Modular toy assembly

Abstract

Connectable planar toy pieces have base shapes of regular or irregular polygons of various side counts. Connectability is achieved by way of an extension hook on each side of each piece, creating slots with bead-shaped protrusions therein. This arrangement allows two pieces to snap together when one piece is connected to another either slot-to-slot or slot-to-edge. Several pieces may be so connected, forming a variety of possible shapes and structures.

1 . A toy comprising
 a first piece having a front planar surface, a rear planar surface, a thickness, and at least three side edges, wherein   each side edge includes a hook extension beginning at a first end of the side edge and extending substantially parallel to the side edge, forming a slot between the hook extension and the side edge;   the slot having a width, an open first end, a terminus at a second end, and two connector beads disposed near the terminus with one bead on each side of the slot; and   the width of the slot is greater than the thickness of the piece.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , further including a second piece, wherein the pieces are configured to snap together by mating any one slot on the first piece with any one slot on the second piece and applying sufficient force such that the pair of beads in the slot of the first piece are urged past the pair of beads in the second slot. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein each slot has a first length and each side edge has a second length, and the first length is at least about one half of the second length. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein each hook extension has an outer perimeter, and at least a portion of the outer perimeter includes a lip. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the lip is sized to allow the connector beads in a slot of a second piece to snap onto the perimeter of the first piece, holding the second piece onto the first piece. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 4 , wherein the outer perimeter is curvilinear. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the beads are spherical and have a diameter;
 and the beads are disposed less than or equal to about one diameter from the terminus.   
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the beads disposed in a slot are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the planar surfaces includes texturing in the form of a plurality of concentric ridges. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the piece includes a central hole. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein each hook extension includes at least one hole. 
     
     
         12 . A set of toys comprising
 a plurality of pieces each piece having a front planar surface, a rear planar surface, a thickness, and at least three side edges, wherein   each side edge includes a hook extension beginning at a first end of the side edge and extending substantially parallel to the side edge, forming a slot between the hook extension and the side edge;   the slot having a width, an open first end, a terminus at a second end, and two beads disposed near the terminus with one bead on each side of the slot; and   the width of the slot is greater than the thickness of the piece.   
     
     
         13 . The set of toys of  claim 12 , wherein each side edge of each piece has a length, and the length of each side edge of each piece is substantially the same. 
     
     
         14 . The set of toys of  claim 12 , wherein at least one piece has a different number of sides than at least one other piece. 
     
     
         15 . The set of toys of  claim 12 , wherein the pieces are configured to allow at least a first piece and a second piece to fit together by mating any one slot on the first piece with any one slot on the second piece and applying sufficient force such that the pair of beads in the slot of the first piece are urged past the pair of beads in the second slot. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein each slot has a first length and each side edge has a second length, and the first length is at least about one half of the second length. 
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein each hook extension has an outer perimeter, and at least a portion of the outer perimeter includes a lip. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 17 , wherein the lip is sized to allow the connector beads in a slot of a second piece to snap onto the perimeter of the first piece, holding the second piece onto the first piece. 
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 17 , wherein the outer perimeter is curvilinear. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 12 , wherein the beads are spherical and have a diameter; and the beads are disposed less than or equal to about one diameter from the terminus.