TOY CONSTRUCTION KITS AND RELATED METHODS

Toy construction kits comprise a plurality of components, including a plurality of primary construction pieces and one or more of a basic elongate connector, a detail connector piece, a manipulable connector, a secondary construction piece, and/or a detailed piece. Each primary construction piece comprises a unitary body that comprises a first lobe, a second lobe adjacent to the first lobe, and a bridge that interconnects the first and second lobes. The first and second lobes define respective first-lobe and second-lobe openings to respective first-lobe and second-lobe interior volumes. The interior volume of each lobe is configured to receive, via the corresponding lobe opening, and retain a lobe of another primary construction piece in a friction-fit arrangement. Some of the additional components may define an attribute of a three-dimensional sculpture formed from the toy construction kit. The components are configured to be selectively and repeatedly coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement.

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Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/876,029, filed on May 15, 2023 and entitled TOY CONSTRUCTION PIECE, which claims priority to similarly entitled U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/839,321, filed on May 19, 2022, and issued on Jun. 13, 2023 as U.S. Design Pat. No. D989,191. The disclosures of these patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to toy construction kits and methods for using such kits to form three-dimensional sculptures.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

3D origami, also known as triangular origami, golden venture origami, and Chinese paper folding, is an artform that utilizes numerous small pieces of paper folded into individual triangular units that are inserted into each other to form three-dimensional sculptures. A three-dimensional sculpture commonly may be formed from hundreds or even thousands of such individual units, and it follows that the time and effort required to fold this quantity of individual units is considerable. Moreover, conventional individual units are limited in their ability to be effectively and/or repeatedly coupled to other individual units and in the scope of the three-dimensional sculptures that may be formed therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Toy construction kits comprise a plurality of components that include at least a plurality of primary construction pieces. Each primary construction piece comprises a unitary body that comprises a first lobe, a second lobe adjacent to the first lobe, and a bridge that interconnects the first lobe and the second lobe. The first lobe defines a first-lobe opening to a first-lobe interior volume, and the second lobe defines a second-lobe opening to a second-lobe interior volume. The bridge extends between the first-lobe opening and the second-lobe opening. The first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece is configured to receive the second lobe of another construction piece via the first-lobe opening, and the first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece is further configured to retain such second lobe of another construction piece in a friction-fit arrangement. Similarly, the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece is configured to receive the first lobe of another primary construction piece via the second-lobe opening, and the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece is further configured to retain the such first lobe of another primary construction piece in a friction-fit arrangement.

Toy construction kits according to the present disclosure may further include one or more additional components, such as one or more of a basic elongate connector, a detail connector piece, a manipulable connector, a secondary construction piece, and/or a detailed piece. Some of the additional components may define an attribute of a three-dimensional sculpture formed from the toy construction kit, and some of the one or more additional components may include indicia to define or further define the attribute. Such additional components may enable the creation of new and more creative three-dimensional sculptures than can be created with only the primary construction pieces. The construction pieces are configured to be selectively and repeatedly coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement to form three-dimensional sculptures and thereafter uncoupled without destruction or damage to the construction pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration representing toy construction kits according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an example primary construction piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an opposing isometric view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the primary construction piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an example basic elongate connector according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an example detail connector piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another example detail connector piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of another example detail connector piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of an example manipulable connector according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of an example of a manipulable connector according to the present that defines a manipulable joint with the example manipulable connector of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of an example manipulable joint in a first configuration defined by the manipulable connectors of FIGS. 14 and 15.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the example manipulable joint of FIG. 16 in a second configuration.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the example manipulable joint of FIG. 16 in a third configuration.

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of an example detailed piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of an example secondary construction piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 an isometric view of another example secondary construction piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is an isometric view of another example secondary construction piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of another example secondary construction piece according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the secondary construction pieces of FIGS. 22-23 interconnected together.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating examples of subassemblies formed by coupling together two or more basic connector pieces according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is an isometric view showing three basic connector pieces coupled together and further illustrating schematic examples of ways in which additional connector pieces may be coupled thereto.

FIG. 27 illustrates construction of an example of a three-dimensional sculpture utilizing a toy construction kit according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 illustrates methods of creating three-dimensional sculptures according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is an exploded isometric view illustrating the three-dimensional sculpture of FIG. 27 and a second subassembly coupled thereto.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-29 provide examples of toy construction kits 10 according to the present disclosure, connectors and other components that may be included in the toy construction kits, methods of using the toy construction kits to form three-dimensional sculptures, and three-dimensional sculptures that may be formed using the toy construction kits. Elements that serve a similar, or at least substantially similar, purpose are labeled with like reference numerals in FIGS. 1-29, and these elements may not be discussed in detail herein with reference to each of FIGS. 1-29. Similarly, all elements are not labeled in each of FIGS. 1-29, but references numerals associated therewith may be utilized herein for consistency. Elements, components, and/or features that are discussed herein with reference to one or more of FIGS. 1-29 may be included in and/or utilized with any of FIGS. 1-29 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 schematically represents toy construction kits 10 according to the present disclosure. Generally, in FIG. 1, elements that are likely to be included in a given example are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that are optional to a given example or that correspond to a specific example are illustrated in broken lines. However, elements that are illustrated in solid lines are not essential to all examples of the present disclosure, and an element shown in solid lines may be omitted from a particular example without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As schematically represented in FIG. 1, toy construction kit 10 comprises a plurality of components 11. As discussed in more detail herein, components 11 are configured to be selectively coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement. By this it is meant that the components 11 of the toy construction kit 10 are configured to be selectively coupled and retained together without requiring the use of adhesives, welds, stitches, or other fastening mechanisms that damage the components 11 and/or prevent selective uncoupling of the components 11 without destruction or damage of the components 11. Instead, the components 11 of the toy construction kit 10 are configured to be selectively and repeatedly coupled together, such as to form a three-dimensional sculpture, and to thereafter be selectively uncoupled to disassemble or alter the three-dimensional sculpture without damage or destruction of the components 11 of the toy construction kit 10. Amongst other benefits, this permits the components 11 of the toy construction kit 10 to be reused many times to form multiple three-dimensional sculptures. The above-discussed friction-fit arrangement additionally or alternatively may be referred to as a friction-fit retention mechanism, a friction-fit coupling, a friction-fit coupling mechanism, a friction-fit mechanical arrangement, and/or a friction-fit mechanical coupling.

As used herein, toy construction kits 10 additionally or alternatively may be referred to as construction kits 10, sculpture construction kits 10, craft construction kits 10, and/or kits 10. Expressed in slightly different terms, while kits 10 may provide a fun and enjoyable toy for use and entertainment by children and adults to create three-dimensional sculptures, the kits are not limited to creation of toy sculptures. Three-dimensional sculptures created using kits 10 may take any form or shape capable of being created using the kits disclosed herein, with examples including sculptures of actual or fictional characters, animals, creatures, individuals, insects, birds, plants, objects, vehicles, structures, jewelry, playthings, etc.

The plurality of components 11 of a toy construction kit 10 includes a plurality of primary construction pieces 12. Each primary construction piece 12 comprises a unitary body 14 that comprises a first lobe 16, a second lobe 22 adjacent to the first lobe 16, and a bridge 28 that interconnects the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22. The first lobe 16 defines a first-lobe opening 18 to a first-lobe interior volume 20, and the second lobe 22 defines a second-lobe opening 24 to a second-lobe interior volume 26. The bridge 28 extends between the first-lobe opening 18 and the second-lobe opening 24. As schematically illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1, the first-lobe interior volume 20 of each primary construction piece 12 is configured to receive the second lobe 22 of another primary construction piece 12 via the first-lobe opening 18, and to retain the second lobe 22 of such primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. Similarly, the second lobe-interior volume 26 of each primary construction piece 12 is configured to receive the first lobe 16 of another primary construction piece 12 via the second-lobe opening 24 and to retain the first lobe 16 of such primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. Accordingly, and as discussed in more detail herein, a plurality of primary construction pieces 12 of a toy construction kit 10 may be coupled together to build a three-dimensional sculpture. In FIG. 1, the example primary construction pieces 12 are illustrated schematically and are not necessarily to scale. Primary construction pieces 12 all may have the same shape and size, although it is within the scope of the present disclosure that a toy construction kit 10 may include more than one size and/or shape of primary construction pieces 12.

As noted, each primary construction piece 12 comprises a unitary body 14. In other words, a single primary construction piece 12 is monolithic in construction and is not assembled from multiple pieces. Moreover, primary construction pieces 12 are not constructed by folding pieces of paper or other thin materials to form an assembly of overlapping folded layers. Rather, each primary construction piece 12 typically is a molded structure having the defined elements and components discussed herein. Primary construction piece 12 thus additionally or alternatively may be described as having a monolithic body 14, a one-piece body 14, and/or a molded body 14. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the other components 11 of a toy construction kit 10 also may have unitary bodies and are not formed from folded layers of paper or other thin material.

In some examples, the unitary body 14 is constructed of a flexible and/or resilient material, examples of which include rubber and silicone. The material properties of such flexible and resilient materials aid in the friction-fit arrangement between a lobe 16, 22 of one primary construction piece 12 and an interior volume 20, 26 of another primary construction piece 12. For example, and as discussed in more detail herein, coupling two or more primary construction pieces 12 or other components 11 together in a friction-fit arrangement may include elastic (i.e., reversible, non-permanent) deformation of one or both of the primary construction pieces 12 or other components 11. This elastic deformation may urge or bias the corresponding inter-engaging portions of the primary construction pieces 12 or other components 11 against each other. This elastic deformation thus may enable the corresponding inter-engaging portions of the primary construction pieces 12 or other components 11 to be retained together until a user applies a sufficient separation force to separate the portions.

Moreover, in some examples, the flexible and resilient nature of the unitary body 14 results in the bridge 28 defining an integral hinge, which also may be referred to as a living hinge, between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of each primary construction piece 12. In addition, the integral hinge biases the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 toward a neutral position in which the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 are adjacent to each other. In other words, upon release of a user-imparted force that pivots the first lobe 16 and/or the second lobe 22 away from the neutral position, such as toward or away from each other, the material properties of the unitary body 14 will cause the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 to return to the neutral position. When pivoted or otherwise moved away from the neutral position, the first lobe 16 and/or the second lobe 22 may be described as being in a flexed position, a coupled position, and/or an actuated position. In such a flexed position, the restoring force imparted by the bridge may assist to establish and retain a friction-fit arrangement with another corresponding lobe or component 11 of the toy construction kit 10.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the neutral position is illustrated with the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 being near each but with a space or gap (such as discussed herein as a minimum gap width 38) extending between at least a substantial portion of the lobes. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that other neutral positions may be utilized, such as one in which the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 are biased against each other and/or do not include a gap between the lobes.

In some examples, the first-lobe interior volume 20 of each primary construction piece 12 is configured to receive and retain in a friction-fit arrangement a first lobe 16 of another primary construction piece 12, with the first lobe 16 of such other/another primary construction piece being received into the first-lobe interior volume 20 via the first-lobe opening 18. Similarly in such examples, the second lobe-interior volume 26 of each primary construction piece 12 is configured to receive and retain in a friction-fit arrangement a second lobe 22 of another primary construction piece 12, with the second lobe of such other/another primary construction piece 12 being received into the second lobe-interior volume 26 via the second-lobe opening 24. In other words, in some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 are at least substantially identical in shape, and in some examples, the first-lobe interior volume 20 and the second-lobe interior volume 26 are at least substantially identical in shape. In some such examples, the unitary body 14 is symmetrical about the bridge 28. By “at least substantially identical in shape,” it means that two elements if superimposed on each other would share at least 90% of the same volume.

As schematically illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 1, in some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the first-lobe interior volume 20 tapers in cross-section away from the first-lobe opening 18 and the second-lobe interior volume 26 tapers in cross-section away from the second-lobe opening 24. For example, the first lobe 16, the first-lobe interior volume 20, the second lobe 22, and the second-lobe interior volume 26 may have a generally triangular profile. By “generally triangular profile,” it means that the profile has three substantially linear sides, although each side need not be perfectly linear, and each corner need not be a perfect corner. The example primary construction piece 12′ illustrated in FIG. 2 is an example of a primary construction piece 12 whose lobes 16, 22 and interior volumes 20, 26 have generally triangular profiles when viewed from the side. In particular, and with continued reference to the example of FIG. 2, a side profile of a primary construction piece 12 may correspond to a plane that is parallel to a side of an imaginary minimum rectangular prism (height (H)×Depth (D)×Width (W)), within which the primary construction piece 12 may be positioned. In FIG. 2, the sides of the rectangular prism that are parallel to the side profiles correspond to height (H)×the depth (D).

In some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the unitary body 14 has a thin wall construction. By “thin wall,” it means that a thickness of the walls of the unitary body 14 is no more than 10% of the greatest dimension of an imaginary minimum rectangular prism, within which the primary construction piece 12 may be positioned. Moreover, the walls of a “thin wall” primary construction piece 12 are generally or at least substantially uniform in thickness. As examples, such an imaginary minimum rectangular prism may have a height (H) in the range of 10-50 millimeters (mm), a depth (D) in the range of 10-50 mm, and a width (W) in the range of 5-30 mm; however, primary construction pieces 12 outside of these ranges also are within the scope of the present disclosure. As a specific, non-exclusive example of a primary construction piece 12, a corresponding imaginary minimum rectangular prism within which the primary construction piece 12 may have a height of about 15 mm, a depth (D) of about 17 mm, and a width (W) of about 11 mm. As used herein, use of “about” with respect to a numerical value may mean approximately and/or +/−10% of the value.

Referring back to the schematic illustration of FIG. 1, the first lobe 16 may be described as comprising a first-lobe lateral side 30 and a first-lobe medial side 32 that is opposite the first-lobe lateral side 30, and the second lobe 22 may be described as comprising a second-lobe lateral side 34 and a second-lobe medial side 36 that is opposite the second-lobe lateral side 34 and that faces the first-lobe medial side 32. In some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36 are substantially parallel to each other, at least when the primary construction piece 12 is in a neutral position without any forces imparted thereto. Similarly, in some examples, the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36 are at least substantially planar. By “substantially parallel,” it means that the respective sides, when represented by corresponding planes, are within 10° of each other. Thus, by “at least substantially parallel,” it means that the respective sides may be parallel or up to 10° divergent from each other.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, in some examples, when the unitary body 14 is in its neutral position, the unitary body 14 may be described as having a minimum gap width 38 between the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36, and the unitary body 14 may be descried as having a maximum lobe width 40 between the first-lobe lateral side 30 and the first-lobe medial side 32 and between the second-lobe lateral side 34 and the second-lobe medial side 36. In some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the minimum gap width 38 may be greater than, equal to, or less than the maximum lobe width 40.

As a result of such relative dimensions, as well as the properties of the material from which a primary construction piece 12 may be constructed, in some examples, the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36 of each primary construction piece 12 are configured to receive a first lobe 16 or a second lobe 22 of another primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. In other words, a lobe 16, 22 of one primary construction piece 12 may be inserted between the lobes 16, 22 of another primary construction piece 12 and be retained therebetween, for example, during construction of a sculpture. Moreover, when a lobe 16, 22 of one primary construction piece 12 is inserted between two other lobes 16, 22 of another primary construction piece 12, the gap between the lobes 16, 22 of each primary construction piece 12 may expand slightly, with the material properties (e.g., resiliency) of the primary construction pieces 12 urging the lobes 16, 22 toward each other and facilitating the friction-fit arrangement. In addition, both lobes 16, 22 of one primary construction piece 12 may be inserted between the lobes 16, 22 of another primary construction piece 12, and be retained therein in a friction-fit arrangement. Accordingly, sculptures constructed from such toy construction kits 10 may have various shapes and configurations other than just cylindrical sculptures.

In some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36 are at least substantially planar. In some examples, the first-lobe lateral side 30 and the first-lobe medial side 32 of a primary construction piece 12 have different curvatures, and similarly, the second-lobe lateral side 34 and the second-lobe medial side 36 have different curvatures. In some such examples, the first-lobe lateral side 30 and the second-lobe lateral side 34 have a greater curvature than the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36. The example primary construction piece 12′ of FIGS. 2-9 is such an example of a primary construction piece 12, with the cross-sectional profile of the resulting first-lobe interior volume 20′ and the second-lobe interior volume 26′ having a generally half-ovular, or egg, shape.

As used herein, including one or more primes after a reference numeral (e.g., 12′, 12″, 12′″, etc.) indicates that the depicted component or feature of a component is an example of the more general component or component feature described in connection with FIG. 1. The examples are not exclusive, and each such example may have the features, options, variants, materials of construction, properties, etc. described in connection with FIG. 1 or other similarly numbered examples unless expressly stated to the contrary herein.

With reference back to FIG. 1, the first lobe 16 may be described as having a first-lobe terminal end 42 that is opposite the first-lobe opening 18, and the second lobe 22 may be described as having a second-lobe terminal end 44 that is opposite the second-lobe opening 24. The unitary body 14 may be described as having a maximum body width 46 between the first-lobe lateral side 30 and the second-lobe lateral side 34, a maximum body height 48 between the first-lobe opening 18 and the second-lobe opening 24 and the first-lobe terminal end 42 and the second-lobe terminal end 44, and a maximum body depth 50 perpendicular to the maximum body width 46 and the maximum body height 48. The maximum body width 46 may correspond to the width (W), the maximum body height 48 may correspond to the height (H), and the maximum body depth 50 may correspond to the depth (D) of the imaginary rectangular prism within which a primary construction piece 12 may be positioned, as discussed above with reference to the example of FIG. 2.

In some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the maximum body height 48 and the maximum body depth 50 are at least substantially the same. In some examples, the maximum body width 46 is less than the maximum body height 48 and the maximum body depth 50. In some examples, the maximum body width 46 is 0.5-0.8 of (i.e., 50%-80% of) the maximum body height 48. As specific examples, the maximum body width 46 may be in the range of 5-15 mm, optionally about 10 mm, the maximum body height 48 may be in the range of 10-20 mm, optionally about 15 mm, and the maximum body depth 50 may be in the range of about 10-20 mm, optionally about 15 mm.

In some toy construction kits 10, the plurality of primary construction pieces 12 comprises subsets of primary construction pieces 12 of different colors, such as with the primary construction pieces 12 of at least some of the subsets being uniform in color. As a result, diverse and unique three-dimensional sculptures may be constructed.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, in some examples of primary construction pieces 12, the bridge 28 defines a hole 52 that extends through the bridge. In some such examples, the hole 52 is an elongate slot that is aligned (i.e., parallel) with the bridge 28 and thus extends parallel to the medial sides 32, 36 of the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22. The hole 52 may permit another component 11 of the toy construction kit 10 to be selectively inserted through the hole and coupled to the primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement.

Some toy construction kits 10 may further comprise additional components 11 in the form of at least one, and typically a plurality of, basic elongate connectors 54, as also schematically represented in FIG. 1. A basic elongate connector 54 is configured to interconnect or otherwise couple together at least two primary construction pieces 12, or optionally at least two subassemblies of a plurality of primary construction pieces 12. Each basic elongate connector 54 may be described as comprising a plurality of basic-elongate-connector end regions 56, which additionally or alternatively be described as opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions 56. In some examples, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. For example, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be dimensioned the same as, similar to, or slightly larger than the hole 52, with the material properties of the unitary body 14 facilitating the friction-fit arrangement when a basic-elongate-connector end region 56 is operatively inserted into the hole 52.

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. For example, the thickness of the basic-elongate-connector end regions 56 may be the approximately the same as or slightly larger than the minimum gap width 38 between the first-lobe medial side 32 and the second-lobe medial side 36 of a primary construction piece 12. This friction-fit arrangement of the basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be established when the corresponding primary construction piece 12 is in its flexed and/or neutral positions.

In still further examples, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be configured to be inserted and retained in a friction-fit arrangement between the corresponding lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 while the lobes are interconnected in a friction-fit arrangement. As an example, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be configured to extend between the lateral sidewalls of the corresponding lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 that are themselves coupled in a friction-fit arrangement with the lobes 16, 22 of a further primary construction piece 12. As another example, each basic-elongate-connector end region 56 may be configured to be inserted and retained in a friction-fit arrangement within the interior volume 20, 26 of a lobe 16, 22 of a given primary construction piece 12, with the basic-elongate-connector end region 56 extending between the interior of the lobe 16, 22 of the given primary construction piece 12 and the exterior of a corresponding lobe 16, 22 of a second primary construction piece 12 that is inserted into the interior volume of the lobe 16, 22 of the given primary construction piece 12.

The basic elongate connector 54 may have any suitable length and width for selectively interconnecting components 11 of the toy construction kit 10, as discussed herein. As an example, the basic elongate connector 54 may have a length (measured between the elongate-connector-end regions 56 that is a multiple of the width of the basic elongate connector 54. Examples of such multiples include at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at most 20, at most 15, at most 12, at most 11, at most 10, at most 8, at most 6, and/or at most 4 times the width of the basic elongate connector 54. As another example, the basic elongate connector 54 may have a thickness that is about the minimum cross-sectional dimension of hole 52 and/or that is the same as, less than, greater than, or about the thickness of a lobe 16, 22 of the primary construction piece 12.

The basic elongate connector 54 may be formed from a material that is less resilient and/or less flexible than the primary construction pieces 12. In some examples, the basic elongate connector is formed from a rigid and/or inelastic material. In some examples, the basic elongate connector 54 may be formed from a rigid material, such as metal, plastic, wood, nylon, or a composite or polymeric material.

As discussed, unique three-dimensional sculptures may be constructed with two primary construction pieces 12 being coupled to each other via a basic elongate connector 54, end-to-end or butt-to-butt and/or end-to-front or end-to-back. Herein, “end” or “butt” refers to the side of a primary construction piece corresponding to the first-lobe opening 18 and the second-lobe opening 24, while the “front” and “back” refer to the sides corresponding to the height (H) by the width (W), as schematically represented in the example of FIG. 2.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, some toy construction kits 10 further comprise additional components 11 in the form of at least one, and often a plurality of, detail connector pieces 58, with each detail connector piece 58 comprising a detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60 and a detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62 opposite the detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60. For example, the detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60 may form or define an attribute 64 of a three-dimensional sculpture formed from the toy construction kit 10, such as by being shaped to resemble the corresponding attribute. Examples of an attribute 64 include (but are not limited to) a foot, a leg, a finger, an arm, an eye, a nose, an antennae, a horn, a claw, a beak, a bill, a fin, hair, a tail, a mouth, headwear, clothing, jewelry, a clothing accessory, a wheel, a vehicle accessory, etc. Accordingly, detail connector pieces 58 may be utilized to construct a sculpture having one or more such attributes 64. The detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60 additionally or alternatively may include indicia 61 that may further define the attribute 64. For example, indicia 61 may include a graphic, a texture, a texture, a material of construction, and/or a coloring that sets the detail end region apart from primary construction pieces 12 and/or other components of a three-dimensional structure formed from the toy construction kit 10.

The detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62 of each detail connector piece 58 is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 and/or into the hole 52, when present, in a friction-fit arrangement. In some examples, the detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62 is constructed at least substantially identically to each basic-elongate-connector end region 56, for example, having the same shape, dimensions, materials of construction, etc.

As schematically represented in FIG. 1, some toy construction kits 10 further comprise additional components 11 in the form of at least one manipulable connector 65, such as a plurality of manipulable connectors 65. Each manipulable connector 65 includes a first manipulable connector portion 66 and a second manipulable connector portion 72. Each first manipulable connector portion 66 comprises a first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 and a first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70 that is opposite the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68. Similarly, each second manipulable connector portion 72 comprises a second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 and a second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76 that is opposite the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74. The first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70 and the second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76 are configured to be selectively coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement to define a manipulable joint 78, in which a respective first manipulable connector portion 66 and a respective second manipulable connector portion 72 are configured to be selectively pivoted and/or rotated relative to reach other. For example, the manipulable joint 78 may define, be described as, or be a hinge or a ball-and-socket joint.

In some examples, the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 and the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 of a manipulable connector 65 are configured to be selectively inserted and retained between a first lobe 16 and a second lobe 22 and/or into a hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12 in a friction-fit arrangement. In some such examples, the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 and the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 are constructed identically to each basic-elongate-connector end region 56. Accordingly, manipulable connectors 65 may be utilized to construct a three-dimensional sculpture with portions that are manipulable, or articulable, relative to each other. For example, legs, arms, tails, and/or heads of a character may be selectively movable or configurable relative to a body of the character without detachment from the body.

In some examples, the manipulable joint 78 defines a plurality of discrete positions for the manipulable connector 65, such as a plurality of discrete positions of the respective first manipulable connector portion 66 relative to the respective second manipulable connector portion 72. For example, one or both of the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 or the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 may comprise notches, detents, or other structures that define the discrete positions between a first manipulable connector portion 66 and a second manipulable connector portion 72. Such detents or notches, when present, may be evenly spaced or unevenly spaced. In some examples, in each discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions, the respective second manipulable connector portion 72 is orthogonal to the respective first manipulable connector portion 66; however, other configurations of manipulable joints 78 are within the scope of the present disclosure. As a result, during construction of a sculpture, a primary construction piece 12 or another construction piece of a toy construction kit 10 may be selectively positioned relative to one or more other primary construction pieces 12 or other components 11 a three-dimensional sculpture, for example.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, some toy construction pieces 12 further comprise additional components 11 in the form of at least one secondary construction piece 82, such as a plurality of secondary construction pieces 82. Secondary construction pieces 82 may utilized, for example, to interconnect in a friction-fit arrangement subassemblies of components 11 of a three-dimensional sculpture formed from the toy construction kit 10. When present, each secondary construction piece 82 may be constructed similar to the primary construction pieces 12, such as comprising a secondary-construction-piece first lobe 84, a secondary-construction-piece second lobe 86 that is adjacent to the secondary-construction piece first lobe 84, and a secondary-construction-piece bridge 88 that extends between and interconnects the secondary-construction-piece first lobe 84 and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe 86. As with primary construction pieces 12, the secondary-construction-piece first lobe 84 and/or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe 86 of a secondary construction piece 82 is configured to be selectively received and retained within a first-lobe interior volume 20 and/or a second-lobe interior volume 26 in a friction-fit arrangement. Unlike primary construction pieces 12, however, and as schematically represented in FIG. 1, each secondary construction piece 82 further comprises a secondary-construction-piece connector 89 that extends away from the secondary-construction-piece bridge 88 opposite the secondary-construction-piece first lobe 84 and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe 86.

In FIG. 1, secondary construction pieces 82 are illustrated schematically as being smaller than primary construction pieces 12, but it is within the scope of the present disclosure that one or more (and optionally all) of the secondary construction pieces 82 may be the same size as or larger than one or more of the primary construction pieces 12. Having the lobes of the secondary construction pieces 82 being the same size, or about the same size, as the lobes of the primary construction pieces 12 may facilitate establishing friction-fit arrangements when a lobe of a secondary construction piece 82 is inserted into the interior volume of a lobe of a primary construction piece 12.

In some examples, the secondary-construction-piece connector 89 of at least some of the secondary construction pieces 82 is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 and/or within a hole 52 in a friction-fit arrangement. For example, a secondary-construction-piece connector 89 may be constructed at least substantially identically to opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions 56 of basic elongate connectors 54.

In some examples, the secondary-construction-piece connector 89 of at least some of the secondary construction pieces 82 comprises a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90 or a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92, and the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90 is configured to be selectively coupled to the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92. For example, and similar to the first manipulable connector portion 66 and the second manipulable connectors portion 72 of the manipulable connector 65, one secondary construction piece 82 may be selectively coupled to another secondary construction piece 82 to define a manipulable joint 78. Additionally or alternatively, a secondary construction piece 82 may be configured to be selectively coupled to a first manipulable connector portion 66 or to a second manipulable connector portion 72 of a manipulable connector 65. That is, in some examples, a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90 is configured to be selectively coupled to a second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76, and a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92 is configured to be selectively coupled to a first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70. In some examples, a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90 is constructed at least substantially identically to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70, a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92 is constructed at least substantially identically to a second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76.

Accordingly, secondary construction pieces 82 may be selectively coupled to a three-dimensional sculpture via a first manipulable connector portion 66 or to a second manipulable connector portion 72, providing diverse possibilities for unique three-dimensional sculptures.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, some toy construction kits 10 further comprise at least one detailed piece 94, such as a plurality of detailed pieces 94. The detailed piece 94 forms, or defines, an attribute 64 of a three-dimensional sculpture formed from a toy construction kit 10, with examples of attributes 64 discussed herein. The detailed piece 94 further may include indicia 61, as also discussed herein. The detailed piece 94 includes a detailed-piece connector 96. The detailed-piece connector 96 is configured to be selectively coupled to a first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70 or to a second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76 and/or to a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90 or to a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92.

As schematically represented in FIG. 1, some toy construction kits 10 further comprise printed instructions 91 that instruct a user how to construct a sculpture, such as according to a method according to the present disclosure. In some such examples, the printed instructions 91 comprise one or more of packaging 93 for the toy construction kit 10, an insert 95 provided with the packaging 93, a webpage 97, and/or a mobile application 99.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-24, illustrative, non-exclusive examples of toy construction kit components 11 are illustrated. Where appropriate, the reference numerals from the schematic illustration of FIG. 1 are used with one or more prime symbols (′) to designate corresponding parts of the illustrated example components; however, the examples of FIGS. 2-24 are non-exclusive and do not limit toy construction kits to the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 2-24. That is, toy construction kits 10 are not limited to the specific example components of FIGS. 2-24, and toy construction kits 10 may incorporate any number of the various aspects, configurations, characteristics, properties, etc. of toy construction kits 10 that are illustrated in and discussed with reference to the schematic representations of FIG. 1 and/or the example components of FIGS. 2-24, as well as variations thereof, without requiring the inclusion of all such aspects, configurations, characteristics, properties, etc. For the purpose of brevity, each previously discussed component, part, portion, aspect, region, etc. or variants thereof may not be discussed, illustrated, and/or labeled again with respect to FIGS. 2-24.

FIGS. 2-9 illustrate an example primary construction piece 12′. The primary construction piece 12′ is an example of a primary construction piece 12 whose bridge 28′ defines a hole 52′ in the form of an elongate slot, as seen in FIGS. 3-5. The primary construction piece 12′ has a unitary body 14′ with a thin wall construction and is constructed of a flexible and resilient material. The first lobe 16′ and the second lobe 22′ of the primary construction piece 12′ are substantially identical in shape and are symmetrical about the bridge 28′. In addition, the first lobe 16′ and the second lobe 22′ may be described as having generally triangular profiles with first-lobe interior volume 20′ and second-lobe interior volume 26′ tapering in cross-section. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 4, the first-lobe medial side 32′ and the second-lobe medial side 36′ of the primary construction piece 12′ are substantially planar, while the first-lobe lateral side 30′ and the second-lobe lateral side 34′ are convex, resulting in cross-sectional profiles of the first-lobe interior volume 20′ and the second-lobe interior volume 26′ having generally half-ovular, or egg, shapes, as perhaps best seen in FIG. 5. As seen in FIG. 3, the unitary body 14′ of the primary construction piece 12′ extends beyond the bridge 28′ on one side of the bridge 28′. This additional wall of material adds to the bias of the bridge 28′ that serves to maintain the first lobe 16′ and the second lobe 22′ adjacent to each other in the absence of a user-imparted force that pivots the first lobe 16′ and the second lobe 22′ away from each other.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example basic elongate connector 54′ having opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions 56′ that are configured to be selectively inserted and retained in the hole 52′ of the example primary construction piece 12′ of FIG. 2-9.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example detail connector piece 58′ having a detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62′ that is substantially identical to the basic-elongate-connector end regions 56′ of the example basic elongate connector 54′ of FIG. 10. Accordingly, the detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62′ is configured to be selectively inserted and retained in the hole 52′ of the example primary construction piece 12′ of FIGS. 2-9 or otherwise utilized to interconnect components 11 of a three-dimensional sculpture, as discussed herein. The example detail connector piece 58′ also has a detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60′ in the shape of a disc and may include indicia 61. Accordingly, the detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60′ may be well suited to form or provide an attribute 64 in the form of an eye, a button, a nose, an ear, etc.

FIG. 12 illustrates another example detail connector piece 58″ constructed similar to the detail connector piece 58′ of FIG. 11; however, the detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60″ of the example detail connector piece 58″ is hemispherical in shape and thus also may be well suited to form or define an attribute 64 in the form of an eye, a button, a nose, an ear, etc.

FIG. 13 illustrates yet another example detail connector piece 58′″. The example detail connector piece 58′″ has a detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62′″ and a detail-connector-piece detailed end region 60′″ having a paddle shape. Such a paddle shape may be well suited to having or being an attribute 64 in the form of an ear, a horn, or a fin, for example.

Turning next to FIGS. 14-18, examples of a manipulable connector 65′ that includes a first manipulable connector portion 66′ and a second manipulable connector portion 72′ that are selectively coupled together to form, or define, a manipulable joint 78′ are illustrated. The manipulable joint 78′ enables the first and second manipulable connector portions to be selectively rotated, pivoted, or otherwise selectively reoriented relative to each other while remaining coupled together in a friction fit arrangement at the manipulable joint 78′. The manipulable joint 78′ is an example of a manipulable joint 78 that may be described as a ball-and-socket joint. Moreover, the first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70′ optionally comprises four evenly spaced notches 170 within which the second manipulable connector portion 72′ may be selectively received to define four discrete positions of the manipulable joint 78′. The first-manipulable connector joint end region 70′ optionally may have a greater or lesser number of notches, including no notches, and optionally include notches having equal or unequal spacings. An example of a first discrete position 80′ is illustrated in FIG. 17, and an example of a second discrete position 80″ is illustrated in FIG. 18.

The end regions 74′, 68′ opposite the joint portions 76′, 70′ of the first and second manipulable connector portions 72′, 66′ shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may include, or be, additional connector portions that are configured to be selectively coupled to other components 11 and/or subassemblies 202 of components 11 and/or to form or be detail portions. In the examples shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the end regions 74′, 68′ are elongate end portions that may be selectively coupled to other components 11 or subassemblies 202 of components 11 similar to the basic-elongate-connector end regions 56′ of the basic elongate connector 54′ of FIG. 10, the detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62′ of the detail connector piece 58′ of FIG. 11, and/or the detail-connector piece connecting end region 62′″ of the detail connector piece 58′″ of FIG. 13. The end regions 74′, 68′ additionally or alternatively may be referred to as manipulable connector piece end regions 74′, 68′ and/or as manipulable connector piece elongate end regions 74′, 68′.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a detailed piece 94′ with a detailed-piece connector 96′. As illustrated, the detailed piece 94′ forms an attribute 64′ that resembles a shoe. The detailed piece 94′ also includes indicia 61′ that provide additional details of the shoe.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example secondary construction piece 82′ having a secondary-construction-piece connector 89′ that is substantially identical to the basic-elongate-connector end regions 56′ of the example basic elongate connector 54′ of FIG. 10. Accordingly, the secondary-construction-piece connector 89′ is configured to be selectively inserted and retained in the hole 52′ of the example primary construction piece 12′ of FIGS. 2-9 or otherwise coupled to a primary construction piece or between primary and/or secondary construction pieces in a friction-fit arrangement as discussed herein. In the example secondary construction piece 82′, the secondary-construction-piece connector 89′ is parallel to the bridge 88′.

FIG. 21 illustrates another example secondary construction piece 82″ similar to the example secondary construction piece 82′ of FIG. 20, but whose secondary-construction-piece connector 89′ is orthogonal to the bridge 88″. Orienting the secondary construction-piece connectors at different relative orientations enables the secondary construction pieces to couple subassemblies of components 11 of a three-dimensional sculpture at different relative orientations. For example, this may be helpful when coupling subassemblies of primary construction pieces 12 to form the desired three-dimensional sculpture.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example secondary construction piece 82′″ that has a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion 90′″ constructed similar to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70′ of the example first manipulable connector portion 66′ of FIG. 15. Accordingly, the example secondary construction piece 82′″ may be selectively and operatively coupled to the second manipulable connector portion 72′ of FIG. 14.

FIG. 23 illustrates yet another example secondary construction piece 82″″, with the secondary construction piece 82″″ having a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion 92″″ constructed similar to the second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76′ of the second manipulable connector portion 72′ of FIG. 14. Accordingly, the example secondary construction piece 82″″ may be selectively and operatively coupled to the first manipulable connector portion 66′ of FIG. 15, as well as to the example secondary construction piece 82′″ of FIG. 22. Unlike the example secondary construction piece 82′″ of FIG. 22, the secondary construction piece 82″″ does not have openings to the interior volumes of the first lobe 84 and the second lobe 84″″. In such a construction, the lobes of the secondary construction piece 82″″ optionally are hollow or solid and may be formed of resilient, semi-rigid, or rigid materials. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that such a construction optionally may be used with the secondary construction piece 82′″ of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 illustrates a component 11 formed by coupling the secondary construction piece 82′″ of FIG. 22 with the secondary construction piece 82″″ of FIG. 23 together in a friction-fit arrangement. As indicated, the pieces may be selectively rotated or otherwise repositioned relative to each other to adjust the relative rotational orientation of the pieces, and thus their respective lobes. Selectively rotating the pieces relative to each other may enable selective orientation of coupled components, or subassemblies of interconnected components, in a three-dimensional sculpture 200 formed from the toy construction kit 10. For example, a head, tail, arm, leg, hand, foot, tail, torso, or other portion of the three-dimensional sculpture may be permitted to selectively rotate relative to another portion of the three-dimensional sculpture without requiring removal and reattachment of the portions.

As discussed in connection with the schematic representation of the toy construction kit 10 in FIG. 1, the components 11 of the toy construction kit may be selectively coupled together in a friction fit arrangement in many different ways, such as to follow instructions to create a predetermined three-dimensional sculpture 200, to personalize a three-dimensional sculpture 200, or to create an original three-dimensional sculpture 200. In this regard, components 11 that include connector portions may be interchangeable coupled together with other components that have complementary connector portions. As an example, the first and second joint end regions 76′, 70′ of the first manipulable connector 65′ shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 may be selectively coupled with the first and second joint portions 90′″ and 92″″ of the secondary construction piece 82 shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, respectively. As another more specific example, the detailed piece connector 96′ of the detailed piece 94′ shown in FIG. 19 may be selectively coupled in a friction fit arrangement to the first joint end region 76′ of the first manipulable connector portion 72′ or the first joint portion 90′″ of the second construction piece 82′. In each such example, the coupled portions form a joint that enables selectively pivoting, rotation, or other relative repositioning of the connected components. Such newly created joints and coupled components may enable a user to create new and/or different three-dimensional sculptures 200.

The interchangeability and creative options provided by the toy construction kit 10 are not limited to selective connection of the detailed connector piece 94′, the manipulable connector 65′, and the secondary construction piece 82′. For example, components 11 that include an elongate end region, such as the basic-elongate-connector end regions 56′ of the basic elongate connector 54′ of FIG. 10, the detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62′ of the detail connector piece 58′ of FIG. 11, the detail-connector piece connecting end region 62′″ of the detail connector piece 58′″ of FIG. 13, and the end regions 76′ and 68′ of the manipulable connector 65′ of FIGS. 14 and 15 may be selectively inserted into holes of the primary construction pieces 12′ and/or between adjacent portions of components, as discussed in more detail herein.

As still further examples of the creative range of options provided by the toy construction kit 10, even primary construction pieces 12 may be selectively coupled together in a friction fit arrangement in many additional ways than are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, each lobe 16, 22 of a primary construction piece 12 may be selectively inserted to the interior volume 20, 26 of either lobe 16, 22 of another primary construction piece 12. Furthermore, when the lobes and/or interior volumes are asymmetrical, the resulting subassembly formed by inserting a lobe of a primary construction piece into an interior volume of a lobe of another primary construction piece may differ depending on the relative (i.e., aligned or 180° reversed) orientations of the primary construction pieces. Also, when the primary construction pieces 12 are formed from resilient, compressible and/or elastic materials, and/or when a toy construction kit 10 includes primary construction pieces with different sizes, additional options exist, such as to insert both lobes 16, 22 of a primary construction piece 12 into an interior volume 20, 26 of another primary construction piece 12 and/or to insert lobes of two or more primary construction pieces into a single interior volume of another primary construction piece 12. Examples of such additional configurations for coupling primary construction pieces 12 together in a friction fit arrangement are shown in FIG. 25 using the example primary construction pieces 12′.

FIG. 26 illustrates an example of a subassembly 202 of interconnected components 11 that may form a portion of a three-dimensional sculpture 200 using the toy construction kit 10. As used herein, the term subassembly is used to refer to a plurality of components 11 that are coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement to form at least a portion of a sculpture 200. Some three-dimensional sculptures 200 may be formed by separately forming and then coupling together in a friction-fit arrangement two or more subassemblies 202, such as by using one or more basic elongate connectors 54, detail connector pieces 58, manipulable connectors 65, and/or secondary construction pieces 82. Some three-dimensional sculptures 200 may be formed by forming a subassembly 202 and then coupling thereto in a friction-fit arrangement one or more additional components 11, such as one or more detail connector pieces 58.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, three primary construction pieces 12′ are coupled together in a friction-fit arrangement by inserting the lobes 16′, 22′ of one primary construction piece 12′ into the interior volumes 20′, 26′ of the lobes of two other primary construction pieces 12′. It follows that additional primary construction pieces 12′ may be added (in a friction-fit arrangement) to the subassembly by selectively inserting one or both lobes of the additional primary construction pieces 12′ into the interior volume(s) of the lobes of the primary construction pieces 12′ in the subassembly 202 and/or by receiving the lobes of the primary construction pieces 12′ in the subassembly 202 into the interior volume(s) of the lobe(s) of one or more additional primary construction pieces 12′.

FIG. 26 also schematically illustrates examples of ways in which other components 11 may be coupled to the subassembly 202 in a friction-fit arrangement. As examples, components 11 such as connectors or connector pieces, such as basic elongate connectors 54, detail connector pieces 58, manipulable connectors 65, and secondary construction pieces 82 that include an elongate end region similar to those utilized with the basic elongate connectors and detail connector pieces may be coupled to the subassembly 202 in a friction-fit arrangement by inserting the elongate end region through a hole 52′ of one of the primary connector pieces from either direction, between the lobes 16′, 22′ of one of the primary construction pieces 12′, between the exterior of the lateral sidewall of a lobe of a given primary construction piece 12′ and the interior sidewall of a lobe of a further primary construction piece 12′ that has been inserted into the interior volume of the lobe of the given primary construction piece 12′, and between the opposed, adjacent exterior sidewalls of the given primary construction piece 12′ and the further primary construction piece 12′. FIG. 26 also schematically illustrates examples of ways in which components 11 such as secondary construction pieces 82 that include lobes 84′, 86′ may be coupled in a friction-fit arrangement to the subassembly 202 by inserting the lobes into the interior volume 20′, 26′ of one or more of the lobes 16′, 22′ of the primary construction pieces.

FIG. 27 illustrates examples of methods 100 of constructing a three-dimensional sculpture 200, and/or subassemblies 202 thereof, from a toy construction kit 10 according to the present disclosure. In the example of FIG. 27, the three-dimensional sculpture 200 takes the form of a duck, but as discussed, the toy construction kit 10 may be utilized to make an unlimited number of different types, shapes, and personalized versions of three-dimensional sculptures 102. FIG. 28 illustrates examples of methods 100 for constructing subassemblies 202 and three-dimensional sculptures 200 using the toy construction kit 10. In FIG. 28, steps that are optional and/or which correspond to optional variants or versions of methods 100 are illustrated in dashed lines. That said, not all methods 100 according to the present disclosure are required to include all of the steps illustrated in solid lines. The methods and steps illustrated in FIG. 28 are not limiting and other methods and steps are within the scope of the present disclosure, including methods having greater than or fewer than the number of steps illustrated, as understood from the discussions herein.

As represented in FIG. 28 and as generally depicted in the examples of FIG. 27, methods 100 comprise inserting 104 a first lobe 16 of a first primary construction piece 12 into a second-lobe interior volume 26 of a second primary construction piece 12, inserting 106 a second lobe 22 of a third primary construction piece 12 into a first-lobe interior volume 20 of the second primary construction piece 12, and repeating 108 the inserting 104 and the inserting 106 with respect to additional primary construction pieces 12 to at least partially construct a subassembly 202 and/or sculpture 200.

In some implementations of methods 100, and as illustrated in FIG. 27, the repeating 108 may result in at least two rows of primary construction pieces 12 coupled together in a circular, or continuous, arrangement. Thus, methods 100 may include forming 109 a plurality of interconnected rings of primary construction pieces 12. The forming 109 may be useful, for example, for creating body, torso, or housing subassemblies 202 for a three-dimensional sculpture 200.

Methods 100 further may include detailing 110 the subassembly 202 by inserting one or more detail connector pieces 58 and/or detail pieces 94 and corresponding portions of a manipulable connector 65 or secondary construction piece 82 to add attributes 64 to the subassembly 202 and/or the resulting sculpture 200. For example, the detailing 110 may include inserting 112 the detail-connector-piece connecting end region 62 of a detail connector piece 58 into the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200, or between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200, or between adjacent or nested lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200. As another example, the detailing 110 may include inserting 112 the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 or the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 of a manipulable connector 65 into the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200, or between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200, or between adjacent or nested lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 of the subassembly 202 or the three-dimensional sculpture 200, and coupling 114 a detail piece 94 to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region 70 or the second-manipulable-connector joint end region 76 of the manipulable connector. In the example implementation of FIG. 27, two detail connector pieces 58″ having the attribute 64 of an eye, and one detail connector piece 58″″ having the attribute 64 of a duck bill are utilized in the construction of the example sculpture 200. On the left side of the example implementation of FIG. 27, a detail connector piece 58′″ having the attribute 64 of a wing is used. Another such detail connector piece 58′″ could be used on the opposite side of such implementation, but FIG. 27 instead illustrates on the right side of the example implementation that a primary construction piece 12′ optionally also can be selectively used as a detail piece. In the illustrated example, the lobes 16′, 22′ are selectively inserted and retained in a friction fit arrangement between the lobes of other primary construction pieces 12′ that form the body of a duck.

As discussed, a sculpture 200 may be formed from two or more subassemblies 202 that are separately formed from components 11 of the toy construction kit 10 and thereafter coupled, or assembled, together. Accordingly, methods 100 further may include repeating 120 the above-discussed steps to form two or more subassemblies 202 and thereafter connecting 122 the subassemblies 202 together, such as by using one or more basic elongate connectors 54, manipulable connectors 65, and/or secondary construction pieces 82. FIG. 29 illustrates the three-dimensional sculpture 200 that resulted from the flowchart of FIG. 27 now being a subassembly 202 of an expanded three-dimensional sculpture 200 that includes a second subassembly 202 in the form of a tail that is connected to the three-dimensional sculpture 200 by coupling the subassemblies together in a friction-fit arrangement. FIG. 29 also illustrates in dashed lines another optional way to selectively interconnect subassemblies 202 of components 11. Specifically, FIG. 29 illustrates in dashed lines that the lobes 16′, 22′ of a primary construction piece 12′ may be inserted between the lobes of one or more primary construction pieces 12 of a subassembly 202, and the interior volumes 20′, 26′ of such primary construction piece may receive and interconnect two or more additional primary construction pieces or secondary construction pieces. In the example of FIG. 29, the primary construction piece 12′ that is separately illustrated may form a portion of one of the subassemblies 202 or may be utilized simply to interconnect and couple the subassemblies in a friction fit arrangement.

As an example, the connecting 122 may include inserting 124 a basic-elongate-connector end region 56 of a basic elongate connector 54 into the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12, or between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12, or between adjacent or nested lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 of a first subassembly 202 and also inserting 126 the other basic-elongate connector end region 56 of the basic elongate connector 54 into the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12, or between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12, or between adjacent or nested lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 of a second subassembly 202 to couple the subassemblies together in a friction-fit arrangement. A similar process may be followed using the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region 68 and the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region 74 of a manipulable connector 65.

When a secondary construction piece 82 with both lobes 84, 86 and a secondary-construction-piece connector 89 is utilized for the connecting 122, the inserting 124 may include inserting the secondary-construction-piece connector 89 into the hole 52 of a primary construction piece 12, or between the first lobe 16 and the second lobe 22 of a primary construction piece 12, or between adjacent or nested lobes of a pair of primary construction pieces 12 of a first subassembly 202, and the inserting 126 may include inserting one or both of the lobes 84, 86 into the interior volume of a lobe of a primary construction piece 12 of the second subassembly 202 to couple the subassemblies together in a friction-fit arrangement. When a secondary construction piece 82 with lobes 84, 86 on each portion of the secondary connector piece is utilized for the connecting 122, the inserting 124 may include inserting one or both of the lobes 84, 86 into the interior volume of a lobe of a primary construction piece 12 of a first subassembly 202, and the inserting 126 may include inserting one or both of the lobes 84, 86 into the interior volume of a lobe of a primary construction piece 12 of the second subassembly 202 to couple the subassemblies together in a friction-fit arrangement.

When two or more subassemblies 202 are formed, the detailing 110 may be performed separately for each subassembly 202, for all of the subassemblies 202 concurrently, in stages, after the subassemblies are connected, etc. In other words, and as discussed, toy construction kits 10 provide a fun and creative opportunity to create, revise, improve, expand, etc. sculptures using the user's imagination and creativity, and thus some users may elect to perform the methods 100 in different sequences and/or with different levels of revision or repeating than the examples discussed herein.

Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of inventive subject matter according to the present disclosure are described in the following enumerated paragraphs:

A. A toy construction kit (10), comprising:

    • a plurality of primary construction pieces (12), wherein each primary construction piece (12) of the plurality of primary constructions pieces (12) comprises a unitary body (14) that comprises:
      • a first lobe (16) defining a first-lobe opening (18) to a first-lobe interior volume (20);
      • a second lobe (22) adjacent to the first lobe (16) and defining a second-lobe opening (24) to a second-lobe interior volume (26); and
      • a bridge (28) extending between the first-lobe opening (18) and the second-lobe opening (24) and interconnecting the first lobe (16) to the second lobe (22);
    • wherein the first-lobe interior volume (20) of each primary construction piece (12) of the plurality of primary constructions pieces (12) is configured to receive and retain a second lobe (22) of another primary construction piece (12) via the first-lobe opening (18) in a friction-fit arrangement; and
    • wherein the second lobe-interior volume (26) of each primary construction piece (12) of the plurality of primary constructions pieces (12) is configured to receive and retain a first lobe (16) of another primary construction piece (12) via the second-lobe opening (24) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A, wherein the toy construction kit (10) comprises a plurality of components (11), and wherein the plurality of components (11) comprises the plurality of primary construction pieces (12).

A2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A1, wherein the unitary body (14) is constructed of a flexible material.

A2.1. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A2, wherein the unitary body (14) is constructed of a resilient material.

A2.2. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A2.1, wherein the bridge (28) defines an integral hinge between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) that biases the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) toward and adjacent to each other.

A3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A2.2, wherein the unitary body (14) is constructed of silicone.

A3.1. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A3,

    • wherein the first-lobe interior volume (20) of each primary construction piece (12) is configured to receive, via the first-lobe opening (18), the first lobe (16) of another primary construction piece (12) in a friction-fit arrangement; and
    • wherein the second lobe-interior volume (26) of each primary construction piece (12) is configured to receive, via the second-lobe opening (24), the second lobe (22) of another primary construction piece (12) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A4. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A3.1, wherein the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) are at least substantially identical in shape.

A5. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A4, wherein the first-lobe interior volume (20) and the second-lobe interior volume (26) are at least substantially identical in shape.

A6. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A5,

    • wherein the first-lobe interior volume (20) tapers in cross-section away from the first-lobe opening (18); and
    • wherein the second-lobe interior volume (26) tapers in cross-section away from the second-lobe opening (24).

A7. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A6, wherein the first lobe (16), the first-lobe interior volume (20), the second lobe (22), and the second-lobe interior volume (26) have a generally triangular profile.

A8. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A7, wherein the primary construction pieces (12) are symmetrical about the bridge (28).

A9. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A8, wherein the unitary body (14) has a thin wall construction.

A10. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A9,

    • wherein the first lobe (16) comprises a first-lobe lateral side (30) and a first-lobe medial side (32) opposite the first-lobe lateral side (30); and
    • wherein the second lobe (22) comprises a second-lobe lateral side (34) and a second-lobe medial side (36) opposite the second-lobe lateral side (34) and facing the first-lobe medial side (32).

A10.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A10, wherein the first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36) are substantially parallel to each other.

A10.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.1, wherein the first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36) are substantially planar.

A10.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.2,

    • wherein the unitary body (14) has a minimum gap width (38) between the first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36); wherein the unitary body (14) has a maximum lobe width (40) between the first-lobe lateral side (30) and the first-lobe medial side (32) and between the second-lobe lateral side (34) and the second-lobe medial side (36); and wherein the minimum gap width (38) is less than the maximum lobe width (40).

A10.4. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.3, wherein first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36) of each primary construction piece (12) are configured to receive a first lobe (16) or a second lobe (22) of another primary construction piece (12) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A10.5. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.4,

    • wherein the first-lobe lateral side (30) and the first-lobe medial side (32) have different curvatures; and
    • wherein the second-lobe lateral side (34) and the second-lobe medial side (36) have different curvatures.

A10.6. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.5, wherein the first-lobe lateral side (30) and the second-lobe lateral side (34) have a greater curvature than the first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36).

A10.7. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.6, wherein the first-lobe medial side (32) and the second-lobe medial side (36) are substantially planar.

A10.8. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10-A10.7,

    • wherein the first lobe (16) has a first-lobe terminal end (42) opposite the first-lobe opening (18);
    • wherein the second lobe (22) has a second-lobe terminal end (44) opposite the second-lobe opening (24); and
    • wherein the unitary body (14) has a maximum body width (46) between the first-lobe lateral side (30) and the second-lobe lateral side (34), a maximum body height (48) between the first-lobe opening (18) and the second-lobe opening (24) and the first-lobe terminal end (42) and the second-lobe terminal end (44), and a maximum body depth (50) perpendicular to the maximum body width (46) and the maximum body height (48).

A10.8.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A10.8, wherein the maximum body height (48) and the maximum body depth (50) are at least substantially the same.

A10.8.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10.8-A10.8.1, wherein the maximum body width (46) is less than the maximum body height (48) and the maximum body depth (50).

A10.8.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10.8-A10.8.2, wherein the maximum body width (46) is 0.5-0.8 of the maximum body height (48).

A10.8.4. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A10.8-A10.8.3,

    • wherein the maximum body width (46) is 5-15 millimeters (mm), optionally about 10 mm;
    • wherein the maximum body height (48) is 10-20 mm, optionally about 15 mm; and
    • wherein the maximum body depth (50) is 10-20 mm, optionally about 15 mm.

A11. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A10.8.4, wherein the plurality of primary construction pieces (12) comprises subsets of primary construction pieces (12) of different colors.

A11.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A11, wherein the primary construction pieces (12) of at least some of the subsets are uniform in color.

A12. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A11.1, wherein the bridge (28) defines a hole (52) extending through the bridge.

A12.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A12, wherein the hole (52) is an elongate slot aligned with the bridge (28).

A13. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A12.1, further comprising a plurality of basic elongate connectors (54), wherein each basic elongate connector (54) of the plurality of basic elongate connectors (54) comprises opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions (56).

A13.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A13, wherein each basic-elongate-connector end region (56) is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A13.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A13-A13.1 when depending from paragraph A12, wherein each basic-elongate-connector end region (56) is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within a/the hole (52) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A14. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A13.2, further comprising a plurality of detail connector pieces (58), wherein each detail connector piece (58) of the plurality of detail connector pieces (58) comprises a detail-connector-piece detailed end region (60) and a detail-connector-piece connecting end region (62) opposite the detail-connector-piece detailed end region (60).

A14.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A14, wherein the detail-connector-piece detailed end region (60) comprises an attribute (64) of a character.

A14.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A14-A14.1, wherein the detail-connector-piece connecting end region (62) is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A14.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A14-A14.2 when depending from paragraph A12, wherein the detail-connector-piece connecting end region (62) is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole (52) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A14.4. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A14-A14.3 when depending from paragraph A13, wherein the detail-connector-piece connecting end region (62) is constructed at least substantially identically to each basic-elongate-connector end region (56).

A15. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A14.4, further comprising:

    • at least one manipulable connector (65), wherein the at least one manipulable connector (65) comprises:
    • a first manipulable connector portion (66) with a first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68) and a first-manipulable-connector joint end region (70) opposite the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68);
    • a second manipulable connector portion (72), wherein the second manipulable connector portion (72) comprises a second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74) and a second-manipulable-connector joint end region (76) opposite the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74); and
    • wherein the first-manipulable-connector joint end region (70) and the second-manipulable-connector joint end region (76) are configured to be selectively coupled together to define a manipulable joint (78), in which the first manipulable connector portion (66) and the second manipulable connector portion (72) are configured to be selectively pivoted and/or rotated relative to reach other.

A15.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A15,

    • wherein the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68) is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) in a friction-fit arrangement; and
    • wherein the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74) is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A15.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A15-A15.1 when depending from paragraph A12,

    • wherein the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68) is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole (52) in a friction-fit arrangement; and
    • wherein the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74) is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole (52) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A15.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A15-A15.2 when depending from paragraph A13, wherein the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68) and the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74) are constructed identically to each basic-elongate-connector end region (56).

A15.4. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A15-A15.3, wherein the manipulable joint (78) defines a plurality of discrete positions for the second manipulable connector portion (72) relative to the first manipulable connector portion (66).

A15.4.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A15.4, wherein in each discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions, the second manipulable connector portion (72) is orthogonal to the first manipulable connector portion (66).

A16. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A15.4.1, further comprising:

    • a plurality of secondary construction pieces (82), wherein each secondary construction piece (82) of the plurality of secondary constructions pieces (82) comprises:
      • a secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84);
      • a secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86) adjacent to the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84);
      • a secondary-construction-piece bridge (88) extending between and interconnecting the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84) and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86); and
      • a secondary-construction-piece connector (89) extending away from the secondary-construction-piece bridge (88) opposite the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84) and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86);
    • wherein the first-lobe interior volume (20) of each primary construction piece (12) is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84) or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86) via the first-lobe opening (18) in a friction-fit arrangement; and
    • wherein the second lobe-interior volume (26) of each primary construction piece (12) is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84) or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86) via the second-lobe opening (24) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A16.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A16, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector (89) of at least some of the plurality secondary construction pieces (82) is configured to be selectively inserted and retained between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A16.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A16-A16.1 when depending from paragraph A12, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector (89) of at least some of the secondary construction pieces (82) is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole (52) in a friction-fit arrangement.

A16.2.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A16.2 when depending from paragraph A13, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector (89) is constructed at least substantially identically to the opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions (56).

A16.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A16-A16.2.1, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector (89) of at least some of the secondary construction pieces (82) comprises a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion (90) or a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion (92), wherein the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion (90) is configured to be selectively coupled to the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion (92).

A16.3.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A16.3 when depending from paragraph A15,

    • wherein the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion (90) is configured to be selectively coupled to the second-manipulable-connector joint end region (76); and
    • wherein the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion (92) is configured to be selectively coupled to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region (70).

A16.3.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A16-A16.3 when depending from paragraph A15,

    • wherein the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion (90) is constructed at least substantially identically to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region (70); and
    • wherein the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion (92) is constructed at least substantially identically to the second-manipulable-connector joint end region (76).

A17. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A16.3.2, further comprising:

    • a plurality of detailed pieces (94), wherein each detailed piece (94) of the plurality of detailed pieces (94) comprises a detailed-piece connector (96).

A17.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A17 when depending from paragraph A15, wherein the detailed-piece connector (96) is configured to be selectively coupled to the first-manipulable-connector joint end region (70) or to the second-manipulable-connector joint end region (76).

A17.2. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A17-A17.1 when depending from paragraph A16, wherein the detailed-piece connector (96) is configured to be selectively coupled to the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion (90) or to the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion (92).

A17.3. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A17-A17.2, wherein each detailed piece (94) of the plurality of detailed pieces (94) comprises an attribute (64) of a/the character.

A18. The toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A17.3, further comprising printed instructions (91) instructing a user to perform the method (100) of any of paragraphs B-B10.

A18.1. The toy construction kit (10) of paragraph A18, wherein the printed instructions (91) comprise one or more of packaging (93) for the toy construction kit (10), an insert (95) provided with the packaging (93), a webpage (97), and/or a mobile application (99).

B. A method (100) of constructing a three-dimensional sculpture (200) from the toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A18.1, the method (100) comprising:

    • inserting (104) the first lobe (16) of a first primary construction piece (12) into the second-lobe interior volume (26) of a second primary construction piece (12);
    • inserting (106) the second lobe (22) of a third primary construction piece (12) into the first-lobe interior volume (20) of the second primary construction piece (12); and
    • repeating (108) the inserting (104) and the inserting (106) with respect to additional primary construction pieces (12) to construct at least a subassembly (202) of the three-dimensional sculpture (200); wherein the three-dimensional sculpture may contain or be formed from the subassembly (202).

B1. The method (100) of paragraph B, wherein the repeating (108) results in at least two rows of primary construction pieces (12) connected together in a continuous, and optionally circular, arrangement.

B2. The method (100) of paragraph B1, wherein the repeating (108) includes forming a plurality of interconnected rings of primary construction pieces (12).

B3. The method (100) of any of paragraphs B-B2, wherein the method (100) further comprises detailing (110) the subassembly (202) or the three-dimensional sculpture (200).

B4. The method (100) of paragraph B3, when depending from any of paragraphs A14-14.4, wherein the detailing (110) comprises inserting (112) the detail-connector-piece connecting end region (62) of a detail connector piece (58) into the hole (52) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202) or between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202).

B5. The method (100) of any of paragraphs B3-B4, when depending from any of paragraphs A15-15.4.1, wherein the detailing comprises:

    • inserting (118) the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region (68) of a first manipulable connector (66) into the hole (52) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202) or between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202); and
    • inserting (120) the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region (74) of a second manipulable connector portion (72) into the hole (52) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202) or between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202).

B6. The method (100) of any of paragraphs B-B5, wherein the method further comprises:

    • repeating (120) the steps of any of paragraphs B-B5 to form a plurality of subassemblies (202) of the three-dimensional sculpture (200); and
    • connecting (122) the plurality of subassemblies (202) in a friction-fit arrangement.

B7. The method (100) of paragraph B6, when depending from any of paragraph A13-A13.2, wherein the method (100) further comprises inserting (124) a basic-elongate-connector end region (56) of a basic elongate connector (54) into the hole (52) of a primary construction piece (12) of a subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202) or between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) of a primary construction piece (12) of a subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202).

B8. The method (100) of paragraph B7, wherein the method (100) further comprises inserting (126) another basic-elongate-connector end region (56) of the basic elongate connector (54) into the hole (52) of a primary construction piece (12) of another subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202) or between the first lobe (16) and the second lobe (22) of a primary construction piece (12) of another subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202).

B9. The method (100) of any of paragraphs B7-B8, when depending from any of paragraphs A16-A16.3.2, further comprising:

    • inserting (124) the secondary-construction-piece first lobe (84) of a first secondary construction piece (82) into the second-lobe interior volume (26) of a primary construction piece (12) of a subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202); and
    • inserting (126) the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86) of a second secondary construction piece (82) into the first-lobe interior volume (20) of a primary construction piece (12) of the subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202).

B10. The method (100) of paragraph B9, wherein the method (100) further comprises inserting (126) a portion of the secondary construction piece (82) into a portion of another subassembly (202) of the plurality of subassemblies (202).

C. A three-dimensional sculpture (200) formed from the toy construction kit of any of paragraphs A-A18.1.

D. A three-dimensional sculpture (200) formed using the methods (100) of any of paragraphs B-B10.

E. The use of the toy construction kit (10) of any of paragraphs A-A18.1 and/or the methods (100) of any of paragraphs B-B10 to form a three-dimensional sculpture (200).

As used herein, the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa. Similarly, subject matter that is recited as being configured to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being operative to perform that function.

As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and a second entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity, and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entries listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one or more” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities optionally may be present other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising,” may refer, in one example, to A only (optionally including entities other than B); in another example, to B only (optionally including entities other than A); in yet another example, to both A and B (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer to elements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.

As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,” and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one or more components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey that the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according to the present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting, required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurally and/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined herein, as used herein, “at least substantially,” when modifying a degree or relationship, may include not only the recited “substantial” degree or relationship, but also the full extent of the recited degree or relationship. A substantial amount of a recited degree or relationship may include at least 75% of the recited degree or relationship. For example, an object that is at least substantially formed from a material includes objects for which at least 75% of the objects are formed from the material and also includes objects that are completely formed from the material. As another example, a first length that is at least substantially as long as a second length includes first lengths that are within 75% of the second length and also includes first lengths that are as long as the second length.

The various disclosed elements of apparatuses and steps of methods disclosed herein are not required to all apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, one or more of the various elements and steps disclosed herein may define independent inventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of a disclosed apparatus or method. Accordingly, such inventive subject matter is not required to be associated with the specific apparatuses and methods that are expressly disclosed herein, and such inventive subject matter may find utility in apparatuses and/or methods that are not expressly disclosed herein.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A toy construction kit, comprising:

a plurality of primary construction pieces, wherein each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary constructions pieces comprises a unitary body, wherein the unitary body is constructed of a flexible and resilient material, and wherein the unitary body comprises: a first lobe defining a first-lobe opening to a first-lobe interior volume; a second lobe adjacent to the first lobe and defining a second-lobe opening to a second-lobe interior volume; and a bridge extending between the first-lobe opening and the second-lobe opening and interconnecting the first lobe to the second lobe, wherein the bridge defines a hole extending through the bridge;
wherein the first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary constructions pieces is configured to receive and retain a second lobe of another primary construction piece via the first-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement; and
wherein the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary constructions pieces is configured to receive and retain a first lobe of another primary construction piece via the second-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement.

2. The toy construction kit of claim 1, wherein the hole is an elongate slot aligned with the bridge.

3. The toy construction kit of claim 1, wherein the first lobe and the second lobe are at least substantially identical in shape.

4. The toy construction kit of claim 1, wherein the first lobe, the first-lobe interior volume, the second lobe, and the second-lobe interior volume have a generally triangular profile.

5. The toy construction kit of claim 1, wherein each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces are symmetrical about the bridge.

6. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side; and
wherein the first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side are substantially parallel to each other.

7. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side; and
wherein the first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side are substantially planar.

8. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side;
wherein the unitary body has a minimum gap width between the first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side;
wherein the unitary body has a maximum lobe width between the first-lobe lateral side and the first-lobe medial side and between the second-lobe lateral side and the second-lobe medial side; and
wherein the minimum gap width is less than the maximum lobe width.

9. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side; and
wherein first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side of each primary construction piece the plurality of primary construction pieces are configured to receive a first lobe or a second lobe of another primary construction piece in a friction-fit arrangement.

10. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side;
wherein the first-lobe lateral side and the first-lobe medial side have different curvatures; and
wherein the second-lobe lateral side and the second-lobe medial side have different curvatures.

11. The toy construction kit of claim 1,

wherein the first lobe comprises a first-lobe lateral side and a first-lobe medial side opposite the first-lobe lateral side;
wherein the second lobe comprises a second-lobe lateral side and a second-lobe medial side opposite the second-lobe lateral side and facing the first-lobe medial side; and
wherein the first-lobe lateral side and the second-lobe lateral side have a greater curvature than the first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side.

12. The toy construction kit of claim 11, wherein the first-lobe medial side and the second-lobe medial side are substantially planar.

13. The toy construction kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary construction pieces comprises subsets of primary construction pieces of different colors.

14. The toy construction kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of basic elongate connectors, wherein each basic elongate connector of the plurality of basic elongate connectors comprises opposing basic-elongate-connector end regions, and wherein each basic-elongate-connector end region is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole in a friction-fit arrangement.

15. The toy construction kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of detail connector pieces, wherein each detail connector piece (58) of the plurality of detail connector pieces comprises a detail-connector-piece detailed end region and a detail-connector-piece connecting end region opposite the detail-connector-piece detailed end region, wherein the detail-connector-piece detailed end region comprises an attribute of a character, and wherein the detail-connector-piece connecting end region is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole in a friction-fit arrangement.

16. The toy construction kit of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one manipulable connector, wherein the at least one manipulable connector comprises:
a first manipulable connector portion with a first-manipulable-connector connecting end region and a first-manipulable-connector joint end region opposite the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region;
a second manipulable connector portion, wherein the second manipulable connector portion comprises a second-manipulable-connector connecting end region and a second-manipulable-connector joint end region opposite the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region;
wherein the first-manipulable-connector joint end region and the second-manipulable-connector joint end region are configured to be selectively coupled together to define a manipulable joint in which the first manipulable connector portion and the second manipulable connector portion are configured to be selectively pivoted and/or rotated relative to reach other;
wherein the first-manipulable-connector connecting end region is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole in a friction-fit arrangement; and
wherein the second-manipulable-connector connecting end region is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole in a friction-fit arrangement.

17. The toy construction kit of claim 16, wherein the manipulable joint defines a plurality of discrete positions for the second manipulable connector relative to the first manipulable connector.

18. The toy construction kit of claim 17, wherein in each discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions, the second manipulable connector is orthogonal to the first manipulable connector.

19. The toy construction kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of secondary construction pieces, wherein each secondary construction piece of the plurality of secondary constructions pieces comprises: a secondary-construction-piece first lobe; a secondary-construction-piece second lobe adjacent to the secondary-construction-piece first lobe; a secondary-construction-piece bridge extending between and interconnecting the secondary-construction-piece first lobe and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe; and a secondary-construction-piece connector extending away the secondary-construction-piece bridge opposite the secondary-construction-piece first lobe and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe;
wherein the first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe via the first-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement;
wherein the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe via the second-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement.

20. The toy construction kit of claim 19, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector of at least some of the plurality second construction pieces is configured to be selectively inserted into and retained within the hole in a friction-fit arrangement.

21. The toy construction kit of claim 19, wherein the secondary-construction-piece connector of at least some of the secondary construction pieces comprises a secondary-construction-piece first joint portion or a secondary-construction-piece second joint portion, wherein the secondary-construction-piece first joint portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the secondary-construction-piece second joint portion.

22. A method of constructing a three-dimensional sculpture from the toy construction kit of claim 1, the method comprising:

inserting the first lobe of a first primary construction piece into the second-lobe interior volume of a second primary construction piece;
inserting the second lobe of a third primary construction piece into the first-lobe interior volume of the second primary construction piece; and
repeating the inserting and the inserting with respect to additional primary construction pieces to at least partially construct the three-dimensional sculpture.

23. A toy construction kit, comprising:

a plurality of primary construction pieces, wherein each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary constructions pieces comprises a unitary body that comprises: a first lobe defining a first-lobe opening to a first-lobe interior volume; a second lobe adjacent to the first lobe and defining a second-lobe opening to a second-lobe interior volume; and a bridge extending between the first-lobe opening and the second-lobe opening and interconnecting the first lobe to the second lobe; and
a plurality of secondary construction pieces, wherein each secondary construction piece of the plurality of secondary constructions pieces comprises: a secondary-construction-piece first lobe; a secondary-construction-piece second lobe adjacent to the secondary-construction piece first lobe; a secondary-construction-piece bridge extending between and interconnecting the secondary-construction-piece first lobe and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe; and a secondary-construction-piece connector extending away the secondary-construction-piece bridge opposite the secondary-construction-piece first lobe and the secondary-construction-piece second lobe;
wherein the first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe (86) via the first-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement;
wherein the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain the secondary-construction-piece first lobe or the secondary-construction-piece second lobe via the second-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement;
wherein the first-lobe interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain a second lobe of another primary construction piece via the first-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement; and
wherein the second lobe-interior volume of each primary construction piece of the plurality of primary construction pieces is configured to receive and retain a first lobe of another primary construction piece via the second-lobe opening in a friction-fit arrangement.
Patent History
Publication number: 20240149184
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2024
Publication Date: May 9, 2024
Inventors: Yin Jia (Irvine, CA), Peng Sun (Irvine, CA)
Application Number: 18/415,318
Classifications
International Classification: A63H 33/06 (20060101);