US2843971A - Construction toy block - Google Patents

Description

y 1958 J. G. GARDELLIN 2,843,9711

CONSTRUCTION TOY BLOCK Filed Aug. 9, 1955 Y 4 Sheets-Shget 1 INVENTOR JOSEPH G GAPDELUN BY ATTORNEYS July 22, 1958 J. G. GARDELLIN CONSTRUCTION TOY BLOCK Filed Aug. 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JosEpH Gfimoeum ATTORNEY$ July 22, 1958 Filed Aug. 9, 1955 J. G. GARDELLIN cousmuc'rzou TOY BLOCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH G. GAQDELLIN ATTORNEYS a July 22, 1958 J. G.FGARDELLIN 2,843,971

NNNNNNN R United States Patent" f) 2,843,971 CONSTRUCTION'TOY BLOCK Joseph G.'Gardellin, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 9, 1955, Serial-No. 527,335 2 Claims. (CI. 46-26 This invention relates to abohstruction toy block, and more particularly to aplur ality of identical} construction blocks for the assembly of artistic displays and childrens toys and has for an object the provision of construction blocksof identical and unique configuration, permitting the construction of a-wide diversification of patterns and shapes without resorting to heterogeneoussupplemental vided a plurality of identical-pyramidalpentabedrons; Each of the pentahedrons is possessed of four 1dent1cal triangular sides or surfaces arid'a square sid or surface and is so dimensioned that six of 'thepentahedr'ons, when" assembled with their apexes' nieeting atacm'inonpomt;

will forma perfect cube;

Further in accordance with the present inventiomthere' is provided a plurality of pyramidal pentahedrons which alone or together withidentical pentahedro'ns'will form with plane surfaces substantiall'yall the angles necessary for facilitating the visual display of geometric figures to aid students in the understandingof three dimensional problems in geometry.

More particularly and in accordance with the present invention, each of-the pyramidal pentaliedrons has an altitude equal to'one-half the length of the edge of the square side or surface. Each of the pentahedrons is further provided with means for assembling the pentadedrons in geometric array.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of pentahedrons are provided, each of which is provided with a plurality of bores extending from the center of the base through the pentahedron and to a triangular side thereof. Each of the bores is directed at right angles to its respective triangular side and intersects the triangular side at a half-altitude point thereof. In addition the apex of each pentahedron is interconnected with the center of the base side by a bore, and opposite triangular sides are similarly interconnected by bores, each extending parallel to said base side and terminating at the vertical half-altitude points of the triangular sides. Also provided are interconnecting pins or rods to be received by said bores for rigidly assembling the pentahedrons in juxtaposition or in spaced array for the construction of imaginative toys and artistic displays.

For other objects and advantages of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pyramidal pentahedron embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pentahedron of Fig. 1;

2,843,971 l 'atented July 22, 1958 Fig: 3 is' a cross-sectional view'of aplur'alitycf penta hedr'ons' arr'ange'd tsform asquarey Figs 4 and"5 illustrate examples of construction possible when the invention isused-as a childrens building block and Figs. 1 6, 7 'and' 8 illustrate the invention as-being ap-" plied in the-construction of artistic or geometric displaysi Referring now to the d'r'awingsy there isillustrated in Figs-. 1 and -2- a block ioror a construction kit and "em bodyingtlie features of the present invention. More'partic'ularly, the construction 'bloclc'1 0 is in th e'form'of a pentahedfon of novel configuration-so as to afford maxi mum flexibility of construction. I hav'e found that a kit includingidenticalpentahedrons posse'ssed of specific geometrical configuration will be useful in. many and varied 1 expressions of construction; Well known geomt'rical-forms may be assembled with the kit, for exampleQa perfect cubemay be constructed by interconnectin'g-sixidenticaP blocks '10 With their apexes 1041 directed to a common point. In additioii'the-kit may be used to construct modern art-istidexpressions'.

Eae-hkit includes a plurality of identical pyramidal pentahedrons havingfivesids 11-15! Four of 'thesides'. 1114 are triangular, and -the-fifthside' 15; forming the base portion; issq'u'arei The sides 11-14 defiine identical isosceles triangles. Eachof thetriangular sides has a vertical altitude equal to 0.707 times the dimension of one of the-edges 16 of the square side 15. Another way of -mathematically expressing the configuration of the pentah'edron is interms of'its altitude which is equaltd one-halfi'the dimension of one of th e'edges 16of the base side' 15. Accordingly, witirsuchconstruction each of the triangular sides 11-14 forms with the base side Is an angle 'of 45 A-large number of angular"relationshipsmaybe c'on' structed with the'kit, for*-'example,=byplacing-the plane sides on surfaces ofone peritahedron adjacentanother plane-surface, such as'a tabletop'l Still other combina' tions of angular relationships" maybe formed-by placing two or more identical pentahedro'ns adjacent eaclr other A pentahedron restingionits base"side" 15' forriis a plii ralityof 45 angles which are measured along=the triangu: lar sidesof "surfaces11 14and=the' basepo'rtion'or side 151' By supporting :a pentahedion oii 'one"of its triangular sides there may be formed with the*supporting surfac'e a right angle. A right angle may also be formed by arranging two identical pentahedrons with adjacent triangular sides in contact. So arranged, two pentahedrons also form an angle of 180 or a straight line. The straight line thus formed by the two adjacent pentahedrons is actually a diagonal of a cube, and the right angle formed by the two pentahedrons is the included angle of two adjacent sides of a cube. In Fig. 3 there are illustrated four pentahedrons 10 in proper array to be assembled in juxtaposition with their apexes meeting at a common point. The addition of two more pentahedrons 10 to this construction, making a total of six pentahedrons, will form a perfect cube.

Although many geometrical figures and forms of different configuration may be constructed by placing the pentahedrons in juxtaposition, it is desirable to provide means for mounting the pentahedrons in spaced relation one to the other so as to afford maximum flexibility in construction. To this end each of the pentahedrons 10 is provided with a plurality of bores which extend from the plane sides or surfaces thereof into the pentahedrons for receiving interconnecting rods or pins 20 useful in assembling the pentahedrons in various relations as illustrated in Figs. 4-8.

More particularly, in the preferred arrangement each pentahedron 10 is provided with four bores or passageways 17, one extending from each of the triangular sides 11-14 to a common point at the center of the square side 15. Each of the bores 17 is arranged at right angles to its associated side or surface 1114, and each terminates at one end at the vertical half-altitude point of its associated triangular side or surface of the pentahedron. In addition, opposite triangular sides 11, 13 and 12, 14 are interconnected by bores 18 which extend parallel to the base side 15 and which open onto the triangular sides or surfaces at the same points as the bores 17. The apex of the pentahedron is interconnected by a bore 19 extending perpendicularly to the square surface 15 and opening at a point common with the bores 17.

Although the various bores 17-19 have been illustrated as passing through the pentahedron 10, it will be understood that the bores may only extend part way into the pentahedron, terminating short of the center of the pentahedron.

In order to facilitate the insertion of connecting rods or pins into the various bores 17, 18 and 19, the bores are counterbored at the surfaces of the pentahedron 10 to provide enlarged openings to guide the pins or interconnecting rods into place.

A kit comprised of the novel blocks 10 and interconnecting pins 20, the latter being of different lengths and varied hues, lends itself to the construction of eye-appealing, artistic designs as illustrated in Figs. 6-8. These designs are in the nature of modern abstractions.

In Figs. 4 and there are illustrated arrangements employing the present invention which might be constructed by a child, Fig. 4, for example, being representative of an animal, and Fig. 5 being representative of a house' The arrangements of Figs. 4-8 clearly illustrate the many combinations and geometric relations possible with a kit comprised of a plurality of building blocks of the present invention.

To enhance the appearance of the geometric constructions, the pentahedrons may be colored with bright enamel, or where they are made of plastic, they may be impregnated with iridescent colors. In some arrangements, each pentahedron may be multi-toned, the adjacent triangular surfaces 11-14 having harmonizing and contrasting colors. Since the parts comprising the kit lend themselves to modern designs, it can be understood that by providing the pentahedrons with eye-appealing color, the kits employing such elements lend themselves to the construction of fanciful mobiles, home decorations and interior displays.

If desired, the square sides or surfaces of the various pentahedrons may each be imprinted with a large boldfaced letter of the alphabet. The various lettered pentahedrons may be joined together by use of the interconnecting rods or pins passing through the recesses 18 to form simple words. Alternatively, the pentahedrons may be constructed to form a cube and thus form an alphabet block. The examples exemplify the possible use of the present invention as an educational device.

The sides or surfaces of the pentahedrons may also be imprinted with small numerals, and instructions may be provided referring to the numbered sides for the constr'uction of more complex constructions.

What is claimed is:

1. A building block comprsing a pentahedron having four isosceles triangular surfaces and a square base surface, the altitude of said pentahedron being equal to onehalf the dimension of the side of said base surface, each of said surfaces having at least two bores extending from a common point at the center of the respective surfaces into the interior of said block toward opposite surfaces, and said block having an additional bore extending into the interior thereof along the altitude of said pentahedron, each of said bores providing means for receiving an elongated element.

2. A building block comprising a pentahedron having four isosceles triangular surfaces and a square base surface, the altitude of said pentahedron being equal to onehalf the dimension of the side of said base surface, a first group of bores extending from a central counterbore in each of said triangular surfaces through said pentahedron to a counterbore at the center of said base surface, a second group of bores extending from each of the central counterbores in said triangular surfaces through said pentahedron to intersect on the altitude of said pentahedron, and a third bore extending from the central counterbore of said base surface along the altitude of said pentahedron and through the apex thereof, each of said bores providing means for receiving a pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,179 Swift Mar. 22, 1870 1,472,536 Thomson Oct. 30, 1923 2,554,704 Hoppe May 29, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,072,167 France Mar. 10, 1954

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