Multidimensional alignment spacing for toy building elements

Abstract

An adapter building element includes a first side and a second side. The first side includes a plurality of coupling elements of a first type, at least two of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in a 1 building unit (BU) grid on the first side and at least one of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in a fractional BU grid on the first side. The second side includes a plurality of coupling elements of a second type, at least two of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid on the second side and at least one of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the fractional BU grid on the second side. The second type of coupling element is configured to form an interference fit with the first type of coupling element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adapter building element of a toy construction system, the adapter building element comprising:
 a first side including a plurality of coupling elements of a first type, at least two of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in a 1 building unit (BU) grid on the first side and at least one of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in a fractional BU grid on the first side; and   a second side different than the first side, the second side including a plurality of coupling elements of a second type, at least two of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid on the second side and at least one of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the fractional BU grid on the second side;   wherein the second type of coupling element is configured to form an interference fit with the first type of coupling element and each of the coupling elements of the first type and each of the coupling elements of the second type have a standard coupling size.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of coupling elements are male coupling elements and the second type of coupling elements are female coupling elements. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of coupling elements are cylindrical studs and the second type of coupling elements are recesses at least partially defined by one or more grid elements extending from the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter building element of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more grid elements include one or more rib elements, posts, and walls. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two coupling elements of the first type are arranged in the 1 BU grid on the first side by being centered on a grid so that a center of each coupling element of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid is 1 BU from a center of any nearest coupling element of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two coupling elements of the second type are arranged in the 1 BU grid on the second side by being centered on a grid so that a center of each coupling element of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid is 1 BU from a center of any nearest coupling element of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein a center of each coupling element of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid is aligned with a center of each coupling element of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid along a connection axis of the interference fit. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter building element of  claim 7 , wherein the connection axis is perpendicular to the surface of the first side. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the fractional BU grid is a ½ BU grid. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , further comprising a wall extending orthogonally from the first side, the wall having one or more cutouts, each cutout defining an opening in the wall, where the wall opening is sized and configured to receive a coupling element of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter building element of  claim 1 , wherein the second side is opposite the first side. 
     
     
         12 . A toy construction system comprising:
 a plurality of building elements, the plurality of building elements comprising:   a plurality of standard building elements, each standard building element including one or more coupling elements of a first type and coupling elements of a second type, wherein the coupling elements of the first type are arranged in a 1 building unit (BU) grid and the coupling elements of the second type are arranged in a 1 BU grid; and   at least one adapter building element comprising:
 a first side including a plurality of coupling elements of a first type, at least two of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid on the first side and at least one of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in a fractional BU grid on the first side; and 
 a second side opposite the first side, the second side including a plurality of coupling elements of a second type, at least two of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid on the second side and at least one of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in a fractional BU grid on the second side; 
 wherein the second type of coupling element is configured to form an interference fit with the first type of coupling element. 
   
     
     
         13 . The toy construction system of  claim 12 , wherein the first type of coupling elements are male coupling elements and the second type of coupling elements are female coupling elements. 
     
     
         14 . The toy construction system of  claim 12 , wherein the first type of coupling elements are cylindrical studs and the second type of coupling elements are recesses defined by one or more grid elements extending from a side of the building element. 
     
     
         15 . The toy construction system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more grid elements include one or more rib elements, posts, and walls. 
     
     
         16 . The toy construction system of  claim 12 , wherein a center of each coupling element of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid is aligned with a center of each coupling element of the second type arranged in the 1 BU grid along a connection axis of the interference fit. 
     
     
         17 . The toy construction system of  claim 12 , wherein the fractional BU grid is a ½ BU grid. 
     
     
         18 . The toy construction system of  claim 12 , wherein a construction set is formed by attaching a first standard building element to the first side of the adapter building element and a second standard building element to the second side of the adapter building element. 
     
     
         19 . The toy construction system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 coupling elements of the first type on the second standard building element engage at least one of the coupling elements of the second type arranged in the fractional BU grid on the second side of the adapter building element; and   coupling elements of the second type on the first standard building element engage at least one of the coupling elements of the first type arranged in the 1 BU grid on the first side of the adapter building element.   
     
     
         20 . The toy construction system of  claim 19 , wherein when the construction set is formed, the coupling elements of the second type on the first standard building element are offset by the fractional amount of the fractional BU grid from the coupling elements of the first type on the second standard building element.