Patent Publication Number: US-6712667-B1

Title: Articulated magnet assembly and kit

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/234,425 filed Sep. 21, 2000 for “Articulated Magnet Assembly Kit” by Eric Meizer, incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to two-dimensional action figures. In particular, the present invention relates to a game kit having articulatable, posable magnetic action characters using word objects and accessories to create situations which teach or have comic effect. 
     Magnets are commonly used to affix objects to metallic devices. For instance, papers, pictures, and the like are often attached to a metal refrigerator using magnets. The magnets themselves are often given artistic features by attaching various artistic objects and by decorating, or shaping them to resemble various objects (e.g. vegetables, fruit, picture frames, etc.). Indeed, magnets have become an end to themselves, and are used as decorations and games. 
     In one specific example, flexible plastic magnets have been used to teach various language skills as well as for recreational purposes. Each individual magnet has a word or word-fragment displayed on one surface. The user attaches the magnets to any ferric surface, and arranges them in some given order. Various poems, epitaphs, or other desirable phrases can be constructed by changing the order of the magnets. This concept has also been used to teach the proper order and meaning of various parts of speech and also to illustrate the humorous and nonsensical effects of readily randomly changing one or more words in a sentence or phrase. However, nothing is provided to “illustrate” the effects of the words (humorous or otherwise). 
     Action figures which utilize movable joints are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No&#39;s. 2,365,098 and 5,993,218 (incorporated by reference in their entirety herein) disclose cardboard figures having a movable joint. However, the figures disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,365,098 and 5,993,218 are limited in the number of lifelike poses which can be simulated (e.g., leaping) since the figures must be supported by the ground. Articulation of the figures is also limited. Thought or speech for the figures cannot be shown and accessory tools (e.g., fishing poles, weapons) cannot be easily attached or associated with the figure to provide a variety of situations in which the figure can be placed. 
     Prior magnetically applied characters such as “Dressing David,” manufactured by Caryco Magnets, lack joints that articulate leaving the consumer limited in their ability to create comical situations with the figures. Without hinged or articulating joints the figures are stagnant and lifeless. 
     Given the limitations of the prior art, a need exists in the art for posable characters which can create lifelike movement and create interactive situations through poses and implied speech or thought. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a toy character comprising an artistic layer formed of a sheet material. The artistic layer includes a torso having a plurality of articulation points and a plurality of appendages. Each appendage is pivotally connected to the torso at one of the torso articulation points such that each appendage may be pivoted with respect to the torso. At least one magnet is fixed to the artistic layer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first character object. 
     FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional view of the character object as taken along lines  1 A— 1 A of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pivot fastener. 
     FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a pivot fastener. 
     FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a pivot fastener. 
     FIG. 1E is a top view of a one embodiment of a pivot fastener. 
     FIG. 1F is a bottom view of one embodiment of a pivot fastener. 
     FIG. 2 is a disassembled plan view of the first character object. 
     FIG. 3A is a plan view of a second character object. 
     FIG. 3B is a plan view of the second character object in another pose. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first character object with a word bubble object of the inventive kit. 
     FIG. 4A is a plan view of the first character object with a word bubble object of the inventive kit. 
     FIG. 4B is a plan view of exemplary word objects of the inventive kit. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first character with a word bubble object and word objects. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of animal character objects. 
     FIG. 7 is a disassembled plan view of one animal character object. 
     FIG. 7A is a disassembled plan view of a dog character object. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first character object and the second character object with word bubble objects. 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of the first character object and the second character object with word bubble objects and word objects. 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of a third character object and a fourth character object with accessory objects. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of the third character object and the fourth character object with accessory objects. 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of the third character object with the fourth character object with accessory objects. 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of an exploded fifth character object. 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of the first character object in a case. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An inventive toy assembly  10  utilizing a word object  9 , a first word bubble object  11 , a first character object  12  and an accessory object  13  is shown in FIG.  1 . The first character object  12  includes articulation points  14 A- 14 M, a torso  15 , a first and second leg appendage  16  and  17 , a first and second arm appendage  18  and  19 , and a head appendage  20 . The first and second leg appendages  16  and  17  each include an upper leg portion  22 A and  22 B, a lower leg portion  24 A and  24 B and a foot  26 A and  26 B. The first and second arm appendages  18  and  19  each include an upper arm portion  28 A and  28 B, a lower arm portion  30 A and  30 B, and hands  32 A and  32 B. 
     Articulation points  14 A- 14 M are disposed on in the character object  12  to mimic joints in a character&#39;s body (e.g. neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle). The articulation points  14 A- 14 M allow one portion of the character object to rotate (or pivot) with respect to a second portion of the character object  12 . Shaping the first character object  12  in a human form and then placing articulation points  14 A- 14 M at various joints allows the first character object  12  to be articulated into various positions. As is illustrated, articulation points  14 A- 14 E are disposed on the torso  15  and are attached to the leg appendages  16  and  17 , the arm appendages  18  and  19  and the head appendage  20 . All of the appendages (legs, arms and head) can be pivoted with respect to the torso  15  at articulation points  14 A- 14 E. By moving the appendages with respect to the torso  15 , the user of character object  12  can create a variety of life-like poses with the character object  12 . 
     More specifically, the life-like characteristic of the character object  12  is furthered by the use of articulation points  14 F- 14 M which are used to segment the appendages so that each appendage segment can be individually articulated. Articulation points  14 A- 14 M can be created using any number of connection systems known in the art, such as rivets, snaps or screws, secured at overlapping portions of each appendage (or member). Alternatively, articulation points  14 A-M may utilize a magnetic pivot fastener, as illustrated and described below with respect to FIGS. 1B-1F. Although thirteen articulation points  14 A- 14 M are illustrated with respect to the character object  12  any number of articulation points (generally referred to by reference number “ 14 ”) may be inserted to provide varying levels of articulation of the character object  12 . It should be noted that throughout the specification, like elements of different character objects (e.g., articulation points  14 A- 14 M) are indicated by like reference numbers. 
     The first character object  12  artistically depicts a “Kung Fu” type cartoon character facing the user. As will be noted with respect to the embodiments described below, each of the various character objects may be presented so as to face any direction with respect to the user, and have any number of articulation points which allow the character object to simulate the movement of a human form. The invention contemplates other character objects depicting other real or imaginary animate forms (e.g. dogs, cats, mice, dinosaurs, space aliens, gnomes, etc.) which may be articulated by disposing articulation points so as to mimic the joints in the depicted form and articulating them into various poses. 
     As shown in FIG.  1 A and exemplified using the first character object  12 , the objects of the present inventive assembly  10  are placed on a ferric surface  33 A (such as a refrigerator). In one embodiment, each object is formed by applying an artistic layer  33 B to a magnetic layer  33 C. The artistic layer  33 B may be formed of a sheet material such as paper, plastic, lithographic sheets, or other material which is lightweight, durable and can receive and retain printing on its outer surface. In one embodiment, the artistic layer  33 B is bonded to the magnetic layer  33 C using a pressure sensitive adhesive  34 , or other bonding method such as would be known to a person skilled in the art. The magnetic layer  33 C releasably fixes the character object (e.g., first character object  12 ) in place on the ferric surface  33 A by magnetic attraction. The magnetic layer  33 C may be flexible or stiff depending upon the desired performance characteristics of the object being manufactured. Since the character object  12  is magnetically fixed, it can be easily repositioned many times or in any position allowed by the articulation points  14 . This ease of positioning is in contrast to previous non-magnetic systems which had articulation mechanisms. These systems would not fix the object in place since repositioning the prior systems would cause the fixing mechanism to wear and gradually fail (e.g., adhesives). 
     In the present invention, the character objects can be repositioned any number of times by the user to create a large number of varying poses. Additionally, the user may place the character objects in different situations by juxtaposing multiple character objects or other objects (e.g., accessory objects) next to the character objects (described further below). As mentioned above with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the various objects (e.g., accessory, character, word bubble and word which can be used in any combination or number) of the inventive assembly  10  utilize the magnetic layer  33 C to maintain the position of the individual objects on the ferric surface  33 A. Another advantage of using magnetic attraction to position the various objects is that objects may be placed on top of each other, and will still maintain their spacial position due to magnetic attraction to the ferric surface  33 A. 
     In an alternate embodiment for articulated objects (e.g., first character object  12 ), no magnetic layer  33 C is necessary. Instead, the artistic layer  33 B (e.g., sheet material) is mounted onto any base material (e.g., chip board or paperboard). The objects utilize magnetic pivot fasteners, an example of which is illustrated at  100  in FIG. 1B, to both articulate the characters as well as maintain the posed position of the characters. The magnetic pivot fastener  100  includes an annular casing  102  and a series of top and bottom annular collars  104 A and  104 B disposed about the plastic casing  102 . A tab  106  is optionally disposed at one longitudinal end of the annular casing  102  and an aperture  108  extends into the annularcasing  102  from the opposite longitudinal end along a longitudinal axis  110  of the annular casing  102 . A permanent magnet  112  is press fit and/or is glued into the aperture  108 . 
     The annular casing  102 , top and bottom annular collars  104  and tab  106  are poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), or some other polymeric material injection molded so as to form one integral piece with the aperture  108 . Preferably the magnet  112  is substantially the same size and shape as the aperture  108  in order to assure that the magnet  112  is securely fixed within the plastic casing  102 . Preferably, the magnet  112  has a diameter of approximately 0.3 inches and a length of approximately 0.3 inches. The magnet  112  is preferably disposed entirely within the aperture  108 . 
     The outer diameter of the plastic casing  102  is preferably approximately 0.375 inches. As shown in the cross-sectional view illustrated by FIGS. 1C and 1D, top and bottom annular collars  104 A and  104 B extend radially outward proximate to each longitudinal end of the annular casing  102  from an outer surface  113  on the annular casing  102 . The collars  104 A and  104 B preferably extend at an angle of approximately 30 degrees (arrow  114 ) from the outer surface  113 , and longitudinally along the outer surface  113  for approximately 0.1 inches (indicated by arrows  116 ). A distance of preferably approximately 0.2 inches (indicated by arrows  118 ) separates collars  104 A and  104 B. Collars  104 A and  104 B provide a means for interconnecting the articulated pieces (illustrated using torso  15  and first leg appendage  16 ). The magnetic pivot fastener  100  allows each articulated member (e.g., torso  15  and first leg appendage  16 ) to pivot with respect to the other member. 
     To assemble an object, the user grasps the tab  106  of the magnetic pivot fastener  100  and inserts the pivot fastener  100  through a hole pre-formed at an articulation point in two (or possibly more) appendages and/or torso members. Additionally, other objects (such as accessory objects) may have articulation points which can be secured using pivot fasteners. Any two pieces (i.e., articulated members, torsos or objects) can be connected together, creating a “modular” type assembly which gives the user multiple options as to which pieces of a given character are to be joined. The magnetic pivot fastener  100  can be universal across any objects (e.g., character objects) included with the assembly and can therefore be used to join pieces from any of the characters together (i.e., the head from one character object can be attached to the body of a different character object). The modular nature of this embodiment also allows the user to disassemble and reassemble objects so as to create multiple variations for each object. It should be understood that including tab  106  as part of pivot fastener  100  is optional. Tab  106  is included so as to allow the operator to better grasp pivot fastener  100 . 
     Additionally, due to the inclusion of magnet  112  in aperture  108  the magnetic pivot fastener  100  provides magnetic attraction to any ferric surface, and eliminates the need for a separate magnetic layer (as described with respect to FIG. 1A above). The magnetic pivot fastener  100  can also be easily inserted and removed from articulation points, allowing assembly and disassembly of the character object for storage or creating new objects. The integral construction of the pivot fastener  100  also eliminates excess parts which could be lost during use and allows for an efficient manufacturing process of the inventive assembly  10 , while still providing the same repositionable characteristics to the objects as was described previously with respect to the magnetic layer illustrated in FIG.  1 A. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1E, each annular collar  104 A on the top end of the plastic casing  102  and each annular collar  104 B on the bottom end of the plastic casing  102  preferably extends for approximately 60 degrees (arrows  120 ) about the outer surface  113  of the plastic casing  102 . Preferably, three annular collars  104 A are disposed about the top end (one longitudinal end) and spaced equidistant from each other. Three annular collars  104 B are disposed about the bottom end (the other longitudinal end) and spaced equidistant from each other. The resulting configuration provides a 60 degree spacing between the collars  104 A on the top end, and a 60 degree spacing between the collars  104 B at the bottom end. Additionally, the collars on the top end  104 A are offset from the collars on the bottom end  104 B such that where a space is provided between collars on the top end  104 A (e.g., from 60 degrees to 120 degrees), a collar is disposed at the bottom end at the same annular position (e.g., from 60 degrees to 120 degrees), and vice versa. This particular configuration allows the pivot fasteners  100  to interconnect the articulated appendages and torsos (or collectively “members”) of the objects without damaging the materials forming the members (typically printed lithographic sheets mounted on chipboard). Each member in the magnetic pivot fastener embodiment illustrated at  100 , in FIGS. 1B-1F is typically approximately 0.08 inches thick. It should be noted that although the invention describes a separate sheet used as the artistic layer, printing the artistic layer directly onto the magnet or base material is also contemplated. 
     In yet another alternate embodiment of the inventive assembly  10 , suction cups can be secured to the artistic layer  33 B, eliminating the need for the magnetic attraction and allowing the objects of the inventive assembly  10  to be secured to non-ferric surfaces. Utilizing suction cups maintains the capability of the objects to be articulated by the operator into a large number of varying poses. 
     FIG. 2 shows a disassembled view of the first character object  12 , illustrating the articulation points  14 A- 14 M and the multiple segments used to form the first and second leg appendages  16  and  17  as well as the first and second arm appendages  18  and  19 . FIG. 2 additionally illustrates how the articulated objects may be provided to the user in “reattachable” form. By providing the segments of each object in an unassembled form, the user can make a game of assembling the objects, even mixing segments from different objects to arrive at their own object variations, 
     The ability of the user to articulate the character objects into various positions is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and exemplified using a second character object  34 . The second character object  34  has been placed into a different pose in FIG. 3A from that shown in FIG. 3B which, when viewed sequentially, (e.g., in video or computer form) could be construed as movement (e.g., fighting movements or a dance). Arm appendages  18  and  19  and leg appendages  16  and  17 , have been repositioned and internally articulated (e.g., the lower and upper leg portions  24 A,  22 A and the foot  26 A which make up the first leg appendage  16  have been repositioned from the pose shown in FIG. 3A to that shown in FIG.  3 B). It should be noted that the same reference numbers are used for the like elements making up the first character object  12  and second character object  34 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the first character object  12  of the inventive assembly  10 . In addition, the first word bubble object  11  has been placed proximate the first character object  12  near the head appendage  20  of the first character object  12  so as to imply the character object  12  is speaking. This technique is known and applied in many comic applications (e.g. newspaper comic strips). Although the first word bubble object  11  is shown as having a generally circular shape with a triangular point  11 A extending from a circular portion  11 B, a person skilled in the art would realize that other shapes may be used to achieve the same effect (e.g. multiple increasing sized circles implying “thoughts” of the character object). While a single word bubble object  11  is illustrated, any number of word bubble objects (as well as accessory objects, character objects and word objects) can be included with the inventive assembly  10 . An erasable pen, pencil or marker, (not shown) may be used to write messages  11 C on the word bubble object  11  and may also be included as part of the assembly  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 4A, writing on the bubble objects can be facilitated by forming the artistic layer  33 B of an easily erasable-plastic material. The user can then erase the written message  11 C and rewrite a different message to imply a new “thought” or spoken word by each character object. The user may also simultaneously repose the character object. 
     Word objects  9  are shown in FIG.  4 B. Each word object  9  preferably has a single word or word fragment printed on its surface. The user may position each word object  9  into any given order. These types of magnetic multiple word objects are commercially available in kit form, one example being the Magnetic Poetry Kit® manufactured by Magnetic Poetry Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. An alternate magnetic word object embodiment would be of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,281 (Kapell) incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. As shown in FIG. 5, individual word objects  9  can be layered on top of the word bubble object  11  placed near the head appendage  20  of the character so as to imply speech by the character object (here shown as first character object  12 ). Alternately, the word objects  9  may be placed beside the character object  12  and not layered on the word bubble object  11 . This technique may be used to describe the character object  12  or the situation surrounding the character object  12 . 
     Animal character objects  35 A and  35 B are shown in FIG.  6 . Similar to the previously described human shaped character objects, the animal character objects  35 A can be articulated using articulation points  14 A- 14 M so as to imply a gesture, motion or reaction to a situation. Please note that the same reference numbers are used for like elements between the character objects (e.g., animal character objects  35 A and  35 B and the first and second character objects  12  and  34 ). While the same number of articulation points and articulatable members are shown, it should be understood that the number of articulation points and articulatable members can vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. An exploded view of the animal character object  35 B is shown in FIG. 7 illustrating articulation points  14 A- 14 M which allow the user to position the character object  35 B into a variety of poses. As discussed previously, using reattachable magnetic pivot fasteners would allow pieces from different character objects to be, for example, the head appendage  20  from animal character object  35 B (a monkey) may be put on the torso  15  of first character object  12  (Kung Fu fighter), as a creative game or for a comedic effect. 
     A dog character object  36  is illustrated in disassembled form in FIG.  7 A. Again, similar to the human shaped character objects and animal shaped character objects, the dog character object  36  is posed using articulation points  14 A- 14 N. In addition to the head appendage  20 , torso  15  and first and second leg appendages  16  and  17 , the dog character object includes third and fourth leg appendages  37 A and  37 B, along with a tail appendage  37 C. As previously discussed, the dog character object  36  can utilize a magnetic layer mounted to each member, or alternatively can utilize reattachable magnetic pivot fasteners to mount it to a ferric surface. 
     The second character object  34  is shown posed with the first character object  12  in FIG.  8 . By placing two character objects  34  and  12  next to each other and articulating them into different poses, a situational interaction can be suggested between the second and third character objects  34  and  12 . For example, it could be implied that the character objects  34  and  12  are fighting, dancing, singing, or any other number of actions. By placing word bubble objects  11  next to each of the character objects  34  and  12 , it is implied that the character objects  34  and  12  are speaking to each other. The speech of each character is provided by the user. This can be accomplished by writing messages  11 C on the erasable surface of the word bubble objects  11 , or placing word objects  9  on the word bubble objects  11 , as shown in FIG.  9 . The word objects  9  can be supplied with assembly  10  or provided separately. The user implies situational interaction between first and second character objects  34  and  12  (here depicted as Kung Fu fighters) by placing word objects  9  inside the word bubble objects  11  to provide speech (or thought) to the character objects  34  and  12 . 
     The character objects can be artistically designed to reflect certain situational interactions. As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 A,  3 B,  4 ,  4 A,  5 ,  8  and  9 , Kung Fu characters and their associated weapons can be included as part of the inventive kit  10 , while in FIGS  6  and  7 , monkey characters along with bananas and other props may be included as part of an inventive kit  10 . In one alternate embodiment, a creative group might design an entire group of articulated comic or folkloric characters. For example, character objects depicting Midwestern characters Ole, Toivo and Lena which might come in a package with situation magnets and props (e.g., an ice fishing hole and ice fishing poles to create an ice fishing situation). The consumer could write dialogue above the character&#39;s heads in the erasable magnetic cartoon speech bubbles (or use word objects with or without speech bubbles) to create comics about the region they live in. Thus, a full comic or educational situation can be created by the user from an unlimited variety of character, accessory, word bubble and word objects included in the inventive assembly  10 . 
     Any number and variety of accessory objects  13  can be provided as part of the inventive assembly  10  as further illustrated in FIG.  10 . Third and fourth character objects  38  and  40  can be articulated and juxtaposed with accessory objects  13  so that it seems they are using the accessory objects  13 . As is illustrated, the accessory objects  13  can include basketball hoops and balls with character objects  38  and  40  artistically depicting and articulated as basketball players in a basketball game. Previously depicted situations such as Kung Fu fighters can include accessory objects depicting weapons as accessories such as knives, swords, nunchucks (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2) or other war-like objects if the “Kung Fu” character objects (character objects  12  and  34  illustrated previously) are articulated in a manner so as to suggest they are fighting. The number of objects which may be used as accessory objects  13  can vary greatly. Additionally, it should be noted that all the objects described herein can be combined between situations, further allowing various creative or comedic effects (e.g., articulating a Kung Fu fighter with a basketball). 
     As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the characters might also be designed with an optional small transparent plastic pocket  42  (shown in dotted lines) over the head appendage  20  of a character object (e.g., third character object  38 ) where the user can insert a picture  44  (or artwork) of their own creation to further personalize the character object. 
     The situational themes illustrated in the discussed FIGs. are only a beginning to the numerous and varied themes and promotions which could be developed using the inventive assembly. For example, an assembly incorporating articulated magnetic devil and angel figures as character objects with accompanying erasable magnetic word bubble objects could be created for use on a ferric surface above the right and left shoulders of a person in a photograph so as to suggest the difficulty they are having making a decision. An assembly incorporating articulated figures of the Greek Gods as character objects with harps, pan flutes, togas, and wine vessels as accessory objects might be created for use as an educational tool for students studying Greek mythology. An assembly incorporating Marvel comic characters such as Batman and Robin and their adversaries as character objects might be created and included with the accompanying combat sound effects supplied as word objects for use in comic fist fights. A political assembly including articulated magnetic figures of politicians as character objects might be produced for use in creating political cartoons that could be entered in a website where a weekly contest is held for the most clever political cartoon. Character objects could also be used as creative business cards. 
     Corporations could use various embodiments of the inventive articulated magnetic figure assemblies  10  for the promotion of their products. For example, a motion picture studio might make various embodiments of a film&#39;s lead characters (e.g., Jackie Chan or the animated characters from South Park) to help create interest around that film or television show and its characters on a day to day basis in consumers&#39; homes. 
     Additionally, consumers can send digital images of themselves or other familiar persons or subjects, such as a family pet, taken on digital cameras to a company which then produces character objects from likenesses of those images. Using the additional character objects, accessory objects erasable word bubble objects and word objects together with the character objects of themselves, users can create comics of themselves and their friends and family or they can communicate simple messages to each other (e.g., “Please take the garbage out when you get home”). In this embodiment using pictures (e.g., digitized photographs), the character object created of the user might be full body or instead might simply be their head applied to any of a number of real or fictional characters (e.g., The President of the United States or Superman). A fifth character object  50  is shown in the exploded view of FIG. 13 illustrating this embodiment of the inventive concept. To create the fifth character object  50  a photograph is used as the artwork on the artistic layer  33 B (as described with respect to FIG.  1 A). Articulation points  14 A- 14 M are disposed at the joints of the person in the photograph allowing articulation of the character object  50 . Since the character object  50  can be articulated at the points where a human body is jointed, the user can position the fifth character object  50  (a picture of an actual person) into various life-like or comical situations and poses as described previously. Word bubble objects and word objects can then be added to imply speech by the character object  50 . In this fashion, the user can position the character object of someone they know (who is depicted on the artistic layer) of the character object  50  into various humorous or educational situations. 
     Although various embodiments of character, word, word bubble and accessory objects have been illustrated and described above, it should be noted that other embodiments including various characters are contemplated. The inventive assembly  10  has the flexibility to allow the user to create a broad range of educational or comic situations by varying the artistic layer of the different objects. 
     The invention is also a gaming system which can be provided in kit form. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the kit includes a carrying case  60  into which one or more objects (e.g., character objects, accessory objects, word bubble objects, and word objects), as well as magnetic pivot fasteners may be inserted. The objects may be provided in assembled or disassembled form. The objects may be removed from the case  60  and deployed individually or juxtaposed with each other. While case  60  is illustrated as being a hinged metal box, other styles of carrying cases (such as plastic bags) are contemplated. The character objects can be articulated so as to be disposed in different poses by the user. These character objects can be used in conjunction with each other, with accessory objects, with word bubble objects and with word objects. Using the word bubble objects and/or the word objects creates a comic effect in which the user can position the character objects in a variety of poses and place word objects so that it appears the character object is speaking, being spoken to or being described. Accessory objects can be used to further the effect of a comic or educational situation of the character object. The order and meaning of the situation can be changed by reordering the word objects so as to create a new text message or by articulating the character objects into different poses or positions. The character objects can by mythical or imagined characters or alternatively may be real people. A photograph of a person may be converted into an articulated character object. All the objects of the kit may be magnetically adhereable to a ferric supporting surface. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.