Structure building toy

Abstract

A toy structure building apparatus includes a plurality of connector members attached to a plurality of structural members. Each connector member has a pin portion and a retention element located on an external surface of the pin portion. The apparatus further includes a plurality of connectors, each connector having an aperture for receiving the pin portion of a connector member and a detent member disposed within the aperture. The detent member is adapted to lockingly engage the retention element and includes a flexible elongated locking element extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the pin portion when the detent member is lockingly engaged to the retention element. The pin portion is selectively insertable into the aperture to couple and uncouple the structural members to each other to build a toy structure.

1 . A toy structure building apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a plurality of structural members;   (b) a plurality of connector members, each of the plurality of connector members comprising a pin portion with a central axis and a retention element located on an external surface of the pin portion; and   (c) a plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors comprising:
 (i) an aperture adapted to receive the pin portion; and 
 (ii) a detent member disposed within the aperture and adapted to lockingly engage the retention element, the detent member comprising a flexible elongated locking element extending in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the pin portion when the detent member lockingly engages the retention element, wherein the pin portion is selectively insertable into the aperture to removably couple the structural members to each other to build a toy structure. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a recess in the external surface of the pin portion of the connector member. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the recess is a circumferential groove. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detent member further comprises a protrusion positioned to extend into the recess in the external surface of the pin portion of the connector member. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated locking element of the connector is adapted to temporarily deform to receive the pin portion of the connector member into the aperture of the connector and to resume its original shape thereafter to lockingly engage the retention element of the connector member. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member further comprises a threaded insert portion, the threaded insert portion being adapted to attach the connector member to the one of the plurality of structural members by threadedly engaging the structural member. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors is a base connector, the base connector having a substantially flat bottom surface. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially flat bottom surface is defined by a plurality of protrusions extending laterally from the base connector. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises a C-shaped portion, the C-shaped portion being adapted to receive one of the plurality structural members and to provide support to a lateral portion of the received structural member.