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CN-114472627-B - Construction toy comprising a tube and a connector and device for cutting and bending a tube for use therein

CN114472627BCN 114472627 BCN114472627 BCN 114472627BCN-114472627-B

Abstract

A device for cutting and bending hollow elongate tubes. The measurement subassembly is adapted to measure the desired dimensions of the tube. The cutting sub-assembly is adapted to cut the tube to a desired size. The bending subassembly is adapted to bend the cut tube to a desired angular orientation. The bending subassembly includes a base that controls the radius of the bend formed by the cut hollow elongate tube and a user graspable handle. The user graspable handle is configured to allow a user to rotate the cut hollow elongate tube relative to the circular base to form a bend in the cut hollow elongate tube.

Inventors

  • S.CHEN
  • S. RI Mo

Assignees

  • 弗莱凯谢尔公司
  • 弗莱凯谢尔公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260421
Application Date
20211026
Priority Date
20201027

Claims (13)

  1. 1. A device for cutting and bending a hollow elongate tube, the device comprising: A measurement subassembly adapted to measure a desired dimension of the hollow elongate tube; A cutting sub-assembly adapted to cut the hollow elongate tube to a desired size, the cutting sub-assembly comprising an anchor element adapted to anchor the hollow elongate tube and a rotating blade adapted to rotate relative to the anchored hollow elongate tube to thereby cut the hollow elongate tube, and A bending sub-assembly adapted to bend a cut hollow elongate tube to a desired angular orientation, the bending sub-assembly comprising: a base portion controlling a radius of a bending portion formed by the cut hollow elongated tube, and A user graspable handle configured to allow a user to rotate the cut hollow elongate tube relative to the circular base to form the bend in the cut hollow elongate tube.
  2. 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more storage compartments adapted to store the at least one hollow elongate tube before or after cutting and/or bending the at least one hollow elongate tube.
  3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the measurement subassembly, the cutting subassembly, and the bending subassembly are each mounted to a unitary body, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a clamping subassembly adapted to clamp the unitary body to a surface of a workstation.
  4. 4. A kit for creating a structural member, the kit comprising: a device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; A plurality of hollow elongate tubes adapted for cutting and bending using the device, and A plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors adapted to connect the hollow elongate tube after cutting and/or bending of the hollow elongate tube to form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure, each of the plurality of connectors comprising: A base defining at least one base surface; At least one pin extending outwardly from the at least one base surface, the at least one pin adapted to fixedly connect the at least one hollow elongate tube with the at least one pin.
  5. 5. The kit of claim 4, wherein at least one connector of the plurality of connectors comprises a first pin having a first longitudinal section and a second longitudinal section, both of which have a first circumference, and a recessed longitudinal section between the first longitudinal section and the second longitudinal section, the recessed longitudinal section having a second circumference, Wherein the second circumference is smaller than the first circumference, and Wherein the first pin is adapted to be inserted into a hollow portion of one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes, thereby securing the one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes to the at least one connector.
  6. 6. The kit of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein at least one other connector of the plurality of connectors comprises a second pin comprising a tubular pin defining a longitudinal pin hollow, wherein the second pin is adapted to receive an end of one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes into the pin hollow so as to frictionally secure the one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes to the at least one other connector.
  7. 7. The kit of any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein at least one connector of the plurality of connectors further comprises at least one of: a snap-fit connection region for a snap-fit connection in an aperture of another connector of the plurality of connectors; An aperture configured for at least one of: A snap-fit connection of the further connector, and A slidable arrangement of a hollow elongate tube through the aperture; A pivot connection region for connecting to a corresponding pivot region of the other connector such that connection of the at least one connector to the other connector allows the at least one connector to pivot relative to the other connector, and A clasping element adapted to clasp one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes in the clasping element.
  8. 8. The kit of claim 6, wherein at least one connector of the plurality of connectors further comprises at least one of: a snap-fit connection region for a snap-fit connection in an aperture of another connector of the plurality of connectors; An aperture configured for at least one of: A snap-fit connection of the further connector, and A slidable arrangement of a hollow elongate tube through the aperture; A pivot connection region for connecting to a corresponding pivot region of the other connector such that connection of the at least one connector to the other connector allows the at least one connector to pivot relative to the other connector, and A clasping element adapted to clasp one of the plurality of hollow elongate tubes in the clasping element.
  9. 9. The kit of any one of claims 4 to 5, further comprising at least one support connector adapted to be associated with a first connector and a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the support connector having a first portion adapted to connect to the first connector and a second portion adapted to connect to the second connector.
  10. 10. The kit of claim 6, further comprising at least one support connector adapted to be associated with a first connector and a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the support connector having a first portion adapted to connect to the first connector and a second portion adapted to connect to the second connector.
  11. 11. The kit of claim 7, further comprising at least one support connector adapted to be associated with a first connector and a second connector of the plurality of connectors, the support connector having a first portion adapted to connect to the first connector and a second portion adapted to connect to the second connector.
  12. 12. A method of cutting a hollow elongate tube to a desired length using the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 or the kit of any one of claims 4 to 11, the method comprising: inserting the hollow elongate tube into the measurement subassembly of the device to a degree equivalent to a desired length; anchoring the hollow elongate tube to the device, and Rotating the rotating blade of the cutting sub-assembly relative to the hollow elongate tube, thereby cutting the hollow elongate tube to a desired length.
  13. 13. A method of bending a hollow elongate tube to a desired angle using the device of any one of claims 1 to 3 or the kit of any one of claims 4 to 11, the method comprising: Inserting the hollow elongate tube into the bending subassembly of the device between the base and a securing pin, thereby securing the hollow elongate tube relative to the device, and The user-graspable handle is rotated with the securing pin relative to the body of the device and relative to the base, thereby causing the securing pin to push the hollow elongate tube around the base and bend the hollow elongate tube to a desired angle.

Description

Construction toy comprising a tube and a connector and device for cutting and bending a tube for use therein Technical Field In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the field of construction toys, and more particularly to construction toys comprising a hollow elongate tube and a connector for connecting the tube. The present invention also relates to a tube forming device with which a user can comfortably cut and/or bend a hollow elongate tube for use in the construction toy of the present invention in their own home. The invention also relates to a strengthening tool for strengthening a connection between a pipe and a connector according to the invention. Background There are many construction toys, including elongate elements interconnected by connectors, for example,However, in these toys, the elongate elements are of a fixed size and color, and the user can only choose between a particular length of elongate element (which is typically only a single color). Furthermore, users typically purchase a kit comprising a specific number of elongated elements and a specific number of connectors, and can only obtain additional elongated elements by purchasing another complete kit. In addition, many build toys are disadvantageous for building dynamic structures that are movable or include electronic components. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a construction toy wherein a user may cut and bend tubing for the toy in a manner deemed appropriate by the user, regardless of the color and size selected by the user. Disclosure of Invention In some embodiments, the present invention relates to the field of construction toys, and more particularly to construction toys comprising a hollow elongate tube and a connector for connecting the tube. The present invention also relates to a tube forming device that a user can use to comfortably cut and/or bend a hollow elongate tube in their own home for use in the construction toy of the present invention. The invention also relates to a strengthening tool for strengthening a connection between a pipe and a connector according to the invention. Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for cutting and bending a hollow elongate tube, the device comprising: A measurement subassembly adapted to measure a desired dimension of the hollow elongate tube; a cutting sub-assembly adapted to cut the hollow elongate tube to a desired size, the cutting sub-assembly comprising an anchor element adapted to anchor the hollow elongate tube and a rotating blade adapted to rotate relative to the anchored hollow elongate tube to cut the hollow elongate tube, and A bending sub-assembly adapted to bend a cut hollow elongate tube to a desired angular orientation, the bending sub-assembly comprising: A base portion controlling a radius of a bending portion formed by the cut hollow elongated tube, and A user graspable handle configured to allow a user to rotate the cut hollow elongate tube relative to the circular base to form a bend in the cut hollow elongate tube. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is also provided a connector adapted to be connected to at least one hollow elongate tube, the connector comprising: a base defining at least one base surface; At least one pin extending outwardly from the at least one base surface, the at least one pin adapted to fixedly connect the at least one hollow elongate tube to the at least one pin. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention there is also provided a stiffening tool comprising a pair of tool parts, each tool part comprising a gripping end and a working end, the pair of tool parts being pivotally connected to each other such that their working ends are adapted to engage each other in a closed orientation of the stiffening tool, wherein the working end of each tool part comprises a hemispherical recess extending along its width, the hemispherical recess having a circumferential protrusion arranged at its longitudinal centre. There is also provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a kit for creating a structural member, the kit including: The device according to the invention; A plurality of hollow elongate tubes adapted for cutting and bending using the device, and A plurality of connectors according to the present invention are used to connect hollow elongated tubes after cutting and/or bending the hollow elongated tubes, thereby forming a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structural member. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is additionally provided a method of cutting a hollow elongate tube to a desired length using a device according to the present invention or a kit according to the present invention, the method comprising: inserting a hollow elongate tube into a measurement subassembly of the device to an extent equivalent to the desired length; Anchoring a hollow elongate tub