BACKGROUND
Play sets and toy figures are popular toys which are known to provide entertainment and excitement to a user. To bring increased entertainment and excitement to toy figures and play sets it is desirable to provide a toy figure and/or play set that provide a variety of configurations not previously presented.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In one exemplary embodiment a toy figure is provided, the toy figure having: a main body portion; and a pair of leg members extending from the main body portion, wherein each of the pair of leg members has an enlarged rounded feature at a distal end and wherein the enlarged rounded feature is provided with a mass sufficient to self right the toy figure into a vertical orientation regardless of the intial orientation of the toy figure.
In another exemplary embodiment, a toy figure and an apparatus for launching the toy figure is provided, the toy having: a main body portion; and a pair of leg members extending from the main body portion, wherein each of the pair of leg members has an enlarged rounded feature at a distal end and wherein the enlarged rounded feature is provided with a mass sufficient to self right the toy figure into a vertical orientation regardless of the intial orientation of the toy figure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
FIGS. 1A-1D are perspective views of a toy figure in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates movement of the toy figure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A-3D are additional views of the toy figure;
FIGS. 4A-4C are views illustrating an alternative exemplary embodiment; and
FIGS. 5A-7 are views illustrating still other various alternative embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the attached FIGS. various exemplary embodiments of a toy figure and toy configured for use with the toy figure are illustrated. FIGS. 1A-3D illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a toy figure 10. Toy figure 10 has a main body portion 12 and a pair of appendages or leg members 14 each of which has an enlarged rounded foot or features 16 that are weighted or provided with a mass to self right the figure 10 regardless of the intial orientation of the figure 10. Each foot or feature 16 will have a curved surface 18 to achieve the self righting feature of the toy figure 10. Accordingly and by having the majority of the weight of the figure 10 located at its lower portions (e.g., legs and/or feet or features 16) the toy figure 10 will self right itself regardless of the initial position of the toy figure 10.
In one embodiment, the portion of the toy figure 10 resembling the rounded foot or features 16 is constructed out of a denser material than the material used for the rest of the toy figure 10 such that the majority of the weight of the figure 10 is located in the foot portion 16 of the toy figure 10 in order to provide the self righting feature in combination with the rounded surfaces of the foot or features 16.
In addition, the toy figure 10 will further comprise a pair of appendages or arms 20 that extend from the main body portion 12. In one embodiment the arms or appendages 20 are configured to have a distal end resembling a hand 22. In one embodiment, the hand is configured to releasably grasp an implement 24 such as the axe or radio illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B which are contemplated for use with a toy figure 10 resembling a fireman. Of course, the aforementioned features are merely provided as examples and the various embodiments of the present invention contemplate numerous alternatives. In one embodiment, the toy figure 10 can be constructed out of easily molded materials such as plastic wherein the necessary weights or materials for the self righting feature can be inserted into the mold and/or denser materials may be used in appropriate locations of the mold.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the toy figure 10 is shown rocking backwards (FIG. 1C) and forwards (FIG. 1D) thus when a force is applied to the toy figure 10, the enlarged foot portions or features 16 and the concentration of the majority of the weight of the toy figure 10 being located at a lower portion of the same will cause the toy figure 10 to reciprocate back and forth until it ultimately is at rest and is in the vertical orientation such as the orientation illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. For example and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the toy figure 10 is shown traveling along a trajectory 26 wherein the toy figure 10 performs a series of rotations in the air until it contacts a surface 28 and the weight of the toy figure 10 in conjunction with the curved surfaces 18 of the enlarged foot portion or feature 16 causes the toy figure 10 to ultimately rest in a vertical orientation.
FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate various (front, back and side) views of the toy figure 10. In an alternative embodiment, the upper appendages or arms 20 are rotatably or pivotally secured to the main body portion 12 via a shaft 21 of any other equivalent means for rotatably or movably mounting the upper appendages or arms 20 to the main body portion 12. Here, the upper appendages or arms 20 are configured and positioned and perhaps weighted such that as the toy figure 10 reciprocates back and forth in the directions of arrows 30, the upper appendages or arms 20 are free to rotate with respect to the main body portion 12. Accordingly and as the toy figure 10 and main body portion 12 move in the directions of arrows 30, the arms or appendages 20 remain in substantially the same position with respect to a horizon or the surface the toy figure 10 is resting on or rocking back and forth on.
In an alternative embodiment, the main body portion 12 is pivotally or movably secured to the lower appendages or leg members 14 and the upper appendages or arms 20 are fixedly secured to the main body portion 12 such that as the toy figure 10 moves back and forth in the directions of arrows 30, the main body portion 12 via the weight of the upper appendages or arms 20 is maintained in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the horizon as the toy figure 10 reciprocates back and forth in a directions of arrows 30.
For example and referring now to FIGS. 4A-4C, toy figure 10 is illustrated with an articulated torso or main body portion 12 wherein the appendages or arms 20 are weighted such that the weighted arms will keep the torso or main body portion 12 of the figure 10 upright, generally upright or perpendicular to a horizon the lower portion of the figure 10 is resting on, as the lower appendages or leg members 14 of the figure 10 wobbles back and forth. Alternatively, only the arms 20 themselves will remain upright, generally upright or perpendicular to the horizon the lower appendages or leg members 14 of the figure 10 is resting on. In addition and in any of the aforementioned embodiments, the toy figure 10 may further comprise a head portion 32 that is attached to the torso or main body portion 12 by a spring 34 or other equivalent member thereby creating a “bobble head” effect. In any of the aforementioned embodiments, it is also contemplated that the toy figure 10 may comprise a single weighted rounded foot or feature as an alternative to the pair of weighted rounded feet or features.
Still further and in another alternative embodiment and in conjunction with any of the aforementioned toy figure 10 embodiments, the same may be used with an apparatus 50 (e.g., toy vehicle, car, truck, airplane, etc.), wherein the toy figure 10 is launched from the apparatus 50 and upon hitting a surface the toy figure 10 reorients itself until it is situated upright.
For example and as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the apparatus 50 is an airplane and the toy figure 10 is ejected from the airplane by a spring biased mechanism 51. As illustrated, the toy figure 10 can travel through the air, rotate and land on a surface 28 in any orientation even headfirst and still reorient itself until it becomes upright.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another alternative embodiment wherein apparatus 50 is a land-based vehicle for example, a fire truck, tank or any type of vehicle or other type of toy wherein the toy figure 10 is releasably retained by a launching mechanism 52 that is actuated upon movement of a button or lever 54. Upon actuation of the lever 54, the toy figure 10 is launched from the apparatus 50 and travels through the air and lands on a surface 28 wherein the toy figure 10 will reorient itself regardless of the position it was in upon first impact with the surface. In this illustrated embodiment, the toy figure 10 is releasably retained at a forward end of the apparatus 50 of course, numerous alternative locations are contemplated to be within the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention.
Still further and referring now to FIG. 7, yet another apparatus 50 is illustrated. Here the toy vehicle or any other configuration is provided with a launching mechanism resembling a cannon 52 and the toy figure 10 is launched therefrom upon actuation of a button or lever 54 of a spring biased or equivalent launching mechanism. Once again, the launching mechanism is released upon actuation of button or lever 54 such that the toy figure 10 is launched from the cannon 52. As mentioned herein, the launching mechanism may comprise any type of mechanism (e.g., spring biased, pneumatic, mechanical, etc.) wherein potential launching energy is stored and subsequently released to launch the toy figure upon actuation of a trigger, actuator, etc. that is coupled to the launching mechanism. In other words, actuation of the trigger coupled to the launching mechanism releases or converts the potential energy into kinetic energy for launching of the toy figure 10 from the apparatus 50.
In still another alternative embodiment, the apparatus may be provided with a plurality of toy figures that can be sequentially launched from by the launching mechanism wherein the plurality of toy figures after being launched from the apparatus will self right themselves on a surface.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.
Patent Application
20120270471
