Article moveable between two positions and a method of combining two or more of the same

Abstract

An article is moveable between a first position and a second position and biased to the second position. The article is retained in the first position by retaining means until a predetermined condition is met and when met, the biasing means are released to move the article from the first position to the second position. The predetermined condition is met when at least one formation of a plurality of formations located with respect to at least one face of the article is moved from a first position to a second position, thereby releasing the retaining means. The article further includes user selection means to allow the user to select which one, or combination, of the plurality of formations, when moved, will cause the release of the retaining means.

Claims

1. An article, said article being moveable between a first position and a second position and biased to the second position, said article being retained in the first position by retaining means until a predetermined condition is met, wherein when said predetermined condition is met a biasing means are released to move the article from the first position to the second position, said predetermined condition is met when at least one formation of a plurality of formations located with respect to at least one face of the article, is moved from a first position to a second position, thereby releasing said retaining means, the article further including user selection means to allow a user to select which one, or combination, of the plurality of formations, when moved, will cause the release of said retaining means, wherein said selection means further includes at least one blocking member, moveable in conjunction with a pin member of the selection means and by a selection portion of the selection means, and wherein upon selection of a first formation of the plurality of formations by the selection means to be movable to release said retaining means, a second formation of the plurality of formations is simultaneously selected, and the at least one blocking member is arranged to engage the second formation, preventing inward movement of the second formation with respect to the article.

2. An article according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of formations is provided on the article and all, a combination, or one, of said plurality of formations are selectable by the user via the user selection means to be that which, when moved, allows a change in condition to occur.

3. An article according to claim 1, wherein said selection means includes a selection portion being user-actuable to configure the selection means to determine which one, or combination, of the plurality of formations is to be movable to release the retaining means.

4. An article according to claim 3, wherein said selection portion is a rotatable member in the form of a rotatable disc or disc-shaped member and includes a user gripping portion.

5. An article according to claim 1, wherein said selection means further includes at least one pin member, arranged to provide mechanical communication between a selected formation and said retaining means.

6. An article according to claim 1, wherein said at least one blocking member is provided to substantially block inward movement of at least one formation.

7. An article according to claim 1, wherein said at least one blocking member may be provided as a rotatable member having one or more blocking portions located thereon.

8. An article according to claim 1, wherein said selection means is arranged to be movable to configure at least one formation to act as a trigger means to release said retaining means upon inward movement and configure at least one formation not to be movable.

9. An article according to claim 1, wherein at least three formations of the plurality of formations are provided: at least one formation being selectable to release said retaining means upon movement; at least one formation being selectable to be blocked from movement; and at least one formation provided to remain unselected by said selection means.

10. An article according to claim 1, wherein said formations are provided to interact with a plurality of formations provided on second and further articles.

11. An article according to claim 1, wherein said second position is an inverted form of the article with respect to said first position and said selection means is located in an interior of the article, when the article is in the first position.

12. An article according to claim 1, wherein the selection means further includes cover means thereon to protect the mechanism of the selection means when the article is moved to the second position.

13. An article according to claim 12, wherein said cover means is removable, thereby permitting a user to access said selection means and configure the article as desired.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a-f illustrate the component parts of a selection means, in various exploded stages, of an article in a second position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a-b illustrate interior and front views of a face of an article with which selection means is associated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates various views of an interior face of an article, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a selection means on a face of an article, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate views of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

(7) Referring now to FIGS. 1a-f, there is shown an article in the form of a substantially cube-shaped playing collectable item or toy 1. The toy 1 can be moved from a first position, to a second position, wherein the toy 1 is completely inverted with respect to its first position. The second, inverted position is illustrated in FIGS. 1a-f for the purposes of describing the components associated therewith in accordance with the invention. In the Applicant's co-pending international patent applications WO2015/159077 and WO2017/109565, there is disclosed an article which is provided and initially retained in a first position, but is biased to a second position as show in the present invention, and a similar layout and movement from the first to the second positions as described in those applications is utilised in the present application. The toy 1 is provided in a substantially cube shape and is composed of six connected panels 3. The panels 3 are biased, via biasing means in the form of a number of springs 5, to move to the second position, but are retained in the first position until a predetermined condition is met. When the predetermined condition is met, the toy 1 moves from the first position to the second position.

(8) A number of formations 7 are provided associated with a particular face or panel 3′ of the toy 1, which extend from an interior side of the article, through corresponding holes in the panel 3′ and extending outwardly therefrom. The front view of the panel 3′ with the formations protruding outwardly is best shown in FIG. 2b; FIG. 2 a shows the interior side. The formations 7 comprise and elongate portion 9, which extends from the interior side of the panel 3′, through the apertures and to the exterior; and a base or plate portion 11, which rests at or adjacent the interior side of the panel 3′. The formations 7 are movable from a first position, whereby they extend outwardly from the exterior of the panel 3′, and a second position, wherein all or part of the formations 7, may be urged inwardly of the panel 3′ of the toy 1. The formations 7 are biased to the first position by the provision of coiled spring members 13, best shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 4. The present embodiments illustrate six formations 7 being provided, however, it will be appreciated that the present invention may function with as few as two formations 7, though preferably at least three; the upper limit being set by whatever the manufacturer deems to be desired and/or practicable.

(9) Retaining means in the form of a release catch 15 is located on the panel 3′ with the formations 7, and, when the toy 1 is in the first position, the catch 15 engages an adjacent panel 3, retaining it and the remaining panels 3 in the first position. The panels 3, 3′ of the toy 1 are hinged and the release catch 15 retains adjacent edges of two panels 3, 3′ in position, thereby retaining the toy 1 in the first position. The toy 1 is retained in the first position by the release catch 5 against the action of a biasing force created by the coiled torsion springs 5 until such point that it is released. The springs 5 are located at the edge of a panel 3, connecting the panel 3 on which it is located with an adjacent panel 3. The series of springs 5 that are provided on the panels 3 bias the toy 1 to the second, inverted position. This biasing movement is only allowed, however, upon release of the catch 15 from the adjacent panel 3 to which it connects. When the catch 15 is released from the adjacent panel 3, that panel 3 opens outwardly due to the biasing force of the springs 5, and the toy 1 moves to the second position as illustrated in FIGS. 1a-f.

(10) The predetermined condition is met when one of the formations 7 is urged inwardly of the toy 1 from its first, resting position to the second position, such that it engages the catch 15 and subsequently releases it from a catch/retaining position. Upon release, the toy 1 moves from the first position to the second position, as described above. The toy 1 is provided with a selection mechanism 17, which permits a user of the toy 1 to select which formation 7, when urged inwardly of the toy 1 engages the catch 15 and subsequently releases it, allowing the toy 1 to move from the first position to the second, inverted position. The selection mechanism 17 includes various components, in particular, a selection portion in the form of a rotatable disc 19, a pin member 21 which locates over part of the base or plate portion 11 of a selected formation 7, and is movable by the rotatable disc 19, and a blocking member 23, which is provided to prevent movement of at least one of the formations 7. The rotatable disc 19 is provided to be user actuable, allowing a user to move and rotate the same, as required, so as to determine which one of the formations 7 is to be movable to release the catch 15. In some examples, the disc 19 may include a protruding gripping portion 25, making it easier for the user to configure the disc 19, and hence the selection mechanism 17, as desired. The pin member 21 of the mechanism 17 is arranged to provide mechanical communication between a selected formation 7 and the catch 15. The pin 21 is movable by the disc 19 via the provision of an aperture 27 located in the disc 19 sized to permit the pin 21 to extend therethrough. Thus, as the pin 21 moves over a selected formation 7, and that formation 7 is urged, from an exterior side of the toy 1, inwardly, the plate 11 of the formation 7 engages the pin 21, or a base 29 thereof, subsequently moving the pin 21 to extend further through the aperture 27 in the disc 19 and into engagement with the catch 15. Upon engagement, the catch 15 is released and the toy 1 moves from the first position to the second, inverted position.

(11) The selection mechanism further includes a blocking member 23, as mentioned above. The blocking member 23 forms part of the selection mechanism 17 and is movable concurrently with the pin 21. As the pin 21 is moved to a position to select a particular formation 7 to act as a “trigger” for ensuring the predetermined condition is met and the toy 1 is “activated”, the blocking member 23 is simultaneously moved, again by movement of the disc 19, over at least a part of the plate 11 of another formation 7. The blocking member 23 is so connected to the pin member 21 such that movement of the pin 21 by the disc 19 causes movement of the blocking member 23; the parts forming the selection mechanism 17 as a whole. Thus, the blocking member 23 is arranged to rotate about a central axis on the panel 3 as the disc 19 is rotated, and a pattern of blocking portions 31 is provided, which move over parts of the plate portions 11 of the formations 7 as the blocking member 23 is rotated. The face of the blocking member 23 or portion 31 which engages the plate 11 consequently prevents any inward movement of that formation 7. In other embodiments of the present invention, the blocking member 23 may be provided as a series of blocking details extending from an underside of the disc 19, which engage with various portions of the plates 11 of the formations 7. Such an embodiment may be advantageous this reduces the number of moving parts within the mechanism and, thus, fewer points where malfunction may occur. The remaining formations 7 which are left unselected—there are four in the illustrated embodiments but there could be as few as one—are left movable, but have no impact on the activation of the catch 15 and, thus, the movement of the toy 1 from the first position to the second, inverted position.

(12) The provision of a selection mechanism 17 with the toy 1 in accordance with the present invention therefore allows a user to configure the toy 1 and alter which formations 7 provided thereon may activate the catch 15, and which may also have their movement blocked, such that they act as a substantially solid pin extending from a face or panel 3 of the toy 1. Unselected formations 7 in a given configuration are, consequently, movable inwardly of the toy 1 but would have no impact on the mechanism by which the catch 15 may be released, subsequently enabling the toy 1 to move from the first to the second, inverted position. Thus, in any given configuration, only one formation 7 is movable to engage and release the catch 15, resulting in the predetermined condition being met. This is a distinct improvement over what currently exists in the prior art as a single toy 1 may be configured however a user chooses. This is opposed to either having to have a different toy for each configuration, or having a number of differing removable body portions, which may then be inserted into the toy, having a particular configuration.

(13) In the illustrated embodiments, six formations 7 are provided on the toy 1. The formations 7 are arranged, however, such that only one of three formations 7′ may be selectable to be movable to release the catch 15, and each selected formation 7′ is paired with a corresponding formation 7 of the remaining three formations 7, which is selectable to be blocked from movement by said blocking member 23. The formations 7′ of the toy 1 which are movable to release the catch 15 are therefore provided to interact with corresponding formations 7 on a second article or toy 1′, which can be configured to be blocked from movement, provided with a similar make-up. The formations 7 of the first toy 1 which can be configured to be blocked from movement are provided to interact with formations 7′ on the second toy 1′ which are movable to release the catch 15′ on the second toy 1′. The predetermined condition for the first toy 1 may then be met when the second toy 1′ is brought into contact with, or positioned within a predetermined range of, the first toy 1. Given that any one of three configurations may be selected for each toy, the interaction between the two toys effectively acts as a “rock, paper, scissors” interaction. Thus, as the toys are moved to interact with one another, each formation 7, 7′ on the first toy 1 will interact with a corresponding formation 7′, 7 on the second toy 1′. When unselected formations meet with either other unselected formations, a formation blocked from movement, or a formation movable to release the respective catch 15, the predetermined condition is not met and the catch 15 is not released. However, when a formation blocked from movement on, for example, the second toy 1′, interacts with a formation movable to release the catch 15 on, for example, the first toy 1, the predetermined condition is met for the first toy 1, and so the catch 15 is released and the first toy 1 moves from the first position to the second, inverted position, and at least partially engulfing, enclosing and/or entrapping the second toy 1′. A third and/or further toys 1″ may also be provided, and a configuration chosen by a user using the selection mechanism 17, prior to interaction with any of the other toys present.

(14) The toy 1 is also provided with one or more magnets 33 attached thereto. In the described embodiments, two magnets 33 are provided integral with the panel 3′ of the toy 1 at opposing sides thereof. The magnets 33 are provided so as to align the toy 1 with a second or further toys 1′ prior to contact between the two. The magnets 33, therefore, are provided in the present invention purely as a directional force for the toy 1 when aligning the same with a second toy 1′ with which it may interact. This permits interaction of the active panels 3′ of the respective toys, allowing the predetermined condition to be met for one of them when they are brought into contact with one another. The toy 1 may also include a reset mechanism (not shown). Typically, the reset mechanism is provided to aid a user in moving the toy 1 from the second position back to the first position. Thus, the reset mechanism provided so as to aid a user in moving the article back from an inverted position to which it has been biased upon release of the catch 15, back to the original first position.

(15) The formations 7 and selection mechanism 17 may be secured to the interior side of the panel 3′ by the provision of a housing 35 which locates over the formations 7 and the pin 21, shown in position in FIG. 1b. An aperture 37 is provided in the centre of the housing 35 for the rotating disc 19 to be located and secured therein, shown in FIG. 1c. The catch 15 is then located across the disc 19 and housing 35, as in FIG. 1d. The catch 15 includes a curved portion 39, which is positioned about a central point of the disc 19, such that as the disc 19 is rotated and thus the pin member 21 moved, the aperture 27 of the disc 19 remains under the curved portion 39 and, consequently, whenever the pin 21 is raised, it will engage the catch 15 at some point along or around the curved portion 39. The gripping portion 25 of the disc 19 is located at a periphery of the disc 19 and can be moved back and forth along arrow A, thereby rotating the disc 19. A second housing 41 is subsequently placed over the catch 15 and disc 19 and secured to the corners of the first housing 37, thereby fixing the catch 15, mechanism 17 and formations 7 and first housing 37 all in place on the interior side of the panel 3′, shown in FIG. 1e. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1f, a protective cover 43 is provided to fit over the mechanism 17 and outer housing 41. The cover 43 is removable in order that a user may access the mechanism 17, or at least the gripping portion 25 thereof, but serves to protect and disguise the mechanism from damage when the toy 1 is in the second, inverted position.

(16) In a further embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 5a-b, there is provided a further article in the form of a training, or master cube 45. The master cube 45 is arranged to have five standard faces 47 and a sixth face 49, which includes a number of recesses 51 and formations 53 located thereon. In this example, three recesses 51 and three formations or protrusions 53 are provided, and are done so as to match the formations 7, 7′ on the toy article 1. The recesses 51 are arranged to complement and receive the formations 7 which can be selected to be blocked from movement, and which would usually act as a trigger for another toy 1. The protrusions 53 are arranged to complement and engage the formations 7′ which can be selected to be activated the release catch 15 of the toy 1. The protrusions 53 are provided to be substantially solid and rigid members and thus upon engagement with a toy 1, will ensure the predetermined condition is met for it, moving the toy 1 from the first position to the second position, regardless of the configuration in which it has been placed and which of the three formations 7′ is actually selected to activate the release catch. A pair of magnets 55 may be provided on the face 49, as per the toy 1, and used to align the master cube 45 and toy 1 prior to the respective faces engaging.