MAGNETIC ITEM AND TOY COMPRISING THE SAME
The present invention provides a magnetic item comprising a container having an end; a base portion having a cavity and a first end connected with the end of the container; a first magnetic means movably received in the container; a second magnetic means arranged at the end of the container or the first end of the base portion and disposed in a manner that the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means attract each other; and a third magnetic means received and disposed within a second end of the base portion in a manner that the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means repulse each other; wherein the repulsion force generated between the second and third magnetic means overweighs the attraction force generated between the first and second magnetic means, when the second and third magnetic means are made to come near to each other.
This invention relates generally to the field of magnetic structure and, more particularly, to a magnetic item that operates by magnetic attraction and repulsion as well as to a toy comprising such a magnetic item.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMagnets have been associated with playthings, game pieces and toys for generations. Magnetic attraction of the opposite poles of the magnets is used to, for example, couple one object with another. Magnetic repulsion, as a result of like poles being pressed together, is likewise used to push one object from another or to effect a levitation state.
Many magnetic arrangements exist as playthings or toys for children which have been found in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,777 to Takara Co., Ltd. discloses a toy assembly capable of maintaining a toy figure in a floating position within a container by use of repelling action between two magnets. U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,555 to J. H. Zbegner is also of interest and discloses a magnetic novelty item having magnets which are arranged so that one of the magnets is movable in the space between two ends of a container.
Although a variety of magnetic structures exist in the prior art, there is a continuing need for new magnetic structures which offer advantages over those existing in the art and enhance the play value thereof. Each new feature can kindle a desire in a child and hence it becomes a selling point to the manufacture and the retainer.
The invention entails the task of creating a simple and cost-effective magnetic item that can give out a bounce or ejection effect all in a sudden, apart from attaining a magnetic levitation state of an object therein, without the need of use of electricity, batteries, wires, compressed air, gears, springs or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention has been developed to fulfill the task of offering to a viewer the interesting phenomenon of causing sudden bounce and free levitation of an object and therefore has a principle object of the provision of a magnetic item comprising:
a container having an end;
a base portion having a cavity defined by its enclosed sidewall and a first end connected with the end of the container;
a first magnetic means movably received in the container;
a second magnetic means arranged at the end of the container or the first end of the base portion and disposed in a manner that the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means attract each other;
a third magnetic means received and disposed within a second end of the base portion in a manner that the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means repulse each other; and
wherein the repulsion force generated between the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means overweighs the attraction force generated between the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means, when the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means are made to come near to each other.
In one preferred embodiment, the end of the container is connected with the first end of the base portion, the second magnetic means is immovably secured within the end of the container or the first end of the base portion after the connection of the container and the base portion, while the third magnetic means is slidably received and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the third magnetic means may be pushed to come near to the second magnetic means. In this embodiment, the container may have male screw threads and the base portion may have female screw threads, or vice versa, so that they are connected in a threading manner.
Referring to the base portion, its sidewall preferably has two or more upstanding ribs for guiding the third magnetic means in up and down slidable movements within the cavity of the base portion. The upstanding rib advantageously has a thick portion and a thin portion connected by a step on which the third magnetic means rests when pushed to come near to the second magnetic means. In this way, the first magnetic means can maintain firmly in a magnetic levitation state. Also, an appealing object of any configuration may be attached onto the first magnetic means for increased enjoyment during play of the magnetic item.
In order to stabilize and adjust motion of the first magnetic means within the container, it is advantageous that a plate made of non-magnetic material such as plastics is arranged between the first and second magnetic means.
In another preferred embodiment, the container is engaged with the base portion in a manner that the container is slidably received within the cavity of the base portion, the second magnetic means is secured to the end of the container so as to slidably move along with the container, while the third magnetic means is immovably secured and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the second magnetic means may be pushed to come near to the third magnetic means.
Preferably, the container is a cylinder formed with a transparent or semitransparent material.
According to the invention, the first, second or third magnetic means are provided in the form of either a magnet or a material attracted to a magnet, and a rare earth permanent magnet, or a ferrite magnet or combinations thereof is preferred.
A further object of the invention is to provide a magnetic toy in which the magnetic item of the invention is fitted to produce amusement, fun and observation.
To have a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention and embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the various figures of the drawings, like reference numbers are used to designate like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSWhile this invention is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, the magnetic items may be produced in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials.
Referring now to the drawings,
The container 12 may be formed out of a transparent material such as glass, acrylic material or semitransparent material so that the interior of the container 10 can be observed from outside. The base portion 20 may be formed out of a transparent or opaque material, and an opaque plastic material is preferred.
Although this preferred embodiment shows the container 10 of substantially rigid, linear, clear sided and cylindrical configuration and the base portion 20 of substantially opaque and cylindrical configuration, they can be configured in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials.
The magnetic item 100 further comprises a first magnetic means 30 movably received in the container 10; a second magnetic means 40 fitted within the upper end of the base portion 20; and a third magnetic means 50 slidably received and disposed within the lower end of the base portion 20. Each of the magnetic means 30, 40, 50 may be provided in the form either a magnet or a material attracted to a magnet. In the embodiment of
The first magnet 30 and the second magnet 40 are arranged with unlike magnetic poles facing each other, as illustrated in
As shown in
When the container 10 is screwed onto the base portion 20, the first holding member 24 is supported on the first protrusion 23 in a fixed manner and retains immovably in the base portion 20. The second holding member 26 is slidably supported on the second protrusion 25. The second holding member 26 is also provided with three slots 27 which are circumferentially equally spaced apart from one another and extend in the direction of its movement, with which three upstanding ribs 28 provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the base portion 20 are engagable for the purpose of guiding the second holding member 26 in up and down movements. As shown in
It is clear from
Assembly of an appealing object 32 like a toy figure, model or plaything into the first magnet 30 may result in enhanced enjoyment of the magnetic item 100. The appealing object 32 may be of any design and is preferably assembled with the first magnet 30 such that the first magnet 30 is positioned to face directly the second magnet 40 with unlike magnetic poles thereof in order to obtain a better attraction. Preferably, the object 32 has a height larger than or equal to the inner diameter of the container 10 in order to increase its resistance to the spin-off phenomenon caused by sudden bounce.
As described above, the second magnet 40 is disposed to have a like pole to that of the third magnet 50, whereby the second holding member 26 carrying the third magnet 50 is supported on the second protrusion 25 of the base portion 20, with a spaced distance away from the second magnet 40, while the attraction of the first and second magnets enables mutual connection thereof, as illustrated in
Each of the magnetic means 30, 40, 50 may be of different strengths and sizes. Many magnets are readily available for purpose of the invention and can be sized to suit the application desired. In one embodiment of the invention, the first magnet is sized to have a diameter of about 1 cm or less and a length of about 1 cm or less; the second magnet is sized to have a diameter of about 2 cm or less and a length of about 1 cm or less; and the third magnet is sized to have a diameter of about 3 cm or less and a length of about 1 cm or less.
The flange 18 of the container 10 stands up against a projecting flange 29 which extends inwardly from the upper end of the side wall 21 of the base portion 20 in a ready-to-use state, due to the mutual repulsion force generated between the second and third magnets 40, 50. In order to move the magnet 40 downward, it is just to turn the container 10 by an angle to render the slots of the flange 18 in alignment with the ribs 28 and a force is then applied to the container 10 to make the container 10 to move downward together with the second magnet 40. When the second magnet 40 moves till a position where the repulsion force overweighs the attraction force generated between the first and second magnets 30, 40, the first magnet 30 will be separated from the second magnet 40 and suddenly bounce upward within the container 10, as observed in the first embodiment. The container 10 continues to move downward to a position where the flange 18 of the container 10 is positioned below the steps 28e of the ribs 28, it is just to turn the container 10 by a slight angle to render the slots of the flange 18 unaligned with the ribs 28, the flange 18 of the container may then abut against the steps 28e of the ribs 28 to firmly maintain the levitation of the first magnet 30, as illustrated in
The invention thus provides a magnetic item with a simple design which is inexpensive to produce and allows for generation of motion of an object without the need of electricity, batteries, wires, compressed air, gears, springs or the like, which should contribute to its popularity and usefulness.
The magnetic item of the invention finds a wide variety of applications particularly in, but not limited to, toys industry. Accordingly, a second aspect of the invention is to provide a toy (not shown) comprising a toy body and a magnetic item of the present invention, particularly as described hereinabove.
While the embodiments described herein are intended as an exemplary magnetic item, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A magnetic item comprising:
- a container having an end;
- a base portion having a cavity defined by its enclosed sidewall and a first end engaged with the end of the container;
- a first magnetic means movably received in the container;
- a second magnetic means arranged at the end of the container or the first end of the base portion and disposed in a manner that the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means attract each other;
- a third magnetic means received and disposed within a second end of the base portion in a manner that the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means repulse each other; and
- wherein the repulsion force generated between the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means overweighs the attraction force generated between the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means, when the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means are made to come near to each other.
2. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end of the container is connected with the first end of the base portion, the second magnetic means is immovably secured within the end of the container or the first end of the base portion after the connection of the container and the base portion, while the third magnetic means is slidably received and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the third magnetic means is capable of coming near to the second magnetic means.
3. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is engaged with the base portion in a manner that the container is slidably received within the cavity of the base portion, the second magnetic means is secured to the end of the container so as to slidably move along with the container, while the third magnetic means is immovably secured and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the second magnetic means is capable of coming near to the third magnetic means.
4. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is a cylinder formed with a transparent or semitransparent material.
5. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 2, wherein the container has male screw threads and the base portion has female screw threads, or vice versa, so that they are connected in a threading manner.
6. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 2, wherein two or more upstanding ribs are provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the base portion for guiding the third magnetic means in up and down slidable movements within the cavity of the base portion.
7. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rib has a thick portion and a thin portion connected by a step on which the third magnetic means rests, when pushed to come near to the second magnetic means, to maintain the first magnetic means in a magnetic levitation state.
8. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first holding member on which the second magnetic means is mounted is attached in a fixed manner to the sidewall of the base portion, a second holding member on which the third magnetic means is mounted is slidably attached to the sidewall of the base portion.
9. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second and third magnetic means are mounted respectively on the first and second holding members in an adhering or a welding manner.
10. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 8, wherein first and second protrusions extend inwardly respectively from the inner surface of the sidewall of the base portion for supporting the first and second holding members.
11. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein a non-magnetic plate is arranged between the first and second magnetic means for stabilizing and adjusting motion of the first magnetic means.
12. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plate is formed with a plastic material.
13. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 11, the plate is detachably arranged between the first and second magnets.
14. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 11, the plate is fixedly secured to the end of the container.
15. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, second and third magnetic means are in the form of a magnet or a magnetically attracting member.
16. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first, second and third magnetic means are rare earth permanent magnets, or ferrite magnets or combinations thereof.
17. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein an appealing object is attached onto the first magnetic means for increased enjoyment of the magnetic item.
18. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container, the base portion, the first, second and third magnetic means are all of substantially cylindrical configuration.
19. A toy comprising a toy body and a magnetic item, the magnetic item comprising:
- a container having an end;
- a base portion having a cavity defined by its enclosed sidewall and a first end connected with the end of the container;
- a first magnetic means movably received in the container;
- a second magnetic means arranged at the end of the container or the first end of the base portion and disposed in a manner that the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means attract each other;
- a third magnetic means received and disposed within a second end of the base portion in a manner that the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means repulse each other; and
- wherein the repulsion force generated between the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means overweighs the attraction force generated between the second magnetic means and the first magnetic means, when the third magnetic means and the second magnetic means are pushed to come near to each other.
20. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 19, wherein the end of the container is connected with the first end of the base portion, the second magnetic means is immovably secured within the end of the container or the first end of the base portion after the connection of the container and the base portion, while the third magnetic means is slidably received and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the third magnetic means is pushed to come near to the second magnetic means.
21. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 19, wherein the container is engaged with the base portion in a manner that the container is slidably received within the cavity of the base portion, the second magnetic means is secured to the end of the container so as to slidably move along with the container, while the third magnetic means is immovably secured and disposed within the second end of the base portion so that the second magnetic means is pushed to come near to the third magnetic means.
22. The toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein the container is a cylinder formed with a transparent or semitransparent material.
23. The toy as claimed in claim 20, wherein the container has male screw threads and the base portion has female screw threads, or vice versa, so that they are connected in a threading manner.
24. The toy as claimed in claim 20, wherein two or more upstanding ribs are provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the base portion for guiding the third magnetic means in up and down slidable movements within the cavity of the base portion.
25. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rib has a thick portion and a thin portion connected by a step on which the third magnetic means rests, when pushed to come near to the second magnetic means, to maintain the first magnetic means in a magnetic levitation state.
26. The toy as claimed in claim 20, wherein a first holding member on which the second magnetic means is mounted is attached in a fixed manner to the sidewall of the base portion, a second holding member on which the third magnetic means is mounted is slidably attached to the sidewall of the base portion.
27. The toy as claimed in claim 26, wherein the second and third magnetic means are mounted respectively on the first and second holding members in an adhering or a welding manner.
28. The toy as claimed in claim 26, wherein first and second protrusions extend inwardly respectively from the inner surface of the sidewall of the base portion for supporting the first and second holding members.
29. The toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein a non-magnetic plate is arranged between the first and second magnetic means for stabilizing and adjusting motion of the first magnetic means.
30. The toy as claimed in claim 29, wherein the plate is formed with a plastic material.
31. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 29 the plate is detachably arranged between the first and second magnets.
32. The magnetic item as claimed in claim 29, the plate is fixedly secured to the end of the container.
33. The toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first, second and third magnetic means are in the form of a magnet or a magnetically attracting member.
34. The toy as claimed in claim 33, wherein the first, second and third magnetic means are rare earth permanent magnets, or ferrite magnets or combinations thereof.
35. The toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein an appealing object is attached onto the first magnetic means for increased enjoyment of the toy.
36. The toy as claimed in claim 19, wherein the container, the base portion, the first, second and third magnetic means are all of substantially cylindrical configuration.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 16, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Inventor: Chi Yiu Chung (Laguna City)
Application Number: 11/675,776
International Classification: A63H 33/26 (20060101);