EP1697015B1

EP1697015B1 - Accessory for magnetic construction games

Info

Publication number: EP1697015B1
Application number: EP04769680A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Natale Barone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-07
Filing date: 2004-10-20
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-20
Also published as: WO2005000438A2; ES2286675T3; DE602004006309D1; ITIM20030010A1; EP1697015A2; ATE361138T1; WO2005000438A3; DE602004006309T2

Abstract

Accessory for magnetic construction games which comprise one or more magnetic bars (9) suitable for being mutually joined through ferromagnetic spheres (8) 5 so as to made up a complex structure, which accessory comprises a main body (1) which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and is provided with a plurality of crossholes (2) which can house at least partially one or more magnetic bars (9) and cross seats (3) made in the main body (1) for housing at least partially a ferromagnetic sphere (8).

Description

The present invention relates to an accessory for magnetic construction games, and in particular to an accessory which allows the mutual movement of one or more member groups of a magnetic construction game.
WO 99/60583 discloses a magnetic construction game comprising a plurality of magnetic bars suitable for being mutually joined by means of ferromagnetic spheres so as to made up a complex structure.
US 2003/0148699 A1, WO 02/055168 and WO 02/076565 disclose instead some accessories for said magnetic game, which serve for reinforcing the joining between the magnetic bars and the ferromagnetic spheres.
However, these known reinforcing accessories allow a low number of combinations of complex structures, so as to limit the creation possibilities of new structures.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an accessory which overcomes said disadvantage, i.e. an accessory which allows to reinforce the joint between the members of a magnetic construction game of the above mentioned kind, thereby simultaneously allowing a high number of combinations. Said object is achieved with an accessory, the main features of which are disclosed in the first claim, while other features are disclosed in the subsequent claims.
Thanks to the particular cross-holes for the magnetic bars and to the particular seats for the ferromagnetic spheres, the accessory according to the present invention can be employed not only as a reinforcing member, but also as a base, bar or platform for supporting complex structures.
Furthermore, thanks to its particular shapes and/or sizes, the accessory according to the present invention can be added to a known magnetic game without any modification of the existing members nor aesthetic or modularity problems.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, the accessory has modular shapes and sizes and can be joined to other similar accessories by means of the same magnetic bars and ferromagnetic spheres, so as to increase its dimensions in the desired shape, thereby keeping the same modularity and the same compatibility.
According to another particular aspect of the invention, the accessory is provided with different seats preferably arranged along alternated and offset rows, as well as with different flared holes and/or openings for these seats, so as to obtain a high number of combinations for the connection between ferromagnetic spheres and magnetic bars, even if the main body is relatively small.
According to a further particular aspect of the invention, the accessory can be made of a plastic material for reducing the manufacturing costs or in a ferromagnetic material for allowing the application of magnetic bars onto its walls.
Further advantages and features of the accessory according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a top view of the accessory according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
figure 2 shows a bottom view of the accessory of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a front view of the accessory of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a side view of the accessory of figure 1;
figure 5 shows a view cross-sectioned along plane V-V of the accessory of figure 1;
figure 6 shows a top view of some accessories of figure 1, joined to each other;
figure 7 shows a top view of the accessory according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
figure 8 shows a top view of the accessory according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
figure 9 shows a top view of the accessory according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
figure 10 shows a top view of the accessory according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
figure 11 shows a bottom view of the accessory of figure 10;
figure 12 shows a side view of the accessory of figure 10;
figure 13 shows a view cross-sectioned along plane XIII-XIII of the accessory of figure 10;
figure 14 shows a view cross-sectioned along plane XIV-XIV of the accessory of figure 10;
figure 15 shows a front view of the accessory of figure 10;
figure 16 shows a top view of the accessory according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
figure 17 shows a bottom view of the accessory of figure 16;
figure 18 shows a front view of the accessory of figure 16;
figure 19 shows a side view of the accessory of figure 16; and
figure 20 shows a view cross-sectioned along plane XX-XX of the accessory of figure 16.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, it is seen that the accessory according to the present invention comprises a main body 1 which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and is suitably crossed by a plurality of cross-holes 2 which cross seats 3 made in the main body 1 for housing at least partially a sphere which can be inserted from the top through openings 4 made in the upper wall of the main body 1. The base of seats 3 is also preferably connected with the outside through a vertical hole 5 made in the lower wall of the main body 1. In the present embodiment, there are two seats 3 arranged along the longitudinal axis of the main body 1 and having a substantially hemispherical shape. Depth D and/or width W of the main body 1 are greater than its height H and are substantially equal to distance d1 between the centers of seats 3 or to a whole multiple thereof, while distance d2 between the centers of seats 3 and the side walls of the main body 1 is substantially equal to the half, or to an odd multiple of this half, of the distance d1 between the centers of seats 3. Distance d1 is in particular comprised between 26 and 29 mm or between 37 and 40 mm while height H of the main body 1 is in particular comprised between 14 and 16 mm. The longitudinal axis of cross-holes 2 and/or of the vertical holes 5 crosses the center of seats 3. The side walls and/or corners of the main body 1 are provided with a half seat 6 and/or a quarter of a seat 7, respectively, as well as with the relevant portions of openings 4 and of the vertical holes 5, so that by arranging a plurality of main bodies 1 side by side along more rows and columns their half seats 6 or their quarters of a seat 7 can form seats with the same shape of the whole seats 3. Distance d3 between the center of the half seats 6 made in the side walls of the main body 1 and the side corners of the latter is substantially equal to the distance d1 between the centers of seats 3 or to a whole multiple thereof, so that these half seats 6 are located between two whole seats 3.
Referring to figure 5, it is seen that a known ferromagnetic sphere 8 can be inserted into a seat 3 through the relevant opening 4 and that a plurality of known magnetic bars 9 can be partially inserted into cross-holes 2 and/or into the vertical holes 5 adjacent to seat 3, so that an end thereof is applied to the ferromagnetic sphere 8. One or more magnetic bars 9 can further be applied to the ferromagnetic sphere through opening 4. Openings 4 preferably have a substantially frustoconical shape with a summit angle of at least 90°, so that the magnetic bars 9 can form an angle a comprised between 45° and 90° with respect to the wall of the main body 1 in which these openings are made.
Figure 6 shows a complex structure comprising a plurality of main bodies 1 which are arranged side by side with the sides parallel, perpendicular and/or offset to each other and joined two by two by means of a pair of magnetic bars 9. Each magnetic bar 9 is inserted into two cross-holes 2 of two adjacent main bodies 1 and has its ends applied to two ferromagnetic spheres 8 inserted into a seat 3 of these two main bodies 1.
Figures 7 and 8 show two embodiments similar to the first embodiment, in which the main body 1 respectively has a square profile with five seats 3 arranged along three offset rows and a rectangular profile with eight seats 3 arranged along three offset rows, the central row being arranged along the longitudinal axis of the main body 1. These two embodiments are particularly suitable for the construction of complex structures with platforms.
Figure 9 shows a fourth embodiment similar to the previous embodiments, in which the main body 1 has an elongated rectangular profile with five seats 3 arranged along the longitudinal axis of the main body 1. This embodiment is particularly suitable for carrying out complex structures with bars.
Figures 10 to 15 show a fifth embodiment in which the main body 1 has an elongated rectangular profile with five seats 3 open upwards, between which fours seats 3 open downwards are arranged in an alternated manner. Distance d4 between the centers of seats 3 open upwards and downwards is substantially equal to the half, or to a odd multiple of this half, of distance d1 between the centers of seats 3 open upwards or downwards. Seats 3 are preferably provided with a frustoconical opening 4 and a vertical hole 5 as in the previous embodiments, however height H is lower than the diameter of seats 3, in particular comprised between 9 and 11 mm, so that a ferromagnetic sphere 8 can protrude from the main body 1 through opening 4 and/or the vertical hole 5.
Figures 16 to 20 show a sixth embodiment in which the main body 1 has a rectangular profile with eight seats 3 open upwards arranged along three offset rows, between which seven seats 3 open downwards are arranged, so that the fifteen seats 3 are arranged along three rows and five columns in an alternated manner upwards or downwards. The side walls and/or corners of the main body 1 are provided with a half seat 6 and/or a quarter of a seat 7, respectively, also arranged in an alternated manner upwards or downwards. Seats 3, 6, 7 are preferably provided with frustoconical openings 4 and/or vertical holes 5, or portions thereof, while height H is in particular comprised between 9 and 11 mm, so that a ferromagnetic sphere 8 can protrude from the main body 1 through openings 4 and/or the vertical holes 5. Furthermore, the vertical holes 5 have a substantially quadrilobed shape, so that a magnetic bar 9 applied to the portion of the ferromagnetic sphere 8 which protrudes through a vertical hole 5 can be inclined along the axis of a lobe, as shown in figure 20.
In all the above mentioned embodiments of the invention, the main body 1 is made of a plastic or ferromagnetic material.
Further variations and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments hereinabove described and illustrated, while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Accessory for magnetic construction games which comprise one or more magnetic bars (9) suitable for being mutually joined through ferromagnetic spheres (8) so as to made up a complex structure, said accessory comprising a main body (1) which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and is provided with a plurality of cross-holes (2) which can house in use at least partially one or more magnetic bars (9), characterized in that said cross-holes (2) lead to a plurality of seats (3) which are made in the main body (1) for housing in use at least partially a ferromagnetic sphere (8) and are provided with at least one opening (4) made in a wall of the main body (1) for inserting in use this ferromagnetic sphere (8) into the relevant seat (3).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the side walls of the main body (1) are provided with a half seat (6), so that by arranging a plurality of main bodies (1) side by side, their half seats (6) can form seats with the same shape of the whole seats (3).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the distance (d3) between the center of the half seats (6) made in the side walls of the main body (1) and the side corners of the latter is substantially equal to the distance (d1) between the centers of the whole seats (3) or to a whole multiple thereof.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the side corners of the main body (1) are provided with a quarter of a seat (7), so that by arranging a plurality of main bodies (1) side by side along more rows and columns their quarters of a seat (7) can form seats with the same shape of the whole seats (3).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said seats (3) and/or portions thereof (6, 7) are suitable for housing at least partially a ferromagnetic sphere (8) inserted from the top or the bottom through an opening (4) made in the upper or lower wall, respectively, of the main body (1).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that a seat (3) and/or a portion thereof (6, 7) provided with an opening (4) made in the upper or lower wall of the main body (1) is arranged between two seats (3) and/or portions thereof (6, 7) provided with an opening (4) made in the opposite wall of the main body (1).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the distance (d4) between the centers of the seats (3) or of their portions (6, 7) provided with an opening (4) made in the upper or lower wall of the main body (1) is substantially equal to the half, or to an odd multiple of this half, of the distance (d1) between the centers of the seats (3) or of their portions (6, 7) provided with an opening (4) made in the opposite wall of the main body (1).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said opening (4) has a substantially frustoconical shape or a portion thereof.
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that said opening (4) has a substantially frustoconical shape or a portion thereof with a summit angle of at least 90°, so that one or more magnetic bars (9) inserted into this opening (4) can form an angle (a) comprised between 45° and 90° with respect to the wall of the main body (1) in which the opening (4) is made.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the base of the seats (3) and/or of their portions (6, 7) is provided with a vertical hole (5) made in the upper or lower wall of the main body (1).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the vertical hole (5) has a substantially quadrilobed shape or a portion thereof, so that a magnetic bar (9) applied to a ferromagnetic sphere (8) which protrudes through this vertical hole (5) can be inclined along the axis of a lobe.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the cross-holes (2) and/or of the vertical holes (5) crosses the center of the seats (3) and/or of their portions (6, 7).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the seats (3) and/or their portions (6, 7) have a substantially hemispherical shape or a portion thereof, respectively.
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the height (H) of the main body (1) is lower than the diameter of the seats (3).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the depth (D) and/or width (W) of the main body (1) are greater than its height (H).
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that the height (H) of the main body (1) is comprised between 9 and 16 mm.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the depth (D) and/or width (W) of the main body (1) are substantially equal to the distance (d1) between the centers of the seats (3) or to a whole multiple thereof.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the distance (d2) between the centers of the seats (3) and the side walls of the main body (1) is substantially equal to the half, or to an odd multiple of this half, of the distance (d1) between the centers of seats (3).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the distance (d1) between the centers of seats (3) is comprised between 26 and 29 mm or between 37 and 40 mm.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the main body (1) comprises two or more seats (3) arranged along the longitudinal axis of the main body (1).
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the main body (1) comprises two or more seats (3) arranged along more rows and columns.
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that said seats (3) are arranged along more mutually offset rows and columns.
Accessory according to the previous claim, characterized in that said seats (3) are arranged along three rows and five columns, which are mutually offset.
Accessory according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the main body (1) is made of a plastic or ferromagnetic material.