US20160346707A1 - Dovetailed building block - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
  • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
  • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
  • A63H33/082—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with dovetails
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
  • A63H33/00—Other toys
  • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
  • A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
  • A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/04—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements
  • E04B2/06—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
  • E04B2/08—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/04—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements
  • E04B2/12—Walls having neither cavities between, nor in, the solid elements using elements having a general shape differing from that of a parallelepiped
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
  • E04B2/16—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position
  • E04B2/18—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having specially-designed means for stabilising the position by interlocking of projections or inserts with indentations, e.g. of tongues, grooves, dovetails
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
  • E04B2/22—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element using elements having a general shape differing from that of a parallelepiped
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2/14—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element
  • E04B2/24—Walls having cavities in, but not between, the elements, i.e. each cavity being enclosed by at least four sides forming part of one single element the walls being characterised by fillings in some of the cavities forming load-bearing pillars or beams
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2002/0202—Details of connections
  • E04B2002/0204—Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections
  • E04B2002/0215—Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections with separate protrusions
  • E04B2002/0217—Non-undercut connections, e.g. tongue and groove connections with separate protrusions of prismatic shape
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2002/0202—Details of connections
  • E04B2002/0232—Undercut connections, e.g. using undercut tongues and grooves
  • E04B2002/0234—Angular dovetails
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
  • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
  • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
  • E04B2002/0256—Special features of building elements
  • E04B2002/0265—Building elements for making arcuate walls

Definitions

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• the LEGO® blocks need adjustment of directions for 90, 180, or 270 degrees to complete the assembly of a large-sized or curved structure.
• special accessories may be necessary for such an assembly.
• 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.
• the 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a building block according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing regular connection of the building blocks of the present invention.
• FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the building blocks of the present invention joined through regulation connection.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing rotated connection of the building blocks of the present invention.
• FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the building blocks of the present invention joined through rotated connection.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing reversed connection of the building blocks of the present invention.
• FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the building blocks of the present invention joined through reversed connection.
• FIG. 5 illustrates four embodiments of the building blocks of the present invention, which are, in sequence from top of the drawing to the bottom, a regular hexagonal block, a regular octagonal block, a regular decagonal block, and a regular dodecagonal block.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating joining connection among decagonal blocks of the present invention that have different heights.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a building block according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7A is a partial enlarged view showing a building block according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7B is a schematic view illustrating an inclination facet of a building block according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7C is a schematic view illustrating joining connection of building blocks according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating joining connection of building blocks according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a different embodiment of the present invention taken along line B-B.
• FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged view of section B-B of a different embodiment of the present invention.
• the present invention is a dovetailed building block, which, as shown in FIGS. 1-4A , is building block ( 1 ) having a regular hexagonal configuration.
• the hexagonal configuration is a desired shape because the hexagonal shape allows for joining connection of two blocks with no gap therebetween.
• the block ( 1 ) has side surfaces ( 13 ), in which dovetailed recesses ( 11 ) and dovetailed projections ( 12 ) are alternately formed so that the side surfaces ( 13 ) respectively exhibit projecting and recessing configurations.
• the alternate arrangement adopted here is to have the dovetailed recesses ( 11 ) and the dovetailed projections ( 12 ) on the side surfaces ( 13 ) equal in number to each other.
• one of the dovetailed projections ( 12 ) of one block ( 1 ) is set in mating engagement with one of the dovetailed recesses ( 11 ) of another block ( 1 ) to achieve connection of the blocks ( 1 ) in a transverse direction.
• the hexagonal configuration or shape provides each side surface with an adjustment angle (A 1 ) of 60 degrees so that rotated connection can be achieved with such a building block ( 1 ) for joining with an assembled structure of blocks of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional configuration having a desired curve (B).
• the building block ( 1 ) has a top surface on which a post ( 14 ) is formed; and the building block ( 1 ) has a bottom surface in which an open cavity ( 15 ) is formed to correspond in shape and position to the post ( 14 ).
• the post ( 14 ) of one block may be fit into and in retaining engagement with the cavity ( 15 ) of another block so that the building blocks ( 1 ) may be joined in a longitudinal direction, allowing multiple building blocks ( 1 ) to be connected together to provide a secured and stable three-dimensional configuration.
• FIGS. 3 and 3A six building blocks ( 1 ) are shown connected, in a stacked manner, to form a two-level three-dimensional configuration, in which the building block ( 1 ) that is shown in phantom lines can be connected to the assembled structure of the remaining blocks through mating engagement between the post ( 14 ) and the cavity ( 15 ).
• angular adjustment can proceed with 60 degrees for each step.
• FIGS. 4 and 4A six building blocks ( 1 ) are shown connected, in a stacked manner, to form a two-level three-dimensional configuration. Due to the mutual retaining engagement achievable between the dovetailed recess ( 11 ) and the dovetailed projection ( 12 ), a phantom-line building block ( 1 ) is connectable to an assembled structure of blocks in a reversed manner.
• FIG. 5 shows examples of the building block in the form of a regular hexagonal block, a regular octagonal block, a regular decagonal block, and a regular dodecagonal block, respectively, to each of which the process of joining and stacking described above is applicable. As shown in FIG.
• the height of the building block ( 1 ), the post ( 14 ) and the cavity ( 15 ), and a through bore ( 17 ) may be changed and increased/decreased as desired for practical needs, allowing for more diverse ways of assembling or joining.
• the present invention allows for normal transverse and longitudinal connection, rotated connection, and reversed connection, which can be alternately and/or additionally used for joining the building blocks so that versatile variability of the building block ( 1 ) according to the present invention may be achieved, and flexibility of assembling the building blocks for building unique three-dimensional structures may also be provided.
• a building block ( 1 ) which comprises a through bore ( 17 ) formed in a center thereof and extending in an axial direction.
• the arrangement of the bore ( 17 ) allows for connection to be made to a shape-corresponding pillar-like or bar-like coupling section to achieve more diversified ways of connection or joining between the blocks.
• one or each of the dovetailed projections ( 12 ) of one building block may be provided an upper inclination facet ( 121 ) and a lower inclination facet ( 122 ) respectively on an upper end and a lower end thereof in the axial direction, wherein the two inclination facets ( 121 , 122 ) are substantially parallel.
• an angle of 60 or 90 degrees is taken as an example for illustration, but the present invention is not limited to such angles.
• the upper inclination facet ( 121 ) of a lower block is closely positionable against the lower inclination facet ( 122 ) of an upper block so that the blocks ( 1 ) exhibit a connected configuration.
• the lower end of the dovetailed recess ( 11 ) of an upper block ( 1 ) matches the upper inclination facet ( 121 ) of another block ( 1 ) to form a positioning point ( 2 ), which prevents the blocks ( 1 ) from separation from each other due to a force applied thereto in a transverse direction.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Description

Claims (15)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57397087

Family Applications (3)

Family Applications After (2)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (17)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (43)

• 2015
  • 2015-06-01 CN CN201510292331.1A patent/CN106267848A/en active Pending
  • 2015-06-28 US US14/752,995 patent/US20160346707A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2016
  • 2016-10-25 US US15/334,211 patent/US9808734B2/en active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-10-11 US US15/730,605 patent/US10183228B2/en active Active

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