Electrically conductive block toy

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6805605
  • Patent Number
    6,805,605
  • Date Filed
    Monday, March 17, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 19, 2004
    20 years ago
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.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to children's toys, and more particularly to block toy sets or similar construction systems that include block components or similar parts that can be assembled together to form larger toys.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Block toys remain a popular class of toys for children ranging in ages from preschool age up even into the high school years. Such toys include multiple block components that can be connected to and disconnected from one another (or at least positioned in relation to one another) to assemble and disassemble larger toy entities. Among the most versatile of the block toys, in terms of the complexity of the toy entities that can be constructed using the blocks, are the LEGO® toys and similar toys in which the block components have protrusions and indentations that allow multiple blocks to be combined with, and affixed to, one another.




In recent years, the variety of block components available from block toy manufacturers has increased significantly. In particular, some toy manufacturers now provide block systems that include, in addition to standard block components, specialized components such as gear mechanisms or electronic components such as motors, batteries, electric lights, and even programmable computerized control devices. By way of these more complicated block systems, children can now construct toy entities that more closely resemble real-world systems and perform mechanized or automatic operations.




Despite efforts on the part of block toy manufacturers to design these specialized components in such a way as to make the specialized components compatible with standard block components, compatibility between these different components remains a problem. Children who utilize the specialized components in conjunction with the standard block components must be cognizant of the proper manner in which to assemble the components and cautious not to lose any of the specialized components. Further, because the components can only be assembled in a certain manner, children can in some circumstances be precluded from fashioning toys according to their own designs. Indeed, often the aesthetic appearance of the specialized components is substantially different from that of the standard blocks, such that the specialized components detract from the overall appearance of the toy assemblies built using the block systems.




These problems are particularly evident with respect to the implementation of electrical components in block toy systems. To provide power to and from electrical devices such as motors, lights, and batteries, and to communicate electrical control signals from computerized controllers to other electrical devices, electrical pathways must be provided. While wire cables can be employed to provided the desired connections, the use of wires in block toy systems is both functionally and aesthetically incompatible with the general design of the block components. The use of wires is further complicated when multiple signals or voltages (e.g., a voltage differential) are to be transmitted.





FIGS. 1 and 2

(Prior Art) show one existing component


5


for providing electrical connections in a block toy system, which was developed by The LEGO Group, and was also shown in the Robotics Invention System™ Constructopaedia™ building guide published in 1998. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the component


5


includes first and second blocks


10


and


20


, respectively, that are coupled to one another by a cable


15


. Each block


10


,


20


is a two-by-two (square) protrusion/indentation LEGO® block. That is, each block


10


,


20


has a respective first row


25


of two cylindrical protrusions


30


protruding from a respective top side


35


of the respective block, a respective second row


40


of two cylindrical protrusions


30


protruding from the respective top side, a respective first row


45


of two indentations


50


extending inward through a bottom side


55


of the respective block, and a second row


60


of the two indentations


50


extending inward through the bottom side. As is commonly the case in such block toy components, in the embodiment shown the two indentations


50


of each of the first and second rows


45


,


60


are not separated from one another but instead together form a single rectangular channel.




Further as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, within each of the blocks


10


,


20


are first and second electrical conductors


65


and


70


. As shown, each of the electrical conductors


65


,


70


includes a respective flat panel section


75


that is coupled to two protrusion sections


80


. The flat panel sections


75


of the first electrical conductors


65


are positioned along first internal walls


85


of each of the first and second blocks


10


,


20


. The flat panel sections


75


of the second electrical conductors


70


are positioned along second internal walls


90


of each of the first and second blocks


10


,


20


. Thus, the flat panel sections


75


of the first and second electrical conductors


65


,


70


respectively form parts of the indentations


50


of each of the first and second rows of indentations


45


,


60


. The first and second electrical conductors


65


,


70


respectively extend the entire length of the corresponding first and second internal walls


85


,


90


of the blocks


10


,


20


and consequently the pair of indentations


50


of each respective row


45


,


60


are short circuited with one another. When other block components are attached to the first and second blocks


10


,


20


by the insertion of protrusions of the other block components into the indentations


50


, portions of the protrusions of the other block components are tangent to and in contact with the internal walls


85


,


90


.




The two protrusion sections


80


of the first electrical conductor


65


of each block


10


,


20


respectively extend into the two protrusions


30


of the second row


40


of protrusions on that block, while the two protrusion sections


80


of the second electrical conductor


70


of each block respectively extend into the two protrusions


30


of the first row


25


of protrusions on that block. As shown, segments


95


of the outer cylindrical surfaces of each of the protrusions


30


that are outward facing towards the planes formed by the first and second internal walls


85


,


90


are missing. Consequently, portions of the protrusion sections


80


of the first and second electrical conductors


65


and


70


are exposed at each of the protrusions


30


.




The cable


15


internally includes first and second wires


100


,


105


. The first wire


100


is coupled between the first electrical conductors


65


of the first and second blocks


10


,


20


while the second wire


105


is coupled between the second electrical conductors


70


of the first and second blocks. Consequently, the component


5


is configured to allow a voltage differential to be applied at one of the blocks (e.g., at the first block


10


) across the first and second conductors


65


,


70


of that block, such that the voltage differential is then provided at the other of the blocks (e.g., at the second block


20


) across its first and second conductors.




The component


5


of

FIGS. 1 and 2

provides certain desirable features. In particular, electrical signals/voltages can be applied and delivered at the indentations/protrusions of a block, such that electrical connections can be established between two blocks simply by assembling the blocks in the standard manner. Additionally, the design successfully enables the transmission of a voltage differential over a distance.




Nevertheless, the design of the component


5


limits its usefulness. To begin, the component


5


still employs the cable


15


, which is aesthetically inharmonious with the blocks


10


,


20


, and which may become dislodged from the blocks


10


,


20


over time. In particular, the interfaces between the cable


15


and the two blocks


10


,


20


can constitute a structural weak points of the component.




Further, the manner in which the first and second electrical conductors


65


,


70


are constructed and positioned in relation to the blocks


10


,


20


limits the usefulness of the component


5


. As shown, the flat panel sections


75


of the first and second electrical conductors


65


and


70


are positioned only along the first and second internal walls


85


and


90


, and the first and second electrical conductors only protrude from the protrusions


30


at the outward-facing segments


95


of the protrusions. Consequently, if a block like that of blocks


10


,


20


(e.g., from another one of the components


5


) is to be successfully coupled electrically to the bottom side


55


of one of the blocks


10


,


20


, that block must be oriented so that its respective first and second rows of protrusions are aligned with the first and second rows


45


,


60


of indentations of the one of the blocks


10


,


20


to which it is attached. Likewise, if a block like the blocks


10


,


20


is to be successfully coupled electrically to the top side


35


of one of the blocks


10


,


20


, that block must be oriented so that its respective first and second rows of indentations are aligned with the first and second rows


25


,


40


of protrusions of the one of the blocks


10


,


20


to which it is attached. Otherwise, the flat panel sections


75


of the electrical conductors


65


,


70


of one block will not be in contact with the portions of the electrical conductors of the other block that are exposed within the segments


95


of that block, and no electrical connections will be established. Thus, two of the blocks cannot be assembled in a manner in which the blocks only are in contact along one of the rows


25


,


40


of protrusions of one of the blocks and one of the rows


45


,


60


of indentations of the other of the blocks (e.g., in a staggered manner).




Additionally, because adjacent protrusions


30


of each of the rows


25


,


40


of each of the blocks


10


,


20


are short-circuited with one another, and similarly because adjacent indentations


50


of each of the rows


45


,


60


of each of the blocks


10


,


20


are short-circuited with one another, any voltage differential between the first and second electrical conductors


65


,


70


can become short-circuited when two or more blocks that are the same as the blocks


10


,


20


are stacked above one another in an improper orientation. In particular, if two blocks are stacked in a manner where the rows


25


,


40


of one the blocks are perpendicular to the rows


45


,


60


of the other of the blocks, then a voltage differential existing on at least one of the blocks will be short-circuited. Thus, the design of the component


5


does not facilitate the communication of a voltage differential by way of the stacking of blocks, since blocks must be stacked in a particular manner for such a voltage differential to be properly communicated from the bottom of the stack to the top of the stack.




Therefore, given the limitations of conventional block toy components such as those shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, it would be advantageous if an improved electrical block toy component could be developed. In particular, it would be advantageous if such a component allowed for the communication of a voltage differential over a distance. Additionally, it would be advantageous if such a component allowed for the communication of a voltage differential over a distance without the use of externally visible wires or other externally-visible or structurally weak non-block components. Further, it would be advantageous if such a component was easy to construct and manufacture, robust, and consistent in aesthetic appearance and function with standard block toy components of its corresponding block toy system.




Additionally, it would be advantageous if such a component was designed so that, whenever the component was assembled to another similar interface component in any manner consistent with the normal manner of assembling block components of that type, electrical connections were successfully created regardless of the particular orientation of assembly. For example, with respect to LEGO®-type block components, it would be advantageous if electrical connections could be created between two block components whenever one or more indentations of one of the components received one or more corresponding protrusions of the other of the components, regardless of whether pairs of indentations of one component were aligned with pairs of protrusions of the other components, or whether all or some of the indentations of one component were in contact all or some of the protrusions of the other component. Additionally, it would be advantageous if the components were designed in such a manner that, regardless of the orientation of components that were affixed to one another, a voltage differential applied to one component in a stack of components would always be properly transmitted to another one of the components in the stack, without any short-circuiting of the voltage differential occurring due to the relative orientation of the components.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present inventors have realized that an electrically conductive block component can be constructed by inserting a plurality of pins into corresponding sockets within a rectangular block portion. Heads of the pins at first ends of the pins extend out of a top face of the rectangular block portion to form protrusions, while indentations exist within the opposite ends of the pins along a bottom face of the rectangular block portion, where the indentations are capable of receiving and being connected to corresponding protrusions from other block components. Because the entire circumferences of the heads of the pins, and the entire inner surfaces of the indentations, are electrically conductive, electrical connections can be established between two of the electrically conductive block components regardless of the relative orientations of the block components, so long as one or more of the protrusions of one block component are connected to one or more of the indentations of another block component.




The present inventors have further realized that, by internally short-circuiting only those pins on a block component that are positioned diagonally with respect to one another, the block component is thus configured to have two sets of pins that are electrically isolated from one another and that can coexist with a voltage differential between the two sets of pins. Further, because adjacent pins within a given row of pins (rather than pins from different rows that are diagonally-neighboring) are always electrically isolated from one another, two of the block components of this type can be assembled in any orientation without short circuiting the voltage differential between the two sets of pins. Consequently, an inexperienced user can easily connect or stack multiple such electrically conductive block components, in any orientation, and successfully provide a voltage differential from a first location at one of the block components to a second location at one of the other block components.




In particular, the present invention relates to an electrically conductive block component. 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 further 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.




The present invention further relates to an electrically conductive block component. The electrically conductive block component includes a main block section having a plurality of channels extending between first and second surfaces of the main block section, and a plurality of electrically conductive pins. Each pin is inserted within a respective one of the channels, and 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. The electrically conductive block component additionally includes at least one connection that electrically couples at least two of the electrically conductive pins.




The present invention additionally relates to a method of producing an electrically conductive block component. The method includes providing a main block section having first and second faces and a first channel extending from the first face to the second face, and inserting a first electrically conductive pin into the first channel so that the pin extends from proximate the first face to proximate the second face. Upon being inserted sufficiently far into the first channel, the first electrically conductive pin is fixed in position with respect to the main block section.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a top perspective view of a Prior Art electrically conductive block component;





FIG. 2

is a bottom perspective view of the component of

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 3

is a top perspective view of an exemplary electrically conductive block component in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary electrically conductive block component of

FIG. 3

, taken along line


4


-


4


of

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary electrically conductive block component of

FIGS. 3 and 4

, taken along line


5


-


5


of

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 6

is an alternate embodiment of the cross-sectional view of the exemplary electrically conductive block component shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

is a top perspective view of an assembly of multiple electrically conductive block components in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 8

is a top perspective view of another exemplary electrically conductive block component in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIG. 3

, a perspective view of an exemplary electrically conductive block component


200


shows the block component to be rectangular with respective first and second rows


210


,


220


of protrusions


230


protruding from a top face


240


of the block component. In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second rows


210


,


220


includes three of the protrusions


230


, although in alternate embodiments, the number of protrusions per row could vary. Indeed, depending upon the embodiment, the number of rows


210


,


220


could also vary. For example, the block component


200


could also be a block component having only one protrusion


230


in a single row or a block component with nine protrusions


230


arranged in three rows.




Also shown in

FIG. 3

, in phantom, are respective first and second rows


250


,


260


of indentations


270


recessed inward into a bottom face


280


of the block component


200


. Each of the rows of indentations


250


,


260


includes three of the indentations


270


, to match the protrusions


230


along the top face


240


. In alternate embodiments, in which the number and/or arrangements of protrusions


230


varies from that shown in

FIG. 3

, typically the arrangement of indentations


270


would be changed to match that of the corresponding protrusions. However, it is possible that, in some alternate embodiments, a block component would include one or more protrusions


230


that were unmatched by corresponding indentations


270


, or vice versa.




The block component


200


is generally in the form of a LEGO® type block component and is capable of being connected to other block components of the LEGO® type. However, the present invention is also capable of being implemented with respect to block components for use with block toy systems other than the LEGO® systems. For example, while the LEGO® type blocks typically have cylindrical shaped protrusions


230


, other types of block components may have rectangular shaped protrusions or protrusions of other shapes, as well as indentations capable of receiving such protrusions. The block component


200


need not be rectangular. The present invention is intended to be applicable with respect to all of these other types of block toy systems.




Referring to

FIG. 4

, a cross-sectional view of the electrically conductive block component


200


taken along line


4


-


4


is shown. As is evident from

FIG. 4

, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the protrusions


230


and indentations


270


are formed by pins


290


that extend through a main block portion


360


of the block component


200


from its bottom face


280


to (and out of) its top face


240


. As shown, each of the pins


290


has a respective head


300


, respective top portions of which form the protrusions


230


. Also, each of the pins


290


includes a respective base


310


, in which is formed a respective one of the indentations


270


. Further, as shown, each of the heads


300


of the respective pins


290


includes a respective slot


320


through, and a respective locking ridge


330


around, the head


300


of the pin


290


. The respective slot


320


of each pin


290


extends from a respective upper end


325


of the pin up to a respective interior section


340


of the pin.




The pins


290


are made from one or more electrically conductive materials such as copper or steel, such that each of the pins


290


provides a short circuit between its respective protrusion


230


and indentation


270


. To construct the block component


200


, each of the pins


290


is inserted into a respective channel


350


within the main block portion


360


. The pins


290


are inserted with the heads


300


first. The slots


320


, which allow the circumferences of the heads to be slightly reduced during insertion, facilitate the insertion of the pins, which would otherwise be more difficult due to the presence of the locking ridges


330


. Once the respective pins


290


are inserted all of the way into their respective channels


350


, the respective ridges


330


fit into respective complementary notches


370


of the main block portion


360


, thus locking the respective pins


290


with respect to the main block portion


360


so that the pins do not slide back out of the bottom face


280


of the block component


200


. Additionally, the bases


310


of the pins


290


include ridges


380


that prevent the pins


290


from being inserted too far into the respective slots


350


. Thus, the pins


290


snap into place within the main block portion


360


and are locked in relation to the main block portion, thereby forming a robust block component


200


with the multiple protrusions


230


and indentations


270


.




In certain embodiments, the block components such as the block component


200


additionally are designed to provide for electrical connections between multiple pins


290


. For example,

FIG. 5

shows a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the block component


200


taken along line


5


-


5


of

FIG. 4

, in which pins


290


that are positioned diagonally apart from one another are electrically connected (short circuited) by way of connections


390


,


400


existing within the interior of the main block portion


360


. Specifically, as shown in

FIG. 5

, the middle one of the three pins


290


forming the middle indentation


270


of the first row of indentations


250


is coupled to both of the outside pins


290


forming the outermost (e.g., first and third) indentations


270


of the second row of indentations


260


. The connections


390


between these three pins


290


are embedded within the main block portion


360


and can be, for example, discrete wires that run parallel to the top and bottom faces


240


,


280


between the respective diagonally-positioned pins


290


. Also as shown in phantom, the middle one of the pins


290


. forming the middle indentation


270


of the second row


260


of indentations is coupled by way of the connections


400


to the outside pins


290


forming the outermost indentations


270


of the first row


250


of indentations. The additional connections


400


also can be, for example, discrete wires that run parallel to the top and bottom faces


240


,


280


of the block component


200


.




Because the respective connections


390


and connections


400


connect alternating sets of diagonally-positioned pins


290


, the connectors


390


and additional connectors


400


crisscross one another. In order that the crisscrossing connections


390


,


400


remain electrically isolated, so that the respective sets of pins


290


coupled to the different connections also are electrically isolated from one another within the block component


200


and thus can be maintained at different voltages, the connections


390


are typically positioned at a different level between the bottom and top faces


240


,


280


than the additional connections


400


. In the embodiment shown, for example, the connections


390


are positioned at a higher level (e.g., closer to the top face


240


) than the additional connections


400


. In certain embodiments, the main block portion


360


can be formed by way of a molding layering process, in which the additional connections


400


are positioned above a bottom layer of plastic that forms the bottom face


280


, a middle layer of plastic is positioned on top of the additional connections


400


, the connections


390


are positioned above the middle layer, and a top layer of plastic is finally provided above the connections


390


, where the top layer also forms the top face


240


of the main block portion


360


. Thus, the connections


390


are electrically isolated from the additional connections by the middle layer of plastic.




Turning to

FIG. 6

, an alternate cross-sectional view of the block component


200


of

FIG. 3

taken along line


4


-


4


is shown. In this embodiment, pins


410


are still inserted within corresponding channels


420


of a main block portion


430


of the block component


200


. However, in order to retain the pins


410


in their channels


420


, caps


440


are positioned respectively over heads


450


of the pins


410


. The caps


440


, which form the outer surfaces of the protrusions


230


of the block component


200


, are electrically conductive and are pressed onto the heads


450


of the pins


410


. Because the outer circumference of the caps


450


is larger than the diameter of the channels


420


, the pins


410


are locked in place and prevented from coming out of the bottom face


280


of the block component


200


. Also, the pins


410


again include ridges


480


around their respective bases


490


that preclude the pins from being inserted too far into the main block portion


430


. The embodiments shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

are only intended to be exemplary of a variety of different designs of electrically conductive block components that can be simply assembled to allow for electrical connections between respective indentations


270


and protrusions


230


of the block component.




Referring to

FIG. 7

, several of the block components


200


are shown to be assembled with one another and with an additional block component


460


to form a larger block assembly


470


. The block assembly


470


is only intended to be exemplary of a variety of block assemblies that could be constructed using one or more of the block components


200


,


460


or other block components. That is, the assembly


470


is exemplary of other assemblies constructed from block components that have fewer or larger numbers of protrusions


230


and indentations


270


than the block components


200


and the additional block component


460


(which has first and second rows of four protrusions and first and second rows of four indentations).




As shown in

FIG. 7

, assuming that each of the block components


200


and


460


employ connections such as those of

FIG. 5

that connect diagonally-positioned pins (and their respective protrusions and indentations), a voltage differential can be transmitted across multiple blocks.

FIG. 7

shows how two different voltage potentials at two sets of pins (and thus a voltage differential between those respective sets of pins) is transmitted by the blocks by showing respective plus signs on those of the protrusions


230


that would have a first voltage potential and respective negative signs on those of the protrusions that would have a second voltage potential.




Block components in which diagonally-positioned pins (rather than adjacent pins) are connected to one another are especially advantageous insofar as the block components having this configuration can be assembled with one another in any orientation without resulting in the short-circuiting of the two sets of pins and any voltage differential between them. Thus, a child constructing an assembly such as the assembly


470


with the block components can easily provide a voltage differential and thus communicate power from one location in the assembly to another without having to follow any specialized rules of assembly other than the normal manner of assembling the block components. Further, this embodiment of block components is advantageous insofar as it eliminates the need for wires that could negatively impact the aesthetic appearance of the blocks or compromise the blocks'robustness. In essence, the block components integrate the electrical componentry of the blocks with the physical structure/shape of the blocks.




Turning to

FIG. 8

, an alternate embodiment of the invention shows a block component


500


that employs pins


520


(which can be of any of the types discussed above, including the pins


290


and pins


410


). In this example, the block component


500


only has a single row


510


of the pins


520


and corresponding indentations and protrusions. Preferably, the pins


520


are electrically isolated from one another rather than coupled to one another by any connections. By electrically isolating the pins


520


of the block component


500


from one another, voltage differentials carried by other block components such as the block components


200


,


460


described above are not short-circuited when those other block components are coupled to the block component


500


.




The present invention is generally applicable to block components having a different number and arrangement of pins and corresponding protrusions and indentations, and to a variety of other types of block components than those shown in

FIGS. 3-8

. Also, while not preferred, the present invention includes embodiments in which adjacent pins rather than just diagonally-positioned pins are electrically coupled to one another.




Many other modifications and variations of the preferred embodiment which will still be within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art. In order to apprise the public of the various embodiments that may fall within the scope of the invention, the following claims are made.



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; andwherein 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.
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Number Date Country
2188956 Oct 1987 GB
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Entry
Lego Mindstorms, Power of Robotics @ Your Command, ROBOTICS Invention System, Constructopedia, 1998, The LEGO Group, pp. 3-47.