EP0116519B1 - Building block, in particular for building-block toys - Google Patents

Abstract

A building block having side walls and a front face perpendicular to these is provided with two rows of coupling pins on one side of the front face and counter-coupling tubes on the other side for mechanically coupling two building blocks by means of a clamping action. In each row, each second coupling pin has an electrically conducting surface, while the coupling pins lying between these are electrically insulating. One row of conducting pins is displaced in the direction of the rows by one coupling pin from the adjacent row. On the other side of the front wall a contact bar is arranged which is connected electrically with the conducting coupling pins of an associated row. The bar has a contact area for producing electrical contact with a row of conducting coupling pins of an adjacent, coupled building block.

Description

The invention relates to a component for construction models, in particular construction toys, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Components of this type are known, for example, from Swiss Patent No. 362,354, in which a wall is provided on one side with at least one row of coupling pins and on the other side with mating coupling elements for connection to coupling pins of an adjacent component. From Swiss Patent No. 455 606 it is also known that at least some of the coupling pins have electrically conductive surfaces or that electrically conductive contact elements are arranged on the side of the wall provided with the counter-coupling elements, which are intended for the mechanical coupling of two components to make electrical contact with the conductive surfaces of the adjacent coupled component.

These known components for the construction of electrical circuits are complex to manufacture, cannot be used universally with other components of the same component system and provide the user with at least elementary knowledge of electrical engineering with regard to current paths.

From the published German patent application No. 25 52 587, a terminal block with an electrical connection option is known, in which an electrical connection is established by the contact points of the elevations and the recesses of the module by plugging together through contact points attached to these points, in particular also an electrical one Short circuit when plugging together should be avoided. However, how these contact surfaces are to be attached is not explained in the patent application.

The object of the invention is to provide a component of the type mentioned, the electrical contact means of which can be adapted to the coupling pins or mating coupling elements of each component system, which can also be combined as desired with the contact-free components of the same component system and whose contacting with a similar one The position of the component can be clearly defined, in particular to enable a short-circuit-proof electrical connection of two-pole circuits.

According to the invention, the component has the features stated in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

This design of the component makes it possible to couple two identical components in a position perpendicular to one another, even without special precautionary measures, i.e. without any electrical knowledge of the user, prevents a short circuit between the circuits associated with each row of coupling pins of the two components.

A preferred embodiment of the component according to the invention with a wall, one side of which is provided with the coupling pins, consists in that in at least part of each row every second coupling pin has an electrically conductive surface, the electrically conductive coupling pins of one row compared to those of another Row are shifted in the longitudinal direction of the rows, and that on the other side of the wall to each row of coupling pins is arranged a contact rail extending in the row direction, which is electrically connected to the conductive surfaces of the coupling pins and which has electrically conductive surfaces formed therefor are in electrical contact with the conductive surfaces of a series of coupling pins of an adjacent, coupled component.

On the other hand, the component with a wall, one side of which is provided with the coupling pins, can also be designed in such a way that in at least part of each row all successive coupling pins have electrically conductive surfaces and are electrically connected to one another, and that on the other side a contact element is arranged on the wall of each row of coupling pins at the location of every second coupling pin, said contact element being electrically connected to the conductive surfaces of the coupling pins of the row and having an electrically conductive surface which is designed to be in electrical contact with the conductive surface of a coupling pin of an adjacent, coupled component, the contact elements connected to the one row of coupling pins being displaced in the row direction in relation to the contact elements connected to another row of coupling pins.

Each contact rail with an electrically conductive surface according to the first-mentioned embodiment can be arranged either along two parallel side walls of the hollow body or on both sides and along a center line which has the same spacing along two parallel side walls of the hollow body. By means of these two variants, it is possible to provide contact rails in components of practically any type of counter-coupling elements.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf die Oberseite eines Bauelementes mit zwei Reihen von je sechs Kupplungszapfen, von welchen ein Teil elektrisch leitende Seitenflächen hat,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite des Bauelementes der Fig. 1 mit Kontaktschienen,
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt längs der Linie 111-111 in Fig. 1,
• Fig. 4 eine schematische Darstellung von zwei rechtwinklig miteinander gekuppelten Bauelementen der Fig. 1 bis 3,
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Darstellung ähnlich Fig. 4 für eine gegenüber der Fig. 4 verschobene Lage des einen Bauelementes,
• Fig. 6 eine Draufsicht auf die Oberseite einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Bauelementes mit zwei Reihen von je sechs Kupplungszapfen,
• Fig. 7 eine Draufsicht auf die Unterseite des Bauelementes der Fig. 6,
• Fig. 8 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Oberseite eines Teils eines Bauelementes in einer weiteren Ausführungsform, bei welcher alle Kupplungszapfen elektrisch leitende Oberflächen haben und miteinander verbunden sind, auf der Gegenseite jedoch getrennte flächenhafte Kontaktelemente angeordnet sind,
• Fig. 9 bis Fig. 19 schematische Darstellungen von jeweils zwei unter einem rechten Winkel gekuppelten Bauelementen mit zwei Reihen von Kupplungszapfen,
• Fig. 20 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Oberseite eines Teils eines Bauelementes gemäss Fig. 1, bei welchem leitende Kupplungszapfen jedoch als Kontaktbuchsen ausgebildet sind,
• Fig. 21 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Oberseite eines mehr als zwei Reihen von Kupplungszapfen aufweisenden, plattenförmigen Bauelementes,
• Fig. 22 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Unterseite eines Bauelements ähnlich Fig. 2, bei welchem die Kontaktschienen federnd ausgebildet sind.

Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 is a plan view of the top of a component with two rows of six coupling pins each, some of which have electrically conductive side surfaces,
• 2 is a plan view of the underside of the component of FIG. 1 with contact rails,
• 3 shows a section along the line 111-111 in FIG. 1,
• 4 shows a schematic illustration of two components of FIGS. 1 to 3 coupled at right angles to one another,
• 5 shows a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 4 for a position of the one component that has been shifted relative to FIG. 4,
• 6 is a plan view of the top of a further embodiment of a component with two rows of six coupling pins each,
• 7 is a plan view of the underside of the component of FIG. 6,
• 8 shows a perspective view of the upper side of a part of a component in a further embodiment, in which all coupling pins have electrically conductive surfaces and are connected to one another, but separate planar contact elements are arranged on the opposite side,
• 9 to 19 are schematic representations of two components coupled at a right angle with two rows of coupling pins,
• 20 is a perspective view of the top of a part of a component according to FIG. 1, in which conductive coupling pins are designed as contact sockets,
• 21 is a perspective view of the top of a plate-shaped component having more than two rows of coupling pins,
• 22 is a perspective view of the underside of a component similar to FIG. 2, in which the contact rails are resilient.

The toy component shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has, in a manner known per se, for example, from CH-PS 352 354, a box-shaped hollow body 1 consisting of an electrically insulating plastic material with end walls 2, side walls 3 and one perpendicular to the end and side walls Bottom wall 4. On the outside of the bottom wall 4, the component has cylindrical coupling pins 5 or 6. Inside the hollow body 1, counter-coupling elements acting in a clamping manner are formed, which consist of cylindrical tubes 7 projecting from the bottom wall 4 of the hollow body 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the component has two rows 8 and 9 of six coupling pins 5 and 6 lying side by side in pairs, and five counter-coupling tubes 7.

When coupling two components according to FIGS. 1 to 3 or corresponding components of different lengths, the coupling pins 5 and 6 of one component in the overlapping parts of the two components are in each case between two mating coupling tubes 7 and a side wall 3 or between a mating coupling tube 7, a side wall 3 and an end wall 2 clamped. This fixed but releasable type of mechanical connection does not need to be discussed any further, since it is well known.

In the embodiment of the component shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, every second coupling pin 6 of each row 8, 9 has electrically conductive surfaces, in particular an electrically conductive side surface, in that these coupling pins are metallic pins, which is shown in FIGS Hatching of their end faces is indicated. The intermediate coupling pins 5 are formed entirely from the insulating plastic material of the hollow body 1. The conductive coupling pins 6 of one row 8 are offset from those of the other row 9 in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body 1 by a coupling pin.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, each conductive coupling pin 6 of each row 8, 9 penetrates the bottom wall 4 and bears against one leg 10 of a metallic angle rail 11. These coupling pins 6 are mechanically and electrically connected to the leg 10, e.g. soldered so that all conductive coupling pins 6 of the same row are electrically connected to one another. The other leg 12 of the angle rail 11, which extends in the interior of the hollow body 1 over its entire length, rests on one or the other side wall 3 of the hollow body 1 and forms a contact strip extending along the relevant side wall 3 with a conductive longitudinal surface.

It can be seen that in the case of a longitudinal stacking and coupling of two identical components according to FIGS. 1 to 3, be it completely or only partially covering, the side surfaces of the conductive coupling pins 6 of one row 8 of one component in electrical contact with the a contact strip 12 of the other component, and that this also applies to the conductive coupling pin 6 of the other row 9 and the other contact strip 12, so that the circuits assigned to the two rows 8, 9 of coupling pin 6 are preserved and remain separate from one another. But even if the one component is not placed in the same longitudinal direction on the other component and coupled with it, but in a mutually perpendicular position, the circuits associated with the two rows 8, 9 of coupling pins 6 are retained and separated from one another, which is described below 4 and 5 will be explained.

4 and 5, a second component with the rows 8 'and 9' of coupling pins is placed perpendicularly to the first component on a first component with the rows 8 and 9 of coupling pins. The insulating coupling pins 5 of the first component are indicated by empty circles and the conductive coupling pins 6 of the first component are indicated by filled circles. The coupling pins of the second component, which have no influence on the present electrical contact, are indicated by empty circles. Only the two contact strips 12 'of the second component are indicated, since those of the first component are not involved.

In the arrangement of FIG. 4, a conductive coupling pin 6 of the row 8 of the first component comes into electrical contact with the contact strip 12 'of the row 8' of the second component. The same is the case for rows 9 and 9 '. Thus, all coupling pins 6 of one row 8 of the first component with all coupling pins 6 'of one row 8' of the other component, and all coupling pins 6 of the other row 9 of the first component with all coupling pins 6 'of the other row 9' of the other component in electrical connection. No cross connection, i.e. there is no short circuit from one row 8 or 8 'to the other row 9 or 9'. This connection assignment remains unchanged when the second component with the rows 8, 9 'is displaced in its longitudinal direction and is placed on the first component with the rows 8, 9.

5, the second component with the Rows 8 ', 9' shifted transversely to its longitudinal direction by a coupling pin spacing and placed on the first component with the rows 8, 9, so a short-circuit-proof connection between the rows 8, 9 and 8 ', 9' is still maintained. In contrast, a polarity reversal takes place in that row 8 is now connected to row 9 'and row 9 is connected to row 8'.

6 and 7 a further toy component is shown, the hollow body 1 of which differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that in the interior of the hollow body two parallel longitudinal walls 3 'as counter-coupling elements for the coupling pins 5 and 6, which in two Rows 8 and 9 are present, are formed on the inner surface of the bottom wall 4 and the end walls 2. In this case, it is expedient to arrange the angled rails 11, which each connect a row 8, 9 with their one leg 10 and with their other leg 12 as contact strips for the conductive coupling pins 6 of an adjacent component, so that the contact strips 6 12 extend along the parallel walls 3 '. In other words, the contact strips 12 are arranged electrically separated from one another on both sides and along a center line having the same distances from the two parallel side walls of the hollow body 1. Otherwise, the component and the component of FIGS. 6 and 7 have the same application and effect as the component of FIGS. 1 and 2 described.

Instead of providing metallic coupling pins 6, insulating pins with e.g. be provided in the form of a sleeve-shaped piece of casing, a band-shaped contact strip corresponding to the leg 12 of the angle rail 11 being arranged in the interior of the hollow body 1 for each row of coupling pins instead of the angle bar 11 and connected to the sleeve-shaped jacket pieces of the associated row. If instead of a closed sleeve, which can be produced by deep drawing, a longitudinally slotted sleeve is provided, the sleeves and the associated contact strip can be produced in one piece from a sheet metal strip by punching and bending. Both the conductive coupling pins and the contact strips of the contact elements described can be adapted in terms of shape in a simple manner to the respective design of the insulating coupling pins and counter-coupling elements of practically all component systems.

In Fig. 8, a toy component is shown in perspective view, which forms the reverse of the formation of the contact arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The component shown has two rows 13 and 14 of coupling pins 1. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, however, all coupling pins 15 have electrically conductive side surfaces 16. In addition, all coupling pins 15 of the same row 13 or 14 are electrically connected to one another by means of a metallic strip 17.

On the other hand, instead of one contact rail 11 per row according to FIG. 2, individual, separate, two-dimensional contact elements 18, which are shown in broken lines in FIG. 8, are arranged in the interior of the component shown. Each contact element 18 extends from the respective metallic connecting strip 17 with which it is electrically connected, along the relevant side wall 3 to the lower edge of the side wall 3. Only at the location of every second coupling pin 15 of each row 13, 14 is such a contact element 18 arranged. In addition, the contact elements 18 of one row 13 are shifted relative to those of the other row by a coupling pin 15.

It can be seen that when two identical components of this type are coupled, electrical connections are made in the same way and in particular without the risk of short-circuiting, as has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Both the conductive surfaces of the coupling pins and the contact rails of the contact devices described, in particular those of FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7, can be adapted in terms of shape in a simple manner to the respective design of the mating coupling elements of the components of practically all known systems. This will be briefly explained below on the basis of the schematic overview represented by FIGS. 9 to 19. In this schematic overview, the representation of the contact devices involved of the two perpendicularly coupled components is the same as that of FIG. 4. Here, FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 each show contact rails, which essentially run along the two side walls of the component are arranged. 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, the contact rails are arranged on both sides of a center line of the component.

FIG. 9 shows the contact when coupling two components according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the designation of the rows 8 and 9 of insulating and conductive coupling pins 5 and 6 of the one component and the contact rails 12 'of the rows 8' and 9 'of the other component in accordance with FIG. 4. It can also be seen here that a short-circuit-free electrical connection assignment is achieved.

Toy components are known which, instead of cylindrical coupling pins, have those with a square cross section. With these components, too, contact devices of the present type can be arranged, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The further arrangements of contact devices shown in FIGS. 11 to 19 make use of contact rails which are bent several times. This is done with regard to special training of the mating coupling elements of the relevant components. Instead of negative feedback tubes according to FIG. 2, for example, relatively thin pins formed in large numbers are known which can be full or slotted.

FIG. 20 shows a toy component in the manner of the component of FIG. 1 in a perspective external view. In this component, the metallic coupling pins 6, which are arranged in rows alternating with the insulating coupling pins 5, have a central bore 19 into which a plug pin can be inserted is to supply or remove electrical current from the component.

Contact members of the present type can also be provided in the case of components consisting of a plate-like component having a larger number of rows of coupling pins in order to supply or withdraw current from such a component. As an example, a component of this type is shown in FIG. 21, which has several rows of insulating coupling pins 5 lying next to one another. In two rows 20 and 21 lying next to one another, the two edge coupling pins 6 and the next coupling pins 6 lying inwards are each provided with conductive surfaces 22. In the component shown, the conductive surfaces 22 of the coupling pins 6 of each row 20, 21 are electrically connected to one another by contact strips (not shown) arranged on the hollow underside of the components.

A similar flat component with a relatively large area can also be provided as the base plate, which at certain points, in particular adjacent to the edges of the base plate, as in the component of FIG. 21, has electrically conductive coupling pins arranged in pairs and offset, which are located on the underside of the base plate are bipolar connected. For two-pole power supply to the base plate from a power source provided with conductive coupling pins or for two-pole current draw from the base plate for a consumer provided with conductive coupling pins or conductive contact rails, e.g. a lamp, components of the present type, described for example with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, are then used as connecting elements.

Although normally a contact pressure is automatically generated due to the elastic side walls of the component, FIG. 22 shows the underside of a component with mating coupling tubes 7, in which the conductive contact strips 12 are designed to be resilient. For this purpose, the contact strips as fingers 23 extend over the entire height of the side walls 3 only at the contact points provided. The fingers 23 achieve resilient contact with the conductive surfaces of the coupling pins of an adjacent, coupled component.

The production of electrical connections with components according to the invention, which can be combined as desired with components of the relevant component system consisting exclusively of insulating plastic material, is carried out without any problems, without instructions and knowledge, and without the risk of a short circuit.

Claims (11)

1. Building block for building models, in particular building-block toys with at least two parallel rows (8, 9; 13, 14) of coupling studs (5, 6; 15, 16) and with contact elements (11; 17) extending in the direction of said rows for producing electric circuits, characterised by a row of first contact elements (6; 18) which are separated from each other and are associated with each row of coupling studs (5, 6; 1 5, 16) and are displaced along the longitudinal direc- tinof the rows with respect to the first contact elements (6; 18) of another row, and by second contact elements (11; 17), which are associated with each row of coupling studs and are in common for at least several of the first contact elements (6; 18) of the respective row and are electrically connected thereto, the first contact elements (6; 18) being so constructed as to be in electrical contact with the second contact elements (11; 17) of an adjacent, coupled building block.

2. Building block according to Claim-1, with a wall (4), one side of which is provided with coupling studs (5, 6), characterised in that each second coupling stud (6) in at least part of each row, is provided with an electically conductive surface, the electrically conductive coupling studs (6) of one row (8) being displaced with respect to those of another row (9) in the longitudinal direction of said rows (8, 9) and that on the other side of the wall, a contact rail (11), extending in the direction of the row, is provided for each row of coupling studs and is electrically connected to the conductive surfaces of the coupling studs (6) and is provided with electrically conductive surfaces (12) which are adapted to be in electrical contact with the conductive surfaces of a row of coupling studs (6) of an adjacent building block.

3. Building block according to Claim 1, with a wall, one side of which is provided with coupling studs (15, 16), characterised in that in at least one part of each row (13, 14) all successive coupling studs (15, 16) are provided with electrically conductive surfaces (17) and are electrically connected to each other and that on the other side of the wall each row of coupling studs (15, 16) is provided in place of each second coupling stud with a contact element (18) which is electrically connected to the conductive surfaces (17) of the coupling studs in the row and is provided with an electrically conductive surface, which is adapted to be in electrical contact with the conductive surface (17) of a coupling stud (15, 16) associated with an adjacent, coupled building block, the contact elements (18), which are connected to a row of coupling studs (15, 16) being displaced in the direction of the row with respect to the contact elements (18), which are connected to another row of coupling studs.

4. Building block according to any of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the magnitude of the displacement is equal to the distance between two coupling studs which are adjacent in the direction of the row.

5. Building block according to Claim 2, with two side walls (3) extending parallel with the direction of the row of coupling studs, characterised in that a conductive contact rail (11) is disposed along each side wall.

6. Building block according to Claim 2, with two side walls (3) extending parallel with the direction of the rows of coupling studs characterised in that each of a conductive contact rail is disposed on both sides and along a centreline which is equidistant from both side walls.

7. Building block according to Claim 3, with two side walls (3) extending parallel with the direction of the rows of coupling studs, characterised in that the contact elements (13), having the conductive surfaces, are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls.

8. Building block according to Claim 3, with two side walls (3) extending parallel with the direction of the rows of coupling studs, characterised in that the contact elements (13), having the conductive surfaces, are disposed on both sides and along a centreline which is equidistant from both side walls.

9. Building block according to any of the Claims 2,5 and 6, characterised in that the coupling studs (6) with conductive surfaces are constructed as metal studs which penetrate through the said wall (4) and that two angle rails (11) are provided, one member (10) of each of these bearing on the inner end- faces of the metal studs of the same row and being conductively connected thereto and the other respective member (12) forms the conductive contact strip.

10. Building block according to any of the Claims 2, 5 and 6, characterised in that coupling studs (6) with conductive surfaces comprise an insulating stud and a metal jacket, for example an at least almost closed sleeve, disposed thereon and that the jacket members associated with coupling studs of the same row are connected to the associated conductive contact strip.

11. Building block according to any of the Claims 2 to 10, characterised in that at least one part of the coupling studs (6) with conductive surfaces is provided with a central bore (19) with a conductive inner surface for the insertion of a plug pin, the inner surface of the bore being electrically connected to the conductive surface of the coupling stud.

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