RU2759463C9 - Magnetic block - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: toys.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to toys, namely to toy building blocks having means of magnetic interaction, i.e. to building blocks held together by magnetic attraction. The magnetic block includes a non-magnetic frame (201) of the housing containing four external walls, and an internal parallelepiped connected to the external walls of the housing frame by means of jumpers, at least one cover (202). At least one cover (202) is mounted on the housing frame. Together, they form cells for placing magnets (203). The magnets (203) are placed in such a way that the distance between adjacent magnets (203) when one magnet is projected onto the plane does not exceed more than 1.3 times the thickness of each magnet (203).EFFECT: invention is aimed at providing the possibility of constructing objects of complex geometric shapes with high accuracy.14 cl, 31 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The invention relates to toys, and more specifically to toy building blocks having magnetic interaction means, i.e. building blocks held together by magnetic attraction. The present invention also relates to games such as building blocks that use building blocks that are magnetically held together and that allow a variety of different objects to be created.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] For many years, various types and designs of magnetic blocks (in the form of elements of toy designers) have been widely known. The general idea of a magnetic block is based on the following approach. Round cylindrical magnets are placed inside the block under its surfaces or near the edges of the block. When interacting with each other, the magnets inside the two adjacent blocks are attracted and, therefore, the blocks are held together, forming a geometric structure. Such magnetic blocks are described in a wide variety of prior art patent documents. For example, the following prior art is cited as an example: U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. US2015258462, US Patent Application Ser. No. US2015262744, international application ser. No. WO2017152483 and Republic of Korea Patent Application Ser. No. KR20140067453. Such prior art magnetic blocks are distinguished by their large outer dimensions and weak magnetic properties. In most cases, the magnets inside such prior art blocks are only designed to attract and hold blocks connected to each other in a position in which such blocks lie on flat surfaces. Such blocks of the prior art are not capable of holding other blocks in the air (ie suspended), in particular when holding several blocks in the air in a row.

[0003] US Patent Application Ser. No. US2015360137 describes a kit for assembling a mosaic structure, containing an assembly tool for arranging multi-colored blocks of at least two meshed cores. Blocks are adjacent to the cores engaged with each other or to each other by magnetic attraction. After the blocks are placed, the cores engaged with each other are fastened together by engagement, for example, a twist lock connection. With some degree of ingenuity, the assembly kit can be used to form mosaic shaped structures representing animals, human characters, buildings and other objects. Building kits are especially helpful in teaching children spatial imagination skills and improving hand-eye coordination. One drawback is the weak magnetic attraction properties of said blocks.

[0004] The closest analogue of the present invention are the magnetic building blocks "Minecraft Magnetic Building Blocks" from the company "Fan and Xi Co. Ltd." (iFanXi Store, Yueqing, China). This builder is made in the popular style known as "pixel art", which is a form of digital art created by using small blocks to create objects that look like images at the pixel level. The magnetic block of the designer consists of a plastic case made of polycarbonates and 6 round permanent NdFeB magnets located in the center of each of the six faces. The outer dimensions of the block are 8.1 x 8.1 x 8.1mm and the diameter of each magnet is 3.0mm. The outer surface of the block has an adhesive pattern with a "Minecrat" plot, i.e. grass, stone, quartz, mud, snow, etc. When pairing building blocks with each other, the side border can hold 6 hanging blocks in a row, and the vertical border can hold 45 hanging blocks. The main disadvantage of these magnetic blocks is their weak magnetic attraction to each other. Stickers on the outer surfaces of the magnetic block are also glued by hand, which is inconvenient for mass production. Over time and due to frequent use, the outer stickers on the blocks often peel off and often wear off.

[0005] Another closest analogue of the present invention is the magnetic block described in the application EP0728506 (A1) dated 28.08.1996. using jumpers, wherein the inner sides of the outer walls of the housing frame, the outer sides of the inner parallelepiped and the jumpers form four cells for arranging magnets along the inner periphery of the magnetic block, the magnets are located one in each of the four cells, and at least one cover is located on the housing frame. The magnets are disk-shaped permanent magnets located in a round hole in the case frame. Surrounding each circular hole, a circular flange is formed so that a disk-shaped permanent magnet is supported on the flange. A short cylindrical part is made on top to the right of a part of the outer peripheral edge of the round flange. The diameter of the short cylindrical part is slightly larger than the diameter of the permanent magnet in the form of a disk, and the inner peripheral wall of the short cylindrical part serves as a guide for the rotation of the permanent magnet in the form of a disk. In each short cylindrical portion, a disk-shaped permanent magnet and a thin-plate-shaped disk-shaped magnetic plate are located on the flange, said magnetic plate having substantially the same diameter as the disk-shaped permanent magnet. Because the disc-shaped plate is made of magnetic material, the disc-shaped plate is attracted to the disc-shaped permanent magnet and held in a short cylindrical portion (as a magnetic holding portion) to rotate integrally with the disc-shaped permanent magnet around an imaginary axis passing at right angles to the corresponding part of a flat surface.

[0006] In addition, another closest analogue of the present invention is the magnetic building block assembly described in the application US20180056204A1 dated 03/01/2018. The magnetic building block assembly provides rotating self-aligning magnetic disks in a plurality of blocks to simplify pairing of blocks with each other. Each block contains a container having a removable top wall providing an opening for access to the interior. In the inner space is the central detail. Each of the plurality of discs is located in the inner space next to the outer surface of the central part and next to the corresponding one of the flat sides for free rotation in the inner space next to the corresponding one of the flat sides. Each of a plurality of magnetic pole zones is located around each disk. Each disc is free to rotate, with adjacent blocks being magnetically coupled to each other by the discs. Each of a plurality of spacers extends along a respective inner edge of the container to center the discs with respect to a respective one of the flat sides. One drawback of all the closest analogues is the rotation of the permanent magnet in the form of a disk, which rotates the frame of the case and the entire magnetic block. This leads to the rotation of the entire series of magnetic blocks and makes the constructor of the above magnetic blocks unstable. The second disadvantage lies in the weak magnetic attraction properties of these blocks, since permanent magnets in the form of a disk do not implement the principle of magnetic superposition.

[0007] Despite embedding magnets in toy building blocks, users of the blocks described above are limited in how they can align the blocks and the resulting structures (objects) they can create. The prior art does not provide long free-hanging rows of magnetic blocks and complete freedom to obtain geometrically complex structures of high accuracy. There is a need for a magnetic building block and, more specifically, a design with it, capable of overcoming the above disadvantages. Optimization and innovation of the internal design of small size magnetic blocks (eg "Pixel Art") and the arrangement of magnets is required to significantly enhance their magnetic properties and improve their adaptation for mass production. The present invention solves this need. To achieve this need, a magnetic block containing a non-magnetic frame (201) of the housing, containing four outer walls (101), and an inner parallelepiped (303) connected to the outer walls (101) of the frame (201) of the housing using jumpers (401), at least one cover (202), wherein at least one cover (202) is installed on the frame (201) of the body, and the inner sides of the outer walls (101) of the frame (201) of the body, the outer sides of the side walls of the inner parallelepiped (303) and jumpers form four vertical cells (402), and the top, bottom of the inner box (303) and the inner sides of the lid (202) form two horizontal cells (404), while the vertical cells and horizontal cells are designed to position the magnets (203) along the outer periphery of the inner parallelepiped, according to the invention, the magnetic block contains rectangular magnets (203), while the rectangular magnets (203) are located one in each of cells (402, 404) in such a way that the distance between adjacent magnets (203) when projected onto the plane of one magnet does not exceed more than 1.3 times the thickness of each magnet (203), and moreover, the ratio of the surface area of the side of each rectangular magnet (203 ) to the surface area of the corresponding side of the magnetic block is from 0.15 to 0.60, and moreover, three adjacent sides have a north polarity and three adjacent sides have a south polarity, and each of the cells (402, 404) is configured to prevent rotation of the located inside the magnet (203) relative to the center of the rectangular magnet (203). Also, to achieve a technical result, the distance between adjacent magnets (203) when projected onto a plane is equal to or less than the thickness of each magnet (203); the ratio is from 0.15 to 0.19; the ratio is from 0.19 to 0.225; each magnet (203) is located near the center of each respective side of the magnetic block; the magnetic block further comprises flat edges (102) on the outer walls of the magnetic block (101); the magnetic block further comprises internal ribs (403) inside the parallelepiped (303); the seams (502) of the assembled magnetic block are invisible; the magnets (203) are NdFeB magnets (203); each cover (202) contains one or more supports (301, 305) on its inner side, while these supports (301, 305) further secure the cover (202) to the frame (201) of the housing; the magnetic block further comprises snap connectors (302) on each side wall of the jumpers (401) to hold the magnets (203) in their respective cells (402); the magnetic block further comprises vertical reinforcing ribs (306) located along the outer sides of the parallelepiped (303); the magnetic block additionally contains a triangular concentrator for ultrasonic welding (501); at least one side of the magnetic block has a multi-pole magnetization.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a magnetic block comprising a plastic housing frame and two covers on each (upper/lower) side of the housing frame. Inside the case frame, near the center of each side (face) of the magnetic block, there is a rectangular magnet, a total of 6 magnetic parts for each block. The ratio of the area of a rectangular magnet to the total area of the corresponding side (face) is approximately 0.19-0.60 (19%-60%). Each side of the block has a smooth edge (i.e. a flat edge) and a roughness to increase the coefficient of friction. The internal ribs of each block are designed to provide the block with maximum compressive strength, excellent resistance to tangential loads, and to facilitate precise centering of the location of each magnet on the corresponding side of the block. This design also makes it possible to hide the seams after the assembly of the magnetic block at the production facility. The internal design of the magnetic block and the specific arrangement of the six rectangular magnets provide a high ratio between the surface area of the magnets and the surface area of the block. This ratio provides very high properties of magnetic attraction. There can be more than 8 blocks in the side row of magnetic blocks when hanging in a horizontal row (i.e. without any blocks at the bottom), and the vertical limit is more than 50 hanging blocks.

[0009] The present invention also provides a designer of the above magnetic blocks of various colors and/or patterns. Different colors and/or patterns are used, for example, to provide a visual difference to each block, which allows visually different parts of the figures/objects under construction to be created. Due to the excellent magnetic properties of the magnetic blocks of the present invention, it is possible to build geometrically complex structures/objects with high accuracy.

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of a magnetic block according to the present invention.

[0012] In FIG. 2A and 2B show an exploded perspective view of the individual integral parts of a magnetic block according to the present invention. On FIG. 2A shows the body frame, magnets, and two covers. On FIG. 2B shows the magnet and housing frame with the mandatory dimensions A, B, C and D.

[0013] In FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the case frame and cover of the magnetic block according to the present invention, which more clearly shows the inner frame of the magnetic block.

[0014] In FIG. 4A and 4B show a top view of a magnetic block according to the present invention. On FIG. 4A shows integral parts of the magnetic block. On FIG. 4B shows mandatory dimensions E and F.

[0015] In FIG. 5 shows additional features of the internal design of the magnetic block according to the present invention.

[0016] In FIG. 6 shows the principle of magnetic superposition implemented in magnetic blocks according to the present invention.

[0017] In FIG. 7A-7T depict possible embodiments of constructors containing magnetic blocks according to the present invention.

[0018] In FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of a magnetic block according to the present invention.

[0019] In FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the magnetic block according to the present invention.

[0020] In FIG. 10 shows the relative polarities of the sides in the preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, a magnetic block is provided (see FIGS. 1-2) comprising an ABS housing frame 201 suitable for children's toys, two covers 202 for the top and bottom sides of the case frame 201, and 6 rectangular NdFeB- magnets 203 located inside the body frame 201 along the sides (edges) of the body frame 201. In this embodiment, the size of the finished block containing the body frame and two covers is 8.00 mm x 8.00 mm x 8.00 mm. The frame size of the case is 8.00mm x 8.00mm x 7.96mm. The size of each cover is 7.20mm x 7.20mm x 2.00mm. The overall dimensions of each magnet are 3.80 mm x 3.80 mm x 1.00 mm. The ratio of the area of each rectangular magnet 203 (see FIG. 2B) to the total area of the corresponding side (face) 204 of the block in this embodiment is approximately 0.225. In some implementations, the overall dimensions of the magnets may be 3.50 mm x 3.50 mm x 1.00 mm. In such embodiments, this ratio is approximately 0.19. The block has flat edges (ie, flat edges) 102 (FIG. 1) having a thickness of 0.40 mm, and the thickness of the outer walls 101 (FIG. 1) is 0.40 mm. Such overall dimensions make it possible to hide the seam line between the cover and the frame of the block housing. Each cover 202 (FIG. 2) has a number of supports 301 and 305 (see FIG. 3) on its inside to center the magnets during the assembly process and properly attach the cover to the body frame. The internal structure of the housing frame 201 comprises a rectangular hollow parallelepiped 303 (FIG. 1) connected to the outer walls 101 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) of the housing frame with jumpers (i.e. bridges) 401 (FIG. 4). The internal structure of the body frame 201 may comprise a single continuous element (made, for example, by a process such as injection molding). Alternatively, the internal structure may comprise several elements which are subsequently welded together. The walls of the inner cuboid 303 (FIG. 3) together with the bridges (bridges) 401 (FIG. 4) form four vertical cells 402 (FIG. 4) for placing magnets so that the magnets are located near the centers of each of the sides of the housing frame. The interior of the rectangular hollow cuboid 303 (FIG. 3) is reinforced with ribs 403 (FIG. 4), the ends of which form two additional horizontal cells 404 (FIG. 4 - top and bottom) to accommodate the fifth and sixth magnets near the sides of the top and bottom covers. Additionally or instead of them, the interior of the cuboid 303 (FIG. 3) can be reinforced with a monolithic filler. To simplify assembly of the magnetic block during manufacture, snap connectors 302 (FIG. 3) are provided on each sidewall of the bridges (FIG. 3) to hold the magnets in their respective slots and prevent them from falling out before the covers are installed. Along the outer sides of the cuboid 303 are vertical reinforcing ribs 306 (FIG. 3). The upper and lower ends of the walls of the cuboid 303 (FIG. 3) have a triangular ultrasonic welding concentrator 501 (FIG. 5). Due to this design, after the covers are welded to the body frame, the seams 502 (FIG. 5) between the covers and the body frame become almost invisible.

[0022] The above design of the block's internal structure allows the pin sprue and block demolding locations to be placed within the frame of the block body, thereby preventing any marks from appearing on the outer surfaces of the block. Due to this design, the block looks like a solid and seamless cube, having flat edges after assembly. The vertical magnet cells 402 (FIG. 4) have snap connectors 302 (FIG. 3) on the inner sides of the cell to hold the magnets in place during the assembly process. It is designed in such a way as to also prevent the formation of wrinkles and other deformations on the outer walls of the blocks.

[0023] The location and shape of the magnets within the block were chosen experimentally and based on the properties of attraction between the blocks and the overall magnetic field provided by each block. The ratio of the surface area of the side of the magnet 203 to the surface area of the corresponding side 204 of the block is defined as S-magnet: S-side of the block, where S-magnet = C*D and where S-sides of the block = A*B. See FIG. 2b. In a preferred embodiment, this ratio is from 0.19 to 0.60. In other embodiments, the ratio may be as low as 0.15, or from 0.19 to 0.225. In addition, the distance between the side surfaces of adjacent magnets (see Fig. 4B, element F) when projected onto a plane, preferably does not exceed the thickness of the magnets themselves (see Fig. 4B, element E). Due to this design, the magnets affect each other mainly due to a change in the demagnetization coefficient in the system of magnets. In addition, the magnets are arranged so that within each side of the magnetic block are several adjacent magnets with opposite polarities and other magnets with the same polarities. Such an arrangement, for example, provides a block that contains 3 adjacent magnets (and therefore three adjacent sides) having a north polarity directed outward, and three adjacent magnets (and therefore three adjacent sides) having a south polarity directed outward. . See FIG. 6 and 10. This results in an increase in magnetic flux density at the outer edges of the magnets, and also increases the magnetic strength of the magnetic block system when they are combined. Such an effect also occurs (and, in fact, is further enhanced) when, in addition to the polarities, the distance between the side surfaces of the magnets (Fig. 4B, element F) when projected onto a plane equals or exceeds at least no more than 1.3 times the thickness of the magnets (Fig. 4B, element E).

[0024] Due to the fact that the distance between the magnets on adjacent sides is small, the entire magnetic flux of the inner surface remains in the internal space of the block between the magnets. This leads to an increase in the magnetic flux between the outer poles of the magnets and an increase in magnetic induction on the surface. The principle of superposition, which takes place in the proposed block, is shown in Fig. 6.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, a constructor is provided that contains several magnetic blocks (Fig. 7) having 16 different colors. By connecting blocks to each other using magnetic attraction, it is possible to create many different objects. Due to the distinctive magnetic properties of the blocks, complex structures of high-precision shapes can be obtained, which, at the same time, are highly resistant to destruction. Block shapes are created by connecting colored blocks one at a time in some sequence. Each block has three adjacent sides with north polarity magnets and three adjacent sides with south polarity. The magnetic attraction is strong enough to automatically (independently) attract one block to the corresponding side of another block. In this case, when assembling the figures, it is necessary to place a block at a small distance from another block and release it, after which it will turn over to the corresponding side and attach.

[0026] One embodiment of the present invention uses a multi-pole magnetization on one side of the magnet. In other words, half of the side of a rectangular magnet has a north pole and the other half has a south pole. This allows not only the blocks to be attached side to side, but also offset by half a side, which provides additional design possibilities when assembling various figures.

[0027] To further enhance the magnetic properties of the blocks, an internal magnetic core 801 (FIG. 8) made of a magnetically soft metal material (eg, mild steel, 0.5 mm) may be included. An inner magnetic core 801 may be located on the inside of the magnets 802 (FIG. 8) within the block.

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention (Fig. 9), suggesting even more improved magnetic properties, a magnetic block is provided containing a plastic casing frame with outer walls 901. Inside the casing frame is a solid parallelepiped 902. Internal magnets 903 are attached to the outer sides a rigid parallelepiped 902. Attachment may be by any known method, such as gluing, welding, pressing, etc. The inner metal core 904 can also be embedded inside the solid box 902. In this case, the ratio of the surface area of the side of the rectangular inner magnet 903 to the surface area of the corresponding side of the block can be up to 0.60 (60%).

[0029] Therefore, it should be understood that the above dimensions in the described embodiment of the invention are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. The illustrated and described overall dimensions are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which directly indicate those features that are considered as essential features of the invention. These overall dimensions may be larger or smaller, while maintaining the ratio of the area of the rectangular magnet side to the total area of the corresponding side of the block within the disclosed ranges.

[0030] Although the above description of the invention provides a person skilled in the art with the ability to implement and apply what is currently considered the best option, a person skilled in the art will be clear and understandable that there are variations, combinations and equivalents of a particular implementation, method and examples presented in this document. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment, method and examples described above, but to all embodiments and methods falling within the scope of the invention.

[0031] The description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

[0032] Moreover, the terms "example" or "given as an example" are used herein to mean an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as "given as an example" should not necessarily be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Instead, the use of the terms "example" or "exemplary" is intended to represent the intent in a particular way. As used herein, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" and not an exclusive "or". That is, unless specifically stated otherwise or the context clearly implies, "X uses A or B" means any of the actual inclusive permutations. That is, if X uses A; X uses B; or X uses A and B, then "X uses A or B" is satisfied in either case. In addition, the singular grammatical forms used in this application and the appended claims are generally to be construed to mean "one or more" unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates singular.

Claims (22)

1. Magnetic block containing: non-magnetic frame (201) of the housing, containing four outer walls (101), and an inner parallelepiped (303) connected to the outer walls (101) of the frame (201) of the housing using jumpers (401), at least one cover (202), with at least one cover (202) mounted on the frame (201) of the housing, moreover, the inner sides of the outer walls (101) of the frame (201) of the body, the outer sides of the side walls of the inner parallelepiped (303) and the jumpers form four vertical cells (402), and the upper part, the lower part of the inner parallelepiped (303) and the inner sides of the cover (202 ) form two horizontal cells (404); while the vertical cells and horizontal cells are intended for the location of magnets (203) along the outer periphery of the inner parallelepiped, characterized in that the magnetic block contains rectangular magnets (203), while the rectangular magnets (203) are located one by one in each of the cells (402, 404) in such a way that the distance between adjacent magnets (203) when projected onto the plane of one magnet does not exceed more than 1.3 times the thickness of each magnet (203), and moreover, the ratio of the surface area of the side of each rectangular magnet (203) to the surface area of the corresponding side of the magnetic block is from 0.15 to 0.60, and wherein three adjacent sides have north polarity and three adjacent sides have south polarity, and wherein each of the cells (402, 404) is configured to prevent rotation of the magnet (203) located inside about the center of the rectangular magnet (203). 2. The magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between adjacent magnets (203) when projected onto a plane is equal to or less than the thickness of each magnet (203). 3. The magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio is from 0.15 to 0.19. 4. The magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio is from 0.19 to 0.225. 5. The magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that each magnet (203) is located near the center of each corresponding side of the magnetic block. 6. The magnetic block according to claim 1, further comprising flat edges (102) on the outer walls of the magnetic block (101). 7. Magnetic block according to claim 1, further comprising internal ribs (403) inside the parallelepiped (303). 8. Magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that the seams (502) of the assembled magnetic block are invisible. 9. Magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnets (203) are NdFeB magnets (203). 10. The magnetic block according to claim 1, characterized in that each cover (202) contains one or more supports (301, 305) on its inner side, while these supports (301, 305) further secure the cover (202) to the frame (201) body. 11. The magnetic block of claim 1 further comprising snap connectors (302) on each side wall of the webs (401) to hold the magnets (203) in their respective slots (402). 12. The magnetic block according to claim. 1, additionally containing vertical reinforcing ribs (306) located along the outer sides of the parallelepiped (303). 13. Magnetic block according to claim 1, further comprising a triangular concentrator for ultrasonic welding (501). 14. The magnetic block according to claim. 1, characterized in that at least one side of the magnetic block has a multi-pole magnetization.

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