WO2005118093A1

WO2005118093A1 - Puzzle block capable of maintaining its shape

Info

Publication number: WO2005118093A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/001589
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong Rae Choi
Original assignee: CLARION PARTNERS Co Ltd
Current assignee: CLARION PARTNERS Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-02
Filing date: 2005-05-28
Publication date: 2005-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-02
Also published as: KR200360263Y1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a puzzle block comprising a block body having at least two cubical unit blocks each provided with a retaining recess formed at the inside thereof, the unit blocks each having at least one edge connected rotatably to an edge of the unit block adjacent thereto to realize a variety of overall assembling shapes; and a magnetic means movably mounted in each of the retaining recesses of the unit blocks.

Description

Description PUZZLE BLOCK CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING ITS SHAPE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a puzzle block, and more particularly, to a puzzle block that is provided with means for firmly maintaining the overall assembling shape formed by the interconnection of unit blocks. Background Art

[2] As well known, puzzle blocks are useful in raising the intellectual power of adults as well as children and also widely used for games, advertisements, and so on. The puzzle blocks are divided into three types, namely, plane blocks in which plane blocks are connected two-dimensionally to form a given image, building blocks in which separate blocks are built or connected to form a given shape or image, and solid puzzle blocks in which unit blocks connected to one another are assembled three-di- mensionally to form a given shape or image.

[3] The plane blocks or the building blocks are configured in a relatively simple assembling manner, so that when a user uses it repeatedly, he or she may be bored with it. In most cases, further, the block pieces may be lost or damaged, which of course makes the whole puzzle block further useless.

[4] An example of the solid puzzle blocks is a picture puzzle, which is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,422,560. The picture puzzle has an overall cubical-like block assembly in which unit blocks are rotated vertically/horizontally to form a given pictorial image. Such a picture puzzle has an advantage in the formation of the image, but since the whole shape is restricted to the cubical-like shape, a user may be easily bored with it.

[5] Meanwhile, the puzzle block that is capable of realizing a variety of block assembling shapes and images is a rotary block puzzle, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein a block body 10 includes unit blocks 10a to lOh and the edges of the unit blocks 10a to lOh rotatably connected to one another. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the unit blocks 10a and lOh are rotated about the connection edges 11 and 12 serving as axes, and similarly, the unit blocks lOd and lOe are rotated, thus implementing an overall cubical-like block assembly, as shown in FIG. 3. At this time, the rotating manipulation is conducted in such a manner as to implement a given image formed on the surfaces of the block body 10.

[6] However, the unit blocks 10a through lOh of the conventional puzzle block are connected to one another in such a manner as to be rotated with respect to one another, and therefore, the block assembly formed by the connection of the unit blocks may be easily separated when it is under the application of self load or an external force. That is, in a state of the cubical shape as shown in FIG. 3, if the unit blocks 10a and lOh are not supported anymore by a user's fingers, the cubical shape is separated to go the step before the assembling back as shown in FIG. 2. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present inventor has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle block that is provided with means for preventing the assembling shape of unit blocks from being separated due to the application of self load and external force. Technical Solution

[8] To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a puzzle block comprising a block body having at least two cubical unit blocks each provided with a retaining recess formed at the inside thereof, the unit blocks each having at least one edge connected rotatably to an edge of the unit block adjacent thereto to realize a variety of overall assembling shapes; and a magnetic means movably mounted in each of the retaining recesses of the unit blocks. Brief Description of the Drawings

[9] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[10] FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views showing an example where a conventional puzzle block is assembled by steps;

[11] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a puzzle block according to the present invention; and

[12] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a block body of FIG. 4 forms a cubical shape. Mode for the Invention

[13] To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a puzzle block comprising a block body having at least two cubical unit blocks each provided with a retaining recess formed at the inside thereof, the unit blocks each having at least one edge connected rotatably to an edge of the unit block adjacent thereto to realize a variety of overall assembling shapes; and a magnetic means movably mounted in each of the retaining recesses of the unit blocks.

[14] Preferably, the magnet is mounted in each unit block.

[15] Preferably, the magnet is formed in a disc-like shape, in view of its mobility or inversion in each of the retaining recesses.

[16] Preferably, an image segment is formed on the surface of each unit block so as to obtain a given image on at least one side of the block body when the unit blocks are assembled.

[17] Now, an explanation on the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to attached drawings.

[18] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a puzzle block according to the present invention.

[19] Referring to FIG. 4, according to the present invention, a puzzle block includes a block body 100 as an assembling body of a plurality of unit blocks 100a to lOOh and a magnetic member 105 mounted in one internal side of each of the unit blocks 100a to lOOh.

[20] The block body 100 has at least two unit blocks 100a to lOOh connected to one another. In this case, each unit block is of a cubical block having six sides and twelve edges. Preferably, an image segment is formed in a printing manner or in a film attaching manner on the six sides of each unit block 100a to lOOh so as to form a given image on at least one side of the block body 100 when the unit blocks are assembled.

[21] Each of the unit blocks 100a to lOOh has a given retaining recess formed in one internal side thereof and has an edge connected rotatably to the edge of the unit block adjacent thereto, thus realizing an overall assembling shape. Under the above connection structure, the block body 100 forms a variety of assembling shapes by the rotating manipulation of contacting the specific unit block with another unit blocks.

[22] Each magnetic member 105 is movably mounted in the internal retaining recess of each unit block 100a to lOOh such that an attractive force acts between the adjacent unit blocks. The magnetic members 105 are rearranged to attract each other, thus placing the walls of the unit blocks 100a to lOOh adjacent to each other between them, according to the assembling shape of the block body 100, with a result of allowing the adjacent unit blocks to be attracted to each other.

[23] The magnetic member 105 has such a size as to freely invert its both faces corresponding to poles N and S in the internal retaining recess, and it is preferably formed in a disc shape such that the friction against the inner walls of the unit blocks and the noise occurring at that time are considerably reduced upon inversion. The magnetic member 105 is preferably mounted in each of the unit blocks 100a to lOOh constituting the block body 100, but it may be mounted in only specific unit blocks.

[24] Now, an explanation on the operation of the puzzle block according to the present invention is given.

[25] In a state where an initial shape of the block body 100 is formed as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the unit blocks 100a and lOOh are rotated downwardly with respect to the corresponding connection edges 101 and 104 so as to realize the image formed on the surfaces of the block body 100, and further, the unit blocks lOOd and lOOe are rotated downwardly with respect to the corresponding connection edges 102 and 103. As a result, the block body 100 forms the cubical-like shape as shown in FIG. 5.

[26] In the state where the block body 100 has formed the above shape, next, the block body 100 is slightly shaken in such a manner as to allow the magnetic members 105 mounted in the unit blocks 100a to lOOh to be adjacent to each other for connection. At this time, the adjacent magnets 105 are rearranged to attract each another, thus placing the walls of the corresponding unit blocks 100a to lOOh adjacent to each other between them, such that the adjacent unit blocks are secured to each other.

[27] The puzzle block according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as operated under the above-mentioned principles, can rearrange the magnets 105 in the unit blocks 100a to lOOh to provide an attractive force to the adjacent unit blocks according to the various manipulations for the formation the image on the surfaces of the block body 100, whereby the overall assembling shapes of the block body 100 can be firmly maintained. Industrial Applicability

[28] As set forth in the foregoing, according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the puzzle block is capable of combining image segments formed on the unit blocks to implement a given puzzle image, forming a variety of shapes of the block body, which gives some advantages of developing brainpower and of making a user excited. More particularly, the puzzle block of the present invention is capable of maintaining the overall assembling shape of the block body in a rigid manner, without any separation.

[29]

[30] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

[ 1 ] A puzzle block comprising : a block body having at least two cubical unit blocks each provided with a retaining recess formed at the inside thereof, the unit blocks each having at least one edge connected rotatably to an edge of the unit block adjacent thereto to realize a variety of overall assembling shapes; and a magnetic means movably mounted in each of the retaining recesses of the unit blocks. [2] A puzzle block according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic means is mounted in each unit block. [3] A puzzle block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic means is formed in a disc-like shape. [4] A puzzle block according to claim 1, wherein an image segment is formed on the surface of each unit block so as to obtain a given image on at least one side of the block body when the unit blocks are assembled.