Abstract
A functional toy brick adapted to perform a preconfigured function and is trigger responsive to the detection of close proximity of human limbs. The toy brick comprises a housing adapted for removable attachment to other commercially available toy bricks and has at least one translucent surface, an electronic element arranged inside the housing and adapted to perform a preconfigured function, a power source electrically connected to the electronic element for providing the power to perform the function, and a mechanical switch arranged inside the housing and operable from the outside to isolate the power source for prolonged storage. The electronic element further comprises a capacitive proximity switch for detecting close proximity of human limbs. The capacitive proximity switch comprises a sensor integrated circuit and at least one electrode, including one removable electrode which is remotely extended outside of the housing via an electrical wire and a pin receptacle.
Claims
1. A toy building brick comprising a housing adapted for removable attachment to other commercially available toy bricks and has at least one translucent surface, an electronic element arranged inside the housing and adapted to perform a preconfigured function, a power source electrically connected to said electronic element for providing power to perform said preconfigured function, and a mechanical switch arranged inside the housing and operable from the outside to isolate said power source for prolonged storage; wherein said electronic element further comprises a capacitive proximity switch that detects close proximity of electrically conductive objects including human limbs and said electronic element is trigger responsive by said capacitive proximity switch to activate said preconfigured function, wherein said capacitive proximity switch further comprises a sensor integrated circuit and at least one electrode; wherein the at least one electrode is extended outside said housing; wherein said extended electrode is mounted on an electrical wire that is plugged into a pin receptacle on said electronic element to allow the user to place said extended electrode at a desired location within a toy building brick assembly, said extended electrode is removable from said electronic element; wherein said housing comprises an upper portion, which is translucent, and a lower portion having an attachment surface adapted for removable attachment to other commercially available toy bricks, and wherein said attachment surface is selected from a group comprising a protruding surface having a plurality of protruding studs configured for releasable attachment to a recessed surface of other compatible toy bricks, and a recessed surface configured for releasable attachment to a protruding surface of other compatible toy bricks.
2. The toy brick of claim 1, wherein said electronic element performs the preconfigured function selected from a group comprising generating light, generating sound, generating light and sound, generating electrical signal, and generating radio frequency signal.
3. The toy brick of claim 1, wherein said power source is selected from a group comprising at least one button battery, and a rechargeable battery connected to a connector arranged inside said housing and accessible from the outside for recharging said rechargeable battery.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the present functional toy brick which is detecting close proximity of a human finger via its remote electrode.
(2) FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same functional toy brick shown in FIG. 1A but without the remote electrode. The detection is done via the internal electrode.
(3) FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 1A at a different angle, showing the protruding attachment surface that has protruding studs.
(4) FIG. 1D is a perspective view of an alternative version of the functional toy brick shown in FIG.
(5) 1A at a different angle, showing the recessed attachment surface instead of the protruding one as shown in FIG. 1C.
(6) FIG. 1E is an exploded perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 1A which is adapted for light-generating function only and has a coin battery as the power source.
(7) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 1A. This alternative embodiment has a rechargeable battery with a recharging connector instead of a coin battery for power source.
(8) FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 2A.
(9) FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 2A. This alternative embodiment has added speaker for sound function.
(10) FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 3A.
(11) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 2A. This alternative embodiment has a smaller form, 2×4 stud configuration instead of 3×4 stud configuration.
(12) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 4A at a different angle, showing the protruding attachment surface that has protruding studs.
(13) FIG. 4C is a perspective view of an alternative version of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 4B which has the recessed attachment surface instead of the protruding one.
(14) FIG. 4D is an exploded perspective view of the functional toy brick shown in FIG. 4A.
(15) FIG. 5 illustrates the present functional toy brick mounted on the ceiling of a structure with the remote electrode placed behind the window. An approaching human finger outside the window, near the electrode, is detected by the sensor and activates the functional toy brick.
(16) FIG. 6 shows similar illustration in FIG. 5 except that the present functional toy brick is mounted on the floor of the structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(17) Refer to FIG. 1A-1E, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a toy brick 10 includes a housing 20, an electronic element 30, a remote electrode 40, a power source 50 (shown in FIG. 1E), and a mechanical switch 34.
(18) The housing 20 is preferably made of plastic material and comprises an upper portion 21 and a lower portion 22. The upper portion 21 is translucent making the electronic element 30 visible from the inside of the housing. The lower portion 22 has an attachment surface configured for releasable engagement to other compatible toy bricks which typically have two complimentary attachment surfaces, the top surface with protruding studs and the bottom surface with cavities extending into the brick. In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion 22 has a protruding attachment surface 23 which has a plurality of studs 26 (see FIG. 1C). In an alternative embodiment, the lower portion 22 has a recessed attachment surface 24 which has cavities extending into the brick (see FIG. 1D). According to a preferred embodiment, the upper portion 21 and the lower portion 22 of the housing are coupled together with one or more screws 25 (see FIG. 1E). In an alternative embodiment, the upper portion 21 and the lower portion 22 of the housing are ultrasonically welded together.
(19) In the preferred embodiment, the electronic element 30 is arranged inside the housing 20. The electronic element 30 is preferably a printed circuit board (PCB) with components mounted on it. The electronic element 30 comprises a circuitry to perform a preconfigured function and a capacitive proximity switch for activating the function. The electronic element 30 shown in FIG. 1A-1E is preconfigured to generate light when activated; therefore, it includes at least one light emitting diode (LED) 35. A capacitive proximity switch typically comprises a sensor integrated circuit (IC) 31 connected to an electrode 32, which is preferably an electrically conductive surface printed on the PCB. In the preferred embodiment, the capacitive proximity switch further comprises at least one remote electrode 40 which is extendable outside the housing and connected via a set of electrical wire and a pin receptacle. The remote electrode 40 comprises an electrically conductive electrode plate 41 welded to an electrical wire 42. The remote electrode 40 can be connected to the capacitive proximity switch via a pin receptacle 33 on the electronic element 30. The remote electrode 40 is optional because the capacitive proximity switch can sense and detect the close proximity of human finger using either the remote electrode plate 41 (see FIG. 1A) or the internal electrode 32 (see FIG. 1B).
(20) In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the power source 50 is arranged inside the housing 20 and provides the power to the electronic element 30. The power source can be at least one coin battery 51 (see FIG. 1E) or a combination of a rechargeable battery 52 and a connector 53 which is accessible from the outside of the housing 20 for recharging (see FIG. 2B). FIG. 1E shows a preferred embodiment where the power source is a coin battery 51 mounted on the back of the electronic element 30. When coin battery is selected for the power source, the housing's portions 21 and 22 are attached to each other with screws 25 so that the housing can be disassembled for replacing the coin battery. FIG. 2A and 2B show an alternative embodiment where the power source is a combination of a rechargeable battery 52 and a connector 53 accessible from the outside for recharging the battery. When rechargeable battery is selected for the power source, the housing 20 does not need to be disassembled because the rechargeable battery does not need to be replaced. In this case, the housing portions 21 and 22 can be welded together without the use of crews.
(21) In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, a mechanical switch 34 is arranged inside the housing 20 and operable from the outside. The switch 34, connected between the power source 50 and the electronic element 30, is used to cut off the power source from the electronic element in order to preserve the power for prolonged storage.
(22) FIG. 3A and 3B show another alternative embodiment wherein the electronic element 30 is preconfigured to generate both visible light and audible sound. In such case, the electronic element further comprises a speaker 36 along with at least one light emitting diode (LED) 35.
(23) FIG. 4A to 4D show an example of another alternative embodiment which has similar function as those shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, but in a smaller form factor. FIG. 4B shows the toy brick 10 with the protruding attachment surface 23 that has a plurality of studs 26. FIG. 4C shows the toy brick 10 with the complementary recessed attachment surface 24 that has cavities extending into the brick. FIG. 4D is the exploded perspective view of the toy brick shown in FIG. 4A.
(24) FIG. 5 illustrates a play example where the present functional toy brick 10 is attached upside down to the ceiling of a room structure with the remote electrode plate 41 placed behind the window. The toy brick has the protruding attachment surface 23 that is complementarily coupled with the recessed surface of the ceiling brick plate. The toy brick 10 can detect the approaching human finger on the outside of the window via the remote electrode plate 41 and perform a preconfigured function. An example is turning on the LEDs to provide down light to the room. A subsequent detection of an approaching human finger will deactivate the toy brick 10 and turn the light off.
(25) FIG. 6 illustrates another play example similar to that of the FIG. 5, except that the present functional toy brick 10 is mounted on the floor of the room. The toy brick has the recessed attachment surface 24 that is complementarily coupled with the protruding surface of the floor.
(26) It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, elements, or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of other features, elements, or components thereof.
(27) While the invention has been described in its preferred and alternative embodiments and illustrated in the drawings, such description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character. It is understood that changes and modifications that come within the scope of the invention are desired to be protected. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
