Toy Figure with Articulating Limb
A toy figure with articulating limb includes a torso and at least one appendage which is resiliently articulable about the toy figure. The at least one appendage is pivotally or rotatably coupled to the torso, and may also include a pivot assembly. At least one of the at least one appendages includes a resilient member which is biased to maintain the at least one appendage in a rest position and configured to return at least one appendage to a rest position if articulated away from this rest position.
This application claims priority to and is based on U.S. Patent Application No. 61/499,274, filed Jun. 21, 2011, entitled “Toy Figure with Articulating Limb,” Attorney Docket No. 1389.0340P/16877P, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to toy action figures, and more specifically to a toy action figure having at least one movable limb for enacting various athletic movements, such as a leg kick or punch. Furthermore, the invention relates to a toy action figure which may comprise two or more moveable limbs to move in combination to enact various athletic movements.
BACKGROUNDToy action figures have become an extremely popular and well known play option for children and adults in the toy industry. Directed largely to young boys and collectors, these toy figures typically replicate male oriented heroes, villains, and the like. Most common themes include wrestlers, military, cartoon figures, warriors, or superheroes. Furthermore, the addition of life-like elements, including detailed sculpting and costumes have further enhanced the playability and collectability of these toy action figures.
A majority of action figures are comprised of molded plastic bodies combined with a plurality of parts and components joined by a corresponding plurality of articulated joints. The overall effect is often intended to provide posing and/or movement similar to that performed by humans. Posability, that is to say the ability to maintain a particular body position, is usually obtained by providing a friction-fit at one or more of the multiple articulated joints. While the appearances and physical size, as well as other design properties, have been stressed and improved upon to provide greater cohesiveness with the life-size character depicted, the functionality of toy action figures has remained relatively unchanged and in need of enhancement and improvement.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toy action figure capable of mimicking movements and poses performed by the life-sized characters, while retaining or improving the aesthetic authenticity of the toy figure.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, a toy action figure is provided which includes a torso, at least one appendage pivotally coupled to the torso, and a resilient member disposed within the at least one appendage. The resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage and configured to bias at least a portion of the toy figure in a rest position.
In other embodiments, a toy figure includes a torso, a hip portion pivotally coupled to the torso, at least one appendage pivotally coupled to the hip portion, and a resilient member disposed within at least one of the at least one appendage. The resilient member may be oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage. In some embodiments, the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the hip portion and the torso is rotatably coupled to the torso, such that the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the torso via the hips. In still other embodiments, the hip portion is coupled to the torso via a T-joint configured to allow 180 degree rotation of the hip portion with respect to the torso.
In other embodiments, the toy figure includes only one resilient member. Alternatively, the resilient member is a first resilient member and the toy figure also includes a second resilient member configured within a second appendage wherein the resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the second appendage.
In yet another embodiment, the at least one appendage is a first leg and a second leg. In some of these embodiments, the first leg is rotatably coupled to the hip portion and includes a resilient member and the second leg is pivotally coupled to the hip portion but does not include a resilient member. Still further, in other embodiments the second leg is pivotally coupled to the torso via a friction fit ball joint configured to both allow the appendage to spherically rotate about the joint and provide the toy figure with posability. In another embodiment, only the first leg includes a resilient member.
In yet another embodiment, a toy action figure is provided comprising a head pivotally coupled to the torso, while in a further embodiment, the resilient member of toy action figure is selected from the group consisting of a torsion spring, a torsion bar, a coil spring, an elastic binder, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the resilient member is configured to bias at least a portion of the toy figure in a rest position. In other embodiments, the resilient member is configured to bias the hip portion in a substantially forward facing position.
In another embodiment, a toy figure includes a torso, at least one appendage having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion, the appendage coupled to the torso, and a resilient member disposed within the at least one appendage. The resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage. In some of these embodiments, the resilient member is configured to bias at least a portion of the at least one appendage in a rest position. In other embodiments, the resilient member is a first resilient member disposed within a first appendage and the toy figure further includes a second resilient member within the first appendage. The first resilient member biases the first portion of the first appendage in a rest position with respect to the second portion of the first appendage and the second resilient member biases the first appendage in a rest position with respect to the first portion of the first appendage.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood more readily after consideration of the Detailed Description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
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The resilient member 20 is defined herein as a bias member which expands/rotates (and recovers) in at least one axis, and may include, but is not limited to, a spring, a resilient plastic, memory foam, or a rubber. The resilient member 20 may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combinations of materials, such as supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, elastomers, polyester, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Also, where any description recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Additionally, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention. For example, many of the examples described herein are directed towards an exemplary embodiment which includes two legs, one of which may be resiliently articulated about the torso of a toy figure, but it is envisioned that any appendage or number of appendages may be articulated any portion of a toy figure.
While the invention has been described in detail and with references to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the majority of the elements can be formed of molded plastic. However, in alternative embodiments, the elements can be formed of a material other than plastic provided that the material has sufficient strength for the component's intended function.
Claims
1. A toy figure comprising:
- a torso;
- at least one appendage pivotally coupled to the torso, the at least one appendage having a proximodistal axis; and
- a resilient member disposed within the at least one appendage, wherein the resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage and configured to bias at least a portion of the toy figure in a rest position.
2. The toy figure of claim 1, wherein the toy figure includes only one resilient member.
3. The toy figure of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a first resilient member and the toy figure further comprises:
- a second resilient member configured within a second appendage, the second appendage having a proximodistal axis, wherein the second resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the second appendage.
4. The toy figure of claim 1, further comprising:
- a hip portion, wherein the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the hip portion and the torso is rotatably coupled to the hip portion, such that the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the torso via the hip portion.
5. The toy figure of claim 4, wherein the hip portion is coupled to the torso via a T-joint configured to allow 180 degree rotation of the hip portion with respect to the torso.
6. The toy figure of claim 4, wherein the at least one appendage includes a first leg and a second leg.
7. The toy figure of claim 6, wherein the first leg is rotatably coupled to the hip portion and includes a resilient member, and the second leg is pivotally coupled to the hip portion but does not include a resilient member.
8. The toy figure of claim 7, wherein the second leg is pivotally coupled to the torso via a friction fit ball joint configured to both allow the second leg to rotate spherically about the joint and provide the toy figure with posability.
9. The toy figure of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is one of a torsion spring, a torsion bar, a coil spring, or an elastic binder.
10. A toy figure comprising:
- a torso;
- a hip portion pivotally coupled to the torso;
- at least one appendage pivotally coupled to the hip portion; and
- a resilient member disposed within at least one of the at least one appendage, wherein the resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage.
11. The toy figure of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias at least a portion of the toy figure toward a rest position.
12. (canceled)
12. The toy figure of claim 10, wherein the hip portion is coupled to the torso via a T-joint configured to allow 180 degree rotation of the hip portion with respect to the torso.
13. The toy figure of claim 10, wherein the at least one appendage comprises:
- a first leg rotatably coupled to the hip portion; and
- a second leg pivotally coupled to the hip portion.
14. The toy figure of claim 13, wherein only the first leg includes a resilient member.
15. The toy figure of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is one of a torsion spring, a torsion bar, a coil spring, and an elastic binder.
16. The toy figure of claim 10, wherein the resilient member is a first resilient member and the toy figure further comprises:
- a second resilient member configured within a second appendage, the second appendage having a proximodistal axis, wherein the second resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the second appendage.
17. A toy figure comprising:
- a torso;
- at least one appendage coupled to the torso and having an first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion; and
- a resilient member disposed within the at least one appendage, wherein the resilient member is oriented substantially parallel to the proximodistal axis of the at least one appendage.
18. The toy figure of claim 17, wherein the resilient member is configured to bias at least a portion of the at least one appendage in a rest position.
19. The toy figure of claim 17, further comprising:
- a hip portion, wherein the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the hip portion and the torso is rotatably coupled to the hip portion, such that the at least one appendage is pivotally coupled to the torso via the hip portion.
20. The toy figure of claim 17, wherein the resilient member is a first resilient member disposed within a first appendage, and the toy figure further includes:
- a second resilient member within the first appendage, wherein the first resilient member biases the first portion of the first appendage in a rest position with respect to the second portion of the first appendage and the second resilient member biases the first appendage in a rest position with respect to the torso.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 27, 2012
Inventors: Mark Barthold (Torrance, CA), Aaron Weil (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number: 13/495,584
International Classification: A63H 3/46 (20060101);