Abstract:
Six rectangular panels made of a rigid material form the sides of a hollow cube box. The panels are held together by means of a series of two grooves on each panel and by means of a removable key and without the use of any adhesive or other fastening devices. One panel incorporates a door for access into the interior of the box. The box may be of any size and may be used for any purpose including temporary building or building component, storage box, or as a surface for game boards and the storage of game pieces. The outside surface of each panel may be marked with the design of a game board and the box turned over to position the desired game on top for play.

Description:
RELATED DISCLOSURES  
       [0001]     This invention relates to previous disclosures as follows: 
        1) Disclosure Document No. 457733 filed Jun. 14, 1999; Title of Invention: Game Box.     2) Disclosure Document No. 483231 filed Nov. 27, 2000; Title Of Invention: Snap Box.     3) Disclosure Document No. 509439 filed Apr. 9, 2002; Title of Invention: Round Door.     4) Provisional Patent Application No. 60/577,830; filing date: Jun. 8, 2004; Title of Invention: Snap Box.     5) Provisional Patent Application No. 60/580,595; filing date: Jun. 17, 2004; Title of Invention: Game Box.       
 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     This invention relates to a hollow cube box of any size which may be used for any purpose including temporary buildings or building components, storage compartments, storage box, packaging, table, chair, a board game box painted or otherwise marked with the designs of multiple game boards with game pieces stored inside, or any other purpose utilizing a highly stable hollow cube box which can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A small number of inventions have included a means of combining flat panels to form a hollow cube box without the use of glue, nails, screws, or other conventional fastening devices and which can be easily assembled and disassembled. See for example Spetner U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,192 and Gracia Pub. No.: US 2004/0173610 A 1.  
         [0009]     Each of these inventions produces a hollow cube box which is not symmetrical in all dimensions. Each of these inventions requires panels of different design or shape to produce the resulting hollow cube box. The present invention allows the use of six identical and interchangeable flat panels to produce a three-dimensional symmetrical hollow cube box.  
         [0010]     Additionally, Gracia, Pub. No. US 2004/0173610 A 1 requires two of the six panels to be formed and not flat. The present invention utilizes six completely flat panels altered only with two parallel grooves in each panel.  
         [0011]     Additionally Spetner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,053,192 requires a number of “corner rails” and numerous screws or fastening devices. The present invention requires nothing more than six identical panels each with two parallel grooves on one side. In the preferred embodiment the invention utilizes a single removable key to facilitate assembly and disassembly as described more fully below.  
         [0012]     As a result, the present invention is A) relatively inexpensive to manufacture; B) relatively easy to assemble; and C) very stable.  
         [0013]     Many inventions have sought to combine one or more games, including board games, with a storage area for the game pieces and/or the game boards. Many of these inventions have required game boards or playing surfaces which are either stacked, overlaid, hinged, folding and/or pivoting. See for example: Lackner, U.S. Pat. No. 716,435,; Zimmerman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,102,449; Stice U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,624; Blumenaus U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,429; Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,374; Hemmann U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,954; Yu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,185; and Rizzo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,487. Some have utilized separate game modules in combination. See for example Saiz U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,930. At least one invention utilizes a pulley system to lower a game board into a box. See Wolfe, U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,747.  
         [0014]     The present invention eliminates all of these devices. When assembled, the present invention requires no moving parts. In the preferred embodiment the invention when assembled has only one moving part: the door. As a result the present invention is A) very simple and easy to use; B) relatively inexpensive to manufacture; and C) very stable and durable.  
         [0015]     Other advantages of the present invention are: 
        1) As many as six different game boards can be included on one box.     2) The box can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled very quickly and easily without the use of any adhesives or any fasteners of any kind except two screws.     3) All six games can be played simultaneously when the box is disassembled.     4) The game boards appear on the outside of the box providing a unique decorative aspect of the invention     5) In the preferred embodiment the size of the box permits the storage of game pieces for the six game boards on the box as well as many additional games and pieces.     6) In the preferred embodiment the invention may also be used as a chair or table.     7) The invention may also be embodied in sizes much larger or much smaller than the preferred embodiment and used for purposes unrelated to games or furniture. Such purposes might include temporary buildings or building components; storage compartments, packaging, or any other purpose using a highly stable and durable hollow cube box.        
 
         [0023]     For convenience I will use the following definitions in this disclosure: 
        1) PANEL. One of six rectangular sides of a hollow cube box. Each panel contains two grooves on the inside surface as described  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 .     2) STANDARD PANEL. A panel which has NOT been modified to accept either a key or a door.     3) KEY PANEL. A standard panel which has been modified to accept a key.     4) DOOR PANEL. A standard panel which has been modified to accept a door.     5) KEY. A relatively thin narrow strip of metal or other durable material the removal of which allows the complete disassembly of the hollow cube box.     6) OUTSIDE SURFACE. The surface of a panel facing the exterior of a hollow cube box when assembled.     7) INSIDE SURFACE. The surface of a panel facing the interior of the hollow cube box when assembled.        
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Six rectangular panels made of a rigid material such as plywood or plastic or metal each have 2 parallel U-shaped grooves close to the edge of two opposite edges on the same side. The other two edges of each panel are inserted into the grooves on other panels. Five such standard panels will combine to form a hollow cube box with one side open. One edge of the sixth panel is inserted into one of the two remaining open grooves. The opposite edge of the sixth panel is modified by cutting away the edge by an amount equal to the depth of a groove but slightly longer than the groove. The amount cut away is replaced by a removable key equal in size and dimensions to what is cut from the panel. The key is inserted into the last remaining open groove. The key panel is then made flush with the key and the key is fastened to the key panel with two screws, one on each end where the key extends beyond the ends of the groove. The result is a six sided hollow cube box held together with only two screws and a series of 12 grooves. The box is very stable.  
         [0032]     One of the six panels can be modified to accept a door for access into the interior of the box. The door panel can be combined with the key panel.  
         [0033]     All dimensions of the panels can vary depending on the purpose for which the box will be used and the desired overall size of the box and depending on the thickness of the material used. The dimensions of the six panels must all be identical except for modifications made to the key panel and the door panel.  
         [0034]     The outside surface of each panel can be painted or otherwise marked with the design of a board game. The design of all six panels when assembled results in a rail-like protrusion of the exposed edges of each panel beyond the outside surface of adjoining panels. These railings cause the outside surface of the bottom panel to be raised up off of the floor thereby preventing damage to the bottom game board. The box is turned over to position the desired game on top for playing. Game pieces and other games can be stored inside the box  
         [0035]     The box can also be used for any purpose including temporary buildings or building components, storage compartments, storage box, packaging, table, chair, or any other purpose using a highly stable and durable hollow cube box of any size which can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is the outside surface of a standard panel.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is the inside surface of a standard panel.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of a standard panel.  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is the exploded a view of a section of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is the inside surface of a key panel.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is the exploded a view of a section of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation of a key panel.  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a section of FIG.,  7 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is the outside surface of a door panel.  
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is the inside surface of a door panel.  
         [0046]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation of a door panel.  
         [0047]      FIG. 12  is the outside surface of a round door with hand indentation.  
         [0048]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation of a round door with hand indentation.  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  is the outside surface of a round door with thumb and index finger indentations.  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation of a round door with thumb and index finger indentations.  
         [0051]      FIG. 16  is the inside surface of a round door.  
         [0052]      FIG. 17  is the outside surface of a door panel and a round door with thumb and index finger indentations.  
         [0053]      FIG. 18  is the inside surface of a door panel and a round door in the closed position.  
         [0054]      FIG. 19  is a side elevation of a door panel and a round door with thumb and index finger indentations in the closed position.  
         [0055]      FIG. 20  is a side elevation of the assembled hollow cube box.  
         [0056]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the right section of  FIG. 20 .  
         [0057]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view of the left section of  FIG. 20 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 23  is a three dimensional view of the inside surface of two standard panels assembled.  
         [0059]      FIG. 24  is an exploded view of a section of  FIG. 23 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 25  is  FIG. 23  with the addition of a third standard panel assembled.  
         [0061]      FIG. 26  is  FIG. 25  with the addition of a fourth standard panel assembled.  
         [0062]      FIG. 27  is  FIG. 26  with the addition of a door panel assembled.  
         [0063]      FIG. 28  is  FIG. 27  with the addition of a key panel partially assembled.  
         [0064]      FIG. 29  is an exploded view of a section all of  FIG. 28 .  
         [0065]      FIG. 30  is the three dimensional view all of all six panels fully assembled to form the hollow cube box with round door.  
         [0066]      FIG. 31  is  FIG. 30  with the addition of game board designs inscribed on the outside surface of each panel.  
         [0067]      FIG. 32  is  FIG. 31  turned upside down and the addition of the round door with thumb and index finger indentations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0068]      FIG. 1  shows the plain flat outside surface of a standard panel. The upper right corner of the outside surface is point A. Panels may be made of any rigid material such as wood, metal or plastic and may be stained or painted any color. Outside corners may be rounded and edges remaining exposed after assembly may be beveled.  
         [0069]      FIG. 2  shows the inside surface of a standard panel;  FIG. 3  shows a side elevation of a standard panel; and  FIG. 4  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 : 
        1) (B-G) and (H-I) are each the length of the panel.     2) (B-I) and (G-H) are each the width of the panel.     3) (A-B) is the thickness of the panel.     4) (C-D) and (E-F) are each the width of the grooves.     5) (D-J) is the depth of each groove.     6) (D-E) is distance between the two grooves as well as the length and width of the exposed inside surface of each panel when assembled.     7) (B-C) and (F-G) are each the distance between the floor or other external surface on which the box is resting and the exterior surface of the panel positioned as the bottom panel.          
         [0077]     All dimensions may vary depending on: 
        A) The purpose for which the hollow cube box will be used.     B) The desired overall size of the hollow cube box.     C) The thickness of the material used.        
 
         [0081]     The corresponding dimensions for each panel must be identical except for modifications made to the key panel and the door panel. Also, the following proportions between dimensions are required:  
         [0082]     1 0  (C-D) (E-F)=(A-B) (Width of grooves equals thickness of material.)  
         [0083]     2) (H-I)=(B-G)=(D-E)+(B-C)+(F-G)+(C-D)+(E-F) (Length of panel equals distance between two parallel grooves plus thickness of  2  panels plus twice the distance between the floor or other external surface on which the box is resting and the exterior surface of the panel positioned as the bottom panel.)  
         [0084]     3) (G-H)=(B-I)=(D-E)+ 2  (D-J)−(Width of panel equals distance between two parallel grooves plus twice the depth of grooves.)  
         [0085]     With the above proportions and identical dimensions in each panel, six panels will combine to form a perfect hollow cube box. The panels are assembled by inserting the edges (H-I) and (G-B) in the two grooves of adjoining panels as will be described more fully below.  
         [0086]     In the preferred embodiment the dimensions are as follows: 
 
(C-D)=(E-F)=(A-B)=¾ inch.   a) 
 
(B-C)=(F-G)=¾ inch.   b) 
 
(D-J)= 3/16 inch.   c) 
 
(H-I)=( 13 -G)=(D-E)+(B-C)+(F-G)+(C-D)+(E-F)=22½ inches.   d) 
 
(G-H)=(B-I)=(D-E)+ 2  (D-J)=19⅞ inches.   e) 
 
(D-E)=19½ inches.   f) 
 
         [0087]      FIG. 5  shows the inside surface of a key panel and the key O and two screws N-L and N-R.  FIG. 6  is an exploded view of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the key panel with the key O attached.  FIG. 8  is an-exploded view of a section of  FIG. 7  showing the screw N-R inserted.  
         [0088]     In the preferred embodiment the key and key panel make assembly and disassembly of the hollow cube box much easier and faster. Without the key, the sixth standard panel must be forced or snapped into the last open groove. Disassembly requires prying the first edge out of the first groove. This is the method described in the provisional patent application referred to above titled “Snap Box.” The preferred embodiment is an improvement over the invention described in the Snap Box disclosure. Assembly using the key will be described more fully below.  
         [0089]     The dimensions of the key are: (A-B)×(C-F)×(L-M) except on the two ends where the dimension (C-F) is reduced by (D-I) to match the groove in the key panel and accept the edge of the adjoining panel inserted into the groove of the key panel. The thickness of the key O equals the amount of the edge removed from the key panel which equals the depth of the grooves: (L-M)=(C-K)=(D)-J). The key O is made of metal or other rigid and durable material. In the very last stage of assembly of the hollow cube box the key O is attached to the key panel with two screws N-L and N-R  
         [0090]      FIG. 9  is the outside surface of a door panel showing a round hole P and door supports Q-L and Q-R The hole is large enough for a human hand to reach through; in the preferred embodiment the diameter of the hole P is 7½ inches.  FIG. 10  is the inside surface of a door panel.  FIG. 11  is a side elevation of the door panel. Both  FIGS. 10 and 11  show the hole P; two door supports Q.-L and Q-R; two door stops R-L and R-R and an attachment S for a chain. Door supports Q-L and Q-R are made of a rigid and durable material such as wood, plastic or metal and are permanently attached to the inside surface of the door panel by any conventional means such as glue or screws. The thickness of Q-L and Q-R=(A-B).  
         [0091]      FIG. 12  is the outside surface of a round door T with an alternative embodiment of a hand indentation T- 1 . The indentation facilitates rotating the door to open or close it.  FIG. 13  is a side elevation of a round door T with a hand indentation T- 1 . The thickness of the door T and the spacing disk U and the locking bar V are each equal to (A-B).W is an attachment for the chain X.  
         [0092]      FIG. 14  is the outside surface of a round door T with an alternative embodiment of a thumb and index finger indentations T- 2 . The indentations facilitate rotating the door to open or close it.  FIG. 15  is a side elevation of a round door T with thumb and index finger indentations T- 2 . As with  FIG. 13 , the thickness of the round of door T and the spacing disk U and locking bar V are each equal to (A-B).W is an attachment for the chain X.  
         [0093]      FIG. 16  is the inside surface of a round door T with spacing disk U, locking bar V, and attachment W for chain X.  
         [0094]      FIG. 17  is the outside surface of a door panel with a round door T with thumb and index finger indentations T- 2  inserted into the hole P.  FIG. 18  is the inside surface of a door panel with a round door T inserted. FIG:  19  is a side elevation of the door panel with round door T- 2  inserted. In  FIGS. 17, 18  and  19  the door is turned counterclockwise (from the outside surface) so that the locking bar V slides under the door supports Q-L and Q-R and makes contact with the door stops R-L and R-R. The spacing disk U raises the round door T so that the outside surface of the door T- 2  is flush with the outside surface of the door panel. The chain X is attached to the round door T at the attachment W and is attached to the door panel at the attachment S.  
         [0095]      FIG. 20  is a view of the assembled a hollow cube box. The door panel is not shown. The key panel is on the left side. The box is sitting on a floor or other external surface Y. Z is the open space between the floor or other external surface on which the box is resting and the outside surface of the panel positioned as the bottom panel.  
         [0096]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the right section of  FIG. 20  showing the corner of three adjoining panels. (F-G) is the distance between the floor or other external surface on which the box is resting and the outside surface of the panel positioned as the bottom panel. The same precise view is found for six of the eight outside corners of the hollow cube box. The view is also precisely the same regardless of whether it is a top view or front view or side view. The two remaining outside corners are pictured in  FIG. 22 .  
         [0097]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view of the left section of  FIG. 20  showing the key panel and the key O with the screw N-R inserted. Only the two ends of the key with the smaller dimensions are exposed after assembly. The remainder of the key is hidden within the groove.  
         [0098]     The views of the eight outside corners of the hollow cube box are particularly difficult to visualize. Three separate surfaces on three different planes overlap one another in the same place in three different dimensions. Both the simplicity and the intricacy of the invention are revealed in the outside corners.  
         [0099]      FIGS. 23 through 30  are three-dimensional views showing the assembly of the hollow cube box. The thickness of the panels (A-B) is not shown to achieve greater clarity (except in  FIG. 24 ).  
         [0100]      FIG. 23  shows the inside surface of two standard panels with edge (B-G) of the panel positioned as the back panel inserted into the back groove of the panel positioned as the bottom panel.  
         [0101]      FIG. 24  is an exploded view of  FIG. 23  showing the thickness of both panels (A-B) and the intersection of the two grooves at the corner of both panels.  
         [0102]      FIG. 25  is  FIG. 23  with the addition of a third standard panel positioned as the left side panel and showing the inside surface of all three panels. Edge (H-I) of the left side panel is inserted into the left groove of the back panel. At the same time edge (B-G) of the bottom panel is inserted into the bottom groove of the left side panel.  
         [0103]      FIG. 26  is  FIG. 25  with the addition of a fourth standard panel positioned as the right side panel and showing the outside surface of the right side panel. Edge (H-I) of the bottom panel is inserted into the bottom groove of the right side panel. At the same time edge (H-I) of the right side panel is inserted into the right groove of the back panel.  
         [0104]      FIG. 27  is  FIG. 26  with the addition of a door panel positioned as the front side panel showing the outside surface of the door panel. Edge (H-I) of the door panel is inserted into the front groove of the bottom panel. Edge (B-G) of the right side panel is inserted into the right groove of the door panel. Edge (B-G) of the left side panel is inserted into the left groove of the door panel. At this stage of the assembly of the hollow cube box, with five of the six panels assembled, the box is completely unstable and will easily come apart.  
         [0105]      FIG. 28  is  FIG. 27  with the addition of the key panel positioned as the top panel partially assembled. Edge (H-I) of the key panel is inserted into the top groove of the right panel. The key O is inserted into the top groove of the left side panel with the two ends of the key O extending beyond the ends of the groove.  
         [0106]      FIG. 29  is an exploded view  FIG. 28 . The thickness (L-M) of the key O is not shown to achieve greater clarity. The key extends beyond the ends of the groove on each end for a distance equaling (A-B)-(D-J). In the preferred embodiment this distance is ¾ inch less 3/16 inch equaling 9/16 inch. The portion of the key O extending beyond the groove contains a hole for the insertion of the screw N-L. formed by the areas on each panel (B-C) and (F-G). See  FIG. 21 . This prevents scratching or other damage to the bottom board game.  
         [0107]      FIG. 32  is  FIG. 31  turned upside down plus the addition of the round door T with the thumb and index finger indentations T- 2 . The door is shown with the alternative embodiment of a yin yang symbol superimposed over the two indentations. The right side panel shows chutes and ladders and the top panel shows Chinese checkers.  
         [0108]     Game pieces and other games can be stored inside the box.  
         [0109]     The box can also be used as a chair or table. The box can also be embodied in sizes smaller or larger than the preferred embodiment and without game board designs and used for purposes unrelated to games or game-boards. Such purposes could include temporary buildings or building components, storage areas, packaging, storage boxes or any purpose using a highly stable hollow cube box of any size which can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.