CA2823253A1 - Illuminant building block kit with electric connection structure and its power supply seat - Google Patents
Illuminant building block kit with electric connection structure and its power supply seat Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2823253A1 CA2823253A1 CA2823253A CA2823253A CA2823253A1 CA 2823253 A1 CA2823253 A1 CA 2823253A1 CA 2823253 A CA2823253 A CA 2823253A CA 2823253 A CA2823253 A CA 2823253A CA 2823253 A1 CA2823253 A1 CA 2823253A1
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- Prior art keywords
- building block
- positive
- negative
- contact portion
- wedge
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
- A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
- A63H33/086—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/042—Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H33/00—Other toys
- A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
- A63H33/06—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements
- A63H33/08—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts to be assembled without the use of additional elements provided with complementary holes, grooves, or protuberances, e.g. dovetails
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- Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
Disclosed is an illuminant building block kit with an electric connection structure and its power supply seat (40). The illuminant building block kit comprises hollow building blocks (10) having tops and bottoms, wherein at least two annular wedge portions (11) protruding upwards are formed on the top, and at least two wedge holes (12) corresponding to the wedge portions (11) are formed on the bottom. At least two electric connection modules are provided in the building block (10). The electric connection module comprises a fixing column (20) and a positive and a negative conductive pieces (21, 22) arranged on the fixing column (20). An illuminant assembly is provided between the positive and the negative conductive pieces (21, 22). The two ends of the positive and the negative conductive pieces (21, 22) are formed into a first and a second positive contact portions (211, 212) and a first and a second negative contact portions (221, 222) respectively. The first positive and the first negative contact portions (211, 221) and the second positive and the second negative contact portions (212, 222) are located inside the wedge portion (11) and the wedge hole (2) respectively. The power supply seat (40) is hollow, and wedge portions (41) corresponding to the wedge holes (12) of the building block (10) are formed on the top thereof. A positive and a negative electrode sheets (42, 43) respectively corresponding to the second positive and the second negative contact portions (212, 222) are provided inside the wedge portion (41).
Description
ILLUMINANT BUILDING BLOCK KIT WITH ELECTRIC
CONNECTION STRUCTURE AND ITS POWER SUPPLY SEAT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a light-emitting building block, and in particular to the light-emitting building block having an electric connection module received therein and when multiple building blocks are connected to each other, the electric connection modules are connected to transfer power to the illuminant assemblies.
CONNECTION STRUCTURE AND ITS POWER SUPPLY SEAT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a light-emitting building block, and in particular to the light-emitting building block having an electric connection module received therein and when multiple building blocks are connected to each other, the electric connection modules are connected to transfer power to the illuminant assemblies.
2. The Prior Arts Although modern toys provide more vivid entertainment than traditional toys with the fast development of the technology and industry, some traditional toys, such as building blocks, still attract many parents and children. Playing the building blocks can improve hand-eye coordination of young children. Moreover, the building blocks can be assembled and connected in many ways. Children can use building blocks in various shapes to create anything and everything to stimulate children's imagination and provides both entertaining and educational effects. Therefore, the building block is still one of most popular toys.
Although the conventional building blocks provide entertainment and stimulate creativity, the building blocks can be improved to attract more children to play. One of schemes to attract attention of the children is to provide a light-emitting building block. The improved building blocks can illuminate when they are connected to each other. However, the building blocks are toy with simple assembly. A positive and practical solution needs to be developed to avoid to complicate the structure and but still to allow the building block to illuminate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting building block having an illuminant assembly and an electric connection module received therein.
When the building blocks are connected to each other, the electric connection modules form a circuit to supply power to the illuminant assemblies, thereby enhancing entertainment.
In order to achieve this, a building block according to the present invention comprises:
a hollow and light transmittable building block having a top, a bottom, at least two annular wedge portions extended from the top of the building block and at least two wedge holes corresponding to the wedge portions defmed in the bottom of the building block;
at least two electric connection modules mounted respectively in the building block, each electric connection module having a positive conducting piece and a negative conducting pieces, the positive conducting piece having a first positive contact portion and a second positive contact portion disposed at two ends thereof, and the negative conducting piece having a first negative contact portion and a second negative contact portion, and disposed at two ends thereof;
at least one illuminant assembly disposed in the building block and electrically connected with the positive and negative contact portions of at least one of the electric connection modules; and a circuit board disposed in the building block and the illuminant assembly assembled on the circuit board;
Although the conventional building blocks provide entertainment and stimulate creativity, the building blocks can be improved to attract more children to play. One of schemes to attract attention of the children is to provide a light-emitting building block. The improved building blocks can illuminate when they are connected to each other. However, the building blocks are toy with simple assembly. A positive and practical solution needs to be developed to avoid to complicate the structure and but still to allow the building block to illuminate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting building block having an illuminant assembly and an electric connection module received therein.
When the building blocks are connected to each other, the electric connection modules form a circuit to supply power to the illuminant assemblies, thereby enhancing entertainment.
In order to achieve this, a building block according to the present invention comprises:
a hollow and light transmittable building block having a top, a bottom, at least two annular wedge portions extended from the top of the building block and at least two wedge holes corresponding to the wedge portions defmed in the bottom of the building block;
at least two electric connection modules mounted respectively in the building block, each electric connection module having a positive conducting piece and a negative conducting pieces, the positive conducting piece having a first positive contact portion and a second positive contact portion disposed at two ends thereof, and the negative conducting piece having a first negative contact portion and a second negative contact portion, and disposed at two ends thereof;
at least one illuminant assembly disposed in the building block and electrically connected with the positive and negative contact portions of at least one of the electric connection modules; and a circuit board disposed in the building block and the illuminant assembly assembled on the circuit board;
wherein each electric connection module includes a fixing column, the positive and the negative conducting pieces are mounted on the fixing column and the fixing column separates the positive conducting piece from the negative conducting piece, the fixing column passes through the circuit board, the first positive contact portion and the second positive contact portion of the positive conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge portion and the second positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole, the first negative contact portion and the second negative contact portion of the negative conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first negative contact portion is disposed in the wedge portion and the second negative contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole.
When the building blocks are connected to each other by inserting the wedge portions of one building block into the wedge holes of another building block, the first positive and negative contact portions in the wedge portions are in contact with the second positive and negative contact portions in the wedge holes so as to form a circuit. When one of the building blocks is electrically connected to a power supply or a power supply is built in the building block, all of the illuminant assemblies in the connected building blocks are turned on, which increase the visual attraction while stacking the building blocks.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a power supply seat for supplying power to the building blocks.
In order to achieve this, the hollow power supply according to the present invention seat has at least one wedge portion corresponding to the wedge hole of the building block disposed on a top thereof. The wedge portion of the power supply seat has a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet. . The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are electrically connected with at least one battery so as to provide power to the second positive contact portion and the second negative contact portion disposed in the wedge hole of the building block, respectively.
The electric power of the battery disposed in the power supply seat is transferred to the electric connection modules through the positive and negative electrode sheets so as to illuminate the illuminant assemblies in the building block.
By the following detailed description of a preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention will be apparent. The attached drawings recite the embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a light-emitting building block in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is another perspective view showing the building block in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the building block according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 4A to 4C show various connections between electric connection modules and Light Emitting Diodes of the building blocks according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the building blocks and a power supply seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention connected to each other;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a building block according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view showing the building blocks according to the second embodiment of the present invention connected to each other;
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a building block according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a building block according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The elements referenced numbers is listed as following:
10,10' building block 11 wedge portion 12 wedge hole 20 fixing column 201 upper fixing portion 202 lower fixing portion 21 positive conducting piece 211 first positive contact portion 212 second positive contact portion 22 negative conducting piece 221 first negative contact portion 222 second negative contact portion 31 LED 32 circuit board 33 wires 34 switch 40 power supply seat 41 wedge portion 42 positive electrode sheet 43 negative electrode sheet 50 fixing column 51 positive conducting piece 511 top contact pin 512 bottom contact pin 521 first negative contact portion 522 second negative contact portion DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, the embodiments in accordance with the present invention are recited. The similar referenced numbers represent similar elements.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a light-emitting building block according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow and light transmittable building block 10. The rectangular building block 10 has at least two wedge portions 11 extended from a top of the building block 10 and at least two wedge holes defined in a bottom of the building block 10. The size and the position of the wedge holes 12 are corresponding to the wedge portions 11. The building block 10 according to the first embodiment has four wedge portions 11 and four wedge holes 12 arranged in a symmetric form of a 4 by 4 matrix.
As shown in Fig. 3, at least two electric connection modules are disposed in the building block 10. The number of the electric connection modules is the same as the number of the wedge portions 11, and therefore the building block 10 according to the first embodiment has four electric connection modules received therein. Each electric connection module has an insulating fixing column 20, a positive conducting piece 21 disposed inside and extended through the fixing column 20 and a negative conducting piece 22 disposed outside of the fixing column 20. The fixing column 20 according to the first embodiment includes an upper fixing portion 201 and a lower fixing portion 202 disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion thereof, respectively. An upper end of the fixing column 20 penetrates through the top of the building block 10 and the disk-shaped upper fixing portion 201 of the fixing column 20 is contacted with an inner side of the top of the building block 10. The lower fixing portion 202 of the fixing column 20 extends laterally from an outer surface of the lower portion of the fixing column 20 so as to fixing the negative conducting piece 22.
The positive conducting piece 21 has a first positive contact portion 211 and a second positive contact portion 212 disposed on two ends thereof, respectively.
According to the first embodiment, the positive conducting piece 21 is a thin rod and is axially disposed in the fixing column 20. The first positive contact portion 211 of the positive conducting piece 21 is a flat plate and located on a top the fixing column 20. The second positive contact portion 212 is shaped in a spiral and protruded out of a bottom of the fixing column 20 and located in the wedge hole 12.
The negative conducting piece 22 has a first negative contact portion 221 and a second negative contact portion 222 disposed on two ends thereof, respectively.
According to the first embodiment, the negative conducting piece 22 is an elongated strip and the first negative contact portion 221 is shaped in a ring-shaped bowl having a central hole. The ring-shaped bowl of the first negative contact portion 221 includes an inner wall, an outer wall and a bottom between the inner and outer walls.
The outer wall of the first negative contact portion 221 corresponds to and is contacted with an inside of the wedge portion 11. The inner wall of the first negative contact portion 221 defines and extends along the central hole of the ring-shaped bowl, and is corresponding to and sleeved on the upper end of the fixing column 20.
Therefore, the upper end of the fixing column 20 is fixed. The second negative contact portion 222 of the negative conducting piece 22 is a flexible bent strip and located in the wedge hole 12 and close to the inner periphery of the wedge hole 12.
The building block 10 has at least one illuminant assembly located therein and the illuminant assembly is electrically connected with the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22. According to the first embodiment, the illuminant assembly includes a Light Emitting Diode 31 (LED) which is connected to a circuit board 32.
The circuit board 32 has more than one set of wires 33 connected to the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of the electric connection modules. One of the preferred connecting way as shown in Fig. 4A, the positive and the negative conducting pieces 21, 22 are connected in parallel with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32. Therefore, when the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of any one of the electric connection modules are connected with the power source, the LED
31 on the circuit board 32 is turned on. The fixing column 20 passes through the circuit board 32.
The amount of the LED 31 and the connecting way of the positive conducting pieces 21, the negative conducting pieces 22 and the LED 31 can also be altered as described hereinafter.
As shown in Fig. 4B, each of the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, of the electric connection modules is individually connected with one LED 31.
For example, the building block 10 according to the first embodiment includes four electric connection modules and four LEDs 31 disposed in the building block 10.
When any of the electric connection modules in the building block 10 is connected with the power source, the corresponding LED 31 is turned on.
As shown in Fig. 4C, the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of the electric connection modules are connected parallelly in pairs and each pair is connected with one LED 31. For example, the four electric connection modules of the building block 10 according to the first embodiment are arranged in two pairs and the building block 10 has two LEDs 31. In each pair of the electric connection modules, the two positive conducting pieces 21 are connected in parallel, the two negative conducting pieces 22 are connected in parallel and then the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 and the LED 31 are connected in series. When the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of one of the electric connection modules in the building block 10 are connected with the power source, the corresponding LED
31 is turned on, but the LED 31 connected with the other pair of the electric connection module is not turned on.
In order to provide the power to the illuminant assemblies, one of the building blocks 10 may has a power source mounted therein. The building block 10 includes at least one battery (not shown in the drawing) received therein and the battery may be mounted to the circuit board 32. The building block 10 further includes a switch 34 to control the connection between the LED 31, the wires 33 and the battery. The switch 34 may be disposed at an underside of the circuit board 32 and located corresponding to one of the wedge holes 12 in the bottom of the building block 10.
Therefore, the user can operate the switch 34 through the wedge hole 12.
In addition to using the battery disposed in the building block 10 to supply power, the building block 10 may connect with a power supply seat 40 having a structure corresponding to the wedging structures and the electric connection modules of the building block 10. Referring to Fig. 5, the power supply seat 40 includes at least onewedge portion 41 corresponding to the wedge holes 12 of the building block 10.
Each wedge portion 41 of the power supply seat 40 has a positive electrode sheet 42 and a negative electrode sheet 43 disposed therein. The positive electrode sheet 42 and the negative electrode sheet 43 have structures the same as those of the first positive and negative contact portions 211, 221 of the wedge portion 11 of the building block 10. The positive electrode sheet 42 and the negative electrode sheet 43 are respectively connected to at least one battery (not shown in the drawings). When the wedge holes 12 of the building blocks 10 are engaged with the wedge portions 41 of the power supply seat 40, the second positive and negative contact portions 212, 222 in the wedge hole 12 are electrically contacted with the positive and negative electrode sheets 42, 43 of the power supply seat 40, respectively. Therefore, the power supply seat 40 provides power to the LEDs 31 in the building block 10 by the positive and negative electrode sheets 42, 43 of the power supply seat 40 and the electric connection modules of the building block 10.
When one building block 10 is connected with another building block 10', the building block 10 is not only received power from the power supply seat 40, but also supplies power to another building block 10' through the electric connection modules so that the power supply seat 40 provides power to another building block 10' through the building block 10.
Via aforementioned structures, when the building blocks 10 and 10' are connected to each other, the wedge portions 11 of one building block 10 are engaged with the wedge holes 12 of another building block 10' and the electric connection modules of the building blocks 10 and 10' are electrically connected. Then the LEDs 31 can be turned on to provide amusement during interlocking the building blocks 10 and visual attraction after interlocking the building blocks 10.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a building block 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the differences between the first and second embodiments are the forms of the positive and negative conducting pieces of the electric connection module.
The positive conducting piece 51 and the negative conducting piece 52 of the building block 10 according to the second embodiment are connected to a hollow fixing column 50. The positive conducting piece 51 includes a top contact pin 511, a bottom contact pin 512 and a spring 513. Each of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 includes a first end and a second end. The first ends of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 are projected out of two ends of the fixing column 50 to form the first and second positive contact portions, respectively. The spring 513 is compressed between the second ends of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512.
Therefore, the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 not only electrically connect to each other, but also are movable by compressing the spring 513. The spring 513 is electrically connected with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32.
The negative conducting piece 52 includes a first negative contact portion 521 disposed at a first end thereof. The first negative contact portion 521 is a conical coil and the diameter of the first negative contact portion 521 is gradually reduced from top to bottom thereof. The top contact pin 511 is disposed inside of the first negative contact portion 521. A second end of the negative conducting piece 52 is bent to form a flexible second negative contact portion 522 which is electrically connected with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32.
The connections of the positive and negative conducting pieces 51, 52 and the LEDs 31 are the same as those disclosed in Figs. 4A to 4C.
The same as the first embodiment, when the building blocks 10 according to the second embodiment are connected to each other, the wedge portions 11 of one building block 10 are engaged with the wedge holes 12 of another building block 10', the bottom contact pin 512 and the second negative contact portion 522 of upper building block 10' are respectively connected with the top contact pin 511 and the first negative contact portion 521 of the lower building block 10'. Therefore, the circuit is formed to turn on the corresponding LEDs 31 therein.
The building blocks 10 can be rectangular cubes or another shapes of cubes and the number of the wedge portions can also be adjusted. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the building blocks 10 are rectangular cube having two and eight wedge portions 11 on the top thereof, respectively. The structure inside the building block 10 is the same as the previous embodiments.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
When the building blocks are connected to each other by inserting the wedge portions of one building block into the wedge holes of another building block, the first positive and negative contact portions in the wedge portions are in contact with the second positive and negative contact portions in the wedge holes so as to form a circuit. When one of the building blocks is electrically connected to a power supply or a power supply is built in the building block, all of the illuminant assemblies in the connected building blocks are turned on, which increase the visual attraction while stacking the building blocks.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a power supply seat for supplying power to the building blocks.
In order to achieve this, the hollow power supply according to the present invention seat has at least one wedge portion corresponding to the wedge hole of the building block disposed on a top thereof. The wedge portion of the power supply seat has a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet. . The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are electrically connected with at least one battery so as to provide power to the second positive contact portion and the second negative contact portion disposed in the wedge hole of the building block, respectively.
The electric power of the battery disposed in the power supply seat is transferred to the electric connection modules through the positive and negative electrode sheets so as to illuminate the illuminant assemblies in the building block.
By the following detailed description of a preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention will be apparent. The attached drawings recite the embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a light-emitting building block in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is another perspective view showing the building block in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the building block according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 4A to 4C show various connections between electric connection modules and Light Emitting Diodes of the building blocks according to the present invention;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view showing the building blocks and a power supply seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention connected to each other;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a building block according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a cross sectional view showing the building blocks according to the second embodiment of the present invention connected to each other;
Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a building block according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a building block according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The elements referenced numbers is listed as following:
10,10' building block 11 wedge portion 12 wedge hole 20 fixing column 201 upper fixing portion 202 lower fixing portion 21 positive conducting piece 211 first positive contact portion 212 second positive contact portion 22 negative conducting piece 221 first negative contact portion 222 second negative contact portion 31 LED 32 circuit board 33 wires 34 switch 40 power supply seat 41 wedge portion 42 positive electrode sheet 43 negative electrode sheet 50 fixing column 51 positive conducting piece 511 top contact pin 512 bottom contact pin 521 first negative contact portion 522 second negative contact portion DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, the embodiments in accordance with the present invention are recited. The similar referenced numbers represent similar elements.
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a light-emitting building block according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a hollow and light transmittable building block 10. The rectangular building block 10 has at least two wedge portions 11 extended from a top of the building block 10 and at least two wedge holes defined in a bottom of the building block 10. The size and the position of the wedge holes 12 are corresponding to the wedge portions 11. The building block 10 according to the first embodiment has four wedge portions 11 and four wedge holes 12 arranged in a symmetric form of a 4 by 4 matrix.
As shown in Fig. 3, at least two electric connection modules are disposed in the building block 10. The number of the electric connection modules is the same as the number of the wedge portions 11, and therefore the building block 10 according to the first embodiment has four electric connection modules received therein. Each electric connection module has an insulating fixing column 20, a positive conducting piece 21 disposed inside and extended through the fixing column 20 and a negative conducting piece 22 disposed outside of the fixing column 20. The fixing column 20 according to the first embodiment includes an upper fixing portion 201 and a lower fixing portion 202 disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion thereof, respectively. An upper end of the fixing column 20 penetrates through the top of the building block 10 and the disk-shaped upper fixing portion 201 of the fixing column 20 is contacted with an inner side of the top of the building block 10. The lower fixing portion 202 of the fixing column 20 extends laterally from an outer surface of the lower portion of the fixing column 20 so as to fixing the negative conducting piece 22.
The positive conducting piece 21 has a first positive contact portion 211 and a second positive contact portion 212 disposed on two ends thereof, respectively.
According to the first embodiment, the positive conducting piece 21 is a thin rod and is axially disposed in the fixing column 20. The first positive contact portion 211 of the positive conducting piece 21 is a flat plate and located on a top the fixing column 20. The second positive contact portion 212 is shaped in a spiral and protruded out of a bottom of the fixing column 20 and located in the wedge hole 12.
The negative conducting piece 22 has a first negative contact portion 221 and a second negative contact portion 222 disposed on two ends thereof, respectively.
According to the first embodiment, the negative conducting piece 22 is an elongated strip and the first negative contact portion 221 is shaped in a ring-shaped bowl having a central hole. The ring-shaped bowl of the first negative contact portion 221 includes an inner wall, an outer wall and a bottom between the inner and outer walls.
The outer wall of the first negative contact portion 221 corresponds to and is contacted with an inside of the wedge portion 11. The inner wall of the first negative contact portion 221 defines and extends along the central hole of the ring-shaped bowl, and is corresponding to and sleeved on the upper end of the fixing column 20.
Therefore, the upper end of the fixing column 20 is fixed. The second negative contact portion 222 of the negative conducting piece 22 is a flexible bent strip and located in the wedge hole 12 and close to the inner periphery of the wedge hole 12.
The building block 10 has at least one illuminant assembly located therein and the illuminant assembly is electrically connected with the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22. According to the first embodiment, the illuminant assembly includes a Light Emitting Diode 31 (LED) which is connected to a circuit board 32.
The circuit board 32 has more than one set of wires 33 connected to the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of the electric connection modules. One of the preferred connecting way as shown in Fig. 4A, the positive and the negative conducting pieces 21, 22 are connected in parallel with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32. Therefore, when the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of any one of the electric connection modules are connected with the power source, the LED
31 on the circuit board 32 is turned on. The fixing column 20 passes through the circuit board 32.
The amount of the LED 31 and the connecting way of the positive conducting pieces 21, the negative conducting pieces 22 and the LED 31 can also be altered as described hereinafter.
As shown in Fig. 4B, each of the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, of the electric connection modules is individually connected with one LED 31.
For example, the building block 10 according to the first embodiment includes four electric connection modules and four LEDs 31 disposed in the building block 10.
When any of the electric connection modules in the building block 10 is connected with the power source, the corresponding LED 31 is turned on.
As shown in Fig. 4C, the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of the electric connection modules are connected parallelly in pairs and each pair is connected with one LED 31. For example, the four electric connection modules of the building block 10 according to the first embodiment are arranged in two pairs and the building block 10 has two LEDs 31. In each pair of the electric connection modules, the two positive conducting pieces 21 are connected in parallel, the two negative conducting pieces 22 are connected in parallel and then the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 and the LED 31 are connected in series. When the positive and negative conducting pieces 21, 22 of one of the electric connection modules in the building block 10 are connected with the power source, the corresponding LED
31 is turned on, but the LED 31 connected with the other pair of the electric connection module is not turned on.
In order to provide the power to the illuminant assemblies, one of the building blocks 10 may has a power source mounted therein. The building block 10 includes at least one battery (not shown in the drawing) received therein and the battery may be mounted to the circuit board 32. The building block 10 further includes a switch 34 to control the connection between the LED 31, the wires 33 and the battery. The switch 34 may be disposed at an underside of the circuit board 32 and located corresponding to one of the wedge holes 12 in the bottom of the building block 10.
Therefore, the user can operate the switch 34 through the wedge hole 12.
In addition to using the battery disposed in the building block 10 to supply power, the building block 10 may connect with a power supply seat 40 having a structure corresponding to the wedging structures and the electric connection modules of the building block 10. Referring to Fig. 5, the power supply seat 40 includes at least onewedge portion 41 corresponding to the wedge holes 12 of the building block 10.
Each wedge portion 41 of the power supply seat 40 has a positive electrode sheet 42 and a negative electrode sheet 43 disposed therein. The positive electrode sheet 42 and the negative electrode sheet 43 have structures the same as those of the first positive and negative contact portions 211, 221 of the wedge portion 11 of the building block 10. The positive electrode sheet 42 and the negative electrode sheet 43 are respectively connected to at least one battery (not shown in the drawings). When the wedge holes 12 of the building blocks 10 are engaged with the wedge portions 41 of the power supply seat 40, the second positive and negative contact portions 212, 222 in the wedge hole 12 are electrically contacted with the positive and negative electrode sheets 42, 43 of the power supply seat 40, respectively. Therefore, the power supply seat 40 provides power to the LEDs 31 in the building block 10 by the positive and negative electrode sheets 42, 43 of the power supply seat 40 and the electric connection modules of the building block 10.
When one building block 10 is connected with another building block 10', the building block 10 is not only received power from the power supply seat 40, but also supplies power to another building block 10' through the electric connection modules so that the power supply seat 40 provides power to another building block 10' through the building block 10.
Via aforementioned structures, when the building blocks 10 and 10' are connected to each other, the wedge portions 11 of one building block 10 are engaged with the wedge holes 12 of another building block 10' and the electric connection modules of the building blocks 10 and 10' are electrically connected. Then the LEDs 31 can be turned on to provide amusement during interlocking the building blocks 10 and visual attraction after interlocking the building blocks 10.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a building block 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the differences between the first and second embodiments are the forms of the positive and negative conducting pieces of the electric connection module.
The positive conducting piece 51 and the negative conducting piece 52 of the building block 10 according to the second embodiment are connected to a hollow fixing column 50. The positive conducting piece 51 includes a top contact pin 511, a bottom contact pin 512 and a spring 513. Each of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 includes a first end and a second end. The first ends of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 are projected out of two ends of the fixing column 50 to form the first and second positive contact portions, respectively. The spring 513 is compressed between the second ends of the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512.
Therefore, the top and bottom contact pins 511, 512 not only electrically connect to each other, but also are movable by compressing the spring 513. The spring 513 is electrically connected with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32.
The negative conducting piece 52 includes a first negative contact portion 521 disposed at a first end thereof. The first negative contact portion 521 is a conical coil and the diameter of the first negative contact portion 521 is gradually reduced from top to bottom thereof. The top contact pin 511 is disposed inside of the first negative contact portion 521. A second end of the negative conducting piece 52 is bent to form a flexible second negative contact portion 522 which is electrically connected with the LED 31 on the circuit board 32.
The connections of the positive and negative conducting pieces 51, 52 and the LEDs 31 are the same as those disclosed in Figs. 4A to 4C.
The same as the first embodiment, when the building blocks 10 according to the second embodiment are connected to each other, the wedge portions 11 of one building block 10 are engaged with the wedge holes 12 of another building block 10', the bottom contact pin 512 and the second negative contact portion 522 of upper building block 10' are respectively connected with the top contact pin 511 and the first negative contact portion 521 of the lower building block 10'. Therefore, the circuit is formed to turn on the corresponding LEDs 31 therein.
The building blocks 10 can be rectangular cubes or another shapes of cubes and the number of the wedge portions can also be adjusted. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the building blocks 10 are rectangular cube having two and eight wedge portions 11 on the top thereof, respectively. The structure inside the building block 10 is the same as the previous embodiments.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims (11)
1. A building block, comprising:
a hollow and light transmittable building block having a top, a bottom, at least two wedge portions extended from the top of the building block and at least two wedge holes corresponding to the wedge portions defined in the bottom of the building block;
at least two electric connection modules mounted respectively in the building block, each electric connection module having a positive conducting piece and a negative conducting piece, the positive conducting piece having a first positive contact portion and a second positive contact portion disposed at two ends thereof, the negative conducting piece having a first negative contact portion and a second negative contact portion disposed at two ends thereof;
at least one illuminant assembly disposed in the building block and electrically connected with the positive conducting pieces and the negative conducting pieces of at least one of the electric connection modules; and a circuit board, the illuminant assembly assembled on the circuit board;
wherein each electric connection module includes a fixing column, the positive and the negative conducting pieces are mounted on the fixing column and the fixing column separates the positive conducting piece from the negative conducting piece, the fixing column passes through the circuit board, the first positive contact portion and the second positive contact portion of the positive conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge portion and the second positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole, the first negative contact portion and the second negative contact portion of the negative conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first negative contact portion is disposed m the wedge portion and the second negative contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole.
a hollow and light transmittable building block having a top, a bottom, at least two wedge portions extended from the top of the building block and at least two wedge holes corresponding to the wedge portions defined in the bottom of the building block;
at least two electric connection modules mounted respectively in the building block, each electric connection module having a positive conducting piece and a negative conducting piece, the positive conducting piece having a first positive contact portion and a second positive contact portion disposed at two ends thereof, the negative conducting piece having a first negative contact portion and a second negative contact portion disposed at two ends thereof;
at least one illuminant assembly disposed in the building block and electrically connected with the positive conducting pieces and the negative conducting pieces of at least one of the electric connection modules; and a circuit board, the illuminant assembly assembled on the circuit board;
wherein each electric connection module includes a fixing column, the positive and the negative conducting pieces are mounted on the fixing column and the fixing column separates the positive conducting piece from the negative conducting piece, the fixing column passes through the circuit board, the first positive contact portion and the second positive contact portion of the positive conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge portion and the second positive contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole, the first negative contact portion and the second negative contact portion of the negative conducting piece are respectively located at two sides of the circuit board, so that the first negative contact portion is disposed m the wedge portion and the second negative contact portion is disposed in the wedge hole.
2. The building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first positive contact portion of the positive conducting piece is disposed at a top of the fixing column and the second positive contact portion protrudes out of a bottom of the fixing column.
3. The building block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first negative contact portion of the negative conducting piece comprises an outer wall which is corresponding to and contacted with an inside of the wedge portion, and the first negative contact portion comprises a central hole to sleeve on the top of the fixing column.
4. The building block as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixing column of the electric connection module comprises an upper fixing portion and a lower fixing portion respectively disposed at a top portion and a bottom portion thereof, the portion above the upper fixing portion of the fixing column penetrates through the top of the building block, the upper fixing portion is shaped in a disk and contacted with an inner side of the top of the building block, the lower fixing portion extends laterally from the bottom portion of the fixing column so as to fixing the negative conducting piece.
5. The building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive conducting piece of the electric connection module includes a top contact pin, a bottom contact pin and a spring, the top contact pin has a first end extending out of a top of the fixing column to form the first positive contact portion and the bottom contact pin has a first end extending out of a bottom of the fixing column to form the second positive contact portion, the spring is disposed and compressed between second ends of the top and bottom contact pins.
6. The building block as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first end of the negative conducting piece of the electric connection module includes a first negative contact portion, the first negative contact portion is a conical coil, a diameter of the first negative contact portion gradually reduced from top to bottom thereof, the first positive contact portion is disposed inside of the first negative contact portion, a second end of the negative conducting piece is bent to form a flexible second negative contact portion.
7. The building block as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the positive conducting pieces and the negative conducting pieces are electrically connected to each other in parallel and are connected with the illuminant assembly, the illuminant assembly includes a Light Emitting Diode which is connected to a circuit board.
8. The building block as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, wherein each electric connection module is individually electrically connected with one illuminant assembly, the illuminant assembly includes a Light Emitting Diode which is connected to a circuit board.
9. The building block as claimed in claim 7, wherein the building block includes at least one battery received therein and the circuit board includes a switch at an underside thereof so as to control the electrical connection between the Light Emitting Diode and the battery, the switch is located corresponding to one of the wedge holes in the bottom of the building block.
10. The building block as claimed in claim 8, wherein the building block includes at least one battery received therein and the circuit board includes a switch at an underside thereof so as to control the electrical connection between the Light Emitting Diode and the battery, the switch is located corresponding to one of the wedge holes in the bottom of the building block.
11. A hollow power supply seat comprising at least one wedge portion corresponding to the wedge hole of the building block as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the wedge portion is disposed on a top of the power supply seat, the wedge portion comprises a positive electrode sheet and a negative electrode sheet disposed therein, the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet respectively connected with at least one battery, the positive and negative electrode sheets respectively corresponds to the second positive and negative contact portions in the wedge hole at the bottom of the building block.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2010/080570 WO2012088704A1 (en) | 2010-12-31 | 2010-12-31 | Illuminant building block kit with electric connection structure and its power supply seat |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2823253A1 true CA2823253A1 (en) | 2012-07-05 |
| CA2823253C CA2823253C (en) | 2015-10-13 |
Family
ID=46382221
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2823253A Expired - Fee Related CA2823253C (en) | 2010-12-31 | 2010-12-31 | Illuminant building block kit with electric connection structure and its power supply seat |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| KR (1) | KR20130117838A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2010366315B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2823253C (en) |
| MX (1) | MX2013006333A (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2546508C1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2012088704A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108601985A (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2018-09-28 | 宝达积木有限公司 | Building block and building block assembly |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104587683B (en) * | 2014-07-22 | 2017-03-01 | 龙门县佳茂聚氨酯橡胶有限公司 | The luminous building block of high printing opacity |
| CN105498252B (en) * | 2015-12-30 | 2017-10-10 | 龙门县佳茂聚氨酯橡胶有限公司 | High printing opacity luminous building block and assemble method with sheet electrical connector location structure |
| WO2017155432A1 (en) * | 2016-03-10 | 2017-09-14 | Михаил Юрьевич ШАГИЕВ | Piece of a construction toy with electrical components |
| CN113599844B (en) * | 2021-08-25 | 2024-05-14 | 苏州微之纳智能科技有限公司 | Music height connecting mechanism for exercising brain and suitable for programming children |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN2320300Y (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 1999-05-26 | 陈金益 | Conductive device for building block |
| KR20050035986A (en) * | 2003-10-14 | 2005-04-20 | 최창구 | Logic puzzle block |
| US7322873B2 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2008-01-29 | Mega Brands America, Inc. | Illuminated, three-dimensional modules with coaxial magnetic connectors for a toy construction kit |
| DK200401612A (en) * | 2004-10-20 | 2006-04-21 | Lego As | Toy building system with functional blocks |
| US7731558B2 (en) * | 2007-08-15 | 2010-06-08 | Jon Capriola | Illuminated toy building structures |
| CN102114352B (en) * | 2010-12-31 | 2013-11-06 | 东莞和佳塑胶制品有限公司 | Luminous building block with power connection structure and power supply seat thereof |
-
2010
- 2010-12-31 AU AU2010366315A patent/AU2010366315B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2010-12-31 KR KR1020137019343A patent/KR20130117838A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-12-31 WO PCT/CN2010/080570 patent/WO2012088704A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-12-31 MX MX2013006333A patent/MX2013006333A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-12-31 RU RU2013124096/12A patent/RU2546508C1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2010-12-31 CA CA2823253A patent/CA2823253C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108601985A (en) * | 2016-01-08 | 2018-09-28 | 宝达积木有限公司 | Building block and building block assembly |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| KR20130117838A (en) | 2013-10-28 |
| MX2013006333A (en) | 2013-06-28 |
| WO2012088704A1 (en) | 2012-07-05 |
| AU2010366315B2 (en) | 2015-01-22 |
| AU2010366315A1 (en) | 2013-07-04 |
| CA2823253C (en) | 2015-10-13 |
| RU2546508C1 (en) | 2015-04-10 |
| RU2013124096A (en) | 2015-03-20 |
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| EEER | Examination request |
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