Abstract:
A color coded set of building blocks including a plurality of nesting blocks with diamond cross sections and at least one octahedron cap block. The blocks in each set are progressively sized so that when the individual blocks are stacked, they nest within each other to form a four-sided pyramid. The largest of the diamond cross section blocks acts as the base of the pyramid while the top of the pyramid is capped with an octahedron cap block. The blocks are stored in a clear pedestal base. The pedestal is also utilized as a design platform from which to build complex geometric designs. Each pedestal has four flared legs that provide stability to the platform while designs are constructed vertically and horizontally within it. By using linking elements, the designs can also be used to join together a plurality of the pedestal bases.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to building block toys, and more particularly is a set of nested modular building blocks that are color coded to enhance their educational and entertainment utility. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An age old pastime for children is playing with building blocks. Building blocks are packaged and distributed in an amazingly diverse array of types and collections. The type of building block offered is generally a function of what skill sets the children using the blocks are to be taught. 
     Historically, blocks were just that, blocks of wood. The blocks were typically formed from lumber scraps, and they were provided in a limited variety of geometric shapes. Over time, and with the evolution of injection molding, blocks have evolved into significantly more elaborate sets of building materials, many of them formed from plastic. The blocks are typically constructed with some form of pin/receiving hole connecting elements to fasten the blocks together. The connecting elements are formed integral to the blocks themselves. 
     One drawback to the current art building blocks with fastening means is that there is no efficient method of storing the blocks in a minimal volume without using the connecting elements. This requires the users to disassemble the blocks, sometimes requiring no small amount of effort, before the blocks can be used for play. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a set of blocks that are connected chiefly by friction means. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a set of blocks that nests together for easy and efficient storage. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a set of blocks that is color coded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a color coded set of building blocks comprising a plurality of nesting blocks with diamond cross sections and at least one octahedron cap block. The blocks in each set are progressively sized so that when the individual blocks are stacked, they nest within each other to form a four-sided pyramid. The largest of the diamond cross section blocks acts as the base of the pyramid while the top of the pyramid is capped with an octahedron cap block. 
     The blocks are stored in a clear pedestal base designed to accept an inverted pyramid. A first set of blocks is stored in the base in inverted configuration. A second set of blocks can then be stacked on top of the first set in upright configuration so that the end result is an octahedron assembly with its base secured in the pedestal. In the preferred embodiment, the interior of the assembly is also filled so that a solid geometric shape is formed. While the preferred embodiment utilizes diamond cross section blocks to construct an octahedral assembly, it should be recognized that other geometric shapes could be utilized. 
     The pedestal is also utilized as a design platform from which to build complex geometric designs. Each pedestal has four flared legs that provide stability to the platform while designs are constructed vertically and horizontally within it. By using linking elements, the designs can also be used to join together a plurality of the pedestal bases. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that the blocks can be held together in various conformations without the need for pin/receiving hole joinder mechanisms. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the blocks nest together without locking so that they can be stored in minimal space and are easily taken apart. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is that the color coding of the blocks aids in the building of pattern recognition skills for the children using the blocks. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention as described herein and as illustrated in the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the building blocks and pedestal base of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1A shows the building blocks nested in the pedestal base. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of each of the building blocks in a set of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of an individual building block. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of an individual building block. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a first linking element. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a second linking element. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a structure including two pedestal bases with block designs contained therein joined by a linking element. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of a quad platform. 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of a quad platform installed in a building block. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of a diagonal platform. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of a diagonal platform installed in a building block. 
     FIG. 12 shows lettered markers adapted to be mounted on a building block. 
     FIG. 13 shows numbered markers adapted to be mounted on a building block. 
     FIG. 14 shows lettered markers mounted on a block to spell a word. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a plurality of polygonal nesting blocks  10  and cap blocks  100 . Each nesting block  10  is formed with a polygonal perimeter member  12  that encloses an open central area  14 . In the preferred embodiment, each polygonal perimeter member  12  has a diamond-shaped cross section, and four sides so that a square central area  14  is defined. The cap blocks  100  are received in the central area  14  of the smallest nesting block. The cap blocks  100  are equilateral octahedrons in the preferred embodiment. 
     Referring now chiefly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the blocks  10  are grouped in sets. Each set comprises a plurality of the nesting blocks  10  in varying sizes, and a plurality of cap blocks  100 . The number of blocks  10  and cap blocks  100  in each set can vary according to the desires of the user. The number of blocks in the set is a function of the complexity of the designs that the user wants to build. The structure of the block sets is most easily visualized with reference to FIGS. 1 and 1A, which show the set of blocks  10 ,  100  and a pedestal base  16  to receive the nested blocks  10 ,  100 . 
     The pedestal base  16  is preferably clear so that the blocks can be seen while they are in the pedestal base  16 . An interior of the base  16  has a conformation that is the same as that of the geometric shape being formed by the blocks. In the preferred embodiment, the geometric shape is an octahedron. 
     Each set begins with a nesting A block  102  coupled with a cap block  100 . Upper outer surfaces of each block are parallel to corresponding lower inner surfaces, so that the blocks align when nested. Further, the surface area of one half of the cap block  100  is equal to the surface area of an inner surface of the nesting A block  102 , so that the cap block  100  is received in the inner portion of the nesting A block  102 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, at least one nesting B block  104 , at least one nesting C block  106 , and at least one nesting D block  108  are also provided. As with the nesting A block  102  and the cap block  100 , the nesting B block  104  receives the nesting A block  102 . That is, the surface area of an upper outer surface of nesting A block  102  is equal to the surface area of an inner surface of the nesting B block  104 , so that the outer portion of the nesting A block  102  is received in an inner portion of the nesting B block  104 . With the cap block  100  and the four nesting blocks  102 - 108  in place, the unit forms the shell of a lower half of a octahedron, or an inverted rectangular pyramid. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the interior of the set is filled so that a solid polygon is formed. A second cap block  100  is placed in the upper inner section of the first nesting A block  102 . A second nesting A block  102  is then placed in the upper inner section of the nesting B block  104 , and a second nesting B block  104  is placed in the upper inner section of the nesting C block  106 . A third cap block is placed in the upper inner section of the second nesting A block  102 , and the lower half of the octahedron is filled. At this point, the upper surface of the set is uneven, with the upper surfaces of the nesting D block  108 , the second nesting B block  104 , and the third cap block  100  exposed. Those exposed upper surfaces do however lie in a single plane. 
     To complete the top half of the solid octahedron, the nesting process is simply reversed. A second nesting C block  106  is placed in the nesting D block  108 , and a second nesting A block  102  is placed in the second nesting B block  104 . Next, a third nesting C block  106  is placed in the second nesting C block  106 , and a fourth cap block  100  is placed in the third nesting A block  102 . The octahedron shape is completed by placing a fourth nesting A block  102  in the third nesting B block  104 , and a fifth cap block  100  in the fourth nesting A block  102 . The octahedron formed in this manner is solid, and has planar surfaces (neglecting the seams between the multiple nesting blocks) defining each of its sides. This is the preferred set of building blocks of the present invention. 
     The blocks in a set will typically be color coded. The color coding of the blocks is instrumental to the product&#39;s use in education for support in the development of critical thinking skills and complex pattern recognition. It is envisioned that the blocks will be provided with at least three color coding schemes: 
     Style #1: In this style, each nesting block is a particular color. For instance, cap block  100  is white, nesting A block  102  is green, nesting B block  104  is yellow, nesting C block  106  is blue, and nesting D block  108  is red. 
     Style #2: In style # 2, either the top or the bottom surface of the blocks will be color coded as in style # 1. However, the remaining surface of the blocks will be a single color such as black. This would allow construction of an octahedron that is multi-colored on one half, and all one color on the other half. Alternatively, the octahedron could have layers of the single color alternating with layers of the multi-colored blocks. 
     Style #3: This style would provide an entire set of blocks that was all one color. 
     The multi-colored coding scheme creates a new learning environment for verbal instruction based on both size and color versus standard systems utilizing size alone or color alone. Pattern recognition skills and design modeling replication can be promoted through the visual stimulus of coded coloring. Additionally, development of listening skills, memory retention, and association skills can be enhanced through oral instruction for the user to follow design sequencing steps (color followed by size, or size followed by color, or color patterning through repetition of sequences). 
     To expand the possibilities of the types of structure and designs that can be built with the building blocks of the present invention, it is envisioned that various linking elements and building platforms will be provided with the sets of nesting blocks. The linking elements and building platforms provide means to join substructures together and to create more varied designs with the nesting blocks. Some examples of linking elements and building platforms are illustrated in FIGS. 5-11. 
     FIGS. 5-6 show side view of a first linking arm  20 . The linking arm  20  comprises a central extending body  202 , and a pair of connecting ends  204 . Each of the connecting ends  204  may be either an open end  2042  or a closed end  2044 . The open connecting end  2042  has a single arm portion extending from the central body  202  at a 45° angle. The closed connecting end  2044  includes a terminal end angled at 45° to the arm portion. 
     A connecting surface  206  of the open connecting end  2042  therefore includes a single angle corresponding to the angle of the upper surface of the nesting blocks  10  relative to vertical. The connecting surface  206  of the closed connecting end  2044  has two angles, a first angle corresponding to the angle of the upper surface of the nesting blocks  10  relative to perpendicular, and a second angle corresponding to the angle of the lower surface of the nesting blocks  10  relative to perpendicular. The linking arms are thus able to join two structures, either nesting blocks  10  or pedestal bases  16 , together at a fixed distance. 
     FIG. 7 shows a structure created with two of the pedestal bases  16  joined by a linking arm  20  with two open connecting ends  2042 . The structure formed in the pedestal bases  16  comprises a plurality of the nesting blocks  10 . As is evident from FIG. 7, the unique geometry of the nesting blocks  10  allows them to be stacked together in many different orientations. 
     In addition, FIG. 7 illustrates an integral building platform  208  that can be included in the linking arm  20 . The platform  208  in the preferred embodiment has the same configuration as one of the nesting blocks  10 , so that it can readily receive other nesting blocks  10  or linking arms  20 . Using the building platform  208 , a user of the present invention can, in addition to joining two structures with the linking arm  20 , build yet another structure, or series of structures, extending from the building platform  208 . 
     FIG. 8 shows another modifying element, a quad platform  22 . The quad platform  22  is received in an interior of one of the nesting blocks  10  as illustrated in FIG.  9 . The arms of the quad platform  22  correspond to the diagonals of the interior of the nesting block  10 . A top surface of the quad platform  22  has the same angled profile as the top surface of the nesting blocks  10  so that it too accommodates other nesting blocks and linking elements. The quad platform  22  provides the user with further variations for building structures. If desired, a nesting block  10  with an integral quad platform  22  can be manufactured, so that the block includes the interior quad platform  22  along with the nesting block  10 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates yet another modifying element, a diagonal platform  24 . With a structure analogous to the quad platform  22 , the diagonal platform  24  is received in the interior of a nesting block  10 . The diagonal platform  24  lies along a single diagonal of the interior of the nesting block  10  as shown in FIG.  11 . As with the quad platform  22 , a top surface of the diagonal platform  24  has the same angled profile as the top surface of the nesting blocks  10 . Again, if desired, the diagonal platform  24  can be constructed so as to be integral to the nesting block  10 . 
     FIGS. 12-14 illustrate yet another function of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a plurality of placards  26  with letter imprinted on them. FIG. 13 depicts a plurality of placards  28  with numeric characters imprinted on them. FIG. 14 shows the placards  26 ,  28  placed on the top surface of a nesting block  10  for display. In this manner, a user of the blocks can also be given instruction on language and math skills. 
     The above disclosure is not intended as limiting. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the restrictions of the appended claims.