Items magnetically connected through universal joints

Abstract

A new and improved magnetic structure comprises a linear form or array of a plurality of magnetic components that facilitates the relative disposition of such magnetic components with respect to each other whereby the plurality of magnetic components can be utilized to form any one of various different jewelry items, toys, amusement devices, educational implements, and instructional aids. The magnetic components are connected to each other along point-to-point contact loci, and spherically curved surface-to-surface contact loci, and a plurality of auxiliary or secondary ferromagnetic components may be magnetically connected to the magnetic components so as to define annular ring-like arrays around the point contact loci. The magnetic components can be identical in size, or alternatively, two alternating sets of magnetic components can have different diametrical dimensions. Still further, the diametrical extent of the auxiliary or secondary ferromagnetic components is a predetermined fractional amount of the diametrical extent of the primary magnetic components. Still further, in order to enhance the decorative appearance of the magnetic structures, particularly when the same comprise jewelry items, the primary magnetic and auxiliary or secondary ferromagnetic components may be provided with suitable, differently colored decorative or protective coatings.

1 . An articulated band, comprising: 
 a plurality of magnetic components;    first and second opposite magnetic poles defined within opposite ends of each one of said plurality of magnetic components so as to permit any one of said plurality of magnetic components to be magnetically attracted toward and operatively connected to another one of said plurality of magnetic components when a first one of said opposite magnetic poles of said any one of said plurality of magnetic components is operatively engaged with a second one of said opposite magnetic poles of said another one of said plurality of magnetic components; and    surface contour means defined upon each one of said plurality of magnetic components for permitting universal movement of each one of said plurality of magnetic components with respect to an adjacent one of said plurality of magnetic components operatively connected to said each one of said plurality of magnetic components.    
   
   
       2 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each one of said plurality of magnetic components has a spherical configuration such that said surface contour means defines point-to-point contact loci when each one of said plurality of magnetic components is magnetically attracted and connected to an adjacent one of said plurality of magnetic components.    
   
   
       3 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said articulated band comprises a continuous, uninterrupted, endless loop.    
   
   
       4 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 3 , 
 said endless loop comprises a jewelry item selected from the group comprising a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, and an earring.    
   
   
       5 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 each one of said plurality of magnetic components has the same diametrical extent.    
   
   
       6 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said plurality of magnetic components comprise two sets of magnetic components;    wherein each one of said magnetic components, comprising a first set of said two sets of magnetic components, has a first predetermined diametrical extent; and    wherein further, each one of said magnetic components, comprising a second set of said two sets of magnetic components, has a second predetermined diametrical extent which is less than said first diametrical extent characteristic of each one of said magnetic components comprising said first set of said two sets of magnetic components.    
   
   
       7 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said magnetic components comprising said first set of said two sets of magnetic components and said magnetic components comprising said second set of said two sets of magnetic components are magnetically connected together in an alternative array such that each one of said magnetic components comprising said first set of said two sets of magnetic components is interposed between a pair of said magnetic components comprising said second set of said two sets of magnetic components, and concomitantly, each one of said magnetic components comprising said second set of said two sets of magnetic components is interposed between a pair of said magnetic components comprising said first set of said two sets of magnetic components.    
   
   
       8 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of ferromagnetic components magnetically attracted and attached to said plurality of spherically configured magnetic components.    
   
   
       9 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said plurality of ferromagnetic components are disposed within a plurality of annular arrays defined around each one of said point-to-point contact loci defined between adjacent ones of said plurality of magnetic components magnetically connected together at said point-to-point contact loci.    
   
   
       10 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 each one of said plurality of magnetic components has a predetermined diametrical extent; and    each one of said plurality of annular arrays of ferromagnetic components has a predetermined diametrical extent which is substantially the same as said predetermined diametrical extent of each one of said plurality of magnetic components.    
   
   
       11 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each one of said magnetic components has a coating disposed upon the respective external surface portions thereof which is selected from the group comprising protective and decorative coatings.    
   
   
       12 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said coating is selected from the group comprising gold, silver, platinum, copper, chromium, rhodium, plastics, nickel, and enamels.    
   
   
       13 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 each one of said magnetic components, and each one of said ferromagnetic components, has a coating disposed upon the respective external surface portions thereof which is selected from the group comprising protective and decorative coatings.    
   
   
       14 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said coating is selected from the group comprising gold, silver, platinum, copper, chromium, rhodium, plastics, nickel, and enamels.    
   
   
       15 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a plurality of ferromagnetic components are interposed between said plurality of magnetic components whereby said plurality of magnetic components are operatively connected to each other through means of said plurality of ferromagnetic components.    
   
   
       16 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 each one of said magnetic components has a spherical configuration; and    each one of said ferromagnetic components has a spherical configuration with an annular recess portion defined within an axially central peripheral surface region thereof for accommodating said magnetic components having said spherical configurations.    
   
   
       17 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said annular recess portion, formed within each one of said ferromagnetic components, has arcuate contours in both X and Y directions so as to establish surface-to-surface contact regions with adjacent ones of said magnetic components.    
   
   
       18 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said magnetic components and said ferromagnetic components are magnetically connected together in an alternative array such that each one of said magnetic components is interposed between a pair of said ferromagnetic components, and concomitantly, each one of said ferromagnetic components is interposed between a pair of said magnetic components.    
   
   
       19 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 each one of said magnetic components, and each one of said ferromagnetic components, has a coating disposed upon the respective external surface portions thereof which is selected from the group comprising protective and decorative coatings.    
   
   
       20 . The articulated band as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein: 
 said coating is selected from the group comprising gold, silver, platinum, copper, chromium, rhodium, plastics, nickel, and enamels.