Construction toy formed of connectable components

Abstract

The present invention relates to a construction toy formed of components made of foam material. Each component has a longitudinally extending groove on one side of each component and a longitudinally extending rib-like member on another side of each component. Each member of a first component is adapted to longitudinally slide within and to lockingly engage its corresponding groove of an adjoining second component Each component can also have an end surface, e.g. top or bottom surface with a protrusion thereon and a groove or recess in an opposite end surface so that the first end surface with the protrusion of first component can engagingly lock into the groove of end surface of a second component. In this way, the components can be added to each other not only side by side but also end to end for building toy structures longer as well as wider. The two components can be locked together by snapping the protrusion end of one component into the groove end of another component or can be disengaged from each other by being pulled apart at their respective ends.

1 . A construction toy formed of connectable components, comprising: 
 a plurality of connectable components each one of said connectable components being formed of a foam material and having on at least one surface of said component an extending member and on at least another surface of said component a groove therein where each said member of one component is adapted to lockingly engage within a groove of another one of said components in order to join said components together.    
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1  wherein said one surface is a side surface and said extending member is a longitudinally extending rib-like member and said another surface is a side surface and said groove is a longitudinally extending groove component wherein each said member of one component is adapted to longitudinally slide and lockingly engage within a groove of another one of said components in order to join said components together.  
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1  wherein said one surface is an end surface and said extending member is an extending protrusion and said another surface is another end surface and said groove is dimensioned to lockingly engage said extending protrusion therein so that two components can be lockingly connected end to end when said protrusion of one component is snapped into said recess of another component and disengaged when said protrusion is pulled out of said recess.  
     
     
         3 . The toy according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one surface includes a side surface having a longitudinally extending rib-like member and a end surface having an extending protrusion member and wherein said another surface includes a side surface having a longitudinally extending groove component and another end surface having a groove therein wherein each said member of one component is adapted to longitudinally slide and lockingly engage within a groove of another one of said components in order to join said components together in a side by side connection and said components can be lockingly connected end to end when said protrusion of one component is snapped into said groove in said another end surface of another component and disengaged when said protrusion is pulled out of said recess of said another end surface.  
     
     
         4 . A construction toy formed of connectable components, comprising: 
 a plurality of connectable components each one of said connectable components being formed of a foam material and having a longitudinally extending groove on one side of said component and a longitudinally extending rib-like member on another side of said component wherein each said member of one component is adapted to longitudinally slide and lockingly engage within a groove of another one of said components in order to join said components together.    
     
     
         5 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said groove and said member are shaped complimentary with respect to each other so that said member engages within said groove.  
     
     
         6 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said groove and member each substantially extend along the entire longitudinal length of said component.  
     
     
         7 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said groove and said member have complimentary geometric shapes  
     
     
         8 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said geometric shape is substantially a polygonal shape.  
     
     
         9 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said polygonal shape is substantially circular.  
     
     
         10 . The constructional toy according to  claim 9  wherein said polygonal shape is substantially square  
     
     
         11 . The construction toy according to  claim 8  wherein said polygonal shape is substantially triangular.  
     
     
         12  The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said connectable components are formed of a foam material.  
     
     
         13 . The construction toy according to  claim 12  wherein said foam material is formed of a low density polyethylene product.  
     
     
         14 . The construction toy according to  claim 13  wherein said low density polyethylene product is extruded by a physical agent.  
     
     
         15 . The construction toy according to  claim 14  wherein said physical agent is a hydrocarbon gas.  
     
     
         16 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said plurality of components can be combined to construct different shapes and structures by connecting member of one of said components into a groove another of said components  
     
     
         17 . The construction toy according to  claim 4  wherein said foam is made of a water floating material so that said components can be connected to form a raft which will float on water.