Pod toy

Abstract

A pod toy may include a plurality of substantially similar panels each having a wall portion and a roof portion, the plurality of panels having at least one interlocking edge having alternating notches and knuckles configured for engaging adjacent panels, where, when assembled, the interlocking edge of a first panel engages an interlocking edge of a second panel by aligning knuckles of the first panel with knuckles of the second panel, and a connecting pin configured for insertion into and through the knuckles at the interlocking edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pod toy comprising:
 a plurality of substantially similar panels each having a wall portion and a roof portion, the plurality of panels having at least one interlocking edge having alternating notches and knuckles configured for engaging adjacent panels, wherein, when assembled, the interlocking edge of a first panel engages an interlocking edge of a second panel by aligning knuckles of the first panel with knuckles of the second panel; and   a connecting pin configured for insertion into and through the knuckles at the interlocking edges.   
     
     
         2 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein each panel of the plurality of substantially similar panels is foldable from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         3 . The pod toy of  claim 2 , wherein the single piece of material is substantially flat with no overlapping portions. 
     
     
         4 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar panels differ due to surface openings and are substantially identical along their respective interconnecting edges. 
     
     
         5 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portions of the plurality of substantially similar panels form four walls. 
     
     
         6 . The pod toy of  claim 5 , wherein the wall portions include a gable shape. 
     
     
         7 . The pod toy of  claim 5 , further comprising a pyramidal shaped roof. 
     
     
         8 . The pod toy of  claim 7 , wherein the pyramidal shaped roof is rotated 45 degrees from the orientation of the four walls. 
     
     
         9 . The pod toy of  claim 7 , further comprising a roof opening in the center of the roof. 
     
     
         10 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar panels comprise a sustainable material. 
     
     
         11 . The pod toy of  claim 10 , wherein the sustainable material is cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . The pod toy of  claim 11 , wherein the connecting pin is a paper tube. 
     
     
         13 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially similar panels each define a wall having a bottom free edge, a left interlocking edge, a right interlocking edge, an interlocking gable edge, and a folded gable edge. 
     
     
         14 . The pod toy of  claim 13 , wherein the left interlocking edge is configured to interlock with an adjoining right edge of an adjacent panel. 
     
     
         15 . The pod toy of  claim 14 , wherein one of the substantially similar panels includes a door opening and a door. 
     
     
         16 . The pod toy of  claim 15 , wherein the door comprises an interior handle configured for frictionally engaging a door jamb of the door opening. 
     
     
         17 . The pod toy of  claim 16 , wherein one of the plurality of substantially similar panels includes a slot in a roof portion for insertion of a connecting pin therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the knuckles have a substantially square cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the knuckles have a substantially parallelogram shaped cross section. 
     
     
         20 . The pod toy of  claim 1 , wherein the roof portion can support a child weighing 75 pounds.