Abstract:
A method of attaching a piece having an opening onto a part in a toy system by positioning the part adjacent the opening, pushing on the part inserting it into the opening, and releasing the part allowing the piece to be picked up by and retained on the part. In a toy system in which the part is an upper one of two generally elongated parts, the other being a lower part, that telescope axially against a bias, the biased apart parts are positioned adjacent the opening with the lower part proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper part away from the opening. Pushing on the upper part telescopes it against the bias over the lower part and inserts the upper part into the opening. Releasing the parts allows the bias to move the parts apart with the piece picked up by and retained on the upper part.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a division of pending application Ser. No. 12/006,177 filed Dec. 31, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to toys, particularly toys which a child may manipulate to change the appearance of the toy. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Children have long played with toys such as dolls and action figures which the children manipulate to change the toys&#39; appearance. At times the manipulation required to accessorize prior art toys is often more involved than some children, particularly younger children enjoy performing. In addition, there have been toys which are pushed or pulled on, either manually or with a spring bias, to effect a change in the toy. 
         [0006]    Zehrung Design Pat. No. D 508,966 issued Aug. 30, 2005 discloses a Pop-Up Pull Toy having a generally cylindrical upper part that fits into a generally cylindrical lower part without any apparent, or suggested, engagement between the sides of the upper and lower parts, or with any other piece. As disclosed, the extension of the upper part out of the lower part, and the retraction of the upper part into the lower part appears to be solely controlled by pushing and pulling on the sinusoidal rod projecting out of the bottom of the lower part, while the lower part is grasped or otherwise restrained. While there may be operating friction between the rod and the bottom of the lower part, there is no apparent, or suggested, engagement between the sides of the upper and lower parts, or with any other piece. 
         [0007]    Dashiell U.S. Pat. No. 821,468 issued May 22, 1906 discloses a “jack-in-the-box” type toy having a spring biased figure portion that compresses inside of a hollow cylindrical casing. Rod ends engage slots inside the casing to retain the figure portion inside the casing. When the figure portion is projected from the casing by the spring, a fan carried by the figure is automatically opened. 
         [0008]    Muehlstein U.S. Pat. No. 949,544 issued Feb. 15, 1910 discloses another “jack-in-the-box” type toy with a flag carrying artic explorer. A spring is kept compressed in a box by a number of links that pivot with respect to each other, and include a hook at one end that is latched to a staple on the outside of the box. 
         [0009]    Goldfarb et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,991 issued Sep. 8, 1970 discloses a pop-up toy which includes a spring on a lower base, and an upper portion that fits over the base. Carried under the upper portion is a suction cup, which also fits over the spring and the base. When the upper portion is pressed down against the spring bias, the suction cup sticks to a flat surface, and temporarily keeps the upper portion from being popped back up by the compressed spring. 
         [0010]    Dinhofer U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,945 issued Nov. 28, 2006 discloses a pop-up toy in which a spring is attached to a top and a base, with extending arms just below the top to the spring. The base is weighted to keep it from bouncing away from the surface it is standing on when the spring is released. 
         [0011]    There remains a need, however, for toy systems that provide a unique way to accessorize playthings by pushing the plaything into a separate piece with “clothing” or accessories painted, sculpted, or otherwise put on the outer surface of the piece. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is concerned with providing a method of engaging pieces and parts of toy systems including a piece having an opening onto an upper one of two generally elongated parts that telescope axially against a bias in a toy system, comprising the steps of placing the piece having the opening on a surface with the opening directed upwardly, positioning the biased apart parts over the opening in the piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing down on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening, and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the piece picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0013]    It may also include placing a second piece having the opening on a surface with the opening directed upwardly, positioning the biased apart parts, including the piece picked up and retained on the upper one of the two parts, over the opening in the second piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing down on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening, and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the second piece also picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0014]    It may further include placing a third piece having the opening on a surface with the opening directed upwardly, positioning the biased apart parts, including the piece picked up and retained on the upper one of the two parts and the second piece picked up and retained on the upper one of the two parts, over the opening in the third piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing down on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening, and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the third piece also picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0015]    The method of the present invention for attaching a piece having an opening onto a part in a toy system may comprise the steps of positioning the part adjacent the opening, pushing on the part inserting it into the opening, and releasing the part allowing the piece to be picked up by and retained on the part. 
         [0016]    In a toy system in which the part is an upper one of two generally elongated parts, the other being a lower part, that telescope axially against a bias, it may also comprise the steps of positioning the biased apart parts adjacent the opening in the piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening, and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the piece picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0017]    It may further comprise the steps of adding a second piece having an opening, positioning the biased apart parts, including the piece picked up and retained on the upper one of the two parts, adjacent the opening in the second piece with the lower one of the two parts proximate and pointed toward the opening and the upper one of the two parts away from the opening, pushing on the upper one of the parts telescoping it against the bias over the lower one of the two parts and inserting the upper one of the two parts into the opening, and releasing the parts allowing the bias to move the two parts apart with the second piece also picked up by and retained on the upper one of the two parts. 
         [0018]    It may also include positioning the parts with the attached piece on a component with an open top that receives the lower part and has an outer configuration over which the opening of the piece fits without engaging the component, inserting the lower part into the component into the opening, moving the upper part telescopically over the lower part against the bias until it is stopped by the component, and pushing the piece off the upper part over the component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic front elevation view of components of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  put together; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  put together; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section taken generally vertically through the center of one of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic front elevation view of components of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  put together in a sequence of two steps; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  put together in the same sequence of two steps as in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a schematic top plan view of components of yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of one of the components taken generally along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10  and a schematic front elevation view of the other component of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view of one of the components taken generally along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the same three step sequence as in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a schematic top plan view of components of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  put together in a sequence of two steps; 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a schematic top plan view of components of a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17  put together in a sequence of two steps; 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a schematic top plan view of components of another further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is a schematic top plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 19  put together in a sequence of two steps; 
           [0040]      FIG. 21  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 10-14  plus an additional component; 
           [0041]      FIG. 22  is a schematic top plan view of one of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 23  is a schematic front elevation view of the put together components of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  taken apart in a sequence of four steps using the additional component shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 24  is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partially in section taken generally vertically through the center of one of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of components of a variation of the embodiment of the present invention schematically shown in  FIGS. 10-14  with additional accessory components; 
           [0045]      FIG. 26  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 25  put together; 
           [0046]      FIG. 27  is a front elevation view of components of another variation of components of the embodiment of the present invention schematically shown in  FIGS. 10-14 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 28  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation shown in  FIG. 27  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0048]      FIG. 29  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation shown in  FIG. 27  plus an additional component; 
           [0049]      FIG. 30  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation shown in  FIG. 29  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0050]      FIG. 31  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation shown in  FIG. 29  plus an another additional component; 
           [0051]      FIG. 32  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation shown in  FIG. 31  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0052]      FIG. 33  is a front elevation view of the components of the variation of the embodiment put together as shown in  FIG. 32 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 34  is a front elevation view of the put together components shown in  FIG. 33  taken apart in a sequence of three steps using yet another component; 
           [0054]      FIG. 35  is a schematic top plan view of a modification of the accessory component of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-34 : 
           [0055]      FIG. 36  is a schematic top plan view of another modification of the accessory component of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-34 : 
           [0056]      FIG. 37  is a schematic top plan view of yet another modification of the accessory component of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-34 : 
           [0057]      FIG. 38  is a schematic top plan view of still another modification of the accessory component of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-34 : 
           [0058]      FIG. 39  is a schematic front elevation view of components of a yet another further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 40  is a schematic bottom plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 39 ; 
           [0060]      FIG. 41  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 39  put together in a sequence of three steps; 
           [0061]      FIG. 42  is a schematic bottom plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 39  put together in the same three step sequence as in  FIG. 41 ; 
           [0062]      FIG. 43  is a schematic bottom plan view of components of still another further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0063]      FIG. 44  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 43 ; 
           [0064]      FIG. 45  is a schematic front elevation view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 43  put together in a sequence of three steps; and 
           [0065]      FIG. 46  is a schematic bottom plan view of the components of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 43  put together in the same three step sequence as in  FIG. 45 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0066]    Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements are identified by like reference numerals, there is schematically shown in  FIGS. 1-4  a toy system  50  comprising the most basic embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, toy system  50  includes a body component  52  and a separate piece providing an accessory component  54 . Body  52  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  is of a generally cylindrical shape and has a predetermined outer dimension or diameter, as for example 1.500 inches; it may be made of a material that is somewhat rigid, such as polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or polycarbonate (PC). Accessory  54 , is a band generally in the shape of a ring having an outer surface  56  and defining an opening  58  having an initial, pre-selected, inner diameter, as for example 1.450 inches, that is slightly less than, the predetermined outer diameter of body  52 . The accessory is made of a flexible, elastic material, such as a partially reticulated polyether type polyurethane foam, so that opening  58  will sufficiently expand upon insertion of body  52  and then contract to be retained about body  52  as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0067]    To facilitate insertion of body  52  into accessory  54 , the free, lower as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , end  60  of body  52  is provided with a slight taper or chamfer  62  as is shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, or as an alternative to chamfer  62  on end  60  of the body, one end  64  of accessory  54 , or both ends  64  and  66  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , may be provided with a slight taper or chamfer  68  to facilitate insertion of body  52 . 
         [0068]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , toy system  50  is put together by a child placing body  52  atop accessory  54  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 3  to attach accessory  54  to body  52 . Although only schematically shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and particularly from variations of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 25-26  and  27 - 34  that both the designs of the body component and one or more of the accessory component, particularly the outer surface, may be molded, sculpted or otherwise embellished to provide various characters or other playthings which are thematically related and which attachment and removal of the one or more accessory components enhance and provide play. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate another toy system  70  of the present invention in which body component  52  is the same as that previously shown and described with respect to toy system  50 . However, in toy system  70 , accessory component  72 , is a band or ring with a slit, separation, or break  74 . Accessory component  72  also provides an outer surface  76 , and still substantially defines an opening  78 . Before accessory  72  is put on a body, substantially defined opening  78  has an initial, pre-selected inner diameter, for example 1.440 inches in the case of a band with a 0.125 inch wall thickness, which is slightly less than the predetermined 1.500 inch outer diameter of body  52 . As the wall thickness of the accessory band or ring of the same material increases, the difference between the outer diameter of the body and the inner diameter of the opening may decrease because of the greater compression strength of the thicker band. Chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of body  52  into accessory  72 . 
         [0070]    Toy system  70  is put together by a child placing body  52  atop accessory  72  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 8  to attach accessory  72  to body  52 . Opening  78  will effectively expand upon insertion of body  52 , at least in part by spreading apart band  72 , more particularly separation  74 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and then contract to be retained about body  52 . While it is still desirable to make accessory  72  out of a flexible, elastic material system  70  does not rely on the resiliency of the material itself to the extent that system  50  does, and hence there may be a larger number of acceptable materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), vinyl, or nylon. 
         [0071]    Toy system  80 , which is illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13 , has the same accessory component  72  as toy system  70 . However, body  82  comprises a lower part  84  and an upper part  86 , which are telescopically related to each other. Lower part  84  is of a generally tubular shape that is circular in cross-section. There is an upper inner shoulder  88  that has a generally central aperture  90 . Lower part  84  has an outer dimension or diameter, as for example 1.250 inches, that is significantly less than opening  78  of accessory  72  such that lower part  84  easily slips in and out of opening  78  of accessory  72  without any retention or attachment of accessory  72  by lower part  84 . 
         [0072]    Upper part  86  is also of a generally tubular shape that is circular in cross-section with an interior space  96 , a closed top  98 , and an open bottom  100 . Depending from closed top  98  is a post  102  with an enlarged bottom cap or head  104 . Post  102  is generally cylindrical and, except for cap  104 , has an outer diameter that readily fits in aperture  90  and allows for reciprocal movement of post  102  with aperture  90 . Cap  104  is sufficiently larger than aperture  90  so as not to be able to pass through aperture  90 . Part  86  has an inner diameter sufficiently large to permit telescopic movement of lower part  84  into and out of upper part  86 . Around post  102 , between the underside of closed top  98  and the upper side of shoulder  88 , is a coil spring  110  to bias parts  84  and  86  apart. As is perhaps best shown in  FIG. 11 , cap  104  is on the underside of shoulder  88  to keep assembled parts  84  and  86  from coming apart. Again, tapers or chamfers such as  62  and/or  68  may again be provided to facilitate insertion of upper part of body  82  into accessory  72 . 
         [0073]    The outer dimension or diameter of upper part  86  is slightly larger than opening  78  of accessory  72 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , toy system  80  is put together by a child placing body  82  with lower part  84  atop accessory  72  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in the middle sequence step of  FIG. 13  to attach accessory  72  to body  82 , or more particularly to upper part  86 . When body  82  is released by the child, the bias of spring  110  will return upper part  86 , with accessory  72  attached, upwardly as illustrated by the arrow in the leftmost sequence step of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0074]    Embodiments of the present invention have so far been shown and described in terms of round geometric shapes with cylindrical bodies and circular or ring bands, all with circular cross-sections. However as indicated by toy system  120 , body  122  and accessory  124  may be polygons in cross-section, such as the triangles illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , or any other numbers of sides. Indeed, the body and the accessory need not be of the same type of geometric shape, as long as the geometric shape of the part has at least two points that engage the geometric shape of the opening substantially defined by the separate piece, although at least three points of engagement are preferred.  FIGS. 17-18  illustrate toy system  130  in which body  132  is a polygon, more particularly a square, and accessory  134  is a circular band. Toy system  140  as illustrated in  FIGS. 19-20  has a cylindrical body  142  and a polygon, more particularly a square, accessory  144 . 
         [0075]      FIGS. 21-24  illustrate toy system  80  with an additional remover component  152  that assists in the removal of accessory  72  from upper part  86  of body  82 . Remover  152  is cup shaped, although it could be a sleeve with an open top and an open bottom, with an outer diameter and an opening  156  having an inner diameter. Outer diameter is significantly less than opening  78  of accessory  72 ; as an example, if accessory inner diameter  78  is 1.440 inches, remover outer diameter is 1.440 inches or less. Remover opening  156  has an inner diameter larger than the outside diameter of lower part  84  but smaller than the outside diameter of upper part  86 ; for example, if the outside diameter of lower part  84  is 1.250 inches and the outside diameter of upper part  86  is 1.500 inches, then the remover opening inner diameter is 1.300 inches. Lower part  84  loosely fits in opening  156  of remover  152 , as illustrated in  FIG. 23 . Upper part  86  with an attached accessory  72  is pushed down atop remover  152 , upper part  86  is stopped by remover  152  and the accessory is pushed off of body  82  and is then easily lifted off of remover  152 , or remover  152  is picked up leaving accessory  72 . 
         [0076]    To further facilitate insertion of lower part  84  of body  82  into opening  156  of remover  152 , the free, lower as illustrated in  FIGS. 21 ,  23  and  24 , end  160  of lower part  84  is provided with a slight taper or chamfer  162  as is shown in  FIG. 24 . In addition, or as an alternative to chamfer  162  on end  160  of the body lower part, opening  156  of remover  152  may be provided with a slight taper or chamfer  166 . 
         [0077]    A variation of the embodiment of the present invention schematically shown in  FIGS. 10-14 , with additional accessory components, is illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 26  as a doll or figure toy system  170 . Body  172 , which is structurally and functionally the same as body  82 , is designed such that lower part  174  appears as the legs and feet, or lower torso, of a doll or figure. Upper part  176 , which is conveniently provided with a rounded dome top  178 , is designed as the upper torso and head. Rather than just a single accessory component  72 , toy system  170  has a series of three thematically designed accessory components  180 ,  182 , and  184 , each of which is structurally and functionally the same as accessory component  72 . Each of accessory components  180 ,  182 , and  184  is attached to body  172 , preferably in the left to right, A, B, C, order as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 26 . A completed, dressed doll or figure results, as illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0078]    As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the design of the body and accessory components may be of any design, such as a military figure, and is not limited to any particular design shown and described. In another variation, a number of accessory components may be designed for a particular body so that the accessory components may be attached by the child in more than just one order to result in different appearing completed figures. In a series of related toy systems, accessory components may be interchangeably used with different body components. 
         [0079]    Another variation of the embodiment of the present invention schematically shown in  FIGS. 10-14 , with additional accessory components, is illustrated in  FIGS. 27-34  as a dragon figure toy system  190 . Body component  192 , with lower part  194  and upper part  196 , is structurally and functionally the same as body  82 . Each of accessory components, namely, head  200 , arms  202 , and tail  204 , is structurally and functionally the same as accessory component  72 . Head component  200  is further embellished with an upper head portion  206  which is pivotally attached to lower head portion  208 . The accessory components may be serially attached, in the manner previously described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 10-14 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 28 ,  30 , and  32  to complete the dragon toy system  190  shown in  FIG. 33 . 
         [0080]    To both facilitate removal and provide additional play, toy system  190  is provided with a remover component  210 , which is thematically related as a dragon foot  212 , as illustrated in  FIG. 34 . Remover component  210  is structurally and functionally the same as remover component  152 , with the exception of lower foot portion  212  that prevents the accessory components from coming off the bottom of the remover component. As illustrated by the sequence of steps in  FIG. 34 , the completed dragon figure is placed upon remover  210  and pushed down by the child in the direction of the arrow shown in the middle step of  FIG. 34 . All of dragon accessory components  200 ,  202 , and  204  may then be pushed down onto remover  210 . The accessory components may then be easily taken off of the top of remover  210 , or left on as illustrated in the last, leftmost step of  FIG. 34 . 
         [0081]    Modifications of the accessory component of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2-34  are illustrated in  FIGS. 35-38 . In all of these modifications, the accessory band still has a separation or break, an outer surface  76 , and still substantially defines an opening  78 . However, while the separation in these modifications still permits circumferential expansion, and contraction, of opening  78  they are designed to limit the extent of separation. The modification illustrated in  FIG. 35  has a band  220  including an integrally formed coupling hinge  222  bridging separation  224 . Band  220  is generally of a predetermined wall thickness  226  and has a pair of spaced apart opposed ends  228  and  230 . Hinge  222  is of a thinner wall thickness  232  and pivots at its center  234 , as well as at opposed ends  228  and  230 . As illustrated in  FIG. 35 , opening  78  of band  220  may expand from what is shown in  FIG. 35  until hinge  222  moving in the direction of the arrow is substantially aligned with the outer circumference of band  220 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 36  illustrates another modification in which accessory component  240  has a locking attachment coupling  242  that bridges separation  244 . Band  240  is generally of a predetermined wall thickness  246  and has a pair of spaced apart opposed ends  248  and  250 . Tabs  252  and  254  extend, respectively, from ends  248  and  250 . Each tab has an elongated slot  256 . A clip  258  has a pair of spaced apart, generally transversely projecting pins  260  and  262 , each of which has an enlarged free end  264 . The diameter of each pin, except for enlarged end head  264 , fits easily for sliding movement in one of slots  256 . Enlarged end heads  264  may be forced through the slots to capture clip  258  while permitting tabs  252  and  254  to slide in the slots, and their respective ends  248  and  250  to expand circumferentially until pins  260  and  262  abut the ends of slots  256  in tabs  252  and  254 . 
         [0083]    The modifications of the accessory component illustrated in  FIGS. 37 and 38  have integrally formed latches for limiting the circumferential expansion of the separation of the band and enlarging of opening  78 . Band  270  has a latch coupling  272  that limits the spreading of separation  274 . Most of band  270  is generally of a predetermined wall thickness  276  extending between a pair of spaced apart opposed ends  278  and  280 . A pair of tabs  282  and  284  extends toward each other from ends  278  and  280 , respectively. Each tab has an inwardly directed projection  286 ,  288  adjacent its end. As will be appreciated from the illustration in  FIG. 37 , separation  274  and opening  78  may be enlarged circumferentially until projections  286  and  288  abut. 
         [0084]    In the modification illustrated in  FIG. 38  the integrally formed latch also limits spreading of the separation generally transverse to the circumference. Accessory band  290  has a latch coupling  292  that limits the spreading of separation  294  both circumferentially and generally diametrically. Band  290  is generally of a predetermined wall thickness  296  extending between a pair of spaced apart opposed ends  298  and  300 . Tabs  302  and  304  extend toward each other from ends  298  and  300 , respectively. Adjacent the extended end of each tab is a generally transverse, inwardly directed projection  306 ,  308 . Each inwardly directed projection  306 ,  308  then has a generally transverse, backwardly directed protrusion  310 ,  312  adjacent the end of the respective projection. Separation  294  and opening  78  may be enlarged circumferentially until projections  306  and  308  abut, and spreading of separation  294  generally transverse to the circumference is limited by protrusions  310  and  312  abutting or engaging. 
         [0085]      FIGS. 39-46  illustrate embodiments of the present invention in which the engagement between the body component and accessory component is magnetic, rather than frictional as in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-14 . Schematically shown in  FIGS. 39-42  is a toy system  320  that includes a body component  322  and an accessory component  324 . Body  322  as illustrated in  FIGS. 35-38  is generally cylindrical and has a predetermined outer dimension or diameter, as for example 1.500 inches. One or more magnets, conveniently shown as a pair of diametrically spaced apart magnets  326  adjacent the bottom of body  322 , are included as part of body  322 . Accessory  324  is a band generally in the shape of a ring with an opening  328  having an initial, pre-assembled, inner diameter, as for example 1.550 inches, which is slightly more than the predetermined outer diameter of body  322 , so that body  322  readily fits into the opening of accessory  324 . The accessory is made of a ferrous or other magnetic material, or at least has a magnetic outer coating or skin, so that when a child places body  322  atop accessory  324 , and pushed down in the direction of the arrow shown in the middle step of  FIG. 41 , accessory  324  is magnetically retained on body  322  as is illustrated by the sequence of steps in  FIGS. 41 and 42 . Slight tapers or chamfers, similar to chamfers  62  and  68  shown and described above with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , may be provided to facilitate insertion of body  322  into accessory  324 . 
         [0086]    Another magnetic attachment toy system  330  is illustrated in  FIGS. 43-46  in which body component  332  has a lower part  334  and an upper part  336  that are structurally and dimensionally similar to lower part  84  and upper part  86  of body  82 , and functionally related to each other in the same way as lower part  84  and upper part  86  of body  82 . More particularly, shoulder  88  and aperture  90  of lower part  334  are the same as those of lower part  84 , and closed top  98 , open bottom  100 , post  102  and cap  104  of upper part  336  are the same as those of upper part  86 . Spring  110  is carried by post  102  and biases lower part  334  and upper part  236  apart the same as parts  84  and  86 . However, one or more magnets, conveniently shown as a pair of diametrically spaced apart magnets  340  adjacent the bottom of lower part  334 . 
         [0087]    Accessory component  324 , in toy system  330 , is the same as in toy system  320 . Lower part  334  has an outer dimension, as for example 1.300 inches, that allows it to easily slip in and out of opening  328  of accessory  324  without and retention or attachment of accessory  324  by lower part  334 . The lower or bottom end of upper part  334  also fits into opening  328  of accessory  324 . 
         [0088]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 45 and 46 , toy system  330  is put together by a child placing body  332  with lower part  334  atop accessory  324  and then pushing down as illustrated by the arrow in the middle sequence step of  FIG. 45  to magnetically attach accessory  324  to body  332 , or more particularly to upper part  336 . When body  332  is released by the child, the bias of spring  110  will return upper part  336 , with accessory  324  attached, upwardly as illustrated by the arrow in the leftmost sequence step of  FIG. 45 . 
         [0089]    The embodiments of  FIGS. 39-46  have been shown and described in terms of round geometric shapes with cylindrical bodies and circular or ring bands, but may be polygons or combinations of polygon and round shapes as was previously shown and described with respect to the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-14 . Also, although only schematically shown in  FIGS. 39-46 , it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and particularly from variations of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 25 ,  26  and  27 - 34  that both the designs of the body component and one or more of the accessory component may be embellished to provide various characters or other playthings which are thematically related and which attachment and removal of the one or more accessory components enhance and provide play. 
         [0090]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described with some variations and alternatives, further variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.