Magnetic toy building tile assemblies including nesting capabilities

Abstract

Magnetic toy building tiles including an outer magnetic toy building tile, and an inner magnetic toy building tile for nesting in the outer magnetic toy building tile are provided. The outer magnetic toy building tile has an outer tile housing that defines (i) an outer perimetrical side wall, (ii) an inner perimetrical wall, and (iii) an opening; at least one first magnet supported within the outer tile housing along the outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one second magnet supported within the outer tile housing along at least two of the inner perimetrical walls. The inner magnetic toy building tile has an inner tile housing that defines an outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one third magnet supported within the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile along at least two of the outer perimetrical side walls.

Description

MAGNETIC TOY BUILDING TILE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING NESTING CAPABILITIESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U. S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 689,220, filed on August 30, 2024, the entire content of each of which being incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Toy building tiles and systems are well known throughout history, wherein the toy building tiles include complimentary mating features to allow a number of toy building tiles to be connected to one another to create any two-dimensional or three-dimensional construct that may come to the mind of the child or builder. Over time, toy building tiles have integrated magnets into the tiles themselves to facilitate connection of adjacent toy building tiles with one another. Accordingly, continued interest and development of magnetic toy building tiles is needed and warranted in order to provide the child or builder with increased flexibility with regard to the arrangement of the tiles with respect to one another in order to create increasingly unique designs and two-dimensional or three-dimensional constructs.SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a magnetic toy building tile assembly is provided. The magnetic toy building tile includes an outer magnetic toy building tile, and an inner magnetic toy building tile.

[0004] The outer magnetic toy building tile has an outer tile housing that defines (i) an outer perimetrical side wall, (ii) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall to define a border therebetween, and (iii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall; at least one first magnet supported within the outer tile housing along the outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one second magnet supported within the outer tile housing along at least two of the inner perimetrical walls.

[0005] The inner magnetic toy building tile is sized and shaped for nesting within the opening of outer tile housing of the outer magnetic toy building tile. The inner magnetic toy building tile has an inner tile housing that defines an outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one third magnet supported within the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile along at least two of the outer perimetrical side walls, wherein the third magnet of the inner magnetic toy building tile is magnetically attractable to the at least one second magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile to releasably retain the inner magnetic toy building tile nested within the opening of the outer tile housing.

[0006] At least one of the outer tile housing or the inner tile housing may be planar.

[0007] The outer magnetic toy building tile may have a square footprint and the inner magnetic toy building tile may have a square footprint smaller than the square footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0008] The outer magnetic toy building tile and the inner magnetic toy building tile may have different geometric footprints selected from triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, and hexagonal shapes.

[0009] The outer magnetic toy building tile may include four first magnets respectively positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the outer tile housing.

[0010] The inner magnetic toy building tile may include at least two third magnets positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the inner tile housing.

[0011] Each magnet may be supported in the respective housing so as to rotate about a rotation axis oriented substantially parallel to a nearest wall of the respective outer tile housing and inner tile housing.

[0012] At least one of the magnets may be mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis within a magnet-retaining pocket.

[0013] The inner tile housing may further define (i) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall thereof to define a border therebetween, and (ii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall thereof; and wherein the inner tilehousing further includes at least one ferromagnetic element supported within the inner tile housing along the inner perimetrical wall thereof.

[0014] The magnetic toy building tile assembly may further include a third magnetic toy building tile defining a central opening sized and shaped to nest receive at least the first magnetic toy building tile, the third magnetic toy building tile including at least one magnet magnetically attractable to the at least one first magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0015] The border of the outer magnetic toy building tile may have a substantially uniform width along an entire periphery of the opening.

[0016] The opening of the outer magnetic toy building tile may be centrally located within the outer tile housing.

[0017] At least one of the outer tile housing or the inner tile housing may be molded from at least one of a translucent polymeric material and an opaque polymeric material.

[0018] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a magnetic toy building tile is provided. The magnetic toy building tile includes a tile housing that defines (i) an outer perimetrical side wall, (ii) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall to define a border therebetween, and (iii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall; at least one first magnet supported within the outer tile housing along the outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one second magnet supported within the outer tile housing along at least two of the inner perimetrical walls.

[0019] The tile housing may be planar.

[0020] The magnetic toy building tile may have a square footprint.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a magnetic toy building tile assembly is provided that includes the magnetic toy building tile described above, wherein the magnetic toy building tile is an outer magnetic toy building tile and the tile housing is an outer tile housing; and wherein the magnetic toy building tile assembly further comprises an inner magnetic toy building tile sized and shaped for nesting within the opening of outer tile housing of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0022] The inner magnetic toy building tile has an inner tile housing that defines an outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one third magnet supported within the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile along at least two of the outer perimetrical side walls, wherein the third magnet of the inner magnetic toy building tile is magnetically attractable to the at least one second magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile to releasably retain the inner magnetic toy building tile nested within the opening of the outer tile housing.

[0023] The inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may be planar. The inner magnetic toy building tile of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may have a footprint smaller than the footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0024] The outer magnetic toy building tile and the inner magnetic toy building tile of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may have different geometric footprints selected from triangular, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, pentagonal, and hexagonal shapes.

[0025] The outer magnetic toy building tile of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may be square and may include four first magnets respectively positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the outer tile housing.

[0026] The inner magnetic toy building tile of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may be square and may include at least two third magnets positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the inner tile housing.

[0027] The inner tile housing of the magnetic toy building tile assembly may further define (i) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall thereof to define a border therebetween, and (ii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall thereof; and wherein the inner tile housing further includes at least one ferromagnetic element supported within the inner tile housing along the inner perimetrical wall thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above, and the detailed description of the embodiment(s) given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic toy building tile assembly including an outer magnetic toy building tile and an inner magnetic toy building tile, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the magnetic toy building tile assembly of FIG. 1 ;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the magnetic toy building tile assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a top, plan view of, with parts separated, of the magnetic toy building tile assembly of FIGS. 1-3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is an illustration of top, perspective views, and side, perspective views, of a magnetic toy building tile assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 6 is an illustration of top, plan views of a magnetic toy building tile assembly, with parts separated and assembled, according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the magnetic toy building tile assembly has a rhombus or diamond shaped profile;

[0035] FIG. 7 is an illustration of top, plan views of a magnetic toy building tile assembly, with parts separated and assembled, according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the magnetic toy building tile assembly has a triangular shaped profile;

[0036] FIG. 8 is an illustration of top, plan views of a magnetic toy building tile assembly, with parts separated and assembled, according to a further embodiment of the presentdisclosure, wherein the magnetic toy building tile assembly has a hexagonal shaped profile; and

[0037] FIG. 9 is a top, perspective view of an outer magnetic toy building tile in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Embodiments of presently disclosed magnetic toy building tile assemblies are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.

[0039] As will be described in detail below, in aspects, the present disclosure is directed to magnetic toy building tile assemblies, and more specifically, magnetic toy building tile assemblies including an outer magnetic toy building tile and at least one inner magnetic toy building tile configured to be nested within a complementary shaped window or opening formed in the outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the magnetic toy building tile assembly of the present disclosure is generally designated 100. Generally, the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 includes a first or outer magnetic toy building tile 200, and a second or inner magnetic toy building tile 300 nested or seated within an opening or recess defined within the first magnetic toy building tile 200.

[0041] By way of example, and in no way limiting the present disclosure, the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 has a square footprint or profile, and the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 has a square footprint or profile. While depicted as the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 being centrally located within the outer magnetic toy building tile 200, it is envisioned and within the scope of the present disclosure for the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 to be positioned in any location within the footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200.

[0042] Further, while the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 and the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 are shown as each having square footprints or profiles, as will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 6-8, it is envisioned and within the scope of the present disclosure for the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 and / or the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 to have any conceivable geometric or polygonal shape, including and not limited to triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal, and the like. Further, it is envisioned and within the scope of the present disclosure, that the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 and the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 may have different geometric or polygonal shapes from one another.

[0043] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-5, the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes a planar (e.g., essentially 2 dimensional) body portion or housing 202. The housing 202 may be made from plastic, resin, rubber, metal, wood, and the like. The housing 202 may be at least partially translucent and / or opaque.

[0044] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the housing 202 of each outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes a bottom wall 204, a top wall 206, and a perimetrical outer side wall 208 interconnecting the bottom wall 204 and the top wall 206, whereby the bottom wall 204 and the top wall 206 are spaced a distance from one another.

[0045] The housing 202 of each outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes a perimetrical inner wall 210, spaced a distance from the outer side wall 208, thereby defining a border 212 having a width “Wl”. In aspects, the border 212 may have an equal width “Wl” along all sides of the housing 202. In further aspects, the width “Wl” of the border 212 may differ.

[0046] The inner wall 210 defines an opening or window 214 within the housing 202. The opening 214 has a shape, profile or footprint that matches the outer profile or footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 overall, or matches the outer profile or footprint of a combination of magnetic toy building tiles 200. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the opening 214 may have a shape, profile or footprint that differs from the outer profile or footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 overall. Exemplary shapes, profiles or footprints of the opening 214 defined within the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 include a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a square, a hexagon, etc. Also, as mentioned above, the opening 214 defined within the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 may be centrally located.

[0047] The housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes at least one outer magnet 200Mo supported at least partially within the housing 202 and along each outer side wall 208. Specifically, the housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes four (4) outer magnets 200Mo supported within the housing 202 and along each outer side wall 208. More specifically, each outer magnet 200Mo is located within a respective outer magnet retaining pocket formed between the outer wall 208 and the inner wall 210, and between the top wall 204 and the bottom wall 206, wherein the outer magnet retaining pocket is closer to the outer wall 208 as compared to the inner wall 210.

[0048] While four (4) outer magnets 200Mo are generally shown, it is contemplated that any number of outer magnets 200Mo may be provided along any outer wall 208 of the housing 202.

[0049] The housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes at least one inner magnet 200Mi supported at least partially within the housing 202 and along each inner side wall 210. Specifically, the housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 includes two (2) inner magnets 200Mi supported within the housing 202 and along each inner side wall 210. More specifically, each inner magnet 200Mi is located within a respective inner magnet retaining pocket formed between the outer wall 208 and the inner wall 210, and between the top wall 204 and the bottom wall 206, wherein the inner magnet retaining pocket is closer to the inner wall 210 as compared to the outer wall 208. It is envisioned that the housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 may include inner magnets 200Mi supported along any two inner side walls 210, or along fewer than all inner side walls 210.

[0050] While two (2) inner magnets 200Mi are generally shown, it is contemplated that any number of inner magnets 200Mi may be provided along any inner wall 210 of the housing 202.

[0051] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-5, the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes a planar (e.g., essentially 2 dimensional) body portion or housing 302. The housing 302 may be made from plastic, resin, rubber, metal, wood, and the like. The housing 302 may be at least partially translucent and / or opaque.

[0052] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the housing 302 of each inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes a bottom wall 304, a top wall 306, and a perimetrical outer side wall 308 interconnecting the bottom wall 304 and the top wall 306, whereby the bottom wall 304 and the top wall 306 are spaced a distance from one another. The bottom wall 304 and / or top wall 306 may be flat, may have bevels formed therein, may have indentations, may have holes formed therethrough, or any combination of the above.

[0053] The housing 302 of each inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes a perimetrical inner wall 310, spaced a distance from the outer side wall 308, thereby defining a border 312 having a width “W2”. In aspects, the border 312 may have an equal width “W2” along all sides of the housing 302. In further aspects, the width “W2” of the border 312 may differ.

[0054] The inner wall 310 defines an opening or window 314 within the housing 302. The opening 314 has a shape, profile or footprint that matches the outer profile or footprint of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 overall, or a combination of inner magnet toy building tiles 300. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the opening 314 may have a shape, profile or footprint that differs from the outer profile or footprint of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 overall. Exemplary shapes, profiles or footprints of the opening 314 defined within the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 include a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a square, a hexagon, etc. Also, as mentioned above, the opening 314 defined within the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 may be centrally located. Still further, it is envisioned, and within the scope of the present disclosure, that the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 does not include any opening at all, and simply includes a wall, cavity, recess or the like formed in a bottom wall 304 or the top wall 306.

[0055] The housing 302 of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes at least one outer magnet 300Mo supported at least partially within the housing 302 and along each outer side wall 308. Specifically, the housing 302 of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes two (2) outer magnets 300Mo supported within the housing 302 and along each outer side wall 308. More specifically, each outer magnet 300Mo is located within a respective outer magnet retaining pocket formed between the outer wall 308 and the inner wall 310, andbetween the top wall 304 and the bottom wall 306, wherein the outer magnet retaining pocket is closer to the outer wall 308 as compared to the inner wall 310. While housing 302 of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 is shown and described as having at least one outer magnet 300Mo supported at least partially within the housing 302 and along each outer side wall 308, it is envisioned that the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 may include no outer magnets 300Mo, or only a single outer magnet 300Mo along a single side, along a few sides, or along fewer than all sides.

[0056] While two (2) outer magnets 300Mo are generally shown, it is contemplated that any number of outer magnets 300Mo may be provided along any outer wall 308 of the housing 302.

[0057] The housing 302 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 300 includes at least one inner magnet 300Mi supported at least partially within the housing 302 and along each inner side wall 310. Specifically, the housing 302 of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 includes one (1) inner magnet 300Mi supported within the housing 302 and along each inner side wall 310. More specifically, each inner magnet 300Mi is located within a respective inner magnet retaining pocket formed between the outer wall 308 and the inner wall 310, and between the top wall 304 and the bottom wall 306, wherein the inner magnet retaining pocket is closer to the inner wall 310 as compared to the outer wall 308.

[0058] While one (1) inner magnet 300Mi are generally shown, it is contemplated that any number of inner magnets 300Mi may be provided along any inner wall 310 of the housing 302. Also, in accordance with the present disclosure, while the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 is shown and described as having inner magnets 300Mi, it is contemplated and envisioned that the inner magnets 300Mi may be preplaced with a metallic material or magnetized surface having magnetic attracting properties, such as, for example, iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys, such as steel and stainless steel.

[0059] While the outer magnets 300Mo of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 are depicted as being provided on each inner wall 310 of housing 302, it is envisioned that the outer magnets 300Mo of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 may be provided along justone outer wall 308 of the housing 302, or along any number of outer walls 308 of the housing 302, and desirably along at least two outer walls 308 of the housing 302.

[0060] As depicted, each magnet 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi, and the like, is elongate and includes a respective longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of each magnet 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi desirably extend parallel to a respective outer wall 208, inner wall 210, outer wall 308 or inner wall 310. While the magnets 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi depicted herein are shown as having rectangular transverse cross-sectional profiles, it is envisioned that the magnets 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi may have any transverse cross- sectional profile, e.g., circular, multi-faceted, or may have any overall shape, including and not limited to spherical, cube, etc.

[0061] In accordance with the present disclosure, the magnets 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi may be held in a fixed position within respective housings, may be retained within respective housings such that the magnets 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi may slide along their respective longitudinal axes, and / or may be retained within respective housings such that the magnets 200Mo, 200Mi, 300Mo, 300Mi may rotate about their respective longitudinal axes.

[0062] In use, as mentioned above, the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 is configured and dimensioned to be nested or placed within the opening 214 defined within the outer magnetic toy building tile 200. In so doing, the outer magnets 300Mo of the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 magnetically engage with the inner magnets 200Mi of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200 to thereby magnetically hold the inner magnetic toy building tile 300 in place relative to the outer magnetic toy building tile 200, and not by any frictional engagement or the like.

[0063] In this manner, by nesting an inner magnetic toy building tile 300 into an outer magnetic toy building tile 200 in assembling each magnetic toy building tile assembly 100, a builder can create multiple patterns and color combinations by selecting varied colored inner magnetic toy building tile 300 and outer magnetic toy building tile 200, and by magnetically connecting any number of magnetic toy building tile assemblies 100 to one another along respective outer walls 208 of outer magnetic toy building tiles 200.

[0064] In accordance with the present disclosure, magnetic toy building tile assemblies 100 permit insertion and connection of one or more magnetic objects into the interior of a magnetic tile (i.e., the outer magnetic toy building tile 200) and to hold those magnetic objects in place. Further, magnetic toy building tile assemblies 100 permit builders to center a build in the middle of a magnetic tile (i.e., the outer magnetic toy building tile 200).

[0065] As depicted in FIG. 5, a magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 may include a first magnetic toy building tile 200 constituting a middle or intermediate magnetic toy building tile, a second magnetic toy building tile 300 constituting an inner or central magnetic toy building tile, and a third or perimetrical magnetic toy building tile 400 constituting an outer magnetic toy building tile.

[0066] Perimetrical magnetic toy building tile 400 may include a housing 402 defining a central opening 414 configured and dimensioned to receive the second magnetic toy building tile 300 therein in a nesting fashion. It is envisioned that the perimetrical magnetic toy building tile 400 may include magnets 400Mo supported around and along the outer wall 408 thereof, and magnets 400Mi supported around and along the inner wall 410 thereof.

[0067] As depicted in FIG. 5, each magnetic toy building tile 200, 300 and 400 includes a respective opening or window 214, 314, 414 formed in the center thereof which opening or window 214, 314, 414 is 1 / 4 (.25) of the area of the respective top walls 204, 304, 404 extending out to the respective outer walls 208, 308, 408, or wherein the width of the respective borders 212, 312, 412 is 1 / 4 (.25) of a total length of each respective magnetic toy building tile 200, 300, 400.

[0068] Turning now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of a magnetic toy building tile assembly in accordance with the present disclosure is shown as magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 A. The magnetic toy building tile assembly 100A is similar to the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 but for the shape, the outer profile and / or footprint of the respective outer magnetic toy building tile 200A and the respective inner magnetic toy building tile 300A.

[0069] Specifically, the outer magnetic toy building tile 200A has a diamond or rhombus shape, outer profile and / or footprint defining a similarly shaped opening 214A formed therein. Further, the inner magnetic toy building tile 300A has a diamond or rhombus shape, outer profile and / or footprint and is dimensioned for nesting within the opening 214A formed in the outer magnetic toy building tile 200A.

[0070] Turning now to FIG. 7, still another embodiment of a magnetic toy building tile assembly in accordance with the present disclosure is shown as magnetic toy building tile assembly 100B. The magnetic toy building tile assembly 100B is similar to the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 but for the shape, the outer profile and / or footprint of the respective outer magnetic toy building tile 200B and the respective inner magnetic toy building tile 300B.

[0071] Specifically, the outer magnetic toy building tile 200B has a triangular shape, outer profile and / or footprint defining a similarly shaped opening 214B formed therein. Further, the inner magnetic toy building tile 300B has a triangular shape, outer profile and / or footprint and is dimensioned for nesting within the opening 214B formed in the outer magnetic toy building tile 200B. While the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100B is depicted as equilateral triangle, it is envisioned that the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100B may have any triangular shape, including and not limited to a right triangle, a scalene triangle or the like.

[0072] Turning now to FIG. 8, a further embodiment of a magnetic toy building tile assembly in accordance with the present disclosure is shown as magnetic toy building tile assembly 100C. The magnetic toy building tile assembly 100C is similar to the magnetic toy building tile assembly 100 but for the shape, the outer profile and / or footprint of the respective outer magnetic toy building tile 200C and the respective inner magnetic toy building tile 300C.

[0073] Specifically, the outer magnetic toy building tile 200C has a hexagonal shape, outer profile and / or footprint defining a similarly shaped opening 214C formed therein. Further, the inner magnetic toy building tile 300C has a hexagonal shape, outer profile and / or footprint and is dimensioned for nesting within the opening 214C formed in the outer magnetic toy building tile 200C.

[0074] Turning now to FIG. 9, an outer magnetic toy building tile in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is generally shown as 200D. The outer magnetic toy building tile 200D includes a housing 202D having a shape outer profile or footprint similar to housing 202 of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200. However, the housing 202D of the magnetic toy building tile 200D includes a plurality of openings 214D formed therein. Specifically, the housing 202D of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200D includes, as depicted, four (4) square openings 214D formed therein. It is envisioned that each opening is sized and dimensioned to magnetically receive at least one complementary shaped inner magnetic toy building tile 300 therein in a nesting fashion, or a combination of multiple inner magnetic toy building tiles 300 having various shapes (e.g., triangle, square, rectangle, etc.) that can at least partially, or completely, fill the openings 214D of the outer magnetic toy building tile 200D.

[0075] While four (4) square openings 214D are shown and described in the outer magnetic toy building tile 200D, it is envisioned that any number of openings and any shape opening may be provided in the outer magnetic toy building tile 200D.

[0076] It is further envisioned that the outer magnetic toy building tiles of the present disclosure may constitute a frame having a single relatively larger opening formed therein, wherein multiple inner magnetic toy building tiles may be nested or placed within the same single relatively larger opening.

[0077] It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of various embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended thereto.

[0078] As used herein, various terminology is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of implementations. For example, as used herein, an ordinal term (e.g., “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.) used to modify an element, such as a structure, a component, an operation, etc., does not by itself indicate any priority or order of the element with respect to another element, but rather merely distinguishes the element from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

[0079] The phrase “and / or” means and or. To illustrate, A, B, and / or C includes: A alone, B alone, C alone, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of Band C, or a combination of A, B, and C. In other words, “and / or” operates as an inclusive or. Similarly, the phrase “A, B, C, or a combination thereof5or “A, B, C, or any combination thereof5includes: A alone, B alone, C alone, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0080] Throughout this document, values expressed in a range format should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub -ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a range of “about 0.1 % to about 5%” or “about 0.1 % to 5%” should be interpreted to include not just about 0.1 % to about 5%, but also the individual values (e.g., 1 %, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.1 % to 0.5%, 1.1 % to 2.2%, 3.3% to 4.4%) within the indicated range.

[0081] The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), ’’have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), and “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, an apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a method that “comprises,” “has,” or “includes” one or more steps possesses those one or more steps, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps.

[0082] Any implementation of any of the systems, methods, and article of manufacture can consist of or consist essentially of - rather than comprise / have / include - any of the described steps, elements, and / or features. Thus, in any of the claims, the term “consisting of5or “consisting essentially of5can be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open-ended linking verb. Additionally, the term “wherein” may be used interchangeably with “where”.

[0083] Further, a device, assembly or system that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but it can also be configured in other ways than those specifically described. The feature or features of one implementation may be applied to other implementations, even though not described or illustrated, unless expressly prohibited by this disclosure or the nature of the implementations.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A magnetic toy building tile assembly, comprising: an outer magnetic toy building tile having: an outer tile housing that defines (i) an outer perimetrical side wall, (ii) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall to define a border therebetween, and (iii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall; at least one first magnet supported within the outer tile housing along the outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one second magnet supported within the outer tile housing along at least two of the inner perimetrical walls; and an inner magnetic toy building tile sized and shaped for nesting within the opening of outer tile housing of the outer magnetic toy building tile, the inner magnetic toy building tile having: an inner tile housing that defines an outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one third magnet supported within the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile along at least two of the outer perimetrical side walls, wherein the third magnet of the inner magnetic toy building tile is magnetically attractable to the at least one second magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile to releasably retain the inner magnetic toy building tile nested within the opening of the outer tile housing.

2. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer tile housing or the inner tile housing is planar.

3. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the outer magnetic toy building tile has a square footprint and the inner magnetic toy building tile has a square footprint smaller than the square footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

4. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the outer magnetic toy building tile and the inner magnetic toy building tile have different geometric footprints selected from triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, pentagonal, and hexagonal shapes.

5. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the outer magnetic toy building tile includes four first magnets respectively positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the outer tile housing.

6. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 5, wherein the inner magnetic toy building tile includes at least two third magnets positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the inner tile housing.

7. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, wherein each magnet is supported in the respective housing so as to rotate about a rotation axis oriented substantially parallel to a nearest wall of the respective outer tile housing and inner tile housing.

8. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the magnets is mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis within a magnet-retaining pocket.

9. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner tile housing further defines (i) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall thereof to define a border therebetween, and (ii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall thereof; and wherein the inner tile housing further includes at least one ferromagnetic element supported within the inner tile housing along the inner perimetrical wall thereof.

10. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a third magnetic toy building tile defining a central opening sized and shaped to nest receive at least the first magnetic toy building tile, the third magnetic toy building tile including at least one magnet magnetically attractable to the at least one first magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

11. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the border of the outer magnetic toy building tile has a substantially uniform width along an entire periphery of the opening.

12. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the outer magnetic toy building tile is centrally located within the outer tile housing.

13. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer tile housing or the inner tile housing is molded from at least one of a translucent polymeric material and an opaque polymeric material.

14. A magnetic toy building tile, comprising: a tile housing that defines (i) an outer perimetrical side wall, (ii) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall to define a border therebetween, and (iii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall; at least one first magnet supported within the outer tile housing along the outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one second magnet supported within the outer tile housing along at least two of the inner perimetrical walls.

15. The magnetic toy building tile according to claim 14, wherein the tile housing is planar.

16. The magnetic toy building tile according to claim 15, wherein the magnetic toy building tile has a square footprint.

17. A magnetic toy building tile assembly, comprising: the magnetic toy building tile according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic toy building tile is an outer magnetic toy building tile and the tile housing is an outer tile housing; and wherein the magnetic toy building tile assembly further comprises:an inner magnetic toy building tile sized and shaped for nesting within the opening of outer tile housing of the outer magnetic toy building tile, the inner magnetic toy building tile having: an inner tile housing that defines an outer perimetrical side wall; and at least one third magnet supported within the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile along at least two of the outer perimetrical side walls, wherein the third magnet of the inner magnetic toy building tile is magnetically attractable to the at least one second magnet of the outer magnetic toy building tile to releasably retain the inner magnetic toy building tile nested within the opening of the outer tile housing.

18. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 17, wherein the inner tile housing of the inner magnetic toy building tile is planar, and wherein the inner magnetic toy building tile has a footprint smaller than the footprint of the outer magnetic toy building tile.

19. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 18, wherein the outer magnetic toy building tile and the inner magnetic toy building tile have different geometric footprints selected from triangular, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, pentagonal, and hexagonal shapes.

20. The magnetic toy building tile assembly according to claim 19, wherein: the outer magnetic toy building tile is square and includes four first magnets respectively positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the outer tile housing; the inner magnetic toy building tile is square and includes at least two third magnets positioned adjacent four sides of the outer perimetrical side wall of the inner tile housing; the inner tile housing further defines (i) an inner perimetrical wall spaced inwardly from the outer perimetrical side wall thereof to define a border therebetween, and (ii) an opening bounded by the inner perimetrical wall thereof; and wherein the inner tile housingfurther includes at least one ferromagnetic element supported within the inner tile housing along the inner perimetrical wall thereof.

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