Posable Toy Linkage

Abstract

A linkage that couples a plurality of Lego blocks or Lego-like blocks is posable and configured to provide a plurality of three-dimensional orientations for the plurality of blocks it interconnects.

1 . A toy building block linkage made out of a metal wire and an elastomer coating on the metal wire, the linkage having posability, wherein the posability comprises a ratio of an area moment of inertia of the elastomer coating to the area moment of inertia of the wire being between about 1 and about 50. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the posability further comprises the area moment of inertia of the elastomer coating being less than 2.821×10 −5  in 4 . 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is integrally coupled to the at least one frictionally-interlocking building block. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the linkage is integrally coupled to the at least one frictionally-interlocking building block. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the posabililty further comprises a posability triangle comprising an angle α, an angle β and an angle γ. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein angle β or an angle γ is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein only angle β is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the posabililty further comprises a posability triangle comprising an angle α, an angle β and an angle γ. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein angle β or an angle γ is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein only angle β is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the posabililty further comprises a posability triangle comprising an angle α, an angle β and an angle γ. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein angle β or an angle γ is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein only angle β is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the posabililty further comprises a posability triangle comprising an angle α, an angle β and an angle γ. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein angle β or an angle γ is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein only angle β is greater than 90 degrees measured clockwise from the at least one wall. 
     
     
         17 . A toy building block and connection kit, comprising:
 at least one frictionally-interlocking building block comprising at least one wall and at least one cylindrical stud extending upwardly from the at least one wall; and   a linkage having posability, wherein the posability comprises an area moment of inertia between about 7.4×10 −7  in 4  and about 3.2×10 −5  in 4 .   
     
     
         18 . The toy building block and connection system of  claim 17 , wherein the area moment of inertia is between about 4.9×10 −6  in 4  and about 3.2×10 −5  in 4 . 
     
     
         19 . The toy building block and connection system of  claim 18 , wherein the posability further comprises a section modulus of plasticity less than about 1.4000. 
     
     
         20 . The toy building block and connection system of  claim 19 , wherein the posability further comprises a section modulus of plasticity less than about 0.58333.