Construction Playset with Foam Noodles Miter and Fastener

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to a construction playset made of expanded plastic foam extrusions. These extrusions are assembled with or without fasteners into a wide variety of configurations and optionally the extrusions are cut safely to a desired size and in desired shapes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A construction playset having a hollow plastic extrusion log and said hollow plastic extrusion log comprising;
 a front side and a back side;   a first end and a second end;   a top side and a bottom side;   each top and bottom side having a substantially flat planar surface;   each log having an outer surface of the log and an inner hollow surface of the log;   wherein the log is stackable by aligning the bottom side of said log with an adjacent top side of another log to thereby construct the desired lightweight self-supporting structure;   and a pair of channels on the front and back side of the inner hollow surface wherein the channels are operable to allow the log to be flattened predictably.   
     
     
         2 . The construction playset of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of channels are a thinning of the front and back side of the log in any geometric shaped extrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The construction playset of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of portals is in the substantially flat planar surface and the portals extending from the outer surface of the log to the inner hollow surface of the log. 
     
     
         4 . The construction playset of  claim 3  wherein at least two adjacent logs are removably attached to a fastener; and
 the fastener is multidirectional thus enabling the adjacent log to be rotated toward a specific direction and configured to interchangeably attach to each log; 
 wherein the log is stackable with adjacent logs and fasteners are placed between and inside apertures of adjacent logs to thereby construct a desired lightweight self-supporting structure; and 
 wherein fasteners are operable to compress at tips on two ends to allow to the fastener to easily pass through a portal in the log and then expand back to an original geometry of the fastener and attach two adjacent logs together. 
 
     
     
         5 . The construction playset of  claim 4  wherein the tips have an eyelet operable to allow items such as string to be passed through. 
     
     
         6 . The construction playset of  claim 4 , wherein the fasteners are made of injection molded plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The construction playset of  claim 4 , wherein the fasteners extend from the outside of the log into the hollow area of the log through the portals in the log with an interference fit so the fastener can remain removably attached to the log until the fastener is deliberately removed. 
     
     
         8 . An angled miter comprised of variable angled guides to assist cutting angled cuts in the logs of the construction playset of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The angled miter of  claim 8 , wherein the variable angled guides are operable to move to different angles to facilitate cutting of different angles in the log. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using a construction playset to build play sets comprising the following steps:
 selecting a plurality of logs, each log comprising; a front side and a back side; a first end and a second end; a top side and a bottom side; each top and bottom side having a substantially flat planar surface; a plurality of apertures in the substantially flat planar surface and the apertures extending from an outer surface of the log to an inner hollow surface of the log; said plurality of apertures extending the length of the top and bottom sides substantially flat planar surface;   determining the length of the logs needed for building a toy structure;   determining what logs need to be cut;   counting the number of apertures on the logs needing to be cut to determine where to cut the logs and sawing the logs to appropriate sizes;   determining if any round or curved logs are needed and determine the amount and size of angled cuts to make into a log such that a wedge of the log can be removed allowing the log to be bent into a curve;   placing one of the plurality of logs on the ground or on a support horizontally with one of the substantially flat planar surfaces facing the ground or support;   placing a connector or plurality of connectors into the apertures of the log placed on the ground or support;   determining which of the plurality of logs is a second log to be placed on top of the log already placed;   placing the second log, wherein the second log is stackable on the log already place and connectors are between and inside apertures of adjacent apertures of the logs;   placing the curved log where needed and fastening to another log;   wherein this method continues with a plurality of adjacent logs and fasteners are placed between and inside apertures of adjacent logs to thereby construct the desired lightweight self-supporting structure.   
     
     
         11 . A method of using a construction playset of  claim 10  further comprising the following steps to create the curved or round log:
 selecting a log and determining the length and/or an angled cut of the log needed; 
 placing an angled miter on a flat surface; 
 positioning guides on the angled miter to desirable positions; 
 placing the log in the angled miter and positioning miter guides to the correct placement to cut a desired angle or wedge in the log; 
 placing a saw on the guides and sawing the angle or the wedge out of the log.