Abstract:
The present invention provides a multi-purpose modular unit, including multiple blocks and adapters. The blocks are provided with multiple side faces and embedded tap holes. The adapters are screwed into the corresponding tap holes of two adjacent blocks. With this adapter, the blocks can be interlocked and assembled as furniture, stationery and toys that can be easily assembled or disassembled depending on various configurations and functions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a modular unit, and more particularly to a multi-purpose one which can be assembled into shapes. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
     Notwithstanding that common building blocks can be assembled into toys and stationery objects of different shapes, the poor binding strength of these prior art building blocks, arising from interlocking of tenons and grooves, may make it difficult to support larger bearing capacity. Thus, functions of the prior art building blocks are highly restricted. 
     Moreover, existing building blocks are assembled in a fixed direction without any angular change, leading to the inflexibility in applications. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As a tap hole is laterally arranged on the blocks for insertion of the adapter  110  and hinged arm  130 , blocks can be assembled flexibly in various configurations and directions. 
     The blocks of different patterns can be mated with each other at any angle, thus increasing the flexibility of configuration. 
     The adapter  110  can be adjusted at any angle and then locked securely after positioning, thereby increasing the angular change and flexibility of configuration. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a partially exploded perspective view of the present invention, showing the preferred embodiment of the multi-purpose modular unit of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows another partially exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a table that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 4  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a chair that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 5  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a toy that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 6  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a movable car toy that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention that an adapter is used to link the blocks. 
         FIG. 8  shows another partially perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing an arched bench that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 10  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a baboon toy that can be assembled. 
         FIG. 11  shows another assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a fish-like toy that can be assembled. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1-2  depict preferred embodiments of the multi-purpose modular unit of the present invention, where it comprises a first block  10  like rectangular long-column, a second block  20  like rectangular short-column, a third block  30  like arched-type board, a fourth block  40  like elliptical board, a fifth block  50  like square board, a sixth block  60  like triangular board, a seventh block  70  like triangular composite arched board, a T-type eighth block  80 , an L-type ninth block  90 , a tenth block  10  like short cylinder, an adapter  110 , a disk  120 , a hinged arm  130  assembled within the disk  120 , and an operating tool  140  used to operate this adapter  110 . 
     The first block  10  is provided with 4 first long-side faces  11  interconnected perpendicularly and two square faces  12  arranged separately at both sides of the first long-side face  11 . The first long-side face  11  is provided with 5 tap holes  13  arranged at equal interval. A distance D is formed between two adjacent tap holes  13  on the same first long-side face  11 . A tap hole  13  is also arranged separately on the square face  12 . The tap holes  13  embedded on two oppositely arranged first long-side faces  11  are placed coaxially and interlinked, whilst the tap holes  13  embedded between the vertically connected first long-side face  11  and square face  12  are linked perpendicularly. 
     The second block  20  is provided with 4 second long-side faces  21  interconnected perpendicularly and two square faces  22  arranged separately at both sides of the second long-side face  21 . The second long-side face  21  is provided with 3 tap holes  23  arranged at equal intervals. A distance D is formed between two corresponding edges of two adjacent tap holes  23  on the same second long-side face  21 . The tap holes  23  embedded on the square faces  22  are placed coaxially and interlinked, whilst the tap holes  23  embedded between the vertically connected second long-side face  21  and square face  22  are linked perpendicularly. 
     The third block  30  is provided with 2 arched side faces  31  arranged oppositely in parallel. Three tap holes  32  of equal spacing are arranged separately on the arched side face  31 . Moreover, a distance D is formed between two corresponding edges of two adjacent tap holes  32  on the same arched side face  31 , whilst the tap holes  32  on the arched side face  31  are placed coaxially and interlinked. 
     The fourth block  40  is provided with 2 elliptical side faces  41  arranged oppositely in parallel. Three tap holes  42  of equal spacing are arranged separately on the elliptical side face  41 . Moreover, a distance D is formed between two corresponding edges of two adjacent tap holes  42  on the same elliptical side face  41 . The tap holes  42  of the elliptical side face  41  are placed coaxially and interlinked. And, the block  40  can be extended into fourth block  40 B with two tap holes. 
     This fifth block  50  is provided with 6 short side faces  51  interlinked perpendicularly, each of which has a tap hole  52 . The two tap holes  42  on two opposite short side faces  51  are placed coaxially and interlinked, whilst the tap holes  52  on two vertical short side faces  51  are linked perpendicularly. When the fifth block  50  and other blocks are adjoined, a distance D is formed between two corresponding edges of two adjacent tap holes on the parallel side faces. 
     The sixth block  60  is provided with 3 interlinked oblique side faces  61  and three triangular side faces  62  oppositely and separately arranged on both sides of the oblique side face  61 . A tap hole  63  is placed separately on the oblique side face  61  and the triangular side face  62 . 
     The seventh block  70  is provided with a triangular portion  71  and an arched portion  72  connected with the triangular portion  71 . The triangular portion  71  is provided with two oblique side faces  73  of an included angle 60°, and two tap holes  75  on the triangular side face  74  oppositely arranged on both sides of the oblique side face  73 . The arched portion  72  is also provided with a tap hole  75  that forms a distance D with the tap hole  75  on the triangular side face  73 . 
     The eighth block  80  is provided with a plain side face  81 , a stepped side face  82  oppositely arranged with the plain side face  81 , and a circular side face  83  between the plain side face  81  and stepped side face  82 . Both the plain side face  81  and stepped side face  82  are fitted with 3 tap holes  84  at equal interval. The spacing between the corresponding edges of two adjacent tap holes  84  is equal to the distance D. The circular side face  83  is also provided with a tap hole  84  placed centrally. The tap holes  84  embedded on the oppositely arranged plain side face  81  and stepped side face  82  are placed coaxially and interlinked, whilst the tap holes  84  embedded on the vertically linked circular side face  83  are linked perpendicularly. 
     The ninth block  90  is provided with a square portion  91  and an arched portion  92 . The square portion  91  is provided with 6 vertically linked square side faces  93 . The square side face  93  not linked to the arched portion  92  is provided with a tap hole  94 . The arched portion  92  is provided with 2 arched side faces  95  arranged oppositely in parallel, each of which is fitted with an interlinked tap hole  94 . 
     The tenth block  100  is provided with 2 round side faces  101  arranged oppositely in parallel; an interlinked tap hole  102  is placed on the center of the round side face  101 . 
     The adapter  110  like a lever is provided with a first end  111 , a second end  112  arranged oppositely with the first end  111  along axial line L, an intermediate portion  113  between the first and second ends  111 ,  112 , a first threaded portion  114  arranged on one side of the intermediate portion  113  correspondingly to the first end  111 , a second threaded portion  115  arranged on the other side of the intermediate portion  113  correspondingly to the second end  112 , as well as 2 hexagonal holes  116  embedded separately onto the first and second ends  111 ,  112  along the axial line L. The threads of the first and second threaded portions  114 ,  115  are screwed oppositely, so that they can be screwed separately into two corresponding tap holes of two adjoining blocks. Moreover, the length extending from the first end  111  to the second end  112  is smaller than the distance D. 
     The disk  120  is provided with a first face  121 , a second face  122  arranged opposite to the first face  121 , and many tap holes  123  penetrating from the first face  121  to the second face  122 . Such a block can be connected with the disk  120  via the adapter. 
     The hinged arm  130  can be rotatably inserted into the tap hole  123  of the disk  120 , or into the tap hole of the aforementioned blocks. 
     The operating tool  140  of the preferred embodiment is an L-shaped or straight hexagonal wrench, which can be inserted into the hexagonal hole  116  of the adapter  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the blocks can be assembled as various goods where required. Referring to  FIG. 3 , multiple first blocks  10  and fifth blocks  50  can be assembled as a table-like framework using the adapter  110 , multiple fourth blocks  40  are pin-jointed into the hinged portion of the table-like framework, and a space with open top is formed within this framework, so it can be used if a board is embedded into this space I. In case multiple first blocks  10  and eighth blocks  80  are assembled as four table legs by the easy-to-operate adapter  110 , these table legs can be easily removed from the bottom of the table, or fixed laterally onto the table during storage, handling and packaging. Therefore, a table of practicability can be assembled from the combination of the blocks of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , based on the design that the first and second threaded portions  114 ,  115  of the adapter  110  are screwed oppositely, two blocks can be easily mated with or separated from each other when the operating tool  140  is used to rotate the first end  111  or second end  112  of the adapter  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , with the design of the adapter  110 , multiple first blocks  10 , second blocks  20  and fifth blocks  50  are assembled as a chair panel, then multiple second blocks  10  assembled as four chair legs, multiple first blocks  10  and fifth blocks  50  assembled as a chair back, and multiple fifth blocks  50  assembled on the joint of the chair panel and leg for reinforcement. Therefore, a chair of practicability can be assembled from the combination of the blocks of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , multiple first blocks  10 , second blocks  20 , fourth blocks  40 , sixth blocks  60 , seventh blocks  70 , ninth blocks  90  and tenth blocks  100  can be assembled as a toy by the adapter  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , multiple first blocks  10 , second blocks  20 , sixth blocks  60 , seventh blocks  70  and eighth blocks  80  are assembled as a carriage by the adapter  110 , then multiple disks  120  are hinged between two parallel tap holes  13  of the first block  10  by the hinged arm  130 , thus forming a mobile toy car. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is an L-shaped composite eleventh block  200 , which is provided with a square portion  201 , a longitudinal arched portion  202  linked oppositely to the square portion  201 , as well as a transverse arched portion  203 . The square portion  201  is provided with 6 square side faces  204  interlinked vertically. The square side face  204  not linked to the longitudinal and transverse arched portions  202 ,  203  is provided with a tap hole  205 . Both the longitudinal and transverse arched portions  202 ,  203  are provided with 2 arched side faces  206 ,  207  arranged oppositely in parallel. Both the arched side faces  206 ,  207  are also provided with an interlinked tap hole  205 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , multiple second blocks  20 , fourth blocks  40 , fifth blocks  50 , eighth blocks  80 , ninth blocks  90  and eleventh blocks  200  along with the fourth blocks  40 B with 2 tap holes are assembled by the adapter  110  as an arched frame of flexible angle, then a plurality of rods  300  of external diameter equal to the second block  20  are arranged between the corresponding blocks  20 , thus forming an arched bench. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , multiple seventh blocks  70 , eighth blocks  80 , ninth blocks  90  and eleventh blocks  200  along with the fourth blocks  40 B with 2 tap holes are assembled by the adapter  110  as a baboon-like toy, which has multiple angular variation via the eleventh block  200 , thus presenting a flexible visual effect. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , multiple fourth blocks  40 , seventh blocks  70  and eleventh blocks  200  along with the fourth blocks  40 B with 2 tap holes are assembled by the adapter  110  as a fish-like model, which has a bendable body of abundant arched changes via the eleventh block  200 , making it appear like a real object. 
     In addition to the tables, chairs and toys hereto, the present invention allows the users to assemble into the models of animals, buildings and stationery, where necessary, and disassemble simply and safely by the adapter  110  and operating tool  140 .