EP3549649A1 - Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten - Google Patents

Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3549649A1
EP3549649A1 EP18165569.7A EP18165569A EP3549649A1 EP 3549649 A1 EP3549649 A1 EP 3549649A1 EP 18165569 A EP18165569 A EP 18165569A EP 3549649 A1 EP3549649 A1 EP 3549649A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
magnets
magnet
block
inner part
outer part
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP18165569.7A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Anu AUN
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Klotsivabrik Oue
Original Assignee
Klotsivabrik Oue
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Klotsivabrik Oue filed Critical Klotsivabrik Oue
Priority to EP18165569.7A priority Critical patent/EP3549649A1/de
Priority to CN201820609150.6U priority patent/CN209019913U/zh
Publication of EP3549649A1 publication Critical patent/EP3549649A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00—Other toys
    • A63H33/04—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/046—Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to building toy blocks, especially the embodiments of the invention relate to building toy blocks made of plastic having internally disposed permanent magnets.
  • a solid/wooden toy block having a structure for mounting magnets.
  • the wooden (non-extrudable) block has receiving cavity defined in said block for magnet, wherein the magnet is mounted and covered with a cap.
  • the cap has catching projections formed on an outer surface, and a projection receptacle is formed in a wall surface of the receiving cavity.
  • the places covered with the cap where the magnets are hidden can be seen. Therefore, there is a problem with safety as the cap can break or open, and the magnet may fall out which is dangerous to a child who can put the magnet into the mouth and swallow.
  • non-extrudable blocks static magnets are mounted into a solid wooden block (Tegu® WO2010111189 ) such that the number of faces that exhibit a north and a south polarity is equal. If the two faces form an N-S pair, they can be joined. In another half of the cases (N-N and S-S pairs) the blocks repel. This configuration allows to learn the magnetic pull and push forces alongside playing with blocks of traditional shape (cubes, 3D rhomb, rectangular blocks, etc.). However, such described method of non-extrudable blocks is limited in the flexibility of magnet placements when more than two rows of magnet holding pockets are desired on each face.
  • GeomagTM released a set of identical cubes where one can always join the faces to each other (MagicubeTM, Patent Pending). It provides a truly magic three-dimensional cube that gives freedom to connect the pieces both vertically and horizontally. Similarly, magnetically-connecting building blocks from GeomatrixTM are available (Patent Pending).
  • the magnets within three-dimensional blocks are either spherical, axially magnetized and flip, or diametrically magnetized and rotate along the central axis.
  • the extrudable plastic blocks have complicated inner structures or need a separate cap (lid) to enclose each magnet separately into the block. It makes the blocks time consuming to assemble and in case of complex inner structures, may also restrict the construction of small blocks of different (irregular) shapes where magnet to be fitted is too big to be accommodated together with inner structures which also require adequate space.
  • the present invention relates to the building toy blocks where all the faces of the block can connect with the faces of other blocks or have a specific fit in only one or certain defined number of configurations relative to each other.
  • the present invention describes a straightforward way to produce blocks where all the faces or/and edges connect to each other or have a specific orientation in which they can or cannot be combined. It consists of (one) simple inner part that follows the general shape of the outer part and that holds all the magnets simultaneously in place.
  • the inner part is manufactured of a soft, light, flexible plastic residue, polymer foam, rubber resin or copolymer (polythene, EVA foam, residues or resigns with metal powder, etc.) and has magnet holding pockets for each face (edge, or region) to be later attached.
  • the positioning of the magnet holding pockets is not restricted to the central area or edges of the face, and the number of magnets per face or edge can vary according to the desired configuration.
  • the soft inner part is light, easy and cheap to produce, for example by injection or compression moulding, and the magnet holding pockets provide mild cushioning effect due to the material choice of the inner part: they do not make so much noise, especially when flipping magnets are used. In case the magnets should be splintered, they will still be in the same pocket and cannot escape to the hollow parts of the object. If the magnetic fields of nearby magnets interfere with magnets desired movement, a separate (iron or steel) piston may be placed into (some or all) of the magnet holding pockets to modify the magnetic field flux.
  • the inner part material may contain iron powder to make it stronger, modify magnetic field flux and help magnets to stay in place prior transferring to the outer part.
  • the magnets placed in the magnet holding pockets are diametrically magnetized (or have another number of alternating magnet poles) cylindrical or disc magnets, or spherical magnets that will rotate along their central axis.
  • the blocks can be joined as the magnet from one face (or edge or region) of the first block nears the second magnet of the second block. Since they both are free to rotate along the axis, they adjust the upper surfaces so that the N and S portions of one magnet align with the opposite poles of the second one.
  • the magnets are diametrically magnetized, they have a strong magnetic field on the sides. When placing these magnets into the soft pockets of the inner part (if the part is in according size compared to the magnet strength), the magnets will hold each other in place in the magnet holding pockets. It allows transferring the inner part together with all the magnets directly inside the outer part without any need for separate caps for each magnet holding pocket.
  • Outer part that is of the desired shape (cube, triangle, rhomb, arc part, etc.). It is made of separated (preferably two) parts to be connected permanently together. The outer part will serve as a simultaneous cap/lid for all the magnets held by the inner part.
  • the production of outer part is not limited by the need to fit special inside structures.
  • One outer part can be used to fit either one inner part with one or varying configurations of the magnet holding pockets or can be used to fit (several) inner parts with different placements of magnet holding pockets.
  • the use of soft resign in the inside of the blocks allows for more straightforward design and production/assembly of the parts. No folding or fitting of the complex inside structures is needed.
  • the same outer component can be used with different inner parts regarding magnet holding pocket placements. Or same outer and inner part can be used with varying arrangements of magnets into only some pockets of the same inner part.
  • our method does not require a separate cap or lid for each magnet, and the outer part can be sealed permanently and safely to hold all the magnets inside.
  • the inside is made of soft and light residue which will position the magnets correctly and provides cushioning effect in case of severe damage to the block. It also provides structural support for the outer part.
  • FIG. 1 building toy block 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • the shape of the building toy block 1 is a cube with rounded edges, which comprises an outer part made of two parts, a housing 2 and a lid 3, to be connected permanently after assembling the building toy block.
  • the housing and the lid can be symmetrical, as in Fig 12 .
  • the inner part 4 follows the general shape of the outer part, and the inner part is made of soft residue (polythene, EVA foam, etc.).
  • the block may house one inner part ( fig. 1 ) or several identical ( fig. 6 ) or non-identical inner parts.
  • the inner part 4 has magnet holding pockets 5 for each face (edge, or region) to be later attached.
  • the soft inner part 4 is light, easy and cheap to produce and the magnet pockets 5 provide soft cushioning effect (they do not make so much noise, especially when compared to flipping magnets).
  • the positioning and number of magnet pockets 5 per face are not restricted and can vary according to the desired outcome. For example, see fig. 13 where to the inner part are formed multiple magnet holding pockets. In case the magnets 6 should be splintered, they will still be in the same pocket and cannot escape to the hollow parts of the object, i.e., the soft inner part 4 holds all the magnets simultaneously in place.
  • Step 7 is formed for fixing elements of the lid in one side (top) of the inner part so that dimensions of top part 8 of the inner part are smaller than the dimensions of the remaining part 9 (or lower part) of the inner part.
  • the height of the top part 8 and the width of the step 7 correspond to the dimension of fixing means 10 of the lid 3.
  • the fixing means 10 are formed for example as projections with clicking element which will enter into the corresponding cavity formed in the upper part of the housing. If the clicking element enters into the cavity, the lid will click into fixed position, and the housing will be closed in the way that it is not possible to remove the lid and the building toy block is as one part. For the small children, it is very difficult to open said lid without breaking the clicking elements.
  • the outer part has two identical parts ( fig. 12 ), where the outer part is divided equally into two similar parts (no lid as described below). After placement of the inner part into one outer part the second outer part is attached and welded or clued to the first part. That way a more resilient block can be obtained where no point or line where to break two similar outer parts apart can be easily seen which makes the block safer. It is especially important for small children who discover the world and try to open every toy to see what is inside.
  • the permanent magnets 6 placed in the magnet pockets 5 are diametrically magnetized (or have another number of alternating magnet poles) cylindrical magnets or spheres that will freely rotate along their central axis. In some arrangements, magnets can also be axially magnetized and no rotation is needed.
  • the building toy blocks 1 can be joined as the magnet 6 from one face (or edge or region) of the first building toy block nears the second magnet 6 of second building toy block. Since both magnets 6 are free to rotate along the axis, they adjust the upper surfaces so that the N and S portions of one magnet align with the opposite poles of the second one. If the magnets are diametrically magnetized, they have a strong magnetic field on the sides.
  • the magnets When placing these magnets 6 into the soft magnet pockets 5 of the inner part 4 (if the part is in according size compared to the magnet strength) the magnets will hold each other in place ( fig. 4 ). This allows transferring the inner part 4 together with all the magnets 6 directly inside the outer part, without additional means to fix the magnets.
  • the outer part is of the desired shape (cube, triangle, rhomb, arc part, etc., see fig. 6 to fig 11 ).
  • the outer part is made of two parts 2, 3 (housing and lid) to be connected permanently together.
  • the outer parts will serve as a simultaneous cap/lid for all the magnets 6 held by the inner part 4.
  • the production of outer part is not limited by the need to fit special inside structures.
  • the outer part is made of two identical parts 21 and 31, i.e., both parts have three walls and parts are glued or welded together when building toy block is manufactured. Due to said simple design and soft inner part, which fills essentially the entire space inside the toy block, there is no need for special ribs or reinforcement elements in first or second parts of the housing.
  • the inner part of the building toy block can be in the general shape of the outer part to be fitted into outer part.
  • the inner part 41 can be with standardized shape and dimension so that several inner parts can be fitted in one outer part, for example the same inner part can be used in substantially planar blocks (see fig. 6B ) and three-dimensional blocks as well (see fig. 13B, 13C ).
  • three-dimesinal blocks all edges of the inner part are formed or cut at an angle 45 degrees so that the inners parts can be folded together to form three dimensional inner part which is empty inside. In this way, the production of the building toy blocks can be standardized.
  • FIG. 6A is shown a plate-like or bar-like (rectangular building toy block which height is many times less than its length) building toy block where four inner parts (of the same size) are placed into outer part.
  • four inner parts of the same size
  • the combination is not limited and can vary according to the set of the building toy blocks manufactured. All inner parts used in plate-like blocks have pockets for magnets which are generally in this embodiment holes through the inner part (see fig 8 ), but in some cases can also be pockets with the solid base.
  • the inner part can be formed as one piece with a necessary number of pockets for magnets or again, the inner parts can be standardized in the way that arc shape building toy block contains a necessary number of inner parts to form an arc shape.
  • the toy building block has round shape (see fig. 16 ) having thickness less than diameter of the round shape. With broken lines are illustrated arrangement of pockets form magnet and magnets.
  • the toy building block has cross shape, the section view in fig 17 shows the inner part and magnet in the magnet holding pocket.
  • the toy building block may have a through opening as illustrated in fig 18 .
  • the inner part and magnets in the magnet holding pocket formed in the inner part are placed into outer part or housing. All these alternative embodiments show that when using soft inner part with magnet holding pockets according to the present invention and modern day 3D-printing possibilities the toy building block can be manufactured with any kind of shape.
  • There is no restriction to the internal support elements because soft inner part fills the outer part or housing of the toy building block and after placement into the outer part, the outer part can be closed in the non-opening way making the toy building block safe.
  • the inner part 4 can have many magnet-holding pockets 5, all or only some of which are filled with magnets in each particular case, to achieve desired fit among separate parts as in fig 15A-15E .
  • the inner part comprises multiple pockets for magnets
  • the inner part with multiple pockets for magnet can be manufactured as plate-like (thickness is less than side length), and it is possible to arrange several inner part in one outer part or housing of the toy building block (see fig. 13B ).
  • the plat-like inner parts can be formed three dimensional inner part (see fig. 13C ) which can then inserted into the three dimensional toy building block.
  • fig. 15B is shown the arrangement of magnets where only one middle pocket is filled with diametrically magnetized disc or spherical magnet. This arrangement enables to turn connected blocks relative to each other so that the corners may or may not align.
  • two of middle side pockets are filled with axially magnetized magnets in the way that into one pocket is placed for example magnet with N pole side up and into the second pocket is placed magnet with S pole side up.
  • blocks can be connected only in one configuration where the N and S poles align (sides 1-4 and 2-3). In other orientations, the blocks will not be held by the strong magnetic force.
  • two blocks side by side can be connected in the way that the N pole of one magnet connects to the S pole of the first block and the S pole of the second magnet of another block connects to the first blocks N pole magnet.
  • two middle side pockets are filled with diametrically magnetized (or spherical) magnets and two blocks can be connected in two positions to each other: sides 2-3 and 4-1 aligned or sides 2-1 and 4-3 aligned. In other two orientations, the blocks won't be held strongly together.
  • the blocks can be stacked in one orientation only. It is a useful property when the blocks either have an irregular shape and should be fitted in one direction to form together a certain shape. Or the (regular) blocks have pictures, letters, numbers, words etc., printed on the walls that should be aligned, such as in puzzles, sentences, words, functions, etc. It allows making blocks that help teach logic pairs to young children.
  • block A has 4 general symbols printed on four connected walls: a circle, a rectangle, a triangle, a wave.
  • Block B has 4 pictures of everyday objects printed on four connected walls: sun, rectangular cookie, spruce, sea wave.
  • the blocks can be connected to each other via other two walls with no pictures, where magnets are mounted accordingly.
  • this arrangement allows to align blocks in two positions, but not in all four. Again, it can be useful when connecting irregular shapes or (regular) shapes with pictures, symbols, mathematical functions, logic pairs, etc. It also allows making toy blocks such that only specific pairs fit together so that combinatoric tasks can be made. For instance, with a rectangular block, following combinatoric game can be designed. The block A would have on each of four connected sides 4 symbols (abcd defa, abce, and defb) and block B would have on each of four connected sides 2 symbols (ab, de, bc, ef). The blocks can be connected to each other via remaining two walls, where magnets are mounted accordingly.
  • the blocks can be attached in two directions in which two symbols from block B would match the symbols from block A (abcd-ab, defa-de, abce-bc, defb-ef or abcd-bc, defa-ef, abce-ab, defb-de). But not in directions in which only one symbol from block B would match symbols of block A. Combinatorial games involving all sides of the block in only certain positions can be devised.
  • Toy blocks manufactured according to the present invention give more opportunities how to teach children with special needs. Using the same inner part and same outer part, but filling it differently with the magnets, gives different properties to the blocks. Combined with printed symbols, a new game in each case can be devised.

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EP18165569.7A 2018-04-03 2018-04-03 Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten Withdrawn EP3549649A1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18165569.7A EP3549649A1 (de) 2018-04-03 2018-04-03 Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten
CN201820609150.6U CN209019913U (zh) 2018-04-03 2018-04-26 建筑玩具积木

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18165569.7A EP3549649A1 (de) 2018-04-03 2018-04-03 Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3549649A1 true EP3549649A1 (de) 2019-10-09

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EP18165569.7A Withdrawn EP3549649A1 (de) 2018-04-03 2018-04-03 Aufbauender spielzeugblock mit einem magneten

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EP (1) EP3549649A1 (de)
CN (1) CN209019913U (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11557414B2 (en) 2020-04-23 2023-01-17 Idea Vault Holdings Inc Magnetically interconnectable block structures and methods for making the same
US11904254B2 (en) 2021-08-31 2024-02-20 Aaron August Hart System and method for a magnetic block assembly

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5746638A (en) * 1995-01-25 1998-05-05 Stuff Mfg. Co., Ltd. Magnetic toy blocks
EP1080476A1 (de) 1998-05-20 2001-03-07 Claudio Vicentelli Modulen zur erzeugung von magnetisch verankerten aufbausystemen und und relevante aufbausysteme
US7154363B2 (en) 2004-12-23 2006-12-26 Larry Dean Hunts Magnetic connector apparatus
WO2010111189A1 (en) 2009-03-26 2010-09-30 Tegu Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks
WO2011037290A1 (ko) 2009-09-28 2011-03-31 Kim Young Don 자석완구의 자석 장착구조
WO2011136682A1 (ru) * 2010-04-30 2011-11-03 Ostrovskiy Alexander Grigorievich Модульное магнитное игровое устройство
US20120309259A1 (en) * 2011-06-03 2012-12-06 Kai-Shun Mak Magnetic Toy Block
CN104383696A (zh) * 2014-11-20 2015-03-04 魏正鹏 多面体磁性拼接积木块
WO2015123119A1 (en) 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Build & Imagine, Llc Magnetic construction toy

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5746638A (en) * 1995-01-25 1998-05-05 Stuff Mfg. Co., Ltd. Magnetic toy blocks
EP1080476A1 (de) 1998-05-20 2001-03-07 Claudio Vicentelli Modulen zur erzeugung von magnetisch verankerten aufbausystemen und und relevante aufbausysteme
US6566992B1 (en) 1998-05-20 2003-05-20 Claudio Vicentelli Modules creating magnetic anchorage assemblies and relevant assemblies
US7154363B2 (en) 2004-12-23 2006-12-26 Larry Dean Hunts Magnetic connector apparatus
WO2010111189A1 (en) 2009-03-26 2010-09-30 Tegu Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks
WO2011037290A1 (ko) 2009-09-28 2011-03-31 Kim Young Don 자석완구의 자석 장착구조
WO2011136682A1 (ru) * 2010-04-30 2011-11-03 Ostrovskiy Alexander Grigorievich Модульное магнитное игровое устройство
US20120309259A1 (en) * 2011-06-03 2012-12-06 Kai-Shun Mak Magnetic Toy Block
WO2015123119A1 (en) 2014-02-14 2015-08-20 Build & Imagine, Llc Magnetic construction toy
CN104383696A (zh) * 2014-11-20 2015-03-04 魏正鹏 多面体磁性拼接积木块

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11557414B2 (en) 2020-04-23 2023-01-17 Idea Vault Holdings Inc Magnetically interconnectable block structures and methods for making the same
US11904254B2 (en) 2021-08-31 2024-02-20 Aaron August Hart System and method for a magnetic block assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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