Abstract:
This invention generally relates to a set of parallelepipedal bodies (generally, cubes) capable of matingly compatible engagement for interconnection with substantially similar cubes. When a number of cubes are assembled into a cubic array, there can be slab movement, row movement or solo cube movement. Each cube is constructed from six plates with an interior physical configuration adapted for connective assembly and the strategic placement of electrostatic or electromagnetic motors or motor halves therein.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. §121 U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/801,904 filed May 11, 2007. The benefit of which is claimed, is considered to be a part of the disclosure of the accompanying application and is hereby incorporated herein its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to a set of cubes, or generally parallelepipedal bodies and matingly conformed rails, capable of sliding engagement so as to allow variable single cube movement and placements within an array of substantially similar cubes and or rails. The desired end use is as a building block for robotic architecture capable of housing electromagnetic or electrostatic motors. However, puzzles and structural construction are a secondary adaptation. U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,270 KINEMATICALLY COMPATIBLE PARALLELEPIPED CELLS 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a set of unique parallelepipedal cubes, capable of a hollow core construction. Each cube has six plates, the internal faces of which may matingly interlock in a synergistic design for assembly. Additionally, the external faces are matingly conformed and designed to slidingly engage one another such that when a multitude of cubes are assembled into an array, there can be slab movement, row movement, or solo cube movement in all three axes. Depending upon the exterior face configuration there may be one or a maximum of two different plates used in the assembly of each cube. All six of the interior faces in any cube, regardless of whether the cube has a single or two exterior face plate design, are substantially similar in physical configuration. The bar and trough configuration enables the strategic internal placement of electrostatic or electromagnetic motors or paired motor halves. 
         [0004]    The exterior face design is such that all exterior faces matingly interlock for sliding engagement. In this manner the cubes are free to move about each other individually or in groupings, generally with three degrees of freedom, i.e., movement is allowed in each of the X, Y and Z axis. 
         [0005]    The physical configuration of the interior face of each face plate maximizes the amount of hollow interior space while providing for a rigid unibody design wherein the strength of the cell is a synergistic function of all six face plates. The ease of fabrication is well suited for injection molding. A plethora of applicable uses are some of this invention&#39;s stronger features. 
         [0006]    This invention&#39;s design overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art in that it greatly simplifies the mass fabrication of the cubes, while allowing ample interior room for the strategic placement of full or half electric motors. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved, enclosed hollow body cube, constructed with a minimum of generally planar plates. 
         [0008]    It is another object of this invention to provide a cube for use in a portable puzzle where each of the cube&#39;s six faces can be cheaply and simply fabricated and assembled. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a set of enclosed body parallelepipedal cubes that allow each cube kinematic compatibility in up to three degrees of freedom. 
         [0010]    It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a hollow body parallelepipedal cube constituting minimal different components. 
         [0011]    It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a parallelepipedal cube with an internal void capable of housing electrostatic and electromagnetic motors in the most favorable arrangement. 
         [0012]    The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  is a front and back view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1C  is a side view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a front and back view of the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a front and back view of second alternate embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3C  is a side view of second alternate embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of second alternate embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a top and bottom view of two matingly engaged cubes in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a front view of two matingly engaged cubes in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4C  is a side view of two matingly engaged cubes in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of two matingly engaged cubes in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates eight matingly in the first alternate embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of two matingly engaged cubes in the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6B  is a front view of two matingly engaged cubes in the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6C  is a side view of two matingly engaged cubes in the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6D  is a perspective view of two matingly engaged cubes in the second alternate embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7A  is a top view of the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7B  is a front view of the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7C  is a side view of the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7D  is a perspective view of the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8A  is a top view of two matingly engaged cubes in the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 8B  is a front and back view of two matingly engaged cubes in the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 8C  is a bottom view of two matingly engaged cubes in the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8D  is a perspective view of two matingly engaged cubes in the third alternate embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the partial assembly of preferred embodiment of the interior face plates; 
           [0043]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the partial assembly of the alternate embodiment of the interior face plates. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0045]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. The design and structure of the present invention has its roots in the inventor&#39;s earlier allowed and issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,270 KINEMATICALLY COMPATIBLE PARALLELEPIPED CELLS. The interior and exterior face plate designs lend themselves to adaptation to both the plethora of 416 cubes using symmetrically centered design face plates and offset design face plates taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,270. 
         [0046]    For ease, cube assembly will be discussed in terms of exterior face design first and interior face design, second, any combination of thereof which can be combined. It is to be noted that although not discussed herein, plate pairs (or even plate triplets) of conjoined adjacent plates may be injection molded or otherwise fabricated to be unitary structures. Where symmetrically centered design face plates rather than offset design face plates are used for the assembly of a cube, two different but matingly engageable exterior face plates must be utilized. Where offset design face plates are used, only a single exterior face plate is necessary for the assembly of a cube. This is discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,270 KINEMATICALLY COMPATIBLE PARALLELEPIPED CELLS. Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1D  the preferred exterior cube assembly can be seen. Centered along the longitudinal axis of first exterior face plate  2  resides one bar  4  extending normally therefrom. Second exterior face plate  6  is configured to slidingly and matingly engage first exterior face plate  2 . As such, second exterior face plate  6  has two parallel linear members  8  extending normally therefrom and one trough  10  formed therebetween. Trough  10  lies centered along the longitudinal axis of second exterior face plate  6  so as to slidingly and matingly engage bar  4  from exterior face plate  2 . There may be a hollow interior space defined within the bars  4  and linear members  6  that house full or partial drive motors. 
         [0047]    First exterior face plate  2  and second exterior face plate  6  have substantially similar length and width dimensions and are rectangular, but are not square. The length of each face plate is defined as the dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the linear members/bars thereon and is the largest single physical dimension of the face plates. The width of each face plate is defined as the dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the linear members/bars. 
         [0048]    Assembly of cube  1  requires three of first exterior face plate  2  and three of second exterior face plate  6 . The arrangement of all exterior face plates  2  is such that there is a common corner shared by all three of these first exterior face plates  2  and at the diagonal corner of cube  1  resides the common corner for the three second exterior face plates  6 . The longitudinal axis of the trough on any exterior face on an assembled cube lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar on any and all adjacent faces and the converse is also true. 
         [0049]    It is also known, a matingly engageable, tapered edge formation of a bar  12  and tapered linear member  14  may also be utilized as an optional exterior face plate embodiment (first alternate exterior face plate embodiment) to any of the plates illustrated and described herein ( FIGS. 2A-2D  and  4 A- 4 D and  5 ). This tapered edge allows for easier transition and alignment of cubes in movement. Although not discussed herein, it is well known in the industry to utilize tapers on all edges of the linear members. 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  illustrates eight matingly engaged cubes in the first alternate embodiment. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 3A-3D  and  6 A- 6 D, illustrate an angled exterior face plate embodiment (second alternate embodiment) of both the bars and the linear members. Looking at  FIGS. 6C and 6D  it can be seen that a tapered, angled bar  16  extends at an angle from exterior face plate  18 , and angled, tapered linear members  20 , extend at a matingly complementary angle from exterior face plate  22 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 7A-8D  illustrate the third alternate exterior face plate embodiment wherein six substantially similar exterior face plates  24  are assembled to form cube  2 , rather than three substantially similar first exterior face plates and three substantially similar second exterior face plates. Exterior face plate  24  has two offset, parallel, tapered, angled linear members  26  extending therefrom. In this embodiment the linear members  26  are offset such that one tapered, angled linear member  26  shares a common edge  28  with exterior face plate  24 . It is to be noted that while  FIGS. 7 and 8  show two offset, parallel, tapered, angled linear members  26  that have different axial cross sections (one trapezoidal and one rhomboidal) this configuration is not necessary. The two angled linear members  26  may be substantially similar. 
         [0053]    Designed to work with any of the aforementioned exterior face plate configurations, the preferred embodiment for the physical configuration of interior face plate  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . For visual clarity all external face features (i.e., bars and linear members) have been removed. Looking at  FIG. 9  it can be seen that an offset raised platform  31  resides on interior face plate  30 . The offset raised platform  31  has a smaller surface area than the exterior face  19 . The offset raised platform  31  and interior face plate  30  share a common edge  32  such that there is symmetry about the width axis. The distance between the three remaining edges of platform  31  and the remaining edges of the face plate are not all the same. 
         [0054]    Looking at  FIG. 10  an interior face plate alternate embodiment is illustrated. The same offset design is employed in the alternate embodiment as in the preferred embodiment; however, instead of an offset platform  31 , a pair of offset parallel linear members  37  and  49  is employed. Although illustrated as angled linear members, these can also be rectangular rather than rhomboidal or trapezoidal in cross section. On the interior face plate  41  resides a first offset linear member  37  extending normally therefrom. A second offset linear member  49  shares a common edge  43  with interior face plate  41  such that there is symmetry about the width axis of interior face plate  41 . 
         [0055]    Now that the preferred embodiment and  5  alternate embodiments of the exterior face as well as the preferred and alternate embodiment interior face have been discussed, it can be seen that there are numerous possible variations of assembled cubes. The actual structure will be determined by the end application. The various configurations have their own advantages and differ in the amount of sliding friction, alignment and engage ability, ease of assembly, cell rigidity and production cost. Although the parallelepipedal structure has been discussed generally as having a cubic arrangement (wherein all plates reside perpendicular to it&#39;s four adjacent plates) that is not to limit the application of the structural principles and arrangement discussed herein to a cube. Functionally equivalent parallelepipedal structures may be formed wherein the structures may have at least two parallelogram plates rather than rectangular plates. 
         [0056]    The above description will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. It also sets forth the best modes for carrying out this invention. There are numerous variations and modifications thereof that will also remain readily apparent to others skilled in the art, now that the general principles of the present invention have been disclosed.