GB2267041A - Self-Powered toy block. - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-powered toy block is provided with studs 18 and corresponding holes 18a on the top and the bottom, respectively, as well as ribs 19 and corresponding grooves 20 at the lateral sides, and a central cylinder 11 installed therein with a power source. A series of blocks may be engaged with each other either in vertical or horizontal extensions and can be energized to emit light or sound as desired. Further, a selective moulded article may be mounted on the top to be used as a chesspiece. The power source may be a battery. Alternatively, the block may be connected to an external power source. <IMAGE>

Description

Self-Powered Toy Block This invention relates to a self-powered toy block.

Conventionally, no toy block is provided with power source so that the amusement is limited in the operation of combination.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a self-powered toy block comprising a plurality of studs at the top and a plurality of corresponding holes on the bottom, at least one rib and at least one corresponding groove at the lateral sides, and a central cylinder installed therein with a power source.

The aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the self-powered toy block according to present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational cross-section, in partly, of the toy block as shown in Fig. 1, in assembled state; Fig. 3 is a cross-section illustrating the batteries to be replaced; Fig. 4 is a cross-section illustrating a connector for connecting to external power source; Fig. 5 is a plain view of a basic board; Fig. 6 is a cross-section along the line A-A of Fig. 5, with additional connection and enlarged perspective view in part;; Fig. 7 is a cross-section illustrating two blocks superposed one on the top of other; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating various kinds of the bridge blocks to be engaged to change the direction of the blocks; Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating further possible types of the bridge block; Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating various kinds of the bridge rods and bridge plates; Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the ribs in attached type; Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating alternative configurations of the toy blocks; Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating slightly modified embodiments of triangular toy blocks; and Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a base of light transparency.

As referred to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the toy block according to present invention comprises a body 1, a battery holder 2, a pair of electrical conductors 3, 3', a moulded article seat 4, a bottom cap 5, a pair of integrated circuit (IC) units 6 and 7 with corresponding packings 8, 8', a connector 9 for external power source and a basic board 10.

The body 1 according to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1 is a form of cube with a central cylinder 11. There are two diametrical longitudinal guide channels 12 (only one is shown) on the inside wall of said cylinder 11. At top end of said cylinder 11 a stop member 13 protruding inwards is formed. The lower portion of saidcylinder 11 is notched to formseveral legs 14 and alternative notches 15 with an upper 16 and lower lips 17. The body 1 on the top is formed with a plurality of studs 18, for example in number of four, while on the bottom with a plurality of holes 18a, for example in similar number of four, at corresponding appropriate locations defined between said legs 14 and adjacent periphery.At outer circumference of the body, at least one rib 19 and at least one corresponding groove 20 are formed extending from the top to the bottom on respective diametrical opposite surfaces of lateral sides.

The battery holder 2 is in a form with an intermediate space 21 to receive the battery 22, and has substantially identical top and bottom surfaces. On said top and the bottom surfaces are provided with ciruclar grooves 23 and 24, respectively, to snap fittingly a pair of positive and negative conductors 3, 3', for example, made of conductive copper strips. A pair of longitudinal external guide ridges 25 are formed in coorporation with said guide channels 12. A cover 29 may be provided.

The positive and negative conductors 3, 3' comprises at one end respective circular piece 31 or 32 with recess 33 or 34 and open end 35 or 36, and at other end respective elastic hooked end 37 or 38 and bent 39 or 40. Said circular pieces 31 and 32 are received within said grooves 23 and 24, respectively, of said battery holder 2, with said bent 40 or 39 is ciamped at edge 26 of said groove 23 or 24 to prevent the conductors 3, 3' themselves from stripping off. Said hooked ends 38 and 37 are positioned at respective central passage 27 to contact with the positive and negative electrodes of said battery 22, as referred to Fig. 2.

Moulded article seat 4 comprises a flange 41, an inner tube 42 and an outer tube 43 at upper end, and an extended tube 44 at lower end. Said inner and outer tubes 42, 43 have male threads 45 to be threaded with a moulded article 50 in any desirable figure. The extended tube 44 is formed with a circular shoulder 46 and a protrusion 47 at inner wall, and a collar 48 with intermittent cut 49 at outer wall. Said seat 4 is inserted into said cylinder 11 with said cut 49 aligned with the stop member 13 of said cylinder 11 and turned at any angle, then said collar 44 is restricted by said stop member 13.

An IC unit 6 may be installed within said extended tube 44 and secured beneath said shoulder 46 with the aid ofa packing 8. Said IC unit 6 contains acoustical and optical means 61, a conductive terminal 62 at lower side, an electrical contact 63 at center and a notch 64 at outer periphery. Said conductive terminal 62 is protruded over the lower surface of said packing 8 so as to contact with the circular piece 31 of the conductor 3 in the battery holder 2. In this state, said contact 63 is contacted with said hooked end 38 of the conductor 3', then said means 61 in said IC unit 6 is energized to emit light or transmit sound. Said IC unit 6 will be turned along with said seat 4 due to the fact that said notch 64 is cooperated with said protrusion 47.When the IC unit 6 is turned to a position that said conductive terminal 62 is at the open end 35 of the conductor 3, it is de-energized.

The bottom cap 5 is provided with a shoulder 51 and a protrusion 52 at inner wall, and a notch 53 and a annular groove 54 at outer wall, in cooperation with the upper lip 16 and lower lip 17 of said cylinder 11, respectively, so that said groove 54 is retained by said lower lip 17 and said cap 5 is turnable with respect to the body 1.

In addition to serve as a bottom closure of the cylinder 11, said cap 5 can be installed therein with another IC unit 7 which is retained on said shoulder 51 with the aid of a packing 8'.

Similarly, said IC unit 7 contains acoustical and optical means 71, a conductive terminal 72 at upper side, an electrical contact 73 at center and a notch 74 at outer periphery. Said conductive terminal 72 is protruded over the upper surface of said packing 8' so as to contact with the circular piece 32 of the conductor 3' in the battery holder 2. In this state, said contact 73 is contacted with said hooked end 37 of the conductor 3, then said means 71 in said IC unit 7 is energized to emit light and transmit sound. Said IC unit 7 will be turned along with said cap 5 due to the fact that said notch 74 is cooperated with said protrusion 52. When the IC unit 7 is turned to a position that said conductive terminal 72 is at the open end 36 of the conductor 3', it is de-energized.

Said battery holder 2 in assembling with the battery 22 and the conductors 3, 3' is inserted into the cylinder 11 from the bottom by sliding the ridges 25 along the channels 12, then the holder 2 will be retained therein by the lower lip 17. When said lip 17 is flared by a slight force the battery holder 2 can be pushed out from top to the bottom in said cylinder 11, to replace the battery 22 asdesired, as shown in Fig. 3.

The self-powered toy block according to the present invention can be supplied with current from an external power source too.

For this purpose, a connector 9 is provided instead of the bottom cap 5. The connector 9 has recessed surface 91 and a central hole 92 for inserting a DC socket 93. Said socket 93 is provided with a conductive rod 94 and a conductive sleeve 95 separated by an insulator 96. Said conductive sleeve 95 is intimately received in said hole 92. In the outer wall of said connector 9 is provided with a notch 97 and a lock slot 98 in cooperation with the lower lip 17 of the cylinder 11, so as to secure the connector 9 at the bottom of said cylinder 11 and to make the top end of said conductive rod 94 and sleeve 95 contacting with the hooked end 37 of the conductor 3 and the circular piece 32 of the conductor 3', respectively, as best shown in Fig. 4. This connector 9 can be used for connecting a DC plug 99 to input an external power transformed into a voltage of about 3 volts.Therefore, the selfpowered toy block of the present invention can be alternatively operated with external power too.

For this alternative embodiment a basic board 10 is used as referred to Figs. 5 and 6. A plurality of DC plugs 99 are provided on the surface of said board 10. On the bottom of said board 10 a circuit 101 is formed in connecting between positive and negative electrodes of said plugs 99. In operation a DC current at about 3 volts obtained by a transformer 103 is supplied via a connector 102 through an input 104 into said board 10. In this connection, the connector 9 provided at the bottom of the cylinder 11 in the toy block 1 can be engaged onto anyone of the plugs 99 provided on the basic board 10.

If the board 10 is illustrated with chess board line 105 and provided with necessary retainers 106, and the plugs 99 are arranged correspondingly, then the board 10 can be used as a chess board and the article 50 may be moulded as the chess.

In another embodiment of the board 10, a number of studs 107 corresponding to the studs 18 on the body 1 may be formed on the surface of said board 10. In respective stud 107 a conductive rod 108 is embedded to connect with the circuit 101. Another conductive rod 109 may be inserted into the hollow stud 18. In this manner more than two blocks may be stacked one another with the conductive rods 109 electrically connected together.

The toy blocks of this invention can be combined to one another, in vertical and horizontal extensions by either inserting the studs 18 of one block into the holes 18a of another block in series connection, or engaging the rib 19 of one block with the groove 19a of another block in parallel connection. In either cases the blocks 1 are in same direction. Additionally, a bridge piece can be attached onto the block 1 to change the direction.

Fig. 8 shows several embodiments of the bridge blocks 20, there are studs 20a, holes 20b, ribs 20c and/or grooves 20d similar to the corresponding members in said body 1. With the aid of these bridge blocks 20, the body 1 can be changed the directions thereof and combined in more diversification.

Fig. 9 illustrates further embodiments of said bridge blocks.

The bridge block can be even divided into two halves and engaged to each other by a retainer 115 in one half and a retainer hole 116 in another half. In this embodiment the bridge block 20 itself can be changed direction.

Fig. 10 illustrates various embodiments of bridge rods and bridge plates for connecting the body 1 in parallel and also for supporting the body 1 in stack, since the length or the height of the said bridge rods or plates may be as great as two or more body 1.

Fig. 11 shows another embodiment that the rib 19 is made separately and attached onto the body 1 by means of the engagement between the retainer(s) 117 on the rib 19 and the hole(s) 118 on the body 1. The rib 19 is turnable if one retainer 117 is provided while it is stationary when two retainers 117 are formed.

The toy blocks according to the present invention are not limited to a square, rather any other configurations may be conteplated, some examples of which are illustrated in Fig. 12.

Further, as shown in Fig. 13, the studs 18 may be emerged on the top as depicted in the embodiment at left hand side, or on the bottom as depicted in the embodiment at right hand side.

Moreover, a light transparent base 500 can be provided, as shown in Fig. 14, instead of the bottom cap 5. The base 500 comprises respective angled protrusion 501 at four corners to be secured beneath the body 1, the studs 502 for the engagement with an IC unit 70, a convex lens 503 and prism face 504 for reflecting the light emitter of the IC unit 70 to present more vivid appearance.

While there have been shown and described what are present considered the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

What I claim is:

1. A self-powered toy block comprising a plurality of studs at the top and a plurality of corresponding holes on the bottom, at least one rib and at least one corresponding groove at the lateral sides, and a central cylinder installed therein with a power source.

2. The toy block according to claim 1, further comprising a moulded article of any desirable figure and a seat therefor, disposed on the top of said cylinder.

3. The toy block according to claim 2, wherein said power source comprises a battery holder with a space to receive the battery, a pair of conductors served as positive and negative electrodes of said battery, a cap on the bottom of said cylinder, and a pair of acoustical and optical IC units disposed within said moulded article seat and said cap, respectively.

4. The toy block according to claim 3, wherein said cap can be replaced by a connector for connecting to an external power source.

5. The toy block according to claim 4, further comprising a basic board which is provided with a plurality of plugs for engaging with said connector, and a circuit in connecting between positive and negative electrodes of said plugs.

6. The toy block according to claim 5, wherein said board can be illustrated as a chess board and said article is moulded as a chess.

7. The toy block according to claim 1, further comprising bridge piece in a form of block, rod or plate, provided with one or more of studs, holes, ribs or grooves.

8. The toy block according to claim 1, wherein said rib is separately formed and attached on the body of said toy block in turnable or stationary manner.

9. The toy block according to claim 1, wherein said toy block is in square, triangular, polygonal, star and any other desirable configurations.

10. The toy block according to claim 1, wherein said cap can be replaced by a light transparent base provided with a convex lens.