Snap-lock construction toy

Abstract

A snap-lock toy has a body having at least a first end disposed along an axis. A female snap-lock connector has a generally hollow interior extending into the first end of the body. The female snap-lock connector has a bifurcated engagement member that receives a male snap-lock connector having a head, a neck, and a shoulder along the axis. The bifurcated engagement member has first and second female engagement members separated by a slit. Each of the first and second female engagement members respectively have a wall having head, neck, and shoulder engagement regions. The first and second female engagement members elastically deflect from original states upon receiving the male snap-lock connector and return their original states once the head of male snap-lock connector is lodged within the head engagement region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snap-lock toy, comprising:
 a body having at least a first end disposed along an axis thereof; and   a female snap-lock connector having a generally hollow interior extending into the first end of the body, wherein the female snap-lock connector comprises a bifurcated engagement member configured to receive a male snap-lock connector along the axis of the body, the male snap-lock connector having a head, a neck, and a shoulder, wherein the bifurcated engagement member comprises a first female engagement member and a second female engagement member separated by a slit, and wherein each of the first female engagement member and a second female engagement member each respectively comprise a wall having a head engagement region, a neck engagement region, and shoulder engagement region, wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member are configured to elastically deflect from respective original states upon receiving the head and neck of the male snap-lock connector, and wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member are configured to return their respective original states once the head of the male snap-lock connector is lodged within the head engagement region of the female snap-lock connector.   
     
     
         2 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the head and neck of the male snap-lock connector are mushroom-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 2 , wherein a shape of the shoulder of the male snap-lock connector and shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector are complementary in shape when viewed along the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector is larger than the shoulder of the male snap-lock connector when viewed along the axis. 
     
     
         5 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector is generally octagonal in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 5 , wherein the shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector generally provides a plurality of 45 degree increments of insertion of the male snap-lock connector. 
     
     
         7 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 3 , wherein the shape of the shoulder of the male snap-lock connector and shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector generally maintains a rotational orientation of the male snap-lock connector with respect to female snap-lock connector. 
     
     
         8 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the female snap-lock connector are comprised of a plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises one or more stiffening members configured to stiffen the body. 
     
     
         10 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first female engagement member and a second female engagement member are mirror images of one another when viewed along the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more ribs defined in the body, wherein the one or more ribs support the first female engagement member and second female engagement member. 
     
     
         12 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 11 , wherein the slit and the one or more ribs are configured to enable the first female engagement member and second female engagement member to elastically deflect as the head of the male snap-lock connector is pushed through the neck engagement region. 
     
     
         13 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of female snap-lock connectors extending into a plurality of ends of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , further comprising another male snap-lock connector disposed at a second end of the body, wherein the male snap-lock connector has another head, another neck, and another shoulder. 
     
     
         15 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 1 , wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member return to their respective original states once the head of the male snap-lock connector is lodged within the head engagement region of the female snap-lock connector selectively secures the male snap-lock connector to the body. 
     
     
         16 . A snap-lock toy, comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a first axis associated therewith;   a female snap-lock connector having a generally hollow interior extending into the first end of the body, wherein the female snap-lock connector comprises a bifurcated engagement member, wherein the bifurcated engagement member comprises a first female engagement member and a second female engagement member separated by a slit, and wherein each of the first female engagement member and a second female engagement member each respectively comprise a wall having a head engagement region, a neck engagement region, and shoulder engagement region, wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member are configured to elastically deflect from and to respective original states; and   a male snap-lock connector extending from the second end of the body, wherein the male snap-lock connector having a head, a neck, and a shoulder.   
     
     
         17 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 16 , wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member are configured to elastically deflect from their respective original states upon receiving another head, another neck and another shoulder of another male snap-lock connector, and wherein the first female engagement member and second female engagement member are configured to return their respective original states once the another head of the another male snap-lock connector is lodged within the head engagement region of the female snap-lock connector, therein selectively securing the another male snap-lock connector to the body. 
     
     
         18 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more ribs defined in the body, wherein the one or more ribs support the first female engagement member and second female engagement member. 
     
     
         19 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 18 , wherein the slit and the one or more ribs are configured to enable the first female engagement member and second female engagement member to elastically deflect as the head of the male snap-lock connector is pushed through the neck engagement region. 
     
     
         20 . The snap-lock toy of  claim 16 , wherein the head and neck of the male snap-lock connector are mushroom-shaped, and wherein the shoulder of the male snap-lock connector and shoulder engagement region of the female snap-lock connector are generally octagonal in shape.