Building toy

Abstract

The invention relates to children's construction kits for assembling building toys from connecting elements. The technical result is an increase in functional capabilities, permitting the assembly of simple and complex spatial constructions with dynamic properties. This technical result is achieved by virtue of a building toy consisting of a set of flat shape-forming and decorative modular elements made of a flexible resilient material and having fastening elements attached to the surfaces thereof, said fastening elements forming detachable joints capable of holding together connected portions of the surfaces, wherein each of the fastening elements takes the form of the centre of axial rotation of at least the held portion of the surface of a connected modular element, and each of the shape-forming modular elements has on its opposite surfaces at least one coaxial pair of fastening elements which are rigidly interconnected and have oppositely oriented mating surfaces.

Claims

1. A building toy comprising a set of flat shape-forming modular elements made of a flexible resilient material in the shape of geometric figures and having opposing surfaces, wherein: for each flat shape-forming modular element: the modular element has at least one double-sided fixation device comprising a coaxial pair of fastening elements, each fastening element of the pair of fastening elements having (i) a base surface in contact with a respective one of the opposing surfaces of the modular element and (ii) a mating surface, the mating surfaces of the pair of fastening elements being oppositely oriented; and the modular element has a through hole, wherein: the double-sided fixation device fixation device has a central rod made of solid resilient material, passing through the through hole and connecting the base surfaces of the fastening elements of the pair of fastening elements to each other; the length of the rod is less than the thickness of the modular element causing resilient deformation of the surfaces of the modular element at their point of contact with the bases with partial indentation of the bases into the surfaces of the modular elements; and the mating surfaces of the fastening elements of a modular element in the set are configured to engage with the mating surfaces of the fastening elements of other modular elements in the set to form detachable joints to hold connected portions of the surfaces together, with the fastening elements forming centers of axial rotation of at least the held portions of the surfaces of the connected modular elements.

2. The building toy of claim 1, wherein: the mating surfaces of the fastening elements that form the detachable joints comprise a mating surface of an inner fastening element and a mating surface of an outer fastening element; and the inner fastening element comprises a projection in the form of a surface of revolution which widens at its end; and the outer fastening element provides a surface with full or partial resilient coverage of the projection of the inner fastening element.

3. The building toy of claim 2, wherein the set includes modular elements in which each double-sided fixation device comprises one of (i) an outer fastening element and an inner fastening element, (ii) a pair of outer fastening elements, and (iii) a pair of inner fastening elements.

4. The building toy of claim 1, wherein the fastening elements are made of plastic or metal.

5. The building toy of claim 1, wherein the modular elements comprise one or more of thick felt, felt, felt-cloth, rubber, PVC fabric, flexible polymer, and PVC plastic.

6. The building toy of claim 5, wherein at least one modular element comprises at least two layers interconnected by an intermediate adhesive layer and/or a line of thread stitching along the edges of the interconnected layers.

7. The building toy of claim 5, wherein the modular elements have a thickness of 3-10 mm.

8. The building toy of claim 1, wherein at least one of the shape-forming modular elements has a horizontally elongated shape having (i) sharp and/or rounded ends and (ii) at least two double-sided fixation devices placed in a row; at least one of the shape-forming modular elements has a rectangular shape having (i) sharp and/or rounded ends and (ii) a double-sided fixation device at each of four corners; at least one of the shape-forming modular elements has a triangular shape having (i) sharp and/or rounded ends and (ii) a double-sided fixation device at each of three corners; at least two of the shape-forming modular elements have circular shapes of different diameter, each having a central double-sided fixation device; and at least two of the shape-forming modular elements having circular shapes have decorative circular shapes, each having (i) on one side, a stylized eye comprising a transparent plastic hemisphere of different diameter, inside of which is a pupil that can move freely and (ii) on a reverse side, a central fastening element having an outer mating element or an inner mating element.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1—a set of exemplary construction elements;

(2) FIG. 2A—a modular element with a double-sided fixation device;

(3) FIG. 2B—a modular element with a double-sided fixation device having an inner fastening element and an outer fastening element;

(4) FIG. 2C—a modular element with a double-sided fixation device having two inner fastening elements;

(5) FIG. 2D—a modular element with a double-sided fixation device having two outer fastening elements;

(6) FIG. 3—general view of the modular element from the side of the internal and the external fastening elements;

(7) FIG. 4—a “Horse” model and the modular elements required for its construction;

(8) FIG. 5—a “Tractor” model and the modular elements required for its construction;

(9) FIG. 6—some variants of the models the assembled from the constructor kit.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(10) The claimed construction kit according to the variant shown in FIG. 1, is made of a set of flat modular elements in the shape of plates (1)-(15) which have different geometries and sizes. Each modular element of such a construction kit is made of flexible resilient material, preferably felt or felt cloth, and has two layers connected around their perimeter by a line of thread. Modular elements of the construction kit are equipped with double-sided fixation devices (16) which consist of an inner fastening element (17) which has a projection (18) and an outer fastening element (19), which has the surface of elastic coverage of the projection (20) (FIGS. 2A-2D, 3), connected with each other by an elastic plastic rod (21), that passes through a through hole of the modular element (1) to (15) (example—circular plate 7). When connecting modular elements to each other, or connecting parts of one modular element, fastening elements (17) and (19) form a detachable joint capable of holding together the mating surface portions or the whole mating modular element while providing the possibility of rotating the attachable portion or element by the above-described construction of the fastening elements (17), (19), and also the possibility of axial tilt of the connected sections due to the elasticity of the rod (21). The set of modular elements according to FIG. 1 comprises the following parts: horizontally elongated plates (1)-(6) with a central row of double-sided fixation devices (from 2 to 7) (16); circular plates (7)-(11) of different diameters with a central double-sided fixation device (16) (plate (7) can have a double-sided fixation device with one type of fastening elements); triangular plates (12), with a single double-side fixation device at each corner (16); rectangular (square) plates (13), with a single double-side fixation device at each corner (16); decorative stylized circular plates imitating eyes (14), (15) with the central fixation device (17) or (19).

VARIANTS OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(11) Modular elements of the construction kit, enable to create various spatial constructions and models.

(12) For example, the assembling of the model «Horse» (FIG. 4) is performed in the following way.

(13) Modular elements required: horizontally elongated plates (5)—1 unit; horizontally elongated plates (6)—10 units; square plates (13)—4 units; circular plates (7)—2 units; decorative circular plates (15)—2 units.

(14) First we compose the head and the neck. To achieve that the 1st and the 2nd plates (6) (the head) are attached to the 1st fastening elements of the 1st plate (5) (the neck) on each side with their 1st fastening elements and these plates are fastened together with the 2nd fastening elements. Then both plates (7) are fastened on the 1st fastening elements of the plates (6), after that the decorative plates (15) (the eyes) are fastened on them. Then the 1st plate (5) is fastened with the 3.sup.rd fastening element on the 1st fastening element of the 1st square plate (13). On its 2nd fastening element the 3rd plate (6) is fastened with the 1st fastening element (the tail), and on the 3rd and the 4th fastening elements the 4th plate (6) is fastened with both elements. Then, by analogy with the 1st plate (13) the 2nd plate (13) is fastened on the front surface of the 1st plate (5) and the 3rd and the 4th plates (6). On the front surface of the 2nd plate (13) the 5th plate (6) is fastened to its 1st and 2nd elements. The 1st fastening elements of the 6th and the 7th plates (6) (the legs) are fastened on the 3rd and the 4th fastening elements. After that by analogy with the 2nd plate (13) the 3rd plate (13) (the body) is fastened to the front surface of the 5th, 6th and 7th plates (6). In the same way, on the opposite side of the 1st plate (13) the 8th, 9th, 10th plates (6) are fastened one by one to it, and the 4th plate (13) is fastened to them.

(15) As a result, we get the dynamic model «Horse», in which the limbs—neck, tail and legs—have the possibility of axial rotation with respect to the body, and the head—with respect to the neck. This enables more manipulations with the assembled model, changing the position of its limbs and fixing these changes on the playing surface, while maintaining the sufficient stability of the model.

(16) A more complicated model «Tractor» (FIG. 5) with the sequence of the assembly is given.

(17) Modular elements required: horizontally elongated plates (1)—1 unit; horizontally elongated plates (3)—3 units; horizontally elongated plates (5)—2 units; horizontally elongated plates (6)—5 units; circular plates (7)—9 units; circular plates (8)—4 units; circular plates (11)—8 units.

(18) First the body is built. To achieve that, the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd plates (6) are fastened layer-by-layer. The 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd plates (3) are alternately fastened lengthwise on the 3rd plate (6) with the 3rd and the 4th fastening elements. Plate (1) is fastened to the upper plate (3) from the 1st-5th fastening elements. Then the part of its surface with the 6th and the 7th fastening elements is folded so that the 7th fastening element on the opposite side is connected through the 1st circular plate (7) (with similar fastening elements) to the 5th fastening element located on the inner surface of the 1st plate (3). From the bottom of the 1st plate (3), the 2nd circular plate (7) is fastened to the 1st fastening element. The 3rd plate (7) (the steering wheel) is fastened to the 2nd fastening element of the plate (1), and to the 5th fastening element—from the 4th to the 9th plates (7) respectively (the pipe). Next the wheels are assembled. Four circular plates (11) are used for every rear wheel, and two circular plates (8) for every front wheel. The plates are connected by the central fastening element. To form the axis of rotation of the front wheels, the 1st plate (5) and the 4th plate (6) are fastened together by an opposing fold, so that the fastening elements located on the outer surface of the 4th plate (6) are connected to the last in row fastening elements on the inner surface of the 1st plate (5). The fastening element in the center of the outer surface of the 1st plate (5) is fastened to the 7th fastening element of the outer surface of the plate (1), as a result, the center of the angular rotation of the axis of rotation of the front wheels is formed at the junction. Then the front wheels of the plates (8) are fastened with their central fastening elements to the edge fastening elements of the outer surface of the 1st plate (5). In order to form the axis of rotation of the rear wheels, the 2nd plate (5) is passed through the hole between the 2nd and the 3rd fixing points of the fastening elements of the 1st and the 2nd plates (3), then the ends of the 2nd plate (5) are bent and connected with the 5th plate (6) by analogy with the central axis of rotation of the front wheels. At the final stage, the rear wheels of the plates (11) are attached with their central fastening elements to the edge fastening elements of the outer surface of the 2nd plate (5).

(19) The assembled construction clearly demonstrates the dynamic properties of the obtained model «Tractor». Both the wheels and the axis of rotation of the front wheels rotate, which enables game manipulations with the assembled model. At the same time, the wheels are stable, they do not bend under the body's weight, also due to their width, provided by the stated fixation devices.

(20) The proposed building toy has increased amusement and play potential. Use of the given building kit thanks to its above mentioned properties allows a child to form skills necessary for successful psychomotor development.