Actuatable toys containing deformable bladders
Actuatable toys that contain a deformable, and optionally elastomeric, core therein that facilitates in actuating a predetermined movement of a component of the toy or article when the core is squeezed or otherwise deformed. In some embodiments, the core is a bladder that contains a fluid substance and is deformable proximate to the actuatable component upon application of pressure thereto. The actuatable component may take such illustrative forms as a belly, a tail, a nose, a snout, a mouth, a jaw, arms, ears, tail, and/or legs of an animal toy. In addition, the actuatable toy comprises a flexible outer covering enclosing the core, where at least a portion of the outer covering comprises a movable material disposed proximate to the actuatable component of the toy, whereupon actuating of the movable material and deformation of the core facilitate actuation of the actuatable component upon application of pressure to the toy.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/726,837, which was filed on Oct. 14, 2005, and the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. This application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,308, which was filed on Apr. 13, 2005, and which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/753,982, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,119, which was filed on Jan. 5, 2004, and which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/047,075, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,932, which was filed on Jan. 14, 2002. The complete disclosures of the above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates generally to actuatable articles, and more specifically to toys that contain elastomeric and deformable bladders therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Examples of existing children's toy animals include stuffed animals or stuffed toy figures. For example, plush toy animals are typically filled with a filling such as polyester fiber. Other toy animals include plush or other covers that are filled with a plurality of pellets, sand, or other particles. An additional type of toy figure is formed from rubber and includes a hollow air-filled cavity.
Toys are disclosed that contain an elastomeric and deformable bladder therein that facilitates imparting a predetermined movement to at least one actuatable component of the toy when the bladder is squeezed or otherwise deformed. The actuatable component may take such illustrative, and non-exclusive, forms as a tail, a nose, a snout, a belly, a mouth, a jaw, an arm, an ear, a tail, a wing, a tongue, a head, a foot, a claw, a hand, a leg, etc. of a toy, such as a toy animal. The actuatable toy generally comprises a resilient core, such as an elastomeric and deformable core. In some embodiments, the core may take the form of a bladder, which may contain a fluid substance. The bladder or other core may be deformable at least proximate to the actuatable component upon application of pressure on the bladder. The fluid substance inside the bladder may be a liquid, such as water or oil, a gas, such as air, a deformable gel, or a non-fluid material suspended in fluid. The bladder or other core is deformable to facilitate actuation of the actuatable component and preferably has an elastomeric outer shell so that the bladder or other core is biased to return to its original, or non-actuated, shape. In some embodiments, the outer shell of the bladder and/or outer surface of the core is configured to impart a predetermined motion, or expansion, of the bladder upon receipt of compression thereto, such as in a predefined region, or location. In some embodiments, the outer shell includes at least one of undercuts, ribs, indentions, projecting extensions, and the like to impart defined motion thereto responsive to compression of the bladder. In some embodiments, the toy includes a tether interconnecting the bladder or other core with the outer covering of the toy. In some embodiments, the toy includes a rigid interconnection between the bladder or other core and the outer covering. In some embodiments, the toy includes at least one rigid member within the outer covering and adapted to be engaged by the bladder or other core at least when the bladder or other core is in an actuated state.
The actuatable toy further comprises a flexible outer covering enclosing the bladder or other core, where at least a portion of the outer covering comprises a movable material disposed proximate to the actuatable component of the toy, whereupon moving of the movable material and deformation of the bladder or other core facilitate actuation of the actuatable component upon application of pressure on the toy. The actuatable toy may further comprise a filling disposed within the outer covering and outside of the bladder or other core. The outer covering may include a fabric covering, at least a portion of which may be a movable material that may be, for example, a stretchable elastomeric material such as Spandex®, a layered fabric material, a gathered fabric material, and/or a loose or excess fabric material that is optionally gathered with elastic. At least a portion of the fabric covering may be formed from a plush material, although this construction is not required to all embodiments. The movable material of the outer covering allows for expansion or deformation of the bladder or other core into a space or volume defined by the movable material when the bladder or other core causes, directly or indirectly, the space defined by the movable material to expand or otherwise deform, resulting in actuation of the actuatable component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure is directed to toys or other play articles that contain an elastomeric and deformable core therein that facilitates generating a predetermined movement of an actuatable component, such as a tail or an arm, when the toy is squeezed or otherwise deformed. The following description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure. Descriptions of specific embodiments and applications are provided only as examples and various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the following discussion and the corresponding figures will present illustrative embodiments of toys according to the present disclosure in the form of various examples of toy animals having one or more actuatable components, such as arms, legs, wings, mouths, tails, noses, and the like. The illustrative examples of animals and actuatable components, or other appendages, are provided for the purpose of illustrating toys and constructions therefor, without being intended to provide exclusive examples thereof. The general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is to be accorded the widest scope encompassing numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
The outer shell 31 of the deformable core 30 may (but is not required to in all embodiments) be stretchable. An illustrative, non-exclusive example of a suitable material for the outer shell of the deformable core 30 is KRAYTON®. Another illustrative, non-exclusive example of Hyper-Flex™, although others may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, core 30 may be formed from a solid mass of resilient material. The material preferably is not only resilient and biased to repeatably return from an actuated state to its resting, or non-actuated state, but also sufficiently soft for use in a children's toy. For example, the core material may be selected to have a Share A hardness of less than 15 durometer, less than 10 durometer, less than 5 durometer, less than 3 durometer, 2-6 durometer, 5-11 durometer, 1-5 durometer, etc. When user-imparted compressive forces are applied to the cure, the core may behave much like a liquid-filled bladder as it deforms responsive to the applied forces.
In some embodiments, the core may define an internal compartment, or chamber, 29 therein. In such an embodiment, the core may be referred to as a bladder in that it encloses a fluid-containing chamber or internal compartment. When core 30 takes the form of a bladder that defines an internal compartment, or chamber, the internal compartment of the bladder may be filled with a fluid substance 33. The fluid substance may include one or more of a liquid such as oil and/or water, a gas such as air, a deformable gel, and/or a non-fluid material suspended in a fluid. An illustrative, nonexclusive example of a suitable fluid for filling the bladder is a mixture of water and sodium polyacrylate suspended in the water, although other liquids, liquid solutions, emulsions, solid suspensions, and the like may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that bladder 30 may be partially, or completely, filled with air or another suitable gas or mixture of gases. When partially filled with one or more gases, the bladder may also be partially filled with at least one liquid and/or solid.
In the following discussion, core 30 will be described in terms of a fluid-containing bladder 30. However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that resiliently deformable solid core may be used in place thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the toys 40 that are described, illustrated, and/or incorporated herein may include a resilient core that has any of the shapes, configurations, and/or properties of the subsequently described and/or illustrated bladders. When the core is a solid core, it may additionally include internally and/or externally extending ribs, channels, grooves, and the like. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that a solid core may have one or more holes or passages extending at least partially, or even completely, therethrough.
When bladder 30 is filled with a liquid, the weight of the toy will tend to be much greater than the comparable weight of a similar toy containing only batting or other conventional filling material for stuffed animals. As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, actuatable toys 40 with liquid-filler or liquid-containing bladders 30 according to the present disclosure may (but are not required to in all embodiments) weigh at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 200%, at least 300%, 50-200%, 100-300%, or more than a corresponding toy that includes a gas-filled bladder or no bladder at all. Cores 30 that are not fluid-filled bladders may also exhibit these illustrative relative weights. The resulting toys may also have greater play value due to the bouncy, resilient construction of a toy 40 containing the liquid-filled bladder or other core 30, with the resilient construction of the bladder (or other core) and/or outer covering of the toy contributing to the bouncy, animated features exhibited by the toy.
As discussed, core 30 may (but is not required to in all embodiments) impart a bouncy property, or characteristic, to actuatable toys 40 according to the present disclosure. When present, such a property or characteristic may be expressed in terms of the height of the rebound of the toy when dropped upon a hard surface and/or the number of times that the toy sequentially rebounds (or bounces) when dropped onto a hard surface. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of bouncy toys 40 include toys that rebound at least 0.75 inches, at least 1 inch, 1-3 inches, at least 2 inches, at least 3 inches, at least 4 inches, or more when the toy is dropped from two feet above a hard, flat surface, such as a table, pavement, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, non-exclusive examples of bouncy toys 40 include toys that sequentially rebound, or bounce, at least twice, at least three times, or more when dropped from two feet above a hard, flat surface.
In the illustrative examples shown in
It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that the number and type of projecting members that extend from a particular bladder, and the corresponding components represented thereby in toys containing the bladder, may vary. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of appendages, or actuatable components, that may be utilized by bladders 30 according to the present disclosure include arms, legs, mouths, noses, wings, tails, hands, ears, heads, feet, tongues, horns, eyes, and the like. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that a bladder 30 does not include any projecting members. For example, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the bladder may have a spherical or otherwise generally smooth configuration that does not include specific projecting portions.
As discussed, bladder 30 is adapted to impart a predetermined movement to the toy, such as to one or more actuatable components of the toy, within which the bladder is housed upon the application of pressure to the bladder, and especially upon application of pressure to one or more predetermined regions of the bladder. The bladder may be shaped or otherwise configured to impart this movement at least partially due to the shape of the bladder. Other factors that may, but are not required to, contribute to the movement imparted when the bladder is compressed include whether the bladder includes one or more regions of increased or decreased stiffness, one or more regions of increased or decreased thickness of outer shell 31, one or more regions with (internally and/or externally) projecting ribs, recesses, gathered material, etc. Additional factors that may, but are not required to, contribute to the movement imparted to an actuatable component of a toy containing a bladder according to the present disclosure include the construction of the outer covering of the bladder, the type and/or properties of the material(s) used to form the outer covering (including but not limited to the elasticity and/or stretchability of the material(s)), any structural linkage between the bladder and the outer covering, and the relative position of the bladder relative to the actuatable component of the toy.
The illustrative projecting members 35 shown in
In particular,
Additionally or alternatively, the bladder may define layers in an area such as indented annular areas 38c immediately around the ears 34 to allow the ears to easily extend outward. The amount of layering or indentation may be designed to control the amount that a particular region or projecting member, such as ears 34, extends outward relative to the pressure applied to the bladder 30.
Application of pressure to the bladder 30 results in movement of the fluid substance in the bladder 30 and in movement or deformation of the outer elastomeric shell 31 of the bladder 30 as the fluid substance flows within the outer elastomeric shell. In other words, the application of pressure to the bladder 30 results in an actuating or elastomeric action due to the increase in pressure inside the bladder 30 or inside portions of the bladder 30. The specific desired movement or actuation of the bladder 30 may be at least partially provided through the structural design of the bladder 30 and/or the elasticity and rigidity of the bladder 30 and/or the interaction of the bladder with other components of the toy, such as the toy's outer covering and/or components that are engaged by the expansion of the bladder. For example, the layering and/or indentation of the arms 32, ears 34, and/or nose 36 of the bladder 30 may provide areas of less or least resistance to expansion or deformation of the walls of the bladder 30 and flow of the fluid substance contained therein. In other words, the bladder 30 may be made of an elastomeric material that is expandable or stretchable and the provision of the layering and/or indentations ensures that the specific desired areas of the bladder 30 expand when squeezed. As will be described in more detail herein, deformation of the bladder 30 may (but is not required to) also be facilitated by a cover exterior to the deformable bladder.
Regardless of its particular shape, an actuatable toy 40 according to the present disclosure includes a flexible outer, or external, covering 41 that at least partially, and often completely, encloses bladder 30. Outer covering 41 is a separate structure from the bladder and may be described as defining an internal compartment 45 in which the bladder is housed. The bladder may be enclosed within the compartment but not directly secured to the over covering, although it is within the scope of the present disclosure that some linkages or couplings between the bladder and outer covering may be utilized. Toys 40 according to the present disclosure may include a single compartment 45; however, it is also within the scope of the present disclosure that toys 40 may include more than one compartment, with these compartments being defined at least in part by outer covering 41. When the toy includes only a single such compartment, the compartment may be referred to as a primary component, even though there are not other compartments. When the toy contains two or more compartments, one of the compartments may be a primary compartment.
Covering 41 may also be referred to as an outer (or exterior) cover, and may be a fabric cover. Covering 41 may be formed from a flexible, soft material and in such embodiments may be referred to as a flexible, soft outer covering. For example, the outer covering may be at least partially, or completely, formed from a plush material, such as a furry fabric to resemble the fur on an animal (such as a bear). The flexible outer covering of the toy 40 may contain, or enclose, the entire internal deformable bladder 30. It is noted that although the exterior cover is described above as a fabric cover, the exterior cover may be made of any suitable flexible material, or combination of materials, that permits the desired actuation of the article or toy. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the bladder may be enclosed in a cover, which may be elastomeric or otherwise flexible and stretchable, which is also positioned within the toy's internal compartment.
As illustrated, the exterior cover of the bear toy 40a houses, or conceals, the bladder and its associated deformation or other movements, with the illustrated examples showing the cover defining an internal compartment 45 that completely encloses bladder 30. Such concealment may increase the interest level of the toy, as the actuation may appear to be more of a mystery and/or come as a surprise to the user. However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that a toy 40 may include a flexible outer covering 41 that covers only a portion of the deformable bladder 30 and which does not cover the entire deformable bladder 30.
Toys 40 according to the present disclosure may include only a bladder 30 within the outer covering 41. However, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that actuatable toys 30 may optionally include filling, or filler, material within the outer covering, such as within an internal compartment defined by the outer covering. The filling material may be a soft, compressible material and may be readily compressed to less than half of its original volume upon the application of user-applied pressure thereto. An illustrative, non-exclusive example of a filling material includes a polyester fiber fill. Filling material may be used to fill an internal volume within the outer covering of the bear toy 40, such as which may extend between regions of the bladder and the internal surface of the outer covering. For example, the legs, paws, the outer or distal portion of the arms, as well as portions of the nose and ears of the illustrative bear toy 40a shown in
The exterior cover may be designed and implemented to cooperate with the bladder to achieve the desired specific movement or actuation of the toy, such as of one or more of the toy's actuatable components, responsive to compression of the toy's bladder. In other words, the fabric and/or other materials for the exterior cover may be configured to direct and/or enhance the movement imparted by the expansion of the bladder. For example, the outer covering may provide a compartment into which the bladder may expand when pressure is applied in order to facilitate actuation of the toy. As a further example, the exterior cover may be configured to selectively restrict expansion of the bladder in one or more directions and/or to direct, or guide, expansion of the bladder in one or more other directions. Typically, but not exclusively, the movable material of the exterior cover is disposed proximate to the actuatable component of the toy, such as the belly, ears, tail, arms, etc. In addition, deformation of the deformable bladder may, but is not required to, also be proximate to the actuatable component of the article. The movement of the exterior cover and the deformation of the bladder into the compartment defined by the movable exterior cover may cooperate to facilitate actuation of the actuatable component.
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that part or all of the fabric cover of toy 40 may, but is not required to, comprise a movable material to facilitate actuation of an actuatable component of a toy 40 according to the present disclosure. “Movable material” of the exterior cover of the toy generally refers to any material that is adapted to move from a resting state to an actuated state responsive to forces exerted thereto by the bladder as the bladder expands or otherwise deforms as external compressive forces are applied thereto. It is noted that the movable material may, but is not required to, be stretchable and/or elastomeric, and that it may include two or more different component materials. When stretchable material is utilized, it may be configured to be stretchable in two, or more than two, directions. The movable material may also be sufficiently resilient and/or repositionable that it may be repeatedly repositioned and/or stretched or otherwise moved during expected use of the toy without damaging the material or otherwise preventing further use of the toy.
As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, the movable material may be, or include, at least one of an elastomeric stretchable material such as Spandex®, gathered material such as loose material gathered with elastic, and/or excess material that is optionally folded or layered when it is not actuated and smoothes out at least partially when it is actuated. The folds may naturally result from excess material when the toy is in a resting, or normal, or non-actuated, state. For example, when excess material is provided in an armpit of a toy, the folds in the armpit may naturally result when the arms of the toy are in a downward position due to gravity. Generally, the movable material may define a space, volume, or subcompartment into which the bladder may deform, i.e., a portion of the bladder may expand or otherwise extend, when compression is applied to at least selected regions of the bladder. The subcompartment may not be a cavity, or may be a substantially smaller cavity, when the toy is in a resting, non-actuated state. However, the subcompartment is such that the bladder may deform and expand into a volume created by the expanding bladder and defined by the compartment. In an illustrative, non-exclusive example, a subcompartment may be formed from two generally parallel or overlapping layers of outer covering material. Thus, the subcompartment defined by the outer covering may be configured to expand in volume in response to the bladder expanding into the subcompartment.
When two or more different materials are utilized to form the outer covering, the materials may be selected to have different elasticities or resistances to being stretched. In such a construction, the portion of the outer covering that is formed from the more elastic or stretchable material (and/or the material having less resistance to being stretched) may define a region into which the bladder will expand because the region provides less resistance to expansion of the bladder than another region of the outer covering that provides greater resistance. As discussed in more detail herein, the outer covering may include stitching or other fasteners that may be configured to restrict or promote certain movement of the bladder and corresponding regions of the outer covering.
In the illustrative embodiment of a bear toy 40a shown in
Squeezing of the bear toy 40a may additionally or alternatively result in a wiggling or other movement of the ears of the toy responsive to compression of the bladder. In such an embodiment, the ear portions of the bladder may expand toward and/or into a compartment in the ear portion defined by the exterior fabric cover. For example, the outer covering of the toy may be constructed so that the ears are folded down in its non-actuated, resting state due to gravity. When the ears are actuated, the bladder expands into a compartment in or near the ears defined by the exterior fabric cover. When pressure on the toy is released, the ears are biased to return to their resting state such that the ears fold back down to their non-actuated, resting state.
In the illustrative example shown in
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that, in at least some embodiments, such as when bladder 30 includes bladder projections 35 that correspond to the actuatable components, the desired movement may be imparted to the toy's actuatable components regardless of whether the outer covering includes specific regions that are adapted to promote this movement. In other words, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the outer covering may be formed from the same material throughout, but also that it may be formed from two or more different materials that overlie different regions of the covering's internal compartment.
It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that the toy may include a bladder that does not, in at least its non-actuated state, include projecting members that generally correspond in shape to one or more of the toy's actuatable components. For example, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that toys 40 may (but are not required to) include a bladder 30 that is spherical, generally spherical, ovate, pear-shaped, or otherwise shaped to be free from projecting members. Nonetheless, the toy may still be configured to impart predetermined movement, or actuation, of one or more actuatable components responsive to compression of the bladder in one or more selected locations. In such an embodiment, the desired predetermined movement of the toy's actuatable components responsive to compression of the toy's bladder, such as in specific regions of the bladder, may still be imparted or defined by utilizing an outer covering that selectively restricts stretching or expansion in some regions while promoting or permitting expansion or stretching in other regions.
For example, and as discussed, the outer covering may be constructed to have a movable fabric over or near the desired actuating locations, such as a stretchable elastomeric material, and/or may include extra material that may be gathered in layers or folds. In such an embodiment, the interior bladder need not have projecting members to impart predetermined motion to one or more of the toy's actuatable components responsive to compression of the toy's bladder, such as in specific locations of the bladder. As another example, the outer covering may include one or more regions that restrict expansion or other movement relative to other regions of the outer covering. In such an embodiment, these regions may impart, or direct, expansion of the bladder to cause the predetermined movement of one or more of the toy's actuatable components even if the bladder of the toy does not include projecting members that correspond to the actuatable component.
As discussed, actuatable toys 40 according to the present disclosure include at least one actuatable component 55. The actuatable components are configured to move from a non-actuated state to a predetermined actuated state responsive to compression of the toy's bladder, with this compression optionally being compression of a specific region or regions of the bladder. Upon removal of the compression or other localized pressure being applied to the toy's bladder, the bladder is biased to resiliently return to its non-actuated state, with the actuatable component similarly being drawn or otherwise returned to its non-actuated state responsive at least in part to this restorative motion of the bladder. The resiliency, or restorative forces, imparted to the bladder by the outer covering of the toy may (but are not required to) also contribute to the bladder returning to its non-actuated state. It is even within the scope of the present disclosure that a toy 40 may be constructed with an elastic, or otherwise suitably resilient, outer covering that imparts at least a substantial portion, or even all, of the restorative forces required to return the bladder from its actuated state to its non-actuated state. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that a toy 40 may include two or more actuatable components and that the actuatable components may be configured to have the same or different actuated states, and/or types or paths of movement. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that toys 40 may include appendages that extend from the body of the toy and which are not actuatable components. For example, in the illustrative graphical example shown in
In
As discussed, the bear toy described above is only one example of an actuatable toy 40 comprising a deformable bladder 30 and an exterior covering 41 according to the present disclosure. A deformable bladder and an exterior covering according to the present disclosure may be designed and made into any desired shape and to achieve any suitable actuation(s). Illustrative additional examples of suitable animal shapes were presented above. Further illustrative, non-exclusive examples include a dog toy having actuatable ears that may point and/or an actuatable tail that may wag, a penguin or other bird toy having actuatable arms that may flap, a turtle toy having an actuatable head and/or legs that may extend out from its shell, a toy animal having an actuatable head that raises, lowers or otherwise moves upon actuation, a toy having an actuatable mouth that opens or closes upon actuation, a toy having an actuatable tail that moves upon actuation, a toy having actuatable arms or legs that raise or lower and/or which are drawn together or apart upon actuation, etc. Still further illustrative, non-exclusive examples are shown and described with reference to
As illustrated in
Another illustrative, non-exclusive example of a suitable shape and construction for at least the body portion 47 of an outer covering 41 for a toy 40 according to the present disclosure is shown in
As shown in
FIGS. 6B-E illustrate how external forces applied to the outer covering 41 of actuatable toy 40 may impart movements to an actuatable component 55 of the toy even though the forces are not directly applied to the actuatable component. Instead, the external compressive forces are applied to the toy's bladder 30. These forces may thereafter be distributed through the bladder, which may be filled with a liquid. The liquid, when present, may behave as an incompressible material and thus distribute the applied force within the bladder instead of absorbing the applied force. As a comparative example, a toy filled with polyester fiber, cotton batting or similar material would tend to absorb the applied force by compressing into a reduced volume responsive to the applied forces. In the illustrated examples, the bladder is adapted to expand, responsive to the applied force, in the direction or region that offers the least resistance to expansion. As discussed herein, this yieldable region may be at least partially defined by the construction of the bladder and/or the construction of the outer covering. As perhaps best seen in
In
As discussed, one suitable mechanism for configuring actuatable components 55 of toys 40 according to the present disclosure for a predetermined range, or pattern, of movement responsive to selective compression of the toy's bladder includes the use of an outer covering 41 that includes regions of less resistance to expansion or stretching. When the bladder of the toy is compressed and expands in response to the applied compressive forces, the bladder will exert forces against the outer covering of the toy. When a region of the outer covering is configured to have less resistance to expansion or other yielding or stretching than adjacent regions of the outer surface, the bladder will tend to expand toward this region, and even into a subcompartment formed as this region expands or otherwise moves responsive to forces applied thereto by the bladder. As discussed, this movable, or yieldable, region may have less resistance to moving due to the construction of the region itself (such as due to the inclusion of layers, gathered material, elastic material, etc.) and/or due to the construction of adjacent regions (such as which may include less yieldable materials, seams, etc.). These movable regions of the toy's outer surface may be referred to as movement, or yielding, regions 120. As discussed, these regions are configured to receive, or direct, the expansive forces exerted by the compressed bladder relative to the regions adjacent the movement regions.
An illustrative example of an actuatable toy 40 according to the present disclosure that includes a movement, or yielding, region 120 in the toy's outer covering 41 is shown in
When compressive forces are applied to the toy's bladder, such as by a user pressing against the toy's back region 128 in the general direction indicated in
In
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the illustrated head and tail actuatable components of
Another illustrative example of an actuatable toy 40 according to the present disclosure is shown in
Upon compression of the toy's bladder 30, such as by pressing upon the stomach region 164 of the toy's outer covering 41 or otherwise squeezing the body portion 47 of the toy from opposing sides thereof, the bladder is adapted to expand upwardly, generally toward and optionally even into, the head 160 of the toy, as indicated in
The illustrative embodiment shown in
When the tether has a flexible construction, such as if the tether is formed from material, string, twine, flexible wires, and the like, the tether will most likely not be configured to assist the bladder in urging the actuatable component to its actuated state. However, upon the bladder's automatic return to its non-actuated state, the physical linkage between the bladder and the actuatable component that is provided by the tether may more quickly draw the actuatable component back to its non-actuated state. Tethers 170 according to the present disclosure may (but are not required to in all embodiments) also be configured to provide support to a portion of the outer covering, such as to a portion of an actuatable component. For example, the tether, even when flexible, may be configured to draw at least a portion of the actuatable component toward (or at least resist movement of this portion away from) the bladder by providing a physical connection between this component and the bladder. Accordingly, while a tether in such a construction may still be flexible, it may be configured to not be elastomeric, or otherwise to be in a taut or extended configuration, thereby still providing a predetermined distance, or limited range of distances, between the bladder and the other portion of the toy connected thereto by the tether.
Although schematically illustrated in
As discussed, and as used herein, the compressive forces that are applied to the bladder are applied from external the toy, such as by a user pressing upon or squeezing a portion of the toy's outer covering, and may include forces applied to generally opposed surfaces of the bladder and/or forces that are applied (or at least substantially applied) to a selected region, portion, or side of the bladder. Furthermore, the forces may be applied to localized, or discrete, regions of the bladder, and may thereby result in another portion of the bladder expanding or otherwise deforming or deflecting away from its non-actuated state, such as generally toward the outer covering and/or an actuatable component of the toy. It is further within the scope of the present disclosure that the schematically illustrated bladders 30 in
The outer covering of the corresponding toy in which bladder 90 is used may include a yielding region that overlies or is otherwise proximate to the projection. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that the outer covering may include seams at the top and/or sides of the snout or other actuatable component, with the seams being adapted to restrict or otherwise limit movement of the component in one or more directions. As a further option, the outer covering proximate to an underside portion of projection 92 may include a movable material that contains excess material such that the excess material smoothes out when the bladder is configured to its actuated state. The excess material may be, for example, gathered when the toy is in the resting, or non-actuated, state.
As discussed, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that actuatable toys 40 may include components other than bladders 30 and optionally filling material within the internal compartment defined by the toy's outer covering. An illustrative example of such an additional component is the previously discussed rigid or flexible tethers. As a further example, some actuatable components may include weights or other ballast material that urges movement of the actuatable component due to gravity. For example, this ballast material may bias the component to return more quickly to a non-actuated state upon release of the forces that were being applied to the bladder to configure the component to its actuated state. As a more specific example, the wings of the bird toy (and/or arms of a correspondingly configured toy) shown in
A rigid linkage 202 may be positioned inside each wing 212 of a (bird or other) toy to facilitate actuation of the wing 212. The rigid linkage 202 may have any suitable construction and may be formed from any suitable material for use in children's toys. An illustrative, non-exclusive example of a suitable material is plastic, but others may be used, such as metal or wood. The rigid linkage 202 may extend at least a portion of the length of the wing 212 or other actuatable component 55. In the illustrative example, rigid linkage 202 terminates at one end region 204 with a convex shape, such as a convex hemispherical shape, near or within the body portion 47 of the toy. This shaped configuration is not required to all embodiments, but it may be desirable for the end region that is adapted to be contacted by the bladder to be shaped or otherwise configured for repeated engagement with the bladder and to convert the force applied by the bladder into pivotal movement of the linkage. The end region 204 may be secured or attached by any suitable mechanism to the outer covering of the toy so as to configure the rigid linkage 202 so that it does not shift excessively from its desired position inside the toy. The region 206 at which the convex shape 204 of the rigid linkage 202 is attached, or otherwise coupled, to the outer covering of the toy may, but is not required to, protrude from the end region 204 and may provide a pivot point about which the rigid linkage 202 rotates as the wing or other actuatable component is moved between its non-actuated and actuated states. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to construct regions of the outer covering adjacent region 206, such as proximate the illustrated lead line for reference numeral 47 in
In addition, the convex shape of the illustrated end region is such that the bladder 200, when deformed to its actuated state, would expand and press against the convex shape of the end region to urge a predetermined desired movement, such as may cause the wing or other actuatable component to raise or otherwise move from its non-actuated state. When configured as a wing, repeated actuation and release of the bladder may simulate flapping of the wings. In the illustrative example shown in
An underside of the wing 212 of the outer covering 210 may include a yielding region 120, such as illustrated in
Additional illustrative examples of rigid linkages, or rigid members, 202 that may be used with actuatable toys 40 according to the present disclosure are shown in
In
In
As a variant, if the bladder configuration shown in
The rigid linkages, or levers, illustrated herein may, in at least some embodiments, provide pivot points about which the path of movement of the corresponding actuatable component is defined.
In
In
As a variant of this illustrative, non-exclusive example of an actuatable toy 40 that includes a resilient bladder 30 and a rigid linkage, or lever, 202, a toy may include a pair of rigid linkages that are hinged or otherwise configured for cooperative movement to provide a form of scissors movement. In other words, central regions of the linkages intersect, are hinged, and/or extend proximate each other, with the linkages defining intersecting planes. In such an embodiment, each of the linkages may include a distal end region extending into an actuatable component 55 of the toy, and typically into a separate actuatable component, or separate region of an actuatable component. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples include upper and lower jaws of a mouth, opposed arms, opposed segments of a pincher or claw, opposed legs, and the like. The linkages include proximal, or bladder-engaging, end regions that extend proximate generally opposed regions of the toy's bladder. When the bladder is in its non-actuated state, the distal end regions are retained apart from each other, at least partially due to the proximate portions extending on opposed regions of the bladder. When a user applies compressive forces to urge the proximal end regions of the linkages toward each other, the distal end regions are correspondingly drawn together. When the user-applied compressive forces are removed, the resilient bladder urges the proximal end regions away from each other, thereby causing the distal end regions to correspondingly be moved away from each other as the bladder, and thus the actuatable component(s), returns to its unactuated state. In such an embodiment, the resilient bladder of the toy provides a restorative force to urge the actuatable component(s) back to a resting, or non-actuated, state more quickly than if the bladder was not present.
It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the first region of a rigid linkage may be physically connected or otherwise secured to the actuatable component within which the first region extends. It is additionally or alternatively within the scope of the present disclosure that the second region of a rigid linkage may, but is not required to, be physically connected or otherwise secured to the bladder of the toy. The interior cavities within which the first regions of the rigid linkages extend may be subcompartments of the compartments within which the bladders are housed, although it is within the scope of the present disclosure that the bladder may (but is not required to be) restricted from extending into these subcompartments, such as due to a narrow inlet or opening of the subcompartment and/or a barrier or partition that prevents the bladder from extending into the subcompartment.
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 its 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. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, it should be within the scope of the present inventions that such disclosure or claims may be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A stuffed toy, comprising:
- a flexible, soft outer covering defining at least a primary internal compartment, wherein the outer covering defines a central body region containing at least a substantial portion of the primary internal compartment, and further wherein the outer covering further defines at least one actuatable component that extends from the central body region and is selected from at least the group consisting of at least one of a head, an arm, a leg, a wing, a horn, a fin, a tail, a mouth, a jaw, an ear, and a nose; and
- a resilient deformable core enclosed within the outer covering and at least substantially positioned within the primary internal compartment, wherein the core includes an outer surface, wherein the core is selectively deformable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state upon application of external, user-applied pressure to the body region, wherein in the non-actuated state the core occupies a region of the primary internal compartment and retains its shape when the external, user-applied pressure is not imparted to the core, wherein in the actuated state the core extends at least proximate to at least one of the at least one actuatable component to urge a predetermined movement of the at least one actuatable component from a first position that corresponds to the non-actuated state of the core and a second position that corresponds to the actuated state of the core, wherein the core is biased to resiliently return to the non-actuated state upon removal of the external, user-applied pressure.
2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer covering includes at least one seam, and further wherein the at least one actuatable component is secured to the outer covering at the seam.
3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer covering is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material.
4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer covering is at least partially formed from a material that is not elastomeric.
5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuatable component includes at least a pair of actuatable components that are each configured for predetermined movement responsive to user-applied pressure to deform the core to the actuated state.
6. The toy of claim 5, wherein the predetermined movement of the pair of actuatable components moves the pair of actuatable components toward each other relative to their position when the core is in the non-actuated state.
7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the pair of actuatable components include a pair of arms.
8. The toy of claim 6, wherein the pair of actuatable components include a pair of jaws.
9. The toy of claim 5, wherein the toy further includes at least one appendage extending from the central body region and which is not an actuatable component.
10. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the core includes at least one region of greater resistance to deformation than other regions of the outer surface, and further wherein the second position is at least partially defined by the position of the at least one region relative to the at least one of the components.
11. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the core includes at least one region of less resistance to deformation than other regions of the outer shell, and further wherein the second position is at least partially defined by the position of the at least one region relative to the at least one actuatable component.
12. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer covering includes a region of a movable material disposed at least proximate to the at least one actuatable component and further wherein the second position is defined at least partially by the movable material.
13. The toy of claim 12, wherein the region of the movable material is adapted to have less resistance to movement than other regions of the outer covering.
14. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer covering further defines at least one secondary compartment.
15. The toy of claim 14, wherein the at least one secondary compartment includes a secondary compartment within the at least one actuatable component, and further wherein the core is positioned to selectively extend into the at least one secondary component when the core is in an actuated state.
16. The toy of claim 14, wherein the toy includes a partition separating the primary compartment from the at least one secondary compartment to prevent the bladder from extending into the at least one secondary compartment.
17. The toy of claim 1, wherein the primary compartment includes compressible filler material in addition to the core and positioned generally between the core and the outer covering.
18. The toy of claim 1, wherein the toy further includes at least one rigid lever having a first region within the primary compartment and adapted to be engaged by the core at least when the core is in the actuated state, and a second region extending into the at least one actuatable component.
19. The toy of claim 1, wherein the toy further includes at least one tether interconnecting the core and the outer covering.
20. The toy of claim 1, wherein the core is adapted for movement within the outer covering relative to the body.
21. The toy of claim 1, wherein the core is not secured directly to the outer covering.
22. The toy of claim 1, wherein the core is a resilient solid having a shore A hardness of 10 durometer or less.
23. The toy of claim 1, wherein the core is a bladder having an outer shell and defining a fluid-containing internal chamber therein.
24. The toy of claim 23, wherein the internal chamber includes at least one liquid.
25. A stuffed toy, comprising:
- a flexible, soft outer covering defining at least a primary internal compartment, wherein the outer covering defines a central body region containing at least a substantial portion of the primary internal compartment, and further wherein the outer covering further defines at least one actuatable component that extends from the central body region and is selected from at least the group consisting of at least one of a head, an arm, a leg, a wing, a horn, a fin, a tail, a mouth, a jaw, an ear, and a nose; and
- a resilient deformable core enclosed within the outer covering and at least substantially positioned within the primary internal compartment, wherein the core includes an outer surface, wherein the bladder provides the toy with a bouncy characteristic, such that the toy will rebound from a hard surface upon which the toy is dropped, wherein the core is not secured directly to the outer covering, wherein the core is selectively deformable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state upon application of external, user-applied pressure to the body region, wherein in the actuated state the core extends at least proximate to at least one of the at least one actuatable component to urge a predetermined movement of the at least one actuatable component from a first position that corresponds to the non-actuated state of the core and a second position that corresponds to the actuated state of the core, wherein in the non-actuated state the core occupies a region of the primary internal compartment and retains its shape when the external, user-applied pressure is not imparted to the core, and further wherein the core is biased to resiliently return to the non-actuated state upon removal of the external, user-applied pressure.
26. The toy of claim 25, wherein in the actuated state the core extends at least proximate to at least one of the at least one actuatable component to urge a predetermined movement of the at least one actuatable component from a first position that corresponds to the non-actuated state of the core and a second position that corresponds to the actuated state of the core.
27. The toy of claim 26, wherein the actuatable component is selected from at least the group consisting of at least one of a head, an arm, a leg, a wing, a horn, a fin, a tail, a mouth, a jaw, an ear, and a nose.
28. The toy of claim 25, wherein the core is a resilient solid having a shore A hardness of 10 durometer or less.
29. The toy of claim 25, wherein the core is a bladder having an outer shell and defining a fluid-containing internal chamber therein.
30. The toy of claim 29, wherein the internal chamber includes at least one liquid.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 1, 2007
Inventors: Don Panec (San Anseimo, CA), Scott Stillinger (Monte Sereno, CA), Ron LaRonge (Fairfield, CA)
Application Number: 11/542,947
International Classification: A63H 3/02 (20060101);