Building block baseplate with connector clip

Abstract

A building kit includes a baseplate and a connector clip. The baseplate includes a planar sheet with a top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of nodes projecting from the top surface and a plurality of barrels projecting from the bottom surface. The connector clip includes a first head and a second head, both having a plurality of prongs and a plurality of slots, with the prongs and slots arranged sequentially in a prong-slot-prong sequence. The connector clip having a maximum thickness that substantially corresponds with a height to which a barrel projects from the bottom surface of the baseplate, with at least one of the first and second heads of the connector clip configured to matingly engage with a number of barrels on the bottom surface of the baseplate in a press fit connection for use in joining the baseplate to a second baseplate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building kit comprising:
 a baseplate comprising a planar sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of nodes projecting from the top surface and a plurality of barrels projecting from the bottom surface;   a connector clip comprising a first head and a second head, the first and second heads both comprising a plurality of prongs and a plurality of slots, with the prongs and slots arranged sequentially alongside one another in a prong-slot-prong sequence;   wherein the connector clip has a maximum thickness that substantially corresponds with a height to which a barrel projects from the bottom surface of the baseplate, and at least one of the first and second heads of the connector clip is configured to matingly engage with a number of barrels on the bottom surface of the baseplate in a press fit connection.   
     
     
         2 . The building kit of  claim 1 , wherein
 the connector clip is configured to matingly engage a number of barrels on the bottom surface of the baseplate with slots on a head of the connector clip received in a press fit connection against outer circumferences of the number of barrels and prongs of the head positioned between adjacent barrels.   
     
     
         3 . The building kit of  claim 2 , wherein
 slots on at least one head of the connector clip are formed with a curvature of approximately 180° or less.   
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein
 the connector clip further comprises a neck that joins the first and second heads to one another, the neck having a length that is less than the lengths of the first and second heads.   
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein
 the baseplate comprises an underside perimeter ridge that extends around a perimeter of the bottom surface of the planar sheet, with a number of connector recesses provided at discrete positions along the perimeter ridge to form openings in the perimeter ridge, with at least one connector recess having a length approximately equal to or greater than a length of the neck of the connector clip.   
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein
 the underside perimeter ridge extends to a height from the bottom surface of the planar sheet to substantially correspond with the height to which the barrels extend from the bottom surface of the planar sheet.   
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein
 the first and second heads of the connector clip each comprise an outer edge and an inner edge, the slots and prongs being positioned at the outer edges of the heads and the neck being positioned to join the inner edges of the heads.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 4 , wherein
 the baseplate comprises interlocking mechanisms extending along peripheral edges of the planar sheet, including a first interlocking mechanism along at least a first edge and a second interlocking mechanism along at least a second edge;   the first interlocking mechanism is in the form of a two-tier annular ledge comprising a top ledge and a bottom ledge, the top ledge extending further horizontally from the planar sheet than the bottom ledge;   the second interlocking mechanism is in the form of a two-tier annular ledge comprising a top ledge and a bottom ledge, the bottom ledge extending further horizontally from the planar sheet than the top ledge;   the first interlocking mechanism of the baseplate is configured to matingly engage with a second interlocking mechanism on a similarly constructed baseplate, and the second interlocking mechanism of the baseplate is configured to matingly engage with a first interlocking mechanism on a similarly constructed baseplate;   the connector clip is configured such that, when an interlocking mechanism of the baseplate is matingly engaged with an interlocking mechanism of a second baseplate, the first head is adapted for a press fit mating engagement with barrels on the baseplate and the second head is adapted for a press fit mating engagement with barrels on the second baseplate, with the neck of the connector clip extending through aligned connector recesses in the baseplate and the second baseplate to thereby lock the baseplates to one another with the interlocking mechanisms in mating engagement.   
     
     
         9 . The kit according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the connector clip is formed with a region of reduced thickness at a portion of the neck, a portion of at least one head, or both, the reduced thickness substantially corresponding with a region of increased thickness on the baseplate, with a sum of the reduced thickness on the connector clip and the increased thickness on the baseplate being substantially equal to the height to which the barrels extend from the bottom surface of the planar sheet.   
     
     
         10 . A method of using the kit according to  claim 1 , comprising
 engaging the first head of the connector clip to the bottom surface of a first baseplate   engaging the second head of the connector clip to a bottom surface of a second baseplate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising
 aligning the baseplates to positon a connector recess on the first baseplate with a connector recess on the second baseplate; and   when engaging the connector clip with both the first and second baseplates, positioning the connector clip such that a neck of the connector clip, joining the first and second heads, extends through the connector recesses of the aligned baseplates.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 when aligning the first and second baseplates, engaging an interlocking mechanism on the first baseplate with an interlocking mechanism on the second baseplate;   engaging the connector clip to the first and second baseplates in a manner to secure the engaged interlocking mechanisms in place with one another.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising
 when engaging the connector clip to secure the engaged interlocking mechanisms, orienting the connector clip such that a reduced thickness region of the connector clip is made to align with an increased thickness region of an interlocking mechanism on one of the baseplates.   
     
     
         14 . A connector clip comprising:
 a first head and a second head, the first and second heads both comprising a plurality of prongs and a plurality of slots, with the prongs and slots arranged sequentially alongside one another in a prong-slot-prong sequence, wherein   the connector clip is configured for engaging with an underside of a baseplate, the baseplate comprising a planar sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of nodes projecting from the top surface of the baseplate and a plurality of barrels projecting from the bottom surface of the baseplate;   the connector clip has a maximum thickness that substantially corresponds with a height to which a barrel projects from the bottom surface of the baseplate, and at least one of the first and second heads of the connector clip is configured to matingly engage with a number of barrels on the bottom surface of the baseplate in a press fit connection.   
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising the connector clip of  claim 14  and at least one baseplate.