Building blocks for toy construction fastening assembly

Abstract

A connecting block including at least one socket for receiving and releasably engaging an elementary rod is provided. The socket includes at least one spline disposed about the socket opening. The rod is forced into the socket such that it deforms around the one or more splines to accommodate the splines and that the rod is rotationally prevented with respect to the socket. A stopper including a channel for receiving and releasably engaging an elementary rod is further provided. The channel includes a ridge disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the channel. The rod is forced into the channel such that it deforms around the ridge to accommodate the ridge and that the rod is prevented from sliding with respect to the channel.

1 . A fastening assembly for preventing rotational movement of a first component with respect to a second component of said fastening assembly, wherein:
 (a) said second component comprises a cylindrical deformable rod having a transverse cross-sectional area and two opposing ends, and   (b) said first component comprises a circular socket
 i. having an internal wall, an opening and at least one spline having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one spline is disposed about said internal wall, and 
 ii. is configured to receive one of said two opposing ends by force to cause said one of said two opposing ends to deform and to conform to the shape of said at least one spline to prevent rotational movement of said first component relative to said second component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fastening assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline to a transverse cross-sectional area of said cylindrical deformable rod ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51. 
     
     
         3 . A fastening assembly for preventing sliding movement of a first component with respect to a second component of said assembly, said assembly comprising:
 (a) said first component comprising a cylindrical deformable rod having a first central axis; and   (b) said second component comprising
 i. at least one stopper having a channel including a length, a diameter and a central axis, 
 ii. a thumb hold, and 
 iii. at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder, and said at least one ridge is disposed along an arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, and said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel, 
   wherein said cylindrical deformable rod is forced into said channel such that said channel is substantially coaxial with said cylindrical deformable rod and said cylindrical deformable rod deforms to conform to the shape of said at least one ridge to prevent rotational movement of said first component relative to said second component and said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said first component from said second component.   
     
     
         4 . A fastening device for engaging at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, a first diameter and two opposing ends, said fastening device comprising:
 a connecting block comprising at least one circular socket having an opening, an internal wall, a central axis, a diameter of said opening and at least one spline having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one circular socket is disposed in said at least one connecting block and said at least one spline is disposed on said internal wall and spans a circumference portion of said opening of said at least one circular socket and the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the central axis of said at least one circular socket, wherein the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one connecting block by forcing one of the two opposing ends of the at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said at least one circular socket such that said one of said two opposing ends deforms to accommodate said at least one spline, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said at least one circular socket and rotational of said at least one circular socket with respect to the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is prevented and sliding of said at least one circular socket with respect to the at least one cylindrical deformable rod is initiated only by a force of at least 2 lbs.   
     
     
         5 . The fastening device of  claim 4 , wherein said opening is beveled with an angle sloping inwardly toward the center of the opening at an angle of from 10 to 60 degrees from a plane defining said opening of said circular socket. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening device of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of said transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline and the area of said opening of said at least one socket ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening device of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the first diameter and said diameter of said opening ranges from about 0.70 to 0.98. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening device of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of said circumference portion to a circumference of said opening of said at least one circular socket is no more than 0.7 such that said at least one spline is easily removed in order to convert said at least one circular socket to a smooth through hole. 
     
     
         9 . A fastening device for engaging at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, said fastening device comprising:
 at least one stopper having a channel, a thumb hold and at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder and includes a central axis and a diameter, said at least one ridge is disposed along an arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, and said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel,   wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one stopper by forcing said at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said channel such that said at least one cylindrical deformable rod deforms to accommodate said at least one ridge, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said channel and a sliding relationship between said at least one cylindrical deformable rod and said channel is prevented and wherein said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said at least one cylindrical deformable rod from said channel.   
     
     
         10 . The fastening device of  claim 9 , wherein a ratio of said height of said ridge to said transverse cross-sectional area ranges from 0.66 to 8. 
     
     
         11 . A fastening assembly for constructing a releasably engaged structure, said fastening assembly comprising:
 (a) at least one connecting block comprising at least one circular socket having an internal wall, a central axis, an opening, a diameter of said opening and at least one spline having a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said at least one circular socket is disposed in said at least one connecting block and said at least one spline is disposed on said internal wall, and the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the central axis of said at least one circular socket; and   (b) at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis, two opposing ends, a second diameter and a transverse cross-sectional area;   wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one connecting block by forcing one of said deformable ends into said at least one circular socket such that one of said deformable ends deforms to accommodate said at least one spline, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said at least one circular socket and rotational relationship between said at least one circular socket and said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is prevented.   
     
     
         12 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of said second diameter to the diameter of said opening ranges from about 0.70 to 0.98. 
     
     
         13 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one connecting block is constructed from plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of wood and plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one connecting block is constructed from a material comprising a hardness ranging from Rockwell R 50-130 and said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material comprising a hardness ranging from 40-90 Durometer (Shore) D. 
     
     
         16 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a reamer including a spline cutter configured to be disposed within said at least one circular socket for removing said at least one spline from said at least one circular socket. 
     
     
         17 . The fastening assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a ratio of a transverse cross-sectional area of said at least one spline to an area of said opening ranges from about 0.035 to 0.51. 
     
     
         18 . A fastening assembly for constructing a releasably engaged structure, said assembly comprising:
 (a) at least one stopper having a channel, a thumb hold and at least one ridge having a transverse cross-sectional area, wherein said channel is defined by a lengthwise portion of a cylinder, said channel having a central axis, said at least one ridge is disposed along a arc in a plane substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said channel, said thumb hold is opposingly disposed from said channel; and   (b) at least one cylindrical deformable rod having a central axis and a second diameter;   wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is configured to be releasably engaged to said at least one stopper by forcing said at least one cylindrical deformable rod into said channel such that said at least one cylindrical deformable rod deforms to accommodate said at least one ridge, said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is substantially coaxial with said channel and sliding relationship between said at least one cylindrical deformable rod and said channel is prevented and said thumb hold is used as leverage to release said first component from said second component.   
     
     
         19 . The fastening assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one stopper is constructed from plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The fastening assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one cylindrical deformable rod is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of wood and plastic.