US3670449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Construction element toy
Assignee: Mattel Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-04
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1991-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Toy construction elements including a cone-shaped element and block-shaped element that can be readily joined into interesting shapes. Both the narrow and wide ends of the cone-shaped element have projections, and have recesses for receiving projections, the recesses at the wide end being formed by a pair of concentric flanges. The block-shaped element is formed from a substantially flat member divided by living hinges into six face portions that can be folded into a block. Each free edge of a face portion has an inwardly-extending rib and a stepped recess so that when the pair of ribs of adjacent edges are received in corresponding recesses the face elements are locked together.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack L Lemkin
- 👤 Gerard K Leistikow
- 👤 Russell C Edmisson
- 👤 John T Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:28
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/04; A63H33/06; A63H33/08; A63H33/088; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially truncated cone-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, each end having at least one projection of predetermined shape and at least one recess shaped to receive a projection of said predetermined shape, said body having a hollow tapered interior for receiving the entire narrow end of another similar body; said narrow end of said body having a pair of said projections equally spaced from the axis of said body and a pair of recesses equally spaced from the axis of said body, each of said projections being substantially cylindrical and each of said recesses extending arcuately about the axis of said body by a distance greater than the diameter of one of said projections, to permit a pair of elements joined at their narrow ends to pivot relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially truncated cone-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, each end having at least one projection of predetermined shape and at least one recess shaped to receive a projection of said predetermined shape, said body having a hollow tapered interior for receiving the entire narrow end of another similar body; said narrow end of said body having a pair of said projections equally spaced from the axis of said body and a pair of recesses equally spaced from the axis of said body, each of said projections being substantially cylindrical and each of said recesses extending arcuately about the axis of said body by a distance greater than the diameter of one of said projections, to permit a pair of elements joined at their narrow ends to pivot relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially truncated cone-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, each end having at least one projection of predetermined shape and at least one recess shaped to receive a projection of said predetermined shape, said body having a hollow tapered interior for receiving the entire narrow end of another similar body; said body having a pair of flanges at said wide end which extend substantially axially therefrom, said pair of flanges radially spaced from one another by approximately the diameter of one of said projections to grippingly receive one of said projections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially truncated cone-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, each end having at least one projection of predetermined shape and at least one recess shaped to receive a projection of said predetermined shape, said body having a hollow tapered interior for receiving the entire narrow end of another similar body; said body having a pair of flanges at said wide end which extend substantially axially therefrom, said pair of flanges radially spaced from one another by approximately the diameter of one of said projections to grippingly receive one of said projections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
The toy construction element described in claim 1 wherein: said narrow end of said body has a pair of said projections equally spaced from the axis of said body and a pair of recesses equally spaced from the axis of said body, each of said projections being substantially cylindrical and each of said recesses extending about the axis of said body by a distance greater than the diameter of one of said projections, to permit a pair of elements joined at their narrow ends to pivot relative to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A toy construction element comprising: a tapered cup-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, said wide end having a pair of axially extending flanges, said flanges extending circumferentially about said wide end and radially spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, and said narrow end having at least one projection extending axially therefrom and of a width approximately equal to the spacing of said flanges of said wide end for reception between the flanges of another identical element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A toy construction element comprising: a tapered cup-shaped body having a narrow end and a wide end, said wide end having a pair of axially extending flanges, said flanges extending circumferentially about said wide end and radially spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, and said narrow end having at least one projection extending axially therefrom and of a width approximately equal to the spacing of said flanges of said wide end for reception between the flanges of another identical element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The toy construction element described in claim 4 wherein: said wide end has an outstepped region, whereby to prevent binding when stacking the elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The toy construction element described in claim 4 wherein: said wide end of said body has a plurality of projections located in the space between said pair of flanges and extending axially past said flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toy construction element comprising: a plurality of face members having a plurality of first edge portions joined by hinge means for folding into a substantially solid-appearing shape, and a plurality of second edge portions for joining to one another to hold said plurality of face members in said solid-appearing shape, each of said second edge portions having a rib-receiving portion and having a rib for extending inwardly from the inner face of one face member and against the rib-receiving portion of the other face member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toy construction element comprising: a plurality of face members having a plurality of first edge portions joined by hinge means for folding into a substantially solid-appearing shape, and a plurality of second edge portions for joining to one another to hold said plurality of face members in said solid-appearing shape, each of said second edge portions having a rib-receiving portion and having a rib for extending inwardly from the inner face of one face member and against the rib-receiving portion of the other face member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The toy construction element described in claim 7 wherein: each of said second edge portions has a straight outer boundary, at least one recess in said outer boundary, said recess forming one of said rib-receiving portions, and a step portion extending partially along said recess, and each of said ribs lies even with the outer boundary of the edge portion from which it extends, whereby to provide a smooth corner where second edge portions are joined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
The toy construction element described in claim 7 wherein: said face members are joined so that first and second of said members lie on opposite sides of said solid-appearing shape, said first and second members having circular apertures therein; and including a shaft having discs fixed at opposite ends thereto, each of said discs rotatably mounted in one of said apertures, and each disc having attaching means for attaching to another toy construction element, whereby to allow rotatable coupling of toy construction elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toy construction element described in claim 7 wherein: a plurality of said face members have a pair of apertures therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially flat member having a plurality of linear joint regions of reduced thickness which form living hinges and which separate said flat member into a plurality of face portions joined by said living hinges, said face portions being substantially rectangular to enable folding into a solid-appearing shape with each of said face portions having inner and outer surfaces with respect to said solid-appearing shape; a plurality of said face portions having edges which are formed to lock into engagement with edges which lie adjacent thereto when said member is in a solid-appearing shape, each of a plurality of said edges having a rib extending inwardly from the inward surface of the face portion, a recess for receiving the rib of another face portion, and a flange extending near the bottom of the recesses, said flange having an outermost flange surface substantially even with the inner surface of the face portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
A toy construction element comprising: a substantially flat member having a plurality of linear joint regions of reduced thickness which form living hinges and which separate said flat member into a plurality of face portions joined by said living hinges, said face portions being substantially rectangular to enable folding into a solid-appearing shape with each of said face portions having inner and outer surfaces with respect to said solid-appearing shape; a plurality of said face portions having edges which are formed to lock into engagement with edges which lie adjacent thereto when said member is in a solid-appearing shape, each of a plurality of said edges having a rib extending inwardly from the inward surface of the face portion, a recess for receiving the rib of another face portion, and a flange extending near the bottom of the recesses, said flange having an outermost flange surface substantially even with the inner surface of the face portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The toy construction element described in claim 11 wherein: said flat member has five linear joint regions and six face portions, and forms a box-like object when said face portions are folded and said edges are locked to one another.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |