Construction kit

• US 7,066,778 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattel-mega Holdings (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: Mega Bloks International S.A.R.L. (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kretzschmar, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ashley, Boyer D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, J
• Application Number:
  US10/503,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 446/92, 446/105, 446/106, 446/107, 446/108, 446/111, 446/119, 446/122, 446/124, 446/129, 434211-215, 434/190, 434/208, 434277-279, 273/157.R
• US Class Current: 446/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction

Abstract

Construction kit with two- and/or three-dimensional construction elements (1, 9) with magnetic elements (4) in the corners and/or sides and ferromagnetic spheres (11), which can be placed between the magnetic elements (4) of adjacent construction elements (1, 9) to connect the construction elements (1, 9) together using a magnetic bond so that they can be detached.

Claims

1. A construction kit comprising:

a two-dimensional construction element having a polygonal shape, the construction element comprising;

a first face;

a second face opposite the first face;

a perimeter edge disposed between the first face and the second face around the polygonal shape of the construction element, the first face and the second face having a beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face; and

a magnet disposed proximate to the beveled corner, the magnet having an outer surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the magnet bisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face.

2. The construction element of claim 1, the first face, the second face, and the longitudinal axis of the magnet being substantially parallel.

3. The construction element of claim 1, wherein the beveled corner defines a planar portion of the perimeter edge and the magnet is recessed from the beveled corner into the construction element such that only the planar face of the magnet is exposed and the planar face is recessed from the plane of the beveled corner.

4. The construction element of claim 3, the construction element being made from nonmagnetic material, the magnet being encased in the nonmagnetic material, the nonmagnetic material defining a recess above the exposed planar face, and the recess shaped to contact a sphere along a circumferential line.

5. The construction element of claim 4, the recess being conical.

6. The construction element of claim 1, wherein each corner of the polygonal shape is beveled and a magnet is provided in each of the beveled corners.

7. The construction element of claim 1, further comprising a first bevel between the first face and the perimeter edge and a second bevel between the second face and the perimeter edge.

8. The construction element of claim 1, the first face and the second face having a second beveled corner and a third beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face, the construction element further comprising:

a second magnet disposed proximate to the second beveled corner, the second magnet having an outer surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the second magnet bisecting the second beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face; and

a third magnet disposed proximate to the third beveled corner, the third magnet having an outer surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the third magnet bisecting the third beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face.

9. The construction element of claim 1, the magnet being cylindrical.

10. A two- to three-dimensional construction element, the construction element comprising:

a first face;

a second face opposite the first face, the first face and the second face having a beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face;

a perimeter face disposed between the first face and the second face around the construction element, the construction element having a first bevel between the first face and the perimeter face and a second bevel between the second face and the perimeter race; and

a magnet disposed proximate to the beveled corner.

11. The construction element of claim 10, the first face and the second face being substantially parallel, and the perimeter face being substantially perpendicular to the first face and the second face.

12. The construction element of claim 10, the axis of the magnet bisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face.

13. The construction element of claim 12, the construction element comprising a polygonal two-dimensional shape, and the first face, the second face, and the axis of the magnet being substantially parallel.

14. The construction element of claim 13, the construction element being made from nonmagnetic material, each corner of the polygonal shape being beveled, and a magnet recessed into each beveled corner such that only a planar face of the magnet is exposed.

15. The construction element of claim 14, wherein the magnet is recessed into and below the surface of the beveled corner.

16. A construction kit comprising:

a construction element having;

a body, the body having an outer surface formed of a nonmagnetic material, and

a magnet recessed into the body, the magnet having an outer surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the magnet being recessed into the body such that only the planar face of the magnet is exposed and the planar face is recessed into and below the outer surface of the body such that the nonmagnetic material of the body defines a recess above the planar surface, and the recess being shaped to contact a sphere along a circumferential line; and

a ferromagnetic ball held by the magnet against the recess.

17. The construction kit of claim 16, the body having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the first face and the second face having the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face, the longitudinal axis of the magnet bisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face.

18. The construction kit of claim 17, wherein the body comprises a base plate having a plurality of cone-shaped recesses located on at least one side thereof, and wherein a magnet is disposed in each of the recesses.

19. The construction kit of claim 16, the ferromagnetic ball by itself having a spherical outer surface and substantially uniform magnetic properties across the outer surface.

20. The construction kit of claim 16, the ferromagnetic ball being spaced apart from the magnet when held against the recess.