Toy connection systems

Abstract

Toy connection systems comprise a plurality of planar wall panels and a plurality of clips each configured to connect one or more of the planar wall panels to each other. Each wall panel comprises at least one connecting edge and at least one slot. Each clip comprises at least one receiving channel configured to releasably receive the connecting edge of a respective one of the wall panels and a tab that is configured to be received within the slot of the wall panel to secure the wall panel to the clip. In some examples, the clips are configured to be biased against the wall panels that are connected using the clip, such that the tab of the clip is configured to be snapped into the slot of the wall panel that is received within the receiving channel of the clip.

1 . A toy connection system comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels, each wall panel comprising a connecting edge and defining a slot extending through the wall panel proximate the connecting edge; and   a plurality of clips, each clip comprising a body defining at least one receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of a respective wall panel of the plurality of wall panels, wherein the body comprises at least one tab configured to be received in the slot of the respective wall panel to couple the respective wall panel to the clip.   
     
     
         2 . The toy connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of clips comprises at least one corner clip configured to connect a first wall panel and a second wall panel of the plurality of wall panels at an angle relative to each other, wherein the at least one corner clip comprises a corner-clip body defining a first corner-clip receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of the first wall panel and a second corner-clip receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of the second wall panel. 
     
     
         3 . The toy connection system  claim 2 , wherein the corner-clip body further comprises:
 an outer portion forming a first outer wall and a second outer wall; and   an inner portion extending inward from the outer portion, wherein the inner portion forms a first inner wall and a second inner wall;   wherein the first outer wall and the first inner wall define the first corner-clip receiving channel, and wherein the second outer wall and the second inner wall define the second corner-clip receiving channel.   
     
     
         4 . The toy connection system of  claim 3 , wherein the first outer wall is oriented at an acute angle relative to the second outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The toy connection system of  claim 4 , wherein the acute angle is at least 85 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The toy connection system of  claim 5 , wherein the outer portion comprises a resilient material, such that when the first wall panel is received in the first corner-clip receiving channel and the second wall panel is received in the second corner-clip receiving channel, the first outer wall and the second outer wall are forced outward and apply an inward force on the first wall panel and the second wall panel, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The toy connection system of  claim 6 , wherein the corner-clip body further comprises a first corner-clip tab disposed on the first outer wall and a second corner-clip tab disposed on the second outer wall, wherein the inward force is configured to snap the first corner-clip tab into the slot of the first wall panel and the second corner-clip tab into the slot of the second wall panel, when the first wall panel is received in the first corner-clip receiving channel and the second wall panel is received in the second corner-clip receiving channel. 
     
     
         8 . The toy connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of clips comprises at least one flex clip, wherein the at least one flex clip comprises a flex-clip body having a first portion defining a first flex-clip receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of a first wall panel of the plurality of wall panels and a second portion defining a second flex-clip receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of a second wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         9 . The toy connection system of  claim 8 , wherein the flex-clip body comprises:
 a bridge portion connecting the first portion to the second portion.   
     
     
         10 . The toy connection system of  claim 9 , wherein the bridge portion comprises a flexible material configured to be selectively bent by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The toy connection system of  claim 8 , wherein the flex-clip body comprises a first flex-clip tab configured to be received within the slot of the first wall panel and a second flex-clip tab configured to be received within the slot of the second wall panel. 
     
     
         12 . The toy connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of clips comprises a plurality of hinge clips, wherein each hinge clip of the plurality of hinge clips comprises a hinge-clip body comprising a base portion and a channel portion extending outward from the base portion, wherein the channel portion defines a hinge-clip receiving channel configured to receive the connecting edge of a respective wall panel of the plurality of wall panels, and wherein the base portion comprises a hinge-clip protrusion and a hinge-clip bore. 
     
     
         13 . The toy connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge-clip bore of a respective hinge clip is configured to receive the hinge-clip protrusion of another hinge clip, such that each hinge clip is configured to be pivotably coupled to one or more of the other hinge clips. 
     
     
         14 . The toy connection system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wall panels comprises one or more first-subset wall panels and one or more second-subset wall panels, wherein the connecting edge of each of the one or more first-subset wall panels has a first contour and the connecting edge of each of the one or more second-subset wall panels has a second contour that is different than the first contour, and wherein the one or more first-subset wall panels are configured to be connected to the one or more second-subset wall panels using a respective one of the plurality of clips. 
     
     
         15 . The toy connection system of  claim 14 , wherein the first contour is configured to interlock with the second contour when a respective one of the one or more first-subset wall panels is coupled to a respective one of the one or more second-subset wall panels using the respective one of the plurality of clips. 
     
     
         16 . The toy connection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of slotted panels, each slotted panel comprising a slot-panel edge defining a connecting slot configured to mate with the connecting slot of another slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels; and
 a plurality of slot clips, each slot clip comprising a slot-clip body defining at least one slot-clip channel configured to receive the slot-panel edge of a first slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels to secure the slot clip to the first slotted panel, each slot clip further comprising at least one slot-clip tab configured to engage a second slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels to secure the second slotted panel within the connecting slot of the first slotted panel.   
     
     
         17 . A toy connection system comprising:
 a plurality of slotted panels, each slotted panel comprising a slot-panel edge defining a connecting slot configured to mate with the connecting slot of another slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels; and   a plurality of slot clips, each slot clip comprising a slot-clip body defining at least one slot-clip channel configured to receive the slot-panel edge of a first slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels to secure the slot clip to the first slotted panel, each slot clip further comprising at least one slot-clip tab configured to engage a second slotted panel of the plurality of slotted panels to secure the second slotted panel within the connecting slot of the first slotted panel.   
     
     
         18 . The toy connection system of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting slot of the first slotted panel comprises a panel-receiving portion configured to receive the second slotted panel and further comprises a slot-clip notch configured to receive the slot clip. 
     
     
         19 . The toy connection system of  claim 17 , wherein the second slotted panel defines at least one slot-panel aperture configured to receive the at least one slot-clip tab. 
     
     
         20 . The toy connection system of  claim 17 , wherein when the second slotted panel is secured within the connecting slot of the first slotted panel, the first slotted panel and the second slotted panel are rotated 90 degrees relative to each other.