Fidget accessories and systems for providing same

Abstract

A fidget accessory includes a plurality of stones that cooperate geometrically with a bowl. The bowl includes a bowl base configured to position the plurality of stones toward the base. The bowl includes a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl and a bowl slope extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base. One or more magnets in the bowl base have opposite polarity to corresponding magnets in the plurality of stones such that the plurality of stones magnetically engage with the bowl.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to fidget accessories, and more particularly to fidget accessories having bowl and stone arrangements based on complementary shapes and magnetic interactions between them. [Background technology]

[0002] Many fidget accessories are based on a spinner configuration, where a base supports an outer rotating member. The user holds the base and spins the rotating vehicle around the base. Bearings are typically placed between the base and the rotating vehicle to facilitate the spinning action. The concept behind these "fidget spinners" is that they can calm fidget-prone individuals and help relieve tension and anxiety. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] While known fidget spinners may provide some beneficial calming effects, they are only one approach and may not provide the same calming effect for all users, or may not provide any calming effect at all, and / or may not provide an optimal level of calming effect for a particular user. For example, such spinners rely on the user generating continuous motion of the spinner, rather than generating motion or movement only in response to a specific user action. Thus, there is a continuing need in the art for improved fidget accessories that can provide beneficial calming or stress-reducing effects to users based on alternative approaches, including approaches that do not rely on continuous motion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a fidget accessory including a plurality of stones. Each stone includes a stone lid, a stone body, and at least one stone magnet disposed within each of the plurality of stones. The fidget accessory further includes a bowl having a bowl base disposed at the bottom of the bowl, configured to have the plurality of stones disposed thereon facing the base. The bowl includes a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl and a bowl slope extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base. The bowl further includes one or more bowl magnets included in the bowl base that have polarities opposite to those of the corresponding stone magnets when at least the plurality of stones are disposed facing the base, and the one or more bowl magnets are configured to magnetically interact with the stone magnets.

[0005] The present disclosure further relates to a fidget accessory including first and second stones and a bowl. Each of the first and second stones includes a stone lid and a stone body, and first and second stone magnets are disposed within the first and second stones, respectively. The bowl includes a bowl base disposed at the bottom of the bowl, on which the first and second stones are disposed adjacent to each other with the bases facing the bowl. The bowl includes a bowl magnet contained in the bowl base, having an opposite polarity to the first and second stone magnets, and configured to magnetically interact with the first and second stone magnets. The bowl and the first and second stones have complementary shapes and magnetic interactions such that, when an external user force is applied upward to the first stone, the first stone moves out of the base orientation and toward the second stone, and each of the first and second stones remains magnetically engaged with the bowl and one of the corresponding stones when an external user force is applied.

[0006] These and other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description, with reference, where appropriate, to the accompanying drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that the description provided in this Summary section and elsewhere herein is intended to illustrate, by way of example, and not to limit, the claimed subject matter.

[0007] Illustrated embodiments of the subject matter are best understood by referring to the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended as an example only and merely illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes consistent with the claimed subject matter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fidget accessory according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1 with additional string portions according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 3A-3C are side and end views of the bowl of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 4A-4B show perspective and side views, respectively, of a stone of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a stone of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bowl of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 7A-7h illustrate various possible orientations of the stone and bowl of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]8A-8H show various cross-sectional views of the stone and bowl of the fidget accessory of FIG. 1 in various possible orientations of FIGS. 7A-7H, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Those skilled in the art will understand that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative placement of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, so as not to obscure the view of these various embodiments, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted. It is further understood that certain actions and / or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence, although those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to order is not actually required. It is also understood that the terms and phrases used herein have the ordinary technical meanings ascribed to such terms and phrases by those skilled in the art, unless a different specific meaning is otherwise set forth herein.

[0010] The present disclosure generally relates to a fidget accessory including a plurality of stones configured to geometrically cooperate with a bowl. The bowl includes a bowl base configured to position the plurality of stones toward the base. The bowl includes a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl and a bowl slope extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base. One or more magnets in the bowl base have opposite polarity to corresponding magnets in the plurality of stones such that the plurality of stones magnetically engage with the bowl. In one or more embodiments, the fidget accessory is configured to allow a user to manually manipulate the fidget base and the position of the stones relative to the bowl and each other, thereby providing a calming and stress-reducing effect to the user.

[0011] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a fidget accessory 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fidget accessory 10 includes first and second stones 11 a and 11 b that magnetically engage with bowl 12, which optionally engages, magnetically or otherwise, with string portion 13. First and second stones 11 a and 11 b may be adjacently positioned as shown in FIG. 1 , such that first and second stones 11 a and 11 b are magnetically engaged with bowl 12 by one or more magnets disposed within first and second stones 11 a and 11 b and one or more magnets of opposite polarity disposed within the base of bowl 12. While two stones are shown herein, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that fidget accessory 10 may include fewer or more stones disposed within bowl 12.

[0012] 2 shows an exploded view of the fidget accessory 10 of FIG. 1 configured with a different embodiment of the string portion 13 according to the present disclosure. Similar to FIG. 1, the first and second stones 11a and 11b each include a stone lid defining one side of the stone, a stone body, and a stone magnet disposed within the stone body. For example, the first stone 11a includes a stone lid 11c, a stone body 11d, and a stone magnet (not shown) disposed within the stone body 11d.

[0013] Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, bowl 12 is comprised of bowl lip 12a, bowl ramp 12b, bowl channel 12c, and one or more bowl magnets (not shown) disposed within the base of bowl 12d. Bowl 12 is circumferentially surrounded by bowl channel 12c, as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, bowl lip 12a is formed as an inwardly protruding outer edge disposed around the upper edge of bowl ramp 12b. Bowl ramp 12b is defined by a curved region connecting bowl lip 12a and bowl base 12d. Bowl ramp 12b has a convex sloped profile to cooperate with the stone bodies (e.g., body 11d) of first and second stones 11a and 11b. The innovative shape of bowl ramp 12b is configured to cooperatively accommodate one or more stones (here, first and second stones 11a and 11b) by having a sloped profile that facilitates stone movement therealong, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 4A-4B. This cooperative arrangement is based not only on the complementary shapes of bowl ramp 12b and stone body (e.g., body 11d), but also on magnetic interactions. As described above and below, these magnetic interactions are provided by one or more magnets disposed within first and second stones 11a and 11b, with one or more magnets of opposite polarity disposed within bowl base 12d. This combination of complementary shapes and magnetic interactions between bowl ramp 12b and one or more stones (e.g., stones 11a and 11b) provides a fidget-based mechanism by which a user may relieve nervous energy, anxiety, or psychological stress.

[0014] Referring again to FIG. 2 , leash 13 includes leash collar 13a, leash wrap 13b, leash eyelets 13c, leash tail 13d, magnetic cap 13e, and a leash magnet (not shown). According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, bowl channel 12c is configured to cooperatively receive leash collar 13a of leash wrap 13b. leash collar 13a is configured to form a snap fit with bowl channel 12c, thereby securing leash 13 to bowl 12, although it should be understood that the securing may be temporary or reversible. In this manner, different embodiments of leash 13 can be connected and disconnected from bowl 12.

[0015] 3A-3C, there are shown end and side views of bowl 12 in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown, channel 12c is disposed along the outside of bowl 12, forming a circumferential recess around bowl 12.

[0016] 4A-4B show one embodiment of a first stone 11a according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, the lid 11c may include a concave shape that complements the curvature of the stone body 11d, allowing the stones of the present disclosure to be stacked vertically in an interlocking manner. Details are shown and described below.

[0017] 5, a cross-sectional view of a first stone 11a with a stone magnet 20a disposed within the stone body 11d is shown. In one or more embodiments, the complementary shape between the stone lid 11c and the stone body 11d, in combination with the stone magnet 20a disposed within the stone body as shown in FIG. 5, provides an interlocking stacked configuration (e.g., positioned on top of one another) of multiple stones.

[0018] 6 is a cross-sectional view of bowl 12 showing first and second bowl magnets 24a and 24b positioned side-by-side within bowl base 12d. In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, first bowl magnet 24a can be configured to interact primarily with opposite-polarity stone magnet 20a of first stone 11a (see, e.g., FIG. 5), and second bowl magnet 24b can be configured to magnetically interact with opposite-polarity stone magnet (not shown) of second stone 11b, thereby keeping first and second stones 11a and 11b magnetically engaged with bowl 12. It should be appreciated that the orientation of the stone magnets and corresponding first and second bowl magnets 24a and 24b is configured such that the first and second stones 11a and 11b remain magnetically engaged with the bowl base 12d, and that application of an external force sufficient to the first and / or second stones 11a, 11b to overcome the magnetic attraction between the stones 11a and / or 11b and the bowl 12d will result in the stones 11a and 11b being removed from the bowl base 12d. The complementary geometries of the stones 11a and / or 11b and the bowl 12, together with the aforementioned magnetic interaction therebetween, provide a configuration such that when the stones 11a and / or 11b are removed from the bowl base 12d by said external force, the stones move along the bowl ramp 12b or above or below each other, as further described below.

[0019] 7A-7H illustrate various orientations of first and second stones 11a and 11b relative to bowl 12 of fidget accessory 10 that may occur in response to a user applying exemplary forces (e.g., those that may occur while the user is playing with accessory 10). Of course, it should be understood that a user can engage in fidget-based manipulation of stones 11a and 11b by applying a wide range of forces to one or both of stones 11a and 11b, and that such forces may be in any direction and may have a range of magnitudes depending on the desired effect. Similarly, FIGS. 8A-8H illustrate cross-sections of first and second stones 11a and 11b and bowl 12 in the various orientations shown in FIGS. 7A-7H.

[0020] 7A / 8A, first and second stones 11a and 11b are shown in a "base" orientation, whereby bowl magnets 24a and 24b and corresponding stone magnets 20a and 20b are in their closest and most collinear orientation, thus providing the greatest magnetic attraction to secure first and second stones 11a and 11b to the base of bowl 12.

[0021] 7B / 8B show the configurations of FIGS. 7A / 8A after an external user force 30 is applied to stone 11b, causing stone 11b to move away from its "base" orientation and toward stone 11a as a function of the direction and magnitude of the user's force 30. In this manner, the user's force 30 overcomes the magnetic force and separates stone magnet 20b from its corresponding bowl magnet 24b, preventing them from reaching their closest and most collinear orientation. As a result, the user experiences a decreasing magnetic reluctance as force 30 continues to be applied.

[0022] 7C / 8C, a further configuration is shown in which the user's external force 30 continues to be applied to stone 11b, causing stone 11b to completely separate from the bowl and move onto adjacent stone 11a. Thus, the magnetic attraction between corresponding bowl magnet 24b and stone magnet 20b is significantly reduced, as experienced by the user upon continued application of force 30. However, simultaneously, magnet 20b of stone 11b is subjected to an attractive force toward corresponding magnet 20a of stone 11a as a result of magnets 20a and 20b being moved closer to one another. Thus, the user not only experiences a significant decrease in magnetic resistance to force 30, but actually begins to experience an increase in the attractive force between magnets 20a and 20b.

[0023] 7D / 8D show the orientation when the user's external force 30, along with the increasing magnetic attraction between magnets 20a and 20b, causes stone 11b to slide completely to the other side of the bowl, thereby stacking stone 11b completely on top of adjacent stone 11a. As stone 11b moves over stone 11a, the magnetic attraction between magnets 20a and 20b increases, and, in conjunction with the complementary shapes of the stone's body and lid described above in FIGS. 4A-4B, the user may experience application of force 30 as one stone "flipping" over the other, or even "snapping" into place in a stacking manner. The fidget experience can be particularly calming and stress-reducing in that even if the user pushes the stone from its base orientation, the user does not feel in danger of the stone falling or becoming completely dislodged because one magnetic force (i.e., between magnets 20b and 20b) decreases while another magnetic force (i.e., between magnets 20a and 20b) increases.

[0024] FIGS. 7E / 8E show the same starting base orientation as FIGS. 7A / 8A above. However, in contrast to force 30 in FIGS. 7B / 8B, user force 40 in FIGS. 7F / 8F has a direction and magnitude that moves stone 11b out of its "base" orientation and underneath adjacent stone 11a. A further effect is to similarly remove stone 11a from its base orientation. As with the embodiment in FIGS. 7B / 8B, user force 40 in FIGS. 7F / 8F overcomes a magnetic force that pulls stone magnet 20b away from corresponding bowl magnet 24b, preventing them from reaching their closest, most collinear orientation, and overcomes an additional magnetic force that separates stone magnet 20a from its corresponding bowl magnet 24a, preventing them from reaching their closest, most collinear orientation. As a result, as force 40 continues to be applied, the user experiences a decreasing magnetic resistance.

[0025] 7G / 8G illustrate the effect of the user's continued application of force 40, specifically moving stone 11b further away from magnet 24b while simultaneously moving stone 11a away from corresponding magnet 24a. Thus, the magnetic attraction between corresponding bowl magnet 24b and stone magnet 20b is significantly reduced, as experienced by the user upon continued application of force 40. At the same time, however, magnet 20b of stone 11b experiences an attraction to bowl magnet 24a as well as an attraction to corresponding magnet 20a of stone 11a as a result of magnets 20a and 20b being moved closer to one another. Thus, the user not only experiences a significant magnetic resistance to force 40, but also begins to experience an increasing attraction as stone 11b slides across the bowl.

[0026] Finally, Figures 7H / 8H show an orientation in which the user's external force 40 has caused stone 11b to slide completely under stone 11a (stones 11a and 11b are stacked again, albeit in the reverse order of Figures 7D / 8D), along with an increase in the magnetic attraction between magnets 20a and 20b, and between magnet 20b and bowl magnet 24a. As above, the user can experience the application of force 40 "snaking" the stones in a similar manner as above, such that the application of force 40 by the magnetic force does not make the user feel as if the stones are in danger of falling.

[0027] It should be understood that the user manipulation of stones 11a and 11b described above with respect to Figures 7A-7H / 8A-8H is merely exemplary, and that there is a wide range of fidget-based stone manipulations that may provide soothing and beneficial effects to the user equally, and that are made possible, in particular, by the fidget accessories disclosed herein.

[0028] While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be understood that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the present invention are possible, and therefore the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Claims

1. 1. A fidget accessory comprising: a plurality of stones; and a bowl; Each stone is Stone lid; Stone body; and at least one stone magnet disposed within the stone body of each of said plurality of stones; Including, the plurality of stones includes a first stone and a second stone; The bowl is a bowl base disposed at the bottom of the bowl, the bowl base configured to allow the first and second stones to be disposed side-by-side adjacent to one another; a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl; a bowl ramp extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base; and one or more bowl magnets included in the bowl base that have polarities opposite to those of the corresponding ones of the stone magnets when the first and second stones are positioned adjacent to each other side by side in the bowl; Including, The fidget accessory, wherein the one or more bowl magnets are configured to magnetically interact with the stone magnets.

2. The fidget accessory of claim 1 , wherein the bowl includes a channel circumferentially surrounding the bowl.

3. The fidget accessory of claim 2 , further comprising a string portion, the string portion including a string collar disposed on an inner surface of a string wrap, the string collar configured to engage with the channel circumferentially surrounding the bowl.

4. The fidget accessory of claim 3 , wherein the string collar is configured to engage the channel with a snap fit.

5. The fidget accessory of claim 1 , wherein the stone cover of each of the plurality of stones includes a concave shape and the stone body of each of the plurality of stones includes a convex curvature.

6. The fidget accessory of claim 5 , wherein the concave shape of the stone lid is complementary to the convex curvature of the stone body.

7. The fidget accessory of claim 1 , wherein the bowl lip is formed as an inwardly protruding outer edge disposed around an upper edge of the bowl ramp.

8. The fidget accessory of claim 1 , wherein the bowl slope is defined by a curved region extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base.

9. 9. The fidget accessory of claim 8, wherein the curved region of the bowl ramp includes a convex profile configured to cooperate with the shape of the stones to facilitate movement of the plurality of stones along the bowl ramp.

10. 1. A fidget accessory comprising: first and second stones; and a bowl; the first and second stones each include a stone cover, a stone body, and a first and second stone magnet disposed within the first and second stones, respectively; the bowl includes a bowl base disposed at a bottom of the bowl, the bowl base being configured to allow the first and second stones to be positioned side-by-side and adjacent to one another with their bases facing downward; the bowl includes a bowl magnet housed in the bowl base, the bowl magnet having a polarity opposite to that of the first and second stone magnets, the bowl magnet configured to magnetically interact with the first and second stone magnets; the bowl and the first and second stones have complementary shapes and magnetic interactions such that application of an external user force in an upward direction to the first stone causes the first stone to move out of the base orientation and toward the second stone, and each of the first and second stones remains magnetically engaged with the bowl and one of the corresponding other stones upon application of the external user force; Fidget accessories.

11. The fidget accessory of claim 10, further comprising a string portion, the string portion including a string collar disposed on an inner surface of a string wrap, the string collar configured to engage with a channel circumferentially surrounding the bowl in a snap-fit ​​arrangement.

12. The fidget accessory of claim 10 , wherein each stone lid includes a concave shape and the stone body of each stone includes a convex curvature.

13. The fidget accessory of claim 10, wherein the bowl includes a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl and a bowl slope extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base, the bowl lip being formed as an inwardly protruding outer edge disposed around the upper edge of the bowl slope.

14. 11. The fidget accessory of claim 10, wherein the bowl includes a bowl lip circumferentially surrounding an upper edge of the bowl, and a bowl slope extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base, the bowl slope defined by a curved region extending between the bowl lip and the bowl base.

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