Magnetic component connector, circuit boards for use therewith, and kits for building and designing circuits

A magnetic component connector for connecting electronic components to form an electronic circuit, comprising:

• a plurality of electrically conductive magnetic legs, each leg being a magnet;
• a nonelectrically conductive joiner holding the plurality of magnetic legs, the joiner having opposite sides with each magnetic leg being accessable on each of said opposite joiner sides and each magnetic leg includes a leg portion extending outwardly from at least one of said joiner opposite sides;
• means for electrically connecting leads of an electronic component to respective magnetic legs;
• whereby a plurality of magnetic component connectors can be magnetically interconnected by magnetically connecting the leg of one magnetic component connector to the leg of another magnetic component connector to form an electronic circuit;
• and
• a base for stabilizing at least one magnetic component connector, said base including a plurality of leg receiving holes therein adapted to receive a leg portion of at least one component connector.

A circuit board adapted for use with a magnetic component connector having a plurality of electrically conductive legs, comprising:

• a circuit board for mounting electronic components thereto;
• a plurality of pins extending through the circuit board, each pin having a head, wherein the heads of the plurality of pins form a plurality of conductive contact pads mounted on the circuit board and adapted to be magnetically adhered to selected magnetic component connector legs, one of either the plurality of legs or the plurality of conductive pads being magnets and the other being of a material to which magnets are attracted;
• and
• means electrically interconnecting selected conductive contact pads of the plurality of conductive contact pads.

A kit for assembling a desired electronic circuit, comprising:

• a circuit board having a plurality of conductive contact pads mounted on the circuit board, selected conductive contact pads of the plurality of conductive contact pads being electrically interconnected and arranged in a predetermined manner;
• a plurality of magnetic component connectors, each having a plurality of electrically conductive legs, a nonconductive joiner holding the plurality of legs in a predetermined orientation, one of either the plurality of legs or the plurality of conductive pads being magnets and the other being of a material to which magnets are attracted, and means allowing movement of respective legs of the plurality of legs in relation to one another so that all legs of the plurality of legs will magnetically adhere to a selected plurality of contact pads;
• and
• a plurality of electronic components, respective electronic components having electronic component leads connected to respective legs of one of the plurality of magnetic component connectors;
• whereby a selected electronic component can be connected between respective conductive contact pads which are spaced apart in the predetermined manner by placing respective legs of a selected magnetic component connector having the predetermined orientation to mate with selected conductive contact pads to thereby connect circuit components to the circuit board to construct the desired circuit.

A kit for assembling a desired electronic circuit, comprising:

• a circuit board having a plurality of conductive contact pads mounted on the circuit board, selected conductive contact pads of the plurality of conductive contact pads being electrically interconnected and arranged in a predetermined manner;
• a plurality of magnetic component connectors, each having a plurality of electrically conductive magnetic legs with each leg being a magnet, and a nonelectrically conductive joiner holding the plurality of magnetic legs in a predetermined orientation, the joiner having opposite sides with each magnetic leg being accessable on each of said opposite joiner sides and each magnetic leg includes a leg portion extending outwardly from at least one of said joiner opposite sides;
• and
• a plurality of electronic components, respective electronic components having electronic component leads connected to respective legs of one of the plurality of magnetic component connectors;
• whereby a selected electronic component can be connected between respective conductive contact pads which are spaced apart in the predetermined manner by placing respective legs of a selected magnetic component connector having the predetermined orientation to mate with selected conductive contact pads to thereby connect circuit components to the circuit board to construct the desired circuit.