Interlocking Blocks

Abstract

This disclosure provides interlocking blocks that can be connected on any side to form a structure, wall, foundation, floor, building, flotation device, gardening structure, or toy. The interlocking blocks typically comprise center openings and connecting openings on each side and can be connected with hardware through the connecting openings. The center openings allow for materials such as pipes, wires, conduit, and rebar to pass through interlocked blocks. Connected blocks can also be filled with fortifying material to strengthen the structure. Sides of connected blocks can be covered with faceplates to direct flow of fortifying material and aid in the creation of desired configurations. Also provided are connectors for connecting sides of the interlocking blocks.

1 . An interlocking block, comprising
 at least three parallelogram sides, wherein each parallelogram side comprises
 a side center opening around the center of the parallelogram side, 
 four side corners, 
 at least one side interlocking opening proximate to each side corner; and 
   two ends.   
     
     
         2 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of side interlocking openings proximate to each side corner. 
     
     
         3 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , wherein each side further comprises four side edges and one or more side edge openings proximate to one or more of the side edges. 
     
     
         4 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one faceplate. 
     
     
         5 . The interlocking block of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one faceplate is connected to one side center opening of one side. 
     
     
         6 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , wherein each end comprises an end center opening around the center of the end, at least three end corners, and at least one end interlocking opening proximate to at least one end corner. 
     
     
         7 . A method of connecting a first interlocking block and a second interlocking block, comprising
 providing a first interlocking block comprising:
 a first side comprising: 
 a first side center opening around the center of the first side,
 four first side corners, 
 
 four first side interlocking openings, each first side interlocking opening being proximate to a first side corner, 
   providing a second interlocking block comprising:
 a second side comprising: 
 a second side center opening around the center of the second side
 four second side corners, 
 
 four second side interlocking openings, each second side interlocking opening being proximate to a second side corner; 
   aligning the four first side interlocking openings with the four second side openings;   inserting hardware through at least one aligned first side interlocking opening and a second side interlocking opening,   thereby connecting the first interlocking block and the second interlocking block.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hardware is selected from the group consisting of a bolt, a screw, a nut, threaded rod, a plastic insert, and a washer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first interlocking block comprises a third side, the method further comprising attaching a faceplate to the third side. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first side comprises first four edges and one or more first edge openings located proximate to one or more of the first four edges, and wherein the second side comprises second four edges and one or more second edge openings located proximate to one or more of the second four edges, the method further comprising inserting hardware through one or more first edge openings and one or more second edge openings. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising
 inserting a sleeve through the first side center opening and the second side center opening, wherein the sleeve comprises threads on an inside surface of the sleeve,   screwing a plug into the sleeve, wherein the plug comprises an outside surface comprising outside threads, and wherein the plug is hollow and comprises an inside surface comprising inside threads,   screwing a receiving connector into the inside threads of the plug, wherein the receiving connector comprises a receiving outside surface comprising receiving outside threads.   
     
     
         12 . An interlocking block structure, comprising
 a plurality of interlocking blocks, wherein each interlocking block comprises five or more sides, and wherein each side comprises a center opening and a plurality of connecting openings,   wherein the plurality of interlocking blocks are connected by hardware through the connecting openings, and   wherein a plurality of the center openings are aligned.   
     
     
         13 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more pipes within the center openings of two or more interlocking blocks. 
     
     
         14 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more wires within the center openings of two or more interlocking blocks. 
     
     
         15 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 13 , further comprising conduit within the center openings of two or more interlocking blocks. 
     
     
         16 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 13 , wherein the structure is filled with a material or a combination of materials. 
     
     
         17 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 16 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of sand, cement, water, gravel, rock, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The interlocking block structure of  claim 13 , wherein the structure is a wall, foundation, garden, or flotation device. 
     
     
         19 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , comprising four parallelogram sides. 
     
     
         22 . The interlocking block of  claim 1 , comprising five or six parallelogram sides.