GB2036569A - Hinged-blocks puzzle - Google Patents

Abstract

In a puzzle comprising at least four blocks, each block is rotatably connected to two adjacent blocks by hinges located on non-contiguous, perpendicular edges thereof. The blocks comprise four transparent hollow outer cubes 10, each containing an inner cube 11 of smaller dimensions. The corresponding surfaces of the inner cubes and the outer cubes are provided with complimentary designs whereby when any surface is viewed, a completed design may be seen. When the blocks are moved, the inner cubes move and the appearance of motion is imparted to the completed design. The inner cubes may contain weights and may be replaced by octagons, spheres, mirrors or toys. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinged blocks The instant invention relates to hinged blocks which may be used as toys or play furniture or scenery for the stage and generally other articles which are to be varied in appearance.

Various arrangements of hinged blocks are known in the art. See for example, U.S. Patent No.3,550,310 which teaches a variable form composed of at least six hinged blocks. The pantentee is primarily concerned with providing a varying shape by the rotation of his hinged blocks about the hinges. Therefore, his invention requires at least six blocks or more to insure that a variety of shapes may be produced. It is crital to this invention that at least one hinged edge not be in perpendicular, noncontiguous relationship to an adjacent hinge. It will be noted from viewing Figure 1 and Figure 4 of the patent that no arrangement of four blocks has the hinged relationship of the hinged blocks of the instant invention. Other examples of hinged blocks may be found in U.S. Pat. No.3,201,894,3,628,261, 3,561,757,2,825,178 and 3,596,396.In none of the devices disclosed in the five mentioned patents is the hinged relationship of the instant invention taught.

It is also known in the art that rotatable shapes which provide a changing design make enjoyable toys for children. For example, see U.S. Pat. No.

3,492,756, wherein block comprising two rotatable sections is taught. Each surface of the block has a complete design. For example, a monkey or a bird.

However, when the sections are rotated, the upper surface of the monkey may be aligned with the lower surface of the bird, therefore creating a new composite animal.

It is also known in the toy art that a hollow object may be provided with internal, freely movable weights in orderto make the motion of the object when rolled erratic (see U.S. Patent No. 3,400,932).

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a weighted inner cube or other structure is utilized to impart motion to the inner cube in relation to the outer cube as the outer cubes are rotated about the hinges. In this embodiment, the outer block is at least partially transparent so that the movement of the inner block may be observed when the outer blocks are rotated about the hinges.

The instant invention comprises a device having at least four blocks, each being rotatably connected to two adjacent blocks by hinges located on noncontiguous perpendicular edges thereof. The blocks may be any rectangular solid however preferably at least 4 cubes of equivalent dimension are utilized.

Most preferably, the instant invention is a toy comprising four transparent, hollow outer cubes each being rotatably connected to two other outer cubes by hinges located on non-contiguous, perpendicular surface edges thereof and at least one cube containing an inner cube of a dimension slightly smaller than the internal dimensions of outer cube whereby when said outer cube is rotated about a hinge said inner cube moves in relationship to said outer cube.

The inner cubes may contain a weight to assist in said movement. Each outer cube is of equivalent dimension therefore, the hinged structure of the four cubes may be rotated to form a half of a cube having dimensions of 1:2:2 (when each cube is 1:1:1). In the most preferred embodiment of the instant invention, a design is provided on a portion of each surface of the transparent outer cube which complements a design on the corresponding surface of the inner cube contained therein. The design on the inner cube is visible through the transparent outer cube therefore, the viewer sees a completed design.

Figures 1 to 6 show a preferred embodiment of the instant invention showing the relationship of the surfaces of the four cubes in the arrangements which are made possible by rotating the cubes about the hinges. Figure 7 shows the preferred embodiment of an inner cube nested in a transparent outer cube.

Figures 8 - 10 show the cross section of outer cubes hinged in accordance with the present arrangement and each containing an inner cube.

Figures 11 - 13 show a preferred design motif for the toy of the instant invention, which motif is based on familiar nursery rhymes.

Figure 1 shows the arrangement of four hinged cubes according to the instant invention priorto rotation about the hinges. The aligned edge of surfaces A and B (ab); C and D (cd); M and N (mn) and 0 and P (op) [not shown] are hingedly connected.

Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 rotated 180 in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper without rotating any blocks about the hinges.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of Figure 2, wherein the cubes are rotated 180C (as shown directionally in Figure 2) about hinges (ab) and (cd). Note that surfaces E and F are now in a plane perpendicularto their plane in Figures 1 and 2 and hinges (cd) and (ab) also connect aligned surfaces I and J; and K and L respectively.

Figure 4 shows the arrangement of Figure 3 rotated 180 in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper without rotating any blocks about the hinges. Note hinged edge (op) is now visible.

Figure 5 shows the arrangement of Figure 4 wherein the cubes are rotated 180 (as shown directionally in Figure 4) about hinges (mn) and (op).

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of Figure 5 rotated 180 in the plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper without rotating any blocks about the hinges. Note hinges (mn) and (op) connected aligned surfaces U and W; and V and X respectively.

Figure 7 shows the preferred embodiment of the instant invention wherein one or more of said outer cubes contain an inner cube. For illustration, outer cube 10 contains an inner cube 11 having a slightly smaller dimension than the internal volume of (10) whereby relative movement is possible. Preferably, surface (10a) of outer cube (10) is provided with a window (a) and a surface (b) surrounding said window (a). Surface 11 (a) (which aligns with surface (10a) when the top is assembled) may be provided with a figure such as, an animal, a scene, etc. which corresponds with a figure on surface (b) whereby when outer cube (10) is moved, such as by rotation about its hinge, relative motion of the figures viewed on surface (10a) is perceived.

The outer cubes are preferably made of a rigid, transparent plastic such as polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, styreneacrylonitriie, acrylic, etc. The figure on surface (b) may be painted or a cardboard insert may be adhered to the interior or exterior surface of the outer cube (10). Preferably, a cardboard cube having the desired figure and window arrangement and a dimension approximately equal to the dimension of the interior of said outer cube (10) is nested in said outer cube (10) to provide surface (b).

The inner cube (11) can be of any suitable material, including cardboard, plastic, etc. However, generally it need not be transparent since it will be used to provide a design which can be viewed through the windows of outer cube (10). For economy, cardboard is the preferred material for construction of inner cube (11).

To assist in the relative motion of inner cube (11), a weight may be contained therein. Preferably, the weight is a small, free rolling, plastic sphere.

Finally, shapes other than a cube may be used in the interior of the outer cubes. For example, spheres octagons, etc. are suitable. However, to provide the best relationship between the designs viewed through the transparent surafces of the outer cubes, a cube structure of slightly smaller dimension than the interior volume of the outer cube is preferred.

Figure 8 shows the preferred embodiment in the arrangement of Figure 2. Hinges 12 and 13 correspond to (mn) and (op) in Figures 1-6. Preferably, the hinges are of a plastic such as nylon and may be adhesively secured to the cubes along the entire aligned edges thereof or in an intermittant arrange ment. In this arrangement of the cubes, it should be noted that the cubes may be rotated about the hinges in a direction into the plane of the paper. Figures 9 and 10 are cutaway views along line 9 and 10 respectively of the arrangement of Figure 8 showing hinges 14 and 15 which correspond to hinges (cd) and (ab) of Figures 1 - 6. Figure 9 and 10 shows how the inner cubes move in relation to the outer cubes upon rotation.For example, as outer cube 10 is rotated about hinge 15, inner cube 11 will move until surface (c) rests upon the interior surface (e) of outer cube 10 whereby the movement of surface (d) of inner cube 11 may be viewed through window (f).

Figures 11 - 13 shows how the instant invention may be utilized in a design motif based upon familiar nursery rhymes. Figures 1 - 6 may be referred to for the purpose of envisioning the appearance of such design motif in athree dimensional structure. The letters in the right hand corners of the blocks correspond to the surfaces of the arrangements of Figures 1 to 6.

It may also be desirable to replace one or more of the inner cubes with a mirror or a small, freely rolling object such as a ball or a toy. In this way, a greater variety of visual themes may be incorporated into the toy of the instant invention. All of these variations are within the scope of the instant invention.

Claims (7)

1. A toy comprising four transparent hollow outer cubes, each outer cube being rotatably connected to two other outer cubes by hinges located on non-contiguous, perpendicular edges thereof and each outer cube containing an inner cube of dimension smaller than internal volume of said outer cube whereby when said outer cubes are rotated about said hinges, said inner cubes move in relation to said outer cubes.

2. The toy of Claim 1 wherein said hinges extend substantially along the entire edge of said cubes.

3. The toy of Claim 2 wherein said inner cubes includes a weight located within to assist in the motion of said inner cube in relation to said outer cube.

4. The toy of Claim 1 wherein the corresponding surface of said inner cube and said outer cube are provided with complimentary designs whereby when any surface is viewed, a completed design is seen.

5. The toy of Claim 1 wherein said cubes may be rotated to a position wherein a cube of dimension equivalent to said four outer cubes is formed.

6. A hinged arrangement of blocks comprising at least four blocks, each block being rectangular solid and being rotatably connected to two adjacent blocks by hinges located on non-contiguous, per pendicular edges thereof.

7. An arrangement of hinged blocks substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.