PIXEL BLOCK

Abstract

The Pixel Block builds a wide range of useful constructions such as tables, chairs, and houses, with the modularity in three-dimensional space to make a universe of objects with a versatility similar to that of a pixel on a computer screen. It has a basic cylindrical shape that is as long as it is wide and deep to occupy a basic cube space. It is a versatile and useful geometric building block comprised of snaps, screws, nobs, magnetic forces, and combinations of these interfaces to assemble into constructions comprised of multiple copies of the Invention. On one end of the cylinder is a protruding screw that is also a hook and a snap, that can fit into itself and into each of five other sides of the cylinder. Once assembled into a shape, the Invention can be locked in place with spheres or with cylinders inside the Invention.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The Pixel Block (the “Invention”) is a versatile and useful geometric shape comprised of snaps, screws, nobs, magnetic forces, and combinations of these interfaces to be an object that builds a wide range of useful constructions such as tables, chairs, walls, bridges, shelves, houses and additional useful objects with the modularity in three-dimensional space to make a universe of objects with a versatility similar to that of a pixel on a screen that describes the world in two dimensional space.

Description of Related Art

Modular building blocks.

Screws, knobs and snaps that are part of other objects like clothing, shafts and bricks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has a basic cylindrical shape that is as long as it is wide and deep to occupy a basic cube space. On one end of the cylinder is a protruding screw that is also a hook and a snap, that can fit into itself and into each of the other five sides of the cylinder that correspond to each of the five sides of a cube space that the cylinder occupies. In this manner multiple copies of the Invention can be assembled together to build constructions that extend into each of the three dimensions.

The Invention's versatile design allows it to be built with flexible objects like rubber and flexible plastics, and it can be built with rigid objects like glass, ceramics and cast iron. Once assembled into a shape, the Invention can be locked in place with spheres or with cylinders inside the Invention. In addition to interfacing with additional copies of the Invention that are the same size as the Invention, the Invention can interface with pieces of its own geometry that are twice the size of the Invention, half the size, and a quarter of its size.

Because the Invention builds structures with interior shafts that can lock the structures or that can reinforce them, those shafts can also be conduits of smaller pieces of the Invention. In addition to having shafts inside the structures it builds, the Invention can build larger shafts with the outer surfaces of structures built by the Invention. In other words, in addition to building chairs, tables and other useful objects, the Invention can build shafts. All these shafts can be conduits for spheres that carry objects with the geometry of the Invention inside them. By being able to carry Invention objects inside the constructions, and outside shaft constructions, the Invention can build out structures. In other words, the Invention operates as a scaffolding that can be used to build out the structures it builds. The Invention does not necessarily require additional outside support to build things.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A through N are different views of the Invention.

FIG. 1A is a horizontal profile view from the side of the Invention.

FIG. 1B is a vertical profile view of FIG. 1A from a different angle.

FIG. 1C is a view at an angle of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a view from a bottom corner of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a view from a front corner of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1F is a view from a bottom edge of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1G is a view from a back corner of FIG. 1A from a different angle.

FIG. 1H is a view from a back corner of FIG. 1A from another angle.

FIG. 1I is a view from a bottom side of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1J is a view from a front side of the invention.

FIG. 1K is a horizontal profile view of FIG. 1A when it is rotated.

FIG. 1L is a bottom side view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1M is a front side view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1N is a front corner view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a half cut off view of the front bottom FIG. 1A with the bottom half cut off.

FIG. 2B is a cut off view from the bottom of FIG. 1A with the bottom cut off.

FIG. 2C is another view from the back bottom of FIG. 1A with the bottom half cut off.

FIG. 2D is a view of the Invention with one half of the Invention cut off for clarity.

FIG. 2E is a front bottom view of FIG. 1A with the right side cut off.

FIG. 2F is a view of FIG. 1A with a top part cut off.

FIG. 2G is a bottom corner view of FIG. 1A with the left side FIG. 1A cut off.

FIG. 2H is a front corner view of FIG. 1A with the right side cut off.

FIG. 2I is a side view of FIG. 1A with the front side cut off.

FIG. 2J is a back corner view of FIG. 1A with the left side cut off.

FIG. 3A is a view from a front side of FIG. 1A with the front half cut off.

FIG. 3B is a view from a front corner of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 3C is a view from a bottom side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 3D is a view from a side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 3E is a cutout view of the bottom of the cylinder shape of the Invention.

FIG. 3F is a view from the side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 3G is another view of the side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 4A is a cutout view of the top of the cylinder shape of the Invention that has the hook/knob shape.

FIG. 4B is another view from the side of FIG. 1A with the back cut off.

FIG. 4C is another view from the side of FIG. 1A with the side cut off.

FIG. 4D is a view from a side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 4E is a view from another side of FIG. 1A with the front cut off.

FIG. 4F is a close up view of the top of FIG. 1A from the inside with the back side cut off.

FIG. 4G is another closer-up view of the front of FIG. 1A with the back cut off.

FIG. 5A is a wireframe view of a simplified version of the Invention for clarity.

FIG. 5B is a solid view of that same area from a different vantage point for clarity.

FIG. 6A is a simplified wireframe version of the Invention that shows the same hook area as that in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6B shows the entry point of the hook from a view that is directly outside the hook area.

FIG. 6C shows the “s” snap element 10 inside FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 shows how the “s” snap at element 10 in FIG. 6C slopes toward the center of the Invention and then slopes back up and out until it ends at the exact point of element 11.

FIG. 8 is a view of a flexible materials Invention with a focus on the female hook enclosure side where the hook locks in place.

FIG. 9 at element 16 is a view from the top of the small upward slope that the hook must go up when it gets rotated into the piece. That small upward slope is how the hook is held in place at the point it is inserted into the shaft that is on the right side of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows how the Invention's hook is inserted into the shaft at the right side of FIG. The simple view of FIG. 8 is substantially (though not exactly) reproduced in FIG. 10 to show how the Invention gets inserted.

FIG. 11 shows how the invention's hooks interface with the enclosure that is represented by FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a different view of the same arrangement shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows the Invention fully rotated into the hook enclosure to the point where the hook snaps out to be securely held in that position.

FIG. 14 is a different view of the snapped-in hook shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15A is a close-up view of the inner cylinders in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 15B at elements 20 and 21 is a different view of the flexible sticks discussed in relation to FIG. 15A.

FIG. 15C is a cut-out view of the hooks and snaps discussed in relation to element 22 and element 23.

FIG. 16 is a profile view of the hooks that demonstrates the two directions the Invention's hooks move when they are inserted into the hook enclosure and rotated.

FIG. 17 at element 26 shows where the bottom of the Invention interfaces with the raised part of the top part of the Invention at element 28 in FIG. 18. The bottom part of the Invention at FIG. 17 element 27 rests on the top part of the Invention at element 29 on FIG. 18 when the hooks on the top of the Invention are inserted into the bottom part of another Invention piece.

FIG. 18 is a close-up view of FIG. 1A that shows the location of element 28 and element 29.

FIG. 19A is a close-up view from the inside of the shaft at the front of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 19B is a close-up view of the front of FIG. 1A to show the location of element 31.

FIG. 19A at element 30 and FIG. 19B at element 31 are different views of the “s” snap that is also shown at FIG. 2D element 2 and that is discussed above.

FIG. 20A is a profile view of the Invention from the top showing the hooks and the hook shafts on the top of the invention.

FIG. 20B is a profile view of the bottom of the Invention looking up to where the hooks are on the top of the Invention.

FIG. 21 is a different view of the Invention for clarity.

FIG. 22 is a different view of the Invention for clarity.

FIG. 23A is the Invention in a pole format that allows it to more easily pull together larger constructions.

FIG. 23B is a close-up view of an end of FIG. 23A.

FIG. 23C is a view from a front side of FIG. 23A.

FIG. 24A is the Invention in a format that allows the insertion of circular magnets.

FIG. 24B is a profile view from a side of FIG. 24A when it stands upright.

FIG. 24C is a view of FIG. 24A from a back side.

FIG. 24D is a profile view from the back of FIG. 24A.

FIG. 25A is a simplified view of the Invention to show how its hooks work.

FIG. 25B is a view from the front side of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 25C is a profile view from a side of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 26A is a profile view from the front of FIG. 26B.

FIG. 26B is a version of the Invention that allows for poles in the shape of the Invention to be inserted through it.

FIG. 26C is a view from a front side of FIG. 26B from a slightly different angle.

FIG. 27A shows the Invention in a configuration where cubes can be inserted on its corners, in addition to having poles traverse the invention.

FIG. 27B is a profile view of FIG. 27A from the front.

FIGS. 28 through 36 show how Inventions of the same size, and of different sizes, can be assembled into constructions to have a progressively larger construction.

FIG. 28 is an embodiment of the Invention in a cylinder that occupies an equilateral cube space.

FIG. 29 shows how an Invention that is half the size of another Invention can be inserted into the invention.

FIG. 30 is another view of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 shows how an Invention of the same size as another Invention can be inserted into a construction that already has an Invention that is half its size.

FIG. 32 shows how the construction that is FIG. 31 can have an additional Invention inserted to build out the construction more.

FIG. 33A shows Invention pieces assembled when they are of equal size, half the size of another piece (as in the piece to the left in FIG. 33A) and a piece that is one-fourth the size of the larger pieces (the piece inside the knob facing the viewer to the middle left of FIG. 33A).

FIG. 33B is the construction at FIG. 33A but viewed from a different angle.

FIG. 34A is the same construction as FIG. 33A except that additional Invention pieces have been added at the top left and at the middle left (the piece added at the middle left is one fourth the size of the large pieces in FIG. 34A).

FIG. 34B is the same construction as FIG. 34A except from a profile view.

FIG. 35 is the same construction as FIG. 34A except on the right is also has a piece that is twice the size of the three other large pieces in the construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A through N are different views of the Invention. The Invention does not have a single absolute size. Instead, the ratio of the size of the Invention's features relative to other features is important. For example, the length of the cylindrical shape in FIG. 1A is the same as the height and depth of the cylinder. This means the cylindrical shape occupies an area that corresponds to an equilateral cube. The diameter of the hole in the middle of the cylinder that is FIG. 1A is half the diameter of the cylinder. The knob sticking out the right side of the Invention as depicted in FIG. 1A fits into itself and into each of the other five holes on the Invention. Two of those holes are easily visible in the middle of the cylinder area. The diameter of those holes is exactly half the size of the diameter, or height, of the cylinder.

FIGS. 1A through N show how the knob and hook on one side of the Invention fits into itself and into the other five holes in the Invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the Invention with one half of the Invention cut off for clarity. Element 1 shows the insertion point for the hook at the side of the Invention that contains the knob and hook. That insertion point is found on each of the other five sides, and is denoted by element No. 4 on the right side of FIG. 2D for one of the other sides of the Invention. Element 2 shows wavy “s” snaps that hold spheres in place when they are inserted into a construction where the Invention's hook has been inserted into another Invention shape and rotated to snap and hook in place. When the Invention has a sphere, or a cylinder, inserted into this location it is locked because the sides of the hook cannot bend inward. Those sides must bend inward to become dislodged from their lodged position when the Invention is assembled into itself. These “s” snaps at element 2 also hold cylinders in place that also lock constructions of the Invention in a manner similar to spheres by impeding the ability of the hooks to bend inward. In addition to locking constructions, cylinders can reinforce constructions. The shaft that the “s” snaps at element 2 are located in are one fourth the diameter of the diameter of the basic cylinder of the Invention. Therefore, pieces of the Invention that are one fourth the size of the Invention can be inserted into that shaft to lock or reinforce the Invention when it is assembled into a structure. The Invention can be hooked together with other Invention pieces to form a continuous cylinder that can in turn be inserted to lock or reinforce larger constructions made from the Invention.

Element 3 on FIG. 2D is the tip of the hook on the end of the knob that is itself on the top end of the Invention as shown in FIG. 2D. That hook fits into each side of the Invention and elements 1 and 4 are examples of insertion points for this hook.

Element 5 shows ribs that stick out to hold on to shafts that may be inserted into the hole to reinforce or lock the Invention in place. When the Invention is placed next to another Invention such that the two shapes meet at the edge of the Invention at FIG. 2D, element 5, then the ribs on both Inventions will be in a location that will hold a sphere between the Invention shapes. Such a sphere will lock the Invention shapes in a manner that will keep them from moving up and down, or backwards and forwards (the Invention pieces will still be able to freely move horizontally from left to right).

Element 6 shows a flexible extended stick that gets pushed to the side when the hook slides into the shaft that is labeled as element 1. There is another flexible stick on the other side of the shaft. The purpose of these shafts is to hold the hook inside and not let it slide right back out. This flexible stick works with Invention geometries that are built with flexible material. Another Invention geometry that is built with flexible material can slide into this shaft and be held in place with this flexible stick. In addition, Invention geometries that are rigid are held in place with this flexible stick when the rigid Invention geometries are inserted into a flexible geometry shape Invention.

Element 7 is a reversible “s” snap on the bottom of the hook that is also a knob at the top of the cylinder shape. This “s” snap, when it secures to itself when two Invention pieces are joined on the knob/hook side, snaps together when those knob/hook sides are rotated relative to each other.

FIG. 3 is a cutout view of the bottom of the cylinder shape of the Invention. At element 8 on FIG. 3E there are “s” snaps that hold cylinders and spheres in the manner described above for the ribs in the middle of the cylindrical shape. The checkered “s” snap on the side by element 8 is a less strong “s” snap than the solid “s” snap on the other side of the Invention that can be seen in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 4 is a cutout view of the top of the cylinder shape of the Invention that has the hook/knob shape.

FIG. 5A is a wireframe view of a simplified version of the Invention for clarity. The orange wires in the wireframe correspond to one of the areas into which the hooks are inserted.

FIG. 5B is a solid view of that same area from a different vantage point for clarity. The entry point for the hook is to the right of FIG. 5B. The hook then swivels or rotates until it rests in place at the left side of FIG. 5B. The entry point on the bottom right side of the hook at FIG. 5B is found in two locations on each of the six cube sides of the Invention. It is labeled as element 1 and element 4 on FIG. 2D.

FIG. 6A is a simplified wireframe version of the Invention that shows the same hook area as that in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B shows the entry point of the hook from a view that is directly outside the hook area.

Element 9 on FIG. 6C denotes a sloping area that is where the hook, when inserted, rests by. To turn the hook to the left, the hook must go up the slope that is element 9. That slope therefore holds the hook in place at the location where the hook is inserted. However, if the hook is rotated with strength to the left, then it will push up that slope and rotate.

Element 10 at FIG. 6C is an “s” snap design that pushes out in the direction of the viewer. This causes the hook to be pushed toward the viewer when inserted into this shaft. Once inserted, it then snaps out at the location of element 10. The “s” shape is sloped down towards the viewer so that, if the hook is pulled with some pressure out, the hook will slide in, down the “s” shaped “ledge” and then down. Elements 9 and 10 are therefore features of the Invention that hold the hook in place once it is inserted. Because rigid materials cannot bend in the manner required of the hook to bend as described above, hooks on rigid material Invention do not fully extend to the edge of the enclosure denoted by element 10. Instead, the hooks of rigid material Inventions extend a distance that will allow the hook to rotate smoothly along the path that can be seen toward the left of FIG. 6C.

FIG. 7 shows how the “s” snap at element 10 in FIG. 6C slopes toward the center of the Invention and then slopes back up and out until it ends at the exact point of element 11.

FIG. 8 is a view of a flexible materials Invention with a focus on the female hook enclosure side where the hook locks in place. Flexible hooks that push all the way out to the side of the enclosure glide up the ramp that starts at element 12 when they are rotated to the left of FIG. 8. Element 13 on FIG. 8 is the rotation path for hooks of rigid materials Inventions. They simply move to the left along a horizontal plane and then are snapped into place by the snap bump that is just to the left of the spot designated as element 13.

Element 14 denotes the resting place of hooks after they have been rotated.

FIG. 9 at element 16 is a view from the top of the small upward slope that the hook must go up when it gets rotated into the piece. That small upward slope is how the hook is held in place at the point it is inserted into the shaft that is on the right side of FIG. 9.

When the inserted hook is rotated to the left of FIG. 9 the outside part of the hook enclosure pushes the hook inward gradually, towards the center of the Invention. This is shown in FIG. 9 by the fact that the circular line between elements 16 and 15 curves down more as it approaches element 15. That circular line is not fully circular as is the line in the bottom center part of FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows how the Invention's hook is inserted into the shaft at the right side of FIG. 8. The simple view of FIG. 8 is substantially (though not exactly) reproduced in FIG. 10 to show how the Invention gets inserted.

FIG. 11 shows how the invention's hooks interface with the enclosure that is represented by FIG. 8. The view shown in FIG. 11 is how the Invention's hook protrudes when rotated. This is because this view was generated with software that does not ascribe any material strength to the pieces. If the part of FIG. 11 that is the shaft for the hook were a solid material, it would push the hook (which is protruding roughly at the center of FIG. 11) inward and upward. If the Invention's hook were rotated a bit more, then it would snap out into the enclosure that is tow the right of the protruding hook in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a different view of the same arrangement shown in FIG. 11. Element 17 in FIG. 12 shows the point at which the Invention's hook protrudes from the enclosure into which the hook gets inserted and is rotated. The view of FIG. 12 is of the Invention's hook rotated approximately halfway between its insertion point (which is toward the top of FIG. 12) and the lock point (which is roughly towards the middle and bottom of FIG. 12).

FIG. 13 shows the Invention fully rotated into the hook enclosure to the point where the hook snaps out to be securely held in that position.

FIG. 14 is a different view of the snapped-in hook shown in FIG. 13.

Elements 18 and 19 on FIG. 15A are the flexible sticks that bend to the sides when a hook is inserted. They then hold a hook in place, which is important if a hook is on a rigid materials Invention. Inventions made with rigid materials do not have hooks that extend fully to the outer part of the hook enclosure. This is because those rigid materials hooks would break off when rotated. However, when rigid materials are inserted into a hook enclosure of a flexible materials Invention, the hooks on that invention hold the rigid materials hook in place. Rigid materials Inventions do not have the flexible sticks at elements 18 and 19 because those sticks are flexible. Instead, rigid materials Inventions simply have an unobstructed opening in that location. These flexible sticks are discussed above in relation to FIG. 2D, element 6 because that is also where these flexible sticks are found.

FIG. 15B at elements 20 and 21 is a different view of the flexible sticks discussed in relation to FIG. 15A. FIG. 15C at elements 22 and 23 is a view of those sticks specifically, without the rest of the enclosure that they are a part of, for clarity.

FIG. 16 is a profile view of the hooks that demonstrates the two directions the Invention's hooks move when they are inserted into the hook enclosure and rotated. When the hooks are rotated the outside of hooks on flexible Inventions is pushed up in the direction of the number 24 for element 24. When the hook is inserted into the hook shaft it is pushed toward the center of the Invention, which is in the direction away from the number “25” at element 25. The hook is also pushed in that direction when it is rotated in the hook shaft described above.

FIG. 17 at element 26 shows where the bottom of the Invention interfaces with the raised part of the top part of the Invention at element 28 in FIG. 18. The bottom part of the Invention at FIG. 17 element 27 rests on the top part of the Invention at element 29 on FIG. 18 when the hooks on the top of the Invention are inserted into the bottom part of another Invention piece. The raised part of the top of the Invention at element 28 on FIG. 18 fits into the recessed place to the left of element 29 on FIG. 18 when the hook side of the Invention is hooked into the hooked side of another Invention.

FIG. 19A at element 30 and FIG. 19B at element 31 are different views of the “s” snap that is also shown at FIG. 2D element 2 and that is discussed above. These “s” snaps hold spheres that lock Invention pieces when they are hooked together, for example. The “s” snaps also hold cylinders.

FIG. 20A is a profile view of the Invention from the top showing the hooks and the hook shafts on the top of the invention. The eight small protrusions around the edges are bulges that snap, or help grab, the Invention when it is inserted into cylinders or when it is inserted into another Invention that is twice the size of this Invention.

FIG. 20B is a profile view of the bottom of the Invention looking up to where the hooks are on the top of the Invention.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are different views of the Invention for clarity. The outside of the Invention has circular grooves running around the Invention on the left and right side of the cylinder at FIG. 22. The indentations allow for protrusions in other pieces to protrude into those indentations and hold the Invention more securely. The protruding parts in those grooved circular areas allow the Invention to grab onto other pieces. This is helpful when a flexible materials Invention is inserted into a rigid materials Invention that does not have protruding parts. In such a circumstance, the flexible materials piece will grab onto the rigid materials piece that only has indentations in the corresponding circular areas.

FIG. 23 is different views of the Invention in a pole format that allows it to more easily pull together larger constructions. It also allows for the Invention to reinforce structures when it is in this FIG. 23 configuration. The side of the FIG. 23A Invention shows hook insertion points for Invention pieces that are half the size of the Invention shown and that are also one fourth the size of the Invention shown. The Invention shown in FIG. 23A fits into itself on the ends (i.e., the ends fit into themselves when the Invention pieces are of the same size).

FIG. 24 is the Invention in a format that allows the insertion of circular magnets. The surfaces of FIG. 24 can be magnetized to attract such magnets and the circular magnets so affixed can then help strengthen constructions with the Invention. All protruding parts of the Invention can be magnetized with positive charges while the receding parts can be magnetized with negative charges to increase the grip of the Invention when inserted into itself.

FIG. 25 is a simplified view of the Invention to show how its hooks work. The viewer can see the hooks and the hook insertion points.

FIG. 26 is a version of the Invention that allows for poles in the shape of the Invention to be inserted through it. Such poles can be combinations of Invention pieces that are simply standard cylinders that occupy the space of a cube or they can be stretched cylinders like the one in FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 shows the Invention in a configuration where cubes can be inserted on its corners, in addition to having poles traverse the invention.

FIGS. 28 through 36 show how Inventions of the same size, and of different sizes, can be assembled into constructions to have a progressively larger construction.

FIG. 28 is an embodiment of the Invention in a cylinder that occupies an equilateral cube space.

FIG. 29 shows how an Invention that is half the size of another Invention can be inserted into the invention. FIG. 29 has the same view as FIG. 28 except that an Invention one half the size of FIG. 28 has been inserted into FIG. 29.

FIG. 30 is another view of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 shows how an Invention of the same size as another Invention can be inserted into a construction that already has an Invention that is half its size.

FIG. 32 shows how the construction that is FIG. 31 can have an additional Invention inserted to build out the construction more.

FIG. 33A shows Invention pieces assembled when they are of equal size, half the size of another piece (as in the piece to the left in FIG. 33A) and a piece that is one-fourth the size of the larger pieces (the piece inside the knob facing the viewer to the middle left of FIG. 33A).

FIG. 33B is the construction at FIG. 33A but viewed from a different angle.

FIG. 34A is the same construction as FIG. 33 except that additional Invention pieces have been added at the top left and at the middle left (the piece added at the middle left is one fourth the size of the large pieces in FIG. 34).

FIG. 34B is the same construction as FIG. 34A except from a profile view.

FIG. 35 is the same construction as FIG. 34 except on the right is also has a piece that is twice the size of the three other large pieces in the construction.

The pieces can be magnetized and roll around with changes in their magnetic composition through an outside Bluetooth or wireless process. This requires no moving parts, except for the pieces themselves that move on surfaces and through constructions built by Invention pieces or other constructions. The Invention pieces' movements are powered by changes in their magnetic surface that are controlled remotely or internally with a computing device on the pieces. Humans can remotely control these pieces, or they can be controlled with artificial intelligence. In addition to rolling around, the pieces can rotate themselves magnetically and thereby snap, or hammer, themselves into place.

Claims

1. A block system comprising blocks with a series of compact interfaces that enable them to assemble and disassemble with a wide range of rigidities, strengths, and materials properties that include both rigid and flexible materials;in which blocks assemble and disassemble in three-dimensional space to build objects and structures with the same versatility that alphabets write words and stories;where the blocks, to achieve compact efficient dimensions with versatile building properties, have shafts that are for knobs, poles, spheres, hooks and snaps for both rigid and flexible objects;where the blocks have a basic cylindrical shape that occupy an equilateral cube space because they are as long as they are round so that they can insert and rotate in three-dimensional space in a modular and elegant manner;where the basic cylindrical shape of the blocks has one protruding side on one end of the cylinder that is comprised of a knob, hook, screw and snap, that can be inserted into itself (it is reversible) and that also inserts into five other cavities in the cylinder such that the one protruding part and five equilateral cube spaces on the cylinder correspond to the six basic sides of an equilateral cube to enable fully modular construction in three dimensions;where the diameter of the protruding side and of the cavities is one half the diameter of the cylinder itself so that cylinder blocks that are one half the size of each other can also fit into the cavities and enable structures to be built with exponentially larger and smaller pieces in the same structure with an ease of design and ease of manual or robotic control that is not possible otherwise;where the blocks have a versatile design that makes construction projects more efficient because much larger cylinders can accomplish the tasks of smaller poles while also having cavities that are one-eighth the diameter of the cylinder into which cylinders that are one fourth the diameter of the cylinder can insert their protruding hook, screw, snap and knob;where the basic cube cylindrical shape can be built in longer pieces that are extended cylinder poles for greater strength and stability;where the blocks remain functional with one feature, or a subset, of other features so that this feature can interface with pieces that have more limited functionality or so that it can interface with pieces that have lost part of their functionality such that a block could lose its screw, snap and hook functionality but continue to be used as a cylinder only.

2. A building system comprising modular cubes, cylinders or combinations of cubes and cylinders that assemble and disassemble into constructions that are useful for communities including homes, tables, chairs, sidewalks, bookcases;with dimensions that are standard ratios that make it easier to store and control conceptually and robotically, including holes in the pieces that are half the size of the diameter of the entire piece;whose pieces and characteristics occupy standard locations in three dimensions, and build constructions in three dimensions, to facilitate modular extensions and changes to the construction, which includes hollow cylindrical areas evenly spaced out throughout the construction where the diameter of the cylinders is half the height of the piece they are in;where the building blocks are versatile and compact and hold constructions together with strength and redundancies because they have many interfaces including snaps, hooks, locked hooks and locked snaps, screws, and magnetic interfaces.

3. A set of shapes comprising basic mathematically defined cylinders with female and male interfaces assemble in three dimensional cube spaces to be building blocks for artificial intelligence and other computational tools to calculate the optimal configuration to assemble the cubes to maximize construction strength, construction strength, cost-effectiveness of building materials, cost-effectiveness of assembly in a particular environment for constructions serving a particular purpose for communities that includes walls, homes, tables, chairs, sidewalks, floors and similar objects;that represent modular objects that assemble in three-dimensional cube spaces made of hard objects, soft objects, flexible objects, magnetic objects and virtual objects with mathematically defined strengths, tolerances, variances, endurance and breaking points under mechanical, thermal, chemical and ultraviolet stresses;that interface with each other in mathematically defined shapes and interfaces that include sticks, nails, knobs, hooks, gears, snaps, screws, latches, magnets, kawai tsugite, bearings and hinges;where the shapes bear standard mathematical relationships towards each other and, in addition to assembling further to those standard interfaces, are locked and reinforced with poles or sphere shapes with specific standard mathematically defined dimensions to enable virtual and physical constructions;that break down the reality comprised of structures useful for human habitation, commercial properties, government properties, educational properties, research institution structures and exploratory mission structures, comprising houses, chairs, tables, walkways, bookshelves, desks, drawers, doors, fences, walls, floating pontoons, boats, rafts, sticks, poles, panels, windows and window shutters into pieces of mathematical puzzles that solve for the most efficient or practical way to build communities or parts of communities;whose optimal solutions can be calculated to enable construction, refurbishment, reconstruction, remodel, changes to and extensions to, those properties by adult humans, children, robots, or a combination thereof to build homes and household items useful for communities in all environments that humans currently live in or are capable of living in or of having useful structures in, like urban or rural areas, in remote isolated areas, in orbits or on intergalactic trajectories, on other planets like Mars;so that flexible and updatable solutions to the most efficient, or speedy, or sustainable, or cost-effective way to build structures and objects can be calculated, built, updated, changed and edited without the need to get lumber, tools, materials, non-renewable plastics, metals or other matter that fills landfills, or other matter from a hardware store that is ordinarily necessary for building, re-building, refurbishing, remodeling, altering, converting or otherwise changing, maintaining or upgrading those properties, objects, structures or shapes.