Construction Kit

Abstract

A building element ( 14, 16, 18, 20 ) is described which is securable to other similar building elements for creating model structures. Each element comprises a block having similarly proportioned side faces ( 15, 17 ) and two similarly proportioned end faces each of which includes at least one opening ( 28, 30, 32, 34 ) for receiving a peg ( 12 ) for joining it to another block. One of the side faces includes N spaced apart openings ( 36, 42, 44 ) and an adjoining side face ( 15, 17 ) includes (N+1) spaced apart similar openings ( 38, 40, 46, 48, 50 ), also for receiving pegs ( 12 ) for joining blocks together. Each block is of constant cross section from one end to the other, and is typically square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal or hexagonal. At least one of the side faces may be curved, and the or each end face may be inclined so that the block comprises a solid trapezium. The pegs ( 12 ) may be rigid and straight or may be formed with a knee or elbow between two straight ends, or may be formed from a material which can be bent to form a knee or elbow. A model structure such as a building, bridge or sports stadium can be constructed by fitting together blocks using the pegs, and where a roof or other structure is to extend at other than 90° to an adjoining part of the structure, angled pegs are employed.

1 - 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A kit of parts forming a construction toy comprising a plurality of building blocks of differing length and shape and a plurality of pegs for joining blocks together and to other items such as a base for creating structures, and comprising a basic block in the form of a cube and all larger blocks are whole number multiples of the basic block, such that the length dimension one of the side faces of each larger block is equal to a whole number multiple of the edge length of the basic cube block and the cross section of all blocks is the same and corresponds to the square face of the basic cube block, so that each larger block is a K-element block where K is the number of cube blocks which will make up the length of the said one side face of the larger block when laid side by side, and in one of the side faces of a K element block there are K equally spaced apart peg receiving openings and in an adjoining side face thereof there are (K−1) equally spaced apart similar peg receiving openings, wherein each of the blocks has a single opening centrally of each end face thereof for receiving a peg, all the peg receiving openings are the same size, and at least one end face of some of the larger blocks is inclined to the said one side face of the block so as to subtend an angle relative thereto that is not 90°, so as to form a solid trapezium, whereby in use blocks can be joined end to end by pegs received in the central end face openings either in line where the end face of each abutting block is square to the remainder of its block, or so as to define an angle if at least one of the abutting end faces is inclined to said one side face of the block. 
   
   
       42 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein both ends are inclined to the said one side face and are inclined by the same amount so as to form a regular solid trapezium. 
   
   
       43 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  in which the angle between the or each end face and the said one side face of the block is 75°, 67.50, 600 or 450. 
   
   
       44 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the pegs are formed from a material which is more resiliently deformable than the blocks 
   
   
       45 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the pegs are formed from a rigid material and the material forming the blocks is sufficiently resiliently deformable to allow the pegs to be forced into the openings in the blocks. 
   
   
       46 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the pegs are formed from a material which can be bent to form a knee or elbow, and which is sufficiently stiff that it will remain bent. 
   
   
       47 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the pegs are formed from rigid material and are formed with a knee or elbow between two straight ends adapted to be pushed into openings in blocks, so that if the two straight ends are pushed into openings in a pair of blocks, one block will be angled relative to the other by an angle determined by that of the knee or elbow in the peg. 
   
   
       48 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein one face of each block is differently coloured from the others. 
   
   
       49 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein each block has openings in all six faces. 
   
   
       50 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the blocks are hollow. 
   
   
       51 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  in which at least some of the openings in at least some of the blocks are blocked at a predetermined depth to form blind holes, so as to prevent a length of peg material from being pushed by more than that depth into the block. 
   
   
       52 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the cross-sectional shape of each peg is circular, so that when fitted into a block the block can rotate relative to the peg. 
   
   
       53 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the cross-sectional shape of each opening is triangular, square, or hexagonal and similarly shaped cross section pegs are employed, so that the interengagement of a peg and a block will prevent relative rotation between the block and the peg. 
   
   
       54 . A kit of parts forming a construction toy comprising a plurality of building blocks of differing length and shape and a plurality of pegs for joining the blocks together or to other members such as a base for creating structures, wherein each block has similarly proportioned side faces and two similarly proportioned end faces each of which includes at least one opening therein for receiving a peg, some of the blocks have one opening centrally of each face and others have N spaced apart openings in one side face and (N+1) spaced apart similar openings in an adjoining side face thereof, where N is a whole number equal to or greater than 1, and wherein the openings in the side faces are the same size as the openings in the end faces and are also for receiving pegs, wherein the or each end face of each of some of the blocks is inclined to at least some of the sides of each such block, to form a solid trapezium or wedge, so that if fitted end to end with other blocks, a corner can be constructed. 
   
   
       55 . A kit of parts forming a construction toy comprising a plurality of building blocks of differing length and shape and a plurality of pegs for joining the blocks together and to other items such as a base for creating structures, wherein each block has similarly proportioned side faces and two similarly proportioned end faces each of which includes at least one opening therein for receiving a peg, some of the blocks have one opening centrally of each face and others have N spaced apart openings in one side face and (N+1) spaced apart similar openings in an adjoining side face thereof, where N is a whole number equal to or greater than 1, and wherein the openings in the side faces are the same size as the openings in the end faces and are also for receiving pegs, wherein at least some of the pegs are supplied in long lengths which are provided with half-cuts at equally spaced apart points along their length to enable them to be cut or broken into lengths to suit the block or blocks into which they are to be fitted. 
   
   
       56 . A kit of parts forming a construction toy from which a structure having tiered seating can be constructed comprising a plurality of building blocks of differing length and shape and a plurality of pegs for joining blocks together and to other items such as a base for creating structures, and comprising a basic block in the form of a cube and all larger blocks are whole number multiples of the basic block, so that the length dimension of each larger block is equal to a whole number multiple of the edge length of the basic cube block and the cross section of all blocks is the same and corresponds to the square face of the basic cube block, so that each larger block is a K-element block where K is the number of cube blocks which will make up the longer length of the larger block when laid side by side, and the basic cube block includes a single opening centrally of each of its faces for receiving a peg and each of the other blocks has a single opening centrally of each end face thereof for receiving a peg and all the peg receiving openings are the same size, further comprising cladding panels which in use are securable to lines of blocks to tie the blocks together. 
   
   
       57 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the cladding panels have pegs protruding from the rear face thereof by which they can be fitted to side or end faces of blocks. 
   
   
       58 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  wherein the cladding panels have openings therein through which pegs can be pushed to engage in openings in side or end faces of blocks, for securing the panels to the blocks. 
   
   
       59 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  wherein each cladding panel comprises a joined up line of model seats having pegs protruding from its underside or rear for insertion into an opening in a block. 
   
   
       60 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  which when assembled resembles a sports arena or stadium having tiered seating around a central area. 
   
   
       61 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 60  wherein the cladding panels simulate tiered terraces. 
   
   
       62 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  wherein tiered assemblies are constructed from a lattice of elongate blocks joined by pegs and the cladding panels are secured to the lattice of blocks. 
   
   
       63 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising a baseboard having a matrix of holes formed therein into which pegs can be push fitted to allow blocks to be secured to the board. 
   
   
       64 . A model structure constructed from a kit of parts as claimed in  claim 41  comprised of a plurality of blocks fitted together using pegs to form tiered assemblies of blocks arranged to form terraces around a central area in the form of a stadium or open-air theatre. 
   
   
       65 . A kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  further comprising a baseboard having a matrix of holes formed therein into which pegs can be push fitted to allow blocks to be secured to the board. 
   
   
       66 . A model structure constructed from a kit of parts as claimed in  claim 56  comprised of a plurality of blocks fitted together using pegs to form tiered assemblies of blocks arranged to form terraces around a central area in the form of a stadium or open-air theatre.