Learning-based system comprising stackable building blocks

Abstract

A learning-based building block system is described. The learning-based building block system comprises at least two stackable blocks. The at least two stackable blocks may include: a first stackable block having a cube configuration, a second stackable building block having a sprocket configuration, a third stackable building block having a half-pipe configuration, and a fourth stackable building block having a table configuration. The configuration of each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth stackable block is unique.

Claims

1. A building block system comprising: at least a first block having an X-shaped sprocket configuration and a second block having an X-shaped table configuration, the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprising a first side disposed opposite a second side and four radial spheres located equidistant from a center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration, wherein the first side of each of the four radial spheres of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises a convex portion, wherein the second side of each of the four radial spheres of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises a concave portion, and wherein the second side of the center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises a concave portion, and the X-shaped table configuration comprising four cylindrical legs located equidistant from a center of the X-shaped table configuration, wherein each of the four cylindrical legs of the X-shaped table configuration comprises a convex foot, wherein the four cylindrical legs of the X-shaped table configuration form an arch spanning a periphery of the X-shaped table configuration such that the arch forms a concave tabletop disposed opposite each of the convex feet, and wherein the convex feet of the four cylindrical legs of the X-shaped table configuration are received by the concave portion of second side of each of the four radial spheres of the X-shaped sprocket configuration in a ball-in-socket configuration.

2. The building block system of claim 1, further comprising: a third block having a third shape, wherein the third shape comprises a half-pipe configuration.

3. The building block system of claim 2, wherein the half-pipe configuration comprises rounded corners.

4. A learning-based building block system comprising: a first block having a cube configuration, wherein the cube configuration of the first block is a concavely-rounded cube configuration comprising: six sides of equal dimension; eight circular corners of equal dimension projecting radially from a center of the concavely-rounded cube configuration; convex surfaces; and concave surfaces, wherein the convex surfaces match the concave surfaces via a ball-in-socket configuration; a second building block comprising an X-shaped sprocket configuration, the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprising: a first side disposed opposite a second side; and four radial spheres located equidistant from a center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration, wherein the first side of each of the four radial spheres comprises a convex portion, wherein the second side of each of the four radial spheres comprises a concave portion, and wherein the second side of the center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises the concave portion; a third building block having a half-pipe configuration; and a fourth building block comprising an X-shaped having a table configuration, the X-shaped table configuration comprising: four cylindrical legs located equidistant from a center of the X-shaped table configuration, wherein each of the four cylindrical legs comprises a convex foot, wherein the four cylindrical legs form an arch spanning a periphery of the X-shaped table configuration such that the arch forms a concave tabletop disposed opposite each of the convex feet, and wherein the convex feet of the four cylindrical legs of the X-shaped table configuration are received by the concave portion of second side of each of the four radial spheres of the X-shaped sprocket configuration in a ball-in-socket configuration.

5. The learning-based building block system of claim 4, wherein the half-pipe configuration of the third building block comprises rounded corners.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a first embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a front elevational view thereof of a first embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a rear elevational view thereof of a first embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a second embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts a bottom perspective view thereof of a second embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts a side view thereof of a second embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 depicts a top view thereof of a second embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 depicts a bottom view thereof of a second embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a third embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 10 depicts a bottom perspective view thereof of a third embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 11 depicts a front elevational view thereof of a third embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 12 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 13 depicts a bottom perspective view thereof of a fourth embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 14 depicts a side view thereof of a fourth embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 15 depicts a top view thereof of a fourth embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 16 depicts a bottom view thereof of a fourth embodiment of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

(18) Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

(19) FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 depict perspective views of a first embodiment 100 of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(20) The first embodiment 100 of the stackable building block comprises a cube configuration or shape. In examples, the cube configuration is a concavely-rounded cube configuration having six sides 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D, 102E, and 102F of equal dimension (as depicted in FIG. 1). The concavely-rounded cube configuration of the first embodiment 100 may also have eight circular corners of equal dimension projecting radially from a center 104 of the concavely-rounded cube configuration (as depicted in FIG. 1). In examples, the center 104 may be a concave surface. Further, the concavely-rounded cube configuration comprises convex surfaces and concave surfaces matching via a ball-in-socket configuration. As depicted in FIG. 1, the concave surfaces include 106A, 106E, and 106F and the convex surfaces include 106B, 106C, and 106D. As depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the concave surfaces include 106A and 106D and the convex surfaces include 106B and 106C.

(21) FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 depict perspective views of a second embodiment 200 of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(22) The second embodiment 200 of the stackable building block comprises a sprocket configuration. In examples, the sprocket configuration is an X-shaped sprocket configuration, as depicted in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8. The X-shaped sprocket configuration has a first side 202A (of FIG. 4 and FIG. 7) disposed opposite a second side 202B (of FIG. 5 and FIG. 8). The X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises four radial spheres 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D located equidistant from a center 206 (as depicted in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7) of the X-shaped sprocket configuration.

(23) The first side 202A of each of the four radial spheres 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D comprises a concave portion 208A, 208B, 208C, and 208D, respectively. The concave portion 208A is associated with the radial sphere 204A, the concave portion 208B is associated with the radial sphere 204B, the concave portion 208C is associated with the radial sphere 204C, and the concave portion 208D is associated with the radial sphere 204D.

(24) The second side 202B of each of the four radial spheres 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D comprises a convex portion 210A, 210B, 210C, and 210D (as depicted in FIG. 8), respectively. The convex portion 210A corresponds to the radial sphere 204A, the convex portion 210B corresponds to the radial sphere 204B, the convex portion 210C corresponds to the radial sphere 204C, and the convex portion 210D corresponds to the radial sphere 204D. Further, as depicted in FIG. 8, the second side 202B of a center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises a concave portion 212. It should also be appreciated that the first side 202A of the center of the X-shaped sprocket configuration comprises a concave portion (not shown) corresponding to the concave portion 212.

(25) FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 depict perspective views of a third embodiment 300 of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(26) The third embodiment 300 of the stackable building block comprises a shape having a half-pipe configuration. As shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the half-pipe configuration comprises rounded corners 302A, 302B disposed opposite one another.

(27) FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16 depict perspective view of a fourth embodiment 400 of a stackable building block, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(28) The fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building block comprises a shape having a table configuration. The table configuration is an X-shaped table configuration, as depicted in at least FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. This X-shaped table configuration comprises four legs 408A, 408B, 408C, and 408D, as depicted in at least FIG. 13. In examples, each of the four legs 408A, 408B, 408C, and 408D are cylindrical legs located equidistant from a center 410 (as depicted in FIG. 12, FIG. 14, and FIG. 15) of the X-shaped table configuration.

(29) As depicted in at least FIG. 13 and FIG. 16, each of the four legs 408A, 408B, 408C, and 408D comprises a convex foot 402A, 402B, 402C, and 402D, respectively. The convex foot 402A corresponds to the leg 408A, the convex foot 402B corresponds to the leg 408B, convex foot 402C corresponds to the leg 408C, and convex foot 402D corresponds to the leg 408D. As depicted in FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, the four legs 408A, 408B, 408C, and 408D form an arch 404 spanning a periphery of the X-shaped table configuration that forms a concave tabletop 406. The concave tabletop 406 is disposed opposite each of the convex feet 402A, 402B, 402C, and 402D.

(30) A building block system comprising at least two stackable building blocks of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 is contemplated. In other examples, the building block system comprises the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks described infra in FIG. 1-FIG. 16. The unique shapes of each of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks allows the stackable building blocks to stack, interlock with one another, and sit securely in each other's shape. Moreover, the unique shapes of each of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks allows a child to build an infinite number of shapes and configurations outright.

(31) It should be appreciated that any of the concave surfaces of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks may engage any of the convex surfaces of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks to interconnect a first stackable building block to a second stackable building block.

(32) As an illustrative example, one or more of the convex surfaces 106B, 106C, and 106D of the first embodiment 100 of the stackable building block may engage one or more of the concave portions 208A, 208B, 208C, and 208D of the first side 202A of each of the four radial spheres 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D, respectively, of the second embodiment 200 of the stackable building block to stack or connect the first embodiment 100 of the stackable building block to the second embodiment 200 of the stackable building block. In another illustrative example, the convex portions 210A, 210B, 210C, and 210D of each of the four radial spheres 204A, 204B, 204C, and 204D on the second side 202B of the second embodiment 200 of the stackable building blocks may engage the concave tabletop 406 of the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building block. It should be appreciated that limitless configurations and interconnections are contemplated between the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks that are not explicitly listed herein.

(33) In examples, the building block system is a learning-based building block system that may be used for teaching, engaging a child's brain, play-based learning, improving a child's gross motor skills, improving a child's fine motor skills, teaching a child about physics in a tangible and kinesthetic way, and/or outdoor or playground landscaping.

(34) In some examples, each of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks is a large, outdoor learning based building block. In this example, the building block system may be used outside (e.g., on a playground or a school yard). In another example, each of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks is smaller in size, allowing a child to play with each of the first embodiment 100, the second embodiment 200, the third embodiment 300, and/or the fourth embodiment 400 of the stackable building blocks inside and on a table top setting. In this example, the child may engage with the stackable building blocks inside of a classroom, a library, or a house.

(35) When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

(36) Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.