Largre hollow wooden building blocks

Abstract

A set of large, hollow, lightweight, seamless, rigid wooden blocks provides a variety of shapes such as cubes, flat or elongated right-parallelepiped pieces, as well as pyramids, and round cylindrical blocks. The pieces are large compared to the size of a child, but being hollow they are not overly heavy. There are no openings in the pieces, so gripping the smooth surfaces to throw them is not a simple task for a small child; thus they are safer since they are more amenable to use on a plane surface and being gripped with both hands. Also, the construction of plywood provides an optimum degree of heft as opposed to large plastic or foam pieces. The size makes the blocks useful either for either single use or group play. The blocks are durable and sanitary.

1 . A toy building block comprising:
 a closed hollow block made of non-porous, rigid, non-depressible wood panels separated by a single hollow void therein;   said block being of sufficient size that two hands of a child for whom said block is made are required to hold or carry said block; and   smooth walls of even consistency of said block being sufficiently thin to make said block light enough for said child to easily lift and carry said block.   
   
   
       2 . The toy building block of  claim 1  in which the walls of said block are made of plywood. 
   
   
       3 . The toy building block of  claim 2  in which the walls of said block are held together by an adhesive. 
   
   
       4 . The toy building block of  claim 3  in which countersunk wire brad nails are also employed to hold said walls together. 
   
   
       5 . The toy building block of  claim 3  further comprising a thin veneer covering said countersunk wire brad nails. 
   
   
       6 . The toy building block of  claim 1  wherein said non-porous, rigid wood panels are unindented by any surface irregularity. 
   
   
       7 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a cube. 
   
   
       8 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a pyramid. 
   
   
       9 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a cylinder. 
   
   
       10 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a rectangular box. 
   
   
       11 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of an arch. 
   
   
       12 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a hemispherical dome. 
   
   
       13 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a triangle. 
   
   
       14 . The toy building block of  claim 1  shaped in the form of a trapezoid. 
   
   
       15 . A set of toy building blocks comprising:
 a plurality of closed blocks, each closed block being hollow and made of non-porous, rigid, non-depressible wood panels separated by a single hollow void therein;   each said block being of sufficient size that two hands of a child for whom said block is made are required to hold or carry said block;   smooth walls of even consistency of each said block being sufficiently thin to make said block light enough for said child to easily lift said block; and   said blocks having different shapes to a allow a child playing with said set of blocks to construct a number of different objects.   
   
   
       16 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which the walls of each said block are made of plywood. 
   
   
       17 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 16  in which the walls of each said block are held together by an adhesive. 
   
   
       18 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 16  in which countersunk wire brad nails are also employed to hold said walls together. 
   
   
       19 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 18  further comprising a thin veneer covering said countersunk wire brad nails. 
   
   
       20 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  wherein said non-porous, rigid wood panels are unindented by any surface irregularity. 
   
   
       21 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which said blocks have different shapes. 
   
   
       22 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a pyramid. 
   
   
       23 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a cylinder. 
   
   
       24 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a rectangular box. 
   
   
       25 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of an arch. 
   
   
       26 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a hemispherical dome. 
   
   
       27 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a triangle. 
   
   
       28 . The set of toy building blocks of  claim 15  in which at least one of said blocks is shaped in the form of a trapezoid. 
   
   
       29 . A set of large-sized hollow child play blocks, comprising:
 a set of wooden blocks, each said block being non-porous and smooth, each said block having an outer surface of even consistency, wherein each said outer surface of each said hollow wooden block is substantially seamless and substantially rigid, said set of blocks being comprised of individual respective blocks of varying shapes,   each said block having a geometric shape being dimensioned of a pre-determined minimum size for being carried by two hands of a child.   
   
   
       30 . The block set of  claim 29  wherein said hollow blocks are comprised of a wooden substrate wherein said outer surface comprises a laminar veneer attached to said wooden substrate. 
   
   
       31 . The block set of  claim 30  wherein said respective blocks of varying shapes comprise at least one rectangular-shaped block, at least one wedge-shaped block having a triangular crossection, at least one pyramidal-shaped block, at least one block having a flat half-round arch shape, at least one block having a trapezoidal shape, at least one block having a cubic shape and at least one cylindrically-shaped block. 
   
   
       32 . The block set of  claim 31  further comprising at least one block having at least one rectangular-shaped cut-out therein. 
   
   
       33 . The block set of  claim 31  further comprising at least one block having at least one curve-shaped cut-out therein. 
   
   
       34 . The block set of  claim 31  further comprising at least one block having at least one half-round curve-shaped cut-out therein. 
   
   
       35 . The block set of  claim 31  further comprising at least one block having at least one quarter-round curve-shaped cut-out therein. 
   
   
       36 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one wedge-shaped block having a triangular crossection comprises a set of at least three wedges of differing respective angularity, wherein a first one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of about from about 36 cm to about 60 cm, a crossectional height of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, and a width of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm; and wherein further a second one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, a crossectional height of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, and a width of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm; and wherein further a third one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of from about 18 cm to about 30 cm, a crossectional height of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, and a width of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm. 
   
   
       37 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one rectangular-shaped block comprises a set of at least five rectangular blocks of differing respective sizes, wherein a first one of said of at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of from about 36 cm long to about 60 cm long, from about 4 cm thick to about 9 cm thick and from about 9 cm wide to about 18 cm wide; and wherein a second one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of from about 18 cm long to about 30 cm long, from about 4 cm thick to about 9 cm thick, and from about 9 cm wide to about 18 cm wide; wherein a third one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of from about 9 cm long to about 18 cm long, from about 4 cm thick to about 9 cm thick, and from about 9 cm wide to about 18 cm wide; wherein a fourth one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of from about 9 cm long to about 18 cm long, from about 4 cm thick to about 9 cm thick, and from about 4 cm wide to about 9 cm wide; and wherein a fifth one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of from about 9 cm long to about 18 cm long, from about 9 cm thick to about 18 cm thick and from about 9 cm wide to about 18 cm wide. 
   
   
       38 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one cylindrically-shaped block comprises a set of at least four cylinders of differing respective dimensions, wherein a first one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of from about 9 cm long to about 18 cm long and from about 9 cm in diameter to about 18 cm in diameter; wherein a second one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of from about 18 cm long to about 30 cm long and from about 9 cm in diameter to about 18 cm in diameter; wherein a third one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of from about 18 cm long to about 36 cm long and from about 18 cm in diameter to about 36 cm in diameter; and wherein a fourth one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of from about 36 cm long to about 60 cm long and from about 18 cm in diameter to about 30 cm in diameter. 
   
   
       39 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one pyramidal-shaped block comprises a set of at least two pyramidal blocks of differing respective dimensions, wherein a first one of said of at least two pyramidal blocks comprises a pyramid having a base having a length of from about 18 cm to about 30 cm, a base width of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm and a pyramidal height of from about 18 cm to about 30 cm; and wherein a second one of said of at least two pyramidal blocks comprises a pyramid having a base having a length of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, a base width of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm, and a pyramidal height of from about 18 cm to about 30 cm. 
   
   
       40 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said block having a flat half-round arch shape, has a height of from about 18 cm to about 36 cm, a length of from about 36 cm to about 60 cm, a depth of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm and an arch having a radius of from about 9 to about 18 cm. 
   
   
       41 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said trapezoidal block has a height of from about 18 to about 36 cm, a top width of from about 18 to about 36 cm, a bottom width of from about 36 to about 60 cm and a depth of from about 9 to about 18 cm. 
   
   
       42 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said cubic block has edges of even length, height and depth of from about 9 cm to about 18 cm. 
   
   
       43 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one wedge-shaped block having a triangular crossection comprises a set of at least three wedges of differing respective angularity, wherein a first one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of about 48 cm, a crossectional height of about 12 cm, and a width of about 12 cm; and wherein further a second one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of about 12 cm, a crossectional height of about 12 cm, and a width of about 12 cm; and wherein further a third one of said of at least three wedge shaped blocks comprises a cross sectional length of about 24 cm, a crossectional height of about 12 cm, and a width of about 12 cm. 
   
   
       44 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one rectangular-shaped block comprises a set of at least five rectangular blocks of differing respective sizes, wherein a first one of said of at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of about 48 cm long, about 6 cm thick and about 12 cm wide; and wherein a second one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of about 24 cm long, about 6 cm thick and about 12 cm wide; wherein a third one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of about 12 cm long, about 6 cm thick and about 12 cm wide; wherein a fourth one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of about 12 cm long, about 6 cm thick and about 6 cm wide; and wherein a fifth one of said at least five rectangular blocks comprises a block of about 12 cm long, about 12 cm thick and about 12 cm wide. 
   
   
       45 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one cylindrically-shaped block comprises a set of at least four cylinders of differing respective dimensions, wherein a first one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of about 12 cm long and about 12 cm in diameter; wherein a second one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of about 24 cm long and about 12 cm in diameter; wherein a third one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of about 24 cm long and about 24 cm in diameter; and wherein a fourth one of said of at least four cylindrical blocks comprises a cylinder of about 48 cm long and about 24 cm in diameter 
   
   
       46 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein said at least one pyramidal-shaped block comprises a set of at least two pyramidal blocks of differing respective dimensions, wherein a first one of said of at least two pyramidal blocks comprises a pyramid having a base having a length of about 24 cm, a base width of about 12 cm and a pyramidal height of about 24 cm; and wherein a second one of said of at least two pyramidal blocks comprises a pyramid having a base having a length of about 12 cm, a base width of about 12 cm and a pyramidal height of about 24 cm. 
   
   
       47 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said block having a flat half-round arch shape, has a height of about 24 cm, a length of about 48 cm a depth of about 10.2 cm and an arch having a radius of about 12 cm. 
   
   
       48 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said trapezoidal block has a height of about 24 cm, a top width of about 24 cm, a bottom width of about 48 cm and a depth of from about 12 cm. 
   
   
       49 . The block set of  claim 31  wherein each said cubic block has edges of even length, height and depth of from about 12 cm. 
   
   
       50 . A method of stimulating a child's imagination and creativity, teaching children fundamental structural soundness and strength of materials, and teaching fundamental appropriate social interaction among children, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a set of large-sized hollow child play blocks, said blocks each having an outer surface, wherein said outer surface is substantially seamless and substantially rigid, said set of blocks being comprised of individual respective blocks of varying shapes, wherein each said block has a geometric shape being dimensioned of a pre-determined minimum size for being carried by two hands of a child;   b. allowing at least one child user to create varying structures using the set of blocks;   c. allowing said at least one child user to use said structure for imaginative play; and   d. allowing said at least one child user to modify said varying structures at will.