Toy character figures formed with magnetic balls and methods of making the same

Abstract

A toy character figure includes first, second, and third balls and each of the balls includes a plurality of magnets including a first magnet located at a top of the ball, and a second magnet located at a bottom of the ball. The balls are removably secured together in a vertical stack with each of the balls forming a portion of the character so that the balls collectively form the character. The balls are separable and interchangeable so that different characters can be formed and the balls can be collectively and/or individually played with as bouncable balls. A toy character system can include a plurality of the toy character figures of different characters which are interchangeable to form additional characters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy character figure of a character comprising, in combination:
 a plurality of balls;   wherein each of the plurality of balls includes a plurality of magnets removably securing the plurality of balls together in a vertical stack; and   wherein each of the plurality of balls forms a portion of the character so that the plurality of balls collectively forms the character.   
     
     
         2 . The toy character figure according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of balls comprises at least one of natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The toy character figure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls is at least three of the balls. 
     
     
         4 . The toy character figure according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first magnet located at a top of the ball and a second magnet located at a bottom of the ball. 
     
     
         5 . The toy character figure according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of magnets includes a third magnet located at a right side of the ball, a fourth magnet located at a left side of the ball, a fifth magnet located at a front of the ball, and a sixth magnet located at a back of the ball. 
     
     
         6 . The toy character figure according to claim I, wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first magnet located at a top of the ball and a second magnet at a bottom of the ball. 
     
     
         7 . The toy character figure according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of magnets includes a third magnet located at a right side of the ball, a fourth magnet located at a left side of the ball, a fifth magnet located at a front of the ball, and a sixth magnet located at a back of the ball. 
     
     
         8 . The toy character figure according to  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory at least partially formed of ferrous metal and secured to at least one of the plurality of magnets of at least one of the plurality of balls. 
     
     
         9 . The toy character figure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of balls are interchangeable to form a different character. 
     
     
         10 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of balls have a portion of the character printed thereon so that the plurality of balls collectively forms the character. 
     
     
         11 . A toy character figure of a character comprising, in combination:
 first, second, and third balls;   wherein each of the balls includes a plurality of magnets including a first magnet located at a top of the ball, and a second magnet located at a bottom of the ball;   wherein the first, second, and third balls are removably secured together in a vertical stack with the second magnet of the first ball removably secured to the first magnet of the second ball and the second magnet of the second ball removably secured to the first magnet of the third ball; and   wherein each of the first, second, and third balls forms a portion of the character so that the first, second, and third balls collectively forms the character.   
     
     
         12 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of balls comprises at least one of natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of magnets further includes a third magnet located at a right side of the ball, a fourth magnet located at a left side of the ball, a fifth magnet located at a front of the ball, and a sixth magnet located at a back of the ball. 
     
     
         14 . The toy character figure according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one accessory at least partially formed of ferrous metal and is secured to at least one of the plurality of magnets of at least one of the first, second, and third balls. 
     
     
         15 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one accessory at least partially formed of ferrous metal and is secured to at least one of the plurality of magnets of at least one of the first, second, and third balls. 
     
     
         16 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of balls are interchangeable to form a different character. 
     
     
         17 . The toy character figure according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the first, second, and third balls have a portion of the character printed thereon so that the first, second, and third balls collectively forms the character. 
     
     
         18 . A toy character figure system comprising, in combination:
 a first character figure of a first character comprising:
 a plurality of first balls; 
 wherein each of the plurality of first balls includes a plurality of magnets removably securing the plurality of first balls together in a vertical stack; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of first balls forms a portion of the first character so that the plurality of first balls collectively forms the first character; 
 a second character figure of a second character comprising: 
 a plurality of second balls; 
 wherein each of the plurality of second balls includes a plurality of magnets removably securing the plurality of second balls together in a vertical stack; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of second balls forms a portion of the second character so that the plurality of second balls collectively forms the second character; and 
   wherein each of the plurality of first balls and each of the plurality of second balls are interchangeable to form additional characters.   
     
     
         19 . The toy character figure system according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of first balls and each of the plurality of second balls comprises at least one of natural rubber and synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         20 . The toy character figure system according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of first balls have a portion of the first character printed thereon so that the plurality of first balls collectively forms the first character, and wherein each of the plurality of second balls have a portion of the second character printed thereon so that the plurality of second balls collectively forms the second character