Magnetic construction toy

Abstract

The invention relates to a geometric construction toy for building geometrical structures and consists of a multiplicity of spherical magnetizable bodies which may be magnetically coupled to a connecting member. The connecting member has an upper boundary surface which is a concave surface of revolution and a lower boundary surface which is also a concave surface of revolution. The lower boundary surface is the mirror image of the upper boundary surface. A permanent magnet is captively carried by the connecting member and so disposed therein such that the poles of the magnet are located adjacent to or interiorly of the respective boundary surface thereby permitting a stable coupling of magnetizable bodies to each pole of the permanent magnet.

1 . A magnetic construction toy, comprising:
 a) a magnetizable body having a surface which is at least in part a surface of revolution;   b) a connection member for magnetically coupling to said surface of revolution, said connecting member having a vertical axis, a laterally extending upper boundary surface and a laterally extending lower boundary surface where said upper boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution having a radius of curvature substantially of like dimension as said surface of revolution of said magnetizable body; and   c) a magnet captively carried by said connecting member, said magnet having a first and a second end where said first end is so disposed within said connecting member such that said first end is located adjacent to or interiorly of said upper boundary surface.   
   
   
       2 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 1  where said lower boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution having a radius of curvature substantially of like dimension as said surface of revolution of said magnetizable body. 
   
   
       3 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 1  where said magnetizable body is spherically shaped. 
   
   
       4 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 1  further comprising a second magnetizable body having a surface which is at least in part a surface of revolution where said lower boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution having a radius of curvature substantially of like dimension as said surface of revolution of said second magnetizable body. 
   
   
       5 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 4  where said second magnetizable body is spherically shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 2  where said second end of said magnet is so disposed within said connecting member such that said second end is located adjacent to or interiorly of said lower boundary surface. 
   
   
       7 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 6  further comprising a second magnetizable body having a surface which is at least in part a surface of revolution having a radius of curvature of like dimension as said concave surface of revolution of said lower boundary surface. 
   
   
       8 . The magnetic construction toy recited in  claim 7  where said magnetizable body is spherically shaped and where said second magnetizable body is spherically shaped. 
   
   
       9 . A connecting member for magnetically coupling, with a magnetizable body said magnetizable body having at least in part a surface of revolution, where said connecting member comprises a vertical axis, a laterally extending upper boundary surface and a laterally extending lower boundary surface where said upper boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution having a radius of curvature of substantially like dimension as said surface of revolution of said magnetizable member, and a magnet captively carried within said connecting member where said said magnet has a first end and a second end and said first end is so disposed within said connecting member such that said first end is located adjacent to or interiorly of said upper boundary surface. 
   
   
       10 . The connecting member recited in  claim 9  where said lower boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution having a radius of curvature of substantially like dimension as said surface of revolution of said magnetizable body, and where said second end of said magnet is located adjacent to or interiorly of said lower boundary surface. 
   
   
       11 . The connecting member recited in  claim 9  where said lower boundary surface is a concave surface of revolution and where said second end of said magnet is located adjacent to or interiorly of said lower boundary surface. 
   
   
       12 . The connecting member recited in  claim 10  where said radius of curvature of said upper boundary surface is substantially equal to said radius of curvature of said lower boundary surface.