Light conducting toy building blocks

Abstract

An interconnectable toy building block, including a body portion defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side surface. The body portion is defined about a longitudinal axis, which extends between the upper surface and the lower surface. A bore is formed in the body portion, and is open to the upper surface and to the lower surface. A longitudinal axis of the bore is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. A light conducting prong is disposed within the bore, such that the top surface of the prong is disposed within the bore beneath a height of the upper surface, and the bottom surface of the prong is disposed beneath the lower surface and the prong extends outwardly from the lower surface. An upper portion of the bore is not filled by the prong.

1 . An interconnectable toy building block, comprising:
 a body portion defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side surface, said body portion being defined about a longitudinal axis extending between said upper surface and said lower surface;   at least one bore formed in said body portion, said at least one bore being open to at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface, and having a bore longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body portion; and   at least one prong disposed within said at least one bore, said at least one prong having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein said top surface of said at least one prong is disposed within said at least one bore beneath a height of said upper surface,   wherein at least one of said at least one prong is light conducting.   
     
     
         2 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom portion including said bottom surface of at least one of said at least one prong extends out of said body portion below said lower surface, and is dimensioned and configured to be received in a portion of a said bore of a second said interconnectable toy building block. 
     
     
         3 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first bore of said at least one bore is throughgoing and extends from said upper surface to said lower surface, wherein at least a first prong of said at least one prong is disposed within said first bore such that said top surface of said first prong is within said first bore and beneath a height of said upper surface, and wherein a portion of said first bore above said top surface of said first prong is dimensioned and configured to receive a bottom end of a said prong of a second said interconnectable toy building block. 
     
     
         4 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 3 , wherein said first prong comprises a light guiding prong, and wherein light guided through said first prong is visible from said upper surface of said interconnectable toy building block. 
     
     
         5 . The interconnectable toy block of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one bore comprises a plurality of bores, and said at least one prong comprises a corresponding plurality of prongs. 
     
     
         6 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein said body portion comprises a polyhedron, such that said upper surface is substantially parallel to said lower surface, and said at least one side surface comprises a plurality of side surfaces each connecting said upper surface and said lower surface. 
     
     
         7 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein said toy building block is devoid of light sources. 
     
     
         8 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 1 , wherein said toy building block is devoid of electronic components. 
     
     
         9 . An interconnectable toy building block, comprising:
 a body portion defining an upper surface, a lower surface, and at least one side surface, said body portion being defined about a longitudinal axis extending between said upper surface and said lower surface;   a bore formed in said body portion, said bore being open to said upper surface and to said lower surface, a longitudinal axis of said bore being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body portion; and   a light conducting prong disposed within said bore, said prong having a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface of said prong disposed within said bore beneath a height of said upper surface, and said bottom surface of said prong disposed below said lower surface, such that a bottom portion of said prong extends outwardly from and below said lower surface,   wherein an upper portion of said bore is not filled by said prong.   
     
     
         10 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 9 , wherein light guided through said prong is visible when said interconnectable toy building block is viewed from above said upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The interconnectable toy block of  claim 9 , wherein said bore comprises a plurality of bores, and said prong comprises a corresponding plurality of prongs. 
     
     
         12 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 9 , wherein said body portion comprises a polyhedron, such that said upper surface is substantially parallel to said lower surface, and said at least one side surface comprises a plurality of side surfaces each connecting said upper surface and said lower surface. 
     
     
         13 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 9 , wherein said toy building block is devoid of light sources. 
     
     
         14 . The interconnectable toy building block of  claim 9 , wherein said toy building block is devoid of electronic components. 
     
     
         15 . A toy structure comprising:
 a first interconnectable toy building block according to  claim 9 , including a first said bore and a first said prong; and   a second interconnectable toy building block according to  claim 9 , including a second said bore and a second said prong,   wherein said bottom portion of said first prong is disposed within said upper portion of said second bore, such that light guided through said second prong is transmitted, within said second bore, to said first prong and is guided therethrough, such that the light is visible when said toy structure is viewed from above said upper surface of said first interconnectable toy building block.   
     
     
         16 . The toy structure of  claim 15 , wherein said first interconnectable toy building block has a first shape, and said second interconnectable toy building block has a second shape, different that said first shape. 
     
     
         17 . A method for building a three dimensional structure, the method comprising:
 obtaining a first interconnectable toy building block according to  claim 9 , including a first said bore and a first said prong;   obtaining a second interconnectable toy building block according to  claim 9 , including a second said bore and a second said prong; and   inserting said bottom portion of said first prong into said upper portion of said second bore.