US Patent 7988518 Magnetic block toy

A magnetic block toy is provided that includes a plurality of magnetic blocks coupled to one another by magnets therein. Each of the magnetic blocks includes a body part having two or more end portions and a magnet-mounting part at each end portion of the body part adapted to mount magnets having different polarities on upper and lower surfaces thereof so as to be rotatably supported by a shaft formed on both sides of an outer periphery thereof. When one magnetic block approaches another magnetic block, the magnets are rotated to cause the magnetic blocks to be coupled to each other irrespective of a coupling direction. When the magnetic blocks are coupled to each other, they do not slide against or separate from each other.