U.S. patent application number 15/779601 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-06 for kit of construction elements.
The applicant listed for this patent is NOIXION GAMES KFT.. Invention is credited to Zoltan Andras RADICS.
Application Number | 20180345162 15/779601 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58796426 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180345162 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RADICS; Zoltan Andras |
December 6, 2018 |
KIT OF CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS
Abstract
The kit of construction elements includes a plurality of
construction elements and a plurality of rod-like binding elements
for connecting said construction elements, wherein the construction
elements are in the form of square-based rectangles, and wherein on
at least one of the faces of each construction element
perpendicular to the base thereof at least one groove is formed in
parallel to its base, and along at least one edge of each
construction element a groove is formed for receiving a binding
element, wherein each binding element is formed to fit into a
groove along at least a part of its entire length and further
provided with securing members formed to engage with complementary
securing members of said groove by form-fitting or force-fitting,
and wherein the grooves of the construction elements and the
binding elements are sized so that during use the construction
elements are substantially in contact along their connecting
surfaces.
Inventors: |
RADICS; Zoltan Andras;
(Budapest, HU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NOIXION GAMES KFT. |
Torokbalint |
|
HU |
|
|
Family ID: |
58796426 |
Appl. No.: |
15/779601 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
November 29, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/HU2016/050060 |
371 Date: |
May 29, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B22D 15/04 20130101;
B22D 21/007 20130101; A63H 33/102 20130101; A63H 33/105 20130101;
B22C 9/02 20130101; B22C 9/082 20130101; B22D 27/04 20130101; B22D
15/00 20130101; B22D 25/02 20130101; A63H 33/106 20130101; B22C
9/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/10 20060101
A63H033/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2015 |
HU |
U1500230 |
Claims
1. A kit of construction elements including a plurality of
construction elements and a plurality of rod-like binding elements
for connecting said construction elements, wherein the construction
elements are in the form of square-based rectangles, and wherein on
at least one of the faces of each construction element
perpendicular to the base thereof at least one groove is formed in
parallel to its base, and along at least one edge of each
construction element a groove is formed for receiving a binding
element, and wherein each binding element is formed to fit into a
groove along at least a part of its entire length and further
provided with securing members formed to engage with complementary
securing members of said groove by form-fitting or force-fitting,
and wherein the grooves of the construction elements and the
binding elements are sized so that during use the construction
elements are substantially in contact along their connecting
surfaces.
2. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
at least one longitudinal notch is formed in said grooves as
securing member, and wherein at least one longitudinal rib is
formed on the binding elements as securing member, each rib being
adapted to fit into a notch.
3. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
at least one protrusion is formed in the grooves as securing
member, and wherein the binding elements comprise at least one
notch for receiving a protrusion.
4. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
the height of the construction elements is a multiple of the edge
length of the base.
5. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
the construction elements and the binding elements are made of
plastic.
6. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
image fields are provided on the faces of the construction elements
for presenting logical information.
7. The kit of construction elements according to claim 4, wherein
at least one construction element is formed of two or more cubes
arranged on each other and held together by a central shaft having
studs, and wherein the individual cubes can be rotated
independently of each other around said central shaft.
8. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
the construction elements have a hollow core and comprise an
opening on at least one of their faces.
9. The kit of construction elements according to claim 1, wherein
the kit further includes a plurality of additional terminal
elements, one of the faces of which is entirely flat, whereas the
opposite face of said terminal elements comprises at least one
binding element adapted for fitting to the construction elements,
said binding elements being formed integrally to said terminal
elements.
10. The kit of construction elements according to claim 9, wherein
the additional binding element is shaped by longitudinally halving
a binding element, said additional binding element being arranged
on one of the faces of the additional terminal element so as to fit
into the groove of an adjacent construction element when they are
attached.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a kit of construction elements.
[0002] In general, the construction element toys comprise a
plurality of construction elements which can be put together (e.g.
construction cubes) or can be engaged with each other (e.g. LEGO)
without using any additional binding element. From those
construction elements which are attached to each other by
surface-fitting, a non-stable assembly can be formed, whereas with
construction elements provided with integrated binding elements,
only planar surfaces of limited size can be formed. Other
construction element tools are also known, wherein openings are
formed on the surface of the construction elements for receiving
additional close-fitting binding elements (e.g. Babylon, Java). In
these construction element toys, however, the construction elements
are not defined by planar surfaces, thus by using such construction
elements one cannot form continuous, joint planar surfaces.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate some
deficiencies of the known kits of construction elements, and to
provide a kit, by means of which larger continuous, joint planar
surfaces can be formed.
[0004] The above object is achieved by providing a kit of
construction elements including a plurality of construction
elements and a plurality of rod-like binding elements for
connecting said construction elements, wherein the construction
elements are in the form of square-based rectangles, and wherein on
at least one of the faces of each construction element
perpendicular to the base thereof at least one groove is formed in
parallel to its base, and along at least one edge of each
construction element a groove is formed for receiving a binding
element, wherein each binding element is formed to fit into a
groove along at least a part of its entire length and further
provided with securing members formed to engage with complementary
securing members of said groove by form-fitting or force-fitting,
and wherein the grooves of the construction elements and the
binding elements are sized so that during use the construction
elements are substantially in contact along their connecting
surfaces.
[0005] Preferably, at least one longitudinal notch is formed in
said grooves as securing member, and at least one longitudinal rib
is formed on the binding elements as securing member, each rib
being adapted to fit into a notch.
[0006] Preferably, at least one protrusion is formed in the grooves
as securing member, and wherein the binding elements comprise at
least one notch for receiving a protrusion.
[0007] Preferably, the construction elements are formed as
square-based rectangles, wherein the height of the construction
elements is a multiple of the edge length of the base.
[0008] Preferably, the construction elements and the binding
elements are made of plastic.
[0009] Preferably, image fields are provided on the faces of the
construction elements for presenting logical information.
[0010] It is preferred that at least one construction element is
formed of two or more cubes arranged on each other and held
together by a central shaft having studs, and wherein the
individual cubes can be rotated independently of each other around
said central shaft.
[0011] The construction elements may have a hollow core and may
comprise an opening on at least one of their faces.
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the kit of construction elements
further includes a plurality of additional terminal elements, one
of the faces of which is entirely flat, whereas the opposite face
of said terminal elements comprises at least one binding element
adapted for fitting to the construction elements, said binding
elements being formed integrally to said terminal elements.
[0013] Preferably, the additional binding element is shaped by
longitudinally halving a binding element, said additional binding
element being arranged on one of the faces of the additional
terminal element so as to fit into the groove of an adjacent
construction element when they are attached.
[0014] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the drawings, in which
[0015] FIG. 1a is an axonometric view of the general form of the
construction element,
[0016] FIG. 1b is an enlarged view of the part "A" of FIG. 1a,
showing edge grooves of a construction element meeting at a corner
thereof,
[0017] FIG. 1c is a top plan view of a generic construction element
shown in FIG. 1a,
[0018] FIG. 1d is an enlarged view of the part "B" of FIG. 1c,
showing a top plan view of a lateral groove of a construction
element,
[0019] FIG. 2a is a side view of a generic binding element provided
with longitudinally extending ribs,
[0020] FIG. 2b is a side view of a generic binding element having a
frictional surface,
[0021] FIG. 2c is a side view of a binding element provided with
longitudinal ribs not extending up to the ends of the binding
element,
[0022] FIG. 2d is a side view of a binding element having a
through-hole,
[0023] FIG. 2e is a side view of a binding element provided with
full-length ribs and notches,
[0024] FIG. 2f is a side view of a binding element provided with
notches but having no ribs,
[0025] FIGS. 2g to 2l are top plan views of the binding elements
shown in the side views of FIGS. 2a to 2f, respectively,
[0026] FIG. 3a is an exploded view of three construction elements
and a binding element connecting them through ribs,
[0027] FIG. 3b is an enlarged view of the part "A" of FIG. 3a,
[0028] FIG. 4a is an exploded view of two construction elements and
a binding element connecting them through ribs,
[0029] FIG. 4b is an enlarged view of the part "A" of FIG. 4a,
[0030] FIG. 5a is an exploded view of two construction elements and
a binding element connecting them through ribs, wherein the lateral
grooves of the construction elements comprise end protrusions and a
central protrusion,
[0031] FIG. 5b is an enlarged view of the part "A" of FIG. 5a,
[0032] FIG. 5c illustrates the cross-section of the arrangement
shown in FIG. 5a in connected state,
[0033] FIG. 5d is an enlarged view of the part "C" of FIG. 5c,
[0034] FIG. 6a illustrates the arrangement shown in FIG. 5a,
wherein the lateral grooves comprise only end protrusions,
[0035] FIG. 6b illustrates the cross-section of the arrangement of
FIG. 6a in a connected state,
[0036] FIG. 7a is an exploded view of four construction elements
and a binding element connecting them through ribs and notches,
[0037] FIG. 7b illustrates the cross-section of the arrangement
shown in FIG. 7a in a connected state,
[0038] FIG. 8a is an exploded view of three construction elements
and a binding element connecting them only through its notches,
[0039] FIG. 8b illustrates the cross-section of the arrangement of
FIG. 8a in a connected state,
[0040] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a binding element shown in
FIG. 2c and a construction element to be attached thereto,
[0041] FIG. 10 is an axonometric view of an arrangement including
three square-based construction elements of different heights and
two binding elements of respective lengths,
[0042] FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of an arrangement including a
plurality of construction elements of different heights, each
having a generally shaped or square base, and associated binding
elements,
[0043] FIG. 12 is an axonometric view of an arrangement including
three-part, square-based construction elements presenting numbers
on their outer surfaces,
[0044] FIG. 13a illustrates a three-part, square-based construction
element comprising cubes which can be rotated around a shaft,
[0045] FIG. 13b is a longitudinal sectional view of the
construction element and its internal shaft shown in FIG. 13a,
wherein the cubes are in the same position, and
[0046] FIGS. 14a and 14b are schematic axonometric views of an
additional terminal element and a sectional view illustrating the
connection between a terminal element and a construction
element.
[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates the general form of a construction
element 10 of a kit of construction elements according to the
present invention, said construction element having a form of a
square-based rectangle, along the edges of which edge grooves 12
are formed. On at least one of the lateral faces of the
construction element 10 orthogonal to its base, there is at least
one lateral groove 11 formed. The lateral grooves 11 extend in
parallel to the edges of the base, and preferably they are arranged
at an equal distance from each other and from the base. Preferably,
the cross-section of the edge grooves 12 is a quarter circle, and
in this case the cross-section of the lateral grooves 11 is a
semicircle. Obviously, the cross-sections of the edge grooves and
the lateral grooves may have other shapes.
[0048] For connection the construction elements 10, rod-like
binding elements 20 are provided, the preferred embodiments of
which are shown in FIG. 2. Within one kit of construction elements,
the binding elements 20 have the same diameter, but their length
may be different according to the available side lengths of the
square-based construction elements 10. It is preferred that the
length of the binding elements 20 is shorter than the side length
of a particular construction element by the diameter of a binding
element. Accordingly, during use further binding elements 20 can be
inserted into the transversal grooves at the two ends of the
binding elements 20 when they have already been inserted into the
respective grooves of the construction elements 10.
[0049] The construction elements 10, their grooves 11, 12 and the
binding elements 20 are dimensioned so that during use the
construction elements 10 are substantially in contact with each
other along their connecting surfaces. Accordingly, the diameter of
the binding elements 20 is substantially equal to the diameter of
the grooves extending along the edges and on the lateral surfaces
of the construction elements 10. When two construction elements 10
are placed adjacent to each other, the lateral grooves 11 of
semicircle cross-section formed on their contacting faces together
form a hole having the shape of a full circle, thereby being
capable of receiving a binding element 20. Similarly, a hole having
the shape of a full circle is formed when four construction
elements 10 are joined along their edges, or when two construction
elements 10 joined along their edges are combined with a further
construction element 10 attached to former ones by one of its
face.
[0050] The binding elements 20 may have a hollow core as shown, for
example, in FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrating the binding elements of
FIGS. 2d and 2j, wherein a through-hole is formed along their
longitudinal axis. In this case the assembled set of construction
elements can be made even more stable by inserting a stiffening rod
into the aligned binding elements 20, on the one hand, and due to
the absence of material within the through-hole, the binding
elements are lighter in weight and due to their capability of light
transmission, they are also more spectacular, on the other
hand.
[0051] The outer surface of the binding elements 20 may have
different colors so that different sub-groups of the construction
elements can be visually distinguished from each other more
easily.
[0052] Preferably, the majority of the construction elements 10 are
formed to have at least one lateral groove 11 on each of four
lateral faces thereof perpendicular to their base. Alternatively,
the kit of construction elements may also contain construction
elements 10 in which not all of the lateral faces perpendicular to
the base comprise a lateral groove 11. A construction element 10
which comprises no lateral groove on its one, two or three lateral
faces can be used only as a marginal construction element.
Optionally, the binding elements 20 may be provided with securing
members 21 or 22 which can be attached by form-fitting to
respective, complementarily shaped securing members 14, or 15, 16
of other construction elements 10.
[0053] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a possible way of binding. In this
case the securing members 21 are provided on the outer surface of
the binding element 20 in the form of longitudinal ribs which fit
into the complementarily shaped securing members 14 formed in the
respective longitudinal grooves of the lateral groves 11, 12 of the
construction element 10. On the binding element 20, four
longitudinal ribs are preferably arranged at equal distance from
each other as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2a, 2c, 2d and 2e, and
accordingly, an associated notch 14 is formed in the grooves 11, 12
of the construction elements 10 at every quarter circle
position.
[0054] In this embodiment a binding element 20 is capable of
connecting two adjacent construction elements 10 only if at least
two of the four ribs formed on its surface fit into the respective
notches of the attached construction elements, wherein said two
notches belong to two adjacent construction elements 10 which
contact each other along their edges or faces.
[0055] In a typical way of interconnecting construction elements
10, two lateral grooves 11 of semicircle cross-section formed on a
lateral face together form a through-hole of full circle
cross-section. Each of the four longitudinal ribs of the binding
element 20 inserted into the thus obtained through-hole engages
with a respective notch of the opposite construction element 10, as
it is shown in FIG. 4.
[0056] In another typical way of interconnection, instead of two
construction elements 10, even three construction elements 10 may
be connected to each other through a single binding element 20. In
this case two lateral grooves 12 of two construction elements 10,
each lateral groove having a quarter circle cross-section, and a
semi circle lateral groove 11 of a third construction element 10
together form a through-hole of full circle cross-section. In this
arrangement two ribs of the binding element 20 inserted in the
through-hole engages with two respective notches of the third
construction element 10, while the other two ribs engages with a
respective groove of the first and the second construction elements
10, as it is illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 2a, 2d and 2e, the securing members 21
formed as ribs on the surface of the binding elements 20 extend
along the entire length of a binding element 20, and similarly, the
grooves 14 formed in the lateral and edge grooves also extend up to
the extremities of a construction element 10. In another preferred
embodiment, however, neither the ribs 21, nor the grooves 14 extend
up to the extremities of the binding elements 20 and the
construction elements 10, but they terminate at a certain distance
a from the extremities, as illustrated in FIG. 2c and FIG. 9. In
this way the overprojection of an inserted binding element 20
beyond the extremities of the associated construction elements 10
can be eliminated, which primarily helps in easily assembling the
construction elements.
[0058] Additionally, stability of the assembled construction
elements 10 may also be enhanced by forming longitudinal notches 22
between the ribs 21, said notches serving as securing members on
the surface of the binding elements 20. These notches are
preferably arranged at an equal distance from the adjacent ribs. As
the counter-parts of said notches, longitudinal protrusions 15, 16
extending towards the binding elements 20 are formed in the lateral
grooves 11, 12 of the construction elements 10, as shown in FIG. 5.
In case of lateral grooves 12 having a quarter circle
cross-section, typically there are two protrusions 15 provided,
each serving as a longitudinal flange of the lateral groove. The
lateral grooves 11 are preferably formed with three protrusions
from which two protrusions 15 are formed as a longitudinal flange
of the groove, whereas a third protrusion 16 is arranged in the
center of the groove 11, at an equal distance from the other two
end protrusions 15. For the sake of the easy use, the binding
elements 20 have only one design within a particular kit, said
design being available for use in any combination of the
construction elements. Accordingly, the notches 22 are dimensioned
so that a single notch 22 is capable of receiving two protrusions
15 at the same time or only one protrusion 16. The thickness of a
protrusion 16 is therefore twice of the thickness of a protrusion
15. FIG. 6 illustrates another possible solution, wherein the
construction elements 10 have no such a central protrusion 16 at
all.
[0059] In another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, there
are only protrusions 15, 16 in the lateral grooves 11, 12 and there
are only notches 22 on the binding elements 20, while no grooves 14
and ribs 21 are formed at all. Instead of the above mentioned
securing members 14, 21 and their associated securing members 15,
16, 22, other form-fitting connections may also be used, including,
for example, bayonet joint, force-fitting, such as an engagement
based on friction between the contacting surfaces of the grooves
and the binding elements.
[0060] During assembling the construction elements 10, the
insertion of a binding element 20 between the adjacent construction
elements is not necessary until a complete through-hole of a full
circle cross-section is formed therefrom (although in case of
form-fitting connections, it is always possible). The binding
elements 20 may be inserted between the construction elements 10 by
snapping or, when the ribs 21 and the notches 14 extend up to the
extremities of the binding elements and the construction elements
10, respectively, it may be done also by sliding.
[0061] Preferably, the construction elements 10 and the binding
elements 20 are made of a material that allows slight flexible
deformation thereof, i.e. typically an elastic plastic
material.
[0062] FIG. 11 shows a particular combination of the construction
elements 10 and the binding elements 20 of the kit of construction
elements, wherein the construction elements can be connected to
each other by means of the binding elements 20 not only vertically,
but also in a lateral direction.
[0063] It is particularly preferred that the construction elements
have a rectangular form having a square base, wherein the height of
the construction elements 10 is equal to the length of the edges of
the square base or a multiple of the length of the edges of the
square base. Accordingly, in such a kit the binding elements 20 are
available with various lengths. FIG. 10 shows a combination of
square-based construction elements 10, wherein the height of the
construction elements 10 may be equal to the length of an edge of
the base, or even the double or the triple thereof. Accordingly,
the binding elements 20 are also available with three different
lengths.
[0064] In this case the lateral grooves 11, which are formed on the
lateral faces perpendicular to the base, are spaced apart at a
distance which corresponds to the length of an edge of the
base.
[0065] On the surface of the construction elements 10, an image
field may also be provided for presenting logical information. The
logical information may include color information, figure or
information represented in alphanumeric form. FIG. 12 shows a
combination of construction elements in an assembled form wherein
various numbers are displayed on the faces of the construction
elements. In this embodiment attaching the construction elements to
one another should be carried out by taking the numbers into view
according to predefined logical rules.
[0066] In a further embodiment, the square-based rectangular
construction elements 10 are not formed as one piece, rather they
comprise multiple individual cubes defined by edges 11. The
individual cubes are attached to each other by means of a central
shaft 17 in such a way that the individual cubes can be
independently rotated relative to each other around said central
shaft 17. This embodiment allows for the construction elements 10,
for example, to be attached to each other on the basis of various
colour-figure combinations or alphanumeric information, according
to even more complicated logical rules. FIG. 13 illustrates such a
square-based construction element 10 containing a triplet of cubes.
The shaft 17 coupling the cubes comprises a disc 18 for each cube,
said discs being accommodated in a respective hole within each
cube. Instead of discs, other shapes, like a sphere, may also be
used as securing members. Alternatively, said securing members may
even be omitted within the intermediate cubes since it is enough to
use them in the cubes accommodating the two ends of the shaft. In
this specific embodiment, at least the terminal cubes may be made
from two halves, said halves being joined after insertion of the
shaft 17 into the cubes by means of gluing or other form-fitting
engagement. For the intermediate cubes, it may be enough to provide
them with a through-hole for receiving the shaft 17.
[0067] One of the advantages of the invention is that unlike the
conventional construction toys, the rectangular construction
elements allow assembling any spatial configurations in which the
adjacent construction elements provide continuous, joint planar
surfaces. These planar surfaces allow, for example, to display
visual information on the faces of the construction elements for
logical tasks. However, the kit of construction elements according
to the invention may also be used as a logical toy in itself, i.e.
without presenting visual information, as long as it contains a
plurality of construction elements of different sizes and/or
shapes.
[0068] Another advantage of the invention is that when it is used
as a logical toy, the way of building a specific configuration is
not restricted by the three-dimensional design of the construction
elements, which is due to the fact that the construction elements
are functionally arranged symmetrically with respect to the binding
elements. With three-dimensional logical toys, if a toy includes a
plurality of pieces, it is necessary that the construction elements
are compatible and conform in terms of their size and connectivity.
If a construction element comprises a binding element on one of its
faces and a receiving part on its opposite face, then the use of
the logical toy is also restricted by its three-dimensional design,
which is an undesired effect. However, in case the player is
allowed to decide on which face of a three-dimensional body is used
as a receiving part or an intruding part, then the factor which
limits the use of the logical toy can be eliminated.
[0069] The kit of construction elements according to the present
invention is available not only for use as a toy, but it may be
advantageously applied also in the field of the construction
industry. In this application field the material of the
construction elements and the binding elements, as well as their
dimensions are selected so that they are adapted for building
either indoor or outdoor constructions. Because of the form-fitting
or force-fitting engagement between the construction elements and
the binding elements they are preferably made of materials which
allow a rather precise shaping. These materials include, among
others, the industrial plastics, such as HD polyethylene,
polypropylene, PVC, plexiglass, etc.
[0070] In case of an application in the construction industry, a
preferred embodiment of the kit of construction elements according
to the present invention contains hollow construction elements with
an aperture on at least one of its faces, wherein the internal
cavity of the construction elements may be filled out with a
specific material. For example, when the construction elements are
used as building wall elements, they may be filled out with a heat
insulating material, whereas in case of their use as a retaining
wall, they may be filled out with soil or any other packing
material, such as gravel or break-stone. In a further embodiment,
the hollow construction elements have apertures on each of their
faces, and in this case the construction elements may be filled
out, for example, with a translucent material for decoration or
functional purposes, or they may be left event empty for the same
reasons.
[0071] As shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b, in a particularly preferred
embodiment of the kit of construction elements according to the
present invention, which may be primarily applied in the field of
construction industry, the kit of construction elements is
supplemented with thin terminal elements 50, one of the faces 51 of
which is entirely flat, whereas on the opposite face 52 thereof,
there is at least one binding element 53 integrally formed from the
material of the terminal element 50, said binding element 53 being
adapted to fit to the construction elements 10. Preferably, the
binding element 53 has a shape produced by longitudinally halving
an abovementioned binding element 20 and arranging it at an
appropriate position of the terminal element 50 so that it can fit
to a respective lateral groove 11 of a construction element 10 and
thereby the opposite faces of a terminal element 50 and an
associated construction element 10 substantially abut against each
other. The use of the terminal elements 50 allows making entirely
flat wall surfaces.
[0072] Still considering the construction industrial application,
in a particularly preferred embodiment of the kit of construction
elements according to the present invention, the construction
elements are disassembled to panels and the three-dimensional
bodies of the construction elements can be assembled from the
separate panels by means of known fastening techniques, preferably
by snap-fitting. In this case the construction elements of the kit
are preferably made of a material that is rigid enough for being
used as a wall element while also being flexible enough to allow
snapping said panels together.
* * * * *