A mechanical transmission module has two plates, a transmission mechanism and an actuating axle. The two plates are mounted together with a gap formed between the plates. The transmission mechanism is mounted between the plates. The transmission mechanism can be a Geneva mechanism, a worm and gear mechanism, a belt drive assembly, a threaded rod and slide mechanism, a geared mechanism and so on. The actuating axle extends out from the two plates and drives the transmission mechanism. A connector is secured to a free end of the actuating axle. The connector has a groove and a protrusion in the external face to engage with the groove and protrusion on the connector of another mechanical transmission module. Accordingly, the transmission mechanisms can be modularized and combined with each other. The combination and transmission relations between different types of transmission mechanisms are easily be understood through use of the modules.

constructional building set comprising gear boxes which are provided with guide grooves and shaft passages. The guide grooves and the shaft passages are constructed such that transmission elements can be inserted into the guide grooves from the outer side of the gear box in such a manner that the transmission elements are positioned in alignment with the shaft passages in the gear boxes. When the gear box additionally comprises means for releasable geometrical retention of the transmission elements in their position in alignment with the shaft passages after insertion of the transmission elements into the gear box, it is ensured that the shafts can be pulled out of the assembled gear structure without the transmission elements dropping out of the gear structure. This simplifies the mounting operation and makes it easier to use the gear structure as an assembled unit that can be used for different applications.

A base for a modular multi-part construction toy is disclosed which has a surface which permits the assembly of a number of toy modules thereon to form an erected toy. The base further includes a number of mechanically movable elements which are used in association with various drive shaft pieces to rotate or otherwise move part or all of the erected toy. The drive shaft pieces are engaged by the movable elements which in turn are driven in movement by gearing mechanically coupled to a motor which is housed internally within the base. The base further includes a number of electrical receptacles for supplying electric power to electric light emitting toy modules, and an audio output mechanism for producing sounds associated with the erected toy. The surface of the base may further be provided with a desired contour or profile and have indicia which simulates a particular geographic location, vehicle, vessel, or other structure.

An intellectual training toy has a large freedom of arrangement and enables connection between the driven ember and the rotary driving member even while the rotary driving member is rotating. The toy includes a base member which has a driving mechanism built-in and a field portion having a smooth surface. A rotary member is engaged with the driving mechanism and is rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the smooth surface of the field portion. A driving body having a rotary portion is attachable to the field portion of the base member so that the rotary portion is connected to the rotary member to rotate according to a rotation of the rotary member. A first driven body can be held at a desired position on the field portion of the base member by magnetic attraction force and can engage with the rotary portion of the driving body while being held on the field portion of the base member by a magnetic attraction force. The driven body has a first acting portion which takes action according to the rotation of the rotary portion.

A modular block construction system comprises blocks and other accessory parts that dynamically fit together to form different items of varying forms and shapes. One or more blocks of various sizes have outer, peripheral edges that can be mated with one another, or snap fitted to accessories including walls and wedges. Each cubicle block comprises six intersecting panels that have peripheral edges that alternate with pairs of spaced apart nubs and sockets that enable the panels to be orthogonally assembled. Outwardly projecting panel sides of assembled blocks can be snap fitted to abutting sides of other blocks. Spider connectors captivated within the blocks transform each connecting surface between male, female, and flattened configurations. Radially spaced apart follower slots are defined in the sides. Movable spiders captivated within the blocks have arms slidably received by and constrained within the slots. The spiders are exteriorly accessible by the user who can touch exposed spider arm tips projecting from the block sides through the slots. Each panel comprises a plurality of identical quadrants separated from one another by the elongated follower slots. The spiders each have projections that variably penetrate orifices in the block panels.