CN219667840U - Kit with multiple blocks for building handicraft - Google Patents

Abstract

In one aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks. Each block has a body with an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow the blocks to adhere to one another. Each block also includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface. Each block also includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks. The bottom aperture includes a second aperture region shaped to receive a distal portion of a block tray projection on the block tray.

Description

Kit with multiple blocks for building handicraft

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The utility model claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/295,882, filed on 1 month 1 of 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present utility model relates generally to blocks for use in building artworks and, more particularly, to mutually adherable blocks for use in building artworks.

Background

Kits have been provided in the past that include a plurality of beads made of a material that adhere to one another when exposed to water. Some kits are difficult to use because the beads are spherical and therefore do not have a large area of contact with each other. Furthermore, in some cases, the beads are typically small and therefore difficult to place with one's hands. Furthermore, spherical beads are difficult to stack directly on top of one another due to the inherently unstable arrangement of one sphere on top of another. Thus, to build a structure with relatively smooth vertical walls, one sometimes builds individual layers of the structure individually and then stacks the layers layer by layer, which can be time consuming, preventing a user from initiating such tasks. Another problem that arises with some kits is that the beads may adhere to the bead trays on which they are placed.

It would be advantageous to provide a kit for producing a handicraft that addresses one or more of the problems set forth above or other problems that exist with some kits.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks. Each block has a body having an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block. Each block also includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface. Each block also includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region having a plurality of first region sidewalls connected to one another by a plurality of first region corners, each of the first region corners having a first average radius. The first aperture region is shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks. The bottom hole includes a second hole region having a plurality of second region sidewalls connected to each other by a plurality of second region corners, each of the second region corners having a second average radius greater than the first average radius.

In another aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks. Each block has a body having an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block. Each block also includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface. Each block also includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks. The bottom aperture includes a second aperture region shaped to receive a distal portion of a block tray projection on the block tray.

In another aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks and a block tray. The block tray includes a block tray projection having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. Each block having a body has an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block. Each block also includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface. Each block also includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks. The bottom aperture includes a second aperture region shaped to receive a distal portion of the block tray projection.

In another aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks and a block tray. The block tray includes a block tray projection including a limiting surface. Each block has a body having an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block. Each block also includes a bottom hole extending into the body. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive the bulk pallet projection. The bottom aperture includes a shoulder defining a depth of the first aperture region. The depth of the first aperture region is selected such that the shoulder is positioned to engage a limiting surface on the block tray to retain a lowermost surface of one of the plurality of blocks above a floor of the block tray surrounding the block tray projection.

In another aspect, a kit for constructing a handicraft is provided and includes a plurality of blocks. Each block has a body having an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block from the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block from the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block. Each block also includes a bottom hole extending into the body. The bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block tray projection on a block tray. The bottom aperture includes a shoulder defining a depth of the first aperture region. The depth of the first aperture region is selected such that the shoulder is positioned to engage a limiting surface on the block tray to retain a lowermost surface of one of the plurality of blocks above a floor of the block tray surrounding the block tray projection.

Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a block for producing a handicraft article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the block shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the block shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a block tray that may be used with the blocks shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the plurality of block tray protrusions existing on the block tray shown in fig. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view of a portion of the chunk tray of FIG. 4, having the chunks shown in FIG. 1 thereon.

Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional plan view of the tiles on the tile tray shown in fig. 6 at a first height.

Fig. 7B is another cross-sectional plan view of the tiles at the second height on the tile tray shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a kit including a plurality of blocks shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of blocks from the kit shown in fig. 8, with water applied and adhered together.

Fig. 10 is a front view of two blocks of the kit of fig. 8 stacked on top of each other, with water applied thereto, adhered together.

Detailed Description

Throughout this disclosure, it will be understood that the term "a" or "an" as used to introduce an element is not intended to mean "one and only one" of the element. It is intended to mean "one or more" of the element unless it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more than one element will be unavailable.

Referring to fig. 1, a block 10 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The block 10 may be part of a kit for building a handicraft, wherein the kit is shown at 12 in fig. 8. The kit 12 includes a plurality of blocks 10. Seven blocks 10 are shown in fig. 8, however, it should be understood that the kit 12 may include more or fewer blocks 10. In some cases, hundreds of blocks 10 may be provided in the kit 12.

Each block 10 has a body 14, the body 14 having an outer surface 16, the outer surface 16 being made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block (shown at 10a in fig. 9) from the plurality of blocks 10 to adhere to a second block (shown at 10 b) from the plurality of blocks 10 by applying water (shown at 18) to at least one of the first and second blocks. The material may become tacky, for example, by dissolving slightly in the water 18 and then resolidifying once the water evaporates, thereby fusing the blocks 10 adjacent to one another upon wetting. A suitable material may be, for example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Any other suitable material may alternatively or additionally be used. The entire block 10 may be formed from this material or alternatively may include a core made of a first material and an outer layer of an adhesive material such as PVA.

The outer surface 16 may include a plurality of generally planar (i.e., flat) outer side walls 19 to facilitate surface-to-surface contact between adjacent blocks 10 to facilitate adhesion therebetween. However, it is contemplated that any other suitable shape may be provided for the outer surface 16.

Each block 10 also includes a top surface 20 and a block projection 22 extending from the top surface 20. The block projection 22 is shown as having a generally square shape, however, other shapes such as arcuate, polygonal other than square, a combination of arcuate surfaces and polygonal faces, or any other suitable shape are contemplated. It can be seen that the block projection 22 has a height H1 (fig. 10) from the top surface 20, as will be described further below.

Each block 10 also includes a bottom aperture 24 extending into the body 14. Bottom hole 24 may extend from the lowermost surface shown at 26 and may extend toward top surface 20. Bottom hole 24 may define a longitudinal axis a (fig. 3) of block 10.

The bottom aperture 24 includes a first aperture region 28. The first aperture region 28 is shaped to receive the block projection 22 of a second block 10b (fig. 10) of the plurality of blocks 10.

The first aperture region 28 has a plurality of walls including a plurality of first region side walls 30 and a plurality of first region corners 32. The first region sidewalls 30 are connected to one another by a plurality of first region corners 32. Each first region corner 32 has a first average radius R1 (fig. 2). The first average radius R1 is the average of the radii of all the surfaces that make up the corner between two adjacent side walls 30 (any flat surfaces are not counted). The average value may be a weighted average based on the widths of the individual surfaces, or may be determined in any other suitable manner. In the example shown, the first average radius R1 is small—less than 0.1mm and can be considered to be approximately zero.

The bottom aperture 24 also includes a second aperture region 34 extending from the first aperture region 28 into the body 14. The second hole region 34 has a plurality of second region sidewalls 36, the second region sidewalls 36 being interconnected by a plurality of second region corners 38. Each second region corner 38 has a second average radius R2 (fig. 2) that may be determined using a method similar to the method used to determine the first average radius R1. The second average radius R2 is greater than the first average radius R1. In the illustrated example, a parting line between one of the second region sidewalls 36 and one of the second region corners 38 is shown as 40. In the example shown, the second average radius R2 is a weighted average radius of the three surfaces shown at 38a, 38b, and 38 c. Whereas surface 38a is much larger than surfaces 38b and 38c, the second average radius will be relatively close to the radius of surface 38 a. It can be seen from the appearance that the second average radius R2 is much larger than the first average radius R1.

The bottom aperture 24 includes a shoulder 42 located between the first aperture region 28 and the second aperture region 34. Shoulder 42 defines a depth H2 (fig. 10) of first bore region 28. As shown in fig. 10, the depth H2 of the first hole region 28 is greater than the height H1 of the block protrusions 22 so that the lowermost surface 26 of the first block 10a can contact the top surface 20 of the second block 10b, thereby promoting their adhesion together.

By providing a first hole region 28 shaped to receive the block projection 22 of the second block 10b, and by providing a second hole region 34 having a second average radius R2 for a second region corner 38 that is larger than the first average radius R1, the second hole region 34 provides increased strength at the corner of the block 10 that would not exist if the shape of the entire bottom hole 24 were similar to the first hole region 28.

Further, it can be seen that the thickness of the second region sidewall 36 increases gradually with increasing distance from the second region corner 38. This shape reinforces the second region sidewall 36 against forces exerted thereon while still saving material for manufacturing the block 10. In other words, by providing an increase in thickness away from the second region corner 38, the material comprising the block 10 is used where it is most desirable to resist stresses that may be applied to it during use. This may also help the block 10 maintain its shape and inhibit warping during manufacture as compared to a block 10 in which the entire bottom hole 24 is similar to the first hole region 28. In the example block 10 shown in the figures, the peak thickness of each second region sidewall 36 is centered between the second region corners 38 on both sides thereof.

In the example shown, the body 14 of the block 10 has four corners and the first aperture region 28 has four first region corners 32 and four first region sidewalls 30 and the second aperture region 34 has four second region corners 38 and four second region sidewalls 36. However, any other suitable number of corners and sidewalls may be used for each of the first and second aperture regions. Furthermore, the first and second aperture regions need not have the same number of corners as each other, and thus need not have the same number of sidewalls as each other.

Referring to fig. 4, the kit 12 may include a block tray 44, the block tray 44 being shaped to receive the block 10 to assist in creating artwork therewith. The block tray 44 includes a bottom plate 46, a plurality of block tray projections 48 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 46, and an edge wall 50 surrounding the bottom plate 44.

The block pallet projections 48 are shaped to receive the blocks 10 thereon and to locate the blocks 10 such that the outer surfaces 16 thereof contact each other.

A floor 46 is provided to collect water sprayed onto the block 10 during the handicraft manufacturing process. An edge wall 50 is provided to prevent water collected on the bottom plate 46 of the block tray 44 from spilling onto a table or other support surface of the block tray 44.

An enlarged view of one of the block tray projections 48 is shown in fig. 5, 6, 7A and 7B. In some embodiments, the block tray projection 48 may include a proximal portion 48a and a distal portion 48b. The first aperture region 28 of the bottom aperture 24 of each block 10 may be shaped to receive the proximal portion 48a of each block tray tab 48. In some embodiments, the proximal portion 48a includes a plurality of locating surfaces 52, the locating surfaces 52 being engageable with the first region sidewall 30 of the first aperture region 28 to securely locate the block 10 in a selected position on the block tray 44. The proximal portion 48a also includes a plurality of air passage surfaces 54, which air passage surfaces 54 are positioned spaced apart from the block 10 when the block 10 is mounted thereon to ensure that any water inadvertently caught in the bottom hole 24 of the block 10 has a way of draining.

The limiting surface 56 may be provided on the block tray projection 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting surface 56 is disposed between the first portion 48a and the second portion 48b of the block pallet projection 48. When the block 10 is positioned on the block tray projection 48, the limiting surface 56 engages the shoulder 42 on the block 10. It can be said that the limiting surface 56 is positioned in a selected location on the block tray 44 to hold the lowermost surface 26 of the block 10 above the bottom plate 46 of the block tray 44 surrounding the block tray projection 48, as shown in fig. 6. As a result, the block 10 is substantially prevented from adhering to the bottom plate 46. It can also be said that the depth H2 of the first aperture region 28 of the block 10 is selected such that the shoulder 42 is positioned to engage the limiting surface 56 on the block tray 10 to retain the lowermost surface 26 of the block 10 on the bottom plate 46 of the block tray 46 surrounding the block tray projection 48.

The second aperture region 34 of the bottom aperture 24 of each block 10 may be shaped to receive the distal end portion 48b of each block tray tab 48. Alternatively, it can be said that the distal end portion 48b of each block tray tab 48 can be shaped to receive the second aperture region 34 of the bottom aperture 24 of each block 10.

In some embodiments, the distal portion 48b may generally conform to the shape of the second aperture region 34, but may be entirely spaced apart from the walls of the second aperture region 34 to provide some added stability to the block 10 resting thereon by inhibiting excessive tilting of the block 10 when the block 10 is positioned thereon, while also preventing the block 10 from adhering thereto in the presence of any water therebetween, thereby facilitating removal of the block 10 therefrom once the artwork is completed. In addition, when the block 10 is mounted to the block tray projection 48, if there is any water on top of the block tray projection 48 or in the second hole area 34 of the block 10, the spacing between the second portion 48b of the block tray projection 48 and the wall of the second hole area 34 aids in drainage. As shown in fig. 7B, a first minimum gap G1 exists between the first hole region 28 and the proximal end portion 48a of the block tray projection 48. The first minimum gap G1 is the gap at the point where the proximal end portion 48a and the wall of the first bore region 28 are closest to each other. This occurs in the illustrated example between any locating surface 52 and the first region sidewall 30. In embodiments where the locating surface 52 and the first region sidewall 30 contact each other when the block 10 is mounted to the block tray projection 48, the first minimum gap G1 may be zero, as is the case in the example shown in fig. 7B. Alternatively, the first minimum gap G1 may be some other value, for example 1mm.

As shown in fig. 7A, a second minimum gap G2 exists between the second hole region 34 and the distal end portion 48b of the block tray projection 48. The second minimum gap G2 is the gap at the point where the proximal end portion 48b and the wall of the second bore region 34 are closest to each other. The second minimum gap G2 is larger than the first minimum gap, which provides at least some of the above-described advantages. In some embodiments, the second minimum gap G2 may be in the range of 1-2mm in order to provide the advantages outlined above with respect to preventing adhesion by the block 10 to the second portion 48b of the block tray projection 48. Based on the above, it can be said that the first hole region 28 is sized to have a first minimum gap G1 with respect to the proximal end portion 48a of the block tray projection 48, and the second hole region 34 is sized to have a second minimum gap G2 with respect to the distal end portion 48b of the block tray projection 48, wherein the first minimum gap G1 is smaller than the second minimum gap G2.

An example of a simple handicraft is shown at 100 in fig. 9, which is formed of four blocks 10 adhered together.

While the kit 12 has been shown as optionally including the block tray 44 shown in fig. 4, it should be understood that the kit 12 may not include the block tray 44, but may include a plurality of blocks 10, the blocks 10 being shaped to be received on a pre-existing block tray 44 in at least some embodiments, as described herein.

The above-described embodiments are intended as examples of the present utility model and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the utility model which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.

Claims (11)

1. A kit for constructing an artwork, comprising:

a plurality of blocks, each block having a body with an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block,

each block further includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface,

each block further includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis,

wherein the bottom aperture comprises a first aperture region having a plurality of first region sidewalls connected to each other by a plurality of first region corners, each first region corner having a first average radius, wherein the first aperture region is shaped to receive a block protrusion of a second block of the plurality of blocks, and

wherein the bottom hole comprises a second hole region having a plurality of second region sidewalls connected to each other by a plurality of second region corners, each second region corner having a second average radius greater than the first average radius.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second region sidewall increases gradually with increasing distance from the second region corner.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the second aperture region is shaped to receive a distal portion of a block tray projection on the block tray.

4. A kit according to claim 3, wherein the first aperture region is shaped to receive a proximal portion of the block tray projection.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the bottom aperture includes a shoulder between the first aperture region and the second aperture region, the shoulder defining a depth of the first aperture region, wherein the depth of the first aperture region is selected such that the shoulder is positioned to engage a limiting surface on the block tray to retain a lowermost surface of one of the plurality of blocks above a floor of the block tray surrounding the block tray protrusion.

6. A kit for constructing an artwork, comprising:

a plurality of blocks, each block having a body with an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block from the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block from the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block,

each block further includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface,

each block further includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis,

wherein the bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks, an

Wherein the bottom aperture includes a second aperture region shaped to receive a distal portion of a block tray projection on the block tray.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the first aperture region is shaped to receive a proximal portion of the block tray projection.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the bottom aperture includes a shoulder between the first aperture region and the second aperture region, the shoulder defining a depth of the first aperture region, wherein the depth of the first aperture region is selected such that the shoulder is positioned to engage a limiting surface on the block tray to retain a lowermost surface of one of the plurality of blocks above a floor of the block tray surrounding the block tray protrusion.

9. The kit of claim 7, wherein the first aperture region is sized to have a first minimum gap relative to the proximal portion of the block tray projection and the second aperture region is sized to have a second minimum gap relative to the distal portion of the block tray projection, wherein the first minimum gap is less than the second minimum gap.

10. A kit for constructing an artwork, comprising:

a block tray comprising a block tray projection having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; and

a plurality of blocks, each block having a body with an outer surface made of a material that adheres when exposed to water to allow a first block of the plurality of blocks to adhere to a second block of the plurality of blocks by applying water to at least one of the first block and the second block,

each block further includes a top surface and a block projection extending from the top surface,

each block further includes a bottom aperture extending into the body toward the top surface and defining a longitudinal axis,

wherein the bottom aperture includes a first aperture region shaped to receive a block projection of a second block of the plurality of blocks, an

Wherein the bottom aperture includes a second aperture region shaped to receive a distal portion of the bulk pallet projection.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the first aperture region is shaped to receive a proximal portion of the block tray projection.