US20100267308A1

US20100267308A1 - Building block system

Info

Publication number: US20100267308A1
Application number: US12/386,481
Authority: US
Inventors: Te-Li Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-16
Filing date: 2009-04-16
Publication date: 2010-10-21

Abstract

A building block system includes sphere assemblies of four predetermined shapes. Each of the predetermined shapes is formed by two or more spheres. To play with the building block system, the sphere assemblies totally include fourteen spheres are to be posed vertically or horizontally to form a three-layer pyramid on a square seat region composed of nine spherical recesses.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to playthings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a building block system designed for young children. The disclosed building block system comprises five kinds of different assemblies coming in pairs and another three kinds of different assemblies coming unpaired, wherein each of the assemblies is composed of two, three, four or five spheres immovably arranged into a particular geometric shape. These assemblies can be used to construct able to form two-dimensional isosceles right triangular or rectangular matrixes and pyramids. The disclosed building block system not only allows players to enjoy the pleasure of building blocks as the traditional building block systems do, but also enlightens children in thinking, comprehension, logical thinking, ratiocination, and unpuzzling.
2. Description of Related Art
One instance in the prior art of building block systems is U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,919, titled “Assembled building block for forming various geometrical shapes with corners having angles 60 degrees, 90 degrees and 120 degrees”. This prior patent includes 19 unit assemblies. Therein, one said unit assembly is a single small unit while the other 18 unit assemblies are formed as diverse two-dimensional geometric shapes each composed of three, four, five or six small units. The prior patent also provides building block seats that respectively have 55, 56, 64, 65, and 83 round holes. To play with the assembled building block playing, a player may select some specific unit assemblies to fill up the round holes in one said building block seat. In addition, the prior patent also provided building block seats for forming pyramids of three, four and five layers. In playing, a player may select some specific unit assemblies to fill up the round holes of one said block seat as a first-layer array and then forms a second-layer array on the first-layer array, wherein the second-layer array contains less small units than the first-layer array does. In the same manner, a pyramid can be built. Furthermore, the prior patent provides building block seats for forming three-dimensional matrixes. The block seats have 14×2, 14×3, 14×4, 15×2, 15×3, 15×4, 16×2, 16×3, 16×4, 19×2, 19×3, 25×1 and 25×2 round holes, respectively. In playing, a player may select some specific unit assemblies to fill up the round hole of one said building block seat to form a first-layer array then forms a second-layer array on the first-layer array, wherein the second-layer array contains as much spheres as that of the first-layer array does. In the same manner, a three-dimensional matrix containing a certain number of layers can be formed.
While comprising numerous of unit assemblies and requiring accomplishment of structurally complex pyramids or matrixes, the discussed prior patent presents a game that needs players' deliberation and thus might be too difficult for children to play with joy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a building block system designed for children, and especially for young children.
The building block system comprises: five kinds of sphere assemblies coming in pairs and three kinds of sphere assemblies coming unpaired;
The five kinds of sphere assemblies coming in pairs being:
First sphere assembly: including four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional, non-equilateral “L” shape;
Second sphere assembly: including two spheres connected;
Third sphere assembly: including five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape;
Fourth sphere assembly: including five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional “+” shape; and
Fifth sphere assembly: including five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape;
The three sphere assemblies coming unpaired being:
Sixth sphere assembly: including five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional “W” shape;
Seventh sphere assembly: including four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape; and
Eighth sphere assembly: including four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional straight-line shape.
The building block system further comprises a seat box for collecting the sphere assemblies and helping the sphere assemblies to form pyramids and geometrical matrixes thereon. The seat box comprises:
a body, having a isosceles right triangular seat region containing 55 spherical recesses and a first square seat region containing 25 spherical recesses arranged into a 5×5 array; and
a cover for covering the body, having a rectangular seat region containing 55 spherical recesses arranged into a 5×11 array, and a second square seat region containing 9 spherical recesses arranged into a 3×3 array.
As compared with the previously discussed prior patent, the present invention has some advantages.
First, the present invention comprises eight kinds of sphere assemblies, wherein five come in pairs and the other three come unpaired. In respect of structure, the present invention reduces variation and complexity of the sphere assemblies and thus provides a game fits children players.
In one puzzle presented by the disclosed subject matter, a player is required to use four particular types of the sphere assemblies to form a 14-sphere, three-layer pyramid on the square seat region containing 9 said spherical recesses. Different from the traditional games in which the building blocks can only be posed horizontally, the present invention allows players to assemble the sphere assemblies vertically or horizontally so as to introduce a novel playing style of assembling building blocks. Thus the present invention provides a game that looks simple yet is tricking, or in other words, the game is straight yet challenging.
Further, a player may bottom the three-layer pyramid with a 4×4 two-dimensional matrix that is constructed from another four particular types of sphere assemblies so as to solve another puzzle where the eight particular types of sphere assemblies are formed into a 16-sphere, four-layer pyramid on the square seat region containing 16 said spherical recesses.
Each of the sphere assemblies of the present invention is composed of two, three, four or five spheres and presents a simple and streamlined profile. Hence, children, particularly young children, can easily comprehend shapes of the sphere assemblies and further use the sphere assemblies to build various two-dimensional or three-dimensional objects.
In the present invention, each of the puzzles has an exclusive, non-alternative solution. Therefore, the game relates to a relatively simple process and frees its players from complex conditional decision.
The disclosed building block system not only allows players to enjoy the pleasure of playing building blocks as the traditional building block systems do, but also enlightens children in thinking, comprehension, logical thinking, ratiocination and unpuzzling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 provides plane views of all sphere assemblies of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a seat box of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the seat box of the present invention;

FIG. 4A shows a 1^ststep for solving Puzzle 1-1;

FIG. 4B is a top view of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C shows a 2^ndstep for solving Puzzle 1-1;

FIG. 4D is a top view of FIG. 4C;

FIG. 4E shows a 3^rdstep for solving Puzzle 1-1;

FIG. 4F is a top view of FIG. 4E;

FIG. 5A shows a 1^ststep for solving Puzzle 1-2;

FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C shows a 2^ndstep for solving Puzzle 1-2;

FIG. 5D is a top view of FIG. 5C;

FIG. 5E shows a 3^rdstep for solving Puzzle 1-2;

FIG. 5F is a top view of FIG. 5E;

FIG. 6A shows a 1^ststep for solving Puzzle 1-3;

FIG. 6B is a top view of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C shows a 2^ndstep for solving Puzzle 1-3;

FIG. 6D is a top view of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 6E shows a 3^rdstep for solving Puzzle 1-3;

FIG. 6F is a top view of FIG. 6E;

FIG. 7A shows how to solve Puzzle 1-4 basing on Puzzle 1-1;

FIG. 7B is an assembled view of FIG. 7A, showing the solution of Puzzle 1-4;

FIG. 8A shows how to solve Puzzle 1-5 basing on Puzzle 1-2;

FIG. 8B is an assembled view of FIG. 8A, showing the solution of Puzzle 1-5;

FIG. 9A shows how to solve Puzzle 1-6 basing on Puzzle 1-3;

FIG. 9B is an assembled view of FIG. 9A, showing the solution of Puzzle 1-6;

FIG. 10 is a top view showing the solution for Puzzle 2;

FIG. 11 is a top view showing the solution for Puzzle 3;

FIG. 12 is a top view showing the solution for Puzzle 4;

FIG. 13A shows a 1^ststep for solving Puzzle 5;

FIG. 13B is a top view of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 13C shows a 2^ndstep for solving Puzzle 5;

FIG. 13D is a top view of FIG. 13C;

FIG. 13E shows a 3^rdstep for solving Puzzle 5;

FIG. 13F is a top view of FIG. 13E;

FIG. 13G shows a 4^thstep for solving Puzzle 5;

FIG. 13H is a top view of FIG. 13G;

FIG. 13I shows a 5^thstep for solving Puzzle 5; and

FIG. 13J is a top view of FIG. 13I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a building block system of the present invention primarily comprises:
five kinds of different sphere assemblies coming in pairs and three kinds of different sphere assemblies coming unpaired;
the five sphere assemblies coming in pairs being:
first sphere assembly 11 that includes four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional, non-equilateral “L” shape;
second sphere assembly 12 that includes two spheres connected mutually;
third sphere assembly 13 that includes five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape;
fourth sphere assembly 14 that includes five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional “+” shape; and
fifth sphere assembly 15 that includes five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape;
the three sphere assemblies coming unpaired being:
sixth sphere assembly 16 that includes five spheres arranged into a two-dimensional “W” shape;
seventh sphere assembly 17 that includes four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional
shape; and
eighth sphere assembly 18 that includes four spheres arranged into a two-dimensional straight-line shape.
The building block system further comprises a seat box 20 for collecting the sphere assemblies and helping the sphere assemblies to form geometric matrixes thereon. The seat box 20 comprises:
a body 21, having an isosceles right triangular seat region 211 containing fifty-five spherical recesses 30 and a first square seat region 212 containing twenty-five spherical recesses arranged into a 5×5 array; and
a cover 22 for covering the body 21, having a rectangular seat region 221 containing fifty-five spherical recesses 30 arranged into a 5×11 array, and a second square seat region 222 containing nine spherical recesses 30 arranged into a 3×3 array.
A positioning portion 213 is provided along a periphery of the body 21 for positioning the cover 22 on the body 21 so that a space is formed between the cover 22 and the body 21 for accommodating all the sphere assemblies 11 through 18.
The body 21 and the cover 22 serve not only to accommodate all the sphere assemblies 11 through 18 but also to provide four seat regions for present puzzles.
At least the following puzzles can be presented through the subject matter of the present invention:
Puzzle 1: particular types of the sphere assemblies (e.g. the second sphere assembly 12, the third sphere assembly 13, the fourth sphere assembly 14, the fifth sphere assembly 15, and the sixth sphere assembly 16) being used to construct a pyramid on the second square seat region 222;
Puzzle 2: all of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) being used to fill all of the spherical recesses 30 in the rectangular seat region 221;
Puzzle 3: all of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) being used to fill all of the spherical recesses 30 in the isosceles right triangular seat region 211; and
Puzzle 4: all of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) being used to construct a pyramid on the first square seat region 212.
The puzzles presented by the four seat regions 211, 212, 221, 222 can actually be solved by arranging all of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) in different ways. Thus, a player gets trained in thinking, comprehension, logical thinking, ratiocination and unpuzzling.
FIGS. 4A through 9J are provided for diagrammatically illustrating solutions for the puzzles. Therein the thick dotted lines are for indicating the shapes of the sphere assemblies.

Puzzle 1-1:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15 and one fourth sphere assembly 14 are used to construct a pyramid on the second square seat region 222.

Solution for Puzzle 1-1:

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, all the spheres of the fourth sphere assembly 14 are such settled in the spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222 that four spherical recesses 30 at four corners of the second square seat region 222 are left unoccupied.
As shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, fifth sphere assembly 15 is stacked on the fourth sphere assembly 14 in the manner that the spheres at two ends of the fifth sphere assembly 15 are settled in the two unoccupied spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222. Described differently, the fifth sphere assembly 15 is now mounted on the fourth sphere assembly 14 like a bridge. At this time, the two left unoccupied spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222 are located at two ends of a diagonal of the second square seat region 222.
As shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F, the two second sphere assemblies 12 fill the last two unoccupied spherical recesses 30 and lean on the previously arranged fifth sphere assembly 15, so as to form a pyramid and thus solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 1-2:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15 and one sixth sphere assembly 16 are used to construct a pyramid on the second square seat region 222.

Solution for Puzzle 1-2:

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, all the spheres of the sixth sphere assembly 16 are settled in the spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222 to leave four spherical recesses 30 unfilled and two of the four unoccupied spherical recesses 30 are located at two ends of a diagonal of the second square seat region 222.
As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the fifth sphere assembly 15 is stacked on the sixth sphere assembly 16 in the manner that the spheres at the two ends of the fifth sphere assembly 15 fill the spherical recesses 30 located at the two ends of the diagonal of the second square seat region 222 so that the fifth sphere assembly 15 is mounted on the sixth sphere assembly 16 like a bridge. At this time, two spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222 are unoccupied.
As shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F, the two second sphere assemblies 12 fill the last two unoccupied spherical recesses 30 and lean on the previously arranged sixth sphere assembly 16 while being settled beside the fifth sphere assembly 15, so as to form a pyramid and thus solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 1-3:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15 and one third sphere assembly 13 are used to construct a pyramid on the second square seat region 222.

Solution for Puzzle 1-3:

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, all the spheres of the fifth sphere assembly 15 are settled in the spherical recesses 30 of the second square seat region 222 to leave four spherical recesses 30 unoccupied forming a 2×2 array.
As shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the third sphere assembly 13 has two spheres filling the spherical recesses 30 at two ends of a diagonal of the 2×2 array and one sphere sitting on the three spheres at the corner of the fifth sphere assembly 15. At this time, the second square seat region 222 has two spherical recesses 30 unoccupied.
As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, the two second sphere assemblies 12 fill the last two unoccupied spherical recesses 30 and lean on the previously arranged fifth sphere assembly 15 while being settled beside the third sphere assemble 13, so as to form a pyramid and thus solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 1-4:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, one fourth sphere assembly 14, one eighth sphere assembly 18, two first sphere assemblies 11 and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a pyramid.

Solution for Puzzle 1-4:

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the eighth sphere assembly 18, two first sphere assemblies 11 and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a 4×4 matrix.
Then the two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, and one fourth sphere assembly 14 are, as described in Solution for Puzzle 1-1, used to form a pyramid grounded on the 4×4 matrix so as to solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 1-5:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, one sixth sphere assembly 16, one eighth sphere assembly 18, two first sphere assemblies 11 and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a pyramid.

Solution for Puzzle 1-5:

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the eighth sphere assembly 18, two fifth sphere assemblies 15, and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a 4×4 matrix.
Then the two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, and one sixth sphere assembly 16 are, as described in Solution for Puzzle 1-2, used to form a pyramid grounded on the 4×4 matrix, so as to form a pyramid and thus solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 1-6:

Two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, one third sphere assembly 13, one eighth sphere assembly 18, two first sphere assemblies 11 and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a pyramid.

Solution for Puzzle 1-6:

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the eighth sphere assembly 18, two first sphere assemblies 11, and one seventh sphere assembly 17 are used to construct a 4×4 matrix.
Then the two second sphere assemblies 12, one fifth sphere assembly 15, and one third sphere assembly 13 are, as described in Solution for Puzzle 1-3, used to form a pyramid grounded on the 4×4 matrix, so as to form a pyramid and thus solve the present puzzle.

Puzzle 2:

Two first sphere assemblies 11, two second sphere assemblies 12, one fourth sphere assembly 14, one fifth sphere assembly 15, one sixth sphere assembly 16, one seventh sphere assembly 17 and one eighth sphere assembly 18 are used to construct a 5×7 rectangular matrix in a 5×7 rectangular seat region 28 formed by thirty-five spherical recesses.

Solution for Puzzle 2:

The solution is as shown in FIG. 10.

Puzzle 3:

All of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) are used to fill all of the spherical recesses 30 in the rectangular seat region 221.

Solution for Puzzle 3:

The solution is as shown in FIG. 11.

Puzzle 4:

All of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) are used to fill all of the spherical recesses 30 in the isosceles right triangular seat region 211.

Solution for Puzzle 4:

The solution is as shown in FIG. 12.

Puzzle 5:

All of the sphere assemblies (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18) are used to construct a pyramid on the first square seat region 212.

Solution for Puzzle 5:

As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, one third sphere assembly 13, one sixth sphere assembly 16, one first sphere assembly 11, one fourth sphere assembly 14 and one seven sphere assembly 17 are used to form a first-layer matrix 41. It is to be noted that the first-layer matrix 41 leaves two unoccupied spherical recesses 30 at two ends of a diagonal of the first square seat region 212.
As shown in FIGS. 13C and 13D, one third sphere assembly 13, one first sphere assembly 11, and one fifth sphere assembly 15 are used to form a second-layer matrix 42 on the first-layer matrix 41.
As shown in FIGS. 13E and 13F, one fourth sphere assembly 14 forms a third-layer matrix 43 on the second-layer matrix 42.
As shown in FIGS. 13G and 13H, one fifth sphere assembly 15 forms a fourth-layer matrix 44 on the third-layer matrix 43. It is to be noted that the fifth sphere assembly 15 is now having the spheres at its two ends mounted on two opposite ends of a diagonal of the fourth sphere assembly 14.
As shown in FIGS. 13I and 13J, the two second sphere assemblies 12 are used to form a straight-line shape. The second sphere assembly 12 and the eighth sphere assembly 18 each have one end corresponding to one end of a diagonal of the fifth sphere assembly 15 on the fourth-layer matrix 44 and an opposite end corresponding to the spherical recess 30 left unoccupied in the first-layer matrix 41. Consequently, the two second sphere assemblies 12 are posed slantwise at opposite sides of a diagonal of the finished pyramid.
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment and it is understood that the embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A building block system comprising:

two identical sphere assemblies, each formed by two connected spheres;

another sphere assembly, formed by five spheres that are arranged into an equilateral “L” shape;

another sphere assembly, formed by five spheres that are arranged into a predetermined geometrical shape; and

a square seat region comprising nine spherical recesses for receiving the sphere assemblies to form a 14-sphere pyramid thereon.

2. The building block system of claim 1, wherein geometrical shape is formed by five spheres arranged into a

shape.

3. The building block system of claim 1, wherein geometrical shape is formed by five spheres arranged into a “W” shape.

4. The building block system of claim 1, wherein geometrical shape is formed by five spheres arranged into a “+” shape.

5. The building block system of claim 1, further comprising:

two identical sphere assemblies each including four spheres arranged into a non-equilateral “L” shape;

another sphere assembly including four spheres arranged into a

shape;

another sphere assembly including four spheres arranged into a straight-line shape; and

a square seat region comprising sixteen spherical recesses for receiving the sphere assemblies to form a 30-sphere, three-layer pyramid thereon.

6. The building block system of claim 1, further comprising:

another sphere assembly including four spheres arranged into a

shape;

another sphere assembly including five spheres arranged into a “W” shape;

wherein the sphere assemblies form a 5×7 rectangular matrix.