Truncated icosahedral blocks

• US 4,079,541 A
• Filed: 04/08/1976
• Issued: 03/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John P. Hogan
• Original Assignee: John P. Hogan
• Inventors: Hogan, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, F. Barry
• Application Number:
  US05/674,936
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 46/24, 46/25, 46/26, 35/34, 35/72, 52/81, 52/DIG. 10, 52/608, 206/436
• US Class Current: 446/122
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/108 with holes A63H33/101, A63H33/102 and A63H33/107 take precedence

Abstract

The truncated icosahedral blocks are designed to meet one another along their truncation surfaces and thereby imitate an icosahedron'"'"'s unique ability for three-dimensional intersection with another icosahedron, so that a line segment that defines the base of a pentangular pyramid on one icosahedron also defines the base of a pentangular pyramid on the other icosahedron.

Claims

1. A set of interengageable toy blocks in which the set is comprised of at least four icosahedral blocks, each icosahedral block being truncated about a vertex by the removal of five icosahedral faces about said vertex, with at least one of said blocks being truncated only about one vertex point, at least a second one of said blocks being truncated about two opposing vertex points, at least a third one of said blocks being truncated only about two non-adjacent, non-opposing vertex points, and at least a fourth one of said blocks being truncated about three non-adjacent, non-opposing vertex points;

each truncation surface thus formed on each of said blocks having a means of engagement to a compatible truncation surface on another said block, so that a closed pentangular edge is formed by the two engaged truncation surfaces, when two said blocks are engaged.

2. A set of interengageable toy blocks as claimed in claim 1 in which said means of engagement, between said truncation surfaces is a pin and aperture type engagement means.

3. A set of interengageable toy blocks as claimed in claim 2 in which said pin is detachable from said truncation surfaces.

4. A set of interengageable toy blocks as claimed in claim 2 in which said pin and aperture are pentangular in cross section.

5. A set of interengageable toy blocks as claimed in claim 1 in which said icosahedral blocks are based on regular icosahedra.