Rolling Magnetic Toy
A toy that has a pair of wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. A non-ferrous support plate such as a flat piece of wood with a metal strip on its edges forms a track. The magnets associated with the axle causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. When the device is placed on the track, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/879,414 filed Oct. 9, 2015. which claimed priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 62/062,527 filed Oct. 10, 2014. Applications Ser. No. 14/879,414 and 62/062,527 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to toys that roll and more particularly to a toy that rolls on a metal track by clinging to it magnetically.
Description of the Prior ArtToys that contain magnets are known in the art as well as toys that roll on tracks. None of these prior art toys feature a dual wheel structure with a central axle that magnetically clings to a track regardless of the vertical or horizontal position of the toy. Prior art track devices typically have two tracks and simply roll, but do not cling.
Yo-Yos are also known in the art. For example, Duncan, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,443 discloses a basic yo-yo. Numerous variations exist on the basic yo-yo such as those disclosed by Labarbara in U.S. Publication No. 2014/0154945. However, yo-yos are used with string, made of wood or plastic and do not generally run on tracks. What is needed is a toy with magnetic properties featuring a modified yo-yo-like structure that can follow a narrow track at a relatively constant speed in any vertical or horizontal position, and also be released from the track to perform tricks or to connect the rolling toy to other component track pieces and remain in continuous motion throughout the track structure circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a toy that has a dual wheel, yo-yo-like structure that resembles a pair of discs, door knobs or wheel-like members mounted on a central axle. The central axle is a ferrous metal rod with a pair of small permanent or other magnets attached to each end of the rod. The two magnets are positioned so that like poles face each other in opposition and face the center of the rod. The magnets are affixed to the wheels within the interior of the wheel structure and attached to the ends of the shaft of the axel. This causes the toy to achieve the effect of clinging to the metal strip portions of the track. Two possible configurations for the magnets to be attached to the axel are possible: S—N—N—S or N—S—S—N. Other configurations, for example N—S—N—S, fail to create a desired magnetic force perpendicular to the cylindrical surface at the center of the axle. A small portion of the axle is exposed at the center between the wheel members to allow contact with a ferrous metal flat strip or rod affixed to the track. The exposed section of the axle is slightly wider than the track. When the device is placed on the track, which is preferably a thin strip or rod, it will roll along the track under the force of gravity while magnetically clinging to the track in any horizontal or vertical position of the track. The device rolls at almost constant speeds determined by the diameter of the axle, the direction of gravity with respect to the orientation of the track, the strength of the magnets, and the acquired momentum. For example, the toy can be made to slowly accelerate downhill building up momentum (or equivalently kinetic energy) but at almost constant speed, and then following the track, to roll back uphill until this momentum (or energy) is dissipated, again, at almost constant speed. The track can follow any path, and can be configured into any combination of shapes. The toy rolls slowly along the track even at steep angles because of the clinging effect caused by the magnet interacting with the track. The outsides of the wheel members can be covered and decorated in any manner.
The device can be released from the magnetic track and allowed to roll free of the metal track or rail in order to speed up, or to change direction, jump, or be launched into other track structures which catch the wheel (at the axle) with another metal strip and allow it to continue on its journey through various track configurations. When the rotating wheel disengages from the single ferrous track onto a wider track section the wheels roll on the outer edges of the discs or the surface of the wheel members rather than the axle using no magnetic attraction. Due to the far larger circumference of the side wheels as compared to the circumference of the axle, the toy rapidly accelerates when released. This is because a point on the outside edge of a rotating disk travels a greater distance in one complete rotation than a point nearer the center.
The magnetic clinging effect, along with centrifugal force and momentum generated by the rotation, when combined with sections of both ferrous and non-ferrous track, allows the device to move in ways defying what would be assumed as the norm. Some examples of these are: rolling directly downward on a vertical rail at a very slow pace without falling off, rolling vertically uphill, clinging while rolling under a horizontal support, jumping gaps in the track and then reattaching to another track or device and suddenly slowing down or suddenly speeding up.
An important feature of the present invention is the use of a single track or rail having a flat ferrous metal strip or rod attached or imbedded in a support. A single track has numerous benefits including being easier to use, less expensive to manufacture, easier to locate, allow for engagement or disengagement from the track, have a smaller footprint, and provide the ability to control the speed, motion and direction of the rolling device.
Attention is now directed at several figures that illustrate features of the present invention:
Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe present invention relates to a rolling magnetic toy that clings to a ferrous metal track as it rolls. The toy includes two wheel members or side disks spaced apart and mounted on the ends of a ferrous metal shaft or axle. A small section of the metal axle is exposed in the center of the arrangement to allow the magnetized portion of the axle to contact a metal track or rail. A pair of small magnets are attached to the metal axle, one on each end. The magnetic poles are placed in opposition such that either the two N poles of the magnets face toward the center of the axle, or the two S poles face the center of the axle. Other pole configurations will not produce a desired magnetic force perpendicular to the cylindrical surface of the axle.
When the toy is placed such that the exposed part of the central axle contacts a ferrous metal track, the toy clings to the track, and yet will roll slowly along the track under the influence of gravity. The toy can operate in any vertical or horizontal position including totally upside down. The toy rolls slowly even when the track is vertical because of the magnetic clinging effect.
Turning to
The track 1 in
The embodiment of
The value of the approximately constant rolling speed is determined by the diameter of the metal axle, the strength of the magnets, the width of the track, and to a small extent, the direction of gravitational force. A larger diameter axle results in faster rolling. In fact, an optional collar can be placed around the axle if a rolling speed-up is desired in some embodiments. When the device rolls downhill, it accelerates very gradually since the forward gravitational force component is only slightly greater than the magnetic clinging force component acting backwards. This causes the device to slowly pick up kinetic energy (which depends on its overall mass). When the device is then caused to roll uphill, it decelerates gradually since the gravitational force component and the clinging force component are now both backwards. If it expends all its kinetic energy, it stops and can even reverse direction.
The track 1 is preferably a ferrous metal strip approximately 10-40 thousands of an inch thick and from ⅛ to ½ inch wide with a preferred width of approximately ¼ inch. Alternatively, the track 1a may be a rod instead of a strip. The track 1 can be mounted on the edge of a support 2 made of non-ferrous material such as plastic or wood. The support 2 can be cut in any shape or arbitrary design jigsaw puzzle piece-like, and the track 1 may be continuous or discontinuous along the edge. The track 1 can be glued to the support 2 or attached by any other method or means. In some embodiments, there may be no support. The axle or central shaft 4 of the toy is ferrous metal and with a preferred range of diameters from ⅛ inch to ½ inch in diameter with a preferred diameter of approximately 3/16 inch. Smaller than around 1/16 inch, the axle will not be strong enough, and there will not be enough magnetic force. Larger than around ½ inch causes the toy to roll too fast.
The side disk members or wheels 3 must be spaced far enough apart to allow a wide enough exposed part of the axle 4 that is slightly wider than the width of the track 1. The separations of the disk members 3 should not be so great that the device wobbles on the track or so tight that additional pinch or friction is introduced. The separation should be so that the device loosely fits on the track 1. The side disk members 3 should have enough mass to give allow the device to acquire a reasonable amount of momentum on downward trips; however, they should not be so massive that they fail to start to turn or climb.
While
In some embodiments of the present invention, two sections of track or rails can come into a junction from different angles and be slightly separated with a rollway for the side member wheels with a stop that forces one wheel to stop or slow, but allows the other to turn freely. This arrangement causes the toy to abruptly turn through just about any angle as it leaves one section of the metal track and enters the second section. Of course, the metal track itself can also meander or turn through different angles.
While the figures and descriptions have called for permanent magnets, any type of magnet may be used as long as the poles are in opposition (like poles facing one-another). In particular, electromagnets could be used.
Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid in understanding the present invention. One with skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method of suspending a rolling toy on a track comprising:
- passing a ferrous metal central axle through two side members centrally separated from each other to expose a portion of the axle;
- attaching a pair of permanent magnets, one to each end of the axle, the permanent magnets positioned so that like poles of the permanent magnets face each other causing an opposing magnetic field in the axle;
- positioning a continuous flat ferrous metal strip connected end-to-end attached on an edge of a flat non-ferrous plate, the width of the metal strip being slightly narrower than the portion of the axle exposed;
- placing the exposed portion of the axle on the metal strip in a manner where the exposed portion of the axle contacts one flat surface of the metal strip, wherein the axle rolls with approximately constant speed along the strip without support in any vertical or horizontal position under gravitational force and a clinging magnetic force existing between the axle and the track.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the two side members are round wheel-like members.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the axle has a diameter of approximately ⅛ inch.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the flat strip has a width of approximately ¼ inch.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein a portion of the flat strip is not continuous, but contains a gap of non-ferrous material inserted between ends of the ferrous strip, wherein, the axle accelerates as it crosses the gap.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising a wheel stop for one of the wheel members at said gap, wherein, the axle turns at an abrupt angle as it passes over the gap.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the side members are square.
8. The magnetic roller toy device of claim 1 wherein the side members are triangles.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the side members have decorated covers.
10. A method for a magnetic roller toy comprising:
- passing a ferrous metal axle through two non-ferrous wheels separated from each other to expose a central portion of the axle;
- placing a pair of permanent magnets on the axle, one attached to each end of the axle, the permanent magnets positioned so that like permanent magnetic poles face each other;
- cutting a flat non-ferrous support plate having jigsaw puzzle-like curved edges cut to an arbitrary design;
- attaching a thin, flat ferrous metal strip to the edges of the flat non-ferrous support plate connected end-to-end, the width of the ferrous metal strip being slightly narrower than the central exposed portion of the axle, wherein a portion of the ferrous metal strip is not continuous, but contains a gap of non-ferrous material attached between ends of the ferrous metal strip.
- placing the toy on the ferrous metal track in a manner where the exposed central portion of the axle contacts the metal track, wherein the toy rolls along the strip at approximately constant speed with the track in any vertical or horizontal position under gravitational force and a clinging magnetic force existing between the axle and the track, except that when the toy crosses the gap of non-ferrous material, it accelerates.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the axle has a diameter of approximately ⅛ inch.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the strip is a thin metal strip with a width of approximately ¼ inch.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising placing a wheel stop for one of the wheels at said gap, whereby the roller toy turns at an abrupt angle as it passes over the gap.
14. A method for a roller toy that exhibits yo-yo motion as it rolls along a descending and ascending track comprising:
- placing a non-ferrous support plate constructed to be used in a vertical configuration with at least part of an upper edge smoothly cut to a shape of a descending and ascending roller-coaster curve;
- attaching a thin ferrous metal strip to the upper edge along the descending and ascending curve;
- placing a roller device with a pair of wheels attached to a cylindrical ferrous metal axle extending between the wheels with a portion of the axle exposed that is slightly wider than the ferrous metal strip;
- attaching a pair of permanent magnets on the axle, each having a permanent north and south pole, wherein one of the permanent magnets is attached to each end of the cylindrical metal axle with their permanent magnetic poles in opposition to each other so that if the north pole of one permanent magnet is attached to the axle at a first end, the north pole of the other permanent magnet is attached to the axle at a second end, or if the south pole of one permanent magnet is attached to the axle at the first end, the south pole of the other permanent magnet is attached to the axle at the second end;
- placing the exposed portion of the axle in contact with the metal strip causing the roller device to descend and ascend the roller-coaster curve at approximately constant speed.
15. The method 14 wherein there is a gap of non-ferrous material for a predetermined distance in the ferrous metal strip in a region where the wheels also contact a flat surface so that the roller device accelerates as it passes over the gap.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2018
Publication Date: Mar 7, 2019
Inventors: J. Vincente G. Antolin (Bloomingdale, IL), Robert Annis (Park Ridge, IL)
Application Number: 16/055,561