Mating Blocks For Constructing Natural Shapes

Abstract

A construction set consisting of a sequence of subsets of mating blocks each subset having blocks of a smaller size than the preceding subset, all blocks being of the same general shape and enabling the construction of naturally occurring shapes such as fractal shapes. Each block has an attachment site to the next larger size blocks and at least two attachment sites to blocks of the next smaller size. The blocks can attach to each other by a variety of means including pin and hole pairs or magnets.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing a first construction element and a second construction element, wherein the first construction element is larger than the second construction element, wherein the first construction element and the second construction element have a substantially same shape, wherein the first construction element has a first set of dimensions, wherein the second construction element has a second set of dimensions, wherein each dimension in the first set of dimensions is of a substantially similar ratio to each dimension in the second set of dimensions, wherein the first construction element comprises:
 a first connector portion that extends along a first axis; 
 a second connector portion that extends along a second axis, wherein the second connector portion has smaller dimensions than the first connector portion, and wherein the second axis is different from the first axis; and 
 a third connector portion that extends along a third axis, wherein the third connector portion has dimensions smaller than the first connector portion, wherein the third connector portion has dimensions substantially similar to the second connector portion, wherein the third axis is different from the first axis, and wherein the third axis is different from the second axis; and 
   
       wherein the second construction element comprises:
 a fourth connector portion that is attachable to the second connector portion of the first construction element along the second axis, wherein the fourth connector portion has dimensions substantially similar to the second connector portion of the first construction element; 
 a fifth connector portion, wherein the fifth connector portion has smaller dimensions than the fourth connector portion; and 
 a sixth connector portion, wherein the sixth connector portion has smaller dimensions than the fourth connector portion, and wherein the sixth connector portion has substantially similar dimensions as the fifth connector portion. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first construction element and the second construction element are Y-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a third construction element having a seventh connector portion, an eighth connector portion, and a ninth connector portion, wherein the third construction element has a third set of dimensions that is substantially similar to the second set of dimensions of the second construction element, and wherein the seventh connector portion is attachable to the third connector portion of the first construction element along the third axis.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the eighth connector portion and the ninth connector portion have substantially similar dimensions, and wherein the eighth connector portion has smaller dimensions than the seventh connector portion. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 instructing a user to attach the fourth connector portion of the second construction element to the second connector portion of the first construction element, wherein the second construction element is attached to the first construction element; and   instructing the user to attach the seventh connector portion of the third construction element to the third connector portion of the first construction element, wherein the third construction element is attached to the first construction element, and wherein the first construction element, the second construction element, and the third construction element form a fractal object.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first construction element and the second construction element are solid objects or hollow objects. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first construction element and the second construction element are formed from a material taken from the group consisting of: plastic, metal, and wood. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fourth connector portion of the second construction element has a slot, wherein the second connector portion of the first construction element has a pin, and wherein the pin of the second connector portion is adapted to plug into the slot of the fourth connector portion. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fourth connector portion of the second construction element is attachable to the second connector portion of the first construction element via attachment mechanisms taken from the group consisting of: magnets, glues, adhesive tapes, and Velcro tapes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the substantially similar ratio is between 1.3 and 3.0, wherein each dimension in the first set of dimensions is between 1.3 times and 3.0 times each dimension in the second set of dimensions. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a first intersection of the first axis and the second axis forms an angle between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees, wherein a second intersection of the first axis and the third axis forms an angle between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees, and wherein a third intersection of the second axis and the third axis forms an angle between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees. 
     
     
         29 . A construction set comprising:
 a first construction element having a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, wherein the first construction element is of a first shape, and wherein directions normal to any two of the first, second, and third connectors form an arc between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees; and   a second construction element having a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, wherein the second construction element is of a second shape, wherein the second shape is substantially equivalent to the second shape, wherein dimensions of the first construction element are between 1.3 and 3.0 times dimensions of the second construction element, wherein directions normal to any two of the first, second, and third connectors of the second construction element form an arc between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees, and wherein the first connector of the second construction element is connectable to the second connector of the first construction element; and   a third construction element having a first connector, a second connector, and a third connector, wherein the third construction element is of a third shape, wherein the third shape is substantially equivalent to the second shape, wherein dimensions of the second construction element are between 1.3 and 3.0 times dimensions of the third construction element, wherein directions normal to any two of the first, second, and third connectors of the third construction element form an arc between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees, and wherein the first connector of the third construction element is connectable to the second connector of the second construction element.   
     
     
         30 . The construction set of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 an amount of instructions instructing a user to assemble a fractal object by attaching the second construction element to the first construction element and attaching the third construction element to the second construction element.   
     
     
         31 . The construction set of  claim 29 , wherein the first connector of the second construction element is connectable to the second connector of the first construction element via an attachment mechanism taken from the group consisting of: pin and hole pairs, magnets, glues, adhesive tape, and Velcro tape. 
     
     
         32 . The construction set of  claim 29 , wherein the first construction element has a shape taken from the group consisting of: a pyramid shape, a cube shape, a polyhedron shape, a Y-shape, and a tree shape. 
     
     
         33 . The construction set of  claim 29 , wherein the first construction element, the second construction element, and the third construction element are formed from a material taken from the group consisting of: plastic, metal, and wood. 
     
     
         34 . The construction set of  claim 29 , wherein the first construction element, the second construction element, and the third construction element are solid objects or hollow objects. 
     
     
         35 . A construction element, wherein the construction element is part of a toy construction set having at least one other construction element, wherein the construction element comprises:
 a body portion having a plurality of connector portions, wherein the body portion is of a first shape, wherein directions normal to any two of the plurality of connector portions form an arc between thirty degrees and one-hundred and eighty degrees, wherein the construction element is 1.3 to 3.0 times a size of the at least one other construction element, and wherein the construction element has a shape equivalent to a shape of the at least one other construction element; and   means for attaching one of the plurality of connector portions to a connector portion of the at least one other construction element.   
     
     
         36 . The construction element of  claim 36 , wherein the means is an attachment mechanism taken from the group consisting of: a connection pin, a connection slot, a magnet, glue, an adhesive tape, and a Velcro tape. 
     
     
         37 . The construction element of  claim 36 , wherein the shape of the construction element is taken from the group consisting of: a pyramid shape, a cube shape, a polyhedron shape, a Y-shape, and a tree shape.