Construction system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a construction system which has individual construction elements or components which can be connected to each other by at least a ball-to-socket joint or a socket-to-socket joint. A basic construction element has a body with a ball at one end and a socket at the other end, or balls at both ends, or sockets at both ends. Other construction elements are contemplated which can have more than or less than two connectors for a single element.

1 . A construction system comprising:
 a plurality of construction components, each construction component including:
 a cylindrical body having a first end, a second end, and a diameter; 
 a socket disposed on the first end of the cylindrical body, wherein a neck is defined between the socket and the cylindrical body, the neck having a width less than the diameter of the cylindrical body; and 
 a substantially spherical element disposed on the second end of the cylindrical body; 
   wherein a spherical element of a first construction component is sized to be received in a socket of a second construction component.   
   
   
       2 . The construction system of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the neck is between about 0.4 inches and about 0.5 inches, and wherein the diameter of the cylindrical body is between about 1.0 inches and about 1.4 inches. 
   
   
       3 . The construction system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical body to the width of the neck is between about 1.1 and 1.9. 
   
   
       4 . A construction system comprising:
 a plurality of construction components, each construction component including:
 a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end; 
 a socket disposed on the first end of the cylindrical body; and 
 a substantially spherical element disposed on the second end of the cylindrical body, wherein a neck is defined between the spherical element and the cylindrical body, the neck having a width; 
   wherein a spherical element of a first construction component is sized to be received in a socket of a second construction component; and   wherein a ratio of the diameter of the spherical element to the width of the second neck is less than 3.75.   
   
   
       5 . The construction system if  claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the spherical element is between about 1.3 inches and about 1.9 inches, and wherein the width of the neck is between about 0.4 inches and about 0.5 inches. 
   
   
       6 . A construction system comprising:
 a plurality of construction components, each construction component including:
 a cylindrical body having a first end, a second end, and a diameter between about 1.0 inches and about 1.4 inches; 
 a socket disposed on the first end of the cylindrical body; and 
 a substantially spherical element disposed on the second end of the cylindrical body, wherein a neck is defined between the spherical element and the cylindrical body, the neck having a width between about 0.4 inches and about 0.5 inches; 
   wherein a spherical element of a first construction component is sized to be received in a socket of a second construction component.   
   
   
       7 . A construction system comprising:
 a plurality of construction components, each construction component including:
 a cylindrical body having a first end, a second end, and a diameter; 
 a socket disposed on the first end of the cylindrical body; and 
 a substantially spherical element disposed on the second end of the cylindrical body, wherein a neck is defined between the spherical element and the cylindrical body, the neck having a width; 
   wherein a spherical element of a first construction component is sized to be received in a socket of a second construction component; and   wherein a ratio of the diameter of the cylindrical body to the width of the neck is greater than 2.8 or less than 2.7.