Magnetic Construction Toy

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic construction toy connection member that has a fist and second end where permanent magnet is disposed within the first end of the connection member and a ferromagnetic body is disposed in the second end. The ferromagnetic body may be a permanent magnet or a magnetizeable body. Both ends of the connector may be spherically shaped and form a closed surface bounding the magnetic bodies disposed therein. The first end may be of a truncated conical shape forming a closed surface boundary of the permanent magnet disposed therein.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a magnetic construction toy connection member that consists of a ferromagnetic body embedded in each of the opposite ends of the connection member for magnetically coupling with other connection members of like design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Connecting members for magnetic construction toys typically consist of arm like structures having a permanent magnet carried captively at the arm extremities. The permanent magnets permitted the connecting member to magnetically couple with a magnetic body that was a magnitizeable body generally of spherical shape; the spherical shape allowed an omni-directional coupling of the connecting arm to the magnetizeable body thereby permitting a number of geometrical structures to be formed. The magnetizeable spherical bodies were not integrally carried by the connecting member but were separate structural members used to construct the geometrical figures. The magnetizeable spherical bodies presented a safety hazard to small children who through oral exploration of the body could accidentally ingest the spherical body causing severe internal injury to the child. To eliminate the threat of ingesting a magnetizeable or magnetized magnetic body of spherical shape by a small child, it would be desirable to provide a connecting member that so carries the magnetic body such that it is embedded and bounded within the ends of the connecting member thereby permitting a small child to safely erect a geometrical structure through the magnetic coupling of its structural members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The construction member of this invention used in one embodiment to erect a geometrical structure has a horizontal axis and a first end and a second end. A permanent magnet carried by the construction member is disposed within the first end and adjacent the first end of the construction member where the first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed surface boundary that encapsulates the permanent magnet. A second magnetic body is carried by the construction member in the second end and is disposed in the second end adjacent said second end; the second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates the second magnetic body.

In another embodiment, the construction member has a horizontal axis and a first and a second end. A permanent magnet carried by the construction member is disposed adjacent the first end of the construction member where the first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed dielectric spherical surface boundary that encapsulates the permanent magnet. A second permanent magnet is carried by the construction member adjacent the second end and is disposed within the second end; the second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates the second permanent magnet.

In another embodiment, the construction member has a horizontal axis and a first end and a second end. A magnitizeable body is carried by the construction member and is disposed within the first end and adjacent the first end where the first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates the magnitizeable body. A second magnetizeable body is carried by the construction member adjacent the second end and is disposed within the second end where the second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a dielectric spherical closed surface boundary that encapsulates the second magnetizeable body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as the same become better understood with reference to the following specification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment illustrating the connector member having spherically shaped ends.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment illustrating the connector member having an truncated conical end and a spherically shaped end.

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a geometrical toy erected with connection members of this invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a geometrical toy erected by a sequence of the connection members of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view an embodiment of the magnetic construction toy 1 of this invention where two closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 are interconnected by construction arm 3. As can be seen in FIG. 3, magnetic construction toy 1 has a horizontal axis 6, a first end 7 and a second end 8 where both ends 7 and 8 are integral with closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3, respectively. Preferably the closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 and the construction member 4 are composed of a non-conductive material 9 which may be dielectric. As can further be seen in FIG. 6, closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 encapsulate ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12. Ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 may consist of permanent magnets, a permanent magnet and a magnetizeable body, or both bodies may consist of being magnetizeable. Preferably the diameters of closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3 are at least twice the cross-sectional diameter of construction member 4, and that ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 are permanent magnets. Alternatively, however, ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 may consist of a permanent magnet and a magnetizeable body, respectively, or both ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 may be magnetizeable bodies. Commonly known ferromagnetic materials are iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium dioxide, and alnico which is an aluminum-nickel-cobalt alloy whereas aluminum and copper are non-ferromagnetic materials into which magnetism cannot be induced by a magnetized body.

Another alternative is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, and 10. Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that magnetic construction toy 13 has a first end 14 and a second end 16 interconnected by construction arm 17. First end 14 consists of a closed truncated conical surface 18 having a distal opening 19. The base 21 of closed conical truncated surface 18 is integral with the base of closed cylinder shaped surface 22. Both truncated conical surface 18 and cylindrical surface 22 are co-axial with horizontal axis 23 which is more clearly shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 7, it can be seen that magnetic construction toy 17 is radially symmetric to horizontal axis 23. As can further be seen in FIG. 10, first end 14 radially encapsulates ferromagnetic body 24 which is a permanent magnet. Construction arm 17 is made of a non-conducting material, preferably plastic, that is integral with closed spherical surface 16; closed spherical surface 16 encapsulates ferromagnetic body 21 and is made of the same non-conductive material that composes construction arm 17. In fabricating magnetic construction toys 1 and 13, the shell portions 27 and 28 and construction arm 17 preferably are formed in two sections, one section being shown as the result of cross-section 6-6. The two sections are glued or ultrasonically welded together after ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 are secured within shells 27 and 28, respectively, thereby forming a seam and encapsulating ferromagnetic bodies 11 and 12 within closed spherical surfaces 2 and 3.

Preferably the diameter of closed spherical surface 16 is at least twice the cross-sectional diameter of construction arm 17 and that ferromagnetic body 26 is a magnetizeable body which may be magnetically induced by a permanent magnet such as permanent magnet 24 to permit magnetic coupling.

By encapsulating ferromagnetic body 26 within closed spherical surface 16 and providing a surface at least twice the cross-sectional area of construction arm 17, magnetic construction toy 13 is dimensionally designed so as to immunize a small child from orally ingesting the device.

Referring to FIG. 11, a geometrical arrangement of magnetic construction toys 13 is illustrated. Any one or more of construction toys 13 may be replaced by construction toys 1 in erecting the structure. FIG. 12 further illustrates a sequence of magnetic construction toys 1 and 13 forming a connective chain through the magnetic coupling of ferromagnetic bodies 11, 12, 24 and 26.

While I have shown and described a magnetic construction toy having a construction that promotes safe use for toddlers and small children, it is understood that the invention is subject to many modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims recited herein.

Claims

1. A magnetic construction toy for coupling with a magnetic body comprising:

a) a construction member having a horizontal axis and a first end and a second end;

b) First means carried by said construction member adjacent said first end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said first end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said first end with a magnetic body where said first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed surface at least in part bounding said first means;

c) second means carried by said construction member adjacent said second end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said second end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said second end with said magnetic body where said second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed spherical surface bounding said second means.

2. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 1 where said first means comprises a first permanently magnetized body.

3. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 2 where said second means comprises a magnetizeable body.

4. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 2 where said second means comprises a second permanently magnetized body.

5. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 1 where said first means comprises a magnetizeable body.

6. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 5 where said second means comprises a magnetizeable body.

7. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 4 where said closed surface bounding said first means is spherically shaped.

8. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 7 where said closed surface bounding said second means is dielectric.

9. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 2 where said closed surface bounding said first means at least in part is an axially extending truncated cone having an opening at said first end.

10. A magnetic construction toy for coupling with like constructed magnetic construction toys comprising a construction member having a horizontal axis and a first end and a second end; a first permanent magnet captively carried by said construction member adjacent said first end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said first end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling with one of said like constructed magnetic construction toys where said first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed surface bounding at least in part said first permanent magnet; and a first magnetic body captively carried by said construction member adjacent said second end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship with said second end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said second end with another of said like constructed magnetic construction toys where said second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a spherical closed surface bounding said first magnetic body.

11. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 10 where said closed surface bounding said first permanent magnet is at least in part an axially extending truncated cone having an opening at said first end.

12. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 10 where said closed surface bounding said first permanent magnet is a spherical surface.

13. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 10 where said first magnetic body is a permanent magnet.

14. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 10 where said first magnetic body is a magnetizeable body.

15. A magnetic construction toy for coupling with a magnetic body comprising:

a) a construction member having a horizontal axis, a lateral diameter, and a first end and a second end;

b) a first permanent magnet carried by said construction member adjacent said first end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship within said first end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said first end with a magnetic body where said first end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed spherical surface surrounding and bounding said first permanent magnet;

c) a second permanent magnet carried by said construction member adjacent said second end and disposed therein in fixed immovable relationship within said second end for omni-directionally and magnetically coupling said second end with said magnetic body where said second end is so proportioned and dimensioned to form a closed spherical surface surrounding and bounding said second permanent magnet.

16. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 15 where said closed spherical surface surrounding said first permanent magnet is dielectric and has a diameter at least twice said lateral diameter.

17. The magnetic construction toy recited in claim 16 where said closed spherical surface surrounding said second permanent magnet is dielectric and has a diameter at least twice said lateral diameter.