U.S. patent number 3,596,396 [Application Number 04/818,615] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-03 for system of hinged polygonic shapes.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Geometric Industries Inc.. Invention is credited to Betty J. Thomson.
United States Patent |
3,596,396 |
Thomson |
August 3, 1971 |
SYSTEM OF HINGED POLYGONIC SHAPES
Abstract
This disclosure is directed to a system of hinging a plurality
of distinct similar polygonic shapes for movement between an
enlarged modular unit shape composed of the respective plural
shapes and a variety of alternate nonmodular shapes. The
arrangement is such that one or more of the respective shapes may
be pivoted individually or in groups about their respective axis of
rotation independent of the remainder shapes. The respective
polygonic shapes are hinged so as to pivot or rotate about
perpendicularly disposed axis.
Inventors: |
Thomson; Betty J. (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Geometric Industries Inc.
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25225959 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/818,615 |
Filed: |
April 23, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/487;
428/542.2; 273/155 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/088 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/06 (20060101); A63F 9/08 (20060101); A63h
033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/1,25,24,23 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: Weinhold; D. L.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An article of manufacture comprising
a plurality of polygonic shapes,
means for hingedly connecting said polygonic shapes to an adjacent
polygonic shape in open series whereby at least one of said shapes
may be rotated about its hinged connection independently of any of
the other of said shapes,
said shapes being adapted to fold between a unit modular formation
which is geometrically similar in shape to the shape of the
individual shape of said plural polygonic shape and comprising a
multiple of said shapes, and a series of different geometric
patterns in which said unit modular shape is disrupted, and
the number of said hinge means interconnecting adjacent blocks
being equal to one less than the number of shapes making up said
modular unit,
and the axis of said hinge means being angularly disposed whereby
the respective blocks are rotated either individually or in
selected groups in different planes about the respective axis of
said hinge means.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said axis of
rotation about which said shape may rotate is disposed in relative
perpendicular relationship.
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said shapes may
comprise solid parallelogram shapes.
4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said shapes may
comprise hollow parallelogram shapes.
5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said shapes may have
an open side whereby said opened sided shape may be utilized as a
receiver.
6. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said shapes are
cubic.
7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for
hingedly connecting said shapes comprises an adhesive strip of
material.
8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein certain of said
shapes are hingedly connected to at least two adjacent blocks along
their respective adjacent edges, and the remainder shapes connected
to only one adjacent block along adjacent edges.
9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said shapes include
eight cubes,
at least two of said cubes being hingedly connected to three
adjacent cubes along their respective adjacent edge portions,
at least two of said cubes being hingedly connected to at least two
adjacent cubes along their adjacent edges,
and the remaining cubes being hingedly connected to a single
adjacent cube, along one adjacent edge only.
Description
OBJECTS
An object of this invention is to provide a plurality of polygonic
shapes serially hinged for movement between a plurality of
alternate geometric configurations.
Another object is to provide a system of hinging similarly
constructed polygonic shapes in a predetermined series whereby the
number of hinging axis is one less than the number of connected
shapes and in which the hinging axis are perpendicularly
disposed.
Another object is to provide a system of hingedly connecting a
plurality of similarly constructed polygonic shapes for movement
between a unit modular assembled from the plurality of shapes and a
plurality of alternate nonmodular shapes.
Another object is to provide a system of hingedly connecting a
plurality of distinct similarly constructed shapes to define
various-shaped modular configurations.
Another object is to provide a system of hingedly connecting a
plurality of multisided ploygoniclike shapes into various geometric
patterns of connected polygons.
Another object is to provide a system of hingedly connecting a
plurality of polygonic shapes whereby depending upon the
construction of the particular polygonic shapes can be used for a
variety of disassociated uses, e.g. modular furniture, tables,
chairs, a display stand or shelves, or a game, a puzzle or
amusement.
The foregoing objects, features and advantages are attained by a
system of serially hinging a plurality of similar polygonic shapes
in which the respective shapes can be rotated about their
respective axis of rotation to define a plurality of alternate
geometric forms. For example the polygonic shapes may include
cubes, parallelograms, trapezoidals, or other forms. The respective
shapes or polygons are suitably hinged along at least one of their
adjacent edges so that the hinged shapes may rotate about its
respective axis independently, or in unison with one or more, but
less than all of the connected shapes. Preferably the joined
polygonic shapes are hinged so that the plurality of connected
shapes define in one position thereof a modular unit similar in
configuration as the sum of its respective connected polygonic
shapes. If desired respective polygonic shapes may be formed as
opened sided figures so as to permit such shapes to receive other
articles and things, thereby rendering the alternately formed
geometric shapes to be used for stands, displays and/or as modular
pieces of furniture. In miniature form the structure may be used as
a puzzle, game or novelty.
A feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein the
serially connected shapes, depending on the size and structure
thereof may be utilized in a variety of dissimilar
applications.
Other features and advantages will be more readily apparent when
considered in view of the drawings and description in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the system of hinged
polygonic shapes folded into their unit modular position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the
modular unit of FIG. 1 rotated counterclockwise 90.degree..
FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the
modular unit rotated counterclockwise another 90.degree..
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in which the
respective shapes have been moved to one of its nonmodular
positions.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention illustrated in
another of its nonmodular positions.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention in yet another of its
nonmodular positions.
FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of a particular hinge
construction.
FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view of the hinge construction of FIG.
7.
FIG. 9 illustrates a modular unit construction utilizing an
open-sided polygonic shape.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another form of the invention
utilizing another polygonic construction.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 a system
20 for hinging polygonic shapes or forms 1 to 8 in a manner whereby
the respective shapes or forms 1 to 8 can be rotated about a hinged
axis h1 to h7 between a modular unit construction as shown in FIGS.
1 to 3 and a plurality of alternate nonmodular positions, e.g.
illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and other arrangements not shown, but
readily apparent upon an understanding of the illustrated
constructions. The polygonic shapes 1 to 8 in the illustrated form
of the invention consists of similarly shaped cubic structures,
which may be of solid or hollow construction, and/or may be
provided with one, two or more open sides, as shown for example in
FIGS. 9 and 10. The system of hinging 20 to be herein described may
be employed also with other polygonic shapes, such as
parallelograms, trapezoidals and the like.
In the illustrated form of the invention each system 20 is
preferably composed of eight similar-constructed forms 1 to 8, e.g.
cubes wherein the respective cubes 1 to 8 are serially connected so
that one cube or form is hingedly connected to another one of the
cubes or forms. The arrangement is such that in the folded position
as noted in FIGS. 1 to 3 the respective forms or cubes 1 to 8 can
be readily disposed relative to one another to define a larger
modular unit or cube 21 in which one or more of the smaller cubes
or forms 1 to 8 may be rotated about their respective axis h1 to h7
to define nonmodular shapes as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, it being
understood that FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are merely illustrative alternate
forms, and not conclusive of all of the nonmodular shapes possible
by the described system 20.
Basically for an eight unit modular 21 of FIGS. 1 to 3, seven
hinging axis h1 to h7 are required. In other words the number of
hinging axis h required to form the system is one less than the
number of forms or cubes 1 to 8 comprising the modular 21. Also the
invention contemplates that two or more modulars 21 (not shown) may
be hinged together to increase the number of possible variations of
nonmodular shapes. In such case two modular units, such as 21 may
be joined by hinging connecting the adjacent edges of at least one
block in each unit 21--21.
The hinging means by which adjacent blocks or forms 1 to 8 may be
pivotally connected may be of any suitable hinge connection.
However in the illustrated form, the cubes or forms 1 to 8
comprising the modular unit 21 the hinge means comprises an
adhesively backed strip 22 which may be formed of any suitable
material, e.g. leather, fibrous, mylar or other strong, flexible
materials, depending upon the particular application to which the
system is to be used. Also mechanical, metallic hinge constructions
may be used when the system is used as a piece of furniture as will
be herein described.
For purposes of description only, the respective forms or cubes 1
to 8 making up the basic eight cube modular unit 21 have been
individually identified by numerals 1 to 8, which numbering has
been maintained throughout the various views. Referring
particularly to FIG. 6, the respective forms of cubes 1 to 8 are
serially connected along hinge or fold axis h identified as h1, h2,
h3, h4, h5, h6 and h7. With the construction illustrated, cube or
form 1 is hingedly connected to the adjacent edge of form 2 so as
to be pivoted relative thereto about hinge axis h3. Cube 5 is
hinged to cube 6 about axis h2. Cube 6 is also hinged to adjacent
edge of block 7 about hinge axis h5. Cube 7 is hinged to adjacent
block 8 about hinge axis h6. Cube 3 is hinged to block 7 about
hinge axis h7 and cube 4 is hinged to adjacent edge of cube 3 about
hinge axis h4.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the respective hinge construction h1 to
h7 defining the respective hinge axis or axes rotation comprises an
adhesive strip 22, 22 secured to the adjacent hinged blocks. Thus
it will be noted that two strips 22, 22 define each hinge
construction.
It will be understood that the respective forms or cubes 1 to 8 can
be made of any suitable material, e.g. glass, plastic, metal, wood
etc.; the type of material being dependent upon the particular use
and styling desired.
In the described construction, the arrangement is such that one or
more cubes or forms 1 to 8 can be rotated about its particular axis
or rotation without effecting the displacement of the remaining
blocks. Accordingly, one or more of the respective cubes may be
rotated out of the basic modular unit position 21. The system of
hinging similarly shaped forms thus enables one to create various
nonmodular designs and shapes.
The system of joining various shapes as herein described thus
renders the same to be utilized as a novelty, i.e. a toy, puzzle or
a variable cubiclike design form, or in larger forms may be
utilized for more utilitarian needs, e.g. modular modern furniture
designs such as table and chair groups, lounges and the like, or
the unit construction may be used as shelves, display stands or the
like.
Referring to FIG. 9, the respective forms or shapes 1 to 8 may be
defined as cubes having an open side as indicated at 25, thereby
permitting various articles to be placed therein for storage or
display. As hereinbefore described, the arrangement of the
respective open-sided forms of FIG. 9 may be rotated about their
respective hinged axis so that various, nonmodular shapes may be
formed in the same manner as hereinbefore described.
In FIG. 10, the cubiclike forms 1 to 8 may be provided with two or
more open sides as shown. In this construction the arrangement can
provide for various novel readily adjustable pieces of furniture.
For example as shown, back-to-back chairs can be formed. Also
depending upon the arrangement of the respective cubic forms,
various nonmodular arrangements can be made simply by rotating the
respective cubiclike forms about their respective axes or
rotation.
The system of hinging the cubiclike forms of FIGS. 9 and 10 is
similar to that described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3. Therefore
the cubiclike forms of FIGS. 9 and 10 can be rotated into the same
nonmodular arrangements in which the forms or shapes 1 to 8 of
FIGS. 1 to 3 may be placed.
The respective forms, hinged as herein described thus rotate
through right angles and/or about perpendicular disposed axes.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the described system
for hinging geometric shapes such as cubes, or the like, depending
upon dimension, can be utilized for a host of diverse applications.
Therefore it will be readily understood and appreciated that
variations and modifications may be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention.
* * * * *