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US4044497A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Kit with male and female elements having deformable gripping means

Assignee: Modulo SA
•
Filing: 1975-11-24
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1995-11-24
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Abstract

Abstract A construction kit comprises male and female elements, preferably of molded plastic material, for assembly into various model structures. The male elements have cubic bodies with studs protruding from two or more faces and the female elements are elongated U-section pieces having corresponding square end walls with keyhole-shaped openings for receiving and gripping shanks of the studs whose heads are guided and held between the lateral walls of the female elements. The male elements can be formed of interengaging pieces, and may possibly be pivotally joined. The kit may include various accessories such as panels, struts, pulleys, wheels with removable toothed rings or tines, a motor and so forth to complete the desired structure.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jean-Paul Bettens

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 04:58
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/04; A63H33/042; A63H33/06; A63H33/065; H; H02; H02B; H02B1/00; H02B1/01; H02B1/014; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/341; Y10T403/344; Y10T403/61

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 260 words
A construction kit comprising a plurality of male and female assembly elements, said male elements being in the form of cubic bodies having square faces of predetermined dimensions, each said body having at least two securing members protruding from respective said faces, said securing members being in the form of tenons, each said tenon having a cylindrical shank, each said tenon having a guiding and positioning part in the form of a polygonal head on said shank, said polygonal head having side faces, said female elements being in the form of elongate pieces of square section of said predetermined dimensions, each said female element having an end wall, said end wall having an opening therein with a major circular arcuate part which is bounded by and entered into through a narrow passageway defined and formed by gripping means comprising two elastically deformable facing projections defined in said end wall, each said tenon shank being shaped and dimensioned such that said tenon shank can be forced through said narrow passageway and past said projections and said tenon shank deforms said projections as its passes and such that said tenon shank can be introduced into and retained in said major circular arcuate part of said opening in said end wall of said female element, each said female element having inner walls defining a hollow space for receiving a said tenon polygonal head, said polygonal head being shaped and sized such that said faces of said polygonal head engage and are guided and positioned by said inner walls of a said female element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 260 words
A construction kit comprising a plurality of male and female assembly elements, said male elements being in the form of cubic bodies having square faces of predetermined dimensions, each said body having at least two securing members protruding from respective said faces, said securing members being in the form of tenons, each said tenon having a cylindrical shank, each said tenon having a guiding and positioning part in the form of a polygonal head on said shank, said polygonal head having side faces, said female elements being in the form of elongate pieces of square section of said predetermined dimensions, each said female element having an end wall, said end wall having an opening therein with a major circular arcuate part which is bounded by and entered into through a narrow passageway defined and formed by gripping means comprising two elastically deformable facing projections defined in said end wall, each said tenon shank being shaped and dimensioned such that said tenon shank can be forced through said narrow passageway and past said projections and said tenon shank deforms said projections as its passes and such that said tenon shank can be introduced into and retained in said major circular arcuate part of said opening in said end wall of said female element, each said female element having inner walls defining a hollow space for receiving a said tenon polygonal head, said polygonal head being shaped and sized such that said faces of said polygonal head engage and are guided and positioned by said inner walls of a said female element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, comprising female elements of various lengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of axles, said female elements having side walls and having holes spaced apart regularly along said side walls to receive said axles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of axles, said male elements having through bores extending centrally through said faces of their said cubic bodies and through said securing members on said cubic bodies to receive said axles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 92 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, in which at least some of said male elements are formed of two hollow sleeve-like pieces fitted one in the other, one of said sleeve-like pieces forming four said faces of said cubic body and carrying four said securing members, and the other of said sleeve-like pieces forming two opposite said faces of said cubic body and carrying two said securing members and said other sleeve-like piece being inserted in said one sleeve-like piece, with its said securing members projecting out of said cubic body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, in which said male and female elements are comprised of a resilient material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A construction kit according to claim 6, in which said male and female elements are comprised of moulded plastics material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A construction kit according to claim 1, wherein said tenon polygonal head has opposite rectilinear edges which are slidably receivable in and bear against corresponding said inner walls of the female element to prevent rotation between said elements.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2063895A Cited
US2410874A Cited
US2683329A Cited
US2869692A Cited
FR1298281A Cited
US3456413A Cited
US3500606A Cited
US3657838A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-29 1981-02-28 1981-08-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-29 1985-02-28 1985-08-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-29 1989-02-28 1989-08-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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