BRICK MAKER SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

A toy brick maker and associated methods makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with a first texture on a bottom surface of the compound brick and a second texture on a top surface of the compound brick. The brick maker includes a base portion, a cutter portion, and a plunder portion. The base portion has a flat surface for flattening a malleable compound into a slab of uniform thickness and has a first imprint surface for imprinting the first texture. The cutter portion is configured for cutting a quantity of compound from the slab and to form sides of the compound brick. The plunger portion has a second imprint surface to compress the quantity of compound within the cutter portion against the first imprint surface to form the sides, first texture, and second texture of the compound brick.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/416,038, titled “Brick Maker Systems and Methods”, filed Nov. 1, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/583,043, titled “Brick Maker”, filed Nov. 1, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/583,045, titled “Brick Maker”, filed Nov. 1, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A malleable compound (e.g., “Mad Mattr” from Waba Fun Inc.) makes an enjoyable toy for children (and adults). The compound retains its shape after manipulation. The compound can be cut with non-sharp tools but is typically shaped by child's fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a toy brick maker makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with a first texture on a bottom surface of the compound brick and a second texture on a top surface of the compound brick. The toy brick maker includes a base portion, a cutter portion, and a plunder portion. The base portion is configured with a flat surface for flattening a malleable compound into a slab of uniform thickness. The base portion is also configured with a first imprint surface for imprinting the first texture. The cutter portion is configured for cutting a quantity of compound from the slab and for forming sides of the compound brick. The plunger portion is configured with a second imprint surface to compress the quantity of compound within the cutter portion against the first imprint surface to form the sides, first texture, and second texture of the compound brick.

In another embodiment, a toy brick maker system makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with protrusions on a first surface and recesses on a second surface opposite the first surface where the protrusions and the recesses are sized and shaped to mate with those of similar bricks. The toy brick maker system includes a cutter formed as a rectangular tube with a handle end and a cutting end. The cutting end has a rectangular internal section with a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface of the compound brick. A distance between the handle end and the cutting end is greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick. The toy brick maker system also includes a base, separate from the cutter, formed with a plate having at least two legs extending from a first flat surface of the plate. The height of each of the at least two legs from the flat surface is equal to the distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick. A perimeter formed on a second flat surface of the plate, opposite the first flat surface, has (a) a shape and size to receive the cutting end of the cutter and (b) a plurality of protrusions, corresponding to the recesses on the second surface of the compound brick, formed on the second flat surface within the perimeter. The toy brick maker system also includes a plunger, separate from the base and the cutter, formed with a handle end and an operational end with a surface facing away from the handle end. The surface has a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface and has a plurality of recesses shaped and sized to match the protrusions.

In another embodiment, a method uses a brick maker that has a base, a cutter and a plunger to make a brick from a compound. The base is used to form a quantity of the compound into a compound layer of uniform thickness. The cutter is used to cut a compound shape from the compound layer, where the compound shape remains within the cutter. The cutter and the compound shape remaining therein are positioned into a top recess of the base. The plunger is inserted into a top orifice of the cutter while the cutter is positioned in the top recess of the base. A force is applied to the plunger in the direction of the base to form the compound brick. The force imprints an upper surface shape of the recess into a bottom surface of the compound shape and imprints a lower surface shape of the plunger onto an upper surface of the compound shape. The base is separated from the compound brick, the cutter and the plunger, and the plunger is pressed further into the cutter to eject the compound brick from the cutter.

In another embodiment, a toy brick maker improves use of a malleable compound as a toy that can be molded and shaped by a child. The toy brick maker allows the child to easily form consistently shaped and sized bricks from the malleable compound and build a project easier that using the malleable compound that is not formed as universally shaped and sized bricks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view showing one exemplary brick maker system formed of three separate cooperative parts: a plunger, a cutter, and a base, in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled view showing of the brick maker system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of one exemplary compound brick made from a quantity of compound by the brick maker system of FIG. 1, in an embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of the compound brick of FIG. 3A made from a quantity of compound by the brick maker system of FIG. 1, in an embodiment.

FIG. 3C shows three compound bricks of FIGS. 3A and 3B stacked together.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the base of FIGS. 1 and 2 positioned on a flat surface.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the base of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the base of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the base of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the base of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 15 is a front view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 16 is a side view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 17 is a top view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating one exemplary method for producing a brick of compound using the brick maker system of FIGS. 1 and 2, in an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a front view of the six-brick base of FIG. 19 positioned on a flat surface.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the six-brick base of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the six-brick cutter of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the six-brick cutter of FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the six-brick plunger of FIG. 19.

FIG. 25 is a bottom view of the six-brick plunger of FIG. 19.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating one exemplary method for simultaneously producing six compound bricks using the six-brick maker system of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 27-32 show one exemplary sequence of steps to use the six-brick maker system of FIG. 19 to simultaneously make six compound bricks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A malleable compound (e.g., “Mad Mattr” from Waba Fun Inc.) on its own is a wonderful toy that provides hours of pleasure. However, by forming the compound into bricks that can be used to build larger structures, the attraction of the compound to the child increases enormously. As a child's toy, any tools and methods for manipulating the compound to form the bricks need to be safe, simple, and have consistent results, otherwise the child loses interest in both the compound and the tools.

Initial attempts to make an interlocking brick by compressing a quantity of compound within a mold resulted in an irregular shaped (due to lack of flow of the compound within the mold), and, more importantly, inconsistently sized (due to inconsistency in quantity of compound placed into the mold), brick. Where multiple bricks are to be interlocked with one another to build a larger structure, size (e.g., height) of each brick is important. More particularly, when using a brick mold to form the brick, the quantity of compound used within the mold to form each brick is critical to create bricks of consistent height.

Single Brick Maker System

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view showing one exemplary brick maker system 100 formed of three separate cooperative parts: a plunger 120, a cutter 140, and a base 160. FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled view showing brick maker system 100 of FIG. 1. Brick maker system 100 is formed (e.g., by injection molding) of a plastic or similar material. FIGS. 1 and 2 are best viewed together with the following description.

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view showing one exemplary compound brick 302 formed by the brick maker system 100 of FIG. 1 from a compound 301. FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view showing compound brick 302 of FIG. 3A. FIG. 3C shows three compound bricks 302 of FIGS. 3A and 3B coupled together. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are best viewed together with the following description.

Compound brick 302 is formed with a rectangular-prism base 304 of height 306, length 320, and width 322, that forms an upper surface 310 and a lower surface 314. A set of eight protrusions 308 are formed on upper surface 310 and a corresponding set of eight recesses 312 are formed unto lower surface 314. Brick 302 may have more or fewer protrusions and recesses without departing from the scope hereof. As shown in FIG. 3C, multiple compound bricks 302 may be coupled together, where protrusions 308 of one brick 302(1) are inserted into recesses 312 of another brick 302(3), the number of protrusions 308 being inserted into recesses being based upon the amount of overlap between brick 302(1) and brick 302(2). Bricks 302 may thus be used similarly to other such building bricks currently on the market. Further, since bricks 302 are made of a consistent and similar shape and size to other toy building bricks, bricks 302 also couple with these other toy building bricks and associated components, and may thereby be used with them. Thus, brick maker system 100 enhances play of both compound 301, and these other toy building bricks and associated components.

Plunger 120, cutter 140, and base 160 cooperate in a simple process, performable by a child, to form compound brick 302 of a consistent shape and size. From these compound bricks 302, the child may build complex shapes and structures that would be otherwise more difficult were the compound not formed into stackable bricks.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of base 160 of FIG. 1 positioned on a flat surface 410. FIG. 5 is an end view of base 160 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a top view of base 160 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of base 160 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of base 160 of FIG. 1. FIGS. 4 through 8 are best viewed together with the following description.

Base 160 is formed of a plate 402 that has legs 404 extending from a flat bottom surface 406 of plate 402. In the embodiment described herein, base 160 is shown with two rectangular legs 404(1) and 404(2) that are positioned towards each end of plate 402. Base may have more and/or differently styled legs without departing from the scope hereof. For example, base 160 may have four cylindrical legs spaced beneath plate 402. Legs 404 are configured to support plate 402 above a flat surface 410 such that flat bottom surface 406 of plate 402 is positioned a height 408 above flat surface 410 and parallel to it. More particularly, height 408 is selected to be substantially equal to height 306 of rectangular-prism base 304 of brick 302. Selection of this height will be discussed below when describing the use of base 160.

Plate 402 has a top surface 602, and may have an external rim 403. A ridge 606 with an internal perimeter 608 that has a rectangular shape is formed on top surface 602. Internal perimeter 608 is sized to receive a cutting end of cutter 140. Within internal perimeter 608, a plurality of protrusions 612 are form an imprint surface 610. Imprint surface 610 has a plurality of protrusions 612 shaped and sized to create recesses 312 of brick 302. Imprint surface 610 is parallel to top surface 602 and may be at a different height than top surface 602.

FIG. 9 is a side view of cutter 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 10 is a front view of cutter 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 11 is a top view of cutter 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of cutter 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of cutter 140 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 9-13 are best viewed together with the following description.

Cutter 140 is formed of a rectangular tube 906 that has a height 914 with an internal passage 1102 that has a cross-sectional length 1104, and a cross-sectional width 1106 that are substantially equal to length 320 and width 322, respectively, of brick 302. Cutter 140 has a handle end 902 and a cutter end 904, at an opposite end of rectangular tube 906 from handle end 902. Cutter end 904 has an external bevel 908 that forms a cutting edge 910 at the end of rectangular tube 906. Handle end 902 is formed with a plate 912 that is positioned perpendicular to rectangular tube 906 with an aperture that matches the internal passage 1102 of rectangular tube 906. Plate 912 may have an internal bevel 1108 to facilitate insertion of plunger 120, as described below. Plate 912 is an elongated ovoid with rounded external edges to facilitate handling. However, plate 912 may have other shapes without departing from the scope hereof.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 15 is a front view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 16 is a side view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 17 is a top view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 18 is a bottom view of plunger 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIGS. 14-18 are best viewed together with the following description.

Plunger 120 has a handle end 1402, a support structure 1404, and an imprint end 1406. Handle end 1402 is formed of a plate 1408 that is attached to a top end of support structure 1404. Imprint end 1406 is formed of a plate 1410 that is attached to a lower end of support structure 1404, opposite to imprint end 1406. Plate 1408 is substantially flat and is shaped as an extended ovoid. Plate 1408 has rounded edges to facilitate handling, but have be of other shapes and finishes without departing from the scope hereof.

Plate 1410 is attached to a bottom end of support structure 1404 and is substantially perpendicular to plate 1408 that forms handle end 1402. Plate 1410 has a width 1602 and a length 1506 that are substantially equal to width 322 and length 320 of brick 302. In a preferred embodiment, width 1602 is between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm smaller than width 1106 of internal passage 1102 of cutter 140, and length 1506 is between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm smaller than length 1104. These gaps between edges of plate 1410 and internal passage 1102 do not adversely affect production of brick 302 and it is important (from a toy design perspective) that plunger 120 does not fit too tightly within cutter 140. An imprint surface 1412, opposite a surface attached to support structure 1404, of plate 1410 has a plurality of recesses 1414 that correspond in shape, size, and spatial relationship, to protrusions 308 of brick 302.

Support structure 1404 is formed of two sections: a bottom section 1604 and a top section 1606. Bottom section 1604 is of width 1602, length 1506, and height 1504, where height 1504 is substantially equal to height 914 of cutter 140. In operation (see FIG. 26), after cutter 140 cuts into compound 301, the cut compound takes up space within internal passage 1102, such that the difference between in the at material has an internal height in the cutter “chamber”. The height of the cutter and 1504 accounts for the height of the material in the cutting chamber while allowing for vertical support of plunger 120 (i.e., to prevent plunger 120 from wobbling when inserted into cutter 140). Additionally, the difference between height 1504 and a height 1502 of plunger 120 helps avoid pinching of the user's fingers while forming brick 302. Top section 1606 is wider than width 1602 and longer than length 1506. Plate 1410 and bottom section 1604 fit within internal passage 1102, as shown in FIG. 2. A shoulder 1608 between bottom section 1604 and top section 1606 stops plunger 120 from travelling too far through internal passage 1102. Bottom section 1604 of support structure 1404 maintains alignment of plate 1410 within internal passage 1102, such that imprint surface 1412 remains substantially parallel to a plane formed by cutting edge 910.

Six-Brick Maker System

FIG. 19 is a perspective exploded view showing one exemplary six-brick maker system 1900 formed of three separate cooperative parts: a six-brick plunger 1920, a six-brick cutter 1940, and a six-brick base 1960. Six-brick maker system 1900 is made (e.g., by injection molding) from a plastic or similar material for example. Six-brick maker system 1900 is similar to brick maker system 100 of FIG. 1, but is configured to make six compound bricks 302 simultaneously from compound 301.

FIG. 20 shows a front view of six-brick base 1960 of FIG. 19 positioned on a flat surface 2010. FIG. 21 is a top view of six-brick base 1960 of FIG. 19. Six-brick legs 2004(1) and 2004(2) are sized to form height 2008 between a flat bottom surface 2006 of six-brick base 1960 and flat surface 2010, when standing thereon. Six-brick base 1960 is formed of a plate 2002 that has legs 2004 extending from flat bottom surface 2006 of plate 2002. In the embodiment described herein, six-brick base 1960 is shown with two rectangular legs 2004(1) and 2004(2) that are positioned towards each end of plate 2002. Six-brick base 1960 may have more and/or differently styled legs without departing from the scope hereof. For example, six-brick base 1960 may have four cylindrical legs 2004 spaced beneath plate 2002. Legs 2004 are configured to support plate 2002 above a flat surface 2010 such that a flat bottom surface 2006 of plate 2002 is positioned at height 2008 above flat surface 2010 and parallel to it. More particularly, height 2008 is selected to be substantially equal to height 306 of rectangular-prism base 304 of brick 302. More specifically, height 2008 is selected such that six-brick cutter 1940 cuts an exact quantity of compound 301 to form brick 302.

Plate 2002 has a top surface 2102, and may have an external rim 2003. A ridge 2106 with an internal perimeter 2108 that has a rectangular shape is formed on top surface 2102. Internal perimeter 2108 is sized to receive a cutting end of six-brick cutter 1940. Within internal perimeter 2108, a plurality of protrusions 2112 are formed on a flat surface 2110. Protrusions 2112 are shaped and sized to create recesses 312 of brick 302. Flat surface 2110 is parallel to top surface 2102 and may be at a different height than top surface 2102.

FIG. 22 is a top view of six-brick cutter 1940 of FIG. 19. FIG. 23 is a bottom view of six-brick cutter 1940 of FIG. 19. Six-brick cutter 1940 is formed of a plurality of rectangular tubes that are similar to rectangular tube 906 of cutter 140, where each tube has an internal passage 2202 that has a cross-sectional length 2204, and a cross-sectional width 2206 that are substantially equal to length 320 and width 322, respectively, of brick 302. Six-brick cutter 1940 has a handle end and a cutter end 1942, at opposite ends of rectangular tubes 1944. At cutter end 1942, each side of each rectangular tube 1944 is formed with a bevel 1946 that forms a cutting edge 2210 for cutting compound 301. The handle end is formed with a plate 2212 that is positioned perpendicular to the tubes with an aperture that matches the internal passages 2202 of the tubes. Plate 2212 may have an internal bevels 2208 around the apertures to facilitate insertion of six-brick plunger 1920, as described below. Plate 2212 is an elongated ovoid with rounded external edges to facilitate handling. However, plate 2212 may have other shapes without departing from the scope hereof. Each tube has a cutting edge 2210.

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of six-brick plunger 1920 of FIG. 19. FIG. 25 is a bottom view of six-brick plunger 1920 of FIG. 19.

Although six-brick maker system 1900 is shown making six equally shaped and sized bricks, six-brick maker system 1900 may be configured to make any number of bricks 302, and may also be configured to simultaneously make bricks of different shapes and sizes, without departing from the scope hereof. In one embodiment, six-brick maker system 1900 is configured to simultaneously make four bricks 302, three bricks half the length of brick 302, and two bricks a quarter the length of brick 302.

Using the Brick Maker Systems

The following description and associated figures described one exemplary method of using six-brick maker system 1900 of FIG. 19. However, the same method also applies for using brick maker system 100 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating one exemplary method 2600 for simultaneously producing six compound bricks 302 of FIG. 3 using six-brick maker system 1900 of FIG. 19. FIGS. 27-32 show a sequence of steps to use six-brick maker system 1900 of FIG. 19 to simultaneously make six compound bricks 302. Although FIGS. 27-32 show exemplary use of six-brick maker system 1900 of FIG. 19 to simultaneously form six compound bricks 302, method 2600 also applies to brick maker system 100 of FIG. 1 to make one brick 302. FIGS. 26-32 are best viewed together with the following description.

Design and construction of brick maker system 100 and six-brick maker system 1900 facilitates implementation of method 2600 by a child to form consistently sized compound bricks 302 from compound 301. That is, brick maker system 100 allows a child to easily make many compound bricks 302 from a quantity of compound 301, where each brick 302 has a consistent shape and size that allows them to fit together and thereby be collectively used to make projects. Further, because the bricks are made of the malleable compound, after constructing the project from the bricks, the compound may be further manipulated, using fingers for example, to sculpt the surface and thereby further diversify the projects possible from bricks. Particularly, by creating and building the project with bricks, the basic shape of the project can be easily followed from “project building plans”, wherein building with bricks 302 simplifies initial building of the project. Once the brick building portion of the project is complete, compound 301 may be further manipulated (e.g., rounding of corners, smoothing surfaces, blending shapes together, and so on) to finish the project.

In step 2602, method 2600 uses bottom surface of the base to form the compound into a slab of uniform thickness. In one example of step 2602, six-brick base 1960 is positioned over a quantity of compound 301 on a flat surface 2704, and pressed down until legs 2004 of six-brick base 1960 touch flat surface 2704, thereby flattening compound 301 to form a compound slab 2706 having a uniform thickness equal to the height 408 of legs 2004. Six-brick base 1960 is then removed from compound slab 2706.

In step 2604, method 2600 uses the cutter to cut a shape from the compound slab. In one example of step 2604, cutting edge 2210 of six-brick cutter 1940 is positioned above compound slab 2706 and substantially perpendicular to flat surface 2704 and then pressed down until cutting edge 2210 touches flat surface 2704, cutting six equal and consistent sized plugs of compound 301. As six-brick cutter 1940 is then lifted from flat surface 2704, leaving hole 2902 in compound slab 2706, the compound plugs are retained within six-brick cutter 1940. In one embodiment, an internal surface of six-brick cutter 1940 has one or more shallow ridges, perpendicular to cutting edge 2210, that help retain the plugs within six-brick cutter 1940.

In step 2606, method 2600 positions the cutter and plugs into a top recess of the base. In one example of step 2606, cutting edge 2210 of six-brick cutter 1940, with plugs of compound 301 still retained, is aligned with and positioned within internal perimeter 2108 of ridge 2106 on top surface 2102 of six-brick base 1960.

In step 2608, method 2600 inserts the plunger into the cutter. In one example of step 2608, imprint end 2406 of six-brick plunger 1920 is inserted into internal passages 2202 at the handle end of six-brick cutter 1940 while six-brick cutter 1940 is still positioned on six-brick base 1960.

In step 2610, method 2600 applies a force to the plunger in the direction of the base. In one example of step 2610, a force, in a direction towards six-brick base 1960, is applied momentarily (e.g., for a few seconds) to handle end 2402 of six-brick plunger 1920 to simultaneously form six bricks 302. For example, as six-brick base 1960 sits on a tabletop (i.e., flat surface 2704), a downward force is applied to handle end 2402 of six-brick plunger 1920 to simultaneously form six bricks 302. The force required to form six bricks 302 simultaneously using six brick maker 1900 is greater than the force required to form one brick 302 using brick maker system 100; the greater the amount of compound 301 being pressed, the greater the force required.

In step 2612, method 2600 separates bricks, cutter and plunger from base. In one example of step 2612, six-brick cutter 1940, six-brick plunger 1920 and formed bricks 302 are lifted from six-brick base 1960.

In step 2614, method 2600 presses plunger further into cutter to eject bricks. In one example of step 2614, a further force is applied to handle end 2402 of six-brick plunger 1920 to eject compound bricks 302 from six-brick cutter 1940. Steps 2602 through 2614 are repeated to form additional compound bricks 302.

Combination of Features

Features described above as well as those claimed below may be combined in various ways without departing from the scope hereof. The following examples illustrate possible, non-limiting combinations of features of the inventions described above. It should be clear that many changes and modifications may be made to the systems and methods described above without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention:

(A) A toy brick maker makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with a first texture on a bottom surface of the compound brick and a second texture on a top surface of the compound brick. The toy brick maker includes a base portion configured with a flat surface for flattening a malleable compound into a slab of uniform thickness and configured with a first imprint surface for imprinting the first texture, a cutter portion configured for cutting a quantity of compound from the slab and for forming sides of the compound brick, and a plunger portion configured with a second imprint surface to compress the quantity of compound within the cutter portion and against the first imprint surface to form the sides, first texture, and second texture of the compound brick.

(B) The toy brick maker denoted as (A), further includes at least two legs configured on the base portion to position the flat surface parallel to an external flat surface supporting the malleable compound, the legs supporting the flat surface above the external flat surface at a height corresponding to the uniform thickness.

(C) In either of the toy brick makers denoted as (A) and (B), the base portion has a rim around the first imprint surface for receiving a cutting end of the cutter portion.

(D) A toy brick maker system makes a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with protrusions on a first surface and recesses on a second surface opposite the first surface, the protrusions and the recesses being sized and shaped to mate with those of similar bricks. The brick maker system includes (i) a cutter formed as a rectangular tube with a handle end and a cutting end, the cutting end having a rectangular internal section with a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface of the compound brick, a distance between the handle end and the cutting end being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick, (ii) a base, separate from the cutter, formed with a plate having at least two legs extending from a first flat surface of the plate, a height of each of the at least two legs from the first flat surface being equal to a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick, and a perimeter formed on a second flat surface of the plate, opposite the first flat surface, and having (a) a shape and size to receive the cutting end of the cutter and (b) a plurality of protrusions, corresponding to the recesses on the second surface of the compound brick, formed on the second flat surface within the perimeter, and (iii) a plunger, separate from the base and the cutter, formed with a handle end and an operational end with a surface facing away from the handle end, the surface having a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface and having a plurality of recesses shaped and sized to match the protrusions.

(E) In the brick maker system denoted as (D), the height of the at least two legs and the rectangular internal section defining a volume equal to the volume of the compound used to make the brick.

(F) In either of the brick maker systems denoted as (D) and (E), the base being usable to form a compound layer having a thickness equal to the distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick.

(G) In any of the brick maker systems denoted as (D)-(F), the cutter being operable to cut, from the compound layer, a compound plug having a volume equal to a volume of compound in the compound brick.

(H) In any of the brick maker systems denoted as (D)-(G), the plunger, the cutter, and the base being collectively operable to form the compound brick from the compound plug.

(I) In any of the brick maker systems denoted as (D)-(H), the internal surface of the cutting end of the cutter being configured to prevent the compound plug from falling out when the cutter is lifted.

(J) A method for using a brick maker that has a base, a cutter and a plunger to make a brick from a compound, includes: using the base to form a quantity of the compound into a compound layer of uniform thickness, using the cutter to cut a compound shape from the compound layer, the compound shape remaining within the cutter, positioning the cutter and the compound shape remaining therein into a top recess of the base, inserting the plunger into a top orifice of the cutter while the cutter is positioned in the top recess of the base, applying a force to the plunger in the direction of the base to form the compound brick, the force imprinting an upper surface shape of the top recess into a bottom surface of the compound shape and imprinting a lower surface shape of the plunger onto an upper surface of the compound shape, separating the base from the compound brick, the cutter and the plunger, and pressing the plunger further into the cutter to eject the compound brick from the cutter.

(K) In the method denoted as (J), using the base includes forcing the base, positioned parallel to a flat surface, down onto the quantity of compound positioned on the flat surface until the legs of the base touch the flat surface.

(L) In either of the methods denoted as (J) and (K), the compound is a deformable, semi-rigid, non-compressible matter that retains its shape at room temperature.

(M) A toy brick maker for improving use of a malleable compound as a toy that can be molded and shaped by a child, the toy brick maker allowing the child to easily form consistently shaped and sized bricks from the malleable compound that can be used to build a project easier that using the malleable compound that is not formed as universally shaped and sized bricks.

(N) The toy brick maker denoted as (M), comprising a base for forming the malleable compound into a layer of predefined thickness.

(O) Either of the toy brick makers denoted as (M) and (N), comprising a cutter for cutting a consistent quantity of malleable compound from the layer.

(P) Any of the toy brick makers denoted as (M)-(O), comprising a plunger with an imprinted end that cooperates with the cutter and the base to form the brick from the consistent quantity of malleable compound.

(Q) In any of the toy brick makers denoted as (M)-(P), the project is further malleable after being constructed from the bricks.

Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

1. A toy brick maker for making a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with a first texture on a bottom surface of the compound brick and a second texture on a top surface of the compound brick, the toy brick maker comprising:

a base portion configured with a flat surface for flattening a malleable compound into a slab of uniform thickness and configured with a first imprint surface for imprinting the first texture;

a cutter portion configured for cutting a quantity of compound from the slab and for forming sides of the compound brick; and

a plunger portion configured with a second imprint surface to compress the quantity of compound within the cutter portion and against the first imprint surface to form the sides, first texture, and second texture of the compound brick.

2. The toy brick maker of claim 1, further comprising at least two legs configured on the base portion to position the flat surface parallel to an external flat surface supporting the malleable compound, the legs supporting the flat surface above the external flat surface at a height corresponding to the uniform thickness.

3. The toy brick maker of claim 1, the base portion having a rim around the first imprint surface for receiving a cutting end of the cutter portion.

4. A toy brick maker system for making a compound brick having a body shaped as a rectangular prism with protrusions on a first surface and recesses on a second surface opposite the first surface, the protrusions and the recesses being sized and shaped to mate with those of similar bricks, the brick maker system comprising:

a cutter formed as a rectangular tube with a handle end and a cutting end, the cutting end having a rectangular internal section with a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface of the compound brick, a distance between the handle end and the cutting end being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick;

a base, separate from the cutter, formed with a plate having at least two legs extending from a first flat surface of the plate, a height of each of the at least two legs from the first flat surface being equal to a distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick, and a perimeter formed on a second flat surface of the plate, opposite the first flat surface, and having (a) a shape and size to receive the cutting end of the cutter and (b) a plurality of protrusions, corresponding to the recesses on the second surface of the compound brick, formed on the second flat surface within the perimeter; and

a plunger, separate from the base and the cutter, formed with a handle end and an operational end with a surface facing away from the handle end, the surface having a shape and size equal to the shape and size of the first surface and having a plurality of recesses shaped and sized to match the protrusions.

5. The brick maker system of claim 4, the height of the at least two legs and the rectangular internal section defining a volume equal to the volume of the compound used to make the brick.

6. The brick maker system of claim 4, the base being usable to form a compound layer having a thickness equal to the distance between the first surface and the second surface of the compound brick.

7. The brick maker system of claim 6, the cutter being operable to cut, from the compound layer, a compound plug having a volume equal to a volume of compound in the compound brick.

8. The brick maker system of claim 7, the plunger, the cutter, and the base being collectively operable to form the compound brick from the compound plug.

9. The brick maker system of claim 7, the internal surface of the cutting end of the cutter being configured to prevent the compound plug from falling out when the cutter is lifted.

10. A method for using a brick maker that has a base, a cutter and a plunger to make a brick from a compound, comprising:

using the base to form a quantity of the compound into a compound layer of uniform thickness;

using the cutter to cut a compound shape from the compound layer, the compound shape remaining within the cutter;

positioning the cutter and the compound shape remaining therein into a top recess of the base;

inserting the plunger into a top orifice of the cutter while the cutter is positioned in the top recess of the base;

applying a force to the plunger in the direction of the base to form the compound brick, the force imprinting an upper surface shape of the top recess into a bottom surface of the compound shape and imprinting a lower surface shape of the plunger onto an upper surface of the compound shape;

separating the base from the compound brick, the cutter and the plunger; and

pressing the plunger further into the cutter to eject the compound brick from the cutter.

11. The method of claim 10, the step of using the base comprising forcing the base, positioned parallel to a flat surface, down onto the quantity of compound positioned on the flat surface until the legs of the base touch the flat surface.

12. The method of claim 10, the compound being a deformable, semi-rigid, non-compressible matter that retains its shape at room temperature.

13. A toy brick maker for improving use of a malleable compound as a toy that can be molded and shaped by a child, the toy brick maker allowing the child to easily form consistently shaped and sized bricks from the malleable compound that can be used to build a project easier that using the malleable compound that is not formed as universally shaped and sized bricks.

14. The toy brick maker of claim 13, comprising a base for forming the malleable compound into a layer of predefined thickness.

15. The toy brick maker of claim 14, comprising a cutter for cutting a consistent quantity of malleable compound from the layer.

16. The toy brick maker of claim 14, comprising a plunger with an imprinted end that cooperates with the cutter and the base to form the brick from the consistent quantity of malleable compound.

17. The toy brick maker of claim 13, the project being further malleable after being constructed from the bricks.