WO2012041324A1

WO2012041324A1 - Building elements with slots

Info

Publication number: WO2012041324A1
Application number: PCT/DK2011/050364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ole Vestergaard Poulsen
Original assignee: Lykke.It S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-10-01
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2012-04-05
Also published as: BR112013007698A2; EP2621598A1; EP2621598A4

Abstract

This invention discloses a set of building elements comprising at least a first member and at least a second member; said first member comprises at least a first slot; and said second member comprises at least a second slot; where at least one first slot is joined with at least one second slot in a slidable interconnection, where at least one first slot is part of a first connection element and said at least one second slot is part of a second connection element which connection elements comprise at least a first stabilising element arranged along said first connection element and at least a second stabilising element arranged along said second connection element, said at least first stabilising element comprises a first sloping edge and said at least second stabilising element comprises a second sloping edge, where said first sloping edge engages with said second sloping edge during interconnection between said first member and said second member.

Description

Building elements with slots Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a set of multiple building elements which can be com- bined in various three-dimensional structures according to the wish of the builder. The set of building elements may be used in areas like toys, furniture, and decorative arts.

Background of the Invention

The human brain is stimulated by creative processes. However, the creative skills differ among persons. During their upbringing, children are stimulated by creative processes and they learn and develop through playing.

Children have great imagination. One of the games that many children enjoy is the combination of different building elements into different structures like castles, air- planes, cars and so forth in order to play different games developed by their imagination. Multiple systems have been developed in order to create new building elements. One popular system contains small magnetic sticks and balls, which are combined into different geometric figures in three-dimensions. However, the disadvantage of this system is a high level of instability, especially for creating sophisticated geometrical struc- tures. Furthermore, the size of the elements may cause a health risk as especially children will tend to put the colourful elements in their mouth.

In another system, building bricks can be used for the creation of three-dimensional structures. The bricks can be combined in various ways to create different types of toys like cars, animals and so forth. However, multiple different types of bricks are needed to create more sophisticated structures. Furthermore, the building bricks are, because of their shape, none-flexible and only capable of creating edged structures. Thus, the bricks are stackable and not capable of forming real three-dimensional figures. In the non-published patent application PA PCT/DK2010/050069 filed by the same applicant, a set of building elements is described where the building bricks can be used to build three-dimensional structures by the combination of a base plate and a uniting plate. A first uniting plate can be combined with a second uniting plate through a slot in order to build in three dimensions. At the same time, the uniting plates can be connected with base plates engaging a flange of the uniting plate into a pocket in the base plate.

However, the flange can be difficult for especially children to arrange into the pocket of the base plate.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to provide a set of building elements which can easily be joined in order to form three-dimensional structures.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a set of building elements which are able to stably remain in a given structure.

Description of the Invention

In order to address the object of the invention, a set of building elements is provided where the building elements comprise at least a first member and at least a second member; said first member comprises at least a first slot; and said second member comprises at least a second slot; where at least one first slot is joined with at least one second slot in a slidable interconnection, where at least one first slot is part of a first connection element and said at least one second slot is part of a second connection element which connection elements comprise at least one first stabilising element arranged along said first connection element and at least one second stabilising element arranged along said second connection element, said at least one first stabilising element comprises a first sloping edge and said at least one second stabilising element comprises a second sloping edge, where said first sloping edge engages with said second sloping edge during interconnection between said first member and said second member. Throughout the description a first member and second member are used for illustrating the principle of the invention. It is implicitly to be understood that the number of members which can be combined is indefinite. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the members are not restricted by the examples described in the description as long as they comprise stabilising elements along connection elements.

In this invention "along the connection elements" is to be interpreted that the stabilising elements can also be an integrated part of the connection elements.

Two building elements can be combined by engaging a first slot on the first member with a second slot on the second member. The connection element comprises two parts - the slot and a segment. After interconnection, at least a part of the second segment of the second connection element is interconnected in the first slot and vice versa.

The first and second stabilising elements along the first and second connection element form a first and second sloping edge, respectively, where the first sloping edge engages with the second sloping edge during and after interconnection between the first member and the second member. The engaging of the sloping edges stabilises the intercon- nection between the first member and the second member and ensures that the members are kept in a given position with respect to one another. More stable three- dimensional structures can, thus, be built.

The stabilising elements are arranged along at least one of the sides of the connection elements. Preferably the stabilising elements are arranged along two sides of the connections elements on both sides of the members, most preferably the sides parallel to the sliding direction. However, the stabilising elements can be arranged along the entire side of the connection elements. The stabilising element can be a single element along the side or multiple elements arranged along the side.

In an advantageous embodiment, the stabilising elements are protruding stabilising elements. The protrusion of the stabilising elements further stabilises and secures the interconnection between the members. The connection elements can be of different sizes or cross-sectional shapes such as squares, rectangles, half-circles etc. However, preferably the connection elements are rectangular where the length of the segment at least equals the length of the slot whereby the first slot can be completely interconnected with the second segment and vice versa.

The first stabilising element is preferably arranged along the first segment to a magnitude which enables the first stabilising element to engage with the entire length of the second stabilising element along the slot during interconnection.

The building elements can be made from plastic, metal, glass, wood, ceramics, or a combination of one or more of the components. The building elements can with advantage be made from plastic materials like polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyacetal, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Other types of plastic materials that are relevant are intelligent plastic materials which are for example plastics which change their colour or/and stiffness in relation to changes in temperature.

Plastic materials are inexpensive types of materials, where the flexibility of the member can be regulated with regard to the type of plastic chosen. Furthermore, the plastic is easily cleaned, which is especially important when used in toys for children. For similar and other purposes the use of metals like aluminium, copper, and steel is preferred. Furthermore, different types of woods like rowan, beech, conifer, and MDF- plates as well as different types of glass and ceramics can be used for the manufacture of the different members or different parts of the members of the invention. The types of material can be combined in different ways. As an example, the first member can be made of a plastic while the second member can be made of a metal. Alternatively, the second member can be made from different types of materials as for example metal and plastic. This is especially advantageous if the members are combined to form a lamp. In this case, a battery can be inserted into one end of the creation while the bulb is inserted in the other end. With the right combination of materials, no wires are needed in order for the lamp to function. In an advantageous embodiment, the first connection element comprises at least one first recess, and said second connection element comprises at least one second elevation, where said first recess engages with said second elevation during interconnection between said first member and said second member. In a further advantageous embodiment, said first connection element comprises at least one first elevation and said second connection element comprises at least one second recess, where said first elevation engages with said second recess during interconnection between said first member and said second member.

The recesses of the first and/or second connection element can be of any shape such as circular, rectangular, oval and can be either a depression in the connection elements or penetrate through the connection element. However, preferably the at least one elevation is comparative hereto in order to secure the most efficient connection when interconnecting a first and a second slot. The engagement between the recess and the elevation keep the interconnection between the first member and the second member in place and reversibly locks the interconnection.

Furthermore, a series of openings, possibly of different sizes, shapes and penetration depths can be present in the connection elements depending on how secure the connection between the engaged members is to be.

Elevations are preferably present on both sides of the connection element i.e. the sides of the member, but elevations can be present on one side only.

In an advantageous embodiment, said first member comprises at least one first means of interaction comprising at least one first outer portion provided partly along the side of said first member and at least one first middle portion extending from the centre of said first member towards the outer edge spaced from said at least one first outer portion, whereby said at least one first outer portion is arranged in a first layer and said at least one first middle portion is arranged in a second layer and where said at least one first middle portion and said at least one first outer portion are joined through said first connection element, and said second member comprises at least one second means of interaction comprising at least one second outer portion provided partly along the side of said second member and at least one second middle portion extending from the centre of said second member towards the outer edge spaced from said at least one second outer portion, whereby said at least one second outer portion is arranged in a second layer and said at least one second middle portion is arranged in a first layer, and where said at least one second middle portion and said at least one second outer portion is joined through said second connection element where said at least one first middle portion are aligned parallel with said at least one second middle portion and said at least one first outer portion is aligned parallel with said at least one second outer portion during interconnection between said first member and said second member. In one embodiment, the first and second member both comprise means of interaction where the outer portions are connected with the middle portions via connections elements. When the first and second members are interconnected, the first connection elements connecting the first middle portions and the first outer portions are interconnected with the second connection elements connecting the second middle portions and the second outer portions.

The outer portions are arranged on each side of the at least one middle portion i.e. next to the at least one middle portion, but separated in the thickness direction i.e. the outer portions are arranged in a first layer and the at least one middle portion is arranged in a second layer or vice versa, hereby forming a separation. The separation in the thickness direction of the first member preferably has the same thickness as the second member, whereby the first member and the second member are closely interconnected, i.e. no gaps are present between the first middle portions and second middle portions or between the first outer portions and the second outer portions. However, the separation in the thickness direction can be larger than the thickness of the member, whereby gaps between the members are created when interconnected. The thickness of the members are here to be understood as the width or size of the at least one middle portion or the at least one outer portion in the thickness direction. The thickness direction is to be understood as a direction substantially perpendicular to the largest surface of the members.

The gaps can for example be used in order to interconnect more members i.e. by interconnecting a third member to the first member beside the already interconnected second member. Additionally, different types of decorations such as feeders, sticks or flowers can be inserted into the gaps in order to create other types of three-dimensional interconnections.

By close interconnection, the first and second members form a two-layer structure i.e. a first layer and a second layer where one layer consists of the first outer portions and the second middle portions, the other layer consists of the second outer portions and the first middle portions, and the two layers are interconnected by the interconnected first and second connection elements.

The first and second members are interconnected by sliding the two members into one another by engaging the slots of the connection elements with one another.

In a further advantageous embodiment, said first connection element is arranged between said at least one first middle portion and said at least one first outer portion at a first angle and said second connection element is arranged between said at least one second middle portion and said at least one second outer portion at a second angle, where the sum of said first angle and said second angle is approximately 90°.

The connection elements arranged between the outer portions and the middle portions can be angled with regard to the outer portions and the middle portions. However, in order for the slidable interconnection to be efficient, the sum of the angles of the inter- connecting members is to be approximately 90°.

The angles are preferably 45° each, but they can as well be a first angle of 30° and a second angle of 60° or a first angle of 15° and a second angle of 75°. The mentioned angles are only to be considered as examples. It is implicitly to be understood that the angles can obtain other values as well, as long as the sum of the two angles is approximately 90°. Choosing angles of 45° enables similar members of building elements i.e. similar means of interaction to be interconnected. Hereby the number of members needed for building three-dimensional structures are minimised, and even smaller children are able to combine the separate members. In a still further advantageous embodiment, said first member comprises a stabilising bridge which bridge connects first outer portions.

A stabilising bridge connects two outer portions. The stabilising bridge is preferably arranged close to the edge of the member. Preferably, the middle portions only extend to the inside edge of the stabilising bridge. Connecting two of these members still results in two layers where the first layer consist of the first outer portions, the first stabilising bridge and the second middle portions, and the second layer consists of the second outer portions, the second stabilising bridge and the first middle portions. Additionally, if the connection elements have an angle different from zero, the middle por- tions may extend to the outside edge of the stabilising bridge.

The stabilising bridge stabilises the two outer portions during interconnection between a first and a second member. Thus, the two outer portions are not as easily damaged or destroyed when engaging or disengaging the first and second member. Hereby, the safety and sustainability of the building elements are increased.

The stabilising bridge can be of any size or shape, such as a rectangle of varying width, half-circles, circles, or coils, as long as it connects the two outer portions and hereby stabilises the two outer portions in order to prevent damage hereto during interconnec- tion between a first member and a second member. The stabilising bridge can be arranged at any given position between the two outer portions i.e. either at the edge of the building element, close to the centre of the building element or anywhere therein between. In a still further advantageous embodiment, said first member comprises four first means of interaction and said second member comprises two second means of interaction. Hereby, the first member can be interconnected with four different members in order to build a structure.

In one embodiment, the first means of interaction is triangularly shaped. Combining four triangularly shaped means of interaction of a first member with their apexes together, forms a square or a rectangle which is easily handled as well as relatively stable.

The first means of interactions of the first member comprising two first outer portions and a first middle portion connected by connection elements can be alternated. In this way, the middle portion of the two first means of interaction opposite to one another can be in one layer while the middle portion can be in the other layer in the other two first means of interaction. This increases the stability and function of the first member. By alternating the first member in this manner, the connection elements can easily be created during the process of manufacturing.

The second member comprises two second means of interaction. The second means of interaction is preferably triangularly shaped with one side of the first triangle i.e. first second means of interaction joined to one side of the second triangle i.e. second second means of interaction. Hereby, the two means of interaction is arranged in substantially the same plane. When the means of interaction of the first and second member are triangularly shaped, the combination of the two parts begins by joining the apex of one of the triangles of the second member with the outer edge of the means of interaction of the first member. Hence, it is relatively easy to combine the first member and the second member. When combining for example two elements shaped as rectangles, the starting point is the means of interaction of the second member with a size that fits exactly to the size of the means of interaction of the base plates. Thus, the interconnection is to be precise. Hence, it is harder to combine means of interactions of first members with means of interaction of second members when shaped as rectangles rather than as triangles. Especially, for children this would be difficult to perform.

In a still further advantageous embodiment, said second member comprises a dimension element.

The two second means of interaction of the second member can be combined via a dimension element. If the dimension element comprises a slot, the slot can be used for connecting more members to this second member. If this embodiment of a second member is combined with another second member of this embodiment through the slot of the dimension element, the one second member is arranged approximately perpendicular to the other second member enabling three-dimensional creations to be build.

In a still further advantageous embodiment the dimension element comprises flexible material. Flexible characteristics of the dimension element enable the first second means of interaction of the second member to be able to bend with regard to the second second means of interaction. Thus, the two second means of interaction in the second member are able to form an angle different from 180 degrees with respect to one another. A second member comprising a flexible dimension element is capable of bending the first and second second means of interaction of the second member in relation to one another at any angle between 10 degrees and 350 degrees between the two second means of interaction.

For the process of creation, this implies that the angles of the creations are able to dif- fer from 180 degrees and 90 degrees. By using second members comprising rigid dimension lines alone, one second member would combine two first members at an angle of 180 degrees while two combined second members would be able to combine four first members at an angle of 90 degrees. Another embodiment of the second member is valuable for the creation of corners. The second member of this embodiment comprises two second means of interaction, however, one of the second means of interaction can be reduced to a minimum. Preferably, this embodiment consists of one second means of interaction and a dimension element. Combination of two second members of this embodiment results in the formation of a corner since only two means of interaction - one from each second member - are able to combine with other means of interaction, for example first means of interaction. In a further advantageous embodiment, said at least one first middle portion comprises a ridge and an aperture is provided in said at least one second middle portion, whereby said aperture engages with said ridge during interconnection, whereby said first member and said second member are releasably locked together. In a still further advantageous embodiment, said ridge is arranged on a resilient section of said at least one first middle portion, and furthermore a release means for urging said resilient section away from said at least one second middle portion is provided.

A retained combination of a second means of interaction of a second member with a first means of interaction of a first member during the time of creation of the design and possibly during the lifetime of the design is increased by the addition of a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism, however, is importantly a combination between retaining the second member and first member together and not locking the interconnection to a larger extent than the combination is readily releasable when the two parts are pulled apart. The pulling apart has to be easy even for children.

Alternatively, the ridge can be pushed when pulling the second member in order to release the second member from the first member more easily. Additionally, a part of the first means of interaction of the first member can be designed e.g. with a small knob or a raised front part. By gripping the small knob and hereby slightly lifting or by arranging one or more fingers under the raised front part and hereby slightly lifting, this part of the first means of interaction can be slightly elevated and the ridge be disengaged from the aperture whereby the first member and second member easily are pulled apart. The function of the locking mechanism is as follows: When the second means of interaction of the second member is slidably interconnected with the first means of interaction of the first member, the second member is slightly pushed to overrun the ridge in the first member, before the aperture of the second member engages with the ridge and releasably locks first and second member. It is important that the ridge is shaped to encourage the second means of interaction of the second member to easily slide above the ridge, until the ridge engages with the aperture. Similarly, the size of the aperture is to fit with the size of the ridge.

The ridge on the first member can be arranged at any given place in the means for interaction as long as the aperture of the second member is arranged at a position that enables locking between the ridge and the aperture. Preferably, the aperture is arranged complementary to the ridge i.e. the locking between the aperture and ridge is per- formed when the second means of interaction of the second member is inserted completely in the first means of interaction of the first member.

The locking mechanism can preferably be combined with a release mechanism and a resilient layer around the ridge. Thus, the locking mechanism can be stronger, since the first and second member cannot be pulled apart. In this manner, the release mechanism, for example, is pushed and compresses the resilient layer and hereby the ridge, whereby the ridge is disconnected from the aperture of the second member and it can easily be pulled away from the first member. The release mechanism can as well be pulled, twisted or bent. As an alternative, the release mechanism can be activated by means like sound, electricity, or light. In this manner, a receiver unit is integrated into the release mechanism, while a transmitter mechanism is provided to function without physical contact with the release mechanism. The resilient layer can be a layer which can be either compressed or which includes a small spring in order to lift the second means of interaction of the second member of the ridge of the first member.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one building element comprises at least one electronic conductor; said at least one electronic conductor is arranged on said at least one building element in an engaging manner, whereby said at least one first electronic conductor on said first member can engage with at least one second electronic conductor on said second member when combining said first member and said second member. In a still further advantageous embodiment, at least said first member of said set of building elements further comprises a front plate, and preferably that said front plate is arranged substantially parallel with said first member. The building elements can be provided with electronic conductors formed as connectors in order to be able to transfer electrical power and data signals from one building element to another. The electronic conductors are to be arranged in a specific geometrical manner in order for an electrical signal to be transferred efficiently between the separate building elements. The design of the specific manner depends upon the shape of the building element as well as the ways of combination of the building elements. Preferably, the electronic conductors comprise an anode and a cathode which are arranged in a manner that allows them to engage with an anode and a cathode on another building element, i.e. a first anode and a first cathode on a first building element en- gages with a second anode and a second cathode on a second building element during the interconnection of the first and second building element.

These building elements can then be further combined with a third building element, whereby the third anode and third cathode of the third building element engage with the second anode and the second cathode of the second building element or with the first anode and the first cathode of the first element. These building elements can then be further combined with more building elements in order to obtain a specific two- or three-dimensional structure.

The electronic conductors can be made from different types of conducting material. It can for example be wires, which are placed on top of the building elements. Preferably, the wires are of a thin material like a foil, a metallic cover on building elements made from plastic, or the wires can be arranged into grooves cut into the surface of the building elements. Alternatively, the conducting material can be embedded into the building elements, or the electronic conductors can be created by SMART-INK technique. The conductors can in an alternative embodiment for the invention be plated on the contact surfaces by a chemical process followed by an electro plating process known from the production of printed circuits.

Furthermore, a front plate can be arranged on top of the building elements, for example substantially parallel with the two layers of interconnected members. However, the front plate can be arranged in any given angle or place in relation to the building elements as long as the engagement with the building elements is sufficient to supply elec- trical power and data signal to the front plate, whereby an illustration on the front plate can be obtained. Preferably, the front plate is made from light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or by SMART-INK. If sufficient data can be transmitted to the front plate, the front plate can be used as a game display or operate as a video or television screen.

When interconnecting the separate building elements, it is essential that the two building elements are prevented from moving substantially in relation to one another when the structure is created. If the building elements move in relation to one another in a direction different from the direction for engaging/disengaging the building elements, the cathodes and anodes can by change engage and cause a short-circuit. In addition, the engagement between cathodes and anodes on separate building elements can be interrupted and the transfer of the electronic signal destroyed. The stabilising elements along the connection elements and the interconnection between first and second mera- bers, as described previously, are examples of fit connections which prevent the movement of the building elements in relation to one another.

Multiple electronic conductors can be arranged on the building elements in several paths. The electronic conductors can conduct not only electronic signals from one building element to another, but also audio or video signals. In this manner, sound can be transferred from one building element to the next to be amplified through a loudspeaker or displayed at a screen. It is possible to combine data and power in only the anode and cathode connections by using pulse modulation, where power is transmitted in the pulses and in periods of no pulsing.

The separate building elements of the two- or three-dimensional structure can be a combination of building elements comprising electronic conductors as well as building elements without electronic conductors. In this manner, structures can be created in which an electronic signal can be transferred in a given direction, or only in part of the structure.

The structure can be connected to an energy source by connecting the building elements to a computer unit, the electrical grid or a battery. The computer unit can be a personal computer which at least one building element is connected to possibly through a USB connection. However, the computer unit can also be a slave unit, only capable of transferring information from a CD/DVD or a USB-key to the building elements. Alternatively, information can be transferred by Bluetooth or other wireless methods from another computer unit to the slave computer unit in connection with the building elements. Additionally, a slave computer unit comprising at least one computer game or at least one puzzle or a mixture hereof, can be provided together with building elements in one package. A computer game can be displayed on multiple front plates at once, either as a single screen divided into multiple front plates with a similar illustration on each screen, the structure can consist of building elements with one front plate alone, or different scenes of a computer game such as different levels like the basement in a first front plate, the ground level on a second front plate and the first floor on a third front plate. Moving from one level to the next, thus, does not change the output of a given front plate, but the actions are moved to another front plate.

Similarly a puzzle can be created by combining multiple building elements, preferably comprising front plates. The building elements have to be combined in a specific man- ner in order to result in a continuous picture similar to a regular puzzle. The illustration of the separate building elements is only highlighted when the building elements are combined and an electronic signal is obtained. Hence, the illustrations of the separate building elements have to be remembered for later when detached from the structure. Alternatively, the illustrations of the building elements are visible and can at least partly be illuminated by combination with the structure. Alternatively or in addition, sound can be played for example as a fanfare, when a building element is correctly arranged and/or when the puzzle is correctly assembled.

The invention further describes the use of a set of building elements as described above as toys, decorative art, or furniture.

This invention can be used as a set of building elements for children. The different elements can be combined in, for example, a package with a predefined figure to be ere- ated and thus a specific number of elements of each different type. The elements can also be packaged with one, two or three types of elements in one package, leaving the structure to be created optional. Similar principles can be the case for the creation of furniture like small shelves, tables, small boxes and different types of stationeries as well as decorative arts like bowls and lamps. A package with a bowl can be predefined, but can be combined with other elements from additional packages in order to form different types of bowls.

Description of the Drawing

Fig. 1 A illustrates a first stabilising element engaging with a second stabilising element; Fig. IB illustrates a first connection element interconnecting with a second connection element;

Fig. 2A illustrates a first member with four means of interaction;

Fig. 2B illustrates a second member with two means of interaction;

Fig. 2C illustrates the interconnection of a first member and a second member;

Fig. 2D illustrates a cross section of a first member and a second member when interconnected;

Fig. 3 illustrates a first member with four means of interaction comprising ridges; Fig. 4 illustrates a third member;

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a means of interaction.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1A and fig. IB illustrates a first member 103 and a second member 105 interconnecting through a first connection element 119 and a second connection element 121.

In fig. 1A a set of building elements 101 with an interconnected first member 103 and second member 105 is illustrated. The first member 103 comprises four first stabilising elements 107 with first sloping edges 111, and the second member 105 comprises four second stabilising elements 109 with second sloping edges 113. It is observed how the first sloping edges 111 engage with the second sloping edges 113 and hereby exert a stabilising effect on the interconnection between the first member 103 and the second member 105. The stabilising effect prevents the building elements from twisting with regard to each other.

Fig. IB illustrates a first member 103 and a second member 105 which are not yet in- terconnected. Only part of the first member 103 and the second member 105 is shown in order to illustrate the mechanism of interconnection. The first connection element 119 comprises a first slot 120, a first segment 118 and along the connection element first stabilising elements 107 having a first sloping edge 111. Similarly, the second member 105 comprises a second connection element 121 with a second slot 122 and a second segment 124. Along the second connection element 122, second stabilising elements 109 with second sloping edges 113 are observed. Both the first member 103 and the second member 105 comprises four stabilising elements 107, 109 - two on either side of the member with one stabilising element 107, 109 along two sides of the connection elements 119, 121 parallel to the direction of interconnecting.

On the first segment 118, a first elevation 127 is present and on the second segment 124, a second elevation 125 is present. During interconnection of the first member 103 and the second member 105, the first elevation 127 reversibly locks with the second recess 129 present in the sides of the second slot 129. Equally, the second elevation 125 reversibly locks with the first recess 123 present in the sides of the first slot 123. Hereby, the interconnection between the first member 103 and the second member 105 is maintained and the first member 103 and the second member 105 is not as easily disconnected as if the elevations 125, 127 and recesses 123, 129 were not present. In this embodiment, the first sloping edge 111 and the second sloping edge 113 engage from the start of the interconnection between the first member 103 and the second member 105 and are slid along one another until the first member 103 and the second member 105 are locked by means of the elevations 125, 127 and the recesses 123, 129. Fig. 2 A illustrates one embodiment of a first member 203. The dotted line indicates the approximate position of the cross-section as illustrated in fig. 2D. The embodiment comprises four first means of interaction 205, 207, which each can connect to another building element. The means of interaction 205, 207 comprise two first outer portions 205 and a first middle portion 207. The first middle portion 207 is connected to the two first outer portions 205 by first connection elements 219. In this embodiment, the first connection elements 219 are arranged at a first angle 218.

The four first means of interaction 205, 207 are arranged interchangeably where two of the first means of interaction 205, 207 have their first middle portions 207 in the second layer and their first outer portions 205 in the first layer, the other two first means of interaction 205, 207 have their first middle portions 207 in the first layer and their outer portions 205 in the second layer.

Fig. 2B illustrates one embodiment of a second member 209. The dotted line indicates the approximate position of the cross-section as illustrated in fig. 2D.

The embodiment comprises two second means of interaction 211, 213, which each can connect to another building element. The means of interaction 211, 213 comprises two second outer portions 211 and a second middle portion 213. The second middle portion 213 is connected to the two second outer portions 211 by second connection ele- ments 221. In this embodiment, the second connection elements 221 are arranged at a second angle 220.

In this embodiment, the means of interaction 211, 213 are triangularly shaped comprising an apex 212.

The two second means of interaction 211, 213 are arranged interchangeably where one of the second means of interaction 211, 213 have its second middle portion 213 in the second layer and its second outer portions 211 in the first layer, and the other second means of interaction 211, 213 have its second middle portion 213 in the first layer and its second outer portions 211 in the second layer.

This embodiment of a second member 209 further comprises an aperture 223 for interconnecting with a ridge 309 (fig. 3) reversibly locking the interconnection between a first member 303 (fig. 3) and a second member 209. The aperture 223 is to be arranged in a position which enables reversible locking with the ridge 309 (fig. 3) and thus its position depends on the position of the ridge 309 (fig. 3). Additionally, this embodiment of the second member 209 comprises a dimension element 250 comprising a slot 251 and stabilising elements 252. Connecting a second member 209 with another second member 209 can be done through interconnecting the slot 251 of the first second member 209 with the slot of the second second member. Hereby three-dimensional structures can be obtained.

Interconnection of building elements 201 is illustrated in fig. 2C by a first member 203 and a second member 209. The first connection elements 219 and the second connection elements 221 are slit into one another, whereby the second middle portions 213 are aligned above the first middle portions 207 and the second outer portions 211 are aligned below the first outer portions 205. This mechanism is possible due to the displacement of the outer portions 205, 211 with regard to the middle portions 207, 213 in the thickness direction. The displacement arranges the first outer portions 205 in a first layer 227 and the first middle portion 207 in a second layer 225, while the second outer portions 211 are arranged in the second layer 225 and the second middle portion 213 is arranged in the first layer 227. Hereby, an interconnection comprising two layers is obtained. A cross-section of the interconnected building elements 201 is illustrated in fig. 2D where the two-layer structure is easily recognised - a second layer 225 and a first layer 227. It is to be understood that the terms second layer 225 and first layer 227 can be used interchangeably.

Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a first member 303 as described above. This embodiment comprises four first means of interaction 305, 307, 311 where each first means of interaction comprises first outer portions 305, connected with a first stabilising bridge 311, and a first middle portion 307. The stabilising bridge comprises an in- side edge 306 and an outside edge 308. The first middle portion 307 further comprises a ridge 309 that engages with an aperture 223 (fig. 2C) during interconnection. The first outer portions 305 and first middle portions 307 are connected by a first connec- tion element 318 along which first stabilising elements 320 with a first sloping edge 322 are provided.

In this embodiment, the first middle portion 307 extends from the centre 313 of the first member 303, but stops close to the first stabilising bridge 311. Hereby, the first member 303 is able to interconnect with another member also comprising a stabilising bridge and still be able to form a two-layer interconnection.

If the stabilising bridge is bent into a different level than the first outer portions 305 by bending elements 315 as here illustrated, the first middle portion 307 can extend further towards the outer edge 304 of the first member 303 than illustrated here. By interconnection, the first middle portion 307 of the first member 303 will engage with the stabilising bridge of the other member. Hereby, the interconnection is further stabilised and an unwanted disintegration of the building elements is less likely.

Fig. 4 illustrates a third member 403 comprising one third means of interaction 405, 407, 411, which comprises a third middle portions 407 and two third outer portions 405 connected by a stabilising bridge 411. The third outer portions 405 and third middle portions 407 are connected by a third connection element 418 along which stabilis- ing elements 420 with a third sloping edge 422 are provided.

The third member 403 is particularly useful as a stop member in order to finish the build structure properly in a given direction. Since the third member only comprises one third means of interaction 405, 407, 411, it is not capable of interconnecting with more than one building element. The third member 403 finishes the build structure by ensuring that even the last part of the build structure is in a two-layer form. Furthermore, the flanges 413 on the third member 403 enable the end of the build structure to be smooth and to create a proper finish along the edge of the build structure. Fig. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a means of interactions 505, 507, 511, which comprises two fourth outer portions 505, a fourth middle portion 507 and a fourth stabilising bridge 511. In this embodiment the connections elements 518 consist only of a slot and the stabilising elements 520 with the sloping edges 522 are arranged ap- proximately perpendicular to the fourth outer portions 505 and approximately perpendicular to the fourth middle portion 507.

Claims

1. A set of building elements (101) comprising at least a first member (103) and at least a second member (105); said first member (103) comprises at least a first slot (120); and said second member (105) comprises at least a second slot (122); where at least one first slot (120) is joined with at least one second slot (122) in a slidable interconnection, characterised in that at least one first slot (120) is part of a first connection element (119) and said at least one second slot (122) is part of a second connection element (121) which connection elements (119,121) comprise at least one first stabilis- ing element (107) arranged along said first connection element (119) and at least one second stabilising element (109) arranged along said second connection element (121,250), said at least one first stabilising element (107) comprises a first sloping edge (111) and said at least one second stabilising element (109) comprises a second sloping edge (113), where said first sloping edge (111) engages with said second sloping edge (113) during interconnection between said first member (103) and said second member (105).

2. The set of building elements (101) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first connection element (119) comprises at least one first recess (123) and said second connection element (121) comprises at least one second elevation (125), where said first recess (123) engages with said second elevation (125) during interconnection between said first member (103) and said second member (105).

3. The set of building elements (101) according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terised in that said first connection element (119) comprises at least one first elevation

(127) and said second connection element (121) comprises at least one second recess (129), where said first elevation (127) engages with said second recess (129) during interconnection between said first member (103) and said second member (105).

4. The set of building elements (201) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first member (203) comprises at least one first means of interaction (205,207) comprising at least one first outer portion (205) provided partly along the side of said first member (203) and at least one first middle portion (207) extending from the centre (313) of said first member (203) towards the outer edge (304) spaced from said at least one first outer portion (205), whereby said at least one first outer portion is arranged in a first layer (227) and said at least one first middle portion is ar- ranged in a second layer (225) and where said at least one first middle portion (207) and said at least one first outer portion (205) are joined through said first connection element (219), and said second member (209) comprises at least one second means of interaction (211,213) comprising at least one second outer portion (211) provided partly along the side of said second member (209) and at least one second middle por- tion (213) extending from the centre (313) of said second member (209) towards the outer edge (304) spaced from said at least one second outer portion (211), whereby said at least one second outer portion (211) is arranged in a second layer (225) and said at least one second middle portion (213) is arranged in a first layer (227), and where said at least one second middle portion (213) and said at least one second outer portion (211) are joined through said second connection element (221), where said at least one first middle portion (207) is aligned parallel with said at least one second middle portion (213) and said at least one first outer portion (205) is aligned parallel with said at least one second outer portion (211) during interconnection between said first member (203) and said second member (209).

5. The set of building elements according to claim 4, characterised in that said first connection element (219) is arranged between said at least one first middle portion (207) and said at least one first outer portion (205) at a first angle and said second connection element (221) is arranged between said at least one second middle portion (213) and said at least one second outer portion (211) at a second angle, where the sum of said first angle and said second angle is approximately 90°.

6. The set of building elements according to any of the claims 4-5, characterised in that said first member (303) comprises a stabilising bridge (311) which bridge (311) con- nects first outer portions (305).

7. The set of building elements according to any of the claims 4-6, characterised in that said first member (203) comprises four first means of interaction and said second member (209) comprises two second means of interaction (211,213).

8. The set of building elements according to claim 7, characterised in that said second member (209) comprises a dimension element (250).

9. The set of building elements according to any of the claims 4-8, characterised in that said at least one first middle portion (307) comprises a ridge (309) and that an aperture (223) is provided in said at least one second middle portion (213), whereby said aperture (223) engages with said ridge (309) during interconnection, whereby said first member (303) and said second member (209) are releasably locked together.

10. The set of building elements according to claim 9, characterised in that said ridge (309) is arranged on a resilient section of said at least one first middle portion (307), and furthermore that a release means for urging said resilient section away from said at least one second middle portion (213) is provided.

11. The set of building elements according to any of the preceding claims, character- ised in that at least one building element (103, 105,203,209,303,403,503) comprises at least one electronic conductor; said at least one electronic conductor is arranged on said at least one building element in an engaging manner, whereby said at least one first electronic conductor on said first member (103) can engage with at least one second electronic conductor on said second member (105) when combining said first member (103) and said second member (105).

12. The set of building elements according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least said first member of said set of building elements further comprises a front plate and preferably, that said front plate is arranged substantially parallel with said first member.

13. A use of a set of building elements according to any of the preceding claims as toys, decorative art, or furniture.