On PHPMaster.com today there's a new design pattern-focused that introduces you to using the Factory method to create new objects on the fly.

The Factory Method pattern is a design pattern used to define a runtime interface for creating an object. It’s called a factory because it creates various types of objects without necessarily knowing what kind of object it creates or how to create it.

Code is included showing how to make creating "Product_*" classes as simple as calling a "build()" method with the type. A slightly more complex situation is also included - building factories inside of factory methods. For more about the Factory design pattern, check out its Wikipedia page (that includes some common uses and some pitfalls to watch out for).