Constructional element

Abstract

 An element 10 for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements in edge-to-edge relationship. The element 10 comprises a plurality of margins 12, with at least one of the margins 12 being an arcuate margin 12'. Each margin 12 comprises at least two projections 14 and 18 having a recess 16 therebetween. An end-face 14a of the projection 14 is formed with a protruding hinge-pip 22 and an end-face 18a of the projection 18 is formed with a recessed hinge-socket 24. The arcuate margin 12' is adapted to mate with a complementary margin of another element with the hinge-pip 22 of each element 10 being urged into the hinge socket 24 of the other element.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an element for constructing a structure and particularly, but not exclusively, a toy or model structure.

[0002] GB 1378942 discloses planar elements for constructing toy or model structures. These elements are polygonal figures and are typically moulded from plastics material. In use, a plurality of the elements are connected in edge-to-edge fashion to form geometric structures.

[0003] The fundamental problem with these elements is that curved surfaces are not provided for and arcuate structures cannot be assembled.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome these problems.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an element for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements in edge-to-edge relationship, the element comprising a plurality of margins, at least one of the margins being an arcuate margin, each margin being shaped so as to be releasably connectible to a margin of another element.

[0006] A preferred feature of the first aspect of the invention is set out in claim 2.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an element for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements in edge-to-edge relationship, the element comprising a plurality of margins, at least one of the margins being an arcuate margin, each margin comprising at least two projections having a recess therebetween, an end-face of one projection being formed with a recessed hinge-socket and an end-face of the other or another projection being formed with a protruding hinge-pip, the arcuate margin being adapted to mate with a complementary margin of another element with the hinge-pip of each element urged into the hinge socket of the other element.

[0008] This is advantageous in that two- and three-dimensional curved surfaces and structures can be formed.

[0009] Other preferable and/or more preferable features are set out in Claims 4 to 14.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an element in accordance with the first or second aspects of the invention in combination with a polygonal element, at least one of the plurality of margins of the element being a linear margin, said linear margin being hingedly and detachably connectable in edge-to-edge relationship with a complementary linear margin of the polygonal element.

[0011] This advantageously allows structures incorporating strictly polygonal elements, curved and/or partially curved planar elements, and non-planar elements to be constructed.

[0012] The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an element, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the element shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side view along line A-A of the element in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modification of the first embodiment of the element, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the element, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the second embodiment of the element, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of in use modifications to the first and second embodiments, in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention.

[0013] Referring to the drawings, an element 10, typically moulded from plastics material, is shown therein. The element 10 comprises a plurality of margins 12. At least one of the margins 12 is an arcuate margin 12', and another one of the margins 12 may be a linear margin 12".

[0014] In the examples shown, the margins 12 of the element 10 serve to define a frame or skeletal figure. However, the element 10 may have a solid, or substantially solid, figure.

[0015] Each of the margins 12 comprises a projection 14 and a recess 16. In addition, each margin 12 further comprises another projection 18 and another recess 20, formed substantially at opposite ends of the margin 12. The end faces 14a and 14b of projection 14, and end face 18a of projection 18 are parallel or substantially parallel to each other.

[0016] A hinge-pip 22, typically in the form of a part-spherical projection, is integrally formed on the end face 14a of the projection 14, and a complementary hinge-socket 24, typically in the form of a part-spherical recess, is formed in the end face 18a of the other projection 18.

[0017] Of course, the positioning of the hinge-pip 22 and the hinge-socket 24 on the projections 14 and 18 is not limited to the above-mentioned formation. The hinge-pip 22 and the hinge-socket 24 may be interchanged, and the hinge-pip 22 and hinge-socket 24 may be formed facing each other across the recess 16.

[0018] Each margin 12 further comprises urging means, typically in the form of a resiliently flexible tongue 14c, formed by a slot 14d dividing the projection 14. Each tongue 14c has an abutment face 15, which corresponds to the end face 14b of the projection 14. The degree of resilience of the tongue 14c may be varied by varying its dimensions.

[0019] Obviously, in a modification, the urging means may be associated with the projection 18 instead of the projection 14.

[0020] Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, show a first embodiment of the element 10. In the first embodiment of the invention, the margins 12 serve to define a substantially two-dimensional planar figure. The element 10 may, for example, take the form of a sector, as shown in Figure 1, or, in a modification, a generally asymptotic form as shown in Figure 4, but is not limited to these forms.

[0021] Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the element 10 is shown therein. In the second embodiment of the invention, the margins 12 serve to define a three-dimensional non-planar figure. In this case, each arcuate margin 12' lies or substantially lies in a plane which is different from a plane or planes in which the other margins 12 lie, and each plane intersects at least one of the other planes at an angle, which may or may not be a right-angle.

[0022] Figure 5 shows the element 10 having a part-cylindrical figure, and, in a modification, Figure 6 shows the element 10 having a part-spherical figure. However, the second embodiment of the element 10 is not limited to these figures, and may have, amongst others, a part-conical figure or a part-frusto-conical figure.

[0023] Figure 7 shows elements 10 having solid figures in use formed into a part-domed structure. Due to the end faces 14a, 14b and 18a of the projections 14 and 18 of the arcuate margins 12' being parallel, interconnection can be easily effected between two different non-planar elements, and between non-planar elements and planar elements. As shown in Figure 7, for example, a part-spherical element 10 can be detachably connected in edge-to-edge relationship with another part-spherical element 10 along one of its complementary arcuate margins 12', and with a part-cylindrical element 10 along another one of its complementary arcuate margins 12'; the part-cylindrical element 10 can be interconnected with the part-spherical element 10 along one of its arcuate margins 12', with a planar element 10 along another one of its arcuate margins 12', and with another part-cylindrical element 10 along one of its linear margins 12", while leaving its other linear margin 12" available for interconnection with a linear margin 12" of either a further planar or non-planar element.

[0024] During the course of such engagement, the projections 14 and 18 of the arcuate margins 12' are engaged with the recesses 16 and 20, respectively, of the complementary arcuate margins 12'. The projections 14 and 18 of the linear margins 12" are engaged with the recesses 16 and 20, respectively, of the complementary linear margins 12". Due to the parallel end faces 14a, 14b and 18a, arcuate margins 12' of a planar element 10 and a non-planar element 10, or linear margins 12" of two elements 10, to be interconnected can be perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly, brought into engagement; and arcuate margins 12' of two non-planar elements 10, or linear margins 12" of two elements 10, to be interconnected can be colinearly, or substantially colinearly, brought into engagement.

[0025] The hinge-pip 22 of each in use margin 12 of each element 10 is located in the corresponding hinge-socket 24 of the margin 12 of the other element, and the corresponding abutment faces 14d of each element are aligned and resiliently abut each other due to the urging means of the element 10 forcing retention of the hinge-pip 22 in the hinge-socket 24. An assembled condition of the elements is thus maintainable.

[0026] In this way, structures comprising planar elements and non-planar elements can be assembled. Also, elements with figures defined only by linear margins, such as polygonal elements, complementary to the linear margins 12" of the present invention may be advantageously incorporated in structures which include elements with figures defined by at least one arcuate margin 12' and one linear margin 12".

[0027] The embodiments described above are given by way of example only, and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An element (10) for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements (10) in edge-to-edge relationship, the element (10) comprising a plurality of margins (12), at least one of the margins (12) being an arcuate margin (12'), each margin (12) being shaped so as to be releasably connectible to a margin of another element.

2. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each margin (12) comprises at least two projections (14, 18) having a recess (16) therebetween, an end face (14a) of one projection (14) and an end face (18a) of the other (18) or another projection being formed with a protruding hinge pip (22) or a recessed hinge socket (24) for releasable connection to another element

3. An element (10) for constructing a structure by detachably connecting a plurality of the elements (10) in edge-to-edge relationship, the element (10) comprising a plurality of margins (12), at least one of the margins (12) being an arcuate margin (12'), each margin (12) comprising at least two projections (14, 18) having a recess (16) therebetween, an end-face (18a) of one projection (18) being formed with a recessed hinge-socket (24) and an end-face (14a) of the other (14) or another projection being formed with a protruding hinge-pip (22), the arcuate margin (12') being adapted to mate with a complementary margin of another element with the hinge-pip of each element urged into the hinge socket of the other element.

4. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the end-face (14b) of one of the projections (14) of each margin (12) is an abutment face (15), the abutment face (15) being adapted to abut a complementary abutment face of another element so as to maintain the hinge-pip of each element in the hinge-socket of the other element.

5. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the said end-faces (14a, 14b, 18) are parallel to each other.

6. An element (10) as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein each margin (12) further comprises urging means which, in use, allows the hinge-pip (22) of one element (10) to be urged into the hinge-socket of the other element.

7. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the urging means comprises a resilient tongue (14c) formed by a slot (14d) dividing one of the projections (14).

8. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the resilient tongue (14c) of the urging means includes the abutment face (15).

9. An element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the margins (12) define a planar figure.

10. An element (10) as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the margins (12) define a non-planar figure.

11. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 10, wherein each arcuate margin (12') of the non-planar figure lies in a plane which is different from a plane or planes in which the other margins of the plurality of margins (12) lie.

12. An element (10) as claimed in Claim 11, wherein each said plane intersects at least one other said plane at an angle.

13. An element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the margins (12) define a solid, or substantially solid, figure.

14. An element (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the margins (12) define a frame or skeletal figure.

15. An element (10) according to any one of the previous claims in combination with a polygonal element, at least one of the plurality of margins (12) of the element (10) being a linear margin (12"), said linear margin (12") being hingedly and detachably connectable with a linear margin of the polygonal element.

Drawing