Patent Publication Number: US-11376516-B2

Title: Magnetic toy

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/481,491, filed Jul. 29, 2019, which is a U.S. National Phase patent application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2018/026568, filed Jul. 13, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. P2018-017469, filed Feb. 2, 2018. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     An aspect of the invention relates to a magnetic plate toy. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, a magnetic plate toy which is magnetically connected to a connection object is known as an intellectual toy (for example, see Patent Literature 1). The magnetic plate toy described in Patent Literature 1 includes polygonal plate members. A magnet is provided inside the plate member along a side portion of the plate member. The plate member is magnetically connected to another magnetic plate toy by using a magnetic force of the magnet. According to such a magnetic plate toy, it is intended to raise children&#39;s creativity and imagination through play. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3161698 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In the above-described magnetic plate toy, another magnetic plate toy can be connected only to the side portion of the plate member where the magnet is disposed. For this reason, various connection methods are required. 
     Therefore, an aspect of the invention provides a magnetic plate toy that enables various connection methods. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A magnetic plate toy according to an aspect of the invention includes a plurality of first magnets and a polygonal plate member. Each of the plurality of first magnets has a pillar shape and a magnetization direction orthogonal to an axial direction. The plate member includes a plurality of first accommodation portions respectively accommodating the plurality of first magnets. The plurality of first magnets are accommodated in the first accommodation portions so as to be movable along a side portion of the plate member and rotatable about a rotation axis along the axial direction and a rotation axis along a thickness direction of the plate member. The plurality of first accommodation portions are disposed along the side portion of the plate member so as to be separated from each other. The plurality of first accommodation portions include one end portion and the other end portion in a direction along the side portion. When viewed from the thickness direction, a length of the one end portion is equal to or longer than a length of the first magnet in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is shorter than a length of the first magnet in the axial direction. 
     In the magnetic plate toy, the first magnet is accommodated in the first accommodation portion of the plate member so as to be movable along the side portion of the plate member. For this reason, the magnetic plate toy can be connected to another magnetic plate toy in a wide range of the side portion. The first accommodation portion includes one end portion in the direction along the side portion. When viewed from the thickness direction of the plate member, the length of one end portion is equal to or longer than the length of the first magnet in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is shorter than the length of the first magnet in the axial direction. For this reason, all of the pair of end portions in the axial direction of the first magnet can be disposed in one end portion of the first accommodation portion. However, all of the pair of end portions in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the first magnet cannot be disposed in one end portion of the first accommodation portion. A magnetic force of the end portion in the axial direction of the first magnet is weaker than that of the end portion in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the first magnet. Thus, even when all end portions in the axial direction of the first magnet are disposed in one end portion of the first accommodation portion, a connection with the first magnet at the adjacent first accommodation portions is not easy. Accordingly, it is possible to widen a range in which the first magnet is movable along the side portion while preventing the connection of the first magnets between the adjacent first accommodation portions. The first magnet is accommodated in the first accommodation portion so as to be rotatable about not only the rotation axis along the axial direction but also the rotation axis along the thickness direction of the plate member. For this reason, the magnetic plate toy can be connected to another magnetic plate toy also in a portion other than the side portion of the plate member. With the above-described configuration, various connection methods can be enabled. 
     In the magnetic plate toy, when viewed from the thickness direction, a length of the other end portion may be equal to or longer than the length of the first magnet in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and may be shorter than the length of the first magnet in the axial direction. In this case, all of the pair of end portions of the first magnet in the axial direction can be disposed at the other end portion of the first accommodation portion. However, all of the pair of end portions in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the first magnet cannot be disposed at the other end portion of the first accommodation portion. Accordingly, it is possible to further widen a range in which the first magnet is movable along the side portion while preventing the connection of the first magnets between the adjacent first accommodation portions. 
     In the magnetic plate toy, the first magnet may have a quadrangular pillar shape. In this case, the first magnet is connected to another magnetic plate toy at a planar side surface portion. For this reason, it is possible to improve a connection force as compared with a case in which the first magnet has a columnar shape and is connected to another magnetic plate toy at a curved side surface portion. 
     The magnetic plate toy may further include a second magnet and the plate member may further include a second accommodation portion which is disposed so as to be separated from the side portion and the plurality of first accommodation portions. The second magnet may be accommodated in the second accommodation portion so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction. In this case, the second magnet is accommodated in the second accommodation portion. Thus, various connection methods can be further enabled. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to an aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide the magnetic plate toy that enables various connection methods. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially broken perspective view of a magnetic plate toy according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the magnetic plate toy of  FIG. 1  with an upper wall removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the upper wall of the magnetic plate toy of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view describing a method of connecting the magnetic plate toys. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the description below, the same or equivalent components will be indicated by the same reference numerals and a repetitive description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a partially broken perspective view of a magnetic plate toy according to an embodiment. A magnetic plate toy  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an intellectual toy for raising children&#39;s creativity and imagination through play.  FIG. 2  is a top view of the magnetic plate toy of  FIG. 1  with an upper wall removed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the magnetic plate toy  1  includes a plurality of (here, eight) first magnets  2 , a second magnet  3 , and a plate member  4 . 
     The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  have a pillar shape. As an example, the first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  have a quadrangular pillar shape of which a bottom surface is a quadrangle, in particular, a square pillar shape of which a bottom surface is a square. The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  are formed of, for example, the same material. The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  are, for example, neodymium magnets. The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  have magnetization directions orthogonal to the axial direction. That is, the first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  are divided into two parts in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The first magnet  2  has an N pole portion which is disposed at one side in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and an S pole which is disposed at the other side in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The dimension (volume) and the magnetic force of the second magnet  3  are larger than, for example, the dimension and the magnetic force of the first magnet  2 . The schematic outer dimension of the first magnet  2  is, for example, 3 mm×3 mm×6 mm. The schematic outer dimension of the second magnet  3  is, for example, 3 mm×3 mm×8 mm. 
     The plate member  4  is a plate-shaped member having a uniform thickness. The plate member  4  has, for example, a polygonal shape such as a triangular shape and a rectangular shape when viewed from a thickness direction D 1  of the plate member  4 . As an example, the plate member  4  has a rectangular shape, particularly, a square shape, when viewed from the thickness direction D 1 . The plate member  4  includes a plurality of (here, four) side portions  4   a . Each side portion  4   a  is provided with a groove  4   b  which extends in the thickness direction D 1  and has a U-shaped cross-section. The groove  4   b  is provided in a center portion of the side portion  4   a  in the longitudinal direction. The groove  4   b  may not be provided. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the upper wall of the magnetic plate toy of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the plate member  4  is hollow and includes a bottom member  5  and an upper wall  6 . The bottom member  5  includes a bottom wall  7  which opposes the upper wall  6  and four side walls  8  which connect the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7 . Each of the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7  has, for example, a square shape of which one side is 75 mm. Each of four side walls  8  has, for example, a rectangular shape of 75 mm×6.5 mm. That is, the thickness of the plate member  4  is, for example, 6.5 mm and the plate member  4  has a square shape of which one side is, for example, 75 mm when viewed from the thickness direction D 1 . 
     The plate member  4  is formed of, for example, plastic such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer). Since the plate member  4  is formed of plastic, the plate member  4  can be easily manufactured by, for example, injection molding. For example, the interest of children can be increased by using plastic of various colors as the material of the plate member  4 . Since transparent plastic is used as the material of the plate member  4 , the inside of the assembled solid figure is visible. Accordingly, the interest of children can be further increased. 
     The plate member  4  is formed by covering the opening of the bottom member  5  by the upper wall  6 . The bottom member  5  and the upper wall  6  are formed in such a manner that cylindrical portions  7   a  respectively provided at four corners of the bottom wall  7  are fitted to cylindrical portions  6   a  respectively provided at four corners of the upper wall  6 . The cylindrical portion  6   a  is provided inside the cylindrical portion  7   a  and a metallic eyelet  9  is provided inside the cylindrical portion  6   a . Accordingly, the bottom member  5  and the upper wall  6  are bonded to each other. The bottom member  5  and the upper wall  6  are also bonded to each other by high frequency welding or the like. 
     A plurality of ribs  11  to  13  are provided inside the bottom member  5 . The plurality of ribs  11  to  13  are provided on the bottom wall  7 . The plurality of ribs  11  to  13  extend along the thickness direction D 1  of the plate member  4 . The height of the plurality of ribs  11  to  13  (the length in the thickness direction D 1 ) is the same as the gap between the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7 . The front end portions of the plurality of ribs  11  to  13  are connected to the upper wall  6 . The plurality of ribs  11  to  13  extend along the bottom wall  7 . The rib  13  is provided inside the bottom member  5  in addition to the ribs  11  and  12 . Accordingly, the strength of the plate member  4  is improved. 
     A plurality of substantially cylindrical portions  14  are provided on the bottom wall  7 . The plurality of substantially cylindrical portions  14  are cylindrical members provided with slits extending in the axial direction. The plurality of substantially cylindrical portions  14  have a C-shaped cross-section. The plurality of substantially cylindrical portions  14  are disposed so that the slits oppose the groove  4   b . The plurality of substantially cylindrical portions  14  are fitted to a plurality of cylindrical portion  6   b  provided in the upper wall  6 . The substantially cylindrical portion  14  is disposed at the outside and the cylindrical portion  6   b  is disposed at the inside. The substantially cylindrical portion  14  and the cylindrical portion  6   b  serve as guides which facilitate the assembly of the bottom member  5  and the upper wall  6 . The strength of the plate member  4  is further improved by the substantially cylindrical portion  14  and the cylindrical portion  6   b.    
     The plate member  4  includes a plurality of (here, eight) first accommodation portions  21  and a second accommodation portion  22 . The plurality of first accommodation portions  21  respectively accommodate the plurality of first magnets  2 . The plurality of first accommodation portions  21  are defined by the rib  11 , the upper wall  6 , the bottom wall  7 , and the side wall  8 . The plurality of first accommodation portions  21  are disposed along the side portion  4   a  of the plate member  4  so as to be separated from each other. A pair of the first accommodation portions  21  are disposed along each side portion  4   a . The first accommodation portion  21  includes an end portion  21   a  and an end portion  21   b  in a direction along the side portion  4   a.    
     The plurality of first accommodation portions  21  are disposed so that the end portions  21   a  or the end portions  21   b  of the pair of adjacent first accommodation portions  21  are adjacent to each other. In the pair of first accommodation portions  21  disposed along each side portion  4   a , the end portions  21   b  oppose each other with the groove  4   b  interposed therebetween. 
       FIG. 4  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 2 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when viewed from the thickness direction D 1  (see  FIG. 1 ), a length L 1  of the end portion  21   a  is equal to or longer than a length L 2  of the first magnet  2  in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction and is shorter than a length L 3  of the first magnet  2  in the axial direction. When viewed from the thickness direction D 1 , a length L 4  of the end portion  21   b  is equal to or longer than the length L 2  and is shorter than the length L 3 . For example, the length L 1  is equal to the length L 4 . 
     A length L 5  of the first accommodation portion  21  in a direction orthogonal to the side portion  4   a  (the side portion  4   a  provided with the first accommodation portion  21 ) is longer than the length L 3 . For example, a length L 6  of the first accommodation portion  21  in a direction along the side portion  4   a  is longer than three times the length L 3 , longer than ¼ the length of the side portion  4   a , and shorter than ⅓ the length of the side portion  4   a . The length L 1  is, for example, 5 mm. As described above, the length L 2  is, for example, 3 mm and the length L 3  is, for example, 6 mm. The length L 1  is, for example, 5 mm. The length L 5  is, for example, 9 mm. The length L 6  is, for example, 22 mm. 
     The length of the first accommodation portion  21  in the thickness direction D 1  (the gap between the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7 ) is shorter than the length L 3 . Thus, in the first accommodation portion  21 , the axial direction of the first magnet  2  is orthogonal to the thickness direction D 1  and does not coincide with the thickness direction D 1 . The length of the first accommodation portion  21  in the thickness direction D 1  is, for example, 4.8 mm. 
     The plurality of first magnets  2  are accommodated in the first accommodation portion  21  so as to be movable along each side portion  4   a  of the plate member  4  and rotatable about the rotation axis along the axial direction and the rotation axis along the thickness direction D 1 . In other words, the first accommodation portion  21  is set to a size in which the first magnet  2  is rotatable about the rotation axes along the axial direction and the thickness direction D 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the second accommodation portion  22  accommodates the second magnet  3 . The second accommodation portion  22  is defined by the rib  12 , the upper wall  6  (see  FIG. 1 ), and the bottom wall  7 . The second accommodation portion  22  is disposed so as to be separated from the side portion  4   a  and the plurality of first accommodation portions  21 . The second accommodation portion  22  has a square shape of which one side is, for example, 26 mm when viewed from the thickness direction D 1  (see  FIG. 1 ) and is disposed at a center portion of the plate member  4 . Each corner portion of the second accommodation portion  22  opposes the center portion of each side portion  4   a  of the plate member  4  (see  FIG. 1 ). Each corner portion of the second accommodation portion  22  opposes the groove  4   b  with the substantially cylindrical portion  14  interposed therebetween. Each side portion of the second accommodation portion  22  is connected to the cylindrical portion  7   a  by the rib  13 . The second magnet  3  is accommodated in the second accommodation portion  22  so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction D 1 . 
     The length of the second accommodation portion  22  in the thickness direction D 1  (the gap between the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7 ) is shorter than the length of the second magnet  3  in the axial direction. Thus, in the second accommodation portion  22 , the axial direction of the second magnet  3  is orthogonal to the thickness direction D 1  and does not coincide with the thickness direction D 1 . The length of the second accommodation portion  22  in the thickness direction D 1  is equal to, for example, the length of the first accommodation portion  21  in the thickness direction D 1 . The length of the second accommodation portion  22  in the thickness direction D 1  is, for example, 4.8 mm. 
     The second magnet  3  is accommodated in the second accommodation portion  22  so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis along the axial direction and the rotation axis along the thickness direction D 1 . In other words, the second accommodation portion  22  is set to a size in which the second magnet  3  is rotatable about the rotation axes along the axial direction and the thickness direction D 1 . 
     In the magnetic plate toy  1  with the above-described configuration, the first magnet  2  is accommodated in the first accommodation portion  21  so as to be movable along the side portion  4   a  of the plate member  4 . For this reason, the magnetic plate toy  1  can be connected to another magnetic plate toy in a wide range of the side portion  4   a . In a state in which another magnetic plate toy is connected to the side portion  4   a  of the magnetic plate toy  1 , another magnetic plate toy can be moved (slid) along the side portion  4   a . Another magnetic plate toy may have the same configuration as that of the magnetic plate toy  1  or may have a configuration different from that of the magnetic plate toy  1 . As an example, another magnetic plate toy has the same configuration as that of the magnetic plate toy  1 . 
     When viewed from the thickness direction D 1 , the length L 1  is equal to or longer than the length L 2  and is shorter than the length L 3 . For this reason, all of the pair of the end portions  2   a  (the bottom surface portion of the first magnet  2 ) of the first magnet  2  in the axial direction can be disposed at the end portion  21   a  of the first accommodation portion  21 . However, all of the pair of the end portions  2   b  (the side surface portion of the first magnet  2 ) in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the first magnet  2  cannot be disposed at the end portion  21   a  of the first accommodation portion  21 . The magnetic force of the end portion  2   a  is weaker than that of the end portion  2   b . Thus, even when the entire end portion  2   a  is disposed at the end portion  21   a  of the first accommodation portion  21 , the first magnet  2  is not easily connected to the first magnet  2  at the adjacent first accommodation portion  21 . Accordingly, it is possible to widen a range in which the first magnet  2  is movable along the side portion  4   a  while preventing the connection of the first magnets  2  in the adjacent first accommodation portions  21 . 
     The first magnet  2  is accommodated in the first accommodation portion  21  so as to be rotatable about not only the rotation axis along the axial direction but also the rotation axis along the thickness direction D 1 . For this reason, the magnetic plate toy  1  can be connected to another magnetic plate toy also in a portion other than the side portion  4   a  of the plate member  4 . As described above, according to the magnetic plate toy  1 , various connection methods with respect to another magnetic plate toy can be enabled. 
     In the magnetic plate toy  1 , when viewed from the thickness direction D 1 , the length L 4  of the end portion  21   b  is equal to the length L 1  of the end portion  21   a . That is, the length L 4  is equal to or longer than the length L 2  and is shorter than the length L 3 . For this reason, the entire end portion  2   a  can be disposed at the end portion  21   b  of the first accommodation portion  21 . However, the entire end portion  2   b  cannot be disposed at the end portion  21   b  of the first accommodation portion  21 . Accordingly, it is possible to further widen a range in which the first magnet  2  is movable along the side portion  4   a  while preventing the connection of the first magnets  2  in the adjacent first accommodation portions  21 . 
     In the magnetic plate toy  1 , the first magnet  2  has a quadrangular pillar shape. For this reason, the first magnet  2  is connected to another magnetic plate toy at a planar side surface portion, that is, the end portion  2   b . Thus, it is possible to improve a connection force as compared with a case in which the first magnet  2  has a columnar shape and the first magnet is connected to another magnetic plate toy at a curved side surface portion. 
     In the magnetic plate toy  1 , the second magnet  3  is accommodated in the second accommodation portion  22  so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction D 1 . The second accommodation portion  22  is disposed so as to be separated from the side portion  4   a  and the plurality of first accommodation portions  21 . For this reason, another magnetic plate toy can be connected to the magnetic plate toy  1  in a wide range of the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7  of the magnetic plate toy  1 . Further, in a state in which another magnetic plate toy is connected to the upper wall  6  or the bottom wall  7  of the magnetic plate toy  1 , another magnetic plate toy can be moved (slid) along the upper wall  6  or the bottom wall  7 . At this time, the upper wall, the bottom wall or the side wall of another magnetic plate toy may be connected to the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7  of the magnetic plate toy  1 . 
     The second magnet  3  is accommodated in the second accommodation portion  22  so as to be rotatable about not only the rotation axis along the axial direction but also the rotation axis along the thickness direction D 1 . Thus, for example, in a state in which the side portion of another magnetic plate toy is connected to the upper wall  6  or the bottom wall  7  of the magnetic plate toy  1 , another magnetic plate toy can also be rotated. Thus, various connection methods can be further enabled. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view describing a method of connecting the magnetic plate toys. The groove  4   b  is not illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a plurality of (here, three) magnetic plate toys  1  are connected to each other. According to the magnetic plate toy  1 , not only the side portion  4   a  but also an arbitrary position of the upper wall  6  and the bottom wall  7  can be connected to another magnetic plate toy  1 . 
     In the magnetic plate toy  1 , even when the magnet of another magnetic plate toy is fixed to a predetermined position of the plate member, the first magnet  2  or the second magnet  3  rotates in accordance with the direction of the magnet of another magnetic plate toy. Thus, the magnetic plate toy  1  can be connected to another magnetic plate toy without any repelling force. 
     Although the embodiment of the invention has been described, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be modified in a range not departing from the spirit described in the claims or may be applied to another case. 
     The magnetic plate toy  1  may include at least two or more first magnets  2  and first accommodation portions  21 . The magnetic plate toy  1  may not include the second accommodation portion  22 . The number and the size of the first accommodation portion  21  and the second accommodation portion  22  can be appropriately adjusted in response to the shape of the plate member  4 . Any one of at least the length L 1  and the length L 4  may be equal to or longer than the length L 2  and shorter that the length L 3 . The other thereof may be shorter than the length L 2 , or may be equal to or longer than the length L 3 . 
     The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  may have a columnar shape or a triangular pillar shape. The first magnet  2  and the second magnet  3  may be formed of different materials. The dimension and the magnetic force of the first magnet  2  may be the same as the dimension and the magnetic force of the second magnet  3 . The dimension and the magnetic force of the first magnet  2  may be larger than the dimension and the magnetic force of the second magnet  3 . The second magnet  3  may not have a pillar shape. The second magnet  3  may have, for example, a disk shape. The magnetization direction of the second magnet  3  may be the same as the axial direction. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1 : magnetic plate toy,  2 : first magnet,  3 : second magnet,  4 : plate member,  4   a : side portion,  21 : first accommodation portion,  21   a : end portion,  21   b : end portion,  22 : second accommodation portion, D 1 : thickness direction.