CONSTRUCTION KIT

Abstract

A set of interconnectable cubes featuring innovative docking and locking mechanisms. Each cube face has protrusions, recesses, and rotatable locking elements within annular grooves. When two faces align, the grooves become coplanar, allowing the locking elements of both cubes to be rotated simultaneously to securely lock them together. A specialized tool enables the simultaneous rotation, ensuring a firm connection. The locking elements are designed with a rotational limit to prevent falling out, achieved by the structure of the cube, such as spring-assisted tabs. Face caps can be docked to exposed faces, providing a flat outer surface. The patent also outlines a method for securing cubes together, where the locking elements of one cube enter the grooves of another for a secure connection. This versatile system ensures modular, flexible assembly for various applications.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system of structural elements, and, in particular, to a cube construction kit.

Scope of the Prior Art

Many tinker toy parts have been put forth in the prior art. For example, RU 2459650, RU 2133130, RU 146536, RU 180574, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,825, RU 58575, RU 136357, RU 2669742, RU 2642530, disclose a variety of thinker toy parts. However, they all have the inherent disadvantage that the parts are only mutually fixed by frictional forces after connection. And when the assembled toy is used, these frictional forces are reduced due to wear. The assembled structure parts can fall apart. The known prior art information source BE 1010737 discloses a thinker toy construction set part which is additionally connected to another part by an intermediate element, including a rotating one, in addition to friction forces. However, although these intermediate elements increase the stability of the assembled structure, they also use friction forces.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure satisfies the foregoing needs by providing, inter alia, a construction kit for addressing each of the foregoing desirable traits as well as methods of its use.

One aspect of the present invention is directed at a set of interconnectable tinker toy parts. The technical effect of the claimed invention is to ensure high reliability of the connection of the tinker toy construction set parts with each other, irrespective of the friction forces between the protrusions and the recesses on the faces. This particular technical effect of the invention is achievable due to providing a set of interconnectable thinker toy parts, each part having a cube at its core, which has protrusions and recesses on each of the faces, positioned in such a manner that the cube can dock with any of the same cube through any of the faces, and has a means of connecting the parts to each other, containing a rotary element. The protrusions are made capable of ensuring precise alignment of the connected faces in the plane when they are joined, and the means for connecting parts is made in the form of a rotary disk located on each face of the part with annular protrusions that can move in the corresponding annular groove made in each face of the part, wherein each the face has an element to interact with the disk, which limits the angle of rotation of the disk to prevent it from falling out of the cube. The element to interact with the disk can be made in the form of a spring-assisted tab, or a screw, or a rivet.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed at interconnectable cubes designed with innovative docking and locking mechanisms. Each cube face features protrusions and recesses, and has rotatable locking elements secured within annular grooves. When any face of a given cube is aligned with the face of another cube, the annular grooves become coplanar, allowing the locking elements of both cubes to be rotated simultaneously. This action securely locks the cubes together by inserting each cube's locking elements into the adjoining cube's annular grooves. A tool is provided to facilitate the simultaneous rotation of these locking elements, ensuring a firm and consistent connection.

The system incorporates a rotational limit for the locking elements, preventing them from falling out of the cubes. This limit is achieved through the specific design of both the faces and the locking elements. Additionally, face caps can be attached to any exposed faces, with an inner surface that docks securely and an outer surface that is flat. This combination of features ensures that the cubes can be interconnected securely and easily, providing a flexible and versatile solution for modular assembly.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed at a method for locking the cubes together. By aligning the annular grooves of two adjoining cube faces and turning the locking elements, the locking elements of one cube enter the annular groove of the other, creating a secure, interlocked structure. The method also involves using the specialized tool for simultaneous rotation of the locking elements and includes face caps to cover exposed faces, enhancing the overall usability and adaptability of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred variations of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings variations that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. In the drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows a general isometric view of the part in isometry, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2-4 show steps of a disk positioning process.

FIG. 2 shows how the protrusions are received by the recesses, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows how locking elements receive each other, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows how the locking elements receive a tool, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5-7 show a method of positioning the locking element inside of the face, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 8-10 show a method of locking a first cube to a second cube, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 11-12 show a first cube docking to a second cube, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 13-15 show a method of locking a first cube to a second cube, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of the present technology will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the technology. Notably, the figures and examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure to any single implementation or implementations. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to same or like parts.

Moreover, while variations described herein are primarily discussed in the context tinker toy parts, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill that the present disclosure is not so limited. In fact, the principles of the present disclosure described herein may be readily applied to the connection of any two parts using the described rotary locking mechanism. Alternatively, the principles of the present invention may be used to connect any two polyhedron shapes using the described rotary locking mechanism.

In the present specification, an implementation showing a singular component should not be considered limiting; rather, the disclosure is intended to encompass other implementations including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Further, the present disclosure encompasses present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration.

It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the technology are described in terms of a specific sequence of steps of a method, these descriptions are only illustrative of the broader methods of the disclosure and may be modified as required by the particular application. Certain steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional under certain circumstances. Additionally, certain steps or functionality may be added to the disclosed implementations, or the order of performance of two or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered to be encompassed within the disclosure disclosed and claimed herein.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary cube. This cube can be part of a set of identical cubes such that a first cube can be, using any of its faces, docked to another cube in the same set.

Each cube face (herein shortened to face) comprises a locking element 100, at least one protrusion 102, and at least one recess 104. Preferably, there are two protrusions 102 and two recesses 104. The protrusions 102 extend outwards beyond the locking element 100 and the recesses 104 extend inwards beyond the locking element 100. Annular grooves 106 are engraved into the protrusions 102.

Annular protrusions 108 of the locking element 100 sit within the annular grooves 106 such that the locking element 100 is rotatably secured within the face. An aperture 110 in each locking element 100 is configured to receive a tool 112. The end of the tool 112 is shaped to match the apertures 110.

Tabs 111 integrated into the cube body are configured to interact with the locking element 100. Preferably, the tabs 111 are spring-assisted and limit locking element 100 rotation to prevent it from falling out of the cube. Alternatively, the locking element is prevented from falling out of the cube due to at least one of the shape of the cube body and the shape of the locking elements. For example, an additional groove made on the inner surface of the cube or on the disc itself creates an additional barrier for the locking element or its tabs, ensuring the locking element stays inside the cube without limiting its rotation.

FIG. 2 shows how the protrusions 102 are received by the recesses 104. Locking elements are not illustrated for clarity purposes. When the first cube 120 is docked to the second cube 122, the shape of the protrusions 102 and recesses 104 ensures a precise alignment of the faces. Furthermore, the annular grooves 106 of the first cube 120 are coplanar with the annular grooves 106 of the second cube 122.

FIG. 3 shows how locking elements 100 receive each other. When the first cube 120 is docked to the second cube 122, the shape of the locking elements 100 ensures a precise alignment of the locking elements 100 to each other. Furthermore, the annular protrusions 108 of the first cube 120 are coplanar with the annular protrusions of the second cube 122.

FIG. 4 shows how the locking elements 100 receive a tool 112. The tool 112 shaft is received by the apertures 110 of the locking elements 100. Rotating the tool 112 simultaneously rotates the locking elements 100 such that the annular protrusions 108 of the first cube 120 enter the annular grooves 106 of the second cube 122 and the annular protrusions 108 of the second cube 122 enter the annular grooves 106 of the first cube 110, locking the first cube 120 to the second cube 122.

FIGS. 5-7 show how the locking element 100 can be positioned inside of the face.

FIG. 5 shows how the locking element 100 is inserted at 45°.

FIG. 6 shows how the locking element 100 is rotated such that the annular protrusions 108 enter the annular grooves 106. In addition, the spring-assisted tab 111 is deformed inwards under the pressure of the locking element 111.

FIG. 7 shows how the locking element 100 is further rotated such that the spring-assisted tab 111 returns to place. The spring-assisted tab 111 now limits the rotation angle of the disk.

FIGS. 8-10 show the processes of locking a first cube to a second cube, from an outside view.

FIG. 8 shows the first cube being caused to approach the second cube.

FIG. 9 shows the first cube docked to the second cube. The tool 112 can be inserted into the docked cubes.

FIG. 10 shows the tool 112 inserted into the docked cubes. The tool 112 has been used to rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces by 22.5°, locking the first cube to the second cube.

FIGS. 11-12 show a first cube docking to a second cube, from a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 11 shows the first cube being caused to approach the second cube.

FIG. 12 shows the first cube docked to the second cube.

FIGS. 13-15 show the processes of locking a first cube to a second cube, from a cutaway view.

FIG. 13 shows the first cube being caused to approach the second cube.

FIG. 14 shows the first cube docked to the second cube.

FIG. 15 shows the tool 112 inserted into the docked cubes. The tool 112 has been used to rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces by 22.5°, locking the first cube to the second cube.

To unlock and undock the cubes, a user can reinsert the tool 112 into the locked cubes, rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces by 22.5° in the opposite direction, and undock the cubes from each other.

Claims

1. A set of interconnectable cubes, wherein faces of a given cube in the set of interconnectable cubes are characterized by protrusions and recesses;locking elements are rotatably secured within annular grooves in the faces;the given cube can be docked, through any of its faces, to an other cube in the set of interconnectable cubes such that the annular grooves of two adjoining faces are coplanar; andwhen the given cube is docked to the other cube, the given cube can be locked to the other cube by simultaneously rotating the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

2. The set of interconnectable cubes of claim 1, wherein a rotational limit of the locking elements prevents the locking elements from falling out of the given cube.

3. The set of interconnectable cubes of claim 2, wherein the rotational limit is caused by at least one of a shape of the faces and a shape of the locking elements.

4. The set of interconnectable cubes of claim 1, wherein when the locking elements of the two adjoining faces are simultaneously rotated, the locking element of the given cube enters the annular groove of the other cube and the locking element of the other cube enters the annular groove of the given cube.

5. The set of interconnectable cubes of claim 1, further comprising: a tool configured to simultaneously rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

6. The set of interconnectable cubes of claim 1, further comprising: face caps, wherein an inner surface of a given face cap enables it to be docked to an exposed face of the given cube; andan outer surface the given face cap is generally flat.

7. A cube, the cube part of a set of interconnectable cubes, wherein faces of the cube are characterized by protrusions and recesses;locking elements are rotatably secured within annular grooves in the faces;the cube can be docked, through any of its faces, to an other cube in the set of interconnectable cubes such that the annular grooves of two adjoining faces are coplanar; andwhen the cube is docked to the other cube, the cube can be locked to the other cube by simultaneously rotating the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

8. The cube of claim 7, wherein a rotational limit of the locking elements prevents the locking elements from falling out of the cube.

9. The cube of claim 8, wherein the rotational limit is caused by at least one of a shape of the faces and a shape of the locking elements.

10. The cube of claim 7, wherein when the locking elements of the two adjoining faces are simultaneously rotated, the locking element of the cube enters an annular groove of the other cube and a locking element of the other cube enters the annular groove of the given cube.

11. The cube of claim 7, further comprising: a tool configured to simultaneously rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

12. The cube of claim 7, further comprising: face caps, wherein an inner surface of a given face cap enables it to be docked to an exposed face of the cube; andan outer surface the given face cap is generally flat.

13. A method of locking a first cube to a second cube, the method comprising: providing set of interconnectable cubes, wherein faces of a given cube in the set of interconnectable cubes are characterized by protrusions and recesses;locking elements are rotatably secured within annular grooves in the faces;docking the first cube, through any of its faces, to the second cube such that the annular grooves of two adjoining faces are coplanar; andlocking the first cube to the second cube by simultaneously rotating the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a rotational limit of the locking elements prevents the locking elements from falling out of the given cube.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rotational limit is caused by at least one of a shape of the faces and a shape of the locking elements.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein when the locking elements of the two adjoining faces are simultaneously rotated, the locking element of the first cube enters the annular groove of the second cube and the locking element of the second cube enters the annular groove of the first cube.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising steps of: providing a tool configured to simultaneously rotate the locking elements of the two adjoining faces.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising steps of: providing face caps, wherein an inner surface of a given face cap enables it to be docked to an exposed face of the given cube; andan outer surface the given face cap is generally flat.