Mosaic Structure Assembly Kit

Abstract

A kit for the assembly of a mosaic structure containing an assembly tool to place blocks having various colors onto at least two interlocking core pieces. The blocks adhere to the interlocking core pieces or to each other by pressure sensitive adhesive, or alternatively, by magnetic attraction. After the blocks are placed, the interlocking core pieces are secured by engagement such as a twist-lock connection.

1 . A kit comprising
 a) a plurality of blocks having a plurality of colors, said blocks having at least one face coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and having a thickness dimension;   b) a first interlocking piece having a plurality of planar faces onto which a plurality of said blocks are affixed by said pressure sensitive adhesive in a desired pattern and a second interlocking piece having at least one connecting face free of said blocks and having a plurality of nonconnecting faces onto which said blocks are affixed by said pressure sensitive adhesive in a desired pattern;   c) said first interlocking piece having a first face onto which a protuberance is mounted in the center of said first face, with said protuberance having a second face opposite said first face, said second face having a first corresponding member of a means for connecting the protuberance to the second interlocking piece, with said protuberance having a height dimension equal to said thickness dimension of said blocks and configured to separate said blocks from said means of connecting when said blocks are affixed onto said first interlocking piece, and said second face is configured such that a portion of said second face will flushly engage the connecting face; and   d) said connecting face of the second interlocking piece having a second corresponding member of the means for connecting the protuberance to the second interlocking piece such that said connecting face and said second face of the protuberance engage in planar contact when the protuberance is connected to the second interlocking piece, with said second corresponding member located in the center of said connecting face.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  in which the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a twist-lock connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a pin attached to a prong and an opening into a chamber such that when the prong and pin are inserted through the opening into the chamber, and when the first interlocking piece is rotated relative to the second interlocking piece, the male and female interlocking pieces become secured to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1  in which the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a snap-lock connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong having a pin or ridge and an opening into a chamber located in the center of such that when the prong is pushed through the opening and into the chamber, the pin or ridge engages within the chamber, and secures the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1  in which the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a press-fit connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong and an opening which has a size such that when the prong is pushed into the opening, the first and second interlocking pieces are secured to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1  in which the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a screw connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong having an external thread and a threaded opening by which the prong may be screwed into the opening, thus securing the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein one or more of said interlocking pieces have at least one face that has a pattern of grids onto which a plurality of said blocks may be aligned. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said first and second interlocking pieces include a pattern of grids onto which the blocks may be aligned and said grids are coded to receive said blocks having a particular color at particular spaces on said grids. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1  further comprising an assembly tool having a cavity with dimensions such that the cavity is capable of partially enveloping and holding one of said blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1  in which said blocks are made of resilient material. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1  in which the first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1  further comprising a base structure on which a plurality of said blocks may be secured and upon which said three-dimensional mosaic structure may be secured. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1  in which at least one of said interlocking pieces contains a module capable of emitting light in response to an outside input. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1  in which at least one of said interlocking pieces contains a module capable of emitting heat in response to an outside input and in which at least one of said blocks contains thermochromic pigment. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1  in which:
 the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a twist-lock connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong and pin and an opening into a chamber such that when the prong and pin are inserted through the opening into the chamber, and when first interlocking piece is rotated relative to the second interlocking piece, the male and female interlocking pieces become secured to each other; 
 the first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles; and 
 wherein at least one planar surface on each of the first and second interlocking pieces has a pattern of grids onto which a plurality of said blocks may be aligned. 
 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1  in which:
 the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a snap-lock connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong having a pin or ridge and an opening into a chamber such that when the prong is pushed through the opening and into the chamber, the pin or ridge engages within the chamber, and secures the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece; 
 the first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles; and 
 wherein said first and second interlocking pieces include a pattern of grids onto which the blocks may be aligned. 
 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1  in which:
 the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a press-fit connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong and an opening such that when the prong is pushed into the opening, the first and second interlocking pieces are secured to each other; 
 the first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles; and 
 wherein said first and second interlocking pieces include a pattern of grids onto which the blocks may be aligned. 
 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 1  in which:
 the means for connecting the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece is a screw connection in which the first and second corresponding members consist of a prong having an external thread and a threaded opening by which the prong may be screwed into the opening, thus securing the first interlocking piece to the second interlocking piece; 
 the first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles; and 
 wherein said first and second interlocking pieces include a pattern of grids onto which the blocks may be aligned. 
 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising:
 a) a plurality of magnetized blocks having a plurality of colors and having a thickness dimension;   b) a first interlocking piece and a second interlocking piece, both of which are made from a material that is attracted to magnets, with said first interlocking piece having a plurality of planar faces onto which a plurality of said blocks may be affixed and said second interlocking piece having at least one connecting face free of said blocks and a plurality of nonconnecting faces onto which a plurality of said blocks may be affixed by magnetic attraction;   c) said first interlocking piece having at first planar face onto which a protuberance is mounted in the center of said first planar face, with said protuberance having a second face opposite said first planar face, said second face having a first corresponding member of a means for connecting the protuberance to the second interlocking piece, with said protuberance having a height dimension equal to said thickness dimension of said blocks and configured to separate said blocks from said means for connecting when said blocks are affixed onto said first interlocking piece, and said second face configured such that a portion of said second face will engage the connecting face; and   d) said connecting face of the second interlocking piece having a second corresponding member of the means for connecting the protuberance to the second interlocking piece; and   e) further in which said first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles.   
     
     
         19 . A kit comprising:
 a) a plurality of blocks made of a material attracted to magnets and having a plurality of colors and further having a thickness dimension;   b) a first interlocking piece having a first face onto which a protuberance is mounted in the center of said first face, said protuberance having a height dimension equal to said thickness dimension of said blocks;   c) a second interlocking piece having a connecting face free of said blocks and a plurality of nonconnecting faces onto which said blocks may be affixed;   d) in which said first and second interlocking pieces are magnetized;   e) further in which said first and second interlocking pieces comprise planar surfaces at right degree angles;   e) whereby the blocks are affixed to said first and second interlocking pieces via magnetic attraction in a desired pattern;   f) and further whereby the protuberance may be connected to the connecting face of the second interlocking piece via magnetic attraction.   
     
     
         20 . The method of assembling a structural assembly having at least a first interlocking piece having a plurality of planar faces including a first face onto which a protuberance is mounted in the center of said first face with said protuberance having a first corresponding member of a means of connection and further having at least a second interlocking piece having a plurality of nonconnecting faces and a connecting face have a second corresponding member of a means for connection, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) placing a plurality of blocks having at least one face coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, a thickness dimension, and a plurality of colors, such that the blocks may be held by an assembly tool having a cavity with dimensions such that the cavity is capable of partially enveloping and holding said blocks;   b) using the assembly tool to pick up one of said blocks and to place said block on a predetermined location on the first interlocking piece such that said block is affixed to the first interlocking piece by said pressure sensitive adhesive;   c) repeating step b until the first face is covered by said blocks except for the portion encompassed by the protuberance, and the remaining planar faces are covered by said blocks, with said blocks affixed on said planar faces in a desired pattern;   d) using the assembly tool to pick up one of said blocks and to place said block in a predetermined location on a nonconnecting face of the second interlocking piece, such that said block is affixed to the second interlocking piece by said pressure sensitive adhesive;   e) repeating step d until each nonconnecting face is covered by said blocks in a desired pattern;   f) engaging the first corresponding member of a means of connection with the second corresponding member of a means for connection, such that the first interlocking piece and the second interlocking piece become secured to each other.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  in which the first and second corresponding members of a means of connection comprise a pin attached to a prong and a chamber having an opening, and in which the engagement is made by inserting the prong and pin through the opening into the chamber and rotating the first interlocking piece relative to the second interlocking piece such that first and second interlocking pieces become secured to each other.