Abstract:
The present invention relates to stiffening and/bending modular structure for sets for realising complex figures, comprising, in combination, at least three polyhedral or spherical shaped elements ( 1; 11 ) spaced by two elements ( 2; 12 ) having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, said elements ( 1; 11; 2; 12 ) being assembled in such a way to realise a single integrated structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING  
       [0003]     Not Applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     (1) Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates to a stiffening and/bending modular structure for sets for realizing complex figures. More specifically, the invention relates to structures of the above kind allowing improving the construction possibility employing magnetic and ferromagnetic elements.  
         [0006]     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98  
         [0007]     In recent years different sets for realizing complex figures have been realized, based on the interaction between magnetic elements and ferromagnetic elements. Substantially, it is a combination of bars, having magnetic ends, or completely magnetic bars, combined with ferromagnetic elements, or spheres, in different ways for realizing complex figures.  
         [0008]     In the first macro category providing bars with magnetic ends must be considered as including toys known on the market with the name Roger&#39;s Connection, providing bars, all having the same sizes, comprised of two magnets separated by an air gap, or those marketed under the trade name Geomag®, the bars of which are comprised of a combination of magnet—Ferro magnet—magnet. In both cases complex figures are realised by employing ferromagnetic spheres.  
         [0009]     In the second macro-category it must be considered as including the product known on the market as Supermag®, patented and realised by the same Applicant, providing bars with different sizes, and completely comprised of magnetic material. Supermag® has realised a remarkable improvement with respect to the known solutions, both as far as the possibility of realising always more complex figures, as well as for sturdiness of the obtained figures.  
         [0010]     However, a need exists for structures allowing to obtain a further stiffening of the complex figures that are realised with each one of the previous products.  
         [0011]     It is further felt the need of having a structure allowing to realise figures having curved parts.  
         [0012]     These and other results are obtained according to the present invention by a modular structure that can be applied to each one of the solutions known on the market.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     It is therefore a specific object of the present invention to provide a stiffening and/bending modular structure for realising complex figures, comprising, in combination, at least three polyhedral or spherical shaped elements spaced by two elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, said elements being assembled in such a way as to enable the realization of a single integrated structure. In particular, according to the invention, at least one of said polyhedral or spherical-shaped elements outer with respect to the structure can be comprised of a magnet.  
         [0014]     In a first embodiment of the structure according to the invention, it is provided at least a combination of a polyhedral or spherical-shaped ferromagnetic element, a ferromagnetic element having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, a polyhedral or spherical-shaped ferromagnetic element, a ferromagnetic element having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, a polyhedral or spherical shaped ferromagnetic element, said elements being integrally coupled to each other.  
         [0015]     Preferably, said ferromagnetic elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape are coated and/or said polyhedral or spherical shaped ferromagnetic elements are coated.  
         [0016]     Furthermore, according to the invention, said coating is comprised of plastic material or nickel-plating.  
         [0017]     According to the invention, said polyhedral or spherical shaped ferromagnetic elements are always comprised of spheres, and said ferromagnetic elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape are comprised of bars.  
         [0018]     Further, according to the invention, said polyhedral or spherical shaped ferromagnetic elements have different shapes and sizes, or they have the same size and shape.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, according to the invention, said ferromagnetic elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional have different shapes and sizes, or they have the same size and shape.  
         [0020]     Preferably, the coupling between the various elements is obtained by welding, or by die-casting.  
         [0021]     Furthermore, coupling surfaces of contiguous elements can be shaped.  
         [0022]     Said elements can be comprised of every material suitable to the coupling with a magnetic element.  
         [0023]     A second embodiment of the structure according to the invention comprises a combination of a polyhedral or spherical shaped element, an element having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, a polyhedral or spherical shaped element, an element having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape, a polyhedral or spherical shaped element, said elements being made integral each other by an outer envelope enclosing the same.  
         [0024]     Particularly, according to the invention, said polyhedral or spherical shaped elements are comprised of ferromagnetic and/or magnetic material.  
         [0025]     Always according to the invention, said elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape are comprised of ferromagnetic and/or magnetic material.  
         [0026]     Still according to the invention, said envelope is comprised of plastic material.  
         [0027]     Furthermore, according to the invention, said polyhedral or spherical shaped elements are comprised of spheres and said elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional shape are comprised of bars.  
         [0028]     Further, according to the invention, said polyhedral or spherical shaped elements have different shape and size each other, or they have the same size and shape.  
         [0029]     Always according to the invention, said elements having a substantially lengthened three-dimensional have different shape and size each other, or they have the same size and shape.  
         [0030]     Finally, according to the invention, coupling surfaces of contiguous elements are shaped. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]     The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein:  
         [0032]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   d  are schematic views of first embodiments of the system according to the invention not coated;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  are schematic views of first embodiments of the system according to the invention coated;  
         [0034]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show a particular of the system according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   d  are schematic views of second embodiments of the system according to the invention;  
         [0036]      FIGS. 5   a - 5   d  are schematic views flexed structures according to  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0037]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show a particular embodiment of the system according to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]      FIGS. 1-3  show a first embodiment of the system according to the invention.  
         [0039]     The solution shown provides a structure A comprised of a succession of metallic spheres  1 , having different sizes, coupled with metallic bars  2 , having different length and thickness.  
         [0040]     Coupling between spheres  1  and bars  2  can be obtained by electro-welding, or they can be directly realised as a single die-cast ferromagnetic material piece.  
         [0041]     As shown in the figures, composition of structure A can vary according to the specific needing, varying its sizes and providing a different number of coupled spheres  1  and bars  2 .  
         [0042]     Even if not represented, each structure A can also be comprised of a combination of bars  2 , having different sizes and shapes, with spheres, or other conjunction elements, also having different shapes and dimensions.  
         [0043]     Obviously, structure A according to the invention must start with a sphere  1  and terminate with another sphere  1 , or with a magnet (not shown), in order to permit every kind of connection.  
         [0044]     As it is clear from  FIG. 2 , structure A is nickel-plated and polished.  
         [0045]     Specifically, each sphere  1  can be realised with the most different sizes, obviously employing ferromagnetic material (such as stainless steel) or other metal.  
         [0046]     As already mentioned, coupling between sphere  1  and metallic bar  2  can be realised by electro-welding, or more simply by die-casting with the bar  2  directly within a suitable die.  
         [0047]     Bar  2  can be realised with different sizes, being it possible varying length, thickness and mainly the shape of the bar.  
         [0048]     In fact, bar  2  can take for example the shape of a cylinder, of a parallelepiped with a different base, etc.  
         [0049]     If desired, in the coupling point with sphere  1 , head of the bar  2  can be bevelled according to a given angle to obtain a suitable coupling.  
         [0050]     As already said, bar body is covered by a uniform plastic layer, having the thickness necessary only for the aesthetic coating of the system, obviously with different colour and kind, said coating not preventing the magnetic interaction with the magnet with which it must be coupled.  
         [0051]     Instead, spheres  1  can be left bare and/or can be covered with a plastic surface layer  
         [0052]     Structure A shown is particularly used for stiffening the complex figures realised employing bar magnetic elements, usually available on the market an employed for realising constructions, generic figures, and like. Particularly, it is used in combination with bars comprised of completely magnetic material, commercialised by the same Applicant under the Trade Mark Supermag®.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 4-6  of the drawings show a structure B according to an embodiment of the invention, comprising a succession of metallic or magnetic spheres  11 , and of metallic or magnetic bars  12 , having different length and thickness.  
         [0054]     Structure B is kept still by a plastic surface envelope  13 , having suitable thickness to obtain the necessary ductility to obtain the torsion of the same system.  
         [0055]     Obviously, composition of deformable structure B can have different sizes according to the number of spheres  11  and bars  12 .  
         [0056]     In this case too, structure B must necessarily start with a sphere  11  and terminate with another sphere  11 , or with a magnet (not shown), in order to permit every kind of connection.  
         [0057]     Torsion of structure is possible since between bar  12  and sphere  11  a direct coupling does not exist, integrity of the structure being guaranteed by the plastic envelope  13 .  
         [0058]     In this case too, sphere can be realised with the most different sizes, or have a different shape, and can be realised employing material (such as stainless steel) or other metal, or with a magnetic material.  
         [0059]     As already said, integrity of structure B is obtained simply covering bars  12  and spheres  11  with a plastic surface layer directly within the die.  
         [0060]     Bar  12  too can be realised with the most different sizes, particularly its length, thickness and shape of the basis; in fact, it can take the shape of cylinder, of a parallelepiped with a different base, etc.  
         [0061]     In this case too, sphere can be realised with the most different sizes, or have a different shape, and can be realised employing material (such as stainless steel) or other metal, or with a magnetic material.  
         [0062]     In the articulation point with respect to the sphere  11 , head of bar  12  can be bevelled according to a given angle.  
         [0063]     Also structure B illustrated in the figures is particularly used for stiffening complex figures realised employing bar magnetic elements, usually available on the market an employed for realising constructions, generic figures, and like. Particularly, it is used in combination with bars comprised of completely magnetic material, commercialised by the same Applicant under the Trade Mark Supermag®.  
         [0064]     The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.