Abstract:
A system for interconnecting discrete rigid member mating components creates different stable, freestanding three-dimensional figures such as robots. The mating components are positioned in tandem employ an elastic element through bores and each mating component has at least one slot that is aligned with a corresponding slot formed on adjacent mating component or body. The arrangement of the slots and elastic element permits each mating components to be maneuvered onto an adjacent mating component and retains its position without the use of hinges or other securing devices. A reconfigurable toy is constructed by interconnecting a plurality of different sized mating components. The mating components can thus be rearranged to form different-shaped figures including a robot that is reversibly transformable between a first configuration, which can comprise a myriad of forms, and a second configuration that is a cube.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application no. 61/425,684 filed on Dec. 21, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a foldable toy robot that is transformable between alternative configurations and particularly to those that can be folded into a closed configuration having the shape of a cube. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Transformable toys typically comprise figures equipped with hinges that enable the elements of the figures to be maneuvered so as to form different shapes. However, the presence of hinges or similar devices constrains the movement of the elements and limits the number of configurations to which the elements can be manipulated to form. In essence the designer of the toy fixes the potential forms that the toys can take. It is desirable to have a foldable toy in which the component parts are not attached to each other so that the parts can be arranged in a variety of poses limited only by a child&#39;s imagination. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is based in part on the development of a system for interconnecting discrete rigid member mating components such that the rigid members can be folded and positioned relative to each other to create different stable, free standing three dimensional figures. The mating components, which are positioned in tandem to form appendages, employ an elastic element that is positioned through bores within the mating components. No hinges, magnets, locking or latching devices are required. Each mating component has at least one slot that is aligned with a corresponding slot formed on an adjacent mating component or body. 
         [0005]    In one aspect, the invention is directed to a three dimensional transformable toy that includes:
       a first outer mating component to which the first end of an elongated elastic element is secured;   a second outer mating component to which the second end of the elongated elastic element is secured; and   at least one inner mating component each defining a bore, wherein each inner mating component has a distal slot and a proximal slot, wherein the first, second and at least one inner mating components are aligned such that the elastic element extends linearly from the first outer mating component, through each bore of the at least one inner mating components, and to the second outer mating component, and wherein adjacent slots are linearly aligned such that each mating component can be maneuvered onto an adjacent mating component.       
 
         [0009]    With the present invention, a reconfigurable toy can be constructed by interconnecting a plurality of mating components, which can be of different sizes and configurations. The mating components can be rearranged to form different-shaped figures. A preferred toy is a robot that is reversibly transformable between a first configuration, that can comprises a myriad of forms, and a second configuration that is in of a cube. Each toy can comprises 3 to 20 or more individual mating components that are all interconnected by one or more the elastic elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1 to 15  are perspective views depicting the sequence of folding the toy robot; 
           [0011]      FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of a foldable toy robot; 
           [0012]      FIG. 17  is a rear elevational view thereof; 
           [0013]      FIG. 18  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 19  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 20  is a left side elevational view thereof; 
           [0016]      FIG. 21  is a right side elevational view thereof; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 22 to 25  illustrative representative movements of adjacent members of the toy robot; and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 26 to 28  illustrate perspective views of the foldable toy robot with different positions and with parts thereof in alternative positions. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The present invention is directed to a foldable toy robot that is constructed from a plurality of blocks made of wood, plastic or other rigid material. One feature of the invention is that the toy robot can be folded into a hexahedron especially a regular hexahedron or cube. While the invention will be described in constructing a robot, it is understood that the three dimensional transformable toy can take the form of other animate objects. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the puzzle  5  that has  15  individual blocks (or mating components) configured as selected anatomical parts, namely: head  1 ; upper torso  2 ; pelvis  3 ; right and left legs  7 A,  7 B above the knee; right and left legs  8 A,  8 B below knee; right and left feet  9 A,  9 B; right and left anus  6 A,  6 B above elbow; right and left arms  5 A,  5 B below elbow; and right and left hands  4 A,  4 B. The upper torso  2  and pelvis  3  comprise a body from which the two pairs of appendages are secured. In particular, the right arm includes upper arm  6 A, lower arm  5 A and right hand  4 A while the left arm includes upper arm  6 B, lower arm  5 B and left hand  4 B. Similarly, the right leg includes upper leg  7 A, lower leg  8 A, and right foot  9 A while the left leg includes upper leg  7 B, lower leg  8 B, and left foot  9 B. In a preferred embodiment as depicted in planar configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the height of each block is the same except for hands  4 A and  4 B, which are shorter, and feet  9 A and  9 B, which are longer. Each block preferably has a flat surface that abuts or mates with the flat surface of an adjacent block. In constructing appendages, preferably three or more rigid block members are used with the inner mating component having two slots. For example, lower right arm  5 A proximal and distal slots are further described herein. 
         [0021]    Each block is secured to an adjacent block by one or more internal elastic elements such as elastic cords that allow each block to move independently including rotation about the axis defined by the elastic cord. Each block has one or more through holes or bores into which the elastic cords are inserted and one or two cut slots that allows the blocks to fold in different ways in conjunction to their adjoining piece. Each elastic cord preferably has a large knot, which is larger than the dimension of the through hole, at the two ends so that the elastic cord remains secured at the ends of the through holes. (Alternatively, each end of the elastic cord can be secured with a staple or other device.) In particular, knots  20  and  22  formed at the ends of elastic cord  10 A,  10 B are located in the right and left hands  4 A and  4 B, respectively. Knots  24  and  26  formed at the ends of elastic cord  11 ,  13  are located in head  1  and pelvis  3 , respectively. Knots  30  and  32  formed at the ends of elastic cord  12 A are located in pelvis  3  and right foot  9 A, respectively, and knots  28  and  34  formed at the ends of elastic cord  12 B are located in pelvis  3  and left foot  9 B, respectively. As is apparently, instead of using a single elastic cord  11 , 13 , multiple shorter elastic cords, each with a knot at the ends, can be employed. 
         [0022]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , head  1  is attached to the upper part of torso  2  by one end of elastic cord  11 , 13  while the lower part of torso  2  is connected to the upper part of pelvis  3  by the opposite end of elastic cord  11 , 13 . 
         [0023]    As described further herein, preferably, the slot(s) on each block are aligned with the slot(s) on the adjacent blocks and each slot defines a narrow groove with an open channel from one side of the block to the opposite side. The elastic cord in each block passes through the slot therein and, in this fashion, a block can be manipulated to move around and rest on different sides of an adjacent block. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2 to 14  illustrate a sequence in which the robot-shaped puzzle is folded into a closed configuration in the shape of a cube.  FIGS. 2 to 4  illustrate the positioning of the left leg onto upper torso  2  and pelvis  3 . This is facilitated by the alignment of slot  40  in upper left leg  7 B with slot  42  in pelvis  3  so that the elastic cord therein (not shown) wound around the groove defined by the groove in the slot. As further shown in  FIG. 2 , slot  44  of lower left leg  8 B is aligned with adjacent slot  46  of upper left leg  7 B, this in turn enables lower left leg  8 B to be twisted and folded onto the front sides of pelvis  3  and upper torso  2  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Finally, left foot  9 B is shifted and positioned into inner gap area  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the left leg is transformed into a fitted rectangular-shaped block placed over the torso and pelvis. 
         [0025]    In a similar fashion as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , with the aid of slots  52  and  54  in lower right leg  8 A ( FIG. 4 ) and coordination of aligned slot  64  and  66  ( FIG. 6 ), the right leg is first twisted and then right foot  8 A is shifted into gap area  60  to create a fitted rectangular-shaped block over upper torso  2  and pelvis  3 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the outer dimensions of the upper and lower fitted configurations consisting of the two blocks formed by the folding of the right and left legs, are preferably the same as that of the combined parts of the torso and pelvis. 
         [0026]    Next as depicted in  FIGS. 8 to 13 , the left and right arms are folded over the backside on upper torso  2  and pelvis  3 . In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , with the aid of slot  72  in pelvis  3  which is aligned with corresponding slot  70  in the upper left arm  6 B, the left arm is folded onto the back of torso  2  and pelvis  3  and then left hand  4 B is shifted along slot  78  and onto the inner part of lower left arm  5 B. Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , with the aid of slot  74  in pelvis  3  which is aligned with corresponding slot  76  in the upper right arm  6 A, the right arm is folded onto the back of torso  2  and pelvis  3  and then right hand  4 A is shifted over lower right arm  5 A. Finally, with the coordination of slot  84  on upper torso  2  and corresponding slot  86  on head  1 , the head is folded into the space created by the folded arms to form cube  105  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The outer dimensions of the blocks formed by the folding of the right and left arms and the head, are preferably the same as that of the combined parts of the torso and pelvis. In this fashion, the reversibly transformable toy in this second configuration  105  has an outer contour that is that of a closed cube puzzle structure. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 16 through 21  show the six sides of the toy robot in the folded cube-shaped configuration. As is apparent, in this geometric solid embodiment, the cube has three layers of assembled mating components that are arranged in a stack, namely, (1) the fitted configuration consisting of the torso and pelvis in the middle, (2) the fitted configuration consisting of the folded legs, and (3) the fitted configuration consisting of the folded arms and head. 
         [0028]    A feature of the invention is the ability of the rigid block members to be maneuvered and positioned relative to each other. This facility is attributable, in part, to the slot structures formed in the members and the associated elastic elements.  FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  24 , illustrates the manipulation of the legs relative to the body that consists of upper torso  2  and pelvis  3 , which are movably attached by elastic cord  11 . The right leg, which includes upper and lower right legs  7 A,  8 A and foot  9 A, has an elastic cord  12 A anchored by knots  30  and  32 . The left leg, which includes upper and lower left legs  7 B,  8 B and foot  9 B, has an elastic cord  12 B anchored by knots  28  and  34 .  FIG. 22  shows that pelvis  3  can be pulled away from the adjacent upper torso  2  but because of the absence of corresponding slots, the pelvis cannot be folded over and onto the torso. Indeed, if pelvis  3  were folded onto the front side of upper torso  2 , the biasing force exerted by the elongated elastic element  11  would pull the pelvis off. 
         [0029]    In contrast, as shown in  FIGS. 23 to 25 , both legs can be readily positioned onto the front surface of pelvis  3  that is configured with slots. For example, the alignment of slot  64  in pelvis  3  and corresponding slot  66  on upper right leg  7 A permits the right leg to be folded and stably positioned on pelvis  3  as shown in  FIG. 24 . The depth of slots  64 ,  66  allows elastic element to fit into the grooves in slots  64  and  66  as shown in  FIG. 24  minimizes the destabilizing forces that might otherwise pull the leg off pelvis  3 . Another factor is with the slots, the elastic element is not stretched as much when the leg is in the folded position. As a result there is less force being exerted. Thus, even in the position shown in  FIG. 25 , the right leg remains in a stable position and would not cause the leg to “spring back.” 
         [0030]    With the present invention, by modifying the positions of the rigid block members, different freestanding configurations of the character can be created. Each transformed robot configuration remains stable as shown in  FIGS. 26 to 28 , with no additional fixture or support needed to maintain the robot in the various positions. As shown in  FIG. 26 , the slots are dimensioned so that the edge of an adjacent rigid block can be stably positioned therein. Upper left arm  6 B, which has slots  70 ,  88 , is twisted and an edge lower left arm  5 B with slot  90  fits into slot  88 . 
         [0031]    The foregoing has described the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed. Thus, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by workers skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.