The invention relates to an interlocking block, assembly using the same, and furniture.
Building blocks are widely and generally familiar toys to pile up such simple geometric shapes as triangle, rectangle, circle, and the like in three dimensions. Building blocks can be piled up to build structures looking like a house. It is, however, difficult to build structures similar to wooden frameworks which are popular in Japanese houses by piling up the building blocks. Also, building block sets include blocks in various shapes, and there is a problem that the number of blocks in each shape restricts creativity.
Japanese Utility Model No. 3172064 discloses three types of blocks in shapes close to a rectangular parallelepiped. These blocks can be interconnected to build complex assemblies.
The above-mentioned conventional blocks are, however, in shapes close to a rectangular parallelepiped, which are not in proportion enabling to form frameworks. Also, because there are three types of blocks, there is a problem that the number of each type of blocks restricts creativity.
It is an object of the invention to provide a simple-shaped interlocking block capable of building a structure similar to wooden frameworks, an assembly using the same, and furniture.
An interlocking block according to one aspect of the invention is an interlocking block configured to be assembled with another interlocking block having the same shape and the same size, comprising a base in the shape of a pillar extending in a predetermined direction, the base having a surface formed with a pair of cutouts in bilateral symmetry in the predetermined direction, wherein: the width and the thickness of the base are the same; when the width of the base is W, then the length of the surface in the predetermined direction is 6W, and the distance from an end surface of the base to one of the pair of cutouts in the predetermined direction is W, and the length of each of the cutouts in the predetermined direction is W, and the depth of each of the cutouts is W/2.
The interlocking block preferably has a pair of thin parts formed with the pair of cutouts and a thick part that is thicker than the pair of thin parts, and is configured to be assembled with the another interlocking block by inserting one of the thin part and the thick part into the cutout of the another interlocking block.
An assembly according to another aspect of the invention includes a plurality of above-mentioned interlocking blocks assembled with one another.
A furniture according to still another aspect of the invention has a structure of the assembly mentioned above.
According to one aspect of the invention, because an interlocking block in the shape of a pillar formed with a cutout can be assembled with the same type of interlocking block, a complex assembly can be built of the interlocking blocks even though the blocks have a simple configuration. Also, it is possible to play with the interlocking blocks, create objects with the same, and build furniture with the same.
An interlocking block according to an embodiment of the invention will be described while referring to the accompanying drawings. As shown in
It should be noted that “length” means a dimension in the longitudinal direction DL, and “width” means a dimension in a width direction DW, and “thickness” and “depth” mean dimensions in a thickness direction DT.
An end surface 16 of the interlocking block 10 in the longitudinal direction DL is substantially in the square shape, and the width and the thickness of the end surface 16 are the same. When the width of the end surface 16 is “W,” the length, the width, and the thickness of each end part 11 are all “W.” Thus, the distance from the end surface 16 to one of the cutouts 12 in the longitudinal direction DL is also “W.” The length of the body part 13 is “2W,” and the width and the thickness of the same are both “W.” The length and the width of each cutout 12 are both “W,” and the depth thereof is “W/2.” Thus, the length and the width of the thin part 15 are “W,” and the thickness of the same is “W/2.”
“W” may be set to any specific dimension. “W” is, however, preferably 3 cm, for example, if the interlocking block 10 is used as a toy or used for small-sized furniture and 7 cm, for example, if the interlocking block 10 is used for medium-sized furniture.
According to an aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the corners of the interlocking block 10 be chamfered. The interlocking block 10 may be formed of various types of materials, such as woods, resin, metals, glass, and the like.
Next, examples of assemblies built of the interlocking blocks 10 will be described. It should be noted that first to seventh assemblies 100 to 700 described below are all built of a plurality of interlocking blocks 10 connected to each other.
The first assembly 100 shown in
By connecting another interlocking block 10 to the assembly 102, the first assembly 100 can be further expanded in the vertical direction. Also, the first assembly 100 can be expanded in the horizontal direction by forming a plurality of first assemblies 100 and connecting these first assemblies 100 with the interlocking block(s) 10.
The second assembly 200 shown in
The third assembly 300 shown in
The fourth assembly 400 shown in
The firth assembly 500 shown in
The sixth assembly 600 shown in
The seventh assembly 700 shown in
As described above, the interlocking block 10 according to the embodiment of the invention has a structure with the pair of cutouts 12 formed at both sides in the longitudinal direction DL of the base in the shape of a pillar and has dimensions that enable to connect a plurality of interlocking blocks 10 with one another by receiving the end part 11 and/or the body part 13 of the interlocking block 10 into the cutout 12 of another interlocking block 10 and/or by placing the cutout 12 into another cutout 12. Thus, it is possible to build complex assemblies using one type of simple interlocking block 10.
It should be noted that in one aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the interlocking block 10 be colored and/or printed with patterns, letters, or the like. In this case, it is preferable that the interlocking block 10 has a different color, pattern, letter, or the like on each surface. Also, in another aspect of the invention, it is preferable that the surfaces of the interlocking block 10 be coated with paint or the like or affixed with a different material.
Also, according to still another aspect of the invention, it is preferable that metal or the like be placed in the interlocking block 10 to make the interlocking block 10 heavier as needed or that the interlocking block 10 have a hollow structure to be less heavier.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, it is preferable to combine the interlocking blocks 10 of different materials. In this case, in order to achieve a balance, heavy interlocking blocks 10 made of metal or embedded with metal are used for a lower part of an object, and lighter interlocking blocks 10 made of wood or with a hollow structure are used for an upper part of the object.
The interlocking block 10 may be formed by machining a piece of material or in various other manners including die casting.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The interlocking block of the invention is applicable in the field of interlocking block toys, object creation, and furniture.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2016-001602 | Mar 2016 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2017/006742 | 2/23/2017 | WO | 00 |