# US 8,540,545 B2 · Interconnectible building elements for intellectual challenge games > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,545 B2 - Document ID: US8540545B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/021,923 - Filed: 2011-02-07 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-06 - Applicants: Boaz Leicht - Inventors: Boaz Leicht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540545B2 ## CPC - A63F 9/1208: {Connections between puzzle elements} - A63H 33/04: Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts - A63H 33/106: {with rotation, e.g. of bayonet type} - A63H 33/107: {using screws, bolts, nails, rivets, clamps} - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS ## Abstract Embodiments may including multiple building elements that may include connector building elements and basic building elements for the construction of three-dimensional puzzles. Connector building elements may include a connector portion that may insert into a receiving portion of a basic building element. Connector building elements and basic building elements may rotate with respect to each other to a fixed point where respective faces of the connector building element and the basic building element are aligned; the alignment may be to pre-determined angles. Connector building elements and/or basic building elements may include blocking and/or locking structures that may resist and/or arrest the rotation of the elements with respect to each other and to aid in maintaining the alignment of the elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A puzzle construction system, comprising: a plurality of basic building elements, wherein each basic building element includes: a plurality of external faces, wherein one or more of the external faces includes a receiving portion; and a plurality of blocking structures, each blocking structure configured to block a respective lateral structure of a connecting portion of a connector building element in a position such that an external face of a respective connecting building element aligns with an respective external face of a respective basic building element; and a plurality of locking structures, each locking structure configured to maintain a respective lateral structure of a respecting connecting portion of a respective connector building element in the position such that a respective external face of a connector building element aligns with a respective external face of a respective basic building element; and a plurality of connector building elements, wherein each connector building element includes: a plurality of external faces, wherein at least a subset of the external faces include a receiving portion; and at least a subset of the external faces couple with a connecting portion, the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of one of the respective longitudinal structures, and wherein one or more of the basic building elements further comprises a plurality of internal ramp structures, each internal ramp structured configured to provide compressive force to a respective lateral structure of a respective connecting portion of a respective connector building element and wherein at least one of the respective internal ramp structures includes a portion with a first width and a second width such that a respective lateral structure receives the compressive force when the lateral structure is rotated past the first width and the lateral structure is held in place against a respective blocking structure when the lateral structure aligns with the portion of the internal ramping structures with the second width. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the respective internal ramp structures is a coupled with at least a respecting locking structure or a respective blocking structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respective locking structures includes a first portion with a first length and at least one of the respective block structures includes a second portion with a second length, the first length being less than the second length and the first portion and the second portion parallel to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving portions includes an elongated opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the respective receiving portion further includes a circular depression that includes the elongated opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of the longitudinal structure is configured as T-shaped structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of the longitudinal structure is configured as first L-shaped structure separated by a gap from a second L-shaped structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more lateral structures is coupled with one or more protrusions configured to act as a screw driver structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a blocking element including: a body portion, wherein the body element includes one or more slots in a first face of the body portion; one or more longitudinal structures extending from a second face of the body portion; and one or more lateral structures coupled with the one or more longitudinal structures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a connector element including: a body portion; one or more longitudinal structures extending from a first side of the body portion; one or more longitudinal structures extending from a second side of the body portion; and one or more lateral structures coupled with the one or more longitudinal structures extending from the first side of the body portion and the second side of the body portion. ### Claim 11 A method of constructing an intellectual challenge puzzle game, the method comprising: selecting one or more basic building elements, wherein each basic building element includes: a plurality of external faces, wherein one or more of the external faces includes a receiving portion; a plurality of blocking structures, each blocking structure configured to block a respective lateral structure of a connecting portion of a connector building element in a position such that an external face of a respective connecting building element aligns with an respective external face of a respective basic building element; and a plurality of locking structures, each locking structure configured to maintain a respective lateral structure of a respecting connecting portion of a respective connector building element in the position such that a respective external face of a connector building element aligns with a respective external face of a respective basic building element; selecting one or more connector building elements, wherein each connector building element includes: a plurality of external faces, wherein at least a subset of the external faces include a receiving portion; and least a subset of the external faces couple with a connecting portion, the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of one of the respective longitudinal structures; and constructing a plurality of puzzle segments, wherein each respective puzzle segment includes one or more of the selected basic building elements and one or more the selected connector building elements that are combined by inserted the connecting portion of a respective connector building element into a respective receiving portion of at least one of the selected basic building elements or the selected connector building elements and rotated until a respective lateral structure meets a respective blocking structure to form a puzzle including the plurality of puzzle segments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of puzzle segments are configured such that every connecting portion of the one or more respective connector building elements is inserted into a respective receiving portion of at least one of the selected basic building elements or the selected connector building elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: connecting a blocking element into at least receiving portion of a respective external face of at least one of the basic building elements or connector building elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: assembling the plurality of puzzle segments into a puzzle configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the puzzle configuration defines a three dimensional cube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: disassembling the puzzle configuration into the plurality of puzzle segments; and providing the disassembled puzzle segments for reassembly by another. ### Claim 17 A puzzle device for constructing intellectual challenging puzzle games, the puzzle device comprising: a plurality of external faces, wherein one or more of the external faces includes a receiving portion; a plurality of blocking structures, each blocking structure configured to block a respective lateral structure of a connecting portion of a connector building element in a position such that an external face of a respective connecting building element symmetrically aligns with an respective external face of a respective basic building element; a plurality of locking structures, each locking structure configured to maintain a respective lateral structure of a respecting connecting portion of a respective connector building element in the position such that a respective external face of a connector building element symmetrically aligns with a respective external face of a respective basic building element; and a plurality of internal ramp structures, each internal ramp structured configured to provide compressive force to a respective lateral structure of a respective connecting portion of a respective connector building element, wherein at least one of the respective internal ramping structures includes a portion with a first width and a second width such that a respective lateral structure receives the compressive force when the lateral structure is rotated past the first width and the lateral structure is held in place against a respective blocking structure when the lateral structure aligns with the portion of the internal ramping structures with the second width. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein at least a subset of the external faces couple with a connecting portion, the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of one of the respective longitudinal structures. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein one or more of the respective internal ramp structures is a coupled with at least a respecting locking structure or a respective blocking structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the respective locking structures includes a first portion with a first length and at least one of the respective block structures includes a second portion with a second length, the first length being less than the second length and the first portion and the second portion parallel to each other. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the receiving portions includes an elongated opening. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The puzzle device of claim 21, wherein the respective receiving portion further includes a circular depression that includes the elongated opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of the longitudinal structure is configured as T-shaped structure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The puzzle device of claim 17, wherein the connecting portion including one or more longitudinal structures and one or more lateral structures coupled with an end portion of the longitudinal structure is configured as first L-shaped structure separated by a gap from a second L-shaped structure.