Flexible pegs and connectors for use in a game or amusement device

Abstract

A peg for use in a game or amusement device in which pegs are connected either indirectly by means of connector pieces or directly to one another; such a peg comprising a flexible wire core enveloped by synthetic resin with the ends of the envelope being rigid and the remaining central section of the envelope being pliant. The rigid ends of the envelope are secured to the core by means of notches in the core, and the pliant central section is a one piece body with radial circular flanges.

Description

The invention is concerned with a game or amusement device which has pegs and connector pieces -- the latter having holes into which a peg may be inserted and detachably secured so that pegs may be linked to each other.

In known games wherein pegs are used, the pegs are stiff or rigid bars, usually made of wood but recently of a suitable hard setting synthetic resin or similar material, whether solid or hollow.

In some of the known games wherein pegs are used, the pegs have suitable holes so that they may be directly interconnected. Realtively stiff frameworks may hence be constructed with the pegs directly attached, or indirectly attached by means of connector pieces. The shapes and patterns which may be formed are limited by the shape or shapes of the pegs, the connector pieces and the orientation of the holes.

The object of the invention is an improved peg to enable a greater variety of shapes or patterns in the frameworks to be formed, thereby enabling a playing child to express his individuality in the frameworks and their construction.

It should be noted that an increased variety of shapes and patterns of frameworks is made possible by the invention whilst using a single type of this peg.

According to the invention a peg comprises a flexible wire core completely enveloped by synthetic resin with the ends of the envelope being rigid and the central section being pliant.

A peg according to the invention is obtained which may be bent to any desired shape as in the limbs of well known toy figures. Hence pegs according to the invention in combination with the connector pieces provide a game which allows a great variety of shapes and patterns to be formed in frameworks sufficiently stiff to be self-sustaining.

The rigid ends or caps of the peg allow it to be firmly attached to a connector piece to enable it to be bent whilst connected without coming loose.

Usually aluminium is used in the flexible toy figures and were it to be used for the core of the peg, it may, after an amount of use of the peg, penetrate the synthetic resin envelope. Penetration would be through the ends of the envelope because of the action of inserting the peg into a hole. The rigid ends or caps prevent any such occurrence and consequent weakening of connection, and also prevents any possible injury to a child.

The flexibility of the peg is related to the shape of the central section of the envelope between the two caps as well as of course the material of the core and the material of the envelope.

If for ease of handling, the cross section of the central section of the envelope is made larger than that of the ends, then the central section must have suitable weak spots or gaps or spaces in order that flexibility is maintained. Flexibility can be maintained if the central section of the envelope is formed as one piece with a series of radial circular flanges, much like discs, with each disc tapering from its centre radially outwardly to a thin edge or rim.

The flexible wire core may be of aluminium or other cold ductile metal of circular or other cross section. The surface of the core may be rough or smooth. The flexible core may be formed as twisted strands of thin wire. The essential feature of the core is flexibility, no matter how formed in what shape and of what material. The choice of how to form, to what shape and of what material may be guided by practical experience.

Additional features and a preferred method of manufacture will appear from the following description made with reference to the drawings of an example of a peg according to the invention:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a peg designed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the peg shown in FIG. 1 with the section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the peg shown in FIG. 1 with the section taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating how pegs of the type shown in FIG. 1 may be used in connection with connector pieces in the construction of objects such as the illustrated little man.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, the wire core 1 has at each end a notch 2 which provides a means for retaining a rigid end piece or cap 3, which covers the end. Each cap is made of a relatively hard setting synthetic resin. Each cap 3 has a collar 4 which abuts onto the surface of a connector piece when the peg end is inserted into a hole of such a piece. The end caps 3 are preferably fitted to the wire core by an injection moulding operation.

The central section between the end caps is enveloped with a one piece body 5 of P.V.C. of larger cross section than the caps, and which has a series of radial circular flanges. Each flange is a disc which tapers outwardly to a thin edge.

It is preferred that the body 5 is fitted by injection moulding after the caps are attached, so that each end of the body overlaps onto the collar 4. This helps to retain the body in position, especially if there is a circumferential groove 6 (see FIG. 2) around the collar 4. The body may also be secured directly to the core by means of a circumferential groove or grooves in the core. This would be done with large sizes of peg which have holes in the collar for direct interconnection of the pegs.

The preferred two stage fitting of the synthetic resin envelope to the core allows the respective degrees of hardness of the central section body and the end caps to be controlled for their optimum values.

The preferred method of manufacture allows semifinished components to be used.

The end caps and the central section body can be produced in any desired shape and preferably of different colours.

With reference to FIG. 4, the connector pieces 7, 7', 8, and 8' may be solid or hollow with flat or curved surface, and have a multiplicity of holes for the pegs.

Claims

I claim:

1. A peg for a game or amusement device, in which the peg comprises a flexible wire core covered by a synthetic-resin envelope, with the ends of the envelope being rigid and the central remaining section of the envelope being pliant, and in which said pliant section of the envelope is a one-piece body with radial flanges, having a cross-section greater than said rigid ends, and wherein said rigid ends are secured to said wire core.

2. Peg according to claim 1 in which the envelope is secured to the core.

3. Peg according to claim 1 in which the rigid ends of the envelope are separate pieces from the pliant central section of the envelope, and in which said rigid ends are secured to the core by means of notches in the core.

4. Peg according to claim 3 in which the pliant central section of the envelope partly overlaps the rigid ends of the envelope.

5. Peg according to claim 4 in which the pliant section is attached to the rigid end where they overlap.

6. Peg according to claim 1 in which the flanges are like discs and taper from the centre radially outwardly to a thin edge or rim.

7. Peg according to claim 1 to which is added at least one connector piece having an outer surface through which at least one hole has been formed and in which a rigid end includes a collar which abuts the surface of said connector piece when the rigid end of the peg is inserted into said hole in the connector piece.

8. Peg according to claim 7 in which the pliant section at least partly overlaps the collar and the collar has means for securing the pliant section to it.

9. Peg according to claim 1 in which the pliant section is a different colour to the rigid ends.

10. A process for manufacturing a peg which comprises making notches in a flexible wire, fitting rigid caps of synthetic resin over the ends of the wire by injection moulding so as to cover the notches, and fitting a pliant envelope of synthetic resin by injection moulding over the remaining uncovered wire.

11. A peg for use in a game or amusement device comprising a flexible wire core which, when deformed, retains its deformed position, rigid caps of synthetic resin which are fitted over the ends of said wire by injection moulding, and a pliant, one-piece jacket of synthetic resin having radial flanges which is fitted about said wire core to join said caps by injection moulding to thereby cover the remaining uncovered wire.

12. A game or amusement device comprising:

at least one solid or hollow connector piece having a flat or curved outer surface in which at least one hole has been formed;

a peg comprising a flexible wire core which, when deformed, retains its deformed position, a synthetic resin envelope covering said wire core, said envelope having rigid end portions which enclose ends of said core and which form pins suitable for insertion into the hole in said connector piece, and said envelope having a central portion which forms a pliant jacket about said wire core and which joins said end portions to completely encompass said wire core.