Connectable panel toy with erasable surfaces

Abstract

A collapsible construction panel set with erasable surfaces. Construction panels comprising connectors facilitate a connectable panel toy that allows the user to build a variety of objects including but not limited to representations of forts, tunnels, mazes, castles, houses, doll houses, animals, and vehicles. Panels can be marked on with crayons, felt markers, porous tip markers, pens, pencils, paint brushes, air brushes, light, or paint rollers. Depending on the marking employed, the panel surfaces allow for the marking to be partially or completely erased with wet or dry methods. Panels can be easily stacked for compact storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A configurable building toy comprising:
 a panel configured as a predetermined shape, the panel having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer and the third layer being comprised of a substantially solid low surface energy polymer, and the second layer being comprised of a foamed polymer; and,   at least one fastener coupled to a perimeter portion of the panel, the at least one fastener having mating components for selective connection to a second fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The configurable building toy of  claim 1  wherein the at least one fastener is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, and mechanically mating fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The configurable building toy of  claim 1  wherein at least one layer of the panel further comprises a phosphorescent compound. 
     
     
         4 . The configurable building toy of  claim 1  at least one layer of the panel further comprises a reflective film. 
     
     
         5 . The configurable building toy of  claim 1  wherein at least one connection aperture is formed into the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The configurable building toy of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined shape is selected from the group consisting of rounded rectangle, rounded triangle, rounded rhombus, rounded trapezoid, rounded pentagon, rounded hexagon, cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, circular, semi-circular, and irregular. 
     
     
         7 . A configurable building set comprising:
 a plurality of panels configured as predetermined shapes, the plurality of panels having at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the first layer and the third layer being comprised of a substantially solid low surface energy polymer, and the second layer being comprised of a foamed polymer; and,   a plurality of fasteners coupled to a perimeter portion of the plurality of panels, the plurality of fasteners having mating components for selective connection to a second fastener.   
     
     
         8 . The configurable building set of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, and mechanically mating fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The configurable building set of  claim 7  wherein the predetermined shapes are selected from the group consisting of rounded rectangle, rounded triangle, rounded rhombus, rounded trapezoid, rounded pentagon, rounded hexagon, cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, circular, semi-circular, and irregular. 
     
     
         10 . The configurable building set of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of panels further comprise at least one aperture formed into the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         11 . The configurable building set of  claim 7  wherein at least one layer of the plurality of panels further comprises a phosphorescent compound. 
     
     
         12 . The configurable building set of  claim 7  wherein at least one layer of the plurality of panels further comprises a reflective film. 
     
     
         13 . The configurable building set of  claim 10  wherein at least one protrusion is configured in correspondence with the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A configurable art set comprising:
 a plurality of panels configured as predetermined shapes, the plurality of panels having at least one surface layer, the at least one surface layer being comprised of a substantially solid low surface energy polymer;   a plurality of fasteners coupled to a perimeter portion of the plurality of panels, the plurality of fasteners having mating components for selective connection to a second fastener; and,   at least one marking implement, the at least one marking implement being of a chemical composition such that use of the at least one marking implement on the at least one surface layer is erasable.   
     
     
         15 . The configurable art set of  14  wherein the predetermined shapes are selected from the group consisting of rounded rectangle, rounded triangle, rounded rhombus, rounded trapezoid, rounded pentagon, rounded hexagon, cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, circular, semi-circular, and irregular. 
     
     
         16 . The configurable art set of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners, and mechanically mating fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The configurable art set of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of panels are constructed from the group consisting of solid polymer, two layers of polymer, three layers of polymer, multiple layers of polymer, and coated cardboard. 
     
     
         18 . The configurable art set of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a plurality of connection apertures. 
     
     
         19 . The configurable art set of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a phosphorescent compound. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable art set of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a reflective film.