RECIPROCALLY LINKED NESTING STRUCTURE

• US 20090039599A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nils Folke Anderson
• Original Assignee: Nils Folke Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Nils Folke
• Granted Patent: US 8,181,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/157.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0876 Bent wire or cord puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/1288 Sculpture puzzles

Abstract

An assembly comprising three or more elements; each element comprises a shape with an opening completely through the element; and each element comprises a plurality of edges, the edges being joined together at angular junctions. Each element links all of the other elements, and each element links the other elements in the same way. The link is formed by a portion of the shape passing through the openings in the other elements, so that the elements form a nested structure, and the elements are interchangeable in the nested structure without altering the nested configuration of the assembly.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising three or more elements, wherein

each element comprises a shape with an opening completely through the element;

each element comprises a plurality of edges, the edges being joined together at angular junctions;

each element links all of the other elements;

each element links the other elements in the same way;

the link for each element is formed by a portion of the shape passing through the openings in the other elements;

together, the elements may be conformed into a nested structure, wherein each element is nested with another element in a common manner; and

the elements are interchangeable in the nested structure without altering the nested configuration of the assembly.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of more of said edges is linear.

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said edges has flat sides.

4. A structure comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said assembly is in a completely nested conformation.

5. A structure comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said assembly is in an un-nested conformation in which at least one edge of at least one element is constrained from moving as a result of contact with a structure representing one of the set of the angular junction of another element, an edge of another element, or an intersection of edges of two or more other elements.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more of said elements not confined to a plane.

7. An assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one element is in opposite chirality with at least one other element in the assembly.

8. A molecular structure comprising chains of atoms linked in nested rings in accordance with claim 1.

9. An input device comprises an assembly in accordance with claim 1, which and further comprising means to track position of the elements to provide an input device for a 3D imaging system.

10. An architectural object comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1.

11. A sculptural object comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1.

12. An article of furniture comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1.

13. An article of jewelry comprising an assembly in accordance with claim 1.

14. A compound assembly comprising at least two assemblies in accordance with claim 1 that are linked together by at least one link.

15. A compound assembly comprising at least two assemblies in accordance with claim 1 that are placed in close proximity or touching with each other, but are not linked together.

16. A structure formed by creating an un-nested assembly in accordance with claim 5, and applying a flexible cover over a plurality of the edges comprising the assembly.

17. A structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein the cover is hardened.

18. A structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein the cover is affixed to a plurality of the edges comprising the assembly.

19. A structure formed by casting wherein a mold is created using a burnable or meltable assembly in accordance with claim 1.

20. A structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein a portion of the assembly is removed.

21. A structure in accordance with claim 16 wherein a portion of the assembly is covered.

22. A computer simulation of an assembly in accordance with claim 1.

23. An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the elements are colored, decorated, or numbered.

24. An assembly in accordance with claim 23, wherein one or more larger images or patterns are formed when the elements are arranged in certain orders.