US3456414A - Structural element - Google Patents

Structural element Download PDF

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Publication number
US3456414A
US3456414A US674386A US3456414DA US3456414A US 3456414 A US3456414 A US 3456414A US 674386 A US674386 A US 674386A US 3456414D A US3456414D A US 3456414DA US 3456414 A US3456414 A US 3456414A
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United States
Prior art keywords
sections
structural element
elements
coupling
structural
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Expired - Lifetime
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US674386A
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English (en)
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Artur Fischer
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Individual
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Individual
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
    • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails

Definitions

  • a structural element consisting of a plurality of connected relatively movable sections which include a pair of end sections and a plurality of intermediate sections located between the end sections. At least some of the intermediate sections are flexible. Coupling means is provided on at least one of these sections for mating engagement with complementary coupling means provided on other elements to which the structural element is to be connected.
  • the present invention relates to structural elements in general and in particular to structural elements which are readily and releasably connectable to other structural elements. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to structural elements which consist of a plurality of connected sections which are movable with reference to one another.
  • construction kits with which a person, usually a child, is to be enabled to construct buildings, vehicles, and objects in general. It is desirable that these construction kits enable the construction of models or replicas of the actual buildings or other objects which are as close to a true representation as possible. Clearly, this will not only lend increased interest to the use of the construction kit but will also enhance the value of the kit as a means of construction in that structural and other principles of objects being copied with the kit will become clearer and find increased understanding on the part of the kit user the more lifelike the replica which can be erected with the kit.
  • the present invention provides a structural element which enables the erection of structures, models and the like wherein a curvature is required.
  • the present invention provides a structural element which, in conjunction with other alice ready known structural elements makes it possible to create arches, dome-shaped structures, vault structures, and the like.
  • the structural element according to the present invention thus makes possible, if used in conjunction with a construction kit, the erection of replicas or models of existing objects which are much more truetrue like than was heretofore possible to achieve.
  • novel structural element herein disclosed can be readily used in conjunction with, and connected to other structural elements, for instance those set forth in my copending application mentioned above.
  • I provide a structural element which is adapted to be connected to other elements, and which comprises a plurality of connected relatively movable sections, and coupling means provided on at least one of these sections.
  • the sections include, in accordance with the invention, a pair of end sections and a plurality of intermediate sections which are located between the end sections and at least some of these intermediate sections are flexible so as to permit movement of the end sections relative to one another and to the intermediate sections.
  • the coupling means which, as mentioned before, is provided on at least one of these sections, enables mating engagement of the novel structural element with complementary coupling means provided on other elements to which the novel element is to be connected.
  • FIG. 1 is a. longitudinal section through an arched structural element according to the presentmventlon
  • FIG. 2 illustrates, in a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale, another embodiment of the inyention
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating yet a further embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line IV-1V of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 1:3, illustrating yet an additional embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 4 the structural element according to the present invention is identlfiedgenerally with reference numeral 1.
  • the cross-sectional configuration of the end sections 4 and :5, as well as that of the intermediate sections 2, is polygonal and more specifically, quadratic in this instance, although thls is, of course, only an example of one possible configuration.
  • the intermediate sections 2 alternate with and are connected by flexible intermediate sections 3.
  • the entire structural element may consist of various different materials, which may also be used in conjunction with one another, and advantageously it consists of synthetic plastic material.
  • the sections 3 are suitably secured to the sections 2, for instance by means of an adhesive, by spot welding, or in any other manner which lends itself to this purpose.
  • the cross-sectional configuration of the flexible sections 3 is circular by contrast with the quadratic cross-sectional configuration of the sections 2 and the end sections 4 and 5.
  • the structural element illustrated in FIG. 1 can be arched not only in the manner illustrated in that figure, but also in other ways. For instance, the right-hand half of the element could be bent out of the plane of the sheet of drawing at an angle thereto.
  • the versatility of this construction is obvious and requires no special elaboration.
  • the end section 4 has an end face 6 and the end section 5 has an end section 8.
  • this coupling means is provided on the respective end sections where the end face 6 of the end section 4 will be seen to be provided with an undercut groove 7 which may extend across the entire width of the end face 6.
  • the end face 8 of the end section 5, on the other hand, is provided with an undercut projection head 9 whose configuration is such that it can be received in the groove 7.
  • the first coupling head 1 can be connected to other structural elements which are provided with grooves corresponding to the groove 7, and/or with coupling heads corresponding to the coupling head 9, it being merely necessary to effect mating engagement of the respective coupling portions.
  • the latter may be provided either with open ends or, if the ends are closed, with a cutout intermediate these ends and so configurated as to permit "introduction of a coupling head into the groove 7 transversely of the elongation thereof.
  • the sections 2 and 3 are assumed to be synthetic plastic material, Whereas the end sections 4 and 5 are to consist of a material other than synthetic plastic material. It is of course evident that this is merely an example and that all sections of the structural element may consist of synthetic plastic material, that all sections may consist of material other than synthetic plastic material, that the end sections may consist of synthetic plastic material while the intermediate sections consist of other material, or that any other desired and operative combination of materials or even single material can be used for constructing the structural element. This is true not only of the element in FIG. 1, but of all elements herein disclosed.
  • FIG. 2 Another embodiment of my novel structural element is shown in FIG. 2 where only one end section 5 with the associated coupling head 9, is illustrated.
  • the intermediate sections are identified with reference numerals 2a and 3a, and are here all of circular cross-sectional configuration.
  • the intermediate sections 2a have curved circumferential faces and are joined by the sections 3a which constitute transitional zones between adjacent sections 2a and whose axial extent is indicated by the chain lines which are visible in FIG. 2. It will be noticed that the circumferential edge faces of adjacent ones of the sections 2a are alternately radially outwardly and radially inwardly curved and that the provision of the transitional zone sections 3a results in an undulatory configuration which is pronounced of a bellows.
  • the sections 3a which constitute these transitional zones may be of lesser wall thickness than the sections 2a although sufiicient flexibility will be provided even if this is not the case.
  • the reason for this is that the stiffness requisite in the intermediate sections for providing sufiicient selfsupporting ability for the structural element is imparted by the curved configuration of the circumferential edge faces so that the wall thickness can be selected thin enough to assure the desired flexibility.
  • FIG. 3 is largely the same as that of FIG. 2, except for two differences.
  • the end section 5a with its end face 8a and the coupling head 9a provided thereon is illustrated as consisting of synthetic plastic material, and the sections 21) as well as the sections 3b comprise circumferential edge faces which are not curved but which rather include two mutually inclined facets or portions.
  • the axial extent of the flexible intermediate sections 311 is again indicated by the chain lines just as in the case of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 5 finally, illustrates an embodiment which is basically similar to that of FIG. 1, except that coupling means is provided on at least one of the intermediate sections 20 which correspond to the intermediate sections 2 in FIG. 1.
  • This intermediate section 20 is provided with a circumferential edge face and coupling means is constituted by a coupling head 10 whose configuration although not necessarily its size is the same as that of the coupling head 9 in FIG. 1, and of an undercut groove 11 whereof again the configuration although not necessarily the size is the same as of the undercut groove 7 in FIG. 1.
  • This coupling means which is provided on one or more of the intermediate sections 2c can be provided in lieu of, or in addition to coupling means on one or both of the end sections and of course serves the same purpose, namely connection of the structural element disclosed herein to other structural elements.
  • An elongated tubular structural element adapted to be connected to other elements and comprising, in combination, a plurality of connected relatively movable tubular sections including a pair of end sections closing said elongated tubular structural element at opposite ends thereof and a plurality of intermediate tubular sections each including two mutually inclined wall portions, at least some of said intermediate tubular sections being flexible whereby to permit movement of said end sections relative to one another and to said intermediate sections as well as bending movement of said structural element transversely of its elongation in a plurality of mutually inclined directions; and coupling means provided on the outer surface of at least one of the sections for mating engagement with complementary coupling means provided on other elements to which said structural element is to be connected.
  • said one section is one of said pair of end sections and is provided with an end face, said coupling means being provided on said end face for coupling of said structural element to other elements 10.
  • said coupling means is a male coupling portion extending from said end face and adapted to matingly engage with a complementarily configurated female coupling portion.

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  • Toys (AREA)
  • Crushing And Pulverization Processes (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Finishing Walls (AREA)
US674386A 1966-10-15 1967-10-09 Structural element Expired - Lifetime US3456414A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEF0050450 1966-10-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3456414A true US3456414A (en) 1969-07-22

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US674386A Expired - Lifetime US3456414A (en) 1966-10-15 1967-10-09 Structural element

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3456414A (de)
AT (1) AT289606B (de)
BE (1) BE705090A (de)
CH (1) CH455608A (de)
DE (1) DE1603309A1 (de)
DK (1) DK115978B (de)
GB (1) GB1179160A (de)
NL (1) NL6713733A (de)
NO (1) NO117109B (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2539318A1 (fr) * 1983-01-17 1984-07-20 Tomy Kogyo Co Jouet a assemblages divers de pieces souples sensiblement cylindriques ou d'accouplement
WO2008060619A3 (en) * 2006-11-15 2008-09-18 Jakks Pacific Inc Connectable blocks
GB2507058A (en) * 2012-10-17 2014-04-23 Arnold Jeffrey Fox Tubular construction kit
CN115387530A (zh) * 2022-08-23 2022-11-25 牛晓芸 一种建筑施工组合砖及其施工方法
US20230211249A1 (en) * 2021-12-30 2023-07-06 Stargo Brands LLC Expandable digit-operapble therapeutic toy
US20250262562A1 (en) * 2024-02-15 2025-08-21 Paul Guernsey St Louis Arch Scale Model Kit

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2392552A (en) * 1943-05-10 1946-01-08 Albert Kahn Hollow building block
US2565823A (en) * 1946-04-01 1951-08-28 Pool Clarence Toy building blocks and base
GB660321A (en) * 1949-05-02 1951-11-07 Hommade Ltd Improvements in constructional toys
US2728356A (en) * 1953-10-16 1955-12-27 Connecticut Hard Rubber Co Corrugated plastic tubing
GB986439A (en) * 1961-11-15 1965-03-17 Franz Litzka Constructional part for models or toy building sets
US3284964A (en) * 1964-03-26 1966-11-15 Saito Norio Flexible beam structures

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2392552A (en) * 1943-05-10 1946-01-08 Albert Kahn Hollow building block
US2565823A (en) * 1946-04-01 1951-08-28 Pool Clarence Toy building blocks and base
GB660321A (en) * 1949-05-02 1951-11-07 Hommade Ltd Improvements in constructional toys
US2728356A (en) * 1953-10-16 1955-12-27 Connecticut Hard Rubber Co Corrugated plastic tubing
GB986439A (en) * 1961-11-15 1965-03-17 Franz Litzka Constructional part for models or toy building sets
US3284964A (en) * 1964-03-26 1966-11-15 Saito Norio Flexible beam structures

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2539318A1 (fr) * 1983-01-17 1984-07-20 Tomy Kogyo Co Jouet a assemblages divers de pieces souples sensiblement cylindriques ou d'accouplement
DE3401318A1 (de) * 1983-01-17 1984-11-29 Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc., Tokio/Tokyo Spielgeraet mit zylinderfoermigen, faltenbalgartigen teilen und kupplungsteilen
WO2008060619A3 (en) * 2006-11-15 2008-09-18 Jakks Pacific Inc Connectable blocks
GB2507058A (en) * 2012-10-17 2014-04-23 Arnold Jeffrey Fox Tubular construction kit
GB2507058B (en) * 2012-10-17 2014-09-03 Arnold Jeffrey Fox Tubular construction kit
US20230211249A1 (en) * 2021-12-30 2023-07-06 Stargo Brands LLC Expandable digit-operapble therapeutic toy
CN115387530A (zh) * 2022-08-23 2022-11-25 牛晓芸 一种建筑施工组合砖及其施工方法
CN115387530B (zh) * 2022-08-23 2024-04-19 广东新汇匠建设工程有限公司 一种建筑施工组合砖及其施工方法
US20250262562A1 (en) * 2024-02-15 2025-08-21 Paul Guernsey St Louis Arch Scale Model Kit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO117109B (de) 1969-06-30
GB1179160A (en) 1970-01-28
BE705090A (de) 1968-02-15
DE1603309A1 (de) 1971-03-18
DK115978B (da) 1969-11-24
AT289606B (de) 1971-04-26
CH455608A (de) 1968-07-15
NL6713733A (de) 1968-04-16

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