Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02288422 1999-11-03
Title: Multipurpose modular article
FIELD OF TfIE INVENTION
The present invnetion relates to the multipurpose modular article comprising
one
equilateral triangular building block, one rectangular building block, one
connection
rod capable of being connected with one side of each of the building blocks,
one
sleeve, one toggle, and one wheel. Each of these building blocks is a basic
building unit
which is provided with a tenon or mortise. These building units are joined
together by
means of tenons and mortises to form a polygonal object such that the
connection rod
is located between the two building blocks, and that the connection rod is
provided
with a movable joint effect, and further that each building block is capable
of being
folded in a positive direction and an opposite direction. As a result, the
basic building
units of the present invention can be arranged or fitted together in a variety
of ways to
form containers or articles similar to the modular racks. The triangular and /
or
rectangular building blocks are provided with a hollow portion into which
plastic plates
or various pictures are inserted. The plastic plates may be colorless and
transparent or
translucent. The total thickness of the two plates stacked in the hollow
portion does
not exceed the thickness of the triangular and / or rectangular block. As a
result, the
hollow portion has a function of serving as a small-sized picture frame for
decorative
purposes.
2p BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional modular toys, such as modular robots, modular animals,
modular vehicles, etc., have profiles of heads, tails, feets, wheels, and the
like. These
profiles are formed by the modular units which have the following limitations
in
application.
1. The modular units can be used for forming only one portion of an object and
can not be used to form other portions of the object. In other words, the
modular units
are not multipurpose.
2. The function of the conventional modular toys is dependent on the
versatility of
the modular units, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in the
production cost as
3p well as the selling price.
3. In the event that one of the units is absent or lost, the existing units
can not be
joined together to form an object without deficiency.
4. Each modular unit is limited by the fixed profile of certain portions. As a
result,
the versatility is undermined. The conventional modular toys are thus
monotonous at
~ 5 best.
In addition, the tubes and the plates are fitted together to form a modular
rack
comprising a plurality of joints or connections, which must be fastened by a
bolt or a
retaining member similar to the bolt. As a result, a hand tool is often called
for in a
situation in which the modular toys are assembled or disassembled. The cost is
CA 02288422 1999-11-03
relatively high in view of the structural complexity of the modular toys. The
assembly
of the toys is especially costly and time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide the multipurpose
building blocks comprising the basic building units, such as an equilateral
triangular
building block, a rectangular building block, a connection rod, a sleeve, a
toggle, and a
wheel, which can be fastened with each side of each of the building blocks.
These units
are fitted together by means of mortises and tenons to form a polygonal object
such
that the connection rod is located between two building blocks, and that the
l0 connection rod is provided with a movable joint ef~'ect so as to enable the
building
blocks to be folded in a positive direction or an opposite direction. As a
result, the
building blocks can be arranged or fitted together in a variety of ways to
various
containers, such as a pencil or pen holder, a stationery box, a business card
box, or
articles similar to modular racks.
1 5 It is another objective of the present invention is to provide the above
triangular
and / or rectangular building block with a hollow portion for inserting
thereinto the
plastic plates of various colors or various pictures. The plastic plates may
be colorless
and transparent or translucent, opaque. The total thickness of two plates
stacked in the
hollow portion does not exceed the thickness of the above triangular and / or
20 rectangular building block. The hollow portion has a variety of colors and
a function of
serving as a small-sized picture frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I shows an exploded view of first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
25 Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the frst preferred embodiment of the present
invention in combination.
Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention in combination.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of the rectangular building block and the
30 connection rod element of the present invention in combination.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a modular structure derived from the first
preferred embodiment and the second preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 2
and
Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the triangular building block and / or
rectangular
35 building block be provided with a hollow portion into which the plastic
plate.
Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a modular structure derived from the other
preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. 6.
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CA 02288422 1999-11-03
Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a variation of the embodiment as shown in
Fig.
8.
Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a modular structure formed by the application of
the
embodiment as shown in Fig. 8.
Fig. I 1 shows a section view of a portion taken along the direction indicated
by a
line 9-9 as shown in Fig. 10.
Fig.12 shows an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. l 3 shows an exploded view of a wheel body portion as shown in Fig. I 2.
Fig.14 shows an end view in " A " direction as shown in Fig.13.
Fig.lS shows a schematic view of the wheel body portion of Fig. 12 in
combination.
Fig.16 shows a side view of Fig.15.
Fig.17 shows a side view of Fig.12.
Fig.l8 shows a schematic view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present
invention in action.
Fig.19 shows a schematic view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present
invention in action.
Fig.20 shows a partial schematic view of the sixth preferred embodiment as
shown
in Fig. l9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Fig. l and 2, the present invention comprises the following.
An equilateral triangular building block 10 is provided in each side thereof
with a
recessed portion 11 which is provided in two opposite sides thereof with a
retaining
portion 12 of a round recessed construction, and a gap portion 13 of an open
forked
shape and separated from the retaining portion 12 by a short distance.
A connection rod 20 is slightly smaller in length than the recessed portion 1
I of
the building block 10 and is provided at both ends thereof with a pair of
connection
portion 21 of a protruded spherical and similar in shape and size to each
other. The
connection portion 21 is inserted into the recessed portion 11 of the building
block 10
and is retained by the retaining portion 12 such that they are capable of
motion relative
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CA 02288422 1999-11-03
to each other. The other connection portion 2lis connected with another
building
block 10.
A rectangular building block 30 is provided in each side thereof with a
recessed
portion 1 1 which is provided in two opposite sides thereof with a retaining
portion 12
of a round recessed construction, and a gap portion 13 of an open forked shape
and
separated from the retaining portion 12 by a short distance. At each
appropriate place
of the recessed portion 1 l, there is a notch 14 of a recessed construction.
The bottom
interval 16 of the notch 14 of the opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 7 and 8,
must be at
least equal to the interval I 5 of the opposite side of the recessed portion 1
1.
The equilateral triangular building block 10 and the rectangular building
block 30
are provided at any position thereof with a plurality of through holes 15 in
accordance
with needs, so as to connect in series with other rodlike elements (not shown
in the
drawings).
As shown in Fig. 3, the retaining portion 12 of the two opposite sides of each
I 5 recessed portion 11 of the equilateral triangular building block 10 and
the rectangular
building block 30 of the present invention may be changed in construction to
be of a
protruded round sharp. The connection portions 21 of both ends of the
connection rod
may be changed in construction to be of a recessed spherical sharp. Such
changes
can also serve to attain the building ef)'ect.
20 As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, through any combination of the above elements,
the
retaining portion 12 of a plurality of the equilateral triangular building
block 10 and the
connection portions 21 of the connection rod 20 can be joined together from
each side
direction. Each unit is then made into a movable modular article container of
a
polygonal platelike construction such that the connection rod 20 located
between each
pair of building blocks 10 is provided with a movable joint ef~'ect.
Furthermore, each
building block 10 is capable of being folded and turned around in a positive
direction
and an opposite direction. As a result, a variety of modular containers or
support
bodies can be formed.
As shown in Fig. 6 and 7, the above-mentioned triangular building block 10 and
/
_~0 or rectangular building block 30 may be provided with a hollow portion 31
into which
the plastic plate 32 different in color from the building block 10 and 30, and
various
pictures are inserted. The plastic plate 32 is in various color, colorless and
transparent
or translucent, opaque. The total thickness of two pieces stacked in the
hollow portion
31 does not exceed the thickness of the triangular and / or rectangular
building block
10, 30 serving a function as a small-sized picture frame.
As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the present invention further comprises a second
connection rod 40 in addition to the above-mentioned equilateral triangular
building
block 10, connection rod 20, and rectangular building block 30. The second
connection rod 40 is similar in form to the connection rod 20 and is slightly
greater in
width than the connection rod 20. The width of the second connection rod 40 is
about
equal to the thickness of three pieces of the equilateral triangular building
block 10 or
rectangular building block 30. The second connection rod 40 is provided at
both ends
thereof with a recessed area 41 in which the retaining portion 12 of the
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CA 02288422 1999-11-03
above-mentioned equilateral triangular building block 10 and rectangular
building
block 30 is rotatably retained. The combination patterns are shown in Figs. 10
and 1 1.
As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the bottom interval 16 of the notch 14 of the
recessed portion 11 of each rectangular building block 30 is equal to the
interval 16 of
two opposite sides of the recessed portion 11. Such a design is intended to
provide the
article container with a space partition or a rack body.
As shown in Figs. 12-17, the present invention further comprises the
following.
A wheel SO has a wheel body which is provided with a toothed periphery. The
wheel 50 is provided in the axial position thereof with a hole 56 similar in
sharp to the
dash mark " -- ". Located at one side of the axis of the wheel 50 is a shaft
51 which is
provided with a forked opening 53 and is inserted into each through hole I S
of the
equilateral triangular building block IO and / or rectangular building block
30. The
shaft 51 is provided in two corresponding sides thereof with an inner ring 54
and an
outer ring S5, which are concentric with the shag 51.
A sleeve 60 is of a hollow construction and is fitted between the inner ring
54 and
the outer ring 55 of the wheel 50 such that the sleeve 60 is fixed by these
two rings.
The sleeve 60 is provided in inner periphery of both ends thereof with at
least one
tenon 61.
A toggle 70 is of a hollow tubular construction and is provided at the center
of
the outer periphery thereof with a protrusion 71, and at both ends thereof
with at least
one mortise 72 of an L-shaped construction. The tenon 61 of the sleeve 60 is
retained
in the mortise 72. The building block 10 and 30, the wheel 50, the sleeve 60,
and the
toggle 70 are arranged together to form an article similar to a dumbbell, as
shown in
Figs, I 2-17.
As shown in Fig. 18, each wheel 50 is put into the through hole 15 of the
building
block 10 and 30 such that the toothed peripheries of the wheels 50 are engaged
with
each other to form a dynamic transmission mechanism of a gear type. The
present
invention further comprises a rocking arm 80 of a crank-shaped constn~ction
and
having one end which is similar in shape to the hole 56 of the center of the
wheel 50.
The one end of the rocking arm 80 is inserted into the hole 56. The wheel 50
can be
thus driven to turn by turning the rocking arm 80.
The wheel 50 and the building block 10 and 30 may be arranged together to use
as a movable wheel body of the modular article.
As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, a filling element 130 is received in a space
which is
located at the place of the gap portion 13 of the building block 10 and 30.
After the
building block 10, 30 and the connection rods 20 are fitted together, the
filling element
130 is disposed in the space located at the outer side of the gap portion 13
of both
ends of the connection rod 20. The connection rod 20 is pressed by the filling
element
130 for forming a modular support body to hold the articles.
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