Patent US5022885A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5022885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toy construction set featuring radiating face and complementary edge connectors
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-10-10
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2009-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A construction toy formed from a plurality of building blocks. Each building block is formed with a multiplicity of facets defining the exterior and each facet is provided with structure for attachment to another facet. Some facets are embodied as including a plurality of radially extending vanes, others are complementally formed recesses. Preferably these recesses and vanes are disposed on top and bottom walls of a building block, defining two of the facets. A periphery circumscribes the top and bottom walls and defines a plurality of additional facets. This periphery is provided with further structure for interconnection with other facets on the block. Some peripheries are provided with projections, others with channels. The projections can be received not only in the channels, but also within recesses on the bottom walls. The channels not only can receive projections, but also can receive the vanes on the top wall of the block.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald L. Lyman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H33/00; A63H33/04; A63H33/10; A63H33/06; A63H33/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A sub-planar building block comprising, in combination a planar top wall, a planar bottom wall and a peripheral edge between said top and bottom wall, said top wall defining a first attachment surface, said bottom wall defining a second attachment surface, said first and second attachment surfaces defining complemental, interconnecting contours, of plural centrally disposed radially extending vanes of constant width centrally disposed on one said wall frictionally engageable within a series of complementally formed spaces on another said wall and said peripheral edge defines a third attachment means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A sub-planar building block comprising, in combination a planar top wall, a planar bottom wall and a peripheral edge between said top and bottom wall, said top wall defining a first attachment surface, said bottom wall defining a second attachment surface, said first and second attachment surfaces defining complemental, interconnecting contours, of plural centrally disposed radially extending vanes of constant width centrally disposed on one said wall frictionally engageable within a series of complementally formed spaces on another said wall and said peripheral edge defines a third attachment means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The block of claim 1 wherein said top wall is formed with a plurality of radially extending recesses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The block of claim 2 wherein said bottom wall includes a plurality of radially extending vanes, said vanes having a width complemental to said top wall's recesses for defining said first and second attachment surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The block of claim 3 wherein said third attachment surface is formed with a peripherally extending projection having a thickness complemental to the width of said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The block of claim 3 wherein said third attachment surface includes a channel having a thickness complemental to the thickness of said vanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A wafer-shaped toy, comprising, in combination: a planar top wall including a plurality of uniform width, centrally disposed radially extending vanes, a planar bottom wall including a plurality of uniform width, radially extending recesses dimensioned to frictionally receive said vanes therewithin, and a peripheral edge extending between said top and bottom walls provided with means for linking said edge with another wafer shaped toy engaging either of said vanes or said recesses of said another wafer shaped toy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A wafer-shaped toy, comprising, in combination: a planar top wall including a plurality of uniform width, centrally disposed radially extending vanes, a planar bottom wall including a plurality of uniform width, radially extending recesses dimensioned to frictionally receive said vanes therewithin, and a peripheral edge extending between said top and bottom walls provided with means for linking said edge with another wafer shaped toy engaging either of said vanes or said recesses of said another wafer shaped toy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The toy of claim 6 wherein said wafer-shaped toy is a unitary, integrally molded structure, wherein said vanes on said top wall define said recesses on said bottom wall, thereby assuring mating registry of any of a plurality of blocks formed from a mold cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The toy of claim 7 wherein said top wall is substantially polygonal having N sides, and 2N vanes project radially therefrom, said bottom wall therefore including 2N recesses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The toy of claim 8 wherein said peripheral edge of one said wafer is provided with a projection, and a peripheral edge of another said wafer is provided with a complementally formed channel adapted to receive said projection therewithin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The toy of claim 9 wherein said projection has a width complemental to the width of said recess whereby said projection can also connect with said recess as well as said channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The toy of claim 10 wherein said projection on said peripheral edge is truncated at corners of said N sided polygon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The toy of claim 11 wherein said channel includes a first bead and said projection includes a trough inboard of a peripherally extending flange, which when said trough and flange collectively are inserted within said channel up to said trough and said first bead, a first degree of interconnection, simulative of a hinge having relative motion between said wafers is provided.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The toy of claim 12 wherein said projection includes a lip extending inboard from said trough and to said top and bottom walls of said wafer-shaped toy, whereby when said lip is fully inserted within said channel, adjacent toys thusly interconnected are rigidly locked and not as capable of rotation; and a second bead is provided inboard said first bead and on said channel to lock with said trough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
A toy construction set formed from plural elements comprising, in combination: a plurality of planar facets defining an exterior of a first said element, means on one of said planar facets for connecting said first element to a second element including a plurality of radially extending vanes of constant width centrally disposed on said first element, said second element having multiple planar facets defining an exterior and provided with at least one planar facet having uniting means complemental to said connecting means to frictionally receive said connecting means, whereby said uniting and connecting means allow said first and second elements to be linked and a peripheral edge on all said elements adapted to connect to said planar facets or another said edge of another said element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
A toy construction set formed from plural elements comprising, in combination: a plurality of planar facets defining an exterior of a first said element, means on one of said planar facets for connecting said first element to a second element including a plurality of radially extending vanes of constant width centrally disposed on said first element, said second element having multiple planar facets defining an exterior and provided with at least one planar facet having uniting means complemental to said connecting means to frictionally receive said connecting means, whereby said uniting and connecting means allow said first and second elements to be linked and a peripheral edge on all said elements adapted to connect to said planar facets or another said edge of another said element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The toy construction set of claim 14 wherein said first element includes uniting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The toy construction set of claim 15 wherein said second element is provided with connecting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The toy construction set of claim 16 wherein a projection attachment means is provided on said first element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The toy construction set of claim 17 wherein a channel attachment means is provided on said second element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The toy construction set of claim 18 wherein said connecting means is configured as a plurality of radially extending vanes dimensioned to receive both recesses and said channel attachment means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The set of claim 19 wherein said uniting means is configured as a plurality of recesses dimensioned to receive both said vanes and said projection attachment means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The set of claim 20 including accessory block means connectable to other said elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The set of claim 21 including a carriage supporting an axle and wheels, connectable to said elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The set of claim 22 including a cover adapted to occlude one of the attachment areas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |