Interlocking blocks

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus to form a 2 or 3 dimensional array of blocks. Each block has a cross-section of a plurality of sides with a tongue-groove pair per side, such that the tongue-groove pair is adjacent to each other and in the middle of each side. Each block has a cylindrical section protruding up from the center of the top of the block and a cylindrical section protruding in the center of the bottom of the block. Each block can be connected to other blocks to form a 2-dimensional array of blocks and to at most 2 other blocks to form a 3-dimensional array of blocks. The other blocks can be connected to a block to form a right angled 2-dimensional array or a skewed 2-dimensional array. Each block is transparent, translucent in various degrees, or opaque.

1 . An interlocking block, comprising: 
 a cross-section with a plurality of identical sides;    said block with a top and a bottom different from said top, wherein both said top and said bottom different from said sides;    said block able to interlock with another block along each of said sides of said another block; and    said block able to interlock into a first block and a second block to form a three dimensional array of blocks, wherein either one of said first block or said second block interlocks along said top of said block and either one of said first block or said second block interlocks along said bottom of said block.    
   
   
       2 . The block of  claim 1  wherein a number of said plurality of identical sides is three or more.  
   
   
       3 . The block of  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of identical sides define a tongue and a groove adjacent to each other to form a tongue-groove pair.  
   
   
       4 . The block of  claim 3  wherein said tongue-groove pair is disposed equidistance from a left corner and a right corner of each side.  
   
   
       5 . The block of  claim 4  wherein said tongue-groove pair is disposed along a x-axis and a z-axis of a x-y-z co-ordinate system.  
   
   
       6 . The block of  claim 5  wherein said tongue-groove pair has an identical mating outline shape.  
   
   
       7 . The block of  claim 6  wherein a size of said tongue outline shape is enlarged just enough so that when said tongue of a first block is connected to said groove of a second block, said first block and said second block are interlocked and can only be unlocked when said first block is held stationary while moving said second block along a y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system or said second block is held stationary while moving said first along said y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system.  
   
   
       8 . The block of  claim 6  wherein said tongue of first block can be connected to said grove of second block such that when said first block and said second block are viewed from either said x-axis or said z-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system, said first block and said second block are perfectly aligned behind each other.  
   
   
       9 . The block of  claim 6  wherein said tongue of first block can be connected to said grove of second block such that when said first block and said second block are viewed from either said x-axis or said z-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system, said first block is skewed to said second block by half a side of said second block.  
   
   
       10 . The block of  claim 1  wherein said top has a solid cylindrical cross-section smaller in diameter than dimension of top, wherein said solid cylindrical cross-section protrudes up from center of said top along said y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system.  
   
   
       11 . The block of  claim 1  wherein said bottom has a hollow cylindrical cross-section smaller in diameter than dimension of bottom, wherein said hollow cylindrical cross-section protrudes within said block from center of said bottom along said y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system.  
   
   
       12 . The block of  claim 11  wherein said hollow cylindrical cross-section is larger in diameter than said solid cylindrical cross-section, wherein a solid cylindrical cross-section of said first block can fit tightly within a hollow cylindrical cross-section of said second block when said first block and said second block are interlocked.  
   
   
       13 . The block of  claim 12  wherein when said first block and said second block are interlocked and viewed from said y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system, said first block is perfectly aligned under said second block.  
   
   
       14 . The block of  claim 12  wherein when said first block and said second block are interlocked and viewed from said y-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system, said first block makes an angle larger than zero but smaller than ninety along said x-axis or said z-axis of said x-y-z co-ordinate system.  
   
   
       15 . The block of  claim 1  is transparent in color.  
   
   
       16 . The block of  claim 1  is opaque in color.  
   
   
       17 . The block of  claim 1  ranges from translucent in color to a plurality of shades of said color.