DOVETAILED BUILDING BLOCK
A dovetailed building block includes a block body having a regular polygonal shape having side surfaces in which dovetailed recesses and dovetailed projections are alternately formed. To join two building blocks in a transverse direction, one dovetailed projection of one building block is received in and retained by one dovetailed recess of the other building block. The building block has a simple structure and allows for assembly in a curved form to present unique three-dimensional configurations with versatile variability. Each or one of the dovetailed projections of the building block has upper and lower ends that respectively form upper and lower inclination facets so that when two building blocks are joined in a longitudinal direction, the upper and lower inclination facets of the two blocks are positioned against each other. A positioning point is formed in the dovetailed recess by the upper inclination facet to ensure firm and stable connection.
The present invention relates generally to a dovetailed building block, which comprises side surfaces in which dovetailed recesses and dovetailed projections are alternately formed so that when multiple building blocks are joined, the angles of the side surfaces allow the dovetailed projections of one building block to be set in mating engagement with the dovetailed recesses of another block for constructing a three-dimensional structure having a curved configuration exhibiting versatile variability.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTVarious toys are available in the market for users to practice and improve coordination between hands and eyes. All these toys have different ways of playing and may be combined through diverse ways, making they suitable for practicing and improving the development of creativity
Building blocks are one the toys that have the greatest number of types. They are often in the forms of blocks of different geometric shapes and allow for stacking in different directions. Projections and recesses are formed on/in these building blocks to allow them to joint to each other through mating between the projections and the recesses. One of the most commonly known building blocks is LEGO® blocks, of which the feature is that a single square area is taken as a basic unit based on which expansion is made to a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped having an enlarged surface area or size. Projections (as well as counterpart recesses) are formed on the cube or the rectangular parallelepiped for jointing the blocks in a given (longitudinal) direction. However, structural strength obtained with jointing in a single direction may be poor and collapse or detachment may result. The difficult for assembling a large structure is quite apparent. And, as such, the LEGO® blocks need adjustment of directions for 90, 180, or 270 degrees to complete the assembly of a large-sized or curved structure. In addition, special accessories may be necessary for such an assembly. Further, the LEGO® blocks are designed to achieve a mating engagement between two blocks that is generally over tight, often resulting in difficulty in disassembling the blocks and requiring a large force to achieve so. This may lead to damage to the blocks. It is also known that disassembling tools are available for such disassembling operations.
Further, the conventional building blocks need to be assembled or disassembled piece by piece. Such a process of assembling or disassembling is generally time and labor consuming. Thus, further improvements are necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe preset invention provides a dovetailed building block, wherein a plurality of such building blocks is joinable to each other and each of the building blocks is of a regular polygonal shape having side surfaces in which dovetailed projections and dovetailed recesses are alternately formed and top and bottom surfaces on which a post and a cavity having matching shapes are respectively formed.
To join the plurality of building blocks, the side surfaces of each of the building blocks are oriented such that one dovetailed projection of one building block is set in mating engagement with one dovetailed recess of the other one building block so that the block so joined form a three-dimensional configuration that exhibits a curve. In addition, the post and cavity of two such building blocks are engageable with each other in such a way as to allow the blocks to join each other in a longitudinal direction or through rotated connection to change the direction of assembly of additional blocks. As such, the dovetailed building block of the present invention allows for joining through connection in longitudinal and transverse directions, reversed connection, and rotated connection so that a three-dimensional configuration so formed through assembly of the blocks may present versatile variability of the configuration and exhibits excellent firmness and stability. Further, the dovetailed projections of the building block comprise upper and lower inclination facets that are formed on upper and lower ends thereof and substantially parallel and a positioning point that is defined by the dovetailed recess in combination with the upper inclination facet so that the building blocks can be stacked or connected in a transverse direction, achieving an advantage of easy assembling/disassembling and firm connection.
In summary, the present invention provides dovetailed building blocks that provide advantages of versatile variability of connection, firmness and stability of connection, and easy assembling and disassembling, and that have a simple structure and are not easy to damage so as to effectively improve the deficiencies of the prior art.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the best available embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings to provide better understanding of the present invention. The present invention is a dovetailed building block, which, as shown in
Referring to
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In a different embodiment according to the present invention, as illustrated in
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It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
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10. A dovetailed building block, comprising:
- a block body that has a regular hexagonal configuration having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and exactly six side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; each of said six side surfaces having a flat plane; said six side surfaces being sequentially composed of a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface, a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface; each of the first side surface, the third side surface and the fifth side surface being respectively provided with exactly one dovetailed recess located right in a middle thereof without any dovetailed projection being provided thereon; each of the second side surface, the fourth side surface and the sixth side surface being respectively provided with exactly one said dovetailed projection located right in a middle thereof without any said dovetailed recess being provided thereon; the dovetailed recesses and the dovetailed projections each having an isosceles trapezoidal configuration corresponding to each other;
- wherein one of the dovetailed projections of one of the building blocks is receivable in and retained by one of the dovetailed recesses of the other one of the building blocks to achieve a three-dimensional configuration;
- wherein the block body further comprises a post formed on the top surface thereof and a cavity formed in the bottom surface thereof, the post having a surface area receivable in and engageable with a surface area of the cavity so as to achieve firm connection of at least two building blocks in a transverse direction; wherein the post and the cavity are regular hexagons.
11. The dovetailed building block according to claim 10, wherein
- the dovetailed projection comprises an upper inclination facet, a lower inclination facet, and a positioning point, the upper inclination facet being formed on an upper end of the dovetailed projection, the lower inclination facet being formed on a lower end of the dovetailed projection, the upper inclination facet and the lower inclination facet being substantially parallel, whereby when a plurality of the building blocks is joined in a longitudinal direction, the upper inclination facet and the lower inclination facet of the building blocks are positioned against each other, the dovetailed recess defining, in combination with the upper inclination facet, at least one positioning point that achieves firm connection of the building block in both transverse and longitudinal directions.
12. The dovetailed building block according to claim 10, wherein
- when the building blocks are stacked in a longitudinal direction, joining of the building blocks is achievable through adjustment of angular positions of the post and the cavity by a multiple of 60 degrees.
13. An assembly of dovetailed building blocks, comprising:
- a first dovetailed building block and a second dovetailed building block;
- each of the dovetailed building blocks comprising: a block body that has a regular hexagonal configuration having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and exactly six side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface; each of said six side surfaces having a flat plane; said six side surfaces being sequentially composed of a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface, a fifth side surface and a sixth side surface; each of the first side surface, the third side surface and the fifth side surface being respectively provided with exactly one dovetailed recess located right in a middle thereof without any dovetailed projection being provided thereon; each of the second side surface, the fourth side surface and the sixth side surface being respectively provided with exactly one said dovetailed projection located right in a middle thereof without any said dovetailed recess being provided thereon; the dovetailed recesses and the dovetailed projections each having an isosceles trapezoidal configuration corresponding to each other;
- wherein one of the dovetailed projections of one of the building blocks is receivable in and retained by one of the dovetailed recesses of the other one of the building blocks to achieve a three-dimensional configuration;
- wherein the block body further comprises a post formed on the top surface thereof and a cavity formed in the bottom surface thereof, the post having a surface area receivable in and engageable with a surface area of the cavity so as to achieve firm connection of the building blocks in a transverse direction; wherein the post and the cavity are regular hexagons;
- wherein the top surface of the first dovetailed building block is exactly the same size with the top surface of the second dovetailed building block, however, a height defined between the top surface and the bottom surface of the first dovetailed building block is different from the other height defined between the top surface and the bottom surface of the second dovetailed building block.
14. The assembly of dovetailed building blocks according to claim 13, wherein
- the dovetailed projection comprises an upper inclination facet, a lower inclination facet, and a positioning point, the upper inclination facet being formed on an upper end of the dovetailed projection, the lower inclination facet being formed on a lower end of the dovetailed projection, the upper inclination facet and the lower inclination facet being substantially parallel, whereby when a plurality of the building blocks is joined in a longitudinal direction, the upper inclination facet and the lower inclination facet of the building blocks are positioned against each other, the dovetailed recess defining, in combination with the upper inclination facet, at least one positioning point that achieves firm connection of the building block in both transverse and longitudinal directions.
15. The assembly of dovetailed building blocks according to claim 13, wherein
- when the building blocks are stacked in a longitudinal direction, joining of the building blocks is achievable through adjustment of angular positions of the post and the cavity by a multiple of 60 degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
Inventor: MEI-TSU LIN (New Taipei City)
Application Number: 14/752,995