The present invention relates to a construction system, and more specifically to a construction system which includes construction elements that can be connected in a diagonal orientation relative to other construction elements.
Children and hobbyists have long enjoyed creative construction toys which have allowed the individual to construct various items of interest such as boxes, small houses, bridges, airplanes, cars, trucks, and the like. Examples of such products have included the ERECTOR™ Set, and various LEGO™ kits that are provided at various levels of complexity. In the so-called Erector™ products, these toys have included a series of plates and bars with holes in them which are subsequently joined together with nuts and a corresponding bolt. LEGO's™ TECHNIC™ series of kits involves plastic beams and plates that connect with relatively sophisticated fasteners that allow for more elaborate models. Another such beam and fastener construction system is that described by the present inventor in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/290,333, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The commercial longevity of these types of construction toys, especially when compared to other toys, illustrates the continuing high demand for novel construction systems and elements.
Most, if not all, beam and fastener construction sets, such as those provided under the LEGO™ TECHNIC™ name, utilize generic construction elements 1 as seen in
As shown in Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,766 to Leadbetter et al., diagonal building units in a conventional LEGO™ building block system are shown to fit within an array of coupling studs, such as that which may be provided on a building plate, as disclosed in the patent. However, this placement of diagonal building units is accomplished by modifying the spacing and size of the array of coupling studs on the building plate, or by requiring a specialized “skirt” shape (the thin plastic wall of the construction element brick) for the diagonal construction element. Neither solution discussed above appears useful relative to the beam and fastener construction systems as seen in
Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,069 to Bolli et al., a diagonal construction unit for a beam and fastener construction system is taught, but the connecting units of the construction elements have the same spacing as the non-diagonal construction elements. Thus, this diagonal construction element can only fit with other elements at its remote ends and can only be used in specialized applications. Moreover, this patent specifically teaches away from the use of non-standard spacing between the connecting units in the diagonal elements.
As will be recognized, these prior art solutions involve specialized pieces with limited application rather than a generic construction element design that can be used in many applications and models. These prior art solutions have proved unsatisfactory from both a use and an economic standpoint, and have not been adopted by most manufacturers of toy construction kits.
A construction system which avoids the shortcomings attendant with the prior art devices and practices utilized heretofore is the subject matter of the present application.
A first aspect of the present invention relates to a construction system which includes a first construction element defining a plurality of connecting units which have a spacing measurement x; and a second construction element connected to the first construction element, and oriented at an angle θ relative to the first construction element, and which further defines a plurality of connecting units having a spacing measurement y, and wherein the spacing measurement y approximately equals the spacing measurement x divided by the cosine of θ.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a construction system which has a plurality of first construction elements, each having a main body, and which define a plurality of connecting units which are substantially linearly oriented along a major axis of the respective main bodies, and wherein the respective connecting units of the plurality of first construction elements are substantially regularly spaced with a spacing measurement x, and wherein the plurality of first construction elements are oriented in a substantially perpendicular, and/or parallel relationship, one relative to the others; and a second construction element having a main body which defines a plurality of connecting units and which are linearly oriented along a major axis of the main body, and wherein the major axis of the main body of the second construction element is oriented at an angle θ relative to the major axis of the main body of at least one of the plurality of first construction elements, and wherein the connecting units of the second construction element are substantially regularly spaced with a spacing measurement y, and wherein the spacing measurement y approximately equals the spacing measurement x divided by the cosine of θ; and wherein the individual connecting units of the second construction element substantially align with the connecting units of the plurality of first construction elements when the second construction element is positioned in a non-perpendicular and/or nonparallel orientation relative to the plurality of first construction elements.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a construction system which includes a plurality of first construction elements oriented in a substantially perpendicular and/or parallel relationship one relative to the others, and wherein each of the plurality of first construction elements defines a plurality of connecting units which have a substantially similar regular spacing measurement; and a second construction element joined to at least one of the plurality of first construction elements and which is oriented at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle relative to the plurality of first construction elements, and which defines a plurality of connecting units, which are individually substantially aligned relative to the connecting units of the plurality of first construction elements.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a toy construction system which includes a plurality of first construction elements each having a main body which defines a plurality of passageways which extend therethrough, and which are further substantially linearly oriented along a major axis of the main body, and wherein the passageways of each of the plurality of first construction elements have substantially the same regular spacing measurement, and wherein the major axes of the respective construction elements are either substantially perpendicularly oriented and/or parallel relative to the major axes of the remaining first construction elements; a second construction element having a main body which defines a plurality of passageways and which are linearly oriented along a major axis of the main body, and wherein the major axis of the main body of the second construction element is oriented at a non-perpendicular and non-parallel angle relative to the major axis of the respective plurality of first construction elements, and wherein the passageways defined by the second construction element are substantially coaxially and/or linearly aligned with the passageways defined by the plurality of first construction elements; and a fastener received through at least one of the coaxially and/or linearly aligned passageways of at least one of the plurality of first construction members and the second construction member so as to couple the second construction member to at least one of the plurality of first construction members.
Still another aspect of the present invention is a construction system which includes a plurality of first construction elements, each having a plurality of connecting units, and wherein the connecting units are arranged in a substantially rectilinear array; and a diagonally oriented construction element fastened to at least some of the plurality of first construction elements, and wherein the diagonally oriented construction element has a plurality of connecting units, and which are oriented in an operational relationship relative to the plurality of first construction elements, and wherein the connecting units of the diagonally oriented construction element have a spacing measurement so as to substantially coaxially align relative to the plurality of first connecting units in the rectilinear array when the diagonally oriented construction element is oriented in a non-perpendicular and non-parallel orientation relative to the plurality of underlying first construction elements.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
Referring now to
Referring still to
In the present invention therefore, a construction system 20 is disclosed and which includes in its broadest aspect a first construction element 30 defining a plurality of connecting units 40 which have a spacing measurement x (43) and a second construction element 60 connected to the first construction element 30, and oriented at an angle θ (74) relative to the first construction element and which further defines a plurality of connecting units 70 having a spacing measurement y (73), and wherein the spacing measurement y (73) approximately equals the spacing measurement x (43) divided by the cosine of θ. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the respective construction elements 30 and 60 are typically utilized in a toy construction system 20. As further understood from the drawings, at least one of the plurality of connecting units 40 and 70 defines a passageway 41 and 71 for receiving a fastener body. In one possible form of the invention, the respective coupling or connecting units 40 and 70 are operable to receive a coupling unit 75. As seen by reference to
Another aspect of the invention relates to a construction system 20 which includes a plurality of first construction elements 30 each having a main body 33 and which defines a plurality of connecting units 40 which are substantially linearly oriented along a major axis 37 of the respective main bodies. The respective connecting units 40 of the plurality of first construction elements 30 are substantially regularly spaced with a spacing measurement x (43), and wherein the plurality of first construction elements 30 are oriented in a substantially perpendicular, and/or parallel orientation, one relative to the others. In the construction system 20 of the present invention, a second construction element 60 is provided and which has a main body 61 which defines a plurality of connecting units 70, and which are linearly oriented along a major axis 65 of the main body. The major axis 65 of the main body of the second construction element is oriented about an angle of θ (74) relative to the major axis 37 of the main body 33 of at least one of the plurality of first construction elements 30. The connecting units 70 of the second construction element 60 are substantially regularly spaced with a spacing measurement y (73), and wherein the spacing measurement y (73) approximately equals the spacing measurement x (43) divided by the divided by the cosine of θ. The individual connecting units 70 of the second construction element 60 substantially align with the connecting units 40 of each of the plurality of first construction elements 30 when the second construction element 60 is positioned in a non-perpendicular and/or non-parallel orientation relative to the plurality of first construction elements 30. In one form of the invention as seen, the first and second construction elements are oriented at a 45° angle, one relative to the other. As earlier disclosed, the connecting units of the second construction element 60 are substantially regularly spaced with a spacing measurement which is approximately equal to the square root of 2 times the spacing measurement x 43 of the plurality of first construction elements 30. As seen by a study of
Therefore, a construction system 20 is disclosed and which provides a convenient means whereby a hobbyist, or others, may assemble objects of interest having greater levels of complexity in a manner not possible heretofore. The present invention provides an advantage inasmuch as the construction system includes a second construction element 60 which allows the hobbyist to create ever increasing complex shapes. As seen by reference to
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.