A Lynchpin structure may be combined with one or more additional Lynchpin structures to form a compound Lynchpin propulsion structure. Each Lynchpin structure may include six pentangular areas, and one or more of the pentangular areas may include a propulsion device. The propulsion may be used to propel the compound Lynchpin propulsion structure through or over various media, such as through air, across ground, on or underwater, or through or over other media. The propulsion may include avionic propulsion, ground propulsion, hydrodynamic propulsion, or other types of propulsion. A single type of propulsion device may be used within one or more of the pentangular areas, or diverse types of propulsion may be used to provide various navigational performance or multi-mode operation. Each propulsion device may also include a device to direct the propulsion, such as a single or multi-axis gimble or adjustable aerodynamic control surface.

A set of magnetic spinning toy blocks can include eight magnetic spinning toy blocks, and each of the magnetic spinning toy blocks can have a similar structure. The magnetic spinning toy block includes a frame having a frame opening. The frame has magnet retainers formed as chambers in the frame at a periphery of the frame. Magnets are mounted within the magnet retainers, and the magnets include a pair of upper magnets which include an right upper magnet and a left upper magnet. The magnets include pair of lower magnets which include a right lower magnet and a left lower magnet. The frame holds a rotating panel and the rotating panel is mounted within the frame.

An interactive toy, system, and method of controlling the same. The interactive toy includes a toy housing comprising therein a function device performing user-perceptible, controllable functions; a control circuit controlling the function device; a rechargeable power source providing operating power to the function device and the control circuit; and a charging circuit for contactless receipt of electrical energy and for charging the rechargeable power source when the interactive toy is positioned in a charging zone of a contactless charging device. The control circuit receives a primary signal indicative of an interaction stimulus; a secondary signal indicative of a position of the interactive toy with respect to the charging zone; and, responsive to the primary signal, controls the function device to perform a user-perceptible function selected based on the secondary signal. The interactive toy system includes an interactive toy and a contactless charging device defining one or more charging zones.

A method and system for assembling a modular structure from components configured to be fitted together to create the modular structure in accordance with a construction plan. Each component includes: a communication interface; and an output interface configured to generate sensory signals. The components communicate, via the communication interface of each component, with a controller to establish an availability of the components for the modular structure. A target component is determined at the controller from the components based on the construction plan and the availability of the components. The target component is a starting component used for initiating creation of the modular structure in accordance with the construction plan. A first sensory signal indicating the target component to a user is generated by the output interface of the target component.

An electrically conducting toy building block comprising: a body having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of evenly spaced connector studs projecting from the top surface, and an internal cavity that is open to the bottom surface and is sized to accommodate the top surface of another block and frictionally engage the connector studs of said other block to enable multiple blocks to be connected. The connectors studs comprise electrically non-conductive studs and electrically conductive studs. The electrically conductive connector studs comprise a top portion having external dimensions matching the non-electrically conducting stud, and an elongate telescoping member that extends downward from the top portion into the cavity. The telescoping member comprises an outer barrel and an inner plunger slidably received in the barrel, the plunger including a stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the plunger from the barrel, and the plunger being biased towards being extended from the barrel. The telescoping member having a length that when the plunger is fully extended from the barrel, a bottom of the plunger is within the cavity proximate the bottom surface, and when the block is connected to the top surface of another block, one connector stud on that block contacts the bottom of the plunger and urges the plunger inward.

A conductive building block having electric circuit disposed therein includes a top cover and at least one electric connection member. The top cover has a top-cover top portion, a first region, a second region, at least one communication groove, and at least one conductive stud. The first and second regions are projected downward from the top-cover top portion, and a height of the first region is different from a height of the second region. The electric connection member passes through the communication groove to be disposed in the first and second regions, and passes through the conductive stud. Thus, electronic elements, such as a battery and light emitting elements, which can provide functions, can be installed in the first region having a larger space. The electric circuit in the first region can extends to the second region by the electric connection member.

A tile game system is provided that includes a plurality of two-dimensional and three-dimensional components. The two-dimensional components can include a plurality of modular tiles provided in various sizes and configurations that can be joined together to form a grid-based gameplay area. The three-dimensional components can include external boundaries for the gameplay area, internal boundaries, terrain elements such as columns and staircases, and game figures. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the external and internal boundaries can be provided with recessed sections that allow a game figure to be contained within a single grid square and prevent the grid of the gameplay area from becoming warped. According to some aspects of the present disclosure the internal and external boundaries can be illuminated and provided with removable and interchangeable light-permeable skins that allow a user to switch between various illuminated designs.

A toy building set comprising a number of toy building elements and an overload-safe linear actuator having a center axis and with two spindle parts comprising a first spindle part with an internal thread arranged concentrically to the center axis, and a second spindle part with an external thread screwed into the internal thread on the first spindle part, and wherein the thread on the one spindle is at least twice as long as the thread on the second spindle part. One of the spindle parts being provided with a slot extending through the spindle part longitudinally of the thread configured on the spindle part and essentially along the entire thread, it is accomplished that it is easy to adjust the length of the actuator by pulling or pressing the two spindle parts together or away from each other.

A method of using a hand-made circuit board for learning includes: providing a hand-made circuit board which comprises a substrate; and a medium layer disposed on a surface of the substrate to form a pattern, wherein the medium layer has a notably paintable non-conductive zone configured with a plurality of electrical blocks, and the electrical blocks are discontinuously distributed in the notably paintable non-conductive zone, so that the electrical blocks on at least one cross-section of the notably paintable non-conductive zone are not electrically connected; and drawing a drawn conductive layer on the notably paintable non-conductive zone of the pattern by an end user, wherein the drawn conductive layer has conductive particles linking the electrical particle blocks in the notably paintable non-conductive zone, thereby electrically connecting the electrical particle blocks to complete a circuit line.

Connector element includes an enclosure made of a generally non-magnetic material having an open face; an insulating plate with a plate aperture; a permanent magnet placed inside the enclosure, the magnet dimensions preventing egress from the enclosure through the plate aperture; a washer made of a conductive soft ferromagnetic material with a washer aperture being larger than dimensions of said permanent magnet, placed inside the enclosure. Also disclosed are transformable electronic devices, optionally including displays, toys and educational kits built using the self-actuating connector elements.