Three-dimensional structures with electronic circuit paths and safety circuits

• US 8,221,182 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advins, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elenco Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Seymour, Arthur, Johnson, Brian P., Ceuhin, Gerald J., Matz, Alexander B., Lehner, Marc C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US12/639,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 446119-122, 446124-126, 446/85, 446/175, 446/484, 361/1, 361/93.1
• US Class Current: 446/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/04 Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
• 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

A three-dimensional electro-mechanical system for making mechanical structures using snap-together parts or building blocks that easily demonstrate the principles required in making three-dimensional electronic circuits incorporated in the mechanical structures. A reusable electronic module that contains batteries or other power sources and has means for attaching to other electronic modules to power these three-dimensional circuits and prevent and warn the user of excessive current.

Claims

1. A quick connect electro-mechanical system, comprising:

a plurality of interconnectable components having a housing wherein the housing has an interior and an exterior and wherein the interconnectable components have electrically conductive surfaces and non-electrically conductive surfaces and wherein a circuit is formed by electrically connecting at least two of the interconnectable components;

a snap-fitting mechanical connector system having a male and female component wherein the male snap-fitting mechanical connector extends outward from the interconnectable component and wherein the male snap-fitting mechanical connector has a shaft portion having a first end and a second end and wherein a head portion having a circumference greater than a circumference of the shaft portion is located at the first end and wherein the snap-fitting mechanical connector is located on a first end of the housing with non-electrically conductive surfaces but containing an electrical conductive element wherein the male snap-fitting mechanical connector connects a first interconnectable component to a second interconnectable component and wherein an opening in the female snap-fitting mechanical connector of the second component exposes an electrically conductive contact surface capable of forming a circuit with the male snap-fitting mechanical connector; and

wherein the snap-fitting mechanical connector of the first interconnectable component allows the first interconnectable component to mechanically and electrically connect along an x-axis, a y-axis or z-axis with respect to the second interconnectable component wherein each of the axes is approximately ninety degrees with respect to each other.

2. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein said electronic conductive elements include at least one of the following:

capacitors, resistors, diodes, light emitting diodes, display panels, inductors, transistors, semiconductors, 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. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein said electrical conductive surfaces are:

solid metal or other conductive material, conductive plastic, non-conductive plastic with plated conductive surfaces, any non-conductive material that is sprayed, plated, or otherwise treated to make the exposed surfaces conductive.

4. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein said non-conductive surfaces comprises a material selected from the group of:

plastic, wood, paperboard, cardboard, glass, rubber, and any conductive material otherwise treated to make the exposed surfaces non-conductive.

5. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein said opening of the snap-fitting non-electrical mechanical connector exposes an electrical contact surface of:

spring steel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, or beryllium copper.

6. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of interconnectable components has a power source that contains a current limiting device.

7. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises a time delayed current limiter with visual and/or audible warnings.

8. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises a positive temperature coefficient PTC resettable fuse that produces voltage used to produce a visual and/or audible warning when overload exist and automatically removes that voltage when the overload condition is removed.

9. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 8 wherein said audible warning is speech in one or more languages.

10. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein the warning is removed when current is restored to a safe level.

11. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein said warning is one of or combination of, speech in one or more languages, a warning sound, a flashing light, a buzzer, or a vibration.

12. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises a positive temperature coefficient PTC resettable fuse that produces a voltage used to produce a visual and audible warning when overload exist and automatically removes that voltage when the overload condition is removed.

13. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 6 wherein said current limiting device comprises an electronic circuit that produces a voltage used to produce a visual and audible warning when overload exist and automatically removes that voltage when the overload condition is removed.

14. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 1 wherein the first interconnectable component or second interconnectable component has an exterior surface which is entirely conductive and wherein the exterior surface acts to provide an electrical connection to another interconnectable component and wherein the exterior surface of the first interconnectable component or second interconnectable component further acts as a structural support forming a larger mechanical structure.

15. A quick connect electro-mechanical system, comprising:

a plurality of interconnectable components having an exterior surface wherein all exposed exterior surfaces of a first interconnectable component are electrically conductive and wherein the first interconnectable component lacks an interior circuit and wherein the exterior surface of the first component acts as the electrical connection within the electro-mechanical system;

a second interconnectable component having a housing with a substantially non-conductive exterior surface wherein the second interconnectabe component has an interior having an electrically conductive element passing through the same wherein the electrically conductive element is partially exposed on the exterior surface and wherein the second interconnectable component may make contact with and electrically and mechanically connect to the first interconnectable component at any point on the first interconnectable component; and

a third interconnectable component having a housing wherein the third interconnectable component is entirely non-conductive and wherein the third interconnectable component is used to block the electrical current flow between the first or second interconnectable component and a fourth interconnectable component.

16. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 15 wherein the first, second and third interconnectable components are of substantially identical size and shape.

17. The quick connect electro-mechanical system of claim 15 further comprising:

a snap-fitting mechanical connector system having a male and female component wherein the male snap-fitting mechanical connector component extends outward from a first interconnectable component and wherein the male snap-fitting mechanical connector component electrically and mechanically connects to the female snap-fitting mechanical connector located on a second interconnectable component.