Interconnecting block system and assembly

Abstract

A system comprising a plurality of blocks is disclosed. Each block has a cuboid body and a connecting member extending away from each corner of the cuboid body, such that for each connecting member there is a first opposed connecting member, a second opposed connecting member and a third opposed connecting member, and a connector engagement arrangement is defined between a connecting member and each of the first, second and third opposed connecting members. The system also comprises a plurality of connectors, each connector having a body with a first connection end for engagement with a connector engagement arrangement of a first block and a second connection end for engagement with a connection engagement arrangement of a second block so as to connect the first block to the second block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising a plurality of blocks, each block having a cuboid body and a connecting member extending away from each corner of the cuboid body, such that for each connecting member there is a first opposed connecting member, a second opposed connecting member and a third opposed connecting member, and a connector engagement arrangement is defined between a connecting member and each of the first, second and third opposed connecting members; and
 a plurality of connectors, each connector having a body with a first end for engagement with a connector engagement arrangement of a first block and a second end for engagement with a connection engagement arrangement of a second block so as to connect the first block to the second block.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each connector has a longitudinal body, each connecting member has a base located on a corner of the cuboid body and at least three walls extending away from the base, and a passage is defined between opposed walls of each pair of opposed connecting members, the passage being configured to receive the longitundal body of a connector in a snap or friction fit. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein each connecting member has six walls, each tapering upwardly and away from the base and the end outer edges of each wall define a hexagon. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein each connector has a first and second end, and on each end there is an enlarged head part that interacts with a pair of opposed connecting members so as to resist the connector from being withdrawn from the passage along a longitudinal axis of the passage. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the connector engagement arrangements are configured such that, when connected to a connector, a longitudinal body of a connector extends at 90° from the block body. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein, when a first block is connected to a second block with a single connector along a first axis or with a first and a second connector that are parallel to each other along the first axis, a through hole is defined in a space between the blocks to allow at least one further connector to engage the first and/or second block at an angle transverse to the first axis. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising one or more faceplates for mounting onto and covering one or more faces of a block. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the or each faceplate comprises an outer surface that in use extends outward away from the block and an inner surface that faces towards the block and the outer surface has a profile configured to engage an object. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the or each faceplate comprises at least one mounting arrangement on an inner surface for mounting the faceplate onto a block. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the or each mounting arrangement engages at least one connecting member of a block. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each connector further comprises a spacer intermediate the two ends, the spacer having a thickness for spacing apart adjacently connected blocks. 
     
     
         36 . A block for use in constructing an assembly of interlocking blocks, the block comprising a cuboid body and a connecting member extending away from each corner of the cuboid body, such that for each connecting member there is a first opposed connecting member, a second opposed connecting member and a third opposed connecting member, and a connector engagement arrangement is defined between a connecting member and each of the first, second and third opposed connecting members, and each connecting member has a base located on a corner of the cuboid, at least three walls extending away from the base, and a passage is defined between a wall on each connecting member and a wall on one of the opposed connecting members, the passage configured to receive the longitudinal body of a connector in a snap or friction fit. 
     
     
         37 . The block of  claim 36 , wherein the block is formed from two separate parts joined together. 
     
     
         38 . A method of assembly of an interconnecting block assembly comprising:
 providing a plurality of the blocks as defined in  claim 36 ;   providing a plurality of connectors, each connector having a body with a first end for engagement with a connector engagement arrangement of a first block and a second end for engagement with a connection engagement arrangement of a second block so as to connect the first block to the second block; engaging the first end of a connector with a first block; engaging the second end of the said connector with a second block so as to connect the two blocks; and   (optionally) repeating the steps with one or more further blocks.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising providing at least one faceplate and mounting the or each faceplate onto a face of at least one block.