Ball and rod linkage for joining polyhedral members

Claim 2

Ball and socket linkage and polyhedral members for joining by said linkage comprising: a. a pair of balls, each ball having four generally coplanar, flat spots spaced approximately 90* from each other; b. a rod interconnecting said balls; c. a generally spherically-shaped, open socket formed in a surface of each of said members and sized to snugly engage the surface of one said balls so as to overlap said ball surface beyond a diametral plane thereof; and d. four grooves formed in said surface of said member, each groove extending linearly from the opening of said socket to the edge of said surface of said member, said grooves being spaced approximately 90* from each other about said opening and being of sufficient size to accommodate said rod; e. the diameter of the opening of said socket being slightly greater than the flat-spot-to-flat-spot diameter of said ball thereby permitting said balls to be removably positioned in said socket when the flat spots are aligned with the edges of said opening.

Claim 3

The linkage of claim 1 wherein: f. each of said balls has a pair of generally diametrical cross bores which intersect at right angles and extend through the ball, the openings of which form said flat spots; g. said rod is cylindrical and its ends are inserted in one cross bore of each ball, thereby interconnecting said balls; and h. the bottoms of said grooves are substantially semi-circular and are deep enough to permit substantial alignment thereof with said cross bores when the ball is seated within the socket.

Claim 4

The linkage of claim 2 wherein: i. at least one of said cross bores is slightly eccentric relative to said ball.

Claim 5

A construction toy comprising: a. at least two balls, each ball having four generally coplanar flat spots spaced approximately 90* from each other; b. an elongated rod, said rod having means cooperable with said balls to detachably interconnect a pair of said balls; c. at least two regularly-shaped, polyhedral members, each having a plurality of flat faces; d. a generally spherically-shaped, open socket formed in at least one of the faces of each of said polygonal members and sized to snugly engage the surface of one of said balls so as to overlap said ball surface beyond a diametrical plane thereof; and e. four grooves formed in each of said faces having said socket formed therein, each groove extending from the opening of said socket to an edge of said face, said grooves being spaced approximately 90* from each other about said opening and being of sufficient size to accommodate said rod; f. the diameter of the opening of said socket being greater than the flat-spot-to-flat-spot diameter of said ball thereby permitting said ball to be removably positioned in said socket when the flat spots are aligned with the edges of said opening.

Claim 6

A construction toy comprising: a. at least two balls, each ball having four generally coplanar flat spots spaced approximately 90* from each other; b. an elongated rod, said rod having means cooperable with said balls to detachably interconnect a pair of said balls; c. at least two regularly-shaped, polyhedral members, each having a plurality of flat faces; d. a generally spherically-shaped, open socket formed in at least one of the faces of each of said polygonal members and sized to snugly engage the surface of one of said balls so as to overlap said ball surface beyond a diametrical plane thereof; and e. four grooves formed in each of said faces having said socket formed therein, each groove extending from the opening of said socket to an edge of said face, said grooves being spaced approximately 90* from each other about said opening and being of sufficient size to accommodate said rod; f. the diameter of the opening of said socket being greater than the flat-spot-to-flat-spot diameter of said ball thereby permitting said ball to be removably positioned in said socket when the flat spots are aligned with the edges of said opening.

Claim 7

The toy of claim 4 wherein: g. said polyhedral members are cubes; and h. said sockets and said grooves are formed in each face of each of said members.

Claim 8

The toy of claim 5 wherein: i. each of said balls has a pair of generally diametrical, circular cross-section bores, said bores being substantially normal to each other and extending completely through said balls the openings of said bores forming said four flat spots; j. said rods have circulAr cross-sections slightly smaller in area than said bores and are adapted to be inserted into said bores thereby connecting said balls; and k. the bottoms of said grooves are substantially semi-circular and are deep enough to permit substantial alignment thereof with said bores when the ball is seated within the socket.

Claim 9

The toy of claim 6 wherein: l. at least one of said bores is slightly eccentric relative to said ball.

Claim 10

The toy of claim 4 wherein: g. said members are elongated parallelepipeds and have square cross-sections; h. said sockets and said grooves are formed in each square face of said members.

Claim 11

The toy of claim 8 wherein: i. each ball has a bore extending partially therethrough, the opening of which forms one of said four flat spots; and j. said rod has a cross-section of slightly smaller area than the cross-sectional area of said bore and is adapted to be inserted into said bore thereby connecting said balls.