EP2282821A1

EP2282821A1 - Game including small magnetically juxtaposable or stackable cubes

Info

Publication number: EP2282821A1
Application number: EP08788065A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Hardouin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-27
Filing date: 2008-03-27
Publication date: 2011-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-27
Also published as: ATE530233T1; EP2282821B1; WO2009118462A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a game that comprises basic cubes having on each surface a flush magnetic element. The cubes define a rigid volume via juxtaposition, stacking, and magnetisation. The surfaces of each magnetic element correspond to a first group including surfaces flush with the visible (6) and non-visible (7) surfaces of the basic cubes, and second group including sides flush with the neutral complementary surfaces (8) of the visible or non-visible surfaces of the basic cubes with which the surfaces of the first group are flush. The surfaces of the magnetic elements of at least one of the two groups have the same polarity. It is thus possible, by consecutive rotations or turnovers of sub-assemblies of the volume, to change the visual appearance of said volume.

Description

GAME CONSISTS OF SMALL, MAGNETICALLY SUPER-MAGNETICALLY FITABLE CUBES

The present invention relates to a set composed of small juxtaposed and superimposable cubes forming a coherent volume assembly in which subassemblies can be pivoted and returned manually along different axes causing a change in the external and internal appearance.

Juxtaposable and stackable elements assembling assemblies are traditionally known and placed on top of one another to construct various objects or shapes. The inconvenience of these games is that the cubes do not stand between them which has the effect of making the scaffolding unstable. Games are also known where cubic or parallelepiped shaped elements are provided with magnets on part of their faces. The magnets being positioned on the surface, it is then possible to build up stable structures by stacking with the possibility of displacement of subsets. Thus, games are created in which the polarity of the magnets, the color of the faces or even the relations of the figures between them glued on the faces intervene.

We especially know Rubik 's Cube ® game which by an internal mechanics presents a cube which seems to be composed of a large cube formed by 27 small cubes. Each face of the large cube, which originally has different colors, can independently rotate around its central axis one or more quarters of a turn, creating for each face of the large cube a mixture of colors from color differences faces of small cubes. Once the big cube is manipulated and mixed, the game consists either by trial and error or by looking for algorithms to restore the original colors of the faces of the big cube.

The present invention proposes a game, composed of small superposable and juxtaposable elementary cubes consisting of non-conductive material, each having on their faces 6 fixed magnetic elements, one of whose facets are flush with the said faces of the cube, the facets of each magnetic element corresponding to a first group consisting of facets flush with the visible and non-visible faces of the elementary cubes and a second group composed of the facets of the magnetic elements flush with the complementary neutral faces of the visible or non-visible faces of the elementary cubes, and in which the set of facets magnetic elements of at least one of the two groups is of the same polarity.

Moreover, according to other advantageous features of the invention: the facets of the first and second groups are respectively of opposite polarities; all the magnetic elements associated with at least one of the groups of facets are formed of permanent magnets; at least some of the pairs of adjacent elementary cubes comprise indentations and / or protruding indentations respectively complementary on their adjacent faces; the faces flush with the facets of the same group have indentations and / or indentations and that the faces flush with the facets of the other group have the complementary imprints; at least some of the faces of certain elementary cubes have complementary projection symmetry elements of cups disposed on the adjacent faces, allowing relative rotation guidance of subsets of the game; in their original position and taken in isolation, the faces either in the set of visible faces, or in the set of non-visible faces or finally in the set of neutral faces, have either the same color or a color function of their orientation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention close to Rubik's Cube®, the present invention is distinguished by the fact that the small cubes, in this mode numbering 27, are geometrically grouped into a single large cube and magnetically bonded. but can be separated from each other. The faces in addition to their possibility of rotation about their axis can be separated and put back in place after overturning. Such a device has the double advantage over the Rubik's Cube® of being able to reconstitute the game at any time in its initial position if the player wishes it and to increase the field of movement, thus the complexity of the puzzle by adding a another dimension. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure.1 is the isometric view of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a large cube made up of 27 small cubes and with its 3 main axes.

Figures 2 to 5 show the isometric views of different types of small cubes with their hatched visible faces and faces opposite to the visible and neutral faces identified. Figure 6 is the isometric view of a cylindrical magnet.

Figure 7 is the isometric view of a cylindro-conical magnet.

Figure 8 gives the isometric and exploded view of 6 soles (10) which constitute a small cube with a small central cubic core (17).

Figure 9 shows in section the magnetic connection with a cylindrical magnet (9) of the faces of small cubes with their sole (10) having a bottom (19) of small thickness.

Figure.10 shows in section the magnetic connection with cylindro-conical magnet (16) of the faces of small cubes with their sole (10) having a bottom type valve seat (18). FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the magnetic connection with cylindrical magnet (9) of the faces of two small cubes, one of which has a sole with protruding outer trunnion (13) and the other a sole with trough (12). adapted to fit into the trunnion (13).

Figure.12 shows in section the magnetic connection with cylindrical magnet (9) of the faces of two small cubes, one of which has a circular imprint hollow (14) of very small thickness and the other a projecting sole (15) fitting into the footprint (14)

Figures 13 to 20 show the different possibilities of separating faces from a large cube (1).

Figure.21 through Figure.26 show different spatial sequences in the movement of a face of the large cube.

The present invention relates to a volume consisting of elementary cubes assembled magnetically and geometrically.

In this document we mean by "elementary cube" or "small cube" any polyhedron or volume having at least six planar faces such that the plans they define geometrically partition the space into a set of voluminal partitions of which one is a cube of finished volume. In this document these six faces are designated as said faces of said elementary cube. For example, a cube whose edges have been partially or totally truncated constitutes an elementary cube whose six faces are what are left of the faces of the initial cube.

The said faces of an elementary cube are distinguished according to the following categories:

All said faces of said elementary cubes which are visible when these cubes are assembled in the initial configuration of the volume are so-called visible faces. - All said faces of said elementary cubes opposite the so-called visible faces are so-called non-visible faces. - All said remaining faces of said elementary cubes are so-called hidden or neutral faces.

All elementary cubes are mainly made of inert materials from a magnetic point of view. Magnetically inert materials are those materials that do not alter a surrounding magnetic field. For the purposes of this document, the term "non-conductive material" is defined as being inert from a magnetic point of view. Examples of non-conductive materials are plastics, wood or the like. All the cubes all have in the center of their six faces, a magnetic element, preferably in the form of a cylindrical disk and flat (9) or cylindro-conical (16), one of the facets is generally flush with the face of the cube elementary. The term "flush globally" or simply "flush" any type of magnetic element layout within an elementary cube which one of the facets is placed sufficiently close to the outer surface of the cube to be able to interact magnetically with a room located outside the volume of this elementary cube. Thus the facet of a magnetic element under a skin or a certain thickness of an outer face of an elementary cube is generally flush as long as it can interact magnetically outside the volume defined by this cube.

Subsequently, we will assimilate the polarity of a face of an elementary cube to the polarity of the facet of the generally flush and underlying magnetic element. We will also assimilate the visible quality, not visible or neutral of a facet of a magnetic element respectively to the qualities: visible, non-visible, and neutral of the face flush with the facet of the magnetic element. Those skilled in the art will understand that such a small cube can be constituted by the assembly of six truncated pyramidal treads with a square base (10) having in their center a circular cavity (11) having either a thin bottom (19). ), either bottomless with a circular collar such as a valve seat (18), adapted to insert or accommodate a suitable magnetic element therein: the six soles being either glued together and on the six faces of a cubic core ( 17), possibly clipped together or on a core having a suitable shape.

The set of so-called visible facets and so-called non-visible facets constitutes a first group of facets. In other words, this first group of facets is composed of the facets of the magnetic elements flush with the visible (6) and non-visible faces (7) of the elementary cubes.

The set of so-called neutral facets constitutes a second group of facets. In other words, this second group of facets is composed of the facets of the magnetic elements flush with the neutral faces (8), complementary to the visible (6) and non-visible faces (7) of the elementary cubes.

The invention is characterized in that all the facets of at least one of the two groups are of the same polarity.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a large cube (1) composed of elementary cubes which will be placed for of understanding in an orthonormal system whose center will be the center of the cube with the three axes OX, OY, OZ perpendicular respectively to the main faces of the cube. This large cube may advantageously consist of 27 elementary cubes. Each face of the large cube is then made of 9 cubes forming for example lines of three cubes contiguous to each other in three rows. All these elements once assembled form a large cube.

Once the small cubes are grouped together, the big cube is made up of 27 small cubes including:

8 small angle cubes (2) each having three outer or visible faces (6) and 3 other so-called non-visible faces (7) directly opposite to the visible faces.

12 small edge cubes (3) each with two visible faces (6), 2 other so-called non-visible faces (7) directly opposite to the visible faces and two other faces said to be neutral or hidden

(8).

6 small center-face cubes (4) each with a single visible face (6) and another non-visible face (7) directly opposite to the visible face and 4 other faces called neutral or hidden

(8).

1 small cube center cube or core (5) with no visible or non-visible face and thus having six so-called neutral or hidden faces (8).

It will be easily understood that in order to firmly hold the group of small cubes it is essential that the faces of the small cubes which are in contact with each other have opposite polarities so as to create a Magnetic attraction at the faces of small cubes which are in contact with each other: identical polarities would cause repulsion between faces. This condition of magnetic connection between all the faces of the small cubes in contact is obtained by applying the invention.

The magnetic elements may be partly magnets. The facets of these magnetic elements belonging to the different groups of facets are then poles of these magnets, at least one of the groups of facets being of the same polarity.

The other magnetic elements that are not magnets can then be ferromagnetic parts, for example soft iron disks of appropriate diameter and thickness without reducing the magnetic cohesive forces that keep the small cubes together.

In a preferred embodiment, all of the magnetic elements may be magnets. In this embodiment, the poles of the first group of facets are all of the same polarity and the poles of the second group of facets are all of the opposite polarity.

As shown in Figure.14, it can be considered that the large cube (1) consists of three parallel slices (20) (23) and (20) perpendicular to the axis OX. Each slice consists of nine small cubes grouped three by three and located in the same plane. The outer slices (20) can be considered as faces of the large cube. It is the same for the slices (21) and (22) along the axes OZ and OY. So we see that we can virtually detach six distinct slices (or one face of the big cube) from the rest of the cube.

As shown in Figure.22, to physically detach one face from the rest of the cube, one has to hold and cover with one hand two lower slices (24) of the large cube and the other hand rotate (r) the remaining slice ( 20) around its main axis OY perpendicular to the face so as to escape the magnetic bonds of the 8 peripheral magnetic elements. Once this pivoting is carried out can be separated virtually effortlessly (Figure.23) the slice (20) of the rest of the cube (24) by a vertical lift (t).

As the slice or detached face (20) has three distinct planes of symmetry XOY, ZOY, XOZ the replacement of this slice on its base (24) can be made of 2x2x2 = 8 different ways: for example, by making around the axis OY one or more rotations per quarter turn, followed or not a reversal of the wafer on itself, reversal which corresponds to a rotation of 180 ° with respect to the axis OX or OY of said slice .

Those skilled in the art will note that the slice (20), once detached, has all the visible faces of its small cubes of the same polarity (+) which are before the separation the visible or non-visible faces of small cubes. Similarly, the uncovered face of the large cube remaining on all sides of small cubes of inverse polarity (-) since, not coming from so-called visible faces or said not visible, they are neutral or hidden (8). It follows that regardless of the movement undergone by the slice (rotation or overturning) its restoration on its base maintains all the magnetic bonds inside the big cube. Those skilled in the art will also note that, whatever the random movements imposed on the various slices of the large cube, the corner cubes remain cubes of angle. It is the same for the cubes of edges and the cubes of center face.

In a preferred embodiment, to ensure a perfect rotation of the slices (20,21,22), the central cube (5) of the large cube (1) or core of the large cube can be provided on each of its six faces protruding elements of symmetry of revolution, for example a journal (13), preferably of short length, as shown in Figure.11. To ensure compatibility with the journal of the cores, the center-facing cubes (4) preferably have on their visible face and their non-visible face, a hollow bowl (12) of complementary shape to the projecting elements of the core (13). The faces of the small cubes provided with bowls or trunnions may keep the same type of outcropping magnets as the other faces. However one can also easily keep the coherence of the big cube by removing the magnets of these faces.

Of course, the use on surfaces of elementary cubes of protruding elements having a symmetry of revolution with on the adjacent faces cuvettes complementary to these elements extends to all the embodiments of the present invention. These elements allow the relative rotation guidance of subsets of the game.

In another preferred embodiment, it is possible to ensure a good repositioning of the slices or a perfect mechanical blocking of all the small cubes between them. Faces flush with facets first group of facets may then in part or in whole presented the same projecting and / or hollow recess (14) preferably respecting the symmetry of the elementary cubes. The faces flush with facets of the second group of facets then having, in whole or in part, the indentation and / or complementary projection (15), this system provides a mechanical blocking cubes between them improving the holding and the rigidity of the whole. This last embodiment can also be applied in addition to the previous embodiment. Thus all the faces having no trunnions or cuvettes can accommodate the indentation and / or projection (14) or the complementary imprint (15) according to the polarity of its face.

Finally, this last embodiment also applies in the most general case of the invention. The faces flush with facets of the same group may then have the same fingerprint and the flush faces by facets of the other group may have the complementary fingerprint. It can be seen that it is not necessary for all faces to have an imprint.

In all the embodiments enabled by the invention, it is possible to add color markings on the different faces of the elementary cubes, visible, non-visible and even neutral, making it possible to constitute a puzzle whose original configuration is the configuration that we seek to obtain after a mixture of the different elementary cubes by rotation or inversion subsets. To take an example, one can visualize the embodiment of the invention Rubik 's Cube ® shaped with colored stickers on the faces of the elementary cubes.

In the latter mode the faces of the elementary cubes have a color that is a function of the orientation of the faces in the initial configuration.

This characteristic can obviously apply to all the embodiments of the invention.

Other modes of color markings are still feasible allowing the creation of original puzzles. Rubik 's Cube ® color marking can first be complicated by attributing a color to a face not only according to its orientation but also according to its visible or non-visible or even neutral character. We can also simply give a color to all visible faces and another to all non-visible faces. In the case of the large cube of 27 small elementary cubes, in the initial configuration, we obtain a large, entirely black cube that can be made entirely white using the various manipulations.

The use of color markings for the faces of elementary cubes is obviously not limited to the embodiment of the invention in the form of a Rubik's Cube® but extends to the generality of the game that claims the invention.

In the same way the color markings can easily be replaced by small images or photographs on some or all the faces of elementary cubes creating a game comparable to a puzzle of dimension superior to 2.

Finally, it is obvious that the invention also extends to the embodiments where the color markings are not made by elements arranged on the faces. elementary cubes but directly by the material of the faces of elementary cubes.

Claims

1. Game, composed of small superposable and juxtaposable elementary cubes consisting of non-conductive material, each having on their 6 faces fixed magnetic elements, one of the facets of which are flush with the said faces of the cube, the facets of each magnetic element corresponding to a first group composed of facets flush with the visible (6) and non-visible faces (7) of the elementary cubes and a second group composed of the facets of the magnetic elements flush with the complementary neutral faces (8) of the visible or non-visible faces of the elementary cubes, and in which all the facets of the magnetic elements of at least one of the two groups is of the same polarity.

2. Game according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the facets of the first and the second group are respectively of opposite polarities.

3. Set according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic elements comprise permanent magnets and in that facets of the magnetic elements of the first and / or second group are poles of these permanent magnets.

4. Set according to the preceding claim, characterized in that all the magnetic elements associated with at least one facet group are formed of permanent magnets.

5. Game according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic elements include ferromagnetic parts for example a soft iron disc.

6. Game according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the pairs of adjacent elementary cubes 2 comprise indentations and / or indentations projecting complementary respectively on their adjacent faces.

7. Game according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flush faces of the facets of the same group have indentations and / or indentations and that the flush faces of the facets of the other group have complementary fingerprints.

8. Game according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some faces of certain elementary cubes have complementary projection symmetry elements of cups disposed on the adjacent faces for a guide relative rotation of subassemblies. Game.

9. Game according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that, in their original position, all the visible faces of the small cubes are of the same color and in that the non-visible faces are of another and even color.

10. Game according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that, in their original position and taken in isolation, the visible faces and the non-visible faces of each small cube have the same respective color for an identical orientation.

11. Game according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that, in their original position and taken separately, the faces are in all visible faces, or in all non-visible faces or finally in the set of neutral faces, have either the same color or a color depending on their orientation.

12. Game in the shape of a large cube composed of 27 stackable and juxtaposable elementary cubes made of non-conductive material, the 27 elementary cubes being divided into:

8 small angle cubes (2) each having three visible faces (6) and 3 other non-visible faces

(7);

12 small edge cubes (3) with two visible faces (6), two other non-visible faces (7) and two neutral or hidden faces (8);

6 small center-facing cubes (4) with only one visible face (6) and another non-visible face (7) and 4 other neutral or hidden faces

(8); 1 small cube cube center or core (5) with no visible or non-visible face and thus having six neutral or hidden faces (8), each elementary cube having on its 6 faces permanent fixed magnets flush with one of their pole the faces of the cube, whose magnet poles of the visible and non-visible faces constitute a first group and whose magnet poles of the neutral or concealed faces constitute a second group, characterized in that the poles of the first and second groups are respectively of opposite polarity and in that a flat slice of 9 cubes (20,22,23) can pivot about its main axis and be put back in place after rotations of 0 °, 90 °, 180 °, 270 ° of a mechanical and magnetic way, then eventually be returned and replaced in a magnetic and mechanical way.