Reconfigurable brick building system and structure

Abstract

In one aspect, the embodiments discussed herein are directed to a building brick toy/system including a power brick with a power supply, a motor driven by the power supply, and a receiver coupled thereto; a universal connector with one or more surfaces having a series of mating connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong configured to mate with corresponding mating connectors of the power brick so as to allow for a releasable connection between the universal connector and power brick; and a remote with a manipulatable control switch that can control the motor of the power brick. In addition, at least one driven element can also be coupled to the power brick so as to be driven in response to operation of the motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building brick toy, comprising:
 a power brick comprising a body having one or more surfaces with a series of connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong and configured for interlocking with corresponding mating connectors; the body of the power brick defining a chamber configured to at least partially house a power supply, a motor driven by the power supply, and a receiver;   a universal connector including a body having one or more surfaces with a series of mating connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong and configured to mate with the mating connectors of the power brick so as to releasably connect the universal connector and power brick; and   a remote having a manipulatable control switch for controlling the motor of the power brick, the remote comprising a transmitter that sends one or more control signals to be received by the receiver of the power brick upon manipulation of the control switch,   wherein at least one driven element is coupled to the power brick so as to be driven in response to operation of the motor of the power brick.   
     
     
         2 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one driven element comprises at least one wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the universal connector comprises a vehicle body and the at least one driven element comprises wheels driven by the motor, and wherein the motor is reversible for driving the wheels in forward and reverse directions. 
     
     
         4 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the universal connector comprises a robot body, and the at least one driven element comprises movable arms, legs, a head, wheels, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the remote is a first remote, and wherein the brick building toy further comprises:
 a second remote having a manipulatable control switch; and   at least one additional power brick including a body defining a cavity with an actuator at least partially housed therein, wherein the body of the at least one additional power brick has one or more surfaces with a series of mating connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong, and wherein the manipulatable control switch of the second remote is movable to control the motor of the power brick and/or the actuator of the at least one additional power brick.   
     
     
         6 . The building brick toy of  claim 5 , wherein the second remote comprises a body having one or more surfaces with a series of mating connectors arranged at spaced intervals therealong, and wherein the series of mating connectors of the body of the second remote are configured to engage with a series of mating connectors arranged along one or more surfaces of a body of the first remote to allow for reconfigurable, detachable coupling of the first and second remotes. 
     
     
         7 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the remote comprises a control application configured to be loaded onto a user's mobile device, the control application including a control screen accessible on a display of the mobile device, the control screen comprising at least one control image responsive to the user's touch to control operation of the motor of the power brick and a series of icons selectable to place the power brick into various modes, activate one or more sensors attached to the power brick, display additional images, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The building brick toy of  claim 7 , wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone or tablet. 
     
     
         9 . The building brick toy of  claim 1 , wherein the power brick further comprises a bump sensor attached thereto, and activation of the bump sensor changes a direction of rotation of the motor in response thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The building brick toy of  claim 9 , further comprising a series of lights arranged along the power brick, universal connector, and/or remote, wherein activation of the bump sensor illuminates one or more of the series of lights. 
     
     
         11 . A motorized, remotely controllable reconfigurable brick building system, comprising:
 a series of power bricks each including a body coupled to a motor that drives at least one movable feature and a receiver in communication with the motor, wherein the body of each power brick comprises one or more surfaces having a series of matable connectors disposed at spaced intervals therealong;   at least one additional body with a surface including a series of connectors disposed at spaced intervals therealong, the connectors of the at least one additional body configured to matably engage with the connectors of at least one of the power bricks to allow for removable connection of the power bricks to the at least one additional body; and   a remote control including a transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit a control signal to the receiver of at least one of the series of power bricks to control the motors of the power bricks, wherein the motors of the power bricks allow for controlled movement of the at least one additional body and/or attachments thereto.   
     
     
         12 . The reconfigurable brick building system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one movable feature includes one or more wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The reconfigurable brick building system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional body comprises a universal connector brick configured for connecting multiple ones of the series of power bricks together so as to provide a user a controllable vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The reconfigurable brick building system of  claim 13 , wherein the universal connector brick comprises a protrusion disposed on a bottom surface thereof configured to provide stability to the multiple ones of the series of power bricks. 
     
     
         15 . The reconfigurable brick building system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional body comprises a universal connector having a robot body with one or more movable appendages, wherein the motor of one of the series of power bricks initiates movement in at least one of the one or more movable appendages. 
     
     
         16 . The reconfigurable building brick system of  claim 13 , wherein the remote control comprises a series of remote control blocks each having a body with a control switch disposed thereon, wherein the control switches of the remote control blocks are manipulatable to control the motors of the multiple ones of the series of power bricks so as to drive the controllable vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The reconfigurable building brick system of  claim 6 , wherein the bodies of the series of remote control blocks each have a series of mating connectors disposed at spaced intervals therealong configured for removable connection of the series of remote control blocks together in multiple arrangements. 
     
     
         18 . The reconfigurable building brick system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the power bricks includes a bump sensor and a series of lights attached thereto, wherein engagement of the bump sensor illuminates one or more of the series of lights. 
     
     
         19 . The reconfigurable building brick system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the power bricks includes a bump sensor attached thereto, and engagement of the bump sensor activates, stops and/or changes rotation of the motors of the power bricks. 
     
     
         20 . The reconfigurable building brick system of  claim 11 , wherein the remote control comprises a control program downloadable to a user's mobile device, wherein the control program displays a control screen on a display of the user's mobile device, the control screen comprising a control image selectable to control the motors of the series of power bricks and wherein the control image comprises a series of remote controls, a joy stick, a wheel, or combinations thereof.