Patent ID: 8690631

Claim:
A toy building block, comprising: a hollow box-shaped structure made of molded thermoplastic material, including a top and sides each having outwardly and inwardly facing surfaces, primary coupling members in the form of cylindrical studs located at evenly-spaced positions in a regular array on the outwardly facing surface of the top, and a downwardly opening cavity defined by the inwardly facing surfaces of the top and sides; the studs and cavity being relatively configured and dimensioned so that the block may be frictionally engaged with another like block by inserting the studs of one of the blocks into the cavity of the other; one or more integrated circuit chips embedded within the molded structure and completely contained within the thermoplastic material; and leads incorporated with the molded structure, the leads coupled to the one or more integrated circuit chips and dimensioned, configured and positioned so that when the block is frictionally engaged with the another like block electrical connection of the leads of one of the blocks will be established with the leads of the other.