Polyhedral block-type magnetic toys

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a polyhedral block-type magnetic toy, which is constructed so that a magnet is movably provided on each surface of a polyhedron. The magnetic toy includes a plurality of polyhedral blocks (31) and magnets (32). Each of the blocks includes a magnet moving space (R), which is provided across each surfaces of the polyhedron, is partitioned into a plurality of small moving spaces (Rs) by a plurality of walls (W), is covered by a cover unit such that each open end is isolated from an exterior, and has the shape of a straight groove. The magnets are movably inserted into the small moving spaces provided on opposite ends. The polyhedral block-type magnetic toy allows the contact area or coupling position to be changed as desired, when unit blocks contact each other, thus creating various shapes of structure, therefore being useful for education.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0049876, filed Jun. 10, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates, in general, to polyhedral block-type magnetic toys and, more particularly, to a polyhedral block-type magnetic toy, which includes a unit block having various polyhedral shapes, a magnet moving space provided across each surface of the unit block such that it does not protrude outwards from the surface and is partitioned into a plurality of small moving spaces, and magnets movably inserted into the small moving spaces. Thus, when the surface of one unit block approaches the surface of another unit block, and the approaching magnets have the same pole, a magnet of one unit block rotates in an associated small moving space, due to repulsive force between the magnets of the two unit blocks. Therefore, attractive force is always possible bet...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a polyhedral block-type magnetic toy, in which a plurality of magnets is coupled to each surface of a polyhedron such that the magnets are not fixed but are movable, thus allowing a contact area to be adjusted as desired while the surface of a polyhedral block contacts the surface of another polyhedral bock, therefore allowing blocks to be coupled in various shapes.

[0031] Thus, for example, when one desires to partition each magnet moving space into three compartments, a pair of partition walls is prepared. After one magnet moving space is partitioned into three small moving spaces which are arranged in a row, magnets are put into only two small moving spaces other than a central small moving space. Such a construction prevents the two magnets, provided on both sides of one magnet moving space, from being magnetically attracted to each other. Further, the small moving spaces may be provided on opposite sides of a straight line-shaped part which is provided across each surface of each unit block, excluding a central portion of the straight line-shaped part. Such a construction prevents magnets, put into the small moving spaces which are separately provided on opposite sides, from interfering with each other, thus allowing the magnets to be freely movable, like the structure where the magnet moving space is partitioned into small moving spaces by thick partition walls.

Problems solved by technology

However, limitations are imposed on the Lego products, because of the requirement for specifically shaped components to assemble specific structures.

Hence, if a child has Lego sets based on several themes, the total assembly components thereof occupy a large storage space.

Further, since the time needed to finding a desired component among many mixed components is long, a prolonged period to assemble a specific structure is further required.

Based on such a shape, larger and more complicated structures may be assembled.

The conventional magnetic toy may form a three-dimensional shape, that is, a polyhedral shape, but it does not have faces, so that it is unsuitable for education.

However, the conventional polyhedral blocks are problematic in that they are made of wood or synthetic resin, so that the blocks are apt to be damaged even by small external force, when the blocks are stacked up.

However, the slot in which each magnet is provided is fixed at a predetermined position, so that coupling is possible only at positions where magnets exist While the surface of one polyhedron may be coupled to the surface of another polyhedron, it is impossible to change the contact area as desired.

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