AU736517B2

AU736517B2 - Multipurpose modular article

Info

Publication number: AU736517B2
Application number: AU58252/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Te-Li Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-29
Filing date: 1999-11-03
Publication date: 2001-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-03
Also published as: FR2800296B3; FR2800296A3; AU5825299A; GB9925871D0; GB2355672A; DE20019176U1; CA2288422A1; GB2355672B

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): TE-LI HUANG Invention Title: MULTIPURPOSE MODULAR ARTICLE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Title: Multipurpose modular article FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invnetion relates to the multipurpose modular article comprising one equilateral triangular building block, one rectangular building block, one connection rod capable of being connected with one side of each of the building blocks, one sleeve, one toggle, and one wheel. Each of these building blocks is a basic building unit which is provided with a tenon or mortise. These building units are joined together by means of tenons and mortises to form a polygonal object such that the connection rod is located between the two building blocks, and that the connection rod is provided with a movable joint effect, and further that each building block is capable of being folded in a positive direction and an opposite direction. As a result, the basic building units of the present invention can be arranged or fitted together in a variety of ways to S•form containers or articles similar to the modular racks. The triangular and or rectangular building blocks are provided with a hollow portion into which plastic plates .i 15 or various pictures are inserted. The plastic plates may be colorless and transparent or translucent. The total thickness of the two plates stacked in the hollow portion does not exceed the thickness of the triangular and or rectangular block. As a result, the hollow portion has a function of serving as a small-sized picture frame for decorative purposes.

20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional modular toys, such as modular robots, modular animals, modular vehicles, etc., have profiles of heads, tails, feets, wheels, and the like. These profiles are formed by the modular units which have the following limitations in application.

1. The modular units can be used for forming only one portion of an object and can not be used to form other portions of the object. In other words, the modular units are not multipurpose.

2. The function of the conventional modular toys is dependent on the versatility of the modular units, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in the production cost as well as the selling price.

3. In the event that one of the units is absent or lost, the existing units can not be joined together to form an object without deficiency.

4. Each modular unit is limited by the fixed profile of certain portions. As a result, the versatility is undermined. The conventional modular toys are thus monotonous at best.

In addition, the tubes and the plates are fitted together to form a modular rack comprising a plurality of joints or connections, which must be fastened by a bolt or a retaining member similar to the bolt. As a result, a hand tool is often called for in a situation in which the modular toys are assembled or disassembled. The cost is relatively high in view of the structural complexity of the modular toys. The assembly of the toys is especially costly and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of the present invention is to provide the multipurpose building blocks comprising the basic building units, such as an equilateral triangular building block, a rectangular building block, a connection rod, a sleeve, a toggle, and a wheel, which can be fastened with each side of each of the building blocks. These units are fitted together by means of mortises and tenons to form a polygonal object such that the connection rod is located between two building blocks, and that the connection rod is provided with a movable joint effect so as to enable the building blocks to be folded in a positive direction or an opposite direction. As a result, the building blocks can be arranged or fitted together in a variety of ways to various containers, such as a pencil or pen holder, a stationery box, a business card box, or articles similar to modular racks.

It is another objective of the present invention is to provide the above triangular and or rectangular building block with a hollow portion for inserting thereinto the plastic plates of various colors or various pictures. The plastic plates may be colorless and transparent or translucent, opaque. The total thickness of two plates stacked in the hollow portion does not exceed the thickness of the above triangular and or 20 rectangular building block. The hollow portion has a variety of colors and a function of *-..*serving as a small-sized picture frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS *Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of first preferred, embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the rectangular building block and the connection rod element of the present invention in combination.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a modular structure derived from the first preferred embodiment and the second preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the triangular building block and or rectangular building block be provided with a hollow portion into which the plastic plate.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a modular structure derived from the other preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 6.

3 Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a variation of the embodiment as shown in Fig.

8.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a modular structure formed by the application of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 shows a section view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line 9-9 as shown in Fig. Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 shows an exploded view of a wheel body portion as shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows an end view in" A" direction as shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 shows a schematic view of the wheel body portion of Fig. 12 in 15 combination.

Fig. 16 shows a side view of Fig. SFig. 17 shows a side view of Fig. 12.

Fig. 18 shows a schematic view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.

eeeei Fig. 19 shows a schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.

shows a partial schematic view of the sixth preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the present invention comprises the following.

An equilateral triangular building block 10 is provided in each side thereof with a recessed portion 11 which is provided in two opposite sides thereof with a retaining portion 12 of a round recessed construction, and a gap portion 13 of an open forked shape and separated from the retaining portion 12 by a short distance.

A connection rod 20 is slightly smaller in length than the recessed portion 11 of the building block 10 and is provided at both ends thereof with a pair of connection portion 21of a protruded spherical and similar in shape and size to each other. The connection portion 21 is inserted into the recessed portion I of the building block and is retained by the retaining portion 12 such that they are capable of motion relative to each other. The other connection portion 21is connected with another building block A rectangular building block 30 is provided in each side thereof with a recessed portion 11 which is provided in two opposite sides thereof with a retaining portion 12 of a round recessed construction, and a gap portion 13 of an open forked shape and separated from the retaining portion 12 by a short distance. At each appropriate place of the recessed portion 11, there is a notch 14 of a recessed construction. The bottom interval 16 of the notch 14 of the opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 7 and 8, must be at least equal to the interval 15 of the opposite side of the recessed portion 11i.

The equilateral triangular building block 10 and the rectangular building block are provided at any position thereof with a plurality of through holes 15 in accordance with needs, so as to connect in series with other rodlike elements (not shown in the drawings).

o• As shown in Fig. 3, the retaining portion 12 of the two opposite sides of each 15 recessed portion 11 of the equilateral triangular building block 10 and the rectangular building block 30 of the present invention may be changed in construction to be of a protruded round sharp. The connection portions 21 of both ends of the connection rod 20 may be changed in construction to be of a recessed spherical sharp. Such changes can also serve to attain the building effect.

20 As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, through any combination of the above elements, the retaining portion 12 of a plurality of the equilateral triangular building block 10 and the connection portions 21 of the connection rod 20 can bejoined together from each side direction. Each unit is then made into a movable modular article container of a polygonal platelike construction such that the connection rod 20 located between each pair of building blocks 10 is provided with a movable joint effect. Furthermore, each building block 10 is capable of being folded and turned around in a positive direction and an opposite direction. As a result, a variety of modular containers or support bodies can be formed.

As shown in Fig. 6 and 7, the above-mentioned triangular building block 10 and or rectangular building block 30 may be provided with a hollow portion 31 into which the plastic plate 32 different in color from the building block 10 and 30, and various pictures are inserted. The plastic plate 32 is in various color, colorless and transparent or translucent, opaque. The total thickness of two pieces stacked in the hollow portion 31 does not exceed the thickness of the triangular and or rectangular building block 10, 30 serving a fUnction as a small-sized picture frame.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the present invention further comprises a second connection rod 40 in addition to the above-mentioned equilateral triangular building block 10, connection rod 20, and rectangular building block 30. The second connection rod 40 is similar in form to the connection rod 20 and is slightly greater in width than the connection rod 20. The width of the second connection rod 40 is about equal to the thickness of three pieces of the equilateral triangular building block 10 or rectangular building block 30. The second connection rod 40 is provided at both ends thereof with a recessed area 41 in which the retaining portion 12 of the

S

above-mentioned equilateral triangular building block 10 and rectangular building block 30 is rotatably retained. The combination patterns are shown in Figs. 10 and I1.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the bottom interval 16 of the notch 14 of the recessed portion 11 of each rectangular building block 30 is equal to the interval 16 of two opposite sides of the recessed portion 11. Such a design is intended to provide the article container with a space partition or a rack body.

As shown in Figs. 12-17, the present invention further comprises the following.

A wheel 50 has a wheel body which is provided with a toothed periphery. The wheel 50 is provided in the axial position thereof with a hole 56 similar in sharp to the dash mark Located at one side of the axis of the wheel 50 is a shaft 51 which is provided with a forked opening 53 and is inserted into each through hole 15 of the equilateral triangular building block 10 and or rectangular building block 30. The shaft 51 is provided in two corresponding sides thereof with an inner ring 54 and an outer ring 55, which are concentric with the shaft 51.

A sleeve 60 is of a hollow construction and is fitted between the inner ring 54 and the outer ring 55 of the wheel 50 such that the sleeve 60 is fixed by these two rings.

The sleeve 60 is provided in inner periphery of both ends thereof with at least one tenon 61.

A toggle 70 is of a hollow tubular construction and is provided at the center of the outer periphery thereof with a protrusion 71, and at both ends thereof with at least one mortise 72 of an L-shaped construction. The tenon 61 of the sleeve 60 is retained the mortise 72. The building block 10 and 30, the wheel 50, the sleeve 60, and the toggle 70 are arranged together to form an article similar to a dumbbell, as shown in Figs. 12-17.

As shown in Fig. 18, each wheel 50 is put into the through hole 15 of the building block 10 and 30. such that the toothed peripheries of the wheels 50 are engaged with each other to form a dynamic transmission mechanism of a gear type. The present invention further comprises a rocking arm 80 of a crank-shaped construction and having one end which is similar in shape to the hole 56 of the center of the wheel The one end of the rocking arm 80 is inserted into the hole 56. The wheel 50 can be thus driven to turn by turning the rocking arm The wheel 50 and the building block 10 and 30 may be arranged together to use as a movable wheel body of the modular article.

As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, a filling element 130 is received in a space which is located at the place of the gap portion 13 of the building block 10 and 30. After the building block 10, 30 and the connection rods 20 are fitted together, the filling element 130 is disposed in the space located at the outer side of the gap portion 13 of both ends of the connection rod 20. The connection rod 20 is pressed by the filling element 130 for forming a modular support body to hold the articles.

For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

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Claims

1. A multipurpose modular article comprising one equilateral triangular building block, a rectangular building block, and a connection rod; wherein said triangular building block and said rectangular building block are provided in each side thereof with a recessed portion, said recessed portion being provided in two opposite sides thereof with a retaining portion of a recessed or protruded construction, and a gap portion of an open forked shape and separated from said retaining portion by a short distance; and wherein said connection rod has a length smaller than a length of said recessed portions of said triangular building block and said rectangular building block, said connection rod being provided at both ends thereof with a pair of connection portions similar in shape and size to each other and corresponding in shape to said retaining portion of said triangular building block and said rectangular building block whereby said connection portion is located in said retaining 15 portion such that said building blocks are capable of being folded and turned around in a positive direction and an opposite direction.

2. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining portion of said recessed portions of said triangular building block and said *":rectangular building block are of a protruded round shape; and wherein said connection portions of both ends of said connection rod are of a recessed S. spherical shape. 9€ 9 A

3. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining portion of said recessed portions of said triangular building block and said rectangular building block are recessed and round in shape; and wherein said 25 connection portions of both ends of said connection rod are protruded and spherical in shape.

9. 4. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1, wherein said equilateral triangular building block and said rectangular building block are provided at any position thereof with a plurality of through holes for connecting in series with other rodlike elements. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1, wherein said recessed portion of said rectangular building block is provided with a notch having a bottom interval whereby said interval is equal to an interval between the two opposite sides of said recessed portion. 6. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1 further comprising a second connection rod similar in form to said connection rod and having a width equal to the thickness of three pieces of said equilateral triangular building block or said rectangular building block whereby said second connection rod is provided at both ends thereof with a recessed area in which said retaining portion of said equilateral triangular building block or said rectangular building block is rotatably retained. ,t. 7 7. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1, wherein said triangular building block and or rectangular building block are provided with a hollow portion for containing a plastic plate in various color, colorless and transparent or translucent, opaque, or printed with letters or numbers for spelling and counting game, said plastic plate being contained in said hollow portion such that a total thickness of two stacked pieces of said plastic plate does not exceed the thickness of said triangular and or rectangular building block serving a function as a small-sized picture frame. 8. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a wheel having a wheel body provided with a toothed periphery, said wheel provided in an axis thereof with a hole similar in sharp to the dash mark equilateral triangular building block and or rectangular building block and is provided in two corresponding sides thereof with an inner ring concentric with said shaft, and an outer ring concentric with the said shaft; a sleeve of a hollow construction and located between said inner ring and said outer ring of said wheel such that said sleeve is fixed by said inner ring and said outer ring, said sleeve being provided in an inner periphery of both ends thereof with at least one tenon; S- a toggle of a hollow tubular construction and provided at a center of an 20 outer periphery thereof with a protrusion, said toggle further provided at both ends thereof with at least one mortise of an L-shaped construction whereby said mortise of said toggle retains said tenon of said sleeve so as to enable said toggle and said sleeve to join with said wheel and said building blocks. 9. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 8 further comprising a rocking arm of a crank-shaped construction, said rocking arm having one end corresponding in shape to said hole of said wheel whereby said one end of said rocking arm is rotatably received in said hole of said wheel is driven by said rocking arm. The multipurpose modular article as defined in claim 8, wherein said gap portion of said triangular building block and said rectangular building block is provided with a space for containing a filling element whereby said filling element is disposed in the space located at the outer side of said gap portion of both ends of said connection rod after said triangular building block, said rectangular building block, and said connection rod are fitted together, said connection rod being pressed by said filling element for forming a modular support body to hold the articles. Dated this 3rd day of November 1999 TE-LI HUANG By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia