Construction Toy

Abstract

An educational toy for constructing three dimensional, geometric figures by combining together numerous unitary planar construction members each having an array of holes and array of pins. Each construction member has two wing-shaped elements joined by a hinge at the longitudinal axis of the member and two hinges in each end of the member. The hinges permit the member to be deformed into the edges and corner of various polyhedra. The arrays of holes and pins have a circular symmetry about each end of the member. The construction members mate together by attaching the portion of the member containing pins to a corresponding portion on another member containing holes. The circular symmetry of the arrays of holes and pins permits the members to mesh together in selectable angular relationships.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to mechanical toys and, more particularly, to toys having unitary construction members.

2. Summary of the Invention

The construction toy, which I call a polyhinge, is a planar construction member which can be joined to other similar members to form numerous three dimensional, geometric figures. Each construction member has two semi-circular, outward opening ends that are joined by a co-planar web. The silhouette of the member is generally butterfly-shpaed. On one portion of each semi-circular end is an array of holes, and on the other portion is an array of pins. The arrays of pins and holes have a generally circular symmetry about the radial center of each semi-circular end. The pins and holes are separated by angular intervals of 3.degree. of arc or multiples thereof because the interior angles of all regular polyhedra have such multiples. The complementary angular arrays of holes and pins permit one construction member to releasably mesh with other similar construction members in selectable angular relationships. In addition, each construction member has a longitudinal hinge connecting the radial centers of each semi-circular end and two radial hinges in each semi-circular end. The hinges permit the construction member to bend and to flex in order to produce the corners and intersections of the surfaces of the polyhedra.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an educational toy having the capability of constructing numerous, diverse polyhedra. This toy is intended to provide basic training in the principles of planes and solid geometry. The members can fasten together to form a straight line, a triangle, a square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, decagon, etc. In addition, the five hinges on each polyhinge permit the member to be bent in order to form three dimensional geometric shapes analogous to the aforementioned plane figures.

This educational toy also teaches motor coordination and spacial perception because the polyhedra are constructed by mating the members together and the mating angles differ throughout the construction. In one embodiment of the invention the members are manufactured with numerical indicia identifying each hole and pin. During construction the user can learn the various angular relationships of the members comprising the structure by consulting these indicia.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction toy utilizing a single unitary element. In this invention there is one piece which is joined with other identical pieces to form numerous two dimensional and three dimensional geometric shapes. All of the members are interchangeable so there is little confusion and the size and shape of the possible constructions is limited only by the number of members available.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive toy having substantial flexiblity. In one embodiment of the present invention, a single, planar, polypropylene plate with integral silhouette is used. Because the manufacturing process variously construct these polyhinges is simple, the cost of producing a set having a large number of members is quite butterfly-shaped Thus, with the variety of constructions limited only by the quantity of available members and the price of each member quite nominal, the user has the capability of constructing polyhedra having hundreds of planes. A rhombicosidodecahedron having 180 edges was constructed using the polypropylene embodiment.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a construction member that can combine various polyhedra together in order to form bigger and more complex geometrical structures. The polyhinges can form geometrical figures which can be easily joined to other similar geometrical figures to provide groups of such figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the polyhinge showing the arrays of pins, holes and hinges;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the reverse side of the polyhinge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the polyhinge in section taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing the pins, holes and hinges and the raised portion of the semi-circular end;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the polyhinge in section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1 showing the pins, holes and hinges on the polyhinge and the raised portion of the semi-circular end portion; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two polyhinges mated together showing the inter-relationship of the arrays of holes and pins on corresponding members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 generally indicates the unitary construction member which I call a polyhinge. The construction member consists of a semi-circular end 14, another semi-circular end 16 and a web 18 joining the ends.

The semi-circular ends 14, 16 open outward, away from the web 18. In this embodiment the semi-circlar ends are generally semi-annular in shape because of a central circular hole indcated by reference numeral 19. The ends 14, 16 also have end tips 20 and 21 which extend beyond the geometrical boundaries of a true semi-circle.

The radial center of each semi-circualr end is indicated by reference numeral 22. It is about this point that all distances and arcs are measured for the member. The silhouette of the construction member can be variously described as two wing-shaped elements joined along the longitudinal axis of the member between points 22 or as a butterfly-shaped element having two opposed wings that are the ends 14 and 16.

The construction member includes a longitudinal hinge 24 that extends for the length of the member. The axis of the longitudinal hinge connects the radial centers 22 of the semi-circular end 14 and the semi-circular end 16. The longitudinal hinge permits the construction member to be bent or to be folded in order to form the inter-face between adjacent planes of three dimensional geometric constructions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hinge was manufactured by forming a channel in the member and having the apex of the channel penetrate the reverse side of the member at selected points. The hinge 24 in FIG. 2 incorporates this channel and the points of penetration are shown in FIG. 1. The axis of the longitudinal hinge is the zero degree point for angles measured with respect to the radial centers 22. The longitudinal hinge also separates the ends 14 and 16 into two portions A and B hereinafter described.

The construction member 12 is axially symmetric about an orthogonal axis at the geometrical center 25 of the construction member. In other words, if the construction member 12 were cut in half transversely through the web 18 and the semi-circular end 16 were rotated 180.degree. about the orthogonal axis at 25 the semi-circular end 14 would be reproduced. Thus, although in FIGS. 1 and 2 portion A in end 14 is diametrically opposed across the geometrical center 25 to the other portion A in end 16, as are the B portions, the respective A and B portions on each end are physically and functionally identical. Hence, only the semi-circular end 14 need be described in detail. It is to be understood, however, that any description of the semi-circular end of 14 also applies to the semi-circular end 16.

The ends 14 and 16 and the web 18 are generally coplanar; however, within portion B a recess 26 is provided. The recess has a longitudinal boundary 28 which is parallel with the longitudinal hinge 24. The recess includes all of the B portion of the semi-circular end between the recess boundary 28 and the end tip 21. In FIG. 1 the recess 26 lies below and parallel with the overall plane of the web 18 and portion A of the ends. Referring to FIG. 3, the depth of the recess 26 is equal to the uniform thickness of the member itself. In FIG. 2, the recess 26 on the B portion of the end is shown from the reverse side of the member in FIG. 1 and hence the recess 26 is raised above the plane of the web. In FIG. 2 the recess boundary is indicated by reference numeral 30. The purpose of the recess is to provide a location within which other construction members may mate with this member and form a neat interfacial joint. The recess permits the B portion of the end of this member, when mated to another member, to overlap the other member. Recess 26 forms a plane on to which the semi-circular end of another member can be received.

The semi-circular ends 14, 16 each have two radial hinges extending outward from the radial center 22. Reference numeral 32 indicates a hinge located in portion B at an angle of 60.degree. measured from the longitudinal axis of the member. Reference numeral 34 indicates a hinge located in portion A at an angle of 48.degree. measured from the longitudinal axis of the member. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hinges 32, 34 were each manufactured by forming a channel in the member and having the apex of the channel almost penetrate through the member. In FIG. 1 the channel for the 60.degree. hinge in portion B is shown. In FIG. 2 the channel for the 48.degree. hinge in portion A is shown. Thus, the channels forming the hinges 32, 34 open outward on opposite sides of the member. These radial hinges are provided to fold the end tips 20, 21 out of the way when the members are mated together to form the corners in three-dimensional polyhedra or to form intersecting planes in polyhedra having small interior angles.

Referring to FIG. 1, on the B portion of the semi-circular end having the lowered recess 26 is an array of pins. Each pin in the array is uniform in shape and has a height roughly equal to the thickness of the member. Referring to FIG. 3, the top surface of the pins on the B portion of the end is coplanar with the A portion of the same end. In this embodiment of the invention the pins were circular in cross-section. The array of pins in portion B has a generally radial symmetry about the radial center 22. In this embodiment of the present invention, the array of pins included pins having equal radial distances from point 22 located at the following angular points, measured from the longitudinal axis of the member; 45.degree., 54.degree., 90.degree., and 105.degree.. In addition, there is a 30.degree. pin disposed at substantially smaller radial position than the other pins in the array. In FIG. 2, the portions of the semi-circular ends having the raised recesses 26 contain no pins and are perfectly flat.

On the A portion of each semi-circular end is located an array of holes. In this embodiment the holes in the array were circular in shape and penetrated completely through the member. The holes are dimensioned to receive the similarly shaped pins located in the array on the B portion of the member. The array of holes has a generally circular symmetry about the radial center 22 of the semi-circular end. In this embodiment the holes, having the same radial displacement from point 22 as the outer, more numerous array of pins, were located at the following angular positions measured about the radial center 22 from the longitudinal axis of the member; 6.degree. , 15.degree. , 30.degree. , 36.degree. , 39.degree. , 45.degree. , 54.degree. , 63.degree. , 66.degree. , 75.degree. , 81.degree., and 90.degree.. In addition, there is an inner array of holes also having circular symmetry and having a smaller radial displacement measured from the radial center 22. The holes comprising the inner array are located at 30.degree. , 60.degree., and 78.degree. and 90.degree.. The radial displacement of this inner array of holes is equal to the radius to the 30.degree. pin hereinbefore described in portion B. In order to include the hole at 90.degree., the remote boundary of end tip 20 is located at 93.degree. and to include the pin at 105.degree., the remote boundary of end tip 21 of portion B is located at 108.degree.. Thus, the end tips 20, 21 on the semi-circular ends extend beyond the geometrical boundaries of a true semi-circle.

Both the arrays of holes and the arrays of pins are distributed at angularly spaced increments having an integral multiple of 3.degree.. Thus, any combination of regular geometric figures is possible. It is to be understood that the arrays of pins and holes can be varied both in radial and angular location in order to accommodate different constructions. In the embodiment hereinbefore described neither every pin nor every hole capable of being placed on the member at locations having integral multiples of 3.degree. was described. The hereinbefore described arrays have been found to be the most practical arrangement to encompass the largest number of polyhedra. However, it is to be understood that any radial or angular distribution of both holes and pins is intended.

The web 18 also contains an array of pins and holes. Referring to FIG. 1, the web has two diametrically opposed pins located near the A portions of the semi-circular end. In this embodiment the web pins are located on only one side of the member. The web also contains two diametrically opposed holes located near the B portions of the semi-circular ends. The array of holes and pins on the web has a rectangular symmetry about the geometrical center 25. The cross-section of the pins and the shape of the holes may be of any suitable shape provided that the pins on one web will be received by the holes on the web of a different member. In this embodiment the pins are circular in cross-section as are the holes. In addition, to avoid confusion and cross-mating between the members the diameter of the pins and holes in the web array are substantially larger than the diameter of the holes and pins in the arrays at the semi-circular ends. Thus, the semi-circular ends are intended to mesh with complementary semi-circular ends, A portions mating with B portions, and the arrays of holes and pins on the web mate with complementary arrays on other webs.

In operation the construction members are mated together by suitably joining the pins on the B portions of the members into the holes that complementarily receive each other on the A portions of other members. Referring to FIG. 5, two construction members have been so mated. In one embodiment of this invention, the construction member was fabricated with numerical indices identifying the angular portions of each hole and pin on the semi-circular ends. When joining the members together to achieve a desired angle of intersection between the respective longitudinal axes, the numerical indices are consulted. The desired angle of mating can be achieved by combining a hole and a pin whose numerical indices have no arithmatic sum equal to the desired angle. For example, in FIG. 5, an intersection of 120.degree. is shown. To achieve this configuration the pins in the B portion of member 40 are fitted into the corresponding holes in the array of portion A of member 42. To achieve the angle of 120.degree., the 45.degree. pin on member 40 is fitted into the 75.degree. hole on member 42, the 54.degree. pin into the 66.degree. hole, the 90.degree. pin into the 30.degree. hole, and the 105.degree. pin into the 15.degree. hole.

Hence, it can be seen that by suitably arranging the angular relationship of the arrays of pins and holes, the construction members can mesh together in any selectable angular relationship. In essence, two construction members mate together much like meshing gears, the equal radial displacements of both holes and pins permitting the meshing together. There is an overlapping and interlocking relationship between complementary elements at preselected angular locations.

To form three dimensional figures, the construction members are folded along the longitudinal hinges 24. When mated together the members then become part of the intersecting planes of the polyhedron. The axis of the hinge becomes an edge of the geometric figure. If either end of the construction member blocks or restricts the mating of another construction member, the remote end tip 20, 21 can be folded out of the way merely by bending the end tip along the 60.degree. hinge, 32, or the 48.degree. hinge, 34. The end tips 20, 21 thus can be folded like flaps. The ability to fold the semi-circular ends out of the way is especially useful when constructing polyhedra and plain polygons having very small interior angles. On very small polyhedra it may even be necessary to cut off a segment of the flaps with a knife to provide suffient clearance. The central hole 19 in each semi-circular end also facilitates the mating of construction members both when small interior angles are encountered and also when the member is folded along the longitudinal hinge 24.

To form groups of two and three dimensional constructions by joining two or more regular polyhedra together, the array of holes and pins on the web is used. If the individual polyhedra are put together with the pins on the webs extending outward, then grouping is accomplished by joining the complementary pins and holes in one geometric figure to similarly disposed holes and pins on the web array on another geometric figure. The web array on each member thus permits polyhedra to be joined together to form numerous combinations of individual polyhedra.

If a single, smooth, regular polyhedron is desired with no outward protruding web pins, the mating of the members is performed with the web pins directed inward, toward the center of the polygon. Although the resulting construction can not be joined to other polyhedra, the geometric figure has smooth interfaces.

The individual construction member may be fabricated from any suitable metallic or plastic material. In this embodiment of the invention the polyhinge was constructed from polypropylene because of this plastic's ability to be molded with integral hinges. In addition, polypropylene can be molded with numerical indices on the surfaces of the construction member identifying the holes and pins.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that other adaptations and modifications to this invention can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such modifications could include varying both the radial and angular distribution of the arrays of holes and pins in the semi-circular ends. In addition, the overall silhouette of the construction member may be varied to accomplish more efficient meshing of the complementary portions of the member.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A construction member comprising: two opposing, generally semi-circular, exterior opening planar ends joined by a coplanar web, each of said ends having an array of angularly spaced apart pins thereon for releasably mating one member to another member; and a longitudinal hinge through said ends and web and disposed along the axis connecting the radial centers of the semi-circular ends.

2. The construction member of claim 1 further including two hinges in each semi-circular end,

said hinges being radially disposed from the radial center of each end.

3. A construction member comprising:

two opposing, generally semi-circular, exterior opening, planar ends joined by a coplanar web, each of said semi-circular ends having an array of angularly spaced-apart holes and an array of angularly spaced-apart pins thereon;

a longitudinal hinge through said ends and web and disposed along the axis connecting the radial centers of semi-circular ends; and

hinges in each semi-circular end radially disposed from the radial center of each end.

4. The construction member of claim 3 wherein the array of the angularly spaced-apart holes is disposed on one quandrant of said semi-circular end and the array of angularly spaced-apart pins is disposed on the other quandrant of said semi-circular end.

5. The construction member of claim 4 wherein the surface of the quadrant containing the angularly spaced-apart pins is recessed relative to the quadrant containing the angularly spaced-apart holes so that meshing of the pins and holes of multiple construction members results in a substantially planar structure.

6. The construction member of claim 3 wherein the array of angularly spaced-apart holes comprises an array of irregularly spaced holes and wherein the array of angularly spaced-apart pins comprises an array of irregularly spaced pins, said irregular spacing of pins and holes preventing meshing of multiple construction members other than to form regular polyhedra.