FIELD
The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to a building set. More particularly, this subject matter provides for a set of building blocks and a mat.
BACKGROUND
People of all ages find amusement in building structures out of building blocks of various shapes which stack, fit together, and/or connect. Such building blocks often come in a set. Sets of building blocks may vary by the number of blocks included, or the size of the blocks. Different sets may have different themes based on the particular building blocks included and the characteristics of the building blocks thereof. Sets of building blocks often include instructions illustrating how to create particular structures. People can either follow the instructions or build a structure of their own design. It is sometimes the case that a person cannot build exactly what he or she envisions because the connectivity of the building blocks is limited.
Accordingly, a set of building blocks which can be connected at a variety of angles and locations on their surfaces would be well received in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
According to one embodiment, a building kit comprises: a plurality of building blocks, the plurality of building blocks each having a plurality of faces, wherein each face has at least a substantial area covered by self-interlocking reclosable fasteners; and a mat including a top planar surface at least substantially covered by the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
According to another embodiment, a building kit comprises: a first building block having a first geometric shape and a first plurality of faces, wherein each face of the first plurality of faces has at least a substantial area covered by self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, and wherein each face of the plurality of faces has a first plurality of edges; a second building block having a second geometric shape and a second plurality of faces, wherein each face of the second plurality of faces has at least a substantial area covered by self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, and wherein each face of the second plurality of faces has a second plurality of edges: wherein at least eighteen releasable connection orientations are possible between the first building block and the second building block about a single point such that each of the eighteen connection orientations is at a different relative angular position between the first and second building blocks.
According to another embodiment, a building kit comprises: a first building block having a first geometric shape and a first plurality of faces, wherein each face of the first plurality of faces has at least a substantial area covered by self-interlocking reclosable fasteners; a second building block having a second geometric shape and a second plurality of faces, wherein each face of the second plurality of faces has at least a substantial area covered by the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners; wherein the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners are dual locking and comprise a plurality of stems, each of the plurality of stems extending to a head such that the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners are mushroom-shaped, and wherein the plurality of stems are each configured to bend, and wherein the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners include at least 50 stems per square inch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a plurality of building blocks having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners according to one embodiment;
FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a mat of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners according to one embodiment;
FIG. 3 depicts a bottom view of the mat of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment;
FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the mat of FIGS. 2-3 having the plurality of building blocks of FIG. 1 attached thereto according to one embodiment;
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the plurality of building blocks of FIG. 1 having been connected to one another to build a first structure, the first structure attached to the mat of FIGS. 2-4 in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 6 depicts an enlarged view of a connection between two of the building blocks of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment;
FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of a second structure connected to the mat of FIGS. 2-5 according to one embodiment;
FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the mat of FIGS. 2-5 and 7 having a first and second building block attached in different orientations according to one embodiment;
FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of the mat of FIGS. 2-5, 7 and 8 affixed to a wall with the first structure of FIG. 5 attached;
FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of a container of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners holding a second plurality of building blocks and the mat of FIGS. 2-5 and 7-9;
FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view of the container of FIG. 10 according to one embodiment;
FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of the container of FIGS. 10 and 11 having been folded closed in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 13 depicts a perspective view of the container of FIGS. 10-12 having been folded closed inside out in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 14 depicts a perspective view of the mat of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of FIGS. 2-5 and 7 having a plurality of objects attached thereto in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 15 depicts components of a catching game including a spheroid ball, the surface area of the spheroid ball being entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners and a mitt including a strap and a surface area opposite the strap, the surface area opposite the strap being entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
FIG. 16 depicts a perspective view of the mitt and ball of FIGS. 15, the ball attaching to the mitt in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 17 depicts a perspective view of the mat of FIG. 2 being used as a target in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view of a plurality of sections of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners being used as a mounting means in accordance with one embodiment;
FIG. 19 depicts a perspective view of the mounting means of FIG. 18 in use attached to the mat of FIG. 2 in accordance with one embodiment; and
FIG. 20 depicts a perspective view of a toy face having a plurality of sections of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners used as mounting means and a plurality of features attachable to the face according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A detailed description of the hereinafter described embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method is presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a plurality of building blocks 1. Hereinafter it should be understood that “building block” 1 means an individual three-dimensional geometrically shaped object. A “building block” as defined herein may include non-cubic or cuboid shapes but may have various other geometric shapes, for example, prisms, spheres, and the like. Irregular shapes and more detailed objects may also be included. The building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 are shown having an entire surface area 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, and 2f that is at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, such as 3M™ Dual Lock™ reclosable fasteners. As shown in FIG. 6, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may include rows of identical protrusions, including stems 30 having identical interlocking heads 31. The interlocking heads 31 may be mushroom-shaped. The reclosable fasteners 3 may be pressed together, such that the stems 30 “flex” allowing the mushroom heads 31 to slide past one another. Once the interlocking heads 31, which may be mushroom-shaped, have slid past one another, the stems 30 may “snap” back into their original position, causing the mushroom heads 31 of the reclosable fasteners 3 to interlock. There may be emitted an audible snap sound when the reclosable fasteners 3 interlock. There are different types of reclosable fasteners 3 of which could be used for the plurality of building blocks 1. For example, the reclosable fasteners 3 may be configured to have 170 stems 30 per square inch, 250 stems 30 per square inch or 400 stems 30 per square inch.
Moreover, the stems 30 and mushroom shaped heads 31 may be replaced by other self-interlocking mechanisms. For example, the mushroom shaped heads 31 may be replaced by differently shaped heads such as cones, cones with blunted tips, square-based pyramids, or square-based pyramids with blunted tips. The faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 from which the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners protrude may be entirely rigid, or flexible; the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be made out of plastic, wood, foam, rubber, metal, a composite material, and the like.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the plurality of building blocks 1 includes a first cube-shaped building block 4, a first building block in the shape of a triangular prism 5, a first cuboid-shaped building block 6, a first cylindrical building block 7 a first cone-shaped building block 8 and a second cylindrical building block 9. However, the plurality of building blocks 1 are not limited to these shapes, and may also be an octahedron, a hemisphere, a tetrahedron, a dodecahedron, and the like. Additionally, irregular shapes may also be used. Further, it should be understood that the plurality of building blocks 1 may include multiple building blocks having the same shape, but having different dimensions, for example, the plurality of building blocks 1 may include the first cylindrical building block 7 of FIG. 1, as well as the second cylindrical building block 9, the second cylindrical building block 9 having an entire length that is half of an entire length of the first cylindrical building block 7.
In one embodiment, the entire surface area 2 of each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 is entirely covered in reclosable fasteners 3. This is shown in FIG. 1 with respect to: A) the cube-shaped building block 4 which has an entire surface area 2a that is entirely covered in reclosable fasteners 3; B) the first cylindrical building block 7 which has an entire surface area 2e entirely covered in reclosable fasteners 3; and C) and the triangular prism-shaped building block 5 which has an entire area 2b covered in reclosable fasteners 3. In another embodiment, the entire surface area 2 of the plurality of building blocks is not entirely covered in reclosable fasteners 3. This is shown in FIG. 1 with respect to: A) the cuboid building block 6 in which the reclosable fasteners 3 do not cover the entire surface area 2c; B) the cone-shaped building block 8 in which the reclosable fasteners 3 do not cover the entire surface area 2d; and C) the second cylindrical building block 9 in which the reclosable fasteners 3 do not cover the entire surface area 2f. As is described below, the proportion of surface area that is covered by self-interlocking reclosable fasteners is not limited to those examples shown in FIG. 1, and any building block 1 of any shape may have any percentage of its surface covered with self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
Building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 not having their entire surface areas covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may be covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that various percentages of the surface area of each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 are covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. For example, fifty percent, one third, two thirds, or ninety percent of the surface area of any block of the first plurality of building blocks 1 may be covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The arrangement of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 such as the cuboid 6, cone 8 and second cylindrical building block 9 may vary. For example, in FIG. 1, the cuboid building block 6 is shown having a flat face 18 having a first corner 19 and a second corner 20. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 cover half of the flat face 18 such that the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 extend from the first corner 19 to the second corner 20 such that the flat face 18 is has two congruent areas shaped as right triangles including a first right triangle 200 covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, and a second right triangle 210 having no reclosable fasteners 3. This placement of the reclosable fasteners 3 with regard to the cuboid building block 6 may repeat on every face of the cuboid building block 6, or each face of the cuboid building block 6 may have a different arrangement of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners. In FIG. 1, the cuboid building block 6 is shown having a flat face 25 substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that a first rectangle-shaped portion 24 of the flat face is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and a second rectangle-shaped portion 23 of the flat face 25 does not have self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3.
The cone-shaped building block 8 in FIG. 1 is shown having a flat face 26 and a curved face 27. The cone-shaped building block is substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that the flat face 26 is entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, and such that the curved face 27 has a bottom portion 29 covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and a top portion 28 having no self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. It should be understood that the arrangement of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 is not limited to the arrangement with respect to the cone-shaped building block 8 as depicted in FIG. 1. For example, the arrangement may be such that the bottom portion 29 is not covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and the top portion 28 is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. As another example, the arrangement of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may be such that the flat face 26 has no self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and the entirety of the curved face 27 is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3.
Referring still to FIG. 1, the second cylindrical building block 9 is shown are entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are arranged in a plurality of equally spaced strips 41 beginning at an edge 42 of a first flat face (not shown) of the second cylindrical shaped building block, continuing to an edge 43 of a second flat face 40 of the second cylindrical building block, leaving alternating strips of area 41 covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and strips of area 44 without self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. While the plurality of strips 41 of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are shown having a wavy shape, it should be understood that the strips may also be arranged in a straight, zig-zag, or staggered manner. Any pattern of dispersal of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 is contemplated. It should be further understood that the arrangement of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 with respect to the second cylindrical building block 9 is not limited to that which is shown in FIG. 1. For example, the arrangement of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may be such that variously shaped patches of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners are placed sporadically on the first the flat face 40, and a curved face 38 of the second cylindrical block 9. As another example, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may be absent from the flat face 40, but wrap around half of an entire length of the curved face 38, and entirely cover the first flat face of the second cylindrical building block.
Further, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 could be arranged to create patterns on the faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1, for example, swirls or checks. It should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and any pattern or shape or amount of surfaces of building blocks may be covered by the reclosable fasteners 3.
The building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 of FIG. 1 may be different colors. For example, the cube-shaped building block may be green, and the triangular prism-shaped building block may be yellow. Alternately, each face of each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be a different color. Furthermore, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may be of a different color than the areas of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 having no reclosable fasteners. For example, with respect to the second cylindrical building block 9, the plurality of strips 41 of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may be blue, and the strips of area 44 having no reclosable fasteners 3 may be orange. Further still, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may have patterns of colors, for example, a checkered pattern such that alternating square-shaped areas of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners alternate in color.
The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 and/or the surfaces upon which they reside may be color coded to indicate particular connection possibilities to the user. For example, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of a flat face 66 of the first cylindrical building block 7 may be green, and the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of a flat face 47 of the cube-shaped building block 4 may be red except for a green circular portion having the same area as the flat face 66 of the first cylindrical block, such that the user is prompted to connect the flat face 66 to the green circular portion of the flat face 47. There may be a plurality of color-coded connection areas on every face of each block of the plurality of building blocks 1 such that a user is prompted to create plurality of particular structures out of the building blocks 1. Some of the color coded areas on the faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be such that less than the entire area of any given face is color-coded. For example, the flat face 47 of the cube shaped building block 4 may have a semi-circle color-coded area such that the curved portion of the semi-circle extends towards the middle of the flat face 47 and the flat portion of the semi-circle begins at an edge of the flat face 47, thereby indicating to the user to connect a matching semi-circle portion of the flat face 26 of the cone-shaped building block 8 to the semi-circle portion of the flat face 47 of the cube shaped building block 4. The color coded areas may wrap around corners of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 such that a portion of a color coded area could be covered by a corresponding building block on one of two faces. The color coded areas of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be arranged in a mosaic pattern, such that color coded areas of various shapes and colors abut one another.
The color-coded areas of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may have different colors such that a user having any type of color-blindness would be able to detect all of the color-coded areas. For example, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the flat face 47 may be red, which a user having protanopia or deuteranopia would perceive as green. As such, unlike the colors of the flat face 47 as described above, the circular portion of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners having the same area as the flat face 66 of the first cylindrical block 7 may be blue, such that a person having protanopia or deuteranopia would be able to distinguish the circular portion from the rest of the red flat face 47. The color-coded areas could be configured to be distinguishable by a user having any form of color-blindness through the use of specific color combinations and colors of varying brightness.
Each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 could have colors configured such that the surfaces of each block, and/or the color of the protrusions of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are visually representative of any type of building or building material, for example, the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may look like a castle, a brick building, a sky scraper, and the like.
It should be understood that the plurality of building blocks 1 is not limited to including only the six blocks depicted in FIG. 1; the plurality of building blocks 1 may have multiple blocks of the same shape, dimension, color, and arrangement of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. In another possible embodiment, the building set may include five of each of the building blocks depicted in FIG. 1. In yet another embodiment, the building set may include a plurality of building blocks wherein the building blocks come in seven different geometric shapes, wherein there are ten building blocks of each of the seven shapes, and wherein each of the ten building blocks of any one of the seven shapes is different in color, pattern, and arrangement of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3.
Referring to FIGS. 2-3, a mat 60 is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, FIG. 2 shows a perspective top view of the mat 60. FIG. 3 shows a perspective bottom view of the mat 60. In FIG. 2, the mat 60 is shown having a rectangular shape, though it should be understood that the mat 60 could be many different shapes, for example, a circle, a triangle, a rhombus, and the like. As another example, the mat 60 could have the shape of a person, character, animal, and the like. Any size of the mat 60 is contemplated, for example, the mat 60 could be approximately the size of a place-mat, or the mat 60 could be the size of an area rug. The mat 60 could be flexible to enable the mat 60 to be folded or rolled up such that it can fit within a container (not shown) of FIGS. 10-13.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the mat has a top planar surface 21 which is entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, for example, 3M™ Dual Lock™ reclosable fasteners. The top planar surface 21 is not limited to being entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, and could be such that only a substantial area of the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, for example, one half, one third, or two thirds of the mat 60 could be covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. Each edge of the mat 60 may include a tab (not shown) having an area substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that a plurality of mats having tabs could be connected together in a plurality of orientations by the releasable connecting of the tabs (not shown).
The mat 60 is not limited to being one single piece, for example, the mat 60 could comprise a plurality of mat panels (not shown) which are releasably connectable to one another in various orientations. Further, each panel of the plurality of mat panels could have a different shape, and be configured such that the plurality of mat panels connect together to create a larger shape such as a triangle, rectangle, and the like. Each edge of each mat panel of the plurality of mat panels may include a tab having an area substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that the plurality of mat panels could be releasably connected to one another.
Referring still to FIG. 2, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the mat 60 may have a pattern of areas having different colors. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on the mat 60 may have a plurality of variously shaped portions that are color-coded to particular portions of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1, such that the user is prompted to make a plurality of different particular connections between the mat and the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 of FIG. 1. For example, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the mat 60 may have a portion having the same area and color as a triangular face 48 of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5 of FIG. 1, such that the user is prompted to connect the triangular prism-shaped block 5 to the mat 60 by connecting the triangular face 48 to the corresponding portion of the mat.
Further, the mat 60 could be color-coded such that either the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 or the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the mat 60 is representative of different settings or places, for example, the top planar surface 21 could be green except for a portion of the top planar surface 21 which could be blue, such that the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 looks like grass surrounding a body of water. Additionally, the mat 60 could be configured to look like a birds-eye view of a plurality of intersecting roads, or the floor plans of a house.
FIG. 3 shows the bottom planar surface 22 of the mat 60 of FIG. 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The bottom planar surface 22 of the mat 60 has a plurality of suction cups 33. The suction cups 33 are shown as being arranged in a grid formation, though the plurality of suction cups 33 is not limited to this arrangement and could be arranged, for example, on a plurality of edges 34 of the bottom planar surface 22 of the mat 60, or in any other configuration. The suction cups 33 would enable the mat 60 to be affixed to a variety of surfaces, thereby providing a variety of stable areas on which to connect the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1. The attachment mechanism of the bottom planar surface 22 of the mat 60 is not limited to a plurality of suction cups 33. For example, the attachment mechanism could be Velcro, adhesive strips, magnets, hooks, and the like. Any attachment mechanism for attaching the mat 60 to another surface might be utilized. Additionally, the mat 60 may not include any attachment mechanism at all.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-3 having the plurality of building blocks 1 of FIG. 1 attached thereto according to one embodiment. Each individual building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 by pressing together an area of any given building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 to the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the mat 60. The triangular prism-shaped building block 5 is connected to the mat such that the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of a bottom flat face (not numbered) of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5, adjacent to the top planar surface of the mat 21 have removably interlocked with the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60. Further, though the entire area of the bottom flat face of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5 is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, only a portion of the bottom flat face is connected to the mat 60. Another portion of the bottom flat face extends past an edge 61 of the mat 60. The arrangement of the plurality of building blocks 1 is not limited to that which is shown in FIG. 4. Any building block of the plurality building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 such that a portion of any face of the building block which is connected to the mat 60 may extend past the edge 61 of the mat 60, an edge 62 of the mat 60, a edge 63 of the mat 60 or an edge 64 of the mat 60. As a further example, the plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 such that no portion of any block extends past any edge of the mat 60, or such that a portion of each building block connected to the mat extends past an edge of the mat 60. The plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 such that the blocks are arranged in a row, a circle, a square, and the like.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the plurality of building blocks of FIGS. 1 and 4 having been connected to one another to build a first structure 65, the first structure 65 attached to the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-4 in accordance with one embodiment. Each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 is shown having been connected to one another to create the first structure 65 such that: A) a bottom flat face (not numbered) of the cuboid building block 6 is connected to the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60; B) a flat face (not numbered) of the first cylindrical building block 7 is connected to a flat face (not numbered) of the cuboid building block 6; C) a bottom flat face (not numbered) of the cone-shaped building block 8 is connected to a flat face 68 of the cuboid shaped building block 6; D) a flat face (not numbered) of the second cylindrical building block 9 is connected to the flat face 25 of the cuboid shaped building block 6; E) a flat face (not numbered) of the second cylindrical building block 9 is connected to a flat face (not numbered) of the cube-shaped building block 4; and F) a flat triangular shaped face (not shown) of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5 is connected to a face 71 of the cube-shaped building block 4. It should be understood that the plurality of building blocks 1 is not limited to the configuration depicted in FIG. 5, for example, the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected one on top of another, or a structure might be created such that two or three building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 are connected to the mat 60.
Referring still to FIG. 5, self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be color-coded such that a user would be prompted to create the first structure 65 by making connections A through F as listed in 0031.
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an enlarged view of a releasable connection being made between two of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 of FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, according to one embodiment. The flat face 26 of the cone-shaped building block 8 is shown connecting to the triangular shaped face 48 of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the flat face 26 are shown pointed downward, and the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the triangular shaped face 48 are shown pointed upward to depict the interlocking mechanism of the heads 31 of the protrusions of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, though it should be understood that the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 could be in any orientation. Further, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the flat face 26 and the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the triangular shaped face 48 could be different colors or the same color, such that the faces correspond in color, and are thereby “color-coded” to connect to one another.
Referring still to FIG. 6, a first protrusion 74, a second protrusion 77 and a third protrusion 80 of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the flat face 26 are shown interlocking with a fourth protrusion 83, a fifth protrusion 86, and a sixth protrusion 89 of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the triangular shaped face 48. A stem 30 of the first protrusion 74 and a stem 30 of the sixth protrusion 89 are shown bending, as a head 31 of the first protrusion 74 is pressed between a head 31 of the sixth protrusion 89 and a head 31 of the fifth protrusion 86. A stem 30 of the second protrusion 77 and a stem 30 of the fifth protrusion 86 are shown bending as a head 31 of the second protrusion 77—one side of which has already passed and interlocked with a head 31 of the fourth protrusion 83—is pressed past the head 31 of the fifth protrusion 86. A stem 30 of the third protrusion 80 and a stem 30 of the fourth protrusion 83 are shown, both in a straight position, a head 31 of the third protrusion 80 having interlocked with the head 31 of the fourth protrusion 83. A stem 30 of the fourth protrusion 83 is shown in a straight position, the head 31 of the fourth protrusion 83 having interlocked with both the head 31 of the third protrusion 80 and the head 31 of the second protrusion 77.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the plurality of building blocks of FIGS. 1, and 4-6 having been connected to one another to build a second structure 50, the second structure 50 attached to the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5 in accordance with one embodiment. Each building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 is shown having been connected to one another to create the second structure 50 such that: A) a bottom flat face (not shown) of the second cylindrical building block 9 is connected to the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60; B) the flat face 40 of the second cylindrical building block 9 is connected to a curved face 72 of the first cylindrical building block 7; C) the flat face 26 of the cone-shaped building block 8 is connected to a flat face (not shown) of the first cylindrical building block 7; D) a flat face (not numbered) of the cuboid shaped building block 6 is connected to the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60; E) a flat triangular shaped face (not shown) of the triangular prism-shaped building block 5 is connected to the flat face 25 of the cuboid shaped building block 6; F) a bottom flat face (not numbered) of the triangular prism shaped building block 5 is connected to the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 and partly extends past the edge 63 of the mat; and G) a bottom flat face (not numbered) of the cube shaped building block 4 is connected to the flat face 18 of the cuboid shaped building block 6 such that no edge of the bottom flat face of the cube building block is parallel or perpendicular to an edge 32a or an edge 32b of the flat face 18. The plurality of building blocks 1 is not limited to being connected to form the second structure 50 and may be connected into a multitude of different structures. A user may connect the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 to one another and to the mat 60 into a nearly infinite number of structures. The building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 facilitate the user's imagination, as the connectivity of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 is not limited as it may be for other building blocks having connective mechanisms which only allow the building blocks be attached to one another in a couple of orientations. In one embodiment, at least eighteen or twenty connection orientations may exist between any given building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 and any other any given building block of the plurality of building blocks, about a single point, the eighteen or twenty connection orientations being at various relative angular positions between one building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 and another building block of the plurality of building blocks. In other words, there may be a different connection orientation every 20 degrees of rotation. In other embodiments, there may be a connection orientation every 10 degrees of rotation, making thirty six connection orientations about a single fixed point. Even more connection orientations are contemplated, such as fifty or one hundred connection orientations. The number of connection orientations may be dependent upon the number of reclosable fasteners found on the surface per square inch. In one embodiment, the more reclosable fastener heads, the more connection orientations. It should be understood that these connection orientations may be similarly found between the plurality of blocks 1 and the mat 60. Any two surfaces that are covered with the reclosable fasteners described herein may be connectable in the plurality of connection orientations about a single point as described herein. Further, a user is not limited to only connecting flat faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 together, or only flat faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 to the mat 60. Curved faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may also be connected to the mat and to all other faces of the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 regardless of the shape of the faces.
Referring still to FIG. 7, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the plurality of building blocks 1 of the second structure 50 may be color-coded such that a user would be prompted to create the second structure 50 by making connections A through G, as described hereinabove.
Further, though FIG. 7 depicts a structure in which all six building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 are used, it should be understood that it is possible to build structures out of any number of building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1. Every building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 need not be used all together to build a structure. For example, a structure could be built by connecting only the triangular prism shaped building block 5 and the second cylindrical building block 9.
FIG. 8 depicts a second cuboid shaped building block 37 and a third cylindrical building block 35, both connected to the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 in various orientations. The second cuboid shaped building block 37 is connected to the mat 60 such that no edge of the second cuboid shaped building block 37 is parallel or perpendicular to any of the edges of the mat 60. The third cylindrical building block 35 is connected to the mat 60 such that an entire length 36 of a curved face 51 of the third cylindrical building block 35 is neither parallel nor perpendicular to any edge of the mat 60. As shown in FIG. 8, no edge of the second cuboid shaped building block 34 is parallel or perpendicular to the entire length 36 of the curved face 51 of the third cylindrical building block 35. It should be understood that the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 such that their edges are parallel or perpendicular to one another, but are not limited to this arrangement. It should also be understood that the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 need not be connected to the mat 60 such that the edges of different building blocks are parallel or perpendicular to one another. In one embodiment, at least twenty connection orientations may exist between the mat 60 and any given building block of the plurality of building blocks, about a single point, the twenty connection orientations being at various relative angular positions between the mat 60 and any particular building block of the plurality of building blocks 1.
Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a perspective view of the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7 and 8 affixed to a wall 52 with the first structure 65 of FIG. 5 attached thereon. The bottom planar surface 22 (not pictured) of the mat 60 may be attachable to the wall by suction cups, Velcro, adhesive strips, magnets, hooks, and the like. The structure which may be attached to the mat 60 while the mat 60 is affixed to the wall 52 is not limited to the first structure 65, and may be any structure which has been built from the plurality of building blocks 1. Further, it should be understood that the mat 60 is not limited to being affixed to a wall 52. For example, the mat 60 may be affixed to a bathtub, a car seat tray, a high-chair tray, and a multitude of other surfaces (not shown). Further still, the mat 60 is not limited to being affixed to a surface, nor is the mat limited to being affixed such that the top planar surface 21 of the mat 60 is parallel or perpendicular to a floor. For example, in a room having a slanted ceiling, the mat 60 may be affixed to the slanted ceiling and the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be connected to the mat 60 while the mat 60 is affixed to the slanted ceiling.
Referring still to FIG. 9, the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 may be of varying weights, such that the user may experiment attaching different building blocks to one another extending outwards from the mat 60 to determine how many building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 of different weights, connected outwards, remain extended before the connected building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 begin to extend outwards and downwards from the mat 60, or before building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 connected one on top of another, beginning with a building block connected to and extending from the mat 60 become too heavy for the building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 extending outwards from the mat 60 to remain connected to the mat 60.
FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of a container 117 holding a second plurality of building blocks 54 and the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5 and 7-9. The volume of the container 53 may be such that all the building blocks of the second plurality of building blocks 54 and the mat 60 need not be put into the container 117 in any particular order, nor need the plurality of building blocks 54 be limited to the building blocks depicted in FIG. 10, for example, the plurality of building blocks 54 may include other shaped building blocks, or a greater or lesser number of building blocks than that shown in FIG. 10. Though the container 117 is shown as a clear cylindrical tub having a screw-top lid 55, it should be understood that the container 117 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be a cuboid bin, a fabric bag, a cardboard box, and the like. It should be further understood that a resealable opening 56 of the container 117 need not be limited to a threaded lip 57 and screw-top lid 55; for example, the resealable opening may be configured to open and close by a zipper, magnets, a draw string, a snap-on lid, and the like.
FIG. 11 depicts a second embodiment of the container 117 of FIG. 10, the container 117 configured to provide a building surface whereon the building blocks of the pluralities of building blocks 1 and 54 may be connected after the container 117 has been fully opened, and, configured to fold into a large building block onto which building blocks of pluralities of building blocks 1 and 54 may be connected. The container 117 is shown fully opened.
In one embodiment, the container 117 of FIG. 11 may include a square base panel 92, a first rectangular panel 93, a second rectangular panel 94, a third rectangular panel 95, and a fourth rectangular panel 96. Each panel of the container 117 may be flat. The container 117 may be fully opened such that each rectangular panel lies flat upon a surface. The first rectangular panel 93 may be flexibly attached to an edge 112 of the square base panel 92 such that the first rectangular panel 93 may be folded about the square base panel 92 to abut either face of the square base panel 92. The second rectangular panel 94 may be flexibly attached to an edge 113 of the square base panel 92 such that the second rectangular panel 94 may be folded about the square base panel 92 to abut either face of the square base panel 92. The third rectangular panel 95 may be flexibly attached to an edge 114 of the square base panel 92 such that the third rectangular panel 95 may be folded about the square base panel 92 to abut either face of the square base panel 92. The fourth rectangular panel 96 may be flexibly attached to an edge 115 of the square base panel 92 such that the edge may be folded about the square base panel to abut either face of the square base panel 92.
The first rectangular panel 93, second rectangular panel 94, the third rectangular panel 95, and the fourth rectangular panel 96 may each have, flexibly attached on each of their two edges extending from square base panel 92, a tab 97-104, each face of which may be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. Each tab 97-104 may be folded about the rectangular panel to which it is attached, such that each tab 97-104 may abut either face of the rectangular panel to which it is attached. The second rectangular panel 94, the third rectangular panel 95, and the fourth rectangular panel 96 may each have a tab 110, 111, 116 each face of which may be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, flexibly attached to each edge which may be parallel to the edge of the square base panel to which they are flexibly attached.
Flexibly attached to an edge 106 of the first rectangular panel 93, and configured to fold as to abut either face of the first rectangular panel 93, may be placed a square lid panel 105. Flexibly attached to each edge of the square lid panel 105 that is not flexibly attached to the first rectangular panel 93 may be a tab 107-109 configured to fold about the square lid panel 105 and to abut either face of the square lid panel 105. Each face of each tab 107-109 flexibly attached to the square lid panel 105 may be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3.
While the container 117 is shown configured to releasably seal via tabs 97-104, 107-109 and 110-111 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on both faces, it should be understood that the releasable sealing mechanism is not limited to self-interlocking reclosable fasteners and could be a plurality of zippers, magnets, buttons, toggles and loops, and the like. It is contemplated that any attachment mechanism may be used to releasably and reversibly seal the container 117.
The faces of the rectangular panels and of the square panels shown in FIG. 11 may be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. Fully opened, the container 117 may provide a surface on which the user can connect building blocks of pluralities of building blocks 1 and 54 and structures built from the plurality of building blocks 1. The four rectangular panels 93-96 extending from the square base panel 92 may provide four building surface areas such that multiple users of the building set may have a separate surface area on which to build using building blocks from a given building set.
Referring to FIG. 12, the rectangular panels 93-96 of the container 117 of FIG. 11 have been folded perpendicular to the square base panel 92 (not shown). At each corner where two rectangular panels are folded such that their edges abut, the tabs of the rectangular panels have been connected by their self-interlocking reclosable fasteners such that each corner is sealed. The tabs 97-104 of FIG. 11 are shown connected by their self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 such that tabs 98 and 99 are connected to create a releasably sealed corner between the first rectangular panel 93 and the second rectangular panel 94; tabs 97 and 104 are connected to create a releasably sealed corner between the first rectangular panel 93 and the fourth rectangular panel 96; tabs 102 and 103 are connected to create a releasably sealed corner between the fourth rectangular panel 96 and the third rectangular panel 95; tabs 100 and 101 are connected to create a releasably sealed corner between the second rectangular panel 94 and the third rectangular panel 95. The lid panel 105 is shown open in order to provide a view of the inside of the container 53. In order to releasably close the container 117, the lid panel 105 would be folded parallel to the square base panel 92, and releasable connections would be made between tabs 107 and 116; 108 and 111; and 109 and 110.
The corresponding connected tabs are shown extending outside of the container 117, though it should be understood that the tabular connections could be made such that the connections made between tabs 97-104 could be made such that the tabs extend inside the container 117. This is possible because each face of each tab is entirely covered in self-locking reclosable fasteners 3, and each tab can fold about the panel to which it is attached. The faces of the panels not at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may have no self-interlocking reclosable fasteners and may instead be substantially smooth. The smooth faces of each panel may face outwards when the container 53 is configured as shown in FIG. 12. A label may be affixed to the smooth outward-facing faces, for example, a sticker. Alternately, labels may be printed onto the smooth faces.
FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the container 117 of FIGS. 11 and 12 having been closed such that the panel faces that are at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are facing outwards. Folded as shown in FIG. 13, the container 117 provides a three-dimensional building surface, to which building blocks of pluralities of building blocks 1 or 54 may be connected. Each face of each panel that is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 may be color-coded to indicate possible connection points between the container 117 and the building blocks 1. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on the panels may be arranged in patterns. Any pattern of dispersal of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 is contemplated. Shown in FIG. 13, the container 117 is configured as described above except that the rectangular panels 93-96 have been folded about the square base panel 92 such that the faces of the panels which are at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are facing outwards. The corresponding connected tabs, 100 and 101; 97 and 104; 98 and 99; 102 and 103 are shown extending outside of the container 117, though it should be understood that the tabular connections between tabs 97-104 could be made such that the tab connections extend inside the container 53. The plurality of building blocks 1 of FIGS. 1, and 4-7, and the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7 and 8 may be stored in the container 117 simultaneously both when the container is releasably sealed such that the faces of the panel having no self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are facing outwards, and when the container 117 is releasably sealed such that the faces of the panels at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are facing outwards.
The container 117 of FIGS. 10-13 may be configured such that a surface area of the faces or the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the faces of the rectangular panels 93-96, and of the square panels 92, 105 are configured to look like a setting such as grass, a body of water, or a building material such as brick, stone, tiles, siding, and the like. Each rectangular panel and square panel could be configured to look like the same setting or building material, or each rectangular and square panel could look like a different setting such that one or a plurality of settings are available to have building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1 connected thereon when the container 117 is unfolded as shown in FIG. 11 and when the container 117 is folded as shown in FIG. 13.
The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 are not limited to facilitating connectivity between only the mat 60 and the plurality of building blocks 1 and between different building blocks of the plurality of building blocks 1, nor are the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 limited to facilitating connectivity between building blocks or objects having geometric shapes. Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7 and 8, a cuboid building block 526 the entire surface area of which is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, having been connected to the mat 60 by a bottom flat face (not shown), and a plurality of figurines interfacing with the mat 60 and the building block 526, the figurines including a first humanoid 500, a second humanoid 501, a cow 502, and a tree 503. The first humanoid 500 is shown lying on the mat 60, having not yet been connected to the mat 60. The first humanoid has a first foot 504 and a second foot 505. Both feet 504, 505 may have a bottom surface which may be covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The first humanoid 500 has a first hand 508 and a second hand 509. Both hands 508 and 509 may have a surface which may be covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3.
The second humanoid 501 may also have a first foot and a second foot having a bottom surface area which includes self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The second humanoid 501 may also have a first and second hand which may have a surface which includes self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The second humanoid 501 is shown connected to the building block 526 by the interaction of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of one hand with the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the building block 526. Further, the second humanoid 501 is shown connected to the mat 60 by the interaction of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the feet with the self-interlocking fasteners of the mat 60. It should be understood that the humanoids 500, 501 are not limited to having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners on the hands and the feet. For example, a torso region 520 of the first humanoid may also have self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. As another example, the first humanoid 500, may include a head region 524. The head region 524 may also include self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. Further, the first humanoid 500 is not limited to being connected to the mat 60, and could be connected to any portion of the building block having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 allow the user to interface a plurality of figurines with the mat 60 and building blocks in many ways which are not limited to having the figurines only “standing” in an upright orientation, namely, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 allow the figurines to be connected in sideways and upside-down orientations on both the mat 60 and the faces of building blocks having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
Referring still to FIG. 14, there is shown the cow 502 having a plurality of hoofs, which may each include a flat bottom surface area (not shown) entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners (not shown). The cow is connected to a flat face 529 of the cuboid building block 526 by the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on the flat bottom surface areas of the hooves such that the cow 502 is oriented horizontally in relation to the mat 60. The cow 502 is not limited to being connected to the building block 526, and could be connected to any portion of the mat 60 and building block 526 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners. The cow 502 is also not limited to only having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners on the flat bottom surface areas of the hooves. As one example, the cow 502 could also have self-interlocking reclosable fasteners on a back portion of the cow 502 such that a humanoid figurine having an entire surface area below the torso area entirely or substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners could be seated on the cow 502.
Also shown in FIG. 14, the tree 503 is depicted having been connected to the mat 60. The tree includes a trunk 514 having a flat bottom surface area (not shown) which is entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, and a curved face 515 entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The flat bottom surface area of the tree 503 is releasably connected to the mat 60 by the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 thereon. It should also be understood that the figurines are not limited to interfacing with the mat and building blocks; the figurines may also connect to one another by portions of figurines having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. Further, the figurines shown are not limited to being humanoids 500, 501, the cow 502 and the tree 504. For example, the figurines might include a variety of farm, jungle, or other genres of animal figurines, a plurality of super hero or humanoid action figurines, a plurality of different landscape pieces such as trees, bushes, hills, and the like. The genre of figurines could correspond to the mat 60 and accompanying building blocks. For example, the colors of the mat 60 could be configured such that the mat 60 looked like a pasture (not shown), and the accompanying building blocks could be configured to look like barn siding, and the corresponding figurines could be a humanoid farmer, a plurality of various farm animals, and trees or plants that would grow in a pasture. Other genres or themes may be used as would be known in the art.
Components of a catching game are shown in FIG. 15, including a spheroid ball 600 having a curved face 601 entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3, and a mitt 602 including a strap 603 and a surface area 604 opposite the strap 603, the surface area 604 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 attached thereto. The spheroid ball 600 may be rigid or flexible; the spheroid ball 600 may be made out of plastic, wood, foam, rubber, metal, a composite material, and the like. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 on the spheroid ball 601 may releasably connect to the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the surface area 604 of the mitt 602 so that the user can try to catch the spheroid ball 600 using the releasable connection between the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the curved face 601 of the spheroid ball 600 and the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the surface area 604 of the mitt 602. It should be understood that other shaped balls are contemplated, such as footballs, rugby balls, or the like. Further, the ball 600 shown is exemplary and other sizes are contemplated such as soccer ball sized balls, beach ball sized balls, and the like.
FIG. 16 depicts a user 605 having the mitt 602 of FIG. 15 attached to the user's hand by the strap 603, holding the mitt 602 such that the surface area 604 of the mitt 602 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 is facing downward. The spheroid ball 600 of FIG. 15 is shown connected to the surface area 604 of the mitt 602, the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners enabling the user to hold the spheroid ball 600 on the mitt 602 even upside-down without the spheroid ball 600 parting from the mitt 602. The mitt is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 16, for example, the mitt 602 could be attachable to a user's hand via a plurality of loops, a pocket, a plurality of cavities configured to the spacing of a user's hand which the user could grasp, and the like. Further, the mitt 602 could be a paddle having a face entirely covered in self-interlocking fasteners 3. The paddle could also include a handle which the user would hold to maneuver the paddle in trying to capture the spheroid ball 600. As another example, the mitt 602 could be a mitten or glove wearable by the user, the palm of the mitten or glove being entirely or substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
Referring to FIG. 17 there is shown a target game including yet another embodiment of the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7, 8, and 13, having a bottom planar surface 408 including a plurality of suction cups 33 affixing the mat 60 to a wall 404, the target game also including a plurality of darts 405. The mat 60 may be shaped like a circle, and may have a top planar surface 406 covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The coloring of the top planar surface 406 of the mat 60 may be such that the mat 60 has three concentric rings, creating a target at which the plurality of darts 405 can be thrown or ejected. The target bulls-eye mat 60 is not limited to being affixed to a wall 404 and could be configured to be wearable by a user, for example by a vest or shirt having the bulls-eye mat 60 attached thereon, or via a plurality of loops, straps clips, and the like configured to attach the bulls-eye mat 60 to a user. In other embodiments, no bulls-eye is necessary. Instead the wearable object which includes the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may be body armor and worn to cover various portions of a wearer's body. In other embodiments, the darts 405 may be arrows, bullets, missiles, projectiles, or the like. In all embodiments, the leading edge of the projectile may include the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
The dart 405 may include a face 410 which includes self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. The face 410 may be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners of the face 410 may connect to the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the top planar surface 406 of the mat 60 when a user throws or ejects the darts 405 at the mat 60. FIG. 17 shows two darts 419 attached to the mat 60. Another dart 420is shown approaching the mat 60, having been thrown, shot, or otherwise propelled towards the mat 60 such that the flat face 410 is approaching the mat 60.
The darts 405 are not limited to having a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 17, and could have for example, a conical shape, a cuboid shape, an oblong spheroid shape, and the like. The darts 405 are shown having fins, but it should be understand that the darts 405 could have different aerodynamic appendages such as feathers, or may not have any aerodynamic appendages. Further, while the darts 405 shown in FIG. 17 are shown having the same color, it is contemplated that the darts 405 could each be a different color, or could be colored to each correspond to a different colored ring of the bulls-eye of the mat 60 such that a user is prompted to throw or eject each dart of the plurality of darts 405 to a particular colored ring on the bulls-eye of the mat 60.
Referring to FIG. 18 there is shown a loofa or sponge device 120 configured to interface with yet another embodiment of the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7, 8, 13 and 17 (not shown). The sponge device 120 includes a back side 121. The back side 121 may include a plurality of attachment points 122. Each attachment point 122 may be comprised of a plurality of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3. In one embodiment, the attachment points 122 may be located only on the back side 121. In further embodiments, the attachment points 122 may be located on two or more sides of the sponge device 120 or there may be one or more attachment points 122 on each side of the device 120. The self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the attachment points 122 may be capable of attaching to the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 of the mat 60, such that the sponge device 120 may be attached to the mat 60 when not in use. The connection between the attachment point 122 and the mat 60 may be sufficient to withstand not only the power of gravity, but also additional environmental factors as well. For example, in a shower setting loofas and sponges may often fall off of a shower caddy, shelf, or other holding area. Further, the presence of soap and water makes for a slippery environment wherein objects are even more likely to fall or be displaced. However, the connection of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners may be strong enough to combat both gravity and these slippery conditions and retain objects such as the sponge device 122 in one place.
The mat 60 could be further configured to include and interface with a plurality of functional attachments. The functional attachments could be configured to be applicable to uses other than in a shower setting. For example, a scrubber attachment including a portion of a surface area entirely or at least substantially covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, and an abrasive surface, could be configured to releasably connect to the mat 60 such that a user could scrub an object by moving the object back and forth across the abrasive surface, the abrasive surface remaining conveniently stationary, having been connected to the mat 60 by the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners. As another example, rather than having an abrasive surface, a functional attachment could have a polishing surface, or the functional attachment could be a scraper, a grater, a sharpener, and the like.
FIG. 19 is an environmental view of the mat 60 of FIGS. 2-5, 7, 8, 13, 17, and 18 having been affixed to a wall 128 of a shower 300 by a plurality of suction cups 33 on the bottom planar surface (not shown) of the mat 60. Releasably attached to the mat 60 is the loofa or sponge device 120 of FIG. 18. The sponge device 120 may be held in the position shown by the interaction of the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners on the mat 60 and the attachment points 122. As has been described above, this connection may be strong enough to resist gravity as well as the slippery conditions created by the operation of the shower 300.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a head 601 having areas covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners 3 onto which a plurality of facial features 600 may be attached, as well as a plurality of facial features 600. Each of the plurality of facial features have an area which is covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, the area being located where the facial feature would attach to the head 601. For example, an ear 602 is shown being connected to the head 601; the area of the ear 602 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners is such that when the ear 602 is attached to the head 601, the ear 602 is oriented on the head 601 as an ear would naturally be oriented on a head. For example, another ear 603 is shown having already been connected to the head 601. Also connected to the head 601 are a mouth 604, a first eye 605 and a second eye 606. The plurality of facial features 600 is not limited to the facial features depicted in FIG. 20. Shown are noses, eyes, mouths, eyebrows, and a moustache, though it should be understood that the plurality of facial features 600 could also include other facial features; for example, beards, different hairstyles, as well as accessories such as glasses, hats, and the like. Further, it should be understood that the head 601 is not limited to having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners only in the eye, nose, ear, eyebrow, and moustache areas. For example, the head 601 could have more areas having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners that were not in positions on the head 601 on which facial features would naturally be; this may facilitate more creativity and imagination by the user. As another example, the head 601 could be entirely covered in self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
Referring still to FIG. 20, though the head 601 is shown having the shape of a humanoid head, it should be understood that the head 601 is not limited to this shape and could be other shapes; for example, an animal head shape such as a dog or a dinosaur. It should be further understood that the plurality of facial features 600 is not limited to humanoid facial features, and could be a plurality of animal facial features that could correspond with the head 601 having an animal shape. The head 601 could be the size of an average humanoid head, or could be smaller or larger than an average humanoid head. The bottom of the head (not shown) may have an area of self-interlocking reclosable fasteners such that the head 601 could be connected to the mat 60 (not shown) or to a building block of the plurality of building blocks 1 (not shown) such that the head 601 is steady as the user connects some of the plurality of facial features 600 thereon. In a further embodiment, a body may be provided, the body having a neck area covered with self-interlocking reclosable fasteners such that the head 601 may be removably attached to the body. Further, various other body parts, clothes, and accessories may be provided for the body, all of which may be removably attachable to the body using the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners as has been described. Referring again to the head 601, the head 601 could be rigid or flexible and the plurality of facial features 600 could be rigid or flexible. The head 601 and the plurality of facial features 600 may be made from plastic, wood, foam, rubber, metal, a composite material, and the like. The user is not limited to connecting the facial features to the locations on the head 601 on which the facial features would naturally correspond. For example, the user could connect the ear 603 to the top of the head 601, or anywhere else on the head 601 having self-interlocking reclosable fasteners, thereby facilitating creativity and the imagination of the user. Furthermore, the head 601 could also include a body as well. Arms and legs may be attachable to the main body, including but not limited to the head 601. Other extremities and limbs may additionally be attachable to the head 601 with the self-interlocking reclosable fasteners.
Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. The terms “first” and “second” are used to distinguish elements and are not used to denote a particular order.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20160296850
