Abstract:
A conductive base for illuminating building blocks has a base plate, an anode conductive component, and a cathode conductive component. The base plate further has a plurality of hollow studs. The anode conductive component and the cathode conductive component electrically connect to an external power supply. The anode conductive component and the cathode conductive component are projected out of recesses of the hollow studs to contact circuit boards of illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate and then build electric connections. The neighboring illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate can emit light together by the above base plate without intricate circuits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a conductive base for illuminating building blocks, and in particular to a conductive base for illuminating building blocks having an anode electric connection member, a cathode electric connection member, and a plurality of electric connection conductive sheets. Light is emitted from an illuminating building block mounted on the conductive base for illuminating the building block through the electric connection among the anode electric connection member, the cathode electric connection member, the electric connection conductive sheets, and the conductive base. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional illuminating building block disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. TW I500441 discloses a variable lighting structure which can be built by stacking conventional illuminating building blocks. The stacked conventional illuminating building blocks are electrically connected with an external power supply only by the lowest level conventional illuminating building block. The upper level conventional illuminating building blocks stacked on the lowest level conventional illuminating building block directly or indirectly emit light together with the lowest level conventional illuminating building block. However, the other conventional illuminating building blocks mounted beside the lowest level conventional illuminating building block cannot emit light together with the lowest level conventional illuminating building block. It is a severe restriction on playing the conventional illuminating building blocks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a large base plate to illuminate all illuminating building blocks stacked on the large base plate. 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide a conductive base for illuminating building blocks, comprising:
         a base plate including a top surface, at least one side wall and an accommodating space defined by the top surface and the at least one side wall, the base plate further comprising: a plurality of hollow studs, a plurality of slots, an anode conductive component and a cathode conductive component;   the hollow studs projected from the top surface away from the accommodating space, each hollow stud comprising a top portion protruding away from the accommodating space, the top portion including two recesses defined therethrough and connected to the accommodating space;   the slots formed in the accommodating space and corresponding to the recesses of the hollow studs;   the anode conductive component inserted into one of the slots, an end of the anode conductive component protruding from one of the two recesses of each of the hollow studs, the anode conductive component including an anode electric connection sheet and at least two anode conductive sheets, the anode electric connection sheet electrically connected with the at least two anode conductive sheets and engaged with the base plate in the accommodating space; and       

     the cathode conductive component inserted into another one of the slots next to the anode conductive component, an end of the cathode conductive component protruding from the other one of the two recesses of each of the hollow studs, the cathode conductive component including a cathode electric connection sheet and at least two cathode conductive sheets, the cathode electric connection sheet electrically connected with the at least two cathode conductive sheets and engaged with the base plate in the accommodating space. 
     The conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention utilizes the anode conductive component and the cathode conductive component to form an electric connection between an external power supply and illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate. 
     Preferably, a conductive area and a non-conductive area are formed by arrangements of the hollow studs on the top surface of the base plate. The conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention utilizes different arrangements of the hollow studs on the base plate to form a conductive area with the hollow studs and a non-conductive area without the hollow studs. It enhances the variety of the base plate with the conductive base for illuminating building blocks. 
     More preferably, each one of the at least two anode conductive sheets includes a connection sheet and at least one electric connection projection sheet. The at least one electric connection projection sheet corresponds to the recesses of the hollow studs and passes through the accommodating space and then protrudes out of the recesses of the hollow studs. Each one of the at least two cathode conductive sheets also includes a connection sheet and at least one electric connection projection sheet. The at least one electric connection projection sheet corresponds to the recesses of the hollow studs and passes through the accommodating space and then protrudes out of the recesses of the hollow studs. The conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention utilizes the anode electric connection sheet to electrically connect with all the anode conductive sheets and the cathode electric connection sheet to electrically connect with all the cathode conductive sheets. Every electric connection projection sheet protruded out of the recesses of the hollow studs can electrically connect with an external power supply. Power from the external power supply is transmitted to and illuminates all the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate through the above electric connection projection sheets. 
     And more preferably, each one of the at least one electric connection projection sheet of the anode conductive sheet includes a connection end and a projection end. The connection end connects to the connection sheet, and the projection end extends out of the recesses to form an elastic structure between the connection end and the projection end by bending and folding. Each one of the at least one electric connection projection sheet of the cathode conductive sheet includes a connection end and a projection end. The connection end connects to the connection sheet and the projection end extends out of the recesses to form another elastic structure between the connection end and the projection end by bending and folding. The conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention utilizes the projection end of the electric connection projection that protrudes out of the recesses to directly contact the circuit board of the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate and the anode conductive component or the cathode conductive component. The structure of each electric connection projection sheet has elasticity by bending and folding between the connection end and the projection end, such that the projection end of the electric connection projection sheet is pressed against the circuit board of the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate stably, ensuring the effective contact between an external power supply and the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate. 
     Most preferably, the anode conductive sheet includes at least one first engaging piece. The anode electric connection sheet includes at least one second engaging piece. The base plate includes at least one first engaging indentation and at least one second engaging indentation in the accommodating space. The at least one first engaging piece engages with the first engaging indentation, and the at least one second engaging piece engages with the second engaging indentation. The cathode conductive sheet also includes at least one first engaging piece. The cathode electric connection sheet includes at least one second engaging piece. The base plate includes at least one first engaging indentation and at least one second engaging indentation in the accommodating space. The at least one first engaging piece engages with the first engaging indentation, and the at least one second engaging piece engages with the second engaging indentation. The conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention utilizes the first engaging piece of each anode conductive sheet and each cathode conductive sheet corresponds to the first engaging indentation of the base plate in the accommodating space to fix the anode conductive sheet, the cathode conductive sheet and the base plate. The anode conductive sheet and the cathode conductive sheet cannot easily separate from the base plate by pressure from the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate. Moreover, the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention also utilizes the second engaging piece of the anode electric connection sheet and the cathode electric connection sheet corresponding to the second engaging indentation of the base plate in the accommodating space to fix the anode electric connection sheet, the cathode electric connection sheet and the base plate. The anode electric connection sheet and the cathode electric connection sheet cannot easily separate from the base plate by pressure from the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate. The engaging piece and the engaging indentation help the anode conductive component, the cathode conductive component and the base plate to be combined and fixed firmly, preventing influencing the power transmission by separation of the above members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view showing an accommodating space of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view showing an anode conductive sheet of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed view showing an anode electric connection sheet of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view showing the engagement between the anode conductive sheet and the base plate of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view showing the engagement between the anode electric connection sheet and the base plate of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view showing the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view showing the conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a conductive base for illuminating building blocks according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a base plate  10 , an anode conductive component  20  and a cathode conductive component  30 . 
     The base plate  10  has a rectangular plate structure and includes a top surface  11  and four side walls  12 . An accommodating space  13  is formed and surrounded by the top surface  11  and the four side walls  12  and has an opening toward the bottom of the base plate  10 . 
     The base plate  10  further includes two hundred fifty-six hollow studs  14  and thirty-two slots  15 . The two hundred fifty-six hollow studs  14  are arranged as 16×16 arrays. The thirty-two slots  15  are arranged in parallel. The hollow studs  14  are projected from the top surface  11  away from the accommodating space  13 . A top portion  141  of each hollow stud  14  is formed away from the accommodating space  13  and includes two recesses  141 A defined therethrough. The two recesses  141 A are rectangles and parallel with each other. The slots  15  are formed in the accommodating space  13 . The extension direction of the slots  15  is parallel with the extension direction of the recesses  141 A. The slots  15  correspond to the recesses  141 A such that the outer space out of the bottom of the base plate  10  connects to the outer space out of the top of the base plate  10  via the slots  15 , the interior space of the hollow studs  14  and the recesses  141 A. 
     The anode conductive component  20  includes an anode electric connection sheet  21  and anode conductive sheets  22 . From  FIG. 2 , the largest amount of the anode conductive sheets  22  is sixteen, which is equal to the amount of lines of the hollow studs  14  on the base plate  10 . The anode electric connection sheet  21  is used to connect the anode conductive sheets  22  and an external power supply (not shown in figures). Power from the external power supply is transmitted to each one of the anode conductive sheets  22  through the anode electric connection sheet  21 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each one of the anode conductive sheets  22  includes a connection sheet  221 , a plurality of electric connection projection sheets  222  and a plurality of first engaging pieces  223 . The connection sheet  221  has a rectangular plate structure as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 . The electric connection projection sheets  222  are projected from the top of the connection sheet  221 . A largest amount of the electric connection projection sheets  222  is sixteen, which is equal to the amount of each column of the hollow studs  14  on the base plate  10 . The first engaging pieces  223  are also projected from the top of the connection sheet  221 . A largest amount of the first engaging pieces  223  is fifteen. The location of each first engaging piece  223  corresponds to a location between two hollow studs  14  on the base plate  10 . 
     The above electric connection projection sheet  222  includes a connection end  222 A and a projection end  222 B. The connection end  222 A connects to the projection end  222 B, and the projection end  222 B is projected from the connection end  222 A. An elastic structure is formed between the connection end  222 A and the projection end  222 B by bending and folding. When the projection end  222 B is pressed by an external force, the projection end  222 B can be compressed toward the connection end  222 A. When the external force is released, the projection end  222 B can restore back to the initial position away from the connection end  222 A. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 , each one of the slots  15  of the base plate  10  includes a plurality of first engaging indentations  151  in the accommodating space  13 . Each first engaging indentation  151  corresponds to the first engaging piece  223  of the anode conductive sheet  22  in position and shape. The first engaging piece  223  is engaged with the first engaging indentation  151  when the anode conductive sheet  22  is inserted into the slot  15  of the base plate  10 . The projection ends  222 B of the electric connection projection sheets  222  on the anode conductive sheets  22  can extend out of the recesses  141 A of the hollow studs  14  to contact and electrically connect with an illuminating building block stacked on the base plate  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 7 , the anode electric connection sheet  21  has a rectangular plate structure and includes a plurality of contacting sheets  211  and a plurality of second engaging pieces  212 . The contacting sheets  211  and the second engaging pieces  212  extend out of the anode electric connection sheet  21 . The extension direction of the contacting sheets  211  is perpendicular to the extension direction of the second engaging pieces  212 . The contacting sheets  211  can contact and electrically connect with the anode conductive sheets  22  inserted into the slot  15 . The second engaging pieces  212  can be engaged with the base plate  10  in the accommodating space  13 . A largest amount of the contacting sheets  211  is sixteen as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the amount of the contacting sheets  211  is equal to the largest amount of the anode conductive sheets  22  inserted in the base plate  10 . 
     The base plate  10  includes second engaging indentations  16  in the accommodating space  13 . Each second engaging indentation  16  corresponds to the second engaging piece  212  of the anode electric connection sheet  21  in position and shape. When the anode electric connection sheet  21  is inserted into the base plate  10 , the second engaging piece  212  is engaged with the second engaging indentation  16  to make the contacting sheets  211  of the anode electric connection sheet  21  stably contact and electrically connect with the anode conductive sheets  22  inserted into the slot  15 . Therefore, power from the external power supply is transmitted to each anode conductive sheets  22  through the anode electric connection sheet  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cathode conductive component  30  includes a cathode electric connection sheet  31  and a plurality of cathode conductive sheets  32 . The structures of the cathode electric connection sheet  31  are identical to the structures of the anode electric connection sheet  21 , and the structures of the cathode conductive sheets  32  are also identical to the structures of the anode conductive sheets  22 . The electrically connecting module between the cathode conductive sheet  32  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  are identical to the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the anode conductive sheets  22 . The engaging module between the cathode electric connection sheet  31  and the base plate  10 , and between the cathode conductive sheet  32  and the base plate  10  are identical to the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the anode conductive sheets  22 . Furthermore, the cathode conductive component  30  is alternately arranged with the anode conductive component  20  at spaced intervals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  are mounted on the opposite sides of the base plate  10  in the accommodating space  13 . The anode electric connection sheet  21  is mounted near the side walls  12  of the left side with the base plate  10 . The cathode electric connection sheet  31  is mounted near the side walls  12  of the right side with the base plate  10 . The anode conductive sheets  22  electrically connecting to the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode conductive sheet  32  electrically connecting to the cathode electric connection sheet  31  are arranged interdigitatedly. Specifically, a cathode conductive sheet  32  is mounted between the two anode conductive sheets  22  and an anode conductive sheet  22  is mounted between the two cathode conductive sheets  32 . The anode conductive sheets  22  and the cathode conductive sheet  32  do not contact each other. That is, the anode electric connection sheet  21  only contacts the anode conductive sheets  22  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  only contacts the cathode conductive sheet  32 . The neighboring anode conductive sheets  22  and cathode conductive sheet  32  can correspond to the two recesses  141 A of one hollow stud  14 . The electric connection projection sheets  222  of the anode conductive sheets  22  and the electric connection projection sheets of the cathode conductive sheets  32  are projected out of the two recesses  141 A of the one hollow stud  14  to make the electric connection projection sheets  222  of the anode conductive sheets  22  and the electric connection projection sheets of the cathode conductive sheets  32  contact and electrically connect with an illuminating building block stacked on the base plate  10 . Power from the external power supply is transmitted to the illuminating building block stacked on the base plate  10  through the electric connection to illuminate all the illuminating building block stacked on the base plate  10  successfully. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  are not restricted to be mounted near the side walls  12  of the base plate  10 . The anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  can be mounted away from edges of the base plate  10  within the accommodating space  13 . Compared to the first embodiment, the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  need to rotate a right angle in the second preferred embodiment to make the contacting sheets  211  of the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the contacting sheets of the cathode electric connection sheet  31  projected toward the base plate  10 . Then the contacting sheets  211  of the anode electric connection sheet  21  can contact and electrically connect with the anode conductive sheets  22 , and the contacting sheets of the cathode electric connection sheet  31  can contact and electrically connect with the cathode conductive sheet  32 . A plurality of notches are formed on the base plate  10  within the accommodating space  13 , and the notches can be engaged with the second engaging pieces  212  of the anode electric connection sheet  21  and the second engaging pieces of the cathode electric connection sheet  31 . The anode electric connection sheet  21  and the cathode electric connection sheet  31  can be mounted away from the edges of the base plate  10  within the accommodating space  13  by the above structures to construct an electric connection between an external power supply and the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is that a conductive area  17  and a non-conductive area  18  are formed on the top surface  11 A of the base plate  10 A by different arrangements of the hollow studs  14 . The amount of the electric connection projection sheets  222  on the anode conductive sheets  22  or on the cathode conductive sheet  32  corresponds to the amount of the hollow studs  14  arranged on each line or column of the top surface  11 A of the base plate  10 A. The conductive base for illuminating building blocks becomes more versatile without influencing the electric connection between the external power supply and the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 A. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is that a base plate  10 B of the conductive base for illuminating building blocks has a circular plate structure. The base plate  10 B includes a top surface  11 B and a side wall  12 B. The amount of the electric connection projection sheets  222  on the anode conductive sheets  22  or on the cathode conductive sheet  32  corresponds to the amount of the hollow studs  14  arranged on each line or column of the top surface  11 B of the base plate  10 B. Power from an external power supply also can be transmitted to the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 B. In summary, the conductive base for illuminating building blocks of the present invention utilizes the hollow studs  14  of the base plate  10 ,  10 A,  10 B and the recesses  141 A of the hollow studs  14  to provide that the anode conductive sheets  22  and the cathode conductive sheet  32  inserted into the base plate  10 ,  10 A,  10 B can be projected out of the recesses  141 A. The illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 ,  10 A,  10 B are electrically connected with the anode conductive sheets  22  and the cathode conductive sheet  32 . Power from the external power supply is transmitted to the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 ,  10 A,  10 B through the anode conductive component  20  and the cathode conductive component  30  to illuminate all the illuminating building blocks stacked on the base plate  10 ,  10 A,  10 B together even each two illuminating building blocks are left and right adjacent. Thus much more variety of lighting structures can be built on the larger conductive base, rather than limited by previous conventional illumination building blocks.