Lighted construction toy with film projector

Abstract

An interlocking toy building block has a block body, projector assembly and film. The block is formed within interconnecting building elements thereon for connection with other toy blocks, and a projector opening is defined in a side of the block body. The projector assembly includes a lens arranged in the projector opening, a light source arranged in the block body to direct light outside the block body through the lens and projector opening, and a power assembly supplying electrical power to the light source. The film having an image thereon, the film arranged in the block body between the light source and the lens, such that the image on the film is projected externally from the projector opening by the light from the light source passing through the film and the lens. The film can be in a removable cartridge and the lens can be included in a focusable assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interlocking toy building block comprising:
 a block body having at least one exterior surface formed within interconnecting building elements thereon, the interconnecting building elements configured to interlock with complementary interconnecting building elements on another toy building block, a projector opening being defined in a first side of the block body;   a projector assembly including a lens arranged in the projector opening, a light source arranged in the block body to direct light outside the block body through the lens and projector opening, and a power assembly arranged in the block body and supplying electrical power to the light source; and   a film having an image thereon, the film arranged in the block body between the light source and the lens, such that the image on the film is projected externally from the projector opening by the light from the light source passing through the film and the lens.   
     
     
         2 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein the block body includes an upper section and a lower section connected thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 2 , wherein the projector assembly is seated in the lower section. 
     
     
         4 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 1 , the lens is included in a lens assembly, the lens assembly further including an outer barrel rotatably received in the projector opening and an inner barrel holding the lens and slidably arranged within the outer barrel, such that rotation of the outer barrel will move the inner barrel and lens toward and away from the light source for focusing of the image. 
     
     
         5 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         6 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein the power assembly includes at least one battery electrically connected to the light source. 
     
     
         7 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 6 , wherein the block body includes a removable battery cover, removal thereof permitting access to the at least one battery for removal and replacement. 
     
     
         8 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 6 , wherein the block body further defines a switch opening, and the power assembly further includes a power switch extending therethrough and operable to selectively supply the electrical power from the at least one battery to the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 8 , wherein the power switch is a push-button switch. 
     
     
         10 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 9 , wherein the push-button switch remains in a selected on or off position until pushed again. 
     
     
         11 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 8 , wherein the block body further defines a test opening, and the power assembly further includes a test switch having flexible contacts configured to be brought into contact by engagement through the test opening. 
     
     
         12 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein the film is carried in a film cartridge arranged in the projector body. 
     
     
         13 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 12 , wherein the block body further defines at least a first slot on a second side thereof, the film cartridge being insertable and removable through the first slot. 
     
     
         14 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 13 , wherein the block body further defines a second slot on a third side thereof, the second slot being aligned with the first slot, the film cartridge being insertable and removable through the first and second slot. 
     
     
         15 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 14 , wherein a width of the film cartridge is approximately equal to a distance between the second and third sides. 
     
     
         16 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 14 , wherein the second and third sides are both perpendicular to the first side of the block body. 
     
     
         17 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 13 , wherein an indexing element is formed on the film cartridge which aligns with a complementary indexing element in the first slot to ensure the film cartridge is inserted in a correct orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The interlocking toy building block of  claim 12 , wherein the film cartridge includes front and rear frames between which the film is sandwiched. 
     
     
         19 . An interlocking toy building block comprising:
 a block body having at least one exterior surface formed within interconnecting building elements thereon, the interconnecting building elements configured to interlock with complementary interconnecting building elements on another toy building block, a projector opening being defined in a first side of the block body, a slot being defined in a second side of the block body;   a projector assembly including a lens assembly arranged in the projector opening, a light source arranged in the block body to direct light outside the block body through the lens assembly and projector opening, and a power assembly arranged in the block body and supplying electrical power to the light source, the lens assembly including an outer barrel rotatably received in the projector opening and an inner barrel holding a lens, the inner barrel and lens being slidably arranged within the outer barrel, such that rotation of the outer barrel will move the inner barrel and lens toward and away from the light source for focusing; and   a film cartridge including at least one frame and film carried by the frame having an image thereon, the film cartridge arranged in the slot between the light source and the lens, such that the image on the film is projected externally from the projector opening by the light from the light source passing through the film and the lens.   
     
     
         20 . A method of using an interlocking toy building block, the method comprising:
 inserting a film cartridge into a slot defined in a side of the toy building block so as to place film carried by the film cartridge into a projector assembly between a light source and a lens; and   energizing the light source from a power assembly to project the image from the film through lens and out a projector opening in the toy building block.