PLASTIC LINK TOY

JOUET DE PLASTIQUE DE PIECES A IMBRIQUER

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A plastic link toy includes a plurality of
geometrically shaped elements having a series of
equally spaced slots spaced from each other by a
series of equally spaced protrusions. The thickness
and width of each of the slots is equal to the
thickness and width of each protrusion. The elements
are mounted onto a solid base so that when two of the
slotted elements are placed next to each other having
the slots face in opposite directions they can be
linked to one another by having one set of
protrusions penetrate the opposite slot cavities.
The linked elements can be swivelled around the axis
formed by them.

Claims

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The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed
are defined as follows:-
1) A plastic link toy comprising a plurality of
geometrically shaped elements having a series of
equally spaced slots, formed by a series of
equally spaced protrusions, having a thickness
equal to the width of the slots; said elements are
mounted onto a solid base; so that when two of
said slotted elements are placed next to each
other having the slots face in opposite
directions, they can be linked to one another by
having one set of protrusions penetrate the
site slot cavities; and said linked elements
can be swivelied around the axis, formed by them.
2) A plastic linked toy as in claim 1, having
roughened surfaces of protrusions of said elements
to prevent slippage of said elements from one
another.
3) A plastic link toy as in claims 1 and 2 wherein
said elements are spherical.

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4) A plastic link toy as in claims 1 and 2 wherein
said elements are cubical.
5) A plastic link toy is in claims 1 and 2 wherein
said elements are in the form of a triangular
prism.
6) A plastic link toy as in claims 1-5 wherein said
slotted elements are mounted on a carrying means
having said slotted means face different
directions.
7) A plastic link toy as in claim 6 wherein said
carrying means is a ring, and wherein said slotted
elements are spheres.

Description

20~7~1 fl
i
~c ~ ~ 'I'
11
~his lnventicn relates to a plastlc link to be used
as ~ toy.
Backqround
Several toys are kncwn in the prior art linking
to~ether different types of geometric elements to
form differently ~haped ob~ects. One ~uch toy ls the
series sf building blocks ~nown s "lego~' toys. Ihese
comprise a serie~ of buiiding elements linked
together by a specifically chaped protrusi~n on cne
elemE~t to be inserted into a similarl~ shaped cavity
in t~e other element.
Other ~orms of linkage kno~n in the prior art
descrite different attachm~nt m~ans between all kinds
of ~haped elem~nts ~nabling children to for~ all
50rts of imaginary ~ulti linked shapes. ~bne of these
~nown tcys enable children to both li~k the clemEnts
and si~ultanecusly swivel them in the ~or~ of a
hinge.
..... . . .... _ . . . . _, . ...... . ... .... . ..

2 0 ~
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It ls the purpose of this ir~tio~ to p~ovide a new
kind of lir~ elemer~t~ made of rigid plastic, to be in
any geanetric ~ape, to be eith~r ~ted an a
carrler elem~nt, or c~ its c~ to ~ble ~hildr~l to
lir~ the elements ar~d silmultaneausly wivel th~n on
their axis ln a similar f~cticm as a hinge.
l~e plastic li~c toy herein provided c~rises a ¦,
plurallty of yeanetrically ~ped elements having a
~eries of equally sFaced 510ts ~ed anto a rigid
base, so that ~en two of said 810t1:ed elements are
placed next to each otherhaving the slots f~ce into
the cpposite direction, they can be linked to one
another by having one fiet of slots penetrate the
~pposite slot cavities,and can be ~wiveled around on
the axis formed ~y said linked elemEnts.
In the preferred embodiment said slots plastic
surface ~ rcughened to prevent slipp2ge of said
elemEnts from one another.
In one preferred emboaiment said gecmetic shape i5 a
~pbere.
In another preferred embDdiment said g~ometric 5h2Fe
is a cube.
In another preferred embodime~t ~aid gecmetric
element ls a cylln~ar.
........ _ _ , _ . . . .. .

_4_ 2057~
In ~et another preferred e~bodi~nt ~aid g~tric
~elment is a prism having rc~ded of f a~exes. 1!
In a preferred enibDdim~nt the ~c~y c~rises a
plurality of ~iaid ~lotted ele~nent~ ~ted on a
carrying elemE~nt.
In the preferred ~bodiment ~aid carrylng el~ment ls
a ring, particularly ~uit~le for carrying th~ spere
~haped elements.
In the ~referred ~ibodin~nt t}~e rnm~er of ~lotted
elements ~ted c~ said G~rier is 5iX.
q~e l~tio~ oan be best described in tl~e attached
i l lu~;trat ians .
Fig. 1 illustrates a cross ~eotion of ~rical
el~nts with slots;
Fig. 2 illust~tes a ~. ~ctian of a cubical
elements;
Fig. 3 ~llustrates pris~ e el~ts;
Fig. 4 illustrates a plurality of ~erical elen~ts
~unted an a ring, an~l two su~h rlng~ lir~ced
to ea~h other.

2a~7~
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Detailed descriPtion of the inNention
Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate different shape~ of
~lott~d elements all having the ~ame ~e~eral
features. The spherical ele~ent 11 has a plurality of
rigid plates 12, ~oined together bq a solid sphere
section 13, forming slot cavities 14. Ihe surface of
the plastic in slots 14 are rcu~i to improve the
linkage and reduce slippag~ of the plastic when two
elemEnt are joined tcgether.
.
When two such sphere~ 11 ar~ linked by entering the
plates 12 of Qne sphere into the cavities 14 of the
opposite sphe~e the two linked sE~re~ can swivel
around the axi~ formed by the link2~ge.
Fig. 2 illustrate~ cubical ~lem~nt 15 having
ba8ically t~e same strusture. Fiy. 3 illu~trates a
prism 16 ~aving ~lots 17 on the trlangu~ar front, and
ha~ing ~hild proof rounded o~ apexes 18.
Fig. 4 lllustrates a plurality o~ su~h ~lott~d
sFherical element~ 11 mounted an a rin~ 20, an~ ~wo
such elements ar~ linX~d to each other, and the tw~
lin~ea elemen~s swiv~l around the axi~ 21 formed by
tha l~nka9e.

2057~51 ~ ~
~ile the irn7~tian has be~ descri~d ~n detall in ¦ ,
reference to the atta~hed dra~ings it ~uld~ be ¦ ~¦
aF~?r~ciated that t~e irw~ti~ cauld be executed in a
large variety of f~haped elsnents~ ~ted c~ a
variety of OE~rrying elemE~ts. ~n all of t~ th~
distinctic~ is ~e ~oxm of llrd~Lge bet~ the ¦
el~nts ~ the ability to swivel arc~d t~e axis
~o~ned ~ thf~ 1 iri~cag~ .

Representative Drawing