Spacing Connector for Toy Construction Set
A spacing connector for a rod and connector type construction toy set enabling rod and connector assemblies of known types to be joined in a new manner, spaced laterally one from the other and, if desired, rotatable with respect to each other. The new spacing connectors connect at ninety degrees to each of a pair of standard K'NEX connectors and enable the standard connectors to be joined in parallel relation. The spacing connectors have, at opposite ends, positioning elements engageable with central hubs of the standard connectors, and anti-rotation elements engageable with openings formed in the standard connectors in surrounding relation to their hubs. The spacing connectors frictionally engage with the standard connectors to secure the assembled relationship. The hub-engaging positioning elements have an axial length not more than one-half the thickness of a standard connector, enabling spacing connectors to be inserted simultaneously from both sides of a standard connector.
1 . A spacing connector for a rod and connector construction toy set, where the construction toy set includes a plurality of rod elements and a plurality of connector elements and where said connector elements comprise a hub having a cylindrical opening extending axially through the connector element and defining a hub axis, each of said connector elements having a plurality of rod-receiving sockets disposed in a radially spaced array about said hub with axes of the respective rod-receiving sockets being disposed in a common plane, arrayed at a 45 degree angle to each other and intersecting with said hub axis, said connector element further defining a transverse opening associated with each rod-receiving socket, positioned between a radially inner end of the socket and said hub and extending from one side to the other of said connector element, and said connector element being of flat configuration defined by flat, parallel opposite sides and of predetermined thickness corresponding to a diameter of said rod elements, said spacing connector comprising
a body having a body axis and first and second end surfaces facing in opposite axial directions with on said body axis,
first and second positioning elements projecting axially outward from the respective first and second end surfaces along said body axis, said positioning elements being of a size and shape to have a frictionally gripped fit within the cylindrical opening of a connector element hub,
said positioning elements having an axial length, projecting from said end surfaces, of approximately one-half, but not more than one-half, the thickness of a connector element, such that positioning elements of a pair of spacing connectors can inserted into the same connector element hub from opposite sides thereof,
at least one anti-rotation element extending from each of the end surfaces of said spacing connector, spaced radially a predetermined distance from and extending parallel to said body axis,
said predetermined distance corresponding to the radial distance from the hub axis of said connector element to a transverse opening in said connector element, and
said at least one anti-rotation element being configured for frictional engagement within a transverse opening of a connector element.
2 . A spacing connector according to claim 1 , wherein
each of said end surfaces is provided with a pair of anti-rotation elements positioned on opposite sides of said body axis and adapted for reception in a pair of transverse openings in a connector element, on opposite sides of the hub axis of the connector element.
3 . A spacing connector according to claim 1 , wherein
the transverse openings of a connector element are of a trapezoidal configuration defined by inner and outer walls, disposed at right angles to a radial axis extending from a rod socket of the connector element to the hub of the connector element, said outer walls being longer than inner walls, and radially disposed side walls connecting said inner and outer walls, and
said anti-rotation elements having a T-shaped cross section, comprising stem portions and crossbar portions, said anti-rotation elements being oriented such that, when an anti-rotation element is inserted into a transverse opening, stem portions of said anti-rotation element are aligned with an axis of a rod-receiving socket of a connector element and crossbar portions of said anti-rotation element are positioned adjacent to outer walls of the transverse opening.
4 . A spacing connector according to claim 1 , wherein
said body comprises spaced apart, transversely disposed end members and a spacing rod extends between and is rigidly affixed to said end members,
said first and second end surfaces comprise outwardly facing surfaces of said end members, and
said at least one anti-rotation element is mounted to and extends in an axial direction from each of said end members,
said anti-rotation elements being spaced laterally from an axis of said spacing rod.
5 . A spacing connector according to claim 4 , wherein
said anti-rotation elements are positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said spacing rod.
6 . A spacing connector according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second end surfaces of said body are spaced apart a distance corresponding to a thickness of said connector element,
7 . A spacing connector according to claim 6 , wherein
said body, said positioning elements, and said anti-rotation elements comprise a unitary molded component of plastic material.
8 . A spacing connector according to claim 1 , wherein
said body is comprised of first and second body elements movably joined together for rotation, one with respect to the other, about said body axis,
axially outer surfaces of said first and second body elements forming said first and second end surfaces,
said first body element having an axial opening extending therethrough,
said second body element having an axial projection of a diameter corresponding to a diameter of said axial opening,
said axial projection extending through said axial opening and serving to mount said first body element for rotation with respect to said second body element.
9 . A spacing connector according to claim 8 , wherein
said axial projection has a base end closely adjacent to said second body element and a projecting end spaced axially from said base end,
said axial projection has a retaining element of enlarged diameter positioned between said base end and said projecting end, and
said first body element has an annular surface within said axial opening positioned to engage said retaining element to secure said body elements in assembled relation.
10 . A spacing connector according to claim 9 , wherein
said axial projection has at least one axially extending slot therein to accommodate radially inward resilient flexing of portions of said axial projection during insertion of said axial projection into said axial opening and subsequent outward flexing of said portions to secure said body elements in assembled relation.
11 . A spacing connector according to claim 10 wherein
said retaining element comprises a circumferential rib, extending around said axial projection, interrupted by said at least one axially extending slot.
12 . A spacing connector according to claim 9 , wherein
said axial projection has an axial length greater than a thickness of said first body member, whereby an end portion of said axial projection extends beyond the axial end surface of said first body member by a distance approximately equal to but not in excess of one-half the thickness of a connector element and serves as the positioning element of said first body member.
13 . A spacing connector according to claim 8 , wherein
said first body element is provided, on an inside axial face thereof, with an circular rib surrounding said axial opening and bearing on an inside axial face of said second body element.