WO1997018877A1

WO1997018877A1 - Didactic construction game

Info

Publication number: WO1997018877A1
Application number: PCT/ES1996/000219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Santiago Laserna Fernandez
Original assignee: Santiago Laserna Fernandez
Priority date: 1995-11-20
Filing date: 1996-11-20
Publication date: 1997-05-29
Also published as: ES2109885A1; ES2109885B1

Abstract

Construction game comprised essentially of prismatic pieces (2) having two square bases and four rectangular sides, and other pieces (1) of which the volume is a multiple or divisor of the volume of the first pieces which are linked by means of cylindrical smooth or ridged tubes (4) which may be longitudinally open (10) and which are inserted into ring-shaped grooves (3) equidistributed in all the faces. On some pieces (8), one or more grooves (3) may be substituted by a tubular protuberance (9). There are also pieces (5) configured like a cover (6) with tubular protuberances (7) and which can be nested on the prior pieces, as well as other auxiliary pieces (4) forming boards, walls or ceilings, which are also provided with annular grooves or tubular protuberances.

Description

DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, refers to a set of didactic construction, this being the type of those that are constituted by a variety of pieces that can be coupled together to form the desired object with a creative or imaginative design, or following a certain model or sample. It is useful especially in games, as toys of various uses and as material for educational-educational applications, being intended for children, youth and adults.

Among the advantages provided by the invention, the following may be mentioned:

- Adopt simple structures and shapes.

- The different pieces can be associated with each other in a simple and practical way in several ways, depending on the use in each application; They can be used without being joined together, or by different coupling elements.

- Easy joints that give great strength to buildings.

- The three dimensions of each basic piece are multiples or divisors of each other.

- The basic pieces are multiples or divisors of each other, in form and volume.

- When joining two or more basic pieces, they are never seen stubs, or other strange shapes that negatively affect the uniformity and aesthetics of the built.

- Homogeneous views are obtained in each basic piece and in the result of its union with other multiples or dividers, both in the partial and final construction. - Each basic piece can be joined to another basic one with the possibility of both turning spatially along one of its three respective axes.

- Achieve enclosures and easy construction finishes, due to the intrinsic versatility of each piece.

- You can add pieces on the sides of the already built.

- It implies unparalleled educational, didactic, pedagogical qualities for the user; being very suitable for the development of intelligence (spatial comprehension, calculation, reading, etc.) and psychomotor skills, due to both the intrinsic properties of the pieces and the applications that can be executed with them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments configured on the basis of many different forms and with different coupling systems are currently known:

- The known types are based on pieces that usually have protrusions or fixed lugs on one of their faces, so that when they are coupled to each other, the formed lugs protrude.

- Each base piece usually has three different types of faces: on the one hand the one of the lugs, on the other that of the females for coupling of the lugs and the rest of the more or less smooth faces.

- The three dimensions of these pieces (length, width and height) are not usually multiples or dividers, they generally fulfill this property in just two of those dimensions. - Other parts have lugs or other coupling systems that in practice are difficult to make, or whose joints cause constructions of relative strength.

- Normally they originate constructions in which it is not possible to add additional pieces in the faces seen of those previously placed and therefore already linked to others.

- Normally, the particular spatial orientation of each piece to be joined in its corresponding set is defined and almost invariable, not being possible to couple it if it is rotated by any of its axes.

- In other embodiments, when forming constructions executed with the systems currently known, plastic, wood or cardboard material is used as support, with form and utility limited to those indicated in its specific instructions for use; It also happens that when any part or piece of these applications is damaged or lost, the remaining assembly is rendered useless.

Therefore, from the state of the known art, it turns out that there are important drawbacks; referring especially to versatility, functionality, free construction, without determinism in the closing of constructions, added to walls of what has already been built, endings of constructions with studs, etc. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, the didactic construction set, which constitutes the object of the invention, makes it possible to eliminate these important drawbacks mentioned above, providing the following advantageous features:

An important and novel concept is added, with respect to other known systems, since the concept of multifunctionality, multipurpose and multi-use appears implicit, so that each set of this system accumulates in itself a possibility of extremely varied embodiments, with a level of Exceptional quality in its finishes.

- Many of the games and other various applications that can be made with this system, it is not possible to carry them out with the classic forms known since that have the serious disadvantage that when any of its parts, pieces or tokens are damaged or lost, the remaining set is rendered useless and worthless. However, if these same applications are made in accordance with the invention, when any part deteriorates or is lost, the rest continues to have a high value for many other uses.

- All this implies an important advance and notable advantages in relation to the environmental impact and energy saving, since the pieces can be manufactured with long-lasting materials and with implicit recycling in the intrinsic value of the system for other diverse uses.

The claimed system makes obsolete the manufacture of a large number of classic applications, as they are currently presented. Through this system the industrial process is simplified, since by manufacturing a few pieces multiple applications are achieved; with the obvious advantages that this implies in relation to the effectiveness of each resource used in the manufacturing process.

- The efficiency of any type of investment, necessary diverse technologies, tooling, etc. is maximized, making it possible to assign to the project of execution of this invention, all the best known resources, to achieve the best possible quality from its beginning and in an integral way.

Two important advantages are thus achieved: On the one hand, the amortization of the resources invested is distributed among the multiple possible applications.

On the other hand, certain applications that because of their commercial possibilities could not enjoy such possibilities of resources, when executed with this proposed system enjoy all the advantages to 7/18877 P ^ τ / ES96 / 00219

to be able to offer the best quality

The construction set consists of several pieces of different types, highlighting the following: First, the first basic pieces that have a prismatic-quadrangular shape with a height equivalent to half of the base side are worth mentioning. In each and every one of the faces (that is, both in the rectangular side faces and in the quadrangular bases), there are tongue and groove connection means for coupling with other similar or similar parts. There are other or second basic pieces, resulting from the multiples or divisors of the volume of the previous basic piece, which have similarly the means of male-female connection on all faces. The dimensions of each of them are always multiples or divisors of each other and also all faces are smooth, without protrusions.

The basic pieces can all be defined as multiples of an elementary unit defined by a cube, having in the center of each of its faces a receiving housing of small tubular portions, advantageously cylindrical and snap fit.

The receiving housings of the tubular portions that materialize the "male" part of the coupling, advantageously have an annular shape defined by a cylindrical recess with a coaxial nipple whose plateau is flush with the surface of the corresponding face of the base piece. The diameters of the inner and outer walls of the annular housing correspond to the inner and outer diameters of the tubular connecting portion. With this, a much more precise fastening is achieved than if only a cylindrical orifice of insertion of a tubular portion was available, which in this case could even be a cylindrical stud. This is so because both the housing and the tubular portion or connecting tube simultaneously and mutually perform a double connection action each with respect to the other element. That is, each part of the coupling penetrates the other at the same time it receives it, hugging it. This allows easy and smooth sliding couplings in the entry and exit operations, that is, when the acting force has the exact and precise direction. At the same time, solid and functional joints are achieved in the constructions made, since each tubular portion is perfectly secured within the annular housing, with an optimum joint quality for all those forces that are not normal.

These tubular portions or small connecting tubes may be of different types to enable more or less solid joints, as appropriate to the corresponding application. They may also be shorter when appropriate. That is to say, these tubular portions or tubes may be smooth or provided with grooves or reliefs, to achieve different types of solidity in their task and to facilitate the operation of their extraction.

Each tubular portion can be provided with a longitudinal cut coinciding with one of its generatrices, which allows thanks to the elasticity of the material, that the tubular portion can be fitted and disengaged more easily.

Another one of the integral parts of the construction set is determined by the covers or staples, with different sizes, coinciding with the surface of the faces of the basic pieces. Its thickness or third dimension can be variable, since it may well be thin and flexible, or rigid. This thickness can be a quarter or a half of the edge of the cube that materializes the elementary unit. In at least one of its faces it has tubes for machi-female coupling (in the case of thin plates) and in the rest of the faces it has, as appropriate, tubes or housings, or combined both on different faces of the same piece, leaving the rest of the faces, as many as is convenient, smooth or otherwise. With these covers or staples, the joining of two or more adjacent basic pieces is also easy.

It also contemplates the possibility that there are basic pieces with tubes, that is to say, provided with tubular lugs for machi-female coupling, fixed on at least one of their faces, by means of the technique that suits each case, that is, glued, welded , or resolved directly from the matrix. There are also auxiliary parts materialized by elements with the appropriate form in each case, for the realization of boards, walls, ceilings, platforms, special volumes, etc., containing in some of the faces the coupling system compatible with the basic parts described above, or to be able to couple, hold, receive or contain all or part of any part of the system so that some functional result is obtained.

The set of the present invention may include a tool that has a cylindrical section with a diameter and shape corresponding to the diameter and inner shape of the tubular portions. This section can be introduced at the ends of said tubular portions, facilitating their assembly and disassembly. To facilitate the understanding of the features of the invention and as an integral part of this specification, some sheets of drawings are attached, in whose figures, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1.- It is a perspective view of one of the basic parts that includes the construction set according to the invention, specifically the one that has a cubic shape and whose faces, of elementary surface, include a housing for the female machi¬ coupling, focused on their faces.

Figure 2.- It is a perspective view of a basic piece of quadrangular base prismatic shape and height corresponding to half of the base side, its volume being equivalent to that of four elementary base pieces.

Figure 3.- It is a perspective view of one of the tubular portions that define the "male" elements of the machi-female coupling. Figure 3A.- It is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of one of the tubular portions defining the "male" elements of the female machi ^¬ coupling.

Figure 4.- It is a perspective view of one of the covers or staples that are also used for joining juxtaposed basic pieces.

Figure 5.- It is a perspective view in which the union of two basic pieces is reflected by means of a cover or staple with a surface identical to that of their bases.

Figure 6.- It is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, of a basic piece of elementary volume, provided with a tubular extension defining the element

"male" of the coupling, located on at least one of its faces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the numbering adopted in the figures, we can see how the didactic construction set, which constitutes the object of the invention, includes a plurality of basic pieces of form parallelepipedic, whose faces lack bulges. In figure 1 we can see a second basic cubic-shaped part of "elementary" volume in general referenced with the number 1 and which in turn is a volume divisor corresponding to the first basic part generally referenced with the number 2, shown in figure 2. The second basic piece 2 has a volume corresponding to four pieces 1. Accordingly, the quadrangular base has a double surface area than each of the lateral faces, each of these being equivalent to twice the faces of the cubic piece 1.

On each of the faces of the cubic piece 1 and centered on them, there is the annular housing 3 to tightly receive the end of the cylindrical portion 4 that defines the small tube of Figure 3. The inner and outer diameters of the annular housing 3 they correspond to the internal and external diameters of the tubular portion 4.

In the first basic piece 2 there are annular housings 3 distributed on their faces in the manner shown in Figure 2, that is, four on the bases and two on the lateral faces and distributed correspondingly to the surface that turns out to be a multiple of the which has the elementary unit of the basic part 1. The length of the tubular portion 4 is such that it allows the coupling of two basic parts so as to establish contact, this length may be less than twice the depth of the annular receiving housings 3, or even larger for any of the tubular parts, if desired.

The tubular portion can be made as illustrated in Figure 3A, that is, the tubular portion 4A can be provided with a longitudinal cut 10 coinciding with one of its generatrices, which allows thanks to the elasticity of the material, that the portion 7/18877 PC17ES96 / 00219

10

Tubular can fit and disengage more easily.

In figure 4 we see in general referenced with the number 5 one of the covers or staples defined by a quadrangular plate 6, with cylindrical tubular projections 7 whose diameters can be identical or similar to those of the tubular or tubular portion 4, since they have to staying in the same annular recesses 3 of the basic parts 1 and 2. In Figure 5 we see a clip 5 used as a means of joining two identical basic parts 2.

As we had previously indicated, there is the possibility that the basic pieces 1 and 2, as well as others of larger dimensions, include tubular extensions similar to those referenced 7 in Figure 4 (forming part of the covers) or staples 5) and also similar to the tubular portions themselves or "tubes" 4, to fulfill the same purpose. These tubular projections are referenced with the number 9 in Figure 6 and the basic parts that include them inseparably, have a similar geometry as the basic pieces 1 and 2, a basic cubic piece of smaller dimension having been shown in this figure 6, or of "elementary" volume, being referenced with the number 8.

Although in this example of embodiment shown in the figures, some of the most prominent pieces and some simple combination between them have been pointed out, it will be understood that a large number of combinations and joints can be made by tubular portions 4 or by protruding bearing pieces 8 tubular, or by means of staples or caps 5, without any problems in the couplings, and the construction can also be joined or extended on either side, without adding more elements of male-female coupling of any of these types indicated.

Each of these basic pieces can be sectioned where appropriate, to be composed of more than one part, with the internal architecture that is desired and required, depending on the size, method and material used in its manufacture. They will be advantageously made of injected plastic material, with special precision tooling to ensure easy and smooth couplings, while solid and functional. In this case the parts that make up the same piece may be embedded, glued or welded.

This set of pieces may be complemented with other elements or auxiliary parts, as well as present variations in some detail of its geometry, aimed at providing some functionality necessary for any of the multiple applications and possibilities offered by the construction set proposed by the present invention. In order to facilitate the coupling, it is provided that the edges in the mouth of the annular housings are advantageously eliminated 3. The same can be done with the edges of the tubular portions when appropriate. In a preferred embodiment, although it has not been shown in the figures, when it is desired that the coupling of parts has to have the highest level of fixation, the tubular portions 4, or coupling "tubes", will have two circular grooves in the center of the external surface seen when fitted, one on each side of the two possible, to facilitate the work of extraction.

The auxiliary pieces for the realization of boards, walls, ceilings, platforms, special volumes, etc., will contain in some of their faces the coupling system compatible with the previously described parts, being able to couple, hold, receive or contain all or part of any part of the construction system, so that some expected functional result is obtained.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1.- DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, which includes a plurality of pieces that can be joined together by means of a machi-female joint, characterized in that it includes: a plurality of first basic pieces (2) in a prismatic-quadrangular shape, with four rectangular side faces and with two quadrangular bases, the first basic pieces (2) having a height equivalent to half of the base side, each of the first basic pieces (2) being provided with machi-female connection means with other basic parts, located on all their faces, two of said connection means existing on each of the rectangular side faces and four on each of the bases; a plurality of second basic parts defined as multiples or dividers (1) of the volume of the first basic pieces and also provided with male-female connection means on all faces, these connection means being distributed correspondingly with the surface on which they find each other; and a plurality of small tubular portions (4, 4A); the machi-female connection means being materialized by the tubular portions (4, 4A) that are inserted in receiving housings (3) of the basic parts (1, 2).

2. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to claim 1, wherein the tubular portions (4, 4A) are cylindrical.

3. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to claim 1, wherein the receiving housings

(3) with which the basic parts (1, 2) are equipped, are annular voids defined by a cylindrical cage and a coaxial pin, of diameters corresponding to the of the tubular portion (4, 4A).

4. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to claim 3, wherein the plateau of the stud is flush with the surface of the corresponding face of the basic body.

5. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to claim 1, wherein the basic parts (1, 2), can also be joined with the help of covers (5) materialized by plates (6) of rectangular or square surface and suitable thickness in each case, of different sizes corresponding to the faces of the basic pieces (1, 2), equipped with tubular lugs (7), of corresponding diameters with those of the receiving housings (3), in the same number and distribution.

6. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to claim 1, wherein the basic pieces (1, 2) can include at least one of their faces, being part of them or in solidarity with them, tubular extensions (9) of corresponding diameters with those of the receiving housings (3).

7. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to any of the preceding claims, which also includes auxiliary pieces of diverse geometry and appropriate to each case, for the formation of panels and closing walls preferably, including all in some of their expensive machi connection means - female.

8. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the tubular portions (4, 4A) are smooth on their outer surface.

9. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular portions (4, 4A) are provided with roughness or reliefs.

10. DIDACTIC CONSTRUCTION GAME, according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the Tubular portions (4A) include a longitudinal section (10) coinciding with one of its generatrices, which allows thanks to the elasticity of the material, that the tubular portion (4A) can be fitted and disengaged more easily.