Play Construction Set

Abstract

The play construction set provides a means whereby children and youth may develop creativity and problem-solving skills in a recreational setting. The set is comprised of wooden strut pieces, wooden connector pieces, and a couple building tools, namely pliers and a mallet. The design of the pieces allows for many possible building configurations. The quality of the pieces gives the configurations the capacity to be used for a real purpose, i.e. the structural stability of the pieces would allow a good chair design to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a human. For extra stability, glue can be applied to hold the connector and strut pieces in place. The strut pieces come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some such shapes are cylindrical, octagonal prisms, and triangular prisms.

Description

BACKGROUND

A construction set is a set of standardized pieces that allow for the construction of a variety of different models. The pieces avoid the lead-time of manufacturing custom pieces, and of requiring special training or design time to construct complex systems. This makes them suitable for temporary structures, or for use as children's toys. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem.

Construction sets can be categorized according to their connection method and geometry. There are struts, panels, notches, sleeves, studs, and magnets, among others. Each type of set has various advantages and limitations dependent upon its form. There have been no products available as original equipment or as an aftermarket to address this problem either.

There exists a need for a play construction set that is not being met by any known or disclosed device or system of present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The play construction set provides a means whereby children and youth may develop creativity and problem-solving skills in a recreational setting. The set is comprised of wooden strut pieces, wooden connector pieces, and a couple building tools, namely pliers and a mallet. The design of the pieces allows for many possible building configurations. The quality of the pieces gives the configurations the capacity to be used for a real purpose, i.e. the structural stability of the pieces would allow a good chair design to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a human. For extra stability, glue can be applied to hold the connector and strut pieces in place. The strut pieces come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some such shapes are cylindrical, octagonal prisms, and triangular prisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the different pieces and tools in the set in a chair configuration for the pieces in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view of the different pieces and tools in the set in a table configuration for the pieces in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an orthogonal view of strut members in one by three and two by two cube and rectangular configurations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an orthogonal view of circular, polygonal and triangular flat geometries in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an orthogonal view of the fasteners and fastener tools in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view of a one by one cube and a one by one strut member in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an orthogonal view of a swiss cheese flat member in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an orthogonal view of a fastener peg defining a secondary peg hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an orthogonal view of a channeled peg fastener and complementary crenelated hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an orthogonal view of a dovetail peg fastener and complementary hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an orthogonal view of a fluted peg fastener and complementary hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements depicted in multiple embodiments. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

Throughout the present disclosure the term geometry is used to refer to a shape of a piece of the whole. The term wooden refers to pieces made out of wood and made out of wooden composites and materials that resemble wood.

FIG. 1 is a view of the different pieces and tools in the set in a chair configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. There are depicted a number of both strut and connection type pieces. The wooden peg A connection pieces are intended to hold the larger strut or member pieces B together. The wooden strut pieces B come in varying shapes, sizes, colors and compositions including wood, plastic composites and fiberglass composites. Regardless of exact shape, size, or color, however, each strut member piece has many holes C whereby connection pieces cannot connect.

FIG. 2 is a view of the different pieces and tools in the set in a table configuration for the pieces in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. There are depicted a number of both strut and connection type pieces. The wooden peg A connection pieces are intended to hold the larger strut or member pieces B together. The wooden strut pieces B come in varying shapes, sizes, colors and compositions including wood, plastic composites and fiberglass composites. Regardless of exact shape, size, or color, however, each strut member piece has many holes C whereby connection pieces cannot connect. A plug I sits into a hole to finish it off. The plug I comprises a flanged portion which overhangs the hole opening.

FIG. 3 is an orthogonal view of strut members in one by three and two by two cube and rectangular configurations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The one hole side by an adjacent three hole side of a 12 inch length by a one inch depth and a 3 inch height includes holes passing all the way through the respective member. The 2 inch by 2 inch cube is also 2 inches long and the 12 inch length rectangular geometry has 32 holes therein. The 24 inch rectangular member has one hole sides adjacent three hole sides and three hole ends.

FIG. 4 is an orthogonal view of circular, polygonal and triangular flat geometries in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The circular flat member has equidistant holes C, the polygonal flat member also has equidistant spaced holes C and the triangular flat member has equidistant holes C too. The three flat members can be adjoined via the fasteners into aligned holes.

FIG. 5 is an orthogonal view of the fasteners and fastener tools in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The tools include the wrench D, the nut E, the post or peg A and the bolt or screw fastener F, the pliers G and the mallet or hammer H for inserting and removal of the respective fasteners. Other tools not depicted are included such as a screw driver, a bolt driver, a washer, needle nose pliers and locking vise pliers, etc.

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view of a one by one cube and a one by one strut member in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Broken lines indicate holes from other sides passing through the respective member. One by one strut members J and cubes N are therefore attachable to another member on any side adjacent the other member and are stackable along the respective holes K and L to form any number of layers conjoined by a single or by multiple fasteners.

FIG. 7 is an orthogonal view of a swiss cheese flat member in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The random swiss cheese configuration of holes P in a flat member allow for creative designs and random conjoining with other members.

FIG. 8 is an orthogonal view of a fastener peg defining a secondary peg hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fastener peg Q defines a hole within itself R for a secondary peg to be inserted via a multiple hole defined in an adjacent side of a strut or a cube member.

FIG. 9 is an orthogonal view of a channeled peg fastener and complementary crenelated hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The channeled peg fastener defines the channels S in a top of the respective fastener and side channels T thereof. The complementary crenelations U are shown in a hole cross section U.

FIG. 10 is an orthogonal view of a dovetail peg fastener and complementary hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The dovetailed peg fastener defines the channels V in a top of the respective fastener and side channels W thereof. The complementary crenelations X are shown in a hole cross section.

FIG. 11 is an orthogonal view of a fluted peg fastener and complementary hole in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fluted peg fastener defines the channels Yin a top of the respective fastener and side channels Z thereof. The complementary crenelations Y′ are shown in a hole cross section.

Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited, except as by the specification and claims set forth herein.

Claims

1. A play construction set comprising:

a plurality of members defining holes in all sides thereof passing through from one side to another side thereof;

a plurality of fasteners configured to be received into the defined holes and to conjoin the plurality of members and to define radial holes configured to receive another fastener there through; and

a plurality of tools configured to facilitate an insertion and a removal of the plurality of fasteners into and from the defined holes in the plurality of members and from the radial holes of the plurality of fasteners.

2. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of members includes a rectangular geometry, a square geometry, a circular geometry, a triangular geometry, a polygonal geometry and a cylindrical geometry.

3. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners include wooden pegs.

4. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners include wooden bolts and wooden screws.

5. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tools include a wooden wrench and a wooden mallet.

6. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes comprise a diameter larger than the fasteners.

7. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the fasteners include wooden nuts.

8. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes are defined in an angular relation to a surface of the plurality of members.

9. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of members and the plurality of fasteners conjoined together comprise a chair.

10. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of members and the plurality of fasteners conjoined together comprise a table.

11. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes defined in the plurality of members are equidistantly spaced apart.

12. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes defined in the plurality of members are randomly spaced like ‘swiss cheese.’

13. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise fluted sides to facilitate an insertion and a removal into and from the plurality of members.

14. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise channeled sides to facilitate an insertion and a removal into and from the plurality of members.

15. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise dovetailed sides to facilitate an insertion and a removal into and from the plurality of members.

16. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise helical grooves to facilitate an insertion and a removal into and from a notched hole in the plurality of members.

17. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes defined in the plurality of members comprise a crenelated circumference complementary to channeled sides of the plurality of fasteners.

18. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes defined in the plurality of members comprise a channeled circumference complementary to channeled sides of the plurality of members.

19. The play construction set of claim 1, wherein the holes defined in the plurality of members comprise an inverse dovetail protuberance circumference complementary to the channeled sides of the plurality of members.

20. The play construction set of claim 1, further comprising a plug configured to cap off a hole defined in the plurality of members.