Transformable construction toy

Abstract

A toy construction set includes a plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces, the pieces being connectable to build a toy that reversibly transforms between a first toy form and a second toy form, the first toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a first plane and the second toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a second plane that has a surface normal that is different from a surface normal of the first plane; and a bidirectional transformation module. The bidirectional transformation module includes a body defining a first connector and a second connector, the first connector coupled to a first piece included in the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces, and the second connector coupled to a second piece included in the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces; and a flexible portion between the first and second connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy construction set comprising:
 a plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces, the pieces being connectable to build a toy that reversibly transforms between a first toy form and a second toy form, the first toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a first plane and the second toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a second plane that has a surface normal that is different from a surface normal of the first plane; and   a bidirectional transformation module comprising:
 a body defining a first connector and a second connector, the first connector coupled to a first piece included in the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces, and the second connector coupled to a second piece included in the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces; and 
 a flexible portion between the first and second connectors, wherein 
   the transformation module is movable between a first position and a second position, and   the transformation module holds the toy in the first toy form when in the first position and holds the toy in the second toy form when in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first toy form comprises a vehicle,   the second toy form comprises a human-like figure, and   the surface normal of the first plane is perpendicular to the surface normal of the second plane.   
     
     
         3 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a spring. 
     
     
         4 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the toy reversibly transforms between the first toy form and the second toy form without disconnecting any of the plurality of interconnecting pieces from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first connector of the transformation module is releasably coupled to the first piece, and   the second connector of the transformation module is releasably coupled to the second piece.   
     
     
         6 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second positions are the only positions in which the transformation module holds the toy. 
     
     
         7 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein,
 when moved from the first position to the second position, the flexible portion of the bidirectional transformation module applies a force that has at least a component along a direction toward the first position, and   when moved from the second position to the first position, the flexible portion of the bidirectional transformation module applies a force that has at least a component along a direction that is toward the second position.   
     
     
         8 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the surface normal of the first plane is perpendicular to the surface normal of the second plane. 
     
     
         9 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the bidirectional transformation module is connected to the first piece included in the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces at a connection point, and, to move between the first position and the second position, the transformation module rotates about the connection point. 
     
     
         10 . The toy construction set of  claim 9 , wherein the second piece defines a graspable portion that receives force, and the transformation module to moves between the first and second position in response to the received force. 
     
     
         11 . The toy construction set of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second connectors of the bidirectional transformation module connect to the first and second pieces, respectively, with a snap connection. 
     
     
         12 . The toy construction set of  claim 11 , wherein the snap connection is a c-clip connected to a corresponding axel. 
     
     
         13 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion is at least partially enclosed in the body. 
     
     
         14 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the body is cylindrical, and the first and second connectors are c-clips that connect to corresponding axels on the first and second pieces, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein a piece that does not include a transformation module also connects the first and second toy construction pieces. 
     
     
         16 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces connect to each other with a snap connection. 
     
     
         17 . The toy construction set of  claim 16 , wherein the snap connection is one or more of a ball-and-socket connection and a c-clip connection. 
     
     
         18 . The toy construction set of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of toy construction pieces are connectable at articulating joints. 
     
     
         19 . A toy construction set comprising:
 a plurality of interconnecting toy construction pieces comprising at least a first piece, a second piece that defines an articulating joint, and a third piece connected to the articulating joint by a snap connection, the plurality of toy construction pieces connected as a toy that reversibly transforms between a first toy form and a second toy form without disconnecting any of the pieces; and   a bidirectional transformation module movable between a first position and a second position, the module comprising:
 a body defining a first connector and a second connector, the first connector coupled to the first piece included in the plurality of interconnecting pieces, and the second connector coupled to the second piece included in the plurality of interconnecting pieces; and 
 a flexible portion between the first and second connectors, wherein 
   the toy is configured to be held in the first form when the bidirectional transformation module is in the first position,   the toy is configured to be held in the second form when the bidirectional transformation module is in the second position, and   movement of the transformation module from the first position to the second position moves the first and second pieces relative to each other to allow the third piece to rotate about the articulating joint such that the third piece extends in a different direction in the second toy form than in the first toy form.   
     
     
         20 . The toy construction set of  claim 19 , wherein, in the second toy form, the third piece extends from the second piece in a direction that is opposite from the direction that the third piece extends from the second piece in the first toy form. 
     
     
         21 . A method of transforming a toy constructed from a plurality of interconnected construction pieces from a first toy form to a second toy form, the method comprising:
 connecting a transformation module that is movable between first and second positions to a first toy construction piece and a second toy construction piece;   assembling a toy by connecting at least one other toy construction piece to the first toy construction piece and at least one other toy construction piece to the second toy construction piece;   arranging the constructed toy into a first toy form, the first toy form defining a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a first plane;   holding the constructed toy in the first toy form with the transformation module in the first position;   applying force to the second construction piece to move the transformation module to the second position; and   moving at least one other construction piece about a connection without disconnecting any of the toy construction pieces from the assembled toy to transform the connected construction pieces into the second toy form.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second toy construction piece defines a graspable portion, and further comprising:
 applying force to the graspable portion of the second construction piece to move the transformation module to the first position; and   moving at least one other construction piece about a connection without removing any of the toy construction pieces from the assembled toy to transform the connected construction pieces into the first toy form.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein moving at least one other toy construction piece about a joint comprises rotating the at least one other toy construction piece about the joint. 
     
     
         24 . A toy construction set comprising:
 a plurality of temporarily and repeatably interconnectable toy construction pieces, the pieces being connectable to build a toy that reversibly transforms between a first toy form and a second toy form, the first toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a first plane and the second toy form defining a longitudinal axis in a second plane that has a surface normal that is different from a surface normal of the first plane; and   a bidirectional transformation module having a plurality of connectors able to be temporarily and repeatably coupled to one or more of the toy construction pieces, wherein the transformation module is movable between a first stable equilibrium position and a second stable equilibrium position through an unstable equilibrium position such that the transformation module holds the toy in the first toy form when in the first stable equilibrium position and holds the toy in the second toy form when in the second stable equilibrium position.