[0001] The present invention relates to a three-dimensional block assembled by coupling
a plurality of block plates together through joints.
[0002] Great Britain Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.
GB 2 355 672 discloses a multipurpose modular article according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0003] In
JP patent 3221637, the applicant has proposed an assembled block comprising square block plates and
equilateral triangular block plates that are coupled together through joints.
[0004] The block plates and the joints of this block are formed by molding a rigid plastic.
Joints are each formed with plugs protruding in at least two directions. Each block
plate has receptacles each formed along one of the edges thereof for accepting one
of the plugs of the joints.
[0005] Different kinds of joints are prepared, i.e. ones having their plugs protruding in
two directions in a common plane, ones having their plugs protruding in two directions
perpendicular to each other, ones having their plugs protruding in three directions
perpendicular to each other, and ones having plugs arranged so that the distances
between the proximal ends of the adjacent plugs are different from each other.
[0006] The angle between block plates coupled together by a joint and the number of block
plates usable are determined by the types of joints used. Thus, even if a large number
of different types of joints are prepared, the final shape of the block assembled
is severely restricted.
[0007] In order to suitably set the strength with which any of the plugs of the joints is
fitted in any of the receptacles of the block plates, both the block plates and joints
have to be manufactured with narrow dimensional tolerances. Thus, strict dimensional
control of the joints and block plates is required, which results in an increase in
the manufacturing cost.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a block which can be easily assembled
into a large variety of shapes and sizes using a smaller number of kinds of joints
at a low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided an assembled block comprising
equilateral triangular block plates, square block plates, and joints through which
the block plates are coupled together, each of the joints being formed of a single,
flexible and bendable plate having wing portions on both sides thereof, the block
plates being made of a flexible material and having edges and receptacles each provided
along one of the edges for accepting one of the wing portions of the joints, the receptacles
being each formed with a guide pocket, whereby any two of the block plates can be
coupled together through any of the joints by inserting the respective wing portions
of the joint into one of the receptacles of one of the two block plates through the
corresponding guide pocket and into one of the receptacles of the other of the two
block plates through the corresponding guide pocket.
[0010] Preferably, a plurality of the joints can be inserted simultaneously into any of
the receptacles of any of the block plates with each joint superposed on the others.
[0011] Preferably, the assembled block further comprises an arrangement for preventing any
of the wing portions from slipping out of any of the receptacles once the former is
inserted in the latter.
[0012] In one arrangement, each of the block plates comprises two base plates superposed
one on the other, the receptacles being defined between the two base plates.
[0013] In another arrangement, each of the block plate comprises a base plate and extensions
each extending from and folded along one of the edges so as to be superposed on one
side of the base plate, the receptacles being defined by cuts each formed along one
of the edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other features and objects of the present invention will become apparent from the
following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a square block plate made of a plastic;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an equilateral triangular block plate made of a plastic;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a plastic joint of a basic type;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a bent plastic joint;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wide plastic joint;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the block plate of Fig. 1 and the joint of Fig. 3,
showing how they are coupled together;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the block plates of Figs. 1 and 2 and the joint of
Fig. 3, showing how the block plates are coupled together through the joint;
Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of Fig. 7, showing how the joint is coupled to
one of the block plates;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. Fig. 7, showing how the block plates
form an angle therebetween by bending the joint;
Fig. 10 is a side view of Fig. 9, showing how the angle between the block plates is
changed by bending the joint;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of three of the block plates of Fig. 2, showing how
they are coupled together so as to be arranged in skewed relation to each other;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of three block plates that are coupled together so as
to extend in three different directions;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of block plates of which two are coupled together through the
wide joint of Fig. 5;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a block assembled by coupling the block plates of
Figs. 1 and 2 together;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified square block plate made of a plastic;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a modified equilateral triangular block plate made
of a plastic;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified plastic joint of a basic type;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a modified bent plastic joint;
Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a modified wide plastic joint;
Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the block plate of Fig. 15 and the joint of Fig.
17, showing how they are coupled together;
Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the block plates of Figs. 15 and 16 and the joint
of Fig. 17, showing how the block plates are coupled together through the joint;
Fig. 22 is a partial sectional view of Fig. 21, showing how the joint is coupled to
one of the block plates;
Fig. 23 is a perspective view of another modified square block plate made of a plastic;
Fig. 24 is a perspective view of another modified equilateral triangular block plate
made of a plastic;
Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a square block plate made of a metal;
Fig. 26 is a perspective view of an equilateral triangular block plate made of a metal;
Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a metallic joint of a basic type;
Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a wide metallic joint;
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a bent metallic joint;
Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the block plate of Fig. 25 and the joint of Fig.
27, showing how they are coupled together;
Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the block plates of Figs. 25 and 26 and the joint
of Fig. 27, showing how the block plates are coupled together through the joint;
Fig. 32 is a partial sectional view of Fig. 31, showing how the joint is coupled to
one of the block plates;
Fig. 33 is a perspective view similar to Fig. Fig. 31, showing how the block plates
form an angle therebetween by bending the joint;
Fig. 34 is a perspective view of three block plates that are coupled together so as
to extend in three different directions;
Fig. 35 is a perspective view of a block assembled by coupling the block plates of
Figs. 25 and 26 together;
Fig. 36 is an exploded perspective view of a block plate to be formed into a building
block; and
Fig. 37 is a perspective view of blocks assembled as a fence and its pillar.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] First, Figs. 1 to 24 show the embodiment comprising plastic plates.
[0016] The assembled block of this embodiment comprises block plates 1 as shown in Figs.
1 and 2, and joints 2 as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The block plates 1 comprise square
ones as shown in Fig. 1 and equilateral triangular ones as shown in Fig. 2. All the
block plates 1 have edges of equal length and are equal in thickness too.
[0017] The block plates 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are formed by laminating two flexible plastic
base plates 3 (upper and lower plates 3). The two base plates 3 are joined together
by e.g. fusing them at joint portions 4 at the corners.
[0018] Except the joint portions 4, the edges of the base plates 3 are not joined together,
thus defining receptacles 5 through which a joint 2 can be inserted into between the
base plates 3. Each edge of the upper base plate 3 is cut out at its central portion
to form an arcuately concave guide pocket 6.
[0019] Slightly inwardly of each edge of the lower base plate 3, a protrusion 9 is formed
by removing the inner half of a bulge having a semi-oval section and protruding toward
the upper base plate 3. Corresponding to each protrusion 9, the upper base plate 3
is formed with a bulge 11 protruding away from the lower base plate 3 to define a
space in which the protrusion 9 is received.
[0020] Any of the joints 2 shown in Figs. 3 to 5 comprises a single plastic plate which
is more flexible than the base plates 3 forming the block plates 1 and can be deflected
or otherwise bent. Each joint 2 has chevron-shaped wings 8 on both sides thereof.
Each wing 8 has a hole 7 near its apex. The hole 7 has an arcuately convex edge near
the apex of the wing 8.
[0021] Of the joints 2 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the one shown in Fig. 3 is the basic type,
the one shown in Fig. 4 differs from the one in Fig. 3 only in that its right-hand
side portion is bent at an angle of 120 degrees with respect to its left-hand side
portion along its longitudinal centerline 10. The one shown in Fig. 5 has a greater
width than the one shown in Fig. 3.
[0022] In order to couple each block plate 1 with another block plate 1 through a joint
2, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, one of the wings 8 of the joint is inserted into one
of the block plates 1 through one of its receptacles 5. At this time, by pushing the
apex of the wing 8 into the pocket 6, the wing 8 is automatically and easily guided
into the receptacle 5.
[0023] When the wing 8 is inserted sufficiently deeply into the block plate 1, the protrusion
9 engages in the hole 7 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, thus preventing the wing 8 from
slipping out of the receptacle 5. Once the protrusion 9 engages in the hole 7, the
arcuately convex edge of the hole 7 positively engages the protrusion 9, thus positively
preventing the protrusion 9 from coming out of the hole 7.
[0024] The other wing 8 is then inserted in the other block plate 1 in the manner as described
above to couple the two block plates 1 together through the joint 2 as shown in Figs.
9 and 10. By bending the joint 2, the block plates 1 can be positioned so as to form
any desired angle relative to each other.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 11, three or more equilateral triangular block plates can be coupled
together through two or more joints 2. In this case, by bending the joints 2, the
block plates 1 can be arranged in skewed relation to each other.
[0026] Further, as shown in Fig. 12, two or more joints 2 may be inserted into a single
receptacle 5 of a single block plate 1 with the other wings 8 of these joints 2 inserted
in other block plates 1.
[0027] Also, two block plates 1 may be coupled together not through a single joint 2 but
through a plurality of joints 2 to more positively prevent the wings 8 from slipping
out of the receptacles 5, thereby more stably keeping the block plates 1 coupled together.
[0028] If it is desired to couple two block plates 1 together so that they form an angle
of 120 degrees with respect to each other, they should be coupled together through
the joint 2 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 13, the lower two square block plates 1 are coupled
together through the wide joint 2 shown in Fig. 5.
[0029] According to the present invention, any desired number of square and equilateral
triangular block plates 1 can be coupled together so as to be arranged at any desired
angles with each other as shown in Fig. 14. The block plates 1 and joints 2 may be
transparent or colored or may be designed in any desired manner.
[0030] In the embodiment of Figs. 15 to 22, aligned through holes 7 are formed in the two
base plates 3 of each block plate 1 near each edge thereof as shown in Figs. 15 and
16. As shown in Figs. 17 to 19, a triangular pyramid-shaped protrusion 9 is formed
on each wing 8 of each joint 2 by striking the joint 2 from below so that when one
of the wings 8 of the joint 2 is inserted into one of the receptacle 5 of the block
plate 1, the protrusion 9 of the joint 2 will engage in the hole 7 of the block plate
1 as shown in Figs. 20 to 22.
[0031] As shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the two base plates 3 forming the block plate 1 may
be joined together at a joint portion 4 provided at the central portion of the block
plate 1. Such a joint portion 4 is preferably shaped such that when a wing 8 of a
joint 2 is inserted into the block plate 1, its apex is guided along its edge and
fits snugly in the recess defined by the edge of the joint portion 4 as shown.
[0032] Figs. 25 to 35 show the embodiment of which the block plates and the joints are both
made of a metal. In the description of this embodiment, elements corresponding to
the elements of the first embodiment are denoted by identical numerals.
[0033] The assembled block of this embodiment comprises block plates 1 as shown in Figs.
25 and 26, and joints 2 as shown in Figs. 27 to 29. The block plates and the joints
are both formed by blanking stainless steel or aluminum plates and pressing the thus
blanked plates.
[0034] The block plates 1 comprise square ones as shown in Fig. 25, and equilateral triangular
ones as shown in Fig. 26. All the block plates 1 have edges of equal length and are
equal in thickness too.
[0035] Each block plate 1 comprises a base plate 4 having an extension 12 extending from
each edge of the base plate 4 and folded along a fold line so as to be superposed
on one side of the base plate 3. A cut is formed along the fold line as a receptacle
5 through which the joint 2 can be inserted into the block plate 1. At the center
of each receptacle 5, a guide pocket 6 is formed by expanding the base plate 3 and
the extension 12 away from each other. Semicircular holes 7 are formed in the base
plate 3 so that their diameters are in juxtaposition with the respective arcuate edges
of the extensions 12.
[0036] Each of the joints 2 shown in Figs. 27 to 29 comprises a single metallic sheet formed
with wings 8 on both sides. The wings 8 have their free ends rounded. Near the rounded
free end of each wing 8, a protrusion 9 is formed by removing the inner half of a
bulge having a semioval section. Inwardly of the protrusion 9, a through hole 13 is
formed.
[0037] Of the joints 2 shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the one shown in Fig. 27 is the basic type.
The one shown in Fig. 28 has a greater width than the one shown in Fig. 27. The one
shown in Fig. 29 differs from the one in Fig. 27 only in that its right-hand side
portion is bent at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to its left-hand side portion
along its longitudinal centerline 10.
[0038] In order to couple each block plate 1 with another block plate 1 through a joint
2, as shown in Figs. 30 and 31, one of the wings 8 of the joint 2 is inserted into
one of the block plates 1 through one of its receptacles 5. At this time, by pushing
the apex of the wing 8 into the pocket 6, the wing 8 is automatically and easily guided
into the receptacle 5. The wing 8 may be inserted into the receptacle with its protrusion
9 facing either the extension 12 of the block plate 1 or its base plate 3.
[0039] When the wing 8 is inserted sufficiently deeply into the block plate 1, the protrusion
9 engages the edge of the extension 12 if the protrusion 9 faces the extension 12,
as shown in Figs. 31 and 32. If the protrusion 9 faces the base plate 3, the protrusion
9 will engage the edge of the hole 7. In either case, the wing 8 is positively prevented
from slipping out of the receptacle 5.
[0040] The other wing 8 is then inserted in the other block plate 1 in the manner as described
above to couple the two block plates 1 together through the joint 2 as shown in Fig.
33. By bending the joint 2, the block plates 1 can be positioned so as to form any
desired angle relative to each other.
[0041] As shown in Fig. 34, two or more joints 2 may be inserted into a single receptacle
5 of a single block plate 1 with the other wings 8 of these joints 2 inserted in other
block plates 1. If it is desired to couple two block plates 1 together so that they
form an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other, they should be coupled together
through the joint 2 shown in Fig. 29.
[0042] According to the present invention, any desired number of square and equilateral
triangular block plates 1 can be coupled together so as to be arranged at any desired
angles with each other as shown in Fig. 35. The block thus formed has an inorganic
feel inherent to metallic objects. If it is desired to couple two block plates 1 so
as to be widely spaced from each other, they should be coupled together using the
wide joint 2 shown in Fig. 28.
[0043] In order to separate any block plate 1 and joint 2 from each other, a plate-shaped
tool having protrusions on both sides are inserted into the receptacle 5 to push up
the extension 12 or the base plate 3 from its back with one of the protrusions on
the plate-shaped tool until the extension 12 or the base plate 3 is sufficiently deflected.
Then the joint 1 is pulled slightly to disengage the protrusion 9, and the wing 8
is pulled out of the receptacle 5.
[0044] Figs. 36 and 37 show an example in which the assembled block according to the present
invention is used as a component of a building structure.
[0045] As shown in Fig. 36, in this example, each block plate 1 comprises two relatively
thick plastic or metallic base plates 3 superposed one on another. One of the base
plates 3 is formed with a threaded hole 14a at each corner thereof. The other of the
base plates 3 is formed with a through hole 14b at each corner thereof.
[0046] With screws 15 passed through the respective through holes 14b and slightly threaded
into the respective threaded holes 14a, one of the wings 8 of the joint 2 is inserted
into one of the receptacles 5 of the block plate 1, and the screws 15 are tightened.
In this way, a plurality of block plates are coupled together to form an assembled
block as a building component.
[0047] By coupling a plurality of block plates as shown in Fig. 36, it is possible to form
e.g. a fence and its pillar as shown in Fig. 37, or a house having a dome-shaped roof
using equilateral triangular block plates. Such building structures will present unique
appearances.
1. Konstruktionsstein umfassend:
gleichseitige, dreischenklige Steinanschlussplatten (1),
rechteckige Steinanschlussplatten (1), und
Verbindungen (2), über die die Steinanschlussplatten (1) miteinander verbunden sind,
wobei die Steinanschlussplatten (1) Kanten und Aufnahmen (5) aufweisen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Steinanschlussplatten (1) aus einem flexiblen Material ausgeformt sind,
dass jede der Verbindungen (2) aus einer einzelnen, flexiblen und biegsamen Anschlussplatte
ausgebildet ist, wobei die Anschlussplatte an beiden Seiten Flügelabschnitte (8) aufweist;
dass jede der Aufnahmen (5) entlang einer Kante vorgesehen ist, um einen der Flügelabschnitte
(8) der Verbindungen (2) aufzunehmen, und
dass jede der Aufnahmen (5) mit einer Führungstasche (6) ausgebildet ist, wodurch zwei
beliebige Steinanschlussplatten (1) über jede Verbindung (2) miteinander verbunden
werden können, indem die entsprechenden Flügelabschnitte (8) der Verbindung (2) in
eine der Aufnahmen (5) der einen der zwei Steinanschlussplatten (1) über die korrespondierende
Führungstasche (6) und in eine der Aufnahmen (5) der anderen der zwei Steinanschlussplatten
(1) über die korrespondierende Führungstasche (6) eingebracht wird.
2. Konstruktionsstein nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Mehrzahl an Verbindungen (2) gleichzeitig in jede der Aufnahmen (5) beliebiger
Steinanschlussplatten (1) einbringbar ist, wobei die Verbindungen (2) übereinander
gelagert sind.
3. Konstruktionsstein nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Konstruktionsstein ferner eine Anordnung umfasst, um ein Herausgleiten jedes
der Flügelabschnitte (8) aus jedem der Aufnahmen (5) zu verhindern, sobald erstere
in die letztere eingebracht wurde.
4. Konstruktionsstein nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Steinanschlussplatte (1) zwei übereinander gelagerte Basisanschlussplatten (3)
umfasst, wobei die Aufnahmen (5) zwischen den beiden Basisanschlussplatten (3) definiert
sind.
5. Konstruktionsstein nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Steinanschlussplatte (1) eine Basisanschlussplatte (3) und Ansatzstücke (12)
umfasst, wobei sich jedes Ansatzstücke (12) von und gefaltet entlang einer Kante erstreckt,
um auf einer Basisanschlussplattenseite (3) übereinander gelagert zu werden, wobei
die Aufnahmen (5) durch Einschnitte definiert sind, wobei jeder Einschnitt entlang
einer Kante ausgeformt ist.
1. Bloc assemblé comprenant
□ des plaques de bloc triangulaires équilatérales (1),
□ des plaques de bloc carrées (1), et
□ des joints (2) au moyen desquels lesdites plaques de bloc (1) sont couplées ensemble,
lesdites plaques de bloc (1) ayant des bords et des logements (5),
caractérisé en ce que
lesdites plaques de bloc (1) sont constituées d'un matériau souple,
chacun desdits joints (2) est formé d'une plaque unique, souple et pliable ayant des
parties d'aile (8) de part et d'autre de celle-ci,
lesdits logements (5) sont prévus chacun le long d'un desdits bords pour accepter
une desdites parties d'aile (8) desdits joints (2), et
lesdits logements (5) sont formés chacun avec une poche de guidage (6), moyennant
quoi deux desdites plaques de bloc (1) peuvent être couplées ensemble au moyen d'un
desdits joints (2) en insérant les parties d'aile respectives (8) dudit joint (2)
dans l'un desdits logements (5) d'une desdites deux plaques de bloc (1) au moyen de
la poche de guidage correspondante (6) et dans un desdits logements (5) de l'autre
desdites deux plaques de bloc (1) au moyen de la poche de guidage correspondante (6).
2. Bloc assemblé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une pluralité desdits joints (2) peuvent être insérés simultanément dans l'un desdits
logements (5) d'une desdites plaques de bloc (1) avec chaque joint (2) superposé sur
les autres.
3. Bloc assemblé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un agencement pour empêcher une desdites parties d'aile (8) de
glisser hors d'un desdits logements (5) une fois que celle-ci est insérée dans ce
dernier.
4. Bloc assemblé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites plaques de bloc (1) comprend deux plaques de base (3) superposées
l'une sur l'autre, lesdits logements (5) étant définis entre lesdites deux plaques
de base (3).
5. Bloc assemblé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que chacune desdites plaques de bloc (1) comprend une plaque de base (3) et des extensions
(12), chacune s'étendant à partir, et pliée le long d'un desdits bords de manière
à être superposée sur un côté de ladite plaque de base (3), lesdits logements (5)
étant définis par des découpes formées chacune le long d'un desdits bords.