GB2290161A

GB2290161A - Constructional amusement apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2290161A
Application number: GB9411749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Arthur Sibley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-11
Filing date: 1994-06-11
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Also published as: GB9411749D0

Abstract

A three-dimensional constructional amusement/teaching apparatus is composed of essentially two dimensional contour plates 12 built up onto a base board 14, Fig. 1, not shown, in accordance with a sequence predetermined by the shapes of the individual contour plates 12. Each contour plate 12 is further divided into interconnecting pieces 13, and a number of these are assembled together to form a particular contour plate 12. The apparatus has educational benefits such as the teaching of geography, geology, cartography and is also of benefit to persons suffering such disabilities as visual impairment. <IMAGE>

Description

CONSTRUCTIONAL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS The present invention relates to a three-dimensional constructional amusement/teaching apparatus, which is enjoyable to use and also has educational benefits, particularly with regard to the teaching of geography, geology, cartography and related subjects, and is of benefit to persons suffering such disabilities as visual impairment.

According to the present invention there is provided constructional amusement/teaching apparatus comprising a base board and a number of essentially two-dimensional plates at least some of which have means enabling the plates to be secured together in a stacked arrangement to form a threedimensional structure extending upwardly from said base board.

The term "essentially two-dimensional" is to be interpreted here as meaning of a thickness which is small compared to the area of the plate.

Each plate may represent a complete contour or contour interval from a real or fictitious two dimensional map, such that a model of say a mountain, valley or complete landscape may be built up by placing each plate on top of the appropriate underlying plate.

To add extra interest, each plate may be further divided into separate interconnecting pieces which can be connected together in conventional jigsaw fashion to form a complete contour plate.

The securing means to enable a particular plate to be positively located with the underlying and/or overlying plate may take the form of holes drilled at particular sites in the plates through which pegs or pins are secured, or alternatively the individual interconnecting pieces may themselves serve to align and secure the larger contour plates together.

Although the plates are describe above as being essentially two dimensional, they do in fact have a definitive thickness, and indeed some of the smaller interconnecting pieces may be double or triple this definitive thickness such that when correctly positioned, one such small piece would interconnect with other small pieces from the contour plates directly above and below it, thus serving to align and secure two or more contour plates together.

Preferably, all the pieces and plates are fully reversible so that they can be turned upside down and assembled together to create a mirror image three dimensional structure.

Some of the plates (and the interconnecting pieces forming said plates) may include either or both apertures therein or bight portions in their peripheries (or a combination of these), which in the assembled structure would form underground chambers, caves, potholes, underground lakes and similar.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described,m by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view photograph of the apparatus according to the invention, in fully assembled form, Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of four adjacent contour plates held together by a number of pegs, Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of two adjacent contour plates held together by a lesser number of pegs, and Figure 4 illustrates in perspective view part of the partially assembled apparatus, showing an alternative arrangement for securing adjacent contour plates together.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a three dimensional constructional amusement/educational apparatus which is composed of essentially two dimensional contour plates 12 built up onto a base board 14 in accordance with a sequence predetermined by the shapes of the individual contour plates 12.

Each contour plate 12 is further divided into interconnecting pieces 13, and a number of these are assembled together to form a particular contour plate 12. In the preferred embodiment, each piece is unique and can only be placed in one correct position.

As illustrated in Figure 2, pairs of adjacent contour plates can be aligned and secured together by means of holes 15, 18, 20 through one or more of the interconnecting pieces 13, through which pegs 17, 19, 21 are secured. For example, plate 12a is secured to plate 12b via pegs 17 passing through two holes 15, one hole being provided in the pieces at each end of the plates 12a and 12b. Plate 12b also has holes 18 provided in the two central pieces of plate 12b which are aligned with matching holes 18 in the centre and end piece of plate 12c, plates 12b and 12c being secured together by pegs 19 in holes 18. Similarly, plate 12c has holes 20 in the two end pieces of plate 12c which are aligned with matching holes 20 in the two end pieces of plate 12d, the plates 12c and 12d being secured together by means of pegs 21 passing through holes 20.

As illustrated in Figure 3, it has been found that two adjacent contour plates 12a, 12b can be adequately secured together by simply providing aligned holes 22 in one piece at or close to each end of each contour plate, and securing plates 12a and 12b together by inserting pegs through holes 22. Thus, it is not necessary to provide a hole in each individual piece.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative to the peg and hole arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3. Instead, where the thickness of any particular piece is x, at least one piece in each plate is made to a thickness equal to 2x so that such a piece interconnects with adjacent pieces of both its own contour plate and that immediately above or below it. For example, contour plates 12e and 12f are secured together by a double thickness piece (shown as missing in the main drawing of Figure 4) interconnecting with an adjacent piece in contour plate 12e as well as with an adjacent piece in contour plate 12f. The principle is also illustrated in Figure 4 using three different shaped interconnecting pieces 13f', 13ef and 13f", piece 13ef being twice the thickness of pieces 13f' and 13f".

When all of the pieces 13 are assembled together, a three dimensional model is built up which can either be a fictitious landscape or correspond accurately with real landscapes, each contour plate representing a contour or contour interval. The same principle can be utilised to build any desired three dimensional structure, eg pyramids or other mathematical shapes, depending upon the shape of the individual plates or pieces and/or the order in which they are assembled together.

The contour plates can be used to portray pictures, scenes or other information which would be covered up by the plate immediately above it, which would be particularly useful in the case of the apparatus being used as an educational aid.

Visually impaired persons would find the apparatus particularly interesting to use, as the three-dimensional aspect obviates to some extend the requirement for a visual prompt as an aid to construction - the person can feel with his fingers that the apparatus is being assembled correctly.

The individual plates and/or pieces may be printed with appropriate colouring patterns to enhance the landscape effect of the assembled apparatus, or alternatively all of the pieces may be blank to form a three-dimensional canvas for landscape painters.

Claims

1. A constructional amusement/teaching apparatus comprising a base board and a number of essentially two-dimensional plates at least some of which have means enabling the plates to be secured together in a stacked arrangement to form a threedimensional structure extending upwardly from said base board.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each plate is further divided into separate interconnecting pieces which can be connected together in conventional jigsaw fashion to form a complete contour plate.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the securing means to enable a particular plate to be positively located with the underlying and/or overlying plate takes the form of holes drilled at particular sites in the plates through which pegs or pins are secured.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the individual interconnecting pieces themselves serve to align and secure the larger contour plates together.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein some of the smaller interconnecting pieces are of sufficient thickness such that when correctly positioned, one such small piece would interconnect with other small pieces from the contour plates directly above and/or below it, thus serving to align and secure two or more contour plates together.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein all the pieces and plates are fully reversible so that they can be turned upside down and assembled together to create a mirror image three dimensional structure.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein some of the plates (and the interconnecting pieces forming said plates may include either 8! or apertures tnerein or Wight portions in their peripheries (or a combination of these), which in the assembled structure would form underground chambers, caves, potholes, underground lakes and similar.

8. A constructional amusement/teaching apparatus, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.