US3614835A

US3614835A - Educational toy construction kit

Info

Publication number: US3614835A
Application number: US854442A
Authority: US
Inventors: Macon D Rice; Emil G Anderson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-02
Filing date: 1969-09-02
Publication date: 1971-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-26

Abstract

THE CONSTRUCTION KIT HAS A PLURALITY OF REGULAR POLYGONALLY SHAPED BASE AND SIDE PANELS RANGING FROM TRIANGLES TO DODECAGONS WHICH PANELS HAVE CONNECTING MEANS ADJACENT THEIR EDGES SO THAT CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF PANELS MAY BE PLACED EDGE TO EDGE TO PRODUCE EITHER GEOMETRICALLY SYMMETRICAL FLAT PLATE STRUCTURES OR BOWL SHAPED OBJECTS, AND ACCORDINGLY A GROUP OF SIDE PANELS MAY BE SELECTIVELY AND SUCCESSIVELY APPLIED TO A SELECTED BASE PANEL TO PRODUCE VARIOUS SHAPED OBJECTS, AND BY SELECTING DIFFERENTIALY SHAPED BASE PANELS A LARGE NUMBER OF DIFFERENTLY SHAPED OBJECTS CAN BE OBTAINED BY EMPLOYING RELATIVELY FEW PANELS.

Description

Oct. 26, 1971 EIAL 3,614,835

EDUCATIONAL TOY CONSTRUCTION KIT Filed Sept. 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet l K 33 in? FIG. 2A FIG. IC

JNVEN'I'ORS MACON D. RICE .--R FIG y EMH. G. ANDERSON 8mm mu ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1971 RICE ETAL 3,614,835

EDUCATIONAL TOY CONSTRUCTION KIT Filed Sept. 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet f3 INVENTORS MACON D. RICE y EMIL (a. ANDERSON 8,. 11 M Ll dou 9 AT TORNE Y Oct. 26, 1971 U c ETAL 3,614,835

EDUCATIONAL TOY CONSTRUCTION KIT Filed Sept. 2, 1969 4 Sheets-$heet 5 INVENTORS MACON D. RICE EMIL G. ANDERSON E ATTORNEY FIG, I2

Oct. 26, 1971 M. 0. RICE ETAL 3,614,835

EDUCATIONAL TOY CONSTRUCTION KIT Filed Sept. 2, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. l3

JNVENTORS MACON D. RICE BY EMIL G. ANDERSON l6. l6 Qwk A. W

AT TORNE Y 3,614,835 EDUCATlONAlL TUY CUNSTRUC'IIGN Iii'i Macon ll). Rice, Hawthorne, Nev. (707 Van Buren St.

NW., Washington, DC. 20012), and Emil G. Anderson, Washington, D.C.; said Anderson assignor to said lRice Filed Sept. 2, 1969, Ser. No. 854,442 Int. Cl. Gti9h 23/04 U5. tCl. 35-34- 9 flaims ABS CT OF THE DISCLQSURE The construction kit has a plurality of regular poly onally shaped base and side panels ranging from triangles to dodecagons which panels have connecting means adjacent their edges so that certain combinations of panels may be placed edge to edge to produce either geometrically symmetrical fiat plate structures or bowl shaped objects, and accordingly a group of side panels may be selectively and successively applied to a selected base panel to produce various shaped objects, and by selecting differentialy shaped base panels a large number of differently shaped objects can be obtained by employing relatively few panels.

The present invention relates to an educational toy construction kit comprising a plurality of substantially planar regular polygonally shaped panels, adapted to be selectively combined in a manner to produce symmetrical structures.

The essential purpose of this invention is to provide a kit with a plurality of readily connectable panels enabling a user to assemble many different combinations of panels to form numerous objects geometrically symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis and ranging in shape from flat plate structures to partial polyhedrons which latter may be termed dish or bowl shaped. Due to novel interconnection of the various panels a large number of differently shaped objects may be obtained by employing relatively few panels.

It is thought that the invention has educational value in the study of geometry especially in demonstrating how the combination of polygonal panels may be interfitted and in observing the angular relationship of the polygon faces in the constructed object.

The readily releasable interconnections between the panels renders the kit desirable for recreational and amusement purposes as well as for demonstration purposes.

It is further contemplated that the novel geometric objects produced will have functional as well as educational value.

FIGS. 1A1C and FIGS. 2A-2C show respectively representative polygonally shaped base and side panels forming a portion of a construction kit.

FIG. 3 shows one heptagonal base panel '7 and seven pentagonal side panels in a flat position before assembly to form a generally bowl shaped object.

FIGS. 4-8 inclusive show various forms of fastening or interconnecting means for the panels.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the panels as assembled to form a lamp shade.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show different modes of interconnecting the panels, the panels being shown in flat position.

FIGS. 13 and 14 like FIG. 9 each shows a bowl shaped assembly used as a lamp shade.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a dish shaped object constructed with a pentagon base and dodecagon sides.

FIG. 16 shows an assembly of octagonal side panels Bfildfifi Patented Uct. 26, 197i surrounding two square base panels forming a substantially flat plate structure.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 only a few base and side panels are illustrated but it should be understood that these forms are merely representative of the panels in the kit. The number of panels in a kit would depend upon the intended use and may be determined by an inspection of Tables 1 and 2 in the latter part of the specification.

While FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate only two regular polygonal base or support panels 5 and 9 the kit would ordinarily contain a series of panels ranging from triangular to dodecagonal shape, and preferably several sets of panels, the panels in each set being of the same shape and having the same number of edges and the panels in the difierent sets being of different shapes. The base panels also include star shaped polygons (58) FIG. 1C, which in a strict sense are not classified as regular polygons. The base panels are each provided with attaching means at each of its edges as for example apertures 31 which are adapted to releasably receive spring clip 30 formed at one end of a yieldable strap 32, the other end of strap 32 having a second set of spring clips for releasably entering attaching aperture 33 in the side panels to hold the latter in engagement with the base panel as illustrated in FIG. 4 which is a cross section of line 4-4 FIG. 3. Each base panel is further provided either with a central aperture 35 for vertical suspension or with several supporting lugs 38.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C showing three pairs of side panels each of regular polygonal shape likewise represent only a few of the side panels in the kit. In general a kit would contain a plurality of groups of regular polygonally shaped side panels, each panel in any given group being similar and having the same number of edges and the panels in the ditierent groups having different numbers of edges. The panels in the groups have various shapes from triangular to dodecagonal; and the number of panels in each group would be at least as large as the largest number of edges in any base panel. In the various modifications each of the side panels is provided with releasably fastening or attaching means at or near certain of its edges such .as apertures 33 (FIGS. 2 and 3) adapted to coact with the connecting or attaching means 32, for releasably holding the side panel in edge to edge relationship with the base panel as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. (In the specification the term edge is applied to each straight portion of the periphery of each of the polygonal panels, see number 71 in FIG. 3.) Attaching means 35 located at substantially opposite edges of the side panels are provided for coacting with some form of interconnecting means for holding the side panels in serial arrangement. The interconnecting means may have the form of any one of the releasable connecting means shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two slit sleeve members 46, for the reception of two panels 5:; and 5a (or 5a and 7) in juxtaposed position, the sleeve having a length substantially equal to one edge length of the panels. The two sleeves are loosely interconnected by a flexible wire or rubber band 447, permitting the slitted sleeves to be rotated as required to accommodate for the angular relation between the base panel 7 and the side panel 5a for example. Sleeve members 46 are made of yieldable material and the slit width is just sufficient to provide a sliding frictional grip on the panels.

FIG. 7 shows a modified friction sleeve means in which web 51 connects two

spring elements

59, 61, for gripping and releasably holding panels 7 and 5a in edge to edge relationship,

The connecting means of FIG. 8 a cross section of 88 FIG. 3 is preferably where a more permanent fastening means between the panels is desired. In this form straps 66, made of yieldable material overlap the edges of the panels a and 5a and are held thereto by bolts 67 with groove means 69 for reception into the spring snap fastener 68.

Yieldable elements

32, and 66 permit bending thereof so as to conform to the angular relationship between the base and side panels and between the side panels. The cord lacing 49 FIG. 3 or scotch tape may, if desired, be used to connect the panels together.

FIG. 3 shows seven serially arranged pentagonal side panels 5a selected from one group of side panels in the kit and assembled around heptagonal base panel 7 so as to form a bowl shaped object geometrically symmetrical with respect to the central vertical axis of the base panel 7. It should be noted that the connecting or attaching means 66 on substantially opposite edges of side panel 5a are separated by one edge H of panel 5a, which latter edge is adapted to be connected to the base panel 7 as shown at 32. Instead of using pentagonal side panels a group of 7 squares may, for example, be arranged to surround the base panel 7.

FIG. '9 shows a modification in which six pentagonal side panels 5a surround a hexagonal base panel 6 to form a lamp shade, the panels being of light diffusing material. The fastening or connecting means between adjacent side panels is of the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the edges of the side panels are shown frictionally held together by sleeves 46, the edges of the side panels between sleeves 46 being attached at 32 to the base panel 6.

The above description relates only to a few of the many possible combinations of base and side panels which can be assembled from the panels of the kit.

As indicated above the side panels in the various groups may be selectively and successively applied to a selected base panel to construct numerous symmetrical objects. Square, pentagonal, hexagonalundecagonal side panels (connected with one edge spacing) may be selectively built around a triangular base panel to produce generally bowl-shaped objects, symmetrical with respect to the central vertical axis of the base panel. By connecting three dodecagonal side panels to the triangular base panel a flat plate structure symmetrical with respect to its central axis, results.

Similarly, by alternately choosing any one of a number of polygonally shaped base panels and surrounding the same with appropriate side panels a large variety of differently shaped symmetrical objects can be constructed. It should, however, be noted that every combination of base and side panels will not produce symmetrical objects.

The following Table I is presented in order to obtain a more complete analysis of the combination of panels available to produce symmetrical geometric objects using panels ranging from triangular to dodecagonal in shape, and wherein the three following relationships exist (1) the interconnections between the side panels are spaced apart one edge. (2) the number of side panels in any assembled object is equal to the number of edges in the base panel, (3) the ratio of the edge length of the base panels to the edge length of the side panels, expressed as EB/ ES is unity.

Table I shows all combinations of regular polygons (ranging from triangles to dodecagons) which when interconnected form either bowl-shaped objects or flat surfaces, the bowl-shaped objects (last column in Table I) being portions of polyedrons geometrically symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis through the center of the base plate. This table demonstrates the theorem that only equal regular triangles, or equal regular squares, or equal regular pentagons can be interconnected to produce regular polyedrons. Note lines 1, 5, 8 in the table wherein is shown that triangles, squares and pentagons can be connected to form portions of regular polyedrons, and if additional polygons were added, complete regular polyedrons would result. Line 10 in the table shows that hexagons interconnected produces a flat plate structure. Hectagons connected to equal hectagons are not shown in the Table I because such an arrangement would not result in a geometric symmetrical object (or bowl), and consequently, no matter how hectagons are connected in edge to edge relationship, no regular polyedron would result. Similar remarks may be made with respect to octagons, nonagons, etc.

For polygonal side panels having more than six edges there are several novel ways in which the panels can be interconnected to each other and to a base panel to produce symmetrical objects.

In FIG. 2A for example (additional) heptagonal side panels may be interconnected either with edges K or L to produce two different but symmetrical objects. The mode of interconnecting heptagonal side panels at edge K (FIG. 2A) in a manner to leave one edge between the interconnections and assembling such panels on a base panel is in eifect the same as already described above in connection with FIGS. 3 and 9.

FIG. 10 illustrates a series of five heptagonal side panels (in a flat position) interconnected at 66, 68 with edges L to edges L in a manner to leave two edges of the heptagonal panel between the interconnections. When assembled around a pentagonal base panel 5L, the edges of the latter would contact the heptagonal side panels along the diagonals D2 which spans two edges of the heptagonal panels. The edge length of the base panel SL is 1.80 times the edge length of the heptagonal panel 7a. In this arrangement apertures 43 for releasably connecting the side panels to the base panel are positioned slightly above the diagonal D2 (FIG. 10) instead of adjacent the edges of the side panel as shown at 33 (FIG. 3). The above mentioned remarks relative to the mode of interconnecting heptagonal side panels 7 also apply to octagonally shaped side panels.

For nonagonal and decagonal side panels there are three possible ways of interconnecting the series of side panels as for example at edges K, L or M shown in FIG. 2B, the interconnections at edges K and L being the same as for the heptagonal panels described above. If the con- TABLE I.DATA FOR SIDE PANELS SURROUNDING THE BASE PANEL No. of General Type of polygons No. of edges shape of base interconbetween EB/ object panel Type of side panel neetions connections 1 ES 2 produced Triangle Triangle 3 One edge space" 1 Pyramid. D Square to undecagon 3 .d 1 Bowl. Do Dodecagon 1 Flat plate. Square. Triangle i 1 Pyramid 0 Square to heptagom. 1 Bow]. Do. Octagon 1 Flat platl Pentagon- Triangle I Pyramid o. Square to hexagon 1 Bowl. Hexagon Square and pentagon 1 Do.

Do. Hexagon 1 Flat plate Heptagon Square and pentag 1 Bowl. Octagon do 1 Do. Nonagon. Pentagom. 1 Dish. Deeagon d0 1 Flat plate.

2 Ratio of base panel edge length to side panel edge length.

nection is made at M, FIG. 23 then there would be a three edge spacing between the side panel connection 66 as illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 2B and in such arrangement the edges of the base panel would be positioned along diagonal D spanning three edge of the decagonal side panels a. The apertures 47 for connecting panels 10a to the base are located near the diagonals D In employing undecagonal and dodecagonal side panels there are in accordance with this invention four difierent modes in which the side panels may be interconnected as shown as K, L, M, N, FIGS. 2C and 12, the interconnections at edges K, L and M being the same as set forth above. If the dodecagonal side panels are connected at N as taught in FIGS. 2C and 12, the edges of the square base panel 4L would, in the assembled object, contact along diagonals D which diagonals span four edges as shown in the latter figure and also in FIG. 2C. Connecting apertures 63 are provided along the diagonal D; for releasably connecting the side panels 12 to base panel 4L.

FIG. 13 illustrates a lamp shade constructed from five octagonal side panels surrounding a pentagonal base panel having suspension 74 on stem 76. The five octagonal side panels are so connected that there are two edges between the

panel connecting means

66, 68, and for connecting the side panels to the pentagonal base panel 5L FIG. 13, apertures 43 located along the diagonal 8B are provided. In this form the base panel edge length is 1.85 times the side panel edge length. If desired the side panels 12a, FIG. 12, and 8a, FIG. 13 (and also other panels similarly interconnected) may be scored along the diagonal D and 3B and the

panel portions

98 and 97 cut away so as to leave the top of the finished article fiat. FIG. 14 differs from FIG. 13 only in that it shows a five point star 58, FIG. 10, serving as a base panel instead of the pentagonal base panel in FIG. 13. The vertex angles of the star being approximately 65 interfits the edges of the octagonal panel so as to form a closed top for the shade. The panels used to construct lamp shades are preferably made of translucent material so as to diffuse the light and the panels may also have ornamental or decorative material thereon.

The assembly of FIG. 15 usable as a receptacle involves five dodecagonal side panels 12a interconnected to surround a pentagonal base panel 5. The edges of the base panel are adapted to contact the side panels along diagonal D which diagonals span four edges of the dodecagonal panels, thereby requiring that the base panel 6 edge length be 3.34 times the side panel edge length. Aperture connecting means 63 for the dodecagonal side panel are positioned along diagonal D If three dodecagonal panels 12a, FIG. 2c are assembled around any equilateral triangular panel the edges of the latter would interfit edges H of 12a so as to form a flat plate structure. (See example in line 2 of Table I), and if four dodecagonal panels are assembled around a square base panel to form a bowl shaped object the edges of the latter will lie along diagonal D, as described above with respect to FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 shows a selected combination of panels including eight octagonal side panels 8a and two square base panels 4, the latter two being rotated 45 with respect to each other. The side panels 8a are connected together with two edges spacing between the connection which arrangement produces a circumferential, fiat plate structure surrounding the two square base panels, it being noted that the central area covered by the two squares 4, has twice the thickness of the circumferential area. In view of the modification of FIG. 14 wherein there is shown a five point star base panel as a substitute for the pentagonal base panel 5L of FIG. 13, it is evident that an eight point star shaped base panel may be substituted for the two square shaped base panels 4a in FIG. 16, and also that appropriately shaped star base panels may be substitutedfor the various regular polygonal base panels shown is FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 15 and also for the various regular polygonal base panels enumerated in column 1 of Table II. In the modifications wherein star shaped polygonal base panels are used the ratio of edge length of such star shaped panels to edge length of the contacting side panels is unity.

For assemblies where there is more than one edge spacing between the side panel connections, the edge length of the regular polygonal base panel would ordinarily be longer than the edge length of the side panels. The panels of the kit would therefore contain base panels of diiferent predetermined edge lengths which lengths are determined by the diagonal lengths D in FIG. 2. The ratio of base panel edge lengths to side panel edge lengths for constructed objects where the base panel edges lie along different diagonals of the side panel is indicated in the column EB/ES Table II. For a list of operable combinations of base and side panels where the side panels are interconnected in a manner to leave two, three and four edges between the interconnections, attention is directed to Table II,

TABLE II.-DATA FOR SIDE PANELS No. of No. of edges General polygons between shape of Type base panel Type used connections EB/ES object Triangle to deeagon Heptagon. 3-10 2 1.80 Bowl. Triangle to heptagom. Octagon..." 3-7 2 1. Do. Octagon -.cl0 8 2 1.85 Flat plate. Triangle to pentagon Nonagon 3-5 2 1. 88 Bowl.

Hexagon N onag0n 6 2 1. 88 Flat plate.

Square and triangle Deeagon. 3, 4 2 1 9O Bowl.

Pentagon 5 2 1. 90 Flat plate. Triangle and square 3, 4 2 1. 91 Dish. Triangle Dodeeagon 3 2 1. 93 Do. Square do 4 2 1. 93 Flat plate.

Triangle to dodeeagon Nonagon 3-12 3 2. 53 Dish.

Triangle to nonagon Deeagon. 3-9 3 2. 62 Dish. Deeagon 0 10 3 2. 62 Flat plate. Triangle to heptagon. Undecagon 3-7 3 2. 67 Dish. Triangle to pentagon. Dodecagom. 3-5 3 2. 73 Do.

Hexagon D0decagon.. 6 3 2.73 Flat plate.

Triangle to undecagon Dodeeagon 3-11 4 3. 34 Dish.

Dodeeagon Dodeeagom. 12 4 3. 34 Flat plate. 2 square rt. 46 Octagon. 8 2 3. 4 Do.

The panels in the kit may be made of any suitable resilient material such as plastic sheet, metal, cardboard, paper or wood, and may also be provided with ornamental or decorative surfaces.

to 135 will produce a bowl shaped object. In those combinations where the side panel angles F, 2E, 3E and 4E exceeds the vertex angle of the base (col. 2) by a large value the resulting bowl shaped object will be relatively Another novel feature is the provision of embossed or 5 deep, with the side wall panels having only slight

inclinaimpressed characters

93, 95, (FIGS. 1 and 2) on the tion with respect to the central vertical axis of the base, face of certain panels to serve as an aid in constructing while for panels having small difi erences in said angular objects of the desired shape. In FIG. 1A at 93 there is values the resulting bowls will be relatively shallow. shown characters Vl08 on pentagonal base panel 5, In the above disclosure only specific reference to polywhich represents the vertex angle in degrees, and similar 10 gon panels within the triangular and dodecagonal range, notation of vertex angle is provided on one base panel has been made, since the inclusion of polygonal panels of each shape. These vertex angles are given in the secof more than twelve edges would render an ordinary kit 0nd column in Table III. somewhat unwieldy because of the large size of the poly- On one side panel of each shape there is provided notagons having many edges. Therefore the invention is not tions 95 (FIG. 2) representing certain external angles limited to the above mentioned range of polygons as is of the respective panels. In FIG. 2C the external angle E evidenced by the showing of the polygon with eighteen shown between reference line R and edge H of panel edges in the last row of Table III. It is evident that fiat 12a, is equal to one half of the angle (F) between adjaplate structures would be obtained by combining triangucent edges H of the two juxtaposed polygonal panels 12a lar and hexagonal base panel with the eighteen edge positioned in a fiat plane. Accordingly, angle F (60) of polygon panel interconnected respectively to span two dodecagonal panel 12a is two times the external angle and five edges thereof. Also bowl shaped objects would (30), and such relationship holds true for each panel be obtained by using eighteen edge polygonal side panels regardless of its shape. Similarly, the angle 2E (90) with five edges between the interconnections in combinabetween the two diagonals D each spanning two edges of tion with any one of triangular, square or pentagonal the two juxtaposed dodecagonal panels 12a is two times base panels. the angle 1E (45) between the reference line R and the While the above described and illustrated showings respective diagonal D and by computation it is obvious disclose the preferred embodiments of the invention, it that angle 2E is equal to three times the external angle is to be understood that minor changes may be resorted of dodecagonal panel 12a. Also, angle 3E (120) beto in commercial adoption of invention without departing tween the two diagonals spanning three edges of the from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. dodecagonal panel 12a is four times the external angle What we claim as new is:

E, and angle 4E (150) is five times the said external 1. An educational toy construction kit for the construcangle. tion of numerous geometrically symmetrical objects, the

These various angular relationship are set forth in kit having a plurality of regular polygonal panels compris- Table III and an inspection thereof will indicate what ing a series of polygonally shaped base panels having combinations of base panels (col. 2) and side panels (col. different numbers of edges, each panel having attaching 3, 4, 5 and 6) can be interfitted to produce flat geometrimeans adjacent the edges thereof, a group of polygonally cally symmetrical objects or bowl shaped geometrically shaped side panels, all the panels in each group being symmetrical objects, and also the general inclination of similar, having the same number of edges and the same the side wall panels with respect to the base panel for the edge lengths, the number of panels in the group being bowl shaped objects. From the table it can also be determined what combination of base and side panels will not produce symmetrical objects.

at least as large as the largest number of edges in any base panel, each side panel having attaching means on three contiguous edges thereof, a plurality of fastening TABLE III.ANGLES BETWEEN EDGES AND DIAGONALS OF JUXTA- POSED SIDE PANELS Angle F Angle 2E Angle 3E Angle 4E between between between between edges H of diagonals D2 diagonals D3 diagonals Vertex twojuxtaposed spanning 2 spanning 3 spanning4 angle of panels (2X edges of panel edges of panel edges of panel base external (3X external (4X external (5X external Type of panel panel angle) angle) angle) angle) Triangle 135 80 160 4 72 108 144 Undecagon 14716' 6528 9812 34 Dodeeagon 15 60 90 120 150 18 edges 40 80 80 100 (120) 1 Angle between diagonal spanning 5 edges of the panel (fixexternal angle).

To produce a flat symmetrical plate structure the base panel vertex angle (col. 2) must be the same as any one of the side panel angles F, 2E, 3E, or 4B. For example, a square panel (90 vertex angle) will produce a fiat plate structure when combined with octagon and dodecagon panels; a pentagon base combined with decagon side panels will produce flat symmetrical plate structures. To produce bowl shaped structures the side panel angles F, 2E, 3E or 4E must have a larger value than the vertex angle of the base panel. A pentagon base panel with vertex angle of 108 cannot be united with an octagonal panel interconnected at edges H, F angle=90 to produce a bowl shaped object, while the pentagon panel associated with octagonal panels connected together so as to span two edges giving an angle 2E equal means, each comprising two parallel sleeves, the sleeves being interconnected by an elongate member extending along the sleeve lengths, each sleeve being slitted, the edges of the slit opening serving as gripping means to firmly but releasably hold an interposed panel, the slitted sleeves being adapted to be readily slid over and grippingly en gage said attaching means to releasably and selectively interconnect one edge of a base panel with the intermediate of said three edges of its associated side panel and to releasably and selectively interconnect the remaining two edges of associated side panels in circumferential arrangement surrounding the base panel means, the said elongate member being relatively thin permitting a close edge to edge relationship between the various panels when assembled.

2. A construction kit as defined in claim 1, for the construction of substantially flat plate structures wherein the plurality of polygonal panels include base panels whose vertex angles are equal to twice the external angle of the corresponding side panels whereby the edges of the side panels are adapted to engage in edge to edge relationship with the base panel means so as to form a flat plate structure, symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis through the center of the base panel.

3. An educational toy kit assembly for the construction of various geometrically symmetrically objects, the kit having a plurality of regular polygonal panels, comprising a plurality of sets of base panels, there being a number of base panels in each set, the panels in each set being similar and having the same number of edges, the panels in the different sets having difierent numbers of edges, each base panel having attaching means adjacent edges thereof, a plurality of groups of regular polygonal side panels, each panel in any given group being similar and having the same number of edges and the panels in the different groups having different numbers of edges, the number of panels in each group being at least as large as the largest number of edges in any base panel, each edge of each panel being straight and uninterrupted, attaching means on three contiguous edges of each side panel, a plurality of fastening means each comprising two interconnected sleeve members each sleeve being slitted along its length, the edges of the slit opening serving as gripping means for a firm but readily releasable attachment to an edge of an associated panel, the said fastening being adapted to interconnect the intermediate of said three contiguous edges of each said side panels with an edge of an associated base panel and to interconnect each of the other two said contiguous edges of each side panel to an associated side panel, the base and associated side panels being dimensionally proportioned so that the vertex angle of each base panel is less than twice the angular value of the external angle of the associated side panel whereby when the side panels are mounted to surround the base panel in substantial edge to edge relationship, a bowl-shaped object is produced which is geometrically symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis passing through the center of the base panel.

4. An educational toy construction kit for the construction of numerous geometrically symmetrical objects, the kit having a plurality of regular polygonal panels com prising a series of regular polygonally shaped base panels having different numbers of edges, each base panel having attaching means adjacent each edge thereof, a plurality of groups of regular polygonally shaped side panels, each panel in any given group being similar and having the same number of edges, and the panels in the different groups having different numbers of edges, the number of panels in each group being at least as large as the largest number of edges in any base panel, each edge of the base panels being adapted to be releasably connected to one edge of each of the side panels, and the two edges adjacent the said one edge being provided with means for releasably interconnecting the side panels, and a plurality of fastening means each comprising two loosely interconnected parallel sleeves, each sleeve being slitted along its length, thereby being adapted to frictionally slide over and engage the said attaching means to releasably and selectively interconnect one edge of a base panel with its associated side panel and to releasably and selectively interconnect the said two adjacent edges of associated side panels and elongated flexible means for insertion into the sleeves to thereby hingedly interconnect the same.

5. An educational construction kit as defined in claim 4 wherein the polygonal base panels consist of plural point star shaped polygonal panels, each panel being flexible and bendable along the line of the base of each star point, wherein each of the two edges between two star points are adapted to be releasably fastened to two contiguous edges of an associated side panel, wherein the two edges adjacent said contiguous edges of each side panel are adapted to releasably fasten the side panels together and wherein the number of side panels in each group being at least as large as the largest number of star points in any base panel, the bendable star points permitting their accommodation between the assembled side panels to form bowl shaped objects as desired.

6. An educational kit assembly as defined in claim 4, for the construction of light diffusing bowl shaped objects wherein the plurality of polygonal panels including base and side panels are made of translucent light diffusing material, wherein the said translucent base and side panels are dimensionally proportioned so that the vertex angle of each of the translucent base panels is less than twice the angular value of the external angle of the corresponding translucent side panel whereby when side panels are mounted so as to surround the base panel a light diffusing bowl shaped object is produced, and wherein the base panels have supporting means located centrally thereof for suspending the assembled bowl shaped objects in inverted position.

7. An educational toy kit assembly for the construction of various geometrically symmetrical objects, the kit having a plurality of regular polygonally shaped panels, comprising a plurality of sets of base panels, there being a number of base panels in each set, the panels in each set being similar and having the same number of edges, the panels in the different sets having different numbers of edges each base panel having attaching means adjacent edges thereof, a plurality of groups of regular polygonal side panels in the range from heptagonal to dodecagonal in shape each panel in any given group being similar and having the same number of edges and the panels in the different groups having different number of edges, the edge length of the base panels proportioned with respect to the edge length of the side panels so that the ratio of edge length of base panels to edge length of side panels is in the range of 1.80 to 1.93 catch means on each side panel extending along a diagonal which spans two edges thereof whereby said catch means may be releasably and selectively fastened to the attaching means on the associated base panel, and attaching means on the two edges adjacent teh above mentioned spanned edges of the side paels for removably and selectively fastening the side panels together.

8. An educational kit as defined in claim 7, wherein the panels in the groups of side panels include nonagonal, decagonal, undecagonal and dodecagonal panels and wherein the catch means in the side panels are located along a diagonal of the panel which spans three edges of the side panels, wherein the said attaching means are located on the two edges forming the terminal points of the said diagonal thereby leaving three edges between the at taching means, and wherein the ratio of the edge length of the various base panels to the edge length of the nonagonal, decagonal, undecagonal and dodecagonal is respectively 2.53, 2.62, 2.67, and 2.73, one panel in each set having indicia thereon representing the vertex angle for the various base panels and one panel in each group having indicia thereon representing the angular values of two, three, four and five times the external angles of the various side panels.

9. An educational kit for the construction of symmetrically shaped objects, having a plurality of polygonal panels comprising a series of regular polygonal base panels having different numbers of edges, each base panel having attaching means adjacent each edge thereof, a plurality of dodecagonal side panels, there being at least as many dodecagonal panels as there are edges in base panel having the largest number of edges, the ratio of edge length of the base panel to the edge length of the dodecagonal panel being 3.34, each of the dodecagonal panels having attaching means located along the line of a diagonal span- 1 2 ning four edges of the panel and catch means on each of I FOREIGN PATENTS the dodecagonal panels located on the two edges forming 914,264 1/1963 Great Britain the terminal points of said diagonal.

WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 46 31 X-R- 2,949,306 8/1960 Gitelson et a1 46-31 UX UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 q 835 Dated October 26 1971 Inventor) MACON D. RICE and EMIL G. ANDERSON It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Col. 1, line 3, the term -Box l905 should be inserted after "Macon D. Rice", and after "Nev." 894l5- should be inserted.

In lines 3 and 4 the expression "(707 Van Buren St., NW.,

Washington, D.C.; 20012)" should be stricken, and in line 5 after Q the address -707 Van Buren St. N.W.-- should be inserted; and same line after "D.C.;", insert 20012.

In Col. 7, Table III, the last number in column 4 (under heading "Angle 2E") should read -60-- instead of "80".

In Col. 10, line 44 should read -the above mentioned spanned edges of the side panels for-.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCIIIJI-I, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK --A'ttesting Offic r Commissioner of :QRM PC4050 (169) USCOMM-DC B0376-P09 .5. GOVERNMiuT 'RNTING OFFlCE 959 0-86'Ill