Building system using plastic bottle caps

Abstract

The building system using plastic bottle caps includes at least one interlocking building block having a substantially elongated base. An upstanding cap mounting boss extends from the top of the boss, and a cap mounting recess is formed coaxial with the cap mounting boss at the bottom of the base. The cap mounting boss permits threaded mounting of a bottle cap, and the cap mounting recess permits each interlocking building block to be stacked on top of another bottle cap, especially a bottle cap mounted to another cap mounting boss of another interlocking building block. A connection hole is formed adjacent to the cap mounting recess to permit the base to be looped onto the cap mounting post of another building block in horizontal orientation. A plurality of building blocks and bottle caps can be connected together to construct a user-defined structure. The building system includes various embodiments for construction.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps, comprising:
 a substantially elongated base, the base having a top and bottom;   at least one cap mounting boss extending upwardly from the top of said elongated base, the at least one cap mounting boss adapted for selectively mounting a plastic bottle cap thereon;   at least one cap mounting recess formed on the bottom of the base and coaxial with the at least one cap mounting boss, the at least one cap mounting recess adapted for selectively and securely receiving another plastic bottle cap therein when stacked on top of the another plastic bottle cap; and   a connection hole formed on the base adjacent the at least one cap mounting post, the connection hole configured to be looped over a cap mounting boss of another interlocking building block.   
     
     
         2 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , wherein said substantially elongated base comprises:
 a first base section, the first base section having a top, bottom, and a thickness; and   at least one second base section extending from the top of the first base section, the at least one second base section having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first base section, said at least one cap mounting boss extending from the top of the first base section, said cap mounting recess being formed on the bottom of the first base section, said connection hole being formed on each at least one second base section.   
     
     
         3 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one second base section comprises at least one pair of second base sections, each second base section extending from the top of said first base section in orthogonal directions with respect to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cap mounting boss comprises threads to engage inner threads of the bottle cap. 
     
     
         5 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cap mounting boss comprises a throughbore extending through said elongated base. 
     
     
         6 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , wherein said cap mounting recess comprises a plurality of corrugations formed on an inner, circumferential surface thereof, the plurality of corrugations configured to mate with corresponding corrugations on the another plastic bottle cap in order to securely engage and hold said interlocking building block when stacked on top of the another bottle cap. 
     
     
         7 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable mounting ring removably attached to a side of said substantially elongated base, the detachable mounting ring having a gap to ease installation of the detachable mounting ring around a neck of a bottle; an elongated connecting strip extending towards said substantially elongated base; and a living hinge connecting the connecting strip with said substantially elongated base, the living hinge permitting selective removal of the detachable mounting ring by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connector base having at least a pair of spaced connection holes, each connection hole being adapted for connection to said at least one cap mounting boss on said interlocking building block or another interlocking building block in order to provide indirection connection options for the user. 
     
     
         9 . A kit for building user-defined structures comprising:
 at least one interlocking building block using plastic bottle caps, each at least one interlocking building block comprising;
 a substantially elongated base, the base having a top and bottom; 
 at least one cap mounting boss extending upwardly from the top of said elongated base, the at least one cap mounting boss adapted for selectively mounting a plastic bottle cap thereon; 
 at least one cap mounting recess formed on the bottom of the base and coaxial with the at least one cap mounting boss, the at least one cap mounting recess adapted to for selectively and securely receiving another plastic bottle cap therein when stacked on top of the another plastic bottle cap; and 
 a connection hole formed on the base adjacent the at least one cap mounting post, the connection hole configured to be looped over a cap mounting boss of another interlocking building block. 
   
     
     
         10 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said substantially elongated base comprises:
 a first base section, the first base section having a top, bottom, and a thickness; and   at least one second base section extending from the top of the first base section, the at least one second base section having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the first base section, said at least one cap mounting boss extending from the top of the first base section, said cap mounting recess being formed on the bottom of the first base section, said connection hole being formed on each at least one second base section.   
     
     
         11 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one second base section comprises at least one pair of second base sections, each second base section extending from the top of said first base section in orthogonal directions with respect to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one cap mounting boss comprises threads to engage inner threads of the bottle cap. 
     
     
         13 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one cap mounting boss comprises a throughbore extending through said elongated base. 
     
     
         14 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said cap mounting recess comprises a plurality of corrugations formed on an inner, circumferential surface thereof, the plurality of corrugations configured to mate with corresponding corrugations on the another plastic bottle cap in order to securely engage and hold said interlocking building block when stacked on top of the another bottle cap. 
     
     
         15 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , further comprising a detachable mounting ring removably attached to a side of said substantially elongated base, the detachable mounting ring having a gap to ease installation of the detachable mounting ring around a neck of a bottle; an elongated connecting strip extending towards said substantially elongated base; and a living hinge connecting the connecting strip with said substantially elongated base, the living hinge permitting selective removal of the detachable mounting ring by the user. 
     
     
         16 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , further comprising a connector base having at least a pair of spaced connection holes, each connection hole being adapted for connection to said at least one cap mounting boss on said interlocking building block or another interlocking building block in order to provide indirection connection options for the user. 
     
     
         17 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , further comprising: at least one another interlocking building block, each at least one another interlocking building block comprising;
 a substantially elongated base, the base having a top and bottom;   at least one pair of spaced cap mounting bosses extending upwardly from the top of the elongated base, each cap mounting boss adapted for selectively mounting one of a pair of plastic bottle caps thereon; and   at least one pair of cap mounting recesses formed on the bottom of the base and coaxial with the at least one pair of cap mounting bosses, each cap mounting recess adapted for selectively and securely receiving one of another pair of plastic bottle caps therein when stacked on top of the another pair of plastic bottle caps.   
     
     
         18 . The kit for building user-defined structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one interlocking building block comprises a plurality of interlocking building blocks.