Noodle and web construction toy system

Abstract

A flotation apparatus has a plurality of axially elongated flotation elements and a flexible web with a plurality of slits that accommodate the elongated flotation elements as a woven array. The slits each have a semicircular, S-like, or wave-like configurations. Respectively associated pairs of slits are oriented in inverted manner with respect to one another to form a supportive region between each pair of slits. At least one flexible web element is configured in some embodiments to have an elongated central portion with first and second slits therethrough for accommodating respective ones of first and second end terminations of the flexible web element after wrapping around respective ones of the first and second noodle elements. One or two flexible web elements wrap snugly around the respective ones of the first and second noodle elements.

1 . A flotation apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of axially elongated flotation elements; and   a flexible web having a plurality of slits therethrough for accommodating said plurality of elongated flotation elements as a woven array, wherein said plurality of axially elongated flotation elements are retained in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to each other.   
   
   
       2 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined spatial relationship of the array of axially elongated flotation elements is substantially parallel along the contour of said flexible web. 
   
   
       3 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slits in said plurality of slits are reinforced to prevent tearing of said flexible web. 
   
   
       4 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of slits are arranged in respectively associated pairs of slits and oriented in inverted manner with respect to one another within said associated pairs to form a supportive web region between each of the slits of such respectively associated pairs of slits. 
   
   
       5 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of slits each have an S-like configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of slits each have a wave-like configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said axially elongated flotation elements are configured as noodles. 
   
   
       8 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the noodles are formed of foamed polyethylene. 
   
   
       9 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the noodles are formed of foamed polypropylene. 
   
   
       10 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible web is formed of foamed polyethylene. 
   
   
       11 . The flotation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible web is formed of foamed polypropylene. 
   
   
       12 . A construction toy system comprising:
 a plurality of axially elongated noodle elements; and   first and second flexible webs arranged to overlie one another and being affixed to one another to form elongated pockets that accommodate respective ones of said plurality of axially elongated noodle elements.   
   
   
       13 . The construction toy system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first and second flexible webs has a decorative aperture there through. 
   
   
       14 . The construction toy system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first and second flexible webs has a plurality of slits therethrough for enabling at least one of said axially elongated noodle elements to be woven through said plurality of slits. 
   
   
       15 . The construction toy system of  claim 12 , wherein the slits in said first and second flexible webs are affixed to one another by stitching. 
   
   
       16 . A construction toy system comprising:
 first and second noodle elements; and   at least one flexible web element having an elongated central portion with first and second slits therethrough for accommodating respective ones of first and second end terminations of said flexible web element after wrapping around respective ones of said first and second noodle elements.   
   
   
       17 . The construction toy system of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second end terminations of said flexible web element are integrally formed with said flexible web element. 
   
   
       18 . The construction toy system of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second end terminations of said flexible web element have a substantially round configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The construction toy system of  claim 16 , wherein said flexible web element is dimensioned so as to wrap snugly around the respective ones of said first and second noodle elements. 
   
   
       20 . The construction toy system of  claim 16 , wherein there are further provided a third noodle element and a second flexible web element, said second flexible web element wrapping around respective ones of said second and third noodle elements.