Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: TRIGRAM DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for
forming trigrams used as part of the I CHING process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I CHING is a devination process that was developed
in China. It requires the formation of a series of
hexagrams from a possible 64 hexagrams and these hexagrams
allow the user to provide insight into a particular
question or query.
There have been various arrangements for trying to
conveniently form hexagrams and many of these systems
involve the use of dice.
A hexagram is typically formed of two trigrams.
Each trigram has three horizontal lines and each line can
either be solid or broken. Trigrams are typically stacked
one above the other to form a hexagram. There are 64
possible hexagrams and there are various definitions for
each hexagram that help answer or provide insight into a
particular query. The formation of these hexagrams
continues to be difficult and the present invention
provides a simple structure for forming of trigrams and
hexagrams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for forming trigrams according to the
present invention comprises three distinct sections which
are movable one relative to the other. Each section has
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two pairs of distinct faces where each face of a pair of
faces are the same and each face form one line of a
trigram. The distinct sections are supported to allow
movement thereof to any of four positions and when the
sections are in any one said positions, four trigrams of a
possible 64 trigrams are formed. A new set of four
trigrams can be formed by moving any of these sections to a
different position.
According to an aspect of the invention, each
section is formed as a plate with the plate having the
pairs of faces located with adjacent faces located in an
orthogonal manner and where the faces of a pair are
adjacent faces.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
device includes a support arrangement for the plates and
this support arrangement allows rotation of the sections
about a common central axis perpendicular to the plates.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
support arrangement includes a locating arrangement
providing a releasable bias releasably maintaining said
sections in any of said positions.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the
sections are supported on a base with a perpendicular
column support which rotatably supports each section and
maintains said sections in a stacked configuration.
A plate of a trigram device according to the
present invention, comprises a plate member of rectangular
configuration with two adjacent sides of the plate having
markings defining a broken line and the remaining adjacent
sides, each defining a horizontal line.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device for
forming trigrams;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the trigram forming
device;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the trigram forming
device illustrating the locking arrangement; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one plate of the
trigram forming device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The trigram forming device 2 comprises three
distinct plate sections 4, 5 and 6, which preferably are of
a rectangular configuration having four faces; 7, 8, 9 and
10. Faces 7 and 8 include a recess 11 such that the view
of the edge of the plate of either faces 7 and 8 represents
a broken horizontal line. In contrast, faces 9 and 10 are
solid and represent a continuous line as illustrated by
face 9 of section 5. Face 10, also similar to face 9,
i.e., would not be interrupted. In this way, adjacent
faces 7 and 8 of a section are formed as broken lines and
adjacent faces 9 and 10 represent solid lines. The
sections 4, 5 and 6, are all rotatable about a central axis
passing through the device as will be more clearly
understood with respect to Figure 2.
Figure 2 shows a base 20 having a stub shaft 23
which receives the cylindrical support column 21 which has
been ported at either end to provide a slight interference
fit with the stub shaft 23 provided on the base and a
similar sub shaft provided on the top 25. In this way, the
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top 25 and the base 20 engage and grip with the cylindrical
support column 20 and thus maintain all the plates in the
desired operational configuration of Figure 1.
Each of the sections 4, 5 and 6, are the same and
have a circular port 40 for sleeving over the cylindrical
support column 21. The central port 40 includes a number
of recesses 42 which define locking positions as will be
more clearly understood with respect to Figure 3.
Figure 2 also illustrates how the sections 4, 5 and
6 are preferably separated by the spacers 22, preferably
having an outer diameter sized to position the periphery of
the spacer well interior to the outer periphery of the
sections 4, 5 and 6. These spacers 22 make it more
convenient to rotate each individual section without
rotating an adjacent section, and emphasizes the difference
between a solid and broken line.
Figure 3 is a sectional view through the device
showing the stub shaft 23 of base 20 in engagement with a
port 29 provided in one end of the cylindrical support 21
with a similar port 29 provided in the opposite end of the
cylindrical support 21 which engages the stub shaft 27 of
the top member 25. As can be seen, there is sufficient
clearance between the port 40 of each individual section 4,
5 or 6, with the cylindrical support column such that the
sections are freely rotatable about the central axis of the
support column 21. The support column 21 can include a
number of recesses, with each recess receiving a spring 54
and a lock ball 52. The lock balls cooperate with a
respective recess 42 of a section. In this way, when a
section is rotated, the lock ball 52 will be urged into the
column against the spring bias provided by the spring
member 54. Further rotation of the particular section can
continue and there will be a partial locking when the lock
ball 52 encounters the next recess 42. This provides a
positive positioning of each section in one of its desired
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four positions. The various sections all have common lock
positions.
A person using this device can either decide to
form two different trigrams which will then be added to
form a hexagram or can use the device to form two trigrams
which are then added to form a hexagram at the same time.
As can be appreciated, the user can merely turn the various
sections randomly to form a trigram or according to a
predetermined design of the user, form a trigram, and can
repeat this process if he wishes to form two separate
trigrams. It is also possible that the user could have
predetermined that he would use the two opposite trigrams
or two adjacent trigrams which can then be added to form a
hexagram. Other strategies can easily be used.
The device makes it extremely simple and convenient
to form trigrams which are then used to form hexagrams.
The formed hexagra~s are used as the basis for consulting
the I CHING, thereby providing insight into the particular
question or query.
Each of the sections are preferably rectangular but
it can be appreciated that the sections define four faces
which can be separately aligned to form a trigram. It can
also be seen that the device, when the plates are aligned,
forms four easily understood trigrams. Basically, the size
of the device forms a trigram and makes it very convenient
to copy the form of the trigram for consulting with the I
CHING or combining to form hexagrams.
Each of the individual sections 4, 5 and 6, have
been defined as having four distinctive faces and are
preferably of a rectangular configuration. It can be
appreciated that the point of the device is that the three
sections are rotatable one relative to the other for
forming different layers of a trigram. The plates can be
of a configuration other than rectangular, for example, the
corners of each of these sections could be rounded rather
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than the square configuration. Four faces should be
defined where two of the faces form broken lines and two
other faces represent a continuous line.
The plates have also been defined as having a
recess to signify a broken line, however, it can be
appreciated that the interruption could be inlays or a
change in texture of the surface or some other visual
indication of a broken line. The point is, the faces
should have the desired visual impression or broken line,
either broken or broken of a trigram.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
