At a glance
| Patent number | CN105963988B (application CN201610427176) |
| Type | China invention patent (发明专利) - examined; protects the technical solution |
| Original title | X grid square magnetic building blocks (X网格正方形磁性积木) |
| Patent owner | Pan’an Zhongcheng Magnetic Industry Co., Ltd. (transferred from the original applicant, recorded 2022-04-15; a pledge of the patent was registered 2024-04-16) |
| Inventors | Tang Jiangang |
| Filing date | 2016-06-15 |
| Grant date | 2018-08-10 |
| Status (China) | In force - no termination recorded; a China invention patent lasts at most 20 years from filing (to 2036-06-15) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 2 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN105963988B) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a square-frame magnetic building block with rectangular lugs at the four corners and magnets along the upper and lower sides and in the lugs. It has a first shell with an outer rim rib, a lower inner rib and first block ribs, and a second shell with a supporting rib and second block ribs, which together form the magnet pockets. Each shell has an X-shaped brace joined to the corners, with triangle ribs, crossing ribs and inner frame ribs, plus edge locating posts and central locating posts at the X crossing that plug into each other.
Claims 2-4 - further features described in the patent, such as details of the ribs, posts and the corner lugs.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China. It is still in force in China, so making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission while it lasts (at most until 2036-06-15). It has no US or other foreign counterpart and does not restrict the design outside China.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Magnetic building tiles are a crowded US category: leading brands hold utility and design patents on tile structures and shapes, and actively enforce patents, trademarks and trade dress. A freedom-to-operate (FTO) review, including design patents on tile outlines and window patterns, should come before tooling.
- Magnet retention is safety-critical. The weld between the shells and the pocket fit must pass the drop, torque and tension tests for toys; this is proven on tooled samples, not on paper.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Size | Standard square sizes; matching triangles and rectangles in the same style |
| Plastic | ABS in transparent, translucent or solid colors; food-grade-type pigments |
| Magnets | NdFeB or ferrite, grade and number per edge, coating |
| Window | Open X-brace, printed inserts or clear panels |
| Assembly | Ultrasonic welding or screw-plus-weld for extra security |
| Sets | Piece counts, storage tubs, idea booklets, classroom kits |
Things to plan for (US market)
- ASTM F963 and 16 CFR 1250 (magnets in toys) - hazardous-magnet limits and the use-and-abuse tests (drop, torque, tension, soak) that check no magnet can come loose.
- Small parts (16 CFR 1501) and age grading - sets labelled 3+, with the magnet warning required by ASTM F963.
- CPSIA - lead in substrate and surface coatings, phthalates where applicable, third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab, a Children’s Product Certificate and tracking labels.
- California Prop 65 - check plastics and colorants.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - tile sizes, colors, magnet grade, set contents and quantity.
- Design - shells, pockets and weld lines engineered for your tile size.
- Prototype - tooled samples tested for magnet pull and use-and-abuse.
- Pilot run - small batch for third-party CPSIA and ASTM F963 testing.
- Production - volume production, set packing and shipping.
Quantities & timeline
Each shell needs a precision multi-cavity injection mold, magnets are ordered to size and coating, and welding needs ultrasonic horns and fixtures for every tile shape; a full set also needs packaging tooling. Third-party toy testing is part of the schedule. Send us your tile sizes, set contents, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
