MAGNETIC SPIN TOY

Abstract

A magnetic spin toy with a first member having an axis and a second member configured to releasably attach to and spin about the first member and its axis. The releasable attachment and spin are brought about by a first magnetic material part in the first member adjacent a second magnetic material part in the second member. The parts may comprise a theme, such as, for example, board sportsthe first member a mini ski boot and the second member a mini ski. Different numbers, types, and orientations of magnetic material parts may be used in each of the first and second members to achieve different spin and/or releasable attachment characteristics or other functionality.

Claims

1. A toy comprising: a first member having a first axis; a second member configured to releasably attach to the first member and to generally spin about the first axis; wherein releasable attachment of and spin between the first and second members are facilitated by a first magnetic material part in the first member that is adjacent a second magnetic material part in the second member.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the sole means of releasable attachment between the first and second member is magnetic.

3. The toy of claim 1, the second member being elongate with a longitudinal axis.

4. The toy of claim 3, the first axis generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

5. The toy of claim 1, the first member configured to be one from the group of a miniature: ski boot, boot, shoe, binding, human body, animal body, fanciful creature body, human body part, animal body part, and fanciful creature body part.

6. The toy of claim 1, the second member configured to be one from the group of a miniature: ski, snowboard, surfboard, wakeboard, paddleboard, skateboard, shortboard, longboard, foil board, sandboard, windsurf board, fish board, gun board, and bodyboard.

7. A toy comprising: a first member having a first axis; a second member that is elongate with a longitudinal axis generally orthogonal to the first axis, the second member configured to releasably attach to the first member and generally spin about the first axis; wherein releasable attachment and spin between the first and second members are facilitated by a first set of magnetic material parts in the first member that is adjacent a second set of magnetic material parts in the second member.

8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the sole means of releasable attachment between the first and second member is magnetic.

9. The toy of claim 7, the first member configured as one from the group of a miniature: ski boot, boot, shoe, binding, human body, animal body, fanciful creature body, human body part, animal body part, and fanciful creature body part.

10. The toy of claim 7, the second member configured as one from the group of a miniature: ski, snowboard, surfboard, wakeboard, paddleboard, skateboard, shortboard, longboard, foil board, sandboard, windsurf board, fish board, gun board, and bodyboard.

11. The toy of claim 7, wherein two or more magnets are linearly arranged and co-planar to the longitudinal axis.

12. A toy comprising: a first member with first and second axes that are adjacent and parallel to each other; a second member that is elongate and has a longitudinal axis that is generally orthogonal to the first and second axes, the second elongate member configured to releasably attach to the first member and to generally spin about the first and second axes; wherein releasable attachment and spin between the first and second members are facilitated by a first set of magnetic material parts in the first member that is adjacent a second set of magnetic material parts in the second member.

13. The toy of claim 12, wherein the sole means of releasable attachment between the first and second member is magnetic.

14. The toy of claim 12, the first set of magnetic material parts configured to align with the second set of magnetic material parts in the second member when the first and second members are releasably attached.

15. The toy of claim 12, the first set of magnets comprised of a plurality of magnetic material parts.

16. The toy of claim 12, the second set of magnets comprised of a plurality of magnetic material parts.

17. The toy of claim 12, the first member configured to be one from the group of a miniature: ski boot, boot, shoe, binding, human body, animal body, fanciful creature body, human body part, animal body part, and fanciful creature body part.

18. The toy of claim 12, the second member configured to be one from the group of a miniature: ski, snowboard, surfboard, wakeboard, paddleboard, skateboard, shortboard, longboard, foil board, sandboard, windsurf board, fish board, gun board, and bodyboard.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0004] To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings may not be drawn to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a first top perspective view of a first embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a second top perspective view of a first embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a first embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a first embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of a second embodiment of a magnetic spin toy.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a front view of a magnetic spin toy.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a back view of a magnetic spin toy.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a first side view of a magnetic spin toy.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a second side view of a magnetic spin toy.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a top view of a magnetic spin toy.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a magnetic spin toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0017] The present invention in its various embodiments, some of which are depicted in the figures herein, is a magnetic spin toy or fidget spinner. Generally, the toy has a first member with an axis and a second member configured to releasably attach to and spin about the first member (an axis). The releasable attachment and spin result from a first magnetic material part in the first member adjacent a second magnetic material part in the second member. Depending on the embodiment, the magnetic spin toy may be themed, such as, for example, incorporating elements from board sports (a ski boot and ski, etc.).

[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a first embodiment of a magnetic spin toy 100 is shown. The illustrated spin toy 100 has a boot member 101 releasably attached to a ski member 102. The boot 101 and/or ski member 102 may be formed of plastomer or polymeric material, including through molding process or through a 3D printer. Although spin toy 100 may have various dimensions depending on the embodiment employed, exemplary dimensions are about 140 mm length for the ski member 102 and a height of about 41 mm for the boot member 101.

[0019] Boot member 101 has one or more vertical axes 103a, 103b and the ski member 102 is configured to spin (in directions A) about the one or more vertical axes 103a, 103b. Ski member 102 may be characterized as elongate and/or having a longitudinal axis that extend from and/or through one end to the other. The releasable attachment and spinning function are facilitated by attachment means, including, for example pivot points and/or magnets. For example, one or more first magnets 201, 202 may be embedded and/or fully enclosed within the ski member 102 (e.g., front and rear of center) and one or more second magnets 301, 302 may be embedded and/or fully enclosed within the boot member 101 (e.g., in toe and heel portions). Exemplary magnet types in this embodiment include neodymium, 102 mm magnets (although actual dimensions may vary up to around +/0.5 mm depending on the supplier). Locations of each of the one or more first magnets 301, 302 in the boot member 101 may correspond to locations of each of the one or more second magnets 201, 202 in the ski member 102 so as to form an attachment point. So configured, a user may manually spin and/or rotate the ski member 102 about the boot member 101 while the two members maintain proximity or spinning attachment. In this and similar embodiments, initiating the spinning action in the ski member 102 will cause the ski member 102 to shift slightly forward or rearward with respect to the boot member 101 such that the spinning action generally centers around only one of the rear 103a and front vertical axes 103b that correspond to magnet locations in the boot member 101.

[0020] Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 6, a second embodiment of a boot and ski spin toy 200 is shown. In the second embodiment 200, a first plurality of magnets 203 may be press fit and/or adhered into apertures (not shown) in the boot member 201 and left partially exposed therein. A second plurality of magnets 204 may be press fit and/or adhered into apertures 205 in the ski member 202 and left partially exposed therein. Again, positions of magnets within the first plurality 203 may be placed in the toe and heel portions of the boot member 201 and positions of magnets within the second plurality 204 may be front and rear of center in the ski member 202. Exemplary magnet types in this embodiment include neodymium, 32 mm magnets (although again, actual dimensions may vary somewhat depending on the supplier). Locations of boot member magnets may correspond to locations of magnets in the ski member so as to form an attachment point. As with the first embodiment, a user may manually spin and/or rotate the ski member 202 about the boot member 201 while the two members maintain proximity or spinning attachment. In this and similar embodiments, initiating the spinning action in the ski member 202 will cause the ski member 202 to shift slightly forward or rearward and/or to the left or right with respect to the boot member 201 such that the spinning action generally centers around only one of up to four axes that correspond to magnet locations in the boot member 101.

[0021] So configured, the magnetic spin toy has several functional characteristics, including achieving a novel spin action and mechanism for a fidget spinner that also allows the parts to be easily separated and reconnected by a user while still retaining the unique spin function. Notably, for preferred embodiments, the sole means of releasable attachment between the first and second members of the spin toy are magnetic (i.e., there is no physical connection between the pieces).

[0022] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, toy members may be other than a boot and ski. For example, the first member may be a miniature: ski boot, boot, shoe, binding, human body, animal body, fanciful creature body, human body part, animal body part, and fanciful creature body part. Likewise, the second member may be a miniature ski, snowboard, surfboard, wakeboard, paddleboard, skateboard, shortboard, longboard, foil board, sandboard, windsurf board, fish board, gun board, and bodyboard. This listing is for exemplary purposes only; first and second members may be shaped as any other number of objects while generally incorporating the other features, functions and/or configurations described herein.

[0023] Similarly, first and second members may incorporate different combinations and variations of magnetic material parts while still accomplishing the functions described herein. For purposes herein, a magnetic material part includes any: magnet, ferromagnetic metal, magnetized metal, electromagnetic object, or any object or material that magnetically attracts other objects or is attracted by such objects. For example, in one embodiment, the first member may contain one or more magnets and the second member may contain one or more magnets. In another embodiment, first member may contain one or more magnets while the second member contains a ferromagnetic (or other metal); in yet another embodiment, the magnetic material parts may be reversed as between the first and second members.

[0024] The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.