Building block system

Claim 2

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, and first and second ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, and corresponding recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading toward the concave socket region; and the building block system further comprises a cover with an outline corresponding to that of the primary building block, the cover having a bottom side with a recess to accommodate the at least one projection of the main portion.

Claim 3

The building block system of claim 1, wherein the main portion has chambers which extend from one horizontal side of the main portion to the other horizontal side, the chambers defining transverse walls between the vertical sides of the main portion, and wherein the at least one projection and at least one complementary recessed are disposed on the transverse walls.

Claim 4

The building block system of claim 1, wherein part of the periphery of the bulbous portion is shaped as an ellipse-like polygon having a major axis that follows said second line.

Claim 5

The building block system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary block having a shape which conforms to that of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 6

The building block system of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary block has the shape of a regular dodecagon, and further comprising another auxiliary block shaped as a portion of a dodecagon which has been split along a plane parallel to the axis of the dodecagon.

Claim 7

The building block system of claim 4, further comprising a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the main portion of the primary building block, and a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the auxiliary block.

Claim 8

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, and first and second ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, and corresponding recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading toward the concave socket region; and the building block system further comprises an auxiliary block having a shape which conforms to that of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 9

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, and first and second ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, and corresponding recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading toward the concave socket region; and the building block system further comprises an auxiliary block having a shape which conforms to that of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 10

The building block system of claim 7, wherein part of the periphery of the bulbous portion is shaped as regular dodecagon.

Claim 11

The building block system of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary block has the shape of a regular dodecagon, and further comprising another auxiliary block shaped as a portion of a dodecagon which has been split along a plane parallel to the axis of the dodecagon.

Claim 12

The building block system of claim 7, further comprising a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the main portion of the primary building block, and a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the auxiliary block.

Claim 13

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent to the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disosed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises a cover with an outline corresponding to that of the primary building block, the cover having a bottom side with a recess to accommodate the at least one projection of the main portion.

Claim 14

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent to the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disosed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises a cover with an outline corresponding to that of the primary building block, the cover having a bottom side with a recess to accommodate the at least one projection of the main portion.

Claim 15

The building block system of claim 11, wherein the main portion has chambers which extend from one horizontal side of the main portion to the other horizontal side, the chambers defining transverse walls between the vertical sides of the main portion, and wherein the at least one projection and at least one complementary recess are disposed on the transverse walls.

Claim 16

The building block system of claim 11, further comprising a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the main portion of the primary building block, and a cover portion shaped as a regular dodecagon.

Claim 17

The building block system of claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary block having a regular dodecagon shape which conforms to the shape of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 18

The building block system of claim 14, further comprising another auxiliary block shaped as a portion of a dodecagon which has been split along a plane parallel to the axis of the dodecagon.

Claim 19

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disposed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the main portion of the primary building block, and a cover portion shaped as a regular dodecagon.

Claim 20

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disposed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises a cover portion with an outline corresponding to that of the main portion of the primary building block, and a cover portion shaped as a regular dodecagon.

Claim 21

The building block system of claim 16, further comprising an auxiliary block having a regular dodecagon shape which conforms to the shape of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 22

The building block system of claim 17, further comprising another auxiliary block shaped as a portion of a dodecagon which has been split along a plane parallel to the axis of the dodecagon.

Claim 23

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disposed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises an auxiliary block having a regular dodecagon shape which conforms to the shape of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 24

In a building block system which includes a primary building block having a generally rectangular main portion with a pair of vertical sides, a pair of horizontal sides, first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis running through the ends, the primary building block additionally having a bulbous portion connected to the first end of the main portion, the second end of the main portion additionally having a concave socket region to receive a bulbous portion of an adjacent primary building block and one of the horizontal sides of the main portion having at least one projection while the other horizontal side has at least one complementary recess, the improvement wherein: the outer periphery of the bulbous portion has nine faces that are arranged as three-fourths of the periphery of a regular dodecagon, one of the nine faces being more distant from the main portion of the primary block than the rest of the nine faces and being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have recessed faces adjacent the first end, where the main portion merges into the bulbous portion, the recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the vertical sides of the main portion have additional recessed faces adjacent the second end, leading to the socket region, the additional recessed faces having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion and being disposed at a 30° angle relative to the longitudinal axis; the socket region has a central face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and two side faces, each disposed at a 30° angle with respect to the central face, the faces of the socket region having the same width as the faces of the bulbous portion; the width of the main portion, taken along a first line which is perpendicular to the vertical sides, is the same as the maximum width of the bulbous portion, taken along a second line which is parallel to the first line; and the building block system further comprises an auxiliary block having a regular dodecagon shape which conforms to the shape of the bulbous portion, without the main portion.

Claim 25

The building block system of claim 19, further comprising another auxiliary block shaped as a portion of a dodecagon which has been split along a plane parallel to the axis of the dodecagon.