MODULAR PLAYING BLOCK SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates primarily to building modular structures, and more particularly to their use as toys such as educational building blocks.

BACKGROUND

Playing with building blocks is not only fun, they are also very basic educational tools for kids to understand easy as well as complex things. Building blocks are the most versatile toy ever conceived and at the same time deceptively simple too.

There are various types of building blocks which help children in learning many new things around them which are new to them such as, numbers, fruits, vegetables, etc. Not only being restricted to things around us they help learning connect one thing with another with which they are able to understand the connections with various things, people, action etc, around them.

However, the shape and size of the building blocks that exist conventionally are restricted, thereby making limited arrangements from the building blocks. Further, it becomes difficult to collect all the building blocks and keep them safely when the game is over. In an attempt to address these shortcomings inventor herein has come up with a novel modular block system.

SUMMARY

A modular playing block system is provided. The block system comprises at least one storage container. The at least one storage container has a hole. The block system also comprises a plurality of connectors, wherein each of the plurality of connectors is inserted in a hole of the plurality of holes to form different arrangements, and each of the plurality of connectors act as support for the arrangements.

It will be understood that this disclosure in not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present disclosure which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a modular playing block system, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement formed from modular playing block system of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a storage container of large size, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a storage container of medium size, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a storage container of small size, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of connectors of different sizes, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used in the specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may also include plural references. For example, the term “an article” may include a plurality of articles. Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. There may be additional components or processes described in the foregoing application that are not depicted on the described drawings. In the event such a component or process is described, but not depicted in a drawing, the absence of such component and process from the drawings should not be considered as an omission of such design from the specification.

Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention utilizes a combination of components or processes, which constitutes a modular block system. Accordingly, the components or processes have been represented, showing only specific details that are pertinent for an understanding of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific component level details and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, “another example”, “yet another example”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. The words “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, and “including”, and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

Referring to FIG. 1, a modular playing block system 100 according to one exemplary embodiment is shown. The system 100 comprises a plurality of storage containers 102 and a plurality of connectors 104. Although FIG. 1 shows only three storage containers, there may be any number of storage containers used. The plurality of storage containers 102 are removably connected to each other. In other words, the storage containers 102 can be arranged such that they can be joined and disjoined whenever required. The storage containers 102 are part of the playing blocks and are used by players during a game play. In one embodiment, the storage containers 102 are stacked on top of each other to form different arrangements.

In one embodiment, the plurality of storage containers 102 is made of plywood. In another embodiment, the plurality of storage containers 102 is made of solid wood. However, the storage containers 102 can be made of any material and is not restricted to the one mentioned here. The material for the storage containers 102 is selected such that weight of the storage containers remains light, thereby, making it easier for players to handle and play with the building blocks.

The plurality of storage containers 102 is of different sizes and shapes. For example, the plurality of storage containers 102 may be rectangular or square or any other shape. Also, the plurality of storage containers 102 can be of different sizes. In terms of sizes, the plurality of storage containers 102 may be broadly categorized in 3 different sizes—i.e., small, medium and large where the medium size storage containers are larger than the small size and the large size storage containers are larger than the medium and small sized storage containers.

Each of the plurality of storage containers 102 has holes 106a and 106b (collectively called 106) in it. The hole 106a and 106b have different sizes. For example, the hole 106a in larger than size than hole 106b. The hole 106 is present on each of a face 108 of the storage container 102. For example, if the storage container 102 is rectangular in shape, there will be 6 faces in the storage container. Hence, in case the storage container is rectangular in shape, the hole 106 will be present on each of the 6 faces. However, in one embodiment, the holes 106 may not be present on all the faces of the storage containers 102.

The hole 106 may be present in the centre of a face 108 of the storage containers 102. However, the placement of the hole 106 is not restricted to the centre and holes may be present anywhere on the face of the storage containers 102. The hole 106 is used to join the plurality of connectors 104 with the plurality of storage containers 102. As shown in FIG. 1, the hole 106 can be of different size i.e. small, medium and large. In one embodiment, the hole 106 is of different shape. For example, some holes may be rectangular in shape, other may be square in shape or circular in shape, etc. However, other shapes and sizes are also possible. Any hole 106 may be on modular grid pattern of any ratio that is set as the base unit number.

The plurality of connectors 104 present in the playing block system 100 are used to connect the plurality of storage containers 102 together so as to form an arrangement. In one embodiment, similar to the storage containers, the connectors 104 are made from a wood product. However, material is not restricted to wood product. The material of the connector is selected so that the connectors 104 can remain light weight and are easy to play by the players. The connectors 104 may not be mechanically connected and are simply using cantilevers and gravity for supporting the plurality of storage containers 102.

In one embodiment, the outside of the storage container 102 are also modular in dimension as are the holes 106 in the storage container. Further, the connectors 104 are modular in all dimensions (length, width, thickness). All components to the game are modular included the storage container 102 in all orientations

Each of the plurality of connectors 104 is inserted in the hole 106 present in the plurality of storage containers 102. For example, the connectors 104 may be inserted by the players playing with the building blocks. By doing this, the players can arrange the storage containers 102 in any arrangement. For example, the player can arrange the plurality of storage containers 102 and the plurality of connectors 104 as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the resultant arrangement 200 is in a form of a multi-story building. Although arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is only for exemplary purpose, any arrangement can be formed using the connectors 104 and the storage containers 102.

Each of the plurality of connectors 104 act as a cantilever and counterbalance. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of connectors 104 are shown as being inserted inside the storage containers 102 via holes 106 present in the storage containers 102. The connectors 104 act as a support for the arrangements. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the connectors 104 can be of different sizes. Similar to storage containers 102, the connectors 104 can be categorized into 3 sizes—small, medium and large. In one embodiment, the different sized connectors may be of different colours so that the size of the connectors can be easily identified by the players. Similarly, the plurality of connectors 104 are of different shapes.

The players can use connectors 104 of any size as per the requirement of the arrangement to be formed. For example, a small sized connector can be inserted into a hole of small size. Similarly, a medium sized connector can be inserted into the medium sized hole and a large sized connector can be inserted into the large sized hole. Hence, size and shape of the connectors 104 and the holes are not restrictive. For example, in one embodiment, the size of the connector 104 and hole 102 is 15 mm. In another embodiment, the size of the connector 104 and hole 102 is in multiple of 15 mm Since the connectors 104 holes 102 are modular, the modularity can be expressed as 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and so on.

Referring back to FIG. 1, when the player finishes playing with the block system, the player can safely place the plurality of connectors 104 inside the plurality of storage containers 102. For example, FIG. 1 shows, the plurality of connectors 104 are placed inside the containers 102.

In one embodiment, there may be only one storage container 102 and a plurality of connectors 104. In other words, to play the game, it is not required to have the plurality of storage containers 102 and hence the game can be played even with a single storage container 102.

Referring to FIG. 3 now, different faces 302 of different sized storage containers 102 are shown. The faces 302 are shown in disassembled form which can be assembled together to form an arrangement 300. The different faces 302 are of different sizes and shapes. The faces have holes 106 in them so that connectors 104 can be inserted into them. The arrangement 300 shows formation of large sized storage container.

Referring to FIG. 4 now, different faces 402 of different sized storage containers 102 are shown. The faces 402 are shown in disassembled form which are assembled together to form an arrangement 400. The arrangement 400 is same as that of arrangement 300 except that arrangement 400 forms a medium sized storage container 402. Medium sized faces are combined to form arrangement 400.

Referring to FIG. 5 now, different faces 502 of different sized storage containers 102 are shown. The faces are shown in disassembled view and are assembled together to form an arrangement 500. The arrangement 500 is same as that of arrangement 300 and 400 except that arrangement 500 forms a small sized storage container 502.

Referring to FIG. 6 now, different sized connectors 104 are shown. The different sized connectors 104 range from small sized connectors to large size connectors. As explained above, connectors can be of different colours. In one embodiment, the connectors 104 are of different dimensions. For example, connector 602 has different dimension (upper face) than that of connector 604. The connector 602 has larger face than the connector 604. Thus, connector 602 can be used for large sized holes while connector 604 can be used for small sized holes. In one embodiment, the connectors 602,604 may be dimensioned in a grid pattern. For example, the connector 604 may have a cross section of 1 mm by 1 mm (or 1:1 as expressed in ratio), whereas the connector 602 may have cross section of 1 mm by 2 mm. Likewise, even the holes 106 may be formed in a grid pattern on different faces. For example, similar to the connector 604, the holes may have a cross section of 1 mm by 1 mm or 1 mm by 6 mm. The connector 602 may be inserted into the hole with dimension 1 mm by 2 mm while connector 604 may be inserted into the hole with dimension 1 mm by 1 mm Thus, referring back to FIG. 1 again, connector 604 may be inserted in the hole 106b while connector 602 may be inserted in the hole 106a. However, the size of the connectors 602 and 604 and holes may not be limited to the one mentioned here and may have any dimension. For example, the size of the connectors 602, 604 and holes 106a and 106b may be 1×3, 1×4, 2×2, 2×4 or 2×6 are used only for explanation purposes and are not restrictive.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

MODULAR PLAYING BLOCK SYSTEM

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