Abstract:
Board-based machines assembled from components including crank and winch attributes which allow for coupling between the components, and which allows the user to position various elements into desired positions. A kit of components including coupling attributes which allow for assembly into a large number of different types of machines and structures of different types and shapes. A book adapted to teach children about mechanical aspects of design in concert with a kit of components adapted to be used to create board based machines.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/696,094 to Glasband, filed Aug. 31, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to modular toy elements which can be assembled and arranged into working machines, and to kits with a variety of such elements. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Modeling kits typically comprise a plurality of pieces of different types. A structural item may be formed by interconnecting various pieces. Modeling kits are used by children, hobby enthusiasts, educators, and the like. The assembly of a model can be used as an educational tool to teach school age children. 
         [0006]    A versatile modeling kit would allow for the creation of a variety of items, such as structures and other items from a fixed plurality of items that could be used in these different applications. A versatile modeling kit may allow for the construction of mechanically interrelated pieces, such as rotating items, into a complex assembly, while also incorporating some ornamental elements which may better retain the attention of a young child. 
         [0007]    What is called for is a modeling kit comprising pieces that may be easily assembled into a variety of different types of items. What is also called for are machines assembled from such pieces that are easily assembled and disassembled, and which allow for the gaining of understanding of mechanical devices and relationships by the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Board-based machines assembled from components including crank and winch attributes which allow for coupling between the components, and which allows the user to position various elements into desired positions. A kit of components including coupling attributes which allow for assembly into a large number of different types of machines and structures of different types and shapes. A book adapted to teach children about mechanical aspects of design in concert with a kit of components adapted to be used to create board based machines. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates mounting board according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a shaft according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a wheel according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a crank arm according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a wheel and crank assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of an assembled mechanism in a single plane according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of a multi-board assembled mechanism according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of a raised board mechanism according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a right angle wheel drive design according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a right angle wheel drive design according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    In some embodiments of the present invention, a kit of pieces adapted to be constructed into a variety of shapes, and into a variety of configurations, allows for the construction of machines which may illustrate for the user, especially a child, aspects of mechanical relationships. The kit of pieces may be used in conjunction with a book which may act as an instruction book on how to assemble various configurations which incorporate mechanical relationships. The kit may include ornamental pieces which may be incorporated into the mechanical design pieces and which may further enhance the experience for a young child. It will be appreciated, as the following description of the various pieces proceeds, that a kit made according to the teachings of the present invention can include any number and variety of the pieces described herein. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a mounting board  101  adapted to act as the base for the building of a variety of types of mechanisms with the use of a kit of piece part elements. The mounting board  101  has a plurality of top holes  112  spaced in a pattern which allow a variety of insertion points into the top holes  112 , which have an axis perpendicular to the main plane of the mounting board  101 . The mounting board has a plurality of side holes  111  space along the edge of the mounting board  101 . The side holes have an axis parallel to the main plane of the mounting board  101 , and allow for insertion into the sides of the mounting board  101 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a shaft  102  adapted to be used for a variety of purposes. The shaft  102  may be a long, narrow cylinder. The shaft  102  is adapted to be inserted in the top holes  112  or the side holes  111  and may be retained with some gripping force due to a minor interference fit, or through other gripping means. In some aspects, the shaft  102  may be used to support a wheel as an axle. In some aspects, shafts  102  may be used to join mounting boards  101  together. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a wheel  103  adapted to be used for a variety of purposes. The wheel  103  has a hole  117  which may allow for the placement of the wheel  103  over a shaft  102  in some aspects. The wheel  103  has a wheel fitting  114  adapted to interlock with a crank handle to allow for manual cranking of the wheel  103 . The wheel  103  may also have holes  113  which may allow for insertion of one or more shafts  102  through the wheel. The wheel  103  may also have holes  121  which may allow for insertion of shaft  102  with some gripping force due to a minor interference fit. In some embodiments, the wheel  103  may have a surface along its exterior radial periphery adapted to allow for the application of mechanical advantage. This surface may be part of a hook and loop fastening system, allowing rotation of the wheel  103  to be translated into linear motion of a ribbon  106  which has the mating part of the hook and loop fastening system thereon. In some aspects, character figures may have a mating interface for the wheel fitting such that the character figure may mount on the wheel. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a crank arm  104  adapted to be used in conjunction with a wheel  103 . The crank arm  104  has a crank fitting  115  adapted to mate with a wheel fitting  103  in order to allow a user to rotate a wheel  103  by cranking the crank handle  116  of the crank arm  104 . In cases wherein the wheel  103  has a loop or hook surface, the cranking of the wheel translates rotary motion of the crank arm  104  into a linear motion of the ribbon  106 . In some aspects, a plurality of wheels may be interlinked with a ribbon, or other flexible element, and all of the wheels may be rotated with the cranking of a single crank arm engaged with the ribbon. In some aspects, wheels other than the wheel with the crank arm may have character figures mounted thereon, allowing for rotation of the character figures on the wheels engaged on the ribbon with the rotation of the crank arm. The use of a ribbon may enhance a playful aspect of the use of the kit by children, while simultaneously allowing the child to learn about mechanical relationships. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the use of a mounting board  101  as a base for a wheel assembly. A shaft  102  is inserted into a top hole  112  of the mounting board  101 . A wheel  103  is placed over the shaft  102 . The wheel  103  is then able to spin freely around a vertical axis. A crank arm  104  is placed onto the top of the wheel  103  through the interlocking of the wheel fitting  114  and the crank fitting  115 . When assembled in this manner, the crank arm allows for the rotation of the wheel  103  by the user. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary machine assembly  120  according to some embodiments of the present invention. A mounting board  101  is seen with a plurality of wheels  103  mounted thereon. The wheels  103  are placed on shafts  102  inserted into top holes  112  in the mounting board  101 . A ribbon  106  is threaded in a serpentine pattern around the wheels  103 . Other shafts  102  are mounted into top holes  112  and are used as guide posts for the serpentine ribbon path. The shafts used as guide posts have caps  105  mounted onto their top ends. With the engagement of the hook and loop portion on the ribbon with the portion on the wheels, the pulling of the ribbon  106 , whether by hand or with the use of a wheel with a crank mounted thereon, will cause the rotation of all of the wheels  103 . For example, the hooks may be on the central engagement portion of the wheels, and the loops may be integral to one or both sides of the ribbon. When character figures are mounted on the wheels  103 , the rotation of the wheels  103  will cause the rotation of the character figures. With a kit of pieces, which may include a plurality of shafts, wheels, and caps, the user may create numerous configurations of integrated machines which may move in a synchronous manner. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary machine assembly  130  according to some embodiments of the present invention. A plurality of mounting boards  101  are seen with a plurality of wheels  103  mounted thereon. The wheels  103  are placed on shafts  102  mounted horizontally between caps  105  on shafts  102  inserted into top holes  112  in the mounting board  101 . A ribbon  106  is threaded in a linear pattern around the wheels  103 . In embodiments such as this, two boards  101  are attached at right angles to each other. Shafts  102  are linked with caps  105  to effect a right angle attachment between two of the mounting boards  101 . With the engagement of the hook and loop portion on the ribbon with the portion on the wheels, the pulling of the ribbon  106 , whether by hand or with the use of a wheel with a crank mounted thereon, will cause the rotation of all of the wheels  103 . With a kit of pieces, which may include a plurality of shafts, wheels, and caps, the user may create numerous configurations of integrated machines which may move in a synchronous manner. 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary machine assembly  140  according to some embodiments of the present invention. A mounting board  101  is seen with a plurality of shafts  102  mounted thereon. Wheels  103  are placed on shafts  102  mounted horizontally between caps  105  on shafts  102  inserted into side holes  111  in the mounting board  101 . A ribbon  106  is threaded in a linear pattern around the wheels  103 . The ribbon finds friction with the wheel with hook and loop features, and then may be threaded around another wheel to create a pulley mechanism. Where the ribbon is pulled, the wheel/shaft/cap combination may lift upward off the mounting surface. In embodiments such as this, shafts are used as supports of the mounting board to raise it off of the mounting surface. Shafts  102  are linked with caps  105  to effect a right angle or continuation attachments between two or more of the shafts. Longer shafts may be part of the kit of pieces available to the user in some embodiments. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate using wheels mounted adjacently at right angles in order to create a driving effect from a first wheel to a second wheel. In addition to the driving of a wheel by the use of a ribbon, wheels mounted adjacently, and at right angles to each other, may drive one another through frictional engagement. 
         [0029]    In an exemplary embodiment, a mounting board may be 24.5 cm square and 1.5 cm thick, with 0.7 cm holes on 3.65 cm spacings, offset. The shaft may be 6.5 cm long and 0.6 cm in diameter, with longer shaft pieces at 13 cm long. The wheels may be 5 cm in height and 3.5 cm in diameter, with the 1.4 cm loop side of the hook and loop fasteners affixed thereon. The ribbon/tape may be 3 cm wide with different lengths (for example 4 feet long) with a 3 cm×1.5 cm hook side of the hook and loop fasteners affixed thereon. 
         [0030]    As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general invention.