Assembled block
A block which can be easily assembled into a large variety of shapes and sizes using a smaller number of kinds of joints at a low cost. The assembled block includes equilateral triangular block plates, square block plates, and joints through which the block plates are coupled together. Each of the joints is formed of a single, flexible and bendable plate having wing portions on both sides thereof. The block plates are made of a flexible material and have edges and receptacles each provided along one of the edges for accepting one of the wing portions of the joints. The receptacles are each formed with a guide pocket. Any two the block plates can be coupled together through any of the joints by inserting the respective wing portions of the joint into one of the receptacles of one of the two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket and into one of the receptacles of the other of the two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket.
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional block assembled by coupling a plurality of block plates together through joints.
In JP patent 3221637, the applicant has proposed an assembled block comprising square block plates and equilateral triangular block plates that are coupled together through joints.
The block plates and the joints of this block are formed by molding a rigid plastic. Joints are each formed with plugs protruding in at least two directions. Each block plate has receptacles each formed along one of the edges thereof for accepting one of the plugs of the joints.
Different kinds of joints are prepared, i.e. ones having their plugs protruding in two directions in a common plane, ones having their plugs protruding in two directions perpendicular to each other, ones having their plugs protruding in three directions perpendicular to each other, and ones having plugs arranged so that the distances between the proximal ends of the adjacent plugs are different from each other.
The angle between block plates coupled together by a joint and the number of block plates usable are determined by the types of joints used. Thus, even if a large number of different types of joints are prepared, the final shape of the block assembled is severely restricted.
In order to suitably set the strength with which any of the plugs of the joints is fitted in any of the receptacles of the block plates, both the block plates and joints have to be manufactured with narrow dimensional tolerances. Thus, strict dimensional control of the joints and block plates is required, which results in an increase in the manufacturing cost.
An object of the present invention is to provide a block which can be easily assembled into a large variety of shapes and sizes using a smaller number of kinds of joints at a low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention, there is provided an assembled block comprising equilateral triangular block plates, square block plates, and joints through which the block plates are coupled together, each of the joints being formed of a single, flexible and bendable plate having wing portions on both sides thereof, the block plates being made of a flexible material and having edges and receptacles each provided along one of the edges for accepting one of the wing portions of the joints, the receptacles being each formed with a guide pocket, whereby any two of the block plates can be coupled together through any of the joints by inserting the respective wing portions of the joint into one of the receptacles of one of the two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket and into one of the receptacles of the other of the two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket.
Preferably, a plurality of the joints can be inserted simultaneously into any of the receptacles of any of the block plates with each joint superposed on the others.
Preferably, the assembled block further comprises an arrangement for preventing any of the wing portions from slipping out of any of the receptacles once the former is inserted in the latter.
In one arrangement, each of the block plates comprises two base plates superposed one on the other, the receptacles being defined between the two base plates.
In another arrangement, each of the block plate comprises a base plate and extensions each extending from and folded along one of the edges so as to be superposed on one side of the base plate, the receptacles being defined by cuts each formed along one of the edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
First, FIGS. 1 to 24 show the embodiment comprising plastic plates.
The assembled block of this embodiment comprises block plates 1 as shown in
The block plates 1 shown in
Except the joint portions 4, the edges of the base plates 3 are not joined together, thus defining receptacles 5 through which a joint 2 can be inserted into between the base plates 3. Each edge of the upper base plate 3 is cut out at its central portion to form an arcuately concave guide pocket 6.
Slightly inwardly of each edge of the lower base plate 3, a protrusion 9 is formed by removing the inner half of a bulge having a semi-oval section and protruding toward the upper base plate 3. Corresponding to each protrusion 9, the upper base plate 3 is formed with a bulge 11 protruding away from the lower base plate 3 to define a space in which the protrusion 9 is received.
Any of the joints 2 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 comprises a single plastic plate which is more flexible than the base plates 3 forming the block plates 1 and can be deflected or otherwise bent. Each joint 2 has chevron-shaped wings 8 on both sides thereof. Each wing 8 has a hole 7 near its apex. The hole 7 has an arcuately convex edge near the apex of the wing 8.
Of the joints 2 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the one shown in
In order to couple each block plate 1 with another block plate 1 through a joint 2, as shown in
When the wing 8 is inserted sufficiently deeply into the block plate 1, the protrusion 9 engages in the hole 7 as shown in
The other wing 8 is then inserted in the other block plate 1 in the manner as described above to couple the two block plates 1 together through the joint 2 as shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
Also, two block plates 1 may be coupled together not through a single joint 2 but through a plurality of joints 2 to more positively prevent the wings 8 from slipping out of the receptacles 5, thereby more stably keeping the block plates 1 coupled together.
If it is desired to couple two block plates 1 together so that they form an angle of 120 degrees with respect to each other, they should be coupled together through the joint 2 shown in
According to the present invention, any desired number of square and equilateral triangular block plates 1 can be coupled together so as to be arranged at any desired angles with each other as shown in
In the embodiment of FIGS. 15 to 22, aligned through holes 7 are formed in the two base plates 3 of each block plate 1 near each edge thereof as shown in
As shown in
FIGS. 25 to 35 show the embodiment of which the block plates and the joints are both made of a metal. In the description of this embodiment, elements corresponding to the elements of the first embodiment are denoted by identical numerals.
The assembled block of this embodiment comprises block plates 1 as shown in
The block plates 1 comprise square ones as shown in
Each block plate 1 comprises a base plate 4 having an extension 12 extending from each edge of the base plate 4 and folded along a fold line so as to be superposed on one side of the base plate 3. A cut is formed along the fold line as a receptacle 5 through which the joint 2 can be inserted into the block plate 1. At the center of each receptacle 5, a guide pocket 6 is formed by expanding the base plate 3 and the extension 12 away from each other. Semicircular holes 7 are formed in the base plate 3 so that their diameters are in juxtaposition with the respective arcuate edges of the extensions 12.
Each of the joints 2 shown in FIGS. 27 to 29 comprises a single metallic sheet formed with wings 8 on both sides. The wings 8 have their free ends rounded. Near the rounded free end of each wing 8, a protrusion 9 is formed by removing the inner half of a bulge having a semioval section. Inwardly of the protrusion 9, a through hole 13 is formed.
Of the joints 2 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the one shown in
In order to couple each block plate 1 with another block plate 1 through a joint 2, as shown in
When the wing 8 is inserted sufficiently deeply into the block plate 1, the protrusion 9 engages the edge of the extension 12 if the protrusion 9 faces the extension 12, as shown in
The other wing 8 is then inserted in the other block plate 1 in the manner as described above to couple the two block plates 1 together through the joint 2 as shown in
As shown in
According to the present invention, any desired number of square and equilateral triangular block plates 1 can be coupled together so as to be arranged at any desired angles with each other as shown in
In order to separate any block plate 1 and joint 2 from each other, a plate-shaped tool having protrusions on both sides are inserted into the receptacle 5 to push up the extension 12 or the base plate 3 from its back with one of the protrusions on the plate-shaped tool until the extension 12 or the base plate 3 is sufficiently deflected. Then the joint 1 is pulled slightly to disengage the protrusion 9, and the wing 8 is pulled out of the receptacle 5.
As shown in
With screws 15 passed through the respective through holes 14b and slightly threaded into the respective threaded holes 14a, one of the wings 8 of the joint 2 is inserted into one of the receptacles 5 of the block plate 1, and the screws 15 are tightened. In this way, a plurality of block plates are coupled together to form an assembled block as a building component.
By coupling a plurality of block plates as shown in
Claims
1. An assembled block comprising equilateral triangular block plates, square block plates, and joints through which said block plates are coupled together, each of said joints being formed of a single, flexible and bendable plate having wing portions on both sides thereof, said block plates being made of a flexible material and having edges and receptacles each provided along one of said edges for accepting one of said wing portions of said joints, said receptacles being each formed with a guide pocket, whereby any two of said block plates can be coupled together through any of said joints by inserting the respective wing portions of said joint into one of said receptacles of one of said two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket and into one of said receptacles of the other of said two block plates through the corresponding guide pocket.
2. The assembled block of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said joints can be inserted simultaneously into any of said receptacles of any of said block plates with each joint superposed on the others.
3. The assembled block of claim 1 further comprising an arrangement for preventing any of said wing portions from slipping out of any of said receptacles once the former is inserted in the latter.
4. The assembled block of claim 1 wherein each of said block plates comprises two base plates superposed one on the other, said receptacles being defined between said two base plates.
5. The assembled block of claim 1 wherein each of said block plate comprises a base plate and extensions each extending from and folded along one of said edges so as to be superposed on one side of said base plate, said receptacles being defined by cuts each formed along one of said edges.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 20, 2006
Inventors: Hiroshi Kichijo (Yoshino), Yoshiie Kichijo (Yoshino)
Application Number: 11/208,540
International Classification: E04C 2/04 (20060101);