US20140274432A1

US20140274432A1 - 3d maze

Info

Publication number: US20140274432A1
Application number: US13/904,380
Authority: US
Inventors: Chung-Hsuan Tsai; Ming-Hsun Liu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-13
Filing date: 2013-05-29
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: TWM456218U

Abstract

The present invention provides a 3D maze made of corrugated paper that can be assembled by users. The 3D maze includes an external housing body and a layered inner body. The layered inner body is located inside the external housing body. The external housing body has a first entrance/exit for entering the 3D maze. The layered inner body is also disposed with a second entrance/exit, a third entrance/exit, or a fourth entrance/exit for entrance and exit of the 3D maze.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a 3D (Three Dimensional) maze and more particularly related to a paper 3D maze.

BACKGROUND

A maze is a popular IQ enhancing toy. A conventional maze is designed by disposing multiple walls in a plane and forming complicated paths by separation of the walls. Users cannot directly see a correct path such that users may need to use their eyes and brains to find the correct path. There are some 3D mazes, but their assembly is complicated. Usually, users need to use assisting tools to complete the assembly, e.g. Taiwan Patents No. 1288016, 498797 and M308780.
Usually, a larger 3D maze is designed for kids or small animals. The convenience of assembly is therefore critical. Conventional mazes can be assembled only with tools and are made of hard plastic, which is not good for the environment.
In addition, small pets such as cats are physically active and like to sharpen their claws. Therefore, the present invention provides a 3D maze that is convenient to assemble, good for the environment, and fun.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, a major objective of the present is to provide a 3D maze that is convenient for users to assemble and good for the environment. The 3D maze includes an external housing body and a layered inner body. The layered inner body is located inside the external housing body. The external housing body includes a first entrance/exit for entering the 3D maze. The following description shows an example of a 3D maze used for a cat but is not intended to limit the present invention.
In a first embodiment, the external housing body includes a plurality of adjacent joint portions. Each joint portion includes a folding portion and a connection portion. The folding portions and the connection portions are connected to each other and the folding portions each have an extending buckle, while each of the connection portions has a corresponding buckle hole. The extending buckle is buckled in the buckle hole of one connection portion of one adjacent portion.
The layered inner body includes a plane body and a plurality of standing joint portions. The plurality of standing joint portions respectively is joggled to the plane body. At least one of the joint portions includes a first entrance/exit and at least one standing joint portion includes a second entrance/exit for a pet to enter.
In this embodiment, each connection portion is a polygonal plane. The layered inner body further includes a second plane body and a plurality of second standing joint bodies. The plurality of second standing joint bodies respectively are joggled to the second plane body. The plurality of second standing joint bodies are located above the plane body. The second plane body is smaller than the plane body and the plane body has a third entrance/exit.
Preferably, the connection portion includes a second extending buckle and a second buckle hole. The second extending buckle is buckled in the second buckle hole of one connection portion of one adjacent joint portion.
In a second embodiment, the external housing body includes a plurality of joint portions and a plurality of buckle units. Each joint portion includes a plurality of connection portions adjacent to each other. Each connection portion has a buckle hole. Each buckle hole corresponds to one buckle unit such that the plurality of joint portions can be connected to each other. The layered inner body includes a plane body and a standing joint body. The standing joint body is joggled to the plane body. The layered inner body is located inside the external housing body. At least one of the joint portions includes a first entrance/exit. The standing joint body includes a plurality of standing plates. The standing joint body includes a second entrance/exit.
In this embodiment, each connection portion is a polygonal plane.
In addition, the first embodiment and the second embodiment may comprise a ball inside the external housing body, and the ball may further include a bell inside the ball.
In addition, the first embodiment and the second embodiment may have a folding hook body located at any of the plurality of joint portions.
The external housing body and/or the layered inner body is made of corrugated paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded diagram according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram showing an unfolded folding hook body according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective diagram showing a folded folding hook body according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded diagram of a varied embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate an exploded diagram of the ball;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded diagram of a second embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a varied second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exploded diagram of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 illustrates how the first embodiment is used.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Next, a 3D (three dimensions) maze is explained as follows as an example, but it should not be regarded as a limitation to the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a first embodiment of a 3D maze according to the present invention. The 3D maze 100 includes an external housing body 1 and a layered inner body 2. The layered inner body 2 is located inside the external housing body 1. The external housing body 1 and/or the layered inner body 2 is made of corrugated paper. When being used by a pet, the 3D maze may further include a folding hook body 3 located at the external housing body 1.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates an exploded view of FIG. 1. The external housing body 1 includes a plurality of joint portions 11 a, 11 b and 11 c adjacent to each other. Each joint portion 11 a, 11 b and 11 c includes a folding portion 111 and a connection portion 112. The folding portion 111 and the connection portion 112 are connected to each other. Each folding portion 111 includes an extending buckle 1111, and each connection portion 112 includes a corresponding buckle hole 1122. The extending buckle 111 of the joint portion 11 a is buckled in the buckle hole 1122 of one adjacent joint portion 11 b. Similarly, the extending buckle 111 of the joint portion 11 b is buckled in the buckle hole 1122 of adjacent portion 11 c.
For more reliable buckling, each connection portion 112 further includes a second extending buckle 1112 and a second buckle hole 1121. The second extending buckle 1112 is buckled in the second buckle hole 1121 of adjacent joint portion 11 b. The second extending buckle 1112 of the joint portion 11 b is buckled in the second buckle hole 1121 of the adjacent joint portion 11 c. Therefore, with three same joint portions, users may assemble the external housing body 1 by themselves, and manufacturers may save on molding costs for joint portions with different shapes.
The layered inner body 2 comprises a plane body 23 and a plurality of standing joint portions 24. The plurality of standing joint portions 24 respectively are joggled to the plane body 23.
For design of the entrance/exit of the maze, at least one of the joint portions 11 a includes a first entrance/exit 113. Alternatively, each joint portion 11 a, 11 b and 11 c may have a first entrance/exit. The number of entrances/exits may be changed according to different designs. At least one of the standing joint bodies 24 may include a fourth entrance/exit 241. Alternatively, each standing joint body 24 may be disposed with a fourth entrance/exit 241. These entrances/exits are designed for pets to enter the maze and their numbers may be varied in different designs.
In this embodiment, each connection portion 112 is a hexagonal plane, but the present invention is not limited to such configuration. The joint portion 112 may have different shapes under different designs. The layered inner body 2 further includes a second plane body 21 and a plurality of second standing joint bodies 22. The plurality of second standing joint bodies 22 respectively are joggled to the second plane body 21. To correspond to the space of the shape of the external housing body 1, the plurality of second standing joint bodies 22 are located above the plane body 23. The second plane body 21 is smaller than the plane body 23, and the plane body 23 includes a third entrance/exit 231. At least one of the second standing joint bodies 22 includes a second entrance/exit 221. Therefore, a pet may run into the external housing body 1 via the first entrance/exit 113, run above the plane body 23 via the second entrance/exit 221, then run down via the third entrance/exit 231, and then to the fourth entrance/exit 241.
In addition, referring to FIG. 3, the present invention includes a folding hook body 3, which may be hooked at an external housing body 1 of a 3D maze 100. The folding hook body 3 is cut from corrugated paper. The pressure line L1 is a pressing folding trace and the knife suture L2 is made by cutting the corrugated paper without cutting through it completely. After being folded, the folding hook body is shown as FIG. 4. Two ends of the folding hook body 3 may be disposed with a hook ear portion 31 for hooking at the concave portion 115 (as illustrated in FIG. 2). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the folding hook body 3 includes a corrugated paper main body 30, a plurality of knife sutures L2, a plurality of pressure lines L1 and a hook ear portion 31. The corrugated paper main body 30 has a substantial rectangular shape. The plurality of knife sutures L2 are located separately on a side of the corrugated paper main body 30. The plurality of pressure lines L1 are located separately on the other side of the corrugated paper main body 31. The hook ear portion 31 is located at two short sides of the corrugated paper main body 30. With such, a user may fold the corrugated paper main body 30 along the pressure line L1 and the knife suture L2 in different directions such that the hook ear portion 31 is located at the most exterior side (as illustrated in FIG. 4) and the hook ear portion 31 may be hooked at the external housing body 1 (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The rough side with the knife suture L1 faces outwardly.
Please refer to FIG. 5, which illustrates a varied embodiment of a 3D maze 100′. A user may only use the external housing body 1′ for a pet to play. Preferably, the 3D maze 100′ may further include a ball 4 located inside the external housing body 1′. The ball 4 may further include a bell (not shown) inside the ball 4. When a pet enters the external housing body 1′, the pet may chase the ball 4 for fun.
Because the external housing body 1′ usually needs air through-holes A, these air through-holes A may be designed as circular in shape and the cut circular corrugated paper may be further utilized. Please refer to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, in which three circular corrugated paper pieces (cut for the through-holes A) are used to form combination units 41, 42 and 43, which under joggling with each other may form the ball 4. With such design, materials are saved and it is better for the environment. Inside the ball 4, it can be designed with a space 40 for placing a bell or other object to be placed therein so as to attract a pet for fun.
Please refer to the 3D maze as a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, which also has an external housing body 1″ and a layered inner body 2″.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the external housing body 1″ includes a plurality of joint portions 11 a″, 11 b″, 11 c″ and a plurality of buckle units 13″. Each joint portion 11 a″, 11 b″ and 11 c″ has a plurality of connection portions 112″ adjacent to each other. Each connection portion 112″ includes a buckle hole 1121″. Each buckle hole 1121″ corresponds to each buckle unit 13″ such that the plurality of joint portions 11 a″, 11 b″ and 11 c″ are connected to each other. Specifically, the buckle unit 13″ may be buckled in the buckle hole 1121″ of the joint portion 11 a″ and the buckle hole 1121″ of the joint portion 11 b″. In this embodiment, the plurality of joint portions may be three joint portions of the same shape. A user may easily use the buckle units 13″ to assemble the external housing body 1″.
The layered inner body 2″ of the second embodiment includes a plane body 21″ and a standing joint body 22″. The standing joint body 22″ is joggled to the plane body 21″. The layered inner body 2″ is located inside the external housing body 1″. One of any of the joint portions 11 a″, 11 b″ or 11 c″ may include a first entrance/exit 113″. The standing joint body 22″ includes a plurality of standing plate 25″. At least of the standing plate 25″ includes a second entrance/exit 221″. In this embodiment, each connection portion 112″ is a pentagonal shape, but the present invention is not limited to such configuration. The joint portion 112″ may have different shapes under different designs.
Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment may include a ball (not shown) located inside the external housing body 1″. The ball may further include a bell (not shown) located inside the ball.
The major difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is the buckling way of the external housing body. In the first embodiment, the folding portion is directly disposed with an extending buckle, which, after being folded, is buckled in a buckle hole of an adjacent joint portion. In the second embodiment, multiple buckle units are used for fixing the joint portions to each other. Although the first embodiment is illustrated having the shape of a hexagon, and the second embodiment is illustrated having the shape of a pentagon, their shapes may be interchanged or otherwise designed with other shapes. Please refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, which show varied embodiments of a 3D maze 100X, which has hexagonal joint portions 112X and triangle shape joint portions 117X with buckle units 13X to connect and fix each other. The layered inner body 2X is the same as the first embodiment of FIG. 1 and is not repeated further.
The folding hook body 3 has an outwardly rough surface of corrugated paper and is very suitable for pets like cats to crawl through (as shown in reference C). In addition, pets often like to run; the first entrance/exit 113 is suitable for a pet to run into, and there are many designs like the second, third, and fourth entrances/exits for a pet to play. In addition, the entrance/exit may have designs of different size and numbers for providing passing or non-passing conditions to make the game more fun. In addition, the embodiments are made of corrugated paper, are convenient for a user to assemble by himself or herself, and are also good for the environment.
The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A 3D maze, comprising:

an external housing body, comprising a plurality of joint portions adjacent to each other, each joint portion comprising a folding portion and a connection portion, the folding portion and the connection portion being connected to each other, each folding portion comprising an extending buckle, each connection portion comprising a buckle hole, the extending buckle being buckled in the buckle hole of the connection portion of one adjacent joint portion; and

a layered inner body, comprising a plane body and a plurality of standing joint bodies, the plurality of standing joint bodies joggled to the plane body;

wherein the layered inner body is located inside the external housing body, at least one of the joint portions has a first entrance/exit, and at least of the standing joint bodies has a second entrance/exit.

2. The 3D maze of claim 1, wherein the 3D maze is made of corrugated paper and each joint portion is a polygonal plane.

3. The 3D maze of claim 1, wherein the layered body further comprises a second plane body and a plurality of second standing joint bodies, the plurality of second standing joint bodies respectively are joggled to the second plane body, and the plurality of second standing joint bodies are located above the plane body.

4. The 3D maze of claim 3, wherein the second plane body is smaller than the plane body, and the plane body comprises a third entrance/exit.

5. The 3D maze of claim 1, wherein the joint portion comprises a second extending buckle and a second buckle hole, and the second extending buckle is buckled in the second buckle hole of the connection portion of one adjacent joint portion.

6. The 3D maze of claim 1, further comprising a ball located inside the external housing body, and the ball further comprises an inside space for placing an attractive object.

7. The 3D maze of claim 1, further comprising a folding hook body, and the folding hook body is hooked at any of the plurality of joint portions.

8. The 3D maze of claim 1, wherein the external housing body or the layered inner body is made of corrugated paper.

9. A 3D maze, comprising:

an external housing body, comprising a plurality of joint portions and a plurality of buckle units, each of the joint portions having a plurality of connection portions adjacent to each and each of the connection portions having a buckle hole, each buckle hole corresponding to each buckle unit such that the plurality of joint portions can be connected to each other;

a layered inner body comprising a plane body and a standing joint body, the standing joint body being joggled to the plane body, and the standing joint body comprising a plurality of standing plate;

wherein the layered inner body is located inside the external housing body, at least one of the joint portions has a first entrance/exit, and the standing joint portion has a second entrance/exit.

10. The 3D maze of claim 9, wherein the 3D maze is made of corrugated paper and each connection portion is a polygonal plane.

11. The 3D maze of claim 9, further comprising a ball located inside the external housing body, and the ball further comprises an inside space for placing an attractive object.

12. The 3D maze of claim 9, further comprising a folding hook body, the folding hook body being hooked at any of the plurality of joint portions.

13. The 3D maze of claim 9, wherein the external housing body or the layered inner body is made of corrugated paper.

14. A folding hook body capable of being hooked at an external housing body of a 3D maze, the folding hook body comprising:

a corrugated paper main body having a substantial rectangular shape;

a plurality of knife sutures separately located on one side of the corrugated paper main body;

a plurality of pressure lines separately located on another side of the corrugated paper main body;

a hook ear portion located at any of short sides of the corrugated paper main body;

whereby the corrugated paper main body is folded along the plurality of pressure lines and the plurality of knife sutures such that the hook ear portion is located at the most exterior side, and the hook ear portion is capable of being hooked at the external housing body of the 3D maze and the surface having the plurality of knife sutures faces outwardly.

15. The folding hook body of claim 14, further comprising a second hook ear portion located at another short side of the corrugated paper main body