US3685201A

US3685201A - Container with a fixed number of elements

Info

Publication number: US3685201A
Application number: US195576A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hieronimus Robert Drieze
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-04
Filing date: 1971-11-04
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22

Abstract

A building block set which allows the assembly of a variety of stances and/or postures of a canine figure includes two basic building block units. One is a quadrant of a right circular cylinder and the other is a somewhat larger unit having a rectangular base portion integral with and surmounted by a quadrant of a right circular cylinder. The inner faces of the first unit are of identical rectangular size and shape as is the smaller inner face of the other unit. The larger inner face of the other unit is twice the size of its smaller face and all of the inner faces are provided with recesses to receive pegs which join the units as desired.

Description

United States Patent I Drieze n51 3,685,201 1 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] CONTAINER WITH A FIXED NUMB OF ELEMENTS 221 Filed: Nov. 4, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 195,576

[52] US. Cl ..46/26, 46/16 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 33/10 [58] Field of Search ..46/16, l7, 22, 26; 35/69, 72; 273/ 157 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,049,097 7/ 1936 Winnemore ..46/17 2,169,682 8/1939 Duncan ..46/22 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-John P. Snyder et a].

[ ABSTRACT A building block set which allows the assembly of a variety of stances and/or postures of a canine figure includes two basic building block units. One is a quadrant of a right circular cylinder and the other is a somewhat larger unit having a rectangular base portion integral with and surmounted by a quadrant of a right circular cylinder. The inner faces-of the first unit are of identical rectangular size and shape as is the smaller inner face of the other unit. The larger inner face of the other unit is twice the size of its smaller face and all of the inner faces are provided with recesses to receive pegs which join the units as desired,

10 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures CONTAINER WITH A FIXED NUMBER OF ELEMENTS BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an educational toy device which is, in essence, a building block set consisting essentially of two different building block units. Because of the different sizes and shapes of the two basic building block units, and the arrangement of recesses therein for receiving peg means which attach adjacent units to each other, an almost unlimited variety of arrangements of these two units may be employed but only a limited number of which will lead to a configuration of the assembled device which simulates a stance or posture of a canine figure with realism. By realism is meant that the general proportion and shape of the completed figure will lend a credible simulation of a canine figure without such distortions of dimensions as would destroy the overall effect. The assembling of the two basic building block units in cooperative combination with each other and the joining of the same together lends a distinct challenge to the person making the assembly and, in particular, the arrangement is such as to provide an educational device for children particularly as regards their concept of space and spatial relationships.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing all of the component parts of the basic assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of but one of a possible number of configurations simulating a canine figure; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time more particularly to FIG. 1, the basic units comprising the building block assembly or set according to the present invention is shown therein. Reference character indicates in general a first building block unit whereas the reference character 12 indicates in general a second building block unit whereas the

reference characters

14 and 16 indicate in general the peg means associated with the two building block units and the reference character 18 indicates an extra but not necessary unit which may be utilized in assembling the canine figures.

The first building block unit 10 will be seen to be in general configuration in the shape of a quadrant of a right circular cylinder such as to present a square or rectangular inner face 20 and an identical inner face on the bottom side thereof as is indicated by the reference character 22. The outer face 24 of this first unit is of curved form, as shown, and the remaining two sides of the unit 10 are comprised of identical opposite side faces 26 which have the shape of a quadrant of a circle. Centrally located within each of the

faces

20 and 22 are the

square recesses

28 and 30 which open upon the

respective sides

20 and 22 centrally thereof, and perpendicular thereto to intersect with each other inter nally of the building unit 10.

The second basic building block unit 12 consists of a square or cubic base portion 32 surmounted by a quadrant 34 of a right circular cylinder. The quadrant 34 is identical in size and shape to the building block unit 10 and the base portion 32 is a cube which has side dimensions equal to the side dimensions of the

faces

20 and 22 of the building block 10. Thus, the building block 12 presents two inner faces 36 and 38 (see FIG. 3,) the former of which is of identical size and shape to the

faces

20 and 22 of the unit 10 and the latter of which 38 is twice the size thereof, having twice the height of either of the

faces

20, 22, or 36. The base portion 40 of the outer face of the unit 12 is flat and the upper outer face portion 42 is curved, defining the cylindrical quadrant surface and the remaining opposite sides or faces 44 of the unit 12 are flat and parallel as will be evident. The base portion 32 is provided with two through-

recesses

46 and 48 and a recess 50, all intersecting internally of the base portion 32 whereas the surmounting right circular cylindrical portion 34 is provided with the recess 52. The recess 48 opens on the opposite sides of the unit 12 and is centrally located within the base portion 32 thereof and extends perpendicularly to the opposite side faces 44, as shown. The recess 42 extends also through the base portion 32 of the unit 12 but at right angles to the recess 48 and opens centrally of the outer side 40 and the inner side 38 of the base portion 32. Lastly, the recess 50 opens centrally of the bottom or inner face 36 of the unit 12 and the three

recesses

46, 48 and 50 intersect in a common region as shown.

The recess 52 opens centrally of the face 38 of the unit 12 within the surmounting right cylinder quadrant portion 34 thereof but does not project through the unit 12.

A number of pegs 14 are provided, of elongate form and having fluted side faces 54 presenting the corner edges 56 which fit snugly within the corners of the various recesses hereinbefore mentioned thereby frictionally engaging therewithin to hold the various building block units in inner face-to-inner face juxtaposition according to the desire of the assembler. A further single peg 16 may be provided in each set, same being: of cylindrical form having a diameter equal to the internal side dimension of the recesses so as to be snugly received therewithin however allowing relative rotation or positioning of the building block units so joined. Lastly, the annular ring 18 may be provided to simulate the neck or collar of the canine figure, same having a central opening 58 more or less snugly receiving the peg 16 or, if desired, one of the pegs 14 in surrounding relation thereto and interposed between adjacent building block units as will be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate but one of a number of various stances and/or postures of a canine figure which give rise to a very realistic simulation of typical postures or stances of an actual canine. As shown in FIG. 3, the body portion of the particular configuration shown is made up of combinations of the two basic

building block units

10 and 12 and likewise for the legs, tail, head and ears, as shown. Various arrangements of the unit 12 may be used to form various shapes and postures of the main body and units 10 may be added as desired and necessary. The feet, tail, head and ears may be arranged in various relative postures and a great variety of forms and shapes may he arrived at with the free exercise of the imagination. Each, however, requires a different arrangement of the basic units and 12 and in order to arrive at a pre-imagined shape, it is necessary to visualize the spatial concept involved and, in this way, the device offers an excellent opportunity for educational purposes so that a child may better understand spatial concepts and relationships.

What is claimed is:

1. A building block set for assembling animated canine figures therefrom, said set comprising in combination:

a basic building block combination which comprises first and second building blcok units;

said first unit being a quadrant of a right circular cylinder having flat, inner faces disposed at right angles to each other and each of identical rectangular form, and a curved outer surface, each of said inner faces being provided with a recess perpendicular thereto in which said recesses intersect internally of the said first unit;

said second unit being in the form of a rectangular base portion surmounted by a quadrant of a right circular cylinder of substantially identical form as said first unit, said second unit presenting a first inner face of substantially identical area as the individual inner faces of said first unit and a second inner face of substantially twice the height as the individual inner faces of said first unit, said first inner face of the second unit having a recess perpendicular thereto and said second inner face having a pair of recesses perpendicular thereto, said pair of recesses being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to said height of the individual inner faces of said first unit; and

peg means for reception in the recesses of said first and second units to join same in inner face-toinner face relation. 2. A building block set as defined in claim lwherein said recesses are of square cross section and said peg means includes an elongate peg having fluted faces defining curves snugly received in said recesses.

3. A building block set as defined in claim 2 wherein the recess in said second unit which is located within said base portion thereof projects completely therethrough to open upon the front side of said second unit.

4. A building block set as defined in claim 3 wherein said second unit presents flat, parallel opposite side faces provided with a through-recess perpendicular thereto and internally intersecting the through-recess of said base portion.

5. A building block set as defined in claim 4 wherein said peg means also includes a round peg of diameter equal to the length of one side of said recesses.

6. A building .block set as defined in claim 5 including an annular block for interposition between a pair of said units in surrounding relation to a peg joining same.

7. A building block set as defined in claim 1 wherein the recess in said second unit which is located within said base portion thereof projects completely therethrough to open upon the front side of said second unit.

8. A building block set as defined in claim 7 wherein 'd u 't en fl t arallel o sit side f es pfi gili deci wftii a rofigh recess p rg ndicular thereto and internally intersecting the through-recess of said base portion.

9. A building block set as defined in claim 8 wherein said peg means also includes a round peg of diameter equal to the length of one side of said recesses.

10. A building block set as defined in claim 9 including an annular block for interposition between a pair of said units in surrounding relation to a peg joining same.

Claims

1. A building block set for assembling animated canine fIgures therefrom, said set comprising in combination: a basic building block combination which comprises first and second building block units; said first unit being a quadrant of a right circular cylinder having flat, inner faces disposed at right angles to each other and each of identical rectangular form, and a curved outer surface, each of said inner faces being provided with a recess perpendicular thereto in which said recesses intersect internally of the said first unit; said second unit being in the form of a rectangular base portion surmounted by a quadrant of a right circular cylinder of substantially identical form as said first unit, said second unit presenting a first inner face of substantially identical area as the individual inner faces of said first unit and a second inner face of substantially twice the height as the individual inner faces of said first unit, said first inner face of the second unit having a recess perpendicular thereto and said second inner face having a pair of recesses perpendicular thereto, said pair of recesses being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to said height of the individual inner faces of said first unit; and peg means for reception in the recesses of said first and second units to join same in inner face-to-inner face relation.

2. A building block set as defined in claim 1 wherein said recesses are of square cross section and said peg means includes an elongate peg having fluted faces defining curves snugly received in said recesses.

6. A building block set as defined in claim 5 including an annular block for interposition between a pair of said units in surrounding relation to a peg joining same.

8. A building block set as defined in claim 7 wherein said second unit presents flat, parallel opposite side faces provided with a through-recess perpendicular thereto and internally intersecting the through-recess of said base portion.