A construction kit

Abstract

A construction kit is disclosed. The kit includes a plurality of connector hubs, links and connectors. A connector may be removably connected to a connector hub via a link. A link may be removably connected to a connector hub. Each link is configured such that a linking distance of the link, which is defined as the distance between a link face of the link and a vertex of the connector hub to which it is connected in use, is or remains substantially constant irrespective of an angular position of the link relative to the connector hub. Each link defines a linking axis which intersects a vertex of the connector hub to which the link is connected, in use. The kit may also include other components, such as couplings permitting connectors to be attached to each other, as well as integrated hub-and-link components and integrated connector-and-link components.

1 . A construction kit comprising:
 a plurality of connector hubs, wherein each connector hub has a spherical or sphere-like shape with a substantially hollow central zone and includes
 a first pair of connecting formations defining a first axis of the connector hub between them, 
 a second pair of connecting formations defining a second axis of the connector hub between them, the first axis and the second axis being orthogonal to each other and intersecting so as to define a vertex of the connector hub, and 
 a third axis which is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis and intersects both the first axis and the second axis at the vertex, at least one additional connecting formation being defined on the third axis; 
   a plurality of links, wherein each link has a hub attachment formation configured to mate with each of the connecting formations of the connector hub for removable connection of the link to the connector hub, the hub attachment formation including a male connecting element and a flange, the male connecting element being configured to be connected to one of the connecting formations of the connector hub along the axis associated with that connecting formation, the axis being one of the first axis, the second axis and the third axis, and the flange defining a mating surface which is shaped and dimensioned to mate with a complemental surface of the connector hub when the male connecting element is connected to the connecting formation, each link further having a connector attachment formation located at or near a link face of the link, the link face being substantially perpendicular to a linking axis defined by the link, wherein the linking axis of each link intersects the vertex of the connector hub to which the link is connected, in use, wherein each link is configured such that a linking distance of the link, which is defined as the distance between the link face of the link and the vertex of the connector hub to which it is connected in use, is or remains substantially constant irrespective of an angular position of the link relative to the connector hub, and wherein the connector hubs and the links are shaped and dimensioned such that, when two of the links are to be connected to the same connector hub in use, the connector hub is capable of accommodating connection of the two links to adjacent connecting formations of the connector hub provided that there is an angular gap of at least 15 degrees between the linking axes of the two links; and   a plurality of elongate connectors, wherein each connector has end formations at both ends thereof, each end formation being configured to mate with the connector attachment formation of the link for removable connection of the connector to the link, and via the link, to the connector hub.   
     
     
         2 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein all of the links in the kit have a substantially equal linking distance. 
     
     
         3 . The kit according to  claim 2 , wherein a connector connected to a link is connected co-axially to the linking axis of the link and the linking axis extends at an angle relative to the axis of the connector hub along which the male connecting element is connected, in use. 
     
     
         4 . The kit according to  claim 3 , wherein the links include angled links, and wherein for each angled link, the angle relative to the axis of the connector hub along which the male connecting element is connected is greater than zero. 
     
     
         5 . The kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the links include straight links, and wherein for each straight link, the angle relative to the axis of the connector hub along which the male connecting element is connected is zero. 
     
     
         6 . The kit according to  claim 5 , wherein each link defines both the linking axis and a connecting axis, wherein the connecting axis is configured so as to be co-axial with the axis of the connector hub along which the male connecting element is connected, in use. 
     
     
         7 . The kit according to  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the angled links provide different angles between the connecting axis and the linking axis. 
     
     
         8 . The kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the linking axis and the connecting axis extend through the vertex of the connector hub to which the link is connected, in use. 
     
     
         9 . The kit according to  claim 8 , wherein for each straight link, the linking axis and the connecting axis is the same axis. 
     
     
         10 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each link is rotatably connectable to the connector hub. 
     
     
         11 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting formations in each pair of connecting formations of a particular connector hub are located at opposite sides or surfaces of the connector hub. 
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each connector is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting formations of the connector hubs and the connector attachment formations of the links are female parts, and wherein the end formations of the connectors are male parts. 
     
     
         14 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the links are configured to be connected to the connector hubs by way of snap-fit or friction fit connections and wherein the connectors are configured to be connected to the links by way of snap-fit or friction fit connections. 
     
     
         15 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further includes at least one coupling which is configured to allow two connectors to be removably connected to each other through connection of the connectors to respective ends of the coupling. 
     
     
         16 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further includes at least one integrated hub-and-link component, the integrated hub-and-link component having a hub section to which links can be removably connected and a link section to which at least one of the connectors can be removably connected. 
     
     
         17 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further includes at least one integrated connector-and-link component, the integrated connector-and-link component being configured to allow two connector hubs to be removably connected to each other through connection of the connector hubs to respective ends of the integrated connector-and-link component. 
     
     
         18 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the connectors have different lengths and the different lengths conform to the following length sequence: each connector has a connector length of bx, as measured between the vertices of the two connector hubs to which it connects, in use, calculated using a selected base length b0 and the following formula for additional lengths: b1=b0*√2; b2=b1*√2; b3=b2*√2, etc. 
     
     
         19 . The kit according to  claim 18 , wherein at least some of the connectors have different lengths and the different lengths conform to the following length sequence: each connector has a connector length of cx, as measured between the vertices of the two connector hubs to which it connects, in use, calculated using the formula cx=bx*√3/√2. 
     
     
         20 . The kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the angular gap is at least 30 degrees. 
     
     
         21 . A connector hub for use in a construction kit according to  claim 1 , the connector hub comprising:
 a first pair of connecting formations defining a first axis of the connector hub between them;   a second pair of connecting formations defining a second axis of the connector hub between them, the first axis and the second axis being orthogonal to each other and intersecting so as to define a vertex of the connector hub; and   a third axis which is orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis and intersects both the first axis and the second axis at the vertex, at least one additional connecting formation being defined on the third axis.   
     
     
         22 . A link for use in a construction kit according to  claim 21 , the link comprising:
 a hub attachment formation configured to mate with each of the connecting formations of the connector hub for connection of the link to the connector hub, the hub attachment formation including a male connecting element and a flange, the male connecting element being configured to be connected to one of the connecting formations of the connector hub along the axis associated with that connecting formation, the axis being one of the first axis, the second axis or the third axis of the connector hub, and the flange defining a mating surface which is shaped and dimensioned to mate with a complemental surface of the connector hub when the male connecting element is connected to the connecting formation; and   a connector attachment formation located at or near a link face of the link, the link face being substantially perpendicular to a linking axis defined by the link, wherein the linking axis of the link intersects the vertex of the connector hub to which the link is connected, in use, and wherein the link is configured such that a linking distance of the link, which is defined as the distance between the link face of the link and the vertex of the connector hub to which it is connected in use, is or remains substantially constant irrespective of an angular position of the link relative to the connector hub.