Snap-lock construction toy

Abstract

A snap-lock toy has a body and a pair of cantilevered receptor wings extending between the first and second ends of the body. The cantilevered receptor wings are cantilevered from a leverage point near the first end and extend toward the second end. A first female receptor associated with the first end has a first snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings. A second female receptor has a second snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings, where the second diameter differs from the first diameter. First and second predetermined moments associated with the first and second female receptors are defined based on a predetermined insertion force associated with an insertion of a male snap-lock connector into the respective first and second female receptors. An octagonal male feature extend from the first end of the body, and a generally square feature extending into the second end of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snap-lock toy, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end disposed along an axis thereof, wherein the body comprises a pair of cantilevered receptor wings disposed about the axis and extending approximately from the first end to the second end, wherein the pair of cantilevered receptor wings are cantilevered from a leverage point associated with the first end and extend toward the second end;   a first female receptor defined in the first end of the body, wherein the first female receptor has a first snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings; and   a second female receptor defined in the second end of the body, wherein the second female receptor has a second snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings, wherein the second diameter differs from the first diameter, and wherein a first predetermined moment associated with the first female receptor and a second predetermined moment associated with the second female receptor are defined based on a predetermined insertion force associated with an insertion of a male snap-lock connector into the first female receptor and second female receptor.   
     
     
         2 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined moment is based, at least in part, on the first snap diameter and wherein the second predetermined moment is based, at least in part, on the second snap diameter, and wherein the predetermined insertion force is approximately equal for an insertion of the male snap-lock connector into both of the first female receptor and second female receptor. 
     
     
         3 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 2 , wherein the first predetermined moment and second predetermined moment are further based on a respective first distance from the leverage point to the first snap diameter and a second distance from the leverage point to the second snap diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 2 , wherein the first predetermined moment and second predetermined moment are further based on a material composition of the pair of cantilevered receptor wings. 
     
     
         5 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of cantilevered receptor wings are comprised of a plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of cantilevered receptor wings are generally elastic. 
     
     
         7 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an octagonal male feature extending outwardly a first predetermined distance from a surface associated with the first end of the body; and   a generally square feature extending inwardly a second predetermined distance from the second end of the body, wherein the octagonal male feature and generally square feature are sized such that generally square feature overlaps the octagonal male feature when viewed along the axis.   
     
     
         8 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 7 , wherein the first female receptor is generally centered inside the octagonal male feature. 
     
     
         9 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 7 , wherein the octagonal male feature and generally square feature are configured to provide a friction fit between another octagonal male feature and another generally square feature of another snap-lock toy, wherein the another octagonal male feature is dimensioned the same as the octagonal male feature and the another generally square feature is dimensioned the same as the generally square feature. 
     
     
         10 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 7 , the octagonal male feature and the first female receptor are configured to mate with a snap-lock rod having a generally square body and the male snap-lock connector, wherein an interface between the octagonal male feature and the square body provide a plurality of 45 degree increments of rotation of the snap-lock rod with respect to the body upon insertion of the male snap-lock connector into the first female receptor. 
     
     
         11 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more male snap-lock connectors disposed about a periphery of the body. 
     
     
         12 . A snap-lock toy, comprising:
 a snap-lock block comprising:
 a body; 
 an octagonal male feature extending outwardly a first predetermined distance from a surface associated with a first end of the body; and 
 a first female receptor generally centered inside the octagonal male feature; and 
   a snap-lock rod comprising:
 an elongate body having a generally square cross-section; and 
 a male snap-lock connector, wherein the male snap-lock connector is configured to selectively matingly engage the first female receptor of the snap-lock block, wherein the octagonal male feature and first female receptor provide a plurality of 45 degree increments of rotation of the snap-lock rod with respect to the body of the snap-lock block upon insertion of the male snap-lock connector into the first female receptor. 
   
     
     
         13 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 12 , wherein the snap-lock block further comprises:
 a first end and a second end of the body disposed along an axis thereof, wherein the body comprises a pair of cantilevered receptor wings disposed about the axis and extending approximately from the first end to the second end, wherein the pair of cantilevered receptor wings are cantilevered from a leverage point associated with the first end and extend toward the second end, and wherein the first female receptor is defined in the first end of the body, wherein the first female receptor has a first snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings; and   a second female receptor defined in the second end of the body, wherein the second female receptor has a second snap diameter defined between the pair of cantilevered wings, wherein the second diameter differs from the first diameter, and wherein a first predetermined moment associated with the first female receptor and a second predetermined moment associated with the second female receptor are defined based on a predetermined insertion force associated with an insertion of a male snap-lock connector into the first female receptor and second female receptor.   
     
     
         14 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined moment is based, at least in part, on the first snap diameter and wherein the second predetermined moment is based, at least in part, on the second snap diameter, and wherein the predetermined insertion force is approximately equal for an insertion of the male snap-lock connector into both of the first female receptor and second female receptor. 
     
     
         15 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 14 , wherein the first predetermined moment and second predetermined moment are further based on a respective first distance from the leverage point to the first snap diameter and a second distance from the leverage point to the second snap diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 14 , wherein the first predetermined moment and second predetermined moment are further based on a material composition of the pair of cantilevered receptor wings. 
     
     
         17 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 13 , wherein the snap-lock block further comprises a generally square feature extending inwardly a second predetermined distance from the second end of the body, wherein the octagonal male feature and generally square feature are sized such that generally square feature overlaps the octagonal male feature when viewed along the axis. 
     
     
         18 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 17 , wherein the octagonal male feature and generally square feature are configured to provide a friction fit between another octagonal male feature and another generally square feature of another snap-lock toy, wherein the another octagonal male feature is dimensioned the same as the octagonal male feature and the another generally square feature is dimensioned the same as the generally square feature. 
     
     
         19 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 12 , wherein the first female receptor is generally centered inside the octagonal male feature. 
     
     
         20 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more male snap-lock connectors disposed about a periphery of the body.