Abstract:
A housing structure comprising a plurality of hollow blocks having an interlocking opening at the top and bottom; an interlocking handle at the front face; and a receiving cut-out at the rear face, left side, or right side; and wherein the plurality hollow blocks are configured to be vertically stacked to a desirable height and horizontally interconnected to form the base of the housing structure. The housing structure further comprising a plurality of gutter-like sections having an interlocking nozzle at the bottom; and an interlocking system at the left and right ends; and wherein the plurality of gutter-like sections are configured to be interlocked to the top of the housing structure to trap rain water or fill the hollow blocks. A tent-like section can be assembled in the center of the housing structure for forming the roof of the housing structure and aiding in the collecting of rain water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a system of building blocks used to build temporary structures that are easily assembled and disassembled by unskilled laborers with no prior construction knowledge and no tools. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system of hollow blocks that can be easily assembled into a housing structure, while also providing the ability to serve as a reservoir for collecting rain water. The structure can provide permanent or temporary housing depending on the substances used to fill the hollow blocks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an economical, efficient, and accessible solution to the current problem of providing housing to areas having a large population of individuals and families who have become displaced due to natural disasters, war, and poverty. Recent natural disasters occurring in Haiti, India, Japan and the United States have brought national and international attention to the pressing need to provide quick, easy to construct, and economical shelter to what is often thousands to hundreds of thousands of immediately displaced individuals. Some natural disasters have even resulted in the immediate displacement of millions of individuals. This type of housing crisis is also caused by man-made disasters, such as war and poverty. 
     Tents, mobile homes, and other means of temporary shelter have been provided in the past. Nevertheless, there are a multitude of limitations to the mobile home solution. One limitation is that mobile homes are relatively expensive and may not be readily available in the disaster area. They are also not easily transported. Pre-constructed mobile homes require the use of large trucks, ships, and/or rail vehicles to transport. On-site construction of mobile homes requires tools, special construction knowledge, and typically several personnel to jointly construct the mobile home. When large scale disaster strikes, personnel shortages of personnel able to assist in the relief effort is also a problem. Thus, the mobile home solution may not be economically practicable, quick, or feasible. 
     Tents also have many drawbacks. They are not very safe as they are very easily entered into. This is a serious drawback because such disasters are often accompanied by rampant theft, discord, rape, and other strife. The issue is aggravated by the fact that there may not be sufficient police enforcement officials to manage such matters. Additionally, tents do not provide much resistance to weather conditions. Tents also require tools to construct and special knowledge of how to construct the tent. Moreover, tents are not comfortable and do not provide additional functionality, such as the ability to store water or the ability to be converted into a permanent structure through the introduction of sand or cement. This added functionality would be particularly useful in areas of rampant poverty, where clean water is scarce and adequate shelter is not common. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need in the art to provide temporary housing structures that are made of low-cost materials; can be quickly and easily assembled; quickly and easily transported; require no special skills or tools to construct; and have the ability to catch and store water or be converted to a more permanent structure; thereby providing an economical, multi-functional, and easily accessible housing solution to areas having a large number of displaced individuals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a system of water catchment building blocks that satisfies this need. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment provides a system of building blocks comprising: 
     a plurality of hollow building blocks, each hollow building block comprising:
         a cavity, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of sidewalls extending downwardly from a peripheral edge of the upper surface to a peripheral edge of the lower surface;
           the upper surface comprising a first opening configured to vertically interlock to a second opening on the lower surface of a vertically adjacent hollow building block;   the plurality of sidewalls comprising an interlocking projection and an interlocking socket; wherein the interlocking projection is configured to mate with the interlocking socket of a horizontally adjacent hollow building block.   
               

     In a second aspect of the system of building blocks, the first opening extends upwardly from the upper surface, forming a projecting mouth through which liquid may enter the cavity. 
     In yet another aspect, the second opening extends upwardly from the lower surface, forming a recessed mouth through which liquid may exit the cavity. 
     In another aspect, the system of building blocks further comprises a gutter assembly having a plurality of spouts, each spout configured to vertically interlock to the second opening of a vertically adjacent hollow building block. 
     In another aspect, the gutter assembly comprises a plurality of gutter assembly sections, each gutter assembly section comprises: 
     a bottom surface, a left end, and a right end;
         the bottom surface comprising at least one of the spouts;   the left end comprising an interlocking tongue; and   the right end comprising an interlocking groove; wherein the interlocking groove is configured to engage the interlocking tongue of a horizontally adjacent gutter assembly section.       

     In another aspect, the gutter assembly is vertically interlocked to a top of a housing base, the housing base formed by vertically and horizontally interlocking the plurality of hollow building blocks. 
     In another aspect, the system of building blocks further comprises a housing cover, the housing cover configured to provide a protective covering over an interior area formed by a perimeter of the housing base. 
     In another aspect, the housing cover comprises a plurality of downward sloping surfaces that terminate at the gutter assembly. 
     In another aspect, the housing cover is water-resistant. 
     In another aspect, the interlocking projection is a handle. 
     In another aspect, the hollow building blocks are plastic blow molded blocks. 
     Introducing another embodiment, a method of building a housing structure from the system of building blocks, comprises the steps of:
         vertically and horizontally interlocking a plurality of hollow building blocks to form a housing base;   vertically interlocking a gutter assembly to a top of the housing base; and   placing a housing cover over an interior area formed by a perimeter of the housing base.       

     In yet another aspect, the method further comprises the step of depositing cement into the hollow building blocks. 
     In yet another aspect, the method further comprises the step of depositing sand into the hollow building blocks. 
     These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to illustrate and not limit the invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents an isometric view of an exemplary housing structure with an exemplary housing covering; 
         FIG. 2  presents an isometric view of the housing structure originally introduced in  FIG. 1 , without the housing covering; 
         FIG. 3  presents an isometric view of an exemplary side hollow block; 
         FIG. 4  presents an isometric view of an exemplary corner hollow block; 
         FIG. 5  presents an isometric view of an exemplary side gutter assembly section; 
         FIG. 6  presents an isometric view of an exemplar corner gutter assembly section; 
         FIG. 7  presents a side view of the side gutter assembly section introduced in  FIG. 5  vertically interlocked with two vertically interlocked side hollow blocks originally introduced in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a vertically interlocking configuration; 
         FIG. 8  presents a section view looking downward onto two horizontally interlocked side hollow blocks introduced in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a horizontally interlocking configuration; 
         FIG. 9  presents an isometric section view of four vertically and horizontally interlocked side hollow blocks originally introduced in  FIG. 5 , and a side gutter assembly section, illustrating a horizontally and vertically interlocking configuration; 
         FIG. 10  presents a section view looking outward onto four vertically and horizontally interlocked side hollow blocks originally introduced in  FIG. 5 , and a side gutter assembly section, illustrating a horizontally and vertically interlocking configuration; 
         FIG. 11  presents a section view of the side gutter assembly section originally introduced in  FIG. 5 , vertically interlocked with two vertically interlocked side hollow blocks originally introduced in  FIG. 3 , illustrating a vertically interlocking configuration; and 
         FIG. 12  presents an enlarged view of the housing cover attachment feature to the side gutter attachment feature originally introduced in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 3 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     A housing structure  100  is presented in  FIG. 1 , comprising a housing base  110 , a gutter assembly  200 , and a housing cover  300 . The housing base  110  comprises a plurality of vertically and horizontally interlocked side hollow blocks  130  and corner hollow blocks  160 . The gutter assembly  200  comprises a plurality of horizontally interlocked side gutter assembly sections  220  and corner gutter assembly sections  240 . Furthermore, the gutter assembly  200  is vertically interlocked to the top of the housing base  110 . And the housing cover  300  is attached to the gutter assembly  200 , forming a roof of the housing structure  100 . 
     The side hollow block  130  is substantially rectangular in shape, having an upper surface  132 , lower surface  134 , left side  136 , right side  138 , front face  140 , and rear face  142 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The interior of the side hollow block  130  forms a cavity  152  suitable for holding water  360  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The cavity  152  may also be filled with other materials, such as sand or cement. 
     A projecting mouth  148  extends upward from the upper surface  132 , providing an opening on the upper surface  132  for filling the side hollow blocks  130  with liquid or semi-liquid materials. The projecting mouth  148  can be formed at any location on the upper surface  132 , wherein the exemplary projecting mouth  148  is placed in the center of the upper surface  132 . The projecting mouth  148  provides the vertical interlocking functionality of the side hollow blocks  130  by serving as a male member. Accordingly, the projecting mouth  148  is sized and shaped to engage with a recessed opening  150  on the lower surface  143  of a vertically adjacent side hollow block  130 . The recessed opening  150  extends upward from the lower surface  134 , providing an opening on the lower surface  134 . This allows water and other materials entering from the top of the housing base  110  to fill the entire housing base  110 , including the side hollow blocks  130  that are at the bottom of the housing base  110 . The recessed opening  150  provides the vertical interlocking functionality of the side hollow blocks  130  by serving as a female member. Accordingly, the recessed opening  150  is sized and shaped to engage with the projecting mouth  148  on the upper surface  143  of a vertically adjacent side hollow block  130 . 
     An interlocking projection  144  extends outward from the left side  136  of the side hollow block  130 , providing the horizontal interlocking functionality of the side hollow blocks  130  by serving as a male member. Accordingly, the interlocking projection  144  is sized and shaped to engage with the interlocking socket  146  on the right side  138  of a horizontally adjacent hollow block  130 ,  160 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the interlocking projection  144  is preferably shaped as a handle for easy handling of the side hollow block  130  and to provide the side hollow block  130  with an additional use as a jug, suitable for carrying water. The interlocking projection  144  may also be shaped as a dovetail for forming a dovetail connection with the interlocking socket  144  of a horizontally adjacent side hollow block  130 . The interlocking socket  146  extends inward from the right side  138  of the side hollow block  130 , providing the horizontal interlocking functionality of the side hollow blocks  130  by serving as a female member. Accordingly, the interlocking socket  146  is sized and shaped to engage with the interlocking projection  144  on the left side  136  of a horizontally adjacent hollow block  130 ,  160 . To summarize, the vertical and horizontal interlocking functionality of the side hollow blocks  130  provided by the interlocking projections  144 , interlocking sockets  146 , projecting mouths  148 , and recessed openings  150 , as explained above, allows for the easy and secure formation of a wall of the housing base  110 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The corner hollow block  160  has some features similar to that of the side hollow block  130 . Similar features of the corner hollow block  160  and the side hollow block  130  are numbered the same. The corner hollow block  160  is sized and shaped to engage the side hollow blocks  130  to complete the perimeter of the housing base  110 , wherein the exemplary housing base  110  is rectangular. The corner hollow block  160  comprises an upper surface  132 , lower surface  134 , left side  136 , right side  138 , front face  140 , and rear face  142 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The interior of the corner hollow block  160  forms a cavity  152  suitable for holding water. 
     As with the side hollow block  130 , the corner hollow block  160  has horizontal and vertical interlocking functionality. The shape of the corner hollow block  160  may, but need not, differ from the shape of the side hollow block  160  in order to provide the ninety degree turn required to complete the perimeter of the housing base  110 . Like the side hollow block  130 , the corner hollow block  160  comprises a projecting mouth  148 , a recessed opening  150 , an interlocking projection  144 , and an interlocking socket  146 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Any explanation or description, contained herein, of the shape, functionality, or configuration of the side hollow block&#39;s projecting mouth  148 , recessed opening  150 , interlocking projection  144 , and interlocking socket  146  applies to that of the corner hollow block  160 , except as otherwise stated or implied herein. A primary difference between the side hollow block  130  and the corner hollow block  160  is the configuration of the interlocking projection  144  and socket  146 . The interlocking projection  144  and socket  146  are configured on the corner hollow block  160  to complete the perimeter of the housing base  110 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the exemplary corner hollow block  160  comprises the interlocking projection  144  extending outward from the left side  136  and the interlocking socket  146  extending outward from the front face  140 . Accordingly, the interlocking socket  146  of the corner hollow block  160  can engage the interlocking projection  144  of the side hollow block  130 , while forming the ninety degree turn required to complete the perimeter of the housing base  110 . 
     The material used to construct the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  is preferably a heat-resistant polymer. More preferably, the material is plastic, which is a synthetic polymer that is inexpensive and in common use. The hollow blocks  130 ,  160  are preferably fabricated using a blow molding process and designed to form a rigid, heat-resistant hollow plastic block. 
     A recessed opening cap  154  can be secured over the recessed opening  150  of each block  130 ,  160  in contact with the ground in order to prevent leakage of or contamination of liquids inside blocks  130 ,  160 . Accordingly, the recessed opening cap  154  is sized and shaped to engage the recessed opening  150 , maintaining a seal for materials contained in the block  130 ,  160 . 
     The side gutter assembly section  220  forms a longitudinally extending channel  222  for receiving and dispersing rain water or other materials, such as sand or cement, into the side hollow blocks  130 . The side gutter assembly section  220  comprises a left end  224 , a right end  226 , a front wall  228 , a rear wall  230 , and a bottom surface  232 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The front wall  228  and rear wall  230  downwardly converge, terminating at the bottom surface  232 . The channel  222  is generally “U” or “V” shaped in cross section. The bottom surface  232  may be curved or flat, wherein the exemplary bottom surface  232  is flat, for sitting flush against a flat upper surface  132  of the side hollow block  130 . The bottom surface  232  includes a recessed opening  150 , forming a spout that directs water into the hollow blocks  130 ,  160 . The recessed opening  150  is sized and shaped to engage the projecting mouth  148  of a vertically adjacent side hollow block  130 . An interlocking tongue  236  extends outward from the left end  224 , providing the horizontal interlocking functionality of the side gutter assembly section  220  by serving as a male member. Accordingly, the interlocking tongue  236  is sized and shaped to engage with the interlocking groove  238  on the right end  226  of a horizontally adjacent gutter assembly section  220 ,  240 . The interlocking groove  238  extends inward from the right end  226 , serving as a female member. As such, the interlocking groove  238  is sized and shaped to engage with the interlocking tongue  236  on the left end  224  of a horizontally adjacent gutter assembly section  220 ,  240 . 
     The corner gutter assembly section  240  has some features similar to that of the side gutter assembly section  220 . Similar features of the corner gutter assembly section  240  and the side gutter assembly section  220  are numbered the same. The corner gutter assembly section  240  is sized and shaped to engage the side gutter assembly section  220  to complete the perimeter of the gutter assembly  200 , wherein the exemplary gutter assembly  200  is rectangular. The corner gutter assembly section  240  forms an L-shaped channel  242  for receiving and dispersing rain water or other materials, such as sand or cement, into the corner hollow blocks  160 . The corner gutter assembly section  240  comprises a left end  224 , a right end  226 , a front wall  228 , a rear wall  230 , and a bottom surface  232 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The front wall  228  and rear wall  230  downwardly converge, terminating at the bottom surface  232 , which, for the corner gutter assembly section  240 , is L-shaped. As a result, the front wall  228  of the corner gutter assembly section  240  is L-shaped, having two perpendicular sections  228 A,  228 B, meeting at the front right angle corner  244  of the bottom surface  232 . The rear wall  230  of the corner gutter assembly section  240  is also L-shaped, having two perpendicular sections  230 A,  230 B, meeting at the rear right angle corner  244  of the bottom surface  232 . The bottom surface  232  may be curved or flat, wherein the exemplary bottom surface  232  is flat, for sitting flush against a flat upper surface  132  of the corner hollow block  160 . Like the side gutter assembly section  230 , the corner gutter assembly section  240  comprises the recessed opening  150 , the interlocking tongue  236 , and the interlocking groove  238 . Any explanation or description contained herein, of the shape, functionality, or configuration of the side gutter assembly section&#39;s  220  recessed opening  150 , interlocking tongue  236 , or interlocking groove  238  applies to that of the corner gutter assembly section  240 , except as otherwise stated or implied herein. 
     The front wall  228  and/or rear wall  230  of the gutter assembly section  220 ,  240  may comprise a gutter assembly attachment feature  234 . The gutter assembly attachment feature  234  may be formed in any configuration that will allow the attachment or fastening of the housing cover  300  to the gutter assembly  200 . The exemplary gutter attachment feature  234  is a notch extending across the inner surface of the front wall  228 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the gutter attachment feature  234  is configured as a female member to receive a housing cover attachment feature  320 , which is the male member. 
     The housing cover  300  functions as a roof of the housing structure  100 . The housing cover  300  can be in any configuration that provides a protective covering over the interior area  114  formed by the perimeter of the four housing base walls  112 A,  112 B,  112 C,  112 D. The housing cover  300  may be flat or curved. The housing cover  300  may be stiff or flexible. The housing cover  300  may have an approximately rectangular, triangular, or trapezoidal cross section. Of course, other shapes and cross-sectional forms are also possible. The housing cover  300  is preferably configured to aid in the collection of rain water. Thus, the housing cover  300  is preferably made of a water-resistant material and the housing cover  300  preferably comprises a plurality of downward sloping surfaces  322 A,  322 B that terminate at the gutter assembly  200 , for channeling rain water into the gutter assembly  200 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the exemplary housing cover  300  is a tent-like structure, supported by two poles (not shown) that extend vertically beyond the height of the housing base  110 , the housing cover  300  forming an approximately triangular cross section and the housing cover  300  comprising four downward sloping surfaces  322 A,  322 B ( 322 C,  322 D not shown) that terminate at the gutter assembly  200 . 
     The housing cover  300  may comprise a housing cover attachment feature  320 . The housing cover attachment feature  320  may be formed in any configuration that will allow the attachment or fastening of the housing cover  300  to the gutter assembly  200 . The exemplary housing cover attachment feature  320  is a bulbous shaped snap, as illustrated in feature  11 . The housing cover attachment feature  320  is configured as a male member, for engaging the gutter assembly attachment feature  234 , which is the female member. 
     In use, a constructing party seals the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  that will be in contact with the ground by engaging the recessed openings  150  with the recessed opening caps  154  in order to prevent leakage or contamination of the contents of the blocks  130 ,  160 . The constructing party vertically and horizontally interlocks a plurality of hollow blocks  130 ,  160  to form a housing base  110  that is the length, width, and height desired by the constructing party. The constructing party vertically interlocks the gutter assembly sections  220 ,  240  to the upper surfaces  132  of the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  that form the top of the housing base  110 . The gutter assembly sections  220 ,  240  are horizontally interlocked to each other to form the gutter assembly  200 . The housing cover  300  is placed over the interior area  114  formed by the perimeter of the housing base  110 . The housing cover  300  may be supported by poles or other support structures. The constructing party secures the housing cover  300  to the gutter assembly  200  by engaging the gutter attachment features  234  to the corresponding housing cover attachment features  320 . If and when it rains, rain water landing on the housing cover  300  is gravity-fed and channeled by the housing cover&#39;s  300  downward sloping surfaces  322 A,  322 B ( 322 C,  322 D not shown) into the gutter assembly  200 . The gutter assembly  200  channels the water into the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  such that the entire housing base  110  can serve as an above the ground cistern, collecting and holding water, either for later use or as added stability for the housing structure  100 . As the housing base  110  fills with water, it becomes more stable because of the additional weight of the water. 
     If the constructing party desires to or is required to move to a different location, the housing structure  100  may be easily disassembled and transported to another location. The constructing party may detach the housing cover  300  and disassemble the gutter assembly sections  220 ,  240  and hollow blocks  130 ,  160 . A rope may be placed through the handles  144  of the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  and the rope knotted or tied to secure the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  for easy transport to the new location. The housing structure  100  may be transported and reassembled at the new location. 
     If a permanent shelter is desired, the constructing party may fill the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  with sand or cement. If a cement structure is desired, the constructing party may be required to be instructed with such special knowledge or obtain the assistance of one who possesses the necessary skill. 
     The hollow blocks  130 ,  160  and housing structure  100  provide several advantages over the current art, including but not limited to providing the ability to collect and channel rain water into the housing structure  100 , for storage, use, or added stability. The downward sloping surfaces  322  gravity-feed rain water into the gutter assembly  200 , which channels the rain water into the hollow blocks  130 ,  160  through the recessed openings  150 . The hollow blocks  130 ,  160  may also be filled with other materials such as cement or sand for forming a more solid, safe, and permanent housing structure. The hollow blocks  130 ,  160  may be constructed using inexpensive and readily available materials and processes, such as plastic blow molding. Moreover, the inclusion of the interlocking features  144 ,  146 ,  1468 ,  150 ,  233 ,  236 ,  238  allow the housing structure  100  to be assembled and disassembled relatively quickly by a single constructing party with no tools, no special construction knowledge, and no reading ability. The hollow blocks  130 ,  160  may also be easily transported to another location by the constructing party by putting a rope through the handles  144 . The present invention does not require that all of the advantageous features be incorporated into every embodiment. 
     Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.