WO2013081367A1

WO2013081367A1 - Toy building block

Info

Publication number: WO2013081367A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/010157
Authority: WO
Inventors: 노수성
Original assignee: 케이알에코스타 주식회사
Priority date: 2011-11-28
Filing date: 2012-11-28
Publication date: 2013-06-06
Also published as: KR101202391B1

Abstract

A toy building block is disclosed which is able to stimulate interest by the emission of light through the use of a light-emitting element in a unit block. The disclosed toy building block comprises: a base comprising a main body having a pad formed on the upper part thereof and having a printed circuit board, which is electrically coupled with the pad, formed on the lower part thereof, and comprising an insertion part which has a power-source-applying terminal, that is coupled to the pad, formed on the front surface thereof, and which projects upwardly from the upper surface of the main body, and also comprising a power-source-supply unit; and a plurality of light permeable unit blocks comprising a connecting part which is formed inserted into the insertion part of the base and is connected to the power-source-applying terminal, and also comprising a light-emitting element which receives the power source supplied from the power-source-supply unit via the connecting part when joined to the base. The plurality of unit blocks are formed so as to be able to be joined to each other, and a second light-emitting element of the joined-together unit blocks emits light due to the power source from the power-source-supply unit. The toy building blocks stimulate interest in the user as not only can the blocks emit light but also the colouring of the toy building blocks can be varied.

Description

Toy building blocks

The present invention relates to a toy assembly block, and more particularly to a toy assembly block that can be assembled and disassembled.

In general, the building block combines the interest, creativity, applicability, and understanding of the concept of numbers into toys for the purpose of playing with children or children.

Such assembling blocks are widely used in infants and preschool children, because they can be used to assemble a variety of shapes according to the imagination of the infant or child, and can be used repeatedly, such as disassembling the assembled sculptures again to make other sculptures. have.

Conventional building blocks are mainly composed of stacking or arranging unit blocks of the same or compatible shape with each other. Conventional assembly blocks are combined by an interference fit method in order to prevent separation after assembly.

That is, the bottom portion of the unit block is formed in the fitting portion, and the opposite upper portion is formed by the protrusion is fixed to each other in accordance with the combination of the fitting portion and the protrusion provided in each unit block.

Therefore, through the process of assembling or disassembling the assembly block, it is possible to develop effects such as logical thinking, spatial thinking, numerical concepts and the like with the recreational function.

Prior Patent Documents

(Patent Document 1) Korean Utility Model Registration Publication No. 20-0291949 (2002.09.30)

(Patent Document 2) Korean Utility Model Publication 20-2008-0003604 (2008.08.27)

(Patent Document 3) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0740408 (2007.07.10)

(Patent Document 4) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0116720 (2011.10.26)

Such conventional building blocks tend to be biased just for fun or interest, so that children get tired easily and have little effect of intelligence development.

In addition, the conventional assembly block has a problem that it is difficult to maintain interest because the color of the unit blocks is fixed.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an assembly block for toys that can cause an interest by emitting light by employing a light emitting device in a unit block.

In order to achieve the above object, the toy assembly block according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pad is formed on the top and the printed circuit board electrically connected to the pad is formed on the bottom, the power supply terminal is connected to the pad A base formed on the bottom surface and including a fitting portion protruding upward from the upper surface of the body, and a power supply unit; And a plurality of light-transmitting unit blocks formed to be fitted to the fitting portion of the base and including a contact portion contacting the power supply terminal, and a light emitting device connected to the base to receive power from the power supply portion through the contact portion. . Each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed to be coupled to each other, the second light emitting device of the unit block coupled to each other emits light by the power from the power supply.

Preferably, the light emitting element is composed of a monochromatic LED. In this case, the plurality of unit blocks individually have a fixed color.

On the other hand, the base further includes an external input terminal for receiving a color conversion program from the outside, a control unit for varying the emission color of the light emitting device based on the color conversion program, and a communication connection terminal for communication connection with a plurality of unit blocks You may also Each of the plurality of unit blocks may further include a control unit for communicating with a control unit of the base, and a communication connection terminal. In this case, the light emitting device is composed of a full color LED, and a plurality of unit blocks are formed in white.

The base further includes a light emitting element that emits light by a power source from a power supply, and is formed of a light transmissive material.

Contact pins are formed with contact pins moving up and down by elasticity.

In the toy assembly block according to another embodiment of the present invention, in the toy assembly block to form a sculpture by stacking or arranging a plurality of unit blocks on the upper surface of the base,

The base includes a power supply, and each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed of a light transmissive material and includes a light emitting device. Each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed to be coupled to each other, the light emitting device of the unit block coupled to each other emits light by the power from the power supply.

In another embodiment described above, the light emitting device is composed of a monochromatic LED, and the plurality of unit blocks individually have a fixed color.

The base may further include a light emitting element that emits light by the power from the power supply, in which case the base is formed of a light transmissive material.

According to the present invention of such a configuration, the toy assembly block not only emits light but also can vary the color of the toy assembly block in various ways, causing user interest.

In addition, it is possible to switch to various uses to provide convenience to the user.

As a result, not only the incentive to purchase but also the penetration rate can be expanded.

1 and 2 are views showing a completed example of the toy assembly block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the base shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the unit block illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

5 is a coupling state diagram of FIG. 4.

6 is a bottom view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 5.

8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a diagram in which two unit blocks illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are combined with each other.

10 to 12 are schematic views illustrating various examples of the unit blocks illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, a toy assembly block according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Prior to the detailed description of the invention, the terms or words used in the specification and claims described below should not be construed as limiting in their usual or dictionary meanings. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

In the toy assembly block according to the embodiment of the present invention, the unit blocks 20 are stacked or arranged on a plurality of fitting portions 2 formed on the body 1 of the base 10 to form an arbitrary sculpture. That is, the unit block 20 may be referred to as a unit that is employed to complete any sculpture. Here, the plurality of fitting portions 2 protrude upward on the body 1 in a matrix form at regular intervals from each other. Although the shape of the fitting part 2 was made into the circular ring shape in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the shape may be changed as needed. Of course, one or more fitting portions 22 are formed on the upper surface of the body 21 of the unit block 20. The shape of the fitting portion 22 is the same as that of the fitting portion 2.

In particular, the base 10 and the unit block 20 are provided with a light emitting device (not shown). As a result, the light emitting devices emit light by the power supply through the power cable 30, so that the base 10 and the unit blocks 20 are shown to emit light in their respective colors. Of course, the base 10 may have no light emitting element, and only the unit block 20 may have a light emitting element.

The base 10 includes a body 1, a fitting part 2, a light emitting element 4, a power supply part 6, a USB terminal 7, and a control unit 8.

The pad 9 is installed on the upper portion of the body 1. The lower part of the body 1 is provided with a printed circuit board 3 connected to the pad 9 via four connecting lines 5 for electrical connection and communication connection. Here, for example, two out of four connection lines 5 are used for electrical connection and the other two are used for communication connection.

The fitting portion 2 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the body 1. Here, the fitting portion 2 is hollow so that the contact portion 24 of the unit block 20 to be described later can be fitted. That is, the fitting portion 2 can be seen to have a hollow portion 22a as in the fitting portion 22 of the unit block 20 to be described later. A power supply terminal (not shown) and a communication connection terminal (not shown) are formed at a corresponding portion of the pad 9 facing the fitting portion 2. Accordingly, when the unit block 20 is fitted to the fitting portion 2 of the base 10, the end of the contact portion 24 of the unit block 20 contacts the power supply terminal and the communication connection terminal. The power supply terminal and the communication connection terminal (not shown) can be easily inferred from the description of the

power supply terminals

31a and 31b and the

communication connection terminals

31c and 31d of the unit block 20 to be described later.

One or more light emitting devices 4 may be mounted on the top surface of the printed circuit board 3. The light emitting element 4 is connected to a power line of a circuit pattern of the printed circuit board 3. Preferably, the light emitting element 4 is composed of an LED (LED). If necessary, the base 10 may be provided without the light emitting element 4.

For example, the light emitting element 4 may be composed of a monochromatic LED that emits monochromatic light such as white, red, green, blue, or the like, or may be composed of a full color LED capable of expressing full color. . On the other hand, when the light emitting device 4 is composed of a single color LED, the base 10 is preferably formed of any one of a variety of colors. In addition, when the light emitting device 4 is formed of a full color LED, the base 10 is preferably formed of white color. As such, when the light emitting device 4 is provided on the base 10, the base 10 is preferably formed of a transparent or translucent light transmissive material.

The power supply unit 6 is installed on the printed circuit board 3. The power supply unit 6 supplies power through the power line of the printed circuit board 3 so that the light emitting element 4 can emit light.

The USB terminal 7 is installed on the printed circuit board 3 and is exposed to the outside of the body 1. The USB terminal 7 becomes an external input terminal for receiving a color conversion program from an external terminal. Here, the external terminal is composed of a computer, a notebook, a tablet PC, a smartphone, and the like. In addition, any terminal capable of providing a color conversion program via a USB cable may be used.

The controller 8 stores the color conversion program input through the USB terminal 7. The control part 8 changes the light emission color of the light emitting element 4 based on the color conversion program. In addition, the control unit 8 also changes the light emission color of the light emitting element in the unit block 20 based on the color conversion program.

Of course, the base 10 may not be provided with the control unit 8. When the control unit 8 is not provided, the light emitting devices of the light emitting device 4 and the unit blocks 20 may emit light but do not vary the color of light emitted.

If the controller 8 is provided, the light emitting devices 4 and the light emitting devices of the unit blocks 20 of the base 10 may emit not only a light emitting operation but also variable color light.

The controller 8 described above may be referred to as an MCU or a controller.

In the above-described color conversion program, it is assumed that an algorithm for converting the emission colors of the light emitting elements of each of the light emitting elements 4 and the unit blocks 20 is programmed for the completed object on the base 10.

For example, after completing the sculpture according to the specified standard using the number of unit blocks 20 determined by the manufacturer, if the user selects the completed sculpture through the terminal, the controller 8 is based on the color conversion program. The light emission color of each light emitting element is varied as previously determined. Accordingly, the base 10 and / or the unit blocks 20 appear to shine as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

Alternatively, when the user completes an arbitrary sculpture and designates the color of each unit block and base displayed on the monitor of the terminal, the controller 8 emits the corresponding light so that the unit block and the base can shine according to the designated color. The light emission color of the device is varied. To this end, the controller 8 performs data communication with an external terminal through the USB terminal 7.

4 is an exploded perspective view of the unit block illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 5 is a coupling state diagram of FIG. 4. 6 is a bottom view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 5. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5. Although the same MCU as the control unit 8 is not illustrated in each unit block 20 in the drawings, the same MCU as the control unit 8 is used for the color conversion of each unit block 20. Spring is preferably installed on. Accordingly, the controller 8 of the base 10 and the MCU of each unit block 20 can communicate with each other. Even if the MCU provided in the unit block 20 is not illustrated separately, those skilled in the same industry can fully understand the above description. When there is no MCU in the unit block 20, it is to be understood that only light emission of the light emitting device is performed. When there is an MCU in the unit block 20, it is understood that not only light emission but also color conversion is possible.

The unit block 20 includes a body 21 having a plurality of fitting portions 22 formed on an upper surface thereof. Each fitting portion 22 is hollow so that the contact portion 24 of the other unit block 20 can be fitted. Thus, each fitting portion 22 has a hollow portion 22a.

The terminal portion 31 is installed on the upper portion of the body 21. The terminal portion 31 is provided on the pad 29. Here, the terminal portion 31 is provided to face the hollow portion 22a of each fitting portion 22. The terminal portion 31 has four

terminals

31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d which are formed concentrically and spaced apart from each other. Here, for example, the

terminals

31a and 31b are used for power supply, and the

terminals

31c and 31d are used for communication connection. In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of terminals of each terminal portion 31 is four, but the number may be added or subtracted as necessary.

A printed circuit board 28 is installed below the body 21. The printed circuit board 28 is provided with one set of four contact pins 26 moving up and down by the elasticity of the spring 27. The printed circuit board 28 is fixed to the top surface of the horizontal partition wall 23 at the bottom of the body 21. At least one contact portion 24 is formed on the bottom surface of the horizontal partition wall 23 to protrude downward. Each contact portion 24 is formed with four holes 25 bored in the vertical direction to be spaced apart from each other. Of course, the hole 25 is also formed in the horizontal partition wall 23 as it is. Preferably, the contact portion 24 is preferably formed to face the installation position of the fitting portion 22. Accordingly, the contact pins 26, which are installed in sets of four, can be considered to be installed on the same line as the installation positions of the fitting portion 22, the terminal portion 31, and the contact portion 24.

Here, the spring 27 is fitted inside the hole 25 and one end thereof is in contact with the printed circuit board 28. The other end of the spring 27 is in close contact with the contact pin 26. The distal end of the contact pin 26 protrudes a predetermined value out of the hole 25. That is, when the contact portion 24 is fitted to the fitting portion 2 of the base 10 or to the fitting portion 22 of the other unit block 20, the distal ends of the contact pins 26 are

terminals

31a, 31b, and 31c. , 31d). A locking jaw is formed at the end of the hole 25 so that the contact pin 26 does not escape to the outside and moves within the hole 25.

Reference numeral 21a denotes a space portion formed by the horizontal partition wall 23. Although not shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, a light emitting device may be installed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 28. A circuit pattern is formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 28. Although not shown, for example, the

terminals

31a and 31b of the terminal portion 31 are electrically connected to the power lines of the circuit pattern on the printed circuit board 28 through electrical connection lines, and the

terminals

31c and 31d are communication connection lines. It is connected to the communication connection line of the circuit pattern on the printed circuit board 28 through.

The light emitting device of the unit block 20 may be configured of a single color LED emitting a single color of light such as white, red, green, blue, or the like, or may be configured of a full color LED capable of expressing full color. On the other hand, when the light emitting device of the unit block 20 is composed of a single color LED, the unit block 20 is preferably formed of any fixed color individually. In addition, when the light emitting device of the unit block 20 is composed of a full color LED, the unit block 20 is preferably formed in white. As such, as the light emitting device is provided in the unit block 20, the unit block 20 is preferably formed of a transparent or translucent light transmissive material.

In order to couple the two unit blocks 20 with each other, the fitting unit 22 of the lower unit block 20 and the contact unit 24 of the upper unit block 20 face each other, and then the lower unit block ( The contact part 24 of the upper unit block 20 is inserted into the hollow part 22a of the fitting part 22 of 20).

Accordingly, the contact pins 26 installed on the contact portion 24 of the upper unit block 20 come into contact with

terminals

31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d of the lower unit block 20.

Subsequently, when the contact portion 24 of the upper unit block 20 is completely fitted into the fitting portion 22 of the lower unit block 20, the distal ends of the contact pins 26 are

terminals

31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d. ), The contact pin 26 is pushed upward in the hole 25 by the spring 27.

In this way, the contact pin 26 of the upper unit block 20 is in close contact with the

terminals

31a, 31b, 31c, 31d of the lower unit block 20, so that the upper unit block 20 and the lower A power connection passage and a communication connection passage between the unit blocks 20 are formed.

On the other hand, the fitting portion 24 of the unit block 20 to the fitting portion 2 of the base 10 may also be carried out in the same manner as described above. Accordingly, since the contact pin 26 of the unit block 20 is in close contact with the power supply terminal of the base, a power connection passage and a communication connection passage between the upper unit block 20 and the base 10 are formed.

If the two unit blocks 20 coupled to each other in this way are stacked on the base 10 and then the power from the power supply unit 6 is applied to the light emitting device, the light emitting device 4 of the base 10. And the light emitting devices of the two unit blocks 20 emit light, and the control unit 8 of the base 10 and the MCU (not shown) of the two unit blocks 20 may communicate for color conversion. .

10 to 12 are schematic views illustrating various examples of the unit blocks illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described above, for the color conversion of each unit block 20, an MCU such as the controller 8 is assumed to be installed in the unit block 20. Accordingly, the controller 8 of the base 10 and the MCU of each unit block 20 can communicate with each other.

FIG. 10 shows that one fitting portion 22 is formed on the upper surface of the body 21 of the unit block 20 and one contact portion 24 is formed on the lower surface of the horizontal partition wall 23. In FIG. 10, one or more light emitting devices 32 are mounted on a printed circuit board 28. The printed circuit board 28 of FIG. 10 has power supply terminals and communication connection terminals of the terminal unit 31 and power supply lines and communication lines of the printed circuit board 28 through four connection lines 33 for electrical connection and communication connection. It is assumed that a circuit pattern is formed to be connected.

FIG. 11 shows that the three fitting parts 22 are formed to be spaced apart from each other on the upper surface of the body 21 of the unit block 20, and the three contact parts 24 are formed to be spaced apart from each other on the lower surface of the horizontal partition wall 23. In addition, an individualized terminal portion 31 is formed at an upper portion of the body 21, and a power supply terminal and a communication connection terminal of each terminal portion 31 face the hollow portion of the corresponding fitting portion 22. In FIG. 11, one or more light emitting devices 32 are mounted on a printed circuit board 28. Each terminal portion 31 is connected to a power supply line and a communication line of the printed circuit board 28 through respective connection lines 33. The printed circuit board 28 of FIG. 11 has a circuit pattern such that the power supply terminal and the communication connection terminal of each terminal unit 31 and the power line and the communication line of the printed circuit board 28 are connected to each other through each connection line 33. It is assumed that this is formed.

FIG. 12 shows that the three fitting parts 22 are formed to be spaced apart from each other on the upper surface of the body 21 of the unit block 20, and the three contact parts 24 are formed to be spaced apart from each other on the lower surface of the horizontal partition wall 23. In particular, FIG. 12 is different from that of FIG. 11 in that one terminal portion 31 is formed on the upper portion of the body 21. The terminal portion 31 is provided with a power supply terminal and a communication connection terminal at a position opposite to the fitting portion 22. In FIG. 12, one or more light emitting devices 32 are mounted on a printed circuit board 28. The terminal portion 31 is connected to the power supply line and the communication line of the printed circuit board 28 through a connection line 33 of one group. In the printed circuit board 28 of FIG. 12, a circuit pattern is formed to connect the power supply terminal and the communication connection terminal of the terminal unit 31 with the power line and the communication line of the printed circuit board 28 through the connection line 33. You can see it.

Meanwhile, two or four fitting portions 22 are formed on the upper surface of the body 21 of the unit block 20, and two or four contact portions 24 are formed on the lower surface of the horizontal partition wall 23. Even in this case, it may be regarded as configured as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified and modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, the technical idea to which such modifications and variations are also applied to the claims Must see

Explanation of the sign

1, 21: body 2, 22: fitting

3, 28: printed circuit board 4: light emitting device

5: connecting line 6: power supply

7: USB terminal 8: control unit

9, 29: Pad 10: Base

20: unit block 23: horizontal bulkhead

24: contact portion 25: hole

26: contact pin 27: spring

30: power cable 31: terminal

31a, 31b, 31c, 31d: terminals

Claims

A body having a pad formed thereon and a printed circuit board electrically connected to the pad formed therein, a power supply terminal connected to the pad formed at a bottom thereof, and a fitting portion protruding upward from an upper surface of the body, a power supply unit; A base including an external input terminal for receiving a color conversion program from the outside, a control unit for varying the emission color of the light emitting device based on the color conversion program, and a communication connection terminal for communication connection with the unit block; And

A light emitting element which is formed to be fitted into a fitting portion of the base and contacts the power applying terminal, and receives power from the power supply unit through the contact portion when coupled to the base, a control unit communicating with a control unit of the base; It includes; a plurality of optically transparent unit blocks including a communication connection terminal,

Each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed to be coupled to each other, the light emitting device of the unit block coupled to each other is characterized in that the light emission by the power from the power supply unit and the light emission color is changed based on the color conversion program Building blocks for toys.
The method of claim 1,

The light emitting device is a toy assembly block, characterized in that consisting of full color LED.
The method of claim 2,

The plurality of unit blocks are toy assembly, characterized in that formed in white.
The method of claim 1,

The base further comprises a light emitting device that emits light by the power from the power supply, the toy assembly block, characterized in that formed of a light transmitting material.
The method of claim 1,

The contact portion is a toy assembly block characterized in that the contact pin is moved up and down by elastic.
In the toy assembly block to form a sculpture by stacking or arranging a plurality of unit blocks on the upper surface of the base,

The base may include a power supply unit, an external input terminal for receiving a color conversion program from the outside, a control unit for varying a light emission color of the light emitting device based on the color conversion program, and a communication connection terminal for communication connection with the plurality of unit blocks. Including,

Each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed of a light transmissive material and includes a light emitting device, a control unit communicating with a control unit of the base, and a communication connection terminal.

Each of the plurality of unit blocks is formed to be coupled to each other, the light emitting device of the unit block coupled to each other is characterized in that the light emission color is changed by the power from the power supply unit and the light emission color is changed based on the color conversion program Building blocks for toys.
The method of claim 6,

The light emitting device is a toy assembly block, characterized in that consisting of full color LED.
The method of claim 6,

The plurality of unit blocks are toy assembly, characterized in that formed in white.
The method of claim 6,

The base further comprises a light emitting device that emits light by the power from the power supply, the toy assembly block, characterized in that formed of a light transmitting material.