Magnetic Construction Toy

Abstract

A construction toy is provided, with illustrated panels that connect together magnetically to assemble two- and three-dimensional structures and background scenery, optionally with accessory items that bind magnetically or mechanically to the panels to embellish the structures or scenes that are created.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A construction toy, comprising:
 a plurality of panels, wherein each panel comprises two faces and at least three edges,   wherein at least one panel comprises an illustration on at least one face,   wherein each panel comprises at least one magnetic edge,   wherein said magnetic edge comprises at least one magnet embedded within said panel in proximity to said edge, and   wherein the magnets are configured such that panels may be connected by magnetic attraction at their magnetic edges to form illustrated structures and/or scenes.   
     
     
         2 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein each edge of each panel is a magnetic edge. 
     
     
         3 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said magnetic edge comprises at least one multipole magnet,   wherein each multipole magnet comprises adjacent pairs of magnetic poles of opposite polarity and in alternating magnetic orientation, and   wherein the number of poles is equal to 4n where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1.   
     
     
         4 . A construction toy according to  claim 3 , wherein said multipole magnet is a block magnet that comprises a length, a width, and a thickness,
 wherein said multipole magnet is oriented with its length parallel to the panel edge and with its width perpendicular to the panel face, and is embedded to a depth of at least its thickness in the panel edge, and   wherein pairs of poles are disposed along the length of the magnet with alternating magnetized directions through the width and perpendicular to the length of the magnet.   
     
     
         5 . A construction toy according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one panel comprises said multipole magnets spaced symmetrically on each edge of the panel and disposed around the panel in the same orientation of polarity. 
     
     
         6 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic edge comprises two dual pole magnets, wherein the two magnets on said edge are oriented with opposite polarity with respect to one another. 
     
     
         7 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein panels may be connected at their magnetic edges to form a three-dimensional structure or scene, wherein illustrations on faces of the panels provide illustrated interior and/or exterior walls and/or scenery. 
     
     
         8 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein panels may be connected at their magnetic edges such that illustrations on adjacent faces form a contiguous illustrated scene. 
     
     
         9 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the panels may be rearranged in sequence and/or converted to different orientations to create a multitude of different scenes and/or structures. 
     
     
         10 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some panels comprise magnetic edges of the same length and connect along the entire lengths of their magnetic edges. 
     
     
         11 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , comprising panels with magnetic edges of differing lengths, wherein panels with magnetic edges of shorter lengths connect with magnetic edges of longer lengths along the entire length of the shorter edge. 
     
     
         12 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one accessory item that is capable of attaching or adhering to at least one panel face. 
     
     
         13 . A construction toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said attachment or adherence to the panel face comprises magnetic attraction, adhesion, or static electricity, or mechanical attachment 
     
     
         14 . A construction toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the accessory item comprises a human or animal figure, furniture, clothing, food, a tool, an appliance, a bag, a container, a scenery embellishment, a vehicle, a light fixture, or a weapon. 
     
     
         15 . A construction toy according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one panel comprises a material that will magnetically attract a magnetic or magnetically receptive portion of an accessory item to a face of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . A construction toy according to  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of at least one face of the panel comprises a magnetic receptive material, wherein a magnetic portion of an accessory item will bind to an exterior surface of the panel by attraction to the magnetic receptive material. 
     
     
         17 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one panel is constructed with an interior substructure,
 wherein said substructure comprises at least one magnet embedded in proximity to at least one edge of the substructure,   wherein said panel comprises at least one magnetic receptive material covering at least a portion of at least one face of the substructure,   wherein said panel comprises two exterior sheets that form the exterior faces of the panel, and   wherein at least one exterior-facing surface of an exterior sheet comprises an illustration.   
     
     
         18 . A construction toy according to  claim 17 , comprising at least one accessory item that comprises magnetic material and attaches magnetically to the exterior-facing surface of an exterior sheet that covers a magnetic receptive material. 
     
     
         19 . A construction toy according to  claim 1 , comprising a spacer on at least one face or at least one edge of a panel that creates a gap between panels when they are stacked with faces parallel to each other and bound together by magnetic attraction at their magnetic edges, wherein said spacer facilitates pulling the stacked panels apart. 
     
     
         20 . A construction toy according to  claim 18 , wherein the spacer comprises a ridge or a recessed or beveled area.