Patent Application
20150165337
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toys, and more particularly to a building system using a block member and a plastic bottle cap that can be connected to other block members and bottle caps to form a structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Toys are wonderful devices that serve to occupy one's attention for long periods of time. They appeal to both the young and old, and they mainly serve to entertain and exercise one's imagination through various interactions therewith. Other toys also serve as educational tools that help exercise one's creativity and problem solving skills.
Some examples of the latter include LEGO® bricks or blocks and Tinkertoy® building sets, LEGO® being a trademark of LEGO Group based in Billund, Denmark and Tinkertoy® being a trademark of Hasbro based in Pawtucket, R.I. Both include a variety of components such as interlocking bricks of various sizes and shapes, rods, and perforated disks for the user to piece together into various structures ranging from simple to complex. Apart from some physical limitations, financial burden, and availability of the necessary parts, the possible structures one can build is limited by the user's imagination. While the creative potential with these types of toys are great, some can be rather expensive; thus unaffordable to some.
These toys remain popular even in current times. However, there does not appear to be a similar toy that conscientiously employs recycling practices to make use of recyclable materials and build something therefrom. Currently, tons of plastics are discarded annually with relatively a small percentage being recovered for recycling purposes. That amounts to a relatively large quantity of material not being utilized in some manner, especially plastic bottle caps. Recycling may require additional processes to effectively recover the resin of plastics from the original form in order to convert the same into something useful, which adds to overall costs. In that light, it would be more cost effective to reuse the original form of the discarded plastic for another purpose, e.g., a type of toy.
Thus, a building system using plastic bottle caps solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The building system using plastic bottle caps includes at least one interlocking building block having a substantially elongated base. An upstanding cap mounting boss extends from the top of the boss, and a cap mounting recess is formed coaxial with the cap mounting boss at the bottom of the base. The cap mounting boss permits threaded mounting of a bottle cap, and the cap mounting recess permits each interlocking building block to be stacked on top of another bottle cap, especially a bottle cap mounted to another cap mounting boss of another interlocking building block. A connection hole is formed adjacent to the cap mounting recess to permit the base to be looped onto the cap mounting post of another building block in horizontal orientation. A plurality of building blocks and bottle caps can be connected together to construct a user-defined structure. The building system includes various embodiments for construction.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The building system, in an embodiment of which is generally referred to by the reference number 10, provides at least one interlocking building block with connecting and mounting features for plastic bottle caps in order to create an integral unit that can be attached to other similar units. The use of plastic bottle caps, as a component in the unit, contributes to recycling efforts and an economical method of making an entertaining, creative and educational object or toy.
As shown in
Each respective base sections 14, 16 include at least one mounting or connecting feature for a bottle cap 26. Regarding the first base section 14, a cap mounting boss or post 20 protrudes generally upward from the top of the first base section 14. The cap mounting boss 20 has a substantially hollow, cylindrical post configuration with threads 21 formed generally around the outer surface thereof. The threads 21 enable selective, threaded mounting or operative connection to the inner threads of the bottle cap 26. An opening 22 forms a hollow interior of the cap mounting boss 20, and extends through the first base section 14. This configuration can reduce the amount of material needed to make the building system 10. Further, the bottom of the cap mounting boss 20 can be closed to increase structural strength. In an embodiment of the building system 100, a closed bottom can be provided with perforations or openings formed therein to minimize weight and material requirements.
As shown in
It is also contemplated that the cap mounting recess 24 can be provided with inner threads (not shown) in order to accommodate bottle caps having exterior threads. However, this type of bottle cap is not as common as those bottle caps with outer corrugations, especially those made in plastic. Moreover, the range of relative angular positioning of the interlocking block 11 may be diminished due to potential irregularities in thread pitch.
The second base section 16 is configured as a connection ring to facilitate operative connection of one interlocking building block 11 to another adjacent interlocking building block 11. As such, the second base section 16 includes a connection opening or hole 17 defined thereon, forming a loop or ring. As shown in
To facilitate stacking, the second base section 16 extends generally from the top of the first base section 14. Notably, the second base 16 has a generally thin configuration, in comparison to the thickness of the first base section 14. As such, the space provided below the second base section 16 is sufficient in height to accommodate the thickness of the attached first base section 14 from the adjacent interlocking building block 11. Further, the second base section 16 has a generally thin configuration that provides a secure connection, without impacting the overall height of the row of connected interlocking building blocks 11 when secured by corresponding bottle caps 26.
Thus, the building system 10 can include at least one interlocking building block 11 and/or bottle cap 26 combinations. It is contemplated that the user for purposes of recycling will be motivated to collect the plastic bottle caps 26 to be used in building the structure. This also provides an economic benefit in that the user's costs will be limited to purchases of one or more interlocking building blocks 11. It is further contemplated that the building system 10 can be packaged to include bottle caps 26 in, e.g., a kit, the kit being comprised of at least one interlocking block 11 and/or at least one plastic bottle cap 26. Moreover, the kit can also include any of the other embodiments described herein and combinations thereof.
It is noted that plastic bottle caps 26 are generally provided in standard sizes. Consequently, a majority of the interlocking building blocks 11 can be constructed to accommodate and fit most common sized plastic bottle caps 26. The interlocking building blocks 11 can also be sized or configured to accommodate and fit less common sized plastic bottle caps 26.
The above configuration of the interlocking building blocks 11 provides a versatile unit that can be arranged in numerous configurations. For example, rows of interlocking building blocks 11 can be arranged and/or stacked in straight horizontal rows forming a wall for the desired structure, e.g., walls for a miniature building or house. Additionally, the manner in which adjacent interlocking blocks 11 are connected to each other and the stacking ability thereof enables the user to construct curved structures. For example, a starting interlocking building block 11 can be connected to the second base section 16 of an adjacent interlocking building block 11 at an angle. Additionally, the starting interlocking building block 11 can be stacked on top of another interlocking building block 11 at another angle where the stacked cap mounting bosses 20 serve to define the axis of angular orientation. Thus, the numerous, user-defined angular orientations provide the user with a vast array of possibilities in building the desired structure. In line with this capability, the elongated base 12 has a generally oval oblong configuration. The rounded or curved opposing ends result in a member that will not interfere with angular positioning with respect to each other. In converse, a rectangular oblong configuration with perpendicular, relatively sharp corners, can potentially abut against an adjacent cap mounting post 20, or a flat end 19 on the first base section 14, in an interfering manner. However, the elongated base 12 can be constructed with different shaped ends, such as the mentioned rectangular oblong, and other geometric shapes as long as they avoid or minimize potential interference when attempting to angularly position an interlocking building block 11 onto another interlocking building block 11, e.g., by providing a wide enough gap through select dimensioning of the first and second base sections 14, 16.
In an embodiment of a building system shown in
The interlocking building block 111 also includes a detachable mounting ring 130. The mounting ring 130 is configured as a split ring, which facilitates secure mounting of the interlocking building block 111 around the neck of the bottle B and subsequent removal thereof. The mounting ring 130 is attached to the interlocking building block 111 by a living hinge 132 at the end of a connecting strip 131. The thin living hinge 132 has a relatively thin configuration, however, is desirably strong enough to allow the interlocking building block 111 to hang from the neck of the bottle B and also enable easy removal of the mounting ring 130 from the interlocking building block 111 with minimal physical effort. The mounting ring 130 serves as a temporary or semi-permanent connector for the interlocking building block 111. As such, only the interlocking building block 111 remains after removal of the mounting ring 130. In an exemplary variation to the above described features, a plurality of interlocking building blocks 111 can be connected to a single mounting ring 130. In another variation, the building system 100 can be provided in combination with a bottle cap 126.
The above building system 100 enables gifting or promotion of the building system 100 in a suggestive form. After the bottle B has been used, the user can use the bottle cap 126 in the same manner as the previously described building system 10 to create and build any desired structure. Moreover, this configuration incentivizes users to collect a plurality of interlocking building blocks 111 for a desired project. It is to be further noted that the building system 100 can be attached to various other objects via the mounting ring 130. While a bottle B is an appropriate object due to the inherent suggestion to use the bottle cap 126 thereon, the mounting ring 130 also enables attachment to other objects that can support the weight of the building system 100.
In an embodiment of a building system shown in
In an embodiment of a building system shown in
As shown, the building system 300 includes at least one substantially elongated interlocking building block 311 having a substantially elongated base 312. The base 312 has a generally L-shaped or angled configuration, and is divided into a first base section 314 and at least a pair of second base sections 316a, 316b by a respective stepped ridge 318a, 318b. Each ridge 318a, 318b is formed by the respective second base section 316a, 316b extending generally from the top of the first base section 314. An upstanding cap mounting bosses 320 extends upwardly from the top of the base 312. Each cap mounting boss 320 is substantially the same as the cap mounting boss 20 and includes threads 321. In this exemplary embodiment, each second base section 316a, 316b extend in orthogonal directions with respect to each other. The bottom of the first base section 314 also includes a circular cap mounting recess 324 to enable the building system 300 to be stacked or mounted on top of a bottle cap 26. A plurality of corrugations 325 are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the cap mounting recess 324 to facilitate secure mounting onto the top of bottle caps 26.
By the above construction of the interlocking building block 311, the building system 300 provides at least one member for constructing angled, especially right angled, features in a structure, e.g., perpendicular walls, corners, and the like. Similar to the building system 200, the building system 300 can be used alone or in conjunction with any of the embodiments described herein. In one variant to the above, the interlocking building block 311 can be provided with additional second base sections extending in perpendicular or other angular directions.
The building system 400 may be configured more as an accessory or secondary building block rather than a standalone construction unit since the connector base 412 cannot be securely stacked on top of each other or horizontally interconnected to build a stable structure without being used in conjunction or combination with one or more of the cap mounting bosses 20, 120, 220, 320 or similar bosses. Thus, in one example, the building system 400 can be used in conjunction with the building system 10 in order to extend a line of construction in a desired direction. Instead of a direct connection to an adjacent interlocking building block 11, the extended second base section 416 can be used to indirectly connect a pair of interlocking building blocks 11 together via their respective cap mounting bosses 20. A similar type of indirect connection can be made with between pair of interlocking building blocks 311 in the building system 300 via the respective cap mounting bosses 320.
It is to be noted that the building system 10, 100, 200, 300, 400 encompasses a variety of alternatives. For example, the components of the building systems 10, 100, 200, 300, 400 can be constructed from plastic, especially plastic safe for use and interaction by children. The components can also be constructed from other materials such as wood, metal, composites and combinations thereof. Moreover, the interlocking building blocks 11, 111, 211, 311, 411 can be provided in various colors and/or with indicia. Furthermore, a kit can be provided to include at least one of the above building systems 10, 100, 200, 300, 400 for user purchase or collection.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
