Assembly toy and decorative connector for an assembly toy

Abstract

A coupling element for releasably connecting two building elements. The coupling element includes two couplers. The first coupler has a mid-flange having a first side and a second side. The first side of the mid-flange includes a coupling portion extending therefrom. The second side of the mid-flange includes at least one protrusion and at least one opening. The second coupler is similar to the first coupler except that it may have a different coupling portion. The protrusions and openings are shaped so that when the two couplers are pressed together, the openings and protrusions form an interference fit to form the coupling element. The coupling element may include a decorative element that is captured between the two couplers when the couplers are pressed together to form the coupling element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly toy comprising:
 a building element having an aperture; and   at least one coupling element comprising:
 a first coupler including a first mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side with at least one protrusion extending away from the body; 
 a second coupler including a second mid-flange having at least one opening, the second mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side; and 
 a decorative element disposed between the second sides of the first and second couplers, the decorative element including at least one hole therethrough; wherein the at least one protrusion of the first coupler extends through the at least one hole of the decorative element and into the at least one opening of the second coupler such that the decorative element remains captured between the first coupler and the second coupler, wherein the coupling portion of the first or second coupler is adapted to engage the aperture to releasably connect the coupling element with the building element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly toy of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion on the first coupler is the same as the coupling portion on the second coupler. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly toy of  claim 1 , wherein the building element comprises a first building element and a second building element, wherein the coupling portion on the first coupler is adapted to engage with and releasably connect with the first building element, wherein the coupling portion of the second coupler is adapted to engage with and releasably connect with the second building element, and wherein the first and second building elements are releasably connected with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second coupler includes a sleeve aligned with the at least one opening, wherein the sleeve receives at least a portion of the protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of building elements, wherein the at least one coupling element joins two of the building elements, wherein the decorative element is positioned between the building elements and extends outward of the building elements. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly toy of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more second coupling elements, the second coupling elements each comprising:
 a third coupler including a third mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side with at least one protrusion extending away from the body; and   a fourth coupler including a fourth mid-flange having at least one opening, the fourth mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side,   
       wherein the plurality of building elements are joined together with the first and second coupling elements to form a toy. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly toy of  claim 6 , wherein the toy forms an animal or a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly toy of  claim 7 , wherein the animal is a lion, wherein the decorative element forms a mane of the lion. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly toy of  claim 7 , wherein the vehicle is a truck, a train, a tractor, a sailboat, an airplane, or a car. 
     
     
         10 . A coupling for a toy comprising:
 a first coupler including a mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side with at least one protrusion extending away from the body;   a second coupler including a mid-flange having at least one opening, the mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side; and   a decorative element disposed between the second sides of the first and second couplers, the decorative element including at least one hole therethrough; wherein the at least one protrusion of the first coupler extends through the at least one hole of the decorative element and into the at least one opening of the second coupler such that the decorative element remains captured therebetween the first coupler and the second coupler.   
     
     
         11 . The coupling of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling portion on the first coupler is to the same as the coupling portion on the second coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The coupling of  claim 10 , wherein the coupling portion on the first coupler is adapted to engage an aperture of a building element and the second coupler comprises an axle adapted to rotatably connect a wheel with the building element. 
     
     
         13 . The coupling of  claim 10 , wherein the second coupler includes a sleeve aligned with the at least one opening, wherein the sleeve receives at least a portion of the protrusion. 
     
     
         14 . A coupling for a toy comprising:
 a first coupler including a mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side with at least one protrusion extending away from the mid-flange; and   a second coupler including a mid-flange, the mid-flange having a first side with a coupling portion extending therefrom and a second side having at least one opening;   wherein the at least one protrusion of the first coupler extends into the at least one opening of the second coupler such that the first and second coupler are coupled together.   
     
     
         15 . The coupling of  claim 14 , further comprising a decorative element, including at least one hole therethrough, wherein the at least one protrusion of the first coupler extends through the at least one hole of the decorative element and into the at least one opening of the second coupler such that the decorative element is captured between the first coupler and second coupler. 
     
     
         16 . The coupling of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling portion on the first coupler is the same as the coupling portion on the second coupler.