U.S. patent application number 14/605323 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-28 for interconnecting rigid building components.
The applicant listed for this patent is JOHN J. KILEY. Invention is credited to JOHN J. KILEY.
Application Number | 20160214024 14/605323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56433738 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160214024 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KILEY; JOHN J. |
July 28, 2016 |
INTERCONNECTING RIGID BUILDING COMPONENTS
Abstract
Building constructs for constructing a play structure, a useful
construction construct, or the like. In one embodiment, the
building constructs are extruded cuboids having notches or other
interlocking features. In another embodiment, the building
constructs are encased within a polymer shell for enhanced
durability or other desirable property. A play structure comprises
a plurality of the building elements connected to one another. In
one embodiment, the play structure comprises a cabin. Walls of the
cabin are constructed by interlocking elongate wall elements. The
cabin includes a roof constructed from interlocked flat panels or
slats. A roof support elevates the roof over the walls and connects
the roof to the walls. A method of constructing a play structure
comprises assembling a plurality of the building elements.
Inventors: |
KILEY; JOHN J.; (Marion,
IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KILEY; JOHN J. |
Marion |
IN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56433738 |
Appl. No.: |
14/605323 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/065 20130101;
A63H 33/084 20130101; A63H 33/14 20130101; A63H 33/107 20130101;
A63H 33/048 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/04 20060101
A63H033/04; A63H 33/14 20060101 A63H033/14 |
Claims
1. A building kit for making various structures, comprising: a. a
set of mid-sections comprising foam hyperrectangles of
predetermined dimensions such that length of a mid-section is
greater than both width and depth of the mid-section, each said
raid-section having a uniform hollowed out cylindrical portion
spanning the length of the mid-section; b. a set of cylindrical
shaped pegs of a radius such that each peg can be inserted into the
hollowed out cylindrical portion of a mid-section and said
insertion results in a friction fit relationship; c. a set of
interlock-sections comprising foam hyperrectangles having a width
and a depth equal to that of a mid-section, each interlock-section
shaped on two opposing sides to perpendicularly mate with other
interlock-sections, and each interlock-section also having a
uniform hollowed out cylindrical portion of a radius such that
insertion of a peg into the hollowed out cylindrical portion of an
interlock-section results in a friction fit relationship.
2. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the foam is
extruded polystyrene foam.
3. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, in which the foam is
encased within a shell of high molecular weight polyethylene.
4. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: d. A
set of interlock blocks, each interlock block sized to fit snugly
into an interlock-section such that two interlock-sections can
attach to the interlock-block.
5. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each peg is coated
with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
6. A building kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein each interlock
block is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
7. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each mid-section's
sides are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
8. A building kit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: d. a
set of adhesive backed pads covered by hooks of a hook and loop
type fastener; e. a set of adhesive backed pads covered by loops of
a hook and loop type fastener.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention generally relates to foam structural
building components. It relates more particularly to light weight,
substantially rigid, inter-locking, foam structural units,
suitable, though not exclusively, for the creation of toy
structures.
[0002] There are a plethora of toy construction sets on the market.
Many of these construction sets utilize building components
composed of dense and hard materials, and as such, do not readily
lend themselves to creating resilient structures. Such rigidity can
limit the toy-play experience by the users as well as limit the
type of structures able to be built during the toy-play time. For
example, a child creating and using a child sized raft will likely
lead to one or more of the toys building components breaking,
possibly because of point load failures occurring at the point of
connection between the building components.
[0003] Further, dense, hard, and rigid building components of such
toy construction sets are often the cause of injury to children.
For example, a child falling onto such a building component can
cause the child to receive a painful bruise, cut, or worse. Thus,
there is a need for an improved building component. The present
invention addresses this need.
SUMMARY
[0004] This specification describes technologies relating to a
building construct, often, though not exclusively, implemented as a
toy building construct often as part of a many building construct
building kit. Accordingly, this invention provides a building
construct, often, though not exclusively, implemented as a toy
building construct. The building construct is unlikely to cause
injury when a child falls on, chews on, or throws a building
construct. In some implementations, the building construct
primarily has a cuboid shape with a longitudinal axis of 25 inches
and the two other axes being of an equal length of 2.75 inches,
Said implementations also have four cuboid sections removed from
the building construct. The four cuboid sections are removed from
the building construct such that each end of the building construct
has two cuboid sections removed with the two removed cuboid
sections opposing each other. The effect is such that to allow two
building constructs to interlock with each other at a right angle.
The depth and width of the removed sections is such that as to
allow three building constructs to join at a right angle, two
building constructs being parallel to each other, the third
building construct perpendicular to the first two, with the two
parallel building constructs forming a tight seam along their
common longitudinal axis.
[0005] In some implementations, the building constructs are
composed of a light weight and durable material such as a foam
material. Examples of such foam material include but are not
limited to expanded polystyrene, extruded polystyrene foam, or
polyethylene foam. Additionally, in some implementations the
building constructs are enclosed within a covering or shell that
imparts a desired characteristic. For example, building constructs
can be enclosed within a shell of a high molecular weight
polyethylene (HDPE) providing impact resistance, preventing the
enclosed material from being exposed to water and thus prohibiting
growth of organisms, shielding the enclosed material from
ultraviolent radiation, enhanced wear and friction resistance, and
protection from solvents and fuels. For example, a hollow shell of
a building construct can be composed from HDPE and subsequently
filled with extruded polystyrene.
[0006] As another example, various water-based adhesives, various
phenolics, epoxies, resorcinols, and ureas can be used to coat and
encase the building constructions based upon the desired
characteristics exhibited by said coatings. Other coatings and
shells are discussed elsewhere within this document. Some shells,
coatings, and even uncovered or uncoated building constructs can
also have a portion of the exterior coated with various adhesives.
For example, such treated building constructs can be used to create
structures of greater resilience than those composed from untreated
building constructs. Further, such treated building constructs can
enable the resulting structures to be weather and/or water
resistant due to the seams between parallel building constructs
being sealed as a result of the adhesive. As a non-limiting
example, ethylene acrylic materials or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
can be used as a temporary adhesive.
[0007] The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter
described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying
drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and
advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the
description, the drawings, and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts through the several views, and
wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is rendering depicting a three-dimensional side
perspective of an implementation of a base building construct.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rendering depicting a top view perspective of an
implementation of a base building construct.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rendering depicting a side perspective of a
building construct having adaptations allowing the building
construct to have a variable length.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a rendering of an implementation of a building
construct allowing the joining of two parallel building
constructs.
[0013] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Before the present implementations and systems are disclosed
and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not
limited to specific implementations, or to particular compositions,
and as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that
the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular implementations only and is not intended to be
limiting.
[0015] As used in the specification and the claims, the singular
forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the
context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed in ways
including from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about"
another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another
implementation may include from the one particular value and/or to
the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as
approximations, for example by use of the antecedent "about," it
will be understood that the particular value forms another
implementation. It will be further understood that the endpoints of
each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other
endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
[0016] "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently
described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the
description includes instances where said event or circumstance
occurs and instances where it does not. Similarly, "typical" or
"typically" means that the subsequently described event or
circumstance often though may not occur, and that the description
includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and
instances where it does not.
[0017] FIG. 1 is rendering 100 depicting a three-dimensional side
perspective of an implementation of a building construct 110. In
some implementations, the building construct 110 has a longitudinal
axis of a length significantly greater than the other two axes. For
example, some implementations have a longitudinal axis of 25 inches
with the other axes being equal and of length 2.75 inches. However,
it is to be understood that the dimensions of a building construct
110 can vary. The depicted implementation primarily has a
hyperrectangle (a rectangular cuboid or 3-orthotope) shape.
[0018] The implementation can be thought of as consisting of three
different sections. The three different sections are, the end
sections 120, the interlock sections 130, and the mid-section 140.
The end sections 120 can be of varying sizes so long as the end
sections 120 do not prevent the mid-sections 140 of parallel
building constructs 110, one set on top of the other, from forming
a tight seem. For example, in some implementations, the end
sections 120 are of the same two minor dimensions as the
mid-section 140. In some implementations, the end sections 120 and
the cut out sections 130 or apertures 130 are sized such that two
parallel and adjacent building constructs 110, interlocked with a
third building construct 110, will form a continuous and tight seam
along the seam common to the respective mid-sections 140 of the
adjacent and parallel building constructs 110. That is, two
building constructs 110 can be joined by interlinking an aperture
130 from each building construct 110 with said interlink joint
having a friction fit. In some implementations, the sides of each
building construct are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive,
allowing the tight seam to be temporarily glued together.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a rendering depicting a top view perspective of an
implementation of a base building construct 110. In this depicted
implementation, the cut out sections 130 are shown to be sized such
that two building constructs 110 can snugly interlink. That is, a
cut out section 130 is sized to tightly engage with a second cut
out section 130.
[0020] In some implementations, the interlinking of two or more
building constructs 110 is enhanced through the use of additional
fasteners or adhesives. For example, a hook and loop type fastener
comprising a first portion having the loops and attached to an
adhesive pad and a second portion having the hooks and attached to
a second adhesive pad can be used to more securely interlink two
building constructions 110. That is, the first potion would be
attached to the cut out section 130 of the first building construct
110. The second portion would be attached to a second building
construct 110. The interlinking of the two building constructs 110
would also allow the hook and loop fasteners to fasten.
Alternatively, a contact pressure-sensitive adhesive ("PSA") can be
distributed into the cut out sections 130 to enable more permanent
joining of two or more building constructs 110.
[0021] Similarly, the mid-sections 140 can also be coated with a
PSA. This enables the tight common seam of two parallel building
constructs 110 to adhere to each other. Such bounded building
constructs 110 can enable strong and substantially fluid tight
constructions to be created. For example, temporary concreate
formation and curing guides can be constructed from such building
constructs 110.
[0022] Examples of suitable PSAs include, but are not limited to,
silicone based PSAs, including those of a MQ resin nature, acrylic,
rubber, epoxy based PSAs, and the like. PSA technologies are well
understood within the art and will not be further discussed within
this application.
[0023] In some implementations, the building construct 110 is
composed of a foamed polyurethane. For example, in some of such
implementations, one or more building constructs 110 are formed
from machining or cutting a large foam block of polyurethane. Of
course, other methods of creation are possible. For example, a
polyurethane based building construct 110 can also be created
through the hold or cold molding of the polyurethane. Of course
other forms of polymers, including polymer foams can be used to
from which to create a building construct 110. For example,
expanded polystyrene foam and extruded polystyrene foam are also
used in other implementations.
[0024] As another example, some implementations are composed from
polypropylene. Most often the implementations are hollow although
other implementations utilize a polypropylene shell to enclose a
polystyrene foam. For example, such implementations can exhibit
resistance to heat, corrosion, chemical leaching and be resilient
against physical damage. Additionally, as polypropylene is
resistant to fatigue, such polypropylene implementations or incased
implementations also can include a hollowed out area covered by a
hinged cover. Typically, the hinged cover is implemented as a
living hinge, a hinge implemented via a thinner portion of the
plastic such as might be implemented in a flip-top bottle lid. Such
hollowed out areas can allow the deposit of small items, such as
sensors, within the building construct 110.
[0025] It will be understood by those skilled the art that other
polymers, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), cross-linked
polyethylene (PEX), flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
nnplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), and the like can also be
used to encase a foamed polymer used to create a building construct
110. The choice of which polymer to use can be made based upon the
desired properties of the finished building construct 110.
[0026] If composed from a polymer foam, it is to be understood that
the type of cell structure in a polymer foam used to create a
building construct 110 will influence its mechanical resilience and
flexibility. For example, a building construct 110 formed utilizing
an open-cell structure foam will likely exhibit less resilience
than that of a close-cell structure foam of the same polymer.
However, the same open-cell structure foam will likely exhibit
greater sound absorption.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a rendering depicting a side perspective of a
building construct 110 having adaptations allowing the building
construct to have a variable length. As shown, in this
implementation, the building construct 110 comprises five sub
components; two interlocking sections 130, a mid-section 140, two
attachment pegs 210. In the depicted implementation, the attachment
peg 210 is four inches long with a radius of 1 inch, though it
should be understood that other dimensions or even shapes are
possible. For example, the attachment pegs 210 could be cuboid in
shape. It should be understood that while the depicted
implementation utilizes attachment pegs 210, other means of
physical attachment can be used in place of the attachment pegs
210. For example, a compressionable protrusion could extend from an
interlocking section 130 with the corresponding receptacle of the
protrusion being part of the mid-section 140. In this way, the
exemplary interlocking section 130 and mid-section 140 can be
attached through simply snapping the protrusion into the
receptacle.
[0028] In this implementation, the mid-section 140 has a
cylindrical hollowed out portion 220 of approximately the same
radius of that of the attachment pegs 210. Similarly, the
interlocking sections 130 also have a hollowed out portion,
approximately of the same radius but half of the length of the
attachment pegs 210. Some implementations also include a PSA on the
attachment pegs 210, allowing for a permanent fixing of an
interlocking section 130 to either a mid-section 140 or another
interlocking section 130 by permanently securing the attachment peg
into the hollowed out portion 220 and/or interlocking section
130.
[0029] It should be understood that building constructs 110 of
varying lengths can be created by shortening a mid-section 140, or
by joining two or more mid-sections 140 together. In this way,
building constructs 110 of virtually any length can be created.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a rendering of an implementation 310 of a building
construct allowing the joining of two parallel building constructs
110. In this implementation, two parallel building constructs 110
can be joined together through the use of an interlock block 350.
The interlock blocks 350 are sized such that approximately half of
the interlock block 350 fits snugly into an interlock section 130.
In some implementations, the interlock block 350 can be treated
with a PSA, and in other implementations, the building constructs
110 are also such treated as previously noted, allowing the
building constructs 110 to be securely fashioned.
[0031] The methods of construction of the building constructs will
vary based upon the chosen material or combination of materials
from which the building constructs are made. For example, building
constructs can be formed from polystyrene through injection
molding, from expanded polystyrene through utilizing pre-expanded
stabilized polystyrene beads and reheating with steam in a mold
and, from extruded polystyrene foam by milling or machining.
[0032] While primarily discussed as being implemented in one or
more polymers, embodiments of the subject matter and the operations
described in this specification can be implemented from any
suitable material, including the substances disclosed in this
specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations
of one or more of them. For example, the depicted invention could
composed from an engineered wood product such as those
incorporating sawdust or sawmill shavings and a synthetic
resin.
[0033] The building constructs are easily assembled or connected.
The building constructs are easily connected by interlocking mating
notched portions. Alternatively, parallel building constructs can
be assembled through the use of an interlock block or the like,
such as described in FIG. 3. More permanent and resilient
assemblies can be achieved through the use of a PSA on at least
some portion of the building constructs or the interlock blocks,
such as the case may be. The manner of connection or assembly
requires no tools.
[0034] It will be understood that the above described arrangements
of apparatus and the method therefrom are merely illustrative of
applications of the principles of this invention and many other
embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
* * * * *