Patent Application
20180193766
The present invention relates to a combination structure for a labyrinth, which is constructed of frame supports and connectors, and can be dismantled quickly and easily to configure a different labyrinth route.
Generally, a conventional labyrinth building located outdoors for entertainment or teaching is constructed with a plurality of partition boards and a plurality of fastening components, such as screws or nails. However, the route of the labyrinth building is fixed and cannot be changed. Thus, after several games having been played in the labyrinth building, the labyrinth route can be remembered, and thus the fun and challenge of playing a labyrinth game would be lost. Therefore, people would be lack of interest in play a game in the labyrinth building again and thus the building may become abandoned. For maintaining the freshness of labyrinth games, the route of the labyrinth building has to be changed frequently. However, it is extremely time-consuming and troublesome for the labyrinth building to be dismantled. Moreover, the partition boards are prone to damage and thus cannot be used again. As a result, the dismantled partition boards have to be abandoned, and this would cause material waste and environmental pollution. In addition, the components of the conventional labyrinth building are bulky, so that they would occupy large space, and are uneasy to be transported. Another disadvantage is that the interior of the labyrinth building cannot be seen from the outside. Children playing games in the labyrinth building may cry because of panic. Also, since adults cannot grasp the movements and locations of children playing in the labyrinth building, children may be at risk. For solving the above disadvantages of conventional labyrinth structures, applicant developed a labyrinth combination structure (a granted U.S. Pat. No. 8,523,691 B2). The labyrinth combination structure is constructed with a plurality of labyrinth units. Each labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports, a reinforcing rod, and a plurality of fixing members. The labyrinth combination structure can be constructed at any place, and can be constructed or dismantled without any tools. Since the labyrinth combination structure allows to be changed, it can provide a variety of labyrinth routes to achieve the purpose of entertainment and education. Also, the interior of the disclosed invention can be seen from the outside, thus increasing the safety of playing labyrinth games. However, the disclosed invention requires a lot of components, and the manufacturing cost is high. There is still room for improvement.
One object of the present invention is to provide a combination structure for a labyrinth, which can solve the disadvantages, concerning component manufacturing, component assembling, and component transportation, of conventional labyrinth structures.
One embodiment of the labyrinth combination structure comprises a plurality of labyrinth units. Each of the labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports and four connectors. Each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors is in the form of a multi-faced body and defines a mounting hole at each outer face thereof. Each of the frame supports can be fitted into one mounting hole of one connector, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together by the connectors, thus constructing the combination structure.
Another embodiment of the labyrinth combination structure comprises a plurality of labyrinth units. Each of the labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports and four connectors. Each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors is in the form of a spherical body and defines a plurality of mounting holes. Each of the frame supports can be fitted into one mounting hole of one connector, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together by the connectors, thus constructing the combination structure. According to one aspect of the present invention, two adjacent ones of the labyrinth units are connected such that one frame support and two connectors joined with the frame support serve as common components shared between the two adjacent labyrinth units, thus simplifying the combination structure.
On advantage of the present invention is that the components of the present invention, including a plurality of frame supports and a plurality of connectors, are simple in structure, so that a labyrinth structure can be constructed or dismantled easily and quickly, the manufacturing cost of the components can be reduced significantly, and the components can be transported easily and quickly.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
To understand the objects and advantages of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring initially to
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In use, as shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment above, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiment is given for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
