Building block

Abstract

A block set for building models. The block set includes a first cuboid block. The first cuboid block includes stacking surfaces including a first stacking surface and a second stacking surface substantially parallel to the first stacking surface. The first cuboid block includes side surfaces extending between the stacking surfaces for interlocking said first cuboid block to other cuboid blocks by sliding said first cuboid block adjacent to other cuboid blocks in a direction from the first stacking surface to the second stacking surface. A first side surface opposes a second side surface. The first side surface includes a dovetail-shaped proturbance for receipt by a second side surface of a second cuboid block. The second side surface of the first cuboid block defines a formation for receiving a dovetail-shaped proturbance of a first side surface of a third cuboid block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A block set for building models, the block set comprising:
 a first cuboid block including:
 stacking surfaces including a first stacking surface and a second stacking surface substantially parallel to the first stacking surface; and 
 side surfaces extending between the stacking surfaces for interlocking said first cuboid block to other cuboid blocks by sliding said first cuboid block adjacent to other cuboid blocks in a direction from the first stacking surface to the second stacking surface, the side surfaces including a first side surface and a second side surface opposing the first side surface, 
 and wherein the first side surface of the first cuboid block includes a dovetail-shaped proturbance for receipt by a second side surface of a second cuboid block, 
 and wherein the second side surface of the first cuboid block defines a formation for receiving a dovetail-shaped proturbance of a first side surface of a third cuboid block, the formation tapers in a direction from a center of the first cuboid block towards the second side surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the formation of the second side surface includes angled sides to mate with a dovetail-shaped proturbance of another cuboid block for forming a sliding dovetail joint between said first cuboid block and other cuboid blocks. 
     
     
         3 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the dovetail-shaped proturbance on the first side surface aligns with an opposing formation on the second side surface on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the first side surface is substantially parallel to the second side surface. 
     
     
         5 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the first stacking surface includes one or more stacking projections, and wherein the second stacking surface defines recesses opposing the one or more stacking projections to receive stacking projections from another cuboid block. 
     
     
         6 . The block set of  claim 5 , wherein the first stacking surface includes four stacking projections arranged in a substantially square shape, and wherein the square shape is substantially centered between the dovetail-shaped proturbance on the first side surface and the formation on the second side surface. 
     
     
         7 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the first stacking surface includes a pair of first stepped surfaces, and wherein the second stacking surface includes another pair of stepped surfaces complementary to the pair of first stepped surfaces and offset from the pair of first stepped surfaces to interlock with stepped surfaces of another cuboid block. 
     
     
         8 . The block set of  claim 7 , wherein each of the pair of first stepped surfaces includes a recessed surface portion and an adjacent elevated surface portion that is elevated above the recessed surface portion, and wherein a step between the recessed surface portion and the adjacent elevated surface portion is substantially centered about the dovetail-shaped proturbance on the first side surface and the formation on the second side surface. 
     
     
         9 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the formation defined by the second side surface of said first cuboid block extends from the first stacking surface to the second stacking surface. 
     
     
         10 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the dovetail-shaped proturbance of said first cuboid block extends from the first stacking surface to the second stacking surface. 
     
     
         11 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein said first cuboid block is a hollow core block. 
     
     
         12 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the first side surface of said first cuboid block includes more than one dovetail-shaped proturbances and the second side surface of said first cuboid includes a corresponding number of formations for receiving dovetail-shaped proturbances. 
     
     
         13 . The block set of  claim 12 , wherein the dovetail-shaped proturbances of said first cuboid block are spaced apart substantially evenly across the first side surface, and wherein the corresponding number of formations of said first cuboid block are spaced apart substantially evenly across the second side surface. 
     
     
         14 . The block set of  claim 1 , further comprising a façade block including a façade proturbance for receipt by the formation in the second side surface of said first cuboid block, the façade block including ornamental features for building models. 
     
     
         15 . The block set of  claim 1 , wherein the first cuboid block is a rectangular cuboid. 
     
     
         16 . The block set of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more further cuboid blocks, each of the one or more further cuboid blocks including stacking surfaces and sides surfaces of said first cuboid block of  claim 1 .