Patent Application
20050136792
The invention relates generally to the field of toys, and in particular to toys having a character wherein manipulation of the toy causes the character to move in a way that simulates the real-life movement of the character.
The use of interlocking pieces to form various geometric configurations has been the basis for a variety of toys. For example, LEGO brand building blocks have long been a popular toy. Other interlocking toy sets are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,509,929, 5,110,315, and 5,172,534, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Although such toys have been generally commercially successful, it would be desirable to provide various improvements and diversifying features. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide various enhancements to a toy system having a set of interlocking pieces.
Embodiments of the invention thus provide a method of simulating real-life motion of a character. The method includes providing a toy having a plurality of interconnected links. The links are rotatably attached to one another and the character is attached to one of the links. The method also includes grasping the toy by holding two different links that are separated by at least two other links, one of which is the link to which the character is attached. The method also includes moving the hands with respect to one another, thus causing the character to move in a manner that simulates the real-life motion of the character.
In some embodiments, the plurality of links comprise links of at least two different sizes. The links may be round and may be torus sections. The torus sections may be, for example, one-quarter torus sections or one-eighth torus sections. The links may be square, tubular-shaped objects. The links may be identical. The method may include attaching the toy to a support structure and positioning the character in a position representative of an action pose of the character. The character may be a skateboarder, rollerblader, snowboarder, surfer, skier, butterfly, or the like. The links may form a continuous center line around the toy, and the continuous center line may be a line of radial symmetry of the toy.
In other embodiments, the invention provides a toy that includes a plurality of interconnected links attached to one another. The toy also includes a character attached to one of the links. The character may be manipulated by holding two different links with hands on either side of the character and moving the hands with respect to one another. This causes the character to move in a manner that simulates the real-life motion of the character.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the several drawings to refer to similar components.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a toy having a character is used to simulate the real-life motion of the character. The toy consists of a plurality of rotatably-coupled links that are interchangeable with one another. The links are connected end-to-end and form a ring. The links may be constructed of woods, plastics, composites, metals, and the like. Similar, previously-know such toys are more fully described in previously-incorporated U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,509,929, 5,110,315, and 5,172,534.
Attention is directed to
With reference to
The toy has an amazing retention property, which causes the segments thereof to remain in the last configuration set by the user. The toy is readily twistable into new configurations, but tends to retain the prior configuration until retwisted. Preferably, each extension fits snugly into the cooperating channel of the adjacent segment, which aids the retention property.
The torus curve along each segment body portion causes the two twisting axes of each segment to be nonaligned (at ninety degrees in the
Even in the unusual case of axis alignment, the segments between the aligned interfaces can pivot or be displaced only as part of the group of adjacent segments bounded by the pair of aligned axes. These locked groups may be large (the entire toy) or small (four minimum) depending on the configuration. In some embodiments, each locked group must have at least four torus quadrant segments in order to present an accumulated axis shift of 360 degrees required for axis alignment.
Typically when the user initially twists the toy, the twisting axes are random and non-aligned. The initial locked group includes the entire chain of segments. The force required to displacement a single segment must be sufficient to disturb the entire toy, simultaneously moving every segment and reorienting every twisting axis. The chain-wide disturbance proceeds until two axes come into alignment. The initial resistance to change in the toy is the origin of the configuration retention characteristic. This initial resistance is at least in part responsible for the self-supporting feature of the sculpture 100 shown in
Hand action coupled with a low attention requirement is well known to have a tranquilizing effect. Crocheting and whittling are traditional examples of diversion-relaxation therapy. The present toy provides a similar tension relief function. Twisting the device is a simple, thoughtless procedure, which instantly produces unlimited fascinating and unpredictable configurations. With each twist of the segments, the device undergoes a chain-wide transformation in silhouette and axis orientation without repetition. The device functions as a mechanical or sculptural kaleidoscope, with a corresponding relaxing, mesmeric characteristic.
The continuous center line of symmetry around the toy insures that each of the infinite random configurations will have a smooth and graceful silhouette, which contributes to the relaxation of the user. The torus section embodiments produces only continuous configurations free from geometric or mathematical discontinuities (no infinite derivatives).
The toy may be displayed as a stationary artistic sculpture without change, and still have a desirable therapeutic effect. The flowing appearance of the toy contributes to a relaxing atmosphere.
Any number of segments may be included in the toy to provide a wide range of configurations. Straight segments and shorter curved segments may also be employed in a toy to modify the scope of possible configurations. Further, rather than being limited to round tubes, the segments may be square tubes or may be other shapes.
Attention is directed to
Because of the way the character moves with the link, the motion of the character follows a generally circular path as shown by the movement arrows 310, 312 of
Attention is directed to
Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Additionally, a number of well known processes and elements have not been described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. For example, those skilled in the art know how to manufacture modeled plastic parts for toys such as those described herein. Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.
