Toy Building System

• US 20090305602A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Original Assignee: Lego A/S (Kirkbi A/S)
• Inventors: Gaute, Munch
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

A toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements (210) each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements (400) each for controlling one or more function building elements, each building element including at least one connector for electrically connecting the building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, the connector including at least one control signal contact. Bach control building element includes a main output connector adapted to output a control signal for controlling at least one function building element; and each function building element includes an input connector for receiving a control signal and is adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal. Bach function building element further includes an output connector adapted to forward the received control signal.

Claims

1. A toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements each for controlling one or more function building elements, each building element including at least one connector for electrically connecting the building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, the connector including at least one control signal contact;

wherein each control building element includes a main output connector adapted to output a control signal for controlling at least one function building element; and

each function building element includes an input connector for receiving a control signal and is adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal;

and wherein each function building element further includes an output connector adapted to forward the received control signal.

2. A toy building system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply building element including an energy source for supplying electrical power and an output connector;

and wherein at least one connector of a building element further includes a power contact.

3. A toy building system according to claim 2, wherein at least one output connector of a building element includes a power contact adapted to provide output electrical power for supplying the electrical power to one or more building elements;

and wherein an input connector of each building element includes a power contact adapted to receive electrical power.

4. A toy building system according to claim 2, wherein the power supply building element is further adapted to output a control signal via the output connector of the power supply building element.

5. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein each function building element includes a stackable connector element including the input and output connectors of the function building element.

6. A toy building system according to claim 5, wherein the stackable connector element of each function building element is adapted to receive a control signal from the input connector of the stackable connector element, and to feed the received control signal to the function building element and to the output connector of the stackable connector element so as to provide a direct control signal path from the input connector to the output connector.

7. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein each control building element of at least a first subset of control building elements includes a stackable connector element including the main output connector of the control building element and an input connector, wherein the stackable connector element is adapted to block any control signal output by an output connector connected to the input connector of the stackable control element from being directly fed to the main output connector of the stackable connector element.

8. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein each control building element of at least a second subset of control building elements includes a stackable connector element including an input connector and an output connector different from the main output connector, wherein the stackable connector element is adapted to receive a control signal from the input connector of the stackable connector element and to feed the received control signal to the output connector of the stackable connector element so as to provide a control signal path from the input connector to the output connector.

9. A toy building system according to claim 8, wherein the stackable connector element is adapted to feed the received control signal to the control building element.

10. A toy building system according to claim 5, wherein each building element including a stackable connector includes a building element body including an electrical circuit;

and wherein the stackable connector element is electrically connected to the electrical circuit via an extension cable.

11. A toy building system according to claim 1, further including an extension element, the extension element comprising a stackable connector element, a further output connector, and an electrical extension element, the stackable connector element including an input connector and an output connector, the stackable connector element of the extension element being adapted to receive a control signal from the input connector of the stackable connector element, and to feed the received control signal to the further output connector via the electrical extension element and to the output connector of the stackable connector element.

12. A toy building system according to claim 5, further comprising a power supply building element including an energy source for supplying electrical power and an output connector;

and wherein each stackable connector is adapted to receive electrical power from the in put connector of the stackable connector and to feed the received electrical power to the output connector of the stackable connector element.

13. A toy building system according to claim 5, wherein each stackable connector includes a first connecting side including the input connector of the stackable connector element, and a second connecting side opposite the first connecting side, the second connecting side including the output connector of the stackable connector element.

14. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein at least one control building element includes a further input interface for receiving an external input;

and wherein the control building element is adapted to generate the output control signal responsive to the external input.

15. A toy building system according to claim 14 wherein the external input is selected from the group comprising mechanical forces, push, pull, rotation, human manipulation, touch, proximity of an object, electrical signals, radio frequency signals, optical signals, visible light signals, infrared signals, magnetic signals, temperature, humidity, radiation.

16. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein each building element includes coupling means for releasably interconnecting building elements.

17. A toy building system according to claim 16, wherein each connector includes coupling means for releasably interconnecting building elements.

18. A toy building system according to claim 16 wherein the coupling means comprise protrusions and cavities adapted to receive protrusions in a frictional engagement.

19. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein the input connectors are connectable only to output connectors and output connectors are connectable only to input connectors.

20. A toy building system according to claim 1, wherein the function is selected from the group comprising motion, generating an audible sound signal, generating an inaudible sound signal, generating an electrical signal, generating a visible light signal, generating an invisible light signal, generating a radio frequency signal.

21. A toy building system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of function building elements whose function devices are adapted to perform different functions.

22. A function building element for a toy building system, the toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements each for controlling one or more function building elements;

wherein the function building element includes at least an input connector and an output connector each for electrically connecting the function building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, each connector including at least one control signal contact;

wherein the input connector is adapted to receive a control signal and the output connector is adapted to forward the received control signal; and

wherein and the function building element is adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal.

23. A control building element for a toy building system, the toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements each for controlling one or more function building elements, each building element including at least one connector for electrically connecting the building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, the connector including at least one control signal contact;

each function budding element including an input connector for receiving a control signal and being adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal;

wherein the control building element includes a stackable connector element including a main output connector adapted to output a control signal for controlling at least one function building element;

wherein the stackable connector element further includes an input connector; and

wherein the stackable connector element is adapted to block an control signal output by an output connector connected to the input connector of the stackable control element from being directly fed to the main output connector of the stackable connector element.

24. A control building element for a toy building system, the toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements each for controlling one or more function building elements, each building element including at least one connector for electrically connecting the building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, the connector including at least one control signal contact each function building element including an input connector for receiving a control signal and being adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal;

wherein the control building element includes a main output connector adapted to output a control signal for controlling at least one function building element;

wherein the control building element further includes a stackable connector element including an input connector and an output connector different from the main output connector;

wherein the stackable connector element is adapted to receive a control signal from the input connector of the stackable connector element and to feed the received control signal to the output connector of the stackable connector element so as to provide a control signal path from the input connector to the output connector.

25. An extension element for a toy building system, the toy building system comprising a plurality of building elements including one or more function building elements each for performing a corresponding function, and one or more control building elements each for controlling one or more function building elements, each building element including at least one connector for electrically connecting the building element with another building element via a corresponding connector of the other building element, the connector including at least one control signal contact;

each function building element including an input connector for receiving a control signal and being adapted to perform a function responsive to the received control signal;

wherein the extension element comprises a stackable connector element, a further output connector, and an electrical extension element, the stackable connector element including an input connector and an output connector, the stackable connector element of the extension element being adapted to receive a control signal from the input connector of the stackable connector element, and to feed the received control signal to the further output connector via the electrical extension element and to the output connector of the stackable connector element.