Apparatus and Method for Bonding Three Dimensional Construction Toys when Assembled

Abstract

The invention provides means and a method for temporarily or permanently coupling three dimensional blocks together commonly used in toys or puzzles. After the blocks have been assembled, a low current is sent through the blocks in order to notify a user that the blocks have been properly configured. The current through the blocks is then increased which activates a means for coupling the blocks together including a plurality of electrodes, a series of magnetic apertures, a plurality of resin pouches, or a combination thereof. After the blocks are coupled together, the current flow is stopped, leaving the blocks temporarily or permanently in the last position in which they were placed before the increased current was applied. In some embodiments, the blocks may be disassembled, placed into a new configuration, and then recoupled as many times as desired.

1 . A toy including a plurality of three dimensional construction pieces comprising:
 means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces to each other in at least one combination, the means for permanently or temporarily coupling being disposed on or in each surface of the plurality of construction pieces;   means for forming a completed electrical circuit after the plurality of construction pieces have been assembled; and   a control box electrically coupled to the assembled construction pieces for determining if the completed circuit has been formed by the assembled construction pieces, and for selectively activating the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces together.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1  where the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises at least one fusible electrode disposed on each the plurality of construction pieces, each fusible electrode capable of aligning with a fusible electrode of an adjacent construction piece and forming an electrical connection between the aligned fusible electrodes on adjacent construction pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 2  where each construction piece includes at least two electrodes and where the means for forming a complete electrical circuit comprises a wire network disposed on or in each of the plurality of construction pieces, the wire network electrically coupling the at least two electrodes together. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 2  where each of the construction pieces are composed of conductive material and are arranged and configured so that each is capable of being electrically coupled to an adjacent construction piece only through a selected fusible electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 2  where the control box comprises means for providing a low intensity electrical current into the assembled construction pieces through the completed circuit in the plurality of construction pieces and back to the control box to determine whether the completed circuit has been formed in the assembled construction pieces. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 5  where the control box further comprises an indicator for indicating when the low intensity electrical current flows through the completed circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 3  where the control box comprises means for providing a high intensity electrical current to the completed circuit in the assembled construction pieces to join adjacent construction pieces together. 
     
     
         8 . The toy of  claim 6  where the control box comprises means for providing a high intensity electrical current capable of activating the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces after the indicator indicates that a completed circuit is achieved. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 1  where the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises at least one magnetic actuator and at least one corresponding receiving cavity disposed on adjacent surfaces of at least two adjacent construction pieces, which are aligned with each other to couple to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 9  where the control box comprises:
 means for providing a low intensity electrical current to the completed circuit; and 
 an indicator for indicating when the low intensity electrical current flows through the completed circuit. 
 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 9  where the control box comprises means for providing a high intensity electrical current to the completed circuit, where the at least one magnetic actuator comprises an armature and means for producing a magnetic field so that the armature is magnetically pushed out of the actuator and into the corresponding receiving cavity disposed on an adjacent construction piece to form a mechanical coupling between the adjacent construction pieces. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 11  where the armature comprises a plurality of retractable barbs disposed along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 1  where the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises a plurality of resin pouches disposed on each surface of the plurality of construction pieces, the resin pouches being breached upon application of an aqueous solution, so that the contents of the resin pouches come into contact with one another and form a bond. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 13  where the control box comprises means for providing a low intensity electrical current to the completed circuit, and an indicator for indicating when the low intensity electrical current flows through the completed circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 13  where the contents of the resin pouches comprise means for reacting with the contents of the resin pouches of an adjoining construction piece but do not react with the surrounding aqueous solution. 
     
     
         16 . The toy of  claim 11  where the means for producing a magnetic field comprises a wire capable of carrying electrical current wrapped around the outside surface of the magnetic actuator. 
     
     
         17 . A method for temporarily or permanently coupling a plurality of three dimensional construction pieces together comprising:
 assembling the plurality of construction pieces into a desired configuration;   applying a first electrical current to the assembled construction pieces;   conducting the first electrical current through the assembled construction pieces through a completed circuit;   activating an indicator when a completed circuit has been achieved; and   temporarily or permanently joining the plurality of construction pieces together.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  where temporarily or permanently coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises:
 applying a second electrical current that is stronger than the first electrical current to at least two electrodes disposed on the surfaces of each of the plurality of construction pieces, one of the at least two electrodes forming an electrical contact with one of the at least two electrodes of an adjacent construction piece; 
 fusing together each of the electrodes which are in contact with each other; 
 discontinuing the second electrical current; and 
 cooling the fused electrodes in each contact to form a spot weld with at least one adjacent construction piece. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  where temporarily or permanently coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises:
 applying a second electrical current that is stronger than the first electrical current to a magnetic actuator; 
 creating a magnetic field around the magnetic actuator; 
 creating a″ magnetic force in the magnetic actuator to push out an armature from the magnetic actuator; 
 disposing the armature into a receiving cavity of an adjacent construction piece by means of the magnetic force; 
 extending a plurality of retractable barbs disposed along the longitudinal axis of the armature within the receiving cavity of the adjacent construction piece; 
 discontinuing the application of the second electrical current and magnetic force; 
 maintaining the armature within the receiving cavity to form a mechanical bond between at least one construction piece and an adjacent construction piece. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  where temporarily or permanently coupling the plurality of construction pieces comprises:
 submerging the toy in an aqueous solution bath; 
 breaching at least two aligned resin pouches disposed on opposing surfaces of at least two adjacent construction pieces by means of the aqueous solution; 
 releasing resins contained within the at least two aligned resin pouches; 
 contacting the resins released from the at least two aligned resin pouches of the adjacent construction pieces; and 
 curing the contacted resins to from a bond between adjacent construction pieces. 
 
     
     
         21 . The toy of  claim 1  where the means for forming a complete electrical circuit after the plurality of construction pieces have been assembled further comprises an indicator on or in the assembled construction pieces for indicating when a low intensity electrical current flows through the completed circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The toy of  claim 2  where the means for permanently or temporarily coupling the plurality of construction pieces to each other in at least one combination comprises permanently or temporarily coupling a first subset of the plurality of construction pieces around a border of the toy such that a frame is created which encapsulates a second subset of the plurality of construction pieces within the first subset, and wherein only the first subset of the plurality of construction pieces comprise at least one fusible electrode. 
     
     
         23 . The toy of  claim 1  further comprising means for explosively decoupling the plurality of construction pieces from each other after the plurality of construction pieces have been joined together. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising explosively decoupling the plurality of construction pieces from each other after the plurality of construction pieces have been joined together.