Card connector

Abstract

A card-connector is provide for the construction 3-dimensions objects with cards, such as playing cards. The card connector can include a card receiving portion and an interconnection portion. The card receiving portion can be bifurcated to define a first side portion, a second side portion, and a slot. The interconnecting portion can have at least one of a ball portion or socket portion of a ball and socket joint, where two interconnecting portion can be connected to form a ball and socket joint. Multiple card connectors can be joined together with the interconnecting portions to create 3-dimensional objects with the cards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A card-connector comprising:
 a card receiving portion bifurcated to define a first side portion, a second side portion, and a slot, wherein the slot is sized to receive and hold a card; and   an interconnecting portion having at least one of a ball portion or socket portion of a ball and socket joint.   
     
     
         2 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side portions each include a plurality of segmented elements, wherein a gap is interposed between adjacent segmented elements. 
     
     
         3 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 2 , where the segmented elements are arranged on the first and second side portions in an alternating pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented elements has a tip thickness less than a midpoint point thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the slot has a slight height selected to compressively fit a thickness of a card. 
     
     
         6 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the slot has a tip slot height and a mid-point slot height, wherein the tip slot height is greater than the mid-point slot height. 
     
     
         7 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side portions each define an inner surface, the inner surface including a plurality of nubs. 
     
     
         8 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side portions each define an inner surface, the inner surface including a plurality of raised ridge lines. 
     
     
         9 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the card receiving portion is arcuate in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the card receiving portion is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . A card-connector comprising:
 a card receiving portion bifurcated to define a first side portion, a second side portion, and a slot, wherein the first and second portion each include a plurality of segmented elements and a gap is interposed between adjacent segmented elements; and   an interconnecting portion having at least one of a ball portion or socket portion of a ball and socket joint.   
     
     
         12 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 11 , where the segmented elements are arranged on the first and second side portions in an alternating pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of segmented elements has a tip thickness less than a midpoint point thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the slot has a tip slot height and a mid-point slot height, wherein the tip slot height is greater than the mid-point slot height. 
     
     
         15 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each of plurality of line segments each define an inner surface, the inner surface including a plurality of raised ridge lines. 
     
     
         16 . A card-connector comprising:
 a plurality card receiving portions, each card receiving portion is bifurcated to define a first side portion, a second side portion, and a slot, wherein the slot is sized to receive and hold a card; and   an interconnecting portion having at least one of a ball portion or socket portion of a ball and socket joint, where in the interconnecting portion is interposed between the plurality of card receiving portions.   
     
     
         17 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 16 , where the plurality of card receiving portions include a first card receiving portion and a second card receiving portion. 
     
     
         18 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second card receiving portions are affixed together at an 180° angle. 
     
     
         19 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second card receiving portions are affixed together at a 90° angle. 
     
     
         20 . The card connector as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second card receiving portions are affixed to together at an angle selected from the group consisting of 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, and 180°.