Interlocking building blocks for changeable modular assemblies

Abstract

The invention relates to interlocking building blocks for changeable modular assemblies. The set of interlocking building blocks consists of a female block (1) and a set of male blocks (2-5), wherein the female block (1) has rectangular indentations (7) and the male blocks (2-5) fit inside the rectangular indentations (7) of female blocks (1), so that a female block (1) may simultaneously fit in its rectangular indentations (7) two male blocks (2-5), and a male block (2-5) may simultaneously fit inside at least two female blocks (1). In that way, each male block (2-5) simultaneously fills in at least half the rectangular indentations (7) of at least two female blocks (1) and thus fixedly connects said at least two female blocks (1). The set of interlocking building blocks further comprises a terminal block (6) to fill in empty spaces and provide straight edges on the assembly, and a filling block (11) to extend the assembly eight, width or length. The blocks are stackable and vertically stable but reversible and easy-to-handle. No additional tools or materials are required in order to build all kinds of tridimensional structures.

Claims

1. An interlocking system of one or more female building blocks and a set of male building blocks that engage forming unique, solid, strong and vertically and horizontally stable structures that are fit to be used as changeable modular assemblies such as interior walls, floors, furniture, exterior walls, outdoor furniture or outdoor construction, comprising: the one or more female building blocks (1) each comprising a semi-hollow cubical block with a flat bottom face and four side walls having one rectangular indentation (7) in each side wall, said indentations (7) having a depth equal to half the height of the cubical block and width equal to one third of the width of the cubical block; and the set of male building blocks (2-5) comprising one or more of each of four different types of male building blocks, the types of the set of male building blocks comprising two, three, or four rectangular projections (8) linked by a unique and solid interconnecting structure composed by one or two webs (9), wherein said rectangular projections (8) and said one or two webs (9) have twice the height of the indentations (7); wherein engagement of the one or more of each of the four different types of male building blocks with the one or more female building blocks in one or both axis without tools or glue provides structural strength and stability to the changeable modular assemblies; wherein a third type of the four different types of male building blocks (4) consists of three said rectangular projections (8) arranged on three sides of a square and linked by two of said one or two webs (9), said two of one or two webs (9) connected perpendicularly to one another to form a cross-shaped structure wherein two opposite ends of one of the two of one or two webs (9) and one end of the other of the two of one or two webs (9) are each connected to one of the three rectangular projections (8), wherein said third type of the four different types of male building blocks (4) is configured to engage with four of the one or more female building blocks (1); and wherein a fourth type of the four different types of male building blocks (3) consists of two said rectangular projections (8) arranged on two adjacent sides of a square and linked by two of said one or two webs (9), said two of one or two webs (9) connected perpendicularly to one another to form a cross-shaped structure wherein one end of each of the two of one or two webs (9) is connected to one of the two rectangular projections (8), wherein said fourth type of the four different types of male building blocks (3) out of the four different types of male building blocks is configured to engage with three of the one or more female building blocks (1).

2. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein a one of the male building blocks of the set of male building blocks (2-5) comprising two, three or four rectangular projections (8) which can simultaneously fit inside two, three, four or five female building blocks, fits inside at least two of the one or more female building blocks (1), and half the height of the rectangular projections (8) and half the height of one of the said one or two webs (9) of said male building block (2-5) is inside the at least two female building blocks (1), and a symmetrical portion extends outside the top surface of the female building blocks (2), such that said symmetrical portion extending outside the top surface of the female building blocks (1) can fit inside another at least two female building blocks (1).

3. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein a first type of the four different types of male building blocks (2) consists of two said rectangular projections (8) linked by one of said one or two webs (9) disposed between the two rectangular projections (8), wherein the first type of the four different types of male building blocks (2) is configured to engage with two of the one or more female building blocks (1).

4. The interlocking building blocks of claim 3, wherein the one web (9) has a length which is two-thirds of the width of the cubical block.

5. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein a second type of the four different types of male building blocks (5) consists of four said rectangular projections (8) arranged on four sides of a square and linked by two of said one or two webs (9), said two of one or two webs (9) connected perpendicularly to one another to form a cross-shaped structure wherein each end of the two of one or two webs (9) is connected to one of the four rectangular projections (8), wherein said second type of the four different types of blocks (5) is configured to engage with five of the one or more female building blocks (1).

6. The interlocking system of claim 1, further comprising a terminal block (6) consisting of an additional rectangular projection (8) the same shape as the rectangular projections of the set of male building blocks, linked to a terminal part (10), wherein a dimension of said terminal part (10) measured perpendicular to the additional rectangular projection (8) combined with the width of the said rectangular projections (8) is equal to half the width of the cubical block, and the height of the additional rectangular projection (8) and terminal part (10) is the same as the height of the cubical block.

7. The interlocking system of claim 1 further comprising a filling block (11) the same shape as two of the one or more female building blocks (1) arranged having the flat bottom faces disposed in contact with one another.

8. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein the interlocking building blocks are made of cork, cork-based materials or other material suitable for the type of modular construction in which the blocks are to be used.

9. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein the interlocking building blocks are made of a lightweight material comprising good resistance to mechanical loads, and having a mass density in the range of 100 Kg/m.sup.3 to 200 Kg/m.sup.3.

10. The interlocking system of claim 1, wherein each side wall of the one or more female blocks measures in a range of 80 mm to 700 mm.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the Interlocking building blocks for changeable modular assemblies according to the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of some embodiments thereof, made as a non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 represents a 3D view of the female block.

(3) FIG. 2 represents a 3D view of the set of male blocks.

(4) 2a represents an I-beam male block (2) having two rectangular projections (8) linked by a perpendicular web (9), in an I-beam configuration.

(5) 2b represents a cross-shaped male block (5) consisting of four rectangular projections (8) at right angles with each other, linked by a web (9), said web being cross-shaped and being connected to a rectangular projection (8) in each end.

(6) 2c represents a T-beam male block (4) consisting of three rectangular projections (8) linked by a web (9), said web being cross-shaped and being connected to a rectangular projection (8) in three of its four ends. Two of the rectangular projections set up in an I-beam configuration and one at 90 degrees to the I-beam.

(7) 2d represents an L-beam male block (3) consisting of two perpendicular rectangular projections (8) at right angles with each other and linked by a web (9), said web being cross-shaped.

(8) FIG. 3 represents a 3D view of a terminal block (6) consisting of a rectangular projection (8) linked to a perpendicular terminal part (10), which allows filling in empty spaces in female blocks (1) to form straight edges and obtaining an integral structure.

(9) FIG. 4 represents a 3D view of a filling block (11), each filling block being an integral block which is a reflection of the female block (1) along its bottom face, therefore having rectangular indentations on the top and bottom of the piece, and the height of two female blocks.

(10) FIG. 5 represents the method of assembly.

(11) 5a represents the juxtaposition of female blocks (1) in a linear orientation.

(12) 5b represents the fitting and interlocking of I-beam male block (2) in the linearly aligned female blocks.

(13) 5c represents the fitting of a terminal block (6) in the linearly aligned female blocks and interlocked I-beam male blocks.

(14) 5d represents the fitting and interlocking of filling blocks (11) in the linearly aligned female blocks (1) and I-beam male blocks (2) to extend the module in height and create a wall structure.

(15) 5e represents the juxtaposition of female blocks (1) in a linear orientation, over the set of linear filling blocks (11) and with its rectangular indentations (7) receiving the rectangular projections (8) of the filling blocks (11), thus finishing this assemblage and creating a wall structure.

(16) FIG. 6 represents variants in the method of assembly of female blocks (1) with male L-beam male blocks (3), T-beam male blocks (4) and cross-shaped male blocks (5), to form an L-shaped, T-shaped or cross-shaped modular configuration, respectively.

(17) 6a represents the fitting and interlocking of L-beam male blocks (3) inside the rectangular indentations (7) of two female blocks (1), when each of said two female blocks are juxtaposed to two perpendicular side walls of a third centrally disposed female block (1) in an L-shaped configuration.

(18) 6b represents the fitting and interlocking of T-beam male blocks (4) inside the rectangular indentations (7) of three female blocks (1), when each of said three female blocks is juxtaposed to a side wall of a centrally disposed female block (1) so that the three female blocks are oriented in a T-shaped configuration.

(19) 6c represents the fitting and interlocking of cross-shaped male blocks (5) inside the rectangular indentations (7) of four female blocks, when each of said four female blocks (1) is juxtaposed to a side wall of a centrally disposed female block (1) and thus oriented in four different directions in a cross-shaped configuration.

(20) FIG. 7 represents the orthographic view of each of the building blocks in the present invention, representing the proportions between different blocks. The size of the female block cube face (a) can vary between 80 and 700 mm.

(21) 7a represents orthographic views of a female block.

(22) 7b represents orthographic views of an I-beam male block.

(23) 7c represents orthographic views of a cross-shaped male block.

(24) 7d represents orthographic views of a T-beam male block.

(25) 7e represents orthographic views of an L-beam male block.

(26) 7f represents orthographic views of a filling block.

(27) 7g represents orthographic views of a terminal block.

FIGURE CAPTIONS

(28) 1. female block 2. I-beam male block 3. L-beam male block 4. T-beam male block 5. cross-shaped male block 6. terminal block 7. rectangular indentation 8. rectangular projection 9. web 10. terminal part 11. filling block

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(29) With reference to the above figures, and making reference to the features identified in each figure, a set of interlocking building blocks for changeable modular assemblies is identified in FIGS. 1 to 4. The set of interlocking building blocks has a female block (1) and a set of male blocks (2-5), wherein the female block (1) has rectangular indentations (7) and the male blocks (2-5) fit inside the rectangular indentations (7) of female blocks (1), so that a female block (1) may simultaneously fit in its rectangular indentations (7) two male blocks (2-5), and a male block (2-5) may simultaneously fit inside at least two female blocks (1). In that way, each male block (2-5) simultaneously fills in at least half the rectangular indentations (7) of at least two female blocks (1) and thus fixedly connects said at least two female blocks (1).

(30) In a preferred embodiment, the set of female and male blocks further comprise a terminal block (6), used for filling empty spaces in a module, and a filling block (11) to extend the modular system in height, width or length.

(31) The female block (1) is a semi-hollow cubical block with a bottom and four side walls, with a rectangular indentation (7) in each of its four side walls and one rectangular indentation (7) at the centre of the cube volume, each indentation having a depth which is half the height of the cube wall and a width which is one third of the width of the cube sidewall. In a preferred embodiment, the cubic female blocks measure between 80 and 700 mm, and more preferably, between 190 mm and 700 mm, in all its sides.

(32) The male blocks (2-5) are symmetrically built along at least one of their axis. Each male block has at least two rectangular projections (8) linked by a web (9), and said rectangular projections (8) and said web (9) have twice the height of the indentations (7) of a female block (1), so that when a male block (2-5) fits inside at least two female blocks (1), half the eight of the rectangular projections (8) and half the height of the web (9) of said male block (2-5) is inside the at least two female blocks (1), and a symmetrical portion extends outside the top surface of the female blocks (2). This results in the possibility of fitting the symmetrical part extending outside the top surface of the female block inside a second pair of female blocks.

(33) The set of male blocks (2-5) comprises male blocks with different conformations, those different conformations allowing the connection of at least two female blocks. Each male block has at least two rectangular projections (8) which fit in the rectangular indentations (7) of female blocks, said projections having two square opposing surfaces with the same height as the female blocks and two rectangular opposing surfaces whose height is the same as the female blocks and whose width is half the width of a rectangular indentation (7) of a female block (1). Due to this complementarities and dimensions, when fitting inside a rectangular indention (7) of a female block, each rectangular projection (8) fills in half the hollow space of the rectangular indentation (7) at the centre of the female block (1) and half the hollow space of the rectangular indentations in two opposite side walls of a female block (1).

(34) In a preferred embodiment, the set of male blocks comprises four different types of male blocks, each male block having two (FIGS. 2a and 2d), three (FIG. 2c) or four (FIG. 2b) rectangular projections (8) which simultaneously fit inside two, three, four or five female blocks (1), like shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(35) In a more preferred embodiment, a male block has an I-beam configuration (2), like the one described in FIG. 2a, consisting of two opposite rectangular projections (8) linked by a web (9) in an I-beam configuration. The web (9) is a linear connecting part whose width equals two thirds the female block (1) width. Therefore, the I-beam male block (2) simultaneously fits inside two female blocks (1) such that each half of the I-beam male block (2), regarding its line of symmetry, simultaneously fills in half the hollow space of two linearly disposed female blocks (1), like shown in FIG. 5. The I-beam male block (2) has a web (9) which is perpendicular to rectangular projections (8), has the same height as the rectangular projections (8), extends between rectangular projections (8) along a length which is two-thirds of the width of the female sidewall and has a width which is one-third of the width of the female sidewall.

(36) In another more preferred embodiment, a male block has a cross-shaped configuration, like the one described in FIG. 2b. This cross-shaped male block (5) consists of four rectangular projections (8) at right angles with each other and linked by a web (9). In this cross-shaped configuration, the web is cross-shaped and connects to a rectangular projection (8) in each of its arms, so that the rectangular projections (8) are opposite and parallel two-by-two. According to this configuration, the rectangular projections (8) of said cross-shaped male block (5) simultaneously fits inside the rectangular indentations (7) of five female blocks, so that when four female blocks (1) are juxtaposed to a different side wall of a centrally disposed fifth female block (1) in a cross-shaped configuration, said rectangular projections (8) and said web (9) simultaneously fill in half the hollow space of said four female blocks (1) and the whole hollow space of the said centrally disposed fifth female block (1), like illustrated in FIG. 6c.

(37) In another more preferred embodiment, a T-beam male block (4), like the one described in FIG. 2c, consists of three rectangular projections (8) linked by a web (9). In this configuration, the web is cross-shaped and connects to a rectangular projection (8) in three of its four ends, two of the rectangular projections setting up in an I-beam configuration and one at 90 degrees to the I-beam so that said T-beam male block (4). The T-beam male block (4) is able to simultaneously fit inside four female blocks (1) so that when three female blocks (1) are juxtaposed to a different side wall of a centrally disposed fourth female block (1) in a T-shaped configuration, said rectangular projections (8) and said web (9) simultaneously fills in half the hollow space of said three female blocks (1) and the whole hollow space of the said centrally disposed fourth female block (1).

(38) In yet another more preferred embodiment, an L-beam male block configuration (3), like the one described in FIG. 2d, consists of two perpendicular rectangular projections (8) at right angles with each other and linked by a web (9), said web being cross-shaped. The L-beam male block (3) is thus able to simultaneously fit inside three female blocks (1) so that when two female blocks (1) are juxtaposed to two perpendicular side walls of a third centrally disposed female block (1) in an L-shaped configuration, said rectangular projections (8) and said web (9) simultaneously fill in half the hollow space of said two female blocks (1) and the whole hollow space of the said centrally disposed female block (1).

(39) In a preferred embodiment, the set of female and male blocks further comprise a terminal block (6) to fill in empty spaces in female blocks (1), consisting of a rectangular projection (8) linked to a perpendicular terminal part (10), corresponding to half an I-beam male block, like the one represented in FIG. 3. The combined width of said terminal part (10) and said rectangular projection (8) correspond to half the width of a female block sidewall, and the height of either said rectangular projection (8) or said terminal part (10) are equal to the height of a female block (1) sidewall, so that each terminal block (6) can fill in half the hollow space of a female block and a symmetrical part extending outside the top surface of said female block (1) can fill in half the hollow space of a second female block (1), said two female blocks (1) having their top faces facing each other. The terminal block (6) is used for filling empty spaces and allows a complete finishing to the modular structure.

(40) In another preferred embodiment, the set of female and male blocks further comprise a filling block (11) to extend the modular system in height, width or length, like exemplified in FIG. 5d-e. Each filling block (11) is a reflection of the female block (1) along its bottom face, therefore having rectangular indentations (7) on the top and bottom of the piece. The height of a filling block (11) equals two female blocks. The rectangular projections (8) of male blocks (2-5) can thus fit in the rectangular indentations (7) on both sides of the filling blocks (11) and a male block (2-5) may simultaneously fit inside at least two filling blocks (11), each male block (2-5) filling in half the rectangular indentations (7) of at least two filling blocks (11) and thus fixedly connecting said at least two filling blocks (1).

(41) The set of building blocks of the invention is made of a material suitable for the type of modular construction in which the blocks are to be used. In a preferred embodiment, the blocks are made of a light weight material with good resistance to mechanical loads, which makes the blocks stackable and vertically stable but also easy to handle and take apart, preferably cork-based materials, more preferably pressed cork, more preferably pressed cork resulting in blocks weighting between 100 Kg/m3 to 200 Kg/m3, therefore making the blocks suitable for in house building and decoration, particularly for interior walls and furniture. A light weight material with good resistance to mechanical loads makes the blocks stackable and vertically stable but reversible and easy-to-handle.

(42) In another preferred embodiment, are made of a building material suitable for large scale construction, like cement, concrete, clay or other pressed materials, therefore making the blocks suitable for large scale outdoor construction works.

(43) The blocks are sized accordingly with the type of modular construction in which the blocks are to be used, either for small scale and large scale applications. In a preferred embodiment, the cubic female blocks (1) measure between 80 mm and 700 mm in all its sides, and more preferably between 190 mm and 700 mm in all its sides.

(44) Furthermore, the blocks of the present invention may further have wheels to allow modular assemblies to be easily moved or relocated.

(45) The present invention also refers to a method for building changeable modular assemblies which are vertically stable characterized by the combination of the building blocks, wherein at least one female block (1) is used as basic construction unit; at least one male block (2-5) is used to interconnect female blocks in a linear, L-shaped, T-shaped, or cross-shaped arrangement; at least one filling block (11) is used between male blocks to increase modular panel width, length or height; female blocks, male blocks and filling blocks are interconnected in any desired orientation until a desirable length, width and height of the modular assembly is achieved; at least one terminal block (6) is used to fit in at least one female block (1) and fill in empty spaces in the extremities of the assembly to form a straight edge; and by differently combining the female block (1), the male blocks (1-5), the filling block (11) and the terminal block (6), any type of tridimensional modular assembly can be obtained. This method allows disassembling and re-assembling any structure in a different configuration using the same set of building blocks.

(46) The blocks of the invention have internal and external finishes that are complete. Thus, after construction of a structure, there is no additional need to fill in spaces, paint, hang wallpaper or otherwise treat the outer and inner walls of the final structure to keep it stable.

(47) Several modular systems for building walls or furniture have been created so far, none of the existing modules nevertheless allowing for an easy-to-lock changeable modular assembly combined with an interlocking system which guarantees the stability of the modular structure and that it does not get out of plumb with increased height. The strength of the interlocking mechanism of the present invention relies on the semi-hollow cubical structure of the female blocks (1) and filling blocks (11) and on its rectangular indentations (7) having a depth which is half the height of the cube wall and a width which is one third of the width of the cube sidewall, combined with the male-female fitting properties of the building system. Because a female block (1) may simultaneously fit in its rectangular indentations (7) two male blocks (2-5), and the size of the male blocks is such that when they fit inside at least two female blocks (1), half the eight of the rectangular projections (8) and half the height of the web (9) of said male blocks (2-5) is inside the at least two female blocks (1), and a symmetrical portion extends outside the top surface of the female blocks (2) and can fit inside another at least two female blocks (1), and thus fixedly connect said at least two female blocks (1).

(48) The proportion of the indentions relative to the whole body of the blocks, along with the multiple fitting of the male parts of this locking system thus provides a robust support for the successive stacking, without putting too much tension on the locking projections of the male blocks (2-5) and guaranteeing the vertical stability with increased height, unlike the traditional modular systems.

(49) Although different building materials can be used according to different construction uses, light weighted materials make the blocks of the invention perfectly adapted for interior design in a do-it-yourself basis, easy to assemble, with no tools, no screws and no glues, and in a completely dynamic and interchangeable manner, easily mounting and dismounting the modular structure.

(50) The invention offers the possibility for any person to dynamically create walls, divisions in open spaces, shelves, beds, tables, chairs, and almost all kinds of furniture to be used in any home, office, garden, or public building. Furthermore, it allows the construction of floating devices.

(51) Several lightweight materials can be used to obtain the building blocks of the invention. Nevertheless, by preferably using cork or cork-based materials, desirable strength and stability in vertical stacking is combined with versatility and with the well known properties of the cork, like soundproofing, thermic isolation, impermeability, buoyancy, elasticity, fire retardant, antimicrobial effects, aesthetic characteristics and easy to clean.

(52) Moreover, by using a natural, long-lasting and 100% recyclable raw material, and through a set of building blocks which can be combined in a completely versatile manner as many times has you like, a sustainable and eco-friendly building alternative is provided particularly for interior building and furniture design.

(53) By differently combining the seven blocks of the invention in an easy, dynamic and renewable way, no additional tools or fixing means are required in order to build all kinds and sizes of tridimensional structures.