U.S. patent number 3,882,630 [Application Number 05/395,878] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-13 for structural element for composable toy constructions.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brabo-Matic S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Natale Bianco.
United States Patent |
3,882,630 |
Bianco |
May 13, 1975 |
Structural element for composable toy constructions
Abstract
A structural element for composable toy constructions,
comprising an elongated body with spaced apart land portions and
recessed portions therebetween. The elongated body comprises
further a series of apertures spaced apart over the length of the
elongated body and adapted to receive portions of the elongated
body. The element may serve as a supporting stick for ice
cream.
Inventors: |
Bianco; Natale (Zuccarello,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Brabo-Matic S.p.A. (Milan,
IT)
|
Family
ID: |
11203783 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/395,878 |
Filed: |
September 10, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 14, 1972 [IT] |
|
|
23101/72 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/106; 446/85;
426/134 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
33/084 (20130101); A63H 33/088 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/08 (20060101); A63H 33/04 (20060101); A63h
033/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/27,28,29
;426/91,134,110 ;273/160 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shay; F. Barry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Modiano; Dr. G. Josif; Dr. A.
Claims
I claim:
1. A structural element for composable toy constructions,
comprising a substantially flat elongated body having spaced apart
land portions defining a first transverse dimension of the element
and arranged in regular intervals over the length of the elongated
body and recessed portions therebetween defining a second
transverse dimension of the element, the land portions each having
a first longitudinal extension thereof and the recessed portions
each having a second longitudinal extension thereof, the elongated
body further comprising a number of cross-shaped apertures spaced
apart over the length of the elongated body and each defined by a
longitudinal and a transverse slot, said cross-shaped apertures
each having a longitudinal span having a magnitude equal to said
first transverse dimension and a transverse span having a magnitude
equal to said second transverse dimension, said first longitudinal
extension being equal to said transverse span and said second
longitudinal extension being equal to said second transverse
dimension.
2. A structural element according to claim 1, wherein said
longitudinal and transverse slot each define a gap corresponding to
the thickness of said elongated body, one of the slots being a
longitudinal slot corresponding to said longitudinal span and the
other slot being a transverse slot corresponding to said transverse
span, and wherein the magnitudes of said first longitudinal
extension, said second longitudinal extension, said transverse span
and said second transverse dimension are all equal to each other,
the magnitude of said first transverse dimension being equal to the
magnitude of said longitudinal span.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to composable structural elements for toy
constructions.
Known structural elements for toy constructions have engagement
means on some of their surfaces allowing a snap engagement so as to
join together more of such elements and obtain a desired toy
construction.
Such known structural elements can be joined to each other only in
a limited number of mutual positions of the elements with respect
to each other so that the number of possible constructional
combinations is limited. Furthermore, the configuration of such
known elements has limitations in respect to the constructional
combinations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a structural element for
composable toy constructions adapted to increase the number of
mutual positions in which a plurality of elements may be joined
together thereby increasing the number of constructional
combinations.
Another object is to render the structural element dimensionally
transformable and of modular character.
Another object if to make it of an overall simple configuration,
light in weight and of reduced manufacturing costs, durable and
reliable in use.
According to the invention there is provided a structural element
for composable toy constructions, comprising an elongated body
characterized in that the body has spaced apart land portions
defining a first transverse dimension of the element and arranged
in regular intervals over the length of the elongated body and
recessed portions therebetween defining a second transverse
dimension of the element, the land portions each having a first
longitudinal extension thereof and the recessed portions each
having a second longitudinal extension thereof, the elongated body
further comprising a series of apertures spaced apart over the
length of the elongated body, said apertures each having a
longitudinal span corresponding to said first transverse dimension,
said apertures having in at least one intermediate portion thereof
a transverse span corresponding to said second transverse
dimension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the
accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the structural element;
FIG. 2 shows a section according to II--II of FIG. 1 in an enlarged
scale;
FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show examples of structural elements obtained by
transformation from the basic structural element shown in FIG.
1;
FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show some examples of constructional
compositions obtainable by the structural element.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the drawing, the structural element generally
indicated at 1, comprises a flat elongated body 2 having spaced
apart land portions 3, defining a first transverse dimension A of
the element. The land portions 3 are arranged at regular intervals
of the length of the elongated body 2. Between the land 3 recessed
portions 4 are provided, which define a second transverse dimension
B of the element. The land portions 3 each have a first
longitudinal extension C and the recessed portions have their own
longitudinal extension D.
The elongated body 2 further comprises a series of apertures 5
spaced apart from each other over the length of the elongated body
2. The apertures have a longitudinal span E, the magnitude of which
is equal to the magnitude of the first transverse dimension A. The
apertures 5 each have in an intermediate portion at least one
transverse span F, the magnitude of which is equal to the magnitude
of said second transverse dimension B. It will be appreciated that
the apertures 5 are formed of two crossing longitudinal and
transverse slots, numbered 6 and 7 respectively, and it will be
noted that the flat elongated body 2 has a thickness G which
corresponds to the gap H of the slots 6 and 7, so that the body 2
may be inserted into the slot 6. It will be further noted that the
cross-like aperture 5 is located approxiamtely in the center of
each of the land portions 3. It will be further noted that the
magnitudes of the second transverse dimension B, the first
longitudinal extension C, the transverse span F and the second
longitudinal extension D are equal with respect to each other. It
will be further noted that the first transverse dimension A and the
longitudinal span E are also equal in magnitude. Through such an
arrangement a plurality of structural elements may not only be
joined together by side by side positioning, so that the lands 3 of
one element are inserted in the recesses 4 of the other elements,
but the joining of the elements may be in positions transverse to
each other and even the elements may intersect each other, since
the gap H of the slots correspond to the thickness G of the
elongated body and the span E corresponds to the first transverse
dimensions A of the elongated body 2. In this way the mutually
intersecting elements may form cross-pieces or bridges of the
composable toy construction. Furthermore, the lateral joining of
the elements may be effected with the main surfaces of the flat
body 2 arranged perpendicular to each other.
It will be appreciated that the elongated flat body 2 is preferably
made of resilient plastic material. It will be further appreciated
that one end of the structural element terminates with its aperture
open as shown at the right end of FIG. 1, whereas the opposite end
terminates with the free recessed portion, as shown at the left end
of FIG. 1. In this way, opposite ends of structural elements may be
joined together in an aligned relationship, thereby extending the
length of the structural element.
It will be further noted that the structural element presents at
regular intervals cross-sections with break-off notches 8, which
may be on one side only or on both sides of the element. The
break-off notches may be arranged either at the recessed portion of
the element 1 or at the land portions. It is thereby possible to
break-off easily the structural element at desired points, thereby
obtaining modular units in order to increase the possible
constructional combinations.
The structural element may be also used as a supporting rod or core
for instance for ice-cream sticks, which after the consumption of
the ice-cream may be used as a structural element for toy
constructions.
* * * * *