Imagination Blocks

Abstract

Building blocks for making structures comprising a number of translucent inflatable blocks, wherein each translucent inflatable block has six identical sides having an outer surface, an inner surface, and four vertices; a magnetic connection element configured to connected at least two inflatable blocks of the number of translucent blocks, wherein the magnetic connection element is located on the inner surface of each of the six identical sides, wherein the magnetic connection element includes four corners, wherein the four corners are equidistant to the four vertices; a proximity switch in communication with a lighting element located on the inner surface of each of the six identical sides, wherein the lighting element is configured to emit colored light when the proximity switch is activated, wherein the proximity switch is activated when the inflatable blocks are connected via their respective magnetic connection elements; and at least one valve for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks.

Claims

1. Building blocks for making structures comprising: a number of translucent inflatable blocks, wherein each translucent inflatable block has six identical sides having an outer surface, an inner surface, and four vertices; a magnetic connection element configured to connected at least two inflatable blocks of the number of translucent blocks, wherein the magnetic connection element is located on the inner surface of each of the six identical sides, wherein the magnetic connection element includes four corners, wherein the four corners are equidistant to the four vertices; a proximity switch in communication with a lighting element located on the inner surface of each of the six identical sides, wherein the lighting element is configured to emit colored light when the proximity switch is activated, wherein the proximity switch is activated when the inflatable blocks are connected via their respective magnetic connection elements; and at least one valve for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks.

2. The building blocks of claim 1, wherein the blocks are made of a light weight material selected from the group of Nylon, Acrylic, Polythene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Bakelite, Epoxy resin, Melamine, PVC or uPVC and combination thereof.

3. The building blocks of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve is located on the outer surface of the inflatable block.

4. The building blocks of claim 3, wherein the at least one valve located on the outer surface of the inflatable block is depress-able below the outer surface.

5. The building blocks of claim 1, wherein the lighting element includes at least one LED light.

6. The building blocks of claim 1, wherein the outer surface is constructed from a dry erase marker material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a prospective view illustrating an inflatable building block including a valve according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 2 is a prospective view illustrating an inflatable building block including magnetic strips according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein to specifically provide inflatable magnetic building blocks.

[0024] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the figures, and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the inflatable building blocks including magnetic strips and valve.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows the prospective view of an inflatable block 01 comprising of an outer surface 02, inner surface 03 and valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable block.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the prospective view of an inflatable block 01 comprising of an outer surface 02, inner surface 03 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks. Each inflatable block has six identical sides having an outer surface 02, an inner surface 03, and four vertices 06. In one the vertices are rounded for safety.

[0027] The present invention generally provides a set of building blocks including but not limited to an inflatable block 01, a valve 04 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks.

[0028] In general the inflatable block 01 is made of light weight material including the upper surface 02 and the inner surface 03. The outer surface 02 further includes the valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks and means for connecting the inflatable blocks.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention provide the inflatable building block 01 made of light weight material selected from the group of Nylon, Acrylic, Polythene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Bakelite, Epoxy resin, Melamine, PVC or uPVC and combination thereof including the outer surface 02 and the inner surface 03. The valve 04 for inflating and deflating the inflatable block 01 is depress-able below the outer surface 02 of the inflatable block.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cubical inflatable block 01 is made of PVC including the outer surface 02 and inner surface 03. In this particular embodiment of the present invention the valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable block 01 is located at the outer surface 02 of the inflatable block 01 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks are magnetic squares 05 located at each inner surface 03 of the inflatable block 01. The magnetic squares include four corners 07 each corner is equidistant to the four vertices of the each inner surface respectively. The magnetic squares are attached to each inner surface using any suitable method known in the art during the initial construction of the inflatable blocks. Further in this particular embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the inflatable cubical block 01 is 18″ long. However, it should be understood that the inflatable block is not limited to this size. In one embodiment, the inflatable cubical block is 14″. In another embodiment, the inflatable cubical block is 16″. In one embodiment, the corners or vertices of the cubical block have a 1″ radius.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention a lighting element 08 is provided on each inner surface of the inflatable block. In one embodiment, the lighting element is in a centered position. In one embodiment, the lighting element is at least one LED light. The outer and inner surfaces of the inflatable block are translucent allowing the light from the lighting elements to be visible. The color of the light may vary, or may be selectable as well known in the art. Each lighting element is connected to a proximity switch 09, wherein the proximity switch activates the lighting element when connecting two inflatable blocks together via the magnetic squares. In one embodiment, only the lighting element connected to the proximity switch is eliminated. In alternative embodiments, the proximity switches are in communication with each other, such that when one proximity switch is activated, all six of the lighting elements are activated. It is a particular advantage of the present invention, to provide the illuminating lighting elements when two or more blocks are magnetized together facilitating a visual stimulation to children and toddlers correlating the normally unseen properties and phenomenon of magnetism.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer surfaces of the inflatable block are constructed with a dry erase marker material capable of accepting dry erase markers. This allows children and toddlers to use, draw, and color design, shapes, and the like using dry erase markers on the outer surfaces.

[0033] Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, in one embodiment, the lighting elements may be provided on the outer surfaces of the inflatable block.

[0034] It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.