repelling magnet toy

Magnets are endlessly fascinating. Repelling magnets are particularly fun, but magnets tend to flip and attract rapidly.

The invention is a toy that keeps the magnets in the repelling state. The magnets are arranged in the same orientation (e.g. north up) between two transparent sheet so that the magnets are confined so that they can slide between the sheets but not flip.

The transparent sheets are separated by a boundary spacer to contain the magnets. The boundary spacer has embedded magnets in the same orientation so they repel the contained magnets.

To play with the toy, an external magnet is passed over the contained repelling magnets. The toy can also be shaken to see the magnets repel/bounce.

I have made a prototype with laser cut plastic and 3mm x 3mm cylindrical magnets. Each magnet has a protective collar. They sheets are affixed with screws. See link.