EP0710142A1

EP0710142A1 - Magnetic building block playing system

Info

Publication number: EP0710142A1
Application number: EP94914348A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Klein
Original assignee: TRIFELS SPIELWARENFABRIK THEO KLEIN GmbH
Current assignee: TRIFELS SPIELWARENFABRIK THEO KLEIN GmbH
Priority date: 1993-05-28
Filing date: 1994-05-11
Publication date: 1996-05-08
Also published as: CN1124461A; WO1994027696A1; JPH09500288A; AU678010B2; DE4317829C1; KR960702337A; PL311578A1; AU6676594A; CA2163765A1; BR9406633A

Abstract

A magnetic building block playing system has magnetic building blocks for building miniature models of imaginary or historic buildings and settlements. The basic element of the system is a magnetic building block with the following characteristics: (a) it has a cuboid shape of brick size; (b) its base material is an ordinary plastic material (for example ABS) and its magnetic material is a magnetisable thermoplastic material; (c) its magnetic coupling points are shaped as squares or circles with axially symmetrical, overlapping inner and outer surfaces; and (d) it is magnetised so that the inner and outer surfaces of the coupling points are unlike, so that the coupling points of two surfaces to be coupled are oppositely poled.

Description

agnet play kit DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a kit of magnetic building elements which can be used primarily as toys, but also as teaching aids and / or to illustrate planning in the field of building and designing.

Because of the magnetic force, the individual components of the modular system can easily be linked together, but can also be easily separated again by a sufficiently large external force. The kit is therefore a simple, flexible and universal toy in the field of construction with a high educational play value, which is also a lot of fun.

Magnetic toys already exist in which a permanent magnetic stone and / or magnetic foil and / or metal plate is attached as a separate part to a carrier material (e.g. wood or plastic). The permanent magnet stones are usually axially magnetized (possibly with an iron yoke plate), while the magnetic foils are normally strip magnetized on one side, with magnetic north and south pole strips alternating (see FIG. 4).

The building game elements of the currently known magnetic building blocks have, in comparison to the known mechanical toy building blocks (e.g. LEGO, Fischer Technik), only a very limited flexibility in linking.

This is due to (a) the shape of the components, (b) the magnetic materials used, (c) the number, geometry and arrangement of the magnetically effective connection points and (d) the type of magnetization of the connection points. They are therefore particularly unsuitable to replicate houses and buildings as well as machines, plants, animals and people in an essentially realistic manner (downsized). In detail, the well-known magnetic building game forms are based too little on the forms suitable for versatile building (e.g. DIN dimensions). Permanent magnetic stones and magnetic foils are disadvantageous with regard to weight, geometry, production and mechanical or thermal stress (cf. P 43 06 573.2 and G 93 04 198.5 of the applicant / inventor of this document). In addition, the known building game elements with permanent magnetic stones normally have only one magnetic connection point on a surface. One can therefore hardly or not at all "build" because a large part of the surface is magnetically ineffective. In order to make the entire surface magnetically effective, magnetic film with strip magnetization is usually used (cf. FIG. 4). A "staggered" construction is then possible with this, but no longitudinal cross connection of the building blocks. The geometric design and magnetization of the connection points (or surfaces) is also decisive for the variety of connections.

The axial or strip magnetization normally used in building game elements offers far fewer linking options than the new type of magnetization of the linking points described below according to the invention.

In DE 27 04 204 AI, a "building toy for erecting buildings from assemblable construction elements constructed in a grid system" is presented. However, it is a plug-in system without magnets. Similar to LEGO, DUPLO and Fischertechnik, the links there are therefore purely mechanical, while in the present patent specification the magnetic force effects the links. This results in (in part) different building block and game properties.

DE-GM 80 23 609 describes a magnetic game module which "has at least one permanent magnet" and in which the permanent magnet and / or magnetizable elements are (partially or completely) embedded in the surface of the module body made of plastic. The arrangement of the permanent magnets is characterized in that the permanent magnets "are arranged in the end regions of the building body and are inserted in a plug-on body in the form of a cap", which is illustrated in a picture.

Nothing is said there with regard to an axisymmetric arrangement of the permanent magnets or their magnetization. In particular, there is no reference to an (n x m) matrix arrangement (with n, m natural numbers greater than 1) of the magnetic connection points, neither in word nor in image, which is important for "offset construction".

In DE-OS 19 42 333, a "module insert for model construction purposes" is presented, which is characterized, inter alia, in that "at least some of the modules contain permanent magnet material embedded in plastic". Furthermore, "the permanent magnet material can be distributed in fine-grained form in the base material and magnetized in a uniform direction". Similar to DE-GM 80 23 609, however, nothing is said there about an axis-symmetrical arrangement of the permanent magnets or the permanent magnet material or about the more precise magnetization. An "offset building" with positive locking is just as little possible with the building blocks described there.

As far as the magnetization with inner and outer circle is concerned, something similar is already described in DE-GM 17 37 900 and DE-GM 17 83 302 for industrial non-toy industrial magnetic systems.

Some differences, however, are that the DE-GM 17 37 900 partially overlap the polar regions and the case r2> rι is not included in DE-GM 17 83 302.

US Pat. No. 3,196,579 presents magnetic components which are made up of four parts: (1) a hollow cuboid plastic body, the underside of which has a 4 × 2 grid structure and the top of which is completely open around (2) a metal sheet with 4 x 2 - Grid punching, which creates a mechanical fit to the underside. The third part is a magnetic plate that rests on the 4 x 2 plastic grid on the underside and the fourth part is a thin metal plate that is attached to the back of the magnetic plate. Because of the mechanical 4 2 - lattice structure, these magnetic components can also be used with positive locking.

A significant difference to the new invention lies in the fact that in US Pat. No. 3,196,579 the magnetic material is evenly distributed over the underside of the module and the 4 x 2 matrix structure is only achieved through the mechanical lattice structure of the sheet and the plastic body underside . Without these mechanical fixing aids, a positive, offset construction would not be possible there either. In contrast, in the new invention, the magnetic material itself is already arranged as a 4 × 2 matrix (concentrated), which is why the building blocks can be arranged in a form-fitting and offset manner simply because of the magnetic force and therefore do not require any mechanical fixing aid.

Another difference is that there is magnet-to-metal adhesion in U.S. Patent No. 3,196,579, but magnet-to-magnet adhesion in the new invention. In addition, magnetization and pole arrangements are different. - -

The invention has set itself the task of eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and enabling that scaled-down buildings can be erected from imagination and reality in a simple manner.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

In order to be aesthetically appealing and realistic, an appropriate color scheme is important, for example colored sandstone blocks at a Pfalzer winery.

As far as the shape is concerned, the proportions of the tried and tested DIN dimensions are used. For the basic building block you have a cuboid with the proportions length L: width W: height H = L: W: H = 3: 1.5: 1.

By division and / or multiplication it is easy to obtain other components (Fig. 2). For example, in order to design windows, doors, roofs or facades from different styles (e.g. classic, Romanesque, Art Nouveau), other shapes are required. In terms of material, one has to differentiate between carrier or filler material on the one hand and the magnetic material on the other.

Conventional plastic (e.g. with paint) is a suitable carrier material, while a magnetic / magnetizable mixture of (a) plastic and (b) magnetic or magnetizable material and (c) any other additives (e.g. paint) are recommended as magnetic material.

An example of this are the so-called "magnetizable thermoplastics", which are to be referred to here as "plastic magnet material" or "plastic magnet". As already described in G 93 04 198.5, several possibilities are conceivable with regard to the arrangement of the plastic magnet material. The use of "plastic magnets" means that the shape is much freer than that of conventional magnetic materials. This is important for the design of the magnetic connection points and for the mechanical and thermal robustness of the building game elements. The number, arrangement and geometry of the magnetic connection points are particularly important for the variety of connections. In order to enable both longitudinal / longitudinal and longitudinal / transverse connections, axially and rotationally symmetrical connection points such as squares or circular surfaces are recommended. In order to be "staggered" and to be built regularly, one needs several connecting points arranged axially symmetrically on the surface and evenly distributed on the surface (FIGS. 3 and 5). The greater the number of connection points, the more "finely offset" one can build, the type of magnetization also being important.

Since poles of the same name repel each other and attract opposite poles, the NS pole distribution (N = north pole, S = south pole) cannot be chosen arbitrarily. Fig. 6 shows ^" possible north-south pole arrangements for the connection points according to Fig. 5. It can be seen that with these types of magnetization the connection variety is already much higher than with the previously known magnetic toys, since in particular longitudinal / transverse connections are also possible .

When building, one must always make sure that the building blocks are turned over correctly. In addition, links are only possible (again) with the "row after the next", since the "next row" always has a repulsive effect.

On the other hand, a block would be ideal in which all points of two block surfaces to be linked would attract each other. Then you would no longer have to pay attention to the N-S pole distribution when building. The solution to this is shown in FIG. 1, using the example of nested square or circular areas. The inner and outer surfaces are magnetized differently. The connection points of two pages to be linked are magnetized in opposite directions.

If only the top and bottom sides of the basic building block according to FIG. 1 are magnetized, the same connection options are available as for the mechanical LEGO building blocks. If the sides (all six) of the cuboid are additionally magnetized in this way, the linkage diversity is even greater than with LEGO bricks. Lateral connection points are helpful, for example, if you want to attach special, stylish facade modules to the side of the basic building blocks. In order to achieve the greatest possible adhesive force, the magnetic field line density on the block surface should be maximum.

Depending on the desired adhesive force, the parameters d \, d2, d or τ \, X2, i "3 and h from FIG. 1 are adapted. Here, x \ is the radius of the inner circle, xi the inner radius of the outer circle and rß the outer radius of the Outer circle and d \, d2, d3 correspondingly for the square shape. The parameter h denotes the height of a magnetic connection point. For the special case d3 = d2 = dι> 0 or > 0 there is only a square or a circle as a magnetically effective connection point (cf. FIGS. 3 and 5). In principle, all known magnetic materials that permit such an arrangement and magnetization could be used for this purpose, that is to say not only magnetizable thermoplastics. The drawings Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 represent embodiments of these

Invention.

It show in detail

Fig. 1: Axis-symmetrical arrangement of the magnetic connection points at

(a) square or

(b) circular pairs of north and south poles with the essential geometry parameters di, d2, d3 or ri, T → _^ ^r 3 ^{un (} * ⁿ -

Fig. 2: basic building block (a) with divider (b) and multiple (c).

Fig. 3:

(a) all sides with magnetic connection points,

(b) only top and bottom with magnetic connection points.

4: strip magnetization with (a) transverse strips and (b) longitudinal strips; N = North Pole, S = South Pole.

Fig. 5:

Surface at (a) square and (b) circular magnetic tie points.

Fig. 6:

Two usable N-S arrangements for square or circular tie points according to FIG. 5.

An embodiment of the invention is a magnetic play building kit with various building game elements that can be linked to one another, so that it can be used to easily reproduce houses that are essentially reduced in size. In addition to simple single-family houses or terraced houses (with / without garden), private and public buildings with cultural and historical significance are particularly interesting for replication, such as Trifels Castle, Hambacher Castle, Villa Ludwigshöhe, Are de Triomphe, Alhambra, etc. The basic building block for this is a cuboid with the proportions L: W: H = 3: 1, 5: 1 with, for example, 30 x 15 x 10 mm (see Fig. 2). The edges of the building blocks can of course also be chamfered, rounded or otherwise machined in order to achieve special effects, for example a shadow gap. Ordinary plastic (eg ABS with paint) is chosen as the carrier material and a magnetizable thermoplastic as the magnetic material.

Eight circular magnetic connection points with inner and outer circle are to be axially symmetrically arranged on its top and bottom. On the top side, the inner circles as south poles and the outer circles as north poles are to be magnetized on one side; reverse on the underside (see Fig. 1).

In order to reproduce the facades as realistically as possible, you can either design an outside of the basic building block accordingly (i.e. surface structure and color) or additionally attach magnetic connection points to an outside of the basic building blocks so that specially designed facade building blocks can be attached (magnetically) to them. The last variant has the advantage that one can easily and quickly try out different facade styles in the same "shell". Of course, divisors and multiples of the basic building block (e.g. as a door beam) are required and other shapes (e.g. cylinders as columns, window and door building play elements).

Such a magnetic game kit can be gradually expanded to a whole "magnetic game world".

It promotes creativity, constructive and artistic understanding, especially for architecture and art history, and can also give a lot of fun, also because of the magnetic effect.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

Claim 1

Magnetic building block whose shape is a cuboid with the proportions L: W: H 3: 1.5: 1 or 3: 1: 1 or 4: 2: 1 or 4: 2: 2, which is made of ordinary plastic (e.g. polyamide, ABS ), on the component surface of which one or more magnetic connection points are embedded axially symmetrically, for example as a 2 by 4 matrix, which consist of a plastic-bonded magnetic material (for example magnetizable thermoplastic) or of a permanent magnetic material, the magnetically effective geometric surface of a connection point consists of two concentrically arranged, oppositely magnetized axially or rotationally symmetrical zones and the connection point arranged on the opposite side of the building block is also designed but magnetized with reverse polarity, with at least one other side surface of the Building blocks are further linking points dnet can be used to attach a facade play building block, which is surface-structured, in order to be able to realistically design facades of buildings composed of the building block.

Claim 2

Magnetic building block according to claim 1, characterized in that the axially or rotationally symmetrical zones of the connecting point are designed as squares or circles, with the rule that with square shape d3> d2 ≥ d \> 0 and with circular shape r3 ≥ X2 ≥ r \> 0 is.