Twistable and connectable block

Described is a twistable and connectable block. The block includes a first half and a second half. Each of the first half and second half having protrusions and recessions. The protrusions and recessions are formed to connect with other protrusions and recessions. Each of the halves is connectable with the other using a connection device. The connection device includes a post on one half that can fit in a corresponding hole in the other half. Thus, through the connection device, the two halves are twistable with respect to one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/535,148, filed cm Sep. 15, 2011, and entitled, “Twistable and Connectable Block.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a connectable block and, more particularly, to a connectable block, that includes two halves, each of the two halves being twistable with respect to one another.

(2) Description of Related Art

Toy blocks have long been known in the art. Toy blocks have evolved to include connectable protrusions and recessions that allow the blocks to be connectable and stackable. The present invention improves upon such traditional blocks by adding features that allow for new play operations other than simply stack and connecting.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connectable block that includes at least two parts (e.g., halves), each of the two parts being twistable with respect to one another. In one aspect, the connectable block includes a first part and a second part, each of the first part and second part having protrusions and recessions. In this aspect, the protrusions and recessions are formed, to connect with other protrusions and recessions on other connectable blocks. Further, each of the parts is connectable with the other using a connection device, whereby through the connection device, the two parts are twistable with respect to one another. For example, the connection device includes a post on one part that can fit in a corresponding hole in the other part.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the blocks described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a connectable block and, more particularly, to a connectable block that includes two halves, each of the two halves being twistable with respect to one another. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different, applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a connectable block100that includes two halves, a first half102and a second half104. Each of the two halves102and104are twistable with respect to one another. Also as shown betweenFIGS. 1 and 2, the halves102and104include protrusions106and corresponding recessions108to allow the block100to be connected with other blocks. Thus, the present invention is generally directed to connectable blocks100that have at least two parts (e.g., the two halves102and104), with the parts being both connectable with other blocks and twistable with respect to one another. It should be understood that although the term half or halves is used herein, the invention is not intended to be limited thereto as it can be applied to blocks of any dimension and number of parts. For example, the two pans can be one-third and two-thirds, respectively, of the collective connectable block, or any other suitable dimension. Other non-limiting examples of which include having 3 parts, such as a first part that is one quarter the size of the collective connectable block, with the second part being one half and the third part being one quarter, respectively, of the collective block. Thus, as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the use of the term half or halves and as depicted in the figures is but one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.

For example,FIG. 1illustrates a front, perspective view illustration of the block100, whileFIG. 2illustrates a back, perspective view of the same block100as illustrated inFIG. 1. It is noted betweenFIGS. 1 and 2that the protrusions106are circle-shaped, while the recessions108are square shaped. Importantly and also as illustrated, in one aspect, the same block100has both protrusions106and recessions108. In the example as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2, three adjacent sides of the six sides of the block100has protrusions106while the other three adjacent sides of the block100have recessions108. This allows the block to both connect into (through its protrusions106) and receive (through its recessions108) other blocks.

The protrusions106and recessions108are formed in any suitable shape to allow the block100to be connected with other blocks, thereby creating stackable blocks. For example, both protrusions106and recessions108can be the same shape (e.g., both circle-shapes) or different shapes, (e.g., circle-shaped and square-shaped, respectively (as depicted)).

Importantly and as further illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the block100includes a first half102and a second half104. Each of the halves102and104is connectable with the other using a connection device300. The connection device300is any suitable mechanism, device, or connection technique that allows the two halves to be selectively connected with one another, a non-limiting example of which includes a post on one half that can fit in a corresponding hole in the other half. An advantage to the connection device in this aspect is that it allows each half to rotate (i.e., twist) with respect to the other. Thus, in this aspect, in addition to being connectable, the block100is also twistable.

For further understanding,FIGS. 4A through 7Fprovide additional illustrations of the block100and its two halves. More specifically,FIG. 4Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3AwhileFIG. 4Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A.

Additional view points of the first half102are provided inFIGS. 5A through 5F. More specifically,FIG. 5Ais a front, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A;FIG. 5Bis a left, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A;FIG. 5Cis a bottom, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A;FIG. 5Dis a right, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A;FIG. 5Eis a rear, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A;FIG. 5Fis a top, view illustration of the first half102of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3A.

FIG. 6Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B, whileFIG. 6Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B.

Additional view points of the second half104are provided inFIGS. 7A through 7F. More specifically,FIG. 7Ais a front, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B;FIG. 7Bis a left, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B;FIG. 7Cis a bottom, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B;FIG. 7Dis a right, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B;FIG. 7Eis a rear, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B; andFIG. 7Fis a top, view illustration of the second half104of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 3B.

FIGS. 1 and 2are to be contrasted withFIGS. 8A and 8B, which illustrate another aspect of the block800according to the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, each half (i.e., first half802and second half804) includes protrusions806and recessions808, with the protrusions806and recessions808being square-shaped. Thus, in this aspect, the protrusions806and recessions808are similarly shaped.

For further understanding,FIGS. 9A through 13Fprovide additional illustrations of the block and its two halves802and804. More specifically,FIG. 9Ais a perspective view illustration of a first half802of the twistable and connectable block depicted inFIG. 8A, whileFIG. 9Bis a perspective view illustration of a second half804of the twistable and connectable block depicted inFIG. 8A. Additionally,FIG. 10Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A, whileFIG. 10Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A.

Additional viewpoints are provided inFIGS. 11A through 11F. More specifically,FIG. 11Ais a front, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A;FIG. 11Bis a left, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A;FIG. 11Cis a bottom, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A;FIG. 11Dis a right, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A;FIG. 11Eis a rear, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A; andFIG. 11Fis a top, view illustration of the first half802of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9A.

Alternatively,FIG. 12Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9BwhileFIG. 12Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B. Additional viewpoints of the second half804are depicted inFIGS. 13A through 13F. More specifically,FIG. 13Ais a front, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B;FIG. 13Bis a left, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B;FIG. 13Cis a bottom, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B;FIG. 13Dis a right, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B;FIG. 13Eis a rear, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B; andFIG. 13Fis a top, view illustration of the second half804of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 9B.

FIGS. 8A and 8Bare to be contrasted withFIGS. 14A and 14B, which illustrate another aspect of the block1400according to the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B, the each half1402and1404includes protrusions1406and recessions1408, with the protrusions1406and recessions1408being round-shaped. Thus, in this aspect, the protrusions1406and recessions1408are also similarly shaped. Again, it should be understood that the protrusions1406and recesses1408can be similarly or dissimilarly shaped, provided that they are formed to connect with one another.

For further understanding,FIGS. 15A through 19Fprovide additional illustrations of the block and its two halves. More specifically,FIG. 15Ais a perspective view illustration of a first half1402of the twistable and connectable block depicted inFIG. 14AwhileFIG. 15Bis a perspective view illustration of a second half1404of the twistable and connectable block depicted inFIG. 14A. Further,FIG. 16Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block whileFIG. 16Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block.

Additional viewpoints are provided inFIGS. 17A through 17F. More specifically,FIG. 17Ais a front, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A;FIG. 17Bis a left, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A;FIG. 17Cis a bottom, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A;FIG. 17Dis a right, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A;FIG. 17Eis a rear, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A;FIG. 17Fis a top, view illustration of the first half1402of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15A.

Alternatively,FIG. 18Ais a top, perspective view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15BwhileFIG. 18Bis a bottom, perspective view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B. Additional viewpoints of the second half1404are provided inFIGS. 19A through 19F. More specifically,FIG. 19Ais a front, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B;FIG. 19Bis a left, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B;FIG. 19Cis a bottom, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B;FIG. 19Dis a right, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B;FIG. 19Eis a rear, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B; andFIG. 19Fis a top, view illustration of the second half1404of the twistable and connectable block as depicted inFIG. 15B.

It should be understood that the connectable block and its components are formed of any suitable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic, metal, glass, wood, etc. Further and as noted above, the connectable block and its components can be formed in any suitable shape that allows for them to be connected with other blacks as stackable and connectable blocks and, as such, are not limited to a cube shape or any other particular shape.