Engageable Blocks with Special Features

The most well-known component-building toy is the LEGO(R) brand, which is familiar to any person of skill in the art. The reversibility of the connections between LEGO(R) pieces is a key feature of the game but this results in decreased structural stability between pieces under stress. Variations of this common model exist, but all have limitations of either reversibility or structural integrity. That is, building components that pull apart easily are too weak, whereas components that are very strong are too difficult to separate. This results in significant limitations in building creative designs that require greater structural stability using removable components.

Building games typically use stackable components or a limited number of component options that connect together. This uniformity is great for the interchangeability of pieces, but it can limit creative vision. Another feature of building games is the use of rigid components to construct designs. Basic building sets including elastic cords or other flexible components that can be used in combination with the rigid structures would enhance the creative options available. Currently available flexible pieces must be custom- made and are typically included in pre-packaged designs. Said another way, these pieces are rare and not part of the basic building set, which gives a user less access to them.

A building block toy system includes blocks having posts with elliptical collars or grooves and heads configured for versatile engagement. The posts extend from surfaces of the blocks and feature a bulbous head portion and either grooves or an elliptical collar with curved ends. These posts engage either post receiving holes in a base or other blocks, or slots in adjacent components. The post receiving holes may include ledges and expansion slots that facilitate snap-fit or twist-lock engagement with the posts. Slots in the blocks provide alternative engagement of a post via insertion and locking portions, optionally with engagement knobs that deform the elliptical collar during sliding engagement. An alternative post design engages the slot via a circular channel at the base of the post. The system allows stable, multi-directional connections between building blocks and bases, enhancing construction flexibility while maintaining structural integrity.

show several variations of building blocks, it being understood that other arrangements are possible, including shapes that are rounded, or with different combinations of functional and decorative features. The building blocks shown here have studsand socketsthat engage one another in a removable snap fit due to the tight tolerance between these components, allowing a user to stack blocks one atop another in a familiar way. Note: as shown, the socketsare depicted as studsgraphically, though it should be understood that if these were inverted into the blockitself, the studsand socketscan link together.

The blocksalso include key slotsthat have an insertion portionand a locking portion. The insertion portionor the locking portionmay be sized to engage the studs. In use, the ball endof a flexible or rigid ball engagement componentslides into the insertion portion, and then the post portionof the ball engagement component(seedetail for general configuration of a ball engagement component). A cavitywithin the building blockcontains the ball endin use.

As seen in, the ball endis larger in diameter than a width of the post portion, and the post portioncan slide within the insertion portionand locking portion.

The ball engagement componentcan include various configurations of central portions between its combined post and ball ends. For example, as shown in, it comprises a rigid rodshows a rigid or flexible trackas the central portion. The trackmay include key slotsfor further engagement with the ball and post pieces.

shows another variation in which a flexible sheetforms the central portion of the ball engagement component. As can be appreciated in the “roof” configuration shown, the flexibility increases the building opportunities for creative users. The flexible sheetmay also form “floors” in the structure.

The spacing of the ball endsand key slotsmay be uniform to assist in component interchangeability.

also shows building blocksincorporated with rigid ball and post panelsThe panelsinclude key slotsas shown, but they could also include socketsand studs.

As seen in, the building blocks may have additional socketssized to receive additional studsThe additional studsmay include ball endsengageable to key slotsor locking cavitiesin the base(see). The locking cavitiesmay include flexible tabsthat engage the ball endsin a firmer snap fit.

The basemay have any arrangement of locking cavities, studs, and/or key slotsthat follows the uniform spacing of slots and sockets/studs in other components to encourage interchangeability.

Although the key slotshave been shown with just two locking portionson either side of the insertion portion, there could be four locking portionsat right angles to one another, or they could be arranged extending outward from the insertion portion in groups of 6 or 8. Either arrangement would retain their same functionality and give a user a chance for more designs.

show a top and bottom view of an alternate embodiment of the base. The baseincludes a top surfacethat includes post receiving holes. The post holesmay extend from the top surfacethrough a thickness(see) of the base. The post holesmay include a top circular openingon the top surfacein fluid communication with a bottom opening, which may be substantially circular in shape but of a lesser diameter than the top circular opening. The post holesmay include a post hole shelfthat provides the full or partial perimeter boundary to the bottom opening.

An expansion slotthat extends through post hole sidewallsand the post hole shelf. This allows a post (to be discussed further below) to be inserted in a low- tolerance fit or snap fit.

As best seen in, the base top's undersidemay include support wallsthat may be arranged in a grid as shown, or include posts. The support wallsmay be of a height such that the bottom of the shelfis above a surface(see) when the baseis resting on the surface. The shelfmay be formed as a step from the post hole sidewallsto minimize leverage and potential breaking.

Post hole supportsmay extend from the support wallsto the post hole sidewallsto further support the post holes and prevent breakage. Such post hole supportsmay be thinner than the support wallsand may connect to the post hole sidewallsat one or more points (in, the number of points is between 1 and 3).

shows a detail of an engagement between a post holeand a post. The postmay be attached to blocks or other parts of the building toy. The postmay include an extension portion, an engagement portion, and a head portion. The engagement portionmay engage the sidewalls. The head portionmay include a groovethat engages the shelf. The head portionmay have a larger bulb, where the larger bulbis larger in circumference than the bottom opening, such that inserting the larger bulbinto the bottom openingcauses the sidewallsto separate along the expansion slotand then snap back in place as the larger bulbpasses therethrough.

show further block to block and other component engagement details. The blocksmay include, at any portion thereof, the post, extending therefrom. The postcan engage the baseor an adjacent post receiving holeof a block. Each of the post receiving holesin the blocksmay include similar features to the post receiving holesin the base, such as: the top circular opening, bottom opening, post hole shelf, sidewalls, and expansion slot. Although the building blocksare shown as block-shaped, they could be other shapes, including custom shapes, and may include the features described herein.

Like the engagement discussed in, the postmay engage a slot. Each slot may contain an insertion portionand a locking portion, where the insertion portion is large enough to accommodate the entire postcircumference, but the locking portion is sized to accept only the extension portion, thus securing a post in the locking portion.

The post holesmay include a top circular openingon the top surfacein fluid communication with a bottom opening, which may be substantially circular in shape but of a lesser diameter than the top circular opening. The post holesmay include a post hole shelfthat provides the full or partial perimeter boundary to the bottom opening.

also shows one of many types of decorative pieces. This particular decorative piece engages the blockin its post receiving holein a less secure manner, where a decorative piece postmerely extends into the holeand is secured therein by engagement with the sidewalls. Such simple engagement may be desirable for less structural pieces.

shows detail of an alternate embodiment of a block post. This block postincludes the head portion, with the larger headand groovepreviously discussed with reference to. The block post, however, also includes a collarextending therefrom and spaced from the bottom surface of the block. The postis shaped like an ellipse with curved ends. The curved endshave a minor diameter b (see) that is less than the diameter dof an insertion portionsuch that the collarcan be inserted therein and then twisteddegrees within the locking portionto engage the block posttherein. A gapbetween a bottomof the blockmay be large enough to engage the block wall thickness t in an engagement that allows for movement along the locking portion. The locking portion may also include engagement knobs.

These knobsmay be of a thickness such that when the thickness t of another blockis within the gapof another block, and a user is sliding the postalong the locking portion, the knobsbend the curved endsaway from the thickness t as the collarpasses thereover. A distance dbetween the knoband a terminal pointof the locking portionmay be slightly more than the diameterof the postat the gapto prevent movement between the postand its engagement in an adjacent locking portionon a blockor other piece. (Note thatshows this knob and collar engagement clearly).

show engagement between the postand an alternate base. The baseincludes post receiving holes. The post receiving holesmay include similar features already discussed, such as: the top opening, bottom opening, post hole shelf, sidewalls, and a different but similarly functioning expansion slot. The top openingmay be shaped to receive the collared postand include two diameters, a larger diameter dand a smaller diameter d, where the larger diameter is larger than the major diameter dof the collarand the smaller diameter dis smaller than the major diameter dof the collar. The smaller diameter dof the top openingis defined by a ledgethat is smaller also than the diameter of the sidewalls.

Inserting the postinto the post receiving holeis likely readily apparent, but a user first aligns the collarswithin the larger diameter dof the top openingand pushes the post into the post receiving holeuntil the collarengages the shelf. The post areabeneath the collarmay include the groove or ridge as shown in, or not, as shown in.

Once the collarengages the shelf, the user can twist the postor related blockdegrees. In so doing, the curved endspass beneath the ledgeinto a press fit between the ledgeand the shelf, thereby engaging the postto the base. Expansion slotswithin the post receiving holesincrease flexibility in the shelfand sidewallsand prevent breakage due to engagement between the postand hole.

show a similar embodiment as, except that the post receiving holesinclude a circumferential groovethat engages a post ridgein a snap fit to engage the two to one another more securely. The ridge and groove engagement may be reversed as shown in, and the post receiving holesmay include an expansion slot as previously described.

shows a bottom view of postsengaging a blockhavingpost receiving holes all pointed towards one another,. In such an arrangement, the depth of the post receiving holes is such that the postsdo not interfere with one another.

shows different slot embodiments,,,,having insertion portionsand locking portionsthat function as described previously. Such slots may be positioned on blocks, bases, or specialty pieces and include knobsthereunder to secure posts thereto.

show flexible building pieces in use with other building pieces.shows a specialty blockwith slotstherein. Flexible cordswith knobsattached thereto may be permanently attached to the specialty blockor the knobsmay be engaged within slots. The flexible cords,may have round or squareends, with a dimension that is small enough to fit within the insertion portion of slots and large enough to engage the locking portion thereof.

shows specialty building piecesthat include ball endsfor engagement in slots and other engaging endsof various shapes to engage flexible or inflexible pieces, or for decorative use.

shows blocksengaged to a basein a manner already discussed. It also shows another specialty cylindrical piecehaving a collared post,on one end. The specialty piecemay include a second end including a post receiving holeto allow for attaching multiple cylindrical piecesto build towers, supports, walkways, etc. The specialty piecemay include a large collarto assist it in engaging slotsin the blocks.

shows other specialty pieces, including a hinged piece, a conically topped block, a flag, and a partial slot block.

show another variation of the building blocks, base(s), and specialty piece windows, and doors. The blocksengage other blocksand basesthrough the engagement between postsand post receiving holes. Each postmay include a gapbetween a surfacefrom which the post extends, a thicker engagement portion, a groove, and a bulbous head.

The grooveand bulbous headengage a post receiving holeas has been previously described by mating the shelfin the groovein a snap fit. The postmay include additional features to aid engagement inside a post receiving hole. The first is an longitudinal groove(as opposed to the circumferential groove) and the second is angled/tapered post sidewalls. The longitudinal groovemay engage a raised ridgethat extends from the post receiving hole sidewallto prevent rotation of the postin the post receiving holeduring initial insertion. If the postis rotated inside the post receiving hole, the ridges may be pushed outwards while they engaged the sidewallsmore securely.

The angled or tapered post sidewallsmay engage the post hole sidewallsin an interference fit, with the post hole sidewallscapable of expanding to accommodate the fit due to the expansion slotthat allows for deformation of the sidewalls. The tapered sidewallsmay be angled at an angle a with respect to a central axisof the post.

Similar to what was described above, the gapmay be sized to fit into a slot. The slotmay include an insertion portion, engagement portion, and different from the previously described slots, a containing portion. A user inserts the postinto a slot insertion portionuntil the block bottom surfaceengages a surfacesurrounding the slot. Then the user slides the post along the length of the engagement portion, during which the post gapis large enough to accommodate a thickness of the surface, and the post width within the post gapis in an interference fit with the engagement portion, deforming the surfacein an area thereof. Once the user slides the postto the containing portion, which has a diameter x wider than the width y of the engagement portion, the postcan freely rotate, but the diameter y being greater than a minimal diameter z of the post engagement portion, the postis engaged within the slot.

The postmay include one or more longitudinal grooves, as can be seen in. The post receiving holesmay have alternating expansion slots or tabs rotated to receive posts at different angles.

It should be appreciated that the blockincludes two posts, and thus, when engaged with corresponding post receiving holes, the blockcannot rotate, but it still may be engaged within the holes through the grooveand shelfengagement.

All components, especially those involved in engagement, may advantageously be of a uniform size to facilitate interchangeability and give users more flexibility in building.

The studs and sockets are shown as cylindrical, but they may be square or another shape.

The rigid components may be made from a rigid polymer, and the flexible components may be made from a very flexible polymer such as silicone. Some components could incorporate small magnets, motors, or other customizable shapes and decorative pieces.

Any component, including the base, may include electricity, which may be connected through rigid blocks plugged into sockets that complete a circuit and open further creative possibilities for the user.

Posts, sockets, and holes may be interchangeably used on different parts, such as for example a base that includes posts or a specialty piece that has post receiving holes. The many combinations would be impossible to show in the figures.

While the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments above, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.