Magnetic toy construction modules with side-mounted magnets

Abstract

Three-dimensional assemblies include substantially planar structural components having various two-dimensional generally polygonal shapes. Each such structural component includes a plurality of magnets positioned substantially at the midpoints of the polygonal sides of the structural component for use in connecting multiple instances of such structural components together, e.g., via the use of interconnecting ferromagnetic balls sized and configured for efficient interaction with such magnets. Such structural components can also include one or more slots extending inward from the peripheral edge surface of the component for use in assembling corresponding structural components together in an interlocking fashion, e.g., to form cruciform.

1 . A planar body, comprising: 
 a first major surface;    a second major surface opposite and substantially parallel to the first major surface;    a peripheral edge surface disposed between and substantially perpendicular to the first and second major surfaces, the peripheral edge surface including a plurality of side edges;    a slot formed in a first side edge of the plurality of side edges;    a first recess formed in the first side edge, the first recess including a substantially curved side wall; and    a first pocket formed within the first side edge adjacent the slot, the first pocket having a first magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein.    
     
     
         2 . The planar body of  claim 1 , wherein the outward-facing magnetic surface is recessed from an outer surface of the peripheral edge surface to form a seat.  
     
     
         3 . The planar body of  claim 1 , wherein the curved side wall is a spherical side wall.  
     
     
         4 . The planar body of  claim 1 , wherein the planar body is in the general shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         5 . The planar body of  claim 1 , wherein the planar body is in the general shape of a rectangle.  
     
     
         6 . The planar body of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pocket formed adjacent the slot, the second pocket having a second magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein.  
     
     
         7 . A three-dimensional assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially planar bodies, each substantially planar body having a generally polygonal shape including 
 a first major surface,  
 a second major surface opposite and substantially parallel to the first major surface,  
 a peripheral edge surface disposed between and substantially perpendicular to the first and second major surfaces, the peripheral edge surface including a plurality of side edges,  
 a slot formed in a first side edge of the plurality of side edges,  
 a first recess formed in the first side edge, the first recess including a substantially curved side wall, and  
 a first pocket formed within the first side edge adjacent the slot, the first pocket having a first magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein; and  
   a first planar body and a second planar body of the plurality of substantially planar bodies interlocked such that the slot of first planar body engages the slot of the second planar body and the first magnet of the first planar body magnetically bonds to the first magnet of the second planar body, the first recess of the first planar body aligning with the first recess of the second planar body to form a first seat.    
     
     
         8 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a ferromagnetic ball; and    a third planar body and a fourth planar body of the plurality of substantially planar bodies interlocked such that the slot of third planar body engages the slot of the fourth planar body and the first magnet of the third planar body magnetically bonds to the first magnet of the fourth planar body, the first recess of the third planar body aligning with the first recess of the fourth planar body to form a second seat,    wherein the third planar body and the second planar body are coupled such that the first seat and the second seat align to form a third seat for the ferromagnetic ball, the ferromagnetic ball magnetically bonds to the first magnet of the third planar body and to the first magnet of the second planar body.    
     
     
         9 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a second magnet adjacent the first seat; and    a third magnet adjacent the second seat,    wherein the second magnet magnetically bonds the ferromagnetic ball to the second planar body and the third magnet magnetically bonds the ferromagnetic ball to the third planar body.    
     
     
         10 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first magnet, second magnet and third magnet are each recessed from the peripheral edge.  
     
     
         11 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially curved side wall is a spherical side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each substantially planar body of the plurality of substantially planar bodies further includes 
 a second recess formed in a second side edge of the plurality of side edges, the recess including a substantially curved side wall; and    a second pocket formed within the second side edge adjacent the second recess, the second pocket having a second magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein,    wherein the second recess of the first planar body and the second recess of the second planar body align to form a second seat.    
     
     
         13 . A three-dimensional assembly, comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially planar bodies, each substantially planar body having a generally polygonal shape including 
 a first major surface,  
 a second major surface opposite and substantially parallel to the first major surface,  
 a peripheral edge surface disposed between and substantially perpendicular to the first and second major surfaces,  
 a recess formed in the peripheral edge surface, the recess including a substantially curved side wall, and  
 a first pocket formed within the peripheral edge surface adjacent the recess, the first pocket having a first magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein;  
   a ferromagnetic ball; and    a first planar body and a second planar body of the plurality of substantially planar bodies coupled such that the first recess of the first planar body aligns with the first recess of the second planar body to form a seat for the ferromagnetic ball, the ferromagnetic ball magnetically bonding to the first magnet of the first planer body and the first magnet of the second planer body.    
     
     
         14 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each planar body of the plurality of substantially planar bodies further comprises a second pocket formed within the peripheral edge surface adjacent the recess, the second pocket having a second magnet with an outward-facing magnetic surface disposed therein, the ferromagnetic ball magnetically bonding to the second magnet of the first planer body and the second magnet of the second planer body.  
     
     
         15 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the outward-facing magnetic surface of the first magnet is recessed from an outer surface of the peripheral edge.  
     
     
         16 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the curved side wall is a spherical side wall.  
     
     
         17 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second planar bodies is in the general shape of a triangle.  
     
     
         18 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second planar bodies is in the general shape of a rectangle.  
     
     
         19 . The three-dimensional assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the recess is formed at a midpoint along a length of a side of a plurality of sides of the peripheral edge.