, as at 21e, 22e and 23e. More specifically, the grooves 21e, 22 e and 23e may each be formed in a respective side or wall portion of the bounding walls and of a divergent or enlarging configuration in the direction toward and terminating at the respective end walls 21d, 22d and 23d.

In practice, each element 21, 22 and 23 may be integrally formed by any suitable procedure, say from plastic material, such that the strips 21a, 22a and 23a are of a stiff flexible character while the walls 21c, 22c and 23c are reinforced by their configuration to minimize flexibility.

In the combinative arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the elements 22 and 23 are each arranged with their strips 22a and 23a flexed and their respective walls 22c and 23c inward or on the inner side of the arc of flexure. In this condition, the elements 22 and 23 are locate with their end portions in overlapping relation and combined to define a cylinder or circle, the overlapping portions of strips 22a and 23a having their endmost walls 22c and 23c engaged in interfitting relation.

More specifically, the distal or endmost bounding walls 22c of element 22 are each engaged through a respective endmost opening 23b of the element 23 and into the associated bounding wall 23c. By the rectangular, generally congruent relationship of openings 22b and 23b, and the similar configuration of bounding walls 22c and 23c, the entering walls 22c are conformably and nonrotatably engaged in the similarly configured bounding walls 23c being in a frictionally holding, interfitting relation therein. In this manner, the elements 22 and 23 combine to define a self-sustaining annulus, as for the halo or headdress 20.

The strip 21a of element 21 is illustrated in a relatively straight condition, having one endmost bounding wall 21c entering through an endmost opening 22b of element 22 and frictionally engaged in holding relation within the associated bounding wall 22c. This condition is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, from which it will be appreciated that the several elements 21, 22 and 23 are frictionally retained in their illustrated association of FIG. 1, being held therein against relative movement, other than flexure of the elements. However, the elements 21, 22 and 23 may be readily dissociated or separated by deliberate removal of the interengaged bounding walls from their frictional holding relation. It will be appreciated that, and as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, that the bounding walls and end walls of the cup-shaped elements are stackable or nestable in interfitting frictional relationship with each other whereby, the buildup of strip thickness is, therefore, substantially equal to the summation of the stacked strip thicknesses.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a base element is there generally designated 25, being of elongate configuration and adapted to rest on any suitable support. A pair of front and rear elements 26 and 27 upstand from the base element at the opposite ends thereof, and intermediate upper element 28 extends between upper regions of the upstanding elements 26 and 27. A forward element 29 extends forwardly from a forward region of the intermediate element 28, and a rear element 30 extends rearwardly from a rear region of the intermediate element.

The base element 25 may be essentially similar to the first described elements 21, 22 and 23 including an elongate, generally rectangular strip 25a, having a longitudinally arranged series or row of substantially identical, equally spaced upset portions defining bounding walls 25c. The element 225 differs from the elements 21-23 only in the provision of a flange 25f extending peripherally about the strip 25a and serving to reinforce and effectively rigidify the same against flexure. By this structure the element 25 affords a relatively rigid base for effectively supporting the superstructure of elements 26-30.

The upstanding elements 26 and 27 may each be entirely identical to the elements 21-23, and flexed in the configuration of an annulus with their bounding walls 26c and 27c internally of the annulus. Further, the endmost bounding walls 26c are engaged in frictional interfitting relationship with each other to secure the annulus in position, and further engaged in frictional interfitting relation with the forward endmost bounding wall 25c of base element 25, as best seen in FIG. 5.

The rearward annular-configured element 27 may be similarly secured and arranged on the rearward region of the base element 25.

The intermediate element 28, as well as forward and rearward elements 29 and 30 may each be identical (except for the lengths of the strips) to the elements 21-23, and their illustrated association is believed apparent. Briefly described, the endmost bounding walls 28c of element 28 are frictionally interfit in engagement with the uppermost bounding walls of front and rear upstanding elements 26 and 27. The forward element 29 has one endmost bounding wall 29c engaged in a medially located bounding wall, and the other endmost bounding wall of the element 29 is frictionally interfit in one of the bounding walls 28c of intermediate element 28. Also, the forwardmost bounding wall 30c of rearward element 30 is frictionally interfit in the rearmost bounding wall 28c of intermediate element 28 and uppermost bounding wall or rear upstanding element 27.

In addition to the formation of three-dimensional configurations, the toy element of the present invention may be employed in two-dimensional configurations, say to represent numerals or letters. For example, in FIG. 6, a pair of toy elements in accordance with the instant invention are generally designated 31 and 32, each being substantially identical to one of the first described toy elements 21-23. The elements 31 and 32 are arranged in generally coplanar, but crossed relation, with an upper endmost bounding wall 31c of the element 31 in frictional interfitting relation with a medially located bounding wall 32c of the crosswise element 32. Obviously, this forms a letter "T."

Similarly, the letter "S" may be formed by this combinative association of elements 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37. In this letter configuration it will appear that the elements 34 and 36 are of lesser length than the elements 33, 35 and 37. Of course, the instant elements may be of any desired length, and may advantageously be of a readily severable or frangible material for reducing the length, and may be combinable in the above-described frictionally interfitting relation to enlarge the length.

The simulated human form of FIG. 7 includes a base element 40 which may be identical to the base element 25, including a rigidifying peripheral flange 40f, and a leg-simulating element 41 which may be identical (except for the lengths of the strips) to the aforedescribed elements 21-23, being flexed into an inverted generally U-shaped configuration with its endmost bounding walls 41c frictionally interfit with spaced bounding walls 40c of the base element 40. A torso-simulating element 42 may be defined by an annular configured element identical to those of FIG. 1, with endmost bounding walls 42c in frictional interfitting engagement with an uppermost, medial bounding wall 41c of the element 41.

An additional element 43 may be superposed on the torso-simulating element 42 to simulate outwardly extending arms. That is, an intermediately located bounding wall 43c of the element 43 is frictionally interengaged in the uppermost, frictionally interengaged bounding walls 42c of element 42. In addition, an uppermost or head-simulating element 44 may be flexed in the configuration of a semicircle wherein one pair of endmost bounding walls 44c are engaged in and frictionally interfit with the other pair of endmost bounding walls to define a reinforced and relatively straight strip region.

FIG. 8 represents an element 45, which may be identical to the elements 21-23, having its endmost bounding wall 45c engaged in frictional interfitting relation to define an annulus for circumposition about a wearer's wrist in the manner of a bracelet.

Another article of headwear is shown in FIG. 9, wherein an element generally designated 46 is flexed to an annular configuration, as described hereinbefore, say in connection with the annular configuration of element 45 in FIG. 8. In addition, a pair of elements 47 and 48 are each of construction substantially identical to the elements 21-23 and arranged in crosswise bridging relation with respect to the annular-configured element 46. That is, the elongate element 48 has its opposite end bounding walls 48c each engaged frictionally interfitting relation with a respectively diametrically opposed bounding wall 46c of the element 46. Thus, the element 48 extends in bridging relation diametrically across the element 46. Also, the element 47 extends in bridging relation diametrically across the annulus 46, transversely of the element 48, and has its endmost bounding walls 47c engaged in frictionally interfitting relation with adjacent bounding walls 46c of the element 46 and a medial bounding wall 47c in interfitting relation with a medial bounding wall 48c of element 48.

Of course, the several configurations illustrated and described hereinbefore are merely representative, and it is obvious that an infinitely variable number of additional configurations may be formed, as by persons of all ages upon exercises of the imagination.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a toy construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, distribution and use.

Claims

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

1. A toy construction comprising an elongate thin strip of stiff flexible sheet material of uniform thickness adapted to be readily severable into a plurality of pieces of variable lengths, said strip being provided with a single row of noncircular openings arranged longitudinally along said strip, said openings being in the form of thin substantially deep cup-shaped elements protruding beyond one side of said thin strip, each of said cup-shaped elements having a plurality of lateral bounding walls of substantially the same thickness as said strip upstanding from said strip and inwardly extending depressions formed in the external surface of each of said bounding walls, said cup-shaped elements of a plurality of said strips being nestable in interfitting frictional and nonrotatable relationship with each other in a plurality of relative positions, said strip having a sufficient number of said openings to provide said plurality of pieces, with at least two said pieces each having two said openings therein wherein an article may be formed from a plurality of said pieces, and the buildup of strip thickness for any number of stacked strips or pieces is substantially equal to the summation of stacked strip thicknesses, whereby a compactly shaped article may be made.

2. A toy construction according to claim 1, said openings being equally spaced apart for engagement of a selected adjacent pair of said bounding walls into a selected other adjacent pair of said bounding walls upon passage through the openings associated with said other adjacent pair of bounding walls.

3. A toy construction according to claim 2, said openings being substantially congruent to each other for conforming engagement of said bounding walls.

4. A toy construction according to claim 3, said bounding walls each being convergent in the direction away from said strip for snug frictional interfitting relation of engaging bounding walls.

5. A tory construction according to claim 4, wherein said cup-shaped elements are formed with an end wall extending across the upper end of each bounding wall, whereby each bounding wall and its associated end wall effectively close the associated opening.

6. A toy construction according to claim 4, said bounding walls each conformably bounding its associated opening, whereby engaging walls are nonrotatably engaged with each other.

7. A toy construction according to claim 6, in combination with a similar strip, said similar strip having a peripheral flange effectively rigidifying the latter.

8. A toy construction according to claim 1, wherein said inwardly extending depressions form diverging grooves terminating at outermost protruding ends of said upstanding bounding walls.