US1568252A - Building blocks for toy structures - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,252

0. H. $TRUB surname BLOCKS FOR TOY swnucruxss Filed August 10, 1925 guts-shed 1 1 0rraH.5TRUB mvcN'roR LA (0mg 8 N LAH Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,252

0. H. STRUB BUILDING BLOCKS FOR TOY STRUCTURES Filed August '10, 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 v Q x? Q Q ol -tw Q IIIIIIIITIIIIIII M Orro H. STRUB IMVEN'I v Mina-nay.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 5 o. H. STRUB v BUILDING BLOCKS FOR TOY STRUCTURES Filed August 10, 1923 N m IQI |-I N H1 W L Jan, 5, 1926.

INyENTOR.

3 E 3 E E s ATTY.

Patented Jan. 5, 1926 OTTO H. STBUROI' BUDOLSTADT, GERMAN Y,

asslenon. re: THE 11 3M R. RICHTER & CIE. A. G., BAUKASTENFAIBBIK, 0F RUDOLSTALDT, THURINGIA, GERMANY,

BUILDINGTBLOCKS' FOR TOY" STRUCTURES;

Application-'- flled August- 10, 1M3.-- Serialle. 656,719.

To all whom it mayooncem:

Be it known that I, O'rroH. S'rnnB', citizen. of Switzerland, residing at: Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Building Blocks for Toy Structures; and I do hereby; declare the following to be a.full,clean, and exact description. of. the invention, such will enableothers skilled in the art to which. it appertains to make andiusethe'same.

The present invention refers-tosegmentnl. stones for model building which can; be. equally well applied to several entirely different spheres of usefulness and which permit of the execution of. a large number of form variations in each. of these'spheres.

The segmental stones. are in the first place. adapted for building circular wallsin such av manner, that any desired; number or parts of acircle can be. chosen, each such. part affording a rightsangled connection with the normal wall. The circular wall can. hereby be executed in either concave or. convex form.

The same segmental stones can also be used forerectingconcave or convex roofsor gable profiles, in which case the form stones always engage at right angles. with the roof ramie or construction or in the case of gas bleswith the. wall. A. large number of simple and combined forms can be evolved.

A fourth sphere of usefulness is found, when the concave segmental stones within-a. semicircle; or a partof. a semicircle project one below the other,.the stones beingin this case erected in a vertical plane;.in this manner a selfbearing cupola or dome isformed, the internal, concave layer ofstones support-- ing'the outer, convex layer without; any further frame-work or constructive means.

In the case of circular walls, the new elementof the present invention is the arrange ment that all side joints of the freestonesare parallel to the sides of a square tangent to the circumference of the wall circle and not, as is usually the case, radial or in thick walls, parallel 'to the circumference. Instead of a square tangent to the circumference any square may be chosen, of which the centre corresponds with the centre of the circle.

The result of this arrangement. is that all side joints within the section of the; wall meet at right-angles, from which results a furthel new elementof the present invention, namely, that; thesegmental stonesin: conseq uence of their right-angled delimitation can be used for erecting roofs, gables andi domes.

If'the segmental stones lying in a horizorh tal. plane-are-usedfor a-n'erectiom in a vertical: plane, side j oints' will in: part be: converted into bearing joints andgformer bearing joints into side" j oints. The new element in the=.inventionv consists however in, the peculiar formation of' those joints, which areparallel to the sides of a square, that is, which form parts of thechords of a circle. Since these joints may, according to the sphererof usefulness, be eitherside joints. or hearing joints, they. will. in the following begenerallyv referred to as internal joints.

A. further new element is contained in the fact'that all internal joints are distant from each other in. theratioof 1:213: 1, i. e.; in multiples of a certain unit; this unit corresponds with the fundamental unit of the normal stones in cooperation. with: which they are used. The radii are alsomultiples of the same unit.

Reference being: had to. the iaccompan ing. drawings, Figs. 1 and. 2. illustrate. the c laracteristics ofthe invention, and Figs. 3 to 20' show examples of its. application.

Fig. 1 shows a sectionthrough a semicircular arch or a semicircular wall if. the stones are laid horizontally. The concave stonesa, b, c, d, f, 91 and the convex stones 71,2, lam, 0, p are designed. on the basis of a network of squares in such a manner, that the radius of the concave stones measures. 14 side lengths of such a square unit, the radius of the convex stones 18 such lengths, and therefore the. thickness of; the wall 4 such lengths. The-side length of. a square corresponds with the fundamentalunit of anorma-l stone.

Each internal joint Q1 to 9 coincides in its positionwith the side of a square, and the distances 9, to g g, to g to 9 etc., there fore correspond with multiples; of. the side. length of a square. The internal jointslie along lines parallel to the sides of, asquare.

Since therefore the internal joints always meet together at a right-angle and since the distance from one internaL joint to the other is always a. multiple of the unit of the normal stone, it is possible to build on to any desired internal joint with the normal tree stones. without the help of any kind of connecting or transition stones, which are always necessary in the case of ordinary quoins for circular walls. This has a further result It a piece of any desired size is chosen out of the semicircle of Fig. l, the distance to the normal wall, which is built on to the ends of the chosen circular pieces, will be a multiple or the normal unit, 1. e. the side of a square in the drawing. It therefore tollows that any desired 'l'm'niation made with the segmental stones will connect with and join on to the normal wall without any remainder over. in example will make this clear. It in F V l all the stones of the right hall of the semicircle and the stones f and p of the left half are taken away, then a piece similar to Fig. T will remain. The point g to which the normal wall connects at one end, iorms together with the point (/1 at the other end the diagonal oi a rectangle, the sides or which are in the ratio of 9:14- unit lengths. Both figures or lengths are a multiple of the normal unit and are therefore divisible without remainder into the normal wall.

In order to illustrate the large number of pieces out or a circle, which may be used as a ground plan for alcoves, bay windows, verandas, corner towers and the like a simple example is shown in F 2. The layer of stones consists oi only three different seg mental stones, namely the concave stone (a) and the convex stones 1) and c. It now a piece of normal. wall is connected to the appertaining internal joint oi? the stones (0) and (Z2) in the direction of the dotted lines (i then 12 difierent ground planes o't circular erections will be attainable troin 7" to f the dotted lines showing the position ot the. connecting normal wall on the other side. Or it the first connecting normal wall is removed :trom to 0 (Z L7, or (Z then turther new forms "for the ground plan will result.

Concave ground plan forms may be constructed in the same way. or concave torms combined with convex, as is often met with the rococo-style of architecture.

The above also applies to the segmental stones of Fig. 1, only in this also the number of possible ground plan forms will be a multiple of the forms possible with Fig. 2. Figs. to 8 illustrate examples ot such forms. The new feature in the use or" these segmental stones is also to be found in the possibility of connecting or walling back with normal treestones at right-angles from any desired point of the concave or convex profile.

For building circular walls only quoin great.

stones with wedge-shaped side joint surfaces have hitherto been known oi which the wedge surfaces were the continuation of radii of the wall circle. The erection of diflferent forms of circular walls with such quoins is a matter of dihiculty requiring for each individual case several forms of special stones, which can be used only for that particular case, and which are required for connecting with the normal wall. In the case of the segmental stones according to the present invention, each single stone can be used as a connecting stone, and each stone has further dimensions proportionate to a normal unit, no matter in what position said stone is used.

The hitherto known quoin stones are altogether unsuited for building concave or convex roots or gables whereas the segmental stones according to the present. invention are especially well adapted for this purpose. all the above-described advantages or the mental stones for erecting circular walls being here also retained.

The internal points of Fig. 1 Q1 to Q2 to g Q: to 9 and so forth up to QM divide the segmental stones into two halves, a convex half and a concave half, and also bring about that each segmental stone has only one curved surface and that all other sur- "faces ol these stones are at right angles to each other. The two last characteristics are an indispensable condition for the erection of different forms of curved roots and gables.

Figs. 9 to 20 show a number of examples of such concave and convex roots and gables put together with the segmental stones of Fig. 2. In Fig. 2 also an internal joint running the length of the wall divides the cor.- cave from the convex halt. The profiles shown in the Figs. 9 to 20, which consistonly of the stones a l), and 0. illustrate only one side or half of the erection, in order to economize space.

The profiles of the Figs. 9 and ll) have been put together with the concave stone (a) and the profile according to Fig. ll with the two convert stones Z) and 0., whereas the profiles according to Figs. 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20 utilize all three segmental stones. The number of possible profiles which can be used for model building is exceedingly 7 Each profile can here represent either the section through a root, a dome, the crown of a tower or the view of a gable.

In each individual case the segmental stones fit onto the normal wall perfectly and without any gap, in consequence of the mul tiple proportions which are peculiar to them, and which has its origin in the fundamental unit of the normal lreestone. This point has already been demonstrated and proved in the case of segmental stones used for building circular walls, and all that has been SidnRbUVE-E und r th s eading also applies.- to stones-whenused for building roofs, gables, domes and the like,

he peculiar, arrangement of theintemal joints leads to a third sphere of, usefulness. oft-he segmental istones, which will be madeclear, by referring; again; to Fig: 1. The side joints of the conca-vestones a, b, 0, d, f, g; 0. 6,, 0,, d n, f which are parallelto the diameter 1' 73, are soarmnged, thatup to the central stonegione oftthese joints always projects whollyv or partly below th next stone. If: new thisv layer 1S- erected; vertical:- ly, no stone willbe able tofall'inwards or downwards. One stone carries the next, in bracket fashion, so that a. vault-like, selfbearing structure results.

It' is therefore. obvious, that, in order to build any desired form of cupolaor dome with the convex: stones h, 2', k, m, 0, p, g and 70,, 2' 75,, m 0,, 2 no kindof auxiliary frame or construction will be required, since. the cupola or dome is self-bearing, this being. efe fected by the inside, concave stones. Other forms of a cupolaor dome can be attained by shifting the base of the dome from r 1', in Fig. l to a 8,, the segmentalstones h, w and a it, being here taken away; this form is shown more clearly in Fig. 4. Or if the stones 2', b and b 2', are also omitted, the basis of the dome shifts to t, t,, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 5. By further removing the segmental stones 0, 7c and 0 k, in Fig. 1 and filling up the gap under the stone m with a normal freestone n a cupola or flat dome, as illustrated in Fig. 6, will remain on the base line it, u

According to Fig. 1 other forms can be attained by shifting the centre of the dome and leaving away the segmental stones at the crown of the dome. By removing the stones f, p and f p, and also the centre stone g, and by moving the remaining stones together until the stones (1 and al come into contact at the new middle axis 10-10,, the steep dome according to Fig. 7 will be formed. In this case a gap remains at the crown above the bearing joints g to 9 which can be filled up with a normal freestone. This latter may b used as a base for any kind of ornamental piece, for a peak or the like, such as are usual to crown a dome or cupola.

In this way, by removing more stones, the central axis of the dome can be shifted to mw or g (Fig. 1). Th latter case is illustrated in Fig. 8, where the gap under the stone m caused by the removal of'the stone 0 has again been filled up by a normal stone. This does not, however, exhaust the possibilities of erecting different and selfbearing domes and cupolas. In'Fig. 1, for instance, the base of the cupola may be moved from 1'-r, to s-s, and at the same time the central axis to ww,. By thus contracting the; original form: at the: base; andcrown; simultaneously, a new series 0.1"-

her of dififerently formedbuildin elements to erectbotlrconcave; anduconvex walls, cancave and convexroofs. and s m larly protiled gablemand finally to buildaselfsbearing cupolas and: domes, in all. of, which. four spheres of usefulness the; number of-possible. arclntectural forms of different: shape and character is exceedingly great, it being.

further. possible in: each and" every case to; build or connect with normal freestones at any desired point of theprofiles.

What Iclaimxasmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a set of complementary toy. building blocks. adapted to interengage to form a ring, a plurality ofunits having. only-one curved surface, each of the-other surfaces bein parallelto one of three mutually perpendicular planes.

2. Ina set ofcomplementary toy building blocks adapted to interengage' to form a ring, a plurality of units having; only one curved surface, cert'aina of which. surfaces are concave and certain of which are convex.

3. In a set of complementary toyv building blocks adapted to interengage to. form a ring of rectangularcrossection, aplurality of units having only one curved surface, and contacting. surfaces parallel to. either side of a right angle.

4. In a set of complementary toy building blocks, a unit having only one curved surface, each of the rest being parallel to one of three mutually perpendicular planes, said curve being a circular arc of less than 5. A set of complementary toy building blocks adapted to interengage to form a semi-circular are, com rising a keystone, and a plurality of mutual y contacting units on either side of the keystone, all said units including the keystone having contacting surfaces which are parallel to either side of a common right angle.

6. In a set of complementary toy building blocks adapted to interengage to form a portion of a ring, a plurality of units having only one curved surface and contacting surfaces parallel to either side of a right angle, the distances between parallel contacting surfaces being multiples of a unit length.

7. In a set of complementary toy building blocks, a pluralit of units as claimed in claim 6, in which t 1e radii of the curved surfaces of said ring portion are also multiples of said unit len h.

8. A set of toy bullding blocks comprising a plurality of complementary units having surfaces whereby the units are adapted to interengage to form a portion of a circular ring of rectangular cross section, each unit having only one curved surface which constitutes part of the curved surfaces of the ring, all the other surfaces being parallel to any of three mutually perpendicular planes.

9. A set of complementary toy building blocks adapted to interengage to form an are, said blocks each having a cross-section forming a rectangle, part of which rectangle is cut away, at least a part of said cut away portion forming a curve, each of said blocks having only one curved surface, some of said curved surfaces being convex and some concave.

10. A set of complementary toy building blocks adapted to fit together to form various lengths of an arc of an annulus, the cross-section of each block having a right angle bounded by two straight sides, said cross-sections each having one curved side, some of said curved sides being convex and some being concave, the blocks when titted together being adapted to form a partof an annulus, the outer curved surface of which is an arc of a circle and the inner curved surface of which is an arc of a smaller circle concentric therewith.

11. A set of complementary toy building blocks adapted to fit together to form various lengths of an arc of an annulus, the cross-section of each block having a right angle bounded by two straight sides, said cross-sections each having one curved side diametrically opposite said right angle, some of said curved sides being convex and some being concave, the blocks when fitted together being adapted to form a part of an annulus, the outer curved surface of which is an arc of a circle and the inner curved surface of which is an arc of a smaller circic concentric therewith.

12. A set of cooperating toy building blocks, each block having one curved surface and a plurality of plane faces adapted to en gage with cooperating plane faces of adjacent blocks, at least one of said plane faces being drawn along a minor chord of the circular surface of which the curved face is a part.

13. A set of cooperating toy building blocks, some of said blocks having one convex surface and a plurality of plane faces adapted to engage with the cooperating plane faces of the adjacent blocks, said plane faces being drawn along ininor chords of the circular surface of which the curved face is a part.

lf. A set of cooperating toy building blocks, some of said blocks having one concave surface, said concave surface constituting a part of a circular surface, and a plurality of plane faces adapted to engage with cooperating plane faces of adjacent blocks, at least one of said plane faces be ing drawn along a minor chord of a circle concentric with the circular surface of which the curved face is a part.

In testimony whereof I hereunto anix my signature.

OTTO H. STRUB.

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