Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02717153 2010-10-07
TITLE
[0001] Three-dimensional object with replaceable inserts
FIELD
[0002] This relates to a three-dimensional body with replaceable inserts, such
as for
activities or games.
BACKGROUND
[0003] 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. patent no.
4,003,144 (Maddestra et al.)
entitled "Educational Block with Replaceable Chip", describes blocks with
removable and
replaceable sides.
SUMMARY
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] According to an aspect, the body may be one of a sphere, a cylinder and
a
polyhedron. The body may be a die.
[0007] 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.
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[0008] 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
[0009] 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
[0010] There will now be described a preferred embodiment with reference to
FIG. 1
through 5, namely, a die generally identified by reference numeral 100.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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. FIG. 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.
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[0013] 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 x 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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
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activities. Images may be used to denote further meaning based on outlined or
silhouetted
artwork.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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
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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.
5
[0020] Body I 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
