Magnetically coupled toy

Abstract

A toy vehicle, including a pair of body portions, each body portion including at least one magnet. At least one magnet is carried by each body portion with a magnetic pole orientation contra to the magnetic pole orientation of the at least one magnet carried by another body portion to thereby couple the body portions together.

Description

[0001] This is a utility patent application based upon design patent application serial no. 29/132,241, entitled “MAGNETIC TOY CAR”, filed Nov. 6, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a magnetically coupled toy, and, more particularly, to a magnetic coupled toy vehicle.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Toy vehicles of various sorts have existed for generations. Children view and play with toy vehicles for their own delight and to role play what they have seen in life and via the media. Each new feature of a toy vehicle can kindle a desire in a child and hence it becomes a selling point to the manufacturer and the retailer.

[0006] Adults purchase toys to not only assuage the clamor of children, but for their own reasons of enjoyment, investment and display. The cost of displaying toys can often exceed the cost of the toys themselves as the collector provides scenic backgrounds, movement and sounds to simulate the real thing. Displaying toys in unique manners so as to draw attention to the display also appeals to adults.

[0007] Magnets have been associated with toys for generations. Magnetic attraction of the opposite poles of a magnet is used to couple toy train cars, provide toy cranes with the ability to pick up small ferrous objects and allow a toy object to be moved by way of a hidden magnet, to name a few. Magnetic repulsion, as a result of like poles being pressed together, is likewise used in toys to push one toy away from another, or to effect a levitation of a toy.

[0008] What is needed in the art is an inexpensive toy that provides the utility of play for children and allow adults to effect an unanticipated visual effect for the purpose of drawing another person's attention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides a toy vehicle, including a pair of body portions, each body portion including at least one magnet. At least one magnet is carried by each body portion with a magnetic pole orientation contra to the magnetic pole orientation of the at least one magnet carried by another body portion to thereby couple the body portions together. The body portions are capable of being magnetically coupled on opposite sides of a piece of glass providing a visual effect.

[0010] The invention comprises, in one form thereof, two body portions of a related nature such as two halves of a toy vehicle. Each body portion has a magnet attached thereto and is oriented such that the body portions may be located on opposite sides of a piece of glass. By placing half of a toy vehicle on each side of a window there is the visual effect that the vehicle is passing through the glass.

[0011] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an inexpensive visual effect.

[0012] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it can be coupled together to allow the toy to be played with or displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy mounted on glass;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is another side view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 6 is an end view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 7 is another end view of the toy of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the toy of FIG. 1, also showing internally located magnets;

[0022] FIG. 9 is a top view of the toy of FIG. 8; and

[0023] FIG. 10 is a top view of the toy of FIG. 8, coupled directly together without an intervening glass plate.

[0024] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-8 and 10, there is shown an embodiment of a magnetically coupled toy 10 which generally includes body portions 12 and 14, magnets 18 and 20, and magnet adjustors 22 and 24.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention magnets 18 and 20 are oriented such that body portions 12 and 14 align to appear united as one item when body portions 12 and 14 are brought into contact. Magnets 18 and 20 have sufficient strength to hold body portion 12 and body portion 14 together. A magnetic intensity equal to at least 20,000 dynes of force, when the magnets are in contact with each other, serves to hold a small toy together.

[0027] Magnets 18 and 20 are oriented such that body portions 12 and 14 align when body portions 12 and 14 are separated by an intervening object 16, such as a piece of glass. Displaying toy 10 in such a manner will give the illusion that toy 10 is passing through intervening object 16. Magnets 18 and 20 must have sufficient strength to hold body portion 12 and body portion 14 in an aligned orientation together. A magnetic intensity equal to at least 20,000 dynes of force, when the magnets are separated by up to 6 mm, serves to hold a small toy on opposite sides of intervening object 16.

[0028] Body portions 12 and 14 of toy 10 may, for example, include portions of a toy car, a toy truck, a toy motorcycle, a toy boat, a toy train, a toy tractor or a toy airplane.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 9) magnet adjustors 22 and 24 are provided to allow an offset adjustment to compensate for the thickness of intervening object 16 and any diffraction caused by intervening object 16, if intervening object 16 is transparent. Magnet adjustors 22 and 24 may include a press fit sliding arrangement, a sliding arrangement with a holding screw, dual sided tape, or any other technique for adjusting a magnet in a body portion.

[0030] In yet another embodiment of the invention (not shown) several body portions on one side of intervening object 16 are configured to interact with one or more body portions on an opposite side of intervening object 16.

[0031] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a pair of body portions, each said body portion including at least one magnet, at least one said magnet carried by one said body portion having a magnetic pole orientation contra to the magnetic pole orientation of at least one said magnet carried by another said body portion to thereby couple said body portions together, each said magnet having a magnetic intensity of at least 20,000 dynes when said magnets are in contact with each other.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein each said magnet has a magnetic intensity of at least 20,000 dynes at a point 2 mm from the surface thereof.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 2, wherein each said magnet has a magnetic intensity of at least 20,000 dynes when said body portions are separated by an intervening object with a thickness of up to approximately 6 mm.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy vehicle has a longitudinal axis, said body portions being defined by a cut made substantially along a plane at a predetermined orientation relative to said longitudinal axis.

5. The toy vehicle of claim 4, wherein each said magnet of each said body portion is located adjacent said cut.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 1, wherein said toy vehicle comprises one of a toy car, a toy truck, a toy motorcycle, a toy boat, a toy train, a toy tractor and a toy airplane.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnet adjustor, each said magnet adjustor configured to adjust the position of at least one magnet in a corresponding one of said body portions.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 7, wherein each said magnet adjustor includes at least one of a press fit sliding arrangement, a sliding arrangement with a holding screw and dual sided tape

9. A method of displaying a toy vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of body portions, each said body portion including at least one magnet, at least one said magnet carried by one said body portion having a magnetic pole orientation contra to the magnetic pole orientation of at least one said magnet carried by an other said body portion to thereby couple said body portions together;

placing each of said body portions onto opposite sides of an intervening object having a thickness of up to approximately 6 mm; and

magnetically coupling each said magnet in each said body portion on opposite sides of said intervening object.

10. A toy vehicle, comprising:

a pair of body portions, said pair of body portions being a result of a substantially planar cut of the toy vehicle; and

at least two magnets, at least one magnet carried by each said body portion having a magnetic pole orientation contra to the magnetic pole orientation of at least one said magnet carried by another said body portion, said body portions configured to magnetically couple on opposite sides of a piece of glass.