Patent Application
20240123366
The present invention relates to a hub for powering movement of structures built from interlocking bricks.
Interlocking toy bricks have long inspired creativity and facilitated the building of unique creations ranging from the simple to the very complex. Dynamic models have been built by the connection of the interlocking toy bricks with electric motors. Previous designs of such robotic toys which have allowed for the creation of moving models have been deficient in the following respects:
First, previous designs have included batteries and motors as separate units, thereby necessitating connecting cables which may be unsuitable for younger users. Separating motor and battery also presents the risk of poor connectivity after frequent usage, increases component count and can result in limitations in the scope of application designs.
Second, previous designs have lacked indicator lights to show the battery charge levels, or have placed such an indicator light in a location where it would likely be covered by bricks built onto the unit, such that it would not be visible in many use scenarios.
Third, previous designs had few buildable surfaces, limiting application designs and therefore the scalability and versatility and the playing life duration for the user.
Fourth, previous designs lacked a low battery indicator, which is a critical factor in troubleshooting motor performance issues.
Fifth, previous designs did not have product-product mating capability to allow multiple products connected using building blocks to work separately or in tandem.
Sixth, previous designs lacked a supporting gallery of application designs to provide additional inspiration and enrichment.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide systems and devices that allow for the transformation of interlocking building blocks into moving models, as specified in the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. Embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined with each other if they are not mutually exclusive.
In some embodiments, the present invention features an integrated power hub configured to transform interlocking building bricks into a moving model by the attachment of different combinations of the bricks to any of the hub's six buildable surfaces. The hub allows for the reuse of popular, easily available, building block to provide an opportunity to learn through play, and a wide range of application designs enables the product to grow with a child user.
One of the unique and inventive technical features of the present invention is the inclusion of six independent building surfaces on an integrated power hub. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the technical feature of the present invention advantageously provides for the construction of a huge variety of moving models without connecting wires or complex controls. None of the presently known prior references or work has the unique inventive technical feature of the present invention. The lack of electrical component integration in previous designs sharply contrasts with the present invention's safe integration of electrical components such as a motor and a battery within an integrated power hub. This integration allows for a reduction of the total number of cords and wires which are required, for example, by eliminating any external connection wire between a battery and a motor.
While previous designs lacked a low battery indicator, or positioned any battery indicator light in a position likely to be covered in a build, embodiments of the present invention position an indicator light ring such that it allows for visual inspection of the battery level even when bricks are positioned on all building surfaces of the hub.
While previous designs had few building surfaces, embodiments of the present invention include multiple buildable surfaces, for example, on all six faces of a cube. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide numbered studs to enable easier attachment of building blocks and the creation of easy-to-follow learning avenues for younger users.
While previous designs often require proprietary elements, or complex technologies to build or control the moving models, embodiments of the present invention may be used independently of complex technologies like Bluetooth pairing, and may be versatile enough for use in a variety of environments such as homes, schools, and enrichment classes. For example, embodiments of the present invention may use and reuse popular, readily available building blocks that a home, school, or classroom already has. Additionally, while previous designs lack easily accessible application designs for a wide range of ages, selected embodiments of the present invention include a range of application designs with detailed instructions readily available.
Furthermore, the prior references teach away from the present invention. For example:
Furthermore, the inventive technical feature of the present invention contributed to a surprising result. For example:
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring now to
One or more of the faces (e.g. the first face) may comprise a plurality of studs configured to interlock with interlocking bricks. For example, each of the studs may be sized so as to fit exactly within an anti-stud of an interlocking brick. Similarly, one or more of the faces (e.g. the fifth and sixth faces) may comprise a plurality of anti-studs configured to interlock with interlocking bricks. A face with studs may be referred to as having a positive building surface, and a face with anti-studs may be referred to as having a negative building surface. In some embodiments, a single face may include both positive and negative building surfaces. Additionally, one or more of the faces (e.g. the third and fourth faces) may comprise a plurality of pin hole configured to receive connecting pins. A face with pin holes may be referred to as having a pin building surface. In some embodiments, a single surface may be both a positive building surface and a pin building surface, or both a negative building surface and a pin building surface. In selected embodiments, one or more of the faces may be easily removed and swapped with a face having a different type of building surface. In other embodiments, each of the faces may be designed to be permanently fixed.
In some embodiments, one or more of the studs may be a hollow stud (e.g. a Lego® Technic™ stud) configured to receive a mini-stud, and one or more of the negative surfaces may include one or more mini-studs configured to fit within a hollow stud (e.g. a Lego® Technic™ stud). Use of such hollow studs and mini-studs may allow for the interlocking of the hub with interlocking components (e.g. Lego® Technic™ components) such that the components are attached to the hub in an offset manner.
One or more of the faces (e.g. the second face) may comprise a control switch. As a non-limiting example, a switch may be electrically coupled with both a motor and a battery such that the switch is configured to control operation of the motor. In some embodiments, a switch may have two, three or more positions. As a non-limiting example, the switch may be a Center OFF 2 position slide switch. As another non-limiting example, three positions may correspond to no rotation, clockwise rotation, and counter-clockwise rotation. Additional switches may toggle rotation speed or intermittency. As a non-limiting example, an intermittency switch may have a first position corresponding to continuous rotation, a second position corresponding to alternating 10 second rotation and 2 second rest periods, and a third position corresponding to alternating 1 second rotation and 5 second rest periods. In some embodiments, one or more of the faces (e.g. the second face) may comprise a control switch cap, an indicator light, and a USB receiver configured to allow the power hub to be plugged into a charging cord.
One or more of the faces (e.g. the third face) may comprises one or more internal or external driveshafts. In some embodiments, one or more of the driveshafts may be orthogonal to the respective face it is disposed through. In one embodiment, a hub may have a single driveshaft accessible through a single face. In another embodiment, a hub may have a single driveshaft accessible through two opposite faces. In another embodiment, a hub may have multiple driveshafts accessible through a single or through multiple faces. Each of the driveshafts may be separately controlled, or multiple driveshafts may be simultaneously controlled via one or more controls.
In preferred embodiments, the hub may include one or more electric motors, each disposed inside the housing and mechanically coupled with one or more driveshafts such that the motor is configured to cause rotation of the one or more driveshafts. As a non-limiting example, the motor may be a 3-volt motor, capable of 75 revolutions per minute. As another non-limiting example, the motor may be a 6-volt motor, capable of 60 revolutions per minute. In some embodiments, one of more of the motors may be configured for bidirectional rotation.
In some embodiments, the hub may also include one or more internal batteries, disposed inside the housing and electrically coupled with one or more motors such that the one or more batteries are configured to power the one or more motors. Inclusion of one or more batteries may allow the hub to be configured for cordless operation. In some embodiments, one or more of the faces may comprise a charging port configured to allow for a wired connection to recharge the one or more batteries. As a non-limiting example one or more of the internal batteries may be rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
In one example embodiment, a hub may comprise a fourth face having a plurality of studs, and fifth and sixth faces each having a plurality of anti-studs. The first face may have 12 studs arranged in a cross pattern. The third face may have 4 pin holes arranged surrounding the driveshaft. The fourth face may have 8 studs arranged in two rows of four and surrounding 3 pin holes, such that the fourth face is configured to receive both interlocking bricks and pins. The fifth and/or sixth faces may have 5 anti-studs arranged in a cross pattern.
As a non-limiting example of the present invention, a power hub for use with interlocking bricks may comprise: a multifaceted housing; a driveshaft disposed through a face of the housing such that it is orthogonal to the face; an electric motor, disposed within the housing and mechanically coupled with the driveshaft such that the motor is configured to cause rotation of the driveshaft; an internal battery disposed inside the housing and electrically coupled with the motor such that the battery is configured to power the motor; and a slidable switch disposed on a face of the housing and electrically coupled with both the motor and the battery such that the switch is configured to control operation of the motor. According to some preferred embodiments, a switch cap may comprise one or more studs or anti-studs configured to interlock with one or more interlocking bricks, thereby allowing the implementation of a switch control system constructed from interlocking bricks.
In some embodiments, the switch cap may comprise at least two studs or anti-studs. In selected embodiments, the switch control system may be configured to simultaneously control a plurality of power hubs. In some embodiments, one or more faces of the housing may comprise an indicator light. The indicator light may preferably be positioned such that it is visible even when the hub is interlocked with a plurality of interlocking bricks.
As another non-limiting example of the present invention, a power hub for use with interlocking bricks may comprise: a multifaceted housing; a driveshaft disposed through a face of the housing such that it is orthogonal to the face; an electric motor, disposed within the housing and mechanically coupled with the driveshaft such that the motor is configured to cause rotation of the driveshaft; an internal battery disposed inside the housing and electrically coupled with the motor such that the battery is configured to power the motor; where at least one face of the housing comprises a plurality of sequentially numbered studs. As a non-limiting example, the numbering of the studs may correspond to numbering in building instructions. The power hub may comprise a power or other control switch on one of the faces of the housing. In some embodiments, the hub may comprise a communication module (e.g. including a Bluetooth antenna) configured to allow for wireless control of the motor. In preferred embodiments, the driveshaft may be configured to receive an axle such that the axle would extend orthogonally from the face of the housing.
In some embodiments, one or more of the faces (e.g. the fourth face) may have a combination arrangement of hollow studs (or technic studs) and pin holes. This unique arrangement may allow attachment of bricks in two ways—directly onto the anti-studs or by inserting a pin into the pin hole and attaching a brick to the pin. In selected embodiments, interlocking-brick compatible faces may be designed as separate parts so they can be interchanged with future versions or iterations easily in the manufacturing process. (i.e. Alternative embodiments may have a face with DUPLO studs, or an accessory attachment. To accomplish this change, only those faces need to be molded and the rest of the housing may remain unchanged)
In some embodiments, the studs on face 1 may be labeled with numbers starting with 1, reading left to right, to 12. Similarly, face 2 may include Left and Right arrows corresponding with the position of the switch cap to control the motor direction clockwise or counterclockwise. As shown in
In some embodiments, various faces (e.g. Faces 5 and 6) may have different colors, so as to allow for easy differentiation. The multifaceted interlocking brick compatible surfaces may allow building blocks to be connected in a traditional parallel stacking and in perpendicular stacking. Additionally, multiple hubs can be interlocked together for product-product mating. (See
As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
