Toy Flat Article Construction Set

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toy construction sets, and more particularly to a flat article construction set for making fanciful creations.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Construction sets comprising metal or wood parts of various shapes which can be assembled to form fanciful creations are well known in the art. In one known set, flat metal stampings having openings extending therethrough are secured together by nuts and bolts. In another known construction set, cylindrical rods are provided in which the ends thereof are insertable into blind, radially extending bores in circular joining members.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel flat article construction set in which the flat articles are assembled together by buttons to form fanciful creations.

Briefly, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of flat, flexible and stretchable articles of different peripheral shapes. The articles are releasably secured together by double-headed buttons, one head of which is insertable through openings in the articles to form fanciful creations.

In another aspect of the invention, each article comprises a layer of resilient plastic foam material sandwiched between and secured to layers of fabric, all of which have the same peripheral shape.

In still another aspect of the invention, each button comprises a cylindrical shank having a circular disk-like head at each end thereof.

One advantage, for example, of the flat article construction set of this invention is that the parts thereof can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Another advantage of this set is its high safety for children due to the flexibility of the articles. Injury to any child struck by an article is minimized.

Still another advantage of the flat article construction set of this invention is that the colorful fabric articles and creations formed therefrom are highly pleasing and stimulating to children.

The invention and its advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention presented below.

The details of this invention will be described in connection wtih the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a creation formed from the flat article construction set of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of some of the articles and buttons comprising the construction set.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, one examplary creation 10 is shown formed from the flat article construction set of this invention. It should be understood, of course, that a large number of different creations can be constructed by this set, the number being limited in large part by the creativity and imagination of the children using the set.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, each creation 10 is formed from a plurality of flat articles 12 secured together by buttons 14. Each article 12 comprises upper and lower stretchable fabric layers 16 between which is securely sandwiched, by any suitable means such as cement, heat or the like, a layer 18 of resilient material formed, for example, from any suitable plastic foam material. All of the layers 16, 18 of each article have the same outer peripheral shape, and such shape is highly variable as shown in FIG. 3. The articles 12 may be formed from a solid sheet of fabric and foam material fed through a stamping or cutting device having endless cutting blades of varied shapes, such as circular, square, rectangular, triangular, oblong or the like. Each article 12 is further provided with one or more preferably circular openings 20 punched therethrough for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The articles 12 are releasably secured together by the double-headed buttons 14 as best seen in FIG. 2. Each button comprises a cylindrical shank 22 of a diameter less than an opening 20, and a length sufficient to accommodate at least two articles. Each shank 22 further has heads 24, 25 at the ends thereof. Head 24 is slightly larger than an opening 20 in an article, and is insertable through the opening when the article material surrounding the opening is stretched for releasably securing the article to the button. Head 26 is considerably larger than an opening 20 and is incapable of being inserted therethrough, thereby providing a back stop for the article(s) 12.

To increase the appealability and attractiveness of the construction set and creations formed thereby to children, the fabrics 16 and buttons 14 are brightly colored red, yellow, blue and green, for example. In addition to stimulating creativity with regard to various shaped creations, color perception, combinations and matching are stimulated.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described with particularity, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one having ordinary skill in the art upon being apprised of the present invention. It is intended to encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.