U.S. patent application number 14/706920 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-10 for light-emitting toy module.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shao-Chun LU. Invention is credited to Hsueh-Yu LU.
Application Number | 20160325200 14/706920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57222215 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160325200 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LU; Hsueh-Yu |
November 10, 2016 |
LIGHT-EMITTING TOY MODULE
Abstract
A light-emitting toy module, light-emitting toy module includes
a housing including a main panel and light-transmissive panels
connected together and a mating connection structure located at the
main panel and the light-transmissive panels for allowing one
light-emitting toy module to be detachably connetable to another
light-emitting toy module, and a light-emitting electrical
connection device mounted in the housing and attached to the main
panel for emitting light through the light-transmissive panels and
conducting electricity to another attached light-emitting toy
module.
Inventors: |
LU; Hsueh-Yu; (Taoyuan,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LU; Shao-Chun |
Taoyuan |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
57222215 |
Appl. No.: |
14/706920 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/086 20130101;
A63H 33/042 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63H 33/26 20060101
A63H033/26; A63H 33/22 20060101 A63H033/22 |
Claims
1. A light-emitting toy module, comprising: a housing defining
therein an accommodation chamber, said housing comprising a main
panel and a plurality of light-transmissive panels connected to one
another and a mating connection structure located at said main
panel and said light-transmissive panels for allowing detachable
connection between one said light-emitting toy module and another
said light-emitting toy module, each said light-transmissive panel
comprising a pair of insertion holes for providing electrical
power; and a light-emitting electrical connection device mounted in
said accommodation chamber inside said housing, said light-emitting
electrical connection device comprising a circuit substrate, at
least one light-emitting element, a set of electrical conducting
pins for accepting electrical power and multiple sets of first
electrical conducting receptacle contacts, said circuit substrate
being attached to an inner surface of said main panel of said
housing, said sets of first electrical conducting receptacle
contacts being spaced around a border area of said circuit
substrate and corresponding to the insertion holes of said housing
light-transmissive panels, said set of electrical conducting pins
being extended out of said main panel outside of said housing; when
the main panel of the one said light-emitting toy module is
connected to one light-transmissive panel of the another said
light-emitting toy module by means of the mating connection
structures of the respective said light-emitting toy modules, the
set of electrical conducting pins of the one said light-emitting
toy module are inserted into one pair of insertion holes of one
said light-transmissive panel of the another said light-emitting
toy module and electrically conducted to one said set of first
electrical conducting receptacle contacts of the another said
light-emitting toy module.
2. The light-emitting toy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said mating connection structure comprises a plurality of plug rods
located at said main panel and spaced around a border area thereof,
and a plurality of plug holes located at each said
light-transmissive panel and spaced around a border area thereof,
said plug holes being configured to correspond to the configuration
of said plug rods.
3. The light-emitting toy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said light-emitting electrical connection device further comprises
a set of second electrical conducting receptacle contacts located
on a first light-transmissive panel disposed opposite to said main
panel and electrically connected to said circuit substrate by
conductors, and the insertion holes of the first light-transmissive
panel are disposed adjacent to and in alignment with said set of
second electrical conducting receptacle contacts.
4. The light-emitting toy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said at least one light-emitting element is located at a center of
a surface of said circuit substrate opposite to said main panel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to toy blocks, and more
particularly to a light-emitting toy module, which comprises a
housing defining therein an accommodation chamber, and a
light-emitting electrical connection device mounted in one side
inside the accommodation chamber of the housing to provide optimal
light-emitting effect.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Various light-emitting toy module designs with
light-emitting elements and conducting means are known. U.S. Pat.
No. 3,696,548 discloses a similar design, entitled "Educational
building toy modules with interior lights and mechanical
connections acting as circuit closers". According to this design,
the educational toy comprises a plurality of interiorly illuminable
modules, each of which is electrically interengageable with another
module to form a stacked arrangement of modules. Each module
contains a lamp therewithin which is energized when the module is
connected to another module. This design of educational toy has
drawbacks. Because the conducting terminals have different heights,
the conducting terminals and the power cable can block a large
amount of the light that is emitted by the lamp bulb, lowering the
lighting effect. Further, the processing of the conducting
terminals and the module requires much labor and time, complicating
the fabrication.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the
present invention to provide a light-emitting toy module, which has
the light-emitting electrical connection device mounted in one side
of the accommodation chamber inside the housing thereof, minimizing
the area in which the light-emitting electrical connection device
shades the housing, and maintaining a large area of housing for
emitting light.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
light-emitting toy module, wherein has the set of electrical
conducting pins and multiple sets of first electrical conducting
receptacle contacts mounted around the border area of the circuit
substrate of the light-emitting electrical connection device
thereof so that the set of electrical conducting pins that is
extended out of the main panel of the housing can be electrically
connected to an external power source, and the multiple sets of
first electrical conducting receptacle contacts are adapted for the
connection of the sets of electrical conducting pins of other
light-emitting toy modules.
[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a light-emitting toy module, wherein the light-emitting
elements of the light-emitting electrical connection device are
mounted at the center of one surface of the circuit substrate so
that the light emitted by the light-emitting elements can go
through all light-transmissive panels of the housing of the
light-emitting toy module, enhancing the lighting effect.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a light-emitting toy module, wherein the mating connection
structure of the housing is located at the border area of the main
panel and the border area of the light-transmissive panels, so that
each light-transmissive panel maintains a large area thereof for
admitting light, enhancing the lighting effect.
[0009] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
a light-emitting toy module comprises a housing and a
light-emitting electrical connection device. The housing comprises
a main panel and a plurality of light-transmissive panel connected
together, and mating connection structure located on the outside of
the housing. The housing defines therein an accommodation chamber.
Each light-transmissive panel comprises a pair of insertion holes
located near one side thereof. The light-emitting electrical
connection device comprises a circuit substrate mounted in the
accommodation chamber inside the housing and attached to the main
panel, a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted at the center
of one surface of the circuit substrate, a set of electrical
conducting pins and multiple sets of first electrical conducting
receptacle contacts mounted at the border area of the circuit
substrate. The set of electrical conducting pins is extended out of
the main panel to the outside of the housing. The sets of first
electrical conducting receptacle contacts are respectively disposed
corresponding to the insertion holes of the light-transmissive
panels. Because the light-emitting electrical connection device is
disposed in the accommodation chamber at one side, the area in
which the light-emitting electrical connection device shades the
housing is minimized, and therefore a large area of housing is
maintained for emitting light.
[0010] Further, the mating connection structure of the
light-emitting toy module is located at the main panel and
light-transmissive panels on the outside of the housing so that the
main panel of one light-emitting toy module can be detachably
connected to the light-transmissive panel of another light-emitting
toy module by means of the respective mating connection structures.
Further, the mating connection structure comprises a plurality of
plug rods located at the main panel of the housing and spaced
around the border area thereof, and a plurality of plug holes
located at each light-transmissive panel of the housing and spaced
around the border area thereof. Thus, the light-transmissive panels
maintain a large surface area thereof for emitting light.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a
light-emitting toy module in accordance with the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an oblique bottom elevational view of the
light-emitting toy module in accordance with the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional elevational view of the
light-emitting toy module in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the light-emitting toy module
in accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing, illustrating a connection
operation of two light-emitting toy modules in accordance with the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional elevational view illustrating
two light-emitting toy modules vertically connected together in
accordance with the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a partial sectional elevational view illustrating
two light-emitting toy modules horizontally connected together in
accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is an oblique top elevational view of an alternate
form of the light-emitting toy module in accordance with the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational of FIG. 8.
[0020] FIG. 10 is an oblique top elevational view of another
alternate form of the light-emitting toy module in accordance with
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 10 when viewed from another
angle.
[0022] FIG. 12 is an oblique top elevational view of still another
alternate form of the light-emitting toy module in accordance with
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. 12 when viewed from another
angle.
[0024] FIG. 14 is an oblique bottom elevational view of still
another alternate form of the light-emitting toy module in
accordance with the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 15 illustrates one application example of the present
invention (I).
[0026] FIG. 16 illustrates one application example of the present
invention (II).
[0027] FIG. 17 illustrates another application example of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a light-emitting toy module 1 in
accordance with the present invention is shown. The light-emitting
toy module 1 comprises a housing 11 and a light-emitting electrical
connection device 13.
[0029] The housing 11 comprises a main panel 111, and a plurality
of light-transmissive panels 112. The light-transmissive panels 112
are made from a translucent or semitranslucent material. In this
embodiment, the housing 11 exhibit a cubic shape, comprising a main
panel 111 and five light-transmissive panels 112. The housing 11
further comprises a mating connection structure 12 located at the
main panel 111 and the light-transmissive panels 112 for enabling
the main panel 111 and the five light-transmissive panels 112 to be
fastened to one another. Further, the housing 11 defines therein an
accommodation chamber 113. Further, four of the five
light-transmissive panels 112 are respectively connected to the
four sides of the main panel 111. Further, each light-transmissive
panel 112 comprises at least one, for example, two insertion holes
1121 disposed near one side edge thereof. Further, the mating
connection structure 12 comprises a plurality of plug rods 121
located at the main panel 111 of the housing 11 and spaced around
the border area thereof, and a plurality of plug holes 122 located
at each light-transmissive panel 112 of the housing 11 and spaced
around the border area thereof.
[0030] The light-emitting electrical connection device 13 is
mounted in the accommodation chamber 113 of the housing 11,
comprising a circuit substrate 131 having mounted at the center of
one surface thereof a plurality of light-emitting elements 132, a
set of electrical conducting pins 133 and multiple pairs of first
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134. In this embodiment,
the light-emitting toy module 1 is a cubic module, comprising four
sets of first electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134; the
circuit substrate 131 is mounted at the inner surface of the main
panel 111 of the housing 11; the light-emitting elements 132 are
mounted at a center area of one surface of the circuit substrate
131 and adapted for emitting light toward each light-transmissive
panel 112. Further, the light-emitting elements 132 can be
light-emitting diodes or other miniature lamps. The pairs of first
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134 are respectively
disposed corresponding to the insertion holes 1121 of the
light-transmissive panels 112 of the housing 11. The set of
electrical conducting pins 133 are respectively inserted through
the main panel 111 of the housing 11 and exposed to the outside of
the main panel 111, so that the light-emitting electrical
connection device 13 is kept in the accommodation chamber 113 and
abutted to the inner surface of the main panel 111. Therefore, in
this embodiment of cubic light-emitting toy module 1, the set of
electrical conducting pins 133 extends out of the main panel 111
for power connection; the four sets of first electrical conducting
receptacle contacts 134 are respectively disposed at the four sides
of the circuit substrate 131 for the connection of the set of
electrical conducting pins 133 of another light-emitting toy module
1 that is inserted into one of the four light-transmissive panels
112 around the main panel 111.
[0031] Further, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, for enabling the
light-transmissive panel 112 that is disposed opposite to the main
panel 111 to have an electrical conduction function, the
light-emitting electrical connection device 13 further comprises a
second set of electrical conducting receptacle contacts 135 located
at one light-transmissive panel 112 that is disposed opposite to
the main panel 111 and electrically connected to the circuit
substrate 131 with conductors 136. The conductors 136 extend along
the border area of the respective light-transmissive panel 112,
avoiding blocking light. Further, the second set of electrical
conducting receptacle contacts 135 located at one
light-transmissive panel 112 that is disposed opposite to the main
panel 111, and the light-transmissive panel 112 having the
insertion holes 1121 disposed adjacent to and in alignment with
said set of second electrical conducting receptacle contacts.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 5-7 again, when connecting two
light-emitting toy modules 1 in accordance with the present
invention, aim the main panel 111 of one light-emitting toy module
1 at one light-transmissive panel 112 of the other light-emitting
toy module 1, and then insert the set of electrical conducting pins
133 of the main panel 111 through the insertion holes 1121 of the
aligned light-transmissive panel 112 of the other light-emitting
toy module 1 into the corresponding set of electrical conducting
receptacle contacts 134 or the second set of electrical conducting
receptacle contacts 135 to electrically conducting the two
light-emitting toy modules 1.
[0033] Further, after insertion of the set of electrical conducting
pins 133 of one light-emitting toy module 1 into the insertion
holes 1121 of one light-transmissive panel 112 of the other
light-emitting toy module 1, the respective plug rods 121 of the
mating connection structure 12 of one light-emitting toy module 1
are simultaneously press-fitted into the respective plug holes 122
of one light-transmissive panel 112 of the other light-emitting toy
module 1, securing the two light-emitting toy modules 1 firmly
together.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an alternate form of
light-emitting toy module 1' in accordance with the present
invention is shown. The housing 11' of the light-emitting toy
module 1' comprises a main panel 111', a plurality of
light-transmissive panels 112', and a mating connection structure
12'. The housing 11' defines therein an accommodation chamber 113'
that accommodates a light-emitting electrical connection device
13'. The light-emitting electrical connection device 13' comprises
a circuit substrate 131', a plurality of light-emitting elements
132', a set of electrical conducting pins 133', a plurality of
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134', and a plurality of
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 135' respectively
electrically connected to the circuit substrate 131' with
respective conductors 136'. The mating connection structure 12'
comprises a plurality of plug rods 121' located at the main panel
111' of the housing 11' and spaced around the border area thereof,
and a plurality of plug holes 122' located at each
light-transmissive panel 112' of the housing 11' and spaced around
the border area thereof. Each of two selected plug rods 121'
defines therein an axially extended through hole for the insertion
of one respective electrical conducting pin 133'. Further,
insertion holes 1121' are formed in the light-transmissive panel
112'. The electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134' are
respectively aimed at the insertion holes 1121' so that the
electrical conducting pins 133' can be respectively inserted
through the insertion holes 1121' and electrically connected to the
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 134'. Further, the
electrical conducting receptacle contacts 135' are insertable
through the light-transmissive panel 112' into the plug holes 122'.
The plug holes 122' can be same as the insertion holes 1121' so
that the electrical conducting pins 133' can be respectively
inserted through the insertion holes 1121' and electrically
connected to the electrical conducting receptacle contacts 135'.
Referring to FIGS. 10-14, three different alternate forms of
light-emitting toy modules 2, 3, 4 are shown. These alternate forms
of light-emitting toy modules 2, 3, 4 are terminal block type
light-emitting toy modules. FIG. 16 illustrates one terminal block
type light-emitting toy module 4 built up with a predetermined
number of light-emitting toy modules 1 and a holder base 5 to form
a construction. The other terminal block type light-emitting toy
modules 2, 3 can be used with light-emitting toy modules 1 in a
similar way for building any of a variety of constructions.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the terminal block type
light-emitting toy module 2 comprises a main panel 21, two
light-transmissive panels 22, two specially-shaped
light-transmissive panels 23, and a light-emitting electrical
connection device (not shown). In this embodiment, the terminal
block type light-emitting toy module 2 is a triangular terminal
block wherein the set of electrical conducting pins 24 of the
light-emitting electrical connection device is extended out of the
main panel 21; each light-transmissive panel 22 has formed therein
two insertion holes 221.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the terminal block type
light-emitting toy module 3 comprises a main panel 31, a
light-transmissive panel 32, a specially shaped light-transmissive
panel 33, and a light-emitting electrical connection device (not
shown). In this embodiment, the terminal block type light-emitting
toy module 3 is a sector-like terminal block wherein the set of
electrical conducting pins 34 of the light-emitting electrical
connection device is extended out of the main panel 31; the
specially shaped light-transmissive panel 33 is a sector-like
hollow housing member; the light-transmissive panel 32 has formed
therein two insertion holes 321.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 14, the terminal block type light-emitting
toy module 4 comprises a main panel 41, three specially shaped
light-transmissive panels 42, and a light-emitting electrical
connection device (not shown). In this embodiment, the
light-emitting toy module 4 is a pyramid-shaped terminal block
wherein the set of electrical conducting pins 43 of the
light-emitting electrical connection device is extended out of the
main panel 41; the specially shaped light-transmissive panels 42
are flat triangular blocks.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1-16, a plurality of light-emitting toy
modules 1 can be used with terminal block types of light-emitting
toy modules 2, 3, 4 and a holder base 5 for building any of a
variety of toy constructions. Further, the set of electrical
conducting pins 133, 24, 34, 43 of one light-emitting toy module 1
or terminal block type light-emitting toy module 2, 3, 4 can be
inserted into one respective pair of insertion holes 1121, 221, 321
of another light-emitting toy module 1 or terminal block type
light-emitting toy module 2, 3, 4 to electrically conducting the
light-emitting toy modules 1 and terminal block type light-emitting
toy modules 2, 3, 4.
[0039] In one application example as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16,
light-emitting toy modules 1 are attached to the holder base 5 that
is equipped with a power cable 6 and/or battery 7. Further, the
holder base 5 comprises multiple pairs of plug holes 51 and via
holes 52. When attaching one light-emitting toy module 1 to the
holder base 5, insert the set of electrical conducting pins 133 of
the light-emitting toy module 1 into selected via holes 52 of the
holder base 5 and simultaneously press-fit respective plug rods 121
of the light-emitting toy module 1 into selected plug holes 51 of
the holder base 5, and thus, the attached light-emitting toy module
1 is electrically connected to the power cable 6 or battery 7 of
the holder base 5, so that the light-emitting elements 132 of each
attached light-emitting toy module 1 can be electrically conducted
to emit light through the light-transmissive panels 112 toward the
outside. Further, when set of electrical conducting pins 133 of
another light-emitting toy module 1 are inserted into one pair of
insertion holes 1121 at one light-transmissive panel 112 of one
light-emitting toy module 1 that has been attached to the holder
base 5, the inserted electrical conducting pins 133 will be
electrically conducted to one respective first set of electrical
conducting receptacle contacts 134 or second set of electrical
conducting receptacle contacts 135 so that the light-emitting
elements 132 of all attached light-emitting toy modules 1 can be
electrically conducted to emit light.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 17 and FIGS. 1-3 again, in another
application example of the present invention, multiple
light-emitting toy modules 1 are arranged in two stacks, and
connection blocks 8 are respectively attached to the stacks of
light-emitting toy modules 1, enabling the power cables 6 that are
electrically connected to the connection blocks 8 to provide
electricity of the stacked light-emitting toy modules 1, so that
the light-emitting elements 132 of all the light-emitting toy
modules 1 can be electrically conducted to emit light
* * * * *