Importance

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Abstract

A wire retaining apparatus is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment this wire retaining apparatus is used in the construction of a child's activity toy generically referred to as a bead maze. The wire retaining apparatus includes a plug and a receptacle. The apparatus is designed to secure an elongate rigid wire having an L-shaped terminus. The L-shaped terminus of the wire engages an L-shaped channel in the plug. The plug has one or more prongs extending from the side thereof. The plug and the wire engage a receptacle formed in a base or other suitable support structure. The receptacle includes one or more slots to receive the prongs. A shoulder on each prong engages a shoulder formed in each slot of the plug in the receptacle. A foot extends from the plug and engages a step in the bottom of the receptacle. The foot is formed from resilient material and tends to urge the plug upward into locking engagement and into a generally coplanar relationship with the support structure. In an alternative embodiment the foot can be formed in the receptacle to engage the plug to urge the plug upward.

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First Claim