Rod-shaped module for toy magnetic construction kits and method for making same

A module for a toy construction kit, said module comprising:

• an elongated, monolithic body made entirely from a non-magnetic material, said body extending continuously along an imaginary central longitudinal axis of said body and having a central section with a first lateral cross-sectional shape, a pair of opposed ends, each of which has a second lateral cross-sectional shape different from said first lateral cross-sectional shape, a first end of said pair of opposed ends having a first hemi-spherical surface laterally offset relative to one side of the imaginary central longitudinal axis of said body and a second hemi-spherical surface laterally offset relative to an opposite side of the imaginary central longitudinal axis of said body, and a second end of said pair of opposed ends having a third hemi-spherical surface laterally offset relative to said one side of the imaginary central longitudinal axis of said body and a fourth hemi-spherical surface laterally offset relative to said opposite side of the imaginary central longitudinal axis of said body, and a pair of tapered neck sections, one of said neck sections connecting said central section of said body to said first end of said body and the other of said neck sections connecting said central section of said body to said second end of said body;
• a plurality of dome-shaped shells made from a magnetic material, said plurality of dome-shaped shells including a first pair of dome-shaped shells positioned on said first end of said body so as to at least partially cover said first and second hemi-spherical surfaces of said first end of said body, said first pair of dome-shaped shells including a first dome-shaped shell positioned on said first hemi-spherical surface and a second dome-shaped shell positioned on said second hemi-spherical surface, and a second pair of dome-shaped shells positioned on said second end of said body so as to at least partially cover said third and fourth hemi-spherical surfaces of said second end of said body, said second pair of dome-shaped shells including a third dome-shaped shell positioned on said third hemi-spherical surface and a fourth dome-shaped shell positioned on said fourth hemi-spherical surface, each shell of said first pair of dome-shaped shells and each shell of said second pair of dome-shaped shells having a hemi-spherical inner wall, a hemi-spherical outer wall, an aperture extending between said inner and outer hemi-spherical walls and an annular depression in said hemi-spherical outer wall extending circumferentially around said aperture;
• a first pair of plugs formed from said non-magnetic material as part of said first end of said body, one plug of said first pair of plugs extending through said aperture of said first dome-shaped shell and filling said depression in said first dome-shaped shell to thereby secure said first dome-shaped shell to said first end of said body, and the other plug of said first pair of plugs extending through said aperture of said second dome-shaped shell and filling said depression in said second dome-shaped shell to thereby secure said second dome-shaped shell to said first end of said body;
• and
• a second pair of plugs formed from said non-magnetic material as part of said second end of said body, one plug of said second pair of plugs extending through said aperture of said third dome-shaped shell and filling said depression in said third dome-shaped shell to thereby secure said third dome-shaped shell to said second end of said body, and the other plug of said second pair of plugs extending through said aperture of said fourth dome-shaped shell and filling said depression in said fourth dome-shaped shell to thereby secure said fourth dome-shaped shell to said second end of said body.