System and method for interlocking support blocks

A support block for a filter system comprising:

• a housing, the housing comprising at least two side walls, a first end wall, a second end wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more slides, each side wall defining a recess beneath the slide;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more guides, each guide defining an opening, the opening conformed to receive one slide from an adjacent support block to form a first interlocking joint;
• and
• at least one side wall further comprising one or more nubs, each nub positioned beneath the one or more guides, each nub conformed to fit within one recess of an adjacent support block to form a second interlocking joint.

A support block for a filter system comprising:

• a housing, the housing comprising at least two side walls, two end walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more slides;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more guides, each guide comprising a first projection and a second projection in alignment with the first projection, the second projection distal from the first projection;
• the guide defining an opening between the first and second projections, the opening of the guide conformed to receive one slide from an adjacent support block to form a first interlocking joint;
• at least one side wall defining one or more recesses, wherein the recess is located on the side wall between the first projection and the second projection of the guide;
• and
• at least one nub positioned below the slides wherein each nub is conformed to fit within one recess of an adjacent support block.

A support block for a filter system, the support block comprising:

• a housing, the housing comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, two end walls, and two side walls, the end walls and side walls connecting the top wall to the bottom wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more slides projecting distally from the side wall, the slides aligned along one side wall of the support block, each slide comprising a top, a base, two sides, and a trapezoid-shaped front distal to the side wall, each slide top comprises a horizontal ledge projecting from the side wall, the two sides descending from the horizontal ledge to the side wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more guides, each guide comprising two projections, a first projection and a second projection distal from the first projection and a bottom lip, the two projections and the bottom lip defining an opening, the two projections and the bottom lip comprising flexible material, the slide comprising flexible material, the slide further comprising a size and shape that conforms to the opening of the guide so as to flex into the opening between the two projections of an adjacent support when responding to a force exerted against the support block so as to form a first interlocking joint;
• at least one side wall defining one or more recesses, the one or more recesses positioned within or adjacent each slide;
• and
• at least one side wall comprising one or more nubs within or adjacent to each guide, each nub sized and shaped to flexibly lock within one recess of an adjacent support block to form a second interlocking joint.

A support block for a filter system, the support block comprising:

• a shell, the shell comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, two end walls, and two side walls, the end walls and side walls connecting the top wall to the bottom wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more slides projecting distally from the side wall, the slides aligned on one side of the support block, each slide comprising a top, a base, two sides and a trapezoid-shaped front distal to the first side wall;
• at least one side wall comprising one or more guides, each guide comprising a first projection and a second projection distal from the first projection and a bottom lip, the two projections and the bottom lip of the guide defining a trapezoid-shaped opening, the trapezoid-shaped front of the slide designed to fit securely within the trapezoid-shaped opening when the slide is positioned within the trapezoid-shaped opening;
• the side wall with the one or more slides defining at least one recess positioned beneath the slide;
• and
• the guide further comprising one or more nubs, the nubs positioned beneath the bottom lip of the guide, each nub conformed to fit within one recess of an adjacent support block.

A method for interlocking two or more support blocks for a filter system, the method comprising:

• (a) aligning a first support block adjacent to and slightly below a second support block having one or more guides, the slides positioned on one side of the first support block and the guides positioned on one side of the second support block, the slides comprising a top, a base, two sides connected to the top and the base and a trapezoid-shaped front, each support block further defining at least one recess positioned beneath each slide, each guide comprising two projections and a bottom lip, the two projections and the bottom lip of the guide defining a trapezoid-shaped opening, each guide further comprising one or more nubs, the nubs positioned beneath the bottom lip of the guide, each nub conformed to fit within one recess;
• (b) raising the first support block so that the one or more slides of the first support block are aligned within the one or more trapezoid-shaped openings of the one or more guide of the second support block to form a first interlocking joint;
• and
• (c) exerting a force against the first support block until the recesses of the first support block are received by the nubs of the first support block as the one or more slides move into the one or more trapezoid-shaped openings to form a second interlocking joint.