Interlocking pixel blocks and beams

Abstract

Interlocking blocks are configured to serve as basic picture elements and beams ("pixels and sticks") for creating a variety of two- and three-dimensional graphic artifacts. The pixel blocks have a substantially square cross-section and may be made in cubes or in beams of various length. The four sides of the square cross-section are made identical, each side defining a tongue alongside a groove in a symmetrical complementary configuration such that adjacent blocks can be slidingly interlocked together to form one- and two-dimensional arrays; thus cubes, or blocks of uniform length, can form two-dimensional artifacts and blocks of various lengths can form three-dimensional artifacts. By utilizing the blocks in a variety of visual properties such as color and light transmission, quantities of the blocks and/or beams may be interlocked together to form pictures, graphics patterns, and other artifacts. Using computerized scanning of an original object, pixel data of the original may be acquired and stored; from this data, artifacts may be assembled automatically from pixel blocks to produce either a likeness, or, with data manipulation, a graphically-stylized rendition. For manual assembly, acquired pixel data may be utilized to generate a pixel map and a corresponding kit of blocks having different properties in the correct quantities, for use in industrial assembly, education, therapy, home hobbies, and such involving users of all ages.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.