Toy building element

Abstract

A building element includes a body that defines a first connection end and a second connection end, a socket at the first connection end, an inner circumferential surface extending into the body at the second connection end, and a central post at the second connection end. The socket includes two or more petals that define an inner curved surface that is configured to receive a ball. The inner circumferential surface defines a central cavity, and the central post is in the central cavity. The central post has an outer circumferential surface and a circumferential cavity is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the post and the inner circumferential surface of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building element comprising:
 a body that defines a first connection end and a second connection end;   a socket at the first connection end, the socket includes two or more petals that define an inner curved surface that is configured to receive a ball;   an inner circumferential surface extending into the body at the second connection end, the inner circumferential surface defining a central cavity; and   a cylindrical post at the second connection end and in the central cavity, the post having an outer circumferential surface such that a circumferential cavity is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the post and the inner circumferential surface of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the cylindrical post extends from a lower surface, wherein the lower surface forms a lower surface of the circumferential cavity and extends between the inner circumferential surface of the body and the outer circumferential surface of the post. 
     
     
         3 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical post comprises a post top surface that intersects the axis of the cylindrical post, and the body comprises a top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The building element of  claim 3 , wherein a plane that intersects the post top surface slices through the body. 
     
     
         5 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the socket includes only two petals. 
     
     
         6 . The building element of  claim 5 , wherein the two petals extend from the body along a direction that is parallel with the axis of the cylindrical post and define open areas between the two petals. 
     
     
         7 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein a line halfway between the petals of the socket intersects the axis of the cylindrical post. 
     
     
         8 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of the body has a diameter of 4.84 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The building element of  claim 8 , wherein the socket has a radius of 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The building element of  claim 8 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical post has a diameter of 3.18 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The building element of  claim 1 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of the body includes one or more arc-shaped surfaces between two flat surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A toy construction set comprising:
 an adapter building element comprising:
 a body that defines a first connection end and a second connection end; 
 a socket at the first connection end, the socket includes two or more petals that define an inner curved surface that is configured to receive a ball; 
 an inner circumferential surface extending into the body at the second connection end and defining a central cavity; and 
 a central post at the second connection end and in the central cavity, the central post having an outer circumferential surface such that a circumferential cavity is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical post and the inner circumferential surface of the body. 
   
     
     
         13 . The toy construction set of  claim 12 , further comprising a base building element comprising a cylindrical stud that includes a cylindrical wall defining an inner stud cavity and an outer stud surface, wherein, when the adapter building element and the base building element are connected, the cylindrical stud is frictionally engaged at the inner stud cavity with the outer circumferential surface of the central post and at the outer stud surface with the inner circumferential surface of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The toy construction set of  claim 13 , wherein the adapter building element and the base building element connect along an axis of connection, and when the adapter building element and the base building element are connected, the adapter building element and the base building element are rotatable relative to each other about the axis of connection. 
     
     
         15 . The toy construction set of  claim 14 , wherein the adapter building element and the base building element slidably connect along the axis of connection. 
     
     
         16 . The toy construction set of  claim 13 , wherein the base building element has a cylindrically shaped head from which the cylindrical stud protrudes. 
     
     
         17 . The toy construction set of  claim 13 , wherein the base building element has a planar surface from which the cylindrical stud protrudes. 
     
     
         18 . The toy construction set of  claim 13 , wherein the base building element comprises a recess that is configured to frictionally engage a cylindrical stud of another building element. 
     
     
         19 . The toy construction set of  claim 13 , further comprising a ball building element comprising a ball, wherein, when the adapter building element and the ball building element are connected, the ball is frictionally engaged in the socket of the adapter building element. 
     
     
         20 . The toy construction set of  claim 12 , further comprising a ball building element comprising a ball, wherein, when the adapter building element and the ball building element are connected, the ball is frictionally engaged in the socket of the adapter building element. 
     
     
         21 . The toy construction set of  claim 20 , wherein the ball building element comprises one or more additional coupling elements for connecting to other building element of the toy construction set. 
     
     
         22 . The toy construction set of  claim 20 , wherein the diameter of the ball is larger than an opening defined between the two or more petals. 
     
     
         23 . The toy construction set of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of additional building elements that are releasably interconnectable with each other, at least one of the additional building elements including a cylindrical stud that frictionally engages the central post of the adapter building element by way of an interference fit and at least one of the additional building elements including a ball that frictionally engages the socket of the adapter building element by way of an interference fit, at least one of the building elements engaging in a purposeful deformation during connection or disconnection. 
     
     
         24 . A toy construction set comprising:
 an adapter building element comprising:
 a body; 
 a socket at a first connection end of the body, the socket defining an inner curved surface; and 
 a double-clutch interference fit coupling element at a second connection end of the body; 
   a first appendage building element comprising a cylindrical stud that includes a cylindrical wall defining an inner stud cavity and an outer stud surface, wherein, when the adapter building element and the first appendage building element are connected, the cylindrical stud is frictionally engaged at the inner stud cavity with the double-clutch interference fit coupling element of the adapter building element and at the outer stud surface with the double-clutch interference fit coupling element of the adapter building element; and   a second appendage building element comprising a ball, wherein, when the adapter building element and the second appendage building element are connected, the ball is frictionally engaged in the socket of the adapter building element.   
     
     
         25 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the double-clutch interference fit coupling element comprises:
 an inner circumferential surface that defines a central cavity that extends into the body; and   a post protruding within the central cavity such that a circumferential cavity is formed between the post and the inner circumferential surface of the body.   
     
     
         26 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the adapter building element and the first appendage building element connect along an axis of connection, and when the adapter building element and the first appendage building element are connected, the adapter building element and the first appendage building element are rotatable relative to each other about the axis of connection. 
     
     
         27 . The toy construction set of  claim 26 , wherein the adapter building element and the first appendage building element slidably connect along the axis of connection. 
     
     
         28 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein when the adapter building element and the second appendage building element are connected, the ball is frictionally engaged in the socket of the adapter building element to enable the second appendage building element to rotate at least 180° along a first plane and to rotate at least 40° along a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. 
     
     
         29 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the first appendage building element comprises a foot building element and the second appendage building element comprises a leg building element. 
     
     
         30 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the first appendage building element is a first arm building element and the second appendage building element is a second arm building element. 
     
     
         31 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the first appendage building element is a first leg building element and the second appendage building element is a second leg building element. 
     
     
         32 . The toy construction set of  claim 24 , wherein the first appendage building element is a part of a toy figure assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The toy construction set of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first appendage building element comprises a head part building element that includes the cylindrical stud that frictionally engages at the inner stud cavity with the double-clutch interference fit coupling element of the adapter building element and at the outer stud surface with the double-clutch interference fit coupling element of the adapter building element; and   the toy figure assembly comprises:
 an upper body part building element removably attachable to the head part building element via a non-snap frictional engagement; and 
 a lower body part building element removably attachable to the upper body part building element via a non-snap frictional engagement, the lower body part building element includes a single recess structured for non-snap frictional engagement to a building element via only a single stud on the building element.