Patent ID: 7833078
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A toy construction element comprising: a body made of nonmagnetic material extending in substantially one plane; a first magnet disposed in the body, the first magnet having an outer surface that is symmetrical about a first magnetic axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the first magnetic axis, the first magnetic axis aligned with a center of the body, the at least one planar face of the first magnet disposed adjacent to a first edge of the body, and the first magnetic axis generally perpendicular to the first edge of the body, the first edge having a first planar edge face at least partially defining a plane perpendicular to the first magnetic axis; a second magnet disposed in the body, the second magnet having an outer surface that is symmetrical about a second magnetic axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the second magnetic axis, the second magnetic axis aligned with the center of the body, the at least one planar face of the second magnet disposed adjacent to a second edge of the body, and the second magnetic axis generally perpendicular to the second edge of the body, the second edge having a second planar edge face at least partially defining a plane perpendicular to the second magnetic axis; a third magnet disposed in the body, the third magnet having an outer surface that is symmetrical about a third magnetic axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the third axis, the third magnetic axis aligned with the center of the body, the at least one planar surface of the third magnet disposed adjacent to a third edge of the body, and the third magnetic axis generally perpendicular to the third edge of the body, the third edge having a third planar edge face at least partially defining a plane perpendicular to the third magnetic axis; and a ferromagnetic ball releasably and magnetically coupled to the body by the first magnet, the body having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the body having a polygonal shape with a beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face, the beveled corner comprising the first edge of the body, the first magnetic axis bisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face, and the first face and the second face being parallel to the first magnetic axis, the second magnetic axis, and the third magnetic axis, the body defining a recess directly over the at least one planar face of each of the first, second, and third magnets such that the at least one planar face of the each of the first, second, and third magnets is uncovered and is surrounded by nonmagnetic material so as to provide a pocket for receiving a portion of the ferromagnetic ball, and the recess shaped to contact the ferromagnetic ball along a circumferential line so as to align the center of the ferromagnetic ball with the respective magnetic axis of the respective magnet such that the ferromagnetic ball is adjacent one pole of the respective magnet and spaced from the opposite pole of the respective magnet.