US20120309259A1 - Magnetic Toy Block - Google Patents
Magnetic Toy Block Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120309259A1 US20120309259A1 US13/181,730 US201113181730A US2012309259A1 US 20120309259 A1 US20120309259 A1 US 20120309259A1 US 201113181730 A US201113181730 A US 201113181730A US 2012309259 A1 US2012309259 A1 US 2012309259A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- toy block
- magnet
- compartment
- block
- toy
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
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Classifications
-
- 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 toy blocks which can be attached to one and other by children to build structures.
- the invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to such toy blocks having magnetic attachment means.
- Magnetically connectable toy blocks are known to be formed of plastics material into which magnets and optionally, pieces of ferrous metal are embedded.
- the magnet of one building block must be aligned with the metallic insert of another for attraction to occur in order that the blocks mutually connect.
- a magnet of one block in order for a magnet of one block to be attracted to a magnet of another block, they must be aligned with correct N-S attractive polarity. N-N or S-S alignment will result in repulsion.
- the metallic insert of one block is aligned with a metallic insert of another block, there will be no attraction. Children might be frustrated by this requirement to align the blocks correctly.
- An improved magnetic toy block is provided to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.
- a toy block comprising:
- a magnet located freely within the compartment and adapted to turn upon magnetic interaction with another magnet external of the body so as to align attractively therewith.
- the body defines an overall internal volume and the compartment is smaller than said overall internal volume.
- the toy block further comprises a plurality of said compartments, each located behind a respective one of said external faces, and a plurality of said magnets, each located freely within a respective one of said compartments.
- the toy block further comprises an internal frame supporting or having integrally formed therewith a plurality of cups, each cup cooperating with the body to define a respective one of said compartments.
- said frame is formed separately to the body for insertion therein.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of a toy block
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the assembled toy block
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of a pair of toy blocks mutually attached by a magnetic attraction.
- a toy block 10 comprising a plastics body made up of six square walls 11 each having an external face and one of which is formed separately as an attachable panel which is depicted at the bottom of FIG. 1 .
- This panel might be ultrasonically welded or otherwise affixed to close the cube.
- each wall 11 On the inside face of each wall 11 is a central landing 15 to be described.
- An internal frame 14 has six outwardly facing cups 12 . These are either moulded integrally with the frame 14 or attached thereto. When the frame 14 is inserted into the body 10 , each cup 12 abuts or comes into close proximity with the inside face of each wall 11 to define a compartment 16 . There are six such compartments—one of which comprises the interface of a cup with the separately formed panel.
- a small magnetic disk 13 is located within each compartment 16 .
- the magnets 13 are dimensioned to reside within the compartments 16 so that they can flip upside-down and turn freely.
- the blocks 10 can be connected to one another in any orientation and the child need not turn the blocks to provide N-S alignment of the internal magnets.
- compartments 16 could be formed integrally with the body 10 , rather than providing an internal frame 14 .
Abstract
A toy block includes a body having external faces. A compartment is located behind each of the external faces and houses a magnet located freely within the compartment and adapted to turn upon magnetic interaction with another magnet external of the body so as to align attractively therewith. Two such toy blocks can be brought together face-to-face in any orientation and the magnet of one block will turn automatically into N-S alignment with a magnet of the other block so that the blocks attract and connect.
Description
- The present invention relates to toy blocks which can be attached to one and other by children to build structures. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to such toy blocks having magnetic attachment means.
- Magnetically connectable toy blocks are known to be formed of plastics material into which magnets and optionally, pieces of ferrous metal are embedded. The magnet of one building block must be aligned with the metallic insert of another for attraction to occur in order that the blocks mutually connect. On the other hand, in order for a magnet of one block to be attracted to a magnet of another block, they must be aligned with correct N-S attractive polarity. N-N or S-S alignment will result in repulsion. Of course, if the metallic insert of one block is aligned with a metallic insert of another block, there will be no attraction. Children might be frustrated by this requirement to align the blocks correctly.
- An improved magnetic toy block is provided to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.
- There is disclosed herein a toy block, comprising:
- a body having a plurality of external faces;
- a compartment located behind one of the external faces; and
- a magnet located freely within the compartment and adapted to turn upon magnetic interaction with another magnet external of the body so as to align attractively therewith.
- Preferably, the body defines an overall internal volume and the compartment is smaller than said overall internal volume.
- Preferably, the toy block further comprises a plurality of said compartments, each located behind a respective one of said external faces, and a plurality of said magnets, each located freely within a respective one of said compartments.
- Preferably, the toy block further comprises an internal frame supporting or having integrally formed therewith a plurality of cups, each cup cooperating with the body to define a respective one of said compartments.
- Preferably, said frame is formed separately to the body for insertion therein.
- A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic parts-exploded perspective illustration of a toy block; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the assembled toy block; and -
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of a pair of toy blocks mutually attached by a magnetic attraction. - In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a
toy block 10 comprising a plastics body made up of sixsquare walls 11 each having an external face and one of which is formed separately as an attachable panel which is depicted at the bottom ofFIG. 1 . This panel might be ultrasonically welded or otherwise affixed to close the cube. - On the inside face of each
wall 11 is acentral landing 15 to be described. - An
internal frame 14 has six outwardly facingcups 12. These are either moulded integrally with theframe 14 or attached thereto. When theframe 14 is inserted into thebody 10, eachcup 12 abuts or comes into close proximity with the inside face of eachwall 11 to define acompartment 16. There are six such compartments—one of which comprises the interface of a cup with the separately formed panel. - A small
magnetic disk 13 is located within eachcompartment 16. Themagnets 13 are dimensioned to reside within thecompartments 16 so that they can flip upside-down and turn freely. - When two of the
blocks 10 are brought into mutually adjacent proximity as illustrated inFIG. 3 , the adjacent magnets interact with one another and at least one of them will turn into N-S (North-South) attractive alignment whereupon they will bear against therespective landing 15 and the blocks will be mutually retained by magnetic attraction. - Moreover, the
blocks 10 can be connected to one another in any orientation and the child need not turn the blocks to provide N-S alignment of the internal magnets. - It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the
compartments 16 could be formed integrally with thebody 10, rather than providing aninternal frame 14.
Claims (5)
1. A toy block, comprising:
a body having a plurality of external faces;
a compartment located behind one of the external faces; and
a magnet located freely within the compartment and adapted to turn upon magnetic interaction with another magnet external of the body so as to align attractively therewith.
2. The toy block of claim 1 , wherein the body defines an overall internal volume and the compartment is smaller than said overall internal volume.
3. The toy block of claim 2 , comprising a plurality of said compartments, each located behind a respective one of said external faces, and a plurality of said magnets, each located freely within a respective one of said compartments.
4. The toy block of claim 3 , further comprising an internal frame supporting or having integrally formed therewith a plurality of cups, each cup cooperating with the body to define a respective one of said compartments.
5. The toy block of claim 4 , wherein said frame is formed separately to the body for insertion therein.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
HK11105619.7 | 2011-06-03 | ||
HK11105619.7A HK1161511A2 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2011-06-03 | Magnetic toy block |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120309259A1 true US20120309259A1 (en) | 2012-12-06 |
Family
ID=45547893
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/181,730 Abandoned US20120309259A1 (en) | 2011-06-03 | 2011-07-13 | Magnetic Toy Block |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120309259A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN202136812U (en) |
HK (1) | HK1161511A2 (en) |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100242250A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-09-30 | Tegu | Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks |
US20140357151A1 (en) * | 2013-06-03 | 2014-12-04 | Ronald A. Worley | Geometric Building Block Assembly |
USD738434S1 (en) | 2014-05-20 | 2015-09-08 | Octoblocs LLC | Suction cup toy |
US20160367906A1 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2016-12-22 | Sven Purns | Module and modular system |
US20170197154A1 (en) * | 2016-01-12 | 2017-07-13 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Magnetic construction block toy set |
US20180056204A1 (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2018-03-01 | Gary Knudsen | Magnet Building Block Assembly |
WO2019036623A1 (en) * | 2017-08-18 | 2019-02-21 | Grove Evan B | Building block |
EP3549649A1 (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-10-09 | Klotsivabrik OÜ | Building toy block with a magnet |
US20190366144A1 (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-05 | August Thiede | Magnetic Exercise Blocks |
US10709997B2 (en) | 2016-10-10 | 2020-07-14 | Yaacov Schwartz | Magnetic drinking cup stacking toy |
US10722809B1 (en) | 2019-01-29 | 2020-07-28 | Gymworld Inc. | Toy block |
US10857669B2 (en) | 2013-04-05 | 2020-12-08 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Modular angular-momentum driven magnetically connected robots |
US20210322891A1 (en) * | 2020-04-15 | 2021-10-21 | Hangzhou Strong Magnet & Assembly Co., Ltd. | All dimensions free connection magnetic building block |
US11207609B2 (en) | 2019-06-27 | 2021-12-28 | LaRose Industries, LLC | Magnetic toy construction block with ring-type magnet |
US11224821B2 (en) * | 2019-06-24 | 2022-01-18 | LaRose Industries, LLC | Shell-within-a-shell magnetic toy construction block |
US11406909B2 (en) * | 2021-07-13 | 2022-08-09 | Huizhou Sunnysolar Technology Co.Ltd | Magnetic building block |
US11766622B1 (en) * | 2022-12-28 | 2023-09-26 | Peixia Chen | Magnetic suction building block |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103446770A (en) * | 2013-09-13 | 2013-12-18 | 魏正鹏 | Splicing building block |
CN103816673B (en) * | 2014-03-12 | 2016-03-16 | 魏正鹏 | A kind of magnetic building block structure |
US20170127825A1 (en) * | 2015-11-09 | 2017-05-11 | Deborah L. Melnick | Modular storage system |
CN106377904A (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2017-02-08 | 东阳市万利电子有限公司 | Magnetic building block with plastic case |
CN108635885A (en) * | 2018-07-10 | 2018-10-12 | 福建铭塔玩具股份有限公司 | Wooden Magnetic building blocks with plastic shell and its manufacturing method |
Citations (19)
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---|---|---|---|---|
US2939243A (en) * | 1957-08-08 | 1960-06-07 | Robert G Duggar | Magnetic toy building blocks |
US3648404A (en) * | 1969-04-14 | 1972-03-14 | Charles S Ogsbury | Connector unit having radial arms for straight or angular connections |
US4078328A (en) * | 1976-06-23 | 1978-03-14 | Sultra Corporation | Construction toy set |
US5013245A (en) * | 1988-04-29 | 1991-05-07 | Benedict Morgan D | Information shapes |
US5094643A (en) * | 1989-02-24 | 1992-03-10 | Interlego A.G. | Connecting device for toy construction elements |
US5645464A (en) * | 1996-03-22 | 1997-07-08 | Chen; Yen-Shing | Sustainable assembly blocks |
US5746638A (en) * | 1995-01-25 | 1998-05-05 | Stuff Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Magnetic toy blocks |
US6749480B1 (en) * | 2002-11-27 | 2004-06-15 | Larry Dean Hunts | Device for connecting plural multi-shaped bodies utilizing magnets |
US20070037469A1 (en) * | 2005-06-10 | 2007-02-15 | Bong-Seok Yoon | Polyhedral block-type magnetic toys |
US7322873B2 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2008-01-29 | Mega Brands America, Inc. | Illuminated, three-dimensional modules with coaxial magnetic connectors for a toy construction kit |
US7413493B2 (en) * | 2004-01-27 | 2008-08-19 | Rc2 Brands, Inc. | Magnetic building block |
US20100087119A1 (en) * | 2006-10-12 | 2010-04-08 | Claudio Vicentelli | Set of blocks with freely movable magnetic anchoring elements, for the construction of game assemblies |
US20100120322A1 (en) * | 2006-10-12 | 2010-05-13 | Claudio Vicentelli | Set of blocks for construction game |
US7887056B2 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2011-02-15 | Educocio S.L. | Puzzle formed by a plurality of cubes |
US7942718B2 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2011-05-17 | Educocio S.B. | Didactic game piece |
US7955155B2 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2011-06-07 | Mega Brands International | Magnetic and electronic toy construction systems and elements |
US7985116B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2011-07-26 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Piece with magnets for building a toy |
US8070550B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2011-12-06 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Block for building a toy |
US8128452B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2012-03-06 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Building block |
-
2011
- 2011-06-03 HK HK11105619.7A patent/HK1161511A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2011-07-13 US US13/181,730 patent/US20120309259A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-07-29 CN CN2011202792647U patent/CN202136812U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2939243A (en) * | 1957-08-08 | 1960-06-07 | Robert G Duggar | Magnetic toy building blocks |
US3648404A (en) * | 1969-04-14 | 1972-03-14 | Charles S Ogsbury | Connector unit having radial arms for straight or angular connections |
US4078328A (en) * | 1976-06-23 | 1978-03-14 | Sultra Corporation | Construction toy set |
US5013245A (en) * | 1988-04-29 | 1991-05-07 | Benedict Morgan D | Information shapes |
US5094643A (en) * | 1989-02-24 | 1992-03-10 | Interlego A.G. | Connecting device for toy construction elements |
US5746638A (en) * | 1995-01-25 | 1998-05-05 | Stuff Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Magnetic toy blocks |
US5645464A (en) * | 1996-03-22 | 1997-07-08 | Chen; Yen-Shing | Sustainable assembly blocks |
US6749480B1 (en) * | 2002-11-27 | 2004-06-15 | Larry Dean Hunts | Device for connecting plural multi-shaped bodies utilizing magnets |
US7413493B2 (en) * | 2004-01-27 | 2008-08-19 | Rc2 Brands, Inc. | Magnetic building block |
US7955156B2 (en) * | 2004-01-27 | 2011-06-07 | Rc2 Brands, Inc. | Magnetic building block |
US7322873B2 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2008-01-29 | Mega Brands America, Inc. | Illuminated, three-dimensional modules with coaxial magnetic connectors for a toy construction kit |
US20070037469A1 (en) * | 2005-06-10 | 2007-02-15 | Bong-Seok Yoon | Polyhedral block-type magnetic toys |
US7985116B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2011-07-26 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Piece with magnets for building a toy |
US8070550B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2011-12-06 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Block for building a toy |
US8128452B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2012-03-06 | Edtoy Co., Ltd. | Building block |
US20100087119A1 (en) * | 2006-10-12 | 2010-04-08 | Claudio Vicentelli | Set of blocks with freely movable magnetic anchoring elements, for the construction of game assemblies |
US20100120322A1 (en) * | 2006-10-12 | 2010-05-13 | Claudio Vicentelli | Set of blocks for construction game |
US7887056B2 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2011-02-15 | Educocio S.L. | Puzzle formed by a plurality of cubes |
US7942718B2 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2011-05-17 | Educocio S.B. | Didactic game piece |
US7955155B2 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2011-06-07 | Mega Brands International | Magnetic and electronic toy construction systems and elements |
Cited By (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9662592B2 (en) | 2009-03-26 | 2017-05-30 | Clipper Investment Holdings Ltd. | Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks |
US8850683B2 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2014-10-07 | Tegu | Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks |
US20100242250A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2010-09-30 | Tegu | Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks |
US9266032B2 (en) | 2009-03-26 | 2016-02-23 | Clipper Investment Holdings Ltd. | Magnetic blocks and method of making magnetic blocks |
US10857669B2 (en) | 2013-04-05 | 2020-12-08 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Modular angular-momentum driven magnetically connected robots |
US20140357151A1 (en) * | 2013-06-03 | 2014-12-04 | Ronald A. Worley | Geometric Building Block Assembly |
AT16909U1 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2020-12-15 | Sven Purns | Building block and building block system |
US9873062B2 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2018-01-23 | Sven Purns | Module and modular system |
US20160367906A1 (en) * | 2014-02-03 | 2016-12-22 | Sven Purns | Module and modular system |
USD738434S1 (en) | 2014-05-20 | 2015-09-08 | Octoblocs LLC | Suction cup toy |
US9782687B2 (en) * | 2016-01-12 | 2017-10-10 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Magnetic construction block toy set |
US20170197154A1 (en) * | 2016-01-12 | 2017-07-13 | Gracewood Management, Inc. | Magnetic construction block toy set |
US20180056204A1 (en) * | 2016-08-31 | 2018-03-01 | Gary Knudsen | Magnet Building Block Assembly |
US10709997B2 (en) | 2016-10-10 | 2020-07-14 | Yaacov Schwartz | Magnetic drinking cup stacking toy |
WO2019036623A1 (en) * | 2017-08-18 | 2019-02-21 | Grove Evan B | Building block |
US11331590B2 (en) | 2017-08-18 | 2022-05-17 | Evan B. Grove | Building block |
EP3549649A1 (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-10-09 | Klotsivabrik OÜ | Building toy block with a magnet |
US20190366144A1 (en) * | 2018-05-31 | 2019-12-05 | August Thiede | Magnetic Exercise Blocks |
US10722809B1 (en) | 2019-01-29 | 2020-07-28 | Gymworld Inc. | Toy block |
EP3689430A1 (en) * | 2019-01-29 | 2020-08-05 | Gymworld Inc. | Toy block |
US11224821B2 (en) * | 2019-06-24 | 2022-01-18 | LaRose Industries, LLC | Shell-within-a-shell magnetic toy construction block |
US11207609B2 (en) | 2019-06-27 | 2021-12-28 | LaRose Industries, LLC | Magnetic toy construction block with ring-type magnet |
US20210322891A1 (en) * | 2020-04-15 | 2021-10-21 | Hangzhou Strong Magnet & Assembly Co., Ltd. | All dimensions free connection magnetic building block |
US11458410B2 (en) * | 2020-04-15 | 2022-10-04 | Hangzhou Strong Magnet & Assembly Co., Ltd. | All dimensions free connection magnetic building block |
US11406909B2 (en) * | 2021-07-13 | 2022-08-09 | Huizhou Sunnysolar Technology Co.Ltd | Magnetic building block |
US11766622B1 (en) * | 2022-12-28 | 2023-09-26 | Peixia Chen | Magnetic suction building block |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
HK1161511A2 (en) | 2012-07-27 |
CN202136812U (en) | 2012-02-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HOP LEE CHEONG INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED, CHINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MAK, KAI-SHUN;REEL/FRAME:026583/0545 Effective date: 20110708 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |