COMPONENT OF MAGNETIC BRICK

The present invention relates to a component of magnetic brick of the type specified in the preamble to the first claim.

More particularly, the present invention has as its object a component which, when coupled with other components, enables the creation of a magnetic brick which can be assembled with other corresponding magnetic bricks.

As is well known, the LEGO® bricks are among the most popular recreational objects, especially among youngsters. Such bricks essentially present a hollow casing defining a plurality of teeth at an upper base, generally of discoidal shape, to a plurality of holes at the lower base intended to accommodate the teeth of other bricks.

Essentially, therefore, the bricks can be assembled to make objects, typically toys, of various shapes and sizes.

As an alternative to the aforementioned interlocking bricks, it is known the magnetic bricks. Similar bricks are described, for example, in patent applications US-A-2015065007, DE-A-102018121516 and CN-U-206167920.

Such bricks generally comprise one or more magnetic faces that can be coupled with corresponding magnetic faces of other bricks.

In addition, other magnetic bricks are known to include an enclosure comprising housings for housing one or more magnets at the walls, for example hidden adjacent to the walls or accessible from the outside through openings facing the magnets.

The known technique described includes some major drawbacks.

In particular, all magnetic bricks generally have complex and therefore economically expensive structures.

In addition, the magnets are often not positioned correctly and may reduce the efficiency of the bricks, which, in some cases, may also be difficult to assemble with other bricks.

Furthermore, the bricks of the known technique do not allow for the simple realisation of different shapes, while maintaining an almost unchanged brick structure.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a component of magnetic brick capable of substantially obviating at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

In the context of said technical task, it is an important aim of the invention to obtain a component of magnetic brick which allows simple, easily assembled and, therefore, inexpensive bricks.

A further important scope of the invention is to achieve a component of magnetic brick which allows to make, when coupled with another component, extremely efficient magnetic bricks, i.e., capable of always maintaining a sufficient mutual magnetic attraction force between the various bricks.

In conclusion, a further task of the invention is to realise a component of magnetic brick which is easily adaptable to various shapes without having to change the main structure of the brick.

The specified technical task and purposes are achieved by a component of magnetic brick as claimed in the appended claim 1 .

Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

The features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter clarified by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: the Fig. 1a shows an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall is substantially square; the Fig. 1b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 1 a; the Fig. 2a is a detail view from above of the connector on the bottom wall of a component according to the invention in a first embodiment form; the Fig. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Fig. 2a; the Fig. 3a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and the bottom wall is substantially rectangular; the Fig. 3b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 3a; the Fig. 4a is an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment form in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall is substantially square and the brick comprises a plurality of spherical magnets on each wall; the Fig. 4b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 4a; the Fig. 5a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising three components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall is substantially square and in which the central component defines two profiles at opposite ends of the side walls; the Fig. 5b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 5a; the Fig. 6a is an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and the bottom wall has substantially an isosceles triangle shape with angles at the base equal to 75°; the Fig. 6b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 6a; the Fig. 7a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by contour is similar to the component contour of Fig. 6a and in which part of the side walls comprises a plurality of spherical magnets; the Fig. 7b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 7a; the Fig. 8a is an exploded view of a brick comprising three components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the profile-defined contour is similar to the contour of the component of Fig. 6a and in which the central component defines two profiles at opposite ends of the side walls; the Fig. 8b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 1 a; the Fig. 9a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and the end wall has substantially an isosceles right triangle shape with angles at the base equal to 45°; the Fig. 9b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 9a; the Fig. 10a is an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the profile-defined contour is similar to the component contour of Fig. 9a and in which the central component defines two profiles at opposite ends of the side walls; the Fig. 10b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 10a; the Fig. 11a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and bottom wall has substantially an equilateral triangle shape; the Fig. 11b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 11 a; the Fig. 12a is an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a first embodiment in which the contour defined by profile is similar to the component contour of Fig. 11a and in which the central component defines two profiles at opposite ends of the side walls; the Fig. 12b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 12a; the Fig. 13a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a second embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and the bottom wall is substantially square; the Fig. 13b illustrates a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 13a; the Fig. 14a is a schematic perspective and cross-sectional view of the brick of Figs. 13a-13b in which only the spherical magnets of the bottom wall are shown and the profile and related magnet housings are not shown; the Fig. 14b shows a side view of the brick of Fig. 14a; the Fig. 14c shows a cross-sectional view of the brick of Figs. 14a-14b; the Fig. 15a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a second embodiment in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall is substantially rectangular, each profile comprises two grooves and the brick comprises a plurality of spherical magnets on two walls; the Fig. 15b is a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 15a; the Fig. 16a depicts an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a second embodiment in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall has substantially an isosceles triangle shape with angles at the base equal to 75° and one side wall is curved; the Fig. 16b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 16a; the Fig. 17a illustrates an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in a second embodiment in which the contour defined by the profile and base wall has substantially an equilateral triangle shape; the Fig. 17b is a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 17a; the Fig. 18a depicts an exploded view of a brick comprising components according to the invention in which the contour defined by profile and bottom wall has substantially an isosceles right triangle shape with angles at the base equal to 45°; and the Fig. 18b shows a perspective view of the assembled brick of Fig. 9a.

In the present document, the measurements, values, shapes and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words like “about” or other similar terms such as “approximately” or “substantially”, are to be considered as except for measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors, and, above all, except for a slight divergence from the value, measurements, shape, or geometric reference with which it is associated. For instance, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a divergence of not more than 10% of the value.

Moreover, when used, terms such as “first”, “second”, “higher”, “lower”, “main” and “secondary” do not necessarily identify an order, a priority of relationship or a relative position, but can simply be used to clearly distinguish between their different components.

Unless otherwise specified, as results in the following discussions, terms such as “treatment”, “computing”, “determination”, “calculation”, or similar, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar electronic calculation device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic quantities of registers of a computer system and/or memories in, other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers or other storage, transmission or information displaying devices. The measurements and data reported in this text are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as performed in the International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).

With reference to the Figures, the component of magnetic brick according to the invention is globally referred to by the number 1.

The component 1 is substantially a part of brick 10.

The brick 10 is, as with almost all playful construction devices on the market, such as the LEGO®, a three-dimensional element that can be permanently assembled with other bricks 10.

Naturally, as explained in more detail below and as shown in the figures, the brick 10 can be made in different shapes and sizes.

In general, the possibility of being able to define, with component 1 , a plurality of different bricks 10, makes it possible to realise a construction kit.

The construction kit comprising a plurality of bricks 10. The bricks 10 of the kit preferably define different shapes and sizes.

Thus, substantially, the kit may be realised from a package within which there are a plurality of bricks that can be assembled and enable, for example a young user, to assemble and organise the bricks 10 as desired.

The component 1 thus essentially defines the connecting part by means of which component 1 itself can be combined with at least one other component to define a brick 10.

In this regard, the component 1 comprises at least side walls 2.

The side walls 2 are preferably flat. Therefore, they define a first extension plane 2a. Of course, the extension plane 2a does not necessarily have to be exactly flat, but may develop in a slightly curved manner. Moreover, side walls 2 are the walls that delimit component 1 and substantially give it its shape. In fact, the side walls 2 extend parallel to a central axis 1a.

The central axis 1 a is essentially an axis arranged in a central position, for example equidistant from the side walls 2. In general, the side walls 2 are distributed around the central axis 1 a. In this way, they form at least one profile 3 at their ends.

The profile 3 is essentially defined by the set of ends on the same side as the side walls 2. Since the latter are distributed around the central axis 1 a, preferably the profile 3 is closed. The profile 3 is therefore, defined on a main plane 1b.

The main plane 1 b is perpendicular to the central axis 1 a. The central axis 1 a, therefore, may be a barycentric axis of the component 1 evaluated in relation to the profile 3.

The profile 3 defines, therefore, a base area of component 1 from which the side walls 2 protrude. The latter, moreover, have two opposite ends parallel to the central axis 1 a, and may therefore define two profiles 3 positioned at opposite end sides.

In each case, the profile 3 comprises housings 30.

The housings 30 each define a cavity. Advantageously, in particular, the cavity defines a spherical cap shape.

In this way, the cavity can accommodate at least part of a spherical magnet 11.

The spherical magnet 1 1 is an element having several magnetic polarities per side and defining a spherical outer surface. Therefore, the cavity is configured to house in a compliant way the spherical magnet 11 . By this is meant that, given the geometry of the cavity and the spherical magnet 11 , the latter can freely rotate about any axis with respect to the housing 30.

The side walls 2 may also comprise one or more first openings 20. If present, the first openings 20 face a respective housing 30. Thus, each housing 30 may, in particular, be configured to allow a spherical magnet 11 disposed therein to emerge from the first opening 20. Preferably and advantageously, the housing 30 is configured for the spherical magnet 11 to emerge tangent with respect to the first extension plane 2a.

This essentially means that the spherical magnet 11 is tangent to the plane defined by the outer surface of the respective first wall 2 at the respective first opening 20.

In a first embodiment, the profile 3 further comprises a first interface portion 31 and a second interface portion 32.

The first portion 31 and the second portion 32 are parts of the profile 3. In particular, the first portion 31 and the second portions 32 are complementary parts of the profile 3 considered excluding the housings 30.

In particular, the portions 31 , 32 are mutually separated by a sagittal plane 1c. The sagittal plane 1 c is a plane passing through the central axis 1 a and normal to the main plane 1 b. Furthermore, the sagittal plane 1 c subdivides the contour 3 into the portions 31 , 32 in such a way that they define a contour of the same extension, or rather in two halves.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the portions 31 , 32 are reciprocally countershaped considering a virtual projection of the portions 31 , 32 on the sagittal plane 1 c given by the rotation of the portions 31 , 32 around a rotation axis 1d.

The axis of rotation 1d is substantially given by the intersection of the planes 1 b, 1 c.

Thus, in other words, the second portion 32 is symmetrical to the negative of the first portion 31 with respect to the sagittal plane 1 c and vice versa, i.e., the first portion 31 is symmetrical to the negative of the second portion 32 with respect to the sagittal plane 1 c.

This means that the portions 31 , 32 are made in such a way that, if they could be rotated about the axis of rotation 1d, they could be mutually coupled.

In this regard, in more detail, the first portion 31 may comprise, therefore, a first pin 31a and/or a first hole 31 b.

Furthermore, the second portion 32 may, also comprise a second pin 32a and/or a second hole 32b.

Pins 31 a, 31 b are nothing more than elements protruding, parallel to the central axis 1 a, from the profile 3 away from the side walls 2 and configured to be housed in holes 31 b, 32b of other components 1 .

The holes 31 b, 32b are nothing more than cavities extending, parallel to the central axis 1 a, within the side walls 2 starting from the profile 3 and configured to accommodate pins 31 a, 32a of other components 1 .

In summary, each of the portions 31 , 32 may respectively comprise at least one pin 31 a, 32a protruding parallel to the central axis 1 a and/or a hole 31 b, 32b extending parallel to the central axis 1 a and configured to accommodate a pin 31 a, 32a.

In a second embodiment, the profile 3 comprises at least one groove 33.

The groove 33 runs predominantly along a trajectory, e.g. rectilinear, on the profile 3. The groove 33 is substantially a cavity of reduced thickness or slot, within which one or more elements may be accommodated.

In particular, preferably, the groove 33 develops transversally to the sagittal plane 1 c. Therefore, the groove 33 develops on two opposite sides of the profile 3 with respect to the sagittal plane 1 c. Furthermore, even more in detail, preferably the groove 33 develops symmetrically with respect to the central axis 1 a.

Naturally, in some embodiments, the groove 33 could also develop along the sagittal plane 1 c.

In any case, the groove 33 is preferably configured to accommodate, by interlocking, a wedge 34. The wedge 34 is essentially a flat element that can be inserted and trapped within the groove 33 and locked therein by pushing the wedge 34, with a suitable force, within the groove 33.

Thus, the wedge 34 may be defined by a lamella or plate preferably wedged between two grooves 33 of two overlapping components 1 in such a way as to reciprocally constrain them.

Advantageously, moreover, the slots 30 are also distributed in a specific manner.

In particular, irrespective of the form of realisation, the housings 30 are distributed or formed mirror-like to the sagittal plane 1 c. By this is meant that the housings 30 can be arranged in the same symmetrical position with respect to the sagittal plane 1 c on the profile 3, or if they are realised precisely at the sagittal plane 1 c they can be subdivided from the sagittal plane 1 c into two symmetrical parts forming one and the same housing 30.

In this way, given the symmetry, the housings 30 are configured in such a way that, when projected onto the sagittal plane 1 c following a rotation about the axis of rotation 1d, they can make housings within which the spherical magnets 11 are trapped in a compliant way.

The component 1 may include further features.

For example, the component 1 , as mentioned above, may comprise two profiles 3 positioned at the ends of the side walls 2.

Or, component 1 may further comprise a bottom wall 4.

If present, the bottom wall 4 is parallel to the main plane 1 b. Thus, the bottom wall 4 is also preferably flat and defines a second extension plane 4a.

Furthermore, the bottom wall 4 is preferably connected to the side walls 2 at opposite ends to the profile 3.

The bottom wall 4 may be a simple wall. Alternatively, the bottom wall 4 may comprise one or more connectors 40. If present, the one or more connectors 40 are distributed or formed mirror-like to the sagittal plane 1 c, similarly to how the housings 30 are.

Thus, the one or more connectors 40 are each configured to constrain in a compliant way a spherical magnet 11 .

In this regard, in detail, the connector 40 may comprise at least two gripping elements 40a. The gripping elements 40a preferably protrude parallel to the central axis 1 a. For example, the gripping elements 40a protrude from the bottom wall 4 alongside part of the side walls 2.

Alternatively, the gripping elements 40a may be defined by walls and the connector 40 may substantially correspond to a cavity, for example a through cavity starting from the profile 3 and ending at the end wall 4, as further specified below.

Furthermore, the socket elements 40a are configured to retain a spherical magnet 11 . For this purpose, preferably, the gripping elements 40a define gripping surfaces 40b. The gripping surfaces 40b are mutually facing each other and define concavities in the shape of a spherical cap to house in a compliant way part of the spherical magnet 11 . Thus, each of the gripping elements 40a provided with its own gripping surface 40b defines a form and function similar to a housing 30.

Since the gripping elements 40a are preferably arms between which the spherical magnet 11 is to be inserted, the gripping elements 40a may be flexible in such a way as to allow the spherical magnet 11 to be housed in a compliant way by interlocking. In other words, the spherical magnet 11 can be pushed between the gripping elements 40a which flex elastically to accommodate the spherical magnet 11 and return into position.

Alternatively, the gripping elements 40a may also be rigid elements and the connector 40 may further include a lid configured to connect the ends of the gripping elements 40a and to seal a spherical magnet 11 between the bottom wall 4, the gripping elements 40a and the lid. Therefore, it may be contemplated, in the production phase of the component 1 , to insert the spherical magnet 11 between the rigid gripping elements 40a and then to lock the spherical magnet 11 into the connector 40 by constraining the lid, for example by gluing and/or welding and/or interlocking, to the ends of the gripping elements 40a.

The bottom wall 4 and the profile 3 may, being mutually independent although connected by the side walls 2, define different shapes and dimensions. Preferably, however, the end wall 4 and the profile 3 define the same contour. The contour can be, for example, one of a choice between a square, a rectangle and a triangle.

Naturally, the shapes are not to be understood as perfect geometries since, as shown in all the figures, component 1 may include bevelled edges.

The bottom wall 4 may also include one or more second openings 41. If present, similarly to the first openings 20, the second openings 41 face a respective connector 40. Thus, each connector 40 may, in particular, be configured to allow a spherical magnet 11 disposed therein to emerge from the second opening 41 . Preferably, the connector 40, like the housing 30, is configured for the spherical magnet 11 to emerge tangent with respect to the second extension plane 4a.

This essentially means that the spherical magnet 11 is tangent to the plane defined by the outer surface of the respective bottom wall 4 at the respective second opening 41 . As mentioned above, gripping elements 40a may be defined by walls, and the connector 40 may substantially correspond to a cavity, for example a through cavity starting at the profile 3 and ending at the respective second bottom wall 4. In this case, the through cavity substantially ends at the respective second opening 41. Furthermore, in this case, if the component 1 is realised according to the second embodiment form, there is no need for the gripping elements 40a to define gripping surfaces 40b. They can in fact retain a spherical magnet 11 by cooperating with the wedge 34, as shown for example in Figs. 14b-14c.

In this case, the connector 40 can, in fact, define a converging surface from the profile 3 to the bottom wall 4. The holding of the spherical magnet 11 is realised by the wedge 34 when the latter is embedded in the groove 33.

Therefore, preferably, in this case the connector 40 defines gripping walls 40a at least partly delimiting the groove 33 or, better said, part of the groove 33 realises the connector 40.

The component 1 may, therefore, be coupled to another component 1 to make a brick 10.

In the brick 10, in a first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 a-1 b, 3a-4b, 6a-7b, 9a-9b and 11 a-11 b, the components 1 are mutually constrained by overlapping the first portion 31 of one of the components 1 to the second portion 32 of the other of the components 1 and vice versa. Thus, the bricks 10 also comprise a plurality of spherical magnets 11 . Each of the spherical magnets 11 is advantageously trapped in a compliant way between two overlapping housings 30 of the components 1 .

In addition, one or more spherical magnets 11 may also be trapped in respective connectors 40.

In other embodiments of the bricks 10, as shown, for example, in Figs. 5a-5b, 8a-8b, 10a-10b and 12a-12b, the latter may comprise at least three components 1 . Thus, one of the components 1 comprises two profiles 3 arranged at opposite ends of the side walls 2. Thus, the profiles 3 are each configured to be superimposed on a profile 3 of another component 1 .

Naturally, the assembly between the profiles 3 can take place as explained above for the configurations with two components 1. Furthermore, the components 1 also comprise spherical magnets 11 positioned on the housings 30 or, rather, between the overlapping housings 30 of the mutually overlapping profiles. Thus, also in these embodiments the components 1 could comprise spherical magnets 11 positioned in connectors 40 on the bottom walls 4.

In a second form of embodiment shown in Figs. 13a-18b, the components 1 are reciprocally constrained by interposing, constrained by interlocking, at least one wedge 34 grooves 33 such that each of the spherical magnets 11 is trapped in a compliant way between two overlapping housings 30 of the components 1 . Thus, in this case, the brick 10 substantially comprises a plurality of spherical magnets 11 , at least one wedge 34 and at least two components 1 .

Naturally, also in this embodiment the components 1 could be more than two in number and one of the components could comprise two profiles 3 on opposite faces.

Therefore, in this form of embodiment, more wedge 34 could be provided, to be fed between grooves 33 of different components 1 . Or, again, each profile 3 could also include a plurality of grooves 3 and, therefore, a plurality of wedges 34 It could be distinguished, intertwined, between two profiles 3, as shown in the examples of the figs. 15th-15b.

The operation of component 1 described above in structural terms is as follows.

The component 1 can be assembled with another component 1 , or components 1 , equipped with spherical magnets 11 to make bricks 10.

The bricks 10 can be juxtaposed by overlapping the side walls 2 with each other, or with the bottom walls 4 with each other, to allow the spherical magnets 11 to rotate within the housings 30 and the connectors 40 so as to define opposite polarities and to realise a mutual force of attraction that keeps the bricks mutually constrained. It is therefore possible to realise various constructions, of different shapes and sizes, using the bricks 10 possibly arranged within a kit.

The component 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages.

In fact, the component of magnetic brick 1 makes it possible to obtain simple, easily assembled and, therefore, inexpensive bricks. In fact, the conformation of the profiles 3 makes it possible to make components 1 in series which are substantially mutually assembled to make different bricks 10.

In addition, the component of magnetic brick 1 , when coupled with another component 1 , makes it possible to realise extremely efficient magnetic bricks, i.e. bricks that are always able to maintain a sufficient mutual magnetic force of attraction between the various bricks. The fact of having spherical magnets 11 tangent to the extension planes 2a, 4a of the side walls 2 and bottom wall 4 significantly increases the interaction force between the walls 2, 4.

In conclusion, the component of magnetic brick 1 is easily adaptable to various shapes without having to change its main structure. In fact, the conformation of the components 1 allows them to be adapted to various shapes of templates.

The invention is susceptible to variations within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

Within this scope, all details are substitutable by equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and dimensions can be any.