Patent Publication Number: US-8991083-B1

Title: Cube picture display system with base openings

Description:
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/327,616 filed on Jul. 10, 2014, which prior application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cube picture display system wherein a series of cubes are magnetically held within a frame to form a matrix such that different pictures are displayed depending on which face of each of the cubes is outwardly facing. The frame has a series of openings within its base to allow individual cubes to be easily extracted from the frame when the display system is fully assembled. Alternately, the frame comprises a band, either rigid or flexible, that encompasses the outer periphery of the formed matrix and cinches the matrix together. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Cube picture display systems are systems whereby a series of cubes are provided such that a portion of an overall picture is displayed on the face of each cube, each face having a different pictorial representation thereon, such that when the cubes are arranged within a frame and the appropriate face of each cube is facing outwardly, for example the first face of each cube, and each cube is oriented and positioned in an appropriate position in a matrix within the frame, an overall coherent picture is displayed by the system. If a different face of each cube is facing outwardly, for example the second face of each cube, then a different picture is displayed by the system. This allows at least six different pictures to be displayed by the system, one picture for each face of the cube, although more than six different pictures can be displayed. For example, if the overall picture is of a human face, then just some of the cubes can be rotated to have a different cube face facing outwardly, for example just the cubes that display the eyes of the face, and a new picture is formed, with the originally displayed human face with a new set of eyes. Similarly, the nose, mouth, ears, etc., can be changed in like manner for different face representations, remembering of course that a total of six different overall faces are also present. Other pictorial representations are also possible that allow partial pictorial changes with the rotation of less than all of the cubes that form the display. Such systems are fun ways to display pictures and are also entertaining as a puzzle system. 
     My U.S. Pat. No. D414,613, issued on Oct. 5, 1999, shows a six cube by six cube matrix display system, although both larger and small cube matrixes are possible. 
     One of the challenges of such cube display systems occurs when a picture is fully formed and a user desires to change some or all of the cubes. When the picture is fully assembled, the cube matrix fits snugly within the inner space of the outer periphery frame and it is very difficult to extract an individual cube from the frame, especially if the cubes are relatively tightly packed within the frame. If the user desires only to extract the cubes that form the eyes of a facial picture display, the user may be forced to overturn the frame and dump all of the cubes and rebuild the picture in order to so accomplish. This is undesirable, especially if the cube matrix is relatively large. In a tightly packed cube system, even a simple overturn may not readily release the bounty of cubes from its frame. While a user may use some type of tool to help with cube extraction from the frame, such as a large pair of tweezers or a pair of pliers, such tools may not be readily available, and even if they are, may scratch the cube being extracted or one of the adjacent cubes. The same problem can occur when the picture is only partially formed and the user desires to remove a cube from a tightly packed and fully formed row, as may occur when the user discovers that a cube is in the wrong position. 
     Additionally, holding the cubes within the frame can also be problematic if the frame is bumped or otherwise jarred or tilted during matrix assembly or when the finished picture is rotated from being substantially horizontal to a more vertical position for display. Bumping the frame during matrix assembly can scramble the cubes about while tilting the frame and matrix to a more vertical or even a fully vertical position can break the matrix requiring a total rebuild. 
     What is needed is a system whereby a cube can be quickly and easily removed from a fully or partially formed cube picture display system without the need to overturn the frame and dump all the cubes out and without the need to use any type of tool that can damage the picture portion displayed on the cubes and that can holds the cubes in place during puzzle assembly and during puzzle display when the frame and puzzle are rotated toward or to a vertical orientation. Such a system must be relatively quick and easy to use and must not significantly add to the overall complexity of the cube display system either from an operational point of view or a manufacturing point of view. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cube display system addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a typical cube display system with means that allow an individual cube to be quickly and easily removed from the system&#39;s frame, irrespective of the state of the overall assembly of the cube matrix, without the need to overturn the frame and without the need to employ any type of tool and that holds the cubes in place during matrix assembly and during matrix display when the frame and matrix are rotated toward or to a vertical alignment. An alternate embodiment eliminates the problem of removal of individual cubes from a completed matrix while securely holding the finished matrix when the matrix is moved toward or to a vertical orientation with the added benefit of allowing two sides of the matrix to be viewed at a given time. Each embodiment of the cube display system is relatively simple to use and does not require any significant increase in manufacturing complexity, being produced using standard manufacturing techniques, so as to keep the cube display system relatively inexpensive to produce so as to be economically attractive to potential consumers for this type of device. 
     The cube display system of the present invention is comprised of a base that has a series of openings that have a first magnetically attractive material encompassing each opening. A peripheral frame extends upwardly from the base. The frame has a top edge having a top inside surface, a bottom edge having a bottom inside surface facing the top edge, a left edge having a left inside surface joining the top inside surface and the bottom inside surface, and a right edge having a right inside surface opposite the left inside surface and joining the top inside surface and the bottom inside surface. The top inside surface, the left inside surface, the bottom inside surface, and the right inside surface form an inner space that is rectangular in shape. A series of equal sized cubes are provided such that each cube has twelve side edges all of equal width and each cube has six faces. A second magnetically attractive material is disposed within each face of each cube. Each of the series of cubes is placed into the inner space of the frame in order to form a matrix such that when the matrix is so formed a respective one of the series of openings is located underneath each cube and the first magnetically attractive material and the second magnetically attractive material magnetically align and, if appropriately pole oriented, magnetically attract—the first magnetically attractive material and the second magnetically attractive material repel if each is a magnet and each is of the same pole orientation, indicating that at least one of the cubes is improperly positioned. The top inside surface (or bottom inside surface) of the frame has a first length that is equal to a first integer multiple of the width of a cube and the left inside surface (or right inside surface) of the frame has a second length that is equal to a second integer multiple of the width of the cube, the two integer multiples may or not be the same. Each face of each of the cubes has a portion of a pictorial representation (six different portions of pictorial representations on each cube) such that when the matrix is formed, the upwardly facing face of each cube forms a planar surface with the multiple pictorial representations revealing a completed and continuous picture. 
     At least six different coherent pictures can be displayed (of course substantially more pictures can be formed if the cubes are in the wrong position, have the improper face facing upwardly for a given picture, or are oriented improperly, such pictures not necessarily being coherent), but if the picture is formed properly, then a minimum of six different pictures can be formed). 
     Alternately, the picture display system comprises a series of equal sized cubes such that each cube has twelve side edges of equal width, each cube also having six faces such that the series of cubes is formed into a generally rectangular matrix, such that the matrix has an outer periphery. A banding frame encompasses the outer periphery of the matrix and cinches the matrix to hold the matrix together. A tongue having an opening extends outwardly from an outer surface of the banding frame. The banding frame is formed from a resilient material or from a rigid material. A magnetically attractive material may be disposed within each of the six faces of each of the cubes. At least some of the magnetically attractive material is a magnet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cube display system of the present invention using a fixed frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cube display system using a flexible banding frame. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cube display system using a rigid banding frame. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the cube display system of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a base  12  with a substantially flat upper surface and an upwardly extending peripheral frame  14  that has a top edge  16  and a bottom edge  18 , joined by left side edge  20  and a right side edge  22 , the edges  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  forming an inner space  24 , which inner space  24  is substantially rectangular in shape. A series of openings  26  are located within the base  12  and form an opening matrix as more fully described below. Encompassing each opening  26  and held within the frame  14  is a magnetically attractive material  28  that may be exposed to view or may be fully embedded within the base  12 , although it is monolithic with the base  12  if the base  12  itself is formed from a magnetically attractive material. The base  12  and the frame  14  can each be made from any appropriate material, such as wood, plastic, metal, etc., and the edges  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  of the frame  14  can have any appropriate aesthetic design thereon, as desired. 
     A series of cubes  30  are provided such that each cube  30  has twelve side edges  32 , all of equal length, and six faces  34 . All of the cubes  30  are of uniform size. A portion of an overall pictorial representation is located on each face  34  of each cube  30 , a different pictorial representation on each of the six faces  34  of each of the cubes  30 . Each cube  30  can be made from any appropriate material such as wood, plastic, metal, etc. Each pictorial representation can be placed onto the surface  34  of the cube  30  in any appropriate manner known in the art such as being imprinted thereon in appropriate manner for the type of material used for the cube  30 , can be printed onto a sticker (not illustrated) with the sticker adhered to the surface of each face  34  of the cube  30 , etc. Of course, the pictorial representation need not be in the typical nature of a picture, but can be a solid color, such that each picture formed is simply a solid color block (especially useful for young children), or the picture can be formed via raised protrusions or indents on the face  34  of the cube  30 . 
     Centrally disposed within each face  34  of the cube  30  is a second piece of magnetically attractive material  36  such as iron, nickel, etc. This piece of material  36  is advantageously disposed below the surface of the face  34 —although it is monolithic with the cube  30  if the cube  30  itself is formed from a magnetically attractive material. At least one, possibly both of the first magnetically attractive material  28  and the second magnetically attractive material  36  is a magnet. 
     The inside length of the inner space  24  of the frame  14 —the distance between the inner face of the left side edge  20  and the inner face of the right side edge  22 —is substantially equal to an integer multiple of the length of the side edge  32  of a cube  30 . Similarly, the inside height of the inner space  24  of the frame  14 —the distance between the inner face of the top edge  16  and the inner face of the bottom edge  18 —is substantially equal to an integer multiple of the length of the side edge  32  of a cube  30 . 
     In order to use the cube display system  10  of the present invention, the cubes  30  are inserted into the frame  14  in rows and columns so that each cube  30  has the appropriate face  34  facing upwardly for the picture being represented and the cube  30  is placed into the appropriate row and column and rotated so that the cube  30  is in its proper position and orientation for the picture to be formed. The second piece of magnetically attractive material  36  is magnetically attracted to the first piece of magnetically attractive material  28  that encompassing each opening  26  in order to help hold the cube  30  in place even if the frame  14  is bumped or vertically rotated. Each cube  30  is so placed until the entire picture is formed by the matrix of cubes  30 . As the inside length and width of the frame  14  are each an integer multiple of a cube length, when all of the cubes  30  are in place and the picture is complete, the cubes  30  are snugly held within the interior space of the frame  14 . When the cubes  30  are in place, each cube  30  is atop one of the openings  26 . Advantageously, although not necessarily, each opening  26  is roughly centered below its respective cube  30 . The opening  26  is dimensioned to allow a user&#39;s finger, or at least a common tool such as a pencil (not illustrated), to be able to be inserted into the opening  26  from underneath the base  12  and into the interior space  24  of the frame  14  in order to be able to push the cube  30  that sits atop the particular opening  26  out of the matrix formed by the cubes  30 , so that if the cube  30  is improperly oriented, either the improper face  34  is showing or the cube  30  may simply be improperly rotated, or if just some but not all of the cubes  30  are to have their faces  34  changed, or even the cube  30  is in the wrong position, then such cube  30  or cubes  30  can be pushed out of the cube matrix formed, reoriented, and placed back into position as desired without the need dump all of the cubes  30  out of the frame  14 . The magnetic attraction between the first magnetically attractive material  28  and the second magnetically attractive material  36  is not so strong as to substantially inhibit the removal of a cube  30  from its position within the frame  14 . 
     If the second magnetically attractive material  36  is a magnet, then if two cubes with the same magnetic pole orientation are placed next to each other—at least one is in the wrong position—then the magnets will repel one another giving an indication that at least one cube  30  is improperly positioned. Accordingly, the magnetic pole orientation of the magnets within each cube in a properly formed matrix alternate in a checkerboard pattern. 
     The device proper may simply be laid upon an appropriate surface, such as a coffee table (not illustrated), or can have an appropriate support (not illustrated) to allow the frame  14  to be positioned in an angled upright position. The base  12  may have appropriate hardware (not illustrated) to allow the device to be hanged from an appropriate surface such as a wall. A cover (not illustrated) can be removably placed atop the cube matrix to further help prevent cube  30  spillage should the device accidentally overturn. If a small poking tool is used to push through the openings  26  to dislodge a cube  30  from its matrix, then the tool can be tethered to the device to help prevent its loss. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in an alternate embodiment of the cube display system  110 , the cubes  130  are formed into their matrix without the initial use of a frame. The cubes  130  are substantially similar to the cubes  30  of the previous embodiment in that the cubes  130  each have twelve side edges  132 , all of equal length, and have six faces  134 . All of the cubes  130  are of uniform size. A portion of an overall pictorial representation is located on each face  134  of each cube  130 , a different pictorial representation on each of the six faces  134  of each of the cubes  130 . Each cube  130  can be made from any appropriate material such as wood, plastic, metal, etc. Each pictorial representation can be placed onto the surface  134  of the cube  130  in any appropriate manner known in the art such as being imprinted thereon in appropriate manner for the type of material used for the cube  130 , can be printed onto a sticker (not illustrated) with the sticker adhered to the surface of each face  134  of the cube  130 , etc. 
     In this embodiment of the cube display system  110 , once the matrix is properly finished a banding frame encompasses the outer periphery of the completed matrix and is held tight to securely squeeze and hold the cubes  130  properly within the matrix. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the banding frame  114   a  is made from a relatively flexible material, such as leather, Nylon, cloth, etc. The two ends  138   a  of the frame  114   a  are secured to one another in appropriate fashion such as via the illustrated hook  140  located on one end  138   a  of the frame  114   a  that is removably received within one of the openings  142  located proximate the opposing end  138   a  of the frame  114   a . Other securement means can also be used such as cooperating hook and loop material, etc. An upwardly extending tongue  144   a  having an opening  146   a  extends upwardly from the lower positioned end  138   a  of the frame  114   a  allowing the device to be hung from an appropriate hook, line, etc., for display of the matrix formed. As will be noted, in this embodiment, both the front of the formed matrix and the back of the formed matrix are visible so that two pictorial representations are capable of being displayed at a given time. 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , the frame  114   b  is made from a relatively rigid material, such as aluminum, etc., with the ends  138   b  of the frame secured to one another in appropriate fashion such as via the illustrated latch system  148 . Although the frame  114   b  is essentially rigid, the frame  114   b  has sufficient resiliency to be fitted over the completed matrix without disturbing the matrix and then cinched about the matrix. A tongue  144   b  having an opening  146   b  extends upwardly from one of the sides of the frame  114   b , the tongue  144   b  being centrally located with respect to both length and width on the chosen side of the frame  114   b.    
     In this embodiment of the cub display system  110 , each face  134  of each cube  130  may have a magnet (not illustrated) centrally disposed therein, again the pole orientation being in a checkerboard pattern in a properly completed matrix of the cubes  130  which magnets help hold the completed matrix together via the magnetic attraction of the magnets—or the checkerboard pattern is formed with alternating magnets and non-magnet magnetically attractive material such as iron, nickel, etc. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.