Unilateral electrified interlocking block system and method thereof

Abstract

A system and method are provided for integrating circuitry on to interlocking blocks and/or transmitting electricity across a surface of the interlocking blocks. An aspect of the system may include adhesive-backed low profile conductive pathways which may be coupled to or defined on the surface of certain one of the interlocking blocks without compromising interlocking strength of both modified and unmodified interlocking blocks. Another aspect of the system may include defining a unilateral circuit on the surface on the interlocking blocks using one or more conductive pathways, a conductive coating applied to the surface, or a conductive material of the surface. The unilateral circuit may feature a through-air return path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic interlocking block system comprising:
 a power source;   at least one electronic element;   a plurality of interlocking blocks, each including an exterior surface and at least one coupling device, the at least one coupling device of each of the plurality of interlocking blocks configured to interact with the at least one coupling device of a different one of the plurality of interlocking blocks; and   one or more conductive pathways coupled to the exterior surface of one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks,   wherein the one or more conductive pathways are configured to define an electrical circuit between the power source and the at least one electronic element when the plurality of interlocking blocks are coupled together.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic interlocking block system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical circuit is a unilateral circuit with a through-air return path.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic interlocking block system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical circuit is a bilateral circuit with a physical return path.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic interlocking block system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks includes a first conductive pathway and a second conductive pathway of the one or more conductive pathways.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic interlocking block system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the exterior surface of each of the plurality of interlocking blocks defines the one or more conductive pathways.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic interlocking block system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one of the at least one electronic element is positioned within at least one of the plurality of interlocking blocks and powered by the electrical circuit.   
     
     
         7 . An electronic block comprising:
 a block having an exterior surface and at least one coupling device; and   one or more conductive pathways coupled to the exterior surface of the block or defined by the exterior surface of the block.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic block of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways comprise foil tape coupled to the exterior surface of the block.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic block of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways includes a supply pathway and a return pathway.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic block of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways is defined by a conductive coating coupled to the exterior surface of the block.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic block of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways are configured to interact with a power source.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic block of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the power source is configured to provide power to an electronic element coupled to the block via the one or more conductive pathways.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic block of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the electronic element is positioned within the block.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic block of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways define an electrical circuit between the power source and the electronic element.   
     
     
         15 . A method for transmitting electricity across a surface of at least one of a plurality of interlocking blocks, the method comprising:
 (a) defining one or more conductive pathways on the surface of one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks; and   (b) coupling the one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks together to define an electrical circuit between a power source and at least one electronic element using the one or more conductive pathways.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (a) further includes:
 applying the one or more conductive pathways to the surface of the one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (a) further includes:
 coating an exterior surface of the one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks with a conductive material to define the one or more conductive pathways.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the one or more conductive pathways define a unilateral circuit having a through-air return path from the at least one electronic element to the power source.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of interlocking blocks includes at least one coupling device for coupling the one or more of the plurality of interlocking blocks together.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one coupling device is conductive and electrically connected to the one or more conductive pathways.