Stackable building block array

Abstract

A stackable building block composed of a plurality or array of spaced apart hollow cone elements. All of the cones are identically configured and have an equal sided polygon cross-section. The cones are attached at their bases to form the array and may include shaped internal ribs to define a stacking height limitation.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the disclosure of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/284,103 filed Dec. 14, 2009, by the same inventor, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to building blocks and more particularly to stackable units adapted to interconnect with each other.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art discloses a great variety of building block arrangements designed to join together in stacking sequence to create innumerable structures. As best known to the inventor, all of these in some way or another consist of a block body or platform having post type projections on one surface and receptacles for those projections on another surface.

Examples of these are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,964,834, Myller, showing a variety of shapes of triangularly based block bodies; 5,057,049, Kaczperski, disclosing a planar block structure focusing on an hexagonal shaped unit; 5,833,465, Jarzewiak, a traditional cube structure; and 6,186,856, Chen, showing a unique, complex shape of a post and receptacle block body.

The block array disclosed herein differs from the prior art in a number of ways. For example, the block body, which serves as a base for the post and receptacle, is eliminated. Also the block array is created from a plurality of individual, identical polygon csoss-sectionaly shaped hollow cone elements which act as both post and receptacle for joining or stacking additional arrays of the same or similar configuration.

Additionally, internal ribs may be provided within the cones to control the separation parameters of the stacked assemblies. Further, relatively large blocks and therefore assembled structures may be created using substantially less material, plastic for instance, as a result of the novel structural arrangement described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be summarized as a stackable building block which is configured and assembled out of a plurality of identical hollow cones composed of equal planer sided members forming a polygon in cross-section. At least three such sides are required to construct the basic cone element, a multiple of which are then assembled into an array where the apex or longitudinal axis of each cone is equidistant from each of those those directly adjacent.

The attachment point is preferably at the base of each cone. Internal ribs may be stepped to control the stacking vertical separation height and external ribs may be added to stiffen the overall structure. Both internal and external ribs are preferably formed at the intersections of the planer sides.

Multiple Arrangements of the basic cone element may be joined to form the blocks of the invention. These combinations can range from a pair and upwards. An advantageous combination offering great flexibility has been found to be an outer parameter in the shape of a hexagon formed of six cones with an additional cone in the center. This will be seen to be composed of two pairs of cone elements and one tri-cone element assembly.

These, and other features and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the description of the preferred embodiment accompanied by the drawings which follows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a first stacking arrangement; and

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a second stacking arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown perspective and elevational views respectively of block 10 comprising the preferred embodiment of the invention. Block 10 is composed of an array of identical hollow cones 12, each consisting of six equal sides 14 forming a hexagon in cross-section. The number of cones 12 in the completed block as illustrated is seven in all, six forming a parameter defining a hexagon and optionally one in the center.

All of the cones are attached one to the other at their bases 16 which are formed at the bottom as an extension of each side. Optionally, external ribs 18 are positioned vertically at the intersection of sides 14 to increase the structural strength of the entire block. Additionally, top 20 may also be included for strength and appearance. Attachment of the cones may be accomplished by adhesively joining individual elements or by casting or molding the entire block as a unit.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section elevational view of block 10 along line A-A of FIG. 2. In addition to the cone and block structure described above, internal ribs 22 are shown positioned on the interior of each cone at the intersection of sides 14. Step extension 24 extending into the interior of the cone is arranged to block or limit the height of insertion of a matching cone forming a portion of a block underneath. The width of the step extension is such that it will prevent the upward movement of the top surface 26 which includes top 20, external ribs 18, and the end surfaces of side 14 of a cone 12.

The longitudinalcentral axis 28 of each cone 12 is shown to be an equal distance 30 from the others directly adjacent as further illustrated in the top view of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two possible stacking arrangements of a pair of blocks 10. FIG. 5 shows a single cone engagement and FIG. 6, a double cone engagement. As will be apparent, an innumerable number of configurations of cone engagements and multiple heights may be constructed using the structural combination described herein.

As variations in the above-described preferred embodiment may be made within the general concept of the disclosure, the invention is accordingly defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A stackable building block comprising in combination:

A. At least a pair of identical hollow cones having a base and a top each comprising: 1. at least three identical upright sides tapering upward from said base to said top, said sides joined at their edges thereby forming in cross-section an equal sided polygon; 2. blocking means disposed within the interior of each of said cones to limit the upper position of the top of an additional of said cones upon the insertion into the base of an additional of said cones; and 3. means for attaching each of said cones one to the other at their bases, said bases each positioned in the same plane.

2. The stackable building block of claim 1 wherein said cone further has reinforcement ribs disposed at the intersections of said sides.

3. The stackable building block of claim 1 wherein said blocking means comprises a rib disposed on the interior of said cone at the intersection of at least two of said sides, said rib having a step extension extending to the interior of said cone.

4. The stackable building block of claim 1 further including a third of said cones attached to each cone of said pair of cones, each of said cones having a central longitudinal axis, and wherein each of said axis is separated from the other by an equal distance.

5. The stackable building block of claim 1 wherein said stacking block comprises three of said pairs of said cones assembled into an array having a parameter constituting an equal sided hexagon and an additional of said cones disposed in the center of said hexagon, each of said cones having a central longitudinal axis, and wherein each of said axis is separated from the other of each adjacent of said cones by an equal distance.