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Coupling Structure for Assemblable Soccer Ball Puzzle - Lee, Bong-jae
Coupling Structure for Assemblable Soccer Ball Puzzle
United States Patent Application 20080197566
Disclosed herein is an assemblable soccer ball puzzle. The soccer ball puzzle includes 20 regular hexagonal puzzle pieces, 12 regular pentagonal puzzle pieces, and support wings having female and male fitting parts. When the puzzle pieces are assembled using the support wings through an insertion method, the inserted puzzle pieces are in tight contact with each other without being loosened, thus providing a soccer ball puzzle having a perfect spherical shape. The soccer ball puzzle is used for various purposes, for example, an advertising ornament, a mobile, or a money box.
Lee, Bong-jae (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
11/994227
Download PDF 20080197566 PDF help
20040222589 Machine and process consisting of an auto racing board game and method for playing November, 2004 Taylor
1. A coupling structure for a 32 polyhedron soccer ball puzzle, having 12 regular pentagonal panels having a male fitting part extending outwards from a center of an edge of each of the panels a predetermined length and having a predetermined width and a female fitting part having a fastening groove having a length corresponding to a width of the male fitting part, and 20 regular hexagonal panels each having an edge which has the same length as the edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels, a male fitting part extending outwards from a center of the edge of each of the panels a predetermined length and having a predetermined width, and a female fitting part having a fastening groove having a length corresponding to a width of the male fitting part, the soccer ball puzzle being assembled by fitting the male fitting part of each of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels into the corresponding female fitting part thereof, wherein the soccer ball assembled using the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels comprises: a folding line formed at a junction between each of the male and female fitting parts provided on respective edges of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels and each of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels in such a way as to be located along each of the edges; a trapezoidal support wing providing restoring force when folded along the folding line formed on each of the edges of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels; and a male fitting part or a fastening groove of a female fitting part provided in the support wing, so that when the male fitting part and the female fitting part provided on each of the edges of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels engage with each other through an insertion method, the male fitting part and the female fitting part are firmly supported by the restoring force of the folded support wing.
The present invention relates, in general, to a soccer ball puzzle assembled through an insertion method and, more particularly, to a soccer ball puzzle, which is made by assembling 20 regular hexagonal puzzle pieces and 12 regular pentagonal puzzle pieces through an insertion method, and in which the inserted puzzle pieces are in tight contact with each other when assembled, thus preventing the inserted puzzle pieces from being loosened, therefore providing a soccer ball puzzle having a perfect spherical shape. The soccer ball puzzle is used for various purposes, for example, an advertising ornament, a mobile, or a money box.
Generally, a conventional insertion-type puzzle has the shape of a flat plate. Thus, children can easily assemble the puzzle without paying particular attention, so that the puzzle does not arouse the curiosity of children.
Thus, recently, a puzzle for arousing the curiosity of children has been proposed.
For example, puzzle pieces may be assembled to have the shape of a soccer ball. A soccer ball puzzle obtained in this way is used for advertising or games.
A conventional soccer ball puzzle is disclosed in Korean U.M. Registration No. 20-279836. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the soccer ball puzzle includes 12 regular pentagonal panels 2 and 20 regular hexagonal panels 3. Each regular pentagonal panel 2 has on each edge thereof a male fitting part 8 or a female fitting part 7. Each edge of each regular hexagonal panel 3 has the same length as each edge of each regular pentagonal panel 2, and has a male fitting part 8 or a female fitting part 7.
Each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 is made of a paper material or a synthetic resin material. The male fitting part 8 may have several shapes. In this case, the male fitting part 8 having a predetermined width is provided on an edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 in such a way as to extend outwards a predetermined length from the center of the edge.
Further, since each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 is made of a paper material, a user can easily bend the male fitting part 8 relative to each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3.
The female fitting part 7 has several shapes. In this case, the female fitting part 7 is provided on an edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 in such a way as to extend a predetermined length. A fastening groove 4 is formed outside the junction between each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 and the female fitting part 7, and has a length corresponding to the width of the male fitting part 8.
Thus, the soccer ball puzzle 1 is assembled as follows. First, the regular pentagonal panel 2 is placed as a reference point. The regular hexagonal panels 3, having on respective edges thereof the female and male fitting parts 7 and 8, are assembled with the regular pentagonal panel 2 through an insertion method. Next, the regular pentagonal panels 2 are inserted into the female and male fitting parts 7 and 8 provided on respective edges of each regular hexagonal panel 3, and thereafter each regular hexagonal panel 3 is assembled with the corresponding regular pentagonal panel 2. In this way, the soccer ball puzzle 1 is finished.
In order to assemble the soccer ball puzzle 1 from puzzle pieces, the male fitting part 8 provided on each edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 is fitted into the fastening groove 4 of the corresponding female fitting part 7, and such a fitting operation is repeated. However, during assembly, the puzzle pieces are pulled, so that each male fitting part 8 may easily be torn. After assembly is completed, slipping may occur due to the gap between each regular pentagonal panel 2 and the corresponding regular hexagonal panel 3, therefore integrity may suffer. Thus, it is difficult to maintain the desired shape of soccer ball puzzle 1.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coupling structure for an assemblable soccer ball puzzle, which includes 12 regular pentagonal panels having on each edge thereof a male fitting part or a female fitting part, 20 regular hexagonal panels each having an edge which has the same length as that of each regular pentagonal panel and having on each edge thereof a male fitting part or a female fitting part, and a support wing integrally provided on each edge, thus allowing the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels to come into close contact with each other without forming a gap when each male fitting part is fitted into a fastening groove of a corresponding female fitting part, therefore providing a soccer ball puzzle having a perfect spherical shape.
In order to accomplish the object, the present invention provides a coupling structure for an assemblable soccer ball puzzle, which includes 12 regular pentagonal panels having on each edge thereof a male fitting part or a female fitting part, 20 regular hexagonal panels each having an edge which has the same length as that of each regular pentagonal panel and having on each edge thereof a male fitting part or a female fitting part, and a trapezoidal support wing provided on each edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels and providing a restoring force when each panel is folded along a folding line. The male fitting part or a fastening groove of the female fitting part is provided around the folding line of each edge of each of the regular pentagonal panels and the regular hexagonal panels to be positioned inside the support wing. Thus, when the regular pentagonal panels are inserted into the corresponding regular hexagonal panels, they are supported by the restoring force of the folded support wing.
FIGS. 1a and 1b are plan views showing a conventional soccer ball puzzle;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a soccer ball puzzle, according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the soccer ball puzzle, according to the present invention;
FIGS. 4a and 4b are development views showing puzzle pieces, according to the present invention;
FIGS. 5a and 5b are perspective views showing the puzzle pieces, according to the present invention, when the puzzle pieces are folded;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the puzzle pieces, according to the present invention, when the puzzle pieces are coupled to each other;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the coupled puzzle pieces, according to the present invention; and
FIGS. 8a and 8b are plan views showing the arrangement of puzzle pieces, according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a soccer ball puzzle, according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the soccer ball puzzle, according to the present invention.
According to the present invention, a soccer ball puzzle 1 includes 12 regular pentagonal panels 2 and 20 regular hexagonal panels 3, which comprise corrugated cardboard or printed matter. Support wings 5 are provided on respective edges of each of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3. Male fitting parts 8 and female fitting parts 7 each having a fastening groove 4 are provided in the corresponding support wings 5. When the panels 2 and 3 are assembled with each other through an insertion method using the male fitting parts 8 and the fastening grooves 4 of the female fitting parts 7, the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 are in close contact with each other due to the restoring force of the support wings 5, thus completing the soccer ball puzzle 1 having a perfect spherical shape.
Further, when the surfaces of the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 are treated through corrugated board printing, decorative printing, the application of cloth, lenticular printing, PP, etc., the properties of the panels are changed. Thereby, a product manufactured using the panels may be used as an advertising item, such as an ornament, a mobile, or a money box.
FIGS. 4a and 4b are development views showing puzzle pieces, according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5a and 5b are perspective views showing the puzzle pieces, according to the present invention, when the puzzle pieces are folded.
According to the present invention, the regular hexagonal panels 3 and the regular pentagonal panels 2 are assembled through an insertion method, thus forming the soccer ball puzzle 1. In this case, the trapezoidal support wing 5 protrudes outwards from a folding line 10 which is formed to the same length along each edge of each of the regular hexagonal panels 3 and the regular pentagonal panels 2.
Further, the male fitting part 8 having a predetermined shape or the fastening groove 4 of the female fitting part 7 is formed by cutting from the junction between each of the regular pentagonal panel 2 and regular hexagonal panel 3 and each support wing, that is, the folding line 10, to an inside portion of the support wing 5.
The male fitting part 8, or the fastening groove 4 of the female fitting part 7, is not completely separated from the corresponding support wing 5, but is integrally formed at the junction between the support wing 5 and each regular pentagonal panel 2 or each regular hexagonal panel 3, that is, the folding line 10, in such a way as to be folded.
The male fitting parts 8 and the fastening grooves 4 of the female fitting parts 7 formed on the support wings 5, provided on respective edges of the regular pentagonal panels 2 or the regular hexagonal panels 3, do not have the same arrangement, but have different arrangements according to the position when assembled.
Thus, the fastening groove 4 formed on the corresponding support wing 5 is not completely removed, but is pressed by a press blade according to the preset shape in such a way as to be separated from each support wing 5.
Hence, each male fitting part 8 is inserted into a corresponding fastening groove 4 formed by pressing the female fitting part 7 against each support wing 5.
In order to allow the male fitting parts 8 and the fastening grooves 4, formed on the support wings 5 provided on respective edges of the regular pentagonal panels 2 or the regular hexagonal panels 3, to be coupled to each other through an insertion method, the male fitting parts 8 and the fastening grooves 4 are pressed to be separated from the support wings 5. In this case, when each support wing 5 is folded in a direction opposite the folding line 10, the support wing 5 has a predetermined thickness and provides a restoring force to be restored to its original state. Therefore, the panels 2 and 3, coupled to each other through an insertion method, are firmly supported.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the puzzle pieces, according to the present invention, when the puzzle pieces are coupled to each other, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the coupled puzzle pieces, according to the present invention.
Thus, in order to firmly assemble the soccer ball puzzle 1 without slipping, the male fitting parts 8 and the female fitting parts 7 are pressed against the support wings 5 provided on respective edges of the regular pentagonal panels 2 or the regular hexagonal panels 3, thus forming the fastening grooves 4. Thereafter, each support wing 5 is folded in a direction opposite the corresponding folding line 10 to provide restoring force. In such a state, the male fitting parts 8 of the regular pentagonal panels 2 or regular hexagonal panels 3 are fitted into the fastening grooves 4 of different regular pentagonal panels 2 or regular hexagonal panels 3.
Thereby, when the regular pentagonal panels 2 and the regular hexagonal panels 3 are coupled to each other, they are in close contact not so as to be separated from each other by the restoring force of the support wings 5. Thus, when different panels 2 and 3 are repeatedly coupled, they are supported without slipping, thus providing a perfect spherical shape.
FIGS. 8a and 8b are plan views showing the arrangement of puzzle pieces, according to the present invention. When the soccer ball 1 is assembled using 20 regular hexagonal panels 3 and 12 regular pentagonal panels 2, 6 regular pentagonal panels 2 and 10 regular hexagonal panels 3 form half of a sphere while forming a pentaradially symmetrical structure. In the drawing, the regular hexagonal panels 3 are denoted by reference numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, and the regular pentagonal panels 2 are denoted by reference characters A, B, C, D, E, and F.
Thus, referring to a development view showing half of the sphere, the assembly method is as follows. That is, the regular hexagonal panels 3 denoted by reference numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are assembled with the regular pentagonal panel 2 denoted by reference character A. Next, the regular pentagonal panels 2 denoted by reference characters B, C, D, E, and F are assembled with the regular hexagonal panels 3 denoted by reference numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Thereafter, the regular hexagonal panels 3 denoted by reference numerals 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are assembled thereto.
That is, as shown in FIG. 8b, when one support wing 5 of the panels 2 and 3 assembled in this way is denoted by reference character A1, the preceding character A denotes the reference character of the panel itself, and the following numeral 1 denotes the numeral of the corresponding panel to be coupled thereto. Thus, the panel A1 is assembled with the panel 1A.
After one half of the sphere has been assembled in this way, the other half of the sphere is assembled through the same method and is coupled to the previously completed half of the sphere.
Before the regular hexagonal panel 3 denoted by the reference numeral 10 is inserted, the soccer ball puzzle 1 is assembled to form a spherical shape. Finally, the regular hexagonal panel 3 denoted by the reference numeral 10 is inserted to complete assembly.
As described above, the present invention provides an assemblable soccer ball puzzle, which is constructed so that male fitting parts and female fitting parts provided on respective edges of regular pentagonal panels and regular hexagonal panels firmly engage with each other via support wings, thus creating the shape of a perfect sphere.
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