Magnetic toy blocks

• US 5,746,638 A
• Filed: 08/29/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuff Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stuff Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Shiraishi, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Jeffrey D.
• Application Number:
  US08/705,687
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 446/92, 446/131, 446/134, 446/129, 446/138
• US Class Current: 446/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction

Abstract

A block toy is composed of a plurality of blocks magnetically connectable to each other. At least one of the blocks comprises a block main body having plural flat surface portions, magnet holding portions formed on inner sides of the respective flat surface portions, and permanent magnets accommodated within the respective magnet holding portions for rotation about imaginary axes extending at right angles relative to the flat surface portions corresponding to the magnet holding portions. The magnet holding portions may be in the form of magnet holders arranged on the inner sides of the respective flat surface portions. The magnet holders may preferably be connected together so that the resulting connected magnet holder has a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the corresponding cross-sectional shape of the block main body formed by the corresponding plural flat surface portions.

Claims

1. A block toy composed of a plurality of blocks magnetically connectable to each other, wherein at least one of said blocks comprises a hollow block main body having plural flat surface portions, a plural number of magnet holders, corresponding to said plural flat surface portions, arranged on inner sides of said respective flat surface portions and having magnet holding portions extending in parallel with said corresponding flat surface portions, and permanent magnets accommodated within said magnet holding portions of said magnet holders for rotation about imaginary axes extending at right angles relative to said flat surface portions corresponding to said magnet holding portions;

wherein said plural magnet holders are connected together to form a connected magnet holder;

said connected magnet holder having a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to a corresponding cross-sectional shape of the hollow block main body formed by said corresponding plural flat surface portions, said connected magnet holder with said permanent magnets accommodated within said magnet holding portions being positioned within an opening defined on said hollow block main body such that said connected magnet holder is immovably maintained in contact with inner walls of said hollow block main body.

2. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow block main body has a prismatic shape.

3. A block toy according to claim 2, wherein said connected magnet holder has a triangular shape.

4. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow block main body and said connected magnet holder have a cubic shape.

5. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein each of said permanent magnet is a plate-shaped permanent magnet.

6. A block toy according to claim 5, wherein each of said permanent magnets comprises an inner side which is provided with a magnetic member that is magnetically attracted on the inner side of said permanent magnet, each of said permanent magnets further defines a diameter which is substantially equal to a diameter of said magnetic member.

7. A block toy according to claim 5, wherein each of said permanent magnet is made of anisotropic ferrite.

8. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein said block main body is made of an antimicrobial plastic material.

9. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein each of said permanent magnets is a disk-shaped permanent magnet.

10. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein each of said magnet holding portions comprises a flange which supports the permanent magnet.

11. A block toy according to claim 10, wherein said connected magnet holder comprises a plurality of magnet holder openings, each of said magnet holder openings being positioned so as to correspond to each of said magnet holding portions and being centrally located within said flange so as to facilitate a rotation of said permanent magnet within said flange.

12. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein said hollow block main body comprises a thermoplastic resin.

13. A block toy according to claim 1, wherein said connected magnet holder comprises a thermoplastic resin.