Magnetic support surface with magnetic shapes

Abstract

A magnetic toy assembly includes a plurality of magnetic shapes and a support having hinged sections, each section having a magnetic array surface to which each of the magnetic shapes can be positioned thereon and held thereto with magnetic attraction. The magnetic array surface comprises an array of magnets wherein the magnets of the array are disposed or formed in a continuous side-by-side relationship so as to form a single unitary body. Each of the magnetic shapes and the magnetic array surface are formed of material that has magnetism.

1 . A magnetic toy assembly comprising:
 a plurality of magnetic shapes, each shape having a magnetic array surface comprising magnets formed in a pattern and in a continuous side-by-side relationship so as to form a single unitary body;   a support comprising at least two sections hingably joined to each other, each section having a magnetic array surface comprising magnets formed in a pattern and in a continuous side-by-side relationship so as to form a single unitary body; and   wherein the patterns of magnets of each of the magnet shapes and the patterns of magnets of each of the sections is such that the magnetic shapes each have one or more positions when disposed on the sections where magnetic attraction between the magnetic shapes and the sections is strongest.   
   
   
       2 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sections of the support are flexible. 
   
   
       3 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pattern of each magnetic shape has the same pattern as the support. 
   
   
       4 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 3  wherein each of the patterns of magnetic shapes comprise a plurality of strips. 
   
   
       5 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 4  wherein the width of all the strips are approximately equal. 
   
   
       6 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the support is disposable in an operative position where the magnetic array surface of the support accepts each of the plurality of magnetic shapes, and disposable in a transport position where the sections are facing each other and magnetically joined to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 6  wherein the support includes a spacer to form a cavity between the sections. 
   
   
       8 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 7  wherein the spacer is fixedly attached to one of the sections being disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of said section and where an outer surface of the spacer engages a surface of the other section to form the cavity. 
   
   
       9 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the plurality of magnetic shapes is of size so as to be trapped between the sections in the transport position. 
   
   
       10 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of magnetic shapes is of size so as to be trapped between the sections in the transport position. 
   
   
       11 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein a magnetic shape comprises sections that are hingeably attached to each other. 
   
   
       12 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the magnetic shapes includes an aperture. 
   
   
       13 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein a label is provided for one or more of the magnetic shapes and/or aperture contained therein. 
   
   
       14 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein a reference indicator is provided on at least one of the magnetic shapes so as to indicate an orientation relative to the magnetic array surface of maximum magnetic attraction. 
   
   
       15 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 14  wherein the label is removable from the corresponding magnetic shape. 
   
   
       16 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  and further comprising a sheet of magnetic material. 
   
   
       17 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 16  wherein the sheet of material includes a magnetic array surface having the same pattern as the magnetic array surface on the support. 
   
   
       18 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 17  wherein the magnetic sheet of material is cutable with a pair of sheers. 
   
   
       20 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 18  wherein the sheet of material has a surface suitable for writing thereon with a writing instrument. 
   
   
       21 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein magnetic shapes comprise foam. 
   
   
       22 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic shapes comprise a set, and wherein each magnetic shape comprises a tracing stencil, and wherein when the magnetic shapes are used sequentially as separate tracing stencils that are aligned with respect to each other, a composite design is formed via tracing using the magnetic shapes. 
   
   
       23 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the magnetic shapes comprise a set, and wherein each magnetic shape comprises at least one aperture through which a writing instrument can extend, and wherein when the magnetic shapes are used sequentially as separate tracing stencils that are aligned with respect to each other, a composite design is formed via tracing using the apertures of the magnetic shapes. 
   
   
       24 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 22  wherein each magnetic shape of the set includes a registration indicator used to align the shapes with respect to each other during sequential use. 
   
   
       25 . The magnetic toy assembly of  claim 24  wherein each registration indicator comprises an aperture.