EP0586781B1 - Game piece with spreading legs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a game piece with a body open towards the bottom, in which body arms and legs are inserted, which are movable relative to the body, at least the legs being secured by means of at least one supporting part, introduced into the body from below, and being fixed to the latter in a manner such that they can be brought into a spread position, the two legs (4, 4') being arranged on the supporting part (12) to be capable of pivoting outwards from a predetermined, i.e. defined, basic position in order to achieve a spread position, and means being provided for achieving a restoring force which, when the loading is removed, automatically returns the outward-pivoted legs (4, 4') inwards into the basic position. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a playing figure with a body open at the bottom, in which arms and legs movable relative to the body are inserted and at least the legs are fixed by means of at least one support part inserted into the body from below and are fastened to the body in such a way that they are in an expanded position can be brought.

Such a game figure is already known from DE-PS 31 43 496. The two separately formed legs are articulated to each other via a type of articulated ball, the articulated ball having pins arranged on both sides, which run through corresponding openings on the respective legs and are connected to the support part in a fixed but pivotable manner. The two legs can thus be pivoted in the manner of a ball joint, the respective foot being connected to the associated leg via a ball joint, so that, depending on the leg position, a change in the foot position can take place in order to ensure that the playing figure stands securely. This well-known game figure does not have a predefined basic position, but its position can be varied as desired. In addition, the game figure is unsuitable to be installed with other parts of the range, for example to be used as a rider, the game figure occupying a stable position on the back of a toy horse. Finally, the known construction of the game figure has the disadvantage that the game figure requires a large amount of production due to the large number of parts required and thus causes high manufacturing costs.

A doll is known from FR-A-496 939, the arms and legs of which consist of several articulated limbs which are in turn articulated to a body part. Chains that penetrate the arms and legs and that are fastened to spring elements inside the torso ensure an elastic mutual articulation of the limb parts of the doll to one another and to the torso.

From US-A-4,952,189 a dance doll is known, the legs of which can be brought into certain positions by means of locking elements acting between them and relative to the trunk. An inward spring action between the legs is excluded.

The object of the present invention is to further develop the generic game figure in such a way that it is, so to speak can assume a spread position from a basic position of the legs, which in particular also offers the possibility of being able to effectively attach the toy figure according to the invention to the back of a toy horse, a toy bicycle, a toy motorcycle or the like. At the same time, the construction of the game figure according to the invention should be simple and easy to assemble.

This object is achieved by the combination of features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the inventive concept result from the subclaims.

The essence of the invention is to define the two legs of the game figure in a so-called basic position, ie normal position, the two legs being to be arranged on the supporting part such that they can be pivoted outward on the supporting part to ensure a spreading position in the transverse direction for aligning the body are arranged. The support part can be designed in a wide variety of forms, even the body itself can be regarded as a support part if the legs are directly connected to the body. In addition, means are provided which bring about a restoring force so that the spread legs return to the defined basic position when they are relieved. The invention ensures the possibility of connecting the character with different objects from the game range. Due to its possibility of variably adjusting the spreading angle of the two legs, the restoring force acting on the two legs at the same time, the game figure according to the invention can be connected to a wide variety of objects of different widths, for example strengths. The intended restoring force has a stabilizing effect with regard to the seat of the character on the respective object.

In its basic position, the game figure according to the invention offers a picture that largely corresponds to nature, whereby - if necessary - the leg position can be changed to a spread position.

The leg construction is designed such that the two legs can only be pivoted together. If, for example, the two legs are returned from a swiveled position (sitting position) to the normal position, i.e. Moving the basic position of the pawn is always ensured with this construction that a secure standing of the pawn is guaranteed.

The tapering provided on the respective inner side of each leg to form a cam surface in each case causes a rolling action on the inner side of the two legs during the pivoting of the legs in the spreading position, and thus a continuous pivoting movement. In addition, this construction has the advantage that the width of the arrangement of the two adjacent legs in the upper region of the respective leg does not noticeably increase during spreading, so that a supporting part of the usual type can be used and no additional structural measures are required become.

The restoring force is expediently generated by elastic deformation of a holding or connecting part of the legs, as a result of which the respective holding or connecting part has a double function.

For this purpose, the supporting part is expediently designed as a holding or connecting part in the form of a clamp, pivotably arranged on the outside of the respective leg, wherein when the legs are pivoted into the spreading position, a deformation of the supporting part is justified, which causes the restoring force. The supporting part consequently acts on the one hand as a holding part of the two legs within the body and on the other hand as a return spring.

It is technically favorable if the legs are provided as separate parts.

The subject matter of claim 6 ensures a precisely defined basic position in which the two flat surfaces lie against one another.

Claim 7 shows a further possibility of providing a holding means which prevents horizontal displacement of the two legs relative to one another, but at the same time enables pivoting in the spread position of the legs. This configuration is technically particularly easy to implement. It is only necessary to provide a groove on one leg into which a corresponding counterpart in Form of a projection on the other leg engages to form a tongue and groove connection.

In a special embodiment of the invention, it is expediently provided for this purpose to arrange a transverse extension on the top of one leg, which engages in a complementary recess on the adjacent leg and thereby prevents the two legs from rotating relative to one another. The transverse extension is expediently already molded onto the respective leg during the shaping process. It can also act as an additional spring to ensure the restoring force. For this purpose, however, the transverse extension should, for example, be connected to the recess of the adjacent leg in a fixed manner by means of a clamp or snap connection.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides as a holding means to insert a holding insert consisting of two elongated and a transverse extension into the two hollow legs, thereby preventing pivoting in the sense of a walking position and additionally causing a certain restoring force in the spread position of the two legs becomes.

In addition to or instead of the previously described possibilities of generating a restoring force, according to a further embodiment of the invention, a spring can be arranged in the upper part of the two legs, which spring causes a restoring force when the legs are in the spread position. The spring is compressed while the legs are in the spread position. When the legs are released, the spring presses the two legs back into the normal position.

If a pin is formed on the outside of the respective leg according to claim 10, the force generated during the spreading of the legs by deformation is via this and a correspondingly formed hole or bore on the support part of the supporting part, in particular its side arms.

The supporting part expediently consists of a flexible material, e.g. Plastic.

The respective foot of the game figure is connected to the associated leg so that it cannot move in order to ensure that the game figure is stable in the basic position.

Due to the one or more recesses provided on the underside of the figure's feet according to claim 15, the figure according to the invention can e.g. via a clamp connection with a provided projection of another part of the range e.g. a base plate or the like.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Spielfigur;

Fig. 2

eine Explosionszeichnung zur Darstellung der Einzelteile der Spielfigur;

Fig. 3

das Unterteil bestehend aus Beinen sowie Tragteil in Grundstellung;

Fig. 4

das Unterteil gemäß Fig. 3 in Spreizstellung, beispielsweise aufgeklemmt auf einen Pferderücken;

Fig. 5

eine Übersichtsdarstellung der beiden Beine mit an der Oberseite vorgesehenen Haltemittel in demontiertem Zustand;

Fig. 6

die beiden Beine gemäß Fig. 5 in Spreizstellung;

Fig. 7

die Ausgestaltung der beiden Beine gemäß Fig. 5 mit zusätzlich vorgesehener Druckfeder;

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausgestaltung des Haltemittels der beiden Beine zur Verhinderung einer horizontalen Verschiebung derselben;

Fig. 9

eine weitere alternative Ausgestaltung eines Haltemittels, welches gleichzeitig eine Rückstellkraft bewirkt;

Fig. 10

eine Seitenansicht des linken Beins aus Fig. 5;

Fig. 11

eine Seiten- sowie Vorderansicht der Beine einer Spielfigur, deren beide Beine im Sinne einer Schrittstellung zueinander verschwenkbar sind sowie

Fig. 12

die Unteransicht eines Fußes der Spielfigur (a), eine Ansicht gemäß der Schnittlinie I-I in Fig. 12a als Fig. 12b sowie eine Seitenansicht von Vorsprüngen eines mit der Spielfigur zu verbauenden Sortimentteils gemäß Fig. 12c.

Fig. 13

eine weitere alternative Ausgestaltung der Beinverbindung mit einem weiteren Federelement in a) auseinandergenommener Stellung und b) in zusammengefügter gespreizter Stellung, wobei die Vorderseite der Beinoberteile aufgebrochen dargestellt ist.

Appropriate embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the character according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an exploded view to show the individual parts of the character;

Fig. 3

the lower part consisting of legs and supporting part in the basic position;

Fig. 4

the lower part of Figure 3 in the spread position, for example clamped on a horse's back.

Fig. 5

an overview of the two legs with holding means provided on the top in the disassembled state;

Fig. 6

the two legs of Figure 5 in the spread position.

Fig. 7

the design of the two legs according to FIG 5 with an additionally provided compression spring.

Fig. 8

a further embodiment of the holding means of the two legs to prevent horizontal displacement thereof;

Fig. 9

a further alternative embodiment of a holding means which simultaneously causes a restoring force;

Fig. 10

a side view of the left leg of Fig. 5;

Fig. 11

a side and front view of the legs of a game figure, the two legs are pivotable to each other in the sense of a step position and

Fig. 12

the bottom view of a foot of the character (a), a view along section line II in Fig. 12a as FIG. 12b as well as a side view of projections of an assortment part to be installed with the game figure according to FIG. 12c.

Fig. 13

a further alternative embodiment of the leg connection with a further spring element in a) disassembled position and b) in the assembled spread position, the front of the upper leg parts being shown broken away.

Reference number 1 in FIG. 1 denotes the game figure according to the invention in its entirety. It comprises a body 2 with a lower opening 6, which receives the two legs 4, 4 'of the character. The respective foot e.g. 5 of the character is with the associated leg e.g. 4 connected in a non-moving manner. Arms, preferably rotatable, are inserted into corresponding recesses (not shown) on the body 2 on the side of the body 2.

The illustration according to FIG. 2 illustrates the type of fastening of the individual parts on or within the body 2. Inside the body 2 there is an arranged clamp-like hook 9 with an inner recess 13 on the upper side, into which an inverted U-shaped support part 12 is attached whose constriction 18 can be snapped into place.

The support part 12 has two downwardly extending lateral arms, each with a laterally arranged bore 14 and groove 11. The former is used for the rotatable connection of the support part 12 to the respective leg 4 or 4 ', the groove 11 has the task of connecting the support part 12 to the holder 10, which in turn, in the assembled state, surrounds the shoulder 7 of the arm firmly but rotatably.

The legs 4, 4 'are formed separately and each have an incision 30, 30' in the upper region on the outside, only the incision 30 'of the leg 4, 4' being visible in FIG. 2. In the area of the incision 30 or 30 'there is a pin, e.g. 15, which e.g. 14 engages on the support member 12 and produces a pivotable connection of the support member 12 to the respective leg 4 or 4 '.

The respective leg 4, 4 'is provided in the upper region on the inside with a taper 17 or 17', which - as will be explained in more detail later - acts as a cam surface when the legs 4, 4 'are pivoted into an expanded position.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the legs 4, 4 'of the figure 1 are in the normal state, i.e. almost closed in the basic position.

Due to the connection of the respective pin 15 via the associated bore 14 with the support member 12, both legs 4, 4 'can be pivoted about the axis marked A in Fig. 3.

The two legs 4, 4 'can moreover be brought into a spreading position by pivoting about two axes arranged perpendicular to the axis A and, for example, with an assortment part e.g. Horse 19 to be joined.

In this case, a deformation of the holding part 12, which is indicated schematically in FIG. 4, occurs in particular in the region of the two legs running downward, but possibly also in the transverse region connecting the two legs, as a result of which a restoring force acts on the two legs 4, 4 ', which leads to a particularly effective connection of the Playing figure with the assortment part leads. The game figure literally clamps on the back of the toy horse 19.

From Fig. 4 it is clear how the two cam surfaces formed by the taper 17, 17 'touch in the spread position of the game figure. If the toy figure is pulled off the back of the toy horse, the two legs 4, 4 'automatically return to the basic position of the toy figure.

The support member 12 suitably consists of a semi-rigid, flexible material e.g. Plastic.

Fig. 5 shows a special embodiment of the legs 4, 4 'of the toy figure with special holding means which are intended to prevent the legs from shifting in the horizontal direction to one another and / or pivoting about the axis A relative to one another, which in each case justifies a deterioration in the stability of the toy figure has been. For this purpose, the leg 4 has a transverse extension 22 on the upper side (cf. also FIG. 10), which is already molded in during the shaping process (e.g. injection molding). The transverse extension 22 engages in a corresponding recess 23 on the adjacent upper leg part and thus prevents the two legs 4, 4 'from pivoting relative to one another when the playing figure is assembled, and on the other hand prevents horizontal, i.e. axial displacement of the two legs relative to one another and, if a fixed connection of the transverse extension 22 is provided in the recess 23 on the adjacent leg, can give rise to a certain restoring force on the two legs 4, 4 'of the playing figure in the spread position.

FIG. 6 shows the two legs according to FIG. 5 in the spread position. The flat surfaces 16, 16 'gap here, the legs only touch in the area of the tapers 17, 17', ie on the respective cam surfaces.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which, in comparison to the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, a spring 26 is additionally provided which grasps both legs 4, 4 '. The spring 26 can be designed as a compression spring above the pivot point or as a tension spring below the pivot point when the two legs 4, 4 'are pivoted. The spring can be provided either as the sole or as an additional means for generating a restoring force.

Fig. 8 shows a further possibility of using a horizontal, i.e. to avoid axial displacement of the two legs 4, 4 '. For this purpose, a recess 24 is provided in one leg, preferably on its flat surface 16, into which a e.g. elongated counterpart 21 engages the adjacent leg 4 '. The shape of the counterpart and the counterpart 21 receiving groove 24 is - provided that a pivoting of the legs 4, 4 'against each other is undesirable - so that the counterpart 21 has a positive connection (tongue and groove connection) with the groove 24 during rotary movement the leg 4, 4 'guaranteed.

Fig. 9 shows a one-piece insert 27 which is inserted into the two hollow legs 4, 4 '. The insert 27 comprises two longitudinal extensions 31, 32 which are arranged in the cavity of the respective leg 4, 4 'and are connected via a cross strut 33. The insert 27 on the one hand prevents the legs 4, 4 'from shifting relative to one another and from pivoting the same in the sense of a step position. In addition, the insert 27 acts as a return spring when the legs 4, 4 'are spread apart.

According to FIGS. 12a and b, each foot 5 of the figure 1 is provided with a plurality of recesses 34 which are intended to produce a clamp connection with corresponding projections 35 of another part of the assortment, for example a base plate or the like. For this purpose, either the side areas of the projections or the side areas of the recesses 34 are conical to ensure a clamping effect. The figure 1 can be permanently installed in this way with a base plate or another part of the range.

13 shows a particularly advantageous and play-stable embodiment of the mutual articulation of the legs 4, 4 'in their upper region.

First of all, the taper 17 in the crotch region of the legs 4, 4 'is made somewhat more clearly, then the leg 4 carries in its upper region two parallel, spaced, plate-like counterparts or springs which plunge into associated grooves 24 on the leg 4'. This results in a particularly good, stable guidance of the two legs 4, 4 'in their upper area.

Between the counterparts 21 there is now a spring element 41 which is provided at its outer ends 42 with U-shaped spring tabs 43 pointing upwards in the final assembly position, which act on the inner walls 40 of the outer sides of the legs 4, 4 'above the pins 15, whereby the desired restoring force of the legs 4, 4 'in the Basic position results.

During the spreading process, the spring tabs 43 are pressed inward, as can be seen from the broken-open representation according to FIG. 13b.

The embodiment according to FIG. 13 is not only stable, it is also easy and quick to assemble in that the spring part 41 is inserted into recesses between the counterparts 21 in the legs 4, 4 'and the legs in the one in FIG. 13 is not holding part 12 can be used.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1

game piece

2nd

body

3rd

poor

4, 4 '

leg

5

foot

6

lower opening

7

approach

8th

drilling

9

hook

10th

bracket

11

Groove

12th

Support part

13

Recess

14

drilling

15

Cones

16, 16 '

Flat areas

17, 17 '

rejuvenation

18th

Constriction

19th

horseback

20th

Extension / drilling

21

Counterpart (spring)

22

Transverse process

23

Recess

24th

Groove

25th

Cross hole

26

feather

27

holding insert

28

head Start

29

Recess

30, 30 '

incision

31

Longitudinal process

32

Longitudinal process

33

Cross strut

34

Recess

35

head Start

Claims (19)

1. Play figure having a body which is open at the bottom and in which arms and legs that are movable relative to the body are inserted and at least the legs are fixed by means of at least one support part introduced into the body from the bottom and are secured to that support part in such a manner that they can be brought into a spread position, wherein

   a. the two legs (4, 4') are arranged on the support part (12) in such a manner that they can be swung outwards from a predetermined, that is to say, defined, basic position to achieve a spread position,

   characterised in that

   b. means are provided for achieving a restoring force, which means automatically return the outwardly swung legs (4, 4') inwards into the basic position on release; and

   c. at least one holding means connecting the legs (4, 4') of the play figure is provided, which means, while permitting a swinging of the legs (4, 4') into the spread position, nevertheless prevents a mutual horizontal displacement of the legs (4, 4') and/or a swinging in the sense of a stepping position.
2. Play figure according to Claim 1,
      characterised in that,
   in order to achieve the spread position, each leg (4 and 4') has, on the inside of the end region near the body (2), a tapered portion (17, 17') for forming cam faces which lie against one another.
3. Play figure according to Claim 1 or 2,
      characterised in that
   the restoring force is produced by resilient deformation of a holding part or connection part of the legs (4, 4').
4. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that
   the support part (12) is in the form of a bracket and abuts the outer side of the respective leg (4, 4') in a swingable manner and, when the legs (4, 4') are swung into the spread position, a deformation of the support part (12) is caused which brings about the restoring force.
5. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that
   the legs (4, 4') are provided as separate parts.
6. Play figure according to Claim 5,
      characterised in that
   a plane face (16, 16') is provided on the inner side of each leg (4 and 4') and forms the abutment face of the two legs (4, 4') in the basic position.
7. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that
   a groove (24) into which a corresponding counter piece (21) engages to form a tongue and groove connection is provided as the holding means at the respective contact face of the legs (4, 4').
8. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that
   there is provided as the holding means on the upper side of one leg (for example 4) a transverse extension (22) which engages in a recess of complementary shape in the adjacent leg (4') and which prevents the two legs (4, 4') from swinging in the longitudinal direction.
9. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
      characterised in that
   a holding insert (27) which comprises two longitudinal (31, 32) and one transverse (33) strut and which is inserted into the cavities of the two legs (4, 4') by way of the two longitudinal extensions is provided as the holding means.
10. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    a spring (26) which creates a restoring force when the legs (4, 4') are in the spread position is arranged in the upper region of the two legs (4, 4').
11. Play figure according to Claim 10,
       characterised in that
    the transverse extension (22) is connected securely to the adjacent leg (4'), for example by clamping or locking.
12. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    the support part (12) comprises a flexible material.
13. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    the respective leg (4, 4') is connected to the associated foot (for example 5) in such a manner that it moves therewith.
14. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    the body (2) covers the side regions of the support part (12) at the sites of connection to the respective leg (4 and 4').
15. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    the underside of the respective foot (5) of the play figure (1) has at least one recess (34) which is used for connection, preferably by clamping, to a projection (35) of another component of the range.
16. Play figure according to Claim 7,
       characterised in that
    two parallel, mutually spaced, plate-like counter pieces (21) are provided on one of the legs (4) and engage in two parallel grooves (24) in the other leg (4').
17. Play figure according to any one of the preceding claims,
       characterised in that
    a compression spring element (41) is provided in the upper end region of the legs (4, 4') and its outer ends (42) abut the inner walls (40) of the upper ends of the legs (4, 4') above the pins (15).
18. Play figure according to Claim 17,
       characterised in that
    the compression spring element (41) lies between the parallel, spaced counter pieces (21).
19. Play figure according to Claim 18,
       characterised in that
    the compression spring element (41) comprises resilient material, especially nylon, and is provided at each of its ends (42) with a spring tongue (43) which is bent in a U-shape and which applies outwardly directed spring force onto the inner wall (40).

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