Interlocking pixel blocks and beams
First Claim
1. A plurality of graphic construction blocks, all having substantially identical X-Y plane cross-sectional shape, the shape being substantially square with four substantially identical sides, each side being configured to have, along a typical side extending between two adjacent corners of the square shape, a protrusion disposed in a first half of the side and a cavity disposed in a second half of the side, the protrusion and cavity being symmetrically displaced from a central point of the side, and being made complementary to each other in shape, each having a neck portion, based along a portion of the side, extending therefrom to an enlarged head portion, such that said blocks are enabled to interlock together on all sides to form a two-dimensional array in which each block serves as a basic structural and graphic element of an artifact thus formed, each of said blocks being made to have a designated length dimension along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-Y plane and to be substantially uniform in cross-sectional shape throughout the length so as to enable the blocks to be assembled and disassembled by sliding displacement along the Z-axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interlocking blocks are configured to serve as basic picture elements and beams ("pixels and sticks") for creating a variety of two- and three-dimensional graphic artifacts. The pixel blocks have a substantially square cross-section and may be made in cubes or in beams of various length. The four sides of the square cross-section are made identical, each side defining a tongue alongside a groove in a symmetrical complementary configuration such that adjacent blocks can be slidingly interlocked together to form one- and two-dimensional arrays; thus cubes, or blocks of uniform length, can form two-dimensional artifacts and blocks of various lengths can form three-dimensional artifacts. By utilizing the blocks in a variety of visual properties such as color and light transmission, quantities of the blocks and/or beams may be interlocked together to form pictures, graphics patterns, and other artifacts. Using computerized scanning of an original object, pixel data of the original may be acquired and stored; from this data, artifacts may be assembled automatically from pixel blocks to produce either a likeness, or, with data manipulation, a graphically-stylized rendition. For manual assembly, acquired pixel data may be utilized to generate a pixel map and a corresponding kit of blocks having different properties in the correct quantities, for use in industrial assembly, education, therapy, home hobbies, and such involving users of all ages.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A plurality of graphic construction blocks, all having substantially identical X-Y plane cross-sectional shape, the shape being substantially square with four substantially identical sides, each side being configured to have, along a typical side extending between two adjacent corners of the square shape, a protrusion disposed in a first half of the side and a cavity disposed in a second half of the side, the protrusion and cavity being symmetrically displaced from a central point of the side, and being made complementary to each other in shape, each having a neck portion, based along a portion of the side, extending therefrom to an enlarged head portion, such that said blocks are enabled to interlock together on all sides to form a two-dimensional array in which each block serves as a basic structural and graphic element of an artifact thus formed, each of said blocks being made to have a designated length dimension along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-Y plane and to be substantially uniform in cross-sectional shape throughout the length so as to enable the blocks to be assembled and disassembled by sliding displacement along the Z-axis.
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15. A plurality of graphic construction elements, all having a substantially identical cross-sectional shape in an X-Y plane, the shape being substantially square with four substantially identical sides, each side being configured to have, a protrusion and a cavity disposed adjacent to each other symmetrically about a central point of the side, the protrusion and the cavity being made complementary to each other in shape, each having a neck portion, based along a portion of the side, extending therefrom to an enlarged head portion, such that said blocks are enabled to interlock together on all sides to form a two-dimensional array in which each block serves as a basic structural and graphic element of an artifact thus formed, each of said blocks being made in a variety of designated length dimensions along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-Y plane and being made substantially uniform in cross-sectional shape throughout the length so as to enable the blocks to be assembled into three-dimensional artifacts by sliding displacement along the Z-axis.
Specification