Patent · US Active

Self-assembling toy, toy assembler, launcher, and track

US8011994B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
15References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 13, 2008
Grant dateSep 6, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63H18/026
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention provides a toy assembly system comprising a central compartment configured to house a plurality of toy bodies, each toy body having magnetic hubs arranged in an outer region of the body. The system can include outer compartments that house ferromagnetic outer components (e.g., ferromagnetic spheres) separate from the toy bodies and a release mechanism configured to release during a single operation a single toy body and a set of outer components, wherein the single toy body and the set of outer components self-assemble and automatically align. Another aspect provides a toy track system comprising a launch portion configured to magnetically retain the magnetic vehicle in a launch position, a release configured to release the vehicle from the launch position, and a track portion coupled to the launch portion and configured to guide the released vehicle along a predetermined path.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.