Abstract:
A manipulatable beaded string toy device comprising of a plurality of interconnectable elements, each element including a number of beads disposed on a cord. When the plurality of interconnectable elements are interconnected, a junction formed comprises at least four beads, two from each cord, each of the at least four beads is in contact with at least three other beads of the junction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to configurable elements, and more particularly to beaded string elements which may be configured into a number of different geometric, three-dimensional forms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Beaded string construction devices are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,577,673 to Monestier, discloses a dismemberable toy having solid blocks on an elastic cord. The block faces have slots that intersect to create a passageway for the cord. The assembly may be manipulated by moving the cord into the slotted faces of each block, to cause sections of the toy to bend at 90° angles relative to previous sections. However, since the toy is held in place by the flat sides of the blocks, non-cubic shapes having curved coincidental sides would not be able to be held in place relative to each other. Also, although Monestier discloses that more than one assembly may be interconnected, only two such assemblies may be used to form a single junction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,148 to Heinz discloses an educational toy which allows the user to assemble building blocks along a flexible cord to form various shapes. This toy relies on the flat sides of the building blocks to hold the building blocks in place, and Heinz does not teach connecting more than one toy together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,375 to Heinz discloses a toy having a number of blocks interconnected by an elastic cord which passes through the center of the blocks. Again, the toy relies on the flat sides of the building blocks and the elastic force between blocks to hold the building blocks in place, and Heinz does not teach connecting more than one toy together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,072 to Dryer discloses a block puzzle in which a number of cubes are interconnected by an elastic cord. The user must manipulate the puzzle in order to form different shapes. Dryer does not teach connecting more than one puzzle together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,872 to Vennola discloses a toy having a number of mutually connected bodies arranged in a row along an elastic cord. Each body is shaped such that turning the body allows the user to form a nonlinear shapes by turning the bodies relative to one another. Vennola also does not teach connecting more than one cord together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a construction device includes a first pair of beads and a second pair of beads. Each of the first and second pairs of beads is disposed a cord. When the first and second pairs of beads are interconnected, a junction is formed including four beads, with each of the four beads being in contact with three other beads. 
     According to another aspect, the first pair of beads and the second pair of beads may be disposed together on a single cord to form an element 
     According to yet another aspect, the first pair of beads may be disposed on the first cord to form a first element and the second pair of beads may be disposed on the second cord to form a second element. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method for manipulating a beaded string element including at least first and second pairs of beads disposed on a cord includes the steps of: placing a first portion of the cord between the first pair of beads transverse to a second portion of the cord between the second pair of beads; stretching at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the cord to open at least one gap between at least one of the first pair of beads and the second pair of beads; partially wrapping the first portion of the cord around the second portion of the cord; and closing the at least one gap between the at least one of the first pair of beads and the second pair of beads while the first portion of the cord is partially wrapped around the second portion of the cord. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for manipulating first and second beaded string elements includes the steps of: placing a first cord on which a first pair of beads is disposed transverse to a second cord on which a second pair of beads is disposed; stretching the first cord and/or the second cord to open at least one gap between the first pair of beads and/or the second pair of beads; partially wrapping the first cord around the second cord; and closing the at least one gap between the first pair of beads and/or the second pair of beads while the first cord is partially wrapped around the second cord. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a beaded sting element according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an anchor that may be used in the beaded string element shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an alternative embodiment of one of the end beads shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIGS. 2A-2C are diagrams showing the steps involved in connecting together two beaded string elements; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the connection of two beaded string elements; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the connection of three beaded string elements; 
     FIG. 5A is a diagram showing two, eight-bead string elements that are separate from one another; 
     FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a tetrahedron that may be formed using the two eight-bead string elements shown in FIG. 5A; 
     FIGS. 6A,  7 A,  8 A and  9 A are diagrams showing the steps involved in forming the tetrahedron shown in FIG. 5B; 
     FIGS. 6B,  7 B,  8 B and  9 B are diagrams showing the structure that results following the completion of the steps shown in FIGS. 6A,  7 A,  8 A and  9 A, respectively; and 
     FIGS. 10-17 are diagrams showing examples of different shapes that may be formed by beaded string elements configured according to one embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a beaded string element  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Beaded string element  10  includes two end beads  12 , a number of intermediate beads  14  and an elastic cord  16 , shown in phantom in FIG.  1 A. Although the beads are illustrated as being spherical in shape, non-spherical beads alternatively may be used. For example, oblong beads or multi-faceted beads may be used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, end beads  12  are formed such that a hole  18   a  passes partially through a center of the bead, and intermediate beads  14  are formed such that a hole  18   b  passes completely through the center of the bead. 
     Beaded string element  10  may be formed by permanently attaching one end bead  12  to the end of elastic cord  16 , threading a number of intermediate beads  14  along the length of the elastic cord  16  and permanently attaching a second end bead  12  to the other end of the elastic cord  16 . The length of cord  16  is such that, when end beads  12  and the desired number (which may be zero) of intermediate beads  14  are disposed on cord  16 , cord  16  is slightly stretched beyond its relaxed state, thereby retaining beads  12  and  14  (or beads  12  and  12  if no intermediate beads  14  are used) together with slight force. This configuration allows beaded string element  10  to be stretched in order to form gaps between each adjacent pair of beads. This stretching property enables one or more beaded string elements to be manipulated and/or interconnected to form a number of different geometric, three-dimensional shapes, as described in further detail below. 
     FIG. 1B shows an anchor  20  (also shown in FIG. 1A) that may be used to secure elastic cord  16  within one of end beads  12 . As shown, anchor  20  may be a bendable disk having outward-pointing barbs  20   a.  Anchor  20  also includes a hole  20   b  through which elastic cord  16  may be threaded. Hole  20   b  may be of a size smaller than the diameter of a elastic cord  16  to allow anchor  20  to frictionally hold elastic cord  16  in place after it has been threaded through hole  20   b.  Alternatively, a knot may be tied in elastic cord  16  after it has been thread through hold  20   b  to prevent anchor  20  from slipping off of elastic cord  16 . The diameter of anchor  20  is slightly larger than the diameter of hole  18   a  of end bead  12 . Thus, when anchor  20  is pressed into hole  18   a,  it bends, allowing it to be pressed into the smaller diameter holder  18   a.  The barbs  20   a  of anchor  20  seat themselves into end bead  12 , thereby preventing anchor  20  from being pulled out of hole  18   a.    
     The ends of elastic cord  16  may alternatively be glued inside the holes  18   a  of end beads  12 , or may otherwise frictionally fit inside the holes  18   a  of end beads  12 . For example, elastic cord  16  may be attached to a cylindrical bead having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of hole  18   a.  The cylindrical bead may be forced into hole  18   a  to effect a tight friction fit, thereby retaining elastic cord  16  inside end bead  12 . 
     FIG. 1C shows one embodiment of an end bead  12  in which hole  18   a  passes completely through the bead. In this embodiment, an end of cord  16  may be threaded through hole  18   a  of end bead  12  and a knot  15  may be tied in cord  16  to hold end bead  12  in place. In the embodiment shown, bore  17 , which has a diameter that is slightly larger than that of hole  18   a,  is formed concentrically with hole  18   a  on one side of end bead  12 . Knot  15  may thereby be maintained within the confines of bore  17 , rather than projecting beyond the surface of end bead  12 . Bore  17  may optionally be covered or filled with a sealant to improve the appearance and functionality of the beaded string element. 
     A method of interconnecting multiple beaded string elements will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 2A-2C. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a beaded string element  10   b,  including end beads  12   b   1 ,  12   b   2  and intermediate beads  14   b   1 - 14   b   6  is placed adjacent beaded string element  10   a,  which includes end beads  12   a   1 , and  12   a   2  and intermediate beads  14   a   1 - 14   a   6 . Specifically, intermediate beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4  are placed adjacent and between intermediate beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4 . 
     Next, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, when beaded string element  10   b  is pushed toward beaded string element  10   a,  intermediate beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4  push intermediate beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4  apart causing beaded string element  10   b  to stretch such that a gap is formed between intermediate beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4 . Elastic cord  16   b  is exposed, allowing intermediate beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4  to pass from one side of intermediate beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4 , around to the other side of intermediate beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4 , where intermediate beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4  snap back together due to the force of elastic cord  16   b.  This connection results in elastic cord  16   b  being partially wrapped around elastic cord  16   a  (not shown). It should be appreciated that pushing string element  10   b  toward string element  10   a  may also cause intermediate beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4  to be pushed apart to expose cord  16   a,  thereby also forming a gap between beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4  when making the connection. 
     FIG. 2C shows how the beaded string elements may appear after performing the method illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown, the junction between string elements  10   a  and  10   b  includes four beads, i.e., beads  14   a   3 ,  14   a   4 ,  14   b   3 , and  14   b   4 , with each of these four beads being in contact with the three other beads included in the junction. 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the junction of beaded string elements  10   a  and  10   b  shown in FIG.  2 C and illustrates the relationship between the elastic cords  16   a  and  16   b  of string elements  10   a  and  10   b.  As shown, when beaded string element  10   a  is connected to beaded string element  10   b  as described above, elastic cord  16   a  is partially wrapped around elastic cord  16   b.  Due to the wrapping of the elastic cords around one another, the spherical beads are held in place and do not require interfacing flat surfaces to hold the beads in place. The junction(s) that may be formed by the elements enables many different, aesthetically pleasing geometrical shapes to be formed. 
     While in the example above beaded string elements  10   a  and  10   b  are shown as intersecting one another at a mid-point of each element, the beaded string elements may be connected at any point between two beads along either element. Additionally, while the example above illustrates how two beaded string elements may be connected together, it should be appreciated that similar connections may be made between any two pairs of adjacent beads on the same string element. For example, a junction may be formed that includes beads  12   a   1 ,  14   a   1 ,  14   a   6  and  12   a   2  of beaded string element  10   a,  with each of these beads contacting the other beads in the junction and with string  16   a  being partially wrapped around itself. 
     FIG. 4A shows an example of how three or more beaded string elements may be interconnected to form a more complex shape. In the example shown, three beaded string elements  10   a,    10   b,  and  10   c  are connected such that a single junction is formed by all three elements. In the case of three beaded string elements being connected to form a single junction, six beads form the junction, with each bead being in contact with four other beads of the junction. In the example shown, beads  14   a   3  and  14   a   4  of string element  10   a,  beads  14   b   3  and  14   b   4  of string element  10   b,  and beads  14   c   3  and  14   c   4  of string element  10   c  form a junction, with each of beads  14   a   3 ,  14   a   4 ,  14   b   3 ,  14   b   4 ,  14   c   3  and  14   c   4  being in contact with four other beads in the junction. 
     FIG. 4B shows an exploded view of the junction of beaded string elements  10   a,    10   b  and  10   c  shown in FIG.  4 A and illustrates one possible relationship between the elastic cords  16   a,    16   b  and  16   c.  As shown, when beaded string element  10   a,    10   b  and  10   c  are connected together, each of elastic cords  16   a,    16   b  and  16   c  is partially wrapped around at least one of the other cords. Due to the wrapping of the elastic cords around one another, the beads are held in place. 
     In addition to the connections shown in the examples above, many different geometrical, three-dimensional shapes may be formed using an embodiment of the beaded string elements described above. For example, two eight-beaded stringed elements may be used to form a tetrahedron. A description of a method for forming the tetrahedron  30  shown in FIG. 5B using the two beaded string elements  10   a  and  10   b  shown in FIG. 5A will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 6A-9B. 
     As shown in FIG. 6A, element  10   a  first is placed adjacent element  10   b  such that intermediate beads  14   b   4  and  14   b   5  are adjacent and between intermediate bead  14   a   6  and end bead  12   a   2 . Element  10   a  is pushed toward element  10   b  in order to stretch elastic cord  16   a  and/or elastic cord  16   b,  thereby forming a gap between intermediate beads  14   b   4  and  14   b   5  and/or between intermediate bead  14   a   6  and end bead  12   a   2 , respectively. As element  10   a  is pushed toward element  10   b,  intermediate beads  14   b   4  and  14   b   5  are forced around intermediate bead  14   a   6  and end bead  12   a   2  such that elastic cord  16   a  partially wraps around elastic cord  16   b.  The beads then snap back together to form a junction such as that shown in FIG.  2 C. FIG. 6B shows how the beaded strings  10   a  and  10   b  may appear after the step illustrated in FIG. 6A has been performed. 
     As shown in step  7 A, intermediate bead  14   b   6  and end bead  12   b   2  of beaded string  10   b  next are placed adjacent and between intermediate beads  14   a   2  and  14   a   3  of beaded string  10   a  and are forced around intermediate beads  14   a   2  and  14   a   3  such that elastic cord  16   b  wraps around elastic cord  16   a  to form a second junction. FIG. 7B shows how the beaded strings  10   a  and  10   b  may appear after the step illustrated in FIG. 7A has been performed. 
     As shown in FIG. 8A, intermediate bead  14   a,  and end bead  12   a   1  of beaded string  10   a  next are placed adjacent and between intermediate beads  14   b   2  and  14   b   3  of beaded string  10   b  and are forced around intermediate beads  14   b   2  and  14   b   3  to form a third junction. FIG. 8B shows how the beaded strings  10   a  and  10   b  may appear after the step shown in FIG. 8A has been performed. 
     As shown in FIG. 9A, end bead  12   b,  and intermediate bead  14   b,  of beaded string  10   b  next are passed through a gap formed between intermediate beads  14   b   1 ,  14   b   6  and  14   a   3 - 14   a   6  and are placed adjacent and between intermediate beads  14   a   4  and  14   a   5 . End bead  12   b   1  and intermediate bead  14   b,  then are forced around intermediate beads  14   a   4  and  14   a  to form a fourth junction of the tetrahedron  30 . FIG. 9 b  shows how the beaded strings  10   a  and  10   b  form tetrahedron  30  after the step illustrated in FIG. 9A has been performed. 
     In forming each of the junctions of tetrahedron  30 , when a pair of beads and the associated elastic cord is stretched over and between a second pair of beads to form a four-bead junction as described above, each of the four beads in the junction contacts the other three beads in the junction and the elastic cord associated with the first pair of beads partially wraps around the elastic cord associated with the second pair of beads. 
     Many other geometric shapes may be formed from the beaded string elements described above. Examples of such shapes are shown in FIGS. 10-17. Each of these shapes may be formed by employing the method illustrated in FIGS. 2A-C several times to interconnect two or more beaded string elements as shown. 
     Beads  12  and  14  may be formed from wood or any suitable other material, such as plastic or metal. Elastic cord  16  may be made from a wound elastic cord or any other resilient, stretchable material, such as rubber or plastic. Any number of beads may be used to make up a beaded string element, and beaded elements of different lengths and number of beads may be used together to form various shapes. In addition to linear string elements, circular beaded string elements or beaded string elements of other shapes may be formed and used to construct different shapes. 
     Having thus described an embodiment of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting.