US3577673A - Block elements of variable angular form - Google Patents

Abstract

A dismemberable toy is disclosed, which comprises geometric solid elements, preferably cubic elements, having slotted faces defining a through-hole and adapted to afford a passageway for a threadlike resilient connection element to be fastened to the solids which form the ends of the assembly.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Ottorino Monestier Via Abbondio Sangiorgio l2, lnduno v Olona, Italy Appl. No. 793,787 Filed Jan. 24, 1969 Patented May 4, 1971 Priority Jan. 31, 1968 Italy 12245/68 BLOCK ELEMENTS OF VARIABLE ANGULAR FORM 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 46/24, 46/ l 6 Int. Cl. A63h 33/06 [50] Field of Search 46/24, 25, 26, l6, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,632 5/l9l0 Finch 46/26 2,825,178 3/1958 Hawkins 46/26 3,367,063 2/1968 Bondesen et al 46/26 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay ABSTRACT: A dismemberable toy is disclosed, which comprises geometric solid elements, preferably cubic elements, having slotted faces defining a through-hole and adapted to afford a passageway for a threadlike resilient connection element to be fastened to the solids which form the ends of the assembly.

PATENTEUMAY 419m 7 3,577,673

' sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR 07 mm mom-311m ATTORNEYS BLOCK ELEMENTS OF VARIABLE ANGULAR FORM This invention relates to an assembly of geometric solids, for example, cubes, resiliently connected to one another so as to be oriented mutually in such a way as to form constructional compositions of various shape to be used as toys.

The assembly according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises at least two geometric solids connected to one anotherin a mutually orientable manner, each of these solids having at least two slots along planes which are substantially perpendicular to one another, said slots being extended towards the interior of each solid so as to define a through-hole, and a longitudinally deformable rnember passed through said hole of each of said solids and anchored under tension to the end solids so as to keep the whole assembly resiliently connected.

More exactly, the present invention is characterized in that said geometric solids are substantially cubic, said resilient member is an elastic string affixed under a tension to the end solids, and said slots are formed along two planes perpendicular to one another and to two opposite side faces of said cubes.

The description will now be given, by way of example and without limitation, of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly of cubic geometric solids united by an elastic string under tension.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the string slackened.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of two possible constructional combinations which can be obtained with a single assembly, or by the union of two or more such assemblies.

The assembly according to the present invention consists of a plurality of geometric solids 10, for example cubic, made of wood or a plastic material.

On two of the opposite side faces of the cubes are formed two slots 1ll2, along two planes which are substantially perpendicular to one another and also to two opposite lateral surfaces of the solid; the slots are formed towards the interior of the solid down to such a depththat, by intersecting one another, they define a hole 13. As clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of cubes structurally so formed is assembled by means of an elastic string 14 passed through each hole 13, and the tensioned string is affixed to the two end cubes which can be the same as the ones which form the assembly, or can be also formed in the following manner.

The end cubes 15-16 shown in FIG. 2 have a hole 19 which coincides with the central axis of said cubes. The hole 19 has an adjacent hole 20 communicating therewith and coaxially arranged but having a lesser diameter so as to form a ledge 21 for engaging the end of the knot of the resilient string 14 when-the latter is tensioned. It can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that each solid can bearranged at leisure on three different side faces of the adjacent solid to which it is connected, inasmuch as there is the possibility of making a shift. As a matter of fact, the resiliency of the string 14 and its possibility of movement through the slots formed in each solid permit these mutual displacements.

Such an embodiment is an attractive toy which pennits a number of constructional combinations with a single assembly and by pairing two or more of such assemblies.

Of course, and merely by way of example, a cube has been suggested as the geometric solid, without, however, implying any limitation to the scope of the invention, the latter being susceptible of being applied to a wide range of geometric solid forms.

I claim:

1. A toy formed by an assembly of geometric solids comprising a series of at least two substantially cubic elements, said series including opposed end elements, a slot formed at least two opposite faces of each of said cubic elements perpendicular to an edge thereof, said slots lying in planes which are substantially perpendicular to one another and having a depth not less than half the len th of a side of said cubic element to intersect and together efine a through-hole, and a resiliently deformably member passing longitudinally through the hole of each cubic element and secured under tension to the end elements thereby keeping the whole assembly resiliently united, said slots being of a size to furnish a passage for said deformable member whereby said elements can be positioned in a plurality of stable arrangements.

2. A toy according to claim 1, said end elements being of substantially cubic shape and having an axial hole passing therethrough, said hole having a portion of reduced diameter forming a step, said resiliently deformable member being an elastic string with an enlarged portion resting against said step under tension.

Claims (2)

1. A toy formed by an assembly of geometric solids comprising a series of at least two substantially cubic elements, said series including opposed end elements, a slot formed at least two opposite faces of each of said cubic elements perpendicular to an edge thereof, said slots lying in planes which are substantially perpendicular to one another and having a depth not less than half the length of a side of said cubic element to intersect and together define a through-hole, and a resiliently deformably member passing longitudinally through the hole of each cubic element and secured under tension to the end elements thereby keeping the whole assembly resiliently united, said slots being of a size to furnish a passage for said deformable member whereby said elements can be positioned in a plurality of stable arrangements.

2. A toy according to claim 1, said end elements being of substantially cubic shape and having an axial hole passing therethrough, said hole having a portion of reduced diameter forming a step, said resiliently deformable member being an elastic string with an enlarged portion resting against said step under tension.

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