Interlocking building panels

Abstract

Toy building panels include a forward layer having a smooth, front face and ridges extending rearwardly from said forward layer. The ridges are peripherally positioned near at least two edges of the forward layer. The toy building panels also include a rear layer attached to the forward layer by way of shared pillars. The shared pillars extend through at least a portion of both the forward layer and the rear layer. Holes spanning a thickness of the rear layer correspond with and receive the ridges. Each of the holes is peripherally positioned near one of the edges of the perimeter that makes up the boundary of the rear layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) comprising:
 a forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) having a smooth, front face ( 106 );   a plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) extending rearwardly from said forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ), said plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) peripherally positioned near an edge of at least two edges ( 108 A- 108 B,  110 A- 110 B) of said forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 );   a rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) attached to said forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) by way of a plurality of shared pillars ( 112 A- 112 D,  114 A- 114 D,  116 A- 116 D,  118 ) that extend through at least a portion of both the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) and the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ); and   a plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) spanning a thickness of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) that correspond with and receive the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B), said plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) peripherally positioned near an edge of at least two edges ( 134 A- 134 B,  136 A- 136 B) of said rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 );   spacers ( 122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 B,  126 A- 126 D,  128 A- 128 B,  130 ) that stabilize positions of the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) with respect to the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ).   
     
     
         2 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) (i) are substantially rectangular, (ii) are substantially ovular, (iii) comprise a plurality of distinct shapes, (iv) include pairs of concentric ridges ( 120 A/ 120 E,  120 B/ 120 F,  120 C,  120 G,  120 D/ 120 H). 
     
     
         3 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein at least two of the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 B,  120 E- 120 F) (i) are located near a top edge ( 108 A) of the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) or (ii) are located near a right-side edge ( 110 B) of the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ). 
     
     
         4 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) are located within one inch (1″) of a periphery ( 108 A- 108 B,  110 A- 110 B) of the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) and are approximately one half inch (0.5″) in thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) are located within one inch (1″) of a periphery ( 134 A- 134 B,  136 A- 136 B) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), and further wherein the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) are wider than one half inch (0.5″) so as to accommodate ridges that are approximately one half inch (0.5″) in thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) (i) are substantially rectangular, (ii) are substantially ovular, or (iii) comprise a plurality of distinct shapes. 
     
     
         7 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein at least two of the plurality of holes ( 138 C- 138 D,  308 C- 308 D) (i) are located near a bottom edge ( 134 B) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) or (ii) are located near a left-side edge ( 136 A) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ). 
     
     
         8 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) (i) is substantially rectangular or (ii) substantially ovular, and further wherein the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) (i) is substantially rectangular or (ii) is substantially ovular. 
     
     
         9 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) fits within a five and a half inch by five inch (5.5″×5″) space. 
     
     
         10 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shared pillars ( 112 A- 112 D,  114 A- 114 D,  116 A- 116 D,  118 ) (i) extend through an entire thickness of both the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) and the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), (ii) are hollow, (iii) comprise a plurality of rectangular pillars ( 112 A- 112 D), (iv) comprise at least four L-shaped pillars ( 114 A- 114 D) located at corners of a rectangular boundary, (v) comprise at least four T-shaped pillars ( 116 A- 116 D) located at edges of a rectangular boundary, or (vi) comprise a cruciform shaped pillar ( 118 ). 
     
     
         11 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of shared pillars ( 112 A- 112 D,  114 A- 114 D,  116 A- 116 D,  118 ) comprise at least four L-shaped pillars ( 114 A- 114 D) located at corners of a rectangular boundary, at least four T-shaped pillars ( 116 A- 116 D) located at edges of the rectangular boundary, a cruciform shaped pillar ( 118 ) centrally located with respect to the rectangular boundary, and four rectangular pillars ( 112 A- 112 D) located within the rectangular boundary between the at least four L-shaped pillars ( 114 A- 114 D) and the cruciform shaped pillar ( 118 ). 
     
     
         12 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 B,  126 A- 126 D,  128 A- 128 B,  130 ) comprise a plurality of L-shaped pillars ( 122 A- 122 D,  126 A- 126 D) that surround each ridge of the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B), and further wherein the plurality of L-shaped pillars ( 122 A- 122 D,  126 A- 126 D) are located at the four corners of each of the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B). 
     
     
         13 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 B,  126 A- 126 D,  128 A- 128 B,  130 ) comprise:
 (i) substantially rectangular pillars ( 124 A- 124 B), horizontally oriented, that keep distance between said plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B), a top edge ( 108 A) of the at least two edges ( 108 A- 108 B,  110 A- 110 B), and the plurality of shared pillars ( 112 A- 112 D,  114 A- 114 D,  116 A- 116 D,  118 ), or   (ii) substantially rectangular pillars ( 124 A- 124 B), vertically oriented, that keep distance between said plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B), a right-side edge ( 110 B) of the at least two edges ( 108 A- 108 B,  110 A- 110 B), and the plurality of shared pillars ( 112 A- 112 D,  114 A- 114 D,  116 A- 116 D,  118 ).   
     
     
         14 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 B,  126 A- 126 D,  128 A- 128 B,  130 ) comprise:
 (i) square-shaped pillars ( 130 ) located between a first upper inner ridge ( 120 A,  206 A,  306 A) and a second upper inner ridge ( 120 B,  206 B,  306 B) of the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B), and   (ii) square-shaped pillars ( 130 ) organized in a rectangle in an upper right corner of the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ).   
     
     
         15 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges ( 120 A- 120 H,  206 A- 206 B,  306 A- 306 B) comprise outer ridges ( 120 E- 120 H) extending rearwardly from edges shared with said spacers ( 122 A- 122 D,  124 A- 124 B,  126 A- 126 D,  128 A- 128 B,  130 ), and further wherein the outer ridges ( 120 E- 120 H) encompass inner ridges ( 120 A- 120 D) that also extend rearwardly from said forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ). 
     
     
         16 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  further comprising spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) that stabilize positions of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) with respect to the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), and further wherein:
 (i) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise an upper horizontal elongated pillar ( 140 ) that keeps distance between a first lateral hole ( 138 A,  208 A,  308 A) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) and a top edge ( 134 A) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), 
 (ii) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise an upper lateral vertical elongated pillar ( 142 ) that keeps distance between a first lateral hole ( 138 A,  208 A,  308 A) and a second lateral hole ( 138 B,  208 B,  308 B) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) and a left-side edge ( 136 A) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), 
 (iii) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise at least one rectangular pillar ( 144 ) between a first lateral hole ( 138 A,  208 A,  308 A) and a second lateral hole ( 138 B,  208 B,  308 B) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D); 
 (iv) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise at least one rectangular pillar ( 144 ) between a first lateral hole ( 138 A,  208 A,  308 A) and a second lateral hole ( 138 B,  208 B,  308 B) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D); and 
 (v) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise rectangular pillars ( 146 ) organized in an L-shape in a lower left corner of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), 
 (vi) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise at least one lower horizontal elongated pillar ( 148 ) that keeps distance between a first lower hole ( 138 C,  308 C) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) and a bottom edge ( 134 B) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ), 
 (vii) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise at least one rectangular pillar ( 150 ) between a first lower hole ( 138 C,  308 C) and a second lower hole ( 138 D,  308 D) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) 
 (viii) the spacers ( 140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ) comprise a lower lateral vertical elongated pillar ( 152 ) that keeps distance between a second lower hole ( 138 D,  308 D) of the plurality of holes ( 138 A- 138 D,  208 A-B,  308 A- 308 D) and a right-side edge ( 136 B) of the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ). 
 
     
     
         17 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) is a central building panel ( 100 ), the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) and the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) comprise outer peripheries with identical dimensions, the forward layer ( 102 ,  202 ,  302 ) and the rear layer ( 104 ,  204 ,  304 ) are vertically and horizontally offset. 
     
     
         18 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) is a corner building panel ( 200 ), a bottom edge of the forward layer ( 202 ) of the corner building panel ( 200 ) is coplanar with a bottom edge of the rear layer ( 204 ), and the corner building panel ( 200 ) further comprises a plurality of base holes ( 210 A- 210 D) to permit building in three-dimensions. 
     
     
         19 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) is an edge building panel ( 300 ) and the edge building panel ( 300 ) further comprises a plurality of base holes ( 310 A- 310 B) located on the forward layer ( 302 ) to permit building in three-dimensions. 
     
     
         20 . The building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) of  claim 1  wherein the building panel ( 100 ,  200 ,  300 ) is a building panel comprising injection molded plastic.