Abstract:
A modular block system that is aesthetically and functionally versatile by providing a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members to form furniture, table, wall and floor coverings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to building systems and, more specifically, to an independent block building system for configuring furniture, walls, flooring, table tops and the like. The present invention comprises a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members that work in conjunction with one another to form a surface for aesthetic and functional purposes. The block members can be any of a multitude of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, colors and other such variables. Block members are manufactured of a material including, but not limited to, wood, leather, stone, glass, resin, steel and resilient substances like rubber and dense foam or a composite of any number/variety of materials. Block members are placed adjacently to form or cover the desired object. A cushioning material or cushioning system, etc. may be employed as a base for the block members with any of a plurality of attachment and/or securing methods including hook and loop fasteners, strings, bungees, interlocking blocks, framework and frictional engagement. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other building methods for providing furniture pieces, flooring and wall coverings. While these building methods may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system for building furniture, tabletops and the like with a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members positioned adjacent to one another. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system for providing floor and wall coverings utilizing a plurality of said block members. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said blocks are available in a plurality of shapes, sizes, materials, colors and other such variables. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said block members are manufactured of a material including, but not limited to, wood, stone, glass, resin, steel, leather, metal, rubber, dense foam or any other suitable material. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said block members may be placed on a resilient cushioning base or system such as foam or springs or magnets when used for furniture. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said cushioning base may include a mesh or fabric covering on which said block members are seated. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said cushioning base is supported by traditional style strapping. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said strapping, base and block members are retained in position by a solid framework. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein block members disposed on said base are displaceable when said base is compressed due to a bias applied to said block members. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein the layout of said block members can be free floating or interlocking. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular block building system wherein said block members are tied together utilizing elements such as hook and loop fasteners, string and/or bungee passing therethrough. 
     Another object of the present invention s provide a modular block building system wherein said base employs bungees or an internal mechanism within said block members that interlock and provide a cushioning effect. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a modular block system that is aesthetically and functionally versatile by providing a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members to form furniture, table, wall and floor coverings. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the block construction design of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the block construction design of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  are orthographic views of block construction designs of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the block members and resilient sub-surface. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrative view of the block members incorporating a connective member therebetween. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative view of the block members having a connective member therebetween. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an additional element of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an additional element the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of an additional element of the block construction design of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the magnetic repelling block construction design of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a detailed sectional view of the block construction incorporating magnets. 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed sectional view of the block construction design of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed sectional view of the block construction incorporating magnets. 
         FIG. 16  is a detailed sectional view of the block construction incorporating magnets. 
         FIG. 17  is a detailed sectional view of the block construction incorporating magnets. 
         FIG. 18  is an illustrative sectional view of the block construction incorporating interblock magnets. 
         FIG. 19  is an illustrative view of the block members compositely conjoined to a cushioned base. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
       Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Independent Modular Block Building System of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       10  Independent Modular Block Building System of the present invention     12  furniture     14  table top     16  wall     18  floor     20  frame     22  independent modular block member     24  chair     26  foam     28  strapping     30  fabric cover     32  user     34  block displacement     36  cushion surface substrate     38  right angle block     40  U-shaped block     42  cross shaped block     44  tubular block     46  inverted Z-block     48  straight shaped block     50  free floating application     55  connective member     56  polymeric connective member     58  elastomeric connective member     60  fibrous connective member     62  Velcro     64  lounge chair     66  table     68  magnet     70  magnetic block substrate     72  external face of  68       74  magnetic repulsion     76  solid surface substrate     78  magnetic attraction     80  positively polarized magnetic face     82  negatively polarized magnetic face     84  low frictional coating     86  side of  22       88  interblock magnet     90  composite     92  direct adhesion     94  hard component of  90       96  soft component of  90     

     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of the independent modular block building system  10  of the present invention in use. The present invention is a modular block building system  10  for covering furniture  12 , table tops  14 , walls  16  and floors  18  comprising frame  20  constrained independent block members  22  forming a functional, decorative covering for said furniture  12 , table tops  14 , walls  16  and floors  18  that optionally provides for a line, such as cord, polymeric line or elastomeric line extending longitudinally or transversely through a plurality of said blocks. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , shown is a perspective view of the independent modular block building system  10  of the present invention. Illustrated is an embodiment of the block construction design for furniture  12  comprising frame  20  constrained independent block members  22  forming a support surface for a chair that may have an elastomeric or polymeric cushion thereunder. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  shown an exploded view of the independent modular block building system  10 . Shown is an exploded view of the block construction design for a chair  24  having independent blocks  22  that may be free standing or connected by various means such as Velcro, string or bungee cord. Depicted are the block members  22  positioned on a foam  26  base  36  within a frame  20 . The base  36  has a fabric covering  30  and rests on traditional strapping  28  communicating with the frame  20 . Said blocks  22  can be of a variety of shapes and forms and materials. The block system  10  blankets all furniture forms, flooring, walls and table tops. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , shown is an illustrative view of the independent modular block building system  10 . Shown is the user  32  applying a downward bias causing displacement  34  of the independent blocks  22  that may be free standing or connected by various means such as Velcro, string or bungee cord. The displacement  34  provides comfort when in use by conforming to the bias applied by the user  32  sitting thereon. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , shown are orthographic views of block construction designs of the present invention. Shown are various forms of the independent block members of the present invention. Said blocks can be of a variety of shapes, forms and materials. Depicted are block members assuming right angle  38 , U-shaped  40 , cross shaped  42 , tubular  44 , inverted Z  46  and straight  48  configurations to provide an assortment of patterns. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , shown is an illustrative view of the block members and resilient cushioned base surface  36 . Shown is the block construction design that forms a planar support structure of any desired area by placing a plurality of said blocks  22  with abutting and or overlapping surfaces in a free floating application  50 . Also shown are the block member support structure superjacently positioned on a resilient sub-surface, such as, foam and/or springs. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , shown is an illustrative view of the block members  22  incorporating a connective member  55  therebetween. Shown is an embodiment of the block members  22  forming a support structure having one or more connective members  55  passing therethrough whereby any desired area of said block members  22  can be created using said connective members  55  therebetween selected from the group of polymeric  56 , elastomeric  58  and fiber  60 . Also shown is the block member cushioned base support structure  36  superjacently positioned on a resilient sub-surface, such as, foam and/or springs. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , shown is an illustrative view of the block members  22  having a connective member  55  therebetween. Shown is an embodiment of the block members  22  forming a support structure having a connective member  55  with mating Velcro  62  members fixed to facing block surfaces whereby any desired area of said block members can be created using said connective members, such as Velcro®  62 . Also shown is the cushioned base  36  support structure superjacently positioned on a resilient sub-surface, such as, foam and/or springs. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , shown is a perspective view of an additional element of the independent modular block building system  10 . Shown is a block construction design for a lounge chair  64  having independent blocks  22  fitted together, forming a design and encompassed by a frame structure  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , shown is a perspective view of an additional element the present invention. Shown is a block construction design for a table top  14  for a table  66  having independent blocks  22  fitted together, forming a design and encompassed by a frame structure  20 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , shown is an exploded view of an additional element of the block construction design of the independent modular block building system  10 . Illustrated is an embodiment of the block construction design for furniture comprising frame constrained independent blocks  22  forming a support surface for a chair  24  having magnets  68  fixed to the bottom of the blocks and magnets forming block substrate  70  on the frame  20  and superjacently positioned with external faces  72  having like poles facing each other so that the blocks 22  will create a magnetic repulsion  74  that will repel the blocks  22  away from the magnet substrate  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , shown is an enlarged view of the magnetic repelling block construction design of the present invention. The independent modular block building system  10  provides embodiments of the independent block construction having a block substrate taken from the group of elastomeric cushion, polymeric cushion and magnets. Illustrated is an embodiment of the block construction design for furniture comprising frame constrained independent blocks  22  forming a support surface for a chair  24  having magnets  68  fixed to the bottom of the blocks and magnets forming block substrate  70  on the frame  20  and superjacently positioned with external faces having like poles facing each other so that the blocks  22  will create a magnetic repulsion  74  that will repel the blocks  22  away from the magnet substrate thereby suspending the blocks by the repelling of like magnetic poles. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , shown is a detailed sectional view of the independent modular block building system  10  incorporating magnets  68 . Illustrated is the independent block construction design for furniture wherein each of the blocks  22  has a magnet  68  fixed to the bottom portion thereof and a plurality of subjacently placed magnets  68  fixed to a solid surface  76  forming substrate surface  70  for the block magnets  68 . The magnets  68  are positioned with the external faces  72  having like poles facing each other thereby creating a magnetic repulsion  74  so each of the blocks  22  will be repelled by the substrate magnets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , shown is a detailed sectional view of the independent modular block building system  10  incorporating magnets  68 . Illustrated is the independent block construction design for furniture wherein each of the blocks  22  has a magnet  68  fixed to the bottom portion thereof and a plurality of subjacently placed magnets  68  fixed to the cushioned base  36  forming substrate surface  70  for the block magnets  22 . The magnets  68  are positioned with the external faces  72  having like poles facing each other thereby creating a magnetic repulsion  74  so each of the blocks  22  will be repelled by the substrate magnets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , shown is a detailed sectional view of the independent modular block building system  10  incorporating magnets  68 . Illustrated is the independent block construction design for furniture wherein each of the blocks  22  has a magnet  68  fixed to the bottom portion thereof and a plurality of subjacently placed magnets  68  fixed to a solid surface  76  forming substrate surface  70  for the block magnets  68 . The magnets  68  are positioned with the external faces  72  having opposing poles facing each other thereby creating a magnetic attraction  78  so each of the blocks  22  will be attracted by the substrate magnets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , shown are the magnets  68  having an external negatively polarized magnet face  82  and the corresponding magnet having an external positively magnetic face  80  thereby creating a magnetic attraction  78  of the block members  22  to a cushion surface base substrate  36 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , shown is a detailed sectional view of the independent modular block building system  10  incorporating magnets  68 . Illustrated is the independent block construction design for furniture wherein each of the plurality of blocks  22  has a positively polarized magnetic face  80  on one side  86  and a negatively polarized magnetic face  82  fixed to its opposite side  86  with the poles reversed relative to the adjacent blocks  22  so that one side as an external north pole while the other has an external south pole. Block assembly of unlike poles forms block attraction from one to the other. Also provided is coating  84  the engaging external magnetic faces  72  with a low frictional coefficient material, which will ensure the blocks  22  slidably returning to a substantially planar at rest position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , shown is an illustrative sectional view of the independent modular block building system  10  incorporating interblock magnets  88 . Illustrated is the independent block construction design for furniture wherein each of the plurality of blocks  22  has a recessed interblock magnet  88  fixed to its opposite side with the poles reversed so that one side as an external positively polarized magnetic face  80  while the other has an external negatively polarized magnetic face  82 . Block assembly of unlike poles forms block attraction from one to the other. Also provided is coating the engaging surfaces with a material having a low friction coefficient that will ensure the blocks  22  slidably returning to a substantially planar at rest position. Also shown is the plurality of magnetically joined blocks having a cushioned base  36  substrate comprising an elastomeric or polymeric substrate. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19 , shown are the block members  22  compositely conjoined  92  to a cushioned base  36  and integral with a composite  90  blending hard  94  and soft  96  components. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.