Abstract:
The specific orientation of magnets within an object that allows for a series of objects to be engaged by the connection of positive magnetic poles to corresponding negative magnetic poles such that one object in the series may be rotated one hundred and eighty degrees about its vertical axis and still engage with the objects in the series.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61551829, filed 26 Oct. 2011. The present disclosure relates to the orientation of magnets within an object. An object with a magnet engaged with the main body of the object allows for magnetic engagement with similar objects that have similar magnets. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Objects engaged with a single magnet having positive and negative poles engage with identical objects when the objects are configured such that the negative pole of one magnet engages with the positive pole of the corresponding magnet. A series of identical objects may be engaged in this manner. In this manner of engaging objects it is not possible to rotate one object in the series of objects around its vertical axes and still connect or maintain the alignment due to the opposition of the magnetic fields. In other words, rotating one object in the aforementioned series of objects would orient a positive magnetic pole proximal to another positive magnetic pole and therefore the objects would repel rather than engage. Positive and negative magnetic poles are also referred to a north and south poles. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In some embodiments, each individual object comprises two opposing substantially flat surfaces. Each object comprises two longitudinal magnets in a horizontal configuration, with the long axis of the magnets perpendicular to said substantially flat surfaces. Each substantially flat surface has a positive and negative pole of the magnets proximal to the surface. An object in a series of such objects may be rotated about its vertical axis and still remain engaged with the series of objects. 
         [0004]    Toys such as model trains often use single magnets with a positive pole on either the front or rear of the component and a negative pole on the opposing side of the component. Only one orientation of the train component may be employed in the series of components as is dictated by the positive or negative pole of the magnet engaged with the first component in the series. 
         [0005]    The present invention offers improvements to the prior art by permitting the rotation of objects about the vertical axis while maintaining engagement within a series of identical objects. 
         [0006]    The details of one or more variations of the instant subject matter are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the instant subject matter will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the instant subject matter and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed embodiments and implementations. In the drawings, 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side diagrammatic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a section diagrammatic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is diagrammatic view of a series of the objects of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the rotation of the object and the maintained method of engagement between the object and the series of identical objects. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including an application for the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  through  FIG. 3  illustrate the general location and orientation of magnets within an object of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will recognize that such an orientation may be altered while still functioning within the parameters set forth in the description. In the detailed description positive and negative magnetic poles are referred to as north and south poles respectively for clarity in the drawings. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  an object  105  may be of a variety of shapes and is illustrated here as a rectangular solid in dotted line. The object  105  is engaged with at least two magnets  110  and  112 . Each magnet  110  and  112  comprises a positive pole  114  and a negative pole  116 . The magnets  110  and  112  are longitudinal and have central axes  111  and  113  respectively. The axes  111  and  113  are proximal to the center of the corresponding magnetic poles of magnets  110  and  112 , and are parallel. Axes  111  and  113  reside a given distance apart illustrated by arrow  118 . The location of the magnets and their respective poles are symmetrical about the center of the object  105 . The distance from the boundary of the object  105  and the axes  111  and  113  are illustrated by arrows  124  and are equal. The distance from the magnetic poles and the proximal surface, represented by arrows  122  are also equal. The magnets  110 / 112  are also centrally located within the object  105  as illustrated by arrow  120  ( FIG. 2 ). With respect to the present embodiment, objects are said to be identical, when the magnets are configured with the aforementioned equal dimensions and proportions. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a side diagrammatic view of the series of objects of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicts one object rotated from location A through orientation B to location and orientation C. One skilled in the art can recognize that the magnetic poles as of the object are engaged with the objects in the series both before and after the rotation of the object about its axis. 
         [0021]    An application of the embodiment includes the arrangement of elements of an apportioned object.  FIG. 5-FIG .  9  illustrate one application that includes a number of portions of motor vehicles that have a common cross section on one end. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows an iteration in which a toy car that employs the orientation of magnets is shown, with a front end  230  and rear end  240 . Both the front end  230  and rear end  240  share a common cross-sectional shape  232 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a set of components in the iteration. The front end of a car  230  is engaged with a mid section  250  and a rear section  240 . Each section comprises magnets  110  and  112  as described in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 . Although not visible, the rear surface of the front end  230  also comprises a pair of magnets as previously described. Positive and negative poles of magnets  110  and  112  arranged as shown in  FIG. 4  allow each of the components in  FIG. 6  to be engaged to make a variation of the vehicle in  FIG. 5 . Common cross sections  232  facilitate alignment and give an unbroken appearance to combined components. Additional arrangements of similar sets of components are illustrated in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , having common cross sections  232  and common magnets  110 / 112  allowing similar engagement to that of  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  while creating unique variations by combining various components. 
         [0024]    The illustration if  FIG. 10  depicts a combination of two identical items, car front ends  230 , which are engaged at common cross sections  230 . The configuration of the magnets allows engagement of both objects in this manner. 
         [0025]    Other structural features as described above can be included in the structure employed in methods according to the instant subject matter. The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the instant subject matter. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments or implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.