Patent ID: 9004799
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: A63F,A63H,F16C,G09B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A set of self-assembly units, wherein each unit comprises: a connector hub having a connector hub axis; and an assembly arm coupled to the hub and defining an assembly arm plane in which lies a longitudinal axis of the assembly arm; the assembly arm including a pair of opposed cantilevered extensions; the connector hub having a pair of flexure rings flanking opposite sides of a hub region, so as to define a pair of slots, each slot disposed between each flexure ring and a side of the hub region, and wherein the opposed extensions of the assembly arm of the unit are configured to rotate within the pair of slots in the connector hub of another one of the self-assembly units; the opposed extensions of the assembly arm being resiliently flexed towards each other to fit into the slots and thus the opposed extensions and flexure rings being biased to press against each other; each of the flexure rings having a recess at a common angular position relative to the hub region, each recess of each self-assembly unit shaped to receive a corresponding opposed extension of another one of the self-assembly units; wherein the connector hub and the assembly arm are configured so that (i) when the assembly arm of a first unit of the set is linked with the connector hub of a second unit of the set, a resulting linkage allows motion of the assembly arm of the first unit about the connector hub axis of the second unit and (ii) when the assembly arm is moved into a selected angle about the connector hub axis of the second unit that is defined by the common angular position of the recesses, the assembly arm will interlock at the selected angle, when the opposed extensions are received by the recesses and thus snap into place due to the arms being resiliently unflexed, the selected angle being selected from a set of defined angles; so that, when the set of units are linked into a chain without interlocking and thereafter subjected to a suitable energy input, the set of units will interlock with one another so as to assume a shape determined at least in part by the set of defined angles.