IP Verse

Magnet-Type Plate Toy

Patent No. US11925876 (titled "Magnet-Type Plate Toy") was filed by People Co Ltd on May 9, 2019.

What is this patent about?

’876 is related to the field of educational toys, specifically magnetic plate toys. These toys aim to stimulate children's creativity and imagination by allowing them to connect and assemble plate members using magnetic forces. The background art acknowledges the limitations of existing magnetic plate toys, where the assembly options can be restrictive, leading to boredom.

The underlying idea behind ’876 is to introduce rotational movement between two magnetically connected plates to enhance play possibilities. This is achieved by connecting a first plate and a second plate with a connector that allows the second plate to rotate relative to the first. The rotation introduces a new degree of freedom, enabling a wider range of configurations and stimulating more diverse play patterns.

The claims of ’876 focus on a magnetic plate toy comprising a first plate, a second plate, and a connector. The first and second plates oppose each other and contain magnets. The key element is the rotatable connection of the second plate to the connector, allowing for selective alignment of the magnets. Claim 1 specifies a shaft and groove mechanism for achieving this rotation, while other claims focus on the arrangement of magnets and fitting portions.

In practice, the toy works by having the first plate fixed to a shaft-like connector. The second plate then attaches to this connector via a circular recess and a flange-and-groove system . This allows the second plate to spin freely. The magnets within the plates provide both the attractive force to keep the plates together and a detent-like effect as the magnets align, giving the user tactile feedback.

This design differentiates itself from prior art by introducing the rotational element. Instead of simply connecting plates edge-to-edge, ’876 allows for a spinning motion, creating new configurations and play scenarios. The separation distance between the plates is also a key factor, weakening the magnetic force enough to allow easy rotation by a child, while still providing sufficient attraction to maintain the connection.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when ’876 was filed, magnetic toys were at a stage when designs commonly relied on physical interlocking features or simple magnetic attraction to achieve connectivity between components. At a time when complex mechanical linkages were typically implemented using gears or snap-fit mechanisms, achieving both rotational freedom and secure attachment in a magnetic toy presented design challenges. When hardware or software constraints made precise alignment and controlled movement non-trivial, toy designs often prioritized simplicity and robustness over intricate functionality.

Novelty and Inventive Step

Claims 1, 2, and 15 were rejected. Claims 3-14 and 16 were objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim. Claims 17-20 were allowed. The prosecution record does not describe the technical reasoning or specific claim changes that led to allowance.

Claims

This patent contains 20 claims, with claims 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, and 18 being independent. The independent claims generally focus on a magnetic plate toy comprising first and second plates connected by a connector, with variations in the plate and connector structures. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features and configurations of the elements described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Groove which extends in a circumferential direction of the recess
(Claim 1)		“An inner peripheral surface of the recess may be provided with a groove which extends in a circumferential direction of the recess and in which the protrusion is disposed. In this case, since the protrusion of the connector is caught in the groove, the movement of the connector in the opposing direction can be limited. In this case, the second plate can be rotatably connected to the connector.”A channel or indentation around the inner surface of the recess.
Opposing direction
(Claim 1, Claim 8, Claim 9, Claim 10, Claim 11, Claim 12, Claim 15, Claim 16, Claim 18)		“The first plate and the second plate are disposed to oppose each other. The connector extends in an opposing direction of the first plate and the second plate and connects the first plate and the second plate to each other. The second plate is connected to the connector to be rotatable around the opposing direction of the first plate and the second plate as a rotation axis direction.”The direction in which the first plate and the second plate face each other.
Protrusion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 16)		“The connector may include a shaft member extending in the opposing direction and a protrusion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. An inner peripheral surface of the recess may be provided with a groove which extends in a circumferential direction of the recess and in which the protrusion is disposed. In this case, since the protrusion of the connector is caught in the groove, the movement of the connector in the opposing direction can be limited.”A raised feature on the shaft member's outer surface.
Recess in which the shaft member is disposed
(Claim 1, Claim 15)		“The second plate member may be provided with a recess in which the shaft member is disposed. An inner peripheral surface of the recess may be provided with a groove which extends in a circumferential direction of the recess and in which the protrusion is disposed. An inscribed circle of the recess may be larger than a circumscribed circle of the shaft member when viewed from the opposing direction.”A cavity or indentation in the second plate member that receives the shaft member.
Shaft member
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 16, Claim 18)		“The connector may include a shaft member extending in the opposing direction and a protrusion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. The second plate member may be provided with a recess in which the shaft member is disposed. Each of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member and the inner peripheral surface of the recess may have a circular shape when viewed from the opposing direction.”A component of the connector that extends in the opposing direction.

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US11925876

PEOPLE CO LTD
Application Number
US17442623
Filing Date
May 9, 2019
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 9, 2039
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents