Electrically conductive block toy

• US 6,805,605 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advins, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynn E. Reining, William N. Reining
• Inventors: Reining, William N., Reining, Lynn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US10/391,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 446/91, 446/124, 446/125, 446/128, 446/484, 446/118, 446/90, 439/53
• 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

Abstract

An electrically conductive block component and method of producing such a block component are disclosed. The electrically conductive block component includes a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face. The electrically conductive block component also includes a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively. The first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face, wherein the respective first and second faces are substantially outermost surfaces of the main block section; and

a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively,

wherein the first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component,

wherein the first and second end portions of the first conductive pin have first and second complementary shapes, and

wherein the first end portion of the first conductive pin is a head forming a protrusion out of the main block section beyond the first face, and the second end portion of the first conductive pin is a base including an indentation recessed into the second face of the main block section, wherein the indentation is complimentary in shape with respect to the protrusion.

2. The electrically conductive block component of claim 1, wherein each of the protrusion and indentation is one of cylindrical and rectangular, and wherein the main block section is rectangular.

3. The electrically conductive block component of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive block component is assembled by inserting the first conductive pin into the first channel with the head proceeding first into the first channel followed by the base.

4. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face; and

a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively,

wherein the first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component,

wherein the first end portion is a head and the second end portion is a base, and wherein the electrically conductive block component is assembled by inserting the first conductive pin into the first channel with the head proceeding first into the first channel followed by the base,

wherein the first conductive pin includes a slot extending parallel to an axis of the first conductive pin through the head, and a first ridge on the head, wherein the first ridge extends beyond an outer perimeter of a remaining portion of the head, and

wherein the first channel includes a notch capable of receiving the first ridge when the first conductive pin is inserted into the first channel.

5. The electrically conductive block component of claim 4,

wherein the first conductive pin is cylindrical, and

wherein an outer diameter of the first conductive pin is larger proximate the base of the first conductive pin than along a remaining portion of the first conductive pin including the head, so that the base forms a second ridge along the first conductive pin, and

wherein the first and second ridges lock the first conductive pin in position with respect to the main block section after being inserted therein.

6. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face; and

a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively,

wherein the first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component, and

wherein the first conductive pin includes a main pin portion and a cap at the first end portion, and wherein the block component is assembled by inserting the main pin portion into the first channel and then affixing the cap onto an end of the main pin portion that protrudes out beyond the first face.

7. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face, wherein the respective first and second faces are substantially outermost surfaces of the main block section; and

a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively,

wherein the first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component, and

further comprising a second conductive pin positioned within a second channel of the main block section,

wherein the second conductive pin additionally has respective first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively, and

wherein the first and second conductive pins are electrically coupled by a first connection.

8. The electrically conductive block component of claim 7, further comprising:

a third conductive pin positioned within a third channel of the main block section, wherein the third conductive pin additionally has respective first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively, and

a fourth conductive pin positioned within a fourth channel of the main block section, wherein the fourth conductive pin additionally has respective first and second and portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively.

9. The electrically conductive block component of claim 8, wherein the first and third conductive pins are positioned along a first row, wherein the second and fourth conductive pins are positioned along a second row, and wherein the first and second rows are parallel to one another within the block component.

10. The electrically conductive block component of claim 9, wherein the first and second conductive pins are at opposite ends of their respective rows, and the third and fourth conductive pins are at opposite ends of their respective rows, so that each of the first and second conductive pins is adjacent to the third conductive pin and the fourth conductive pin, and so that the first and second conductive pins are positioned diagonally apart from one another.

11. The electrically conductive block component of claim 10, wherein the third and fourth conductive pins also are positioned diagonally apart from one another, and are electrically coupled to one another by a second connection.

12. The electrically conductive block component of claim 11, wherein the first and second connections extend internally within the main block section between the first and second conductive pins and the third and fourth pins, respectively, and wherein the first and second connections crisscross one another.

13. The electrically conductive block component of claim 12, wherein the main block section includes first, second and third layers of plastic material, wherein the first connection is positioned in between the first and second layers of plastic material and the second connection is positioned in between the second and third layers of plastic material, so that the first and second connections are electrically isolated from one another.

14. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section having a plurality of channels extending between first and second surfaces of the main block section;

a plurality of electrically conductive pins, wherein each pin is inserted within a respective one of the channels, and wherein each pin has a respective head forming a respective protrusion out of the first surface and a respective base including a respective indentation recessed into the second surface; and

at least one connection tat electrically couples at least two of the electrically conductive pins.

15. The electrically conductive block component of claim 14, wherein each of the electrically conductive pins includes means for locking the respective pin in position with respect to the main block section;

and

wherein the at least one connection includes a first set of connections that electrically couples a first diagonally-positioned set of the plurality of pins together, and electrically couples a second diagonally-positioned set of the plurality of pins together, so that the first and second sets of pins are electrically isolated with respect to one another.

16. An electrically conductive block component comprising:

a main block section;

a first row of electrical contacts, each of which is formed, respectively, as part of a respective physical connection feature on a first surface of the main block section;

a second row of electrical contacts, each of which is formed, respectively, as part of a respective physical connection feature on the first surface, and wherein the first row and second row are parallel to one another and aligned with one another so that each electrical contact of the first row is positioned alongside a respective one of the electrical contacts of the second row; and

a plurality of electrical connectors electrically coupling the electrical contacts of the first row with the electrical contacts of the second row, wherein each of the electrical connectors electrically couples a respective one of the electrical contacts of the first row with a respective one of the electrical contacts of the second row that is diagonally positioned relative to the one of the electrical contacts of the first row.

17. The electrically conductive block component of claim 16, further comprising:

a third row of electrical contacts, each of which is formed, respectively, as part of a respective physical connection feature on a second surface of the main block section; and

a fourth row of electrical contacts, each of which is formed, respectively, as part of a respective physical connection feature on the second surface, and wherein the third and fourth rows are parallel to one another and aligned with one another so that each electrical contact of the third row is positioned alongside a respective one of the electrical contacts of the fourth row;

wherein each of the electrical contacts of the third row is electrically coupled to a respective one of the electrical contacts of the first row, and wherein each of the electrical contacts of the fourth row is electrically coupled to a respective one of the electrical contacts of the second row.

18. The electrically conductive block component of claim 16, wherein the main block section includes first, second and third layers of plastic material, wherein at least a first of the electrical connectors is positioned in between the first and second layers of plastic material and at least a second of the electrical connectors is positioned in between the second and third layers of plastic material, so that the first and second electrical connectors arc electrically isolated from one another.