Illuminated Toy Building Structures

• US 20090047863A1
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capriola Corporation
• Original Assignee: Jon Capriola
• Inventors: Capriola, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/086 with primary projections fitting by friction in complementary spaces between secondary projections, e.g. sidewalls
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The present device is an illuminated building block device that mimics the look of a laser. The building block includes a non-opaque body comprising at least two mechanical connectors. At least two electrically independent conductors each traverse the body from each connector to each other connector. At least one LED is electrically connected to at least two of the electrical conductors. With at least two building blocks mechanically connected, a power source may be applied to one of the connectors of one of the building blocks to illuminate each LED. Preferably, the body of the building block is generally transparent and is capable of transmitting light from a colored LED to a connected block, thus mimicking the look of a laser. The invention also comprises a set of building blocks that permits light from an LED to pass from one connected block to an adjacent connected block.

Claims

1. A building block comprising:

a non-opaque body comprising at least two mechanical connectors;

at least two electrical independent conductors each traversing the body from each connector to each other connector;

at least one LED electrically connected to at least two of the electrical conductors; and

whereby with at least two building blocks mechanically connected, a power source may be applied to one of the connectors of one of the building blocks to illuminate each LED.

2. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body is generally transparent and is capable of substantially transmitting light to a mechanically connected adjoining block.

3. The building block of claim 2 wherein the body is generally transparent and is capable of substantially transmitting light via the mechanical connectors of two connected blocks.

4. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body includes at least one male connector and one female connector.

5. The building block of claim 4 wherein each male connector includes at least one elastomeric ring.

6. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body is substantially cylindrical with one of the mechanical connectors at either end thereof.

7. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body is a rectangular box having the male connector on two sides thereof, and the female connector on two other sides thereof.

8. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body is cylindrical with an approximately 90-degree bend and two of the mechanical connectors at either end thereof.

9. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body takes the form of a wheel, with a connector on either side along a rotational axis thereof

10. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body further includes an electrical switch electrically disposed between each of the connectors.

11. The building block of claim 1 wherein the body further includes a battery disposed therein, each end of the battery connected to one of the conductors, the battery capable of illuminating each LED.

12. The building block of claim 11 wherein the body further includes the electrical switch electrically disposed between one end of the battery and each of the connectors.

13. A set of building blocks, the set including:

at least one block having a non-opaque body comprising at least two mechanical connectors, at least two electrical independent conductors each traversing the body from each connector to each other connector;

at least one LED disposed within the body and electrically connected to at least two of the electrical conductors; and

at least one power source having a body comprising at least one mechanical connector;

at least two electrical independent conductors each traversing the body from each connector to a battery, the battery connected at either end to one of the conductors; and

an electrical switch electrically disposed between one end of the battery and each connector;

whereby when the at least one block and the at least one power source are connected at their mechanical connectors, the LED of the at least one block may be powered by the battery of the at least one power source.

14. The set of claim 13 further including at least one block having a body comprising at least two mechanical connectors, and at least two electrical independent conductors each traversing the body from each connector to each other connector.

15. The set of claim 14 wherein the at least one block without the LED is generally transparent and substantially transmits light from at least one adjacent mechanically connected block to at least one other adjacent mechanically connected block.

16. The set of claim 13 further including at least one block having a non-opaque body comprising one mechanical connector, at least two electrical independent conductors each traversing the body from the connector to at least one LED disposed with the body and electrically connected to at least two of the electrical conductors.