US3442044A - Construction set with modular elements - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1969 A. QUERCETTI CONSTRUCTION SET WITH MODULAR ELEMENTS Sheet Filed Oct. 12, 1965 INVENTOR 41 Essa/wee Quaear 77/ ATTORNEYS.

A. QUERCETTI CONSTRUCTION SET WITH MODULAR ELEMENTS May 6, 1969 Sheet 2 of 2 Filed 001;. 12, 1965 INVENTOR BY r WM ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. CI. 46-16 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mosaic construction toy comprising elements including square unit elements of a unit modular length (a), having four connection pins protruding from a face, uniformly spaced and centered on the face, and the diameter (d) of said pins is equal to the distance (e) between diametrically opposite pins in each group, and has the value d=a /2/6, for allowing correct connection -by insertion of the pins of an element between the similar pins of another element. Elements of multiple unit size are also provided, some of which have mutually interlocking edges. Sockets may be provided on faces opposite the pins to mate with the pin groups.

There are known, in many forms of embodiment, systems of mutually interfitting elements for producing essentially flat pictures (mosaics) or three-dimensional structures (construction sets). In particular, the systems of the mosaic type comprise elements provided with one or more tangs that can be forced into as many apertures in a base plate; the systems of the construction type comprise elements provided with reliefs that can be forced into recesses or among other reliefs of the elements to be connected.

An inconvenience common to all these systems is that the correct mutual forcing of the reliefs or tangs that connect together the various elements depends essentially on the dimensions of the finished pieces, and is, therefore, strongly influenced both by the accuracy of the machining of the production moulds and by the shrinkage of the synthetic materials generally employed in the manufacture of the elements. It is found in practice that, while some elements are joined through a hard and ditficult forcing, others are joined only in a labile manner; furthermore, a minimum of wear consequent to the use makes soon labile all the connections.

The use of soft materials makes technically easier the manufacture of the connecting members, but with soft material elements the resulting construction is not very satisfactory.

This invention proposes elements capable of ensuring satisfactory results using relatively rigid construction elements; this is achieved by shaping the connection members and arranging them on the element in such a way that the reduced, yet' non-existent elastic deformability of these materials is exploited in the best possible manner for the technical purpose of the manufacture of stable and, at the same time, easily made and unmade connections.

According to the invention, the connections perpendicular to the plane of the elements are ensured through the insertion of groups of four regularly spaced pins within a cavity, so that the exact degree of the forcing can essen tially be guaranteed by the flexibility of the pins, although with the employment of relatively rigid material.

A particular dimensioning of these pins enables the connection of the elements also through the insertion of said pins between the similar pins of another element, the

possibility of elastic deflection that guarantees the correct forcing of the connection being preserved thanks to the particular arrangement of the pins.

The unit modular element is in the shape of a square which has its side equal in length to the unit modular length, and, in its normal form, presents also a total thickness equal to that unit length, so that it proves inscribable in a cube having the side equal to unit length; such unit modular elements are grouped side by side in appropriately arranged pluralities to form the actual elements of the system.

In particular, one of said arrangements provides the obtainment of fretwork contours which, besides the aforesaid connections, make possible the connection through coupling of the fretwork edges of adjoining elements.

Lastly, there are provided mosaic elements, i.e., finish elements, applicable to the exposed surfaces of the structures obtained with the construction elements.

The invention is further clarified in the following, with reference to the attached drawings which, by way of nonrestrictive examples, illustrates some mosaic and construction elements according to the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows, in vertical section axial sections, invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show unit lar purposes;

FIG. 4 shows the coupling between complemental connection members of three elements, in section on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows how the elements may be connected through the insertion of homologous connection members;

FIG. 6 shows, in side elevational view, a construction element consisting of the combination of a certain number of unit elements according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows the connection between edges of fretwork-shaped elements;

FIG. 8 shows four types of plate structural elements, interconnected through the edges;

FIG. 9 shows a fifth plate type structural element, seen from the surface opposite to the one corresponding to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows the corner connection of plate type elements according to FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 shows some basic shapes of the structural or mosaic elements comprised in the system;

FIG. 12 shows mosaic elements having dimensions that are submultiples of the unit modular length, and which may be used in the system according to the invention;

FIG. 13 shows the mosaic ornamentation of a structure comprising corners according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 shows special mosaic elements for the ornamentation of such corner surfaces;

FIG. 15 shows a variant of the element of FIG. 1.

The unit modular element of the system according to the invention has, in plan view, the shape of a square (FIG. 1) and the side a of the square represents the unit modular length of the system. According to a form of embodiment (reproduced in 1:1 scale in FIGS. 7-9 and 11-14) said unit modular length may be 6 mm., but it should be understood that this is merely an example, and does not limit the choice of the unit modular length within the scope of the invention.

The unit element consists of a body 1 exhibiting on its face, which we will assume to be the upper one, a cylindrical cavity 2 with diameter D and depth b. From the opposite lower face of the body 1 projects a plurality of pins 3 (preferably 4 in number) centered on said face and regularly spaced, having the diameter d and a length that may, e.g., correspond to the depth b of the cavity 2. Be-

and] in the two opposite a unit modular element, according to the elements modified for particutween these pins 3 and the body 1 can advantageously be provided a bossage 4 with diameter D' which serves malnly constructive and strengthening purposes. Alternatively, each pin 3 may present at the base an individual bossage 24 (FIG. 15)

Likewise the cavity 2 may have a shape other than cylindrical, provided it is functionally equivalent.

The pins 3 are arranged so that, if two elements are fitted into each other as shown in FIG. 1, the pins 3 of one element penetrate into the cavity 2 of the other element, slightly forcing against its wall: since the inside space between the pins 3 remains free, these may slightly deflect elastically, assuring a correct connection in the presence of a reasonable accuracy of the dimensions of the pieces. To the end that this connection may take place in the required manner, it is necessary that, between the diameter D of the cavity 2, the diameter d of the pins 3 and the distance between diametrally opposite pins, the relation:

D=2d+e should be observed.

Furthermore, if, with a regular arrangement of four pins, one chooses l=e, then it is possible to connect between them 2 elements, with their pins face to face, by inserting one of the pins of an element into the free cavity between the four pins of the other element. In this case too, most of the pins are not surrounded on four sides by pins of the other element: therefore they preserve a possibility of elastic deflection which ensures the correct forcing of the connection. There is thus the possibility of four different mutual positions of connection between two elements. Lastly, if also the condition:

is observed, and if use is made of elements 6 ideally formed by the approach of a plurality of unit elements according to FIG. 1, then the connection according to FIG. 5 may be made, in which a pair of pins of an element is inserted in an intermediate position between two pairs of pins of the other element, perpendicular to the first pair. This guarantees two more possible mutual connection positions, referred to the unit elements. Moreover, there is a further connection position possible, in which the four pins of a single element are inserted between, and in contact with, four pins of a multiple element, belonging to four different adjoining unit elements that make up such multiple element: in other words, a unit element is correctly inserted into the center of the square defined by the four unit elements united into one multiple element, on which it is superposed. These two forms of connection are clarified by FIG. 5. In the light of the foregoing, we conclude by saying that the connection between superposed elements with the respective pins face to face may take place in all the positions that differ by distances, according to the main axes of the elements, equal to whole multiples of /3 of the unit modular length a. Especially in the case of mosaics, this possibility of small displacements enables the obtainment of very detailed pictures also in the presence of a module having relatively large dimensions, and therefore of generally handy elements.

Of course, in practice most of the elements of the system are multiple, i.e., ideally consisting of a plurality of unit elements according to FIG. 1, assembled side by side according to one or two dimensions (FIG. 6).

The unit elements of FIG. 1, provided with a cavity 2 are essentially structural in character: the elements destined to be used on surfaces, especially for the finish or ornamentation of a surface, will instead be without a cavity 2 inside their body 1, which will be massive. The surface seen may be smooth, granulated, embossed or otherwise treated, and have an appropriate colour or group of colours, so as to imitate, e.g., brick, various building stones, plaster work or other materials such as fabrics, leather, wood etc.: the system will preferably comprise different types of mosaic elements, which enable the obtainment of the desired pictures or ornamentations.

It is evident that elements dimensioned according to FIG. 1, used as mosaic, protrude from the supporting structural surface by a height 42-11: in certain cases it may be opportune to preserve the modularity of the construction by causing the protrusion of the mosaic to be of a unit modular length a. In this case the relative elements will be dimensioned according to FIG. 3, i.e., the pins 3 will have a length equal to 2b: the inactive radical half of these pins may possibly be combined with the bossage 4 to form a pedestal. On the other hand, one may, instead, decide to choose the thickness of the mosaic as a half unit modular length (a/2): in this case the applicable dimensioning will be the one of FIG. 2. What has been modified here is the bossage 4, whose thickness has been reduced to the constructionally permissible minimum, and this thickness has been included in the height, equal to a half unit modular length, of the body 1 of the element.

Of course, the elements described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, besides being used for decoration, may be employed for structural purposes, in which case, while retaining the above described dimensioning, they will be provided, in the body 1 with the normal connection cavity 2.

In order to afford the possibility of connection of elements along the edges, some elements, generally in the shape of plates 7, 8, will have a fretwork type contour (FIG. 7) with onemodule pitch. The connection along the edges takes place by the insertion, from the relief portions of the fretwork of an element, into the corresponding recesses of the fretwork of the adjoining element, as known per se. Furthermore, the total thickness of the elements, including the connection means, being equal to one unit length, the connection along the fretwork edges may be ensured, besides on the plane, also according to a right corner (FIG. 10) without the connecting members interfering, because a unit element (inscribable in a cube) occupies exactly one cavity of the fretwork: by an appropriate arrangement of the elements, it is possible to obtain a rectilinear and continuous corner.

The various types of plates 11 to 15 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 make possible the obtainment of continuous and regular surfaces, in any fiat or three-dimensional structure of the contour fretworks may be filled by unit modular elements forced into the recesses.

As already stated, the actual elements of the construction or of the mosaic will mostly consist of combinations of appropriately assembled unit modular elements.

FIG. 11 shows some basic types of elements obtained in this manner, it being, however, understood that an infinite number of other combinations is obtainable. Part of the modular elements may be incomplete, as in the case of the elements illustrated in FIG. 11 and comprising arched or inclined boundary surfaces.

It has also been explained that, by inserting pins against pins, the pitch of the obtainable displacements is equal to one third of the unit length. There will accordingly be provided mosaic elements where one dimension, or both dimensions, are equal to /3 or /3 of a unit length respectively (see FIG. 12).

It has been indicated that a characteristic of the modular system according to the invention consists in that the structural constructions obtained may be covered with a finish or decorative mosaic. However, in the covering of corners obtained according to FIG. 10, with modular mosaic elements, there would result a discontinuity in the corner. To obviate this inconvenience there have been provided as shown in FIG. 13, mosaic elements 20 whose length is equal to a whole number of unit lengths plus a half unit length (equal to the relief of the mosaic on the supporting surface when the mosaic elements are dimensioned according to FIG. 2). It is thus possible to obtain perfectly covered corners.

The elements having this special dimensioning are illustrated in FIG. 14 along with some modular elements but with fewer connecting pins, in order to permit their regular superposition on those portions of a corner which, comprised by a plate which ends in a free edge, are without the cavity 2.

The mosaic elements may obviously be completed by figurative elements, i.e. by elements reproducing on their exposed face figures such as letters, numbers, signs or images of objects like windows, doors etc.; or they may reproduce materially the form of such figures or signs.

It should be noted that the system according to the invention may be embodied essentially in three forms: as a plain mosaic, i.e., comprising base plates which are possibly composable and mosaic elements; as a plain construction, i.e., comprising all the structural construction elements to the exclusion of mosaic type decorative elements; or as a construction-mosaic, i.e., comprising the structural elements for a construction and the mosaic elements for its decoration: these various forms being always capable of being completed for attaining the third and more comprehensive form.

Lastly, it may be observed that a mosaic obtained with elements according to the invention may also be Without the supporting plate or be bifrontal, i.e., the mosaic elements of a face may be directly fitted, pins against pins, into the elements that make up the mosaic of the other face, thereby supporting each other.

In the mosaic form, the system according to the invention may be used for games or artistic or didactic purposes, or even for commercial or industrial purposes, in drawing up tables and graphs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a modular system for mosaics, construction sets and the like, a plurality of modular elements including a unit modular element comprising a body having in plan view the shape of a square, the length of a side of said square being the unit modular length (a) of the modular system, and four connection pins solid with and protruding from one face of said body, said connection pins being uniformly spaced about a circle centered on the unit element face and having a diameter (d), the distance (e) between diametrally opposite pins being equal to the diameter of said pins (e=d), and said diameter (d) of the pins having with reference to said unit length (a) the value d=a 6; whereby the pins of a first modular element can be engaged between the pins of a second similar modular element for connecting said elements.

2. In a modular system as set forth in claim 1, said unit modular element further comprising a cylindrical cavity in said body, said cavity opening at the face of said body opposite to said connection pins and having a diameter (D) equal to three times the diameter (d) of the pins (D=3d), whereby the pins of a first modular element can be engaged in the cylindrical cavity of a second similar modular element for connecting said elements.

3. In a modular system as set forth in claim 1, some of said modular elements having the size and shape of a plurality of said unit modular elements solidly connected side by side along at least one of the main axes of said last mentioned elements.

4. In a modular system as set forth in claim .1, said modular elements having on said body, opposite to said connection pins, a decorative face destined to be seen.

5. In a modular system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the total thickness of the unit modular element, including the body and the connection pins, is equal to the unit modular length.

6. In a modular system as set forth in claim 1, some of said modular elements having in plan view at least a side equal to an odd multiple of a half unit modular length.

7. In a modular system as set forth in claim 1, some of said modular elements having the size and shape of at least one complete unit modular element solidly connected in side-by-side relationship with at least one portion of a unit modular element, said portion excluding said connection pins.

FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1960 Australia. 9/ 1951 France. 12/ 1959 France.

5/ 1964 Germany. 9/1953 France.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 46-25

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