1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to tubular framework but more particularly to labyrinth or maze made up of interlocking pieces of tubes to create limitless shapes for use in a maze.
2. Background of the Invention
Lifesize mazes have been around for ages and were popular in renaissance Europe as a distraction to royalty. Over the centuries, the concept has evolved and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Most structures use wire mesh fence as a basic structure and sometimes add an opaque canvas hung on the fence so as to keep the alleys visibly isolated.
The prior art shows various types of structures to make labyrinths easily dismantleable such as for use in county fairs and such where a temporary structure is desired.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,720 shows an amusement maze located inside of a building. The maze is formed by upright flexible panels which are appropriately arranged in selected longitudinally and laterally extending patterns. The panels are supported by ropes anchored to a single sidewall of the building and are suspended above the floor of the building by wires which extend upwardly to the ceiling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,316 shows a portable self-supporting, compactible armed competition arena which comprises a floor covering having markings which layout a plan for the arena and upon which the arena is assembled. The markings comprise indicia which alpha-numerically or otherwise identify wall and other arena construction parts to be assembled at the marked locations. Wall parts and other arena parts identified by the floor covering markings likewise bear tags comprising identifiers which correlate with the markings such that each identified part has a predefined unique location on the floor covering and in the arena structure. When totally assembled, the arena comprises a unitized structure which withstands wind and body loads. When used out-of-doors, tie-downs provide additional stability against wind load.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,311 shows a collapsible labyrinth constructed with a plurality of collapsible separating boards temporarily secured by vertical pivotal posts, two horizontal bars respectively on and under a line of separating boards to secure upper and lower ends of the pivotal posts, and tenons fitting in a mortise in a lower end of each separating board and also in one of tenon holes preset in the ground for securing temporatily each separating board so that the boards can be altered in position to make up a labyrinth route.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,501 shows a maze including a plurality of posts, a plurality of stretching members for inserting into longitudinal slots on the posts to reinforce the structural strength of the posts, a plurality of coupling members end matched between either two posts, and a plurality of partition members for connection horizontally between either two posts to define a network of intricate passages.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,659 shows an apparatus comprising a maze game that can be used indoors or outdoors and which has vertical poles and horizontal poles that interconnect together to make up the frame of the maze apparatus. The panels are made of fabrics and are readily attached and detached from the horizontal poles such that the panels hang downwardly from the horizontal poles to establish the various isolated pathways through the maze.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,462 shows a maze structure having plural levels, each with a floor and upstanding walls arranged in a maze-like pattern and dividing each level into a plurality of separate chambers. Openings are located in the top and bottom sides of the levels for communication of the chambers of one level with chambers of adjacent levels when the levels are stacked. Having the chambers of adjacent levels being arranged to communicate with one another regardless of the relative orientation of the levels permits any one level to be rotated about a vertical axis in relation to the other levels as well as permitting a plurality of different stacking orders to produce numerous different combinations and different solutions to the maze structure.
The prior art suffers from certain drawbacks such as the fragility of the structure which has weak ground anchoring, “soft” wall which can be lifted as easily as one lifts a curtain or else, over elaborate structure mechanisms which make it hard to assemble or disassemble.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, generally comprises a labyrinth framework made up of tubes interconnected to make a base unit which itself combines with three others by way of a connection hub to make up a master square. Each such master square is then connected to other master squares. Vertical tubes join the lower structure to an upper structure from which is hung a partitioning canvas which traces the path to form the labyrinth. Each tube connects and locks in with the next tube by way of frictional interlock which does not require any tools so that it is easy to set up and knockdown afterward.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
a–d Orthogonal view of a series of lower tubes showing some of the combinations of ends they can have.
abc Orthogonal view of a transverse bar, upper tube, and upper tube.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority based on provisional application 60/541,283 filed Feb. 2, 2004
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2976923 | Hirashiki | Mar 1961 | A |
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5364311 | Chou | Nov 1994 | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050170901 A1 | Aug 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60541283 | Feb 2004 | US |