Building block

Abstract

Set of building elements containing building blocks ( 1 ) having a body ( 2 ) in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, whose underside is provided with recesses ( 5 ) and whose top surface is provided with projections ( 3 ) having a lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution at the intersections of an imaginary square grid, the configuration being such that such a building block ( 1 ) can be connected in clamping engagement with another building block ( 1 ′) of the set of building blocks by engagement of its projections ( 3 ) in the recesses ( 5 ) provided on the underside of the other building block ( 1 ′). The invention provides that the set of building elements contains one or more building blocks ( 1 ) where the projections ( 3 ) occupy only a part of the intersections of the imaginary square grid.

1 . A set of building elements containing building blocks having a square body, whose underside is provided with recesses and whose top is provided with projections, the projections having a lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution at the intersections of an imaginary square grid, the configuration being such that a first such building block can be connected in clamping engagement with a second building block of the set of building elements by engagement of its projections in the recesses provided on the underside of the other building block, the set of building elements containing one or a plurality of building blocks comprising the projections which occupy only two diagonally arranged intersections of the imaginary square grid and where at least four intersections of the imaginary square grid so that two building blocks, which are mutually connected by engagement of a single projection of the first such building block in a first recess of the second building block, can be rotated one relative to the other due to the fact that the second building block can be moved over an intersection of the imaginary square grid of the first building block, which intersection neighbours the engaging projection and is not occupied by a projection.  
     
     
         2 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the projections have a cylindrical lateral surface.  
     
     
         3 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1  wherein the projections are hollow.  
     
     
         4 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1  wherein the building blocks are configured as boxes open at their bottom.  
     
     
         5 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the inner lateral surfaces of the building block are provided with ribs extending in the direction from the top to the bottom, which serve to connect two building blocks by clamping engagement.  
     
     
         6 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 4 , wherein cylinders are provided inside the box, on the underside of the wall from which the projections start out, at the centers of the imaginary square grid, said cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by clamping engagement.  
     
     
         7 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the building blocks ( 1 ) have a closed and substantially plane top outside the projections ( 3 ).  
     
     
         8 . The set of building elements as defined in any of claims  1 , wherein one or a plurality of building blocks which comprise a hole instead of a projection on at least one intersection of the imaginary square grid, and one or a plurality of pins matching the holes and having a lateral surface whose outer diameter conforms to the outer diameter of the projections.  
     
     
         9 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the holes are blind holes.  
     
     
         10 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the pins are cylindrical.  
     
     
         11 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the hole is a through-hole and the pin comprises a stop that limits the depth of penetration of the pin.  
     
     
         12 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the pin comprises two cylindrical sections of different diameters.  
     
     
         13 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the building blocks ( 1 ) are made from a plastic material.  
     
     
         14 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a construction plate provided with projections having a lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution, located at the intersections of an imaginary square grid, the design of the projections being such that the construction plate can be connected with a building block of the set of building elements by clamping engagement of its projections in the recesses in the underside of the building block, and that at least four intersections of the imaginary square grid are provided on the construction plate and the projections of the construction plate occupy only a part of the intersections of the imaginary square grid so that a building block connected with the construction plate by engagement of a single projection of the construction plate in one of its recesses can be rotated relative to the construction plate due to the fact that it can be moved over an intersection of the imaginary square grid of the construction plate, which neighbours the engaging projection and which is not occupied by a projection.  
     
     
         15 . Building block for use in a set of building elements as defined in  claim 1  having a square body, whose underside is provided with recesses and whose top surface is provided with projections having a lateral surface in the form of a surface of revolution at the intersections of an imaginary square grid, the configuration of the recesses and projections being such that such a building block can be connected in clamping engagement with a second building block of the set of building elements by engagement of its projections in the recesses provided on the bottom of the second building block that projections of which occupy only two diagonally arranged intersections of the imaginary square grid, four intersections of the imaginary square grid are provided on the building block, so that when a single projection is engaged in a recess of the second building block of the set of building elements, the building block can be rotated relative to the latter around the engaging projection in that the second building block can be moved over an intersection of the imaginary square grid of the first building block, which neighbours the engaging projection and which is not occupied by any projection.  
     
     
         16 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         17 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 4  wherein said cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by cooperation with said ribs.  
     
     
         18 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 5  wherein cylinders are provided inside the box, on the underside of the wall from which the projections start out, at the centers of the imaginary square grid, said cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by clamping engagement.  
     
     
         19 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 18  wherein said cylinders serve to connect two building blocks by cooperation with said ribs.  
     
     
         20 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 5  wherein the projections have a cylindrical lateral surface and are hollow and the building blocks are configured as boxes open at their bottom.  
     
     
         21 . The set of building elements as defined in  claim 20 , wherein one or a plurality of building blocks comprise a hole instead of a projection on at least one intersection of the imaginary square grid, 
 one or a plurality of pins matching the holes have a lateral surface whose outer diameter conforms to the outer diameter of the projections,    the holes are blind holes and    the pins are cylindrical.