US3258268A

US3258268A - Die structure

Info

Publication number: US3258268A
Application number: US408977A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard R Treinis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-11-04
Filing date: 1964-11-04
Publication date: 1966-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-28

Description

June 28, 1966 L. R. TREINlS DIE STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 4:, 1964 BY WM 6M1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,258,268 DIE STRUCTURE Leonard R. Treinis, 1 Damson Lane, Valley Stream, N.Y. Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 408,977 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-146) This invention relates to a die structure, and particularly to a casting die structure, such as is commonly used in conjunction with childrens games and games of chance.

More particularly, this invention relates to an inexpensive die structure which may be frabricated by the user.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a die structure comprising a cardboard blank, foldable to the configuration of a cube, and a weighted filler member therefor, the structure having the advantage of being supplied in the form of a blank together with an auxiliary weight member, the same being assembled as desired by folding the blank to the form of a cube and inserting the weighted portion before final assembly.

This invention further relates to a light Weight, readily fabricable die for rolling, having a novel structure which enables the die to tumble in the manner of a conventional solid die, notwithstanding the weight of the completed die structure is considerably less than that of a conventional die.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a die, readily assembled from inexpensive materials, which will roll and exhibit the characteristics typically associated with usual solid die structures.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a cardboard blank capable of being folded to the configuration of a cube;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled die structure;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a completed die structure in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a magnified cross section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention as shown in FIG- URE 1, a blank 10 of paper, cardboard or the like, is foldable to the configuration of a cube. The blank includes a central square side D having common marginal edges with the square sides I, U, E and R. Optionally but preferably,

side web portions

11, 12, 13 and 14 are disposed between the marginal edges, respectively, of the sides U-E, E-R, R-J and J-U. Additionally, outwardly disposed marginal edges 16 and 17 of the sides U, R, respectively, are provided with interlocking

flap members

18, 19, respectively, including locking

notches

20, 21, respectively. To the outer marginal end 22 of the side E, there is disposed the sixth cube side S, the side S including at its outer marginal edge 23, a locking flap 24.

The

Web member

11, 12, 13, 14 are optionally but preferably provided with central score lines 30, extending radially outwardly from the junction of the cube sides to which the webs are attached, the score lines 30 bisecting the webs.

In addition, the marginal demarcation between each of the sides and flaps is preferably similarly formed with a score line to facilitate accurate folding of the side portions, flaps, etc.

It will be readily understood that certain of the score lines will be formed on one side of the blank sheet or the other, depending upon the desired direction of folding, the score line of course being formed on the side away from the direction of fold.

The blank is folded to the partially formed condition shown in FIGURE 2 by first folding the webs 11, 12 along the diagonal score lines 30 in an inward direction so that the webs lie entirely within the formed cube. Next the faces U and R are bent perpendicular to the face D, and thereafter the

notches

20, 21 of

locking flaps

18, 19, respectively, are interlocked.

The foregoing operations have resulted in the formation of a partially completed box, shown in FIGURE 2. At this point, a 'weighted member 31, preferably in the form of a sphere, is inserted in the partially formed cube structure. It is an important feature of the present invention that the diameter of the spherical insert 31 exceed by at least a small amount the dimension of the sides of the cube.

From the foregoing described relationship, it will be appreciated that the insertion of the spherical weighted member 31, which may comprise a marble, for instance, will serve outwardly to bow the surrounding wall portions of the cube. The oversize nature of the insert will maintain this member against shifting movement within the cube, which stablizing influence will be augmented by the contact of the spherical member 31 with the inwardly folded webs 11, 12.

The assembly is completed by subsequently folding the

webs

14, 13 inwardly along

score lines

30, 30, thereby to bring side I of the cube into its appropriate perpendicular position with respect to sides U and R of the cube. Thereafter, closure flap 24 may be inserted into the space defined between the inner face of side I of the cube and the inwardly folded

flaps

13 and 14. When the flap 34 is inserted in the manner aforesaid, the slightly oversized spherical member 31 causes a bowing of the side I and the flap 24, due to the outward pressure against these parts, said outward pressure serving to maintain a bowed frictional engagement of the flap and the face I, thereby markedly reducing the tendency of the flap to spring open when the die is being used.

Preferably the weight of the spherical insert 31 is greater by a ratio of at least about 3:1 than the weight of the cardboard structure in 'which it is enclosed.

A further important feature of the invention lies in the outwardly bowed conformation assumed by the sides of the die when the oversize spherical weight 31 is disposed therein.

In die casting games, a considerable portion of the attractiveness of the playing of the game is occasioned by the suspense which results from a relatively prolonged tumbling of the die after it is cast. While such tumbling may be readily achieved with a heavy, solid die structure notwithstanding a perfect cubed formation thereof, I have discoved that the relatively light construction which results from the formation of a paper cube will not tumble in a desired manner, even when the same is charged with a weight, such as a marble, unless the mass of said weight is considerable. I have discovered that notwithstanding the lightness of construction, a generally cubeshaped die formed of a paper or cardboard blank and charged with a relatively light spherical mass, may be made to tumble in the manner of a typical die structure if the diameter of the spherical member exceeds the length of the sides of the cube faces. As will be perceived from the drawings, the cube charged with the oversized sphere deforms the side walls from the normal, fiat condition thereof, and I have discovered that this slight rounding of the side walls imparts the desired tumbling action.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the provision of the oversized spherical insert functions (a) to prevent any rattling or relative movement of the insert with respect to the completed die; (b) by the outward pressure exerted by the spherical member, securely to lock the closing and locking flaps against accidental displacement; and (c) to deform the side walls of the die to augment its tumbling properties, as previously specified.

The invention is not to be taken as limited to the specific form illustrated, but rather, should be interpreted broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A die structure for a childs game or the like comprising a light weight blank member folded to the form of a cube, a flap closure tucked into said structure and lying in a position inwardly to lap one face of said cube, web portions connecting said side of said cube with adjacent sides of said cube, said web portions inwardly lapping said flap, and a spherical member disposed within said cube, the diameter of said spherical member exceeding the length of each side of said cube, whereby the sides of said cube structure containing said member are outwardly bowed and said flap member is pressed outwardly toward the inner surface of said face by a tangent portion of said spherical member.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web portions include fold edges in common with adjacent side portions of the sides of said cube, said web portions, in the folded condition of said cube, being disposed within said cube in engagement with said spherical member, said engagement augmenting the anchored relationsliip of said spherical member within said cube.

3. A readily tumbled die structure for a childs game or the like, comprising a cardboard member folded to define a hollow cube, a spherical member disposed within said cube, the diameter of said spherical member exceeding the length of each side of said cube whereby a central portion of the inner edge of each side of said cube engages a tangent of said spherical member and is thereby outwardly bowed, to facilitate tumbling, and means releasably holding said cube in folded condition.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the weight of said spherical member is at least three times the weight of the cardboard components of said die.

5. A readily tumbled die structure for use as a childs toy or the like comprising a cardboard blank folded to define a cube, indicia on the outer faces of the sides of said cube and a weighted member disposed within said cube, said weighted member being of a size to engage against central portions of each of said sides and outwardly how each of the sides of said cube from a normally flat configuration to a curved configuration, thereby to facilitate rolling of said cube structure, and means holding said cube in a folded condition.

6. A die in accordance with claim 5 wherein the blank forming said cube is secured together exclusively by friction and interlocking portions on said die, and said means includes a flap member inwardly lapping a side of said cube, and said flap member is maintained in said lapped position by the outward bowing force exerted by said weight member against said flap member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,901 9/ 1927 Srofe 46-24 2,262,749 11/ 1941 Berwald 20646 2,3 15,164 3/1943 Schiller 46-11 X FOREIGN PATENTS 958,545 9/ 1949 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

5. A READILY TUMBLED DIE STRUCTURE FOR USE AS A CHILD''S TOY OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A CARDBOARD BLANK FOLDED TO DEFINE A CUBE, INDICIA ON THE OUTER FACES OF THE SIDES OF SAID CUBE AND WEIGHTED MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CUBE, SAID WEIGHTED MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID AGAINST CENTRAL PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID SIDES AND OUTWARDLY BOW EACH OF THE SIDES OF SAID CUBE FROM A NORMALLY FLAT CONFIGURATION TO A CURVED CONFIGURATION, THEREBY TO FACILITATE ROLLING OF SAID CUBE STRUCTURE, AND MEANS HOLDING SAID CUBE IN A FOLDED CONDITION.