The present invention pertains to a novel furniture construction system.
Conventional furniture is typically bulky and designed for a specific function. For example, a chair, has a characteristic base surface with legs extending there beneath which is ideal for sitting. However, many people desire an artistic space-saving approach to furnish their living area. Therefore, a need exists for a construction system which allows one to design their own furniture arrangements to meet their personal preferences. The present invention addresses this need.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the drawings. The drawings are not to scale and the relative dimensions of various elements in the drawings are depicted schematically. The techniques of the present invention may readily be understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
A detailed description of some embodiments is provided below along with accompanying figures. The detailed description is provided in connection with such embodiments, but is not limited to any particular example. The scope is limited only by the claims and numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents are encompassed. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the described techniques may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to some embodiments have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description.
Before the present invention is described in detail, it is to be understood that, unless otherwise indicated, this disclosure is not limited to specific procedures or articles, whether described or not.
It is further to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range, and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure. The term “about” generally refers to ±10% of a stated value.
The present invention provides a modular system with a plurality of polyblocks which may be configured to construct one or more objects. In some embodiments, the constructed objects are furniture pieces (e.g., chairs, tables, and couches). Herein, a polyblock may be defined as a cuboid structure that is equally divisible by a whole number (i.e., positive integers) of cubic areas. Although each polyblock is equally divisible by a whole number of cubic areas, each polyblock is a single indivisible structure. Simply put, a polyblock is a single non-configurable indivisible structure which may be assembled with other polyblocks to form functional objects (e.g., furniture pieces).
In some embodiments, the polyblocks are polycubes that are equally divisible by a plurality of identical cubic areas. For example, the polycubes can be divisible by five equally-divisible cubic areas (i.e., a pentacube) or six equally-divisible cubic areas (i.e., a hexacube). As depicted in the figures, a polycube can be asymmetric or symmetric.
The set of polyblocks illustrated in
In some implementations, the modular system is free of an independent coupling means (e.g., magnetic, snap connections, etc.) to assemble one or more constructed objects. As such, the stability of constructed assemblies is caused by the gravitational force applied on each polyblock in addition to frictional force(s) created by neighboring polyblocks. The present invention is however amenable to include a coupling means (e.g., independent coupling means) to couple two or more polyblocks together to provide additional stability.
As the polyblocks may have sufficient weight (e.g., greater than 15 pounds), no additional coupling means is required. For instance, pentacubes can weigh between 20-22 lbs whereas exemplary hexacubes can weigh between 24-26 lbs. Simply put, the weight of the polyblocks and the frictional force(s) created by neighboring polyblocks provide enough stabiliy for each constructed assembly.
In some implementations, an independent coupling means may be added to the polyblocks to provide additional stability to a configured assembly. For example, the independent coupling means may comprise strips of Velcro, snap-locking components, magnets, or any other suitable coupling means. One having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that the present invention is not limited to those aforementioned examples.
In addition, the polyblocks may comprise cubic areas that are on a top or bottom portion of each other. In
The polyblocks disclosed herein may comprise any suitable material to facilitate sturdiness for setting things thereon. In some embodiments, the polyblocks may be suitable for sitting thereon. The polyblocks may comprise a plastic material, foam rubber, synthetic foam, or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the polyblocks comprise a cloth material on an exterior portion. In yet other embodiments, a light element disposed within the polycubes can illuminate an exterior surface of the polyblocks without requiring an independent coupling means. Accordingly, because of the asymmetry of some of the polyblocks within the set, the constructed objects may be coupled together as there may be at least two points of contact for each pair of polycubes within the constructed object.
Notably, a constructed object may consist of neighboring polyblocks with points of contact in two or more locations. Accordingly, when the polyblocks are assembled as a constructed object, the polyblocks may contact each other vertically (one cubic section disposed on top of another) or laterally (one cubic section horizontally disposed by another). The points of contact between neighboring polyblocks provide locations of coupling due to the frictional forces created.
Additionally, electronic circuitry can be embedded into one or more polyblocks. This electronic circuitry may include, but not limited to, computing processors, wireless circuitry, power circuitry, orientation detection components (e.g., gyroscope), GPS circuitry, Wi-Fi circuitry, etc. In some embodiments, a polyblock can receive a signal to emit a specific lighting effect, color scheme, etc. from an external device.
In some embodiments, each polyblock can receive instructions from an external device (e.g., smartphone) to be positioned in a particular orientation according to a specific object construction. In some implementations, when the polyblock is positioned in the correct orientation, the polyblock outputs a particular effect (e.g., green light) whereas when the polyblock is positioned in an incorrect orientation, the polyblock outputs another effect (e.g., red light).
In some embodiments, at least one cubic area of a polyblock includes a power component to receive power from an external power source. Notably, cubic area 1301 may include a light element which can emanate a unique color or lighting effect therefrom. In some embodiments, each cubic area 1301 emanates the same color or lighting effect whereas in other embodiments, each cubic area 1301 emanates a unique color or lighting effect therefrom.
The polyblocks may be configured and arranged, in part, according to the color of light or lighting effects that emanate from the lighting element of each polyblock. In particular, when the polyblocks are assembled as furniture pieces, the unique color or lighting effect may be taken into account to achieve an overall lighting or color scheme. As such, one can construct furniture or other objects using the present modular system that facilitates a desired feeling to match or influence a particular human emotion.
For example, if one wants to feel a particular emotion, an object may be constructed according to a particular color scheme or lighting effect. For instance, if a person is in a somber mood, such person can assemble polyblocks having certain colors or an overall color scheme which facilitates or enhances one's mood. Moreover, the light elements embedded into each polyblock may change color according to a placement of the polyblock with respect to the other polyblocks within the constructed object. The present invention therefore provides a construction system which allows users to construct objects in a creative manner according to one's mood.
The light elements may provide lighting effects such as blinking. As such, lighting effects may also create or facilitate an aura associated with the constructed object.
In some embodiments, the external surface of one or more polyblocks may include a material that is reactive to light. These materials may be referred to as “smart materials” which have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stimuli (e.g., stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric, or magnetic fields). Examples of smart materials are piezoelectric materials, shape-memory alloy materials, magnetostrictive materials, magnetic shape memory alloys material, smart inorganic polymer materials, photomechanical materials, and dielectric elastomer materials.
Moving forward,
Notably,
Notably, the modular system described herein may be configured such that a change of one or a few polyblocks can create new constructed objects. For example, the assemblies shown in
The hybrid furniture assembly 2500 is constructed from the polyblocks 2501 depicted in
Moving forward,
As known in the art, power unit 2704 may provide power to the smart hub unit 2700 such that said unit 2700 can function. Light element 2702 may function to effect various lighting effects such as, but not limited to, blinking, emitting color, etc. In addition, communication circuitry block 2703 may communicate wirelessly with an external device. For example, communication circuitry block 2703 can communicate with a smartphone device. A smartphone device may be configured with a software application that pairs sets of lighting effects with particular songs. Accordingly, a smartphone can emit instructions to communication circuitry block 2703 to generate a lighting scheme customized for a desired song to thereby facilitate a desired mood.
Moreover, smart hub 27000 may contain wireless charging circuitry such that the polyblock can be easily charged while in contact with a charging pad.
As humans are sensitive to light stimuli constructing assemblies using polyblocks with particular light effects may be a factor in a user's decision in which polyblocks are chosen to build a particular assembly.
The preceding Description and accompanying Drawings describe examples of embodiments in some detail to aid understanding. However, the scope of protection may also include equivalents, permutations, and combinations that are not explicitly described herein. Only the claims appended here (along with those of parent, child, or divisional patents, if any) define the limits of the protected intellectual-property rights.