Illuminated toy building system and methods
DCFirst Claim
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1. A building block set having a plurality of building blocks, with at least some of the blocks comprising:
- a generally transparent body defining a hollow interior cavity and having first and second cylindrical openings thereinto;
an internal light source within the hollow interior cavity of the transparent body operable into an illuminated state in response to an electrical input;
a non-conductive barrel extending outwardly from the transparent body and coaxial with the first cylindrical opening;
a male electrically conductive connector fitted at least partially into the non-conductive barrel and coaxial therewith;
a female electrically conductive connector extending into the hollow interior cavity coaxially away from the second cylindrical opening; and
an electrical circuit within the interior volume of the transparent body electrically coupled with the internal light source and both the male and female connectors for powering the internal light source in response to an electrical input into either electrically conductive connector;
wherein the at least some of the blocks are connectable such that, with the male electrically conductive connector of a first one of the blocks fully inserted into the female electrically conductive connector of a second one of the blocks, the non-conductive barrel of the first one of the blocks will be at least partially seated within the cylindrical opening of the second one of the blocks, and the first one of the blocks and the second one of the blocks are freely rotatable relative to one another about a connection axis therebetween while maintaining electrical contact; and
wherein, with the male electrically conductive connector of the first one of the blocks fully inserted into the female electrically conductive connector of the second one of the blocks, the female electrically conductive connector of the second one of the blocks will be, in a radial direction perpendicular to the connection axis, at least partially seated between the non-conductive barrel and the male electrically conductive connector of the first one of the blocks.
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Abstract
A building block set comprises a plurality of transparent blocks each having a hollow internal cavity with a light source fitted within each cavity and first and second electrically conductive connectors extending through each block and into the internal cavity with a circuit within the cavity for illuminating the light in response to an electronic input to either connector.
94 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A building block set having a plurality of building blocks, with at least some of the blocks comprising:
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a generally transparent body defining a hollow interior cavity and having first and second cylindrical openings thereinto; an internal light source within the hollow interior cavity of the transparent body operable into an illuminated state in response to an electrical input; a non-conductive barrel extending outwardly from the transparent body and coaxial with the first cylindrical opening; a male electrically conductive connector fitted at least partially into the non-conductive barrel and coaxial therewith; a female electrically conductive connector extending into the hollow interior cavity coaxially away from the second cylindrical opening; and an electrical circuit within the interior volume of the transparent body electrically coupled with the internal light source and both the male and female connectors for powering the internal light source in response to an electrical input into either electrically conductive connector; wherein the at least some of the blocks are connectable such that, with the male electrically conductive connector of a first one of the blocks fully inserted into the female electrically conductive connector of a second one of the blocks, the non-conductive barrel of the first one of the blocks will be at least partially seated within the cylindrical opening of the second one of the blocks, and the first one of the blocks and the second one of the blocks are freely rotatable relative to one another about a connection axis therebetween while maintaining electrical contact; and wherein, with the male electrically conductive connector of the first one of the blocks fully inserted into the female electrically conductive connector of the second one of the blocks, the female electrically conductive connector of the second one of the blocks will be, in a radial direction perpendicular to the connection axis, at least partially seated between the non-conductive barrel and the male electrically conductive connector of the first one of the blocks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A building block set comprising:
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at least one first block having a first shape, the at least one first block including; a first block body that is at least partially transparent, having a first block hollow interior cavity and defining a first block cylindrical opening extending thereinto; a first block internal light source fitted within the first block hollow interior cavity; a first block female electrically conductive connector fitted coaxially with the first block cylindrical opening and operable to illuminate the first block internal light source upon application of an electrical input thereto; and at least one second block having a second shape different from the first shape, the at least one second block including; a second block body that is at least partially transparent, having a second block hollow interior cavity and defining a second block cylindrical opening extending thereinto; a second block non-conductive barrel extending outwardly from the second block body and coaxial with the second block cylindrical opening; a second block internal light source fitted within the second block hollow interior cavity; a second block male electrically conductive connector fitted at least partially into the second block non-conductive barrel and coaxial therewith and operable to illuminate the second block internal light source upon application of an electrical input thereto; wherein the first and second blocks are electrically and mechanically connectable along a connection axis at any relative angle of rotation between the first and second block electrically conductive connectors by inserting the second block male electrically conductive connector into the first block female electrically conductive connector and at least a portion of the second block non-conductive barrel into the first block cylindrical opening; and wherein, with the second block male electrically conductive connector fully inserted into the first block female electrically conductive connector, the first block female electrically conductive connector will be, in a radial direction perpendicular to the connection axis, at least partially seated between the second block non-conductive barrel and the second block male electrically conductive connector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification