Electronic toy and teaching aid safety devices

• US 7,144,255 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elenco Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Elenco Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Seymour, Arthur F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh-Tam
• Application Number:
  US10/834,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 439/49, 434/118, 434/224, 434/301
• US Class Current: 439/49
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening

Abstract

A battery holder containing positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resetable fuse to electronically limit the maximum current that can be drawn from circuits built using reusable electronic component housings. A power supply with similar housing to reusable battery holders, also designed to limit maximum current and perform electrically equivalent to two or more battery holders. A reusable electronic housing with means for attaching any two leaded electronic component for insertion into quick connect assembly system. This housing also contains a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resetable fuse to electroniclly limit the maximum current that can be sent through the attached two leaded component.

Claims

1. A quick connect circuit electronic system, comprising:

interconnectable electronic components for forming an electronic circuit;

a base comprising a non-conductive base portion and an array of snap-fitting non-conductive male connectors extending upwardly from said base being mounted on the base portion;

a set of modules, each of said modules comprising non-conductive module portion with substantially planar face portions and snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors connected to said module portion, a plurality of electronically conductive male connectors extending outwardly from and connected to one of said face portions of said module and the snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors on a face portion opposite to one of the face portions of said module, said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to said male connectors of said base to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connectors of said base to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach said modules to said base, and said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to other male connectors of other modules to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the other male connectors of said other modules to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect said modules to each other;

said electronic components being mounted on said modules and electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors; and

at least one of said modules comprising component-receiving connectors securely mounted on said modules for snap-fittingly receiving and releasably engaging at least one of said electronic components to provide a solderless electronic connection thereto.

2. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electronic components are selected from the group of:

capacitors, resistors, diodes, light emitting diodes LED, inductors, transistors, semiconductors, triodes, power supplies, motors, fans, electronic sound emitters, speakers, buzzers, bells, alarms, microphones, light bulbs, strobe lights, switches, integrated circuits, computer chip, amplifiers, modulators, solar panels, computer interfaces, telephone interfaces, and combinations thereof.

3. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electronically conductive male connectors comprise:

metal male connectors selected from the group consisting of snaps, pegs, pins, posts, pedestals, and plugs; and

metal female connectors selected from the group consisting of sockets, receptacles, grommets, rings, and tubes.

4. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said non-conductive base portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, paperboard, cardboard, and rubber; and

said base portion comprises a foraminous portion with a matrix of openings therein.

5. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said component receiving connectors comprise electronically conductive metal springs selected from the group consisting of:

compression springs, spiral springs, and helical springs.

6. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 1 including at least one current limiting device electronically connected to said electronic components on said modules for limiting flow of current through said electronic components to a level below a predetermined maximum threshold to substantially prevent explosion or other damage of said electronic components.

7. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises a time delayed current limiter.

8. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises a positive temperature coefficient PTC resettable fuse.

9. A quick connect circuit electronic system, comprising:

interconnectable electronic components for forming an electronic circuit;

a base comprising a non-conductive base portion and an array of snap-fitting non-conductive male connectors extending upwardly from said base being mounted on the base portion;

a set of modules, each of said modules comprising non-conductive module portion with substantially planar face portions and snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors connected to said module portion, a plurality of electronically conductive male connectors extending outwardly from and connected to one of said face portions of said module and the snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors on a face portion opposite to one of the face portions of said module, said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to said male connectors of said base to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connectors of said base to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach said modules to said base, and said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to other male connectors of other modules to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the other male connectors of said other modules to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect said modules to each other;

said electronic components being mounted on said modules and electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors; and

at least one of said modules comprises a battery holder with at least one compartment for holding a battery and automatic resettable short circuit protection circuitry operatively connected to said battery.

10. A quick connect circuit electronic system, comprising:

interconnectable electronic components for forming an electronic circuit;

a base comprising a non-conductive base portion and an array of snap-fitting non-conductive male connectors extending upwardly from said base being mounted on the base portion;

a set of modules, each of said modules comprising non-conductive module portion with substantially planar face portions and snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors connected to said module portion, a plurality of electronically conductive male connectors extending outwardly from and connected to one of said face portions of said module and the snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors on a face portion opposite to one of the face portions of said module, said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to said male connectors of said base to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the male connectors of said base to releasably secure, interlockingly couple and mechanically attach said modules to said base, and said snap-fitting female electronically conductive connectors being complementary to other male connectors of other modules to snap-fittingly receive and matingly engage the other male connectors of said other modules to releasably secure, interlockingly couple, mechanically attach and electronically connect said modules to each other;

said electronic components being mounted on said modules and electronically connected to said electronically conductive male connectors; and

at least one of said modules comprising a wall mounted power source plug and a set of stackable DC outlet plugs connected to said wall mounted power source.

11. A quick connect circuit electronic system in accordance with claim 10 wherein each of said stackable DC outlet plugs comprise protection circuitry to substantially minimize overheating and short circuits.