CONSTRUCTION TOY

Abstract

A toy construction set is provided which includes a plurality of connection members comprising substantially spherical structures having a plurality of receptacles; and a plurality of stick members having ends sized to fit within the receptacles for constructing a frame. The construction set is useful for building toy blanket houses or forts for play purposes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/756,949, filed Jan. 5, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a toy construction apparatus and, more particularly, to a toy construction set which allows easy and fun building of structures, for example, blanket houses and/or forts.

Children enjoy building and playing, especially indoors, in forts constructed from furniture and blankets. This involves the need for moving potentially heavy furniture to the proper location, and of course moving such furniture back after play is done.

In addition to the need for moving furniture, normal furniture articles are not typically designed for this type of use and can have sharp corners or edges which could lead to an injury to a child playing in the resulting blanket fort. Such furniture could also be unstable and fall upon a child during play. Less serious of a problem, but a problem nonetheless, is that the furniture itself can be damaged when used in this manner.

Products exist which are designed specifically for this use, for example indoor toy tents and play houses. Unfortunately, such structures are typically not modifiable, and therefore can become boring after repeated use.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a toy construction set which allows for making blanket tents or forts without the above disadvantages.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent following a consideration of the description to follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the foregoing objects and advantages have been attained.

According to the invention, a toy construction set is provided which comprises: a plurality of connection members comprising substantially spherical structures having a plurality of receptacles; and a plurality of stick members having ends sized to fit within the receptacles for constructing a frame. The stick members are preferably provided in a plurality of different sizes, and clip members can be provided to secure blankets or sheets with respect to the connection or stick members as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows two cross sectional views of a connection member of the construction toy of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show additional views of a connection member according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a stick of the construction toy of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged cross sectional view of a preferred structure of a rod according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a frame constructed with the sticks and connection members of the present invention without blankets;

FIG. 6 shows the frame of FIG. 5, covered with blankets, and being used as intended;

FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of a ball connector according to the invention having flats at the holes;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a portion of a structure according to the invention and including a textured cover member;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a shaped cover member according to the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cap member according to the invention; and

FIG. 11 further illustrates a preferred embodiment of a cap member according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a toy construction set which allows the building of blanket forts or houses for the purposes of play. According to the invention, the construction set comprises a plurality of connection members and a plurality of sticks or rods which are connected together using the connection members to make a frame which can then be covered with blankets or the like to make the desired play structure.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the connection member according to the invention, while FIG. 4 illustrates a stick and FIGS. 5 and 6 shows use of the construction set according to the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, connection member 10 is advantageously a substantially spherical structure with a plurality of holes defined therein for receiving the ends of sticks 12 (FIG. 4) to assemble the desired frame (FIG. 5). Connection member 10 according to the invention preferably has a series of receptacles for receiving the ends of sticks 12 to build the frame. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, these receptacles can advantageously be defined around the circumference of the sphere, at top and bottom points of the sphere, and along the upper and lower quarters of the sphere as well. This advantageously allows connection member 10 to be used to join sticks 12 in a straight line, at 90 degree angles, and at 45 degree angles. These connections are sufficient to build a wide variety of different types of frames for play purposes, and helps keep children from being bored with the same structure each time.

Connection member 10 can be a substantially solid member with the receptacles 14 formed by drilling or otherwise forming holes into member 10 at the desired location. This is the structure schematically illustrated by FIG. 1A. Alternatively, member 10 can be provided as a hollow member, perhaps a plastic formed member, having formed receptacles at the desired locations. Such receptacles preferably have walls, rather than being limited to holes in the outer shell of member 10, so that the ends of sticks 12 positioned therein are supported at the intended angle. The view of FIG. 1B illustrates such a structure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views of a connection member 10 according to the invention, with FIG. 3 being rotated 45 degrees around a vertical axis from the position of FIG. 2. These views show a preferred arrangement of receptacles or holes 14. In this regard, it should be noted that FIGS. 2 and 3 show the receptacles 14 which are around the outer edge of the illustration. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is further illustrated and discussed below, these receptacles 14 are preferably centered within a small flat area and, therefore, would not be visible along the edge as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These flat surfaces serve to prevent connection member 10 from rolling when placed on a flat surface. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, connection members 10 preferably have at least 18 receptacles 14 positioned thereon, and could have more if desired.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of connection member 10 in accordance with the invention. It should of course be noted that other shapes and configurations of connection members 10 could be utilized, well within the broad scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a simple stick or rod 12 which can be used to build frames such as that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 in accordance with the invention. Sticks 12 are preferably elongate shafts or rods having a diameter sufficient to allow reasonably secure engagement of ends thereof with the receptacles 14 of connection member 10. Simplest construction for this set of elements would be for sticks 12 to have a substantially uniform diameter from end to end, and having this diameter selected to fit snugly within receptacles 14. A set in accordance with the present invention should have sticks of a variety of different lengths to allow construction of interesting different structures. Sticks 12 can be made from wood, plastic or any other preferably light weight material, which is preferred to avoid injury to a child if a stick should fall on the child or be used in an inappropriate manner.

FIG. 4a shows a preferred embodiment of stick 12 according to the invention, wherein stick 12 has a substantially hollow interior and a strengthening web 13 disposed therein. Web 13 can advantageously be a plurality of walls extending inwardly from an inner circumference of stick 12 and joined at a central point as shown in FIG. 4a. Of course, other structures can be provided as well, shaped or formed differently from that illustrated in FIG. 4a, and well within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a structure or frame formed from connection members 10 and sticks 12 according to the invention. As shown, the versatility of differently positioned receptacles 14 on connection members 10 allows roof sections, double peaks, different height walls, and many other interesting structures to be built.

FIG. 6 shows the frame of FIG. 5 covered with blankets as intended for use as a play house or fort. FIG. 6 shows blankets or other drapeable members supported over the top of the frame to allow children to play inside as shown. When play is done, the frame can easily be taken apart and stored until the next use, without the need to move heavy furniture, and without exposing children to injury due to such heavy furniture, and further to avoid excess wear on such furniture.

FIG. 7 shows a further preferred embodiment of a connection member 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment, connection member 10 has flat surfaces 16 aligned with each receptacle 14 so that connection member 10 will not roll excessively when placed upon a flat surface. Further, one receptacle 14 is centered with a larger flat surface 17 which defines a bottom of connection member 10 and, advantageously, a surface which properly arranges receptacles 14 for use in constructing a structure with vertical, horizontal and 45 degree angled sections.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a more complete kit can be provided including not only connection members 10 and sticks 12, but also including specialized cover members 18, which can be specially adapted to fit certain structures and/or user desired environments. For example, FIG. 8 shows cover members which have a textured surface. Alternatively, or in addition, cover members 18 can be printed with artwork and/or other decorative features to enhance the entertainment value of a structure built according to the invention. These cover members can include a wide variety of super hero figures or themes, or nature scenes, to name several examples.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a cover member 20 which is preformed to match a particular structure constructed using connection members 10 and sticks 12. Cover member 20 can come with specific instructions to build the structure as shown, and the cover member 20 can suitable have a shape which is more complex than that illustrated in the drawings.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, clips or caps or other structure may be provided for holding the blanket to the frame. FIGS. 10 and 11 further illustrate a cap 22 according to the invention which is useful in securing a cover member or blanket with respect to the structure built using connection members 10 and sticks 12. FIG. 10 shows a cap 22 positioned into a receptacle 14 of a connection member 10. Advantageously, cover member 18 in this embodiment is provided having an opening 24 which, when used with the desired connection member and stick configuration, aligns with receptacle 14 so that a cap 22 can be positioned through the opening 24 and into receptacle 14.

FIGS. 10 and 11 further illustrate the preferred structure of a cap 22 according to the invention, and further illustrate an embodiment wherein cap 22 has a receptacle 25 positioned at one end for receiving a light bulb 26, for example to illuminate the inside of a structure built according to the invention. Cap 22 in this embodiment preferably has a shaft member 28 which is advantageously sized to fit within a receptacle 14. The head 30 of cap 22 is preferably disk shaped so as to define a structure which is larger than opening 24 so that cover member 20 cannot be pulled away from engagement with connection member 10 and stick 12 as desired.

A still further embodiment of the invention involves provision of stick members which are made of a glow-in-the-dark material. This serves to further enhance the play value of a structure built using connection members 10 and sticks 12 according to the invention.

It should be appreciated that a toy construction set has been provided in accordance with the present invention which advantageously solves the problems mentioned above, and allows for safe, interesting and fun play for children.

It should also be noted that the above is a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and that modification to shape size and parts of the invention would be readily apparent to a person of skill in the art. The description is therefore to be taken as illustrative, and not restrictive, to the scope of the invention, which is defined by the broad scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A toy construction set, comprising:

a plurality of connection members comprising substantially spherical structures having a plurality of receptacles; and

a plurality of stick members having ends sized to fit within the receptacles for constructing a frame.

2. The set of claim 1, wherein the sticks comprise a plurality of sticks having at least two different lengths.

3. The set of claim 1, wherein each connection member has at least 18 different receptacles for receiving ends of stick members.

4. The set of claim 1, wherein the receptacles are substantially uniformly distributed around the external surface of the spherical structure.

5. The set of claim 1, wherein the connection member is a substantially solid member having receptacles drilled into same.

6. The set of claim 1, wherein the connection member is a hollow member having a wall structure defining the sphere and the openings and walls of the receptacles.

7. The set of claim 1, further comprising at least one clip for securing a flat flexible member relative to at least one of the connection member and the stick member.

8. The set of claim 7, wherein the clip comprises a shaft sized to fit within the receptacle and a head portion which is larger in diameter than the shaft.

9. The set of claim 8, further comprising a cover member having holes adapted to allow passage of the shaft.

10. The set of claim 7, wherein the clip further comprises a light member.

11. The set of claim 1, wherein the sticks comprise material which glows in the dark.

12. The set of claim 1, wherein the sticks have a hollow center area and a web structure within the hollow center to provide durability to the stick.

13. The set of claim 1, wherein the connection member has a flat area defined at each receptacle.

14. The set of claim 13, wherein each receptacle has a flat area, and wherein one receptacle has a larger flat area which is larger than all other flat areas.