Patent Publication Number: US-2022233969-A1

Title: Magnetic construction tile set

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Manipulative construction sets which can be assembled into three-dimensional geometric structures have been popular for many years. Mechanical interlocking structures have been employed to connect individual construction tiles together, but there are generally restrictions on assembly geometries or critical alignment requirements, excessive connection forces and angles, or cost issues driven by dimensional fabrication precision requirements. In response to these issues, magnets have been used to provide an easier assembly of plastic construction tiles. Conventionally, these magnets are embedded at an edge of the plastic construction tile to facilitate connecting edges of the construction tiles and to prevent removal of the magnet from the construction tile. However, embedding the entire magnet in the construction tile results in weaker bonds between the construction tiles because of the plastic barrier between the connected magnets. Moreover, because the magnet is embedded in the plastic construction tile, the polarity of the magnet is fixed resulting in limited orientations for connection of the construction tiles. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following is a brief summary of subject matter that is described in greater detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims. 
     Disclosed herein are various technologies pertaining to a manipulative construction set configured for assembly into a three-dimensional geometric structure. According to an example, the manipulative construction set can comprise a plurality of tiles. Each of the tiles can comprise a side forming a tile perimeter, wherein the side comprises an inward extending pocket formed therein. Each of the tiles can further comprise a magnet rotatably retained within the pocket, wherein a portion of the magnet retained in the pocket is exposed. The exposed portion of the magnet can rotate about between a first polarity and a second polarity such that a magnet of a first tile in the plurality of tiles and a magnet of a second tile in the plurality of tiles are capable of attracting the side of the first tile to the side of the second tile by rotating to result in attracting polarities between the magnet of the first tile and the magnet of the second tile. 
     Because the magnets can rotate to form the attracting polarities between construction tiles, the construction tiles are not limited to particular connection orientations and can maintain their connection at different orientations. Moreover, because a portion of the magnet is exposed, the magnetic bond between construction tiles is maintained while stress is applied to the connected construction tiles. Further, due to the exposed rotating magnets in the construction tiles, a set of construction tiles can be configured to self-organize into a three-dimensional geometric structure when the set of construction tiles is placed in a container and shaking forces are applied to the container. 
     The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary portion of a construction tile. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary set of construction tiles. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another exemplary set of construction tiles. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a further exemplary set of construction tiles. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a yet further exemplary set of construction tiles. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary set of construction tiles assembled in a three-dimensional geometric structure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates another exemplary portion of a construction tile. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary construction tile. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various technologies pertaining to manipulative construction sets are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. 
     In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, upper, lower, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the features described herein in any manner. It is to be understood that embodiments presented herein are by way of example and not by way of limitation. The intent of the following detailed description, although discussing exemplary embodiments, is to be construed to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments as may fall within the spirit and scope of the features described herein. 
     Moreover, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs A or B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form. Additionally, as used herein, the term “exemplary” is intended to mean serving as an illustration or example of something and is not intended to indicate a preference. 
     Disclosed is a magnetic manipulative construction set that comprises a plurality of construction tiles that are removably attachable to one another. Each construction tile includes a side with an exposed, rotatable magnet held therein. The magnets can rotate their polarities (as necessary) such that the magnets attract one another connecting the construction tiles together. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a portion of one embodiment of a magnetic construction tile  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the construction tile  100  comprises a side  102  that forms a perimeter of the constructions tile  100 . The side  102  includes a magnet retaining structure  104  configured to retain a magnet  106  within the construction tile  100 . More particularly, the magnet retaining structure  104  may be configured to retain the magnet  106  within a body of the construction tile  100  while a portion of the magnet  106  is exposed to an external environment. Because of the magnet  106 , the constructions tile  100  will magnetically attract a magnet of another construction tile when the construction tile  100  and the other construction tile are brought into close proximity (e.g., when the magnet  106  and the magnet of the other construction tile are brought into close proximity). 
     Any suitable type of magnet  106  may be included in the construction tile  100 . The magnet  106  can take any suitable shape and/or size with any suitable magnet strength; thus, the magnet  106  as well as a similar magnet of another construction tile can allow the constructions tile  100  and the other construction tile to attach and detach from each other as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the magnet  106  comprises a spherical magnet. In another embodiment, the magnet  106  may comprise a cylindrical magnet, a bar magnet, and/or the like. 
     The side  102  of the construction tile  100  may include any suitable number of magnets. In the illustrated embodiment, the construction tile  100  includes a single magnet  106  along the side  102 . In another embodiment, the construction tile  100  may include a plurality of magnets (and a corresponding plurality of magnet retaining structures) along the side  102 , the plurality of magnets may be similar or may vary. For instance, where the plurality of magnets comprises two magnets, in one embodiment both magnets may be spherical magnets, while in another embodiment one magnet is a spherical magnet while the other magnet is a cylindrical magnet. 
     The strength of the magnetic attraction between adjacent construction tiles may depend on the strength of the magnet in each construction tile (e.g., the strength of the magnet  106  and the strength of the magnet in an adjacent construction tile). For instance, where one or both magnets has a high strength, it may be difficult to separate the construction tile  100  from the adjacent construction tile, while conversely weaker strength magnets may result in the set being unable to maintain connection between the construction tiles. Accordingly, the magnet  106  may have any suitable strength for maintaining connection between construction tiles to assemble a three-dimensional geometric structure, as will be described in detail below. 
     Moreover, the strength of the magnet may be a function of the size and/or weight of the construction tile it is located in. This relationship can be exemplified by a ratio of magnet power to construction tile weight. For instance, a magnet power to tile weight ratio may be at least 40× (e.g., the magnet power may be at least 40 times the tile weight). According to an example, the magnet power to tile weight ratio may be in a range from 40× to 100×; however, other ratios of the magnet power to the tile weight are contemplated. 
     The magnet  106  may comprise any suitable material for attaching construction tiles together. For instance, the magnet  106  may be a rare-earth magnet made from rare-earth elements. By way of another example, the magnet  106  may comprise a neodymium magnet and/or a samarium-cobalt magnet. 
     The magnet  106  may further comprise portions that have different polarities (e.g., a north pole and a south pole). For instance, in the case of the magnet  106  being or including a spherical magnet, the spherical magnet may have a first hemisphere that is a north pole and a second hemisphere that is a south pole. In another example, in the case of the magnet  106  being or including a cylindrical magnet, a first portion of curved surface extending along the length of the cylindrical magnet can be a north pole and a second portion of curved surface extending along the length of the cylindrical magnet can be a south pole. 
     The magnet retaining structure  104  is configured to permit the magnet  106  to rotate between these polarities, as will be described below. For example, because the magnet  106  can rotate between polarities, when a magnetic material (e.g., a magnet in another construction tile) approaches the magnet  106 , the magnet  106  may rotate (as necessary) to result in an attractive force between the magnet  106  and the magnetic material. 
     In order to connect sides of adjacent construction tiles via the attractive force between their magnets, the magnet  106  is retained at a side of the construction tile  100  via the magnet retaining structure  104 . The magnet retaining structure  104  is configured to rotatably retain the magnet  106  at the side  102  of the construction tile  100  while leaving a portion of the magnet  106  exposed to the external environment. This exposed portion of the magnet  106  helps to establish a stronger connection between adjacent construction tiles. 
     The magnet retaining structure  104  can take any suitable shape and/or include any suitable components to rotatably retain the magnet  106  therein and may depend on the magnet  106  employed. For instance, in  FIG. 1 , where the magnet  106  is spherical, the magnet retaining structure  104  may comprise an inward extending pocket  108  and an opening  110  in the side  102  to permit the portion of the magnet  106  exposure to the external environment. In another example, where the magnet  106  comprises a cylindrical magnet, the magnet retaining structure  104  may include a pocket within the construction tile to retain the cylindrical magnet, an opening to expose a portion of the cylindrical magnet, and a pin that extends through the cylindrical magnet along an axis of the cylindrical magnet. The cylindrical magnet may rotate about this pin while remaining in the pocket. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket  108  has a U-shaped cross-section that is embedded in the construction tile  102 . The pocket  108  may take any suitable shape and size for retaining the magnet  106  therein. For instance, the U-shaped cross-section may be sized to permit movement (e.g., horizontally, vertically, rotationally, etc.) of the magnet  106  within the pocket  108  while retaining a portion of magnet  106  outside the pocket  108 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket  108  is sized to permit lateral movement of the magnet  106  within the pocket  108 , i.e. the magnet  106  can move further in and out of the pocket  108  relative to the side  102 . 
     The opening  110  in the side  102  can take any suitable shape for retaining the magnet in the pocket  108  while exposing a portion of the magnet  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the opening  110  has a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the pocket  108  such that a portion of the magnet  106  can stick out of the opening (as seen in  FIG. 1 ). As mentioned above, exposing a portion of the magnet  106  may permit for a stronger connection between the construction tiles in the set. 
     The pocket  108  and the opening  110  may be sized to permit the magnet  106  to rotate between polarities. As discussed above, the magnet  106  may rotate (as necessary) to generate attracting forces between the magnet  106  in the construction tile  100  and another magnet in an adjacent construction tile. More particularly, the pocket  108  and the opening  110  may be configured to permit the exposed portion of the magnet  106  to change polarities (as necessary). 
     The opening  110  may be further configured to prevent the magnet  106  from extending beyond the side  102  of the construction tile  100 . When adjacent construction tiles are connected by the attractive forces between their magnets, their respective sides abut one another. The opening  110  may be configured to generally retain the magnet  106  within the construction tile  100  while allowing the portion of the magnet  106  to be exposed without the magnet  106  extending beyond the side  102 . The abutment between adjacent construction tiles can be seen in at least  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment where two adjacent construction tiles  200  and  202  are attached together because of attractive forces between a magnet  204  and  206  in each of the construction tiles  200  and  202 , respectively (e.g., each of the construction tiles  200  can be substantially similar to the construction tile  100 ). As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the magnets  204  and  206  attract one another, sides of the construction tiles  200  and  202  may abut one another. For instance, a manipulative construction set can include the construction tiles  200  and  202  (as well as any number of additional construction tiles). 
     The side acts as a perimeter of the construction tile and defines a cross-sectional shape of the construction tile. The construction tile can take any suitable cross-sectional shape while maintaining the features described above. In one embodiment, illustrated in at least  FIG. 2 , the construction tile  200  has a cross-section that is pentagonal comprised of five connected portions. In another embodiment, the construction tile may have a cross-section that is triangular, circular, rectangular, ovular, polygonal, and/or other two dimensional geometric shapes. Each side may have a magnet and a corresponding magnet retaining structure for retaining said magnet in the side. In another embodiment, one or more of the sides may not have a magnet. In a further embodiment, one or more of the sides may include a plurality of magnets with a corresponding plurality of magnet retaining structures. 
     As briefly noted above, because of the attracting forces between the magnets in the construction tiles, a set of construction tiles can be attached to one another to form a three-dimensional connected structure. Different connected structures can be formed by assembling different sets of construction tiles (e.g., a first set of construction tiles can be assembled to form a first connected structure while a second set of construction tiles can be assembled to form a second connected structure). Moreover, different connected structures may be formed by a set of construction tiles by assembling the construction tiles in varying configurations. 
     The construction tiles in a particular set may be similar and/or may vary. In one embodiment, the construction tiles in the set have similar shape, size, magnet strength, magnet type, and/or the like. For instance, in the illustrated embodiments, the construction tiles in the set comprise a similar pentagonal shape and size. In another embodiment, the construction tiles in the set vary in shape, size, magnet strength, magnet type, and/or the like. 
     In order to facilitate assembling a connected structure, the construction tiles may be configured to align at a particular angle when attached together. For instance, a side of a first construction tile may be sloped to cause a second construction tile attached at that side to extend from the first construction tile at an angle. This angled attachment between connected construction tiles is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment where a first construction tile  300  and a second construction tile  302  are connected at a dihedral angle θ (e.g., the first construction tile  300  may be substantially similar to the construction tile  200  and the second construction tile  302  may be substantially similar to the construction tile  202 , a manipulative construction set can include at least the construction tiles  300 - 302 ). The first construction tile  300  and the second construction tile  302  can be attached at any suitable dihedral angle θ. In one embodiment, the dihedral angle θ may depend on the connected structure being formed. For instance, the dihedral angle θ may form an interior angle of a dodecahedron. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first construction tile  300  comprises opposing planar surfaces  304  and  306  and a side  308  extending therebetween. As illustrated, the side  308  slopes outwardly from the first planar surface  304  and the second planar surface  306  toward a rounded end. Similar to the first construction tile  300 , the second construction tile  302  may comprise opposing planar surfaces  310  and  312  with a sloping side  314  therebetween. The sloping side  314  of the second construction tile  302  may be similar to the sloping side  308  of the first construction tile  300  or they may vary. 
     Description will now be made with reference to the side  308  in the first construction tile  300 , however the proceeding description may also apply to the side  314  of the second construction tile  302 . The side  308  can slope at any suitable angle from the first planar surface  304  and/or the second planar surface  306 . In the illustrated embodiment, the side  308  has a similar angle from the first planar surface  304  as from the second planar surface  306 . The use of similar angles for the slope of the side  308  from the first planar surface  304  and from the second planar surface  306  results in the second construction tile  302  forming the same angle θ with the second construction tile  302  regardless of orientation of the first construction tile  300 . In another embodiment, the side  308  may have a first angle with respect to the first planar surface  304  and a different second angle with respect to the second planar surface  306 . Moreover, the angle each portion of the side  308  makes with the planar surface (e.g., the first planar surface  304 ) can be similar and/or can vary. The side  308  may have any suitable angle with the planar surface (e.g., the first planar surface  304 ) for forming the dihedral angle θ between the first construction tile  300  and the second construction tile  302 . Accordingly, the angle with the planar surface(s) may be a function of the interior angle of the three-dimensional geometric structure formed with the manipulative construction set. 
     As described above, the construction tiles may include a plurality of sides which each have a corresponding magnet retained therein. Because of the plurality of magnets in each construction tile, multiple construction tiles may be interconnected while generating the connected structure. For instance, a first magnet in a first construction tile can be attached to a first magnet in a second construction tile, while a second magnet in the first construction tile is attached to a first magnet in a third construction tile. The second construction tile and the third construction tile may also include multiple sides with multiple magnets permitting the second construction tile and the third construction tile to be attached together via another magnet in each of those tiles. 
     This interconnection of multiple construction tiles can be seen in at least  FIGS. 4-6 . For instance,  FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment where a first construction tile  400 , a second construction tile  402 , and a third construction tile  404  are all connected together (e.g., the construction tiles  400 - 404  can be substantially similar to the construction tiles described above, a manipulative construction set can include at least the construction tiles  400 - 404 ). As illustrated, the first construction tile  400  includes a first magnet  406  and a second magnet  408 , the second construction tile  402  includes a first magnet  410  and a second magnet  412 , and the third construction tile  404  includes a first magnet  414  and a second magnet  416 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first construction tile  400  and the second construction tile  402  are attached together via the first magnet  406  in the first construction tile  400  and the first magnet  410  in the second construction tile  402 . The first construction tile  400  is further attached to the third construction tile  404  via the second magnet  408  in the first construction tile  400  and the first magnet  414  in the third construction tile  404 . Because of the geometry of the three construction tiles  400 ,  402 , and  404 , the second construction tile  402  and the third construction tile  404  can attach to one another when they are attached to the first construction tile  400 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the second magnet  412  of the second construction tile  402  aligns with and attaches to the second magnet  416  of the third construction tile  404 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , illustrated is an embodiment where a set includes six similarly shaped and sized tiles have been attached together.  FIG. 5  illustrates a first construction tile  500  with five construction tiles  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510  attached thereto. Each illustrated construction tile is pentagonal with five sides with at least one magnet in each of the sides (e.g., the construction tiles  500 - 510  can be substantially similar to the constructions tiles described above, a manipulative construction set can include at least the construction tiles  500 - 510 ). One of the five construction tiles  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510  is attached to each of the five sides of the first construction tile  500 . Similar to  FIG. 4 , because of the geometry of the construction tiles  500 ,  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510  and the presence of magnets on each side of the construction tiles  500 ,  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510 , the five construction tiles  502 ,  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510  may be further attached to one another when they are attached to the first construction tile  500 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , illustrated is an embodiment of a connected structure  600  formed by a set of construction tiles (e.g., formed by construction tiles of a manipulative construction set). In the illustrated embodiment, the connected structure  600  comprises a dodecahedron formed by twelve interconnected pentagonal construction tiles. Each construction tile includes five sides which each have at least one magnet therein (e.g., each of the construction tiles can be substantially similar to the construction tiles described above). In order to form the dodecahedron, each construction tile is connected to five other construction tiles (i.e., each side of the construction tile is connected to a construction tile). In the illustrated connected structure, the angle θ between a first construction tile and an attached second construction tile can be 116.56°. 
     The connected structure, whether the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  or any other desired embodiment, can be formed via any suitable manner. For instance, a user may manually connect the construction tiles in a set to form a connected structure. 
     In another embodiment, the construction tiles may attract to one another and self-organize into the connected structure when forces are applied to a container retaining the construction tiles. More particularly, because of the features of the construction tiles described above, when sufficient force is applied to the container holding the construction tiles, the construction tiles attract one another because of the rotating magnets and because of the sloped sides the construction tiles align at a particular angle when connecting to form the connected structure. 
     The container may take any suitable shape that causes the construction tiles to self-organize into the connected structure when the forces are applied to the container. For instance, the container may comprise a cylindrical container, a spherical container, a non-circular container (e.g., rectangular, polygonal, triangular, etc.) and/or the like. The container may be further configured to selectively hold objects within the container such that a user can add and remove objects from the container as desired. For instance, the container may comprise a lid movable between an open position permitting a user to insert construction tiles into an interior of the container and/or to remove a connected structure and a closed position to retain the connection tiles within the container while the forces are applied to the container. 
     The container may be subjected to any suitable forces that cause the construction tiles held therein to self-organize into the connected structure. For instance, the container may be shaken by subjecting the container to a plurality of linear and rotational forces. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , as briefly mentioned above, the side of a construction tile may include one or more magnets. The magnet may be located at any suitable location along the side for connecting construction tiles to form the connected structure. In one embodiment, in order to facilitate self-organization of the construction tiles, the magnet may be symmetrically located in the side such that as the construction tiles attach to one another the sides of the construction tiles are aligned. For instance, the magnet can be located at a center of the side (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). In another embodiment, the magnet may be located at a non-central location in the side. 
     In a yet further embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a side  700  of a construction tile can include two magnets  702  and  704 . Each of the two magnets  702  and  704  may be located at any suitable location in the side  700  and may have any suitable spacing therebetween. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, the two magnets  702  and  704  are equally spaced from a mid-point A of the side  700 . Where each construction tile in a set includes multiple magnets per side (e.g., two magnets per side), in order to facilitate self-organization into a connected structure, the magnets can be evenly spaced from a mid-point of the side such that a side of a first construction tile can align with and attach to a side of a second construction tile. In the illustrated embodiment, the first magnet  702  and the second magnet  704  comprise similar magnet types (e.g. spherical magnets), however they may vary. Moreover, the magnets  702  and  704  may have similar strengths or the strengths of magnets  702  and  704  may vary. 
     The construction tile can be formed via any suitable manufacturing technique. For example, a construction tile may be formed of a plurality of parts that are then assembled together to form the construction tile illustrated in the preceding embodiments.  FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment where a body of a construction tile  800  is formed of two separate halves that are joined by a screw  802 . Each of the halves can be manufactured via any suitable method, such as injection molding, extrusion, and/or the like. 
     Each of the halves can include corresponding indentations to retain a magnet therein. As the halves are secured together via the screw  802 , the indentations can align and retain the magnet within the construction tile  800 . More particularly, the construction tile  800  can be assembled by placing a magnet (e.g., a spherical magnet) in an indentation of a first half of the body of the construction tile  800 . A second half of the body is aligned with and secured to the first half via the screw  802 . As the first half and the second half are secured together, the indentation in the first half and an indentation in the second half align to form a magnet retaining structure to retain the magnet in the assembled construction tile  800 . 
     What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable modification and alteration of the above devices or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned aspects, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further modifications and permutations of various aspects are possible. Accordingly, the described aspects are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.