Improvements in Building Sets.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1895-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Building Sets.
We, EDWARD VON LEISTNER, Architect, residing in New York, No. 312
East 14th Street, and HERMANN GOETTER, Ph.D., Gentleman, residing in
Arlington, N.J., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to building sets for actual constructions as well as for
models for technical construction bureaus and schools and the improved set of
building members further constitutes an instructive and educational toy. It is the
special object of this invention to furnish members of a set which bear to each
other certain geometrical and mathematical proportions, so that, practically
speaking, an unlimited number of constructions can be made with a very small
number of members of our improved set, as is fully described further down and
clearly explained by a mathematical diagram.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The elementary
members of the improved set are illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, Figures 4
and 6 being modifications of Figures 3 and 5 while the mathematical diagram is
shown in Figure 13. The other figures represent supplementary pieces of the set
and Figure 14 shows one construction.
Figure 1 represents a strut with perforated ends and one rectangular, bevelled
side flange.
Figure 2 shows a longer strut of the same cross section with three perforations.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal member with two bevelled flanges of different
sizes, seven perforations, and converging ends.
Figure 4 shows a modification of Figure 3, the flanges extending on one side
each to the end of the perforated centre portion.
Figure 5 is a diagonal rod flattened out at the ends with two perforations in
each end.
Figure 6 is a modification of Figure 5 made of sheet metal.
Figure 7 shows a transverse piece E with screw threads at the ends.
Figure 8 is a diagonal binding piece with angular ends.
Figure 9 shows various nuts.
Figure 10 illustrates some screws.
Figure 11 shows an angle key o with two screw threads.
Figure 12 is an angle key p provided with three screw threads.
Figure 13 is a diagram showing the plain elementary mathematical figures which
form the basis for the constructions and
Figure 14 shows one construction as deduced from the diagram.
The members of the set for actual constructions are made of metal or suitable
metal compositions preferably of cast or wrought iron. The members of the set
for toys and for building models are made of brass sheeting, or of thin iron or steel
sheeting or of any other suitable metal alloy which is light since it is desirous
to have such toys and models for construction bureaus and high schools, as light
as possible. Aluminium iron for instance is preferably used because it is relatively
strong and light.
The strut a Figure 1 may be of any suitable size. From its length are deduced
the sizes of the members shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 by the diagram as will
be fully explained further down. This strut is provided with two perforated ends;

page_text: the latter are rounded off so that it can be connected under any suitable angle.
It has one rectangular flange bevelled at its ends for the purpose of permitting the
different screws to go down on the perforated ends.
Figure 2 shows a similar strut 6 longer than a but of the same cross section with
three perforations. The length of this strut as well, as of any other elementary
member is clearly defined by the diagram and the location of the third perforation
as well as any other perforation in the following figures is also determined by the
diagram.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal piece c in form of a channel iron with seven
perforations and two bevelled flanges of different sizes. The wider flange t serves
for carrying floor or ceiling pieces while the narrower flange u serves for holding
such pieces in position.
Figure 4 is a modification of Figure 3, each flange extends on one side to the
end of the perforated centre portion whereby this member gets stronger, it is
especially intended for use in actual constructions.
The diagonal rod d shown in Figure 5 is flattened out at its ends with two
perforations in each end.
Figure 6 is a modification of Figure 5 made of sheet metal in which form it can
be manufactured cheaper.
Figure 7 illustrates a transverse piece e with screw threads at the ends. For
actual construction this piece is preferably made hollow of iron tubes or of the
well known Mannesmann pipes.
The diagonal binding piece Figure 8 is provided with two angular flattened
ends which are perforated so that it can be fastened sideways under the desired
angles.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate various nuts and screws. The nuts g and 1 and the
screw are of common construction while the double nuts i and k are modifications
which serve for the purpose of connecting structures sideways. The double
screw m serves for connecting vertical and horizontal pieces when it is desired to
avoid the transversal piece e. The double screw n serves for connecting parallel
structures without the transverse piece e.
Figures 11 and 12 represent angle keys for connecting structures under angles.
The diagram shown in Figure 13 has for its basis the strut a. The distance
from the centres of the perforations in a forms the sides of the square, 1, 2, 3
and 4. The diagonal of this square is the exact distance between the centres of
the end perforations in b. The diagonal b forms the sides of the square 2, 4, 5
and 6. The diagonal of this square is the distance of the end perforations of the
elementary member c. The elementary member c is equal in length to two
elementary members a all taken from the centres of the end perforations.
the sides for the square 1, 7, 8 and 9. The diagonal of this is equal to two b
The oblong 1, 7, 10 and 11 has as long sides c and as short sides b. The diagonal
of this oblong gives the length of the rod d between the end perforations pl
and pl.
c forms
In the described way the lengths of the elementary members b, c and d are
determined from the length of the strut a. The locations of the inside perforations
are also determined from the diagram. The distance 2 between the perforations p
and p is found when an oblong 1, 4, 6 and 7 is formed whose short sides are a and
whose long sides are c. The diagonal of this oblong is the distance da, in this way
the location of the perforation p¹ is determined. The distance is found by
forming three oblongs on the line c between 8 and 9. The diagonal of the
oblongs 8, 12, 14, 15 and 9, 13, 16, 17 is equal a. The diagonal of the oblong 12,
13, 15, 16 is equal b. The distance 8, 12, and 9, 13 is called s in Figures 2 and 3.
The distances is found mathematically from the relations s³: (c-2s)² = a²: b².
Hereby we find c², the side 8, 14 being equal one half of c². From c² and c is found
the distance d³ which is the diagonal of a trapezium 1, 7, 20, 21 whose parallel
sides are c and c² and whose other sides are equal a. The location of perforation p¹³
is also hereby found, d² - d³ is equal to the distance of the perforations p" p¹³. The

page_text: centre perforation p10 in Figure 3 is exactly in the middle between the per-
forations p, p°. In the described way the lengths of the elementary members 2, 3
and 5 as well as the location of their inside perforations is deduced from the
diagram. The lengths of these members always stand in certain and fixed
proportion to the length of the strut a while the length of the strut a may be taken
voluntary as circumstances require. Thus this mathematical diagram forms a
scientific basis for a system of constructing which is great in its conception and
simple in its application and with the described lengths of the members may be
formed an almost unlimited number of geometrical forms which by their
technical combination build with the elementary members give a vast number of
constructions.
The transverse piece e is equal in length to bless the thickness of the material
of the ends of d'or f. This transverse piece e serves as a connecting medium
between the structures formed by the other elementary pieces.
The described elementary members of the set for actual constructions are used
with great advantage for building, for instance, bridges of any shape in all places
where time does not permit the erection of expensive, permanent structures and in
half civilized regions where building materials are hard to obtain. There the
great advantage of these improved elementary members of the set is that with the
few elementary pieces, various shapes forms and structures can be built. The set
is further of special value for tents since the material for such a tent can easily be
stored in a wagon or can be carried by mules. Further tents are erected quickly
and platforms can be put up readily within shortest notice. For military
purposes the set is invaluable for erecting bridges, tents and the like and is well
adapted for building temporary and permanent roofs and all sorts of temporary
buildings.
An example of one portion of a structure is illustrated in Figure 14 in which
the elementary members and nearly all the supplementary pieces are employed.
Figure 14 shows an isometric projection of a part of a roof as used for large spans,
for railroad depots, for instance. Two trusses are illustrated composed of the
elementary members a, b, c and d; they are connected by the transverse rods e.
A few wooden pieces are shown which act as a support for the material with
which the roof is covered. It is plainly understood from the drawing that the
pieces d and d² serve for tying while the elementary members a, b, c are for
compression. The transverse piece e which connects the trusses is fastened by
means of the double nuts i. In order to prevent any oblique declination of the
structure the diagonal binding pieces fare provided, they are fastened by means of
the screws l.
In a similar way any desired shape or form of a structure is easily obtained with
these few elementary members of the set by virtue of their fixed mathematical
proportions. The great variety of structures that can be built with this set
greatly enhances its value as an educational toy and thereby renders it more
amusing and instructive. It is plainly understood that sets for actual constructions
and sets for toys simply differ in the size of the elementary members.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The herein described building set for actual constructions, models and
educational toys composed of four perforated elementary members a, b, c and d
which bear to each other mathematically fixed proportions, the strut a being of
any suitable size, the strut being the diagonal of a square formed by a, the
longitudinal c being the diagonal of a square formed by 6 and the rod d being the
diagonal of an oblong whose long sides are c and whose short sides are b.
2. The herein described building set for actual constructions, models and
educational toys composed of four perforated elementary members a, b, c and d,
which bear to each other mathematically fixed proportions, the strut a being of any

page_text: suitable size, the strut 6 being the diagonal of a square formed by a, the longi-
tudinal being the diagonal of a square formed by b and the rod d being the
diagonal of an oblong whose long sides are c and whose short sides are b,
supplementary pieces and the necessary screws and nuts for connection.
3. The herein described system of perforated building members for actual
constructions, models and educational toys composed of a strut a of suitable size
and provided with a rectangular flange bevelled at the ends, a like strut b being
the diagonal of a square formed by a, a channel iron e being the diagonal of a
square formed by b with two flanges of different sizes and converging ends, a rod d
with flattened ends of different length, the locations of the perforations being
mathematically determined as specified and supplementary pieces and connecting
screws and nuts.
4. In the herein described building set a perforated strut being the diagonal of
a square formed by strut a and having a rectangular flange bevelled at the end, the
location of the inner perforation being mathematically defined.
5. In the herein described building set a longitudinal piece in form of a channel
iron with two flanges of different sizes, seven perforations and converging ends, the
lengths of this longitudinal and its perforations being mathematically determined
as described.
6. In the herein described building set a diagonal rod flattened out at its ends
forming two flanges of different lengths with two perforations in each end, the
length of the rod and the locations of the perforations being mathematically
determined as described.
7. In the herein described building set angular keys for connecting trusses under
angles same being provided with two or more movable screws, as specified.
Dated this 30th day of July 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.