US20140357151A1

US20140357151A1 - Geometric Building Block Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20140357151A1
Application number: US13/908,402
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald A. Worley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-03
Filing date: 2013-06-03
Publication date: 2014-12-04

Abstract

A geometric building block assembly creates three-dimensional geometric structures based on the particular orientation and location of individual building blocks. The assembly includes a plurality of building blocks. Each of the building blocks is geometrically shaped and has a plurality of planar faces. A plurality of magnets is provided. Each of the magnets is coupled to an associated one of the planar faces. Each of the magnets has an associated magnetic orientation such that the magnets on each of the building blocks are magnetically couplable to the magnets on an adjacently positioned building block only when the building blocks are properly oriented.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

he disclosure relates to building block assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new building block assembly for creating three-dimensional geometric structures based on the particular orientation and location of individual building blocks.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of building blocks. Each of the building blocks is geometrically shaped and has a plurality of planar faces. A plurality of magnets is provided. Each of the magnets is coupled to an associated one of the planar faces. Each of the magnets has an associated magnetic orientation such that the magnets on each of the building blocks are magnetically couplable to the magnets on an adjacently positioned building block only when the building blocks are properly oriented.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a geometric building block assembly showing a tetrahedral building block according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a pair of tetrahedral building blocks of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of an icosahedral building block of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a pair of cubic building blocks being attached to each other.

FIG. 6 is a top front view showing an octahedral building block of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use.

FIG. 8 is a top front side perspective view showing a hextetra building block of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a hextetra building block of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new building block assembly embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9, the geometric building block assembly 10 generally comprises a plurality of building blocks 12. Each of the building blocks 12 is geometrically shaped. Each of the building blocks 12 is preferably rigid and made from wood, plastic, or similar material. Each of the building blocks 12 has a thickness between approximately 0.05 centimeters and 5.00 centimeters. Each of the building blocks 12 has a plurality of planar faces 14. Each of the building blocks 12 has a top one 16 of the planar faces 14 opposite a bottom one 18 of the planar faces 14 and a plurality of intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 positioned between the top 16 and bottom 18 ones of the planar faces 14. Each of the planar faces 14 has beveled edges 22 such that adjacent ones of the planar faces 14 of an associated one of the building blocks 12 are disposed at predetermined angles relative to one another. Each of the edges 22 is beveled upwardly or downwardly.
The building blocks 12 comprise a plurality of cubic building blocks 24, octahedral building blocks 26, icosahedral building blocks 28, hextetra building blocks 30, and tetrahedral building blocks 32. Each of the cubic building blocks 24 comprises truncated symmetrical dissections of a cube. A cube is commonly known in the field of geometry and comprises six identical square faces. Each of the cubic building blocks 24 is the same size. Each of the edges 22 of the cubic building blocks 24 is preferably beveled at an angle of 45 degrees. The intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 of the cubic building blocks 24 are truncated isosceles triangles 34. A pair of the cubic building blocks 24 is couplable along the beveled edges 22 wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned cubic building blocks 24 tiles the cubic building blocks 24 together in a flat plane. Alignment of a pair of upwardly beveled edges 22 or a pair of downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned cubic building blocks 24 configures the cubic building blocks 24 to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of a cube, which is an angle of 90 degrees. Alignment of six of the cubic building blocks 24 along upward or downward beveled edges 22 forms a hollow geometric structure defining a cube on an inner surface and a truncated octahedron on an outer surface. In a second embodiment, the cubic building blocks 24 may be beveled at an angle of 45 degrees on the top one 16 of the planar faces 14 and beveled at an angle of 54 degrees on the bottom one 18 of the planar faces 14. In the alternate embodiment, alignment of six cubic building blocks 24 along the top one 16 of the planar faces 14 is configured to form a hollow geometric structure defining a cube on an inner surface and a truncated octahedron on an outer surface. Additionally, alignment of five cubic building blocks 24 along the bottom one 18 of the planar faces 14 beveled at 54 degrees is configured to form a pentagonal prism.
Each of the octahedral building blocks 26 comprises truncated symmetrical dissections of an octahedron. An octahedron is commonly known in the field of geometry and comprises eight equal triangular faces. Each of the edges 22 of the octahedral building blocks 26 are beveled at 54.74 degrees. Each of the octahedral building blocks 26 is the same size. The intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 of the octahedral building blocks 26 are trapezoidal in shape. A pair of the octahedral building blocks 26 is couplable along the beveled edges 22 wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned octahedral building blocks 26 tiles the octahedral building blocks 26 together in a flat plane. Alignment of a pair of upwardly beveled edges 22 or a pair of downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned octahedral building blocks 26 configures the octahedral building blocks 26 to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an octahedron, which is an angle of 109.47 degrees. Aligmnent of four of the octahedral building blocks 26 along upward or downward beveled edges 22 forms a ring in the shape of a truncated pyramid. Alignment of eight of the octahedral building blocks 26 along upward or downward beveled edges 22 forms a three-dimensional model of a truncated octahedron.
Each of the icosahedral building blocks 28 comprises truncated symmetrical dissections of an icosahedron. An icosahedron is commonly known in the field of geometry and comprises 20 identical triangular faces. Each of the edges 22 is beveled at an angle of 69.1 degrees. Each of the icosahedral building blocks 28 is the same size. The bottom one 18 of the planar faces 14 of each of the icosahedral building blocks 28 is a truncated triangle 36. The top one 16 of the planar faces 14 of each of the icosahedral building blocks 28 is hexagonal or has the same shape as the top ones 16 of the planar faces 14 of the icosahedral building blocks 28. The intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 of the icosahedral building blocks 28 are trapezoidal in shape. A pair of the icosahedral building blocks 28 is couplable along the beveled edges 22 wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned icosahedral building blocks 28 tiles the icosahedral building blocks 28 together in a flat plane. Alignment of a pair of upwardly beveled edges 22 or a pair of downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned icosahedral building blocks 28 configures the icosahedral building blocks 28 to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an icosahedron, which is an angle of 138.19 degrees. Alignment of five icosahedral building blocks 28 along upward or downward beveled edges 22 forms a ring in the shape of a five-petaled flower. Alignment of twenty icosahedral building blocks 28 along upward or downward beveled edges 22 forms a three-dimensional model of a truncated icosahedron.
The edges 22 of the sides of the hextetra building blocks 30 are beveled upwardly at an angle of 30 degrees. The top and bottom edges 22 of the hextetra building blocks 30 are beveled under at an angle of 36 degrees. Each of the hextetra building 30 blocks is the same size. The intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 of the hextetra building blocks 30 are trapezoidal in shape. A pair of the hextetra building blocks 30 is couplable along the beveled edges 22 wherein alignment of a pair of upwardly beveled edges 22 or a pair of downwardly beveled edges 22 of adjacently positioned hextetra building blocks 30 configures the hextetra building blocks 30 to couple and fold together. Alignment of the hextetra building blocks 30 in one direction forms a pentagonal prism and alignment in the opposite directions forms a hexagonal prism. Alignment of four of the hexagonal prisms forms a truncated tetrahedron. In an alternate embodiment, each of the edges 22 of the hextetra building blocks 30 is beveled at an angle of 30 degrees and forms a hexagonal prism while positioned in either orientation, while yet another embodiment has each of the edges 22 of the hextetra building blocks 30 beveled at an angle of 36 degrees and forms a pentagonal prism while positioned in either orientation.
As is commonly known in geometry, a tetrahedron has four identical triangular faces and is shaped like a triangular pyramid. Each of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 is shaped like a rhombic hexahedron—that is, a symmetrical one-quarter dissection of a rhombic dodecahedron. Each of the planar faces 14 of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 is a rhombus 38 and has an obtuse angle of 109.47 degrees and an acute angle of 70.53 degrees. The dihedral angle between adjacent planar faces 14 of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 is 120 degrees on the top 16 and bottom 18 ones of the planar faces 14 and 60 degrees on the intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14. Four of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 are couplable along the top ones 16 of the planar faces 14 or the bottom ones 18 of the planar faces 14 wherein four adjacently positioned tetrahedral building blocks 32 define a solid rhombic dodecahedron. Each of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 is the same size.
In addition to these structures, the building blocks 12 may also comprise other Platonic and Archimedean solids and their corresponding duals from three-dimensional geometry as well as models of various crystal structures. For instance, the tetrahedral building blocks 32 may be assembled to build a three-dimensional model of tetrahedrally-bonded carbon atoms in a diamond structure. The geometric structures may also be interlinked such that the top one 16 of the planar faces 14 of one of the building blocks 12 of one geometric structure serves as the bottom one 18 of the planar faces 14 of an adjacently positioned building block 12 of a second and distinct geometric structure. The building blocks 12 may be arranged to form a repetitive matrix of interlinked strtictures.
A plurality of magnets 40 is provided. The magnets 40 are coupled to the intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14 of the cubic 24, icosahedral 28, octahedral 26, and hextetra 30 building blocks. The magnets 40 are coupled to each of the planar faces 14 of the tetrahedral building blocks 32. The magnets 40 of the tetrahedral building blocks 32 may be positioned diagonally. The magnets 40 of the cubic 24, icosahedral 28, octahedral 26, and hextetra 30 building blocks are preferably aligned horizontally on each of the intermediate ones 20 of the planar faces 14. Each of the magnets 40 may be equidistant from a center 42 of an associated one of the faces 14. Each of the magnets 40 has an associated magnetic orientation such that magnets 40 on each of the building blocks 12 are magnetically couplable to the magnets 40 on an adjacently positioned building block 12 only when the building blocks 12 are properly oriented. The magnets 40 have alternating magnetic orientations around the planar faces 14 of each of the building blocks 12. Each of the magnets 40 is preferably circular and of equal size. Each of the magnets 40 is preferably embedded into the associated one of the planar faces 14 such that each of the magnets 40 is positioned flush with the associated one of the planar faces 14. Each of the planar faces 14 preferably has two or fewer magnets 40 positioned therein. Each of the magnets 40 may be permanently magnetized.
In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, each of the building blocks 12 is aligned along the beveled edges 22 in order to create a particular geometric structure. The magnets 40 on adjacently positioned building blocks 12 must be properly oriented and coupled together for the magnets 40 to engage. In this manner, the assembly 10 is a three-dimensional puzzle allowing a user to build complex geometric structures and matrices of those structures, including chemical molecules, geometric solids, and the like.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

I claim:

1. A geometric building block assembly comprising:

a plurality of building blocks, each said building block being geometrically shaped, each said building block having a plurality of planar faces; and

a plurality of magnets, each said magnet being coupled to an associated one of said planar faces, each said magnet having an associated magnetic orientation such that magnets on each of said building blocks are magnetically couplable to said magnets on an adjacently positioned said building block only when said building blocks are properly oriented.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each said magnet being equidistant from a center of an associated one of said faces.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising said magnets having alternating magnetic orientations around said planar faces of each said building block.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each said magnet being embedded into said associated one of said planar faces such that each said magnet is positioned flush with said associated one of said planar faces.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each of said planar faces having beveled edges such that adjacent ones of said planar faces of an associated one of said building blocks are disposed at predetermined angles relative to one another, each of said edges being beveled upwardly or downwardly.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each said building block being rigid.

7. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising said building blocks comprising a plurality of cubic building blocks, each of said cubic building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of a cube, a pair of said cubic building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said cubic building blocks tiles said cubic building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said cubic building blocks configuring said cubic building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of a cube.

8. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising said building blocks comprising a plurality of octahedral building blocks, each of said octahedral building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of an octahedron, a pair of said octahedral building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said octahedral building blocks tiles said octahedral building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said octahedral building blocks configuring said octahedral building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an octahedron.

9. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising said building blocks comprising a plurality of icosahedral building blocks, each of said icosahedral building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of an icosahedron, a pair of said icosahedral building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said icosahedral building blocks tiles said icosahedral building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said icosahedral building blocks configuring said icosahedral building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an icosahedron.

10. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising said building blocks comprising a plurality of hextetra building blocks, a pair of said hextetra building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said hextetra building blocks configuring said hextetra building blocks to couple and fold together.

11. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising said building blocks comprising a plurality of tetrahedral building blocks, each said planar face of said tetrahedral building blocks being a rhombus, four of said tetrahedral building blocks being couplable along said top ones of said planar faces or said bottom ones of said planar faces wherein four adjacently positioned said tetrahedral building blocks define a solid rhombic dodecahedron.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

each of said building blocks having a top one of said planar faces opposite a bottom one of said planar faces and a plurality of intermediate ones of said planar faces positioned between said top and bottom ones of said planar faces;

said magnets being coupled to said intermediate ones of said planar faces of a cubic one of said building blocks, an icosahedral one of said building blocks, an octahedral one of said building blocks, and a hextetra one of said building blocks; and

wherein said magnets of said cubic, icosahedral, octahedral, and hextetra building blocks are horizontally aligned on each of said intermediate ones of said planar faces.

13. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising said magnets being coupled to each of said planar faces of said tetrahedral building blocks, said magnets of said tetrahedral building blocks being positioned diagonally.

14. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said cubic building blocks being truncated isosceles triangles.

15. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said octahedral building blocks being trapezoidal.

16. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising said bottom one of said planar faces of each of said icosahedral building blocks being a truncated triangle, said top one of said planar faces of each of said icosahedral building blocks being hexagonal or having the same shape as said top ones of said planar faces of said icosahedral building blocks, said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said icosahedral building blocks being trapezoidal.

17. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said hextetra building blocks being trapezoidal.

18. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each said magnet being the same size.

19. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each said magnet being permanently magnetized.

20. A geometric building block assembly comprising:

a plurality of building blocks, each said building block being geometrically shaped, each said building block being rigid, each said building block having a plurality of planar faces, each of said building blocks having a top one of said planar faces opposite a bottom one of said planar faces and a plurality of intermediate ones of said planar faces positioned between said top and bottom ones of said planar faces, each of said planar faces having beveled edges such that adjacent ones of said planar faces of an associated one of said building blocks are disposed at predetermined angles relative to one another, each of said edges being beveled upwardly or downwardly, wherein said building blocks comprise

a plurality of cubic building blocks, each of said cubic building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of a cube, a pair of said cubic building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said cubic building blocks tiles said cubic building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said cubic building blocks configuring said cubic building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of a cube, each of said cubic building blocks being the same size, said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said cubic building blocks being truncated isosceles triangles,

a plurality of octahedral building blocks, each of said octahedral building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of an octahedron, a pair of said octahedral building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said octahedral building blocks tiles said octahedral building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said octahedral building blocks configuring said octahedral building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an octahedron, each of said octahedral building blocks being the same size, said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said octahedral building blocks being trapezoidal,

a plurality of icosahedral building blocks, each of said icosahedral building blocks being truncated symmetrical dissections of an icosahedron, a pair of said icosahedral building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of upwardly and downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said icosahedral building blocks tiles said icosahedral building blocks together in a flat plane, alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said icosahedral building blocks configuring said icosahedral building blocks to couple and fold together at a dihedral angle present between adjacent sides of an icosahedron, each said icosahedral building block being the same size, said bottom one of said planar faces of each of said icosahedral building blocks being a truncated triangle, said top one of said planar faces of each of said icosahedral building blocks being hexagonal or having the same shape as said top ones of said planar faces of said icosahedral building blocks, said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said icosahedral building blocks being trapezoidal,

a plurality of hextetra building blocks, a pair of said hextetra building blocks being couplable along said beveled edges wherein alignment of a pair of upwardly said beveled edges or a pair of downwardly said beveled edges of adjacently positioned said hextetra building blocks configuring said hextetra building blocks to couple and fold together, each said hextetra building block being the same size, said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said hextetra building blocks being trapezoidal, and

a plurality of tetrahedral building blocks, each said planar face of said tetrahedral building blocks being a rhombus, four of said tetrahedral building blocks being couplable along said top ones of said planar faces or said bottom ones of said planar faces wherein four adjacently positioned said tetrahedral building blocks define a solid rhombic dodecahedron, each of said tetrahedral building blocks being the same size; and

a plurality of magnets, said magnets being coupled to said intermediate ones of said planar faces of said cubic, icosahedral, octahedral, and hextetra building blocks, said magnets being coupled to each of said planar faces of said tetrahedral building blocks, said magnets of said tetrahedral building blocks being positioned diagonally, said magnets of said cubic, icosahedral, octahedral, and hextetra building blocks being horizontally aligned on each of said intermediate ones of said planar faces, each said magnet being equidistant from a center of an associated one of said faces, each said magnet having an associated magnetic orientation such that magnets on each of said building blocks are magnetically couplable to said magnets on an adjacently positioned said building block only when said building blocks are properly oriented, said magnets having alternating magnetic orientations around said planar faces of each said building block, each said magnet being circular, each said magnet being the same size, each said magnet being embedded into an said associated one of said planar faces such that each said magnet is positioned flush with said associated one of said planar faces, each said planar face having two or fewer magnets positioned therein, each said magnet being permanently magnetized.