Systems for Constructing Sand Structures

Abstract

Systems for constructing sand structures. The system comprises a plurality of mold blocks that can be assembled together such that their inner surfaces combine to form a internal cavity in the shape of a desired sand structure. There is also an external support used to retain the mold blocks in their assembled position. Sand is packed into the internal cavity formed by the collective internal surfaces of the mold blocks to form the sand structure. There may be a plurality of tiers of assembled mold blocks for constructing complex sand structures and there may be a mechanism to aid the user in grasping a mold block to facilitate the removal of the mold block to uncover the completed sand structure and there may also be some interlocking of adjacent mold blocks together. Once filled, the mold blocks are removed, thus creating the sand structure. A package contains all of the mold block and external supports necessary to construct various sand structures and may include weapons used to destroy a completed sand structure in playing a game.

1 . A system for producing a structure, said system comprising a plurality of mold blocks having inner surfaces shaped in a desired configuration and outer surfaces, the mold blocks adapted to be arranged generally contiguously together to create an internal cavity having a desired shape by the collective inner surfaces of the mold blocks and at least one external support adapted to retain the mold blocks in their arranged position. 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mold blocks are sand mold blocks and the structure is a sand structure. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external support comprises a plurality of upstanding rails contacting the external surfaces of a least some of the mold blocks. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external support comprises a plurality of straps that span and are affixed to adjacent mold blocks. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the arranged mold blocks form an outer perimeter and the external support comprises an outer casing that at least partially surrounds the outer perimeter thereby formed. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the outer casing fully surrounds the outer perimeter of the mold blocks. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the outer perimeter of the mold blocks and the outer casing both taper inwardly in the upward direction. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the mold blocks has an interlocking device to interlock adjacent mold blocks together. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the interlocking device comprises a guide peg provided on a mold block that interfits into a guide notch formed on an adjacent mold block. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the guide peg of one mold block extends downwardly to interfit into a guide notch formed in a mold block directly below the one mold block. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a least one of the mold blocks has a surface configuration to facilitate a user gripping the mold block. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the surface configuration comprises an opening or indentation in the outer surface of the mold block. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mold blocks are adapted to be arranged in a plurality of vertical tiers. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein an uppermost tier has a curved surface and a lower perimeter adapted to fit into an inwardly tapered opening in the next lower tier. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13  further including a plurality of outer casings, each of the outer casings at least partially surrounding a tier of the plurality of vertical tiers. 
   
   
       16 . A package of sand molding tools for constructing a sand structure, the package comprising:
 a plurality of sand blocks having inner surfaces shaped in a desired configuration and having outer surfaces, the mold blocks adapted to be arranged generally contiguously together to create an internal cavity having a desired shape by the collective inner surfaces of the mold blocks and further including at least one external support adapted to retain the mold blocks in their arranged position.   
   
   
       17 . The package of sand molding tools as defined in  claim 16  wherein the package contains a plurality of sand molds wherein at least one of the mold blocks molds is adapted to interlock with another mold block to become affixed together. 
   
   
       18 . The package of sand molding tools as defined in  claim 16  wherein the at least one external support comprises a plurality of rails contacting the outer surface of at least some mold blocks to retain the mold blocks in their arranged position. 
   
   
       19 . The package of sand molding tools as defined in  claim 16  wherein the at least one external support comprises an outer casing adapted to at least partially surround the collective outer surfaces of mold blocks when arranged together. 
   
   
       20 . The package of sand molding tools as defined in  claim 16  wherein the package includes at least one weapon that is adapted to be used to destroy a sand structure constructed by the use of mold blocks. 
   
   
       21 . The package of sand molding tools as defined in  claim 16  wherein the package includes at least one object adapted to be located within or at least partially within a sand structure constructed by the use of mold blocks.