Play mat

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of a playmate and also a toy which includes a playmate and articles to be placed thereon in play. The playmat includes at least a portion, more typically a layer, of a magnetic or magnetically attractive material such as a metalised compound. The articles include magnetic or magnetically attractive material therein such that when the child brings the article into proximity with the playmate a magnetic field is created which acts to retain the article in position where placed by the child. The article is retained at that location until the child exerts a movement force on the article to overcome the magnetic force.

1 . A play mat for the selective placement of at least one article on a surface thereof in play, said play mat having a surface for contact with a support surface and an upper surface, said upper surface provided for the location of the at least one article thereon and characterised in that the play mat includes a portion formed of magnetic or magnetically attractive material.  
   
   
       2 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the magnetic or magnetically attractive material is provided as a layer of the play mat.  
   
   
       3 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that magnetically attractive material is used in the form of a metalised compound.  
   
   
       4 . A play mat according to  claim 3  characterised in that the metalised compound includes portions of metal embedded therein and interspersed throughout the compound so as to provide a magnetically attractive layer of the play mat.  
   
   
       5 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the play mat has, on its upper surface, a play scene depicted thereon.  
   
   
       6 . A play mat according to  claim 5  characterised in that the scene is printed on a layer which is laminated to a magnetically attractive layer of the play mat.  
   
   
       7 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the play mat comprises a first layer formed of a metalised rubber or plastics compound and above said first layer and forming the upper surface of the playmat a second layer is provided, said layer carrying a printed play scene.  
   
   
       8 . A play mat according to  claim 7  characterised in that the second layer is bonded or laminated to said first layer.  
   
   
       9 . A play mat according to  claim 7  characterised in that a third layer is provided which carries the printed scene.  
   
   
       10 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that a play scene is depicted on the upper surface of the play mat and printed directly onto a magnetically attractive material.  
   
   
       11 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the play mat is flexible and can be moved between in-use and storage conditions.  
   
   
       12 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the magnetic or magnetically attractive material extends across the area of the play mat.  
   
   
       13 . A play mat according to  claim 1  wherein the metallic material in the play mat is magnetised.  
   
   
       14 . A play mat according to  claim 1  characterised in that the magnetic or magnetically attractive material in the play mat is provided at selected locations on the play mat.  
   
   
       15 . A play mat according to  claim 14  characterised in that the location of the magnetically attractive material on the play mat matches with identifiable portions depicted on a play scene on the upper surface of the play mat.  
   
   
       16 . A toy, said toy comprising a play mat and at least one article to be selectively placed on said play mat in play, said play mat having an upper surface on which the said at least one article can be placed and a lower surface for placement on a support surface, characterised in that the play mat is formed with at least a layer of magnetic or magnetically attractive material and the said article includes a magnet or magnetically attractive material therein such that when the article is brought into proximity with the upper surface of the play mat, magnetic attraction between the article and the play mat acts to retain the article in the placed position on the play mat.  
   
   
       17 . A toy according to  claim 16  characterised in that the play mat includes metallic material interspersed throughout the play mat or a layer thereof and extends substantially across the area of the play mat.  
   
   
       18 . A toy according to  claim 16  characterised in that a plurality of articles are provided to be used in conjunction with the play mat for selective location thereon and retained in position by magnetic attraction between the magnetic or magnetically attractive material in the article and magnetic or magnetically attractive material in the play mat.  
   
   
       19 . A toy according to  claim 18  wherein the strength of magnetic or magnetically attractive material in the article varies between articles so as to allow variation in the retaining force applied to certain articles in conjunction with the play mat.