Magnetic joints and toy figurines made therefrom
Magnetic joints for toy figurines are provided. In one embodiment, the joints include a pair of sockets with magnets formed therein and a ball positioned between the sockets, wherein the sockets are magnetically coupled to the ball and allow for rotation and angulation of coupled components. Friction inlays or O-rings could be provided between the ball and the sockets to retain the coupled components in one or more desired positions. In another embodiment, the joints include complementary, generally planar surfaces having magnets embedded therein for coupling the planar surfaces and allowing rotation and indexing of coupled parts. Conductive regions could be provided in the planar surfaces to allow power transmission through the joints. In another embodiment, the joints include a magnetically-coupled peg and socket for providing rotation and indexing of coupled parts.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,384 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,389 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,385 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,387 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,386 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,383 filed Feb. 10, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,392 filed Feb. 11, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,391 filed Feb. 11, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,397 filed Feb. 11, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,388 filed Feb. 11, 2005; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,395 filed Feb. 11, 2005; and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/223,393 filed Feb. 11, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are all expressly incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of toy figurines, and, more particularly, to toy figurines having magnetic joints.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONJoints of various designs have, in the past, been developed for toy figurines to permit the selective attachment and removal of component parts, such as appendages and the like. An example of a joint for a toy figurine can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,889 to Ejima, which discloses a toy figurine having magnetically-coupled, ball-and-socket joints that allow appendages to be selectively attached to the figurine as desired. Another example of a joint for a toy figurine can be found in U.S. patent application Publication No. U.S. 2004/0077259 to Barri, which discloses a toy figurine having joints in the form of magnetized pegs and corresponding sockets for receiving the pegs. Other examples of joints include U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,396 to Asmussen, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794 to Varner, et al., which disclose magnetically-coupled joints for mannequins with generally flat joint surfaces that allow for indexing of parts using protrusions and corresponding recesses (see the Asmussen, et al. Patent) or a pin and corresponding apertures (see the Varner, et al. Patent).
Existing joint designs suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, in the case of the magnetically-coupled, ball-and-socket joints currently available in toy figurines, only a single socket is provided, and the ball is attached to a component of the figurine (e.g., to an appendage or other part). Thus, the ball is neither removable from the figurine nor interchangeable with another ball. As such, the user cannot substitute balls of desired colors, patterns, or designs to achieve a desired appearance, nor can the user quickly and conveniently construct figurines using a multitude of interchangeable components.
Moreover, while existing joint designs allow for indexing of parts, such designs do not allow for indexing using magnets and completely planar (flat) joint surfaces. Rather, a pin and corresponding apertures or a protrusion and corresponding recesses (or other mechanical arrangement) are required to effectuate indexing. Further, current joint designs for toy figurines do not allow power to be transmitted through a completely planar or flat joint interface. Accordingly, there is a need to provide magnetic joints for toy figurines that address the foregoing limitations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art discussed above by providing magnetic joints for toy figurines having various configurations that allow for the quick and easy assembly and disassembly of figurine components. In one embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic joint comprises a ball and a pair of sockets magnetically coupled to the ball, wherein the first socket is formed in a first figurine part and the second socket is formed in a second figurine part. Each socket includes a magnet embedded in the socket for magnetically coupling the socket to the ball. The joint allows for angulation and rotation of joined parts, as well as for quick and convenient assembly and disassembly of figurine components. The ball “floats” between the sockets, and can be removed by the user and substituted with another ball, as desired. A pair of friction inlays or O-rings can be provided between the ball and the sockets to provide sufficient friction when the joint is assembled to allow coupled figurine components to be retained in one or more desired positions.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic joint comprises a first socket formed in a first figurine component, a first hemispherical portion magnetically coupled with the first socket, a second hemispherical portion interconnected with the first hemispherical portion, and a second socket formed in a second figurine component and interconnected with the second hemispherical portion. A friction inlay could be provided between the first socket and the first hemispherical portion to provide sufficient friction when the joint is assembled to allow the first figurine component to be retained in one or more desired positions.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic joint comprises a pair of complementary, generally planar joint surfaces that are magnetically coupled to each other using complementary magnets embedded in the joint surfaces. Complementary central magnets could be embedded in central regions of the joint surfaces for coupling the joints together, and a plurality of satellite magnets could be disposed radially about each central magnet and embedded in the joint surfaces to allow coupled figurine components to be rotated and held in one or more predetermined positions (indexed). Complementary conductive regions, such as a central conductive region surrounded by an annular conductive region, could be provided on each joint surface for allowing electrical power to be transmitted through the joint.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic joint comprises a peg and corresponding socket construction that cooperate to permit rotation of coupled figurine components. The peg and socket each include corresponding end magnets for retaining the peg in the socket. A plurality of corresponding indexing magnets are embedded in the peg and the socket for allowing the joined parts to be retained in one or more predetermined positions (internally indexed) when the indexing magnets are rotated into alignment with each other.
Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly upon a reading of the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments thereof, which are given below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
As shown in
The first hemispherical portion 96 includes an annular lip 97a that is configured to be received by an annular external recess 97b formed on an external surface 98a of the second hemispherical portion 98. Similarly, the second hemispherical portion 98 includes an annular lip 97c that is configured to be received by an annular recess 97d formed on an internal surface 96a of the first hemispherical portion 96. The lips 97a, 97c and recesses 97b, 97d cooperate to interconnect the first hemispherical portion 96 to the second hemispherical portion 98. The first hemispherical portion 96 is preferably manufactured from a ferromagnetic material, so as to facilitate magnetic attraction to the magnet 95. When the joint 90 is assembled (see
The indexing magnets 182 of the socket 174 are magnetically attracted to the indexing magnets 186 of the peg 172 to allow the arm 158 to be rotated and held in one or more predetermined positions (i.e., indexed). It should be noted that the indexing magnets 182, 186 could be replaced with corresponding protrusions and recesses to allow for indexing. Moreover, either set of the indexing magnets 182, 186 could be replaced with a ferromagnetic material, so that only a single set of magnets is required to provide indexing. Still further, one of the end magnets 180, 184 could likewise be replaced with a ferromagnetic material so that only a single magnet is required to retain the peg 172 in the socket 174. Additionally, in each of the embodiments of the magnetic joints of the present invention, the magnets could be poled (e.g., one set of magnets could correspond to a south magnetic pole, and another set of magnets could correspond to a north magnetic pole), so as to further facilitate indexing of the joined components.
The magnetic joints of the present invention could be used to couple figurine components in any desired configuration. For example, the arm 26 (see
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and/or modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A magnetically-coupled joint for a toy figurine, comprising a first socket formed in a first figurine component, said first socket including a first magnet positioned in said first socket; a second socket formed in a second figurine component, said second socket including a second magnet positioned in said second socket; and a ball positioned between said first and second sockets, said first and second magnets being magnetically coupled to said ball to thereby couple said first figurine component to said second figurine component.
2. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 1, further comprising a first O-ring positioned between said first socket and said ball and a second O-ring positioned between said second socket and said ball.
3. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 2, wherein said first and second O-rings frictionally engage said ball so as to retain said first figurine component in a predetermined position with respect to said second figurine component.
4. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 1, further comprising a first inlay positioned between said first socket and said ball and a second inlay positioned between said second socket and said ball.
5. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 4, wherein said first and second inlays frictionally engage said ball so as to retain said first figurine component in a predetermined position with respect to said second figurine component.
6. A magnetically-coupled joint for a toy figurine, comprising a first socket formed in a first figurine component, said first socket including a magnet positioned therein, a first hemispherical portion magnetically coupled to said first socket, a second hemispherical portion interconnected with said first hemispherical portion, and a second socket formed in a second figurine component, said second socket being interconnected with said second hemispherical portion to thereby couple said first figurine component to said second figurine component.
7. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 6, further comprising an inlay positioned between said first socket and said first hemispherical portion.
8. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 7, wherein said inlay frictionally engages said first hemispherical portion so as to retain said first figurine component in a predetermined position with respect to said second figurine component.
9. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 6, wherein said first hemispherical portion further includes a first annular lip and said second hemispherical portion further includes a first annular recess for receiving said first annular lip to thereby interconnect said first and second hemispherical portions.
10. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 9, wherein said second hemispherical portion further includes a second annular lip and said first hemispherical portion further includes a second annular recess for receiving said second annular lip to thereby interconnect said first and second hemispherical portions.
11. A magnetically-coupled joint for a toy figurine, comprising a first joint member formed on a first figurine component, said first joint member including a first set of magnets embedded in said first joint member; and a second joint member formed on a second figurine component, said second joint member including a second set of magnets embedded in said second joint member, said first set of magnets cooperating with said second set of magnets to retain said first joint member in position against said second joint member to thereby couple said first figurine component to said second figurine component.
12. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 11, wherein said first joint member includes a first generally planar surface and said second joint member includes a second generally planar surface.
13. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 12, wherein said first set of magnets includes a first central magnet and a first plurality of indexing magnets disposed radially about said first central magnet and said second set of magnets includes a second central magnet and a second plurality of indexing magnets disposed radially about said second central magnet, said first plurality of indexing magnets cooperating with said second plurality of indexing magnets to retain said first figurine component in a predetermined position with respect to said second figurine component when said first plurality of indexing magnets and said second plurality of indexing magnets are rotated into alignment.
14. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 12, wherein said first generally planar surface includes a first pair of conductive regions and said second generally planar surface includes a second pair of conductive regions, said first pair of conductive regions contacting said second pair of conductive regions to conduct electrical power through said joint formed between said first and said second figurine components.
15. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 14, wherein each of said pairs of conductive regions includes a central conductive region and an annular conductive region disposed about said central conductive region.
16. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 11, wherein said first joint member includes a peg and said second joint member includes a socket.
17. The magnetically-coupled joint of claim 16, wherein said first set of magnets includes a first end magnet and a first plurality of indexing magnets positioned circumferentially about said peg and said second set of magnets includes a second end magnet and a second plurality of indexing magnets positioned circumferentially about said socket, said first plurality of indexing magnets cooperating with said second plurality of indexing magnets to retain said first figurine component in a predetermined position with respect to said second figurine component when said first plurality of indexing magnets and said second plurality of indexing magnets are rotated into alignment.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 10, 2006
Inventors: Parviz Daftari (Summit, NJ), Lawrence Rosen (Mendham, NJ)
Application Number: 11/182,212
International Classification: A63H 3/16 (20060101);