Construction toy set having low insertion force connecting bodies

(19)

(11)

EP 1 348 474 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	19.05.2004 Bulletin 2004/21

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	01.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/40

(21)	Application number: 02021136.3

(22)	Date of filing: 23.09.2002

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: A63H 33/10

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

26.03.2002 US 108024
26.03.2002 US 108149
26.03.2002 WO PCT/US02/09334

(71)	Applicant: MATTEL, INC.
	El Segundo, CA 90245 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Manville, Richard, B. Los Angeles, California 90046 (US) Danielian, Armen Woodlands Hills, California 91364 (US) Mills-Winkler, James P. Long Beach, California 90803 (US)

(74)	Representative: Harrison Goddard Foote
	Belgrave Hall Belgrave Street Leeds LS2 8DD Leeds LS2 8DD (GB)

(54)	Construction toy set having low insertion force connecting bodies

(57) A plurality of connecting bodies are formed in various shapes of a resilient material such as molded plastic or other resilient material. The connecting bodies each define a plurality of inwardly extending slots which form receiving mechanisms for the edge portions of a plurality of cooperating generally planar plate members. The plate members are assembled to form more complex structures utilizing the connecting bodies to form interconnection therebetween. In alternate embodiments, a complex structure for the inwardly extending slots includes flexible ribs on each side of the slots together with relief slots adjacent the ribs. In further alternate embodiments, the connecting bodies and plate members may be assembled to form complex fanciful figures utilizing specialized elements such as a fanciful head member which bears a fanciful face and leg elements.

Search report