FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for constructing structure and, more specifically, to a construction unit formed from flexible sheets.

BACKGROUND

Children are often captivated by toys that can be assembled. The act of creation helps a child build spatial awareness and can provide many hours of entertainment.

A variety of toys that require assembly are known in the art. However, many known toy construction pieces are rigid and non-flexible, and can often be difficult to connect and disconnect, especially for younger children.

Often, these known toys are composed of many pieces that are able to be joined together, for example, by using friction fit fasteners, glue, or magnets. Certain toys are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 2016/0074766 to So Young Choi, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,850,683 to Christopher Haughey et al., which each teach block toys with magnets embedded inside so that the blocks are easily combined by means of magnetism when placed proximately to each other. Another known toy is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,914,067 to Sufer et al., and involves a flexible building segment with ribs sections and embedded magnets.

There is a continuing need for a construction unit that can be assembled in various ways to easily form three-dimensional shapes and structures. Desirably, the components of the construction unit are flexible and easily connected and disconnected. Most desirably, the construction units are entertaining for children and adults and usable as toys.

SUMMARY

In concordance with the instant disclosure, a construction unit that can be assembled in various ways to easily form three-dimensional shapes and structures, and which has components that are flexible and easily connected and disconnected, and which are entertaining for children and adults and usable as toys, has been surprisingly discovered.

In one embodiment, a construction unit may have a main body. The main body may be formed from at least one sheet of a flexible material. The main body may have a first side and a second side. The construction unit may have a plurality of magnetic connectors attached to the main body.

In another embodiment, a kit for construction of a structure may have a plurality of the construction units. The plurality of construction units may include a variety of shapes. The kit may further include an active unit and a control unit that are configured to be in electronic communication with each other. The active unit and control unit may be placed in electronic communication via a flexible link.

In a further embodiment, a method of making a structure includes a first step of providing a plurality of the construction units. The method includes a second step of connecting at least one of the magnetic connectors of a first one of the construction units with at least one of another one of the magnetic connectors of the first one of the construction units, and at least one of the magnetic connectors of a second one of the construction units. The structure is thereby formed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the construction unit is a toy. The toy may include a flexible sheet with a plurality of magnets embedded within the flexible material of the sheet. The magnets may be on the periphery of the flexible material.

The magnets of a first flexible sheet can be removably adhered to the magnets of a second flexible sheet. In other words, the connecting of the first and second sheets does not need to be permanent, and the first and second flexible sheets can instead be connected by magnets in a first arrangement, and then separate and reassembled into a second arrangement, as desired. The first and second sheets may be configured to form a three-dimensional structure.

The toy may include at least one module that is removably adhered by a magnet on the flexible sheet, or to a magnet of a three-dimensional structure formed from one or more of the flexible sheets.

In particular, the present disclosure relates to embedding magnets to papers or any other flexible sheets, in order to construct three-dimensional structures. While there may be other common ways to connect pieces of sheets together such as stapling, gluing, masking taping, etc., all these ways do not have an easy way to disconnect.

For some purposes, it is vital to have an easy way to connect and disconnect the sheets. When making three-dimensional shapes with multiple sheets there is no easy solution of connecting and then disconnecting these sheets from each other. The present disclosure seeks to provide a solution to these problems by providing magnets embedded in a flexible sheet that allow the sheet to be connected to other sheets easily and then disconnected from each other just as easily. The magnets embedded in the flexible sheet allow the sheet to be connected to itself to form a three-dimensional shape. One sheet can in fact form more than one three-dimensional shape, as desired. Moreover, a single sheet can be connected to other sheets in various ways to form three-dimensional shapes and structures.

A special device may be used to embed a magnet within a sheet, or otherwise attach the magnet to the sheet, in a way that the magnet is permanently fixed to the sheet. More than one magnet can be embedded within the same sheet. Thus, these magnets can be attracted to each other and form a three-dimensional shape out of the sheet. Also, the sheet can be connected in various ways to other sheets to form three-dimensional structures.

As a technological addition to the sheet, there are various magnet modules (e.g., electronic modules that also contain a power source such as a battery) that each function once it is magnetized to the embedded magnets on the sheet. The module may be a plastic box that contains electronic parts and has either input sensors such as proximity/light sensors, orientation sensors, sound sensors, or output components with functional capabilities such as sound, light, and/or movement. The module can be connected to the internet cloud and/or a mobile remote device, for example, through use of wireless transmissions such as Bluetooth®. The modules can also be activated from a remove device such as a smart phone such as an iPhone®, or a tablet computer such as an iPad®. Other suitable types of sensors and electronic parts may also be used, as desired. Once this module is assembled with the three-dimensional structures, it gives the three-dimensional structures an added technological feature such as movement of the three-dimensional sheet structure or a light that is glowing through the sheets, where the sheets are translucent or transparent.

It should also be appreciated that the sheets may have holes or a hole pattern (e.g., for light to come out through, or to be used as further connectors). The holes may be used in addition to or separate from the translucency or transparency of the sheets for light distribution, as desired.

The magnets may be placed on the corners of the flexible sheet. In particular, the magnets may be disc magnets. Their size will be selected depending on the kind of sheet that is being used. If a less flexible sheet is used (e.g., a thick polypropylene), then a larger magnet may be needed. If a more flexible sheet is used (e.g., a normal piece of paper), then a smaller magnet may be needed.

These magnets are embedded to the sheet in various ways the manufacturer chooses. They can be glued, laminated, contained in a plastic chamber, layered between two sheets, or any other way as long as the magnets are embedded to the sheet in a way that the magnets are irremovably secured to the sheet.

Two sheets with embedded magnets can be attracted to each other. Another option is to magnetize the sheet to itself to form a three-dimensional shape such as a cylindrical shape. Two or more sheets can be attracted to each other by magnets to form a three-dimensional structure such as a tower. By connecting a few sheets together in various ways, one can construct many different objects such as animals, robots, vehicles, and so on. An example of such a construction is a fort.

By adding a magnet module, e.g., the size of 1 cubic cm (or anything up to 1000 cubic cm), as non-limiting examples, to any construction, the outcome is a dynamic magnetic flexible sheet. One example of a suitable module is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0325949 to Zhengpeng Wei, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A skilled artisan may also select other suitable magnetic modules, as desired.

When the magnetic module is connected to a magnet and thus turns itself “on,” it transforms the construction to a dynamic construction. The dynamic construction may include movement like, for example, the spinning of blades of a windmill or a spinning mobile. In alternative embodiments, the magnetic module may act as a connection point instead of a switch. The module can be connected to the internet, cloud and/or a mobile remote device, or may otherwise be networked as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Although described primarily herein as a “toy,” it should be understood that the novel structure of the present disclosure may also have other applications, including for decorations and also as functional structures, as non-limiting examples. All such other uses of the novel structure are contemplated and considered to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure.

In a particular embodiment, a toy may include a flexible sheet that is capable forming a variety of shapes and structures. The flexible sheet may be folded in such a way to create three-dimensional structures.

The flexible sheets may be removably adhered to themselves or other sheets using magnets. The flexible sheets may be made of a paper, plastic, metal, rubber, silicone, or any other material chosen by a skilled artisan. Moreover, the magnets may be neodymium iron boron (NdFeB), samarium cobalt (SmCo), alnico, ceramic, ferrite or any other type of magnet chosen by a skilled artisan. For example, the magnets may be disc magnets.

Although being generally rectangular in shape, the flexible sheets may be a variety of shapes, including but not limited to circles, squares, triangles, hexagons or any type of polygon, as desired.

The magnets are shown primarily on the outer perimeter of the sheets. However, it should be appreciated that the magnets may be placed in any suitable location or orientation on the flexible sheet by a skilled artisan.

Additionally, although the use of magnets may be preferred, it should be understood that the sheets may also be removably adhered in other ways, including snaps, buttons, latches, or any other suitable mechanism selected by one of skill in the art, and that such fasteners are also considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

A special device may also be used to embed the magnet in the flexible sheet, whereby the magnet is fixed to the sheet. More than one magnet may be affixed to the same sheet. In other examples, the flexible sheet may be formed by layering together two sheets, and thus locking magnets in between the layers forming the sheet. Consequentially, one magnet may be adhered to an opposing magnet on the same sheet, forming a three-dimensional shape. These magnets may be fixed to the sheet in various ways, including but not limited to glue, lamination, heat fixation, or any other mechanism chosen by a skilled artisan. Furthermore, multiple sheets with embedded magnets may be removably adhered to each other.

The magnets may be placed on the periphery of the flexible sheet. Additionally, the size of the magnet depends on the type of sheet material. For example, thicker sheet material may require a larger or stronger magnet, while the more flexible sheet material may require a smaller or less powerful magnet.

Two or more sheets may be magnetized to each other to form a three-dimensional structure, such as a tower. By adhering the magnets disposed in multiple sheets together in various ways, one can construct many different objects such as animals, robots, vehicles, or any other structure chosen by a skilled artisan. As an example, there is a fort composed of sheets that are removable using the magnets.

Additionally, a user may attach a module to the flexible sheets. The module has a magnet that is configured to adhere to the magnets affixed to the flexible sheet. In certain embodiments the magnet attached to the module may be 1 cubic cm, and up to 1000 cubic cm.

The module may produce sound, light, or movement. For example, the module may include at least one of a speaker, an LED light, and a motor. The module may also have a power source such as a battery. The module may also include a microprocessor and a memory and be configured to execute certain programmable actions.

The module may also be attached to the sheets in a three-dimensional structure. The three-dimensional structure, along with the modules may provide movement of the three-dimensional sheet structure.

Moreover, the module may have a transceiver and be configured to communicate wirelessly with a variety of user devices, such as a personal computer or a mobile device. The module may use Bluetooth, WIFI, or another suitable form of wireless communication, as desired. Furthermore, there may be a plurality of modules that are configured work together. The plurality of modules may be attached to the sheet to form a robot, drone, or any other toy as chosen by a skilled artisan. For example, the modules may be arms, legs, and a head of a robot, wheels that are controlled wirelessly to form a remote-controlled car, or arms and legs to form a dancing doll. In a further example, a module with a rotating spinning arm is attached to the fort.

The module may also only “turn on” when adhered to another magnet. When the module is magnetized it activates, causing the module to activate an input sensor or light up, produce sound or cause movement.

Advantageously, the toy as described hereinabove can be assembled in various ways to easily form three-dimensional shapes and structures. It should be understood that the above-described toy has components in the form of the flexible sheets that are flexible and easily connected and disconnected, in operation.

