Patent Publication Number: US-9416534-B2

Title: Interlocking block construction system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/765,436, filed Feb. 15, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a construction system and, more particularly, to an interlocking block construction system. 
     Currently, the flooding of basements can cause serious damage to a building. The damage caused may be very costly. Currently, there is no structure that prevents the flooding altogether. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a structure to prevent flooding within a building. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises: a plurality of interlocking blocks each comprising: a top portion comprising a top protruding ridge; a bottom portion comprising a bottom recessed channel; a first side comprising a side protruding ridge; and a second side comprising a side recessed channel, wherein the top protruding ridge of a first interlocking block is formed to fit within a bottom recessed channel of a second interlocking block, and wherein a side protruding ridge of the second interlocking block is formed to fit within a side recessed channel of a third interlocking block, wherein a plurality of interlocking blocks connected together form a wall. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention shown in exemplary configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the present invention in the exemplary configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a section detail view of the present invention along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the large block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the large block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the large block of the present invention 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the large block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the small block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the small block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the small block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the small block of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the female-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom perspective view of the female-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of the male-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom perspective view of the male-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of the T-intersection male pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom perspective view of the 50 T-intersection male pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a top perspective view of the corner male-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a bottom perspective view of the corner male-female pillar of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the male starter strip of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in exemplary configuration; and 
         FIG. 22  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention exemplary configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes a block system that may be used all over the world to make dikes to stop flooding, walls, roads, pools, decks, sheds, homes, factories, inside walls, outside walls and more. In certain embodiments, the blocks of the present invention may be made of a polymer, such as plastic which facilitates a waterproof barrier. The block system of the present invention may be used to build new homes or may be used with older houses to keep out water. The present invention may be installed at the base of the houses to prevent the entry of water. The round blocks can be used to make big round pipes and pools. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 22  the present invention includes an interlocking block construction system. The interlocking block construction system may include a plurality of interlocking blocks  100 . The plurality of interlocking blocks  100  may each include: a top portion having a top protruding ridge  14 ; a bottom portion having a bottom recessed channel  16 ; a first side having a side protruding ridge  18 ; and a second side having a side recessed channel  20 . The top protruding ridge  14  of a first interlocking block  100  is formed to fit within a bottom recessed channel  16  of a second interlocking block  100 . The side protruding ridge  18  of the second interlocking block  100  is formed to fit within a side recessed channel  20  of a third interlocking block  100 . The plurality of interlocking blocks  100  connected together form a wall. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may include different sized interlocking blocks  100 . For example, there may be a larger interlocking block  12  and a small interlocking block  22 . The different sizes may be used to adjust to different sized walls. The small interlocking block  22  may each include: a top portion having a top protruding ridge  24 ; a bottom portion having a bottom recessed channel  26 ; a first side having a side protruding ridge  28 ; and a second side having a side recessed channel  30 . The top protruding ridge  24  of a small interlocking block  22  is formed to fit within a bottom recessed channel  16  of a large interlocking block  12 . The side protruding ridge  28  of the small interlocking block  22  is formed to fit within a side recessed channel  20  of a large interlocking block  12 . Therefore, the small blocks  22  and the large blocks  12  may connect together to form the wall. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a mounting base  10 . The mounting base  10  may support the constructed wall. The mounting base  10  may include a base strip  68  sized to fit within the bottom recessed channel  16 ,  26  of the small block  22  and the large block  12 . In certain embodiments, the base strip  68  may be sized to fit within the side recessed channel  20 ,  30  of the small block  22  and the large block  12 . In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a plurality of posts  70  protruding vertically from the mounting base  10  and substantially perpendicular relative to the base strip  68 . The posts  70  may intersect with the base strip  68 . The base  10  may further be made out of a plurality of male starter strips  88 . 
     The present invention may include at least one female-female pillar  32 . The female-female pillar  32  may include: a top portion; a bottom portion including a bottom recessed channel  36 ; a first side including a first side recessed channel  34 ; and a second side including a second side recessed channel  34 . The top protruding ridge  14  and the side protruding ridge  18  of the plurality of interlocking blocks  100  is formed to fit within the first side recessed channel  34  and the second side recessed channel  34 . The base strip  68  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  36 . In certain embodiments, the female-female pillar  32  further includes a center channel  38 . The plurality of posts  70  is formed to fit within the center channel  38 . 
     The present invention may include at least one male-female pillar  40 . The male-female pillar  40  may include: a top portion; a bottom portion including a bottom recessed channel  44 ; a first side including a side recessed channel  42 ; and a second side including a side protruding ridge  48 . The top protruding ridge  14  and the side protruding ridge  18  of the plurality of interlocking blocks  100  is formed to fit within the first side recessed channel  42 . The side protruding ridge  48  of the the male-female pillar  40  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  16  and the side recessed channel  20  of the plurality of blocks  100 . The base strip  68  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  44 . The male-female pillar  40  may include a center channel  46 . The posts  70  are formed to fit within the center channel  46 . 
     The present invention may include at least one T-intersection male pillar  50  including: a top portion; a bottom portion including a first bottom recessed channel  54  and a second bottom recessed channel  54  substantially perpendicular to the first bottom recessed channel  54 ; a first side including a first side protruding ridge  52 ; a second side including a second side protruding ridge  52 ; a front portion including a front portion protruding ridge  52 ; and a rear portion. The first side protruding ridge  52 , the second side protruding ridge  52 , and front portion protruding ridge  52  of the T-intersection male pillar  50  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  16  and the side recessed channel  20  of the plurality of blocks  100 . The base strip  68  is formed to fit within the first bottom recessed channel  54  and the second bottom recessed channel  54 . The T-intersection male pillar  50  further includes a center channel  56 . The posts  70  are formed to fit within the center channel  56 . 
     The present invention may include at least one corner male-female pillar  58  including: a top portion; a bottom portion including a first bottom recessed channel  62  and a second bottom recessed channel  62  substantially perpendicular to the first bottom recessed channel  62 ; a first side including a side recessed channel  60 ; a second side; a front portion including a front portion protruding ridge  66 ; and a rear portion. The top protruding ridge  14  and the side protruding ridge  18  of the plurality of interlocking blocks  100  is formed to fit within the side recessed channel  60  of the corner male-female pillar  58 . The front portion protruding ridge  66  of the corner male-female pillar  58  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  16  and the side recessed channel  20  of the plurality of blocks  100 . The base strip  68  is formed to fit within the first bottom recessed channel  62  and the second bottom recessed channel  62  of the corner male-female pillar  58 . The corner male-female pillar  58  further includes a center channel  64 . The posts  70  are formed to fit within the center channel  64 . 
     In certain embodiments, the interlocking blocks  100  may be curved interlocking blocks  72 . The curved interlocking blocks  72  may include a curved inside surface  74  and a curved outside surface  76 . The curved interlocking blocks  72  are configured to form a circle when the plurality of interlocking blocks  72  are connected, as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . The present invention may further include a curved cap  82  having a curved cap slot  84 . The top protruding ridge  14  is formed to fit within the curved cap slot  84 . The present invention may include a curved strip  86 . The curved strip  86  is formed to fit within the bottom recessed channel  16  of the curved interlocking blocks  72 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.