US3597872A - A toy composed of a plurality of bodies held in end-to-end relation by an elastic member - Google Patents
A toy composed of a plurality of bodies held in end-to-end relation by an elastic member Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3597872A US3597872A US804412A US3597872DA US3597872A US 3597872 A US3597872 A US 3597872A US 804412 A US804412 A US 804412A US 3597872D A US3597872D A US 3597872DA US 3597872 A US3597872 A US 3597872A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- parts
- toy
- bodies
- assembly
- bore
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
- A63F9/06—Patience; Other games for self-amusement
- A63F9/08—Puzzles provided with elements movable in relation, i.e. movably connected, to each other
- A63F9/088—Puzzles with elements that are connected by straps, strings or hinges, e.g. Rubik's Magic
Definitions
- a toy comprises a number of mutually connected bodies of wood, plastic, metal, cork or the like arranged in a row in which consecutive bodies are joined tumably in such manner that the friction between the surfaces of the bodies resting against each other counteracts the tuming. In each body both such contact surfaces have different directions, that is that in each body both turning axes have different directions.
- a toy according to the invention can be twisted at various points to form a great number of different configurations. It can be used to produce geometric figures, simple letters, numerals, etc. In this way the toy develops the correlated action of the child's hand and eye. Due to the fact that friction between the contact faces of adjacent bodies resists their turning, the toy retains the shape it has been given. The toy also possesses particular therapeutic effects, for instance, in the rehabilitation of injured hands. v
- the various pieces constituting the toy may be mutually connected and as by means of slide bearings. But manufacture of the toy becomes substantially simpler if the bodies are mutually connected by means of a stretched, elastic band such as of rubber, which passes through them from one end to the other of the row and which is fastened to the bodies at either end. The cost of such an educative toy becomes so low that it can be offered to the general public.
- the bodies are most appropriately mutually congruent, oblique-based cylinders, both bases of which form equal angles with the axis of the body.
- such a toy is completely smooth-surfaced bar, which then can be shaped into various figures by twisting the bodies with respect to each other.
- FIG. of which shows one configuration of the toy partly in section in solid lines, and another configuration of the toy is in chain dotted outline.
- the chain-dotted outline shows an arbitrary configuration into which the toy can be shaped.
- the bodies l-3 need not necessarily have a cylindrical surface; bodies of other shape, such as a spherical segment or a star, may also be used.
- the contact surfaces between' the bodies need not necessarily be planar, and they may be, for instance, parts of a sphere which are urged against each other.
- a toy comprising a plurality of parts each said part having opposite inclined planar surfaces, each of said parts having a bore extending from one said surface thereof to the other, an elastic connecting band extending through the bores of the parts to hold the parts in assembled end-to-end relation to form an assembly having one said part at each end and the remaining said parts therebetween, with the surfaces of each said remaining part in contact with the surfaces of adjacent ones of said parts, and means securing the elastic connecting member at the ends thereof to the parts at the opposite ends of the assembly, said elastic connecting member being in tension and thereby exerting pressure on said parts and developing friction between the contacting surfaces, whereby the shape of the assembly is variable by mutually independently turning said parts and the shape resulting is maintained by the pressure and friction which is developed, each said part being a symmetrical body and the bore therein being substantially axia].
- each said part is cylindrical and said surfaces are end faces.
Abstract
A toy comprises a number of mutually connected bodies of wood, plastic, metal, cork or the like arranged in a row in which consecutive bodies are joined turnably in such manner that the friction between the surfaces of the bodies resting against each other counteracts the turning. In each body both such contact surfaces have different directions, that is that in each body both turning axes have different directions.
Description
United States Patent .lorma Vennola Luoteisuayla 17 B, Helsinki 20;
Pekka Korpijaakko, lmpilahdentie 14 A, Laaksolahti, both of, Finland Mar. 5, 1969 Aug. 10, 1971 Jan. 23, 1969 Finland Inventors App]. No. Filed Patented Priority TOY COMPOSED or A PLURALITY or BODIES HELD IN END-TO-END RELATION BY AN ELASTIC MEMBER 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.
US. Cl 46/1 R, 272/67 Int. Cl A6311 33/00 Field of Search 46/26, 152,
References Cited UNfIED STATES PATENTS 12/1893 Waibel 46/24 Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Au0rneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A toy comprises a number of mutually connected bodies of wood, plastic, metal, cork or the like arranged in a row in which consecutive bodies are joined tumably in such manner that the friction between the surfaces of the bodies resting against each other counteracts the tuming. In each body both such contact surfaces have different directions, that is that in each body both turning axes have different directions.
Patented Aug. 10, 1971 3 My. Q
TOY COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF BODIES HELD IN END-TO-END RELATION BY AN ELASTIC MEMBER Various toys have been devised for children which are intended to be entertaining on one hand and educative on the other hand. The aim of the present invention is to afford a toy which has particular advantages in these respects.
A toy according to the invention can be twisted at various points to form a great number of different configurations. It can be used to produce geometric figures, simple letters, numerals, etc. In this way the toy develops the correlated action of the child's hand and eye. Due to the fact that friction between the contact faces of adjacent bodies resists their turning, the toy retains the shape it has been given. The toy also possesses particular therapeutic effects, for instance, in the rehabilitation of injured hands. v
The various pieces constituting the toy may be mutually connected and as by means of slide bearings. But manufacture of the toy becomes substantially simpler if the bodies are mutually connected by means of a stretched, elastic band such as of rubber, which passes through them from one end to the other of the row and which is fastened to the bodies at either end. The cost of such an educative toy becomes so low that it can be offered to the general public.
The bodies are most appropriately mutually congruent, oblique-based cylinders, both bases of which form equal angles with the axis of the body. In its basic form, such a toy is completely smooth-surfaced bar, which then can be shaped into various figures by twisting the bodies with respect to each other.
The invention is described for illustration in the following with reference to the attached drawing, the sole FIG. of which shows one configuration of the toy partly in section in solid lines, and another configuration of the toy is in chain dotted outline.
All bodies except those at the ends of the toy, which are indicated by the reference numerals l and 2, are mutually con gruent oblique-based cylinders 3, the bases of which are inclined at equal angles with respect to the axis of the body. Through all pieces a rubberband 4 is passed, which has been stretched sothat the bodies are urged one against the other with a given force. By action of this force friction is produced between the contact surfaces of adjacent bodies, which keeps the bodies in any twisted position into which they are brought,
For anchoring the rubberband 4 in the endmost pieces I and 2, knots have been made in the rubber band, and the pieces I and 2 have recesses 5 for these knots.
For the purpose of illustration, the chain-dotted outline shows an arbitrary configuration into which the toy can be shaped. v
Various modifications of the toy may obviously be made within the scope of the claims stated below. For instance, the bodies l-3 need not necessarily have a cylindrical surface; bodies of other shape, such as a spherical segment or a star, may also be used. On the other hand the contact surfaces between' the bodies need not necessarily be planar, and they may be, for instance, parts of a sphere which are urged against each other.
We claim:
1. A toy comprising a plurality of parts each said part having opposite inclined planar surfaces, each of said parts having a bore extending from one said surface thereof to the other, an elastic connecting band extending through the bores of the parts to hold the parts in assembled end-to-end relation to form an assembly having one said part at each end and the remaining said parts therebetween, with the surfaces of each said remaining part in contact with the surfaces of adjacent ones of said parts, and means securing the elastic connecting member at the ends thereof to the parts at the opposite ends of the assembly, said elastic connecting member being in tension and thereby exerting pressure on said parts and developing friction between the contacting surfaces, whereby the shape of the assembly is variable by mutually independently turning said parts and the shape resulting is maintained by the pressure and friction which is developed, each said part being a symmetrical body and the bore therein being substantially axia].
2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said part is cylindrical and said surfaces are end faces.
3. A toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said boreis coaxial in thecylindrical part. 7
4. A toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said end faces are inclined to said axis at equal and opposite angles and said parts are identical.
5. A toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elastic band has ends with knots secured in the bores in the parts at the ends of the assembly.
Claims (5)
1. A toy comprising a plurality of parts each said part having opposite inclined planar surfaces, each of said parts having a bore extending from one said surface thereof to the other, an elastic connecting band extending through the bores of the parts to hold the parts in assembled end-to-end relation to form an assembly having one said part at each end and the remaining said parts therebetween, with the surfaces of each said remaining part in contact with the surfaces of adjacent ones of said parts, and means securing the elastic connecting member at the ends thereof to the parts at the opposite ends of the assembly, said elastic connecting member being in tension and thereby exerting pressure on said parts and developing friction between the contacting surfaces, whereby the shape of the assembly is variable by mutually independently turning said parts and the shape resulting is maintained by the pressure and friction which is developed, each said part being a symmetrical body and the bore therein being substantially axial.
2. A toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said part is cylindrical and said surfaces are end faces.
3. A toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bore is coaxial in the cylindrical part.
4. A toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said end faces are inclined to said axis at equal and opposite angles and said parts are identical.
5. A toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elastic band has ends with knots secured in the bores in the parts at the ends of the assembly.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FI0206/69A FI42182B (en) | 1969-01-23 | 1969-01-23 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3597872A true US3597872A (en) | 1971-08-10 |
Family
ID=8503767
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US804412A Expired - Lifetime US3597872A (en) | 1969-01-23 | 1969-03-05 | A toy composed of a plurality of bodies held in end-to-end relation by an elastic member |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3597872A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1912682A1 (en) |
FI (1) | FI42182B (en) |
FR (1) | FR2028913A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1224852A (en) |
Cited By (27)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3900984A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1975-08-26 | Garelick Mfg Co | Endless loop manipulatable to various positions |
US4305582A (en) * | 1980-03-03 | 1981-12-15 | Barton Owen E | Articulatively segmented, elongate amusement device |
EP0045526A1 (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1982-02-10 | Politechnika Ipari Szövetkezet | Creative toy based on the form of a straight rod |
US4333262A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-06-08 | Akira Kimura | Solar powered toy |
US4377916A (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1983-03-29 | T & K Co., Ltd. | Chain-like toy of triangular hollow prisms |
US4392323A (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1983-07-12 | Politoys Ipari Szovetkezet | Toy with turnable elements for forming geometric shapes |
US4484406A (en) * | 1981-04-27 | 1984-11-27 | Toybox Corporation | Connected prism elements swivellingly |
US4509929A (en) * | 1982-08-27 | 1985-04-09 | Zawitz Richard E | Annular support device with pivotal segments |
US4997375A (en) * | 1989-12-18 | 1991-03-05 | Heinz Ted L | Elastically interconnected articulated blocks |
US6241572B1 (en) | 1998-03-26 | 2001-06-05 | Leonid Braginsky | Manipulable beaded string |
WO2003022379A1 (en) * | 2001-09-07 | 2003-03-20 | David Watkins | Jigsaw puzzle |
US20040175538A1 (en) * | 2003-03-03 | 2004-09-09 | Jackson Reuben Star Buck | Built-in structural form or piece of furniture |
US20050136792A1 (en) * | 2003-12-23 | 2005-06-23 | Richard Zawitz | Toy for simulating character motion |
US20060280545A1 (en) * | 2005-06-13 | 2006-12-14 | Tangle, Inc. | Therapeutic writing instrument devices and methods |
US20080090486A1 (en) * | 2006-10-11 | 2008-04-17 | Tangle, Inc. | Resilient Ball Containing Looped Segments |
US20090156092A1 (en) * | 2007-12-17 | 2009-06-18 | Tangle, Inc. | Segmented ball with lighted elements |
WO2010076578A1 (en) | 2008-12-29 | 2010-07-08 | Antal Kelle | Object of variable shape and a control system therefore |
US20100221975A1 (en) * | 2009-02-16 | 2010-09-02 | Kimbrough Richard R | Transformable Jewelry and Decorative Structures |
USD623247S1 (en) | 2008-02-14 | 2010-09-07 | Tangle, Inc. | Baseball |
US20110212798A1 (en) * | 2007-12-17 | 2011-09-01 | Tangle, Inc. | Segmented ball with lighted elements |
USD692510S1 (en) | 2007-12-17 | 2013-10-29 | Tangle, Inc. | Ball |
US8756786B1 (en) | 2011-09-06 | 2014-06-24 | Daniel CLARKE | Method of fastening corks |
US20160067574A1 (en) * | 2014-09-08 | 2016-03-10 | BD Chapman, LLC | Apparatus, Assembly Kit, And Methods For Training Overhead Throwing Motions And Balance |
US10575604B2 (en) | 2017-01-05 | 2020-03-03 | Richard R. Kimbrough | Transformable jewelry and decorative structures |
USD918764S1 (en) | 2019-12-31 | 2021-05-11 | Spin Master Ltd. | Jewelry toy |
USD923724S1 (en) | 2019-12-31 | 2021-06-29 | Spin Master Ltd. | Doll toy |
US11123649B1 (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2021-09-21 | Charles D. Kownacki | Moov fidget toy |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5555115Y2 (en) * | 1977-10-19 | 1980-12-19 | ||
JPS54118295U (en) * | 1978-02-03 | 1979-08-18 | ||
JPS5748997U (en) * | 1980-09-04 | 1982-03-19 | ||
GB9504636D0 (en) * | 1995-03-08 | 1995-04-26 | Blockbuster Marketing Ltd | Improvements in and relating to puzzles |
AT504065B1 (en) * | 2004-06-01 | 2009-07-15 | Angerer Hannes | STRUCTURE FOR ROOM-BUILDING OBJECTS |
AT500678B1 (en) * | 2004-06-01 | 2007-01-15 | Hannes Angerer | STRUCTURE FOR ROOM-BUILDING OBJECTS |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE546471A (en) * | ||||
US510216A (en) * | 1893-12-05 | Picture-block | ||
US604708A (en) * | 1898-05-24 | Child s building-blocks | ||
US956632A (en) * | 1909-12-08 | 1910-05-03 | Stanley W Finch | Toy building-block. |
US994227A (en) * | 1911-01-28 | 1911-06-06 | Laurence Stuart Whitelaw | Historical and educational puzzle. |
US2877506A (en) * | 1953-08-10 | 1959-03-17 | Hans A Almoslino | Transformable rigid structural unit for a body or article supporting assemblage |
US3222072A (en) * | 1962-06-11 | 1965-12-07 | Universal Res | Block puzzle |
US3514893A (en) * | 1966-09-28 | 1970-06-02 | Frankenplastik Vertriebs Gmbh | Resiliently coupled abutting members disposable in plural stable configurations |
-
1969
- 1969-01-23 FI FI0206/69A patent/FI42182B/fi active
- 1969-03-05 US US804412A patent/US3597872A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1969-03-12 GB GB02910/69A patent/GB1224852A/en not_active Expired
- 1969-03-13 DE DE19691912682 patent/DE1912682A1/en active Pending
- 1969-03-13 FR FR6907178A patent/FR2028913A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
BE546471A (en) * | ||||
US510216A (en) * | 1893-12-05 | Picture-block | ||
US604708A (en) * | 1898-05-24 | Child s building-blocks | ||
US956632A (en) * | 1909-12-08 | 1910-05-03 | Stanley W Finch | Toy building-block. |
US994227A (en) * | 1911-01-28 | 1911-06-06 | Laurence Stuart Whitelaw | Historical and educational puzzle. |
US2877506A (en) * | 1953-08-10 | 1959-03-17 | Hans A Almoslino | Transformable rigid structural unit for a body or article supporting assemblage |
US3222072A (en) * | 1962-06-11 | 1965-12-07 | Universal Res | Block puzzle |
US3514893A (en) * | 1966-09-28 | 1970-06-02 | Frankenplastik Vertriebs Gmbh | Resiliently coupled abutting members disposable in plural stable configurations |
Cited By (30)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3900984A (en) * | 1974-05-23 | 1975-08-26 | Garelick Mfg Co | Endless loop manipulatable to various positions |
US4305582A (en) * | 1980-03-03 | 1981-12-15 | Barton Owen E | Articulatively segmented, elongate amusement device |
US4333262A (en) * | 1980-11-03 | 1982-06-08 | Akira Kimura | Solar powered toy |
EP0045526A1 (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1982-02-10 | Politechnika Ipari Szövetkezet | Creative toy based on the form of a straight rod |
US4392323A (en) * | 1980-11-18 | 1983-07-12 | Politoys Ipari Szovetkezet | Toy with turnable elements for forming geometric shapes |
US4377916A (en) * | 1981-02-26 | 1983-03-29 | T & K Co., Ltd. | Chain-like toy of triangular hollow prisms |
US4484406A (en) * | 1981-04-27 | 1984-11-27 | Toybox Corporation | Connected prism elements swivellingly |
US4509929A (en) * | 1982-08-27 | 1985-04-09 | Zawitz Richard E | Annular support device with pivotal segments |
US4997375A (en) * | 1989-12-18 | 1991-03-05 | Heinz Ted L | Elastically interconnected articulated blocks |
US6241572B1 (en) | 1998-03-26 | 2001-06-05 | Leonid Braginsky | Manipulable beaded string |
WO2003022379A1 (en) * | 2001-09-07 | 2003-03-20 | David Watkins | Jigsaw puzzle |
US20040175538A1 (en) * | 2003-03-03 | 2004-09-09 | Jackson Reuben Star Buck | Built-in structural form or piece of furniture |
US7192328B2 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2007-03-20 | Tangle Inc. | Toy for simulating character motion |
US20050136792A1 (en) * | 2003-12-23 | 2005-06-23 | Richard Zawitz | Toy for simulating character motion |
US7661896B2 (en) | 2005-06-13 | 2010-02-16 | Tangle, Inc. | Therapeutic writing instrument devices and methods |
US20060280545A1 (en) * | 2005-06-13 | 2006-12-14 | Tangle, Inc. | Therapeutic writing instrument devices and methods |
US20080090486A1 (en) * | 2006-10-11 | 2008-04-17 | Tangle, Inc. | Resilient Ball Containing Looped Segments |
US7867115B2 (en) | 2007-12-17 | 2011-01-11 | Tangle, Inc. | Segmented ball with lighted elements |
US20090156092A1 (en) * | 2007-12-17 | 2009-06-18 | Tangle, Inc. | Segmented ball with lighted elements |
US20110212798A1 (en) * | 2007-12-17 | 2011-09-01 | Tangle, Inc. | Segmented ball with lighted elements |
USD692510S1 (en) | 2007-12-17 | 2013-10-29 | Tangle, Inc. | Ball |
USD623247S1 (en) | 2008-02-14 | 2010-09-07 | Tangle, Inc. | Baseball |
WO2010076578A1 (en) | 2008-12-29 | 2010-07-08 | Antal Kelle | Object of variable shape and a control system therefore |
US20100221975A1 (en) * | 2009-02-16 | 2010-09-02 | Kimbrough Richard R | Transformable Jewelry and Decorative Structures |
US8756786B1 (en) | 2011-09-06 | 2014-06-24 | Daniel CLARKE | Method of fastening corks |
US20160067574A1 (en) * | 2014-09-08 | 2016-03-10 | BD Chapman, LLC | Apparatus, Assembly Kit, And Methods For Training Overhead Throwing Motions And Balance |
US10575604B2 (en) | 2017-01-05 | 2020-03-03 | Richard R. Kimbrough | Transformable jewelry and decorative structures |
USD918764S1 (en) | 2019-12-31 | 2021-05-11 | Spin Master Ltd. | Jewelry toy |
USD923724S1 (en) | 2019-12-31 | 2021-06-29 | Spin Master Ltd. | Doll toy |
US11123649B1 (en) * | 2020-05-29 | 2021-09-21 | Charles D. Kownacki | Moov fidget toy |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FI42182B (en) | 1970-02-02 |
GB1224852A (en) | 1971-03-10 |
FR2028913A1 (en) | 1970-10-16 |
DE1912682A1 (en) | 1970-09-03 |
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