Magnet Building Block Assembly

Abstract

A magnetic building block assembly provides rotating self-aligning magnetic discs in a plurality of blocks to facilitate coupling blocks together. Each block comprises a container having a removable top wall providing an opening into an interior space. A center piece is positioned in the interior space. Each of a plurality of discs is positioned in the interior space adjacent to an exterior of the center piece and adjacent to a respective one of the planar faces to rotate freely within the interior space adjacent to the respective one of the planar faces. Each of a plurality of magnetic pole zones is arranged around each disc. Each disc is free to rotate whereby adjacently positioned blocks are magnetically coupled together by the discs. Each of a plurality of spacers extends along a respective interior edge of the container to center the discs relative to the respective one of the planar faces.

1 . A magnetic building block assembly comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, each said block comprising
 a container having a bottom wall, a top wall, and a perimeter wall defining a plurality of planar faces, said perimeter wall extending between said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior space of said container, said top wall being removable from said perimeter wall providing an opening into said interior space, 
 a center piece, said centerpiece comprising a plurality of planar faces and conjoined straight edges, said center piece being positioned in said interior space of said container, 
 a plurality of discs, each disc being positioned in said interior space of said container adjacent to an exterior of said center piece, each said disc being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said planar faces of said container such that each said disc rotates freely within said interior space adjacent to said respective one of said planar faces, 
 a plurality of magnetic pole zones arranged around each said disc, wherein each said disc is free to rotate to a position complimentary to an adjacently positioned said disc adjacent to an adjacently positioned planar face whereby adjacently positioned blocks are magnetically coupled together, and 
 a plurality of spacers, each said spacer extending along a respective interior edge of said container wherein said spacers center each of said discs relative to said respective one of said planar faces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising each said block being a cube. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising each of said spacers having a pair of outer portions extending from a medial portion such that a cross-sectional shape of each said spacer perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said spacer is L-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an outermost edge of said top wall being flush with a peripheral edge of said perimeter wall. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising each of said discs having a peripheral edge abutting each adjacently positioned one of said spacers wherein said spacers inhibit sliding of said discs within said interior space. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising each of said spacers having a pair of outer portions extending from a medial portion such that a cross-sectional shape of each said spacer perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said spacer is L-shaped wherein said peripheral edge of each said disc is inwardly spaced from a perimeter edge of said respective one of said planar faces of said container. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising each said disc being magnetic wherein each said magnetic zone is integral to said disc. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising disc indicia positioned on an exposed surface of each said disc corresponding to each magnetic zone of said disc. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising said centerpiece of each said block being constructed of a foam material. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising each said container being constructed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of connection sockets, each said connection socket extending into an exposed face of an associated one of said spacers adjacent to said opening into said interior space;   a plurality of posts, each post extending from an inward surface of said top wall, said posts aligning with said connection sockets, said posts being insertable into said connection sockets such that said posts frictionally engage said connection sockets to secure said top wall to said container.   
     
     
         13 . A magnetic building block assembly comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, each said block being a cube, each said block comprising
 a container having a bottom wall, a top wall, and a perimeter wall defining a plurality of planar faces, said perimeter wall extending between said bottom wall and said top wall defining an interior space of said container, said top wall being removable from said perimeter wall providing an opening into said interior space, an outermost edge of said top wall being flush with a peripheral edge of said perimeter wall, each said container being constructed of a plastic material, 
 a center piece, said center piece being positioned in said interior space of said container, said centerpiece comprising a plurality of planar faces and conjoined straight edges, said centerpiece of each said block being constructed of a foam material, 
 a plurality of discs, each disc being positioned in said interior space of said container adjacent to an exterior of said center piece, each said disc being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said planar faces of said container such that each said disc rotates freely within said interior space adjacent to said respective one of said planar faces, 
 a plurality of magnetic pole zones arranged around each said disc, wherein each said disc is free to rotate to a position complimentary to an adjacently positioned said disc adjacent to an adjacently positioned planar face whereby adjacently positioned blocks are magnetically coupled together, each said disc being magnetic wherein each said magnetic zone is integral to said disc, 
 disc indicia positioned on an exposed surface of each said disc corresponding to each magnetic zone of said disc, 
 a plurality of spacers, each said spacer extending along a respective interior edge of said container wherein said spacers center each of said discs relative to said respective one of said planar faces, each of said discs having a peripheral edge abutting each adjacently positioned one of said spacers wherein said spacers inhibit sliding of said discs within said interior space, a thickness of each said spacer being equal to a thickness of each said disc, each of said spacers having a pair of outer portions extending from a medial portion such that a cross-sectional shape of each said spacer perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said spacer is L-shaped wherein said peripheral edge of each said disc is inwardly spaced from a perimeter edge of said respective one of said planar faces of said container, 
 a plurality of connection sockets, each said connection socket extending into an exposed face of an associated one of said spacers adjacent to said opening into said interior space, and 
 a plurality of posts, each post extending from an inward surface of said top wall, said posts aligning with said connection sockets, said posts being insertable into said connection sockets such that said posts frictionally engage said connection sockets to secure said top wall to said container.