GB2447077A

GB2447077A - Magnetic construction toy

Info

Publication number: GB2447077A
Application number: GB0703938A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Hantman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-01
Filing date: 2007-03-01
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Also published as: GB0703938D0; CN101104113A

Abstract

The toy includes first construction members 12 (rods, angled rods, wheels heads) having one or more magnets (30, fig.2) and one or more engaging portion and second construction members 14 (connectors, and body or end pieces) containing one or more material 32 which is attracted to the magnet (ball bearings) and having one or more second engaging portions 34,36 to connect to the first engaging portions, when connected, the first and second engaging portions are prevented from rotating relative to each other by a protrusion on one of the engaging portions that engages a series of wave shaped recesses on the other. This therefore allows many more shapes to be constructed from the toy. Preferably the wave shape is sinusoidal.

Description

TOY

The present invention relates to a toy, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a toy for young children and babies.

Magnetic construction toys, in which short rods containing magnets are joined together via steel ball bearings, are well known. The size of the ball bearings and magnetic rods used in such construction toys make them unsuitable for babies and small children, due to the danger of choking on the small pieces. Furthermore, the small pieces make them difficult to manipulate with the limited dexterity that babies and small children have.

The nature of the junction between the magnet and the ball bearing means that it is possible to construct very strong triangular shapes and 3-dimensional objects based on triangles.

However, other shapes and objects not based on triangles are extremely weak and are inclined to collapse under their own weight. For example, a regular tetrahedron is easily formed as a strong structure whereas it is difficult to form a cube and when formed it is likely to collapse under very little pressure.

Because construction is primarily limited to shapes formed from triangles and the parts of the construction kit are small, the objects created from the rods and ball bearings are difficult to play with. In other words, all of the play involved in such a construction kit is in the act of construction and the object once constructed can be looked at but there is very little for a child to do with that object.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention there is provided a toy comprising:-at least one first construction member comprising at least one magnet and having at least one first engaging portion; and at least one second construction member comprising at least one material that is attracted to said magnet and having at least one second engaging portion adapted to engage said first engaging portion such that said first and second construction members remain engaged with each other as a result of a magnetic force between said magnet and said material, wherein said first and second engaging portions comprise respective first and second rotation prevention means for preventing said first and second engaging portion rotating relative to each other when they are engaged.

By providing a magnetic construction toy in which the parts are prevented from rotating relative to each other when engaged, the advantage is provided that the number of shapes that can be constructed is significantly increased. For example, structures which would otherwise collapse under their own weight can also be formed. Furthermore, the junction between the first and second construction members is significantly more stable this means that a playable toy can be formed and as a result, the so-called play value in the toy is not only in the construction of a shape but also in playing with that shape once constructed. For example, the more stable junction allows for one of the construction members to be a wheel allowing a structure such as a simple car to be formed.

Similarly, a line of construction members can be formed and can support its own weight when extending horizontally from a junction piece. In the prior art, more than one construction member extending away from a ball bearing would rotate around the surface of the ball bearing, causing the structure to sag or collapse.

In a preferred embodiment the first engaging portion comprises at least one extension and said second engaging portion comprises at least one aperture extending at least partially into said second construction member and adapted to receive said extension.

By providing an aperture partially extending into the second construction member, the advantage is provided that the construction members can easily be formed at a sufficiently large size that they do not represent a choking hazard to small children and babies and are also easy to manipulate for children in that age group. It should be noted that simply increasing the size of the ball bearing would not provide a satisfactory solution since the bal.l bearing would be very heavy making t dangerous, if thrown, and difficult to handle particularly by babies and very small children.

One of the first and second rotation prevention means may comprise at least one protrusion formed in a surface of a respective said engaging portion and the other of the first and second rotation prevention means may comprise at least one recess formed in a surface of the other respective said engaging portion.

One of the first and second rotation prevention means may also comprise a plurality of recesses forming a wave shape around said surface of said respective engaging portion.

By providing a plurality of recesses in the form of a wave allows for a plurality of construction positions which can be accessed by slightly separating the two construction members and rotating one relative to the other. This therefore provides a balance between the freedom to construct lots of different shapes with providing the child with some guidance as to how the shapes should fit together. This is particularly important for babies and small children with limited dexterity.

In a preferred embodiment the wave shape is sinusoidal.

By providing a sinusoidal wave shape the advantage is provided that the rotation from one recess to another can be achieved by gently pulling one construction member from the other and rotating them relative to each other. This can be usually achieved with limited dexterity and can be quickly learnt by babies and small children.

In another preferred embodiment when a first construction member is retracted from a second construction member by a sufficient distance that the engaging portions can rotate relatnve to each other and the protrusion pass from one recess to an adjacent recess and the first and/or second construction member is released the magnetic force between the first and second constructions members is sufficiently strong that the first and second engaging portions are pulled back into engagement with each other.

By sizing the depth of the recess and depth of the protrusion so that when the first and second construction members are retracted from each other sufficiently so that they can be rotated relative to each other the metallic material is still sufficiently within the force of the magnetic field of the magnet to be pulled back so that the two construction members become fully engaged with each other again, the advantages provided that this makes the manipulation of the construction members very suitable for babies and small children with limited dexterity. They would therefore easily be able to construct shapes using this toy that would not be

possible using toys of the prior art.

In a further preferred embodiment the first construction member comprises an elongate member having at least one magnet therein and said second construction member comprises a ferrous sphere at least partially contained within a shroud of non-magnetic material.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of construction members of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of three of the construction members of figure 1 including a partial cutaway view of one of the constructions members; Figure 3 is a close up view of two of the constructions members of figure 1; and Figures 4 to 7 are examples of shapes and structures formed using the construction members of figure 1.

Referring to figures 1 to 3, a toy comprises first construction members 12 and second construction members 14.

Examples of the first and second construction members are shown in figure 1 including a rod 16, angled rod 18, head 20 and wheel 22. Examples of the second construction members include junction 24, body 26 and end piece 28.

The first construction members 12 include one or more magnets 30. The partial cutaway view of rod 16 in figure 2 shows two magnets 30 one at either end of the rod 16. By using two small but strong magnets the overall weight of rod 16 can be reduced since the remainder of the construction member is formed from a plastic material.

The second construction members 14 contain a material which is attracted to the maqnets 30, this material typically being in the form of a steel ball bearing 32.

Each of the first and second construction members, 12 and 14, have a respective first or second engaging portion 34 or 36. The first engaging portions 34, ore formed as an extension 38 of the first construction member 12. The second engaging portion 36 is formed as an aperture 40 formed in a plastic shroud 42 which surrounds ball bearing 32. The plastic shroud 42 significantly increases the size of the second construction member, for example Junction 24, thereby making it too large to represent a choking hazard, whilst not increasing the weight significantly above the weight of ball bearing 32.

The extension 38 is sized so as to fit into aperture 40 such that end surface 44 of extension 38 abuts surface 46, formed as part of a shroud 42. When the first and second engaging portions 34 and 36 are engaged, so that surfaces 44 and 46 abut each other, the attractive force of the magnet 30 to ball bearing 32 is sufficiently strong to hold the first and second construction members together. The first and second constructions members remain engaged with each other until sufficient force is applied to them to overcome the magnetic force and separate them. This separating force is greater than the weight of a few first and second construct-ion member joined together, but is a force that a small child can easily apply.

The first and second engaging portions also include first and second rotation prevention means which, when the first and -7-.

second engaging portions are engaged with each other, prevent the rotation of those portions relative to each other. In the first engaging portion 34, the first rotation prevention means is a sinusoidal wave shaped surface 48 formed in a wall of extension 38 and containing six recesses 50. In the second engaging portion 36 the second rotation prevention means is in the form of a pair of protrusions 52 which are located on opposing sides of aperture 40 (only one is visible in the accompanying figures) . Protrusions 52 are formed n the wa].l of aperture 40.

Referring to figure 4, this shows an example of a structure that can be made from the toy of the present invention. The structure is made from ten rods 16 and seven junction pieces 24. The structure is assembled by joining a rod 16 to a junction piece 24 by inserting the extension 38 into aperture 40. The tio protrusions 52 engage into opposing pairs of recesses 50, causing the rod 16 to rotate slightly if the protrusions and recesses are not perfectly aligned on initial engagement.

The structure shown in figure 4 has a U-shaped base formed from three rods 16 and four junctions 24. One of the junctions 24 is also connected to a further rod that extends out of the plane of the U-shaped base at an angle of 60 degrees to the plane of the base. A further junction 24 is connected to the other end of that angled rod with a further rod extending perpendicularly from this further junction and this rod has further rods and junctions extending. From figure 4 it is clear that the shrouds 42 which surround ball bearings 32 of junctions 24 together with the protrusions 52 and recesses 50 allow structures of this type to be formed and that the structures can support their own weight. Without the shrouds and rotation prevention means the structure shown in figure 4 would collapse under its own weight.

A person with limited motor skills is able to easily place two construction members together in approximately the right position. The construction members are pulled into the correct orientation by the magnetic force and the interaction of the recesses and protrusions. In order to change the orientation of a first construction member relative to a second construction member the first member is pulled slightly away from the second member and then rotated. If the protrusion has not been pulled out sufficiently far so as to be outside of the recesses 50, as one construction member is rotated relative to the other the protrusion engages the curved surface of the waved shaped recess and will be guided up that surface. When the construction members are released they will pull back together into full engagement in their new position.

Figure 5 shows a further example of a structure, representing a man, using the parts shown in figure 1.

Similarly, figure 6 shows a structure representing an insect and figure 7 shows a structure representing a wheeled vehicle.

The axle of wheel 22 is provided with waved recesses 50 so that it locks in engagement with protrusions 52 in aperture 40 of body 26 and is therefore unable to rotate. The wheel is mounted to the axle so that it is able to freely rotate around the axle that contains the magnet.

All of these structures, once formed, are themselves toys which can be played with. The toy 10 therefore provides, so called, play value during the construction of the toy and again once it has been constructed.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the wheel could be provided without the waved recesses 50 on its axle and be formed so that the axle and wheel are fixed relative to each other. In this form when the wheel 22 is joined to body 26 the axle and wheel are not prevented from rotating. However, because surfaces 44 and 46 are engaged with each other the wheel 22 will not rotate very freely and this provides a less satisfactory toy then the embodiment that includes a wheei that can freely rotate on its axle.

Claims

Claims 1. A toy comprising:-at least one first construction member

comprising at least one magnet and having at least one first engaging portion; and at least one second construction member comprising at least one material that is attracted to said magnet and having at least one second engaging portion adapted to engage said first engaging portion such that said first and second construction members remain engaged with each other as a result of a magnetic force between said magnet and said material, wherein said first and second engaging portions comprise respective first and second rotation prevention means for preventing said first and second engaging portion rotating relative to each other when they are engaged.
2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging portion comprises at least one extension and said second engaging portion comprises at least one aperture extending at least partially into said second construction member and adapted to receive said extension.
3. A toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of said first and second rotation prevention means comprises at least one protrusion formed in a surface of a respective said engaging portion and the other of said first and second rotation prevention means comprises at least one recess formed in a surface of the other respective said engaging portion.
4. A toy according to claim 3, wherein one of said first and second rotation prevention means comprises a plurality of recesses forming a wave shape around said surface of said respective engaging portion.
5. A toy according to claim 4, wherein said wave shape is sinusoidal.
6. A toy according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein when a first construction member is retracted from a second construction member by a sufficient distance that the engaging portions can rotate relative to each other and the protrusion pass from one recess to an adjacent recess and the first and/or second construction member is released the magnetic force between the first and second constructions members is sufficiently strong that the first and second engaging portions are pulled back into engagement with each other.
7. A toy according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first construction member comprises an elongate member having at least one magnet therein and said second construction member comprises a ferrous sphere at least partially contained within a shroud of non-magnetic material.
8. A toy substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.