MODULAR SCREEN WITH MAGNETIC JOINTS

Abstract

In an embodiment, a gaming screen comprising a first panel having a first edge, a first magnet rotatably mounted at the first edge, a second panel having a second edge, and a second magnet rotatably mounted at the second edge. The first and second magnets are arranged to attract to each other and form a hinge between the first panel and the second panel. The panel may be folded into a compact state for carrying or storage.

Description

FIELD

This disclosure relates to screens and, more particularly, modular gaming screens with magnetic joints.

BACKGROUND

Tabletop screens are often used when playing various board or table games such as Dungeons and Dragons®. For example, a person playing the game may place a screen in front of them so that other players at the table cannot see information or objects behind the screen. In certain role-playing games, this is a requirement so that a game master can perform actions or make determinations about game rules behind the screen so that other players do not gain an advantage in the game. In certain board games, one or all players may use a screen so that the other players cannot see information or objects behind the screen.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a gaming screen comprising a first panel having a first edge, a first magnet rotatably mounted at the first edge, a second panel having a second edge, and a second magnet rotatably mounted at the second edge. The first and second magnets are arranged to attract to each other and form a hinge between the first panel and the second panel.

One or more of the following features may be included:

The first magnet may have a cylindrical body and may be mounted so that its central axis is substantially parallel to the first edge.

The first magnet may be mounted so that it is free to rotate about its central axis.

The first magnet may have a mounting hole through a central axis of the cylindrical body.

The first panel may include a mounting spindle and the first magnet may be mounted so that the mounting spindle passes through the mounting hole.

The magnet(s) may be bisected so that a first half of the first magnetic has a magnetic north polarity and a second half of the first magnet has a magnetic south polarity, such that the first and second halves of the first magnet are lengthwise halves of the first magnet.

The first panel may include an opposite edge and an opposite magnet rotatably mounted at the opposite edge.

The first panel, the second panel, or both may comprise a substantially flat rectangular body.

The first panel may comprise a plurality of magnets rotatably mounted along the first edge.

The hinge may allow about a 360-degree swing between the first and second panels.

In another embodiment, a screen comprises a plurality of panels. Each panel comprises: a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, and at least one rotatably mounted magnet positioned at the first edge and/or the second edge. The at least one rotatably mounted magnet of a first panel of the plurality of panels attracts the at least one rotatably mounted magnet of a second panel of the plurality of panels to form a hinge between the one panel and the second panel.

One or more of the following features may be included:

The hinge may allow the first panel to swing about 360-degrees with respect to the second panel.

The rotatably mounted magnets may comprise cylindrical bodies.

A first lengthwise half of each cylindrical body may comprise magnetic north and a second lengthwise half of each cylindrical body may comprise magnetic south. In another embodiment,

In another embodiment, a modular panel for a screen comprises a first edge and one or more magnets rotatably mounted at the first edge. The magnets are mounted to rotate about an axis through a center of the magnets. The one or more cylindrical magnets may comprise a body, a magnetic north half, and a magnetic south half. The magnetic north half and the magnetic south half are defined by a plane through the axis of the body.

One or more of the following features may be included:

A mounting hole may be positioned through the axis of the body.

The body may be a cylindrical body.

A second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge; and one or more magnets rotatably mounted on the second, third, and/or fourth edge may be included.

In another embodiment, a screen comprises a plurality of panels and means for coupling the panels together to form hinges between the panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings. The drawings aid in explaining and understanding the disclosed technology. Since it is often impractical or impossible to illustrate and describe every possible embodiment, the provided figures depict one or more exemplary embodiments. Also, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Accordingly, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Like numbers in the figures denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a screen.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a rotatable, cylindrical magnet.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a panel of a screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screen comprising two panels.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a panel of a screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a screen with magnets on one edge.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a screen with magnets on two edges.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a screen with magnets on three edges.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a screen comprising two panels.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a screen comprising two panels and an adaptor.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a screen comprising two panels, where one panel has fixed magnets.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 12B are diagrams of a screen in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an elevated view of a screen 100 comprising a plurality of panels 102, 104, 106. In embodiments, screen 100 may be a tabletop screen that can be used, for example, while playing tabletop or role-playing games. In some instances, one or more game players may place screen 100 in front of their play area so that other players cannot see objects 108 or information that is behind the screen.

Screen 100 may be modular so, although shown with three panels, screen 100 may have two panels, three panels, four panels, or more. In embodiments, the panels are connected by hinged joints so they can swing about the joint and form angles (e.g. angle 110). Since panels 102, 104, and 106 are substantially flat, the angles formed between the panels may allow screen 110 to stand up on a flat surface such as a table. Panels 102, 104, and 106 may be formed from wood, plastic, metal, or a combination of materials. In embodiments, panels 102, 104, and 106 may be opaque or translucent to prevent someone from seeing through screen 100.

Each panel 102, 104, 106 may have one or more magnets (e.g. magnet) 112 along one or more edges. As shown, panel 102 has two magnets 112 and 114 along its right edge, panel 106 has two magnets 116 and 118 along its left edge, and panel 104 includes four magnets: two magnets 120 and 122 on its left edge and two magnets 124 and 126 on its right edge. In embodiments, magnets 112-126 may be rare earth magnets, ferrite magnets, alnico magnets, plastic magnets, ceramic magnets or the like. In other embodiments, at least one of magnets 112-126 may be replaced with magnetic material (i.e. a material that is attracted to a magnet), such as steel or nickel, magnetic plastic, magnetic ceramic, etc. In other embodiments, any or all of magnets 112-126 may be an electromagnet powered by an electrical power source (not shown).

In embodiments, panels 102, 104, and 106 are held together to form screen 100 by the magnetic attraction force of magnets 112-126. In FIG. 1, magnets 112 and 120 are attracted and magnets 114 and 122 are attracted, thus holding panels 102 and 104 together and forming a joint between them. Similarly, magnets 116 and 124 are attracted and magnets 126 and 118 are attracted, thus holding panes 104 and 106 together and forming a joint between them.

Additionally, the top edge of panels 102, 104, 106 may comprise slots to hold cards that are used during game play. Additionally, or alternatively, a card holder or other game element may be placed on the top edge of panel 102, 104, and/or 106 so that cards can be displayed to the person behind screen 100 or to other players of the game.

FIG. 2 is an elevated view of a magnet 200, which may be the same as or similar to one or more of magnets 112-126. Magnet 200 may have a cylindrical body 202 with base 204 and a center hole 206 that allows magnet 200 to be mounted on spindle 208. In this arrangement, magnet 200 can rotate about spindle 208 in the directions shown by arrow 210.

In embodiments, the magnetic poles of magnet 200 are located on opposite sides of body 202 and not on the cylinder' s base. For example, one longitudinal side 212 of magnet 200 may be the north pole and the opposite side 214 may be the south pole. Dotted line 216 demarks the magnetic north side of magnet 200 from the magnetic south side. In other words, if dotted line 216 defines a plane that runs substantially through the center axis of cylindrical body 202, the north pole of magnet 200 may be on one side of the plane and the south pole of magnet 200 may be on the opposite side of the plane.

Although not shown, spindle 208 may include stops to restrict the movement of magnet 200 along spindle 208 in the directions shown by arrow 216. The stops may be a bulge, washer, or flange that is wider than the circumference of center hole 206.

FIG. 3 is a simplified side view of a panel 300, which may be the same as or similar to panel 102 or 106. Panel 300 includes two magnets 302 and 304 (which may be the same as or similar to one or more of magnets 112-126) positioned along one edge 306. As described above, magnets 302 and 304 may have cylindrical bodies that are magnetically bisected, having a north pole on one side of the body and a south pole on the opposite side of the body (see FIG. 2).

In embodiments, panel 300 may have a single magnet, two magnets, or more than two magnets positioned along edge 306. Additionally, or alternatively, panel 300 may have a single magnet or a plurality of magnets positioned along any edge 306, 308, 310, or 312.

Panel 300 may include one or more cutouts 314 and 316 within which magnets 302 and 304, respectively, are positioned. Spindles 318 and 320 may also be positioned within the cutouts to mount magnets 302 and 304 and allow them to rotate about the spindles. As shown, spindles 318 and 320 may be substantially parallel to edge 306 so that the axes of cylindrical magnets 302 and 304 are also substantially parallel to edge 306. Because magnets 302 and 304 can rotate about the mouthing spindles, either the north or south pole of magnets 302 and 304 (or a section between the north and south pole) can point out and away from panel 300. For example, as illustrated in the figure, the north side of magnet 302 is pointed away from panel 300 and the south side of magnet 304 is pointed away from panel 300.

As noted above, spindles 318 and 320 may have stops to prevent or limit the motion of magnets 302 and 304 along the length of the spindles. In other embodiments, the edges of the cutouts 314 and 316 may act as stops. For example, edges 322 and 324 may prevent magnet 302 from traveling up or down along spindle 318. In addition, spacers may be added to spindle 318, mounted between magnet 302 and edges 318 and 324, to prevent movement along spindle 318. Alternatively, the space between magnet 302 and edges 322 and 324 may be reduced by providing cutout 314 with a width only slightly greater than the height of cylindrical magnet 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates two panels 402 and 404, which may be the same as or similar to panels 102, 104, and/or 106. Panel 402 includes two magnets 406 and 408 alone one edge and panel 404 includes two magnets 410 and 412 along one edge. Magnets 406-412 may be the same as or similar to any or all magnets 112-126.

As described above, magnets 406-412 may be cylindrical magnets mounted on spindles so they can rotate. As panels 402 and 404 approach each other, magnets 406-412 may rotate about their spindles so that their opposite poles attract and hold panels 402 and 404 together, forming a magnetic joint between the two panels. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, magnets 406 and 410 have rotated so that the south pole of magnet 406 is facing and attracting the north pole of magnet 410. Similarly, magnets 408 and 412 have rotated so that the north pole of magnet 408 is facing and attracting the south pole of magnet 412. In embodiments, magnets 406-412 may be loosely mounted so that, as panels 402 and 404 move together, magnets 406-412 can automatically rotate to attract the magnet on the opposite panel.

Because magnets 406-412 are cylindrical and/or because magnets 406-412 are rotatable, the joint formed between panels 402 and 404 may act as a hinge that allows panels 402 and 404 to swing with respect to each other and form an angle. In other embodiments, magnets 406-412 may be rectangular, oval, or any other shape. In such embodiments, the magnets may still form a swinging hinge because they are rotatably mounted.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a panel 500 (e.g. a view looking down in the direction of arrow 414 in FIG. 4) having a rotatable, cylindrical magnet 502. Panel 500 may be the same as or similar to panels 102, 104, and 106. In embodiments, edge 504 of panel 500 may be rounded. However, in other embodiments, edge 504 may be squared, squared with rounded corners, tapered, or any other suitable shape.

In embodiments, magnet 502 may have a diameter larger than the diameter (or width 506) of panel 500. As a result, when magnet 502 attracts to and contacts another magnet on another panel, magnet 502 and the other magnet act as the contact point between the panels.

FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 illustrate various embodiments of panels having various and different magnet configurations. Panel 600 in FIG. 6 has two magnets 602 and 604 along one edge 606. Thus, edge 606 can form a magnetic joint with another panel.

Panel 700 in FIG. 7 has four magnets. Two magnets 702 and 704 are positioned on right edge 705 and two magnets 706 and 708 are positioned on the opposite, right edge 709. Thus, edges 705 and 709 can form magnetic joints with other panels.

Panel 800 in FIG. 8 includes eight magnets 802-816. Two magnets are positioned on each edge 818, 820, 822, and 824. Thus, any edge 818, 820, 822, and 824 can form magnetic joints with another panel. Also, panel 800 can be rotated ninety degrees so that edge 818 is on the left (or right) and edge 822 is on the right (or left). Thus, panel 800 can form part of a screen (e.g. screen 100 in FIG. 1) with left and right edges 820 and 824, and/or with top and bottom edges 818 and 822.

Panels 600, 700, and 800 illustrate examples of various embodiments. However, many other embodiments fall within the scope of this disclosure. For example, a panel may include zero, one, two, or more magnets on an edge. Also, the magnets may be of various shapes, sizes, and heights. In various embodiments, multiple magnets may be used or magnets with various lengths may be used so that the entire edge substantially comprises magnets (or a single magnet) and very little or no panel material is presented to another panel. Additionally, or alternatively, panels may include magnets that can be re-positioned at different locations along an edge by a user.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a screen 900 comprising two panels 902 and 904, which may be the same as or similar to panels 102-106. In this example, each panel 902 and 904 includes two magnets on each edge. Accordingly, panel 902 is positioned in a landscape or horizontal position so that its shorter edge 906 is presented to panel 904, and panel 904 is positioned in a portrait or vertical position so that its longer edge 908 is presented to panel 902. In this example, magnets 910 and 914 are positioned at the same hight and magnets 912 and 916 are positioned at the same height so that the magnets line up with each other as panels 902 and 904 come together to form screen 900. In embodiments, the location of magnets 910-916 may be pre-set at the time of manufacturing. Additionally, or alternatively, the position of magnets 910-916 may be adjusted by a user during or prior to so that the magnets line up.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a screen 1000 comprising two panels 1002 and 1004, which may be the same as or similar to panels 102-106. In this example, magnets 1006 and 1008 of panel 1002 do not line up with magnets 1010 and 1012 of panel 1004. Thus, screen 1000 may include an adapter 1014 that creates a joint between panels 1002 and 1004. Adapter 1014 may be an elongate member such as a rod or pole that can be placed between panels 1002 and 1004. In embodiments, adapter 1014 is a magnetic metal such as iron, steel, cobalt, magnetic ceramic material, etc. Adapter 1014 may also be a hollow structure filled with magnetic material such as a magnetic dust or granules. The hollow structure may be plastic, wood, metal, or any material that can form a hollow structure. Also, adapter 1014 may be a composite material, such as a plastic material or wood material that is either filled with or mixed with magnetic material such as magnetic dust or granules. Adapter 1014 can be a hard magnet (i.e. a permanent magnet) or a soft magnet (i.e. a magnet that becomes magnetic in the presence of a magnetic field).

Adapter 1014 may be placed between panels 1002 and 1004 so that magnets 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012 attract to adapter 1014 to form a joint between panels 1002 and 1004.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a screen 1100 with two panels 1102 and 1104, which may be the same as or similar to panels 102-106. Magnets 1106 and 1108 of panel 1102 may be rotatable magnets, as described above. (See FIG. 2). However, magnets 1110 and 1112 of panel 1104 may be fixed magnets that do not rotate. In this example, magnet 1110 is positioned so that its north pole is facing panel 1102 and magnet 1112 is positioned so that its south pole is facing panel 1102.

In this example, even though magnets 1110 and 1112 are fixed, magnets 1106 and 1108 can rotate as panels 1102 and 1104 approach each other. As a result, magnet 1106 may rotate so its south pole faces magnet 1110 and magnet 1108 may rotate so its north pole faces 1112 so that the magnets attract and form a joint between panels 1102 and 1104. One skilled in the art will recognize that, although magnets 1106 and 1108 are shown as having their south and north poles (respectively) facing panel 1104, this is because magnets 1110 and 1112 are shown as having their north and south poles (respectively) facing panel 1102. In embodiments, depending on the position of magnets 1110 and 1112, magnets 1106 and 1108 may rotate to whatever position forms the greatest attraction between them and magnets 1110 and 1112.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 12B are top-view diagrams of a screen 1200 in a folded state. Screen 1200 may be the same as or similar to screen 100. As shown, screen 1200 comprises panel 1202, panel 1204, and panel 1206 coupled together to form the screen. Panel 1202 comprises one or more magnets 1208, panel 1204 comprises one or more magnets 1210 and 1212, and panel 1206 comprises one or more magnets 1214. In embodiments, panel 1202 may have a magnet at edge 1216 (or other edges) and panel 1206 may have a magnet at edge 1218 (or other edges).

The magnetic joint between magnets 1208 and 1210 and the magnetic joint between magnets 1212 and 1214 may act as hinges so that screen 1200 can be folded (e.g. as shown in FIG. 12) to a compact form (e.g. as shown in FIG. 12B) for ease of carrying or storage. In embodiments, the magnetic joint may allow the panels to rotate about 360 degrees with respect to each other, as indicated by arrows 1220 and 1222.

In embodiments, screen 1200 may have two, three, or four, or more panels that can fold into a compact form. In such embodiments, the additional magnets may attract and adhere to one another while the screen 1200 is in the folded state. For example, a magnet positioned on end 1218 may attract to magnet 1210 and hold panel 1206 against panel 1204 in the folded state. In embodiments with more than three panels, the magnets at each panel's edge may rotate so that the panels attract and are held against each other in the folded state.

Having described preferred embodiments, which serve to illustrate various concepts, structures and techniques, which are the subject of this patent, it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts, structures and techniques may be used. Accordingly, it is submitted that that scope of the patent should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A gaming screen comprising: a first panel having: a first edge; anda first magnet rotatably mounted at the first edge;a second panel having: a second edge; anda second magnet rotatably mounted at the second edge;wherein the first and second magnets are arranged to attract to each other and form a hinge between the first panel and the second panel.

2. The gaming screen of claim 1 wherein: the first magnet has a cylindrical body and is mounted so that its central axis is substantially parallel to the first edge.

3. The gaming screen of claim 2 wherein the first magnet is mounted so that it is free to rotate about its central axis.

4. The gaming screen of claim 2 wherein the first magnet has a mounting hole through a central axis of the cylindrical body.

5. The gaming screen of claim 4 wherein the first panel comprises a mounting spindle and the first magnet is mounted so that the mounting spindle passes through the mounting hole.

6. The gaming screen of claim 2 wherein: a first half of the first magnetic has a magnetic north polarity and a second half of the first magnet has a magnetic south polarity, wherein the first and second halves of the first magnet are lengthwise halves of the first magnet.

7. The gaming screen of claim 1 wherein the first panel comprises: an opposite edge, opposite to the first edge; andan opposite magnet rotatably mounted at the opposite edge.

9. The gaming screen of claim 1 wherein the first panel, the second panel, or both comprise a substantially flat rectangular body.

10. The gaming screen of claim 1 wherein the first panel comprises a plurality of magnets rotatably mounted along the first edge.

11. The gaming screen of claim 1 wherein the hinge allows about a 360-degree swing between the first and second panels.

12. A screen comprising: a plurality of panels, each panel comprising:a first edge;a second edge opposite the first edge;at least one rotatably mounted magnet positioned at the first edge and/or the second edge;wherein the at least one rotatably mounted magnet of a first panel of the plurality of panels attracts the at least one rotatably mounted magnet of a second panel of the plurality of panels to form a hinge between the one panel and the second panel.

13. The screen of claim 12 wherein the hinge allows the first panel to swing about 360-degrees with respect to the second panel.

14. The screen of claim 12 wherein the rotatably mounted magnets comprise cylindrical bodies.

15. The screen of claim 14 wherein a first lengthwise half of each cylindrical body comprises magnetic north and a second lengthwise half of each cylindrical body comprises magnetic south.

16. A modular panel for a screen comprises: a first edge; andone or more magnets mounted at the first edge to rotate about an axis through the one or more magnets, the one or more magnets comprising: a body;a magnetic north half;a magnetic south half;wherein the magnetic north half and the magnetic south half are defined by a plane through the axis of the body;

17. The modular panel of claim 16 further comprising a mounting hole positioned through the axis of the cylindrical body.

18. The modular panel of claim 16 wherein the body is a cylindrical body.

19. The modular panel of claim 16 further comprising: a second edge;a third edge;a fourth edge; andone or more magnets rotatably mounted on the second, third, and/or fourth edge.

20. A screen comprising: a plurality of panels; andmeans for coupling the panels together to form hinges between the panels.