HOLLOW INTERCONNECTING PRISM BLOCKS

Abstract

This disclosure provides hollow interconnecting prism blocks that affix together to build structures, a wall, foundation, floor, building, flotation device, gardening structure, artificial coral reefs, or toy. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks comprises a designed wall thickness, depending on the material structure of the block to create the hollow center space, whereas human hands can manipulate mechanical hardware inside two adjacent blocks to affix the blocks together. At least two faces have center face holes and connecting holes, whereas the hardware affixing the blocks together remains inside the hollow areas of the blocks, and inside the connecting holes of the blocks being connected together. Connecter couplings may be used to affix the blocks together. The center holes allow for materials such as pipes, wires, conduit, and rebar to pass through two or more blocks. Two or more connected hollow interconnected prism blocks can also be filled with fortifying material.

Claims

1. A 12-inch hollow interconnecting prism block comprised of cementitious materials, comprised of six faces, comprising a wall thickness of a proximate 1.5-inches, a proximate 9-inch cubed hollow center space inside the body of the block, a proximate 4.5-inch face center hole proximate the center area of each face, wherein each face center hole passes through the blocks outface and through the wall thickness and through to the inside hollow center space, wherein a proximate 0.75-inch connecting hole is proximate each vertex of each side, whereas each connecting hole passes through the blocks face and through the wall thickness and through to the blocks hollow center space inside the body of the block, wherein from human hands entering inside of the hollow center spaces from the side center holes can manipulate mechanical hardware in and around at least one connecting hole inside the hollow center spaces of each of the blocks, wherein the first end of a threaded rod will remain in the first block, while the second end of the threaded rod passes through one of the connecting holes, through the wall thickness of the first block followed by passing through the wall thickness of the second block and out of the connecting hole of the second block and into the hollow center space of the second block, whereas each end of the threaded rod passes through a flat washer having a diameter larger than the connecting hole, then winding a nut onto each end of the threaded rod to firmly affix the two blocks together, wherein mechanical and electrical utilities can pass through a plurality of connected blocks.

2. A hollow interconnecting prism block, comprised of at least five faces, wherein at least three faces comprise at least three parallelogram faces, and two faces comprise a top face and a bottom face, whereas the top face and bottom face are known as bases, whereas the hollow interconnecting prism block is named after the shape of these bases, wherein the block comprises a wall thickness, a hollow center space inside the body of the block, a face center hole proximate the center area of each face, vertex connecting holes and edge connecting holes, whereas all the holes on the block passes though the faces and wall thicknesses to the inside hollow center space, wherein human hands can enter inside of the hollow center spaces of each block from the side center holes, wherein can manipulate mechanical hardware in and around at least one connecting hole to affix at least one connecting hole of the first block to a connecting hole of the second block with mechanical hardware, whereas a human hand can manipulate the threaded end of a bolt to pass through a washer that has a larger diameter than that of the connecting hole, wherein the threaded end of the bolt continues to be manipulated to pass through one of the connecting holes, and continues to be manipulated to pass through the wall thickness of the first block and then through the wall thickness of the second block, wherein the threaded end of the bolt is further manipulated to enters into the hollow center space of the second block, then with the manipulation of a second hand in the hollow center space of the second block, manipulates the threaded end of the bolt to pass through a washer having a diameter larger than that of the connecting hole, followed by winding a nut onto the end of the bolt, thereby physically connecting the two blocks together.

3. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of face interconnecting holes proximate to each face corner.

4. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 1, wherein each face further comprises four face edges and one or more face edge holes proximate to one or more of the face edges.

5. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 1, further comprising at least one faceplate.

6. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 5, wherein at least one faceplate is connected to one face of any side or base of the block.

7. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 1, wherein at least two faces comprise a face center hole and at least one connecting hole proximate each vertex of the at least two faces comprising a face center hole.

9. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 1, wherein the hardware is selected from the group consisting of a bolt, a washer, a nut, threaded rod, a plastic insert, metal insert, rubber sleeve, and a toggle bolt.

10. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of claim 5, wherein the first hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a third face, the method further comprising attaching a faceplate to the third face.

11. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, further comprising one or more pipes within the center holes of two or more hollow interconnecting prism blocks.

12. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, further comprising one or more wires within the center holes of two or more hollow interconnecting prism blocks.

13. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, further comprising conduit within the center holes of two or more hollow interconnecting prism blocks.

14. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, wherein the blocks are comprised of a material or materials selected from the group consisting of cementitious materials, cement, metal, plastic, glass, cloth, thread, rubber, sponge, liquid, gas, and earthen materials.

15. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is filled with a material, or a combination of materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, sand, cement, water, gravel, metal, rock, insulation, or a combination thereof.

16. The hollow interconnecting prism block structure of claim 1, wherein the hollow interconnecting prism blocks are connected together to form a structure, such as a seawall, wall, foundation, garden, artificial coral reef, or flotation device.

17. A method of manufacturing a hollow interconnecting prism block, for making cuboid sandbags of cloth-like materials, wherein the cloth-like materials utilized for the sides of the cuboid sandbags, whereas the six proximate 12-inch square sides are sewn together around the edges of all sides and vertexes to manufacture a block having six sides, whereas each block has a total of six sides, which includes four side faces having a diameter of about 4.5-inches, a top end base, and a bottom end base, wherein each cloth-like material face has a side center hole, a connecting hole proximate each vertex, and a connecting hole proximate to each edge on all sides of the block, wherein mechanical hardware can be manipulated with human hands from within the hollow center spaces, using the mechanical hardware to affix the blocks together via the connecting holes of each of the blocks to be assembled, to build a sandbag structure.

18. A method of claim 17 wherein gasket material may be installed on at least one face of the block or between two blocks.

19. A method of claim 17 wherein face side holes and face connecting holes may have rims comprised of non-cloth materials, such as plastic, rubber, metal materials, or a combination thereof.

20. A method of claim 17, whereas faceplates may be attached to the exterior of the blocks comprised of cloth-like materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a hollow interconnecting prism block having four parallelogram faces, one bottom base face and one top base face, with parallelogram face center holes and parallelogram face vertex connecting holes that pass through the exterior faces of the block and through the wall thickness to the hollow center space.

[0016] FIG. 2 depicts a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of two hollow interconnecting prism blocks adjacent to each other and becoming assembled together with mechanical hardware, securing the blocks together with the threaded rod passing through the connecting holes and through the washers, and nuts becoming affixed to each end of the threaded rod, assembled inside the hollow center space of each of the two blocks.

[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of 45 hollow interconnecting prism blocks assembled together with mechanical hardware, with plastic pipes, metal wires, metal pipes, and rebar passing through the structure, through the length, width, and height of the structure.

[0018] FIG. 4 depicts a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of two plastic hollow interconnecting prism blocks having the hole pattern of a pipe flange, with an internal view of threaded rods, washers, and nuts being used to physically connect the blocks together inside the hollow center spaces of each of the two blocks.

[0019] FIG. 5 depicts a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of one plastic hollow interconnecting prism block having five faces, comprised of three parallelogram faces, a top face, and a bottom face, whereas FIG. 5 also displays a faceplate affixed to one of the parallelograms faces with mechanical hardware.

[0020] FIG. 6 depicts a three-dimensional view of the process of manufacturing a hollow interconnecting prism block by using a block mold with a hollow center space and outward protrusions placed in a container, wherein cementitious materials can encapsulate the block mold to produce a hollow interconnecting prism block.

[0021] FIG. 7 depicts a method of manufacturing a hollow interconnecting prism block comprised of cloth-like materials, by sewing the cloth-like materials together, whereas the face holes and face connecting holes may have rims comprised of non-cloth materials, such as plastic, rubber, metal materials, or a combination thereof, wherein there is the ability to install faceplates or gaskets for added strength, and having the option to install a plastic gasket between two or more blocks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] This disclosure provides hollow interconnecting prism blocks that can be made of a variety of materials and have a variety of applications. More specifically, this disclosure provides hollow interconnecting prism blocks that can be connected together mechanically on each face of a hollow interconnecting prism block and/or connected together by gluing hollow pipes inside the face center holes and face interconnecting holes.

[0023] As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated items. As used herein, the terms a, an, and the mean one or more, unless contextually or specifically indicated otherwise. As used herein, the term about means +/10% of a stated value. As used herein, the term end face or end faces or the term base or bases or the term top side or bottom side refer to the face or side faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block that may or not be parallelograms. As used herein, the term blocks and block refer to the hollow interconnecting prism block. As used herein, the term faces and face refer to the exterior portion of the sides or side of the hollow interconnecting prism block, whereas each face is comprised of an exterior face a wall thickness and an interior face.

[0024] As the climate on the Earth continues to change and sea levels continue to rise, stronger and higher retaining walls and seawalls are needed to protect coastal communities. The hollow interconnecting prism block of this disclosure can be used to build stronger and taller retaining walls and seawalls that can be filled with fortifying materials, to produce hollow interconnecting prism block structures, and that can make structures and foundations for earth and vegetation to produce salt marshes and mangroves, watersheds and drainage basins, and gardens for indigenous plants, eatable plants, and/or places for animals to thrive. The design of the hollow interconnecting prism block allows for objects to be passed through the center face holes of the hollow interconnecting prism blocks before filling the hollow interconnecting prism blocks with material(s). For example, metal pipes, plastic pipes, electrical wires, conduit, rebar, insulation, and other materials can be passed through the side face center holes of one or more of the connected hollow interconnecting prism blocks prior to filling the hollow interconnecting prism block structure with fortifying material(s), if desired. Walls created with hollow interconnecting prism blocks manufactured with the aforementioned hollow interconnecting prism block of this disclosure are unlike any other hollow interconnecting prism block in previous existence.

[0025] This disclosure provides methods to manufacture hollow interconnecting prism blocks and structures. Each hollow interconnecting prism block has a number of faces that are parallelogram faces, and two end faces also known as the top end face and the bottom end face, whereas the two end faces comprise at least three vertices with face center holes and at least three face interconnecting holes on the faces designed to have holes.

[0026] Unlike existing hollow interconnecting prism blocks, any face of the hollow interconnecting prism block with interconnecting holes of this disclosure can be connected to another hollow interconnecting prism block with holes of the same configuration or can be physically mounted to an existing structure. In other words, hollow interconnecting prism blocks of this disclosure can be connected on any parallelogram face or any end face of a hollow interconnecting prism block of the same configuration of holes.

[0027] Embodiments of the hollow interconnecting prism blocks have at least two faces that have face center holes and face interconnecting holes.

[0028] In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block has three parallelogram faces (referred to herein as triangular) and two end faces. The end faces refer to faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block on the top face and bottom face of the block. In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block has four parallelogram faces (referred to as rectangular) and two end faces. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block has five parallelogram faces (referred to as pentagonal) and two end faces. In additional embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block has six parallelogram faces with holes (referred to as hexagonal) and two end faces. In still further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block has more than six parallelogram faces and has two end faces, whereas end faces are also known as bases.

[0029] Each parallelogram face of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprises four vertices and four edges. One or more faces, and/or end faces of a hollow interconnecting prism blocks comprise a center hole around its center. In some embodiments, the end faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprise three or more vertices and three or more edges. In some embodiments, one end face or both end faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprise a center hole around its center. In some embodiments, each center hole on a face aligns with the center hole on the opposite face. In some embodiments, one or more connecting holes are located proximate to each vertex of each face. In some embodiments, one or more edge connecting holes are located proximate to the middle of one or more edges of the faces. The orientation and location of the vertex connecting holes and edge connecting holes varies. In some embodiments, the center hole, vertex connecting hole, or edge connecting hole is round. In other embodiments, the center hole, vertex connecting hole, or edge connecting hole is not round.

[0030] In some embodiments, all of the faces and end faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprise a center hole. In other embodiments, all of the faces and end faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprise a center hole and one or more connecting holes. In further embodiments, some faces and/or some end faces have center holes, or connecting holes, or both. In some embodiments, one face or one end face of the hollow interconnecting prism block has no center hole and no connecting holes. In other embodiments, two faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In further embodiments, one face and one end face of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In still further embodiments, three faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In yet further embodiments, one face and two end faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In additional embodiments, two faces and one end face of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In some embodiments, four faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In some embodiments, two faces and two end faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes. In some embodiments, three faces and one end face of the hollow interconnecting prism block have no center hole and no connecting holes.

[0031] The center holes allow materials to pass through the hollow interconnecting prism block's hollow center space and through the hollow center holes, in different directions, through the center holes on the block to either the hollow center space of an adjacent block though the face center hole or pass to the free air, with the number of possible directions depending on the number of faces that particular hollow interconnecting prism block has. The center holes also allow hollow interconnecting prism blocks to be filled with material(s), or choose to allow the interior of the hollow interconnecting prism blocks to remain hollow. For example, multiple hollow interconnecting prism blocks could be connected together and then filled with sand, concrete, mud, rocks, gravel, water, insulation, gaseous materials, fluids, flotation materials, etc., or the hollow interconnecting prism block would remain with a hollow interior. A structure comprised of plastic materials, with the inside of the wall thickness comprised of foam insulation, may be designed to float on water.

[0032] In some embodiments, the surfaces of the faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block are flat and have holes. In some embodiments, the surfaces of the faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block are smooth and have holes. In other embodiments, one or more surfaces of a hollow interconnecting prism block are rough and have holes. In further embodiments, one or more surfaces of a hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a nonslip coating, bumps, ridges, or grooves and have holes.

[0033] The hollow interconnecting prism block can be made of any suitable material, depending on the application of the block and the structure being constructed. Strong, consistent materials with a high load carrying ability and resistant to stresses can be used to make the hollow interconnecting prism block. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise 6061 aluminum. In certain embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise 7050 aluminum. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise cement. In certain embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise hydraulic cement. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise cementitious materials. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise glass. In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise plastic. In certain embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise high-density polyethylene (HDPE or No. 2 plastic). In still further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise clear plastic. In additional embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise silicone. In additional embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise polyvinyl chloride. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise metal or alloy. In certain embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise aluminum, copper, brass, or stainless steel. In additional embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise wood and/or wood products. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise cloth. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise insulation. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise rubber. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise flexible rubber. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise nitrile. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise sponge. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise ceramic. In some embodiments, walls or floors or other structures constructed with hollow interconnecting prism block comprising the hollow interconnecting prism block are made of a material and filled with another material. The walls or floors or structures comprising the hollow interconnecting prism block may be filled with air, floatable foam, insulation, or a cementitious material, or another material. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise a combination of materials described herein.

[0034] The faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block can be thick or thin depending on the application of the block and the structure being manufactured or built. In some embodiments, the face or faces are thin. In other embodiments, the face or faces are thick. In further embodiments, the face or faces have a thickness ranging from about 1 mil to about 12. In some embodiment, the faces comprise an inner wall and an outer wall. In some embodiments, the faces comprise an inner wall and an outer wall and are hollow in between the inner wall and outer wall. In further embodiments, the faces are filled with a material between the inner wall and outer wall. In still other embodiments, the blocks manufactured with hollow interconnecting prism blocks are partially hollow, so that the only unfilled part of the blocks are the vertex connecting holes, edge connecting holes, center holes, and center hollow space inside of the block.

[0035] The size of the holes can have a variety of sizes. The size of holes may vary on each face. The size of the connecting holes may be of a different size of the center hole on the same face or on different faces. Holes of one block may be connected to another block with a separate pipe or pipes that connects between the two blocks.

[0036] The hollow interconnecting prism block can have a variety of sizes. In some embodiments, the blocks have edges that are uniform length. In other embodiments, the blocks have one length on the edges of the end faces and a different length along the edges of the parallelogram faces that are not part of the end but are the edges between parallelogram faces.

[0037] In some embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 20 feet. In other embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 15 feet. In further embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 10 feet. In still further embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 8 feet. In other embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 6 feet. In some embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 4 feet. In some embodiments, the block range in size from about 1 foot to about 3 feet.

[0038] In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism blocks range in size from about 1 inch to about 48 inches. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block range in size from about 1 inch to about 36 inches. In still further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block range in size from about 1 inch to about 24 inches. In particular embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block range in size from about 1 inch to about 12 inches. In still particular embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block range in size from about 250 mils to about 1 inch.

[0039] In some embodiments, the edges of the block are about 1 foot long. In some embodiments, the edges of the block are between about 1 and about 2 feet long, inclusive. In further embodiments, the edges of the block are between about 2 and about 3 feet long, inclusive. In still further embodiments, the edges of the block are between about 3 and about 4 feet long, inclusive. In yet further embodiments, the edges of the block are between about 4 and about 5 feet long, inclusive. In certain embodiments, the edges of the block are between about 5 and about 6 feet long, inclusive.

[0040] In some embodiments, the edges of the end faces of a block range in size from about 1 inch to about 10 feet and the edges of the parallelogram faces of the block range in size from about 1 inch to about 10 feet.

[0041] In some embodiments, a block further comprises a faceplate attached to a face of the block. A faceplate is designed to protect the inside hollow areas of the block and holes from any material entering into the hollow center space interior structure of the hollow interconnecting prism block and its holes, particularly when the block is being prepared to be filled with liquified self-hardening cementitious materials. A faceplate can also be used to be used as part of a form used to produce the desired shape of structure designed for the hollow interconnecting prism block. A faceplate may be designed to cover the center hole, vertex connecting holes, edge connecting holes, or some combination of center hole, vertex connecting holes, edge connecting holes, as well as creating a boundary for materials designed to fill the hollow interconnecting prism block, such that the materials to encapsulate the hollow interconnecting prism block mold used to manufacture a hollow interconnecting block, as the mold is contained within the area formed by the faceplates, to retain the material(s), such as liquified self-hardening cementitious materials within the desired contents of the faceplates.

[0042] When a faceplate is attached to a face, designed to provide a seal for the exterior end faces on any face of the block having holes, fortifying materials do not pass through the holes on that face, as desired. When a structure is created from interlocked blocks, faceplates can be attached to a plurality of faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block structure prior to filling the space between the hollow interconnecting prism blocks and the faceplates with a fortifying material.

[0043] In some embodiments, a plurality of faceplates is attached to a block or attached to a plurality of blocks. For example, when a wall is created from hollow interconnecting prism blocks, faceplates can be attached to one or more faces of the block. Then, fortifying material can be poured into the center side holes of the wall constructed with the hollow interconnecting prism blocks. The fortifying material will flow inside of the confines of the hollow interconnecting prism block structure, including the hollow center spaces and any face connecting holes and face center holes within the confines established by the faceplates that were mounted to the faces of the blocks. preventing the fortifying material from flowing in undesired directions.

[0044] Faceplates can be made of the same material as the hollow interconnecting prism block to which it attaches or of a different material. In various embodiments, faceplates comprise wood, plastic, HDPE, PVC, rubber, nitrile, glass, metal, metal alloy, aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel, cloth, cementitious materials, ceramic, gasket material, silicone, or combinations thereof.

[0045] In some embodiments, the faceplates are adorned with designs or pictures to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance when attached to interlocked block. In certain embodiments, a plurality of faceplates makes up a large design. For example, a large design can be an image of nature, or a city, or a sequence, or an underwater scene, etc. In other embodiments, each faceplate has its own picture, painting, image, or design on it.

Methods of Connecting Hollow Interconnecting Prism Block

[0046] This disclosure also provides methods of connecting hollow interconnecting prism blocks. The hollow interconnecting prism blocks of this disclosure are designed to be able to be connected or interconnected, internally from within the hollow center space, at the proximation of where two connecting holes meet from two hollow interconnecting prism blocks placed in alignment with each other. The block can be connected on any of the parallelogram faces or bases that have holes to be connected to, whereas the face center holes on the first block become into alignment with the face center holes on the second block, as the face connecting holes from the first block become into alignment with the face connecting holes of the second block.

[0047] This disclosure provides methods for connecting hollow interconnecting prism blocks with hardware. In an embodiment of the method, at least one first connecting hole of a first face of a first hollow interconnecting prism block is aligned with at least one second connecting hole of a second face of a second hollow interconnecting prism block. In some embodiments, the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a first center hole and the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a second center hole, and, during the aligning, the first center hole of the first hollow interconnecting prism block is aligned with the second center hole of the second hollow interconnecting prism block. At least one first connecting hole of the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block is connected to the least one second connecting hole of the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block with hardware, from inside the hollow center spaces of each of the blocks. The hardware has a designed length to exceed the sum of the lengths of the wall thickness for which the hardware will pass through with a portion of the hardware remaining in the hollow center spaces to allow the ends of the mechanical hardware to be affixed with mechanical hardware which will allow the blocks to be affixed together, whereby enabling the mechanical hardware to be passed through the aligned first face connecting hole and second face hole, so that a portion of the hardware remails in each of the hollow interconnecting prism blocks to ensure connections to the ends of the hardware that remain inside the hollow center spaces of each of the blocks will adjoin the blocks together, which may be accomplished by human hands manipulating the hardware, as first hand enters the center side hole of the first block and the second hand enters the center side hole of the second block and manipulates the mechanical hardware to affix the blocks together.

[0048] This disclosure provides methods for connecting hollow interconnecting prism blocks with connection couplings or pipes. In an embodiment of the method, at least one first connecting hole of a first face of a first hollow interconnecting prism block is aligned with at least one second connecting hole of a second face of a second hollow interconnecting prism block. In some embodiments, the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a first center hole and the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block comprises a second center outward hole, and, during the aligning, the first center hole of the first hollow interconnecting prism block is aligned with the second center hole of the second hollow interconnecting prism block. At least one first connecting hole of the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block is connected to the least one second connecting hole of the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block with connection couplings or pipes. The connection couplings or pipes are affixed to the interior of one or more holes of the first hollow interconnecting prism block, as the blocks are in alignment the coupling or pipe becomes affixed to the interior of the one or more holes of the second block.

[0049] Any suitable connecting hardware or connecting couplings can be used. The disclosure provides numerous types of hardware that can be used. There are numerous types of connecting couplings and pipes that can be used, such as in various types of materials and design, such as metal pipes and couplings, PVC pipes and couplings, rubber couplings with band clamps, and other various mechanical exterior couplings. Holes of the first block may also be welded together with the hole of the second, from inside of the block's hollow center space. However, the embodiments provided in the disclosure are not meant to be exhaustive of all possible types of hardware, pipe and couplings, or connecting methods that can be used. In some embodiments, the hardware comprises a screw. In some embodiments, the hardware comprises a nail. In some embodiments, the hardware comprises a bolt and a nut. In other embodiments, the hardware comprises threaded rod and a nut. In still other embodiments, the hardware comprises a washer. In further embodiments, the hardware comprises locking inserts which can be inserted into the at least one first connecting hole of the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block and into the least one second connecting hole of the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block, thereby connecting the two hollow interconnecting prism blocks. In still further embodiments, the hardware comprises mechanical fasteners. In additional embodiments, the hardware comprises grommets. In other embodiments, the hardware comprises inserts, latches, pins, retaining clips, rivets, rivet nuts, socket products, springs, toggle bolts, expandable foam inserts, expandable anchors, concrete anchors, plastic hardware, nuts, washers, and bolts. In some embodiments, the hardware is a combination of any of the hardware described herein, or other suitable hardware.

[0050] In some embodiments, the method comprises connecting a plurality of the first connecting holes of the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block to a plurality of the second connecting holes of the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block. In certain embodiments, the method comprises connecting all of the first connecting holes of the first face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block to all of the second connecting holes of the second face of the second hollow interconnecting prism block. In further embodiments, the method comprises connecting at least one third connecting hole of a third face of the first hollow interconnecting prism block with at least one fourth connecting hole of a fourth face of a third hollow interconnecting prism block.

[0051] In some embodiments, the method comprises connecting two hollow interconnecting prism blocks together. In some embodiments, the method comprises connecting more than two hollow interconnecting prism blocks together. In additional embodiments, the method comprises connecting a plurality of blocks in different directions. In further embodiments, the method comprises connecting more than two hollow interconnecting prism blocks together to build a structure. In some embodiments, the structure is a wall, a floor, a foundation, or a building. In other embodiments, the structure is a floatable raft. In further embodiments, the structure is a garden. In still further embodiments, the structure is an artificial reef.

[0052] In some embodiments, additional materials are used when connecting the hollow interconnecting prism block. In some embodiments, gaskets are placed between connected hollow interconnecting prism blocks. In some embodiments, fusible links and/or a sealant are placed between connected hollow interconnecting prism block to strengthen the bond between the blocks.

[0053] In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism blocks are aligned and fused together by causing plastic coatings on each block to melt and fuse together. In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block can be aligned and glued together. In still other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block can be welded or brazed together. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are connected together without hardware, but with connector couplings connecting the holes of the hollow interconnecting prism block. A person of ordinary skill in the art can envision additional ways to connect the hollow interconnecting prism block of this disclosure. Such connection methods are envisioned within the scope of this disclosure.

[0054] In some embodiments, the method further comprises connecting one or more faceplates to one or more faces of a hollow interconnecting prism block or to one or more faces of one or more interlocked blocks. In such methods, the faceplate is aligned with a face of a hollow interconnecting prism block. Then, the faceplate is attached to cover the center side hole, vertex connecting holes, edge connecting holes, or a combination thereof, of the face with hardware or coupling(s).

[0055] In further embodiments, the method comprises filling the interior of the structure comprising hollow interconnecting prism blocks with a fortifying material. In some embodiments, the fortifying material is insulation, foam, sand, water, gravel, rocks, cementitious material, metal reinforcements, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the fortifying material is poured, pumped, or otherwise added to flow through the exterior structure of the interlocked block.

Manufacturing of Hollow Interconnecting Prism Block

[0056] The hollow interconnecting prism block can be made through a variety of methods depending on the materials used to make the block. Each hollow interconnecting prism block has at least three parallelogram faces comprising parallelogram faces, a top base comprising a top end face, and bottom face comprising a bottom end face, wherein each face is comprised of a wall thickness of one or more materials, with each face. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are cast poured. In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are made from one uniform piece. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism blocks are made by sewing faces together, gluing faces together, clamping, welding, and/or otherwise connecting the blocks edges together so that the vertices of each of the faces are aligned together with the vertices of an adjacent face. In other embodiments, hollow interconnecting prism blocks are manufactured in one single pour. In other embodiments, hollow interconnecting prism blocks are manufactured from one-piece faces, wherein faces are not manufactured by assembling materials together, whereby the block is manufactured by connecting the faces together to manufacture a block. In other embodiments, hollow interconnecting prism blocks are manufactured by securing a hollow prism block mold with hollow outward protrusions on each designed face into a hollow box with an open top face end, wherein self-hardening cementitious materials are poured into the hollow box encapsulating the hollow prism block mold, wherein the hollow body of the prism block mold and hollow outward protrusions become the hollow void space inside of the hollow interconnecting prism block and the center holes and connecting holes on each designed face.

In some embodiments, particularly where the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise plastic, the hollow interconnecting prism block are manufactured by roto-molding, rotational molding, injection molding, plastic extrusion molding, blow molding, vacuum molding, or by other suitable molding methods. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are constructed from two or more separately constructed components and then joined together. In some embodiments, particularly when the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise metal, the hollow interconnecting prism block are made by bolting the faces together, or welding faces together, or brazing faces together, or machining, casting, forming, joining, or assembling. In additional embodiments, particularly when the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise wood, the hollow interconnecting prism block are made by being machined, assembled, glued together, casted, or as an engineered wood product. In further embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are produced by 3D printing or additive manufacturing, or any process in which material or materials are joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object. In some embodiments, rapid prototyping is used to produce the hollow interconnecting prism block.

[0057] In some embodiments, the block are made as solid pieces and then desired center holes, connecting holes, or edge holes are drilled and milled, and the interior space is hollowed out for mechanical hardware to be used to pass through the connecting holes, or edge holes. For example, in some embodiments, a solid prism is manufactured and then each face is drilled and milled with the desired configuration of hole locations and then a drill cutting wheel enters into face center hole locations and hollows out the interior portion of the block.

Examples

[0058] One embodiment of a hollow interconnecting prism block 1000 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the block 1000 has six faces. Two parallelogram face exterior faces 1110 are shown in FIG. 1. Each parallelogram face 1110 comprise a center hole 1610 around the center of face 1110. The top end face 1130 comprise a center hole 1630 around the center of face 1130. The bottom end face 1120 (not shown in FIG. 1) comprise a center hole 1620 around the center of face 1120. Although the center holes shown in FIG. 1 have a circular shape, the center holes need not be circular. Each parallelogram face 1110 shares vertexes 1410 with the top face 1130 of the block, just as each parallel face 1110 shares vertexes 1460 with the bottom face 1120 of each block 1000 of FIG. 1. Connecting holes 1710 are proximate to vertexes 1410 and 1460 of each parallelogram face 1110. Connecting holes 1730 on the top end face 1130 of the block are proximate to vertexes 1410. The bottom end face 1120 (not shown in FIG. 1) comprise connecting holes 1720 proximate to vertexes 1460. Although each of the connecting holes 1710 and 1730 are shown to have a circular shape in FIG. 1, connecting holes need not be circular.

[0059] Each parallelogram face 1110 also comprises edges 1510 wherein each parallelogram face 1110 share a union with a second parallelogram face face 1110, whereas the union between each parallelogram face face 1110 and the top end face 1130 share edges 1530, and whereas the union between each parallelogram face face 1110 and the bottom end face 1120 share edges 1520 and edges 1530 share a union with top end face face 1130 and the parallelogram face face 1110, and edges 1520 share a union with bottom end face face 1120 and the parallelogram face face 1110.

[0060] Parallelogram face faces 1000 of block 1000 all have the same proximate configuration, size, shape, and dimensions, in FIG. 1, including the face faces not shown in FIG. 1. The top end face 1130 and the bottom end face 1120 both have the same proximate configuration, size, shape, and dimensions, in block 1000 in FIG. 1.

[0061] The center hollow space 1810 comprise the interior hollow portion of the block, wherein the center hollow space 1810 shares a union with the interior faces of all interior faces of the block, wherein there are four parallelogram interior faces 1111, one top end interior face 1131, and one bottom end interior face 1121, whereas all six interior faces encapsulate the hollow center space 1810, whereas a hollow interconnecting prism block 1000 having the exterior dimensions of a cube with a proximate 12 inches in length, 12 inches in width, and 12 inches in height, with a uniform wall thickness 1910 of a proximate 1.5 inches, the center hollow space 1810 would be a proximate 8 inches cubed, whereas the volume of center hollow space 1810 of block 1000 would total a proximate 512 cubic inches. Not all interior or exterior faces of each face are shown in FIG. 1.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 2A, a hollow interconnecting prism block 1000, wherein all blocks titled block 1000 have the same proximate configuration, size and dimensions of their length, width, height, wall thickness 1910, hollow center space 1810 dimensions, with the same proximate configuration, size, and dimensions of face center holes 1610, top end face center hole 1630, and bottom end face center holes 1620 (not shown), and face connecting holes 1710, top end face connecting holes 1730, and bottom end face connecting holes 1720 (not shown).

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 2B, the first block 1000 is shown with the second block 1000, both to move closer together to become in alignment with each other for being assembled together.

[0064] Referring now to FIG. 2C, mechanical hardware chosen, consisting of four sets of threaded rods, washers, and nuts, comprised of four metal threaded rods 2010, eight metal washers 2110, and eight metal hex nuts 2210, chosen to physically connect the first block 1000 and the second block 1000 together in an exemplary manner.

[0065] Referring now to FIG. 2D, the first block 1000 and the second block 1000 are in alignment, with the threaded rods 2010 protruding into the hollow center space from the parallel face connecting holes of each block, with the washers 2110 and nuts 2210 in alignment with the threaded rods 2010, with one of the threaded rods 2010 the washer 2110 and nut 2210 firmly affixed and physically connecting the first block 1000 and second block 1000 together, whereas human hands and/or tools can enter into the hollow center spaces 1810 of each block 1000 to manipulate the mechanical hardware to affix together and physically connect the first block 1000 to the second block 1000.

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 2E, displaying the first block 1000 and the second block 1000 physically connected together, although the threaded rods, washers, and nuts are hidden from sight within the hollow center space of each of the blocks.

[0067] Referring now to FIG. 2F, which depicts two hollow interconnecting prism blocks 1000 connected together with rubber gasket materials 2501 between the blocks, wherein the gasket materials can comprise of a variety of materials and can be placed or administered between the blocks before and while connecting the blocks together, or may be administered between the blocks after assembly, for sealing any spaces between the assembled blocks.

[0068] Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of forty-five hollow interconnecting prism blocks 1000 have been aligned and connected together with mechanical hardware through the connecting holes proximate the vertexes. Hollow interconnecting prism blocks 1000 can be connected to all six face faces of another block 1000, as the parallelogram faces, the top end face, and the bottom end face comprise the same dimensions of all their features, including all of the faces on each of the six faces of each blocks, consisting of four parallelogram faces, a top end face, and a bottom end face, and all of the center face holes, and all of the connecting holes of each face become in proximate alignment as the four vertexes on any face of block 1000 become proximate to the four vertexes of any other face of any other second block 1000, as well as any other additional block 1000 blocks connecting together, and continuing connecting additional block 1000 blocks together with mechanical hardware, until this forty-five block structure desired structure has been constructed all with block 1000 blocks. Once the plurality of block 1000 blocks are connected together, materials, such as plastic PVC pipes 1821, electrical wires 1841, metal conduit pipes 1831, and metal rebars 1861, can also be passed through all of the desired connected parallelogram face center holes 1610, the top end center holes 1630, and the bottom end center holes 1620 (not shown in FIG. 3). The materials can pass through the exterior faces 1110, through the wall thicknesses 1910 of every center face hole, through the hollow center spaces 1810.

[0069] Referring now to FIG. 4, the two hollow interconnecting prism blocks 4000, having the hole pattern of a 4-inch pipe flange, with a proximate 4.5-inch hole on each face of each block 4000, and a total of eight proximate -inch in diameter vertex face connecting holes and edge face connecting holes, wherein the materials of each block 4000 is comprised of a plastic material, with mechanical hardware aligned through the connecting holes of each of the first block 4000 and the second block 4000, prepared to have the threaded rod pass through the washer wherein a hex nut would be wound on from the ends of each of the rods until the nuts and washers from each end of each rod becomes firmly affixed, wherein the faces of each block 4000 become firmly and physically connected together.

[0070] Referring now to FIG. 5, block illustrates another embodiment of the hollow interconnecting prism block disclosed herein. Block 5000 has three parallelogram face faces, one top face face, and one bottom face face. A faceplate is physically affixed to one of the parallelogram face faces. Not all of the three face faces have proximate dimensions with each other. Block 5000 is a 5-faces hollow interconnecting prism block. The faceplate on block 5000 is comprised of cementitious materials, although it may be comprised of one or more various materials. connecting holes adjacent to the vertexes and connecting holes around the edges, in a different orientation than in block 100. Connecting holes 250 are proximate to vertex 210 on face 202 but arranged in a different orientation than the connecting holes on block 100. This is illustrated by all the connecting holes 250 proximate to vertexes 210.

[0071] Referring now to FIG. 6A which depicts a hollow interconnecting prism block mold, used for manufacturing hollow interconnecting prism block 1000, whereas the entire volume of the hollow spaces within the hollow interconnecting prism block mold, including the center hollow space 1810 of the hollow interconnecting prism block mold and all of the hollow spaces within the cylindrical outward protrusions, would become the same hollow spaces within block 1000.

[0072] Each of the six faces 1325 of this 8-inch cuboid hollow interconnecting prism block mold with outward protrusions comprise the same proximate dimensions and the same outward protrusion configurations as each other face 1325, whereas each of the four parallelogram face faces have the same dimensions of 8-inches wide by 8-inches high, whereas the one bottom end face face has the dimensions of 8-inches in length by 8-inches in width, and whereas the one top end face face has the dimensions of 8-inches in length by 8-inches in width, wherein each of the six faces 1325 of the hollow interconnecting block mold of FIG. 6A comprise a face center outward protrusion 1315 wherein its center is proximate to the center of the face, whereas that center point would be at the point of intersection located on each face 1325 a proximate 4-inches from each edge 1310, and each face 1325 would also comprise four face connecting outward protrusions 1320, whereas each face connecting outward protrusion 1320 is proximate to each vertex 1305, with the center of each of the face connecting outward protrusions 1320 located at a point of intersection of equal distance from each edge 1310 proximate to each vertex, as each face has four vertexes and each vertex has its own unique pair of edges, whereas no two vertexes share the same two edges on the hollow block mold.

[0073] The hollow block mold of FIG. 6A comprises six faces 1325, with each face center outward protrusion 1315 comprise a cylindrical shape of a proximate 4.5-inches in diameter and comprise a proximate length of 2-inches, and each face connecting outward protrusion comprise a cylindrical shape of a proximate -inches in diameter and comprise a proximate length of 2-inches.

[0074] The hollow block mold of FIG. 6A comprising the shape of an 8-inch cuboid with one face center outward protrusion 1315 and four 1320 on each face, and comprises four face edges 1310 of a proximate 8-inches each in length to form a proximate 8-inch square face, wherein all six faces of proximate identicalness of the cuboid shaped block mold FIG. 6A would also comprise a hollow center space 1810 displayed from a partially opened exterior membrane 1350.

[0075] Block 1000, of FIG. 1, becoming manufactured with a mold requires a mold with a hollow center space 1810, hollow center protrusions 1315 on each of the six faces, and hollow connecting protrusions 1320 on each of the six faces.

[0076] The block mold of FIG. 6A, comprised of the dimensions 8-inches by 8-inches, whereas six 8-inch square faces form an 8-inch cuboid, with each of the six faces comprising face center outward protrusions 1315 and each of the six faces comprising four face connecting outward protrusions 1320 proximate the vertexes 1305 to produce face connecting holes of block 1000, wherein all of the face center outward protrusions 1315 would produce face center holes 1610, and face connecting outward protrusions 1320 would produce face connecting holes 1710.

[0077] Each outward protrusion of a proximate 2-inches in length from the hollow center space to the outer rims of the protrusions, wherein the outer rims of all the outward protrusions would become flush with the exterior faces of each face of the manufactured block 1000, comprised of a proximate 12-inch cuboid, whereto the block mold of FIG. 6A is placed into the 12-inch hollow cuboid container FIG. 6B, having one bottom face side and four horizontal face sides, but void of a top face side, wherein allowing the block mold of FIG. 6A to be lowered into the 12-inch cuboid container FIG. 6B, with the block mold FIG. 6A placed inside the plastic opened top container FIG. 6B is shown in FIG. 6C, wherein liquified cementitious materials can fill the container, wherein the hollow center space inside of the block mold of FIG. 6A remains hollow, whereas after the cementitious materials become fully cured, block 1000 is removed from the 12-inch cuboid container, and block 1000 has been manufactured.

[0078] FIG. 7 depicts a method of manufacturing a hollow interconnecting prism block comprised of cloth-like materials, by sewing the cloth-like materials together, whereas the face side holes and face connecting holes may have rims comprised of non-cloth materials, such as plastic, rubber, metal materials, or a combination thereof, wherein there is the ability to install faceplates or gaskets for added strength. In some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block comprise cloth, with each face comprised of at least three vertices and three edges, whereas three matching vertices are attached together by sewing of by another method, wherein the three matching edges are also sewn or otherwise attached together, and continuing to match up the vertices and edges until the hollow interconnecting prism block has been manufactured. Each hollow interconnecting prism block will comprise at least two face center holes and at least one face connecting hole.

[0079] FIG. 7 depicts nine figures which illustrate how the cloth-like material hollow interconnecting prism block is assembled together to produce a block with four parallelogram faces, one top face, and one bottom face, having a face center hole 1621 proximate the middle area of each on the six faces, four vertex face connecting holes 7751 proximate the four vertices on each face, and four edge face connecting holes 7752 proximate each of the four edges. Every vertex face connecting hole is of the same proximate size and location on each of the six faces, whereas each vertex face connecting hole is proximate the vertex on each face and of proximate equal distance from each of the edges that meet to make the vertex to which the connecting hole is proximate to. Every edge face connecting hole is of the same proximate size to each other on all faces of the block of FIG. 7I and its placement of proximation to the edge is the same in proximation on each of the six faces. Every face center hole has the same proximate size of area of opening on each of the six faces of the cloth-like block of FIG. 7I.

[0080] FIG. 7A depicts the top end face 7131 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7431, 7432, 7433, and 7434, four edges 7531, 7532, 7533, and 7534, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0081] FIG. 7B depicts one of four of the parallelogram faces, face 7131 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7421, 7424, 7431, and 7434, four edges 7511, 7514, 7523, and 7534, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0082] FIG. 7C depicts the second of four parallelogram faces, face 7111 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7421, 7422, 7431, and 7432, four edges 7511, 7512, 7524, and 7531, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0083] FIG. 7D depicts the bottom end face 7121 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7421, 7422, 7423, and 7424, four edges 7521, 7522, 7523, and 7524, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0084] FIG. 7E depicts the third of four parallelogram faces, face 7113 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7423, 7424, 7433, and 7434, four edges 7513, 7514, 7522, and 7533, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0085] FIG. 7E depicts the third of four parallelogram faces, face 7112 comprised of cloth-like materials, with four vertex face connecting holes 7751 and four edge face connecting holes 7752, comprising one face center hole 7621, four vertices 7422, 7423, 7432, and 7433, four edges 7512, 7513, 7523, and 7532, and a wall thickness similar to the cloth-like materials used for making sandbags.

[0086] FIG. G depicts FACE 7131 from FIG. 7A and face 7114 from FIG. 7B meet in proximity at edges 7534, wherein face 7114 from FIG. 7B and face 7121 from FIG. 7D meet in proximity at edges 7523, wherein face 7111 from FIG. 7C and face 7121 from FIG. 7D meet in proximity at edges 7524, wherein face 7113 from FIG. 7E and face 7121 from FIG. 7D meet in proximity at edges 7522, wherein face 7112 from FIG. 7F and face 7121 from FIG. 7D meet in proximity at edges 7521, whereas all the matching vertices from each of the faces are proximate with each other.

[0087] FIG. 7H depicts a gasket 8001 comprised of plastic with a wall thickness 8910 of about , wherein the hard plastic gasket 8001 may be attached to any face of the cloth-like block comprised of cloth-like materials, to allow the blocks comprised of cloth-like materials to take form of a block structure and allow sand or other materials to be administered into the hollow center spaces of all of the blocks comprised of cloth-like materials. Upon installing the plastic gasket 8001 between two cloth-like blocks, the center face hole 8621 will be in proximate alignment with face center holes 7621 of the hollow interconnecting prism block comprised of cloth like materials, wherein the vertex face connecting holes 8751 of the gasket 8001 become in proximity to the blocks vertex face connecting holes 7751, whereas the edge face connecting holes of gasket 8001 become in proximity to the edge face connecting holes of the hollow interconnecting prism block comprised of cloth-like materials.

[0088] FIG. 7I depicts a fully assembled block comprised of cloth materials from the cloth faces of FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C, FIG. 7D, FIG. 7E, and FIG. 7F, having a hollow center space 1810, whereas human hands, tools, and mechanical hardware can be brought into the hollow center space by passing through either of the unobstructed center face holes 1621, whereas the mechanical hardware would secure a first block and a second block together, affixing them with mechanical hardware via the connecting holes 7751 and 7752.

Retaining Wall and Seawall

[0089] In some embodiments, the interconnecting prism blocks of this disclosure are designed to form a seawall or retaining wall. The holes of each hollow interconnecting prism block when connected together with other hollow interconnecting prism blocks of the same configuration create spaces between the faces of the hollow interconnecting prism block for earth, indigenous vegetation, and/or faceplates, to strengthen the shorelines from erosion. In such embodiments, a plurality of interconnecting prism blocks is interlocked together to form the desired wall of any desired configuration. In certain embodiments, the wall can be made vertical. In other embodiments, the wall is a gravity wall, piling wall, cantilever wall, or an anchored wall. In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are arranged to create walls with angles or vertices or curved. In still other embodiments, a wall comprising hollow interconnecting prism block is built at an incline. In some embodiments, the tops and bottoms of the hollow interconnecting prism blocks comprise protrusions and corresponding indentations to receive the protrusions to allow the block to connect at an offset to create an incline. In other embodiments, the shape of the hollow interconnecting prism block enables an incline to be created.

[0090] Then, faceplates are attached to the holes of each block on either face of the wall. The faceplates are secured in place so that the designed interiors of the block and/or the interiors between the faceplates and the exterior of the hollow interconnecting prism block can be filled with a desired material. In some embodiments, interiors of the block and/or the interiors between the faceplates and the exterior of the hollow interconnecting prism block wall is filled with sand. In some embodiments, interiors of the block and/or the interiors between the faceplates and the exterior of the hollow interconnecting prism block wall is filled with cement. In other embodiments, the interiors of the block and/or the interiors between the faceplates and the exterior of the hollow interconnecting prism block wall is filled with rocks or gravel. In further embodiments, the interiors of the block and/or the interiors between the faceplates and the exterior of the hollow interconnecting prism block wall is filled with a material of sufficient mass or strength to retain whatever the retaining wall is designed to retain.

[0091] Sea walls made from hollow interconnecting prism block promote vegetation and earth to collect within the connected holes of each block, as they are connected together with other block. Two, sandbags made from hollow interconnecting prism blocks with face plates are stronger than typical sandbags due to the block being mechanically connected. Three, the sea wall made of hollow interconnecting prism blocks with face plates attached to the block can be filled with a fortifying material such as cement or sand, thereby increasing the strength of the sea wall. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block are made of cloth material with plastic face plates. Such hollow interconnecting prism block can be interlocked and filled with sand between the exterior of the block and the interior of the attached faceplates to provide a superior sandbag-like structure with mechanically connected blocks.

[0092] Hollow interconnecting prism blocks intended to be used to create a sea wall can be made of noncorroding materials in order to withstand the corrosive nature of the sea.

Foundation and Structures

[0093] In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism blocks of this disclosure are designed to form a foundation for a building or other structure. In such embodiments, a plurality of hollow interconnecting prism blocks is connected in horizontal and vertical fashion according to a design for a foundation. The foundation can have any suitable shape depending on the structure being built. In some embodiments, the connected hollow interconnecting prism block form the foundation with material poured into the structure around the exterior portions of the block. In other embodiments, once the requisite number of hollow interconnecting prism block are connected, faceplates can be added to the interior face and exterior face of the wall created by the interlocked block. Then, a fortifying material can be poured into the interlocked block structure, thereby creating a foundation. Additional structures can be built on top of the foundation.

[0094] In other embodiments, the hollow interconnecting prism block of this disclosure are designed to build a structure. The structure could be a residential building, a commercial building, an office building, sports arena, or any building. In some embodiments, the building is a small building such as a garage or shed. In other embodiments, the building is a residential building such as a house. In further embodiments, the building is a large building. The size of the hollow interconnecting prism block used in buildings can vary depending on the size of the building being constructed.

Flotation

[0095] In another embodiment, the interconnecting prism with exterior protrusions of this disclosure are comprised of a buoyant material. In such embodiments, a plurality of interconnecting prism blocks can be interlocked together to create a flotation device. In such embodiments, a plurality of blocks are interlocked together. Then, in some embodiments, faceplates are attached to the face faces of the flotation device that will face the water, thereby preventing water from coming into the flotation device.

[0096] The flotation devices comprised of hollow interconnecting prism block can vary in size. In some embodiments, the flotation device is a raft designed to hold one or more people.

EQUIVALENTS

[0097] Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific embodiments described specifically in this disclosure. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.