Abstract:
A game apparatus of education and entertainment purposes comprises a number of building pieces and a number of connector pieces. The building pieces have peripheral edges that employ slots to receive complementary sized portions of the connector pieces. The connector pieces have a number of different configurations to permit creation of a variety of three dimensional shapes, including arranging building pieces at right angles, and oblique angles. The building pieces can have indicia thereon to create text, images, or combinations thereof when put together. The building pieces are modularly sized so that differently shaped and sized pieces can easily fit together.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for entertainment and education and a method of use, and in particular, to an apparatus employing a number of interlocking pieces that allow for the construction of three dimensional shapes, and that include indicia with the pieces for educational purposes during construction of the shapes. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the prior art, various games and apparatus have been proposed that utilize interlocking pieces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,900 to Gallant discloses a three-dimensional puzzle structure that employs pieces that are irregular and polygonal shaped, and pieces that are flat planar blocks. The pieces are interlocked with dovetail joints. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,150,707 to Anderson discloses building blocks and a building assembly, wherein the blocks are joined together using a tongue and groove construction. The tongue and groove construction allows for constructing assemblies, which are basically right angled. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,130 to Walker discloses a playhouse with elements based on two modular units. The playhouse is made up of panels and bendable strips are used to link the panels together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,690 to Stoffle et al. discloses clamps for a free standing play structure. The clamps connect panels together in right angle, straight or angled configurations. 
     While the prior noted above suggests tongue and groove connection in various game and building apparatus, none of the prior art noted above allows for construction of shapes in a wide variety of configurations and ones that allow for creativity input by the builder. As such, a need exists to provide improved apparatus allowing for construction of three dimensional shapes using a number of modular pieces, and including modes of construction that couple shape making with educational/entertainment objectives such as image or text message creations or combinations thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus having both entertainment and education use. 
     Another object of the invention is an apparatus that allows for the creation of three-dimensional shapes. 
     Yet another object of the invention is a method of using the inventive apparatus wherein the pieces are manipulated to make various shapes for entertainment and/or education. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as a description thereof proceeds. 
     In satisfaction of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides an interlocking apparatus for education and entertainment comprising a plurality of building pieces and a plurality of connector pieces. Each building piece further comprises a building piece portion having a periphery, a first thickness, and opposing first and second faces. The periphery includes a first connector portion extending along at least a portion of the periphery, the first connector portion having a second thickness, and having one of a slot or a protrusion. 
     Each connector piece has at least a pair of second connector portions, each second connector portion being complementary to the first connector portion by having a slot if the first connector portion has a protrusion or a protrusion if the first connector portion has a slot, so that one building piece can be connected to another building piece using a connector piece. A set of the plurality of the connector pieces have second connector portions that are right angled with respect to each other and another set of the plurality have second connector portions that are obliquely angled with respect to each other, whereby a three dimensional figure can be built using the building pieces and connector elements. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first connector portions have a slot and the second connector portions have a protrusion. The first connector portion can extend along the entire periphery of the building piece. Each building piece and each connector piece is preferably made of a rigid non-metallic material, such as a hard plastic. 
     The plurality of connector pieces can include a number of configurations such as connector pieces that are: right-angled with a pair of second connector portions; are t-shaped with three connector portions; have a pair of right-angled connector portions (cross-shaped); and have a pair of second connector portions that are right-angled and a third connector portion which is angled at about 45° from one of the right-angled connector portions. 
     The connector portions of the building pieces can be sized so that a recess is formed portion in one-face of the building piece, and the other opposing face can be generally flat. 
     A portion of the building pieces can have indicia on at least one of the first and second faces, and the indicia can form one of an image or text message, or a combination thereof particularly when pieces are joined together. 
     The periphery of each building piece can made up of a plurality of edges, with at least two edges being right angled. Dimensions of the right angled edges of the plurality of connector pieces are in multiples of a base dimension so that either individual building pieces can be connected together or an individual building piece can connect to at least two building pieces. 
     Each connector piece can have a body portion with each second connector portion extending therefrom, the body portion including a lip on either side of the connector portion, the lip abutting a peripheral edge of a the first connector portion when the connector piece is adjacent a building piece. The body portion is sized with respect to the second connector portion so that a body portion surface is interposed between surfaces of adjacent building pieces to form a continuous generally flat surface between the adjacent building pieces. 
     The invention also entails a method of forming a game apparatus by providing the building pieces and connector pieces, selecting a number of game pieces and connector pieces, and connecting the game pieces together using the connector pieces to make a desired structure. The structure can be assembled using indicia on the building pieces to create text, images or combinations thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference is now made to the drawings of the invention wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shape constructed using the building and connecter pieces of the invention; 
     FIGS. 2 a-e  are end views of connecter pieces of the inventive apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a cross sectional view along a long dimension of one type of a rectangular building piece; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a cross sectional view along the short dimension of the building piece of FIG. 3 a;    
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  are ninety degree opposed cross sectional views of an alternative square building piece and connector piece combination; 
     FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  show other embodiments of connector pieces; 
     FIG. 6 shows a portion of a pair of building pieces interconnected by a connector piece; 
     FIG. 7 shows a pair of non-linear building pieces joined by a non-linear connector piece; 
     FIG. 8 shows a plurality of square building pieces with indicia thereon. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention provides significant advantages in the field of toys and games for both entertainment and education. With the inventive apparatus, three-dimensional shapes can be constructed with easy-to-use connector pieces and building pieces. In addition, the building pieces can be modified with indicia such as images and/or text, or combinations thereof to integrate the shape construction with an image and/or text construction as well. 
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention in a partially-built shape. The apparatus of this figure is made up of a number of building pieces. The building pieces have a number of shape configurations to allow for flexibility and creativity when putting the pieces together. In FIG. 1, there are shown square pieces  3 , large rectangular pieces  5 , smaller rectangular pieces  7 , and triangular pieces  9 . In this embodiment, the pieces are modularly dimensioned based on a base dimension, such as one inch. Of course, other base dimensions can be used. With the base dimension, and each piece having a side with the base dimension or a multiple thereof, the pieces can be put together in a number of ways. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 1, the large rectangle has an edge  11 , which is four times the base dimension, i.e., edge  17  of piece  7 . This edge  11  can accommodate the edge  13  of the square piece  3 , which is two times the base dimension, and the edge  15  of the triangular piece  9 . 
     In FIG. 1, a three dimensional shape is portrayed by a right angle connection between the small rectangular shape  7  and the square piece  5  and the large rectangular piece  5 . The pieces in FIG. 1 are held together by a number of connector pieces as shown in FIGS. 2 a - 2   e , and  5   a - 5   c . The connector pieces are not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity. 
     The connector pieces come in a variety of configurations, both in terms of cross section and length. FIG. 2 a  depicts a connector piece  31  having four right-angled connector portions  33  joined at a center  35 . This connector can link up to four building pieces together. 
     FIG. 2 b  shows a right-angled connector piece  37  having a pair of connector portions  39 , thus allowing for connecting two building pieces together in a right angle. 
     FIG. 2 c  depicts a connector piece  41  allowing for a non-right angle or oblique connection. In this piece, one connector portion  43  extends at an oblique angle, shown as 45° degrees, from another connector portion  45 . A third connector portion  47  is right angled with respect to the connector portion  45 . It should be understood that the connector piece  41  is exemplary and other configurations can be employed that combine one connector portion that is obliquely or non-right angled with respect to at least one other connector portion. For example, the embodiment of FIG. 2 c  could have another portion extending 90° from the portion  43  so that two obliquely-angled connector portions exist, forming y-shaped connector portions. The FIG. 2 c  connector piece allows connection of at least two pieces whereby the angle between them is oblique rather than right angled. 
     FIG. 2 d  shows a t-shaped connector  51  having three connecting portions  52 ,  53 , and  54 . The adjacent portions  52  and  53 , and  53  and  54  are at 90° angles, respectively. This connector allows a three piece connection as shown at  14  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2 e  shows another connector piece  61 . that has connecting portions  62  and  63 . This piece link two pieces together as shown in FIG. 1, pieces  3  and  9  to piece  5 . 
     The connector pieces can have any length. For example, the length could be the base dimension, or a multiple thereof. Alternatively, the length could be less than the base dimension. 
     The length of each connection portion relates to the manner of connection to the building pieces. Referring to the cross sectional views of FIGS. 3 a - 5   b , the building pieces are made with slots to receive the connecting portions of the connector pieces. FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  shows the small rectangular piece  7 . The piece  7  has a periphery  71 , a body portion  73 , and a surrounding connector portion  72  having connection legs  75 . The piece  71  has a generally flat surface  77  and a recessed opposing surface  79 . The recessed surface is formed by the body portion  73  having a thickness less than that of the connecting portion  72 . The junction  74  between leg  75  and  73  is sloped to give the smooth recessed look of the pieces as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The connection legs  75  form a slot  81  that is sized to receive the connecting portions of the connection pieces of FIGS. 2 a - 2   e . When the pieces are connected, the connecting portion of the connector pieces engages the slot of the connection portions of the building pieces. 
     FIG. 4 a  shows one view of an alternative square piece  3 ′ and connector piece- combination in cross section, with FIG. 4 b  showing another view juxtaposed 90 degrees. While each view shows that the adjacent sides are generally equal, FIG. 4 b  shows a protrusion  82  in place of the slot  81  for connection purposes. A connector piece  86  is also shown in FIG. 4 b  which combines a connector portion  88  and a connector slot  90 . 
     As noted above, the building pieces can have a variety of shapes in triangular. The corners of the pieces can be rounded as well. For example, the triangular piece shown in FIG. 1 can have radiused corners e.g., {fraction (1/64)} inch, or the corners can terminate at a point. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the base dimension is approximately one inch, preferably 0.939″, and the multiple dimensions then increase in increments of one inch, e.g., 1.939″, two inches, 3.939″, four inches, etc. Of course, other base dimensions could be employed. 
     The connector pieces are sized in conjunction with the connection portions of the building pieces to assure the right fit when assembling the pieces. For example, the thickness of each of the connecting portions of the pieces of FIGS. 2 a - 2   e  is approximately 0.063″ to mesh with the width of each slot  81 . Each connector piece portion also has a length sized to fit in the slot  81 . Referring to FIG. 2 b , if the distance “b” is 0.375 inches, and the thickness of the potion  39  is 0.063 inches, the length of the connecting piece available to fit with in the slot is 0.312 inches, dimension “c”. As noted above, the dimensions of the connector piece portions and the slots  81  can vary. 
     The connector pieces can also have various lengths. Examples of lengths for the connector pieces to mesh with the exemplified building pieces include a short piece, 1.3125 inches, a medium piece, 3.3125 inches, and a long piece, 7.3125. Preferred dimensions for the width of the connector pieces is an overall width of opposing connector portions of 0.688 inches, “a” in FIG. 2 e . A preferred dimension for angled connector portions is 0.375 inches, see “b” in FIG. 2 
     FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  show alternative connector pieces, wherein the connector piece has one or more portions designed to provide a mating surface between two building pieces. FIG. 5 a  shows a connector  41 ′ with a body portion  91 . The connector portions  43 ,  45 , and  47  extend from the body portion  91 . The portion  91  has mating surfaces  93  which fill a gap between two building pieces so that the adjacent building pieces form a continuous surface. 
     FIG. 5 b  shows connector  37 ′ having a body portion  95 , and connector portions  49 . As with connector  41 ′, the portion  95  has surfaces  97  that help form a continuous surface when two pieces are connected using connector portions  39 . Likewise, FIG. 5 c  shows the t-shaped connector  51 ′, with a body portion  99  and mating surface  101  to perform the same function as connector pieces  41 ′ and  37 ′. In each embodiment, a step is formed between the connector portion and the body portion, see  78  in FIG. 5 b . The step interfaces with the legs of the building pieces as described below. 
     The thickness of each of the connecting legs  75  of the building pieces is preferably sized in FIG. 6 to approximates the size of the step  78  so that the surface  97  mates with the surface  98  of the piece  3 . This mating provides a smooth or continuous surface at the junction between the connector piece  37 ′, and the building piece  3 . In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of connecting portions of the connecting pieces  75  is also about the thickness of the connector piece portions, thus forming a total thickness of about 0.188 inches for the peripheral ends of the building pieces. The connector pieces having the body portion also define a length of the connector piece portions for mating with the slot  81  of the building pieces. That is, a preferred dimension “d”, see FIG. 5 c  is 0.4375 inches, with the dimension “e” being 0.688 inches. 
     In another embodiment, the building pieces can have irregular shapes and the connector pieces can be correspondingly sized and shaped to connect the. irregular shapes. Referring to FIG. 7, non-linear edges  103  and  105  of a portion of irregular building pieces  107  and  109  are linked by a connecting piece  111 . Piece  111  is similar to piece.  61  shown in FIG. 2 e  for connecting two pieces in a planar fashion, but it has a portion similar to  99  in FIG. 5 c  to provide a surface  106  between the two building pieces. 
     FIG. 8 shows the aspect of the invention wherein connecting building pieces creates a text message. Piece  113 ,  115 , and  117  are linked to piece the sentence “SEE JANE RUN”. Instead of a sentence, an image or a word could also be created by linking the appropriate and indicia-containing pieces together, e.g., “tr” and part of an image of a tree on one piece and “ee” and the remaining image of the tree on the other piece. When connecting these two pieces, the word “tree” is spelled Such can also be done by linking two or more than three pieces together. Other images, text, or combinations can be used as would be within the skill of the art. The indicia on the building pieces can be formed integrally therein, applied with stickers, paint, printing, or the like. 
     The building and connector pieces can be made of any durable material that will withstand numerous instances of handling and game play. Preferably, the. pieces are made of a hard plastic. The building pieces can be made in a variety of colors to enhance play. The building and connector pieces when made of plastic can be made by any known means, including extrusions for the connectors, and. molding processes for the building pieces. The connector pieces can be extruded with a hollow center portion or a solid core. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof, which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides new and improved apparatus for entertainment and educational use. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.