Abstract:
A toy construction kit has a plurality of magnetic modules, each with a housing having a plurality of sides, each side having an internal hollow. A magnet is contained within each of the hollows at a given polar orientation relative to the housing and the hollow. The hollow has dimensions that permit the magnet to move within the hollow, but substantially constrains the magnet to the given polar orientation relative to the housing. When a side of a module is placed near a side of another module, they are bound by magnetic attraction by the respective aligned magnets, either because the polar orientations are opposite when they are initially juxtaposed or due to shifting of one or both magnets in their respective hollows to achieve relative polar opposition.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Section 111(a) application relating to and claiming the benefit of commonly owned, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/586,351 entitled “MAGNETIC MODULE AND CONSTRUCTION KIT”, filed Jan. 13, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a magnetic device and, and more particularly, to a magnetic module that may be used with other like modules in a toy construction kit for building structures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various types of magnetic devices and construction kits, including those using magnetic elements are known. Notwithstanding, variations and improvements in known magnetic devices and construction kits and methods for making them are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The disclosed subject matter relates to a magnetic module with a housing having an internal hollow. A magnet is contained within the hollow at a given polar orientation relative to the housing and the hollow. The hollow has dimensions that permit the magnet to move axially within the hollow, but substantially constrains the magnet to the given polar orientation relative to the housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a magnetic module in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of modules like the module of  FIG. 1 , positioned side-by-side. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of modules in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure positioned side-by-side. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a plurality of modules in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure assembled into a three-dimensional structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a module  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The module  10  in  FIG. 1  is generally rectangular having four sides  12  disposed about an internal space  14 . Alternatively, the module could have any shape including alternative geometric shapes, such as triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, trapezoidal, etc. In addition, the space  14  could be filled with a panel, e.g., which displays decorative or meaningful indicia.  FIG. 2  shows that the module  10  has an internal framework  16  with webs  18  extending between corner pieces  20 . Caps  22  clip to framework  16 , e.g., via mating prominences and recesses (not shown) and plastic deformation and recovery of the caps  22 , defining a hollow  22   h . When clipped to the framework  16 , the caps  22  capture magnets  24  therebetween. The caps  22  and framework  18  could be said to define a housing  23 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the magnets  24  may have a cross-sectional shape (D-shape), which approximates the internal shape of the corresponding cap  22  such that the cap  22  closely embraces the magnet  24  preventing rotation of the magnet  24  along a longitudinal axis A thereof. The length L of the magnet  24  may be selected to be shorter than the distance D between the corner pieces  20 , providing space for the magnet  24  to slide longitudinally between the corner pieces over a range of movement when retained by the caps  22 . The D-shape of the magnets  24  illustrates that the magnets need not rotate relative to the housing in order to assume a position enabling magnetic attraction. Due to the polarization on the magnets  24  in the axial direction, their interaction (either attraction or repulsion) when brought into proximity would result in axial movement, e.g. along an axis line like line A in  FIG. 1 , within the caps  22 . The magnets would not rotate about the axis A under the influence of other magnets  24 , hence a non-rotatable configuration for the magnets  24  relative to the housing  23 , like the D shape, would not hamper a linearly sliding reaction. As an alternative to the D-shaped cross section, the magnets  24  may be formed in a any cross-sectional shape, such as cylindrical, rectangular, hexagonal, etc., that allows them to slide in an axial direction within a mating hollow  22   h  in the housing  23 . The hollow  22   h  need not conform exactly to the exterior configuration of the magnets  24 , but may function as a guide, e.g., having guide ribs or vanes that contact the magnets  24 , rather than having a complementary internal shape. As can be appreciated by one of normal skill in the art, a housing  23  having hollows  22   h  to slideably accommodate magnets  24  therein may be formed by alternative constructs that do not require caps  22 . For example, the housing can be made in as a pair of mating halves with internal tracks for the magnets  24 , such that when the halves are conjoined, the magnets  24  are contained therein. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows three modules  10   a,    10   b,    10   c  positioned next to one another with adjacent magnets  24   a   1 ,  24   b   1 ,  24   b   2  and  24   c   1  thereof, interacting. Opposite poles of magnets attract and like poles repel. Adjacent, side-by-side magnets  24   a   1  and  24   b   1  are positioned to attract one another because their respective North (N) South (S) polarity is opposite. As noted above, the magnets, e.g.,  24   b   1  may be dimensioned with a length L that is less than the distance D between adjacent corner pieces, e.g.,  20   b   1  and  20   b   2  of module  10   b.  As a result, there is a range of movement for the magnet  24   b   1  a distance M 1  (in the upward direction, as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a distance M 2  (downwardly), which together represent the total magnitude Mt of the range of motion. As shown by the dotted position lines P 1  and P 2 , distances M 1  and M 2  permit the modules  10   a  and  10   b  to be shifted relative to each other by a like distance—up and down, and still remain associated by the attraction of the magnets  24   a   1  and  24   b   1 . 
         [0013]    In the event that the modules, e.g.,  10   b,    10   c,  are oriented with adjacent magnets  24   b   2  ,  24   c   1  having the same North-South orientation (as shown at the conjunction of  10   b  and  10   c,  with both North poles up and both South poles down), the magnets  24   b   2  ,  24   c   1  may slide within the respective cap  22  (not shown) to permit like poles to distance themselves and dissimilar poles to align. Magnet  24   b   2  has slid the distance Mt from the corner piece  20   b   3  in the upward direction and magnet  24   c   1  has slid down a distance Mt away from corner piece  20   c   1  to allow the South pole (S) of magnet  24   b   2  to be aligned with the North pole (N) of magnet  24   c   1 . As shown by the dotted position lines P 3  and P 4 , the modules  10   b  and  10   c  can remain coupled by with the same degree of magnetic attraction from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dotted lines indicated by P 4 . If the module  10   c  is moved to position P 3 , the magnets  24   b   2  and  24   c   1  would have to shift positions, i.e., all the way to the bottom for  24   b   2  and all the way to the top for magnet  24   c   1 , in order to remain coupled by the same degree of attraction. The foregoing movable retention of the magnets  24  provides assembly variability over that of a configuration wherein the magnets are at a fixed position along the length of a side  12  and permits different relative arrangements of modules  10  and different structures  50  ( FIG. 5 ) to be made from the modules. 
         [0014]      FIG. 4  shows three modules  30   a,    30   b,    30   c  positioned next to one another, each having magnet stacks  32  having a plurality of magnets (two magnets  34 ,  38  with an intervening non-ferrous, non-magnetic spacer  36  therebetween, but any number of magnets and intervening spacers may be used). The spacer  36  may be made from a polymer, such as nylon or similar materials and attached to the magnets  34 ,  38  by mechanical/frictional engagement, e.g., the magnets may slide within a tight-fitting, complementary-shaped recess in either end of the spacer  36 , by plastic welding, injection molding around the magnets  34 ,  38 , or adhesive attachment. The magnet stacks  32  of adjacent modules  30  interact to couple the modules, e.g.,  30   a  and  30   b , by magnetic attraction. As in prior embodiments, the magnet stacks  32  may be non-rotatable on a longitudinal axis, e.g., because they are formed in a complementary, non-rotatable shape relative to the caps  22  ( FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, the magnet stacks  32  may have a cylindrical, rectangular, square or other cross-sectional shape. In any case, the magnet stacks  32  would be confined to slide in a substantially axial direction within a mating hollow housing  23 . 
         [0015]    The stacks  32   a   1  and  32   b   1  are oriented with reverse polarity when positioned immediately adjacent one another and therefore exert a relative magnetic attraction in this position. Stacks  32   b   2  and  32   c   1  have the same polar orientation such that like poles would be adjacent one another if positioned directly adjacent, like  32   a   1  and  32   b   1 . Because the magnet stacks  32   b   2  and  32   c   1  can move within the hollow  22   h  ( FIG. 2 ) between corner pieces  20 , when modules  30   b  and  30   c  are brought into proximity, the magnet stacks  32   b   2  and  32   c   1  can establish mutual attraction by one of the magnet stacks, e.g.,  32   c   1  shifting relative to  32   b   2  to a position where dissimilar poles of the magnets  34 ,  38  in the respective stacks align. Because the magnet stacks, e.g.,  32   b   2  and  32   c   1  can both move along a range of motion of Mt=M 1 +M 2 , and because there are a plurality of positions where the dissimilar poles may align (attributable to the plurality of magnets  34 ,  38  with spacers therebetween) the modules  30   b,    30   c  may assume a variety of magnetically coupled positions, a subset of which are shown in dotted lines labeled P 5 , P 6  and P 7 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a three-dimensional structure  50  formed by connecting a plurality of modules  10 ,  20 ,  30  via their magnetic attraction to one another. The modules  10 ,  20 ,  30  may be of the same type, e.g., all modules like those shown in  FIG. 3  or  FIG. 4 , or may be of mixed types. As noted above, the slideable magnets,  24  or magnet stacks  32  within the modules may be utilized to assemble modules  10 ,  20 ,  30  at a variety of positional offsets to produce different types of structures  50 . 
         [0017]    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 modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. For example, while the magnets  24  are described above in one embodiment as having a complementary shape to the caps  22 , which prevents rotation of the magnets  24  relative to the caps  22 , alternative means for preventing rotation could be employed, such as a sleeve with one or more external ribs into which the magnet  24  is inserted and/or to which the magnet  24  is fastened, e.g., by gluing. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.