PUZZLE BUILDING BLOCK CAPABLE OF CHANGING LIGHT-EMITTING AREAS

Abstract

A puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas includes a building block board, a circuit board, light-emitting elements and building bricks. The building block board includes a plate body and connection portions. The connection portions are disposed on the top surface of the plate body. The circuit board is adjacent to the bottom surface of the building block board. The light emitting elements are disposed on the circuit board, and the light emitted from the light emitting elements passes through the building block board via the connection portions. The building bricks are fitted with the connection portions and shield the corresponding connection portions, thereby forming letters or patterns. Therefore, the light emitted from the light-emitting elements can form various letters or patterns on the top surface of the building block board. The present invention also provides a puzzle building block assembly including the above-mentioned puzzle building blocks.

Claims

1. A puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas, comprising: a building block board including a plate body and a plurality of connection portions, the plate body including a top surface and a bottom surface respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the plate body, the connection portions being disposed on the top surface of the plate body; a circuit board disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the building block board; a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed on a side of the circuit board facing the building block board, and light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements passing through the building block board via the connection portions; and a plurality of building bricks, a side of each of the building bricks being formed with a fitting portion, the fitting portions being selectively fitted with the corresponding connection portions of the building block board, wherein the connection portions are selectively shielded by the building bricks such that the light emitted from the light-emitting elements produces a light-and-dark difference on a top surface of the building block board.

2. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the positions of the light-emitting elements correspond to the positions of the connection portions.

3. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the building bricks include a light-shielding building brick, and the fitting portion of the light-shielding building brick is a first fitting portion.

4. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the building bricks include a light-transmitting building brick, and the fitting portion of the light-transmitting building brick is a second fitting portion.

5. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the building block board is made of a light-transmitting material.

6. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the building block board is made of an opaque material, and the connection portion of the building block board includes a light guide hole passing through the building block board.

7. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein the plate body is made of an opaque material, the plate body includes a plurality of through holes passing therethrough, the through holes extend to the top surface and the bottom surface of the plate body, the connection portions are respectively received in the through holes, and the connection portions are made of a light-transmitting material.

8. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein a number of the building bricks fitted with the connection portions is less than a number of the connection portions.

9. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 1, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

10. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 2, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

11. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 3, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

12. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 4, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

13. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 5, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

14. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 6, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

15. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 7, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

16. A puzzle building block assembly, comprising a plurality of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to claim 8, wherein sides of adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are connected with each other, and the adjacent two of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are electrically connected with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a top view showing a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a detailed exploded view showing the puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a top view showing a puzzle building block assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting area according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a building block board 10, a circuit board 20, a plurality of light-emitting elements 30, a plurality of light-shielding building bricks 40, and a plurality of light-transmitting building bricks 50.

[0031] The building block board 10 includes a plate body 11 and a plurality of connection portions 12. The opposite two sides of the plate body 11 are a top surface 111 and a bottom surface 112, respectively. The connection portions 12 are disposed on the top surface 111 of the plate body 11. According to the first embodiment, the connection portions 12 are arranged in a matrix and distributed all over the top surface 111 of the building block board 10.

[0032] The circuit board 20 is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface 112 of the building block board 10. According to the first embodiment, a mounting circumferential wall is projected from the bottom surface 112 of the building block board 10 to surround the periphery of the bottom surface 112, and the circuit board 20 abuts against the inner side surface of the mounting circumferential wall of the building block board 10. That is, the circuit board 20 is received in the building block board 10, but the configuration is not limited thereto.

[0033] The light-emitting elements 30 are disposed on a top surface of the circuit board 20 facing the building block board 10. According to the first embodiment, the positions of the light-emitting elements 30 are the same as the positions of the connection portions 12. That is, the positions of the light-emitting elements 30 overlap with the positions of the connection portions 12 when viewed from the top surface 111 of the building block board 10. The light emitted from each of the light-emitting elements 30 passes through the building block board 10 via the corresponding connection portions 12, but the positions of the light-emitting elements 30 and the positions of the connection portions 12 are not limited to the same locations. The positions of the light-emitting elements 30 can also correspond to the positions of the connection portions 12 in other ways, as long as the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30 can pass through the building block board 10 via the connection portion 12. The light-emitting elements 30 are electrically connected with each other.

[0034] The building block board 10 according to the first embodiment is made of, but not limited to, a light-transmitting material such that the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30 can pass through the building block board 10 via the connection portions 12. In the following description, the present invention further provides two embodiments in which the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30 can also pass through the building block board 10 via the connection portions 12.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, the building block board 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention is made of an opaque material, and each connection portion 12A is provided with a light guide hole 121A passing therethrough. When the building block board 10A is not engaged with any of the light-shielding building bricks 40A, the illumination of the building block board 10A is the multi-point illumination from the connection portions 12A instead of the full-surface illumination from the whole building block board 10A according to the first embodiment.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 5, the plate body 11B of the building block board 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention is made of an opaque material. The plate body 11B includes a plurality of through holes 113B, and the through holes 113B extend to the top surface 111B and the bottom surface 112B of the plate body 11B. The connection portions 12B made of a light-transmitting material are respectively received in the through holes 113B such that the way of illumination can be the same as that of the second embodiment. According to the third embodiment, an end of the connection portion 12B facing the circuit board 20B is aligned with, but not limited to, the bottom surface 112B of the building block board 10B. The end of connection portion 12B facing the circuit board 20B may also protrude out of or retract inside of the bottom surface 112B of the building block board 10B.

[0037] Referring back to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the light-shielding building brick 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be fitted with the connection portion 12 of the building block board 10. Specifically, one side of the light-shielding building brick 40 is formed with a first fitting portion 41 as shown in FIG. 3, and the first fitting portion 41 can be fitted with the connection portion 12 of the building block board 10. When the light-shielding building brick 40 is fitted with one of the connection portions 12 of the building block board 10, the light-shielding building brick 40 shields the connection portion 12. That is, when the light-shielding building brick 40 is fitted with and mounted on the connection portion 12, the light-shielding building brick 40 blocks the light emitted from the light-emitting element 30 from passing through the connection portion 12, thereby making the light emitted from the light-emitting element 30 produce a light-and-dark difference on the top surface 111 of the building block board 10. When a plurality of light-shielding building bricks 40 are fitted with and mounted on appropriate positions of the building block board 10, the light-shielding building bricks 40 can be arranged to form letters or patterns. Then, the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30 can form the light-and-dark difference on the top surface 111 of the building block board 10, and form the letters or patterns by the light-and-dark difference.

[0038] The light-transmitting building brick 50 can be fitted with the connection portion 12 of the building block board 10. Specifically, one side of the light-transmitting building brick 50 is formed with a second fitting portion 51 as shown in FIG. 3, and the second fitting portion 51 can be fitted with the connection portion 12 of the building block board 10. Furthermore, the shape of the second fitting portion 51 is the same as the shape of the connection portion 12 of the light-shielding building bricks 40. Each of the light-transmitting building bricks 50 can be made of a material with a single color. Moreover, the light-transmitting building bricks 50 according to another preferred embodiment may have at least two different colors. Thereby, the pattern formed by puzzle building block according to the present invention can further provide color differences in addition to the light-and-dark difference by using the light-transmitting building bricks 50 having different colors. Further, each of the light-emitting elements 30 according to the present invention can also be a color light-emitting element 30. The light-emitting element 30 can respectively emit light of different colors, such that the respective connection portions 12 on the building block board 10 can exhibit various light and shadow effects by the color differences of the respective light-emitting elements 30.

[0039] According to the present embodiment, the sum of the number of the light-transmitting building bricks 50 and the number of the light-shielding building bricks 40 are equal to the number of the connection portions 12. That is, the connection portions 12 are arranged in a matrix and distributed all over the top surface 111 of the building block board 10. The light-shielding building bricks 40 are mounted on part of the connection portions 12 on the building block board 10 to form the letters or patterns, and the light-transmitting building brick 50 is mounted on the connection portions 12 on which the light-shielding building bricks 40 are not mounted.

[0040] According to the present embodiment, the connection portions 12 are cylinders protruded from the top surface of the building block board 10, and the first fitting portions 41 and the second fitting portions 51 are circular recesses defined in the building bricks. The shapes of the connection portions and the fitting portions are not limited to the cylinder and the circular recesses, as long as the connection portions 12 can be fitted with the first fitting portion 41 and the second fitting portion 51. For example, the connection portion 12 may be a square recess defined in the building block board 10, the first fitting portion 41 and the second fitting portion 51 are square columns, and the first fitting portion 41 and the second fitting portion 51 may be fitted with the connection portion 12.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 6, the puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the one according to the first embodiment. The difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment is in that the fourth embodiment does not have any light-transmitting building brick but only has the light-shielding building bricks 40C, thereby arranging to form letters or patterns. According to the present embodiment, part of the connection portions 12C are not fitted with the light-shielding building bricks 40C, and the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30C can pass through these connection portions 12C. The connection portions 12C without being fitted with the light-shielding building bricks 40C and connection portions 12C fitted with the light-shielding building bricks 40C then form patterns by creating a light-and-dark difference, but not limited thereto. According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light-shielding building bricks 40C may be replaced by the light-transmitting building bricks, and a color of the light-transmitting building brick is different from that of the light-emitting element 30C. After the connection portion 12C is fitted with the light-transmitting building brick, the connection portion 12C is covered by the light-transmitting building brick. The color of the light emitted from the light-emitting element 30C changes after passing through the connection portion 12C and the light-transmitting building brick covering the connection portion 12C. Therefore, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 30C have color differences on the top surface 111C of the building block board 10C, and letters or patterns are formed by the color differences.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the one according to the first embodiment. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiment is in that the connection portions 12D of the building block board 10D are arranged on the top surface 111D of the building block board 10D to form letters or patterns. Furthermore, according to the fifth embodiment, there is no light-shielding building brick, but there are only the light-transmitting building bricks 50D. The number of the light-transmitting building bricks 50D is the same as the number of the connection portions 12D. That is, all of the connection portions 12D can be fitted with the light-transmitting building bricks 50D. When the puzzle building block according to the fifth embodiment is in use, the light-transmitting building bricks 50D are respectively fitted with the connection portions 12D such that the shapes of the letters or patterns formed by the arranged light-transmitting building bricks 50D are exactly the same as those of the letters or patterns formed by the connection portions 12D. However, the color of the letters or patterns are converted from the color of the light-emitting elements 30D to the color of the light-transmitting building bricks 50D. The user can easily mount the light-transmitting building bricks 50D onto the building block board 10D one by one and the light-transmitting building bricks 50D can automatically form the letters or patterns, which is more convenient to use, but not limited thereto. The present embodiment can also have the following variations:

[0043] First, the light-emitting element 30D may be a color light-emitting element, such as a three-color LED, and therefore the color light-emitting element 30D can directly make the respective connection portions 12D display in different colors. Thus, the letters or patterns presented according to the present embodiment can have color differences, and show various light and shadow effects, such as contours or shadows.

[0044] Secondly, each of the light-transmitting building bricks 50D are made of a material with a single color and have at least two different colors, thereby further enhancing the color differences for the letters or patterns formed by the arranged light-transmitting building bricks 50D and showing various light and shadow effects, such as contours or shadows.

[0045] Thirdly, it may further include a light-shielding building brick, and the light-shielding building brick can be fitted with the connection portions 12D. The number of the light-shielding building bricks fitted with the connection portions 12D is less than the number of the connection portions 12D. Therefore, part of the connection portions 12D can be shielded by the light-shielding building bricks. Then, the remaining unshielded connection portions 12D form new letters or patterns, and the new letters or patterns are different from those formed by all of the connection portions 12D. For example, according to an embodiment, all of the connection portions 12D are arranged in the Arabic numeral 8. After part of the connection portions 12D are fitted with the light-shielding building bricks, the unshielded connection portions show the Arabic numeral 0. Then, the light-transmitting building bricks 50D may further be fitted with the unshielded connection portions 12D such that the light-transmitting building bricks 50D show the aforementioned Arabic numeral 0. Because part of the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30D is blocked by the light-shielding building bricks, a light-and-dark difference is generated on the top surface 111D of the building block board 10D to form the letters or patterns

[0046] Fourthly, there may be only a light-shielding building bricks but without any light-transmitting building brick 50D. The light-shielding building bricks are fitted with part of the connection portions 12D to provide the shielding such that the remaining unshielded connection portions 12D form new letters or patterns. The specific method is the same as the one described in the foregoing description and will not be repeatedly described here.

[0047] Fifthly, regarding how the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30D passing through the building block board 10D, it may also have variations as the second or third embodiment described above. That is, the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30D passes through the light guide holes of the connection portions 12D as the second embodiment, or the light emitted from the light-emitting elements 30D passes through the connection portions 12D made of the light-transmitting material as the third embodiment. The specific implementations have been described in the foregoing second and third embodiments, and will not be repeatedly described here.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to the first embodiment of the present invention are in use, the circuit board 20 of the puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting area is connected to the power source such that all of the light-emitting elements 30 emit light. Then, the user can fit the light-shielding building bricks 40 and the light-transmitting building bricks 50 with the connection portions 12 on the building block board 10 so that the light-shielding building bricks 40 are arranged to form the letters or patterns. The puzzle building block capable of changing light-emitting areas according to other embodiments of the present invention can use the light-transmitting building bricks 50 and/or the light-shielded building bricks 40 to form the letters or patterns as appropriate.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 8, a puzzle building block assembly according to the present invention includes a plurality of puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to the first embodiment of the present invention, but not limited thereto. The puzzle building block assembly may also include the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas according to one or more of the embodiments. The sides of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas are pressed against each other and the top surfaces 111 of the puzzle building blocks are flush, thereby expanding the area of the puzzle building block assembly. Therefore, the puzzle building block assembly can provide the patterns or letters in more detail.

[0050] The circuit boards 20 of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas of the puzzle building block assembly are electrically connected with each other. Therefore, when the puzzle building block assembly is in use, it only needs to connect one of the circuit boards 20 among the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas with the power source. Then, all of the light-emitting elements 30 of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas can be powered to illuminate. The puzzle building block assembly according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of conductive cylinders 60 disposed between the circuit boards 20 of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas. The conductive cylinders 60, but not limited thereto, electrically connect the circuit boards 20 of the puzzle building blocks to each other. The circuit boards 20 of the puzzle building blocks capable of changing light-emitting areas can also be electrically connected with each other through an electric wire or connector.

[0051] In summary, the present invention changes the light-and-darkness or the color of the light emitted from the light-emitting element by building blocks such that the light emitted from the light-emitting element can form letters or patterns on one side of the puzzle building block.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.