Patent GB-463574-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to model and structural articles available also for containers and display purposes
IPC: G09B23/04
Filed: 1935-10-19
Abstract: 463,574. Toys ; educational models ; display models ; boxes. ANDERSON, R. H. Oct. 19, 1935, Nos. 28904/35 and 18217/36. [Classes 132 (iii) and 146 (ii)] [Also in Groups XVII and XVIII] A model or structural article for use as a toy or a box or for educational or display purposes comprises a plurality of elements that are juxtaposed and interconnected so as to leave exposed a network of slots of plane form therebetween, said slots opening along lines that correspond to the edges of a polyhedron. The articles may be solid or hollow and may be connected together by connecting pieces inserted in the slots. The elements are so constructed that their heights are slightly less than the distance from the surface of the article to the positions where they are connected so that the elements are strained with adjacent faces pressed tightly together. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, six pyramids 24 are folded from thin cardboard blanks 1 and are joined together by glue at their apices 25 to form a cube with slots between the faces of the pyramids. The extension pieces 7 and 8 can be pulled out to form connecting pieces for insertion in the slots of other cubes. Skeleton cubes can be formed from blanks forming pyramids without a base, Figs. 6 and 8, incisions 35 preferably being made along the edges of the pyramid to facilitate insertion of connecting pieces. Members 36 may be attached to the cube by extension pieces 39 and 41, leaving extension pieces 38 and 40 free for connection to other cubes. The members 36 can form lids for the compartments 73. Balance weights may be placed in the compartments 73 when the cubes are used for demonstration purposes. Fig. 9 shows a skeleton cube made from sheet metal blanks spot-welded or soldered together at 42 and having if desired one or more extensions 43, 44, 45, 46 for connection to another cube by means of a spring steel clip 57, Fig. 10, with a longitudinal groove 58 for engaging the edges of the extensions. In the construction shown in Fig. 14 cubes are connected by strips 77, the ends 75, 76 of which are the same shape as the slots in the cubes to prevent relative movement. In the case of metal cubes the connecting pieces 77 may be spot-welded, pinned or soldered in the slots. The cubes may be formed from truncated pyramids, Fig. 21, with re-entrant tops or without tops. The truncated pyramids may be attached to each other along their top edges or below their top edges or may be connected to a central rubber core, particularly if rigid elements are used. Lids in the form of truncated pyramids 120 may be connected to the cube in a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 8 and other cubes may be placed thereon. A tubular column for use in toys is shown in Fig. 16 comprising two cubes joined together by four connecting strips having extension pieces 50, 51 for insertion in the slots in the cubes and extension pieces 54, 55 forming slots 56. The tubular portion may be made from a single folded sheet especially when used as a container, the tubular portion being permanently attached to the end cubes along three edges. For enabling a cube to be positioned on an edge or corner and for demonstrating crystallography, pyramids, and wedgeshaped elements formed from blanks can be connected to the cubes. A brick-shaped member can be formed by connecting two truncated pyramids with four wedge-shaped elements. The edges of the elements may be rounded or bevelled. Polyhedra formed in the above way may be connected at their corner points by inserting connecting pieces having the form of pins into pinholes at said corners.