Orientation of Magnets in an Object of A Series
The specific orientation of magnets within an object that allows for a series of objects to be engaged by the connection of positive magnetic poles to corresponding negative magnetic poles such that one object in the series may be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about its vertical axis and still engage with the objects in the series.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61551829, filed 26 Oct. 2011. The present disclosure relates to the orientation of magnets within an object. An object with a magnet engaged with the main body of the object allows for magnetic engagement with similar objects that have similar magnets.
BACKGROUNDObjects engaged with a single magnet having positive and negative poles engage with identical objects when the objects are configured such that the negative pole of one magnet engages with the positive pole of the corresponding magnet. A series of identical objects may be engaged in this manner. In this manner of engaging objects it is not possible to rotate one object in the series of objects around its vertical axes and still connect or maintain the alignment due to the opposition of the magnetic fields. In other words, rotating one object in the aforementioned series of objects would orient a positive magnetic pole proximal to another positive magnetic pole and therefore the objects would repel rather than engage. Positive and negative magnetic poles are also referred to a north and south poles.
SUMMARYIn some embodiments, each individual object comprises two opposing substantially flat surfaces. Each object comprises two longitudinal magnets in a horizontal configuration, with the long axis of the magnets perpendicular to said substantially flat surfaces. Each substantially flat surface has a positive and negative pole of the magnets proximal to the surface. An object in a series of such objects may be rotated about its vertical axis and still remain engaged with the series of objects.
Toys such as model trains often use single magnets with a positive pole on either the front or rear of the component and a negative pole on the opposing side of the component. Only one orientation of the train component may be employed in the series of components as is dictated by the positive or negative pole of the magnet engaged with the first component in the series.
The present invention offers improvements to the prior art by permitting the rotation of objects about the vertical axis while maintaining engagement within a series of identical objects.
The details of one or more variations of the instant subject matter are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the instant subject matter will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the instant subject matter and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments and implementations. In the drawings,
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An application of the embodiment includes the arrangement of elements of an apportioned object.
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Other structural features as described above can be included in the structure employed in methods according to the instant subject matter. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the instant subject matter. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments or implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A specific orientation of magnets within an object that allows the object to be engaged in a series of like objects and further allows one object in the series to be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about its vertical axis and again magnetically engage with the series of like components comprising:
- at least two magnets each having a positive and negative end;
- the two magnets being substantially longitudinal with their axes parallel and the positive magnetic pole of the first magnet proximal to the negative pole of the at least second magnet,
- said magnets engaged in said manner with at least two objects, residing identical distances from a perimeter of said object with identical distances between magnets
- said objects having at least one common cross sectional shape on one side where magnetic poles are proximal.
2. A method of engaging and re-orienting objects of claim 1 comprising:
- engaging at least three of said objects;
- one object having two opposing common cross-sectional shaped surfaces;
- removing the object with two opposing common cross-sectional-shaped surfaces;
- rotating the removed object one hundred and eighty degrees about the vertical axis and replacing said object in the series of at least three of said objects.
3. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with toy cars.
4. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with toy trains.
5. The configuration of claim 1 wherein magnets are engaged with blocks.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 24, 2014
Inventor: John W. Davolt (Independence, KS)
Application Number: 13/659,758
International Classification: A63H 33/26 (20060101); A63H 19/18 (20060101); A63H 17/26 (20060101); A63H 33/06 (20060101);