US20170239586A1

US20170239586A1 - Imagination Blocks

Info

Publication number: US20170239586A1
Application number: US15/047,315
Authority: US
Inventors: Chris M. Marcil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-02-18
Filing date: 2016-02-18
Publication date: 2017-08-24
Also published as: WO2017142703A1

Abstract

The invention relates to set of building blocks including inflatable blocks; means for connecting the inflatable blocks and a valve for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks. The means for connecting the inflatable blocks is magnetic strip which provide sufficient adhesive force for holding the blocks together.

Description

(B) CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

(C) FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

(D) MICROFICHE

Not applicable

(E) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to building blocks. Particularly, the present invention relates to children's building blocks used for the construction of various shapes. More particularly, the present invention relates inflatable magnetic building blocks, which may be magnetically connected together without requiring the user to be concerned with the orientation of magnetic fields.
(2) Background of the Invention
Building blocks as toys, entertainment and educational items for people young and old are generally known as they permit a user to build and model different structures. Often it has been desired by the user of building blocks to have some form of connection between the blocks so that the developing structure has at least some degree of temporary cohesion.
Permanent magnets are objects made from materials that have been magnetized so as to produce a magnetic field which pulls on other ferromagnetic materials and which attracts or repels other magnets. Moreover, a magnet is generally considered to have two opposite poles, such as North and South. Opposite poles attract while same poles repel.
An inflatable building block with of easy removal, attachment of the building blocks while making structures along with advantage of easy transportation and storage would surely be accepted by the industry.
In prior types of building block inventions for children, the mechanism of attachment and removal is rather complicated, or transportation and storage of building blocks are not easy. A few examples of such are: U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,638 A, U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,136 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,626 A.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,638 A to Stuff Mfg. Co., Ltd. shows a block toy is composed of a plurality of blocks magnetically connectable to each other.
At least one of the blocks comprises a block main body having plural flat surface portions, magnet holding portions formed on inner sides of the respective flat surface portions, and permanent magnets accommodated within the respective magnet holding portions for rotation about imaginary axes extending at right angles relative to the flat surface portions corresponding to the magnet holding portions. The magnet holding portions may be in the form of magnet holders arranged on the inner sides of the respective flat surface portions. The magnet holders may preferably be connected together so that the resulting connected magnet holder has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the corresponding cross-sectional shape of the block main body formed by the corresponding plural flat surface portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,136 B2 to Claire Jean Patton shows a set of magnetic blocks by which connection is made between blocks through a force attracting multiple ferrous protrusions on one face to multiple recessed magnets on another face. The multiple points of magnetic connection provide alignment and rigidity to the assembled structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,626 A to Hillary Singer Mendelsohn shows a magnetic block including an upper face and a lower face and side faces there between and a plurality of magnets located within the blocks.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to disclose an inflatable building block with of easy removal, attachment of the building blocks while making structures along with advantage of easy transportation and storage.

(F) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing novel systems for providing magnetic building blocks.
The intent of the present invention is to provide a set of building inflatable building blocks for children. The novel block components of this invention are inflatable and therefore easily manipulated by children because the components are made of a soft polyvinyl plastic material that is light in weight.
Another intent of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic building block, including: a cube shaped block of non-magnetic material having six square faces, an inner surface and an outer surface. Further the inner surface includes the magnetic strips for connecting the building blocks which facilitates the easy attachment and easy removal of the building blocks while making the structures.
Another intent of this invention is to provide for ease in storage and transportation of the disassembled life size toy structure. This object is accomplished because the blocks of the present invention are deflectable, thus, can be stored and transported in a relatively small space.
Each aspect of the invention provides the advantage of easy removal and attachment of the building blocks while making structures.
Each aspect of the invention provides the advantage of easy transportation and storage of the building blocks.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

(G) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the prospective view of an inflatable building block including a valve; and

FIG. 2 show the prospective view of an inflatable building block including magnetic strips.

(H) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the figures, and in particular FIGS. 1 & 2 show an embodiment of the inflatable building blocks including magnetic strips and valve.
FIG. 1 shows the prospective view of an inflatable block 01 comprising of an outer surface 02, inner surface 03 and valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable block.
FIG. 2 shows the prospective view of an inflatable block 01 comprising of an outer surface 02, inner surface 03 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks. Each inflatable block has six identical sides having an outer surface 02, an inner surface 03, and four vertices 06.
The present invention generally provides a set of building blocks including but not limited to an inflatable block 01, a valve 04 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks.
In general the inflatable block 01 is made of light weight material including the upper surface 02 and the inner surface 03. The outer surface 02 further includes the valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks and means for connecting the inflatable blocks.
In an embodiment of the present invention provide the inflatable building block 01 made of light weight material selected from the group of Nylon, Acrylic, Polythene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Bakelite, Epoxy resin, Melamine, PVC or uPVC and combination thereof including the outer surface 02 and the inner surface 03. The valve 04 for inflating and deflating the inflatable block 01 is despress-able below the outer surface 02 of the inflatable block.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cubical inflatable block 01 is made of PVC including the outer surface 02 and inner surface 03. In this particular embodiment of the present invention the valve 04 for inflating or deflating the inflatable block 01 is located at the outer surface 02 of the inflatable block 01 and means for connecting the inflatable blocks 05 are the magnetic squares located at each inner surface 03 of the inflatable block 01. The magnetic squares having four corners 07, each corner is equidistant to the four vertices of the each inner surface respectively. Further in this particular embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the inflatable cubical block 01 is 18″ long. However, it should be understood that the inflatable block is not limited to this size.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-discussed embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements to the embodiments described above are possible. It is contemplated that these variations, modifications, additions and improvements fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Building blocks for making structures comprising:

a) inflatable blocks, wherein each inflatable block has six identical sides having an outer surface. an inner surface, and four vertices;

b) means for connecting the inflatable blocks, wherein the means for connecting; the inflatable blocks are magnetic squares having four corners located on each of the inner surfaces. wherein the four corners are equidistant to the four vertices; and

c) at least one valve for inflating or deflating the inflatable blocks.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. Building blocks for making structures according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are made of a light weight material selected from the group of Nylon, Acrylic, Polythene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Bakelite, Epoxy resin, Melamine; PVC or uPVC and combination thereof.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. Building blocks for making structures according to claim 1, wherein the at least one valve is located on the outer surface of the inflatable block.

8. Building blocks for making structures according to claim 7, wherein the at least one valve located on the outer surface of the inflatable block is depress-able below the outer surface.