초록 ▼

A carrying case provides a storage space for toy building system components which include couplers and building pieces. The case has a hinged lid with apertures which can detachably receive and lockably mount the couplers. The apertures are arranged in an array of staggered rows laid out so that cou

A carrying case provides a storage space for toy building system components which include couplers and building pieces. The case has a hinged lid with apertures which can detachably receive and lockably mount the couplers. The apertures are arranged in an array of staggered rows laid out so that couplers mounted on the lid can be interconnected by the building pieces. Models can be built upon the mounted couplers in a desired form and configuration. Each aperture on the lid is configured to receive a coupler peg in an insertion area. The peg includes a neck and a head. In order to lockably mount the coupler, it is shifted laterally from the insertion area, so that the peg neck moves through a transition channel and into a clasping area where the coupler is locked in position. The coupler cannot be removed vertically from the locked position because the peg head is trapped below the lid, compressing the lid between the coupler and the peg head. A U-shaped guide surrounds three sides of the aperture and butts up against a square shoulder on the coupler, aligning the coupler and preventing rotation of the coupler about a vertical axis. The coupler can be removed from the lid by shifting it in a reverse direction from the clasping area through the transition channel to the insertion area where it can be removed vertically.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A carrying case for storing and mounting a plurality of building pieces and couplers, each coupler having a face with a peg extending therefrom, the peg including a peg head at an end of the peg opposite the face, the coupler face having a shoulder, the case comprising:an enclosure

[ I claim:] [1.] A carrying case for storing and mounting a plurality of building pieces and couplers, each coupler having a face with a peg extending therefrom, the peg including a peg head at an end of the peg opposite the face, the coupler face having a shoulder, the case comprising:an enclosure for storing the building pieces and couplers, the enclosure including an expanse having opposed first and second faces, the expanse further having a site for mounting one of the couplers, the site having an aperture extending from the first face to the second face, the site further having a first locking area on the first face adjacent the aperture and a second locking area on the second face adjacent the aperture, the site being adapted for receiving and securing the coupler in a locked position wherein the coupler face contacts the first locking area and the peg head contacts the second locking area thereby preventing vertical displacement of the coupler and further wherein the aperture includes an insertion area and a clasping area, the insertion area sized to allow passage therethrough of the peg head but preventing passage of the coupler face, the clasping area sized to prevent the passage therethrough of the peg head, so that the coupler may be first received vertically in the insertion area and then shifted laterally to the locked position in the clasping area, and wherein the mounting site further includes a first guide disposed on the first face adjacent the aperture so that, in the locked position, the shoulder is in contact with the first guide and the first guide prevents rotation of the coupler about a vertical axis.