Abstract:
An imaging system includes a magnetically responsive display. The imaging system includes a first panel, a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel and a plurality of transplant cards that are also hingedly connected to the second panel. A magnetic drawing panel for eraseably forming a magnetic image is mounted on the first panel. A hand operated instrument comparable to a pen or pencil has a magnetic tip which the user employs much like a pen or a pencil to draw an image on the magnetic drawing panel. The instrument is removeably mounted to one of the panels or to some other part of the imaging system. Alternative embodiments of the imaging system include, for example, drawing toys, notebooks, notepads and three-ring binders having a magnetically responsive panel incorporated therein on.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a conversion from provisional application serial No. 60/395,412, filed Jul. 12, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention is directed to an imaging system, such as a game-tablet or notebook, that employs a magnetically responsive display upon which a user draws or writes using a magnetic pen.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    The literature include various designs and methods of constructing panels that employ magnetic materials to form visually perceptible images. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,472 (Murata et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,428 (Murata et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,684 (Murata et al.), a magnetic display panel is described as having fine magnetic particles, together with a dispersion medium, sandwiched between a pair of substrates. Another such apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,979 (Gilano et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,837 (Gilano et al.). In U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,493 (Iwasaki et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,972 (Iwasaki et al.), a magnetic display sheet is described as having a magnetic powder and dispersion medium encapsulated in gelatin microcapsules, the microcapsules then being sandwiched between a pair of film substrates.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An imaging system includes a magnetically responsive display. The imaging system includes a first panel, a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel and a plurality of transparent cards that are also hingedly connected to the second panel. A magnetic drawing panel for eraseably forming a magnetic image is mounted on the first panel. A hand operated instrument comparable to a pen or pencil has a magnetic tip which the user employs much like a pen or pencil to draw an image on the magnetic drawing panel. The instrument is removeably mounted to one of the panels or to some other part of the imaging system. Alternative embodiments of the imaging system include, for example, drawing toys, notebooks, notepads and three-ring binders having a magnetically responsive panel incorporated therein or on. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an imaging system of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the imaging system of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a side view of the imaging system of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the magnetically responsive display panel of the imaging system of the present invention partially rotated upward, and with a plurality of transparent cards in different orientations;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the game-tablet of the imaging system of FIG. 3;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the imaging system of FIGS. 1, 2 and  3  with the magnetically responsive display panel and plurality of transparent cards configured for the formation of images relative to a game image;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a side view of the imaging system illustrated in FIG. 4;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a side view of the imaging system of FIGS. 4 and 5 in an alternate configuration;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a side view of the imaging system of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a storage configuration;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a partially cut-away plan view of the magnetically responsive display panel of the invention of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 9 is an exploded cross sectional view of the magnetically responsive display panel of FIG. 8 taken along the section line  9 - 9 ;  
         [0017]    FIGS.  10 A-C are plan views of an imaging system configured with various theme panels and having a western scene, an underwater scene and an outer-space scene, respectively, that are configured to overlay the magnetically responsive display panel;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the theme panel of FIG. 10A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 11 taken along the section line  12 - 12 ;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a magnetic display notebook containing a magnetically responsive display panel and paper writing sheets;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a magnetic display day-planner containing a magnetically responsive display panel and paper writing sheets;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a magnetic display three-ring binder containing a magnetically responsive display panel on the inside of the cover;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a magnetic display three-ring binder containing a magnetically responsive display panel on the outside of the cover;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a magnetic display notepad containing a magnetically responsive display panel on the inside of the cover;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 18 is a plan view of a drawing toy containing a magnetically responsive display panel;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 19 is side view of the drawing toy of FIG. 18 taken along the section line  19 - 19 ;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 20 is a plan view of a notebook cover having a magnetically responsive display panel with a vinyl overlay;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 20A is a view of the notebook cover of FIG. 20 taken along the section  20 A- 20 A;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 21 is an exploded side view of the notebook cover of FIG. 20 taken along the section line  21 - 21 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]    In FIGS. 1 and 2 an imaging system is depicted. The imaging system includes a magnetically responsive display such as magnetic display game-tablet  10 . The game-tablet  10  has a center panel  20 , a magnetic display panel  30  and a plurality of transparent cards  40 . The game-tablet  10  further has a first hinge means  12  for hingedly connecting the center panel  20  and the magnetic display panel  30  and a second hinge means  14  for hingedly connecting the cards  40  with one of the panels  20  or  30 . As shown here, the first hinge means  12  hingedly connects the magnetic display panel  30  to the center panel  20 . The second hinge means  14  hingedly connects the plurality of transparent cards  40  to the center panel  20 . The first hinge means  12  and the second hinge means  14  are illustrated in FIG. 1 as a first wire spiral  13  and a second wire spiral  15 , respectively. A hand operated instrument is provided for use in forming images. The instrument includes a magnet for movement over the surface of the magnetic display panel  30 . The instrument is shown in FIG. 1 in the shape of a pencil or pen  50  and is frictionally engaged with the first wire spiral  13 . It is noted that the magnetic drawing pen  50  may be removably mounted to the game tablet  10  in a variety of other ways. For example, the magnetic drawing pen  50  may be attached to the first wire spiral  13  using a section of string, wire, rubber band, or small gauge chain. Alternatively, the magnetic drawing pen  50  may be removably attached to the center panel  20 , for example, by applying one of a hook portion or a pile portion of a hook and pile connector system to some portion of the pen  50  and the other of the hook portion and pile portion to the center panel  20 .  
         [0031]    The center panel  20  is preferably formed using a stiff, but flexible, material, such as vinyl, plastic or multiple-ply cardboard. The center panel  20  is preferably rectangular in shape, but may assume other shapes as well, such as triangular, elliptical or circular. In the preferred rectangular shape, the center panel  20  has a length  21  and a width  22 . The length  21  may be from about three (3) inches to about twenty-four (24) inches, but is, preferably, from about ten (10) inches to about twelve (12) inches. The width  22  may also be from about three (3) inches to about twenty-four (24) inches, but is, preferably, from about seven (7) inches to about nine (9) inches. A first series of holes  23  and a second series of holes  24  are preferably positioned along the left side  25  and the right side  26 , respectively, of the center panel  20 . The holes  23 ,  24  are positioned and spaced from one another in a fashion suitable to engage the wire spirals  13 ,  15 . The center panel  20  also has a thickness  27 . The thickness  27  will ultimately depend on the material selected to construct the center panel  20 —i.e., the stiffer the material, the lesser the required thickness. But for a center panel  20  constructed from vinyl or plastic, thicknesses in the range from about one-thirty-second ({fraction (1/32)}) of an inch to about one-eighth (⅛) of an inch are contemplated, with a preferable thickness being about one-sixteenth ({fraction (1/16)}) of an inch. The material must be of sufficient rigidity to allow a user to hold it and press upon it to write or draw without any other support.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 1 and 2 and, more particularly, FIGS. 8 and 9, illustrate various features of a magnetically responsive display panel such as magnetic display panel  30 . The magnetic display panel  30  includes a first planar surface  31  and a second planar surface  32  spaced from the first planar surface  31 , thereby forming a space or volume  34  therebetween. A dispersion medium  33  is interposed in the volume  34  between the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32 . The dispersion medium  33  holds in suspension a plurality of magnetically active flakes  60 . A screen member  35  is placed between the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32  and prevents local accumulation of the flakes  60  in the dispersion medium  33  and keeps the dispersion medium distributed throughout the panel. The screen member  35  also resists flow of the dispersion medium  33  across the volume defined by the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32 .  
         [0033]    The space or volume  34  is formed by spacing the first planar surface  31  from the second planar surface  32  (or vice versa). The spacing  36 , or distance between the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32 , contemplated with the present invention is from about one tenth of a millimeter (0.1 mm) to about two millimeters (2.0 mm). The preferred embodiment has a spacing  36  of about one-half of a millimeter (0.5 mm) which is roughly equivalent to the thickness of the screen member. It has been found that a spacing  36  that corresponds roughly with the thickness of the screen member  35  provides good drawing and erasing characteristics for the magnetic display panel  30 .  
         [0034]    The first planar surface  31  is positioned above, or on top of, the second planar surface  32  and is the surface upon which drawing or writing contact with the magnetic drawing pen  50  is made. The first planar surface  31  is preferably constructed from a transparent material, such as clear plastic. If desired, a translucent material may be used in the alternative. In either case, a variety of different plastics or glass can be used. The second planar surface  32  is positioned beneath the first planar surface  31 . The second planar surface  32  need not be transparent or translucent. Thus, the second planar surface  32  may be made from a variety of opaque materials, such as single or multi-colored plastics. The thickness of the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32  is preferably from about one-half millimeter (0.5 mm) to about one millimeter (1.0 mm). The thickness may be greater or lesser than the preferred thickness depending on the strength of the magnetic field with which the magnetic display panel  30  is subjected to during writing or drawing.  
         [0035]    The first planar surface  31  may be secured to the second planar surface  32  by means of an adhesive over the peripheral edges  37  of the surfaces. Alternatively, the peripheral edges  37  may be secured together through the use of high-frequency welding, ultrasonics or similar processes familiar to those skilled in the art. Securing the first and second planar surfaces  31 ,  32  together as above indicated, with the dispersion medium  33 , the magnetically active flakes  60  and the screen member  35  sealed therein, results in magnetic display panel  30  that is readily activated by a magnetic field.  
         [0036]    To provide a greater degree of strength to the magnetic display device  30 , a bottom surface or panel  38  is provided. The second planar surface  32  is secured to the bottom surface or panel  38  using any suitable means, such as an adhesive. A top cut-out surface  39  is also provided. The top cut-out surface  39  further provides structural strength for the display panel and is secured to the first planar surface  31  in a fashion similar to that used to secure the second planar surface  32  to the bottom surface  38 . The top cut-out surface  39  has a center portion removed to provide drawing and writing access to the first planar surface  31 . Both the bottom surface  38  and the top cut-out surface  39  are preferably formed using a stiff, but flexible, material, such as vinyl, plastic or multiple-ply cardboard.  
         [0037]    The magnetic display panel  30 , as hereinabove described, has a length  81  and a width  82 . The length  81  and width  82  are selected preferably to correspond with the length  21  and width  22  of the center panel  20 , such that a book-like appearance is provided when the magnetic display panel  30  and the center panel  20  are folded against one another. The preferred embodiment of the magnetic display panel  30  also has a series of holes  83  that span the length of one of the sides. The series of holes  83  are positioned and spaced from one another in a fashion suitable to hingedly engage the first wire spiral  13 , that is likewise engaged to the series of holes  23  of the center panel  20 .  
         [0038]    It is noted here that each of the first planar surface  31 , the second planar surface  32  and the bottom surface or panel  38  are sized, preferably, to have the same width  82 . As such, the series of holes  83  extend through each of the first planar surface  31 , the second planar surface  32  and the bottom surface or panel  38 . However, it is contemplated that the bottom surface or panel  38  may, alternatively, have a width somewhat larger in dimension than the width  82  of the first planar surface  31  and the second planar surface  32 . The alternative configuration permits the series of holes  83  to extend through the bottom surface or panel  38  only, thereby obviating the need to extend holes through any of the components of the magnetic display panel  30 .  
         [0039]    The magnetic display panel  30  is shown here to be essentially flat with planar or essentially planar components. It should be understood, however, that the panel may be shaped to be rounded so that it can be envisioned as the exterior surface of a cylinder or sphere. It can also be non-uniform with flat and curved sections or portions as desired for a particular purpose or theme.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 1-3 illustrate various features of the plurality of game cards  40 . The plurality of game cards  40  provides a series of unique overlays that are individually rotatable onto the magnetic display panel  30 . More particularly, the plurality of game cards  40  comprises a number of individual transparencies—e.g., a first transparency  41 , intermediate transparencies  42  and  43  and a final transparency  44 —that are each hingedly connected to the second wire spiral  15 . Each transparency has a game or puzzle imprinted thereon. For example, the transparency  43  that is illustrated overlaying the magnetic display panel  30  in FIG. 4 has the game “tic-tac-toe” imprinted thereon. Any number of transparencies may be used, although the illustrations discussed here generally depict four transparencies  41 - 44 .  
         [0041]    If desired, and as illustrated, the plurality of game cards  40  further includes a series of opaque separator sheets  45 - 47  that are disposed between the transparent cards  41 - 44  so as to isolate the image on one card from the image on adjacent cards. The separator sheets  45 - 47  also provide a means to draw directly on the cards, using an erasable marker, without interference from the image on the adjacent cards. In other words, the separator sheets  45 - 47  provide an opaque background—e.g., a white background—against which the transparent cards may be positioned. This allows one to use an erasable marker—such as an erasable Magic Marker—to draw directly on the transparent card. The separator sheets  45 - 47  are hingedly connected to the second wire spiral  15  in the same fashion as are the transparent cards  41 - 44 . Any number of separator sheets may be used, although the illustrations generally depict three separator sheets  45 - 47 , with each sheet being sandwiched between a pair of transparent cards.  
         [0042]    The transparent cards  41 - 44 , together with the separator sheets  45 - 47 , have a length  91  and a width  92 . The length  91  and width  92  are selected preferably to correspond with the length  21  and width  22  of the center panel  20 , as well as the length  81  and width  82  of the magnetic display panel  20 , such that a book-like appearance is provided when the magnetic display panel  30  and the center panel  20  are folded against one another and the transparent cards  41 - 44  and the separator sheets  45 - 47  are folded on top of the magnetic display panel  30  (as shown in FIG. 7). The transparent cards and separator sheets have a series of holes  93  for engagement with the second wire spiral  15 . The series of holes  93  are positioned and spaced from one another in a fashion suitable to hingedly engage the second wire spiral  15 .  
         [0043]    A cover card  48  may also be included together with the transparent cards  41 - 44  and the corresponding separator sheets  45 - 47 . The cover card  48  will also have a series of holes for engagement with the wire spiral. The series of holes in the cover card  48  should correspond with the series of holes  93  that are positioned through the transparent cards  41 - 44  and the corresponding separator sheets  45 - 47 . The cover card  48  also has a length  71  and a width  72 . As with the length  91  of the transparent cards  41 - 44  and the separator sheets  45 - 47 , the length  71  is selected preferably to correspond with the length  21  of the center panel  20 . The width  72  of the cover card  48  is selected preferably to be equal in distance to the width  92  of the transparent cards  41 - 44  or slightly wider (as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7).  
         [0044]    The foregoing describes and illustrates the magnetic display game-tablet  10  as being rectangular in shape, that is, each of the center panel  20 , the magnetic display panel  30  and the transparent cards  41 - 44 , the separator sheets  45 - 47  and the cover card  48  have a length and a width associated therewith. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that the above description is equally applicable to shapes other than rectangular. For example, each of the center panel  20 , the magnetic display panel  30  and the transparent cards  41 - 44 , the separator sheets  45 - 47  and the cover card  48  can be circular, elliptical or triangular in shape, so long as a portion of the respective components includes a region that is configured for the hinged connections as above described. Furthermore, the first wire spiral  13  and the second wire spiral  15  are but examples of the first hinge means  12  and the second hinge means  14 , respectively. Other examples of hinge means will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art in the design and construction of means for joining components for relative movement. For example, a series of single wire or plastic clips can be used to hingedly connect the plurality of transparent cards  40  and the magnetic display panel  30  to the center panel  20 . A book-like spine could also be used to perform the hinge connecting function. The first and second wire spirals  13 ,  15  are preferred because they are simple and inexpensive.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 3-7 illustrate certain features of the magnetic display game-tablet  10  that are pertinent to drawing and writing with the magnetic display panel  30  as well as to storage of the game-tablet  10 . FIGS. 3 and 3A, for example, illustrate the game-tablet  10  in an open state, where the first transparent card  44  and its corresponding separator sheet  47  are being rotated so as to become sandwiched between the center panel  20  and the magnetic display panel  30 . FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the game-tablet  10  following rotation of the first transparent card  44  and its corresponding separator sheet  47  onto the center panel  20 , followed by rotation of the magnetic display panel  30  so that it rests against the separator sheet  47 . FIGS. 4 and 5 further illustrate the next intermediate transparent card  43  resting against the magnetic display panel  30  and, more particularly, resting against the first planar surface  31 .  
         [0046]    Once a transparent card—e.g., transparent card  43 —is resting against the first planar surface  31 , the game-tablet  10  is ready to operate by the introduction of a magnetic field that is brought adjacent the transparent card. Specifically, the magnetic pen  50  includes a shaft portion  51 , a ball portion  52  and a magnetic tip  53 . The magnetic tip  53  is brought into contact with the transparent card—e.g., transparent card  43 —that overlays the first planar surface  31  of the magnetic display panel  30 . The strength of the magnetic field (gauss) provided by the magnetic tip  53  is such that the magnetically active flakes  60 —e.g., nickel, iron or steel particles—are drawn toward the first planar surface  31  or otherwise reoriented beneath the first planar surface  31 , thereby causing an image to appear. The image will remain on the magnetic display panel  30  until erased by appropriate means. For example, with the device as above described, erasure occurs when the hand or finger of a user is brought into contact with the first planar surface  31  and is rubbed against the first planar surface  31  so as to re-disperse the magnetically active flakes  60  into the dispersion medium  33 .  
         [0047]    The magnetically active flakes  60  may be colored—e.g., coated with a metallic substance, such as gold or silver—to enhance the contrast or to provide a particular color effect in conjunction with specific uses of the present invention as described herein and above. The addition of colorants—e.g., pigments or dyes—to the dispersion medium  33  is also contemplated as a means to provide particular color effects. The planar surfaces  31 ,  32  may also be colored with one or more colors to provide particular effects, as may the images on the transparent cards themselves.  
         [0048]    The above description regarding the mechanics of creating an image and erasing the same are not intended to limit the invention as described. Rather, the description is meant only to provide an example of how the imaging system may be constructed with a magnetically responsive display. Further details regarding the creation and subsequent erasure of an image on the magnetic display panel  30 , or on a magnetic display panel as is otherwise known in the art of such panels, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,472 (Murata et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,428 (Murata et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,684 (Murata et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,979 (Gilano et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,837 (Gilano et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,493 (Iwasaki et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,972 (Iwasaki et al.). The disclosure of each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0049]    Turning now to FIGS.  10 A-C, various embodiments of a drawing toy  100  are illustrated. Specifically, the drawing toy  100  has a center panel  20  and a magnetic display panel  30  as described above with reference to the game-tablet  10 . Rather than the plurality of transparent cards  40 , etc., however, the drawing toy  100  has a plurality of colored theme panels or drawing images  101 - 103  that are hingedly connected to the center panel  20 . Specific details regarding the construction of each drawing image—e.g., drawing image  101 —are illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. A transparent card or sheet  105  is overlaid with a front piece  104  that is constructed from plastic, vinyl or cardboard, or from some other suitable material. The front piece  104  has various forms of art work printed thereon. For example, front piece  101  has a desert theme, which includes, among other items, a cactus  110 .  
         [0050]    A child user may select a specific drawing image—e.g., drawing image  101 —and try to replicate the entire theme or just specific items from the theme—e.g., the cactus  110 —on the magnetic display panel  30 . The positioning of a specific drawing image—e.g., drawing image  101 —over the magnetic display panel  30  is accomplished in the same fashion as described above with regard to the game-tablet  10 . That is, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the desired drawing image is rotated about the second hinge means  14  to make contact with the magnetic display panel  30 , while the remaining drawing images are rotated either beneath the magnetic display panel  30  or beneath the center panel  20 .  
         [0051]    Further alternative embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. In FIG. 13, for example, a magnetic display panel  30  is combined with a conventional writing tablet  130  to form a combination magnetic display and conventional writing tablet  150 . A base panel  151  provides a foundation upon which the conventional writing tablet  130  and the magnetic display panel  30  are mounted. The mounting occurs through a hinge means  152  for hingedly connecting the conventional writing tablet  130  and the magnetic display panel  30  to the base panel  151 , which hinge means  152  is illustrated in FIG. 13 as a wire spiral  153 . A cover panel  154  is hingedly connected to the base panel  151  in a similar fashion. If desired, a separate cover panel  155  for the magnetic display panel  30  may be provided. The magnetic pen  50  is stored by frictionally engaging the shaft portion  51  with the inside surface of the wire spiral  153 .  
         [0052]    In FIG. 14, a further alternative embodiment of a combination magnetic display and conventional writing tablet  160  is illustrated. Here, a three-way foundation panel  161  is provided. The three-way foundation panel  161  has a first section  162 , a second section  163  and a third section  164 . Intermediate sections  165 ,  166  provide hinge means for hingedly connecting the first, second and third sections to one another. The intermediate sections  165 ,  166  are illustrated as being formed integrally with the three-way foundation panel  161 , but wire spirals could be used in the alternative. A magnetic display panel  30  is mounted to the second section  163  using suitable means, such as through adhesives or stapling. A conventional writing tablet  166  is hingedly connected to the third section  164  through a wire spiral  167 . A magnetic pen  50  is removably secured to the first section  162  through a pocket  168  that is formed into the first section  162 . If desired, a pouch  169  may be secured to the first section  162  or to the second section  163 . The pouch  169  provides a space to store loose papers and the like.  
         [0053]    Still further alternative embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 15-19. In FIG. 15, for example, a magnetic display panel  30  is combined with a conventional three-ring binder  170  to form a combination magnetic display and three-ring binder  172 . Here, the magnetic display panel  30  is illustrated as being mounted to the inside surface of one of the covers of the three-ring binder  170 . In FIG. 16, the magnetic display panel  30  is illustrated as being mounted to the outside surface of one of the covers of the three-ring binder  170 . Any conventional means, such as glue, may be used to mount the magnetic display panel  30  to one of the covers. In each of the foregoing embodiments, paper sheets are storable using both the three-ring loops  174  and the loose-leaf storage pouch  176  of the three-ring binder  170 .  
         [0054]    A contemplated alternative to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 is illustrated in FIG. 20 Here, the magnetic display panel  30  is mounted integrally with and into one of the covers of a typical three-ring binder  170 . The top vinyl covering  177  has an opening  177 A formed in it to expose the display panel  30 . While the opening  177 A here shown is scalloped to provide a fanciful appearance, the opening  177 A may be formed in a wide variety of shapes or configurations as desired. The panel  30  has an outside edge  30 A which is positioned under the covering  177  to retain the panel  30 . Further, the vinyl covering  177  is secured snugly in place as it is being welded or otherwise joined to the bottom vinyl covering  178 , in turn causing the top vinyl covering  177  to elastically and smoothly deform proximate the outside edge  30 A as better seen in FIG. 20A. In turn, a sharp or notable ridge is not formed proximate the outside edge  30 A of the panel  30 . It is thus believed that wear of the vinyl at or proximate the outside edge  30 A will be minimal and thereby extend the useful life of the folder. It may also be noted that the inside edge  177 B of the top vinyl covering  177  is beaded to minimize the risk of ripping or tearing the top vinyl covering  177 .  
         [0055]    In FIG. 21, the top vinyl covering  177  and the bottom vinyl covering  178  typically associated with 3 ring binders surround and secure the outer edge of the magnetic display panel  30  to the cardboard layer  171  which replaces the bottom surface  38  (see FIGS. 8 and 9) or may be used in conjunction therewith. Likewise, the top vinyl covering  177  may be used to replace the top cut-out surface  39  (see FIGS. 8 and 9) or may be used in conjunction therewith.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 21, the cardboard layer  171  has a cut-out portion  179  sized and configured to receive the bottom surface  38  of the panel  30 , or a portion thereof, for enhanced structural strength. Furthermore, the bottom vinyl covering  178  is positioned adjacent the cardboard layer  171 . The first planar surface  31  and the second planar surface  32  are mounted to the bottom surface  38  as previously described. The display panel  30  is then firmly secured between the top vinyl layer  177  and the bottom vinyl layer  178 , with the vinyl layers being secured to one another at their edges using any suitable means, such as by gluing or high frequency welding. In any event, glue may also be used to secure the magnetic display panel  30 , with or without the bottom surface  38  or the top cut-out surface  39 , to one or both of the vinyl coverings  177 ,  178  and the cardboard layer  171 .  
         [0057]    In FIG. 17, a still further embodiment having a magnetically responsive display panel is illustrated. Here, a magnetic display panel  30  is combined with a writing tablet  180 . The paper sheets  182  are secured to one of the inside covers of the writing tablet  180  using any conventional means, such a slit in the inside surface of the cover  184  through which the cardboard base of the writing pad is inserted. The magnetic display panel  30  is itself secured to the inside or outside surface of one of the covers, e.g., cover  184 , of the writing tablet  180  in a manner similar to those indicated above with regard to the illustrations of FIGS. 15 and 16.  
         [0058]    In FIGS. 18 and 19, an alternative to the drawing toy  100  is illustrated. Here, a drawing toy  190  is illustrated having a main panel  191  to which a magnetic drawing panel  30  is mounted using any of the various means described above. A plurality of image cards  192  is hingedly connected to the main panel  191 . Each one of the plurality of image cards  192  has an image or a series of images that a user may attempt to replicate on the drawing panel  30 . In this embodiment, the screen portion  193  of the drawing panel  30  is offset an offset distance  195  from the wire spiral  194  that is used to secure the plurality of image cards  192  to the panel main  191 . The offset allows a user to view two sides of the plurality of image cards  192 , without substantially obstructing the screen portion  193 . In other words, when one or more of the plurality of image cards  192  is positioned over the main panel  191 , the one or more image cards do not overlay a substantial percentage—say, 10 percent or more—of the screen portion  193  of the display panel  30 . Consistent with the offset distance  195 , each of the plurality of image cards has a width  196 , which is selected to be substantially equal—say, within 10 percent—to the offset distance  195 . As with the previously described drawing toy  100 , various themes may be presented on each one of the plurality of image cards  192 . Alternatively, a series of step-by-step drawing instructions may be presented through the plurality of image cards  192  so that a child, for example, might construct a drawing of a complicated object through addition of individual simplified drawing steps.  
         [0059]    The imaging system has been described with reference to particular embodiments in the foregoing description. Various other modes for carrying out the invention are, however, contemplated as being within the scope of the claims that follow and that particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.