Kit of parts to form connector for an assembly toy and connector formed therefrom

Abstract

In an aspect, a kit of parts includes a first and second connector portions and a decorative element. Each connector portion has a connector-to-building-element projection and at least one intra-connector projection. A second end of the second connector portion is releasably engageable with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and second connector portions together with decorative element retaining surfaces of the first and second connector portions facing one another, and spaced apart. The decorative element is positionable between the retaining surfaces of the first and second connector portions. The decorative element includes at least one intra-connector pass-through aperture to permit the at least one intra-connector to pass therethrough to connect with the second connector portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit of parts, comprising:
 a first connector portion having a first end with a connector-to-building-element projection and a second end having at least one intra-connector projection, wherein the connector-to-building-element projection of the first connector portion is engageable with a building element aperture on a first building element to connect the first connector portion thereto, wherein the first connector portion further includes a decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion;   a second connector portion having a first end with a connector-to-building-element projection, and a second end, wherein the second connector portion further includes a decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion, wherein the connector-to-building-element projection of the second connector portion is engageable with a building element aperture on a second building element to connect the second connector portion thereto, wherein the second end of the second connector portion is releasably engageable with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and second connector portions together with the decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion and the decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion facing one another, and spaced apart from one another; and   a decorative element positionable between the decorative element retaining surfaces of the first and second connector portions, wherein the decorative element includes at least one intra-connector pass-through aperture to permit the at least one intra-connector projection to pass therethrough to connect with the second connector portion.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector portions includes a flange separating the first and second ends, and having a first side that is positioned to engage an exterior face of an associated one of the first and second building elements, and having a second side that is the decorative element retaining surface. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connector-to-building-element projection on the first connector portion is the same as the connector-to-building-element projection on the second connector portion. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second connector portion includes at least one intra-connector aperture, positioned to receive the at least one intra-connector projection. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one intra-connector projection is at least one intra-connector projection of the first connector portion, and wherein the at least one intra-connector aperture is at least one intra-connector aperture of the second connector portion, and wherein the second end of the second connector portion further includes at least one intra-connector projection of the second connector portion, and the second end of the first connector portion includes at least one intra-connector aperture of the first connector portion, positioned to receive the at least one intra-connector projection of the second connector portion. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decorative element is made from a material that is different than a material of the first and second connector portions. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the material of the decorative element is softer than the material of the first and second connector portions. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer that extends from at least one of the decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion and the decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion. 
     
     
         9 . A kit of parts, comprising:
 a first connector portion having a first end with a connector-to-building-element projection and a second end having at least one intra-connector projection, wherein the connector-to-building-element projection of the first connector portion is engageable with an aperture on a first building element to connect the first connector portion thereto;   a second connector portion having a first end with a connector-to-building-element projection, and a second end, wherein the connector-to-building-element projection of the second connector portion is engageable with an aperture on a second building element to connect the second connector portion thereto, wherein the second end of the second connector portion is releasably engageable with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and second connector portions together; and   a third connector portion having a first end with a functional element thereon, which is one of a connector-to-movable-element projection and a connector-to-movable-element aperture, and further includes a second end, wherein the functional element of the third connector portion is engageable with another functional element on a movable element, wherein the second end of the third connector portion is releasably engageable with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and third connector portions together.   
     
     
         10 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the connector-to-building-element projection on the first connector portion is the same as the connector-to-building-element projection on the second connector portion. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second end of the second connector portion includes at least one intra-connector aperture, positioned to receive the at least one intra-connector projection. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one intra-connector projection is at least one intra-connector projection of the first connector portion, and wherein the at least one intra-connector aperture is at least one intra-connector aperture of the second connector portion, and wherein the second end of the second connector portion further includes at least one intra-connector projection of the second connector portion, and the second end of the first connector portion includes at least one intra-connector aperture of the first connector portion, positioned to receive the at least one intra-connector projection of the second connector portion. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first connector portion further includes a decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion, wherein the second connector portion further includes a decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion, wherein the third connector portion further includes a decorative element retaining surface of the third connector portion,
 wherein the second end of the second connector portion is shaped such that releasable engagement with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and second connector portions together positions the decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion and the decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion facing one another, and spaced apart from one another,   wherein the second end of the third connector portion is shaped such that releasable engagement with the at least one intra-connector projection on the first connector portion to releasably connect the first and third connector portions together positions the decorative element retaining surface of the first connector portion and the decorative element retaining surface of the second connector portion facing one another and spaced apart from one another, and   wherein the kit of parts further comprises a decorative element positionable between the decorative element retaining surfaces of the first and second connector portions, wherein the decorative element includes at least one intra-connector pass-through aperture to permit the at least one intra-connector to pass therethrough to connect with the second connector portion.   
     
     
         14 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second connectors includes a flange separating the first and second ends, and having a first side that is positioned to engage an exterior face of an associated one of the first and second building elements, and having a second side that is the decorative element retaining surface. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the decorative element is made from a material that is different than a material of the first and second connector portions. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the material of the decorative element is softer than the material of the first and second connector portions. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one spacer that extends from at least one of the decorative element retaining surfaces of the first connector portion and the decorative element retaining surfaces of the second connector portion. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the functional element of the second connector portion forms a ball and socket joint with the other functional element on the movable element. 
     
     
         19 . A kit of parts, comprising:
 a single connector portion including a first flange having a first side with a first connector-to-building-element projection extending therefrom and a second side having a first decorative element retaining surface thereon, the single connector portion including a second flange having a first side with a second connector-to-building-element projection extending therefrom and a second side having a second decorative element retaining surface thereon that faces the first decorative element retaining surface and an intermediate member connecting the second side of the first flange with the second side of the second flange, wherein the first flange has a first flange cross-sectional dimension and the second flange has a second flange cross-sectional dimension; and   a decorative element, having an intra-connector pass-through aperture therethrough to fit around the intermediate member, the intra-connector pass-through aperture having an aperture cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than both the first flange cross-sectional dimension and the second flange cross-sectional dimension, wherein the decorative element is flexible to permit the intra-connector pass-through aperture to enlarge to fit over at least one of the first and second flanges for positioning between the first and second flanges around the intermediate member.   
     
     
         20 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the decorative element includes at least one slot that extends outward from the intra-connector pass-through aperture, so as to permit the intra-connector pass-through aperture to fit over at least one of the first and second flanges for positioning between the first and second flanges around the intermediate member.