EP0171409B1 - Combinatory element game for covering surfaces with various aspects, particularly to be used as a game or a surface covering - Google Patents

Abstract

The pictured element game is comprised of individual square elements having preferably the same size, which may be distributed according to different types of aspect, the member of the individual elements being essentially more important than that of the types. The types are differentiated by different geometric patterns formed on the surfaces of the elements and by the disposition of the patent on the various individual square elements. The shape of each patent and its position on the square surface are determined with respect to a base measurement corresponding to half the side of the individual square element. The types may be distributed, by reason of the form of internal separation lines of the pattern situated inside the square surface, into groups of rectilinear and circular types, two angle points of each pattern of the group of rectilinear types falling on two extreme points of one side of the individual square element and another angle point or two other angle points falling on the medium of one or the two sides of the square which are closed to said side. The radius or the diameter of the circonference of each pattern of the group of circular types may be divided by the base measure so as to obtain an integer and the curvature center of the circonference is either in a corner or on the middle of one side or on the gravity center of the individual square element.

Description

The invention relates to a combinative element set for laying out surfaces with a variable appearance, in particular for use as a toy or as surface covering, the elements of which have square surfaces and the individual element surfaces can be divided into types of different appearances, the number of individual elements being significantly greater than the number the guy is.

Many types of so-called laying games are already known. Of these, the "puzzle games" are most common. The task here is that an image is to be reconstructed by appropriately interpreting irregular elements that contain certain details of the image.

The common features of the puzzle games are that the elements can only be put together in a single combination, that the assembled image fills the entire surface and that neither the shape nor the pattern of the individual elements are the same.

A common way of laying out image or pattern surfaces from elements is mosaic. When using the mosaic on an artistic level, the individual colored stones (elements) are carefully sorted according to their colors and broken into the shapes determined by the picture. Mosaic games are known which mimic the real mosaic and consist of single-colored element types, which mostly have a rhomboid shape. Different shapes can be designed from these games. Here, the shapes of the individual elements are decisive with regard to the shape of the shapes that can be designed with them. Because of the straight lines of contours, the mosaic games do not allow arched shapes to be laid out, although the childish (human) aesthetic feeling finds the arched shapes beautiful.

Laying games are also known, the elements of which have different shapes, e.g. the various building games made of wood, with which a large number of flat or spatial shapes can be designed. Games of this type are only exceptionally suitable for completely filling an area, and the different sizes and shapes of the components make it difficult to store them in a box and to systematically select them when used. Such components are comparatively large and are generally not suitable for the creation of finely structured shapes.

Laying games are also known, the elements of which each draw a pixel of a picture in a grid-like manner. These games allow the design of a large number of combinations. Such games are e.g. the game sets, the elements of which represent small rings or rectangles that must be placed on the grid points of a game sheet. With these games, beautiful figures can only be designed with the use of a large number of elements, which requires a great deal of time and effort. This work tires the children and does not offer them an immediate sense of achievement. The proper storage of the small elements is associated with extra problems. As a general disadvantage of the non-puzzle-like layout games, it can be mentioned that the design of arc-shaped contour lines of the figures is not supported by the element shape. In the case of elements with a rectilinear shape, the resulting stair-like contour lines have a disruptive effect, and in the case of the annular elements, the rectilinear figure contours cannot be produced.

In addition to the laying games, the letter laying games can be mentioned, in which letters or numbers are written on the surface of flat square prisms. The sentence contains several pieces with the individual letters and the game allows different words or phrases to be put together.

Games of this type are mainly intended for children aged 5 to 7. The patterns (the letters) of the compound words do not form a uniform visual impression for the child and the coupling between the neighboring letters is only achieved through the logic of the word formation. No picture can be made from these elements.

The mentioned problems of laying games also appear on a more general level. The aesthetic appearance of various surface coverings is largely determined or limited by the specific design of the basic elements that can be used. This also refers to the regularly repeated combinations of tiles or other covering elements, which allow the realization of at most only a small number of figurative figures, i.e. that the figurative combinations that can be implemented by the user are largely limited.

The object of the invention is to create a combinative set of elements with which the disadvantages described above can be eliminated, and with its application from a comparatively small number of element types a practically unlimited number of different shapes of the respective desire, talent or the claim of the author ( Player) can be interpreted accordingly, whereby the resulting possibilities promote the recognition of the interaction and the harmonious application of the colors.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

A combinative element set is known (FR-A-2 514 178), in which the elements are cuboid half-cubes whose square surfaces can be divided into types with different looks, the number of elements being significantly higher than the number of types and Except for types with a single-colored surface, the types according to features b), e) and f) from claim 1 are present. However, types are also provided which do not correspond to the types specified in claim 1. But the well-known element set is special from the point of view put together to create a teaching aid for toddlers with which they can learn to read and write. For this purpose, the same letters are shown in different typefaces on the narrow sides of the half-cubes, the square areas of which are monochrome, the monochrome square areas should indicate by their color whether the respective letter is a vowel or a consonant. In the case of other half-cubes, the square surfaces of which are divided into two differently colored triangular surfaces which adjoin one another along a diagonal of the square surfaces, numbers or symbols representing the value of numbers are shown on the narrow sides of the half-cubes, the square surfaces differing from those in their appearance To distinguish half cubes, the narrow sides of which are provided with letters. Because of the selection of the types of patterns used for the square surfaces of the half-cubes, this known element set, unlike the element set according to the invention, only enables simple mosaics and simple shapes such as the composition of letters.

Another known set of elements with elements with square or rectangular areas that can be divided into types with different looks is designed with regard to the selection of the types used in such a way that numbers and letters and simple symbols can be put together in a mosaic together with single-colored areas (FR-A -1 561 934). For this purpose, in addition to types whose square surfaces are single-colored or designed according to features b) or f) from claim 1, types are also provided, which are divided into two different colored surfaces, which adjoin one another along a straight line connects the bisection point of a narrow side of a rectangular surface with a corner point of the same.

The image element set according to the invention, however, is suitable due to its many possible variations with a relatively small number of individual elements for creating a large number of images that are different from one another but similar in character, which can be used, for example, as decorative accessories for everyday objects. Of course, this set of picture elements is also suitable for use in those cases in which images that are different from one another are created on a given surface with a given number of individual elements by exchanging, moving and twisting or the like.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 zeigt die wesentlichsten Elemententypen des kombinativen Elementensatzes nach der Erfindung,
• Fig. 2 veranschaulicht die geometrischen Regeln, die die einzelnen Muster bestimmen,
• Fig. 3 zeigt die Lage der bevorzugten Farben im Farbendreieck,
• Fig. 4 bis 7 zeigen einige Kompositionsbeispiele, die durch den Elementensatz nach der Erfindung auslegbar sind,
• Fig. 8 zeigt ein vergrössertes Bild eines Elementes mit einer Markierung an einer Seitenfläche,
• Fig. 9 zeigt ein Spielblatt, das mit einem Rastemetz versehen ist (im verzerrten Massstab),
• Fig. 10 zeigt die Schachtel des erfindungsgemässen Elementensatzes in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 11 zeigt ein Beispiel für das Zusammensetzen zweier Elementengruppen mit unterschiedlicher Elementengrösse,
• Fig. 12 zeigt ein Beispiel für das partielle Auslegen einer Bildfläche,
• Fig. 13 zeigt ein Beispiel für eine räumliche Struktur, die durch würfelförmige Elemente verwirklicht ist, und
• Fig. 14 zeigt eine räumliche Gestalt, die durch würfelförmige Elemente gebildet ist.

Fig. 1 zeigt die hauptsächlichen Elemententypen des erfindungsgemässen Elementensatzes. Für die Ausgestaltung des Elementensatzes ist es von Bedeutung, dass eine (nach der Zeichnung äussere) Fläche jedes Elementes eine quadratische Form aufweist und auf dieser Fläche ein oder mehrere Muster angeordnet ist oder sind und die Muster nach vorbestimmten geometrischen Regeln ausgestaltet sind. Fig. 1 zeigt ein Element, das kein Muster enthält, und die quadratische Fläche dieses Elementes kann jede mögliche zum Elementensatz gehörende Farbe aufweisen. Die Farbe jeder Fläche ist immer homogen. In den Fig. 1 b bis 1 f sind Elemententypen dargestellt, deren Muster von kreisbogenförmigen Linien begrenzt sind. Unter dem Begriff «Muster» ist ein auf der Zeichnung schraffiert dargestellter und geometrisch einfach zusammengehörender geschlossener Flächenbereich zu verstehen, der zweckmässig einfarbig ist, wobei die jeweilige Musterfarbe von der Farbe der Grundfläche abweicht. Während in den Fig. 1 b bis 1 e jedes Element nur ein einziges Muster enthält, sind auf dem Elemententyp nach Fig. 1 f zwei Muster angeordnet. Die Elemententypen, die jeweils mit kreisbogenförmigem Muster versehen sind, bilden eine gesonderte Typengruppe.In the drawing:

• 1 shows the most important element types of the combinative element set according to the invention,
• 2 illustrates the geometric rules that determine the individual patterns,
• 3 shows the position of the preferred colors in the color triangle,
• 4 to 7 show some examples of composition that can be interpreted by the element set according to the invention,
• 8 shows an enlarged image of an element with a marking on one side surface,
• 9 shows a game sheet which is provided with a grid (on a distorted scale),
• 10 shows the box of the element set according to the invention in a perspective view,
• 11 shows an example of the composition of two element groups with different element sizes,
• 12 shows an example of the partial layout of an image area,
• Fig. 13 shows an example of a spatial structure realized by cube-shaped elements, and
• 14 shows a spatial shape which is formed by cube-shaped elements.

1 shows the main element types of the element set according to the invention. For the design of the set of elements, it is important that an (outer according to the drawing) surface of each element has a square shape and one or more patterns are or are arranged on this surface and the patterns are designed according to predetermined geometric rules. Fig. 1 shows an element that does not contain a pattern, and the square surface of this element can have any color that belongs to the element set. The color of each surface is always homogeneous. 1b to 1f show element types whose patterns are delimited by circular lines. The term “pattern” is to be understood as a closed area that is hatched on the drawing and that simply belongs together geometrically, which is expediently monochrome, the respective pattern color deviating from the color of the base area. 1 b to 1 e each element contains only a single pattern, two patterns are arranged on the element type according to FIG. 1 f. The element types, each with an arc-shaped pattern, form a separate type group.

1 g to 1 n show element types, each of which is provided with one or more rectilinear patterns. Here, too, the color differs from that of the base area. The types with straight lines form a different type group.

Fig. 2 shows the geometric relationships that form the shapes of the individual patterns. The side length of the square is 2A and its half, length A, can be considered the basic length of the element set. For the circular patterns it can be stated that the arc diameter can be divided by the basic length without leaving a remainder. The size of the quotient is one in the case of FIG. 1 b, two in the case of FIGS. 1 c, 1 and 1 f (inner circular arc) and four in the case of FIGS. 1 and 1 f (outer circular arc).

The center of the circular arc can be the middle point of the square (1 b), the side bisection point (1c) or a corner point (1d, 1e, 1f). The number of patterns that can be accommodated within an element is limited by the fact that the individual patterns are separated from one another and that the linear and circular patterns cannot be mixed within an element. With the patterns of the rectilinear group it can be observed that their two peaks are always the end point of one side of the square and their one or two further peaks are at the bisector of the neighboring side or sides. There are two pattern shapes in total in the straight-line group: one is a triangle with a base side 2A and height A, the other is a rectangle with sides 2A and A.

3 shows the expediently selectable colors of the element side surfaces and the pattern of the element set. The three pure primary colors are to be used in the element set, i.e. blue, red and yellow, which are marked with the points B, R and Y in the color triangle. The mixed colors of any primary color pairs can be found on the straight line connecting the corresponding primary colors. The same mixtures of any primary color pairs can be mentioned as mixed colors that can be used in the element set, i.e. green, purple and orange, which are labeled with the points G, V and 0. If several color levels of the respective mixtures are to be used, a maximum of two mixed colors are used, which are as far apart as possible in the straight line. For example, the blue-green (point BG) and the yellow-green (point YG), or the blue-purple (point BV) and the red-purple (point RV) colors can be mentioned.

The use of suitable combinations can be used to produce pleasing element types from the color selection determined from this. The size of the element set is determined by the choice of colors and the number of types used. Even in the smallest set of elements, at least two types with a straight pattern and two with a circular pattern must be used, because the combination of the straight and circular patterns creates aesthetically pleasing shapes.

The preferred choice of colors cannot be illustrated in the drawings for reasons of printing technology, but it becomes clear to those skilled in color theory that the proposed color composition ensures the dynamic and colored impression of the shapes that can be designed.

Depending on its size, several elements of the respective types can be used in one element set, although the number of elements does not necessarily have to be evenly distributed among the individual types.

4 to 7 show some examples of the shapes that can be designed, and the recognition of the individual types is facilitated by a grid with millimeter graduation. In the drawing, the element size is 5 x 5 mm, and four elements are arranged in each of the squares shown with a strong line. For the sake of clarity, only the inner boundary lines of the patterns or those boundary lines which separate fields with different colors are shown in the drawing.

The shape of the stylized chicken in the lower field of Fig. 4 only needs an area that contains hardly more than 5 x 4 elements. Such a small number of elements already enables a characteristic expressive figure representation. The space required for the chickens and roosters illustrated there is a field with 16 x 14 elements, the display being very characteristic and expressive. This field size is not yet excessively large, since the actual size of the elements is expediently between 20 and 40 mm. As illustrated in FIG. 4, very characteristic letters, inscriptions, tables and the like can be made from the elements. The whole field represents a stylized fairytale composition.

The varied possibilities of variation and the number of shapes of the element set according to the invention are supported by FIG. 5, which shows detailed small, medium and large animal figures, all of which have a stylized Hungarian folk fairy-tale shape, and the standing shape of the man concentrates the attention at the center of the composition.

The animals in Fig. 6 relate to another fairy tale world with a similar richness of details and with a striking expressiveness.

FIG. 7 shows an example from the world of the circus with simple motifs, flowers and the clown playing a juggler.

Based on the examples, it can easily be seen that very diverse shapes and patterns can be designed from the square elements shown in FIG. 1, even with a smaller number of types. In contrast to the puzzle games, the imagination is not limited by anything and the child can playfully develop his world of colors.

The elements of the element set according to the invention can also be manufactured as a flat square prism, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the elements can be kept in a smaller room. On the lower side opposite the upper sample surface, it is expedient to mix a hard ferromagnetic powder into the element material and to magnetize the lower ferromagnetic layer. If a similar but soft magnetic layer is formed on the upper part of the game sheet shown in Fig. 9, the elements can be stably placed on the game sheet. It is expedient to form a grid network corresponding to the element size on the game sheet and to make the sheet foldable. In the open state, the game sheet can be stiffened by pulling up a U-shaped piece shown in FIG. 9.

The pattern indicative of the element is recorded on the side surface of the element shown in Fig. 8. This marking can keep the selection of elements from the in a box lighten the element set. Fig. 10 shows a preferred form of the box, in which the elements are inserted with their edges into the corresponding grooves of the box. The surface between the grooves provides support for the folded game sheet on the one hand and on the other hand the marking of the corresponding pattern enables the correct insertion. A recess is arranged above the box surface, which forms a space for storing the game sheet. The box can be covered with an insertable cover sheet.

In the previous examples, the side length of all elements was the same. The set of elements can also be designed such that the elements can be divided into groups with different side lengths. Fig. 11 shows e.g. a chicken that is laid out from elements with full and half side lengths. The use of elements with smaller side lengths helps to show the details better. For the element size it is important that the aspect ratio is 1: 2.

Fig. 12 shows an example in which the elements do not completely fill the available surface, whereby a snake is laid out. The form shown is already approaching the abstract representation.

According to FIGS. 13 and 14, the elements not only have a single square surface, but the cube-shaped design enables the use of six surfaces. 13 shows a full spatial shape, on the surface of which a wavy, spatial pattern is formed which interrupts the monotony of the cuboid which is ornament-free in the remaining part.

14 shows a free composition. When using the cubes, it is advisable to design a certain number of cube surfaces in one color, so that the spatial shape can be balanced.

On the basis of the examples mentioned, it can be seen that the number of combinations which can be designed by the element set according to the invention is practically unlimited and that the selected patterns between the adjacent elements result in a subjectively perceived as active coupling. Such a coupling is unknown in the known letter or number laying games, and in contrast the number of element types used is surprisingly small. This property enables the use of the set of elements according to the invention in the form of various claddings, for example as tile or tile cladding, as decorative elements or glass plates.

The shape of the patterns shows that the differently designed figures have clearly distinctive stylistic features that are accepted as pleasant by both children and adults.

Claims (7)

1. Combination set of elements for laying out surfaces with variable appearance, especially as a toy or as a surface covering, the elements thereof each comprise at least one square surface, said elements can be juxtaposed along the sides of the squares, the length of the sides of the squares of the elements are equal or differ by a ratio of 1:2, and the square surfaces can be divided into types (a-n) of different appearance, the number of the elements is substantially greater than the number of the types and in addition to types (a) with one color square surface, the set consists only of a plurality of the following types:

a) the square is divided into a plurality of different colored surfaces, in which pairs of the colored surfaces adjoining along respective straight lines which interconnect a midpoint of a side of a square with a corner of the square (types g-k),

b) the square surface is divided into two different colored surfaces adjoining along a straight line interconnecting two opposing midpoints of two opposing sides of the square (type n),

c) the square surface is divided into three different colored surfaces, of which the first and the second colored surfaces adjoining along a straight line that interconnects a midpoint of a side of the square with a corner of the square and the second and third ones of said colored surfaces adjoining along a further straight line that interconnects said midpoint with the midpoint of the opposite side (types I, m),

d) the square surface is divided into a plurality of different colored surfaces, in which pairs of said color surfaces adjoining along a quarter of a circle having a center point in a corner of the square and having a radius equal to half the length of the side of the square (type d),

e) the square surface is divided into a plurality of different colored surfaces adjoining along respective quarters of a circle with a center point lying in a corner of the square and having a radius equal to the side of the square (type e),

f) the square surface is divided into three different colored surfaces, in which respective pairs of said colored surfaces adjoining along respective quarters of circles having a common center point lying in a corner of the square and the radius of the first circle is equal to the side of the square while the second circle is half as long (type f),

g) the square surface is divided into a plurality of colored surfaces, wherein pairs of these colored surfaces adjoining along respective semicircles having centers in a midpoint of respective sides of the square and the diameter of said semicircles is equal to the length ot the side (type c),

h) the square surface is divided into two colored surfaces adjoining along a full circle, with the center of which lies in the middle point of the square and the diameter of which equals to halfthe length of the side of the square (type b),

wherein said set of elements in addition ot the type (a) with a one-color square surface comprises either at least four of said types with circularly curved boundary lines of the colored surfaces or at least two of the types with circularly curved boundary lines and at least two of the types with straight boundary lines of the colored surfaces.

2. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the colors of the colored surfaces are primary colors, i.e. blue, red or yellow, and predetermined combination colors of any pair of said primary colors, and the maximum number of colors used on one square surface is three.

3. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elements are formed from flat quadratic prisms which have a hard ferromagnetic layer on the side opposite the colored surface.

4. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that on at least one side surface of a marking is provided associated with the type of the respective element.

5. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a play board is provided having a grid of raster lines spaced in conformity with the size of said elements, said board comprises a soft magnetic topside and is foldable along at least one of said raster lines.

6. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a box is provided which has longitudinal recesses in which said elements can be inserted and stored along their side surfaces, said box comprises a support surface between said recesses for supporting said board in a folded state.

7. The combination set of elements as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elements are formed as cubes, a plurality of side surfaces of said cubes comprise colored surfaces arranged to belong to respective ones of said types.

Images