Patent Grant
12097446
The present disclosure relates generally to toy, game, and/or puzzle building pieces and, more particularly, to variously-shaped connectors and/or rods that are adaptable to connect in a multitude of configurations and angles.
The following presents a summary of this disclosure to provide a basic understanding of some aspects. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements or define any limitations of embodiments or claims. Furthermore, this summary may provide a simplified overview of some aspects that may be described in greater detail in other portions of this disclosure.
Disclosed is a toy, game, and/or puzzle building system. The toy picks building system may comprise variously shaped connectors that are operatively attachable to other connectors or to rods. The connectors may include a receiving portion adapted to receive a rod and may connect two, three, four, five, etc. rods in various angles and orientations. For instance, two rods may be connected in a straight line, at a right angle, at an obtuse angle, at an acute angle, etc. The connectors may include a receiving portion adapted to receive another connector. Multiple rods may be connected in 2-D and 3-D configurations and orientations, for example, two rods at a right angle encompassing the x and y directions or three rods at right angles encompassing the x, y, and z directions. Both the rods and connectors may be provided in a variety of lengths, shapes, colors, and sizes. Additionally, the connectors may be used with any existing items, such as a plastic or wooden toothpick, straw, stirrer, and the like, that may fit within the receiving portions of the connectors. The toy picks building system may be built into a particular shape, item, vehicle, animal, person, building, scene, landscape or the like. The toy picks building system may also allow for freehand building. The various components and versatility between components allow for the creation of limitless configurations, shapes, and images.
Disclosed is a toy building system. The toy building system may comprise a connector. The connector may comprise at least one arm and the at least one arm may comprises a first end, a second end, a body, and an elongated channel. The elongated channel may extend from at least one of the first or second end and through a length, or portion thereof, of the body. The elongated channel may serve as a first mating portion. The elongated channel may be configured to operatively receive a first mating piece.
The toy building system may comprise a rod. The rod may include a first end, a second end, and a body. The at least the first end or the second end may be an elongated end. The elongated end may form the first mating piece.
In an embodiment, the first mating piece may be an end of a toothpick.
In an embodiment, the connector may include two arms and wherein the two arms may be positioned linearly at a 180° angle. In an embodiment, the connector may include two arms and wherein the two arms may be positioned at a 90° angle. In an embodiment, the connector may include two arms and wherein the two arms may be positioned at an obtuse angle. In an embodiment, the connector may include two arms and wherein the two arms may be positioned at an acute angle. In an embodiment, the connector may include three arms and wherein the three arms may be positioned in a planar T-shape. In an embodiment, the connector may include three or more arms and wherein the three or more arms may be positioned in the same plane. In an embodiment, the three or more arms may be positioned around a center point. In an embodiment, 7 arms may be positioned around a center point to form 7 spaces between adjacent arms and wherein 6 of the spaces may be equal angles. The 7th space may include a second mating portion. In an embodiment, the connector may include three or more arms, wherein at least one arm may be positioned in a different plane.
In any of the described embodiments herein, the arms may connect at a juncture. The juncture may further comprise a second mating portion. The second mating portion may be configured to receive a second mating piece. In an embodiment, a body of a rod or a juncture of a second connector may form the second mating piece.
In an embodiment, the toy building system may further comprise a wheel. The wheel may include a central hub. The central hub may include an aperture, a plurality of arms positioned planarly around the central hub, and an outer rim. Each of the plurality of arms may include a first end, a second end, a body, and an elongated channel. The elongated channel may extend from the first end and through a length, or portion thereof, of the body. The elongated channel may serve as a first mating portion. The elongated channel may be configured to operatively receive the first mating piece.
In an embodiment, the toy building system may further comprise an axle. The axle may be operatively engageable with the central hub of the wheel. The axle may include a channel configured to operatively receive the first mating piece.
Disclosed is a toy building system. The toy building system may comprise at least one connector and at least one rod. The connector may comprise at least two arms each having a first end, a second end, and a body. Each arm may include a first receiving cavity at the first end and through a length, or portion thereof, of the body. The second ends of each arm may connect at a juncture. The connector may include a second receiving cavity at the juncture. The rod may comprise a first end, a second end, and a body. The first end of the rod may comprise a first corresponding mating portion that may be configured to operatively engage the first receiving cavity of the connector. The body of the rod may comprise a second mating portion that may be configured to operatively engage the second receiving cavity of the connector.
In an embodiment, a second receiving cavity of a second connector may be configured to operatively engage a second receiving cavity of a first connector.
In any of the described embodiments herein, the toy building system, and any components thereof, may be formed from one or more of plastics, acrylics, polymers, or silicones. In any of the described embodiments herein, the toy building system, and any components thereof, may be 3-D printed, molded, stamped, or extruded.
The following description and the drawings disclose various illustrative aspects. Some improvements and novel aspects may be expressly identified, while others may be apparent from the description and drawings.
The present teachings may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present teachings. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present teachings. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present teachings. In this disclosure, numerous specific details provide a thorough understanding of the subject disclosure. It should be understood that aspects of this disclosure may be practiced with other embodiments not necessarily including all aspects described herein, etc.
As used herein, the words “example” and “exemplary” means an instance, or illustration. The words “example” or “exemplary” do not indicate a key or preferred aspect or embodiment. The word “or” is intended to be inclusive rather than exclusive, unless context suggests otherwise. As an example, the phrase “A employs B or C,” includes any inclusive permutation (e.g., A employs B; A employs C; or A employs both B and C). As another matter, the articles “a” and “an” are generally intended to mean “one or more” unless context suggest otherwise.
Further, unless context suggest otherwise, descriptions of shapes and angles (e.g., circular, rectangular, triangular, right, obtuse, acute etc.) refer to shapes and angles meeting the definition of such shapes or angles and general representation of such shapes or angles. For instance, a triangular shape or generally triangular shape may include a shape that has three sides and three vertices or a shape that generally represents a triangle, such as a shape having three major sides that may or may not have straight edges, triangular like shapes with rounded vertices, etc. Additionally, referring to a right angle might include angles similar to or about 90°, which may include deviations from such by about one to fifteen degrees. Similarly, comparative lengths (e.g. short, medium, long) may comprise any suitable base length.
While embodiments may refer to a particular example of the described connectors, rods, and building system as having a particular attachment between the connectors and/or rods it is noted that many other orientations and attachments may be possible as all the pieces are interchangeable. While the embodiments may refer to a particular toy application, it is noted that disclosed embodiments may be suitable for users of any age and may be applicable to various other uses, products, and industries. Generally, described embodiments may be utilized for any application that incorporates connectors, rods, tiles, building, crafting, etc. As an example, the building systems may be utilized as 3-D puzzles, as a board game, to build specific instructed shapes or images, as well as freehand building. It is further noted that the connectors, rods, and building system may incorporate or be combined with existing items. For example, the connectors may be adapted to receive plastic or wooden toothpicks, straws, stirrers, and the like.
Components, such as the connectors and rods, may be made of any suitable material including plastics, acrylics, polymers, silicones, and the like. The components may be flexible and malleable, or hard and fixed. In an embodiment, the components may be monolithically formed or formed as separate pieces that are assembled. The components may be 3-D printed utilizing additive manufacturing technics or may be molded, stamped, extruded or manufactured in any known method. The components may include hinges, joints, or pivots that allow rotation or bending. For example, a rod may include a hinge at its center to enable up to a 90° or greater rotation. In another example, a connector may include a hinge at or near its joint to enable rotation between the connectors from an acute to an obtuse angular position. In an embodiment, the components may be rotatable when connected. For example, a mating portion of a rod may be rotatable within a receiving portion of a connector or an axle may be rotatable when operatively connected to a wheel. In an embodiment, the components may be motorized and include a battery, controls, and the like, to build motorized systems. The toy picks building system may be built into a particular shape, item, vehicle, animal, person, building, scene, or landscape. The toy picks building system may also allow for freehand building.
In an embodiment, the first receiving portion 110 of the single-arm connector 100 may generally be defined by a recess 112, securing walls 114, and one or more stop points 116. The recess 112 and securing walls 114 of the single-arm connector 100 may attach to or connect to a corresponding mating portion, such as a first receiving portion on a second connector or to a body of a rod as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the corresponding mating portion of another connector or a rod (and/or toothpick) may first insert into the recess 112, engage a portion of the securing walls 114, and secure a fit with the single-arm connector 100 upon contact with the stop point 116. The recess 112 may include various engagement features such as grooves, ridges, channels, tracks, protrusions, projections, or the like, that correspond to a mating portion of the other connector or rod (and/or toothpick) to create a secure fit. The fit may be a pressure fit, a snap fit, a twist fit, a screw fit, or the like, to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of any two pieces of the toy picks building system, which can be utilized to build the final assembly.
The single arm 120 of the single-arm connector 100 may include a second receiving or mating portion 122. In an embodiment, the single arm 120 may be positioned adjacent the first mating portion 110 described above. In an embodiment, the recess 112 of the first receiving portion 110 may be generally perpendicular (e.g., within 1-15 degrees of perpendicular) to the second receiving portion 122 of the single arm 120. The second receiving portion 122 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod, see
The two arms 220, 230 of the straight connector 200 may include second receiving or mating portions 222, 232. In an embodiment, the recess 212 of the first receiving portion 210 may be generally perpendicular (e.g., within 1 to 15 degrees of perpendicular) to the second receiving portions 222, 232 of the two arms 220, 230. The second receiving portions 222, 232 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 222, 232 of the arms 220, 230 may each include an opening 224, 234 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 226, 236 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 220, 230. Each arm 220, 230 may include a stop point 228, 238 within or at the end of the cavity 226, 236 to prevent further insertion of a rod (and/or toothpick) into the receiving portion 222, 232. The second receiving portions 222, 232 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick) to build the assembly desired.
The two arms 320, 330 of the right-angle connector 300 may include second receiving or mating portions 322, 332. In an embodiment, the recess 312 of the first receiving portion 310 may be perpendicular to the second receiving portions 332 of one arm 330, and in line with the receiving portion 322 of the other arm 320. The second receiving portions 322, 332 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 322, 332 of the arms 320, 330 may each include an opening 324, 334 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 326, 336 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 320, 330. Each arm 320, 330 may include a stop point 328, 338 within or at the end of the cavity 326, 336 to prevent further insertion of a rod (and/or toothpick) into the receiving portion 322, 332. The second receiving portions 322, 332 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick).
The two arms 420, 430 of the obtuse-angle connector 400 may include second receiving or mating portions 422, 432. The second receiving portions 422, 432 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 422, 432 of the arms 420, 430 may each include an opening 424, 434 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 426, 436 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 420, 430. Each arm 420, 430 may include a stop point 428, 438 within or at the end of the cavity 426, 436 to prevent further insertion of a rod into the receiving portion 422, 432. The second receiving portions 422, 432 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick).
The two arms 520, 530 of the acute-angle connector 500 may include second receiving or mating portions 522, 532. The second receiving portions 522, 532 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 522, 532 of the arms 520, 530 may each include an opening 524, 534 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 526, 536 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 520, 530. Each arm 520, 530 may include a stop point 528, 538 within or at the end of the cavity 526, 536 to prevent further insertion of a rod (and/or toothpick) into the receiving portion 522, 532. The second receiving portions 522, 532 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick).
The three arms 620, 630, 640 of the three-arm connector 600 may include second receiving or mating portions 622, 632, 642. In an embodiment, the recess 612 of the first receiving portion 610 may be generally perpendicular (e.g., 1 to 15 degrees of perpendicular) to the second receiving portions 622, 642 of two arms 620, 640, and in line with the receiving portion 633 of the other arm 630. The second receiving portions 622, 632, 642 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 622, 632, 642 of the arms 620, 630, 640 may each include an opening 624, 634, 644 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 626, 636, 646 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 620, 630, 640. Each arm 620, 630, 640 may include a stop point 628, 638, 648 within or at the end of the cavity 626, 636, 646 to prevent further insertion of a rod (and/or toothpick) into the receiving portion 622, 632, 642. The second receiving portions 622, 632, 642 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick).
The four arms 720, 730, 740, 750 of the three-arm connector 600 may include second receiving or mating portions 722, 732, 742, 752. The second receiving portions 722, 732, 742, 752 may be configured to receive and attach to a corresponding second mating portion of a rod (and/or toothpick). The second receiving portions 722, 732, 742, 752 of the four arms 720, 730, 740, 750 may each include an opening 724, 734, 744, 754 and generally be defined by an elongated cavity 726, 736, 746, 756 that traverses all or a portion of the length of each arm 720, 730, 740, 750. Each arm 720, 730, 740, 750 may include a stop point 728, 738, 748, 758 within or at the end of the cavity 726, 736, 746, 756 to prevent further insertion of a rod (and/or toothpick) into the receiving portion 722, 732, 742, 752. The second receiving portions 722, 732, 742, 752 may include various engagement features as described herein to create a desired fit and to enable the operative attachment, detachment, and reattachment of a connector and a rod (and/or toothpick).
The arms 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, 970, 980, 990 of the wheel connector 900 may each include similar second receiving portions 922, 932, 942, 952, 962, 972, 982, 992 as have been described herein. The second receiving portions 922, 932, 942, 952, 962, 972, 982, 992 may be adapted to receive the end of a rod (and/or toothpick), for example, and may generally comprise engagement features within to operatively enable attachment between the wheel connector 900 and other components of the toy picks building system.
In an embodiment, the hub 1010 may generally comprise an aperture and serve as a receiving portion for an axle, such as the axle 1100 shown in
The second end and mating portion 1130 may be the same as or similar to the first end and mating portion 1120, or the second end and mating portion 1130 may be different. In an embodiment, the second end and mating portion 1130 may include a first arm 1132 and a second arm 1134 slightly displaced from each other. The first arm 1132 and a second arm 1134 may form an aperture 1140 therebetween. In an embodiment, the aperture 1140 may continue through the base 1110 and, in some cases through the first end and mating portion 1120. The aperture 1140 may be configured to receive another component of the toy picks system including a body or first mating portion 1312 or a first or second end or second mating portions 1322, 1332 of a rod 1300 (or toothpick) as described below. The aperture 1140 may be configured to receive another component of the toy picks building system, including, without limitation any of the other components described herein, including without limitation any of the rods, any of the connectors, plastic or wooden toothpick, straw, stirrer, and the like.
The rod 1300 may further include a first end 1320 and a second end 1330. The first end 1320 and the second end 1330 may be different or the same as one another. In an embodiment, the first end 1320 and the second end 1330 each comprise a second mating portion 1322, 1332 that is configured to attach or connect to any of the second receiving portions of the arms of the connectors disclosed herein. In an example,
In an embodiment, the short rod 1300, medium rod 1400, and long rod 1500 each have corresponding bodies, ends, and first and second mating portions as described above and illustrated in
Further, each of the embodiments of the connectors, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and the rods 1300, 1400, 1500 and the toothpicks described above and similar such existing materials utilized to operatively attach the connectors may be used with a motorizing device. The motorizing device may allow a user to build a design and then motorize the design so that it may move in some capacity. The present teachings are not limited to any specific type of motorized device. By way of a non-limiting example, the motorizing device may comprise small electric motors, permanent magnet motor, hobby motor, a solar motor, or the like. The motorizing device may include one of the connectors, e.g., 100. The connector 100 may be utilized to operatively connect any of the other connectors 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and the rods 1300, 1400, 1500 and the toothpicks to form the desired end product. The foregoing may be utilized to create any kind of end product. The present disclosure is not limited to any specific end product. The examples of such end products are so exhaustive that for the sake of efficiency not all end products can be described. The motorized device may help bring animation to the end product so that it moves. Further still, the motorized device may include an electronic communication portion so that it may operatively communicate with a computing device, e.g., a smartphone, tablet, computer, dedicated remote control or the like. The electronic communication portion may be a wired or wireless communication device. Examples of a wireless communication may include, without limitation, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy and WiMAX. The present teachings, however, are not limited to these wireless communication systems. Any appropriate wireless communication system may be utilized without departing from the present teachings.
Although the embodiments of the present teachings have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present teachings are not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the present teachings described herein are capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof
This application is a 35 U.S.C. 371 national stage filing of PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/031618 filed on May 6, 2020, which claims the priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/843,655 filed on May 6, 2019 and entitled “Toy Picks,” which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/031618 | 5/6/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/227370 | 11/12/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2609638 | Lindenmeyer | Sep 1952 | A |
| 3458949 | Young | Aug 1969 | A |
| 3648404 | Ogsbury | Mar 1972 | A |
| 3747261 | Salem | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3822499 | De Vos | Jul 1974 | A |
| 4471595 | Lanzafame | Sep 1984 | A |
| 4637805 | Sweetin | Jan 1987 | A |
| 4787191 | Shima | Nov 1988 | A |
| 5049105 | Glickman | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5137486 | Glickman | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5238438 | Glickman | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5421666 | Spears | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5704186 | Alcalay | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5769681 | Greenwood, Sr. | Jun 1998 | A |
| 5897417 | Grey | Apr 1999 | A |
| 6059631 | Maddock | May 2000 | A |
| 6491563 | Bailey | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6537130 | Lee | Mar 2003 | B1 |
| 6641453 | Morales | Nov 2003 | B1 |
| 6676474 | Glickman | Jan 2004 | B2 |
| 6948998 | Bagley | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 8651914 | Sisamos | Feb 2014 | B2 |
| 8968046 | Cochella | Mar 2015 | B2 |
| 9399177 | Cochella | Jul 2016 | B2 |
| 9649573 | Phamdo | May 2017 | B2 |
| 10159905 | Bagley | Dec 2018 | B2 |
| 10398999 | Cochella | Sep 2019 | B2 |
| 10493371 | Cochella | Dec 2019 | B2 |
| 10518193 | You | Dec 2019 | B2 |
| 20020090880 | Lee | Jul 2002 | A1 |
| 20040154256 | Kim | Aug 2004 | A1 |
| 20070281578 | Sambenedetto | Dec 2007 | A1 |
| 20130095722 | Cochella | Apr 2013 | A1 |
| 20140045403 | Murphy | Feb 2014 | A1 |
| Entry |
|---|
| Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application PCT/US2020/031618 filed May 6, 2020, mailed Jul. 31, 2020, International Searching Authority, US. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220212117 A1 | Jul 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62843655 | May 2019 | US |
