Electrically and/or mechanically interconnectable miniature base

• US 5,445,552 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Hine Ltd.
• Original Assignee: John Hine Ltd.
• Inventors: Hine, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Application Number:
  US08/184,765
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 446/91, 446/477, 446/484, 446/485, 362/238, 362/249, 362/236, 362/239
• US Class Current: 446/477
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors

Abstract

A base unit adapted to accommodate a miniature building, having a lamp unit, and adapted to be mechanically and/or electrically connected to further, similar base units.

Claims

1. An arrangement of miniature buildings including:

a) a power supply;

b) a first end unit including a plug connector;

c) a second end unit including a socket connector;

d) at least one interconnectable base assembly adapted to accommodate a miniature building including;

i) a support plate, said support plate including a top portion and a peripheral wall portion defining a cavity, said peripheral wall having a lower edge surface located opposite said support plate, said lower edge surface defining a substantially flat plane such that said interconnectable base assembly may stably rest on a flat surface;

ii) a socket, said socket adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed;

iii) a plug, said plug,

adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base assembly to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug, and

projecting beyond an outside surface of said peripheral wall;

iv) means for electrical conduction, said means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

v) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly connected to said top portion of said support plate; and

vi) second means for electrical conduction, said second means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said lamp housing with said plug; and

e) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said at least one interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly,

wherein, a number of said at least one interconnectable base assemblies are connected, in any order, between said first end unit and said second end unit and to said power supply.

2. An arrangement of miniature buildings including:

a) a power supply;

b) a first end unit including a plug connector;

c) a second end unit including a socket connector;

d) at least one interconnectable base assembly adapted to accommodate a miniature building including;

i) a support plate, said support plate including a top potion and a peripheral wall portion defining a cavity, said peripheral wall having a lower edge surface located opposite said support plate, said lower edge surface defining a substantially flat plane such that said interconnectable base assembly may stably rest on a flat surface, said top portion including an inner surface and an outer surface;

ii) a socket, said socket adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed;

iii) a plug, said plug,

adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base assembly to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug, and

projecting beyond an outside surface of said peripheral wall;

iv) means for electrical conduction, said means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

v) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly including a terminal lead portion and a lamp portion, said lamp housing assembly accommodated in a void in said support plate such that said terminal lead portion is adjacent to said inner surface of said support plate and said lamp portion is adjacent to said outer surface of said support plate; and

vi) second means for electrical conduction, said second means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said lamp housing with said plug; and

e) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said at least one interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly,

wherein, a number of said at least one interconnectable base assemblies are connected, in any order, between said first end unit and said second end unit and to said power supply.

3. An arrangement of miniature buildings including:

a) a power supply;

b) a first end unit including a plug connector;

c) a second end unit including a socket connector;

d) at least one interconnectable base assembly adapted to accommodate a miniature building including;

i) a support plate having an inner surface and an outer surface;

ii) a socket, said socket adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed;

iii ) a plug, said plug,

adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug;

iv) means for electrical conduction, said means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

v) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly including a terminal lead portion and a lamp portion, said lamp housing assembly accommodated in a void in said support plate such that said terminal lead portion is adjacent to said inner surface of said support plate and said lamp portion is adjacent to said outer surface of said support plate; and

vi) second means for electrical conduction, said second means for electrical conduction electrically connecting said lamp housing with said plug; and

e) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said at least one interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly,

wherein, a number of said at least one interconnectable base assemblies are connected, in any order, between said first end unit and said second end unit and to said power supply.

4. An interconnectable base assembly and miniature building comprising:

a) a support plate, said support plate including a top portion and peripheral walls, said top portion and said peripheral walls defining a cavity having an inner volume and an outside space and defining an inner surface of said top portion and an outer surface of said top portion, said peripheral walls having a lower edge surface located opposite said support plate, said lower edge surface defining a substantially flat plane such that said interconnectable base assembly may stably rest on a flat surface;

b) a socket, said socket

i) fitted onto one of said peripheral walls, and

ii) adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed;

c) a plug, said plug

i) adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug, and

ii) fitted into a second one of said peripheral walls and projecting beyond an outside surface of said second one of said peripheral wall;

d) a first electrical conductor, said first electrical conductor

i) electrically connecting said socket and said plug, and

ii) located within said inner volume defined by said cavity;

e) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly

i) located on said outer surface of said top portion of said support plate; and

ii) having electrical leads within said inner volume defined by said cavity;

f) a second electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor electrically connecting said electrical leads of said lamp housing assembly and said plug; and

g) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly.

5. An arrangement of miniature buildings including:

a) a power supply;

b) a first end unit including a plug connector;

c) a second end unit including a socket connector;

d) at least one interconnectable base assembly adapted to accommodate a miniature building including;

i) a support plate, said support plate including a top portion and peripheral walls, said top portion and said peripheral walls defining a cavity having an inner volume and an outside space and defining an inner surface of said top portion and an outer surface of said top portion, said peripheral walls having a lower edge surface located opposite said support plate, said lower edge surface defining a substantially flat plane such that said interconnectable base assembly may stably rest on a flat surface;

ii) a socket, said socket

A) fitted onto one of said peripheral walls, and

B) adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical connection and a

mechanical connection may be formed;

iii) a plug, said plug,

A) fitted onto a second one of said peripheral walls and projecting beyond an outside surface of said second one of said peripheral walls, and

B) adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug;

iv) a first electrical conductor, said first electrical conductor electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

v) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly

A) connected to said outside surface of said support plate, and

B) having electrical leads within said inner volume of said cavity; and

vi) a second electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor electrically connecting said lamp housing with said plug; and

e) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said at least one interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly,

wherein, a number of said at least one interconnectable base assemblies are connected, in any order, between said first end unit and said second end unit and to said power supply.

6. An arrangement of miniature buildings including:

a) a power supply;

b) a first end unit including a plug connector;

c) a second end unit including a socket connector;

d) at least one interconnectable base assembly adapted to accommodate a miniature building including;

i) a support plate;

ii) a socket, said socket adapted to accept a plug whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed;

iii) a plug, said plug adapted to fit into a socket whereby an electrical and mechanical connection may be formed, wherein said mechanical connection permits the interconnectable base to be rotated about an axis defined by said plug;

iv) a first electrical conductor, said first electrical conductor electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

v) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly including a terminal lead portion and a lamp portion; and

vi) a second electrical conductor, said second electrical conductor electrically connecting said lamp housing with said plug; and

e) a miniature building, said miniature building resting on said support plate of said at least one interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly,

wherein, a number of said at least one interconnectable base assemblies are connected, in any order, between said first end unit and said second end unit and to said power supply.

7. A base assembly and miniature building which is interconnectable with similar base assemblies to form a series of buildings, comprising:

a) a support plate, said support plate including a top portion and a peripheral wall portion defining a cavity, said peripheral wall having a lower edge surface located opposite said support plate, said lower edge surface defining a substantially flat plane such that said interconnectable base assembly may stably rest on a flat surface;

b) a socket, said socket adapted to accept a plug disposed on an adjacent base assembly whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed;

c) a plug, said plug adapted to fit into a socket disposed on an adjacent base assembly whereby an electrical connection and a mechanical connection may be formed;

d) a first electrical conductor electrically connecting said socket and said plug;

e) a lamp housing assembly, said lamp housing assembly connected to said top portion of said support plate;

f) a second electrical conductor electrically connecting said lamp housing assembly and said plug; and

g) a miniature building disposed on said support plate of said interconnectable base assembly and surrounding said lamp housing assembly.