Interlocking links and toys formed therefrom

Abstract

A variety of interlocking links can be connected to each other and to cylindrical or other shaped tubes. The links incorporate features that may facilitate removably connecting multiple links to one another and removably connecting links to tubes at a wide range of angles to form a variety of multi-dimensional shapes, while obviating the need to use tape or glue.

1 . A system of interlocking links, the system comprising:
 a first flat link having a uniform thickness, the first link comprising an arm with at least two protrusions extending outward from respective sides of the arm; and   a second flat link having a uniform thickness, the second link comprising an aperture,   wherein the arm is received in the aperture and the protrusions of the arm are disposed relative to the aperture such that the first and second links are removably coupled and moveable relative to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third flat link having a uniform thickness and an arm, the arm of the third link comprising a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion, wherein:
 the arm of the first link comprises a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion; 
 one of the first and third links being received in and coupled to the slotted notch of the other of the first and third links such that the first and second links are approximately perpendicular to one another; and 
 the arms of the first and third links are received in the aperture of the second link and the protrusions of the arm of the first link are disposed relative to the aperture such that the first and third links are removably coupled and moveable relative to the second link. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and third links form an axel surrounded by the aperture of and about which the second link rotates. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second link is disposed approximately perpendicular to the first and third links. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least two protrusions are aligned with one another longitudinally along the arm of the first link;   the arm of the first link comprises a first width defined by the arm and the at least two protrusions extending outward from the respective sides of the arm;   the arm comprises a second width defined by the arm at locations without the at least two protrusions;   the first width being greater than the second width and greater than a diameter of the aperture of the second link; and   the second width being less than the diameter of the aperture of the second link.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the linear portion of each of the slotted notches of the first and third links comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second link comprises a circular portion and an arm extending distally from a periphery of the circular portion, the aperture being centrally aligned with the circular portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the arm of the second link extends radially along an axis aligned with a center of the circular portion and the aperture of the second link. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the arm of the second link comprises a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the linear portion the slotted notch of the second link comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first link forms an axel surrounded by the aperture of and about which the second link rotates. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second link is disposed approximately perpendicular to the first link. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least two protrusions are aligned with one another longitudinally along the arm of the first link;   the arm of the first link comprises a first width defined by the arm and the at least two protrusions extending outward from the respective sides of the arm;   the arm comprises a second width defined by the arm at locations without the at least two protrusions;   the first width being greater than the second width and greater than a diameter of the aperture of the second link; and   the second width being less than the diameter of the aperture of the second link.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the linear portion of the slotted notch of the first link comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second link comprises a circular portion and an arm extending distally from a periphery of the circular portion, the aperture being centrally aligned with the circular portion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the arm of the second link extends radially along an axis aligned with a center of the circular portion and the aperture of the second link. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the arm of the second link comprises a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the linear portion the slotted notch of the second link comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
   
     
     
         19 . A system of interlocking links, the system comprising:
 a first flat link having a uniform thickness, the first link comprising an arm with a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion and with at least two protrusions extending outward from respective sides of the arm; and   a second flat link having a uniform thickness, the second link comprising an aperture,   a third flat link having a uniform thickness, the third link comprising arm with a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion,
 the first link being received in the slotted notch of the third link and the third link being receive in the slotted notch of the first link such that the first and second links are approximately perpendicular to one another; and 
 the arms of the first and third links are received in the aperture of the second link and the protrusions of the arm of the first link are disposed relative to the aperture such that the first and third links are removably coupled and moveable relative to the second link. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first and third links form an axel surrounded by the aperture of and about which the second link rotates. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second link is disposed approximately perpendicular to the first and third links. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least two protrusions are aligned with one another longitudinally along the arm of the first link;   the arm of the first link comprises a first width defined by the arm and the at least two protrusions extending outward from the respective sides of the arm;   the arm comprises a second width defined by the arm at locations without the at least two protrusions;   the first width being greater than the second width and greater than a diameter of the aperture of the second link; and   the second width being less than the diameter of the aperture of the second link.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second link comprises a circular portion and an arm extending distally from a periphery of the circular portion, the aperture being centrally aligned with the circular portion. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the arm of the second link extends radially along an axis aligned with a center of the circular portion and the aperture of the second link. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the arm of the second link comprises a slotted notch comprising a substantially triangular portion and a substantially linear portion extending from a vertex of the substantially triangular portion. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the linear portion the slotted notch of the second link comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the linear portion of each of the slotted notches of the first and third links comprises a first side and a second side and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides, the plurality of protrusions comprising:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width equal to a distance between the distal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width equal to a distance between the proximal protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width equal to a distance between the intermediate protrusion and one of the first and second sides of the linear portion,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending from one of the first and second sides of the linear portion; and 
 the intermediate protrusion extending from the other of the first and second sides of the linear portion. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . A system of interlocking links, the system comprising:
 a first flat link, the first link comprising an arm with a slotted notch and with at least two protrusions extending outward from respective sides of the arm; and   a second flat link, the second link comprising a circular portion, an arm extending distally from a periphery of the circular portion, and an aperture centrally aligned with the circular portion, the arm of the second link comprising a slotted notch; and   a third flat link, the third link comprising arm with a slotted notch,
 the first link being received in the slotted notch of the third link and the third link being receive in the slotted notch of the first link such that the first and second links are approximately perpendicular to one another; and 
 the arms of the first and third links are received in the aperture of the second link and the protrusions of the arm of the first link being disposed relative to the aperture such that the second link is removably coupled and movable relative to the first and third links, 
   at least one of the slotted notches of the first, second, and third links comprise:
 a distal protrusion defining a first width of the slotted notch; 
 a proximal protrusion defining a second width of the slotted notch; and 
 an intermediate protrusion defining a third width of the slotted notch,
 the intermediate protrusion being arranged between the distal and proximal protrusions; 
 the second width being less than a thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the first and the third widths being greater than the thickness of the first, second, and third links; 
 the distal and proximal protrusions extending inward from one side of the slotted notch; and 
 the intermediate protrusion extending inward from the other side of the slotted notch.