THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT WITH REPLACEABLE INSERTS

Abstract

A three-dimensional object with one or more inserts has a body having at least one cavity on an exterior surface, and at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the at least one cavity in three or more orientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

Description

FIELD

This relates to a three-dimensional body with replaceable inserts, such as for activities or games.

BACKGROUND

When playing games or during therapy sessions with children, a common technique is to randomly select an activity that the children must do. This may be done by rolling a die with different activities on the sides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,144 (Maddestra et al.) entitled “Educational Block with Replaceable Chip”, describes blocks with removable and replaceable sides.

SUMMARY

There is provided a three-dimensional object with one or more inserts. The three-dimensional object comprises a body having at least one cavity on an exterior surface, and at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the at least one cavity in three or more orientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

According to an aspect, the at least one insert may be a polyhedral body having a message on each side. The at least one insert may be sized and shaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from the exterior surface of the body in each of the orientations.

According to an aspect, the body may be one of a sphere, a cylinder and a polyhedron. The body may be a die.

According to another aspect, there is provided a die with one or more inserts. The die comprises a polyhedral body, at least one side of the polyhedral body comprising a cavity, and at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the cavity in three or more orientations. An attachment secures the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

According to an aspect, the at least one insert may be a polyhedral body having a message that is displayed from the in each of the three or more orientations. The at least one insert may be sized and shaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from the side of the polyhedral body in each of the orientations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a die with inserts.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the die.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the die.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the die with an insert in multiple orientations.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of each side of the die.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There will now be described a preferred embodiment with reference to FIG. 1 through 5, namely, a die generally identified by reference numeral 100.

Referring to FIG. 1, die 100 includes a polyhedral body 1, such as a cube as shown, with cavities 2 that receive inserts 3. Cavities 2 are sized to receive inserts 3 in three or more orientations. Attachments 4 are also provided to secure inserts 3 within the respective cavities 2. Referring to FIG. 4, inserts 3 are installed while insert 3a is shown as being rotating as desired prior to being inserted.

In the depicted example, cavities 2 are offset on each face of body 1 to maximize the size of cavities 2 with respect to the size of body 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the various sides 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of body 1, as does FIG. 5. It can be seen that a different position is selected for each side 5 through 10.

As shown, die 100 is a polyhedron having a multi-faceted form (i.e. 6-sided cube) with 6 smaller sub-components in the shape of regular tetrahedrons (4-sided pyramids). The larger polyhedron form is suitable for rolling/throwing as a die, and offers the user or game player equal access to each of the 6 sides. For example, the user may be a therapist, instructor or teacher working with children and they would use the die to enhance the child's interest in various therapeutic or learning activities through randomness, novelty, and game-oriented play. Each of the 6 sides of the dice is not permanently defined, but by the attachment and orientation of the 6 sub-components, it becomes easily changeable, allowing increased interest and user involvement, through a larger number outcome potentials and activity options (in this version, 6×4=24 possible activities for each die). The main polyhedron component has a regular tetrahedral indentation on each of its 6 faces for receiving one of the tetrahedral sub-components. The 6 regular tetrahedral sub-components each offer 4 different surfaces/faces for printing and displaying different activities/information/outcomes. Each of the 6 tetrahedral subcomponents fits flush into one of the 6 indentations on the larger polyhedron, with each subcomponent revealing one of its faces at any given time. Attachments secure the subcomponents, preventing undesired detachment under typical use (rolling & throwing actions, transport) and allowing easy repositioning of each subcomponent for displaying any alternative one of its 4 faces.

In most embodiments, there will be multiple inserts to maximize the customizability of die 100. However, it will be understood that there may only be one insert, and there may be also be one or more permanent messages or symbols.

Die 100 may be used in various settings. In one embodiment, die 100 may be used in a therapy setting for an organizational method of visually representing the nature of the outcomes or activities on each subcomponent. Die 100 can be “loaded” by the therapist for outcomes, for instance, towards more or less physical play, higher or lower cognitive skill challenges, etc. A colour-based and graphic system may be used to assist the therapist in selecting appropriate activities. For example, darker or lighter hues of red/oranges tones can be used to indicate higher or lower physical intensity levels (alerting vs. calming). Other colours may be matched to sensory (yellow), social (green), or cognitive (blue) domains of activities. Images may be used to denote further meaning based on outlined or silhouetted artwork.

Die may also be used outside of a therapy setting, such as in a game setting. In this example, each user may take a turn at changing the orientation of an insert, or the inserts may be changed based in a random or predetermined manner as the game progresses. Die may also be used to tell a story, where the story is changed depending on the inserts used.

In the example discussed above, body 1 is a cube, and inserts 3 are tetrahedrons, with cavities 2 being approximately the same size and shape as inserts 3. It will be understood that different shapes may be used. For example, polyhedral body 1 may be made with fewer or more sides, or the sides may not be equal. Alternatively, body 1 may be other types of three-dimensional objects that are not polyhedrons. For example, body 1 may be a cylinder or sphere. Body 1 may take other forms that combine curved surfaces and/or flat surfaces, depending on the preferences of the user, and the intended uses. While it is generally the case that each orientation should be equally probable, there may be some situations where the probability of landing in a particular orientation be increased or reduced relative to the other possible orientations.

As with body 1, it will also be understood that inserts 3 are not limited to polyhedrons, and insert 3 may be a sphere or any number of different shapes that can be inserted into a cavity in three or more orientations. Cavity 2 will be designed according to the shape of insert 3, but need not be the same shape, as long as it is able to receive insert 3 in different orientations. Insert 3 is preferably designed to be inserted perpendicularly to the particular face of body 1. Preferably, inserts 3 are either flush with or recessed from the exterior surface of body 1 so as not to impede die 100 as it is rolled. In addition, inserts 3 may be designed such that the various messages or symbols on the various sides may be changed.

In the depicted embodiment, attachments 4 are shown as restraining tabs. Attachments 4 are rubber (or plastic) lips projecting on each side of cavity 2. Three semi-flexible corner tabs hold the wedge shaped inserts 3 in place. The user compresses insert 3 into and under the three tabs. In other embodiments, other types of attachments may be used, such as Velcro™, snaps, magnets, straps or flaps that may be transparent or translucent, semi-flexible or rigid, friction or interference fits, engaging profiles, etc. The selected type of attachment will depend at least in part on the selection of materials used.

Body 1 and inserts 3 may be made from a foam core enclosed in a flexible material, such as a self-skinning type of foam or molded polyurethane. Other manufacturing options will be recognized by those skilled in the art, and may include paper or cardboard, blow or injection molded polystyrene or other thermoplastic, welded plastic sheets to form an inflatable body, etc. In embodiments intended to be used by children, it is preferred that body 1 be a softer material without sharp corners or edges.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

The following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope of the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only as examples and should not be taken as limiting the invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically illustrated and described.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional object with one or more inserts, the three-dimensional object comprising:

a body having at least one cavity on an exterior surface;

at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the at least one cavity in three or more orientations; and

an attachment for securing the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

2. The three-dimensional object of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is a polyhedral body having a message on each side.

3. The three-dimensional object of claim 1, wherein the at least one insert is sized and shaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from the exterior surface of the body in each of the orientations.

4. The three-dimensional object of claim 1, wherein the body is one of a sphere, a cylinder and a polyhedron.

5. The three-dimensional object of claim 1, wherein the body is a die.

6. A die with inserts, the die comprising:

a polyhedral body, at least one side of the polyhedral body comprising a cavity;

at least one insert that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the cavity in three or more orientations; and

an attachment for securing the at least one insert within the at least one cavity in a desired orientation.

7. The die of claim 6, wherein the at least one insert is a polyhedral body having a message that is displayed from the in each of the three or more orientations.

8. The die of claim 6, wherein the at least one insert is sized and shaped to be substantially flush with or recessed from the side of the polyhedral body in each of the orientations.