Richard S Gabriel

US Patent:

D3807924, Jul 8, 1997

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

D/049627

Inventors:

Richard Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

2101

US Classification:

D21108

US Patent:

55992218, Feb 4, 1997

Filed:

Jul 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/499387

Inventors:

Richard J. Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

A63H 3308

US Classification:

446128

Abstract:

Connectors for joining a ball element having multiple facets, each facet defining a joint opening, to a toy brick include at least two projections in spaced relationship with each other mounted on a base. The projections are in releasable frictional engagement with the joint opening. A female connector frictionally engages with a male face of a brick. The female connector includes a set of four prongs, each having gripping sides, projecting symmetrically outward from the base. Adjacent gripping sides of adjacent prongs frictionally grip cylindrical protrusions of the male face. A male connector may join with a brick having a female face with symmetrically arranged gripping surfaces. The male connector frictionally engages a female side of a brick. The male connector includes a set of four prongs, projecting symmetrically downward from the base.

US Patent:

41595920, Jul 3, 1979

Filed:

Jan 10, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/868274

Inventors:

Richard J. Gabriel - Beaverton OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Inc. - Portland OR

International Classification:

A63H 3310

US Classification:

46 26

Abstract:

A close coupling strut for interconnecting multi-faceted joint elements is comprised of paired oppositely-facing, in line, elastically compressible clips which are separated and joined together by an intermediate bridge. The bridge is configured to separate the clips, which snap fit into mating joint openings located in the facets of the joint elements, and to release the clips for removal from the joint openings upon application of squeezing pressure thereon. Extension means are attached to each side of the bridge and extend outwardly thereof beyond the joined facets of the joint elements to facilitate squeezing of the bridge means when the user's fingers cannot be inserted between the closely spaced joint elements. Each clip has a V-shaped tip with ends that are separated by an overall transverse dimension which is greater than the height of the opening in the joint elements, and the bridge means has an overall transverse height approximately equal to the height of the joint openings. Therefore, as a clip is forced into a joint opening, it is deflected inwardly until it is inserted past the end of the tip where it again expands to its relaxed position thereby becoming locked into the joint opening.

US Patent:

D3807916, Jul 8, 1997

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

D/049626

Inventors:

Richard Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

2101

US Classification:

D21108

US Patent:

D3807894, Jul 8, 1997

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

D/049623

Inventors:

Richard Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

2101

US Classification:

D21108

US Patent:

55428711, Aug 6, 1996

Filed:

Jun 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/500314

Inventors:

Richard Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

International Classification:

A63H 3304

US Classification:

446126

Abstract:

A rod for a construction set includes an elongate strut that extends between opposed of interconnected joint elements. A cavity in each end of the strut slidably supports a clip having opposed inwardly deflectable fingers, with outwardly facing catches at their extremities, that snap fit into the joint openings in the joint element to clamp the joint element between the catches and the ends of the rods. The clips are moveable between closed positions where the fingers are engaged in the joint elements and open positions where the fingers are located completely within the cavity to allow the rod to be removed from opposed joint elements in a structure without disturbing the structure. The struts have slots in their extremities that intersect the cavities, and the fingers have protrusions that extend through the slots to facilitate deflecting the fingers inwardly to release the clips from the joint elements and in moving the clips between their open and closed positions. The lips on the catches, that contact the joint elements, have chamfered side and front edges to allow rotation of the rod relative to the joint element when it is being removed from the joint element in order to reduce the occurrence of bending moments in the clips that can cause breakage.

US Patent:

D2572710, Oct 7, 1980

Filed:

May 8, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/903979

Inventors:

Richard J. Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

D2101

US Classification:

D21108

US Patent:

D3776719, Jan 28, 1997

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

D/049630

Inventors:

Richard Gabriel - Portland OR

Assignee:

Matrix Toys, Ltd. - Portland OR

US Classification:

D21108