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US 2014/0213139 A1Published application
Magnetic construction system and method
OwnerJoshua Willard Fergusoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic construction system comprised of plural multi-shaped structural bodies each containing one or more captured magnets, wherein each magnet is free to rotate within its respective retaining pocket to align in magnetic polarity with rotatable magnets in adjacent structural bodies. Surface geometry around each magnet may include a radial detent feature which provides lateral and rotational stability between magnetically coupled structural bodies, or a radial recess which allows free rotation of respective structural bodies about the polar axis of magnetic coupling.
Claims19
A magnetic construction apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of magnetic connector bodies configured for mutual magnetic connection one to another along mutually confronting surfaces of said connector bodies, wherein each said magnetic body comprises:
- a housing defining one or more internal pockets and having a plurality of external protrusions and indents formed alternately at equal intervals in a radial pattern around each of said pockets, whereby any two of said case portions may be seated one into the other in a laterally and rotationally stable detent manner;
- and
- a magnet rotatably retained within each of said pockets.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing providing a plurality of magnetic coupling nodes, each said node defined at a vertex of an equilateral triangular node pattern, said housing having a first face defining a first mating surface centered at each said node, each said first mating surface substantially similar to each other, said housing further including a perimeter wherein a portion of said perimeter proximate each said node includes a node perimeter contour and a portion of said perimeter intermediate a pair of adjacent nodes includes a body perimeter contour different from said node perimeter contour, said body perimeter contour complementary to said node perimeter contour wherein said node perimeter contour nests into said body perimeter contour, said housing further defining a plurality of internal cavities, one internal cavity associated with each said node of said plurality of nodes;
- and
- a plurality of permanent dipole magnets, one permanent dipole magnet disposed in each said internal cavity wherein said one permanent dipole magnet disposed in a particular cavity is proximate said first mating surface centered on said node associated with said particular cavity.
A constructing method, comprising:
- a) positioning a first magnetic constructing device of a set of magnetic constructing devices at a first location, each constructing device of said set of magnetic constructing devices including a housing providing a plurality of magnetic coupling nodes, each said node defined at a vertex of an equilateral triangular node pattern, said housing having a first face defining a first mating surface centered at each said node, each said first mating surface substantially similar to each other, said housing further including a perimeter wherein a portion of said perimeter proximate each said node includes a node perimeter contour and a portion of said perimeter intermediate a pair of adjacent nodes includes a body perimeter contour different from said node perimeter contour, said body perimeter contour complementary to said node perimeter contour wherein said node perimeter contour nests into said body perimeter contour, said housing further defining a plurality of internal cavities, one internal cavity associated with each said node of said plurality of nodes;
- and a plurality of permanent dipole magnets, one permanent dipole magnet disposed in each said internal cavity with each permanent dipole magnet including a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole and with said one permanent dipole magnet disposed in a particular cavity proximate said first mating surface centered on said node associated with said particular cavity;
- b) positioning a second magnetic constructing device of said set of magnetic constructing devices at said first location with one or more first particular mating surfaces of said first magnetic constructing device proximate to one or more second particular mating surfaces of said second magnetic constructing device;
- c) rotating said magnets at nodes associated with said particular mating surfaces so a north pole of a first magnet is aligned with a south pole of a second magnet producing one or more magnetic coupling forces;
- and
- d) retaining said second magnetic constructing device to said first magnetic constructing device using said one or more magnetic coupling forces.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.