AU2013100034A4 - Concertina Toy Figure - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy figure which has appendages that can concertina to many fixed positions. The direction of expansion can be vertical, horizontal or up to 3600 from a pivotal point. Magnets or hook and loop tape is attached to the extremities of the appendages. Sp'3

Description

CONCERTINA TOY FIGURE Toy figures that have arms and legs which can expand and return to their original position are common within the industry and many versions are known to this inventor. Posing a toy figure to simulate human stance requires either separate jointed parts or a bendable material at the joints. All the known figures have a limited height and size 5 restriction. The advantage of the new Concertina Toy Figure as invented, is the ability to expand to at least twofold its original size and height. Another advantage of this new Concertina Toy Figure is that the appendages can expand or concertina to any and many fixed positions. The material chosen to make this concertina figure is important to maintain a light weight strong and durable figure that can withstand the rigors of play 10 patterns by children pulling on the arms and legs of the toy. The best known material is polyethylene although without limit PVC could also be used To enable the Concertina Toy Figure to stand in a posed position, magnets or better still, hook and loop tape is attached to the extremities of the appendages. The toy can then be wom on clothing or positioned in an amusing stance. 15 To better understand the Concertina Toy Figure drawings 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate how the toy expands and can be posed in fixed positions. Figure 1 shows a Concertina Toy Figure in a flaccid position. Figure 2 shows a Concertina Toy Figure in an expanded fixed position. Figure 3 shows a Concertina Toy Figure in a posed stance 20 Figure 4 shows examples of different design variants for a Concertina Toy Figure within the scope of the invention In figure 1, a Concertina Toy Figure is illustrated with arm and leg appendages made from a blow molded PE material. The arms and legs are fully retractable. At the extremities of the appendages, hook and loop material is tethered to the PE material to give the illusion of comical hands and feet. The hook and loop material serves the 5 function of enabling the toy to be worn on clothing or fixed on a standing podium In figure 2, the PE concertina material that forms the appendages is fully extended showing the increased size and height of the toy compared to the flaccid retractable position of figure 1. In figure 3, the Concertina Toy Figure is posed in an interesting human-like fixed 10 expanded position to illustrate the possibility of stance and imaginative play. In figure 4, two examples of expandable concertina toys are shown in the form of a bug or a dog to illustrate how various appendages and body parts could expand back and forth in a concertina action. While these two examples of concertina toy are envisages in future production models, the designs for a concertina fixed position toy are not 15 limited to these shapes. Many shapes or creatures could be created that remain within the scope of the Concertina Toy Figure invention. To commence play with the Concertina Toy Figure 1, the user pulls the extremities of the appendages 2 from a pivotal point 3 expanding the concertina PE material 4 to any fixed position 6. The concertina PE material 4 is able to bend in any fixed position 6 20 vertically, horizontally or in a 3600 direction 7. Hook and loop tape 5A and 5B is attached to the extremities of the appendages 2 so that the Concertina Toy Figure 1 can be posed in a human-like stance on either a podium 8 or clothing, provided the clothing is of a loop structure such as a woolen jumper. The play pattern of the Concertina Toy Figure 1 is limited only to the imagination of the user as they manipulate the PE concertina material 4 in and out to many fixed positions 6 and 7. 5 Amusing combinations 9 and 10 are now possible as the Concertina Toy Figure 1 is pulled, pushed and set into fixed posed positions.

Claims (3)

1. A toy figure that has appendages that can concertina to many fixed positions

2. As in claim 1. where the concertina expansion can be vertical, horizontal or up to 360" from a pivotal point.

3. As in claims I and 2, where magnets or hook and loop tape is attached to the extremities of the appendages Peter Al ish Date