Patent Application
20050159074
The present disclosure is directed generally to puzzles and toys. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a construction toy for building movable two and three-dimensional structures utilizing a primary connecting element in combination with various secondary connecting elements.
Individuals often find enjoyment in the challenge of building aesthetic structural designs and/or functional structural models. Frequently, the utility associated with constructing such structures is found in the creative and/or problem solving process required to achieve a desired structural objective. Currently, construction assemblies that exploit magnetic properties to interlink various structural components and thereby form different two and/or three dimensional structures are known and can provide an added dimension of sophistication to the construction process. For example, the magnetic construction toy disclosed by Balanchi in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,727, the modular assemblies disclosed by Vicentielli in U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,992, and the magnetic puzzle/toy disclosed by Smith in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,262. A significant shortcoming associated with conventional magnetic construction assemblies, such as those disclosed in the aforementioned patents, involves inherently restrictive and at times penalizing design alternatives provided thereby. It is often the case that these traditional magnetic construction assemblies have only a limited number of component parts, which parts typically have constrained geometries to ensure effective and suitably stable or secure connections. Thus, despite efforts to date, a need remains for a magnetic construction kit that provides greater construction flexibility and/or design choice. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide a magnetic construction kit that is suitable for movement thereby providing an additional degree of design/construction sophistication.
These and other needs/objectives are addressed by the present invention. Additional advantageous features and functionalities of the present invention will be apparent from the disclosure which follows, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a movable magnetic construction kit is provided that permits improved structural profiles and increased construction flexibility and/or design choice. The present invention includes at least one primary or first connecting element having at least one aperture therein and a number of magnets operatively associated with a periphery or edge thereof, at least one second connecting element having an elongated body operatively associated with at least one magnet, and a third connecting element suitable to operatively connect with the first and/or second connecting elements. The first connecting element, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a hub-like structure suitable for rotating about a predefined axis of rotation.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings and, in particular,
Referring to
The magnet retaining pockets 28 can have any of a variety of shapes, sizes and/or configurations. For instance, the magnet retaining pockets 28 can be cylindrical, square, rectangular, ovular, and polygonal or any other appropriate geometric shape. Preferably however, the magnet retaining pockets 28 are such that the corresponding primary magnet 14 accommodated thereby can be fixedly retained therein via any appropriate process or technique for accomplishing such an operation. For example, the magnet retaining pockets 28 and primary magnets 14 may be appropriately sized to cooperatively create a frictional bond of sufficient strength to prevent the inadvertent removal of the primary magnets 14. A suitable adhesive may also be utilized as appropriate to ensure a secure connection between the magnet retaining pockets 28 and the primary magnets 14. Still further, the respective magnet retaining pockets 28 can each have a retaining rim (not shown) for allowing effective receipt of the primary magnets 14 and preventing or at least substantially inhibiting the inadvertent removal thereof.
Referring to
Still referring to
As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein, the identified mechanical connectors are only exemplary, however, and numerous other connectors that are currently or later become known for providing a stable connection between any of a variety of secondary connecting elements 20 and the primary connecting element 10 equally may be used. For instance, each mechanical connector can be provided with a unique surface structure or texture (not shown) to improve further the mechanical connection between the respective connecting elements.
Referring to
With reference to applicants' co-pending U.S. application filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Magnetic Construction Module With Interchangeable Magnet Holders”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, it is noted that in an aspect of the present invention the spherical shape of the third connecting element 36 and the recessed secondary magnets 22 may allow for both a magnetic and a mechanical connection between each secondary connecting element 20 and the third connecting element 36. That is, a magnet may preferably be recessed with respect to the outer surface of a secondary connecting element a predefined depth (e.g., determined by the geometry of the third connecting element) so that a beveled edge is formed enabling the third connecting element to be both magnetically and mechanically connected to the secondary connecting element. This magnetic/mechanical connection arrangement may also be utilized with respect to the primary magnets 14 and pockets 28 of the primary connecting element 10. Accordingly, by utilizing both magnetic and mechanical connecting properties, this magnetic/mechanical connection arrangement, and other like configurations, may advantageously provide for greater connection stability or performance.
It is noted that it would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein that the third connecting element 36 can have any of a variety of other geometric shapes, sizes, or configurations suitable to effectively cooperate with at least the secondary connecting elements 20. For instance, the third connecting element 36, which, as previously noted, can preferably be made from a magnetizable material, can have a non-magnetic cover (not shown) providing restrictive access to the magnetizable third connecting element 36. The cover can be suitable to facilitate any of a variety of different mechanical and/or magnetic connections.
Furthermore, the secondary connecting elements 20 can each be operatively associated with one or more fourth connecting elements 38, which preferably operate as a rigid joint connecting two or more secondary connecting elements 20 at a distance from the primary connecting element 10 and so that the two or more secondary connecting elements 20 are rigidly oriented in predefined directions with respect to each other. For example, as shown, the fourth connecting element 38 can be a curved member forming an elbow and connecting two secondary connecting elements 20 so that they are oriented at a predefined angle relative to each other. The fourth connecting elements 38 may be magnetically connected to the primary connecting element 10, the secondary connecting elements 20, the third connecting elements 36, and/or additional fourth connecting elements 38.
Referring to
As shown, the axle element 40 preferably traverses the aperture 18 of each primary connecting element 10 supported thereby. The axle element 40 can have any of a variety shapes, sizes and/or configurations. Further, the axle element 40 may be permanently or detachably connected to a support surface 42. Still further, the axle element 40 can be operatively associated with an electromechanical device (not shown) for directly or indirectly providing an initial and/or continual work of movement force to any primary connecting element 10 supported the axle element 40. Alternatively, the axle element 40 can facilitate manually rotating any primary connecting element 10 supported thereby. In an embodiment of the present invention, once motion has been initiated, via manual or electrical means, such motion may be extended without continual manual and/or electrical aid for a specified time period by utilizing certain magnetic arrangements. For example, a first primary connecting element 10 and/or the secondary connecting elements 20 associated therewith may be positioned sufficiently close to a second primary connecting element 10 and/or the secondary connecting elements 20 associated therewith so that, in operation, once the first primary connecting element 10 is put into rotation.
Having identified and discussed various components and features of the present invention, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that such components and/or features may be operatively connected to form any of a variety of different construction profiles, such as those disclosed in applicants' copending U.S. patent application filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Magnetic Construction Modules For Creating Three-Dimensional Assemblies,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Although illustrative and exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the schematic illustrations herein, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the various structural components and/or assemblies disclosed herein are susceptible to modification and/or variation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
This patent application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/536,866, filed Jan. 16, 2004, and entitled “Magnetic Construction Modules For Creating Three-Dimensional Assemblies”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60536866 | Jan 2004 | US |
