COMBINATION STRUCTURE FOR A LABYRINTH

Abstract

A combination structure for a labyrinth includes a plurality of labyrinth units. Each of the labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports and four connectors. Each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors defines a plurality of mounting holes. Each of the frame supports can be fitted into one mounting hole of one connector, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together by the connectors. As such, a labyrinth structure can be constructed or dismantled easily and quickly, the manufacturing cost of the components can be reduced significantly, and the components can be transported easily and quickly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combination structure for a labyrinth, which is constructed of frame supports and connectors, and can be dismantled quickly and easily to configure a different labyrinth route.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, a conventional labyrinth building located outdoors for entertainment or teaching is constructed with a plurality of partition boards and a plurality of fastening components, such as screws or nails. However, the route of the labyrinth building is fixed and cannot be changed. Thus, after several games having been played in the labyrinth building, the labyrinth route can be remembered, and thus the fun and challenge of playing a labyrinth game would be lost. Therefore, people would be lack of interest in play a game in the labyrinth building again and thus the building may become abandoned. For maintaining the freshness of labyrinth games, the route of the labyrinth building has to be changed frequently. However, it is extremely time-consuming and troublesome for the labyrinth building to be dismantled. Moreover, the partition boards are prone to damage and thus cannot be used again. As a result, the dismantled partition boards have to be abandoned, and this would cause material waste and environmental pollution. In addition, the components of the conventional labyrinth building are bulky, so that they would occupy large space, and are uneasy to be transported. Another disadvantage is that the interior of the labyrinth building cannot be seen from the outside. Children playing games in the labyrinth building may cry because of panic. Also, since adults cannot grasp the movements and locations of children playing in the labyrinth building, children may be at risk. For solving the above disadvantages of conventional labyrinth structures, applicant developed a labyrinth combination structure (a granted U.S. Pat. No. 8,523,691 B2). The labyrinth combination structure is constructed with a plurality of labyrinth units. Each labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports, a reinforcing rod, and a plurality of fixing members. The labyrinth combination structure can be constructed at any place, and can be constructed or dismantled without any tools. Since the labyrinth combination structure allows to be changed, it can provide a variety of labyrinth routes to achieve the purpose of entertainment and education. Also, the interior of the disclosed invention can be seen from the outside, thus increasing the safety of playing labyrinth games. However, the disclosed invention requires a lot of components, and the manufacturing cost is high. There is still room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a combination structure for a labyrinth, which can solve the disadvantages, concerning component manufacturing, component assembling, and component transportation, of conventional labyrinth structures.

One embodiment of the labyrinth combination structure comprises a plurality of labyrinth units. Each of the labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports and four connectors. Each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors is in the form of a multi-faced body and defines a mounting hole at each outer face thereof. Each of the frame supports can be fitted into one mounting hole of one connector, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together by the connectors, thus constructing the combination structure.

Another embodiment of the labyrinth combination structure comprises a plurality of labyrinth units. Each of the labyrinth unit is composed of four frame supports and four connectors. Each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors is in the form of a spherical body and defines a plurality of mounting holes. Each of the frame supports can be fitted into one mounting hole of one connector, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together by the connectors, thus constructing the combination structure. According to one aspect of the present invention, two adjacent ones of the labyrinth units are connected such that one frame support and two connectors joined with the frame support serve as common components shared between the two adjacent labyrinth units, thus simplifying the combination structure.

On advantage of the present invention is that the components of the present invention, including a plurality of frame supports and a plurality of connectors, are simple in structure, so that a labyrinth structure can be constructed or dismantled easily and quickly, the manufacturing cost of the components can be reduced significantly, and the components can be transported easily and quickly.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a labyrinth unit used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a 3-dimensional schematic view of a frame support and a connector, which are components of the labyrinth unit.

FIG. 3 shows a 3-dimensional view of an assembled labyrinth unit.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a connector assembled with a plurality of frame supports.

FIG. 5 shows a 3-dimensional view of an assembled structure using three labyrinth units.

FIG. 6 shows a 3-dimensional view of an example of a combination structure for a labyrinth according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the combination structure shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To understand the objects and advantages of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a labyrinth combination structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown, which comprises a plurality of labyrinth units 1. Each labyrinth unit 1 is composed of four frame supports 10 and four connectors 11. Each frame support 10 is in the form of a cylindrical pipe. Each of the connectors 11 can be formed as a multi-faced body or polyhedral body. Alternatively, each connector can take the form of a spherical body. Preferably, each of the connectors 11 is formed as a cuboid, wherein each of the connectors 11 defines a mounting hole 110 at each outer face thereof. One end of a frame support 10 can be fitted into one mounting hole 110 of one collector 11, so that a labyrinth combination structure can be constructed.

In assembling, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, first of all, two connectors 11 are respectively fitted over two opposite ends of a first frame support 10, wherein the first frame support 10 is located horizontally. The two opposite ends of the first frame support 10 are respectively inserted or fitted into one mounting hole 110 of one connector 11 and one mounting hole 110 of the other connector 11. As such, the first frame support 10 can be fixed to the mounting holes 110 of the two connectors 11, thus forming a lower side of a labyrinth unit. Secondly, two additional frame supports 10 (second and third frame supports) are respectively inserted into two upper mounting holes 110 respectively defined at the two connectors 11, so that the second and third frame supports 10 are perpendicular to the first frame support or lower side of the labyrinth unit and are respectively formed as left and right sides of the labyrinth unit. Thirdly, two additional connectors 11 are respectively fitted over the upper ends of the second and third frame supports 10, and then a fourth frame support 10 is fitted between the two additional connectors 11 located at the upper ends of the second and third frame supports 10, thus forming an upper side of the labyrinth unit. Each side of the labyrinth unit is constructed in a similar manner, wherein one frame support 10 can be inserted into one mounting hole of one connector 11, so that the frame support 10 can be fixedly connected to the connector 11. After four frame supports 10 are joined together by four connectors 11 in a manner as described above, a labyrinth unit 1 can be constructed (see FIG. 3). For constructing a structure composed of two or more labyrinth units, two further frame supports 10 can be respectively connected to the upper and lower connectors 11 of the left side or the right side of a previously constructed labyrinth unit, and a further frame support 10 and two further connectors 11 can be used to join with the two further frame supports 10 to form another labyrinth unit. Of course, a further labyrinth unit can be located above a previously constructed labyrinth unit, as shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, a labyrinth unit can be quickly and easily expanded to multiple labyrinth units by following the above assembling procedure, thus constructing a labyrinth structure.

In use, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a labyrinth structure 2 can be constructed by following the above assembling procedure, wherein a plurality of labyrinth units 1 can be arranged to configure a desired labyrinth route, and the labyrinth structure can be constructed on any terrain or place. Also, the labyrinth structure can be changed easily, so that it can provide a variety of labyrinth routes and thus can maintain the freshness of labyrinth games to achieve the purpose of entertainment and education. When dismantling a labyrinth structure for changing the route thereof or moving the structure, each frame support 10 can be taken out of the associated mounting hole 110 of a connector easily and quickly by applying a force. The labyrinth structure 2 can be constructed or dismantled easily and quickly without using any tools. After the labyrinth structure 2 is dismantled into components, the components occupy less space and thus can be transported easily and thus the transportation cost can be reduced significantly. Since each labyrinth unit 1 is constructed simply with frame supports 10 and connectors 11, a labyrinth structure using multiple labyrinth units 1 can achieve a simple design and thus allows a great reduction of the manufacturing cost. Also, the labyrinth units 1 are not easily damaged and can be used repeatedly to construct a labyrinth structure having a desired labyrinth route. Since the interior of the labyrinth structure 2, including multiple labyrinth units 1, can be seen from the outside, adults can know the locations and movements of their children, so that the labyrinth structure can be used safely.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment above, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiment is given for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention and that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1: A combination structure for a labyrinth, which comprises a plurality of identical labyrinth units, each of the labyrinth unit being composed of four identical frame supports and four identical connectors, wherein each frame support is in the form of a cylindrical pipe, and each of the connectors is in the form of a polyhedral body and defines a mounting hole at each outer face thereof, each mounting hole having a diameter substantially same as each of the frame supports, each of the frame supports capable of being fitted into one mounting hole of one connector by one end thereof, the contactors capable of contacting a floor or ground, so that the frame supports can be releasably joined together and supported by the connectors, thus constructing the combination structure quickly and easily.

2: The combination structure of claim 1, wherein two adjacent ones of the labyrinth units are connected such that one frame support and two connectors joined with the frame support serve as common components shared between the two adjacent labyrinth units.

3-4. (canceled)

5: The combination structure of claim 1, wherein each of the connectors is in the form of a cuboid.