Assembly block for teaching material, plaything, etc

• US 6,062,937 A
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Systems LMP Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Systems LMP Incorporated
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US09/185,943
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 434/208, 434/224, 434/365, 434/379, 434/393, 446/91, 446/175, 446/219, 446/484, 446/485, 84/670
• US Class Current: 446/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/185 for building block systems

Abstract

An assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything ensures connection of wire lines at all possible link positions at which the assembly block is linked and in all possible link directions in which the assembly block is linked. Four link recess portions 12 are formed in a link surface 11a of an assembly block 10, and a round connector 13 is disposed at the center of the link surface 11a. Bottom plates of steel are disposed at the bottom of the link recess portions 12. Magnets are inserted inside the link recess portions 12 with the link recess portions 12 opposed with each other, whereby two assembly blocks are linked to each other. The connector 13, disposed for electrical connection with the connector 13 of another assembly block, comprises connection terminals which are disposed in a concentric arrangement on an insulation plate. When assembly blocks are linked to each other, the connection terminals which are disposed in a concentric arrangement of the connector 13 are electrically connected with each other. Since the connection terminals are arranged in a concentric arrangement, whichever direction the assembly blocks are linked in, electrical connection is established without fail.

Claims

1. An assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything, comprising:

at least one link surface for link to another assembly block;

linking means which is disposed in said link surface, in order to link said assembly block to said other assembly block;

a plurality of wire lines inside the assembly block each having a predetermined function; and

a connector for electrically connecting said wire lines inside the assembly block with the wire lines which are disposed in said other assembly block which is linked to said assembly block by said linking means,

wherein said connector comprises a plurality of connection terminals which are arranged on concentric circles, and each of said plurality of wire lines inside the assembly block is electrically connected to one of said connection terminals.

2. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 1, wherein said link surface is formed in the shape of a square, and said connector is located at an intersection of diagonal lines of said square.

3. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 1, wherein said plurality of wire lines comprise at least two power source lines and at least two network lines.

4. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 1, wherein said connection terminals of said connector comprise pressing means.

5. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 1, wherein said connection terminals of said connector are disposed on concentric circles.

6. An assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything, comprising:

at least one link surface for link to another assembly block;

a plurality of wire lines inside the assembly block each having a predetermined function;

linking means which is disposed in said link surface, in order to link said assembly block to said other assembly block; and

connecting means connected to said plurality of wires for electrically connecting said wire lines inside the assembly block with said wire lines which are disposed in said other assembly block,

wherein said assembly block further comprises wiring means connected to said plurality of wires, which determines which of the functions of the wire lines of said other assembly block said wire lines are connected, and thereafter connects said wire lines within said assembly block to the wire lines of said other assembly block in accordance with the determination.

7. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 6, wherein said link surface is formed in the shape of a square, and said connecting means is located at an intersection of diagonal lines of said square.

8. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 6, wherein said plurality of wire lines comprise at least two power source lines and at least two network lines.

9. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 6, wherein said connection terminals of said connecting means comprise pressing means.

10. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 6, wherein said connection terminals of said connecting means are disposed on concentric circles.

11. The assembly block for a teaching material and a plaything of claim 6, wherein said wiring means connects said wire lines within said assembly block with the wire lines of said other assembly block in accordance with a logical space lattice.