Abstract
A stackable block is provided which may be constructed as a traditional toy or as a beverage container. The block includes six sides. Furthermore, the block includes at least one projection which projects from one of the block's sides. Each projection is square so as to include a face and four sidewalls. Furthermore, it is preferred that each projection include a ridge forming a recess between the square projection's face and a block's side. Furthermore, each block includes at least one slot formed into one of the block's sides. This slot extends the entire side of a block and forms an elongate cavity sized for receipt of a projection. Preferably, each slot includes parallel opposed flanges sized to project into a projection's recesses.
Claims
1. A stackable block comprising: a body having six sides including parallel opposing front and back sides, parallel opposing left and right sides, and parallel opposing top and bottom sides; at least one projection projecting from at least one of said sides, said projection having an face and four sidewalls so that said projection has a square cross-section, said projection's face includes an edge which extends uniformly beyond all four of the projection's four sidewalls to form a recess between said edge and said adjacent block side so that recess is formed into all four sidewalls; at least one slot having a length and a width and wherein said slot is formed into one of said body's sides, said slot's length extending the entirety of said body's side to form a cavity that extends from one side of said body to an opposing side of said body, said slot also including opposed flanges that extend over the cavity with the distance between said flanges defining said slot's width, said slot being rectangular wherein said slot's length is greater than said slot's width; and said slot's width sized to receive a projection of other like stackable blocks in two different press-fit attachment positions wherein said projection and said slot are sized and configured so that said projection can affix to a slot of other like stackable blocks in a first attachment position, and so that said projection can affix to a slot of other like stackable blocks in a second attachment position wherein said projection is rotated 90 as compared to the first position, and wherein said projection's square edge and said slot's flanges being sized so as prevent said projection from disengaging from a slot of other like stackable blocks when affixed in either the first or second attachment positions.
2. The stackable block of claim 1 wherein said block comprises at least two slots wherein a first of said slots is formed into a first side, and a second of said slots is formed into a second side adjacent to said first side.
3. The stackable block of claim 1 wherein said block includes a first side having at least two of said projections, a second side having at least two of said slots, and a third side adjoining said second side having at least one slot.
4. The stackable block of claim 1 wherein said block is constructed as a beverage container including a central cavity, a beverage in said central cavity, an opening formed into said top side, and a removable cap covering said opening.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is atop, right perspective view of a first embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention constructed to function as a beverage container containing two pairs of projections on opposing sidewalls and two pairs of slots on opposing sidewalls;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top, right perspective view illustrating three stackable blocks of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 stacked together;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view illustrating seven stackable blocks illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 stacked together;
[0025] FIG. 5 is atop, right perspective view of a second embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention configured as a beverage container containing two pairs of projections on adjacent sidewalls and two pairs of slots on adjacent sidewalls;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating three stackable blocks of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 affixed together;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a front, top perspective view of a third embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention configured as a beverage container wherein four sides include a single projection and a single slot;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block illustrated in FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating three stackable blocks illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 stacked together;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a fourth embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention configured as a toy having two pairs of projections extending from opposing sidewalls, two pairs of slots formed into opposing sidewalls, a single projection formed upon the top side, and a slot formed in the bottom side;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block illustrated in FIG. 11;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating six stackable blocks of the type illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 stacked together;
[0034] FIG. 14 is atop, front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention configured as a toy wherein two projections are formed on adjacent sidewalls, two slots are formed into adjacent sidewalls, a single projection projects from the top side, and a single slot is formed into the bottom side;
[0035] FIG. 15 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block of FIG. 14;
[0036] FIG. 16 is perspective view illustrating four stackable blocks of the type illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 stacked together;
[0037] FIG. 17 is atop, front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the stackable block of the present invention configured as a toy wherein four sides include a single projection and single slot, the top includes a single projection, and the bottom includes a single slot;
[0038] FIG. 18 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the stackable block illustrated in FIG. 17;
[0039] FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating three stackable blocks of the type illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 stacked together; and
[0040] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating seven stackable blocks of the type illustrated in the FIGS. 17 and 18 stacked together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment of various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
[0042] With reference to FIGS. 1-20, the stackable block 1 of the present invention includes six sides 3 including a front side 5, rear 7, left side 9, right side 11, top side 13 and a bottom side 15. The stackable block further includes at least one projection 21 projecting from one of the sides. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, each projection 21 has four sides referred to herein as sidewalls 23. Furthermore, each projection has a face 25 which is preferably planar and parallel to the block's nearby side. Preferably, each sidewall 23 has a region which extends to form an edge 27 and a recess 29 which extends entirely around the square projection between the projection's face 25 and the block's nearby side 3. The stackable block may include any number of projections 21 projecting from a block's side 3. However, as illustrated in the figures, it is preferred that a side includes two projections 21.
[0043] The block 1 of the present invention further includes at least one slot 35 formed into one of the block's sides 3. The slot 35 preferably extends the entire width or length of a block side. Furthermore, the slot forms an elongate cavity 37 sized to receive a projection 21. As illustrated in the figures including FIG. 7, preferably each slot includes opposed flanges 39 which extends inwardly and are formed towards the slot's middle to narrow the slots cavity 37.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a stackable block square projection 21 is sized to slide into a similar block's slot 35. The slot's flanges 39 are sized to extend into the block's square projection recess 29. Preferably, the projection and slot are sized so as to provide a press-fit arrangement so as to prevent detachment of one block from another, but also to restrict rotation of one block relative to another when two blocks are mated.
[0045] Advantageously, the square shape of the projection 21 allows one to affix two stackable blocks together in a first position. Due to the projection's square profile and press-fit arrangement, the stackable blocks are locked together with their relative rotation limited. However, the blocks 1 can be disengaged by sliding a block and its projection from another block's slot. Thereafter, the block and its projection can be rotated 90 about the center of the projection. Once rotated, the projection 21 can once again be slid into the slot 35 of the similar block and lock into a second position. Once again as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 and 20, the blocks are locked together due to the projection edges residing behind the slot flanges.
[0046] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-20, the interlocking blocks may be constructed in a wide variety of embodiments. For example, FIGS. 1-12 illustrate that the interlocking blocks can be constructed as beverage bottles. These embodiments include a top side 13 having a threaded inlet 43 for receiving a female threaded cap (not shown). For these embodiments, the interlocking block 1 is hollow to form a central chamber for accepting a liquid. Alternatively, as illustrate in FIGS. 13-20, the stackable blocks 1 may be constructed as traditional stackable toys which do not have an inlet for receiving and expelling a beverage. Instead of a threaded inlet, the block's top side 13 may include a slot. However, it is preferred that a toy block top include a projection 21 sized and formed for locking to a slot 35 formed into the block's bottom side 15.
[0047] In a first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the stackable block 1 of the present invention includes a pair of projections 21 projecting from the blocks front side 5 and backside 7, and includes a pair of slots 35 formed into the block's left side 9 and right side 11. The block also includes a single slot formed into the block's bottom 15, and a threaded inlet 43 formed upon the block's top side for use as a beverage container.
[0048] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, the stackable block 1 includes two pairs of projections formed into adjoining sides, which are illustrated as the front side and right side. The block includes two pairs of slots 35 illustrated as formed into the back side 7 and left side 9. The block further includes a single slot 35 formed into the block's bottom 15, and a threaded inlet 43 formed at the block's top 13. Still an additional stackable block for use as a beverage container is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. In this embodiment, the front side 5, back side 7, left side 9, and right side 11 include a single projection 21 and single slot 35. However, whether the projection or slot is positioned closer to the block's top or bottom is alternated in adjacent sides. Again, the block's bottom 15 includes a single slot 35 and the block's top includes a threaded inlet 43.
[0049] Meanwhile, FIGS. 11-20 illustrate stackable block embodiments for use as traditional toys, but not as beverage containers. In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, the stackable block includes a pair of projections 21 projecting from the opposing front side 5 and back side 7. Conversely, the block's left 11 and right side 9 are formed to include slots 35. Meanwhile, the block's top 13 includes a single projection and the block's bottom 15 includes a single slot 35. FIGS. 14-16 illustrate a similar stackable toy block 1. However, instead of the pair of projections 21 projecting from opposing sidewalls and the pair of slots formed into opposing sidewalls, the two pairs of projections project from adjoining sidewalls (illustrated as front side and right side), and the two pairs of slots 35 are formed into adjoining sidewalls (illustrated as back side 7 and left side 9).
[0050] Finally, FIGS. 17-20 illustrate still an additional stackable block 1 of the present invention. For this embodiment, the front side 5, back side 7, left side 9, and right side 11 include a single square projection 21 and a single slot 35. Whether the projection or slot is closer to the top side 13 or bottom side 15 is alternated in adjacent sides. Furthermore, the top includes a single square projection 21 and the bottom side 15 includes a single slot 35.
[0051] While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, each of the preferred embodiments includes a block having a side with two square projections and another side having two parallel slots. However, equally preferred embodiments may include only a single square projection or a single slot. Alternatively, the slots may be arranged to extend perpendicular to one another, as opposed to parallel. Moreover, stackable blocks may include sides having three or more projections, or three or more slots which, again, may be parallel or perpendicular to one another. Since the present invention encompasses numerous embodiments not described or illustrated, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to be limited except by the following claims. Having described my invention in such terms so as to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention, recreate the invention and practice it, and having presently identified the presently preferred embodiments thereof,
