Synchronised movement apparatus

Abstract

A synchronised movement apparatus comprises a plurality of polyhedron blocks arranged in a first configuration, wherein adjacent blocks have a connection therebetween that allows symmetrical rotation of the adjacent blocks relative to each other so as to transform the arrangement of blocks into a second configuration.

1 . A synchronised movement apparatus comprising a plurality of polyhedron blocks arranged in a first configuration, wherein adjacent blocks have a connection therebetween that allows symmetrical rotation of the adjacent blocks relative to each other so as to transform the arrangement of blocks into a second configuration. 
     
     
         2 . A synchronised movement apparatus comprising at least three polyhedron blocks, comprising a first polyhedron connected to a second polyhedron by a first connection and the second polyhedron is in turn connected to a third polyhedron by a second connection; wherein the each connection is configured to permit relative rotation of the connected polyhedrons about their respective centres. 
     
     
         3 . A synchronised movement apparatus comprising at least four polyhedrons formed into a composite polyhedron in a first configuration, wherein the polyhedrons are connected such that they are collectively moveable so as to transform from the first configuration into a second configuration, such that each polyhedron has at least one face abutting a face of another polyhedron in the first configuration and each polyhedron has at least one face abutting a face of another polyhedron in the second configuration, wherein at least one pair of faces in the first configuration have swapped from being either face to face or not face to face to being not face to face or face to face, respectively, in the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent blocks are in a face to face arrangement in the first configuration. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each block rotates about an axis of rotation that passes through its centre. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the all of the axes of rotation are either parallel or aligned. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are connected such that all the blocks simultaneously move within one or more parallel planes relative to other blocks in the same plane. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each block has at least one face abutting a face of another block in the first configuration and each block has at least one face abutting a face of another block in the second configuration, wherein at least one pair of faces in the first configuration have swapped from being either face to face or not face to face to being not face to face or face to face, respectively, in the second configuration. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one set of faces move from an outside surface of the apparatus in the first configuration to be inside the apparatus in the second configuration. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein another set of faces move in the first configuration, but remain on the outside surface of the apparatus in the second configuration. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a further set of faces move from inside the apparatus in the first configuration to be on an outside surface of the apparatus in the second configuration. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in each configuration there are at least two possible transformations, each of which is from a transverse orientation to each other, to another possible configuration. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connections between adjacent blocks mirror each other. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shape of adjacent blocks mirror each other. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyhedron blocks are cube shaped or cuboid. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are arranged into a lattice in the first configuration. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are arranged into a lattice in the second configuration. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inside of the apparatus is hollow. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the blocks has an opening in a face of the or each block, where the opening leads into an internal cavity within the or each block. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connections between blocks are each in different directions. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the connections are one of two types comprising: a type that constrains rotation of adjacent block to remain in one plane; or a type that constrains rotation of adjacent block to be sequentially in different orthogonal planes. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the connections are of different types. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connection of a first block to a face of a second block is orthogonal to connections of other adjacent blocks to the face of the second block. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each connection is one of the following:
 i) a two node connection on each of adjacent edges of connected blocks;   ii) a three node connection with each point being on an edge of a respective common corner on each of the connected blocks;   iii) a four node connection on each edge intersecting a plane passing through the centres of the connected blocks;   iv) a four node connection on each spaced apart edge of a pair of adjacent corners in each connected block;   v) a five node connection on each edge intersecting a respective plane passing through the centre of each connected block;   vi) a six node connection on each edge intersecting a respective plane passing through the centre of each connected block;   vii) an eight node connection on each edge of a pair on intersecting planes being equidistant from the centre of the respective connected blocks;   viii) a pair of four node connections on each edge intersecting a respective one of a pair of parallel planes orthogonally equidistant from the respective centres of the connected blocks;   ix) a resiliently stretchable connection between respective adjacent corners of face to face blocks.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blocks retain their relative position but change their relative orientation between configurations. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of more of the connections are formed by a continuous loop through at least two nodes on each block. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the loop is formed of a string nested within a groove within the connected blocks. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the groove retains and or guides the string in place on the respective block. 
     
     
         29 . A game apparatus comprising a processor for simulating the apparatus as of  claim 1  and a display or displaying the simulated apparatus and an input for receiving instructions from a user to control the processor to simulate manipulation of the simulated apparatus.