Magnetic building game

Abstract

The present invention provides a magnetic building game having substantially planar game pieces. Each piece has a plurality of magnets disposed at separate locations on a perimeter of the piece. Pieces are not coupled directly to each other, but are coupled using magnetically receptive connectors.

1 . A magnetic building game, comprising: 
 first and second substantially planar game pieces, each having a plurality of magnets disposed at separate locations on perimeters thereof;    a connector, not affixed to either of the game pieces, which magnetically couples any one of the plurality of magnets on the first game piece with any other one of the plurality of magnets on the second game piece.    
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the connector has a spherical shape.  
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein each game piece has an aperture through which an exposed portion of the magnet protrudes.  
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein each game piece has a thickness less than 1 cm.  
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein each magnet is elongated in a direction from the middle of the game piece toward a corner of the perimeter.  
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the exposed portion of the magnet has a surface area that is less than 6 mm 2 .  
   
   
       7 . A substantially planar magnetic game piece, comprising: 
 a partially embedded magnet that receives a connector at a point.    
   
   
       8 . The game piece of  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a steel ball.  
   
   
       9 . The game piece of  claim 7 , wherein the point has a surface area less than 2.5 mm 2 .  
   
   
       10 . A magnetic building game, comprising: 
 a plurality of game pieces, each having a partially embedded magnet; and    a connector that couples any two of the game pieces at a point on the magnet.    
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 10 , wherein game pieces have a side wall that defines a width of the game pieces, and wherein the point on the magnet forms a substantially continuous surface with the side wall.