Interconvertible soft articles

Abstract

Rugged, soft, interconvertible articles constructed from soft, resilient members, which articles adopt a substantially different geometry upon an interior to exterior interconversion. The articles of the invention provide a significant visual effect and are useful as educational aids, magician's props, and toys.

Description

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is directed to interconvertible articles constructed of soft, resilient material for educational use and amusement.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Interconvertible toys, which interconvert from one shape to another, promote children's interest in geometry and provide visual stimulation to children and adults alike. Interconvertible toys that take on a substantially different geometry upon an exterior to interior interconversion, are particularly fascinating. When constructed from soft material, interconvertible toys are advantageous because they are safe for small children and easily manipulated. Many prior-art soft interconvertible toys are not, however, rugged enough to withstand wear associated with repeated interconversion and may deteriorate relatively quickly. Furthermore, such toys are often limited in complexity of movement and visual effect.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,647 (issued Jul. 18, 1995) discloses soft, interconvertible objects made from elastic foam material. The disclosed objects are interconvertible from one geometry to another and constructed from a single piece of material, such as foam.

[0004] Disadvantageously, upon interconversion, stress is concentrated at the interconversion points, which in some designs are hardly wider than a thread. Such stress can cause deterioration and eventual failure of the object. Furthermore, because the object is constructed from a single piece of foam and the inversion focused along a single axis, the variety of visual and mechanical effects is limited.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,378 (issued May 10, 1994) discloses a toy transformable between open and closed conformations. These toys, however, can only nest appendages into matching recesses and, therefore, lack a substantial visual effect. They are not interconverted or inverted.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,528 (issued May 26, 1992) discloses the typical reversible bag- or pillow-type toy where the basic geometry is retained after transformation, but the geometry inside the bag after “stuffing” is greatly distorted. Such as article lacks the same stimulating visual effect obtained upon a true interconversion. In view of the above, there is a need for a rugged, soft interconvertible device that provides a significant visual effect upon interconversion. The discussion of references in this Background Section 2 is provided for background purposes only and no assertion, statement, or admission is made regarding the references' prior art status with respect to the invention.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention satisfies the above-mentioned need by providing rugged, soft, interconvertible articles that take on a substantially different, stable geometries upon interconversion, to provide a significant, surprising visual effect. Quite startling effects accompany this interconversion, including exchange of colors and textures and up to tripling the exterior surface area. The articles of the invention are useful as education aids and for amusement, magic tricks, etc. and, thus, provide learning and fun for both children and adults.

[0008] One embodiment the invention is directed to an article comprising a first stable geometry, comprising a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections, the members having an interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a second stable geometry upon interconverting one or more of the members. In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of interconverting an article from a first stable geometry to a second stable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0010] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a cube geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a stellated-cube geometry;

[0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 1A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into an article of the invention having a stellated-cube geometry;

[0012] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a stellated-cube geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a cube geometry;

[0013] FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 1A;

[0014] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 1C;

[0015] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a building-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a car-shaped geometry;

[0016] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 3A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into an article of the invention having a car-shaped geometry;

[0017] FIG. 3C is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a car-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a building-shaped geometry;

[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 3C;

[0019] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a disk-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a sun-shaped geometry;

[0020] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 5A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into an article of the invention having a sun-shaped geometry;

[0021] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a sun-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a disk-shaped geometry;

[0022] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 5A;

[0023] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a icosahedron geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a stellated-icosahedron geometry;

[0024] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 7A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into an article of the invention having a stellated-icosahedron geometry;

[0025] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of an article of the invention having a stellated-icosahedron geometry that can be interconverted to an article of the invention having a icosahedron geometry; and

[0026] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shown in FIG. 7C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In one embodiment, the invention provides an article comprising a first stable geometry, comprising a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections, the members having an interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a second stable geometry upon interconverting one or more of the members. In another embodiment the invention is directed to a method of interconverting an article from a first stable geometry to a second stable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections. In preferred embodiments the first stable geometry can be a cube, building shaped, a disk, or icosahedron; the second stable geometry can be a stellated cube, car shaped, sun shaped, or a stellated icosahedron.

[0028] As used herein, the phrase “hinge-type connection” means any type of flexible connection interconnecting members at their edges. The only requirement is that the connection allow for hinge-type movement of the member, and that the hinge itself can be bent during the transition, but recovers elastically from that distortion. Examples of hinge-type connections suitable for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, stitches, staples, or pins joining fabric strips, VELCRO, zippers, rings, or fabric encompassing two or more members, the fabric having a dividing seam between the members. Preferably, the hinges are formed via a soft fabric layer encompassing two or more members, the fabric layer having stitched dividing seams between the members. In other words, the soft members are interrelated through a fabric covering and the hinge-type connections comprise intersection of the fabric covering. Any type of fabric may be used, and will be chosen based on desired qualities of the interconvertible articles of the invention.

[0029] As used herein, the term “member” means any object, of any shape, and of any material, wherein the member is part of an interconvertible article of the invention. A “rotatable member” means a member designed to be turned, rotated, or twisted via a hinge-type connection concomitantly with one or more other rotatable members thereby effecting interconversion of an article of the invention.

[0030] As used herein, the phrase “soft, resilient member” means any object of any shape made from any soft, resilient material, wherein the member is part of an interconvertible article of the invention. “Soft” means that the member is readily deformable on touch; for reference purposes, examples of soft objects are pillows, air-filled balloons, foam rubber, etc. “Resilient” means that the member assumes its original shape once the stress that induced distortion is removed. Preferably, a resilient member is compressible to the extent of from about 50% to about 90% of its volume and, upon release of the compressive force, assumes its original shape in about one to three seconds. Suitable soft, resilient materials for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, foamed plastics such as latex or urethane open-cell foams, air-filled elastic latex balloons, or fabric bags filled with spun stuffing, made for example from cotton, goose down, or nylon. Preferably, the soft, resilient members are covered with colorful or otherwise appealing fabric. These fabrics can be slightly elastic (by co-weaving with rubber), metallized, made from “fake fir”, or tough rip-stop nylon normally used in backpacks.

[0031] As used herein, a “stable geometry” means that the article of the invention is in a definite shape that is rigid to the extent that it is not floppy, limp, sagging, or droopy and expands back to the original definite shape if compressed or otherwise deformed, such as may occur during rough play.

[0032] The phrase “interior surface area” with respect to a soft, resilient members in an 1-5 article of the invention in a particular stable geometry, means that portion of the member's surface area that is not visible because it is enclosed or shielded from sight within the article. For example, with respect to FIG. 1B (discussed in more detail below), the interior surface area of member 2a of article 1 in conformation 1a, consists of the surface area of the four triangular faces 8. The exterior surface of an article means the visible surface area not enclosed within the article.

[0033] As used herein, the phrase “interconvertible interior surface area” with respect to an article of the invention means that portion of the member-defined interior surface area that is exchanged to the articles exterior surface upon interconversion. See for example FIG. 2B, discussed in more detail below, where the sum total surface area of bases 10 define the interconvertible interior surface area if article 1 in geometry 1b.

[0034] As used herein, the term “interconversion” or “interconverting” with respect to a rotatable member means moving or rotating the member such that there results an exchange of a portion of the member's interior surface area to the exterior surface.

[0035] As used herein, the term “interconversion” or “interconverting” with respect to an article of the invention means turning, rotating, or twisting one or more of the rotatable members such that there results an exchange of the article's interconvertible interior surface area to the exterior surface. See for example, FIGS. 1A-1C, discussed in more detail below, wherein article 1 in geometry 1a is interconverted to geometry 1b by interconverting rotatable members 2. Preferably, upon interconversion, an article of the invention converts from a first stable geometry to a second stable geometry. It is also preferable that upon interconversion that the members maintain their original shape in the second stable geometry that they had in the first stable geometry. Thus, while deformation of the members occurs during interconversion, the individual members, due to their resiliency assume their original shape in the second stable geometry.

[0036] A few embodiments of interconvertible articles of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. In general, the interconvertible articles of the invention comprise a plurality of soft, resilient members that are interconnected at specific edges by hinge-type connections. Certain of the soft, resilient members are designed to be rotated 180 degrees (“rotatable members”). These rotatable members define an interior surface (“interconverting interior surface”). When the rotatable members are concomitantly rotated 180 degrees, the article interconverts such that the interconverting interior surface becomes the exterior surface (“interconverting exterior surface”). Because the interconverting interior and exterior surfaces can be designed such that they have substantially different geometries, colors, and textures, an exciting visual effect accompanies interconversion. To allow room for interconversion, certain soft, resilient members are unconnected at particular edges. Such unconnected edges define an “interconversion opening”. Pulling the soft, resilient members at the interconversion opening initiates interconversion, whereby a first stable geometry “snaps” to a second stable geometry. The snapping effect results from the potential energy generated by member distortion during interconversion. When the soft, resilient members are distorted, the potential energy generated tends to impel them back to their original shape. They can achieve their original shape by assuming a position consistent with either the article's first or second geometry. Beyond a “transition point” the article's second geometry is favored and the potential energy of distortion is released as the soft, resilient member assumes the second position consistent with the article's second geometry. After each rotating member assumes the second position, the interconversion is complete, and the resilient members return to their undistorted shapes.

[0037] One of skill in the art, by reference to the drawings and description herein, can design a wide variety of interconvertible articles of the invention by providing a shell of soft, resilient material having exterior and interior surfaces of desired design; dividing the shell into soft, resilient members; and interconnecting the soft, resilient members with hinge-type connections such that appropriate soft, resilient members can be concomitantly rotated 180 degrees. Typically, one begins by considering the most compact state (e.g. a solid cube) and then divides the solid body into a multitude of elements (e.g. pyramids) with common edges on the hinge lines. The larger the apparent volume and shape change, the more fascinating the transition.

[0038] FIGS. 1A-LC illustrate an article of the invention 1, which can be interconverted from stable cube geometry 1a (FIG. 1A) to stable faceted-ball geometry 1b (FIG. 1C). As shown in the exploded view of faceted-ball geometry 1b (FIG. 2B), article 1 is constructed of six pyramidal-shaped soft, resilient members 2. As shown in FIG. 2B, faceted-ball geometry 1b defines cube-shaped interior volume 3. Referring to FIG. 2B, the six members 2 are interconnected at edges 4 via hinge-type connections 5. For simplicity, only one hinge-type connection 5 is shown in the drawing; however, edges 4 having hinge-type connections 5 are designated as broken lines in FIG. 2. All of the six members 2 are hinged at each of their four edges 4 (some hinged edges are not shown due to the limitations of the perspective drawing) except for member 2a, which, is hinged on just two of its four edges (see FIG. 2B, there are no hinge-type connections at edges 4a and 4b as indicated by the use of solid rather than hinge-indicating broken lines), thereby defining interconversion opening 7 (FIG. 1B). Article 1 is interconverted from cube geometry 1a to faceted-ball geometry 1b, having twenty four triangular faces 8, by rotation of each of the six members 2 via the hinge-type connections 5. Mathematicians refer to geometry 1b as a stellated cube. Interconversion is accomplished, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, by pulling member 2a outward and concomitantly pushing corner 9 upward. Note that the members 2 are the same pyramidal shape in both geometries 1a and 1b. In geometry 1b, the pyramidal bases 10 face inward defining an interconvertible interior surface area (i.e., the sum surface area of the six bases 10). This interconverting interior surface defines interior volume 3, which is a hollow space of about the same volume as the first geometry 1a. Upon interconversion to faceted ball 1b, the outer dimension of the interconvertible cube 1a roughly doubles. When the bases 10 of the pyramidal members 2 are colored red, while the triangular sides are colored blue and made of artificial fur, the rapid switch in shape, size, color, and texture upon interconversion is both astonishing and entertaining. The article is useful as a toy, magician's prop, educational aid, ball, and even as a storage container, due to its high mechanical stiffness in either geometry.

[0039] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate another embodiment of the invention, article 10, which can be interconverted from stable building geometry 10a to stable car geometry 10b. As shown in FIG. 4's exploded view of car-geometry 10b, article 10 is constructed from the five soft, resilient members 11 (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e). Hinge-type connections 12 at interconnecting edges 13 interconnect the five members 11. In FIG. 4, broken lines indicate edges 13 that are interconnected by hinge-type connections 12, while solid lines indicate edges 13 that are not interconnected. The appropriate edges are unconnected to define interconversion opening 14 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Note that due to the perspectives limitations, some edges 13 are not shown. Article 10 is interconverted from building geometry 10a to car geometry 10b by rotating members 11a, 11b, lic, and 11e via the hinge-type connections 12. Initiation of this interconversion is illustrated in FIG. 3B where the arrows indicate the direction of member rotation. As shown in FIG. 3B, the user may interconvert article 11 by pulling members ha and 11e outward and concomitantly pushing down on member 11d.

[0040] Article 10 can be decorated as desired, for example, with decorative wheels 15. Both of geometries 10a and 10b are quite stiff and stable and suited for robust play. Indeed, the stability makes the interconversion surprising.

[0041] FIGS. 5A-5C and 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention, article 20, which can be interconverted from stable disk geometry 20a to stable sun geometry 20b. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 6, article 20 is constructed from the ten soft, resilient falcate-shaped members 21, circular fabric band 22, and disk-shaped member 23. As shown in FIG. 6, in conformation 20a, the four back edges 24 of each of soft, resilient members 21 are adjacent to the inside of circular fabric band 22, which in turn is attached to disk-shaped member 23 via hinge-type connection 25. Article 20 is interconverted from disk geometry 20a to sun geometry 20b by rotation of each of members 21 via hinge-type connection 25, whereupon, circular fabric strip 22 folds over and contacts the outer circumference 26 of disk-shaped member 23. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, this is accomplished by pulling members 21 upward and over via interconversion opening 27.

[0042] FIGS. 7A-7C and 8 illustrate an article of the invention 30, which can be interconverted from stable icosahedron geometry 30a (FIG. 7A) to stable stellated icosahedron geometry 30b (FIG. 7C). As shown in the exploded view of stellated icosahedron geometry 30b (FIG. 8), article 30 is constructed of twenty triangular-based pyramid-shaped soft, resilient members 31 and, in stellated icosahedron geometry 30b, defines icosahedron-shaped interior volume 32. The twenty members 31 are interconnected at the edges of their triangular bases 33 via hinge-type connections 34. For simplicity, only one hinge-type connection is shown in the drawing, however, edges 33 having hinge-type connections 34 are designated as broken lines in FIG. 8. All of the twenty members 31 are hinged at each of their three triangular base edges 33 (some hinged edges are not shown due to the limitations of the perspective drawing) except for adjacent members 31a and 31b (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), which, are hinged on just one of their respective edges 33 thereby defining interconversion opening 36 (FIG. 7B). Interconversion opening 36 is sufficient to allow interconversion and does not compromise stability of either geometry 30a or 30b. Article 30 is interconverted from icosahedron geometry 30a to stellated icosahedron geometry 30b, having twenty-four triangular faces 35 (FIG. 7B), by rotation of each of the twenty members 31 via the hinge-type connections 35. Interconversion is accomplished, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, by pulling members 31a and 31b of interconversion opening 36 outward and concomitantly pushing the opposite corner upward. Note that the members 31 are in the same triangular-based pyramidal shape in both geometries 30a and 30b. In geometry 30b, the triangular bases 35 face inward defining an interconvertible interior surface area. This interconverting interior surface defines volume 32, which is a hollow space of about the same volume as the first geometry 30a. Upon interconversion of 30a to 30b, the outer dimension of article 30 roughly doubles. Stunning effects can be achieved by color and texture differences between the triangular sides and bases.

[0043] The articles of the invention may be decorated in any manner, for example, in article 10, car windows, wheels 15, etc. can be added to the car surface, while windows, doors, etc. can be added to the building surface.

[0044] The foregoing description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention has been presented for illustrative purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The embodiments described are selected to illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to practice the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to their particular purpose.

Claims

1. An article comprising a first stable geometry, comprising a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections, the rotatable members having an interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a second stable geometry upon interconverting one or more of the rotatable members.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the article interconverts upon the interconverting of the one or more rotatable members.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein two or more of the rotatable members are rotated concomitantly.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein one half or more of the rotatable members are rotated.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein all of the rotatable members are rotated.

6. The article of claim 1, where the one or more rotatable members in the second geometry have substantially the same shape as in the first geometry.

7. The article of claim 1, comprising an interconversion opening.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the interior surface area of the second stable geometry comprises a hollow space of about the same volume as the volume of the first geometry.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein two or more of the rotatable member are interrelated through a fabric covering and one or more of the hinge-type connections comprises intersection of the fabric covering.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein the first geometry is cube, building shaped, disk, or icosahedron.

11. The article of claim 1, wherein the second geometry is stellated cube, car shaped, sun shaped, or stellated icosahedron.

12. The article of claim 1, wherein the first geometry is cube and the second geometry is stellated cube; the first geometry is building shaped and the second geometry is car shaped; the first geometry is disk shaped and the second geometry is sun shaped; or the first geometry is icosahedron and the second geometry is stellated icosahedron.

13. The article of claim 1, wherein the one or more rotatable members comprises a plastic foam or an air-filled balloon.

14. A method of interconverting an article from a first stable geometry to a second stable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the two or more rotatable members are rotated concomitantly.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein one half or more of the rotatable members are rotated.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein all the rotatable members are rotated.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the article comprises an interconversion opening.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the interior of the second geometry comprises a hollow space of about the same volume as the volume of the first geometry.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the two or more rotatable members are interrelated through a fabric covering and one or more of the hinge-type connections comprises intersection of the fabric covering.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the first geometry is cube, building shaped, disk, or icosahedron.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the second geometry is stellated cube, car shaped, sun shaped, or stellated icosahedron.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the first geometry is cube and the second geometry is stellated cube; the first geometry is building shaped and the second geometry is car shaped; the first geometry is disk shaped and the second geometry is sun shaped; or the first geometry is icosahedron and the second geometry is stellated icosahedron.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more of the rotatable members comprises a plastic foam or an air-filled balloon.