Construction toy system with universal hub

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a connector element for a space structure as well as a kit of parts to produce such a structure ideally suited to a construction toy of the type comprising a plurality of hub-like connector elements and a plurality of structural elements, struts, adapted to be removably engaged with the connector elements. The connector elements include first, second or more subparts having zero, one or more strut-receiving sockets emanating from each of the subparts, the subparts being rotatable with respect to one another along one or multiple common axis axes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A composite connector for use in a construction toy of the type comprising a plurality of hubs and struts, said connector configured for releasably receiving ends of said struts, said composite connector comprising first and second connector elements;
 said first and second connector elements being of generally planar configuration of a thickness and having a length and width;   first and second connector elements each with a defined axis orthogonal to said thickness;   an open-sided recess configured on one side of said first connector element extending to said orthogonal axis and having a width sized to receive said second connector element in a plane at a defined fixed angle to the plane of said first connector element forming a composite connector having strut receiving elements radiating in two planes at the said defined fixed angle to one another.   said first connector having a semi-toroidal substrate having an axis coincident to said orthogonal axis of said first connector element;
 at least one strut receiving element attached to said semi-toroidal substrate; 
 said strut receiving element being positionable along said semi-toroidal substrate at a range of angles about said orthogonal axis; 
 wherein strut receiving element releasably receives said strut; 
   said second connector element having at least one strut receiving element;   said second connector element comprising an open-sided recess configured on one side of said second connector element extending to said orthogonal axis and having a width sized to receive said first connector element   
     
     
         2 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein the said strut receiving elements of said first connector element are releasably attachable to said semi-toroidal substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The composite connector of  claim 2  wherein said strut receiving elements comprise open knuckles each with an inner dimension less than that of said semi-toroidal substrate to which said strut receiving elements append providing a resistive positioning of said strut receiving elements about said orthogonal axis of said first connector. 
     
     
         4 . The composite connector of  claim 3  wherein said open knuckles comprise an opening of a dimension narrower than that of said inner dimension such that said open knuckles at said opening are temporarily deformed when said strut receiving elements are attached and removed from said semi-toroidal substrate so as to provide resistive attachment and release therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of strut receiving elements are concurrently attached to said semi-toroidal substrate at user selected angles radially extending about said orthogonal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The composite connector of  claim 5  wherein said struts received by said strut receiving elements, have longitudinal axes which intersect each other and said orthogonal axis of first connector element when said struts are attached to said multiple strut receiving elements. 
     
     
         7 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein said second connector element comprises a semi-toroidal substrate having an axis coincident to said orthogonal axis of said second connector element;
 at least one strut receiving element attached to said semi-toroidal substrate; 
 said strut receiving element being positionable along said semi-toroidal substrate at a range of angles about said orthogonal axis; 
 wherein strut receiving element releasably receives said strut. 
 
     
     
         8 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein the said first connector element further comprises a gap configured within said semi-toroidal substrate radially positioned approximately opposite of said open-sided recess facilitating temporary deformation of said first connector sub element when forming said composite connector. 
     
     
         9 . The composite connector of  claim 8  wherein said gap is formed in said semi-toroidal substrate in both first and second connector elements. 
     
     
         10 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein said first and second connector elements comprise semi-toroidal substrates of dissimilar angular ranges. 
     
     
         11 . The composite connector of  claim 1  wherein said second connector element comprises at least one strut receiving element radiating in a fixed location from said orthogonal axis. 
     
     
         12 . A composite connector for use in a construction toy of the type comprising a plurality of hubs and struts, said composite connector configured for releasably receiving ends of said struts, said composite connector comprising primary and secondary connector elements, each configured with at least one strut receiving element for releasably receiving struts,
 said primary connector element being substantially of a singular plane having a thickness and further comprising an orthogonal axis perpendicular thereto and a primary axis configured in said plane thereof;   said strut receiving elements attached to said primary connector element generally arranged about the perimeter of said primary connector element radially about said orthogonal axis;   said primary axis comprising a hinge pintle comprising a cylindrical substrate of a length and diameter wherein a portion of said hinge pintle is captured by at least one closed hinge knuckle;   the length of said hinge pintle being such as to receive at least one secondary connector element releasably appended thereto by open knuckles configured within said secondary connector element;   said secondary connector element attached to said hinge pintle to enable it to revolve about said primary axis to vary the angular distance between it and the plane of the primary connector;   said primary and secondary connector elements being arranged radially about said primary axis.   
     
     
         13 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein said strut receiving elements are positioned on said primary connector element at any of 360 degree angle about said orthogonal axis of said primary connector element. 
     
     
         14 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein the said length of said hinge pintle being such as to receive a plurality of secondary connector elements. 
     
     
         15 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein said primary connector element is beveled reducing its thickness in areas proximate said primary axis for increasing the arc or rotation between said primary and secondary strut receiving elements. 
     
     
         16 . The composite connector of  claim 15  wherein said beveling provides that said primary and secondary connector elements maybe rotated about said primary axis relative to the other to within an acute angle between said planes of said primary and secondary connector elements. 
     
     
         17 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein said secondary connector element is beveled reducing its thickness in areas proximate said primary axis for increasing the arc of rotation between said primary and secondary strut receiving elements. 
     
     
         18 . The composite connector of  claim 17  wherein said strut receiving elements of the said primary connector element are oriented to receive struts in the plane of said primary connector element radially oriented relative to said orthogonal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The composite connector of  claim 17  wherein said attached struts are defined by having longitudinal axes, said longitudinal axes caused to intersect each other and with said orthogonal and primary axes when said struts are received by either said primary or secondary connector elements. 
     
     
         20 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein said strut receiving elements retain said struts via releasable snap in fittings. 
     
     
         21 . The composite connector of  claim 12  wherein said primary connector element comprises a semi-toroidal substrate sized to define the perimeter of said primary connector element and having an axis coincident with said orthogonal axis of said primary connector element. 
     
     
         22 . The composite connector of  claim 21  wherein at least one of said strut receiving elements is configured as having a subpart attachable to said semi-toroidal substrate and positionable along said semi-toroidal substrate at various angles about said orthogonal axis of said primary connector element. 
     
     
         23 . The composite connector of  claim 22  wherein said struts have longitudinal axes which lie in said plane of said primary connector element and wherein said longitudinal axes intersect the orthogonal axis of said primary connector element when received by said strut receiving elements attached to said semi-toroidal substrate. 
     
     
         24 . The composite connector of  claim 21  wherein said strut receiving elements include open knuckles each having an inner dimension smaller than said semi-toroidal substrate providing subtle resistance to repositioning of said secondary strut receiving elements about said orthogonal axis of said primary connector. 
     
     
         25 . The composite connector of  claim 24  wherein said open knuckles are configured with an opening narrower than that of their said inner dimension such that said open knuckles deform as they are attached and removed from said semi-toroidal substrate of said primary connector to provide resistive attachment and release therefrom. 
     
     
         26 . A composite connector for a construction toy of the type comprising a plurality of struts, said composite connector configured for releasably receiving ends of said struts, said composite connector comprising first and second connector elements,
 said first and second connector elements being of generally planar configuration of a thickness and having a length and width and orthogonal axis perpendicular to their respective planes;   said first and second connector elements being defined by primary axes in their planes;   said first and second connector elements each having at least one strut receiving element arranged radially about said orthogonal axis;   said first and second connector elements each comprising a hinge, said hinge having a hinge axis collinear with said primary axis and being of a length substantially that of said respective connector elements and being of a diameter less than said thickness;   said primary axes of said first and second connector elements being coincident;   said strut receiving elements being oriented to receive and retain struts in the plane of respective said first and second connector elements radially with respect to said orthogonal axis of respective first and second connector elements;   said struts being defined by having longitudinal axes wherein said longitudinal axes intersect each other at said orthogonal axis of said respective first and second connector elements when said struts are received by said strut receiving element.   
     
     
         27 . The composite connector of  claim 26  wherein said hinge comprises hinge pintle sections fixed relative to said first and second connector elements by at least one closed hinge knuckle 
     
     
         28 . The composite connector of  claim 27  wherein said hinge further comprises at least one open hinge knuckle sized for receiving said hinge pintle sections. 
     
     
         29 . The composite connector of  claim 28  wherein said open hinge knuckle of said second connector element is attached to said hinge pintle of said first connector element and said open hinge knuckle of said first connector element is attached to said hinge pintle of said second connector element such that said second connector element will revolve about said hinge knuckle such that the angular relationship between said planes of first and second connector elements can vary. 
     
     
         30 . The composite connector of  claim 29  wherein the length of said hinge pintle is such as to accommodate a plurality of open hinge knuckles supporting said first and second connector elements and at least one additional connector element. 
     
     
         31 . The composite connector of  claim 30  wherein said strut receiving elements releasably retain struts via a frictional fitting. 
     
     
         32 . The composite connector of  claim 30  wherein said strut receiving elements retain said struts via a releasable snap in fitting. 
     
     
         33 . The composite connector of  claim 28  wherein said closed hinge knuckle is of sufficient radial dimension so as to provide portional stability to other connector elements attached to said pintle through the use of open hinge knuckles adjacent to said closed hinge knuckle along said pintle. 
     
     
         34 . The composite connector of  claim 27  comprising first and second connector elements and a third connector element positionable about said primary axis and about said hinge pintle. 
     
     
         35 . The composite connector of  claim 29  wherein said first connector element is beveled to reduce its thickness in areas proximate said primary axis to facilitate the ability to select acute angles between the plane of said first connector element and the planes of said second connector element and other elements appended to said primary axis. 
     
     
         36 . The composite connector of  claim 35  wherein said hinge knuckles are supported with arms, said arms being of a thickness less than the thickness of said first connector element for facilitating a reduced angular dimension between the plane of said first connector element and the planes of said second connector element and other elements appended to said primary axis than would be possible without said reduced thickness. 
     
     
         37 . The composite connector of  claim 26  wherein said first connector element comprises a multiplicity of said strut receiving elements wherein said strut receiving elements can receive said struts radially over a 360 degree range about said orthogonal axis of said first connector element when said first connector element is paired with said second connector element. 
     
     
         38 . The composite connector of  claim 26  further providing connection of a first and second array of said struts, wherein each array is on an intersecting plane to that of the other where each said array extends over a 360 degree radial arc so that the longitudinal axes of all said attached struts intersect at a common point at the intersection of said primary and said orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         39 . The composite connector of  claim 38  wherein said planes intersect along said primary axis with user selected arbitrary angles between them. 
     
     
         40 . The composite connector of  claim 26  wherein said first and second connector elements are configured with an open-sided recess extending to said orthogonal axis thereof whereby the open-sided recess is parallel to but not collinear with said primary axis. 
     
     
         41 . The composite connector of  claim 40  wherein said open-sided recess is sized and configured to provide proximate location of said second connector element to the said first connector element enabling releasable attachment of same. 
     
     
         42 . The composite connector of  claim 41  wherein said second connector element is substantially identical to said first connector element such that open hinge knuckles of said second connector element are releasably attached to said hinge pintle of said first connector element and open hinge knuckles of said first connector element releasably attach to hinge pintles of said second connector element. 
     
     
         43 . The composite connector of  claim 42  wherein said first connector element and second connector element are attached to one another by means of hinge knuckles and hinge pintles such that each is characterized by having a primary axis, the primary axis of each being coincident to each other. 
     
     
         44 . The composite connector of  claim 43  further comprising struts, each having a longitudinal axis, said struts being attached to said first connector element and second connector element such that said longitudinal axes meet at the intersection of said orthogonal and primary axes of said connector elements. 
     
     
         45 . The composite connector of  claim 44  wherein said second connector element is oriented on a plane at a user selectable angle to the plane of said first connector element to form a composite connector element having struts attached thereto and radiating into said planes. 
     
     
         46 . The composite connector of  claim 26  wherein said first connector element is provided with a semi-toroidal substrate such that the axis of said semi-toroidal substrate is coincident with said orthogonal axis of said first connector element, said plurality of strut receiving elements being attached to said semi-toroidal substrate, each strut receiving element being positionable about said semi-toroidal substrate at a range of angles about said orthogonal axis of said first connector sub element. 
     
     
         47 . The composite connector of  claim 46  wherein said strut receiving elements are releasably attached to said semi-toroidal substrate and each include open knuckles with an inner dimension smaller than that of said semi-toroidal substrate for providing resistive repositioning of said strut receiving elements about said orthogonal axis. 
     
     
         48 . The composite connector of  claim 47  wherein opening in said open knuckles are narrower than that of said inner dimension such that said open knuckles are temporarily deformed as they are attached and removed from said semi-toroidal substrate so as to provide resistive attachment and release from said semi-toroidal substrate.