INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCK SYSTEM

Abstract

An interlocking building block system is disclosed. The system may include a building block and an elongated connector. The building block may include a recess on a building block face. The elongated connector may be configured to connect with the building block. The elongated connector may include a first portion and a second portion connected to each other at an intersection line or a throat portion. The first portion or the second portion may be inserted in the recess. Each of the first portion and the second portion may include an elongated wall and side walls. The elongated wall may be slanted towards the throat portion such that a center point of the elongated wall is closer to the throat portion than side edges of the elongated wall.

Claims

1. An interlocking building block system comprising: a building block comprising a recess on a building block face; and an elongated connector configured to connect with the building block, wherein: the elongated connector comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to each other at an intersection line, the first portion or the second portion is configured to be inserted in the recess, each of the first portion and the second portion comprises an elongated wall and side walls, and wherein the elongated wall is slanted towards the intersection line such that a center point of the elongated wall is closer to the intersection line than side edges of the elongated wall.

2. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the elongated connector further comprises a through-hole located in the elongated wall.

3. The interlocking building block system of claim 2, wherein a shape of the through-hole is equivalent to a shape of the elongated wall.

4. The interlocking building block system of claim 3, wherein the through-hole and the elongated wall are rectangular.

5. The interlocking building block system of claim 4, wherein a length and a width of the through-hole is smaller than a length and a width of the elongated wall.

6. The interlocking building block system of claim 2, wherein the through-hole has chamfered edges.

7. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the elongated wall comprises an elongated ridge at an elongated wall center portion disposed along an elongated wall length.

8. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the intersection line has a non-zero width.

9. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein a width of the intersection line is in a range of 1-20% of a height of the elongated connector.

10. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the recess is a dovetail recess, and wherein a shape of the first portion or the second portion complements a shape of the recess.

11. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion have mirrored shapes.

12. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the side walls are slanted at a predefined angle relative to an elongated wall lateral axis.

13. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the building block is shaped as a cube, and wherein at least one corner of the cube comprises a circular through-hole extending an entire length of the cube.

14. The interlocking building block system of claim 13, wherein a top building block face and a bottom building block face of the building block further comprise a rectangular through-hole located at center portions of the top building block face and the bottom building block face.

15. The interlocking building block system of claim 14, wherein the recess is disposed at a center portion of the top building block face or the bottom building block face, and wherein the recess is parallel to the rectangular through-hole.

16. The interlocking building block system of claim 14, wherein the recess is perpendicular to the rectangular through-hole.

17. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein the building block is shaped as a truncated pyramid, and wherein at least one corner of the truncated pyramid comprises a cavity.

18. The interlocking building block system of claim 1, wherein a slant angle of the elongated wall towards the intersection line is in a range of 2-7 degrees.

19. A connector comprising: a first portion and a second portion connected to each other at an intersection line, wherein: the first portion or the second portion is configured to be inserted in a recess of a building block, each of the first portion and the second portion comprises an elongated wall and side walls, and the elongated wall is slanted towards the intersection line such that a center point of the elongated wall is closer to the intersection line than side edges of the elongated wall.

20. A connector comprising: a first portion and a second portion connected to each other at an intersection line, wherein: the first portion or the second portion is configured to be inserted in a recess of a building block, each of the first portion and the second portion comprises an elongated wall and side walls, and the elongated wall is slanted towards the intersection line such that a center point of the elongated wall is closer to the intersection line than side edges of the elongated wall; and a through-hole located on the elongated wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

[0008] FIG. 1 depicts an example environment in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented.

[0009] FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of an example building block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 3 depicts an isometric view of an example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of another example building block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 5A depicts an isometric view of another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 5B depicts an isometric view of yet another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 5C depicts an isometric view of another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 5D depicts an isometric view of another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an example building block connected with a filler block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 8 depicts a side view of the elongated connector of FIG. 7 in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 9 depicts a view of the elongated connector of FIG. 7 connected to two building blocks in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 10 depicts an isometric view of another example elongated connector in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 11 depicts a view of an example filler block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 12 depicts an isometric view of another example building block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 13 depicts an isometric view of another example building block in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 14 depicts isometric views of yet another example building block in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

[0025] The present disclosure is directed towards an interlocking building block system that may enable a user to build different types of model structures. Examples of model structures include, but are not limited to, beams, arches, tunnels, model skyscrapers, pyramids, curves, and/or the like. The system may include a plurality of components that may be configured to removably attach with each other to enable the user build the model structures. In some aspects, the system may include a plurality of building blocks and a plurality of elongated connectors that may enable connection between the building blocks. Specifically, each building block may include a plurality of faces, and one or more faces may include dovetail recesses. A dovetail recess may be disposed at a face center portion and may have a length equivalent to a face length. The user may connect two building blocks (e.g., a first building block and a second building block) by placing the building blocks in proximity to each other such that respective recesses may be adjacent to each other, and inserting the elongated connector through the adjacent recesses.

[0026] The elongated connector may be of different shapes and dimensions to enable the user to securely connect the first building block and the second building block. For example, in one exemplary aspect, the elongated connector may include a first portion and a second portion that may be connected to each other at an intersection line/portion (or a throat portion) and may have mirrored shapes. The first portion and the second portion may be dovetail shaped so that the user may easily insert the elongated connector into dovetail recesses of adjacent building blocks to enable connection between the building blocks.

[0027] In some aspects, each of the first portion and the second portion may include an elongated wall and a pair of side walls that may be slanted at a predefined angle relative to the elongated wall (or an elongated connector lateral axis). The elongated wall may be peaked at an elongated center portion. Specifically, the elongated wall may include an elongated ridge that may be disposed at the elongated center portion and may have a length equivalent to an elongated wall length. When the user inserts the elongated connector into adjacent recesses, the elongated ridge may touch recess surface (e.g., a recess elongated wall), and remaining elongated wall surface or portions may not touch the recess surface. Since only the elongated ridge or the peak touches the recess elongated wall, friction between moving parts (e.g., the elongated wall and the recess elongated wall) may be significantly reduced when the user inserts (or removes) the elongated connector into (or from) the recesses. The elongated ridge may also enable robust and secure connection between adjacent building blocks.

[0028] In other aspects, the elongated connector may have a tapered width. Specifically, each of the first portion and the second portion may include a proximal end and a distal end, and a proximal end width may be greater than a distal end width. In this case, the dovetail recesses too may have tapered widths. The user may insert the elongated connector into the adjacent recesses via the distal end. Elongated connector tapered width may ensure that the elongated connector does not slide out from the recesses when the elongated connector may be inserted into the recesses. The tapered width may also enable the user to build strong and sturdy model structures, for example, for engineering models.

[0029] In yet another aspect, the elongated wall may have a curved shape along an elongated wall length (e.g., shaped as a banana). When the user inserts the elongated connector into the adjacent recesses, the curve-shaped elongated wall may lock against recess side walls, thus enabling secure connection between adjacent building blocks.

[0030] In yet another aspect, the elongated wall may be slanted inwards towards the intersection line or the throat portion, such that a center point of the elongated wall is closer to the intersection line than side edges of the elongated wall. Such a slanted structure of the elongated wall ensures that when the user inserts the elongated connector into a recess, only the side edges (specifically, the peaked or ridged parts of the side edges) of the elongated wall touch the recess surface (e.g., the recess elongated wall) and not the other portions of the elongated wall. This significantly reduces the friction between the moving parts (e.g., the elongated wall and the recess elongated wall) when the user inserts (or removes) the elongated connector into (or from) the recess.

[0031] In further aspects, the elongated connector described above may include a through-hole located in the elongated wall. The through-hole may extend through an entire height of the elongated connector. In one exemplary aspect, a shape of the through-hole may be equivalent to a shape of the elongated wall. For example, if the elongated wall is rectangular, the through-hole may also be rectangular.

[0032] The through-hole may enhance the ease of manufacturing of the elongated connector. For example, the through-hole may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the elongated connector. Furthermore, the through-hole may have chamfered edges. The chamfered through-hole may provide flexibility to the elongated connector (like a spring). For example, the chamfered through-hole may enable squeezing or bending of the elongated connector when the elongated connector is being inserted into a recess of a building block, thereby enabling the user to conveniently insert (or remove) the elongated connector into (or from) the recess.

[0033] Furthermore, the intersection line or the throat portion that connects the first and second portions of the elongated connector may have a non-zero width. In an exemplary aspect, the width of the throat portion may be in a range of 1-20% of a height of the elongated connector. The non-zero width or the dimensions of the throat portion can be used to control the interface between two adjoining or adjacent building blocks. A small throat portion (e.g., having a width tending to zero or of 1% of the elongated connector's height) will create an interference, and a large throat portion (e.g., having a width of 5-20% of the elongated connector's height) will create a gap between the two adjoining or adjacent building blocks. The width of the throat portion influences the rigidity of a string of assembled building blocks in a straight line. For example, a small throat portion reduces the amount of bending in a long line of assembled building blocks.

[0034] In further aspects, the interlocking building block system may include additional components, e.g., cubic blocks, filler blocks, etc., which may enable the user to build the model structures. In additional aspects, the building blocks may be of different shapes and dimensions. For example, the building blocks may have a shape of a cube or a cuboid that may enable the user to build linear model structures or beams. As another example, the building blocks may have a shape of a triangle or a truncated pyramid that may enable the user to build curves or arches.

[0035] In an exemplary aspect, when the building block is shaped as a cube (or a cuboid), two or four corners of the cube may include circular through-holes that may extend through an entire length of the cube. These circular through-holes may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block. Furthermore, in an exemplary aspect, the cube may include a rectangular through-hole located at a center portion of a building block face. The rectangular through-hole may also extend through an entire length of the cube. Similar to the circular through-holes, the rectangular through-hole may also facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block. In some aspects, one or more dovetail recesses described above may be disposed parallel to the rectangular through-hole, and one or more dovetail recesses may be disposed perpendicular to the rectangular through-hole.

[0036] In further aspects, when the building block is shaped as a triangle or a truncated pyramid, one or more corners of the truncated pyramid may include cavities (e.g., circular cavities). These cavities may also facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block. In this case also, the truncated pyramid may include a rectangular through-hole located at a center portion of a building block face, which may extend through an entire height of the truncated pyramid.

[0037] The present disclosure discloses an interlocking building block system that enables the user to build large model structures. The system includes large-sized building blocks that may be securely connected or interlocked with each other by using elongated connectors. The elongated connectors enable the user to stably connect large-sized building blocks, which may not be possible using conventional building blocks systems that may use small-sized building blocks and may not use connectors to interlock the building blocks. Further, the elongated connector including the elongated ridge, tapered width, slanted and/or curved elongated wall may enable secure and robust connection between adjacent building blocks, thus assisting the user in building large-sized model structures.

[0038] These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

[0040] FIG. 1 depicts an example environment 100 in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. While describing FIG. 1, references may be made to FIGS. 2 and 3. The environment 100 may include an interlocking building block system 105 that may include a plurality of components including, but not limited to, building blocks, connectors, filler blocks, cubic blocks, and/or the like. Each component may be made of plastic, wood, metal, a combination thereof, and/or any other similar material.

[0041] A user (not shown) may build different structures or models, e.g., beams, arches, walls, tunnels, blanket forts, curves, skyscrapers, pyramids, book shelves, etc. by connecting one or more building block system components. Specifically, the plurality of components may configured to removably connect with each other and/or placed over each other to form a plurality of different structures. For example, the user may connect or assemble one or more components to build a beam 110 or an arch 115 (or any other similar structure), as shown in FIG. 1.

[0042] In some aspects, the user may build the beam 110 or a linear structure by connecting one or more building blocks that may be shaped as cube or cuboid. An exemplary view 120 of FIG. 1 depicts a first building block 125 and a second building block 130 removably connected with each other to form a linear structure. The first building block 125 and the second building block 130 may be connected with each other via an elongated connector 135. Specifically, the user may insert or slide the elongated connector 135 between recesses formed on one or more faces of the first building block 125 and the second building block 130 to enable connection between the first building block 125 and the second building block 130. Structural details of the first and second building blocks 125, 130 and the elongated connector 135 may be understood in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0043] FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of the first building block 125 (or the second building block 130) in accordance with the present disclosure. In an exemplary aspect, the first building block 125 may be shaped as a cube having six building block faces. The first building block 125 may be a solid cube with a large-sized dimension (e.g., length) of each face in a range of 0.5 to 4 inches. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the first building block 125 has dimensions greater than a conventional building block. The first building block 125 may be made of wood, plastic, rubber or metal. Further, the first building block 125 may manufactured using 3D printing or known molding techniques (e.g., injection molding).

[0044] In some aspects, one or more building block faces of the first building block 125 may include recesses 205a, 205b, 205c (collective referred to as recess 205). In an exemplary aspect, three building block faces may include the recesses 205, and the remaining building block faces may not include recesses, as shown in FIG. 2. In other aspects (as shown in FIG. 12 and described below), more or less than three building block faces may include the recesses 205. Further, the recess 205 may be disposed at a face center portion and may have a recess length equivalent to a building block face length. For example, if a building block face length L is 2 inches, the recess length too may be 2 inches. In other aspects (not shown), the recess length may be shorter than the building block face length L. Furthermore, a recess width W may be substantially smaller than the building block face length L. For example, the recess width W may be in a range of 30 to 60% of building block face length L. In additional aspects (not shown), the recess 205 may not be disposed at the face center portion, and may be disposed in proximity to a building block face right or a left edge.

[0045] In some aspects, the recess 205 may be a dovetail recess having a recess elongated wall 210 and recess side walls 215a, 215b (collectively referred to as recess side walls 215). The recess side walls 215 may be slanted relative to a recess elongated wall lateral axis. Specifically, the recess side walls 215 may be disposed at a predefined angle relative to the recess elongated wall lateral axis, as shown in FIG. 2. The angle may range from 30 to 60 degrees. Further, a recess side wall width W1 may be in a range of 20 to 70% of recess width W.

[0046] In an exemplary aspect, one or more walls of the recess elongated wall 210 and the recess side walls 215 may be polished to have a smooth surface having Root Mean Square (RMS) surface finish in a range of 15 to 40 RMS. In other aspects, one or more walls of the recess elongated wall 210 and the recess side walls 215 may have a textured surface.

[0047] The user may removably connect (or assemble) the first building block 125 and the second building block 130 with each other by placing respective recesses of the first building block 125 and the second building block 130 adjacent to each other, and inserting or sliding the elongated connector 135 through the adjacent recesses. An isometric view of the elongated connector 135 is shown in FIG. 3.

[0048] The elongated connector 135 may be shaped as double dovetail (or may be shaped as a bow tie) and may be made of similar or different material as the first and second building blocks 125, 130. The elongated connector 135 too may be manufactured using 3D printing or known molding techniques (e.g., injection molding). The elongated connector 135 may include a solid body having a first portion 305 and a second portion 310, as shown in FIG. 3. The first portion 305 and the second portion 310 may be connected with each other and may form a unified integrated structure of the elongated connector 135. Further, the first portion 305 and the second portion 310 may have mirrored shapes, and each of the first and second portions 305, 310 may have shapes complementary to the recess 205 shapes. For example, the first and second portions 305, 310 may be shaped as dovetail, which may be similar to the dovetail-shaped recesses 205.

[0049] Each of the first portion 305 and the second portion 310 may include an elongated wall 315 and side walls 320a, 320b (collectively referred to as side walls 320). Each side wall 320 may be slanted at a predefined angle relative to an elongated connector lateral axis, as shown in FIG. 3. The angle may be equivalent to the angle .

[0050] In an exemplary aspect shown in FIG. 3, the elongated wall 315 may include a first elongated wall portion 325 and a second elongated wall portion 330 connected to each other. The first elongated wall portion 325 and the second elongated wall portion 330 may form a unified integrated structure of the elongated wall 315. The first and second elongated wall portions 325, 330 may have equivalent lengths and widths. Each of the first elongated wall portion 325 and the second elongated wall portion 330 may be slanted at a predefined angle relative to the elongated connector lateral axis. The angle may be in a range of 1 to 2 degrees. Since the first elongated wall portion 325 and the second elongated wall portion 330 are slanted relative to the elongated connector lateral axis, the first elongated wall portion 325 and the second elongated wall portion 330 may form an elongated ridge or peak 335 at an intersection point of the first elongated wall portion 325 and the second elongated wall portion 330. The elongated ridge 335 may be disposed at an elongated wall center portion and may have a length equivalent to an elongated wall length (or lengths of the first and second elongated wall portions 325, 330), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] In some aspects, one or more of the side walls 320 and the first and second elongated wall portions 325, 330 may be polished to have a smooth surface having RMS surface finish in a range of 15 to 40 RMS. In other aspects, one or more of the side walls 320 and the first and second elongated wall portions 325, 330 may have a textured surface.

[0052] In operation, the user may place the first building block 125 and the second building block 130 in proximity of each other, such that respective recesses 205 may be adjacent. The user may then insert the elongated connector 135 into adjacent recesses to enable connection or interlocking between the first building block 125 and the second building block 130. When the user inserts the elongated connector 135 into the adjacent recesses, the first portion 305 may insert into a first recess (e.g., a first building block recess) and the second portion 310 may insert into a second recess (e.g., a second building block recess) that may be adjacent to the first recess, thereby enabling secure connection between the first and second building blocks 125, 130. The interlocking arrangement of the elongated connector 135 and the first and second building blocks 125, 130 enables the user to conveniently and securely connect relatively large building blocks (e.g., may be as large as 4*4 inch cube), and stably build large structures. For example, the user may build a large-sized beam or arch by interlocking large building blocks using elongated connectors, which may not be possible using conventional small-sized building blocks that may not use elongated connectors for connection.

[0053] In some aspects, when the first portion 305 (or the second portion 310) may be inserted into the first recess (e.g., the recess 205), the elongated ridge 335 may touch the recess elongated wall 210, and remaining surfaces of the first and second elongated wall portions 325, 330 may not touch the recess elongated wall 210. Since the elongated ridge 335 touches the recess elongated wall 210 and a substantial elongated wall portion may not touch the recess elongated wall 210 when the elongated connector 135 is inserted into the recess 205, the user may experience less friction in inserting (or removing) the elongated connector 135 into the recess 205. Stated another way, elongated connector structure including the elongated ridge 335 assists the user in conveniently assembling and/or disassembling the first and second building blocks 125, 130, as friction between moving parts (e.g., the elongated wall 315 and the recess elongated wall 210) is substantially reduced due to elongated ridge presence.

[0054] In some aspects, the elongated connector 135 may be shaped (e.g., have dimensions) such that a predefined small space or gap may exist between opposing surfaces of adjacent building blocks when the adjacent building blocks may be connected with each other by using the elongated connector 135. The gap may enable the user to easily slide the adjacent building blocks against each other. In other aspects, no gap may exist between opposing surfaces of adjacent building blocks when the adjacent building blocks may be connected by using the elongated connector 135.

[0055] Although the description above describes an aspect where the elongated connector 135 is shaped as a double dovetail (or bow-tie), the present disclosure is not limited to such structure. In other aspects (not shown), the elongated connector 135 may be shaped as double ellipse, double diamond, figure eight, etc.

[0056] Further, although the description above describes an aspect where the interlocking building block system 105 includes a cube-shaped building block (e.g., the first and second building blocks 125, 130), in additional aspects, the interlocking building block system 105 may include blocks of different shapes. An exemplary building block of a different shape is shown in FIG. 4 and described below.

[0057] FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of an example building block 405 in accordance with the present disclosure. The building block 405 may be made of similar material as the first and second building blocks 125, 130, and may have recesses 410a, 410b, 410c that may be similar to the recesses 205. The building block 405 may have a triangular or truncated pyramid shape and may enable the user to form arches (e.g., the arch 115) using the building blocks 405, as shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the user may dispose two building blocks 405 in proximity to each other and insert the elongated connector 135 into adjacent recesses to connect the building blocks 405, thereby forming an arch. The user may connect a plurality of building blocks 405 (using a plurality of elongated connectors) to form arches of different diameters. Building block connections by using elongated connectors enable the user to build stable and sturdy large-sized arches, which may not be possible using conventional small-sized building blocks that may not use elongated connectors for connection.

[0058] In some aspects, the building block 405 may include a top portion 415 having a width W2 and a bottom portion 420 having a width W3. The width W2 may be greater than the width W3. Specifically, side walls 425a, 425b of the building block 405 may be slanted by a predefined angle relative to a building block longitudinal axis, as shown in FIG. 4. The angle may be in a range of 10 to 20 degrees, which enables the user to form an arch when the user connects two or more building blocks 405 together by using the elongated connectors 135. In a preferred aspect, the angle may be 15 degrees.

[0059] Other building block 405 structural details are similar to building block 125, 130 structural details, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

[0060] FIG. 5A depicts an isometric view of an elongated connector 505 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elongated connector 505 may be similar to the elongated connector 135; however, the elongated connector 505 may have a tapered width along an elongated connector length.

[0061] The elongated connector 505 may include a first portion 510 and a second portion 515 that may be similar to the first portion 305 and the second portion 310, respectively. Each of the first and second portions 510, 515 may include a proximal end 520 and a distal end 525. In an exemplary aspect, a proximal end width W4 (e.g., width of a proximal end top/bottom surface) may be greater than a distal end width W5 (e.g., width of a distal end top/bottom surface).

[0062] In some aspects, to connect the first and second building blocks 125, 130 by using the elongated connector 505, the user may insert the distal end 525 into the recesses 205 to enable connection between the first and second building blocks 125, 130. Elongated connector tapered-width structure ensures that the elongated connector 505 may only be inserted or removed to/from the recesses 205 via one end (e.g., the distal end 525), and hence probability of the elongated connector 505 sliding out from the recesses 205 is considerably reduced. Further, the elongated connector tapered-width structure may enable the user to build robust and sturdy connections (since the elongated connector 505 may not slide out from the recesses 205), which may be used for building engineering models.

[0063] In the exemplary aspect described here for FIG. 5A, respective building block recesses 205 may also have tapered width (not shown) similar to the elongated connector 505. Further, although FIG. 5A depicts the elongated connector 505 as having an elongated ridge at an elongated wall center portion, in some aspects (not shown), the elongated connector 505 may not include the elongated ridge. In this case, the elongated wall may be a flat surface.

[0064] Other elongated connector 505 structural details are similar to elongated connector 135 structural details, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

[0065] FIG. 5B depicts an isometric view of an elongated connector 530 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elongated connector 530 may be similar to the elongated connector 135; however, the elongated connector 530 may have a curved wall (e.g., shaped as a banana). Specifically, the elongated connector 530 may include an elongated wall 535 that may be shaped as an elongated arc along an elongated wall length, as shown in FIG. 5B. When the user inserts the elongated connector 530 into the recesses 205, the elongated arc locks against the side walls 215 to securely connect the first and second building blocks 125, 130. In this case as well, the elongated wall center portion may (as shown in FIG. 5B) or may not include the elongated ridge, as described above.

[0066] Other elongated connector 530 structural details are similar to elongated connector 135 structural details, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

[0067] FIG. 5C depicts an isometric view of an elongated connector 540 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elongated connector 540 may be made of same material as the elongated connector 135; however, the elongated connector 540 may have a variable cross section or variable width along an elongated connector length. Specifically, the elongated connector 540 may include a proximal portion 545, a distal portion 550 and a middle portion 555 having variable widths. In an exemplary aspect, the widths of the proximal portion 545 and the distal portion 550 may be same, and equivalent to width W6 as shown in FIG. 5C. In other aspects (not shown), the proximal portion 545 and the distal portion 550 may have different respective widths.

[0068] Width W7 of the middle portion 555 may be less than the width W6. Such variable cross section or width structure of the elongated connector 540 enables the user to build robust model structures. In this case, respective building block recesses 205 may have shapes complementary to the shape of the elongated connector 540 to enable stable connection. In further aspects, the proximal portion 545 and the distal portion 550 may have equivalent respective heights H1, which may be greater than a height H2 of the middle portion 555.

[0069] Although FIG. 5C depicts the elongated connector 540 as having an elongated ridge at an elongated wall center portion, in some aspects (not shown), the elongated connector 540 may not include the elongated ridge. In this case, the elongated wall may be a flat surface.

[0070] FIG. 5D depicts an isometric view of an elongated connector 560 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elongated connector 560 may be similar to the elongated connector 135; however, the elongated connector 560 may have a twist along an elongated connector longitudinal axis 565. In some aspects, the elongated connector 560 may have a rigid structure. In other aspects, the elongated connector 560 may have a flexible structure. Other details of the elongated connector 560 are same as the details of the elongated connector 135, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

[0071] In further aspects (not shown), the elongated connector 505, the elongated connector 530 and the elongated connector 560 too may have variable cross section or variable width along the elongated connector length (similar to the elongated connector 540). In additional aspects (not shown), the elongated connector 505, the elongated connector 530 and the elongated connector 540 too may have twist along respective elongated connector longitudinal axis.

[0072] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an example building block 605 connected with a filler block 610 in accordance with the present disclosure. The building block 605 may be same as the building blocks 125, 130, or 405. Stated another way, the building block 605 may be shaped as a cube, a cuboid or a truncated pyramid.

[0073] The filler block 610 may be a half dovetail connector. Specifically, the filler block 610 may have shape and dimensions similar to the shape and dimensions of the first portion 305, 510, or the second portion 310, 515. In some aspects, the user may insert the filler block 610 into a recess of the building block 605 to form a finished appearance of a built structure by filling-in exposed (or un-used) dovetail recesses (e.g., the recess of the building block 605). In other aspects (not shown), the filler block 610 may also be used to connect adjacent building blocks. For example, the user may insert half (or a portion) of a filler block length L1 into a recess of a first building block, and may insert the other half (or remaining portion) of the filler block length L1 into a recess of a second building block that may be disposed in proximity to the first building block, to connect the first and second building blocks.

[0074] In additional aspects, the interlocking building block system 105 may include other components (not shown) of different sizes and shapes (e.g., cubic blocks, triangular blocks, cylindrical blocks, etc.) to enable the user to build different types of model structures. Such additional blocks may also be connected with each other by using the elongated connectors described above.

[0075] FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of an example elongated connector 700 in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 7 will be described in conjunction with FIG. 8, which depicts a side view of the elongated connector 700. FIG. 7 will additionally be described in conjunction with FIG. 9, which depicts the elongated connector 700 connected to two building blocks 902, 904.

[0076] The elongated connector 700 may be similar to the elongated connector 135 described above. Specifically, the elongated connector 700 may include a first portion 702 (which may be similar to the first portion 305) and a second portion 704 (which may be similar to the second portion 310) that may be connected to each other at an intersection line/portion or a throat portion 706. The first portion 702 and the second portion 704 may have mirrored shapes, and each of the first portion 702 and the second portion 704 may be inserted into a recess (e.g., the recess 205) of a building block (e.g., the building block 125, 130) to enable connection between the elongated connector 700 and the building block. As described above, shapes of the first portion 702 and the second portion 704 may complement the shape of the recess, to enable robust connection between the elongated connector 700 and the building block. For example, if the recess is dovetail recess, the first and second portions 702, 704 may be dovetail shaped.

[0077] Each of the first portion 702 and the second portion 704 may include an elongated wall 708 and side walls 710a, 710b (collectively referred to as side walls 710). The elongated wall 708 may be similar to the elongated wall 315, and the side walls 710 may be similar to the side walls 320. Each side wall 710 may be slanted at a predefined angle (e.g., the angle depicted in FIG. 3; not shown in FIG. 7) relative to the elongated connector lateral axis. In an exemplary aspect, the elongated wall 708 may additionally include an elongated ridge or peak 712 (similar to the elongated ridge 335) disposed at the elongated wall center portion and having a length equivalent to the elongated wall length. The elongated ridge 712 provides the same function/benefits to the elongated connector 700 as the elongated ridge 335 provides to the elongated connector 135. In other aspects (not shown), the elongated wall 708 may not include the elongated ridge 712, and may instead be a flat surface.

[0078] The elongated connector 135 is an embodiment of the elongated connector where the elongated wall 315 has a solid structure throughout its area. The elongated connector 700, on the other hand, is an embodiment of the elongated connector that includes a through-hole 714 located at the elongated wall 708, as shown in FIG. 7. In an exemplary aspect, the through-hole 714 may have chamfered edges 716, and a shape of the through-hole 714 may be equivalent to (or correspond to) a shape of the elongated wall 708. For example, in the exemplary aspect depicted in FIG. 7, both the through-hole 714 and the elongated wall 708 are rectangular. A length and a width of the through-hole 714 may be smaller than a length and a width of the elongated wall 708. For example, the length (and the width) of the through-hole 714 may be in a range of 30-90% of the length (and the width) of the elongated wall 708.

[0079] The example shape of the through-hole 714 depicted in FIG. 7 should not be construed as limiting. The through-hole 714 may have any other shape, e.g., circular, square, elliptical, and/or the like, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in some aspects, the elongated connector 700 may include more than one through-hole located at the elongated wall 708.

[0080] The through-hole 714 may provide many benefits. For example, the through-hole 714 may enhance the ease of manufacturing of the elongated connector 700. For instance, the through-hole 714 may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the elongated connector 700. Furthermore, the chamfered through-hole 714 may provide flexibility to the elongated connector 700 (like a spring). For example, the through-hole 714 (along the chamfered edges 716) may enable squeezing or bending of the elongated connector 700 when the elongated connector 700 is being inserted into a recess (e.g., the recess 205) of a building block (e.g., the building block 125, 130), thereby enabling the user to conveniently insert (or remove) the elongated connector 700 into (or from) the recess 205. For instance, the through-hole 714 may enable the elongated connector 700 to flex/squeeze longitudinally along the length of the elongated connector 700 (as shown by arrows 718a) or laterally along the width of the elongated connector 700 (as shown by arrows 718b), or twist/rotate outwards (or inwards) via the side walls 710 (as shown by arrows 718c).

[0081] In some aspects, the chamfered through-hole 714 softens the structure of the elongated connector 700 and provides a means to control its flexibility to preferred values from weak to strong. This affects the insertion and removal force required for sliding the elongated connector 700 into the recess 205. In some aspects, the cross-sectional material thickness of the elongated connector 700 controls the flexibility of the elongated connector 700 and the insertion force required when assembling building blocks by using the elongated connector 700.

[0082] The elongated connector 700 may incorporate one or more additional structural features that may enhance the operability of the elongated connector 700. For example, in some aspects, the elongated wall 708 may be slanted inwards towards the intersection line or the throat portion 706, such that a center point P of the elongated wall 708 is closer to the throat portion 706 than side edges S of the elongated wall 708, as shown in FIG. 8. For example, a distance Dp between the center point P and the throat portion 706 may be 1-20% less than a distance Ds between the side edges S and the throat portion 706. In an exemplary aspect, a slant angle (shown in FIG. 8) of the elongated wall 708 towards the throat portion 706 may be in a range of 2-7 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the slant angle is between 3-5 degrees. Such a slanted structure of the elongated wall 708 ensures that when the user inserts the elongated connector 700 into the recess 205, only the side edges S of the elongated wall 708 (specifically, the peaked or ridged portion 712 of the side edges S) touch the recess surface (e.g., the recess elongated wall 210) and not the other portions of the elongated wall 708. This significantly reduces the friction between the moving parts (e.g., the elongated wall 708 and the recess elongated wall 210) when the user inserts (or removes) the elongated connector 700 into (or from) the recess 205.

[0083] In further aspects, the portion in proximity to the center point P may also be slanted or protruded outwards away from the through-hole 714, so that only this portion contacts the recess side walls 215 when the elongated connector 700 is inserted into the recess 205. In this manner, when the elongated connector 700 is inserted into the recess 205, transition sections T1 and T2 (shown in FIG. 8) do not touch any walls of the recess 205, thereby considerably reducing friction between the moving parts.

[0084] In additional aspects, the throat portion 706 that connects the first and second portions 702, 704 may have a non-zero width Wt. The width Wt may be in a range of 1-20% of a height Hc of the elongated connector 700. The non-zero width Wt of the throat portion 706 can be used to control the interface between two adjoining or adjacent building blocks (e.g., the building blocks 902, 904, shown in FIG. 9). The building blocks 902, 904 may be similar to the building blocks 125, 130 described above, or similar to additional embodiments of building blocks described later below in conjunction with FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0085] It may be appreciated that a small throat portion (e.g., having the width Wt tending to zero or of 1% of the elongated connector's height Hc) will create an interference between the building blocks 902, 904, and a large throat portion (e.g., having the width Wt of 5-20% of the elongated connector's height Hc) will create a gap G between the two adjoining or adjacent building blocks 902, 904 (as shown in FIG. 9). The width Wt of the throat portion 706 influences the rigidity of a string of assembled building blocks in a straight line. For example, a small throat portion reduces the amount of bending in a long line of assembled building blocks.

[0086] FIG. 10 depicts an isometric view of an example elongated connector 1000 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elongated connector 1000 may be similar to the elongated connector 700 and the filler block 610 described above. Specifically, the elongated connector 1000 may have a half dovetail connector portion 1002, which may be similar to the first portion 702 or the second portion 704 described above. A front portion 1004 of the connector portion 1002 may include the components described above, e.g., the elongated wall 708, the side walls 710, the elongated ridge 712, the through-hole 714, and/or the like, and a back portion 1006 of the connector portion 1002 may include (or be attached to) a plate 1008 (e.g., a rectangular or square plate 1008). A back surface 1010 of the plate 1008 (that faces the connector portion 1002) may be smooth or flat, and a front surface 1012 of the plate 1008 may include micro-protrusions (or micro-cavities).

[0087] The micro-protrusions or male connecting structures present on the front surface 1012 may enable the user to connect the elongated connector 1000 to another elongated connector (not shown) that may have complementary micro-cavities or female connecting structures present on its front surface.

[0088] FIG. 11 depicts a view of an example filler block 1100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The filler block 1100 may be similar to the connector portion 1002 described above (which itself is similar to the first portion 702 or the second portion 704 described above in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8). The structure of the filler block 1100 may be the same as the structure of the connector portion 1002, however, a back portion 1102 of the filler block 1100 may be closed, as shown in FIG. 11. The remaining structural details of the filler block 1100 may be the same as the structural details of the first portion 702 or the second portion 704, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

[0089] FIG. 12 depicts an isometric view of an example building block 1200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The building block 1200 may be similar to the building block 125 described above in conjunction with FIG. 2. In an exemplary aspect, the building block 1200 may be shaped as a cube having six building block faces. Four corners 1202a, 1202b, 1202c, 1202d (collectively referred to as corners 1202) may include circular through-holes 1204 extending an entire length Lc of the cube. The circular through-holes 1204 may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block 1200.

[0090] Furthermore, a top building block face 1206 and a bottom building block face 1208 of the building block 1200 may include a rectangular through-hole 1210 located at center portions of the top building block face 1206 and the bottom building block face 1208, as shown in FIG. 12. The rectangular through-hole 1210 may also extend through the entire length of the cube, from the top building block face 1206 and the bottom building block face 1208. Further, a length Lt of the rectangular through-hole 1210 may be less than (e.g., 5-25% less than) the length Lc of the cube. Similar to the circular through-holes 1204, the rectangular through-hole 1210 may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block 1200.

[0091] In further aspects, the top building block face 1206 may include a recess 1212a, and the bottom building block face 1208 may include a recess 1212b. The recesses 1212a, 1212b may be similar to the recess 205 described above. The recesses 1212a, 1212b may be disposed at center portions of the top building block face 1206 and the bottom building block face 1208, as shown in FIG. 12. The recesses 1212a, 1212b may be parallel to the rectangular through-hole 1210. Specifically, longitudinal axes of the recesses 1212a, 1212b may be parallel to a longitudinal axis Lt of the rectangular through-hole 1210.

[0092] The building block 1200 may further include recesses 1212c, 1212d disposed at the center portions of the side building block faces that are perpendicular to the top and bottom building block faces 1206, 1208, as shown in FIG. 12. The recesses 1212c, 1212d may also be similar to the recess 205 described above. The recesses 1212c, 1212d may be perpendicular to the rectangular through-hole 1210. Specifically, longitudinal axes of the recesses 1212c, 1212d may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rectangular through-hole 1210.

[0093] It may be appreciated from the depiction of FIG. 12 and the description above that the building block 1200 includes four recesses, two of which are parallel to the rectangular through-hole 1210 and the remaining two are perpendicular to the rectangular through-hole 1210. The present disclosure is not limited to such as an embodiment. Additional embodiments of the building block are depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14, and described below.

[0094] FIG. 13 depicts an isometric view of an example building block 1300 in accordance with the present disclosure. The building block 1300 may be similar to the building block 1200 described above; however, the building block 1300 may include circular through-holes on only two corners (and not four corners as described above in conjunction with the building block 1200). For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the building block 1300 may include the circular through-holes 1204 on only the corners 1202a and 1202b (and not on the corners 1202c and 1202d).

[0095] Furthermore, the building block 1300 may have the recesses 1212a, 1212b and 1212c, but may not have the recess 1212d. Instead, on the building block face that includes the recess 1212d in the building block 1200, the building block 1300 may have a recess 1302. The recess 1302 may be parallel to the rectangular through-hole 1210. Stated another way, a longitudinal axis of the recess 1302 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rectangular through-hole 1210.

[0096] It may be appreciated from the depiction of FIG. 13 and the description above that the building block 1300 also includes four recesses similar to the building block 1200. However, in the building block 1300, three recesses (e.g., the recesses 1212a, 1212b, 1302) are parallel to the rectangular through-hole 1210, and one recess (e.g., the recess 1212c) is perpendicular to the rectangular through-hole 1210. The remaining structural details of the building block 1300 are similar to the structural details of the building block 1200.

[0097] FIG. 14 depicts isometric views (e.g., a front isometric view 1402a and a back isometric view 1402b) of an example building block 1400 in accordance with the present disclosure. The building block 1400 may be shaped as a triangle or a truncated pyramid. The building block 1400 may be similar to the building block 405 described above in conjunction with FIG. 4.

[0098] A top building block face 1404 and a bottom building block face 1406 may include a rectangular through-hole 1408, which may be similar to the rectangular through-hole 1210 described above. The top building block face 1404 may further include a recess 1410a, and side building block faces may include recesses 1410b and 1410c. The recesses 1410a, 1410b, 1410c may be similar to the recess 205 described above. The recesses 1410a, 1410b, 1410c may be parallel to the rectangular through-hole 1210. Stated another way, longitudinal axes of the recesses 1410a, 1410b, 1410c may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rectangular through-hole 1408.

[0099] Furthermore, one or more corners at a back building block face 1412 may include cavities 1414, as shown in FIG. 14. The cavities 1414 may facilitate in efficient injection molding of the building block 1400.

[0100] In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, an example embodiment, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0101] It should also be understood that the word example as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word example as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.

[0102] With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

[0103] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.

[0104] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as a, the, said, etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.