U.S. patent application number 10/541136 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for toy building set with a vibrator sensor.
Invention is credited to Erik Bach, Kaj Svejstrup.
Application Number | 20060252340 10/541136 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32668639 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060252340 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bach; Erik ; et al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Toy building set with a vibrator sensor
Abstract
A building set comprising building elements with coupling means
for interconnection of building elements, wherein the building set
comprises a vibrator building element with a device for generating
vibrations and with coupling means for interconnection with the
remaining building elements of the building set, wherein the
coupling means are the only interface for outputting generated
vibrations. The building set also comprises a sensor building
element, and by the building set structures can be built for
illustrating the propagation of vibrations through solid
structures. Thus, the building set can be used both as a toy and
for teaching purposes.
Inventors: |
Bach; Erik; (Billund,
DK) ; Svejstrup; Kaj; (Billund, DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITNEY HARDIN LLP
7 TIMES SQUARE
NEW YORK
NY
10036-7311
US
|
Family ID: |
32668639 |
Appl. No.: |
10/541136 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 29, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DK03/00936 |
371 Date: |
May 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/042 20130101;
G09B 23/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/124 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/08 20060101
A63H033/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 30, 2002 |
DK |
PA 2002 02017 |
Claims
1. A building set comprising building elements with coupling means
for interconnecting building elements, characterised in that the
building set comprises a vibrator building element with a device
for generating vibrations, and coupling means for interconnection
with the remaining building elements of the building set; wherein
the coupling means constitute the sole interface for outputting
generated vibrations.
2. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
building set comprises a sensor building element with a vibration
sensor configured for emitting signals representing sensed
vibrations; and coupling means for interconnection with remaining
building elements of the building set.
3. A building set according to claim 2, characterised in that the
vibration sensor of the sensor building element is configured for
emitting a signal that represents vibration rate.
4. A building set according to claim 2, characterised in that the
vibration sensor of the sensor building element is configured for
emitting a signal that represents the vibration acceleration.
5. A building set according to claim 2, characterised in that the
building set comprises an instrument for recording the signals
representing vibrations from the vibration sensor.
6. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
coupling means of the vibrator building elements are the only means
of the vibrator building element that are configured for
transmitting mechanical energy from the vibrator building
element.
7. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
device of the vibrator building element for generating vibrations
comprises a motor with a rotatable shaft and an eccentric mass on
the shaft.
8. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
device of the vibrator building element for generating vibrations
comprises a magnetisable mass and an electric solenoid for
cooperating magnetically with the magnetisable mass.
9. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
building set comprises a building element with two mutually movable
parts that each separately has coupling means for interconnection
with the remaining building elements of the building set; and that
are connected to each other by means of a flexible element.
10. A building set according to claim 1, characterised in that the
building set comprises a building element with coupling means for
interconnection with the remaining parts of the building set, and
having bristles on an outer surface of the building element,
wherein the bristles face essentially in the same direction that
forms an angle different from zero degrees to the normal to the
surface.
11. A vibrator building element for a building set according to
claim 1, characterised in that the vibrator building element has a
device for generating vibrations and coupling means for
interconnection with the remaining building elements of the
building set; wherein said coupling means are the only interface
for outputting generated vibrations.
12. A vibrator building element according to claim 11,
characterised in that the coupling means of the vibrator building
element are the only means of the vibrator building elements that
are configured for transmitting mechanical energy from the vibrator
building element.
13. A vibrator building element according to claim 11,
characterised in that the device of the vibrator building element
for generating vibrations comprises a motor with a rotatable shaft
and an eccentric mass on the shaft.
14. A vibrator building element according to claim 11,
characterised in that the device of the vibrator building element
for generating vibrations comprises a magnetisable mass and an
electric solenoid for cooperating magnetically with the
magnetisable mass.
15. A sensor building for a building set according to claim 1,
characterised in that the sensor building element has a vibration
sensor configured for emitting signals representing vibrations; and
coupling means for interconnection with the remaining building
elements of the building set.
16. A sensor building element according to claim 15, characterised
in that the vibration sensor of the sensor building element is
configured for emitting a signal that represents the vibration
rate.
17. A building element according to claim 15, characterised in that
the vibration sensor of the sensor building element is configured
for emitting a signal that represents the vibration acceleration.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a building set with building
elements that have coupling means for interconnection of building
elements.
[0002] Such building sets are known eg in the form of toy building
sets for children and the following patent publications are
examples of such: U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,282, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,756
and P 490 033 showing toy building elements with various coupling
means for interconnection of building elements, and toy building
sets with other coupling means are known. These and other prior art
building sets are used primarily as toys for children, but also for
the construction of models of buildings and machinery.
[0003] The toy building set as described in the above patent
publications area also available with movable elements, such as
motors and wheels, and with other functional elements of which some
are able to generate audible sound. In neither of these
publications the vibrations are used to advantage for mechanical
purposes.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a building set
for use as toy and for teaching purposes, and whereby it is
possible to build models with novel functions that are useful--both
when used for toys and when used for the construction of models for
teaching purposes, where it is possible to build illustrative
models for demonstrating the influence of vibrations on static and
dynamic structures.
[0005] This object is accomplished with a building set according to
the invention comprising a vibrator building element with a device
for generating vibrations and having coupling means for
interconnection with the remaining building elements of the
building set.
[0006] By such building set it is possible to build structures and
models, wherein the vibrator building element can be arranged in
various places in the structure. Depending on the size of the
structure, its rigidity, etc, and the nature of the vibrations,
such as intensity and frequency, the vibrations will influence the
structure in different ways. In case of relatively powerful
vibrations, the structure will be caused to move across its
support, and different positions of the vibrator building element
on the structure will result in different movement patterns and,
likewise, constructions of different sizes and rigidities will
react differently to vibrations. Moreover, when one touches the
structure with one's hand or finger, one will experience a sensory
impression of the intensity of the vibrations.
[0007] By a building set that also comprises a sensor building
element with a vibration sensor configured for emitting signals
representing vibrations and with coupling means for interconnection
with the remaining building elements of the building set, it is
possible to obtain signals for objective measurements and
registrations of vibrations in structures built with the building
set for illustrating the propagation of vibrations through solid
structures. Thus, the building set can be used both as toy and for
teaching purposes. The sensor building element may be configured
for emitting signals that represent vibration rate or vibration
acceleration.
[0008] The configuration of the vibrator building element for
generating vibrations may conveniently comprise a motor with a
rotatable shaft and an eccentric mass on the shaft that will
generate two-dimensional vibrations, or a magnetisable mass and an
electric solenoid for magnetic cooperation with the magnetisable
mass that will generate one-dimensional vibrations. Preferably the
motor is an electromotor, but it is also an option to use a purely
mechanical motor that is driven by a spring that can be wound or by
a flywheel that the user may cause to rotate.
[0009] The building set may also comprise a building element with
two mutually movable parts that each has coupling means for
interconnection with the remaining building elements of the
building set, and which are mutually connected by means of a
flexible element. Such element can be arranged as a vibration
deadening or absorbing element in the structure, and the user may
experiment with the effects it has.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a known toy building element, seen in a
perspective view from above and below, respectively;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a further known toy building element, seen in a
perspective view from above and below, respectively;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows building elements in a prior art toy building
system;
[0013] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a vibrator building element according
to the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a flexible building element for use in a
building set according to the invention;
[0015] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an alternative vibrator building
element according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a third vibrator building element according to
the invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a structure built by means of
a building set according to the invention;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an alternative structure built
by means of a building set according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a principle of how to use vibrations to
advantage to create a net linear movement;
[0020] FIG. 11 shows a variety of the principle shown in FIG. 10;
and
[0021] FIG. 12 shows a principle for using vibrations to advantage
to create a net rotating movement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of the type of building elements
that are known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,282. The building element
has vertical sidewalls and a top wall with coupling means in the
form of cylindrical protrusions or studs. The element has a
downwardly open cavity, and centrally in the cavity there is a
coupling means in the form of a tubular element that is in
permanent connection with the top wall. Such building elements are
available in many sizes and with varying numbers of coupling studs.
When they are to be interconnected, the building elements shown in
FIG. 1 can be built on top of each other, whereby coupling studs on
an element are received in the cavity of another element.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows examples of other prior art building elements
that share essential characteristics with the building elements
shown in FIG. 1. Moreover, on their coupling means, the building
elements shown in FIG. 2 have electric contact faces of a
conductive material.
[0024] On their top faces the coupling means thus have contact
faces of metal on a part of their cylindrical faces; and two of the
four walls that define the cavity of the element have corresponding
contact faces of metal in those places that will, upon
interconnection with other elements, be in contact with the contact
faces on their coupling studs. Such interconnected elements are
able to transmit electric power and electric signals.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a third type of known building elements that
use the same coupling principle as the building elements shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, the through-going cylindrical openings are
able to receive bushing joints by which two building elements can
be joined next to each other. At its ends, the elongate building
element has coupling means that are known from the above-referenced
U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,756.
[0026] The prior art building elements are mere examples of
building sets for which the invention lends itself for use. In the
following the invention will be described and exemplified by use of
the prior art building elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0027] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a building element 10 with coupling
means of the same type as in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein cylindrical
coupling studs 11 on the top face are shown. The building element
10 contains an electromotor 12 carrying on its rotatable shaft 13
and eccentric mass 14. The electromotor 12 and the eccentric mass
14 is entirely contained in the building element 10, and the motor
12 is provided with electric power, eg through an electric wire or
through electric contact faces, like in the building element shown
in FIG. 2.
[0028] FIGS. 6A and 6b show a building element 15, wherein the
electromotor 12 is built integrally with the building element 15,
whereby the shaft 13 of the motor extends beyond the building
element 15. In a manner similar to that of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the
shaft 13 carries the eccentric mass 14, with the sole difference
that the eccentric mass 14 is outside the building element 15.
[0029] When the motor in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 6A and 6B rotates, the
eccentric mass 14 with its imbalance will bring about the
generation of correspondingly rotating forces that will result in
vibrations.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a building element 16 that contains a vibrator
with an electric solenoid 17 and a magnetisable mass 18 that is
mounted flexibly in the building element 16. When alternating
current of a suitable frequency and amplitude is supplied to the
solenoid, the solenoid will in a known manner cooperate
magnetically with the magnetisable mass 18, and thereby oscillating
forces corresponding to the alternating current will be transmitted
to the building element 16 will then be caused to vibrate
correspondingly. In principle, these vibrations are
one-dimensional, linear vibrations.
[0031] FIG. 5 shows a building element 20 with two mutually movable
parts 20A and 20B that each has coupling means for interconnection
with the remaining building elements of the building set, and that
are mutually connected by means of a flexible element, herein two
springs 21. Such building element is known from EP 560 843.
[0032] FIG. 8 schematically exemplifies a structure built by means
of a building set according to the invention. In this structure, a
number of prior art building elements as shown in FIG. 1 partake.
On top of these prior art building elements there is a vibrator
building element 10 like in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The motor 1 in the
vibrator building element is provided with electric power from a
power supply 22, either through a separate wire or by means of
building elements like in FIG. 2.
[0033] FIG. 8 also shows a sensor building element 23 that features
a vibration sensor configured for emitting electric signals
representing vibrations; and coupling means for interconnection
with the remaining building elements of the building set. The
vibration sensor can be configured in accordance with the same
principle as the vibrator building element shown in FIG. 7; and
when the sensor building element is caused to vibrate, the
magnetisable mass will move in relation to the solenoid, whereby an
electric signal is generated in the solenoid, which signal is
proportionate to the rate of the vibrations. Alternatively the
vibration sensor may be an accelerometer that emits a signal which
is proportionate to the acceleration of the vibrations.
[0034] The electric signals from the sensor building element 23 are
conveyed to an analyser or a measurement instrument 24 configured
for indicating or measuring the amplitude of the vibration signals
or optionally analysing these signals.
[0035] In the shown configuration, vibrations from the vibrator
building element 10 will be transmitted through the structure to
the sensor building element 23, and the measurement instrument 24
will indicate the amplitude of the transmitted vibrations.
[0036] FIG. 9 shows the same structure as FIG. 8, wherein, however,
the vibrator building element 15 is used and has been turned 90
degrees in relation to FIG. 8, and moreover the building element 20
shown in FIG. 5 is arranged between the vibrator building element
15 and the remaining structure. With its springs the building
element 20 serves as vibration deadening element.
[0037] FIG. 10 shows a building element 25 having bristles 26 on
its underside that all face essentially in the same direction that
forms an angle different from zero degrees to the normal in
relation to the surface, and that are hence not perpendicular to
the bottom of the building element, but are all inclining. The
bristles may be made of hair or fibres of natural materials, such
as plant fibres or metal threads, or artificial materials, such as
plastics fibres. Herein, the vibrator building element 16 is
interconnected with such building element 25 that is supported on a
support 27. When the vibrator building element 16 vibrates, it will
cooperate with the inclining bristles and cause the vibrator
element 16 to move in the direction of the bristle orientation, ie
to the right. In FIG. 10 the vibrator building element is
configured for vibrating in the horizontal direction, but the same
effect is accomplished with vibrations in the vertical
direction.
[0038] FIG. 11 shows a support 27 having bristles 28 on its top
face that are not perpendicular to the underside of the support,
but rather, in a manner similar to the one shown in FIG. 10, they
are all inclining. A structure 29 of a number of interconnected
building elements rests on top of the bristles 28. The support 27
with the bristles 28 vibrate in vertical direction, and by these
vibrations, too, the structure 29 will cooperate with the inclining
bristles to the effect that the structure 29 will move in the
direction of the bristle orientation, ie to the right. The same
effect is accomplished if the support 27 with bristles 28 vibrates
in horizontal direction.
[0039] In FIGS. 10 and 11 it is in principle of no consequence
whether it is an element provided with bristles or the element
without the bristles that vibrates, and whether the vibrations have
a vertical orientation or a horizontal direction. The resulting
movement is determined by the direction of the bristles in relation
to the normal of the outer surface that carries the bristles.
[0040] FIG. 12 shows the vibrator building element 16
interconnected with a building element 30 as a part of a larger
structure, which is not shown. FIG. 12 also shows a wheel 31, which
is also a part of a larger structure. The building element 30 is
arranged such that its one end touches the periphery of the wheel
31. When the vibrator building element 16 vibrates in horizontal
direction as shown, ie approximately in the tangential direction of
the wheel in the point of contact thereof, the wheel will rotate.
This effect relies on the building element 30 transferring, in the
contact point, different forces in the two directions for the
vibration movement. This rotation can be used to advantage for
operating mechanisms in the structure.
* * * * *