Magnetic Toy Device

Abstract

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a magnetic toy comprised of an outer male housing with an outer female housing that attach to one another through a post on the male housing and female attachment point on the female housing. A metallic partial enclosure is preferably sized to fit with notches positioned on the male and female housings and preferably includes a flat portion having an aperture for accept at least a portion of the post. A permanent magnet is fixed within the partial enclosure but is permitted to rotate about its longitudinal axis. A thin light-reflective element is also preferably sandwiched in between the outer male and female housings. Preferably, the magnet comprises a pair of triangular prisms having opposing polarity.

1 . A magnetic toy comprising:
 an outer male housing having
 a perimeter which contains a notch, 
 a post extending away from an interior portion of the outer male housing; 
   an outer female housing having
 a perimeter which aligns with the outer perimeter of the outer male housing, 
 a notch which is aligned with the notch of the outer male housing, 
 a female attachment point aligned with the post and placed on an interior portion of the female housing, 
   a metallic partial enclosure sized to fit within the notches of the male housing and female housing;   a rectangular magnet positioned for free rotation within the metallic partial enclosure; and   a thin light-reflective element sandwiched between the outer male housing and the outer female housing.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a flat plate which extends from the metallic partial enclosure, and 
 an aperture placed on the flat plate and sized to accept at least a portion of the post. 
 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  wherein:
 said thin light-reflective element contains a notch that is aligned with the notch in the outer male housing and the outer female housing. 
 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  wherein:
 the magnet comprises a pair of oppositely polarized triangular prisms which are sandwiched together. 
 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  wherein:
 the magnet comprises a pair of oppositely polarized rectangular bars which are sandwiched together. 
 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one tab extending over an opening defined by the metallic partial enclosure. 
 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic toy of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least a portion of the post is accepted into the female attachment point with a snap fit. 
 
     
     
         9 . A magnetic toy comprising:
 an outer male housing having
 a perimeter which contains a notch, 
 a post extending away from an interior portion of the outer male housing; 
   an outer female housing having
 a perimeter which aligns with the outer perimeter of the outer male housing, 
 a notch which is aligned with the notch of the outer male housing, 
 a female point aligned with the post and placed on an interior portion of the female housing, 
   a metallic partial enclosure sized to fit within the notch and having a flat portion with an aperture sized to accept the post;   a rectangular magnet positioned for free rotation within the metallic partial enclosure; and   a thin light-reflective element sandwiched between the outer male housing and the outer female housing, said element containing a notch that is aligned with the notch in the outer male housing and the outer female housing.   
     
     
         10 . The magnetic toy of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a gap in the metallic partial enclosure which faces away from the perimeter of the outer male housing. 
 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic toy of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a tab extending from the metallic partial enclosure to secure the magnet longitudinally within the partial enclosure. 
 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic toy of  claim 9  wherein:
 the magnet has a rectangular cross section. 
 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic toy of  claim 9  wherein:
 the magnet is confined within the longitudinal direction by a pair of tabs formed on opposing ends of the partial enclosure. 
 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic toy of  claim 9  wherein:
 the magnet is a cuboid where opposing vertices of the cuboid divide the magnet into opposite poles. 
 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic toy of  claim 12  wherein:
 opposite halves of the rectangular cross section comprise opposite magnetic poles. 
 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic toy of  claim 12  wherein:
 opposite magnetic poles occupy opposite diagonal halves of the rectangular cross section. 
 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic toy comprising:
 an outer male housing having
 a perimeter which contains a notch, 
 a post extending away from an interior portion of the outer male housing; 
   an outer female housing having
 a perimeter which aligns with the outer perimeter of the outer male housing, 
 a notch which is aligned with the notch of the outer male housing, 
 a female attachment point aligned with the post and placed on an interior portion of the female housing, 
   a metallic partial enclosure sized to fit within the notches of the male housing and female housing and comprising
 a flat plate with an aperture sized to accept a portion of the post, 
 a gap positioned adjacent to the flat plate, and 
 a pair of tabs on opposing ends of the metallic partial enclosure; and 
   a rectangular magnet positioned for free rotation about its longitudinal axis within the metallic partial enclosure.   
     
     
         18 . The magnetic toy of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a thin light-reflective element sandwiched between the outer male housing and the outer female housing and having a notch which is aligned with the notches in the male housing and female housing. 
 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic toy of  claim 17  wherein:
 the magnet comprises a first triangular prism having the north polarity, which is attached to a second triangular prism having the south polarity. 
 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic toy of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a textured surface on a front side and a back side of the thin light-reflective element.