User-configurable toy structure

Abstract

A user-configurable construction system is provided. This system includes: a substantially planar base; a plurality of vertical support members each having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion of each vertical support member is adapted to engage a portion of the base; a plurality of transverse support members attachable to and mountable between the top portions of the vertical support members; and a plurality of substantially flat display panels each having top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion of each display panel is adapted to be mountable within or attachable to a transverse support member, and wherein the bottom portion of each display panel is adapted to engage a portion of the base.

1 . A construction system, comprising:
 (a) a substantially planar base;   (b) a plurality of vertical support members each having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion of each vertical support member is adapted to engage a portion of the base;   (c) a plurality of transverse support members attachable to and mountable between the top portions of the vertical support members; and   (d) a plurality of substantially flat panels each having top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion of each panel is adapted to be mountable within or attachable to a transverse support member, and wherein the bottom portion of each panel is adapted to engage the base.   
   
   
       2 . The construction system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of decorative accessories attachable to the top portions of each of the vertical support members, wherein each of the decorative accessories represents a unique theme. 
   
   
       3 . The construction system of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar base further comprises a plurality of base panels, wherein the base panels are attachable to or detachable from one another, and wherein the bases panel further includes a plurality of mounting apertures formed therein and a plurality of connectors formed thereon. 
   
   
       4 . The construction system of  claim 3 , wherein each of the vertical support members further comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion of each vertical support member is adapted to engage one of the mounting apertures formed in the base, and wherein the top portion of each vertical support member further includes a plurality of notches formed therein. 
   
   
       5 . The construction system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the transverse support members further comprises at least one protrusion formed on each end thereof for engaging the notches on the vertical support members; and a slot formed lengthwise therein. 
   
   
       6 . The construction system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the substantially flat panels further comprises at least one pre-patterned surface. 
   
   
       7 . The construction system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the substantially flat panels further comprises at least one blank surface suitable for drawing, painting, or coloring. 
   
   
       8 . A system for building a structure, comprising:
 (a) a base, wherein the base further includes at least one base panel, wherein the base panel is attachable to or detachable from other base panels, and wherein the base panel further includes a plurality of mounting apertures and a plurality of channels formed therein and a plurality of connectors formed thereon;   (b) a plurality of vertical support members each having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion of each vertical support member is adapted to engage one of the plurality of mounting apertures formed in the base, and wherein the top portion of each vertical support member further includes a plurality of notches formed therein;   (c) a plurality of transverse support members attachable to and mountable between the top portions of the vertical support members, wherein each of the plurality transverse support members further includes:
 (i) at least one protrusion formed on each end thereof for engaging the notches on the vertical support members; and 
 (ii) a slot formed lengthwise therein; and 
   (d) a plurality of substantially flat display panels each having top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion of each display panel is mountable within one of the lengthwise slots formed in the transverse support members, and wherein the bottom portion of each display panel is adapted to engage one of the channels formed in the base.   
   
   
       9 . The construction system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of decorative accessories attachable to the top portions of each of the plurality of vertical support members, wherein each of the decorative accessories represents a unique artistic theme. 
   
   
       10 . The construction system of  claim 8 , wherein the connectors formed on the at least one base panel include a plurality of tabs and a plurality of receiving members. 
   
   
       11 . The construction system of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical support members mechanically engage the apertures formed in the base. 
   
   
       12 . The construction system of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical support members frictionally engage the apertures formed in the base. 
   
   
       13 . The construction system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the substantially flat panels further comprises at least one pre-patterned surface. 
   
   
       14 . The construction system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the substantially flat display panels further comprises at least one blank surface suitable for drawing, painting, or coloring. 
   
   
       15 . A method for assembling a structure, comprising:
 (a) providing a kit, wherein the kit further includes:
 (i) a base, wherein the base further includes at least one base panel, wherein the base panel is attachable to or detachable from other base panels, and wherein the base panel further includes a plurality of mounting apertures and a plurality of channels formed therein and a plurality of connectors formed thereon; 
 (ii) a plurality of vertical support members each having a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion of each vertical support member is adapted to engage one of the mounting apertures formed in the base, and wherein the top portion of each vertical support member further includes a plurality of notches formed therein; 
 (iii) a plurality of transverse support members attachable to and mountable between the top portions of the vertical support members, wherein each of the plurality transverse support members further includes:
 a) at least one protrusion formed on each end thereof for engaging the notches on the vertical support members; and 
 b) a slot formed lengthwise therein; and 
 
 (iv) a plurality of substantially flat panels each having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion of each panel is mountable within one of the lengthwise slots formed in the transverse support members, and wherein the bottom portion of each panel in adapted to engage one of the channels formed in the base; and 
   (b) inserting the vertical support members into the base;   (c) inserting the transverse support members into the vertical support members; and   (d) inserting the panels into the transverse support members and into the channels in the base.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising attaching at least one decorative accessory to the top portions of a vertical support member, wherein each of the decorative accessories represents a unique theme. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the vertical support members mechanically engage the apertures formed in the base. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vertical support members frictionally engage the apertures formed in the base. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the substantially flat panels further comprises at least one pre-patterned surface. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the substantially flat panels further comprises at least one blank surface suitable for drawing, painting, or coloring.